Opinion: The 18-Credit Limit is a Barrier to Success
Extra tuition costs can bar students from pursuing additional course offerings, or even finishing their majors on time.
by Molly Koch
This story was originally published on New York University’s Washington Square News.
With course registration approaching, you’ll find many students looking through Albert multiple times a day, trying to craft the perfect schedule that will fulfill all of their academic requirements, all while sticking to the university’s credit limit. My shopping cart is my worst enemy at this point, but it’s not the courses or schedules offered that make registration frustrating — it’s the credits. NYU is one of the highest-ranked universities in the United States, and offers an inconceivably wide range of courses. But the 18-credit limit per semester prevents students from taking full advantage of the university’s classes. NYU should increase the credit limit to 20, without requiring students to pay more in tuition.
An increase in the credit limit would allow students to explore more subjects during their time at the university. With a credit limit of 18, students who want to take more than the four standard four-credit courses are forced to take a two-credit class, which is not always the best option, as they will have to take another two credits to fulfill any requirements. Unfortunately, some of the more popular classes like “The Science of Happiness” or “Love Actually” are only offered as four-credit courses, leaving students who are already hitting limit with fewer options. This not only is a detriment to the students’ academic experience, but also restricts their ability to broaden a base of knowledge and skills beyond their chosen major.
For those who are trying to complete a double major, or a major with a minor, the credit limit increase would be even more beneficial. Many students come to NYU with diverse academic interests and ambitions, and a credit limit of 18 can create significant barriers to achieving those goals in only four years. Coming from the Liberal Studies program, I face pressure to add an art history major to my journalism one, but I’m constantly in fear of not graduating on time. Students would have greater flexibility to take the additional courses necessary to complete their academic pursuits without the added financial burden of paying extra tuition.
Read the rest of the story at Washington Square News.