Graduate School Handbook (GSH)

• Administration of Graduate Education 1.0
• Graduate School 1.1
• Vice Provost of Graduate Studies and Dean of the Graduate School 1.2
• Graduate Council 1.3
• Graduate Studies Committees 1.4
• Graduate Faculty 1.5
• Petitions: Graduate School Rules 1.6

Administration of Graduate Education - 1.0

Graduate education and its governance are shared responsibilities. The most visible activity of graduate education is the intellectual interaction of faculty and students involved in learning and advancing knowledge. Supporting these endeavors are academic leaders in departments, colleges, and central university positions who are committed to providing an atmosphere in which graduate education and research can flourish. Faculty, students, and administrators working together, dedicated to the ideals of scholarship and high standards that characterize graduate education, share the responsibility for ensuring the quality of graduate programs and research.

Graduate School - 1.1

The Graduate School at The Ohio State University is comprised of university faculty (the Graduate Faculty) authorized to give graduate instruction, a representative advisory body (Graduate Council), and the Vice Provost for Graduate Education and Dean of the Graduate School, and administrative staff.

The Graduate School maintains a handbook that provides specific details for policies and procedures applicable to all graduate programs at The Ohio State University. In addition, each graduate program maintains a program-specific handbook that includes additional requirements for that program of study.

Vice Provost of Graduate Studies and Dean of the Graduate School - 1.2

The chief officer of the Graduate School is the dean, who has responsibility for leadership in the activities of the Graduate School (University Rules 3335-3-29 and 3335-3-31). The dean has responsibility for appointing graduate school committees and for conferring with departments or schools in all matters concerning graduate work. The dean is to be consulted by college deans concerning appointment and promotion of faculty members offering graduate courses or advising graduate students. The administration of the Graduate School also includes associate and assistant deans and other staff members who carry out the various programs and services of the Graduate School.

Graduate Council - 1.3

University Rules, starting at Section 14 of the Graduate School Handbook, summarize the membership and responsibilities of the Graduate Council, which is the principal advisory body of the Graduate School and which participates in the development of rules, policies, and standards pertaining to graduate education and graduate programs.

Graduate Studies Committees - 1.4

Local Graduate Studies Committees are charged with the responsibility for conducting specific graduate programs within the context of the policies and rules established by the Graduate School. The Graduate School’s rules and policies are the minimum standards within which local Graduate Studies Committees formulate, publish, and enforce their own graduate program policies, rules, and procedures. Graduate Studies Committees serve as the primary liaison between the Graduate Faculty and the Graduate School. Section 13 of the Graduate School Handbook summarizes the responsibilities of Graduate Studies Committees and Graduate Studies Committee Chairs.

Graduate Faculty - 1.5

University Rules 3335-5-29 through 3335-5-31 cover the membership of the Graduate Faculty, powers and responsibilities, and meetings Section 12 of the Graduate School Handbook provides specific information about Graduate Faculty eligibility, responsibilities, and nomination procedures.

Petitions: Graduate School Rules - 1.6

Graduate students are expected to follow the rules approved by the Graduate Council and presented in this handbook. A student who believes that circumstances warrant a waiver of a rule may submit a petition to the Graduate School.

Petitions about Graduate School rules must be directed to the Graduate School (grad-schoolpetitions@osu.edu), must include a written statement from the student requesting the waiver of a specific rule and describing the circumstances, and must include written statements from the student’s advisor, the course instructor (if appropriate), and the Graduate Studies Committee Chair, reacting to the student’s request and providing any additional information pertinent to the waiver request.

• General Information 2.0
• Application 2.1
• Admission Criteria 2.2
• Admission Materials 2.3
• Admission Classifications 2.4
• Reassignment of Admission Classification 2.5
• Admission Decision Procedures 2.6
• English as a Second Language (ESL) Requirement 2.7
• Spoken English Requirement 2.8
• Transfer of Graduate Program 2.9
• University Faculty and Administrators 2.10

General Information - 2.0

The admission of students to the Graduate School is the joint responsibility of the Graduate Studies Committee of the local program and the Graduate School. However, the Graduate School has the final authority for making admission decisions. The Office of Graduate and Professional Admissions receives and processes the application, collecting the application fee, transcripts, and test scores (if applicable). The Office of Graduate and Professional Admissions is also responsible for sending the official admission decision.

Application - 2.1

Online Application. All degree and non-degree graduate applicants must use the online application available at the Office of Graduate and Professional Admissions website to obtain graduate program information and apply.

Application Deadlines. Domestic applicants interested in being considered for a Graduate School Fellowship must apply before deadlines posted by the graduate program of interest. International applicants interested in being considered for a Graduate School Fellowship must apply by the last working day in November. The Graduate School application process opens at the beginning of autumn semester and early applications can be considered by graduate programs as of that time. Graduate Program deadlines for receiving applications may vary but should be no later than May 15 for summer session, July 15 for autumn semester, and December 1 for spring semester. Domestic applicants who apply sixty days prior to the start of a semester or session can be considered for admission to that term. Earlier dates may apply for international applicants who require visa sponsorship. Graduate Studies Committees establish admission application deadlines and are not required to admit students every semester, session or term. 

Application Fee. All Graduate School applicants are required to pay a nonrefundable application fee. Waivers to the application fee are offered by various colleges on campus, as well as, by the Graduate School. If an applicant believes that they meet the criteria for a waiver, they should visit The Office of Graduate and Professional Admissions fee waiver website for further details.

Admission Criteria - 2.2

Admission Criteria. An applicant must submit documentation that demonstrates fulfillment of the following admission criteria or equivalent qualifications:

1. An earned four-year baccalaureate degree, graduate degree, or professional degree (or approved equivalent) from a regionally accredited college or university by the expected date of entry.
2. A minimum of a 3.0 cumulative grade-point average (cGPA) (on the 4.0 scale used at this university) in the last degree earned by the applicant relevant to the degree program of application , as well as any graduate coursework completed after the last relevant degree was earned. 
   • For international students, the cGPA is calculated on the home institution’s grading scheme and the grade key on the transcript is then utilized to approximate an equivalent US grade based on the educational system of that country. 
   • Applicants whose last degree relevant to the program of study was earned at an institution with a grading scheme where a numerical cGPA cannot be calculated (e.g. narrative evaluation, satisfactory/unsatisfactory, etc.) require additional Graduate School consideration. Once a graduate program reviews and recommends the applicant for admission, the program is required to submit a petition to the Graduate School for a final determination.
   • Please note that there are other university processes or systems (e.g., the fellowship competition, etc.) that may have different requirements and, as such, may require additional review. These reviews add time to the admissions process. Graduate programs, as well as prospective students, should plan accordingly to ensure that they meet all necessary deadlines.
3. Prerequisite training that will enable the student to pursue the graduate program to which admission is sought.
4. A minimum score of 79 on a valid internet-based Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL-IBT), or 7.0 on the International English Language Testing System (IELTS). This requirement applies only to an applicant from a country where the first language is not English, unless a bachelor’s degree or higher was earned from a country exempt from the English proficiency requirements. Residents of Puerto Rico and those who hold approved U.S. asylee, refugee, or permanent resident status for one year at the time of matriculation are also exempt from providing English language proficiency test scores.
5. Additional criteria published by the Graduate Studies Committee of the local program (e.g., professional accreditation or certification).
6. The Graduate Record Examination (GRE) and the Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT) are not required for admission to the Graduate School. Certain graduate programs may require the GRE or GMAT and students will need to comply with the program’s admission requirements or have a waiver from the program. The GRE and GMAT are scheduled on a continual basis during the year throughout the United States and overseas. Pre-registration is required, and a fee is charged. Additional information may be obtained from the websites of the Educational Testing Service.  

Additional Admission Recommendations.For applicants who received their last degree (relevant to the level of study) from an unaccredited college or university, the Graduate School strongly recommends that programs include other metrics of academic quality such as the GRE, GMAT, or Subject Specific test scores for their admission criteria. Alternatively, these students can enroll in the Graduate Bridge Program (GBP) and transition out of the GBP when the program is satisfied the student can be successful in their program. All applicants whose cGPA for the last degree earned relevant to the degree of acceptance, as well as any subsequently completed graduate coursework, is below 3.0 may be conditionally admitted if they meet the criteria for the program. If standardized test scores are required by the program, admission will not be considered until test scores have been received. Programs may opt into the GBP in order to recruit students with a cGPA below 3.0 that may not be candidates for conditional enrollment. The GBP is also an option for students that have a cGPA over the 3.0 minimum but have other reasons for being underprepared for Graduate School at Ohio State.

Admission Materials - 2.3

Admission Materials. An applicant must submit the following materials (see instructions accompanying The Ohio State University Graduate School admission application for further details):

1. Completed application.
2. Non-refundable application fee (unless waived, Section 2.1).
3. An official transcript from each college or university attended, listing all courses taken, grades and degrees earned, and dates of graduation (Ohio State students need not submit transcripts from this university; these will be supplied by internal procedures.)
4. Letters of recommendation from persons acquainted with the applicant’s academic program, scholastic ability, or professional performance.
5. A brief autobiographical statement describing the applicant’s educational and professional goals and objectives.
6. Additional material required by the graduate program’s Graduate Studies Committee.
7. A curriculum vitae or resume if interested in fellowship consideration.
8. English proficiency requirement (international students).

Note: Each admitted international applicant will also be required to submit certain financial documentation indicating that financial resources are available to defray the cost of graduate education. 

Admission Classifications - 2.4

Applicants are admitted to the Graduate School in one of five classifications: regular, provisional, conditional, graduate non-degree, or the Graduate Bridge Program.

Regular. Applicants who have met all Graduate School and Graduate Studies Committee admission criteria and who have been approved by the Graduate Studies Committee to pursue a graduate degree are designated as regular students.

Provisional. Applicants who are recommended as regular admits but have one or more validating item(s) not available at the time of admission, such as an official undergraduate transcript or other items required by their graduate degree program, are designated as provisional students by the Graduate Studies Committee or by the Graduate School. Additional information may be found on the Office of Graduate and Professional Admissions website.

International students who are admitted to an Ohio State graduate program under an international cooperative graduate degree agreement (ICGDA) for a combined or a dual degree program are designated as provisional students by the Graduate Studies Committee or by the Graduate School until the requirements stated in the specific ICGDA are met. 

Conditional.  Applicants whose academic records do not meet requirements for regular admission but indicate the potential to perform satisfactorily in a graduate degree program may be admitted as conditional students by the Graduate School. This classification is assigned for one or more of the following reasons, for example: The applicant has a baccalaureate or professional degree but the college or university is unaccredited, less than an overall 3.0 cGPA in last degree earned with evidence of improvement in latter terms and/or in coursework relevant to the graduate program, and/or subject matter deficiencies as specified by the Graduate Studies Committee. Applicants whose last degree earned was from an institution that does not utilize a grading scheme where a numerical cGPA can be calculated (e.g., narrative evaluation, satisfactory/unsatisfactory, etc.) may also be considered for conditional admission. 

It is recommended that conditional students not enroll for more than nine credit hours per autumn or spring semester and not hold graduate associate (GA) appointments requiring them to give instruction in the area of subject matter deficiency. If the conditional designation results from a low entering cGPA, the candidate is ineligible to hold an appointment as a GA. Conditional students are ineligible for Graduate School fellowships.

Students admitted to the Graduate School on a conditional basis must maintain a 3.0 cGPA during the first 10 hours of graded graduate credit. Programs petitioning for a student’s conditional admission may also be asked to provide a mentorship plan for Graduate School consideration.

Conditional Admission for International Students. The Graduate School’s policy on conditional admission based on English proficiency is intended to facilitate admission of academically qualified, degree-seeking international students who have not satisfied the minimum English language requirement, yet are being considered for admission by a graduate program. To be considered for conditional admission, international applicants must meet the following criteria: an IBT TOEFL score of 61 or higher, but lower than the required 79; or an IELTS score of 5.0 or higher, but lower than 7.0; and formal recommendation of the conditional admission from the graduate program. Students who are conditionally admitted under these criteria will attend and successfully complete the American Language Program (ALP) for one autumn semester, spring semester, or summer term and obtain a minimum score of 550 (in the old) or 19 (on each section of the new) paper-based (TOEFL) institutional testing program (TOEFL-ITP). Students are not permitted to hold graduate associate (GA) appointments while attending ALP. 

Graduate Bridge Program (GBP). The GBP is a bridge to Graduate School that allows potential students who are not regularly or conditionally admitted, for up to one full academic year, to receive mentoring and complete graduate-level coursework before fully transitioning to regular student status within an academic program. The GBP is geared toward prospective graduate students who do not meet the criteria for regular admission and do not have strong enough academic records for conditional admission. Examples of candidates for GBP are those who desire to explore graduate school or enter a graduate discipline very different from their undergraduate discipline, life-long learners returning to the university after a significant lapse of time, and individuals with weak undergraduate records but through relevant life experiences are now better prepared to meet the academic challenges of graduate school. Please see Appendix G for additional information regarding the GBP.

