Tuition payments, by decision of the Corporation, are based on the norm of 32 courses and eight semesters of full-time residence at Brown.
Office of the Registrar
Progress to the Degree & Standing
Minimum Credits
- To encourage risk-taking in the planning of educational programs, or to provide a degree of flexibility in individual programs, the minimum number of course credits that must be successfully completed for graduation has been set at 30. (Successful completion means a course completed with a grade of A,B,C, or S.).
- The minimum quantity is set higher for students enrolled in the 5 year combined AB-ScB program (38 credits) and the concurrent Bachelor's/Master's program (36 credits*).
- The maximum number of courses that may be completed in eight semesters is 40.
- A student may choose to take a minimum of three to a maximum of five courses in a particular semester.
*Effective May 2, 2017 the required number of credits for the concurrent degree was raised from 34 to 36. Any students accepted into concurrent program after May 2, 2016 must complete 36 credits.
Good Standing
Normal academic progress is the completion of eight courses in two consecutive semesters. Under the guidelines for academic standing established by the faculty, to remain in good standing, a student must satisfactorily complete at least 3 courses by the end of the first semester, 7 courses by the end of the second semester, 11 courses by the end of the third, 15 by the end of the fourth, 18 by the end of the fifth, 22 by the end of the sixth, 26 by the end of the seventh and 30 courses to graduate after eight semesters. (Note: A course recorded as "Incomplete" has not yet been satisfactorily completed and cannot, therefore, be counted in calculations of academic standing.) In addition, a student will satisfactorily complete a minimum of seven (7) courses in any two consecutive semesters. Students who do not meet these requirements will have their cases referred to the Committee on Academic Standing for action which may result in academic status of Warning, Serious Warning or Suspension/Dismissal. Academic status of Suspension and Dismissal will be noted permanently on a student's transcript. A student may not be enrolled in fewer than three (3) courses in any semester without written permission from the Dean of the College for short work.
Courses not Completed at Brown
Academic standing is determined only on the basis of courses completed at Brown, including, as of Summer 2000, credits earned in the Brown Summer Session, and as of 2016 post-matriculation transfer credits. Pre-Brown Transfer credit and A.P. credit do not figure in the determination of academic standing. Transfer credit for courses taken at other institutions, either in this country or abroad, may be granted by the Committee on Academic Standing on the recommendation of a department and, in the case of courses qualifying for concentration credit, on the recommendation of the student's concentration advisor.
Transfer Credit
Students who apply transfer credits towards completion of the requirements for their Brown baccalaureate degree, must complete successfully at least 15 courses and four full-time semesters of course work at Brown. (Note: Terms from Brown exchange programs and Brown Summer School do not apply to the four semester residence requirement.) For any semester to count as a full-time semester of residence, a minimum of three courses must be taken. Resumed Education students may study either on a part-time or full-time basis.
A.P. Credit
A.P. credits, do not actually carry academic course credit, may not be applied to the minimum requirement of satisfactory completion of the minimum 30 courses. However, A.P. credits may contribute to advanced standing, as described under the Tuition/Enrollment Requirement section below.
Additional Requirements
Since its founding, Brown has stressed the importance of writing. Competence in reading and writing is required for all degrees. Beyond competence, Brown seeks to develop the quality of writing in courses throughout the University.
The Concentration is the focal point for a student's undergraduate educational experience.
Every candidate for a baccalaureate degree, except those enrolled in the Resumed Education Program, must be enrolled for at least four semesters as a full-time student and must complete satisfactorily a minimum of fifteen courses at Brown.
Prior to the awarding of a baccalaureate degree, each candidate normally must have accumulated credit for the payment of a minimum of eight semesters of tuition or the equivalent.