How many credits should I take?

[Mia_7]

Hi!

So I'm starting my MPs program soon in Tech. Management (total of 30 credit hours), I was wondering what is considered to be an overload and what is reasonble (max credit allowed per term is 9)

I've signed up for 9 (3 courses) but since I'm moving to study abroad, thought I'd drop one, to ease the transition and adapt easily.

 

Thoughts and opinions?

 

Cheers

[fuzzylogician]

This question should really be addressed to the Director of Graduate Studies in your program or to your advisor. If not them, then more senior students in your program. Not knowing how your program is structured and how credits correspond to actual work, it's hard to give definitive advice about what's a reasonable course load. Without knowing more, I'd say 3 courses doesn't sound too bad, but since you're moving abroad maybe trying to keep a lighter load might be wise. The question I would want to know more about before making a decision is how your courses would be distributed over the other semesters in case you take a lighter load now, and whether having a heavy load later might interfere with your timely progress in the program (that is, will it interfere with your ability to spend time on research or devote time to writing). 

[Guest |||]

It will depend on the school, the program, the field, etc etc.  It will even depend on the classes themselves are things like, directed studies, working in a lab, etc etc considered courses?  Or are you strictly talking about someone lecturing you, as though a typical undergrad class.

 

 

All in all though, 5 courses, if they are lecture based, is very heavy for grad school, at least in my field.  Three courses is passable but still a bit heavy, I'd aim for 1-2 if possible.

Edited July 23, 2013 by |||

[rising_star]

One course seems way too light for a semester! In my MA department, the expectation was that grad students would take 3 grad courses a semester. In my PhD department, the expectation is 2 grad courses a semester.

[Guest |||]

Guess it varies from school to school.  I could take one course a semester and meet the requirements!

[michigan girl]

Each school determines the minimum credits required to maintain at least half-time status (and eligibility for financial aid). For instance, you may find that your school requires four credits per semester to maintain half-time status. In that case, do not fall underneath that threshold.