Graduate Non-Degree. U.S. applicants who do not intend to pursue a graduate degree at this university may register in the graduate non-degree classification. Eligibility is extended to those who are enrolled in a graduate program at another U.S. university who wish to study for one term as a transient student at Ohio State and transfer course credit back to their home institution and to those enrolled in established exchange programs or special university-sponsored workshops. International applicants with an F or J visa are restricted in their ability to be admitted as a graduate non-degree student. Such applicants will be reviewed by the Office of Graduate and Professional Admissions.

On verification of a baccalaureate degree from an accredited institution, graduate non-degree students may enroll in the Graduate School at large to take graduate courses open to graduate non-degree students. They are not registered in a specific graduate degree program, nor does their enrollment require the approval of a Graduate Studies Committee. Graduate non-degree students may not register for courses numbered 8998 and 8999.

If a graduate non-degree student is admitted to a graduate degree program, no more than 10 hours of graduate credit accumulated while in this non-degree classification may be counted toward a graduate degree. If a dual degree student, the credits may not be used as dual or shared credit. If a graduate non-degree student is admitted to a graduate certificate program, no more than four hours of semester graduate credit accumulated while in this non-degree classification may be counted toward the certificate. Within this limit, the number of graduate credit hours is determined by the Graduate Studies Committee of the student’s intended degree program. Regardless of the hours counted toward degree requirements, all courses taken for graduate credit in graduate non-degree status count in the total earned hours; graded courses (A-EN) count in the cumulative grade-point average. Prior to the effective semester, session or term of admission to the degree program, the Graduate Studies Committee notifies the Graduate School of which courses are to count toward that degree.

Specifying Conditions of Admission. The Graduate Studies Committee is responsible for specifying the conditions of admission. The committee must state not only the requirements of conditional admission but also the means by which the requirements are to be satisfied and the time limit for completing them. Once a conditional student has been assigned an advisor, the Graduate Studies Committee is responsible for informing the advisor of the admission conditions.

Reassignment of Admission Classification - 2.5

Provisional to Regular. The provisional restriction is removed by the Office of Graduate and Professional Admissions upon receipt of the materials pending at the time of admission, or upon meeting the requirements specified in the ICGDA, when applicable Submission of official transcripts should follow the guidelines specified by the Office of Graduate and Professional Admissions.

Conditional to Regular. It is the dual responsibility of the Graduate Studies Committee and the Graduate School to monitor the progress of students in the conditional classification. Each semester, the Graduate School notifies the Graduate Studies Committee of students listed as conditional. On completion of the conditions of admission set by the Graduate Studies Committee, the chair asks the Graduate School to change the student’s classification to regular.

The status of a student admitted in the conditional classification should be changed to regular by the Graduate Studies Committee before the Application to Graduate is submitted. However, if the Graduate Studies Committee Chair signs the Application to Graduate for a conditional student, the Graduate School assumes that the student has fulfilled the conditions of admission and the student’s classification is changed to regular by the Graduate School. Failure to complete the conditional admission requirements within the time limit specified by the Graduate Studies Committee results in the student being denied further registration in that graduate program by the Graduate School.

Graduate Bridge Program (GBP) to Regular. It is the dual responsibility of the Graduate Studies Committee and the Graduate School to monitor the progress of students in the GBP. Students in the GBP who have achieved the 3.0 minimum GPA would be enrolled into their mentoring graduate program to which they have been accepted as a regular graduate student or apply to other graduate programs at the end of any term. Students in the GBP with a graduate GPA less than 3.0 may be conditionally accepted into the graduate program, but this is not guaranteed by the GBP commitment. 

Graduate Non-Degree to Regular. Graduate non-degree students who wish to become regular students at this university must submit another application to the Graduate School through the Office of Graduate and Professional Admissions.

Admission Decision Procedures - 2.6

Application Worksheet Form. Once the applicant’s application material is complete, the graduate program requests from the Office of Graduate and Professional Admissions a GPA calculation for those applicants the program wishes to review. The GPA calculation is reflected on the Application Worksheet form. The applications are then reviewed by the Graduate Studies Committee of the program for an admission recommendation.

Admit. If the Graduate Studies Committee recommends admission as a regular student and if the applicant meets minimum Graduate School admission criteria, the Office of Graduate and Professional Admissions notifies the applicant of admission by e-mail. If the Graduate Studies Committee recommends admission as a regular student but the application requires additional consideration (e.g., the student’s last degree earned was from an institution that does not utilize a grading scheme where a numerical cGPA can be calculated, etc.), the program refers the application, via petition, to the Graduate School for a final determination.

Provisional. If a required document (e.g. an official transcript) is missing in the application material of a student who is recommended for regular admit, or for incoming international students under an approved ICGDA, the Office of Graduate and Professional Admissions notifies the applicant of provisional admission by e-mail.

Conditional. If the Graduate Studies Committee recommends the conditional admission of a student whose record does not meet published Graduate School admission criteria, the program refers the application, via petition, to the Graduate School for a final determination. The candidate is ineligible to hold an appointment as a GA. The Office of Graduate and Professional Admissions notifies the applicant of the final admission decision by e-mail.

Denial of Admission. If the Graduate Studies Committee or the Graduate School recommends denial of admission, the Office of Graduate and Professional Admissions notifies the applicant of that decision by e-mail.

Admission Notice. Graduate School admission is valid only for the autumn or spring semester or summer term and year indicated in the letter/e-mail from the Office of Graduate and Professional Admissions. Admitted students wishing to defer enrollment should contact their graduate program office to see if the program can or cannot accommodate the request. All application material becomes the property of The Ohio State University and will not be returned to the applicant or forwarded to another institution.

English as a Second Language (ESL) Requirement - 2.7

Upon arrival, students who are from a country exempted from the English proficiency requirement or who have received a bachelor’s degree or higher from a U.S. institution within 24 months of their matriculation into an Ohio State graduate program are exempt from the Academic English Writing Assessment (previously known as the ESL Composition Placement Essay). Based on the essay result, students needing English writing instruction will be placed in EDUTL 5901 or 5902. The student is expected to complete EDUTL 5902 within one calendar year after beginning graduate school. The Graduate Studies Committee in the student’s graduate program may request an extension of the time limit. Such requests must be sent to the Graduate School for review. The Graduate School will monitor the student’s progress toward completing the ESL course sequence.

Exemption from sitting for the Academic English Writing Assessment may be granted to students who either have a total score of 114 on the IBT TOEFL, or a total score of 101 and a score of 28 on the writing section. Alternatively, students with a score of 9.0 on the IELTS, or an overall score of 8.0 and a score of 8.0 on the writing module are also eligible for exemption.

Spoken English Requirement - 2.8

International or permanent resident graduate students for whom English is not the first language must certify their proficiency in spoken English before assuming any Graduate Teaching Associate (GTA) instructional duties. They may become certified by scoring 28 or higher on the spoken portion of the TOEFL IBT, 8.5 on the IELTS, or by scoring at the appropriate level on the Oral Proficiency Assessment (OPA) administered by the Intercultural English Language Programs (IELP).

Transfer of Graduate Program - 2.9

Current students or students who graduated from an Ohio State graduate program within the past three terms are required to notify the Graduate Studies Committee in the current program of their intent to transfer into a new graduate program. Current students may transfer from one graduate program to another by completing an Intra-Graduate Transfer (IGT) application with the Office of Graduate and Professional Admissions. This application requires the approval of the Graduate Studies Committee in the receiving program. Graduate Associates should speak with their current advisor and supervisor about any potential impacts to their appointment.

The Graduate School will verify student-provided information pertaining to the student’s academic performance to the Graduate Studies Committee of the proposed graduate program. The Graduate Studies Committee may require additional material from the student before review. If the Graduate Studies Committee approves the transfer, it will specify the admission classification and the courses already completed that will count toward its graduate degree program.

The Graduate Studies Committee must notify the Graduate School of the admission classification and courses to count prior to the effective autumn or spring semester or summer term of transfer. Graduate School Fellowships  (Section 10) do not automatically transfer with students who are approved for transfer into a different graduate program. Doctoral candidacy status (Section 7) does not transfer to a new graduate program.

University Faculty and Administrators - 2.10

Faculty. No tenure-track faculty member, clinical/teaching/practice faculty member, or research faculty member will be permitted to pursue a degree offered by the tenure initiating unit (TIU) in which the faculty member holds an appointment. In those instances where faculty members wish to pursue degrees in other units or colleges, they are subject to the provisions of University Rule 3335-9-11.

Administrators. In those instances where senior administrative and professional appointees wish to pursue graduate degrees, they are subject to the provisions of University Rule 3335-9-11.

• Student Status 3.0
• Course Load 3.1
• Procedures 3.2
• Health Insurance 3.3
• Changes in Schedule 3.4
• Official Permanent Record 3.5

Student Status - 3.0

Student status is determined by the number of credit hours attempted each autumn or spring semester or each summer term. Full-time status is determined according to a student’s academic status in the program, type of appointment, fees, financial aid eligibility, and visa requirements. Half-time status is defined as half the number of credit hours required for full-time status. Audited credit hours do not count for financial aid, full-time status, or minimum visa requirements.

Course Load - 3.1

Masters or Predoctoral Candidates. For full-time status, a student must register for the minimum number of regular credit hours as specified for the categories below. Audited credit hours do not count towards the minimum credit hours required for full-time status. However, audited credit hours can be included within the maximum number of credit hours allowed per autumn or spring semester or summer term.

Full-time status for all graduate students who are not yet doctoral candidates (pre-candidacy) is typically eight to 18 credit hours per autumn or spring semester and eight to 15 credit hours per summer term. This credit-hour requirement is applicable for their visa and/or financial aid eligibility.

Pre-Candidacy Academic Leave. Pre-candidacy students who want to withdraw from their doctoral program or who plan to take a leave of absence from enrollment for one semester or more (up to one year) are required to complete a Withdrawal from Program or Pre-Candidacy Leave of Absence form to declare withdrawal or leave of absence, respectively. These forms, which may be completed and submitted in GRADFORMS, require advisor and program approval. Additionally, the Pre-Candidacy Leave of Absence form must specify inclusive dates of leave. Students who do not complete the Withdrawal from Program or Pre-Candidacy Leave of Absence form, or do not enroll after the inclusive dates of leave, will require program and advisor approval to be reinstated in their program. In certain cases, the program may require the student to submit additional documentation for evaluation. Programs should not use a denial of reinstatement as a proxy for dismissing a student from the program due to a lack of reasonable progress, as outlined in Section 5.4 of this document.

Doctoral Candidates. Full-time status for all doctoral candidates (i.e., students who have achieved doctoral candidacy status) (Section 7) is three credit hours per autumn, spring semester or summer term.

Continuous Enrollment. All students who successfully complete the doctoral candidacy examination are required to be enrolled in every autumn and spring semester (summer term is excluded) until graduation. These students must be enrolled for at least three credits per autumn and spring semester. These registration requirements can include research hours. This policy is effective for all students. Post-candidacy doctoral students are not eligible for academic leaves. They may apply for a leave of absence due to medical or military reasons, or during periods in which the University has declared a University State of Emergency Section 7.7.

International Students. International students are required to register for a minimum of eight credit hours in autumn and spring semesters. Enrollment in the summer term is optional unless the international student is in the first or last term in their program, is participating in a Curricular Practical Training, or is on an appointment as a graduate associate.

Graduate Associates. All graduate associates (Section 9), regardless of funding, holding 50 percent or greater appointments must register for at least eight credit hours per autumn or spring semester, and at least four credit hours in summer term. This includes GRAs who receive a Matching Tuition and Fees Award. GAs holding a 25 percent appointment must register for at least four credit hours per autumn or spring semester and two credit hours in summer term. Doctoral candidates must register for at least three credit hours each autumn or spring semester or summer term an appointment is held. These registration requirements can include research hours.

Fellows and Trainees. Students holding the titles Graduate Fellow or Graduate Trainee (Section 10), regardless of the source of the funds, must register for a minimum of 12 credit hours each autumn or spring semester the appointment is held and at least six credit hours in summer term. This includes Fellows and Trainees who receive a Matching Tuition and Fees Award. Graduate Fellows and Graduate Trainees who are doctoral candidates must register for at least three credit hours per autumn or spring semester or summer term an appointment is held. These registration requirements can include research hours.

Exceptions Regarding Course Loads

Non-Graduate Credits. Under certain circumstances non-graduate credit course work may count toward the minimum requirements for GA and fellowship eligibility. Monitoring of the appropriateness of non-graduate credit course work will be the responsibility of the Graduate Studies Committee of the Graduate Program.

Course Load Inconsistent with Full-time Status: In certain situations, graduate students may desire to enroll in more than the number of credit hours required for their full-time status, based on their status in the program (e.g., for pursuing a minor, interdisciplinary specialization, certificate or dual degree). Such students should seek prior approval from their advisor and Graduate Studies Committee and discuss how enrolling for excess credit hours may affect their progress, program of study and any financial implications. This can be especially relevant for Graduate Trainees, Graduate Fellows, or GRAs with a Matching Tuition and Fees Award who receive the graduate fee authorization (GFA) benefit (Section 11.1). The GFA benefit is typically limited to credit hours defined in full-time status.

