Mother of all course loads

Colleges and Universities A-Z University of Southern California
1

<p>Are there any restrictions that prevent people from registering for a whole bunch of units? I'm talking about taking something like 24-28 units per semester, not per year.</p>

<p>The only restrictions I can think of are financial ones (you have to pay an extra $1200 for every extra unit past 18 units/semester) and course conflict ones (you can't register for two classes if they're held at the same time).</p>

<p>Are there any other restrictions? Do you have to get massive course loads approved by an advisor, for example?</p>

2

<p>Mental capacity? Do you really think you can do well taking 7 or 8 classes?</p>

3

<p>This was more of a theoretical question; I’m not planning on taking that many courses anytime soon. I might try 20-21 units/semester, but I haven’t decided yet.</p>

<p>My main reason for bringing it up is because I’ve heard of people graduating 1-2 years early, so I’m just wondering whether those people have to go through a lengthly process petitioning administrators to let them tackle those kinds of course loads.</p>

4

<p>

[Schedule</a> of Classes: Spring 2010: General Registration Information: Enrollment/Registration](<a href=“http://www.usc.edu/academics/classes/term_20101/reg_info/]Schedule”>http://www.usc.edu/academics/classes/term_20101/reg_info/)</p>

<p>Many of those who graduate a year early come in as freshman with a full year (32 units) of AP credit.</p>

5

<p>you need to have advisor approval, otherwise the registrar just won’t let you register for more than 20 units.</p>

<p>I’ve never done it personally but some people have. it’s not exactly a formal process, but you shouldn’t be struggling with your courses if you intend on getting approval.</p>

6

<p>The online web-registration does not allow you to register beyond 20 units. If you want to do more, you will need to get approval from your department.</p>

7

<p>Thanks for the info. Is there a strict GPA cutoff for getting approval to take more than 20 units/semester?</p>

<p>Anyway, let’s say that you have a decent GPA, but you have a history of doing badly whenever you’re taking a heavy course load. Can you still get approved if you explain that it’s your final year and you need to take more than 20 units that semester to graduate on time?</p>

8

<p>You can usually get 20 units approved easily…it just depends on if you’re willing to sacrifice your life to get those 2 extra units in. I’m graduating a year early without having to take more than 16 units a semester because I came in with 32 credits.</p>

9

<p>Yea I’m graduating in 3 years - came in with AP Credits plus took some community college classes. Several semesters of 18 units, 1 semester of 20 units, but never more than that. Taking 24 units sounds like a recipe for a miserable semester.</p>