semester
conversion
2012
Academic Credit FAQ
How many credits will be required for graduation under semesters?
Graduation requirements will be as follows:
Associate degree programs – 60 semester credit hours
Baccalaureate degree programs – 120 semester credit hours
Master’s programs – minimum of 30 semester credit hours
Doctoral programs – minimum of 60 semester credit hours after completing a master’s
degree or minimum of 90 semester credit hours after completing a bachelor’s degree
Note: These requirements are the minimum for graduation. Some programs may require additional
hours.
How will class levels be determined under the semester system?
Class levels for students at the University of Cincinnati are determined based upon a student’s
academic program and the total number of credit hours accumulated (total transfer hours plus UC
hours earned) at the start of the semester. (Credits earned under a quarter system will be converted
to semester credit hours.)
The semester-based credit hour breakdowns are based upon the provost-mandated minimum of 120
credit hours for a baccalaureate degree. A student’s class is determined as follows:
Academic Programs
Associate degrees offered
Baccalaureate degrees (non-co-op)
Baccalaureate degrees (co-op)
Non-degree undergraduate
Freshman
0-29
0-29
0-23
0-29
Sophomore
30+
30-59
24-47
30-59
Pre-Junior
NA
NA
48-71
NA
Junior
NA
60-89
72-92
60-89
Senior
NA
90+
93+
90+
If I begin on the quarter system and finish on the semester system, will I lose credits?
You will not lose credits. Whatever you’ve earned on the quarter system will apply in the semester
system. See UC’s Pledge to Students
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Will I lose transfer credit during the conversion process?
No. UC’s Pledge to Students guarantees that credit you earn on the quarter system, including
transfer credit, will apply in the semester system.
If you are an incoming transfer student, you can learn more about how credit you’ve earned at other
institutions will transfer to UC at http://admissions.uc.edu/transfer/faq_transfer.html#credits, the
Undergraduate Admissions website.
How will my quarter-hour credits be converted to semester-system credits?
Since 120 credits required for a semester system bachelor’s degree is roughly two-thirds of the 185
quarter credits required for a bachelor’s degree, your quarter credits will be converted to semester
credits by multiplying your quarter credits by two-thirds.
How will my GPA (grade point average) be affected?
Your semester system GPA will be identical to your quarter system GPA. You can check your grade
point average under the “Check My Grades” option at www.onestop.uc.edu.
How many credits/courses will I take in a typical semester?
In order to complete an associate’s degree in two years, you should complete 30 semester hours per
year. This is the equivalent of 15 semester hours, or five courses, per semester. In order to complete
a bachelor’s degree in four years, you should complete 30 semester hours per year. This is the
equivalent of 15 semester hours, or five courses, per semester.
Full-time master’s and doctoral level students typically carry 12 credits per semester.
How many credits will be required for full-time status?
This remains the same. Full-time status for undergraduates will be 12 credit hours per semester. Fulltime status for graduate students will be 10 hours.
If I’m in the middle of a two or three-quarter sequence of courses, how will I complete it on the
semester system?
Whenever possible, complete all sequences you have begun on the quarter system while you are on
the quarter system. If you see that you are not going to complete a sequence on the quarter system,
you may want to consider delaying beginning the sequence until the conversion to semesters is
made. If you have already begun a sequence and are unable to complete it, you will contact and work
with your academic advisor to determine the best sequence completion plan for you.
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If a quarter system course is phased out or no longer required under the semester system, will
the credits earned still count toward graduation?
Yes. You will receive credit for all courses taken on the quarter system and for the completion of
requirements that existed in the quarter system.
How will credits transferred from other colleges and universities be counted?
Credits transferred from any institutions still on quarters will be converted to semester credits via the
previously mentioned two-thirds ratio. Credits transferred from institutions on the semester system
will remain as semester credits.
How will advanced-placement credits be counted on the semester system?
If you have advanced-placement credits in place, they will be converted from quarter to semester
credits via the two-thirds ratio.
If I’m enrolled during the transition, how will I know what my graduation requirements will be?
You will consult with your academic advisor. Generally speaking, you will be required to complete the
semester-course equivalents of the quarter courses that were required but not yet completed.
How will I know what my semester requirements are?
Your academic advisor will continue to advise you on degree-completion requirements.
How can I tell if I will still be at UC when the conversion occurs in Fall 2012?
If, in Fall 2010, it will take you longer than two years to graduate, then you will likely be impacted. The
typical full-time, undergraduate student completes 45 quarter hours per year. If you are more than 90
quarter hours from degree completion, then you are likely to be impacted.
An easy way to check this is to run your individual degree audit at https://dars.uc.edu/
darswebstu359/servlet/SignInServlet or consult your college advising office at www.uc.edu/
registrar/advising/adv_directory.html.
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