Other. Information on course loads for students receiving other loans or work-study support is available from the university’s Office of Student Financial Aid. 

Procedures - 3.2

Registration Process. Once registration information is received, students consult their advisor or, if an advisor has not been assigned, their Graduate Studies Committee Chair, about course selection. Students may use their Ohio State e-mail account information during the appointed window of time to use the online registration system and to view their approved schedule and Statement of Account on their Student Center (via Buckeye Link). Students may access online registration to drop courses through the fourth Friday of the semester.

New Students. Registration information is available from the Office of the University Registrar. Students admitted immediately before the autumn or spring semester or summer term begins can obtain registration information at the Graduate School.

International Students. New international students initiate registration by reporting to the Office of International Affairs before visiting the Graduate School.

Distance Learning Students. Students enrolled in online programs (i.e. those programs that are 100% distance with no scheduled in-classroom or on-site activities) should register per the guidelines specified by their program. Students enrolled in online programs should also contact their program and the Office of Distance Education and eLeaning to confirm the university resources available to them. 

Continuing Students. Continuing students will be e-mailed notification of their registration prior to the intended autumn or spring semester or summer term of enrollment. Students may view the Schedule of Classes online. All continuing students must access online registration.

Former Students. Former students returning after an absence of one or more semesters can obtain registration information from the Graduate School. Students wishing to reactivate their enrollment status should discuss reactivation with their specific graduate program. Those who have been absent from their graduate program without an approved leave of absence may require Graduate Studies Committee (and other program permission, if applicable) approval. Students who have been absent for two years or more require Graduate Studies Committee (and other program permission, if applicable) approval before reactivation. Visit Section 7.7 for more information.

Early Autumn Registration. Students may participate in Early Autumn Semester Registration. Registration information for those registered in spring semester will be e-mailed to students. Those not registered in spring semester may request registration information from the Graduate School.

Course Enrollment Permission. Certain courses and certain enrollment designations (e.g., Audit and Undergraduate option) require submission of a completed Course Enrollment Permission to the Graduate School by the second Friday of the semester of registration to add a course, and by the fourth Friday of the semester of registration to elect an audit option for a course in which the student is currently enrolled. Forms are available on the Office of the University Registrar’s website.

Late Registration Penalty. Students registering after published autumn or spring semester or summer term registration deadlines will incur substantial late registration penalties with the Office of the Registrar. Deadlines are published online on the Office of the University Registrar’s website.

Fee Payment. Fees are assessed based on the number of credit hours and the types of courses in which a student enrolls. The Registrar’s website houses an updated fee table. Students may pay fees online, by mail, or in person at the Office of the University Bursar. Students with a fee authorization will receive credit for their fees on their Statement of Account. Students who do not intend to enroll may contact the Graduate School.

Late Fee Payment Penalty. Students paying fees after the fee payment deadline are assessed a late fee payment penalty by the Office of the Bursar. The university reserves the right to refuse or cancel registration if fees are not paid by the second Friday of the autumn or spring semester or summer term. The Office of the University Registrar’s website contains information on deadlines, penalty fee rates, and refund schedules.

Health Insurance - 3.3

Students who are enrolled at the level of at least half-time status in an in person program are required to carry health insurance as a condition of enrollment. All such students who take any classroom instruction in person, including regional campus students, are automatically enrolled in Student Health Insurance (SHI) upon registration, unless the student obtains an exemption. Late changes to a student’s course enrollment may result in an unintentional disenrollment in the Student Health Insurance Plan, especially if the changes result in a student dropping below the half-time threshold or changing to an all-distance learning mode of instruction. Please contact SHI for more information.

Dependents and Domestic Partners. Students may enroll dependent children and domestic partners into the student health insurance plans. Further information about sponsored dependent benefits is available on the Office of Human Resources website.

Mental Health and Counseling Services. The Counseling and Consultation Services (CCS) at the Office of Student Life provides individual and group mental health services, psychoeducational prevention and outreach programming to currently enrolled graduate and professional students. CCS also works with spouses/partners of students who are covered by Comprehensive Student Health Insurance.

Exemptions from SHI

Distance Students. Students enrolled in distance learning programs and/or distance learning (online) courses exclusively are automatically excluded from SHI. Distance-learning students may petition for enrollment in SHI.

Less Than Half-Time Status. Students who enroll for less than half-time status in either classroom or distance-learning courses or a combination of both are automatically excluded from SHI. Students with less than half-time status may petition for enrollment in SHI.

Other Health Insurance Plans. All domestic students who have coverage through a non-university health insurance plan and who want to waive SHI must either list the alternative policy information at the time of registration for courses, or complete the petition to waive at the SHI website. (See Section 11 for information about health benefits for students with fellowships).

International students who are fully financially sponsored by a government sponsor, or students who are covered as a U.S.-based employee under U.S.-based insurance, or as a dependent of a U.S.-based employee must complete an International Student Health Insurance Waiver form by the published deadline. The waiver form and more information about exceptions for international students can be found on the Student Health Insurance website.

Exchange Students. Ohio State graduate students may participate in a student exchange program with an institution in another country. These programs are typically at least a semester long and involve registration for course work as well as extended stay at the host institution. The graduate tuition and fees and stipend levels for these exchange students will need to be in accordance with the guidelines of the individual exchange programs. Ohio State exchange students who are not concurrently enrolled at Ohio State (while at the host institution), need to only purchase the comprehensive supplemental medical and security insurance policy. Ohio State exchange students who enroll at Ohio State during the exchange program are required to purchase the SHI. Exchange students from another institution who enroll at Ohio State during the Exchange program are required to purchase SHI unless they are covered by government sponsorship, or by a US-based company with US-based insurance.

Changes in Schedule - 3.4

With advisor approval, students may make schedule changes. Academic programs may also make schedule changes on the student’s behalf if the course in question is housed within that program. However, if the change involves a course outside of the home program or cannot otherwise be processed by program staff, the change must be made at the Graduate School. For all academic deadlines, refer to Appendix A.

Course Addition. Students may add courses to their schedules online through the first Friday of the semester. After the first Friday of the autumn or spring semester or summer term, additions to approved schedules require the permission of the instructor and approval of the student’s advisor and may be submitted on the Course Enrollment Permission form. After the second Friday of the autumn or spring semester or summer term, any addition to approved schedules is by petition to the Graduate School via the Late Course Petition form via GRADFORMS. Petitions must be approved by the instructor, advisor, and department chair. Petitions are reviewed in the Graduate School and are not always approved. Both the Permission and the Petition forms are available online on the Graduate School website.

Due to the various enrollment options of the summer term calendar, students are advised to refer to the Office of the University Registrar’s website for official deadlines for adding courses.

Course Withdrawal. Until closing on the fourth Friday of an autumn or spring semester or summer term, a student may withdraw from any or all courses that began in the same semester with no mark entered on the official permanent record.

Withdrawal from any or all courses after closing on the fourth Friday of an autumn or spring semester or summer term requires the approval of the student’s advisor and such requests must be submitted to the Graduate School. After closing on the fourth Friday of a semester and until closing on the tenth Friday of a semester, if a student withdraws from any or all courses that began in the same semester, the Office of the University Registrar enters the mark “W” on the official permanent record for those courses. A dated notation “withdrew” is entered on the official permanent record when the student withdraws from the university.

After closing on the tenth Friday of the semester, students who, because of circumstances beyond their control, find it necessary to withdraw from any or all courses, must file a petition with the Graduate School. Reasons not acceptable for withdrawal include, but are not limited to, the student’s performance in the course(s), lack of preparation for the course(s), or dissatisfaction with the subject matter offered in the course(s).

The petition form is available via GRADFORMS. Petitions must be approved by the instructor and the advisor. Petitions are reviewed in the Graduate School. If the Graduate School approves the petition, a copy is filed with the Registrar, who is then authorized to enter the mark “W” on the student’s official permanent record, and the instructor(s) of the course(s) is/are so notified. If the petition is denied by the Graduate School, the student continues to be enrolled in the course(s), and a final grade(s) must be reported by the instructor(s).

A student who stops attending a course and does not officially withdraw from it has the final grade of “EN” as reported by the instructor entered on the official permanent record. Such a grade is based on the Rules of the University Faculty.

Academic Leave or Dismissal from the university during an autumn or spring semester entails withdrawal from all courses in which a student is enrolled during that semester. A graduate student who is involuntarily called to active-duty military service should contact the Graduate School for assistance with Military Leave course withdrawal.

Please refer to the Office of the University Registrar’s website for session information as session deadlines may vary.

Official Permanent Record - 3.5

The student’s official permanent record contains a list of all courses taken, grades earned, degrees earned, and dates of graduation while enrolled at this university. This record is located in the Office of the University Registrar. Unofficial records for all graduate students are maintained in the Graduate School. Students may examine their unofficial record by accessing their Advising Report in Buckeye Link.

• Course Credit 4.0
• Marks (Grades) 4.1
• Grade-Point Average 4.2

Course Credit - 4.0

Graduate Credit. A student earns graduate credit by registering in a graduate course, paying fees, and by being enrolled in the Graduate School when the course is completed. Students registered in other enrollment units such as the professional colleges, the undergraduate colleges, or extended education do not earn graduate credit for any course completed while in one of those enrollment units. For graduate credit, the course must be listed at 6000-level or above, at 5000-level with appropriate instruction, or 4000 to 4999-level if the course is listed outside of the student’s home program and is taught by a non-graduate student course instructor. The aforementioned courses may not be counted toward a graduate degree until the student has been admitted to the Graduate School and, if the courses in question were completed outside of the graduate record, taken under Senior Petition. Graduate credit is then automatically applied to the student’s record unless the Graduate School is notified that the course should remain as undergraduate credit. The hours are counted in the student’s graduate earned and cumulative credit hours, and the grades are counted in the student’s graduate cGPA. The level of instruction and the work required in courses numbered 6000 and above is of a highly advanced nature, and therefore these courses are available only for graduate credit. Enrollment in these courses is restricted to graduate students, combined program students, undergraduate students taking courses under Senior Petition, and honors students by petition. A graduate student serving as a Graduate Teaching Associate (GTA) may not be enrolled in the course in which they are also the course instructor.

Senior Petition. An undergraduate may submit the senior petition to take courses for graduate credit provided that: the student is a senior, the credit for the course is not used to meet baccalaureate degree requirements, the student’s cumulative grade-point average is 3.3 or above in their current undergraduate program of study, and the student secures permission by the end of the first day of classes from the instructor in charge of the course, the secretary of the student’s college which the course is offered for graduate credit or the Graduate School. No more than nine graduate credit hours may be completed under Senior Petition. For more information about combined programs, see Section 8.1. Please note that only one course (typically three to four graduate credit hours) may count toward the completion of a graduate certificate. 

Graduate Bridge Program. Graduate students enrolled in the Graduate Bridge Program (Appendix G) that continue as graduate students within a Graduate Program may roll credits from the GBP into their Graduate Program with approval by the advisor and Graduate Studies Committee Chair.

Non-Graduate Credit. A student enrolled in the Graduate School does not earn graduate credit for any of the following reasons: the course is numbered at the 3999-level or below; the course is numbered at the 4000-4999 level in the student’s own academic unit; the course is one of the following foreign language courses: German 6101 or 6102, Russian 6171 or 6172, French 6571 or 6572; the course is one of the following ESL courses: EDUTL 5901, 5902, 5050, or 5060; the course is designated “non-graduate credit” (undergraduate “UG” option) by the student’s advisor at the time the student registers or adds the course; or the course is taught by a graduate student enrolled at this university. A student registered for a non-graduate credit course must complete the course requirements. A grade is reported by the instructor. The course title, credit hours, and grade appear on the student’s official permanent record. The credit hours are not included in the cumulative or earned graduate credit hours, and the credit points are not included in the cumulative points. The Course Enrollment Permission form or change ticket is marked with a “UG” to indicate that the course is a non-graduate credit course.

Marks (Grades) -  4.1

The following marks and grades are used for graduate students at this university: “A,” “A-,” “B+,” “B,” “B-,” “C+,” “C,” “C-,” “D+,” “D,” “E,” “EM,” “EN,” “I,” “K,” “P,” “R,” “S/U,” and “W.” Graduate students cannot receive a mark of “PA/NP.” All marks and grades are described in University Rules 3335-8-21.

The descriptions for audit, credit by examination, and transfer of credit pertain only to graduate students.

Audit. A student may audit a course with instructor and advisor approval. The student should confer with the instructor regarding any course requirements that must be satisfied in order to audit the course. If a student does not complete an audited course, the student’s course enrollment as an auditor is withdrawn by the Office of the University Registrar.

