Guidelines for Undergraduates to Take Graduate Level Courses

Undergraduate students who have achieved junior standing and a grade point average of 3.0 or greater may petition the Committee on the Standing of Graduate Students (SOGS) for permission to register for graduate level coursework.

1. No undergraduate student may take 400-level courses during a term where the student’s total credits are greater than 18 (including audits).
2. All students receiving a graduate degree must be enrolled one full semester or summer as a regular student prior to the awarding of a graduate degree.
3. An undergraduate student may use no more than 12 credits taken as an undergraduate toward a graduate degree. These courses must be at the 300 and 400 level and beyond all undergraduate degree requirements.
4. Students should have achieved junior standing and a grade point average of 3.0 to take 400 level courses.
5. Students must petition the Standing of Graduate Students and the Standing of Students for permission via the Undergraduate SOS Petition Form.
6. Students requesting a second graduate level course in a given term must petition the Standing of Graduate students committee. (Students enrolled in two graduate courses may not register for more than 15 credits.)

Accelerated 4+1 Programs

Students with junior standing who are completing the undergraduate portion of their 4 + 1 program may register for 400-level courses through the process of the college in which the graduate program will be completed. Students with sophomore standing who are completing the undergraduate portion of their 4 + 1 may register for 300-level courses in their graduate curriculum through the process of the college in which the graduate program will be completed.

Students may take a maximum of 18 credits when enrolled in two 400-level courses and may petition to overload when enrolled in one 400-level course. Students in these programs may begin their graduate-level coursework when they enter their second year of attendance at Lehigh, achieve a grade point average of 3.0 or greater, and attain Sophomore standing, in consultation with their undergraduate major advisor.