Academic Credit
The credit hour is the basic unit of measurement of student educational accomplishment and is used to measure progress toward a degree, which in turn enables PSU’s programs to be eligible for Title IV Financial Aid programs under the Higher Education Act. At Portland State University the academic credit hour definition is based on the traditional Carnegie unit and complies with the Federal financial aid (United States Department of Education’s (USDE) regulations [34 CFR 600.02 and 668.8, effective July 1, 2020) and the guidance of the NWCCU.
At PSU, one credit normally connotes 10 hours of lecture or 20 or more hours of laboratory, studio, or activity work. The majority of courses at Portland State University involve three or four hours per week of lecture-recitation. PSU is on the quarter-system calendar. Semester credits transferred from other accredited United States schools may be converted to PSU’s credits by multiplying by 1.5.
The 1.5 multiplication rules apply only to semester credits transferred from U.S. schools. Semester credits transferred from accredited schools outside the United States will be converted according to established international transfer credit guidelines and policies.
Academic Credit Overload
Undergraduate Academic Credit Overload
Undergraduate students who enroll in more than 21 credits per term are considered to be in academic overload. PSU audit credits and transfer credit taken at other institutions while concurrently enrolled at PSU are counted in determining overload status. Transfer credits that result in an overload for a given term will not be accepted in transfer unless prior approval has been granted.
Academic overload must be approved on a term-by-term basis as follows:
- 22-25 credits: Students must obtain prior approval from their academic program adviser using the Overload Approval Form, to be submitted to the Office of the Registrar in advance of the overload term.
- 26 or more credits: Students must obtain prior permission from the Academic Requirements Committee (ARC) by submitting an ARC petition in advance of the overload term. Students must provide justification for the overload and obtain written support from their academic program adviser. Petitions must be submitted using the Academic Requirements Committee petition prior to the first day of the overload term.
Graduate Academic Credit Overload
Graduate students must obtain approval for registration in excess of 16 credits (graduate and undergraduate credits combined) via the Overload Approval form. A student registering for 17 to 19 credits must obtain the approval from their department chair or faculty adviser. A student registering for 20 credits or more must obtain the approval of their department chair and the Graduate School. A graduate assistant registering for more than 16 credits must obtain approval from their department chair and the Graduate School.
Computer Science and Electrical & Computer Engineering graduate students have a lower maximum registration limit of 10 credits. These students must obtain approval to register for 11 or more credits via the Overload Approval form.
Class standing
Class standing is based on the number of credits a student has completed, according to the following schedule:
| Class Standing |
Credits Completed |
| Freshman |
1-44 |
| Sophomore |
45-89 |
| Upper-division standing |
90 or more |
| Junior |
90-134 |
| Senior |
135 or more |
| Postbaccalaureate |
Hold an undergraduate degree from an accredited college or university |