5034 Credit Limitation per Term Procedure

Procedure

Policy Details  

Policy Name: Credit Limitation per Term 

Policy Number: 5034 

Applicable Code/Law: N/A   

Definitions 

Credit: A unit measuring course work based on instructional time and out-of-class effort. 

Procedural Guidelines   

Students who wish to register for more than 23 credits must complete the Credit Limitation Exception form prior to the start of each quarter in which they wish to take additional credits, which will be reviewed by the necessary committee members of the college for approval. If the request is approved, students may add additional courses not exceeding the 30 credits maximum limit for the term. 

Under some circumstances, students are not required to follow these procedures. These circumstances include: 

  • Students participating in specific academic or special programs that require additional credits. Students who are required to take more than 23 credits, but less than 30 credits, as per their special program requirements do not need to fill out the Credit Limitation Exception form but will still require Enrollment Services to enroll them into the course(s) that exceed 23 credits. 
  • Students on academic standing credit restriction are subject to policy 5032 and its associated procedures and are ineligible for a credit limitation exception. 
  • Students taking non-credit classes (ABE, ESL, GED) or classes taught through continuing education have no credit limitation. 
  • Students subject to other college policies or procedures may have a different credit limitation imposed. 

Running Start Students 

Running Start students are held to the same credit limitation standards as all other Shoreline College students. Any Running Start student who wishes to register for more than 23 credits may do so if they meet the criteria listed above. However, Running Start students only receive a tuition waiver for the number of credits authorized by their home high school in the state of Washington. Students are responsible for tuition and fees for credits that exceed their high school authorization. 

Responsibilities 

The Office of the Registrar is responsible for implementing these procedures. 

Approvals  

Recommended by Executive Team: 10/13/2026