Academics
Semester Dates. The academic school year begins with Fall term,
which starts in mid-August and ends early December. Some programs only admit new
students for Fall term, please check with the department. Spring term begins early
January and ends early May. Summer term begins early June and ends mid-August.
Credits. The quantity of work a student does at
Lamar is measured in credit hours. The number of credit hours a course is worth
is usually based on the number of hours it meets each week. Most courses are worth
either three or four credit hours. Undergraduate students need a minimum of 120
credits to graduate and typically complete their degree in 4 years. Masters students
need a minimum of 36 credits to graduate and typically complete their degree in 2
years. Doctoral students need a minimum of 60 and typically complete their degree
in 3-5 years.
Full-time Status. International students on F and J non-immigrant
visas must pursue a full course of study to remain in status with the INS. This means that
undergraduates must take 12 credit hours each long semester (Fall and Spring semesters);
and graduate students must take 9 credit hours each long semester. International students
are not required to enroll in summer courses, although they may do so if they wish.
Grades. Grades are computed on a 4-point scale, based on class
participation and achievement on examinations, essays, research papers and other assignments.
For each course the following grades are used where a “+” or “–“ can be added to the straight
letter grade to signify slightly higher or lower achievement respectively.
| A |
= 4 points (excellent) |
| B |
= 3 points (above average) |
| C |
= 2 points (average) |
| D |
= 1 point (below average) |
| F |
= 0 points (failure – no credit) |
Teaching Methods. In the United States and at Lamar University
class participation is encouraged and in some cases, required. Rather than strictly
lecture, professors often engage students in discussion so they can learn from the
professor and the diverse experiences of their classmates.
Links to Academic Colleges
Links to Catalogs