The minimum full-time load is 12 load hours, usually four courses. An average load is 15 credit hours. If you take fewer than 12 load hours a semester, you are a part-time student. Permission from the Associate Dean of Instruction of the student’s program is required to take more than 19 hours. Students who plan to work while taking classes should talk with their academic advisor or an Enrollment Specialist to realistically plan how much time can be committed to college studies, work obligations and home responsibilities.
Most associate degree programs require 62-72 credit hours of course work. In order to graduate in two years a student should plan to take 15-18 hours per semester. Each hour of work in class can be expected to require at least two hours of study outside of class. Students with no outside employment or other major responsibilities can generally carry a full-time load. If a student intends to work more than 15 hours a week, the College recommends that the student reduce academic load and plan to take more than two years to complete a degree.
Recommended levels of work and study are as follows:
- If you work 1 to 10 hours per week, CCC recommends you schedule 13-16 credit hours.
- If you work 11 to 20 hours per week, CCC recommends you schedule 9-13 credit hours.
- If you work 21 to 30 hours per week, CCC recommends you schedule 6-9 credit hours.
- If you work 31 to 40 hours per week, CCC recommends you schedule 3-6 credit hours