The Course Enrollment Permission Form must be marked as an audit in the course-option column to indicate that the student is enrolled in the course as an auditor. The course title and mark “R” appear on the student’s official permanent record indicating registered audit. If the student does not meet the requirements to earn the mark of “R,” the instructor may not award credit, and the course will be dropped from the student’s record.

A student may earn graduate credit on the basis of graduate-level examinations taken after admission to the Graduate School (“EM” credit). The achievement level necessary to earn “EM” credit is determined by the Graduate Studies Committee. In order for “EM” credit to be added to the student’s official permanent record, it must be approved by the student’s advisor, the Graduate Studies Committee, and the Graduate School. “EM” credits count in the student’s total earned hours, if taken for graduate credit, but do not count in the student’s graduate cGPA. The course title, credit hours, and mark “EM” appear on the student’s official permanent record. “EM” credit is not given to a student for a course in which a grade already has been received at this university.

Transfer Credit. Graduate credit earned at another regionally accredited university may be transferred to this university. The Graduate School places no limit on the graduate credit hours that may be transferred. However, residence and minimum degree requirements determine the number of graduate credit hours that may be counted toward a graduate degree at this university.

The following conditions must be satisfied in order to transfer graduate credit: the graduate credit was earned as a graduate student at an accredited university; the student earned at least a grade of “B” or satisfactory in each course for which credit is to be transferred (an exception to this may be the transfer of a complete master’s degree for 30 credit hours); the Graduate Studies Committee approves the transfer.

Credits should be transferred at the time the student matriculates into the university but no later than the beginning of the final semester of enrollment in the Graduate School, which may be initiated via GRADFORMS. Transfer credits count in the student’s total earned hours but do not count in the student’s graduate cGPA. The credit hours and the mark “K” appear on the student’s official permanent record.

Students may not transfer graduate credits earned at another institution to a graduate certificate program.

For any transfer credit to count toward a master’s degree, the courses transferred must have been taken within the time limit established by the Graduate Studies Committee. A master’s degree student must complete eighty percent of the program at Ohio State.

For transferred graduate credit to count toward the 50 post-master’s graduate credit hours required for the doctoral degree (Section 7.1), it must be in excess of the master’s degree requirements in a field in which the doctoral degree is awarded at the other university. It must be course work normally taken by doctoral students at the other institution. Note that a minimum of 24 graduate credit hours required for the PhD must be completed at this university.

On receipt and evaluation of a transcript listing courses completed, the Graduate Studies Committee Chair initiates the request for transfer of graduate credit via GRADFORMS.

Grade Grievance Procedure. Grade grievances are handled following the process described in University Rule 3335-8-2.

Grade-Point Average - 4.2

Credit Points. Credit points are assigned per graduate credit hour on the following basis:

• “A” equals 4.0 credit points
• “A-” equals 3.7 credit points
• “B+” equals 3.3 credit points
• “B” equals 3.0 credit points
• “B-” equals 2.7 credit points
• “C+” equals 2.3 credit points
• “C” equals 2.0 credit points
• “C-” equals 1.7 credit points
• “D+” equals 1.3 credit points
• “D” equals 1.0 credit point
• “E” equals 0.0 credit points
• “EN” equals 0.0 credit points

All other grades carry no credit points.

Earned Hours. Earned hours include all graduate credit hours attempted, except for those courses in which a student earns an “E,” an “EN,” or a “U.”

Cumulative Hours. Cumulative hours include all graduate credit hours attempted for which a student earns a grade “A” through “E,” including “EN.” All course work taken in graduate non-degree status is included in the cumulative credit hour total.

Cumulative Grade-Point Average. A student’s graduate cumulative grade-point average (cGPA) is determined by dividing the total credit points by the cumulative hours.

Repetition of Courses. A student may repeat any course with advisor and instructor approval. The credit hours for a repeated course in no case counts more than once in meeting graduate degree requirements, unless the course is identified as repeatable. When a student repeats a course, both grades are counted in computing the graduate cGPA.

Fresh Start. A university policy by which any student who reenrolls in the Graduate School after an absence of five or more years may petition the Graduate Studies Committee for previous graduate credit to be eliminated from the total earned hours and graduate cGPA. If the Graduate Studies Committee approves the student’s petition, the Graduate Studies Committee Chair may recommend approval to the Graduate School. No previous credit hours count in the student’s total earned hours, and no previous grades are computed in the student’s graduate cGPA. All previous courses taken and grades earned in the Graduate School remain on the student’s official permanent record. If the “fresh start” option is exercised, it applies to all course work taken prior to the absence. It may not be used selectively on individual courses or if the course work in question was used to receive a graduate degree.

Grade Forgiveness. Graduate students are not eligible for grade forgiveness. If there are documented circumstances beyond the student’s control that contributed to their deleterious performance, please refer to ‘Course Withdrawal’ in Section 3.4.

• Introduction 5.0
• Good Standing 5.1
• Professional Standards 5.2
• Poor Performance 5.3
• Reasonable Progress 5.4
• Academic and Disciplinary Dismissal from University 5.5
• Reinstatement 5.6
• Notification 5.7

Introduction - 5.0

The Graduate School and the local graduate program share responsibility for monitoring graduate student academic performance and degree completion. This section describes the minimum academic and professional standards of the Graduate School.

Good Standing - 5.1

To be in good academic standing in the Graduate School, a student must maintain a graduate cumulative cGPA of 3.0 or better in all graduate credit courses at The Ohio State University and must maintain reasonable progress toward Graduate School or graduate program requirements.

A doctoral student who has had two unsatisfactory attempts at the candidacy examination or the final oral examination or professional doctoral examination is not in good standing and will not be afforded another opportunity to complete the examination and will be dismissed from the Graduate School and university.

Additionally, students who violate university policy (including, but not limited to, the Code of Student Conduct and the Research Misconduct Policy) while enrolled in a graduate program are not in good standing in the Graduate School.

Professional Standards - 5.2

Graduate students are required to observe professional ethical standards in their graduate studies and research. Graduate students should talk with their advisors and their Graduate Studies Committee Chair if they have questions about the specific expectations of the local graduate program. Research Standards and Scholarly Conduct  (Appendix C) describes the Graduate School’s general expectations for ethics and conduct in graduate research and scholarship. University processes exist to address allegations of research misconduct by graduate students. Graduate students have the responsibility to be aware of and to follow these standards.

Research and Scholarly Conduct. As a recipient of federal funding, the university is obligated to have an administrative process for reviewing, investigating, and reporting allegations of research misconduct. When the Research Integrity Scholarly Committee (RISC), as defined in the Research Misconduct Policy, forwards allegations of research misconduct by a graduate student to the Graduate School, the Graduate School follows the procedure outlined in “Research Standards and Scholarly Conduct”  (Appendix C).

Academic Misconduct. The university’s Code of Student Conduct defines the expectations of students in the area of academic honesty.

Poor Performance - 5.3

Poor Academic Performance. A full-time student with fewer than nine earned hours or whose cGPA is below 3.0 after nine graduate credit hours will receive a warning letter from the Graduate School urging consultation with the advisor and Graduate Studies Committee. A student enrolled in a graduate certificate program (Section 8.3) whose graduate cGPA falls below 3.0 after three graduate credit hours have been attempted will receive a similar warning letter from the Graduate School.

Remediation. A student whose graduate cGPA is below 3.0 after nine graduate credit hours have been attempted will, in close consultation with their advisor, Graduate Studies Committee and the Graduate School, enter into a remediation plan for one autumn or spring semester or summer term. The remediation plan would be aimed at increasing the student’s cGPA to a 3.0 or better. Remediation is not available to graduate non-degree students.

Probation. Students who do not improve their graduate cGPA after a remediation plan has been attempted will be placed on academic probation for one semester by the Graduate School. A student who is on probation in the Graduate School may not be appointed or reappointed as a graduate associate (Section 9) or a graduate fellow or trainee (Section 10).

Removal from Probation. A student who raises the graduate cGPA to 3.0 or better is removed from probation by the Graduate School. Course work used in raising the cGPA must be a part of normal degree requirements and approved by the Graduate Studies Committee. An international student who is on probation upon admission to an international cooperative graduate degree agreement (ICGDA) program is removed from probation upon meeting the conditions stated in the ICGDA.

Warning of Potential Academic Dismissal. A student on a remediation plan or on academic probation whose record continues to deteriorate will be warned that academic dismissal is likely if the record does not improve. Warnings include performance criteria tailored to the individual student, usually in consultation with the Graduate Studies Committee Chair. See Section 5.5 for more information regarding academic dismissal.

Reasonable Progress - 5.4

The Graduate School oversees and requires that students satisfy and demonstrate reasonable progress in their program. This includes compliance with good academic standing and professional standards. Continued enrollment in a graduate program is contingent upon the completion of course work or other requirements as approved by the Graduate Studies Committee and the graduate program.

A student who does not maintain reasonable progress toward a degree or who does not fulfill other graduate program requirements, may be denied further registration in that program by the Graduate School on the recommendation of the Graduate Studies Committee Chair. The Graduate School will send an official warning letter to the student upon receipt of a letter from the Graduate Studies Committee Chair to the student that provides a warning and states that the student is not maintaining reasonable progress toward the degree, based upon program evaluation(s). The Graduate School recommends that the student contact their advisor and Graduate Studies Committee Chair for more details of why they were deemed to not be making sufficient progress and to determine what is needed to comply. No student may be denied further registration in a graduate program without first being warned by the Graduate School, in writing, by utilizing the official contact information maintained by the university.

A student who has received a warning of potential denial of further registration, but who then satisfies the specified conditions or other requirements as approved by the Graduate Studies Committee, is placed in good standing by the Graduate School.

Denial of Further Registration. A student who has been warned that further registration may be denied and who does not satisfy the specified conditions is denied further registration in that graduate program by the Graduate School. The student is not permitted to reenroll in the Graduate School unless acceptance is recommended by the Graduate Studies Committee of another graduate program.

A student, specifically an online student, that has been identified as “not in good standing” for more than one semester may be denied further registration until the student contacts the Graduate School’s Registration Services area.

Academic and Disciplinary Dismissal from University - 5.5

Academic Dismissal. A student who is on probation and who does not raise the graduate cGPA to 3.0 or better at the end of the probation period (typically the end of the next semester or summer term, whichever comes first) may be dismissed from the university at the discretion of the Graduate School following consultation with the student’s Graduate Studies Committee Chair.

Doctoral Students. A doctoral student who has had two unsatisfactory attempts at the candidacy examination or the final oral examination or professional doctoral examination is automatically dismissed from the Graduate School. (See for additional information.)

Disciplinary Dismissal. As academic dismissal is tied to a student’s academic performance, it is distinct from disciplinary dismissal. Students enrolled at the university are required to follow all established policies and procedures regarding student behavior including, but not limited to, the Code of Student Conduct, the Research Misconduct Policy, and Appendix C of this Handbook. Those students found to have violated university policy (e.g., prohibitions against academic and non-academic misconduct) may be subject to sanction, including disciplinary dismissal from the university. As with academic dismissal, disciplinary dismissal will be noted on a student’s permanent record. Unlike an academic dismissal, students dismissed for disciplinary reasons are ineligible to return to the university.

Reinstatement - 5.6

A student who has been academically dismissed from the university may petition the original or another Graduate Studies Committee for reinstatement to the Graduate School. If the petition is approved, the Graduate Studies Committee must submit the student’s petition to the Graduate School for review.

Notification - 5.7

The Graduate School notifies the student, the advisor, and the Graduate Studies Committee Chair in writing whenever any academic action is taken. In addition, when a student is dismissed or reinstated, the Graduate School records this academic action on the student’s official permanent record.

Section 6 Includes:

• Introduction 6.0
• General Information 6.1
• Master's Examination 6.2
• Results of the Master's Examination 6.3
• Thesis 6.4
• Application to Graduate, Master's 6.5
• Summary of Master's Degree Graduation Requirements 6.6
• Tagged or Professional Master’s Degree 6.7
• Specialist in Education 6.8

Introduction - 6.0

Master’s degrees give students the opportunity to gain additional knowledge and necessary skills in a field in order to engage in research and other scholarly activities, to teach, and to become practitioners. Master’s degree programs consist of a coherent pattern of courses and other educational experiences, a master’s examination, and, in many cases, a thesis or an equivalent demonstration of scholarly work.

General Information - 6.1

Program of Study. Each student selects a program of study in consultation with an advisor. The program must include a reasonable concentration in a single area or in related academic areas, must be approved by the advisor, and must be within the rules of the Graduate Studies Committee.

Master’s Degrees. The Graduate School currently oversees over 130 master’s degree programs, including Master of Arts and Master of Science degrees. The Graduate School also oversees professional master’s degree programs, which train students in advanced study with a practical application in their field upon receipt of degree. Please see the Office of Graduate and Professional Admissions’ website for a complete list of all master’s degrees offered at the university.

