@caveatesq
I know it seems unfair in a manner, but it is a matter of economics I believe, in the long run benefiting most. Many…very many…students either don’t or can’t graduate in 4 years. It is easy to get these 9 credits thru online classes. It is a great way to open up your schedule to give more flexibility with registration. Some students take advantage of this requirement to take perhaps more difficult courses that they don’t want to take with other courses during spring or fall. Some use it to take pesky gen ed courses to get them out of the way. Some use it to get ahead by taking prerequisites. It can also make a double major or an additional minor possible. For instate students, bright futures will be paying (at least for this summer) tuition for summer classes. It CAN interfere with summer plans, but many internships and study abroad programs count also. Good luck and best wishes!