Academic Standing
Brown students are expected to complete four courses each semester, for a total of 32 courses over 4 years, and, with a few exceptions, must satisfactorily complete a minimum of 30 courses in 8 semesters. Students usually enroll in four courses in each semester but may elect to take three, four, or five courses. Registration for anything fewer than three courses ("workload reduction") requires special permission in consultation with a dean. RUE students are exempted from this policy.
In order to remain in good academic standing in progress towards a degree, a student will ordinarily pass 8 courses in any two consecutive semesters. Students have, in effect, two opportunities during their eight semesters to pass only three courses a semester. Courses taken at Brown during the summer may improve a student's academic standing in the following semester. In these cases, the notation of Warning or Serious Warning appears next to the summer term on the transcript; the improved status is shown next to the following semester on the transcript. Summer courses taken elsewhere have no effect on academic standing at Brown.
Some students encounter difficulty or adopt different patterns for completing the required minimum of thirty courses for graduation. In order to establish equity of treatment for all students, CAS has established guidelines, indicated in the chart on the next page, to interpret the levels of academic standing approved by the Faculty. Exceptions to the guidelines are recommended by academic or student life deans when a student's individual circumstances, either academic or personal, warrant special consideration.
Sem. |
Good Standing |
Warning |
Serious Warning |
Suspension |
|
| First Year | I |
3 |
2 |
1 |
0 |
II |
7 |
6 |
5 |
4 |
|
| Sophomore | III |
11 |
10 |
9 |
8 |
IV |
15 |
14 |
13 |
12 |
|
| Junior | V |
18 |
17 |
16 |
15 |
VI |
22 |
21 |
20 |
19 |
|
| Senior | VII |
26 |
25 |
24 |
23 |
VIII |
30 |
-- |
-- |
-- |