<p>I will be starting a 3 year Masters Program in Marriage and Family Therapy in the Fall. It's a Masters in Psychological Services and a Professional Diploma in Marriage and Family Therapy. For my first semester I've registered for 2 classes. The program bases it's 3-year timeline off 12 credits per semester for the first two years. In the Spring I should be starting a Graduate Assistantship(Office work) as well. My undergrad years I never fell under 12 credits and most semesters I did 15-18 credits. My Last semester I did work-study,18 credits, intern,and a weekend job. My last semester I received a 3.83. I feel like I did a good job balancing it all. However I am aware that Grad school is much harder that undergrad, so I'm wondering what is a manageable credit load for Grad school, with a Graduate Assistant ship.</p>
<p>If your program recommends 12 credits/semester, then that’s what I would recommend you take, at least in the beginning until you get a better idea for what to expect.</p>
<p>Grad classes are more intense than undergrad classes. If the classes are 3 credits a piece, 12 credits/4 classes is plenty - especially if you also have a GA job.</p>
<p>Thanks I’m starting off with 2 classes which is 6 credits. Because I’m paying with loans for my 1st and then it’ll be free my second semester with my GA job. So then I was figuring I’d take more classes but I just wasn’t sure if 12 credits/4 classes was crazy but I wouldn’t go above 12.</p>
<p>4 classes IS crazy. You will be very, very busy. I took 4 graduate classes each semester my first year of graduate school, and I also had a research assistantship for 20 hours a week. It was exhausting and difficult. I felt like I barely had time to sleep, much less finish everything in a day. I took 3 classes a semester my second year, and it made a HUGE difference.</p>