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Registration and Academic Records
REGISTRATION AND ACADEMIC RECORDS
Academic Year
The undergraduate College academic calendar is divided into three semesters: the fall semester extends
from late August until mid-December, the spring semester extends from mid-January until mid-May,
and the summer semester extends from mid-May to mid-August.
Academic Credit
Credit is recorded in semester hours. One 50-minute class period per week throughout the semester
is the equivalent of one semester hour. Therefore, a three-credit course will meet for 50 minutes three
times a week, or 75 minutes two times a week or 150 minutes once a week.
Classification of Students
0-23 earned credits First-Year
24-55 earned credits Sophomore
56-86 earned credits Junior
87+ earned credits Senior
Course Load
The usual student load is 15 to 16 credits per semester. A student who wishes to carry more than 18
credits in any given semester must have approval from the director of academic advising. Tuition is
charged for all courses carried for credit, for all courses repeated, and for all courses audited. Candidates
for graduation in the normal eight-semester time period must earn an average of at least 15.25 credits
per semester. Exchange courses (SMU/WSU Cooperative Program) are included in the student course
load when determining full-time or part-time status.
12+ credits per semester full-time status
9-11 credits per semester part-time status 3/4 time
6-8 credits per semester part-time status 1/2 time
5 or fewer credits per semester part-time status
Course Numbering
Courses numbered from 100 to 299 are lower division courses; those numbered from 300 to 499 are
upper division. Graduate courses are numbered 500 and above. Courses numbered below 100 do not
apply toward any graduation requirement.
Upper division courses at SMU are intended for advanced study in an area or discipline and are not
generally available to first-year students. The guidelines for coding upper division courses at SMU are
listed below:
• Upper division courses generally require a higher level of cognitive performance in the area or discipline
involved. That is, these courses require students to analyze, synthesize, and evaluate information
(i.e., the higher levels in Bloom’s taxonomy of cognitive ability). Lower division classes (i.e., courses
numbered from 100-299) require students to remember and understand concepts. The application
of knowledge could belong to upper or lower division classes depending on the discipline.
• Upper division courses are generally not introductory and often require prerequisites.
• Upper division courses often require students to read, comprehend, and analyze primary sources
of knowledge in a discipline; lower division courses, on the other hand typically rely on secondary
or tertiary sources.
• Upper division courses may involve a significant amount of self-evaluation on the part of the student
in self-monitoring of progress toward course goals.
• Upper division courses may involve self-directed learning in scholarship, research, and performance
activities in the discipline.
Department specific guidelines are maintained in the Office of the Vice President for Academic Affairs.
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