Foreign Language Requirement. The Graduate School has no foreign language requirement for master’s degrees; however, knowledge of one or more foreign languages may be required by the Graduate Studies Committee of specific programs. Students who wish to acquire a reading knowledge of French, German, Latin, Russian, or Spanish may take special courses offered by language departments. Completion of these courses fulfills the language requirement in many graduate degree programs.

Students are advised to take language courses as soon as possible in the program of study. Placement examinations are given by the language departments to assist students in choosing an effective procedure for meeting language requirements.

Credit Hours and Residency Requirement. A minimum of 30 graduate credit hours is required to earn a master’s degree. Eighty percent of the credit hours required for the awarding of the degree must be new credits and must be completed at this university over a period of at least two semesters. A student must be registered for at least three graduate credit hours the autumn or spring semester or summer term in which graduation is expected.

Time Limit. Each Graduate Studies Committee may establish time limits for the completion of its master’s degree programs.

Former students who have not registered in the Graduate School within the preceding two full calendar years require approval from the Graduate Studies Committee to reenroll. If the petition is approved, the Graduate Studies Committee notifies the Graduate School, which then enables reenrollment.

Thesis and Non-thesis. There are two program plans for students pursuing Master of Arts or Master of Science degrees: Thesis and Non-thesis. Students may pursue either plan, subject to the rules of the Graduate Studies Committee.

Earning a Master’s Degree on the Basis of a Candidacy Examination. A student may earn a master’s degree in a direct-admit PhD program on the basis of satisfactorily completing the doctoral candidacy examination in the same graduate program under the following conditions: it is recommended by the student’s advisor and the Graduate Studies Committee; the student does not already hold an equivalent master’s degree in the same field; the student submits the Application to Graduate form by the published deadline; graduation deadlines established by the Graduate School are met; and candidacy for the doctorate has not expired. Individual programs of study should specify in their program-specific handbooks if they support earning a master’s degree on the basis of the candidacy examination. Please be aware that, per state guidelines, programs that do not have an existing master’s degree will have to submit a proposal to create one. Please see OAA guidelines (p. 52) for an overview of this process. The Graduate School’s Associate Dean for Academic Excellence can assist with this process. Admittance into a PhD program with the sole intent to obtain a Graduate School fellowship of any kind and complete only a master’s degree is not an approved degree pathway.

Master's Examination - 6.2

The master’s examination is a test of the student’s knowledge of the field. It is the final validation of performance for that degree. The master’s examination is taken after submitting the Application to Graduate on GRADFORMS and during the autumn or spring semester or summer term in which the student plans to graduate. A student must be registered for at least three graduate credit hours during the autumn or spring semester or summer term this examination is taken.

Thesis. The master’s examination for a student pursuing the thesis option must include a written portion (thesis) and an oral portion.

Non-Thesis. The master’s examination for a student pursuing the non-thesis option must include a written portion and may include an oral portion. The written portion may be a substantial paper, project or examination appropriate to the discipline, demonstrative of scholarly work and consistent with best practices in the field.

Oral Examination. Students must coordinate with their advisor and examination committee to determine a mutually acceptable date and time for the oral examination. Examinations must take place during announced university business hours, Monday through Friday. Master’s examinations must be held on Ohio State’s Columbus or Wooster campus, or via video conference, dependent upon unanimous agreement by the student and committee.

Master’s Examination Committee. The master’s examination is administered under the auspices of the Graduate Studies Committee. The responsibility for the examination rests with the student’s master’s examination committee. The master’s examination committee is composed of at least two graduate faculty members including the student’s advisor. Other graduate faculty members may participate in generating, administering, or scoring parts of the examination, but the master’s examination committee is finally responsible for the conduct and evaluation of the entire examination. The advisor of a master’s student must hold membership at the category M level or higher in the student’s graduate program. Non-Graduate Faculty members may be appointed as additional external members to the master’s examination committee by approval of the Graduate Studies Committee in the student’s home program and by petition to the Graduate School.

Attendance. If the master’s examination includes an oral portion, the advisor serves as chair. The student can be allowed to deliver a public presentation as part of the exam. The public presentation should be no longer than half an hour and the entire exam should be limited to less than 2 hours. Except when video conferencing is involved, all members of the master’s examination committee must be present during the entire examination and are expected to participate fully in questioning during the course of the examination and in the discussion and decision on the result. Others may attend the public presentation part of the examination, subject to the rules of the Graduate Studies Committee.

Video Conferencing. All master’s examinations involving video conferencing must adhere to the Graduate School’s guidelines for video conferencing (Appendix B).

Halting an Oral Examination in Progress. If for reasons of illness, fire, or other emergency, the committee members agree that it is necessary to halt the oral portion of the master’s examination, then the examination shall be rescheduled without prejudice to the student. If, however, the committee members unanimously decide that the examination has been sufficient to reach a decision to pass the student, then they shall consider the examination concluded and report the result to the Graduate School.

Results of the Master's Examination - 6.3

Decision. Only the master’s examination committee members are to be present for discussion of the student’s performance and the decision about the outcome. After discussion, the satisfactory/unsatisfactory decision is reached by means of a vote. Each examiner indicates judgment by posting their decision on the Report on Final Examination in GRADFORMS that should be submitted to the Graduate School within 24 hours of the examination’s completion, but no later than the posted deadline for the autumn or spring semester or summer term of graduation.

Satisfactory. The student is considered to have completed the master’s examination successfully only when the decision of the master’s examination committee is unanimously affirmative.

Unsatisfactory. If the examination is judged unsatisfactory, the master’s examination committee must decide whether the student will be permitted to take a second master’s examination in that graduate program and must record that decision on the Report on Final Examination.

Second Master’s Examination. If a second examination is held, the master’s examination committee must be the same as the original one, unless a substitution is approved by the Graduate School. A student who has failed the master’s examination twice in one graduate program is not permitted to take another master’s examination in that program.

Review. On written appeal by the student or a member of the master’s examination committee, the Graduate School reviews the master’s examination to ensure its conformity to Graduate School and/or local graduate program rules. The Graduate Council has established review procedures (Appendix D).

Thesis - 6.4

Document.A student pursuing the thesis option must submit a complete, written thesis document to the master’s examination committee. The thesis must conform to Graduate School format requirements as described in the “Document Preparation-Dissertations and Theses” section on the Graduate School website. The student is responsible for ensuring that the information contained within the thesis document is original, complete and does not include material that could be deemed as academic and/or research misconduct. The complete and defensible thesis document must be approved by the master’s examination committee before the student takes the examination, and the final thesis document must be approved by the master’s examination committee prior to uploading the final document to OhioLINK. Students are responsible for ensuring that their final document conforms to all applicable University digital accessibility policies.

Format Review. Master’s students pursuing the thesis option should submit a complete and defensible thesis draft to the Graduate School for an initial format review before submitting the final version to OhioLINK. It is recommended that the complete and defensible draft be submitted for review around the time of the student’s defense. Format reviews can be done remotely or in person. All reviews will require the student to upload a complete and defensible draft copy of the document as a PDF to grad-schoolformatreview@osu.edu. In person format reviews are conducted on a walk-in basis during normal university business hours.

Approval. If the student satisfactorily completes the master’s examination and if the student presents an acceptable thesis, the master’s examination committee members indicate approval of the thesis by posting their decision on the Report on Final Document by the published deadline for the autumn or spring semester or summer term of graduation.

Restricted Material. Theses must not contain material that may never be allowed to be published. Students whose theses contain material that can be published but requires a delay in public disclosure can request to delay public disclosure on OhioLINK (Ohio Library and Information Network). Although the disclosure of a completed thesis may be delayed, the document’s title and abstract will still be available to the public via OhioLINK. Please contact the Graduate School’s Graduation Services area for additional information.

Electronic Submission. The thesis must be submitted to and approved by the Graduate School by the published deadline for the autumn or spring semester or summer term of graduation. The final thesis must be submitted electronically as a PDF to OhioLINK. Approved documents submitted via OhioLINK will need to be accepted by the Graduate School by the close of business before the Report on Final Document will be processed. The students must allow adequate time, at least a day or two, before the deadline for approval between submitting their document to OhioLINK and final review/approval by the Graduate School.

Application to Graduate, Master's - 6.5

It is the dual responsibility of the Graduate Studies Committee and the Graduate School to review the student’s record and ensure that all degree requirements are complete at the end of the expected autumn or spring semester or summer term of graduation.

Application to Graduate. A student must submit an Application to Graduate on GRADFORMS no later than the third Friday of the semester (or third Friday of summer term) in which graduation is expected. The application is valid for that autumn or spring semester or summer term only. Submitting this application indicates that the student is expected to complete all degree requirements that autumn or spring semester or summer term. The form must be submitted by the student and approved by the advisor and the Graduate Studies Committee Chair. The degree plan the student is pursuing and the proposed master’s examination committee members must be listed on the application.

End of Semester or Summer Term. A student who does not meet published graduation deadlines but who does complete all degree requirements by the last business day prior to the first day of classes for the following autumn or spring semester or summer term may graduate the following autumn or spring semester or summer term without registering or paying fees.

Summary of Master's Degree Graduation Requirements - 6.6

1. Submission of the Application to Graduate form to the Graduate School no later than the third Friday of the semester (or third Friday of summer term) in which graduation is expected.
2. Registration for at least three graduate credit hours during the autumn or spring semester or summer term in which graduation is expected.
3. Completion of a minimum of 30 graduate credit hours. Eighty percent of those required credit hours must be new credits and must be completed at this university over a period of at least two semesters.
4. Cumulative grade-point average of at least 3.0.
5. For thesis and non-thesis students: satisfactory completion of the master’s examination and committee approval of the Report on Final Examination by the published deadline for the autumn or spring semester or summer term of graduation.
6. For thesis option students: committee approval of the Report on Final Document and electronic submission of the approved thesis to OhioLINK by the published deadline for the autumn or spring semester or summer term of graduation.
7. Receipt of final grades in the Office of the University Registrar by the published deadline.
8. Completion of the master’s degree requirements established by the Graduate Studies Committee.
9. Students are responsible for meeting all degree and graduation requirements by the requisite deadlines, as well as follow all existing policies and procedures. Failure to do so may prevent the student from graduating on time. See Appendix H.3 for more information.

Students are responsible for meeting all degree and graduation requirements by the requisite deadlines, as well as follow all existing policies and procedures. Failure to do so may prevent the student from graduating on time. See Appendix H.3 for more information. 

Tagged or Professional Master’s Degree - 6.7

Professional master’s programs contain advanced graduate level coursework, a practice perspective to the learning, and variable levels of scholarly work. Typically more than 30 graduate credit hours are required to earn a professional master’s and these programs are ‘tagged’ with a distinguishing degree name. Tagged master's programs provide preparation for advanced training in practicing programs. Professional master’s degrees are frequently a terminal degree or can serve as training for a professional doctoral degree program.

Professional master’s can be thesis, non-thesis, capstone or course based. Capstone experiences such as a practicum (a supervised internship) or a culminating project (an independent project to develop skills and competencies) may be included as part of a professional master’s. A capstone experience is a multifaceted assignment that serves as a culminating academic and intellectual experience for students, typically during their final year of an academic program. The Summary of Master’s Degree Graduation Requirements (Section 6.6) pertains to the tagged masters’ programs. Please note that a master’s examination may not be required for the completion of a professional master’s degree. Interested parties should contact a professional master’s program of interest for more information.

Proposals for tagged or professional graduate degree programs should meet the guidelines specified by the Office of Academic Affairs. These titles, the programs of study, and the determinations of entry and exit (examination) requirements are made according to standards designed for academic degree purposes and must be approved by the Graduate School and undergo similar processes for all program approvals.

Specialist in Education - 6.8

The Specialist in Education, also referred to as Educational Specialist (EdS or SEd), is a post-master’s terminal professional degree offered by the graduate programs in Education: Teaching and Learning and Educational Studies. An EdS is a postgraduate degree unique to the field of education, which is considered more advanced than a master’s degree, but generally requires less coursework than a PhD or EdD. For professionals who already have a master’s degree, an EdS is a great way to reach the next level without the time or cost required for most doctoral degrees. They generally require between 30 and 65 graduate credit hours of coursework (depending on the specialty and school) and can often be completed in a little over a year (or up to two years) after earning the master’s degree. Most doctorate programs will accept some transfer credits from an educational specialist degree program if an individual decides he or she would like to pursue a doctoral degree. Thirty graduate hours earned in the completion of a master’s degree may be counted toward the completion of the EdS degree. Eighty percent of the remaining post-master’s hours required for the degree must be taken while enrolled as an EdS student at this university.

There are two EdS degrees here at OSU; one in Education: Teaching and Learning and the other in Educational Studies. 

