Petition for Overload of Credit (SBS)

Use this petition to request enrollment in more than 19 credits. Requirements: Cumulative GPA of at least 2.75; no unresolved INCs; no Academic Sanctions (Academic Warning, Probation, Reinstatement from Suspension or Dismissal); additional course(s) must be appropriate. Students in their first semester at UMass are NOT eligible for a credit overload.

When to Use This Form:

  • Fall/Spring: If you wish to take more than 19 credits.
  • Summer: If you wish to take more than 16 credits total for the term, or 8 credits in any session.
  • Winter: If you wish to take more than 8 credits.

Instructions: Please fill out this complete form and make sure to include the Personal Statement. This should explain why the overload is both desirable and possible. The Dean will consider your GPA, the number of credits you have successfully completed in the past, the specific courses you wish to take, and how close you are to graduation. Additionally, if you are requesting more than 22 credits in fall/spring, or any kind of winter/summer credit overload, call or stop by the office to schedule an appointment to discuss you request.

Qualifications: Cumulative GPA of at least 2.75; no unresolved INCs; no Academic Sanctions (Academic Warning, Probation, Reinstatement from Suspension or Dismissal); additional course(s) must be appropriate. Students in the first semester of their first year are NOT eligible for a credit overload.

IMPORTANT: This petition will not affect the 19-credit limit for confirmed registration prior to the start of the fall/spring semester. Even if your request is approved, the request can’t be activated in SPIRE system until closer to the beginning of the fall/spring semester (August/December); thus, you will not be able to add the overload course(s) before then. Spring requests may be held until after grades come out, so petitions reviewed in December may be tabled until January.

In Addition: You are advised to add the courses that may be most important to your academic plan now in case they are full by the time a decision is made. You will receive the Dean’s response at your UMass email. Please email sbsadvising@sbs.umass.edu if you had any technical issues and are concerned about whether the form went through. Do not resend unless instructed to do so, multiple forms slows down the processing of your request.