• Course Schedules
• Prerequisites Guidance
• How to Register
• Adding or Dropping a Course
• Withdrawing from the University
• Change or Addition of Degree, Major, Minor, or Option
• Double Blocking and Credit Overload
• Registration Errors
• Registration Timetable
• ELearner Eligibility

Double Blocking and Credit Overload 

It is never recommended for students to take more than one class during a given block or to exceed recommended maximum credit load.  However, in rare instances where other viable course scheduling solutions are not available, a student may consider discussing with their advisor double blocking or credit overload. 

Double Blocking 

A student may not attempt more than five (5) credits in a 4-week block.  If a student needs to exceed this maximum credit, a petition for double blocking must be completed and returned to the registrar’s office.  For a double block petition to be considered for approval it must include the following: 

• Completed Course/Credit Overload Petition 
• An attached copy of your schedule printed from DAWGS 
• Obtain written approval by signature from the two instructors the student is trying to double-block. Please note that faculty are under no obligation to approve (i.e. they may deny) a request. 
• Include a justification of why the double block is required. 

• Obtain the signature of your faculty academic advisor or if you do not have a faculty advisor yet a signature from the advising office. 
• The completed form and supporting materials (i.e. faculty signatures) are returned to the Registrar’s Office for review. Please note that returning of the form does not guarantee approval. 

After the student returns the completed form to the Registrar’s Office, it will go through one of the following processes to for consideration of approval. 

• If a student’s UMW GPA is above 3.00 and they are not exceeding the maximum semester credit load the double block will be approved at the Registrar’s Office. 
• If a student’s UMW GPA is above 3.00 and they are exceeding the maximum semester credit load the double block will be reviewed by the Academic Standards Committee. The Registrar’s Office will notify the student if the Academic Standards Committee approves or denies their petition. 
• If a student’s UMW GPA is below 2.00 the double block will be reviewed by the Academic Standard Committee. The Registrar’s Office will notify the student if the Academic Standards Committee approves or denies their petition. 

For those double block requests that must be reviewed by the Academic Standards Committee, this committee typically meets once a block. 

Maximum Credit Load 

A student may not enroll in an excess amount of credits each semester.  The guidelines for maximum credit load are: 

• Student with a 3.00+ UMW GPA 
  Fall or Spring Semester – 20 credits 
  Summer Semester – 15 credits 

• Student with a 2-2.99 UMW GPA 
  Fall or Spring Semester -18 credits 
  Summer Semester -14 credits 
• Students on Academic Probation 
  Fall or Spring Semester -16 credit 
  Summer Semester -12 credits 
• New First Time or Transfer Students in Good Academic Standing 
  Fall or Spring Semester -18 credits 
  Summer Semester -14 credits 

If a student needs to exceed the semester maximum credit, a petition for Course/Credit Overload  must be completed and returned to the Registrar’s Office.  For a Course/Credit Overload petition to be considered for approval it must include the following: 

• Completed Course/Credit Overload Petition. 

• An attached copy of your schedule printed from DAWGS 
• Complete the section noting which course the student desires to add the course that will place them in overload status. 
• Include a justification of why the overload is required at this time in your academic career. 
• Obtain the signature of your faculty academic advisor or if you do not have a faculty advisor yet a signature from the advising office. 
• If the overload is for 21 credits exactly and the student has a UMW GPA of 3.00 or higher obtain the signature of the Provost. 
• The completed form and supporting materials (i.e. advisor signatures) is returned to the Registrar’s Office for review. Please note that returning of the form does not guarantee approval. 

After the student returns the completed form to the Registrar’s Office, it will go through one of the following processes to for consideration of approval. 

• If a student’s UMW GPA is above 3.00 and the overload will only take them to 20 credits the petition will be approved at the Registrar’s Office. 
• If a student’s UMW GPA is above 3.00 and the are registering for exactly 21 credits the Director of Student Success will review and sign the petition if approved. In this scenario it is the responsibility of the student to obtain the signature of the Director of Student Success. 
• If a student’s UMW GPA is 3.00 or higher and they are desiring 22 credits or higher the petition will be reviewed by the Academic Standards Committee. The Registrar’s Office will notify the student if the Academic Standards Committee approves or denies their petition. 
• If a student’s UMW GPA is 2.99 or lower and they are petitioning for 20 credits or higher, the petition is reviewed by the Academic Standards Committee. The Registrar’s Office will notify the student if the Academic Standards Committee approves or denies their petition 

For the course credit requests that must be reviewed by the Academic Standards Committee, this committee typically meets once a block.