1. Education: Teaching and Learning EdS - An educational specialist is a school-based educator with the depth of theoretical knowledge and wisdom of practice in a defined specialization to provide leadership within a school district, to help shape policy, to design and direct programs, to support and evaluate teaching and learning, to mentor early career educators, and to translate relevant research and theory into sound practice. Students focus their curriculum on one of eight specializations. Students complete a 30 hour master’s program prior to admission into the EdS and complete 38 additional post-master’s hours.
2. Educational Studies EdS - The Educational Specialist (EdS) program in school psychology trains students to provide comprehensive psychological services in schools, particularly urban schools, within an ecological problem-solving framework. The majority of the graduates of the EdS school psychology program are employed by school districts as school psychologists. To complete the EdS degree, students are expected to maintain two years of full-time enrollment (that may include summers) and to successfully complete one year of internship. All EdS students will obtain the Master of Arts degree after their first year (33 semester hours). The EdS degree must be at least 38 post-master’s semester hours, for a total of 71 semester hours. Successful completion of the internship is required to obtain licensure from the Ohio Department of Education.

The specific focus of the programs and requirements for admission vary, so consult the respective programs for additional information. The Summary of Master’s Degree Graduation Requirements  (Section 6.6) generally pertains to EdS programs. 

Section 7 Includes:

• Doctoral Degrees Introduction 7.0
• General Information 7.1
• Preliminary Examinations 7.2
• Candidacy Examination 7.3
• Written Portion of the Candidacy Examination 7.4
• Oral Portion of the Candidacy Examination 7.5
• Result of the Candidacy Examination 7.6
• Candidacy 7.7
• Dissertation 7.8
• Final Oral Examination 7.9
• Result of the Final Oral Examination 7.10
• Dissertation Approval 7.11
• Application to Graduate, PhD 7.12
• Summary of PhD Degree Graduation Requirements 7.13
• Interdisciplinary Graduate Programs 7.14
• Doctor of Musical Arts Degree (DMA) 7.15
• Summary of DMA Degree Graduation Requirements 7.16
• Professional Doctoral Degrees 7.17
• Academic Internship Programs 7.18
• Big Ten Academic Alliance Traveling Scholar Program 7.19
• Office of Postdoctoral Affairs 7.20

Doctoral Degrees Introduction -  7.0

Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) or Doctorate of Musical Arts (DMA) degree programs give students the opportunity to achieve a high level of scholarly competence and to develop the capacity to contribute to the knowledge, innovation and creativity of their field. The PhD and DMA degree programs consist of a coherent pattern of courses and other educational experiences to generate new knowledge, a candidacy examination, a dissertation (PhD) or document (DMA), and a final oral examination.

General Information - 7.1

Program of Study. Each student selects a program of study in consultation with an advisor. It must include a reasonable concentration and breadth of study designed to foster research, scholarship, and knowledge of a specialty in relation to allied academic areas, must be approved by the advisor, and is subject to the rules of the Graduate Studies Committee.

Second Doctoral Degree. Admission to a second nonprofessional (the PhD or DMA) doctoral program by a student who has completed one such degree requires the approval of the Graduate Studies Committee and the Graduate School.

Foreign Language Requirement. The Graduate School has no foreign language requirement for doctoral degrees; however, knowledge of one or more foreign languages may be required by the Graduate Studies Committee of certain programs of study. Students who wish to acquire a reading knowledge of French, German, Latin, Russian, or Spanish may take special courses offered by language departments. Completion of these courses fulfills the language requirement in many graduate degree programs. Students are advised to take language courses as soon as possible in the program of study. Placement examinations are given by the language departments to assist students in choosing an effective procedure for meeting language requirements. See Section 2.7 for language requirements to serve in a teaching role.

Credit Hours and Residency Requirements. A minimum of 80 graduate credit hours beyond the baccalaureate degree is required to earn a PhD or DMA degree.

If a master’s degree has been earned by the student, then a minimum of 50 graduate credit hours beyond the master’s degree is required. If the master’s degree was earned at another university, then up to 30 of its graduate credit hours may be transferred to this institution, provided that the hours in question are in alignment with the graduate program’s curriculum. If the master’s degree was earned at this institution but in a graduate program other than the student’s doctoral program, the student must request, via GRADFORMS, that up to 30 master’s hours be counted toward the doctoral degree.  If a doctoral student has taken a master’s degree at this university and has earned graduate credit in excess of the minimum required for that degree, the student’s advisor, with the approval of the Graduate Studies Committee, notifies the Graduate School of the courses to be counted toward the 50 graduate credit hours required for the doctoral degree. It is recommended that this notification occur by the end of the first semester beyond completion of a master’s degree, but no later than the student’s final semester in the PhD or DMA degree program. Of the 50 post-master’s hours, at least 24 graduate hours must be taken at this university.

A student must be registered for at least three graduate credit hours during the autumn or spring semester(s) or summer term(s) of the candidacy examination, the autumn or spring semester or summer term of the final oral examination, and the autumn or spring semester or summer term of expected graduation.

Preliminary Examinations - 7.2

The Graduate Studies Committee of certain programs may require students to take preliminary or qualifying examinations prior to taking the candidacy examination. These examinations are under the jurisdiction of the Graduate Studies Committee, and results are not reported to the Graduate School. Although successful completion of such examinations may be a prerequisite for taking the candidacy examination, these examinations are not part of the candidacy examination.

Candidacy Examination - 7.3

The candidacy examination is a single examination consisting of two portions, written and oral, administered under the auspices of the Graduate Studies Committee in conjunction with the student’s candidacy examination committee and the Graduate School.

The purpose of the candidacy examination is to test a student’s comprehension of the field, allied areas of study, capacity to undertake independent research, and ability to think and express ideas clearly. For DMA students, the candidacy examination is a test of the student’s fundamental knowledge of the music field as well as of preparation in a specific area of concentration.

Each Graduate Studies Committee must ensure that a rigorous examination is given and that the student’s performance is evaluated at the time of the exam.

Timing. The candidacy examination may be taken or begun at any time thought appropriate by the student’s candidacy examination committee and Graduate Studies Committee but must be completed at least one semester before a student can defend and graduate. The student must be in good standing in the Graduate School and registered for at least three graduate credit hours each semester or term in which any part of the candidacy examination is taken. Students who plan to take the candidacy examination during the summer term are responsible for making certain that committee members are on duty in the summer.

Candidacy Examination Committee. The candidacy examination committee is composed of at least four authorized graduate faculty members and may include the student’s advisor consistent with Graduate Studies Committee policy. A Graduate Faculty Representative may be assigned to an initial candidacy exam at the request of the student and advisor.

Each Graduate Studies Committee decides whether the advisor or another member of the Graduate Faculty serves as the chair of the candidacy examination committee and whether the advisor is a member of the committee. The chair of the committee must hold membership at the Category P level in the graduate program of the student. Once a policy on this point is established, it must be applied uniformly to all candidacy examinations administered by the graduate program until a change is reported to the Graduate School. The chair of the candidacy examination committee is responsible for coordinating the preparation and conduct of both the written and oral portions of the candidacy examination.

The responsibility for the administration and evaluation of the entire candidacy examination, including the written and oral portions, rests with the candidacy examination committee. Within the rules of the Graduate Studies Committee, other graduate faculty members may participate in generating, administering, or scoring parts of the written portion of the candidacy examination. Non-graduate faculty members may be appointed as additional external members to the candidacy examination committee by approval of the Graduate Studies Committee in the student’s home program and by petition to the Graduate School.

Written Portion of the Candidacy Examination - 7.4

Procedures. The written portion of the candidacy examination may be administered within a limited time period or given sequentially over an extended time period. Rules for the form, timing, scheduling, sequence, and conduct of the written portion are determined by the Graduate Studies Committee.

Waiver. If, based on evaluating the written portion, the advisor or another member of the candidacy examination committee see no possibility for a satisfactory overall performance on the candidacy examination, the student may be advised to waive the right to take the oral portion. The candidacy examination committee may not, however, deny a student the opportunity to take the oral portion.

If the student decides to waive the right to take the oral portion, a written statement requesting the waiver must be presented to the candidacy examination committee. In such a case, the candidacy examination committee records an “unsatisfactory” on the Report on Candidacy Examination and submits a copy of the student’s waiver request to the Graduate School.

Oral Portion of the Candidacy Examination - 7.5

Scheduling. The oral portion of the candidacy examination is held after completion of the written portion and must be completed within one month of the written portion. To schedule the oral exam, the student must submit an Application for Candidacy on GRADFORMS and have this approved by their program and advisor at least two weeks before the oral’s proposed date. The oral examination must take place during announced university business hours, Monday through Friday. Candidacy examinations must be held on Ohio State’s Columbus or Wooster campus, or via video conference, dependent upon unanimous agreement by the student and committee.

Attendance and Format. Attendance is limited to the student and members of the candidacy examination committee. Except when video conferencing is involved, all members of the candidacy examination committee must be present during the entire oral examination. The oral portion of the candidacy examination lasts no more than two hours. Questioning of the student should occupy the entire period of the examination. All committee members are expected to participate fully in the questioning during the course of the examination and in the discussion of and decision on the result of the candidacy examination. Oral presentation of any proposal or other prepared materials must be made prior to or after the oral examination.

Video Conferencing. All PhD candidacy oral examinations involving video conferencing must adhere to the Graduate School’s guidelines for video conferencing, available from the Graduate School (Appendix B).

Halting an Oral Examination in Progress. If for reasons of illness, fire, or other emergency, the candidacy examination committee members agree that it is necessary to halt the oral portion of the candidacy examination, then the examination shall be rescheduled without prejudice to the student. If, however, the committee members unanimously decide that the examination has been sufficient to reach a decision to pass the student, then they shall consider the examination concluded and complete the Report on Candidacy Examination.

Postponement. The oral portion of the candidacy examination is expected to be held as scheduled; however, circumstances (other than failure to pass the written portion) may prompt the advisor to postpone it. Before taking this action, the candidacy examination committee chair must consult the student and other members of the candidacy examination committee, which does not include the Graduate Faculty Representative (if applicable). Prior to the oral examination, the candidacy examination committee chair must notify the Graduate School of the postponement. See section 7.4 regarding the student’s waiver of the oral portion when the candidacy examination committee judges the written portion to be unsatisfactory.

Result of the Candidacy Examination - 7.6

Decision. The decision about the outcome of the candidacy examination is reached in the absence of the student. After discussion, the satisfactory/unsatisfactory decision is reached by means of a vote. Each examiner indicates judgment by posting their decision on the Report on Candidacy Examination that should be submitted to the Graduate School, within 24 hours of the examination’s completion.

Satisfactory. The student is considered to have completed the candidacy examination successfully only when the decision of the candidacy examination committee is unanimously affirmative.

Unsatisfactory. If the examination is judged unsatisfactory, the candidacy examination committee must decide whether the student will be permitted to take a second candidacy examination and must record that decision on the Report on Candidacy Examination.

Second Candidacy Examination. The nature of the second candidacy examination is determined by the candidacy examination committee. Normally the second exam will include both a written and an oral portion. In cases where the student’s performance on the first written exam was of such a high caliber that the exam committee does not request any rewrites, then only the oral portion needs to be repeated. The advisor should indicate on the Report on Candidacy Examination from the first attempt that a new written exam will not be required for the second attempt. If any portion of the first written exam was not satisfactory, the exam committee must administer a second written exam. A second oral exam will always be required. The candidacy examination committee for a second exam must be the same as the committee for the first attempt, unless a substitution is approved by the Graduate School. The second candidacy examination must be completed no later than one autumn or spring semester or summer term before graduation. All other rules pertaining to candidacy exams must be followed.

Graduate Faculty Representative. A Graduate Faculty Representative (GFR) will be assigned to serve on the second oral examination. For second examinations, a typed copy of the written examination, including questions, the student’s responses, together with a statement of the program’s examination format, policies, and procedures, must be presented to the GFR no less than one week before the oral portion of the exam.

Failure. A student who fails the candidacy examination twice is not allowed an additional examination. After two unsatisfactory attempts at the candidacy examination (including the second candidacy examination), a student is not permitted to be a doctoral candidate in the same or in any other graduate program at this university. A notation of dismissal will be posted to the student’s academic record and further registration will not be allowed. Such students can seek admission to the master’s degree program by utilizing the transfer of graduate program procedure and securing a support letter from the Graduate Studies Committee Chair of the proposed master’s program.

Review. On written appeal by the student or a member of the candidacy examination committee, the Graduate School reviews the candidacy examination to ensure its conformity to Graduate School and/or local graduate program rules. The Graduate Council has established review procedures (Appendix D).

Candidacy - 7.7

Definition of Candidacy. Candidacy is defined as that period in a doctoral student’s studies when she or he is deemed ready to undertake independent and original research resulting in a dissertation (PhD) or to meet performance and document requirements (DMA). Doctoral students who have advanced to candidacy by passing the written and oral portions of the candidacy examination will subsequently be termed “doctoral candidates.”

