What is an appropriate schedule?

While planning your schedule, there are numerous issues to consider. If this is your first experience in college, it is important to understand how much time you will spend in the classroom and how much time you will need outside of class time to complete your assignments.

Most courses at PSU are offered for 3 to 5 credit hours. One credit is equivalent to one hour of lecture or recitation per week or two hours of laboratory or studio activity per week. PSU advisers usually recommend that you allow at least two hours of study time per week for every credit hour of lecture / recitation. Therefore, if you are a full-time student taking 12-18 credits of coursework, on the average you should allow 24-36 hours of time outside of class to complete your assignments.

A full-time student at PSU is enrolled in 12 or more credits. To enroll in more than 21 credits you must obtain adviser approval by using the Consent for Overload Form.

Note: It is also important to consider the other commitments you may have in your life in addition to your academic ones (e.g., work, family, community) when planning your schedule.