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title: "Course Enrollment Minimums"
canonical: "https://facultystaff.clas.uconn.edu/space/CFSKB/28971728904/Course%20Enrollment%20Minimums"
format: markdown
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**Established:** February 4, 2021   
**Updated:** January 9, 2026 

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To ensure that faculty teaching resources are used most effectively, the College has standards for both the number of seats offered in individual sections of courses (capacity) and the minimum number of students that must be enrolled for the class to be offered. These policies provide students with appropriate access to the classes they need and help to ensure equity in workload across instructors.

The policy described here relates to the minimum number of students who must be enrolled for courses to remain in our schedule during an academic year. It does not apply to independent study designations.

With the exception of W courses, first-year writing, particular laboratory sections, honors classes, and language instruction courses, the course/section enrollment minimums are as follows:

- 1000-level: 25 students
- 2000-level: 18 students
- 3000/4000-levels: 12 students
- Graduate courses: 6 students

CLAS will evaluate courses each fall and spring shortly after first-year students register and will work with each unit to modify offerings as appropriate. Projections based on historical enrollments of incoming students, the predictable schedule, and changes in requirements will be considered.

Exceptions may be allowed in particular circumstances. Inquiries should be directed by unit leaders (heads, directors, and coordinators) to the associate dean for their division.