Nine (9) credit hours in the fall or spring semester constitutes a full load for a graduate student. During the Summer Semester, a full load is six (6) hours taken in the 1st term, 2nd term, or a combination of both terms. The maximum permissible load is 16 credit hours per semester, inclusive totals of all credits earned at all institutions. Tennessee Tech Policy 274 (Graduate Assistantship), describes Graduate Course load limits for graduate assistants.
Permissible Loads of International Students
Each semester, except summer, an international graduate student must earn a minimum of nine (9) credit hours if a Master's student and six (6) credit hours if a PhD student. In the event that an international graduate student attending TTU on an F-1 Visa has not attended another F-1 certified school continuously for one academic year (30 weeks) the student will be required to enroll in the summer term as a full-time student (3 hours non-online coursework). However, if the student's department chair determines that appropriate courses are not available during the summer term, the student is not required to enroll as described above. Documentation stating the lack of appropriate course availability should be maintained in the student's immigration file. Tennessee Tech Policy 240 (Full Course of Study Requirements for International Students), describes Graduate Course load minimums for international graduate students. Tennessee Tech Policy 274 (Graduate Assistantship), describes Graduate Course limits for graduate assistants.
Permissible Loads of Graduate Assistants
To receive and maintain full-time graduate student status, a graduate assistant must meet the following registration requirements:
For the summer semester, a Graduate Assistant must register for a minimum of one (1) credit hour but not more than twelve (12) graduate credit hours.
For the fall and spring semesters, a Graduate Assistant must register for a minimum of six (6) credit hours but not more than twelve (12) graduate credit hours.
A graduate assistant is classified as an in-state resident ONLY while working as a graduate assistant. Classification status will be reverted back to out-of state when the assistantship ends.