Study Load
Academic terms are broadly defined by these designations: fall, spring, and summer (sometimes titled Summer B). Sessions of varying numbers of weeks are offered within each term. The total number of units in which a student enrolls in any number of sessions within one term determines a student’s enrollment status for study load standards, financial aid eligibility, and prior student loan deferment purposes. For example, 3 units taken in 8-week session 1 and 6 units taken in 8-week session 2 combine for a total of 9 units for that term.
All units earned through Azusa Pacific University, regardless of the number of weeks in the session in which they are taken, are semester units. See the Academic Calendars for specific term and session information.
For the Master of Arts in Clinical Psychology: Marriage and Family Therapy (MFT) program and Substance Use Disorders certificate, as well as the Master of Science in Applied Statistics and Data Science program, enrollment status is calculated as follows:
Fall or Spring
- 4 units is half-time status
- 5-6 units is three-quarter-time status
- 7 or more units is full-time status
Summer
- 3-4 units is half-time status
- 5 units is three-quarter-time status
- 6 or more units is full-time status
For nursing master’s degree and credential/certificate programs, the Master of Public Health (MPH) program, and the postbaccalaureate Artist Certificate Program, enrollment status is calculated as follows:
Fall, Spring, or Summer
- 3-4 units is half-time status
- 5 units is three-quarter-time status
- 6 or more units is full-time status
For the Master of Social Work (MSW) program and master’s degrees within Azusa Pacific Seminary, enrollment status is calculated as follows:
Fall or Spring
- 4-5 units is half-time status
- 6-7 units is three-quarter-time status
- 8 or more units is full-time status
Summer
- 3-4 units is half-time status
- 5 units is three-quarter-time status
- 6 or more units is full-time status
For teaching credential/certificate programs, enrollment status is calculated as follows:
Fall, Spring, or Summer
- 6-8 units is half-time status
- 9-11 units is three-quarter-time status
- 12 or more units is full-time status
For all other master’s degrees and certificate/credential-only programs not mentioned above, enrollment status is calculated as follows:
Fall or Spring
- 5-6 units is half-time status
- 7-8 units is three-quarter-time status
- 9 or more units is full-time status
Summer
- 3-4 units is half-time status
- 5 units is three-quarter-time status
- 6 or more units is full-time status
For doctoral and clinical fellowship programs, enrollment status is calculated as follows:
Fall, Spring, or Summer
- 3-4 units is half-time status
- 5 units is three-quarter-time status
- 6 or more units is full-time status
With certain restrictions, students at the dissertation level are considered full time if enrolled in any one of the following courses:
| Code | Title | Units |
|---|---|---|
| EDL 770 | Dissertation Milestone: Proposal B | 2 |
| EDL 771 | Dissertation Milestone: Proposal C | 2 |
| EDL 772 | Dissertation Milestone: Finalizing the Proposal | 2 |
| EDL 773 | Dissertation Milestone: Data Collection | 2 |
| EDL 774 | Dissertation Milestone: Data Analysis | 2 |
| EDL 776 | Dissertation Milestone: Results, Discussion, and Conclusion | 2 |
| EDL 777 | Dissertation | 2 |
| GDMN 790 | Ministry Project | 4 |
| GDMN 792 | Ministry Project Continuation | 2 |
| GNRS 732 | DNP Clinical Residency | 0 |
| GNRS 733A | Residency IA | 1 |
| GNRS 733B | Residency IB | 1 |
| GNRS 733C | Residency IC | 1 |
| GNRS 734A | Residency IIA | 1 |
| GNRS 734B | Residency IIB | 1 |
| GNRS 734C | Residency IIC | 1 |
| GNRS 735 | DNP Scholarly Project Seminar | 3 |
| GNRS 736 | DNP Scholarly Project Seminar: Evaluation and Dissemination | 2 |
| GNRS 780 | Doctoral Seminar I: Elements of a Proposal and IRB Application | 3 |
| GNRS 781 | Doctoral Seminar II: Developing a Grant Proposal | 3 |
| GNRS 782 | Doctoral Seminar III: Writing for Publication | 3 |
| GNRS 783 | Doctoral Seminar IV: Developing Professional Presentations | 3 |
| GNRS 784 | Dissertation Seminar V | 2-4 |
| GNRS 798 | Continuous Doctoral Study | 0 |
| HED 791 | Dissertation Proposal I | 1 |
| HED 792 | Dissertation Proposal II | 1 |
| HED 794 | Dissertation Research I | 3 |
| HED 795 | Dissertation Research II | 3 |
| HED 796 | Dissertation Proposal Seminar | 3 |
| HED 797 | Dissertation Research | 3 |
| HEDL 785 | Dissertation Proposal | 1 |
| HEDL 787 | Dissertation Seminar | 2 |
| HEDL 789 | Dissertation Research | 3-4 |
| PPSY 720 | Clinical and Professional Consultation | 1 |
| PPSY 731 | Dissertation Development | 1 |
| PPSY 745 | Dissertation I | 1 |
| PPSY 746 | Dissertation II | 1 |
| PPSY 747 | Dissertation III | 1 |
| PPSY 748 | Dissertation IV | 1 |
| PPSY 750 | Predoctoral Internship | 1 |
| PPSY 752 | Predoctoral Internship | 0 |
| PPSY 755 | Dissertation V | 1 |
| PPSY 756 | Dissertation VI | 1 |
| PPSY 787 | Dissertation Continuation | 0 |
| PPSY 795 | Dissertation Continuation | 3 |
| RMS 720 | Dissertation I: Introduction and Literature Review | 3 |
| RMS 721 | Dissertation II: Methods and Research Proposal | 3 |
| RMS 722 | Dissertation III: Data Collection, Results, and Analysis | 3 |
| RMS 723 | Dissertation IV: Discussion and Research Defense | 3 |
| RMS 749 | Dissertation Continuation | 1 |
| RMS 798 | Doctoral Study Continuation | 1 |