r/gatech • u/Purple_Two7525 • 2d ago

Question Didn't know about the 39 Credit Hour Rule: How cooked am I?

Hello everyone,

I just learned that to graduate from Georgia Tech I need 39 credits 3000/4000 level classes. After this semester, which is supposed to be my last, I will have 36. Is there anyway around this? Nobody ever informed of this rule. Obviously I should have been more vigilant when it comes to verifying I met all the requirements, but I am just unsure how to proceed. I need to graduate this semester as I have a job lined up for after I graduate. Is this rule rigorously enforced? Any guidance would be appreciated, thank you!

33 Upvotes

91% Upvoted

25 comments sorted by

85

u/TommyA2B 2d ago

Tech will let you walk early. Then take a class online to get those last few hrs. That's my recommendation . Others may have other options for you.

24

u/Purple_Two7525 2d ago

Thank you for the response, that feels so strange. I will have completed all my courses that are listed as required. Brutal

13

u/ArtisticWeakness5654 2d ago

I heard that Tech is discontinuing this starting this Fall

5

u/Purple_Two7525 2d ago

This would be amazing haha. I will ask my advisor

30

u/Ananay22 CS-2024 2d ago

This is unfortunate - however I wonder how this would have skipped your graduation audit. Makes me think you might have missed that too - are you sure you are on track to graduate this semester?

16

u/Purple_Two7525 2d ago

I got an email that looks like this from my advisor:

Your On-line Application for Graduation and DegreeWorks audit has been evaluated.  This audit was completed 3/7/25 based off the information available at this time. I show that you need the following coursework for graduation (LG=Letter Grade Mode, PF=Pass/Fail):  
Coursework Needed: Fall 2025: Course I am currently taking LGTotal =3 hours for BSCS requirements

I took this course, so I thought that would be enough.

23

u/Ananay22 CS-2024 2d ago

ahh shoot - okay seems like the audit didnt mention it. you might have a shot at petitioning to the faculty to let you enrol in a course that is still open. i know the registrar is clamping down on registrations after the deadline but this seems like a scenario where they might allow it? don't quote me on that though - i just guess its worth a shot

8

u/Purple_Two7525 2d ago

I just emailed my advisor to see if she can do anything. Thank you for the advice, I will see what I can do.

11

u/Snoo_73217 2d ago

I asked my advisor this too, they said you can just petition and most likely it gets waived, especially if you only have a few hours left like yourself and all other grad reqs are complete

9

u/HarvardPlz 2d ago

Are you doing undergraduate research? You could ask your research advisor to support a petition to faculty to add 3 credit hours of research.

If you go this route, prepare to be grilled on why this couldn't happen during regular add / needed to be a petition to faculty. I did something similar and remember the committee wouldn't stop emailing me until I explained my reasoning fully.

1

u/Purple_Two7525 2d ago

I am not doing any research. I completed 100% of my CS requirements, I just didn't realize there was this 39 hour rule, and I will only have 36. Is there any way to petition against this? Thank you.

4

u/Dash8-40bw AE - 2026 2d ago

He's saying to try to add a 3 hr 4xxx research course (probably 4699, idk if cs is the same) now since it's a 4000 level course and it's relatively lenient on workload.

7

u/TheKingInTheNorth Alumn - CS 2010 1d ago

Despite graduating 15 years ago, this is basically my recurring GT nightmare.

7

u/GT_Ghost_86 ICS 1986 - GT Staff 1d ago

I graduated 39 years ago and am a member of GT staff...the nightmare still repeats.

2

u/Purple_Two7525 1d ago

Haha, it is my current nightmare. I am hoping that I can work it out though.

4

u/-G0LDEN- [CS] - [2026] 2d ago

Take another fall through class. Use browse classes from the registration portal and find a class with open spots and then email the registrar to try and squeeze you in post registration. I've done this before with some success.

4

u/emapersononsteam 2d ago

I had this exact issue when graduating. I petitioned it and the rule got waived. No extra classes required and it went through without a hitch

2

u/Purple_Two7525 1d ago

That would be perfect, do you mind if I DM you just to get more specifics? Thank you!

1

u/peaches0101 2d ago

https://www.cc.gatech.edu/sites/default/files/documents/2022/Academic%20Policies.pdf

*Visit the resource link for additional details on this rule's impact on some thread combinations*

Is there anything in that resource that might help?

1

u/Purple_Two7525 1d ago

Thanks for the help, I found this link earlier, but I wasn't able to find this resource link or any mention of exceptions elsewhere. My thread combination Info/ModSim didn't give me the 39 hours by default, so maybe I could be excepted?

1

u/actualActuator_uhoh 15h ago

Ive just realized im in a similar position, let me know if you find anything out

1

u/Purple_Two7525 13h ago

I will let you know