• Candidacy should be reached after doctoral students have taken enough course work to become proficient in the field of study, which is generally two to three years after starting the doctoral program or one year after qualifying or preliminary exams.
• Doctoral students who have achieved candidacy status are deemed to have:
• Acquired the necessary advanced knowledge of the subject (normally by meeting all of the course requirements for the particular PhD program)
• Developed the needed technical skills (e.g., language, laboratory, computational, etc.) for work in the subject
• Demonstrated the ability to do the research or scholarship necessary to begin work on a dissertation

Admission to Candidacy. Provided that the student is in good standing at the end of the autumn or spring semester or summer term in which the candidacy examination is completed, satisfactorily completing that examination admits the student to candidacy for the doctoral degree in that program at the end of that semester or term. A student is normally expected to enroll primarily in 8999 or in program-approved courses after satisfactorily completing the candidacy examination. Doctoral candidates who have successfully completed all conditions for candidacy will be considered at full-time status when enrolling for three credit hours. Candidacy status established in one doctoral program is not transferable to another doctoral program. Additionally, candidacy status obtained at another institution cannot transfer to this University.

Continuous Enrollment. All students who successfully complete the doctoral candidacy examination will be required to be enrolled in every autumn and spring semester of their candidacy (summer term excluded) until graduation. Doctoral candidates must be enrolled for at least three credits per semester. While the Graduate School and the individual graduate programs will monitor the enrollment of all doctoral candidates, it ultimately will be the responsibility of each doctoral candidate to ensure that they are meeting the enrollment provisions of this policy.

Leave of Absence. Doctoral candidates who cannot continue in their doctoral program due to extenuating circumstances (e.g., medical, military, or University State of Emergency) may request leave of absence from their doctoral studies on a semester-by-semester basis for up to a maximum overall leave period of one year (Section 11.2) While there are many situations upon which a leave can be requested, leave will not be granted for the sole reason of financial hardship. A leave request requires the doctoral candidate to submit a Leave of Absence from Program form in GRADFORMS. Once submitted, the form will be available on GRADFORMS for approval by the doctoral candidate’s home program and advisor before being forwarded to the Graduate School for final review. A request for a leave needs to be submitted before the actual leave period begins. Supporting documentation should be included as an attachment on the petition form. If a leave is granted, the doctoral candidate’s candidacy period will be paused until the doctoral candidate returns to continuous enrollment status.

While there are many situations upon which a leave can be requested, leave will not be granted for the sole reason of financial hardship. A leave request requires the doctoral candidate to submit a Leave of Absence from Program form in GRADFORMS. Once submitted, the form will be available on GRADFORMS for approval by the doctoral candidate’s home program and advisor before being forwarded to the Graduate School for final review. A request for a leave needs to be submitted before the actual leave period begins. Supporting documentation should be included as an attachment on the petition form. If a leave is granted, the doctoral candidate’s candidacy period will be paused until the doctoral candidate returns to continuous enrollment status.

Dismissal from Candidacy. Doctoral candidates who do not enroll in a required semester (unless on an approved leave of absence) will be dismissed from active candidacy status. A doctoral candidate whose candidacy status has been under dismissal will not be allowed to continue on in the doctoral program until reinstated. A hold will be placed on the doctoral candidate’s university record preventing any further registration or access to university resources. A doctoral candidate wishing to be reinstated to the doctoral program and active candidacy status will need to petition the Graduate Studies Committee in their program. If approved, the Graduate Studies chair of the program will send to the Graduate School a formal request to allow the student to resume studies and register.

Upon approval of a doctoral candidacy reinstatement, the doctoral candidate will be retroactively enrolled in every semester of missed enrollment for three credits of 8999 research hours under their advisor. The doctoral candidate will be responsible for paying the past tuition charges as well as the current university per semester late registration penalty. All past due charges will need to be paid before the Graduate School will approve the doctoral candidate for any future enrollment. The doctoral candidate’s five-year candidacy period will not be interrupted in this situation.

Condition of Reinstatement. As a condition of reinstatement, a doctoral candidate will be required to follow the continuous enrollment guidelines as a doctoral candidate regardless of when they were admitted to the Graduate School.

Time Limit. If a doctoral candidate fails to submit the final copy of the dissertation or DMA document to the Graduate School within five years of being admitted to candidacy, the candidacy is cancelled. In such a case, with the approval of the advisor and the Graduate School, the doctoral candidate may petition for one extra semester after the conclusion of candidacy to complete all outstanding degree requirements. The doctoral candidate may also petition their advisor and their Graduate Studies Committee to take a supplemental candidacy examination. If the student passes this supplemental candidacy examination, the student is readmitted to candidacy and must then complete a dissertation or DMA document within two years.

Supplemental Candidacy Examination. The nature of the supplemental candidacy examination and the membership of the candidacy examination committee are determined by the doctoral candidate’s advisor within the rules of the Graduate Studies Committee. The examination committee is comprised of the advisor and at least three other authorized Graduate Faculty members. The supplemental candidacy examination must include a written and an oral portion that lasts no more than two hours. A Graduate Faculty Representative is appointed if a prior unsatisfactory examination result is on record. All other rules pertaining to candidacy examinations must be followed. 

Withdrawal from Doctoral Program. Doctoral candidates who decide to permanently withdraw from their doctoral program must submit a Withdrawal from Program form on GRADFORMS. This form is to be completed prior to the semester in which the withdrawal status will take effect. The candidacy status will be deactivated and university records will reflect that the doctoral candidate will not be permitted to enroll without the approval of the graduate program and submission of a Reactivate Enrollment Eligibility form to the Graduate School.

Should the doctoral candidate later be reactivated in the doctoral program, a new candidacy examination will be required, and the doctoral candidate will have five years from the successful completion of this exam to complete the dissertation. A doctoral candidate may also need to complete additional course work at the discretion of the graduate program.

Final Oral Examination Committee. The final oral examination committee is composed of members of the doctoral candidate’s dissertation committee, plus the Graduate Faculty Representative. Other graduate faculty members may be added to the committee, subject to the rules of the Graduate Studies Committee. The advisor serves as chair of the final oral examination committee. Responsibility for conducting and evaluating the final oral examination rests with the doctoral candidate’s final oral examination committee.

• Enhancement of Graduate Degrees 8.0
• Combined Programs 8.1
• Dual Degree Programs 8.2
• Graduate Certificates 8.3
• Graduate Minors and Graduate Interdisciplinary Specializations 8.4
• Areas of Specialization and Program Tracks 8.5
• Customized Programs 8.6
• International Cooperative Degree Programs 8.7

Enhancement of Graduate Degrees - 8.0

Graduate degrees can be customized with low-credit hour minors, specializations, dual and combined degrees, and certificates.

Current graduate students can discuss with their graduate faculty advisor and Graduate Studies Committee about enhancement options for their graduate degree and how it aligns with their research and career interests and degree completion timeline.

The academic standing and standards stated in Section 5 apply to all students pursuing any enhancement option.

Combined Programs - 8.1

Admission. Students enrolled in combined programs are admitted by the Graduate School, the Graduate Studies Committee, and the professional or undergraduate college or school. The Office of Graduate and Professional Admissions receives application material, determines when the application is complete, calculates the official grade point average (GPA), and notifies the applicant of the admission decision. Please note that students may only pursue a combined degree in a program that has been officially recognized as “combined” by both the University and the Ohio Department of Higher Education. Interested parties should contact the Graduate School to determine if a combined program has received official recognition.

Criteria. To be admitted as a graduate student in a combined program, the applicant must submit documentation that demonstrates satisfactory fulfillment of the following admission criteria:

• Completion of a minimum of 90 undergraduate credit hours, for those enrolling in an undergraduate/graduate combined program.
• A minimum of 3.5 cGPA in all previous undergraduate work for those enrolling in an undergraduate/graduate combined program (including credit hours from other institutions).
• An earned baccalaureate or its equivalent or completion of the first year of a professional program for those enrolling in a professional/graduate combined program.
• A minimum of 3.5 cGPA in all previous undergraduate work for those enrolling in a professional/graduate combined program who hold a completed bachelor’s degree and have not completed one year in the professional program. Students who have completed one year in their professional program must be in good academic standing, admitted to the Graduate School without conditions, and approved by the professional college dean, director, or chair.
• Prerequisite training that will enable the student to pursue the graduate degree program selected.
• Students may not be admitted to the undergraduate/graduate or the professional/graduate combined program in conditional or graduate non-degree status.

Credentials. Applicants must submit the same credentials required of other Graduate School applicants.

Procedures. Applicants must consult the appropriate professional or undergraduate college or school about admission requirements and procedures for its combined program students. In addition to the appropriate admissions applications, the student must also submit a Combined Degree Program form in GRADFORMS. The form must be submitted at least two weeks prior to the beginning of the semester or term of the combined program. Additional information regarding these procedures may be found on the Graduate School website.

Advisor. At the time of admission, a Graduate Faculty member is appointed to advise the student as their primary advisor (Section 12.1). This graduate advisor may be the same as the professional or undergraduate advisor. The Graduate Studies Committee and the student’s graduate advisor are responsible for monitoring progress toward the graduate degree.

Course Load. The number of credit hours a student in a combined program attempts each semester or term is determined by the student and the advisor(s) and must be consistent with the course loads described in Section 3 and by the professional or undergraduate college or school.

Course Credit. Students must list the courses being double-counted toward the undergraduate/professional and graduate degrees on the Combined Degree Program form in GRADFORMS. A maximum of 9 credit hours can overlap between the undergraduate and graduate degrees. Once the form is submitted, it will be routed to both programs for approval before the Graduate School conducts the final review to ensure all combined program requirements have been met. Section 4.0 outlines the criteria for hours to count as graduate credit.

Cumulative Grade-point Averages. Students enrolled in combined programs have two cGPAs, one including all credit counted toward the graduate degree and one including all credit counted toward the professional or undergraduate degree.

Master’s and Doctoral Degree Requirements. A student pursuing a combined program must submit the Application to Graduate on GRADFORMS to the Graduate School no later than the third Friday of the autumn or spring semester (or third Friday of summer term) in which graduation is expected. All master’s and doctoral degree requirements apply to students enrolled in combined programs. 

Graduate Appointments. Students enrolled in professional/graduate combined programs may hold GA appointments (Section 9) or Fellowships and Traineeships (Section 10) provided all eligibility criteria are met. Students enrolled in a bachelor’s/master’s combined program may hold GA appointments that do not involve teaching of other students provided all other eligibility criteria are met.

Withdrawal. Students who are denied further registration in or who withdraw from the graduate portion of their combined program may either retain their graduate credit in the Graduate School should they reenroll at a later time or transfer that graduate credit earned to the other degree program, subject to the rules of the other college or school.

Other Considerations. Students enrolled in a combined undergraduate and graduate program who have yet to complete their baccalaureate program will be assessed undergraduate tuition. Once a student completes their undergraduate degree requirements, graduate tuition will be assessed for the remainder of the post-baccalaureate graduate program. This change in tuition structure will not impact eligibility to hold a graduate associate appointment, provided the student meets all other eligibility requirements. These procedures ensure compliance with the Ohio Department of Higher Education (ODHE) requirements to assess undergraduate tuition for students enrolled in a combined undergraduate/graduate program until the baccalaureate degree is completed.

Dual Degree Programs - 8.2

A dual degree program is defined as a graduate student’s pursuit of any two graduate degrees concurrently, with the exception of two PhD programs. A dual degree program can be the concurrent pursuit of a master’s degree and any other graduate degree (master’s, PhD, or a professional doctorate) or a PhD and a professional doctorate. The dual program does not apply to students pursuing a master’s and a PhD in the same graduate program. Students cannot pursue two PhD programs concurrently at Ohio State.

Program of Study. The student and advisor(s) in each graduate degree program plan an integrated course of study to satisfy the requirements of both degree programs. The Application for Dual Degree Program Plan must be completed and submitted to the Graduate School via GRADFORMS at least one semester or term prior to the semester or term in which one or both degrees are awarded. Per the dual degree being pursued, students must also abide by all other rules and requirements for doctoral degree programs (Section 7) and/or master’s programs (Section 6). All master’s and doctoral exams must remain unique to their respective program degree requirements and cannot be used as substitutes for the second program.

Credit Hours. Students must satisfy the credit hour requirements for each degree program. A minimum of 50 percent of the hours counted toward the credit hour requirement for each degree must be unique to that degree and cannot be used for dual credit. The Graduate Studies Committee of either program may establish a minimum higher than 50 percent. Dual degree students who also pursue a certificate program (Section 8.3) cannot count any of the credits used for completing the certificate as dual credit toward either major degree program and must comply with the 50 percent unique credit policy for each degree. Dual degree students who are pursuing a master’s degree and a PhD degree simultaneously and who have a previous master’s degree that is being counted for 30 hours toward the PhD cannot utilize any dual credits between another master’s and the PhD. In this case the Dual Degree Program Plan will be submitted by the student to reflect the appropriate number of credits needed for the completion of each degree, but there can be no overlap of credits between the two programs. The dual credit section of the Dual Degree Program Plan will be blank. Students interested in counting earned PhD credit toward a second master’s degree should inquire with the Graduate School as to its relevance to the dual degree program.

