The College defines a full-time student as one who is carrying a minimum full-time credit load as follows:
- Doctor of Chiropractic Program: Twelve credit hours with half-time status being six credit hours.
- Undergraduate Studies: Twelve credit hours with half-time status being six credit hours.
Palmer College also recognizes that not all students prefer or are able to handle the full-time academic load of a professional program. Some students may have difficulty in attending full-time and may need to extend their academic careers. Students choosing to extend their studies should refer to the Length of Time Allowed to Complete Academic Course of Study Policy.
Maximum Credit Load refers to the maximum number of course credit hours a student may register for during any one academic term. Students in good academic standing may register for a maximum of:
- Doctor of Chiropractic program: Twenty-seven credit hours in the core curriculum and up to two elective courses are allowed without prior approval from the Registrar. Students placed on academic probation or academic warning will be restricted to a maximum schedule of 15 credit hours for that academic term of enrollment. Any student wishing to take more than two elective courses must obtain permission from the Registrar.
- Bachelor of Science (B.S.) completion program: Fifteen credit hours without prior approval. Students placed on academic probation or academic warning will be restricted to taking a maximum of 12 credit hours for that academic term of enrollment. Students taking B.S. courses simultaneously with a full D.C. degree program credit load must have prior approval to take more than six undergraduate credit hours.
