SSC Frequently Asked Questions

Program length varies depending on the number of units needed to complete the program, as well as whether a student decides to attend full-time or part-time. Estimates of program length are provided on the APU website as “normal completion time.” This is the amount of time necessary for a student to complete all requirements for a degree or certificate according to the institution’s catalog. In most cases, Azusa Pacific calculates normal time based on a student’s pursuit of their program at a full-time rate.

Some graduate programs require an interview while some do not. Consult the current graduate catalog for the program you are interested in to see if an interview is required for that program.

The Office of Graduate and Professional Admissions in the Student Services Center notifies students of their admission status. A letter is sent when either:

• a program acceptance decision has been received from the department and the student is admitted to the university.
• the applicant does not meet minimum university admission requirements and is denied admission.

The university has several complexes that are open to students as well as non-students. Contact the Office of Residence Life for more information.

Academic terms are broadly defined by the designations: fall, spring, and summer (sometimes titled Summer B). Sessions of varying numbers of weeks are offered within each term. Enrollment in all sessions within one term form a student’s enrollment status for study load standards, financial aid eligibility, and prior student loan deferment purposes. All units earned through Azusa Pacific University, regardless of the number of weeks in the session in which they are taken, are semester units. See the Academic Calendar for specific term and session information.

For credential and certificate students, full-time study in a summer term is defined as 9 units or more; half-time study load in summer is 5-8 units.

Students in a professional bachelor’s degree program qualify for full-time status at 12 units or more per fall or spring term; three quarter time at 9 units, and half-time at 6 units.

Students in the Master of Arts in Clinical Psychology: Marriage and Family Therapy program qualify for full-time status by taking at least 7 units per 16-week term and 4-6 units for half-time status.

Students in the Master of Social Work program qualify for full-time status in the fall and/or spring terms by taking at least 8 units and qualify for half-time status by taking at least 4 units. Students in the Master of Social Work program qualify for full-time status in the summer term by taking at least 6 units and qualify for half-time status by taking at least 3 units.

Students in the Master of Science in Nursing program or post-master’s nursing certificates qualify for full-time status in the fall and/or spring terms by taking 6 units and qualify for half-time status by taking 3 units.

For all other master’s degrees and certificate/credential-only programs not listed above, to be classified as a full-time graduate student at the master’s or credential level, one must be enrolled in at least 9 units per fall or spring term (or combination of 16-week and 8-week sessions within the same term); at the doctoral level, 6 units. Comparable requirements for half-time status for fall and spring terms are 5-8 units, and 3 units at the doctoral level.

For master’s and doctoral students, full-time study in a summer term is defined as 6 units or more; half-time study load in summer is 3-5 units. Comparable requirements for half-time status for summer terms are 5-8 units, and 3 units at the doctoral level.

Students in the EdD in Educational Leadership program who work full-time may not enroll in more than 7 units. It is recommended that doctoral students not exceed the unit load as indicated by each program.

With certain restrictions, students at the dissertation level are considered full-time if enrolled in any one of the following courses:

• EDUC 777, EDUC 794, EDUC 795
• GDMN 790, GDMN 792
• GNRS 733A, GNRS 733B, GNRS 733C, GNRS 734A, GNRS 734B, GNRS 734C, GNRS 735, GNRS 780, GNRS 781, GNRS 782, GNRS 783, GNRS 784, GNRS 798
• HED 790, HED 794, HED 795
• PPSY 731, PPSY 745, PPSY 746, PPSY 747, PPSY 748, PPSY 750, PPSY 752, PPSY 755, PPSY 756, PPSY 795

Registration deadlines can be found by visiting the Graduate Academic Calendar or at the Student Services Center (SSC).