Level Authorization

The single asterisk (*) designates undergraduate courses that may be taken for graduate credit. Graduate or non-degree graduate students automatically receive graduate credit for any courses marked with a single asterisk (*). Undergraduate students within ten hours of completing their baccalaureate degree and with a cumulative GPA of 3.0 must submit an approved Level Restriction/Graduate Credit Authorization Form in order to receive graduate credit for such courses.

The double asterisk (**) designates undergraduate courses that may be taken for graduate credit by graduate students. Graduate credit is automatic if the graduate student is in a different degree program from that of the course marked with the double asterisk (**).

A graduate student who is enrolled in the same degree program offering the course must obtain a PROGRAM override from their department.

Distance from main campus may cause difficulty for students who want to enroll in graduate level courses. If a student falls within one of the categories covered by the Level Restriction/Graduate Credit Authorization Form policies, a completed form is required. However, the processing is slightly different.

First the originating office advisor (branch campus, or Extended University) completes the student and course level boxes and adds their initials in the "Official Use Only" area. If there is need for clarity as to the student’s or course status, contact Graduate Studies at (505) 277-2711.

Next the originating office or the student obtains the instructor’s signature (2) and the form is forwarded directly to Graduate Studies at the main UNM campus.

If Graduate Studies approves, the form will be sent to the main campus advisement office for signature (3). The campus advisement office is responsible for delivering the form to the Registrar’s Office for final processing and adjustment to the student’s academic record.

A student who requires a level restriction override must complete a Level Restriction/Graduate Credit Authorization Form. Each student is admitted to a specific level (i.e. associates, undergraduate, or graduate). Each course also has a level (i.e. associates, undergraduate, graduate). If a student wishes to enroll in a course outside their level the student may find they are not allowed to enroll in the course due to a level restriction. To obtain permission to enroll in the course, the student must process a Level Restriction/Graduate Credit Authorization Form. The student is not able to register without this form allowing override of the level restriction.

Examples of level restrictions are:
  • Associate level student who wishes to enroll in an undergraduate course (300+) for associate credit
    (BANNER CODE: Student = AD, Course = AD level)
  • Associate level student who wishes to enroll in an undergraduate course (300 +) for undergraduate credit
    (BANNER CODE: Student = AD level, Course = NU level)
  • A law or medical student who wishes to enroll in a graduate level course for graduate credit
    (BANNER CODE: Student = Prof level, Course = GR level)
  • A business student who wishes to enroll in a law course for graduate credit
    (BANNER CODE: Student = GR, Course = GR)

Non-degree undergraduate students who want to enroll in a graduate level course for graduate credit must complete a Level Restriction/Graduate Credit Authorization Form. The student is required to obtain the appropriate signatures (Graduate Studies, the instructor and the student’s undergraduate advisement office) before delivering the form to the Registrar’s Office where the final step – changing the course level – is made.

If these hours are applied to a UNM graduate degree they must also meet specific degree requirements: the final grade must be B or better; the courses must be taken within the time-to-degree limits and must be acceptable to the degree discipline faculty. At no time will UNM allow a student to count such courses for both a baccalaureate and a graduate degree; no "double dipping" is allowed.

Examples of graduate credit for non-degree undergraduates:
  • Non-degree undergraduate student enrolling in *EDUC 461 for graduate credit
    (BANNER CODE: Student = NU, Course = NG)
  • Non-degree undergraduate (international transfer) student enrolling in HIST 525 for graduate credit
    (BANNER CODE: Student = NU, Course = NG)

Undergraduate students who want to enroll in a graduate level course for graduate credit must meet specific criteria.  The student must be within 10 hours of earning a baccalaureate degree and have a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0.  This is not an automatic process. The undergraduate student must complete a Level Restriction/Graduate Credit Authorization Form. The student is required to obtain the appropriate signatures (Graduate Studies, the instructor and the student’s undergraduate advisement office) before delivering the form to the Registrar’s Office where the final step – changing the course level – is made.

UNM will allow a maximum of 9 graduate credit hours taken while in undergraduate status to be applied to a graduate degree. These hours must also meet degree requirements, specifically: the final grade must be B or better; the courses must be taken within the time-to-degree limits and must be acceptable to the degree discipline faculty. At no time will UNM allow a student to count such courses for both a baccalaureate and a graduate degree; no "double dipping" is allowed.

Undergraduate students who have earned a baccalaureate degree must also complete a Level Restriction/Graduate Credit Authorization Form; however, they do not need to obtain an undergraduate advisement office signature.

Examples of graduate credit for undergraduates:
  • Undergraduate student who wants to enroll in *EDUC 461 for graduate credit
    (BANNER CODE: Student = UG, Course = NG)
  • Undergraduate student who wants to enroll in HIST 525 for graduate credit
    (BANNER CODE: Student = UG, Course = NG)

Although courses numbered 500 and above are intended only for graduate study, senior undergraduate and advanced non-degree undergraduate students may receive undergraduate credit if they follow the appropriate procedure. The student is required to process the Level Restriction/Graduate Credit Authorization Form and obtain the appropriate signatures (the instructor and the student’s undergraduate advisement office) before delivering the form to the Registrar’s Office where the final step – changing the course level – is made.

At no time will UNM allow a student to count such courses for both a baccalaureate and a graduate degree; no "double dipping" is allowed.

Examples of undergraduates taking a graduate course for undergraduate credit:
  • Undergraduate student who wants to enroll in PHYC 536 for undergraduate credit
    (BANNER CODE: Student = UG, Course = UG)
  • Non-degree undergraduate student who wants to enroll in ARTE 555 for undergraduate credit
    (BANNER CODE: Student = NU, Course = NU)