ACADEMIC STANDARDS
General Academic Standards
Graduate students must maintain a cumulative grade point average (GPA) of 3.0 or higher to remain in Good Academic Standing. The cumulative GPA of 3.0 also applies to undergraduate courses which are sometimes taken during a student’s graduate program. Students must be in Good Academic Standing to be eligible for graduation and admission to Doctoral Candidacy.
GRADING SYSTEM
The quality of work for most courses in a graduate program is indicated by the grades of A, B, C, and F. The quality of work for a dissertation, thesis, practicum, and/or internship is indicated by the grades of S (Satisfactory) and U (Unsatisfactory). The grade of IP (In Progress) is reserved for courses that require a continuation of work beyond the term for which the student enrolled in the course. IP is approved for dissertation and thesis hours and project courses.
Other grades which may be used in graduate programs include I (Incomplete), W (Withdrew without Penalty), WF (Withdrew, Failing), WM (Withdrew for Military Service), and V (Audited).
Grades of F, U, I, W, WF, WM, and V will not be accepted toward the program of study in any graduate program. Some departments and programs will not accept C’s as part of a graduate plan of study. See the College, Department, or Program-Specific Academic Standards following the section on Academic Dismissal for additional information.
ACADEMIC STANDING
Graduate students are expected to maintain Good Academic Standing as they progress toward completing their programs. Students will be evaluated each term on the basis of the cumulative GPA. The academic standing of graduate students is classified as follows:
- Good Academic Standing
- Academic Probation
- Academic Suspension
- Academic Dismissal
Good Academic Standing
Good Academic Standing is defined for graduate students as a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher.
Academic Probation
A student whose cumulative GPA drops below 3.0 will begin the next term on Academic Probation. A student must earn a term GPA of 3.0 or higher each term while on Academic Probation. One of three possible actions will be implemented for a student on Academic Probation at the end of each term of enrollment:
- A student who earns a term GPA of 3.0 or higher and raises his or her cumulative GPA to 3.0 or higher will return to Good Academic Standing.
- If a student’s term GPA is 3.0 or higher, but the cumulative GPA remains below 3.0, he or she will remain on Academic Probation.
- If a student earns a term GPA below 3.0 while on Academic Probation, regardless of the cumulative GPA, he or she will be suspended for one term.
Academic Suspension
A student on Academic Probation who earns a term GPA below 3.0 will be suspended from the University for one term. One term is defined as the Fall, Spring, or Summer term. The Summer term includes all sessions; thus, a suspended student is required to sit out all sessions that comprise the Summer term. An Academic Suspension Appeal may only be reviewed through a grade appeal or hardship withdrawal.
The student on Academic Suspension is not guaranteed the opportunity to return to the University. The suspended student must apply for reinstatement to return to the University and program after the one term absence. Reinstatement criteria are established by the college or school which houses the student’s graduate program and are listed in the Reinstatement Procedures section which follows the College, Department, or Program-Specific Standards section of this policy.
If a student’s request for reinstatement is approved, the student returns to the University on Academic Probation. One of three possible actions will be implemented for a reinstated student on Academic Probation at the end of each term of enrollment:
- A reinstated student who earns a term GPA of 3.0 or higher and raises his or her cumulative GPA to 3.0 or higher will return to Good Academic Standing.
- If a reinstated student’s term GPA is 3.0 or higher, but the cumulative GPA remains below 3.0, he or she will remain on Academic Probation.
- If a reinstated student earns a term GPA below 3.0 while on Academic Probation, regardless of the cumulative GPA, he or she will be academically dismissed from the University.
Academic Dismissal
If a student’s application for reinstatement following a term suspension is denied by the college or school which houses the student’s graduate program, the student will be academically dismissed from the University.
A reinstated student on Academic Probation who earns a term GPA below 3.0 will be academically dismissed from the University.
An Academic Dismissal may only be reviewed through a grade appeal or hardship withdrawal.
College, Department, or Program-Specific Academic Standards
General Academic Standards apply to all graduate programs, which include both degree and certification programs. Some colleges/school, departments, or programs have additional and/or different academic standards which govern a student’s progress toward program completion. Additional and/or different college/school, department, or program-specific academic standards are listed in this section.
College of Arts and Humanities
Good Academic Standing for a student enrolled in a Non-Degree Initial Certification Program for teacher certification (Art, Foreign Languages, Music) is defined as a cumulative GPA of 2.7 or higher.
The following programs do not accept letter grades of C as part of a program of study in the College of Arts and Humanities. A student will be dismissed from the program if he or she earns two C’s or one F.
