Credits and Credit Load
An academic credit is a measure of the total time commitment required of a typical student in a particular course of study. Total time consists of three components:
1) time spent in class;
2) time spent in laboratory, studio, field work, or other scheduled activity; and
3) time devoted to reading, studying, problem solving, writing, or preparation. One credit hour is defined to include the following ratio of hours per week devoted to the course of study:
Lecture course – one contact hour per credit (two hours outside preparation implied).
Laboratory or studio course – at least two contact hours per
credit (one hour outside preparation implied).
Independent study – at least thirty hours work for each credit. Since each hour in a course requires two additional hours of study and since students usually register for several courses, Western has established the following credit load policies for undergraduate
students:
- The standard load per quarter for undergraduates is 15 credits. During the first quarter of attendance, credit load should not exceed 17 credits. Before registering for more than 15 credits, new students should consult with their advisers.
- After the first quarter of attendance, the maximum allowable load is 20 credits per quarter. (The maximum credit load for summer is 18 credits.)
- An employed student is expected to reduce his or her academic program and credit load accordingly. Students are advised to take a lighter credit load during summer due to the concentrated nature of study. If you are taking courses during both the 6- and 9-week sessions, it is recommended that your combined credit total not exceed 17 credits. To register for more than 18 credits during summer quarter, you will need to obtain permission from the Registrar’s Office prior to registering for your additional credits.
Prerequisites
A student who enters a course without the prerequisite(s) may be required to drop the course. Only the instructor may exempt
a student from course prerequisites. Please check the Course Description section for complete descriptions and prerequisites.
For a definition or explanation of a prerequisite, please contact the department offering the course. Graduate (500) level courses
may be available to post-baccalaureate students. If you are not an admitted post-baccalaureate student at Western, please contact
the Graduate School (360-650-3170) to obtain permission to register. If you have been formally admitted as a post-baccalaureate
student at Western, please contact the course department for permission to register.
Course Numbering
Courses numbered from 100-299 are classified as lower division and those numbered 300-499 as upper division. The first
digit indicates class level for which the course is intended. To determine the appropriate level of preparation and difficulty
of a course, review the course prerequisites (if applicable) and, if needed, contact the Academic Advising Center for advisement.
100-199 First-year (freshman) courses
200-299 Second-year (sophomore) courses
300-399 Third-year (junior)
400-499 Fourth-year (senior) courses
500-699 Graduate courses