Tuition and Fees. When a tuition difference exists between the two degree programs, students in the dual degree programs will be charged the higher tuition rate for all enrolled courses in a given semester. Students who are on a graduate fellowship cannot be enrolled as a dual degree student while in the fellowship period.

Graduate Certificates - 8.3

Certificate programs provide students an opportunity to demonstrate competence in a coherent curriculum or area of specialization. Certificates often supplement previous advanced degrees or further professional preparation. Certificates may also serve as an entry point to additional advanced graduate study. Graduate certificates can be free-standing programs; students are directly admitted into these certificate programs. Students may also be simultaneously enrolled in a master’s or doctoral degree program.

Program of Study. Graduate certificates are administered by a Graduate Studies Committee. Students must select a program of study and are encouraged to contact the certificate program prior to application. Information regarding specific requirements for each certificate is available from the Graduate Studies Committee responsible for the certificate program. A complete list of current certificate programs is available on the Graduate School website. Students must meet the minimum admissions standards of the Graduate School. Please note that students pursuing a professional (i.e., category 5b) certificate while also enrolled in a graduate degree or graduate certificate program (i.e., categories 3a or 3b) must maintain the Graduate School’s minimum GPA requirement and make adequate progress toward degree/certificate completion.

Credit Hours. Graduate certificate programs must consist of at least 12 credit hours. Students must achieve a cumulative graduate GPA of at least a 3.0 to be considered for the awarding of a certificate. Only grades of “A” through “C-,” as well as “S,” may be counted toward the completion of the certificate program. Up to 100 percent of relevant credit hours required for the certificate may count towards a degree, upon approval by the degree program. Students may not transfer graduate credits earned at another institution to a graduate certificate program.

Application for Certificate Completion. A student pursuing a graduate certificate program must submit the Application for Certificate Completion to the Graduate School no later than the third Friday of the autumn or spring semester (or third Friday of summer term) in which completion from the student’s certificate program is expected.

Graduate Minors and Graduate Interdisciplinary Specializations - 8.4

The Graduate Minor and the Graduate Interdisciplinary Specialization (GIS) are two options that facilitate the access of graduate students to interdisciplinary study and provide formal recognition of such study on the student’s transcript. In addition, these options recognize and benefit faculty interested in developing interdisciplinary courses/clusters as part of the Graduate School’s effort to support interdisciplinary scholarship. Individual students may not create their own minors and interdisciplinary specializations. These are offered instead by graduate programs or groups of graduate programs. Detailed information, including criteria, procedures for development, and operating procedures for Graduate Minors and Graduate Interdisciplinary Specializations are available from the graduate programs involved or the Graduate School.

Program of Study. All academic aspects of the Graduate Minor and the Graduate Interdisciplinary Specialization (e.g., program of study, examination requirements) are subject to approval by the graduate programs that offer the minor and interdisciplinary specialization.

Graduate Minors. A graduate minor involves one program outside a student’s major graduate program. A graduate minor requires a minimum of 10 hours of graduate-level course work in at least three courses. Twenty hours of graduate level courses is the maximum allowance for graduate minors. The student must receive a grade of “B” or better or “S” in each course comprising the graduate minor. The completed graduate minor will appear on the student’s transcript after the student has completed the transcript designation form available through GRADFORMS.

Graduate Interdisciplinary Specializations. A GIS involves two or more graduate programs outside the student’s major graduate program. A GIS requires a minimum of 10 hours of graduate-level course work in at least three courses. Twenty hours of graduate-level courses is the maximum allowance for a GIS. Nine hours taken for the GIS must be completed outside of the student’s home program in at least three courses. The student must receive a grade of “B” or better or “S” in each course comprising the GIS. The completed GIS will appear on the student’s transcript after the student has completed the transcript designation form available through GRADFORMS.

Areas of Specialization and Program Tracks - 8.5

A graduate specialization represents a significant, widely recognized division of an overall field of study that is broader than an individual faculty member’s area of interest or an individual student’s thesis or dissertation topic. A graduate program track is a specific series of courses and/or other curricular requirements that may be selected by students who wish to develop depth in a particular discipline area.

Both areas of graduate specialization and program tracks must be within the student's graduate program. Specializations that lie outside the student's program are designated as graduate minors or GIS.

Program of Study. Graduate specializations are approved by the Graduate School for the student’s graduate degree program. The student, together with their advisor, may select an approved specialization and forward a request for approval to the local Graduate Studies Committee. If the committee approves the student’s request, the committee forwards the request, together with notice of approval, to the Graduate School.

Upon the student’s graduation, the Graduate School posts the graduate specialization in the student’s permanent record so that it appears on the student’s Ohio State transcript with the student’s graduate program.

Unlike graduate specializations and minors, program tracks are not formally approved by the Graduate School and are not designated on the student’s transcript. The completion of a program track is administered at the program level. Approval by the Graduate School of new program tracks or substantial changes to program tracks is required only when the changes constitute at least 50% of the existing graduate program.

Customized Programs - 8.6

Individual graduate programs may be developed on a case-by-case basis by the local unit in consultation with the Graduate School and in accordance with the guidelines and procedures for review and approval of new graduate degree programs.

Proposals for new graduate minors, GIS and specializations need to follow the Graduate School guidelines for the process of approval. 

International Cooperative Degree Programs - 8.7

The purpose of an international cooperative degree program is to give outstanding international students an opportunity to pursue, simultaneously, two degrees in different international universities by reducing the amount of time required to complete both sets of degree requirements. The opportunity to gain an international experience in graduate education provides a means of access to new information and perspectives, innovative concepts and methods, emerging research technologies and unique populations and environments not typically available at a single institution and country.

The international cooperative graduate degrees are implemented after an approved international cooperative graduate degree agreement (ICGDA) exists between Ohio State and an international partner institution. In this arrangement, a part of the undergraduate or graduate degree requirements are met by the students enrolled at the partner institution, following which the students enroll for and complete the requirements of the graduate program at Ohio State. International cooperative degrees can be formalized for any existing combined or dual degree programs at Ohio State in accordance with the guidelines outlined in the specific programs and in the ICGDAs. 

All international cooperative graduate degrees proposed under the approved ICGDA will need to undergo program review at the Graduate School and must align with Ohio State rules and protocols. The extent of required review will be determined as follows:

1. Cooperative degree programs that make use of existing graduate programs at Ohio State will require review of administrative arrangements, potential impact on enrollment and availability and adequacy of the faculty and facilities available for the proposed program. 
2. Cooperative programs that propose a significant (>50%) revision to an existing degree will need to undergo review by the associated college, the Graduate School and the Council on Academic Affairs (CAA).
3. Newly designed degree programs will need review at the state level via the Chancellor’s Council on Graduate Studies (CCGS) in the Ohio Department of Higher Education (ODHE).

• Graduate Associates Introduction 9.0
• General Information 9.1
• Terms of Appointment, Reappointment, or Termination 9.2
• Appointing Unit Responsibilities 9.3
• Petitions: Graduate Associate Policies 9.4
• Grievances Procedures 9.5
• Externally Funded Students 9.6

Graduate Associates Introduction - 9.0

Appointing Unit Responsibilities - 9.3

• Graduate Fellowships Introduction 10.0
• Types of Graduate School Fellowships 10.1
• Eligibility 10.2
• Nomination 10.3
• Fellowship Selection and Activation 10.4
• Terms of Appointment and Termination 10.5
• Non-Graduate School Funded Fellowships/Traineeships 10.6

• Benefits for Graduate Associates, Fellows and Trainees 11.0
• Graduate Fee Authorization (GFA) 11.1
• Time Off 11.2
• Health Benefits 11.3
• Miscellaneous Benefits 11.4

Benefits for Graduate Associates, Fellows and Trainees - 11.0

The Ohio State University offers several benefits and services to graduate students who are appointed as graduate associates (GA), fellows or trainees. These benefits help support students as they pursue their graduate degrees while balancing academic, employment, and personal goals.

Graduate Fee Authorization (GFA) - 11.1

• Graduate Faculty Membership Introduction 12.0
• Graduate Faculty Categories 12.1
• Functions of Graduate Faculty 12.2
• Appointment of Graduate Faculty 12.3
• Qualifications, Rights and Responsibilities 12.4
• Committee Service 12.5
• Review of Graduate Faculty Status 12.6

Graduate Faculty Membership Introduction - 12.0

• Graduate Studies Committee Introduction 13.0
• General Responsibilities of the Graduate Studies Committee 13.1
• Rules and Procedures of Graduate Studies Committees 13.2
• Decisions Regarding New, Current and Former Students 13.3
• Academic Standards and Program Quality 13.4
• Master’s Degree Programs 13.5
• Doctoral Degree Programs 13.6
• Graduate Associates and Fellows 13.7

Graduate Studies Committee Introduction - 13.0

• Purpose and Responsibilities of the Graduate Council 14.0
• Membership of the Graduate Council 14.1
• Committees of the Graduate Council 14.2
• Council of Graduate Students 14.3

Purpose and Responsibilities of the Graduate Council - 14.0

Autumn Deadlines

Last day to add courses online (full semester and first session) – 1st Friday. 

Last day to add courses with instructor permission (full semester and first session) – 2nd Friday. 

Last day to add courses online (second session) – 9th Friday. 

Last day to add courses with instructor permission (second session) – 10th Friday. 

Adding courses beyond these days of the semester requires a Course Petition. 

Last day to drop courses online (full semester) – 4th Friday. 

Last day to drop courses with advisor approval (W) (full semester) – 10th Friday. 

Last day to drop courses online (first session) – 2nd Friday. 

Last day to drop courses with advisor approval (W) (first session) – 5th Friday. 

Last day to drop courses online (second session) – 10th Friday. 

Last day to drop courses with advisor approval (W) (second session) – 13th Friday. 

Dropping courses beyond these days of the semester requires a Course Petition. 

Last day to change registration to Audit (full semester) – 4th Friday. 

Last day to change registration to Audit (first semester) – 2nd Friday. 

Last day to change registration to Audit (second semester) – 10th Friday. 

Changing registration to Audit beyond this day of the semester requires a Course Petition. 

Spring Deadlines

Last day to add courses online (full semester and first session) – 1st Friday. 

Last day to add courses with instructor permission (full semester and first session) – 2nd Friday. 

Last day to add courses online (second session) – 8th Friday. 

Last day to add courses with instructor permission (second session) – 9th Friday. 

Adding courses beyond these days of the semester requires a Course Petition. 

Last day to drop courses online (full semester) – 4th Friday. 

Last day to drop courses with advisor approval (W) (full semester) – 10th Friday. 

Last day to drop courses online (first session) – 2nd Friday. 

Last day to drop courses with advisor approval (W) (first session) – 5th Friday. 

Last day to drop courses online (second session) – 9th Friday. 

Last day to drop courses with advisor approval (W) (second session) – 12th Friday. 

Dropping courses beyond these days of the semester requires a Course Petition. 

Last day to change registration to Audit (full semester) – 4th Friday. 

Last day to change registration to Audit (first session) – 2nd Friday. 

Last day to change registration to Audit (second session) – 9th Friday. 

Changing registration to Audit beyond these days of the semester requires a Course Petition. 

Summer Deadlines

Last day to add courses online – 1st Friday. 

Last day to add courses with instructor permission – 2nd Friday. 

Adding courses beyond these days of the term requires a Course Petition. 

Last day to drop courses online – 4th Friday. 

Last day to drop courses with advisor approval (W) – 10th Friday. 

Dropping courses beyond these days of the term requires a Course Petition. 

Last day to change registration to Audit – 4th Friday. 

Changing registration to Audit beyond this day of the term requires a Course Petition. 

Guidelines for Video Conferencing Relating to Master's and Doctoral Examinations - B.1

• Research Standards and Scholarly Conduct C.1
• Investigation of Allegations of Research Conduct by a Graduate Student C.2

Research Standards and Scholarly Conduct - C.1

• Overview D.1
• Procedures D.2
• Conduct of Hearing D.3
• Hearing and Committee Decision D.4

Overview - D.1

Graduate Associate Appointment Policies and Procedures, Introduction - E.1

• Introduction F.1
• Types of Leaves of Absence F.2
• Eligibility Criteria F.3
• Procedures and Guidelines for Leaves of Absence F.4
• Funding for Leaves of Absence F.5
• Selected Definitions for Medical Conditions F.6
• Relevant Selected Definitions for Parental Leave of Absence F.7

Introduction - F.1

• Graduate Bridge Program Overview G.1
• Graduate Bridge Program Rationale G.2
• Eligibility for Graduate Bridge Program G.3
• Difference from Non-Degree and Conditional Designations G.4
• Graduate Bridge Program Mechanism G.5
• Graduate Bridge Program Outcomes G.6

Graduate Bridge Program Overview - G.1

• Graduate Advising Best Practices Overview H.1
• Communication and Graduate Advising H.2
• Graduate Student Responsibilities H.3
• Graduate Advisor Responsibilities H.4
• Graduate Program Responsibilities H.5

Graduate Advising Best Practices Overview - H.1