Page 98 - BSU Undergraduate-Catalog-2017-2019

requirement for graduation is one hundred and twenty (120) semester hours; some programs such
as elementary and early childhood/special education require more, in keeping with NCATE and
state standards.

A student’s academic credit load is normally fifteen (15) hours per semester. A student may
register for a maximum of two courses per SUMMER session and for a maximum of two courses
in the winter MINI-SEMESTER. Incoming freshmen placed in three developmental courses are
restricted to no more than thirteen (13) semester hours during the First Semester of enrollment.
Students are assessed an additional fee for each developmental course.

The minimum semester hour load for a full-time student is twelve (12) semester hours, and the
maximum semester load is eighteen (18). Students who are in good academic standing— cumulative
GPA of 3.50 or higher based on thirty (30) consecutive quality hours completed at Bowie State
University—may pursue up to twenty-one (21) semester hours in a semester with the permission of
the Dean of his/her School. Students wishing to enroll in more than twenty-one (21) semester hours
must have maintained a cumulative grade point average of 3.75 or higher and demonstrated the
ability to manage the course load sought. Full-time students with semester hours in excess of
eighteen (18) will pay the per semester hour rates beyond eighteen (18) semester hours.

Classification of Students
Students are classified according to the following semester hours:

Freshman 0 – 29
Sophomore 0 – 59
Junior 60 – 89
Senior 90+

Course Numbering
All courses are numbered according to the following scheme:

099-100 Developmental (credits not counted toward graduation)

101-199 Primarily for Freshmen

200-299 Primarily for Sophomores

300-399 Primarily for Juniors

400-499 Primarily for Seniors

500 and up Graduate Courses

Grading System
The following is a description of the criteria used in assigning letter grades:

A 4.0 Superior
B 3.0 Above Average

C 2.0 Average
D 1.0 Below Average

F 0.0 Failure

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