- M.A. in English
- M.A. in History
- Certificate in Museum Studies
- Certificate in Public History
College of Education
Good Academic Standing for a student enrolled in a Non-Degree Initial Certification Program for teacher certification is defined as a cumulative GPA of 2.7 or higher.
Any graduate level student earning a grade of F or WF, regardless of his/her academic standing, will be referred to his/her program and, at the discretion of the program, may be suspended from the program.
A student will be dismissed from the following two programs if he or she earns two C’s or one F.
- Ed.D. in School Improvement
- Ed.D. in Professional Counseling and Supervision
College of Science and Mathematics
The following information applies to the M.S. in Applied Computer Science program.
- Students earning a second grade of C or one WF or one U will be dismissed.
- Only one C in all courses can be applied toward the degree.
- Students must complete:
- CS 6910 (Project I) by earning a grade of "S"
- CS 6920 (Project II) by earning a grade of "S" and participate in an exit interview with computer science graduate faculty
College of Social Sciences
A student will be dismissed from the following programs if he or she earns two C’s or one F.
- M.A. in Criminology
- M.A. in Psychology
- M.A. in Sociology
- Ph.D. in Psychology: Consciousness and Society
Richards College of Business
No requirements beyond the General Academic Standards are applicable to RCOB graduate programs.
School of Nursing
A minimum grade of B is required in all courses in the Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) & Doctorate in Nursing Education (EdD) programs. Students who earn a grade of C, WF, or U in any two courses, or who earn an F in any one course, will be dismissed from the program. Students who earn a C, WF, or U may repeat that course one time only.
Reinstatement Procedures
If a student is suspended from a graduate program for academic reasons, he or she may apply for reinstatement after an absence of one term. Reinstatement is not guaranteed. Because each college or school follows slightly different reinstatement procedures, the student should follow the procedures for the college or school which houses his or her graduate program.
College of Arts and Humanities
- The student should submit a letter to the Dean of the College of Arts and Humanities indicating the justification for reinstatement.
- The Dean will solicit the advice and recommendation of the appropriate academic unit and will review the materials submitted.
- Upon positive recommendation from the Dean of the College of Arts and Humanities, the student will be reinstated and allowed to continue his or her coursework, with any provisions established in conjunction with the department.
College of Education
- The student should submit a letter to the Director of Graduate Programs indicating justification for reinstatement.
- The Director of Graduate Programs then consults with the Department Chair or Appeals Committee.
- With a positive recommendation from the Director of Graduate Programs, the student will be reinstated and allowed to continue coursework, with provisions established by the department.
College of Science and Mathematics
M.S. in Applied Computer Science
- The student should submit a letter to the Chair of the Department of Computer Science indicating justification for reinstatement.
- The Department Chair, in consultation with the graduate faculty of the department, will make the final decision in regard to the reinstatement.
- In the event the student is reinstated, the student will be allowed to continue his or her coursework, subject to the prevailing course schedule and all provisions established by the Department Chair
M.S. in Biology
M.S. in Mathematics
- The student should submit a letter to the Director of Graduate Studies indicating justification for reinstatement.
- The Director of Graduate Studies will solicit the advice and recommendation of the appropriate academic unit and will review the materials submitted.
- Upon positive recommendation from the Director of Graduate Studies, the student will be reinstated and allowed to continue his or her coursework, with any provisions established in conjunction with the department.
College of Social Sciences
- The student should submit a letter to the Director of Graduate Studies indicating justification for reinstatement.
- The Director of Graduate Studies will solicit the advice and recommendation of the appropriate academic unit and will review the materials submitted.
- Upon positive recommendation from the Director of Graduate Studies, the student will be reinstated and allowed to continue his or her coursework, with any provisions established in conjunction with the department.
Richards College of Business
- The student should submit a letter to the Associate Dean of Graduate Studies indicating justification for reinstatement.
- The Associate Dean of Graduate Studies may solicit the advice and recommendation of other appropriate academic unit(s) and will review the materials submitted.
- Upon a positive recommendation from the Associate Dean of Graduate Studies the student will be reinstated and allowed to continue his or her coursework with potential additional provisions.
School of Nursing
- The student should submit a letter to the SON Associate Dean of Graduate Studies indicating justification for reinstatement.
- The SON Associate Dean of Graduate Studies and the graduate faculty will review the submitted materials.
- Upon positive recommendation from the Associate Dean and Graduate Faculty Committee, the student will be reinstated and allowed to continue his or her coursework, with any established SON provisions.
