GRADUATE DEGREES AND MAJORS
The Graduate College at ASU provides students with opportunities to study beyond the bachelor’s degree. The college enrolls students in programs leading to both professional and research-oriented advanced degrees. The M.A., M.S., and Ph.D. degrees are awarded to students completing programs that culminate in research and creative endeavors. The Ph.D. degree is the highest university award, conferred on candidates who have proven their ability as scholars and original researchers.
Professional graduate programs emphasize training that leads to professional practice. In these degree programs, students develop a mastery of a comprehensive body of knowledge and the ability to organize and carry out significant investigations in their professional field. Professional degrees usually are named Master of (Professional Field) and Doctor of (Professional Field), although some Master of Arts and Master of Science degree programs have professional tracks. The professional doctoral degree is the highest university award to candidates completing academic preparation for professional practice. The following professional degrees are offered through the Graduate College:
Faculty members offering a specific graduate degree program may be members of a single academic unit (such as a department, school, or college), or they may form an interdisciplinary committee consisting of faculty from various academic units. The Graduate College awards degrees upon the recommendation of the faculty offering the graduate degree programs.
Interdisciplinary Study
Although most graduate programs are administered by academic units, a diverse group of interdisciplinary programs falls directly under the supervision of the Graduate College. Many majors are in fields that are still emerging as recognized academic disciplines and, therefore, do not customarily form the academic basis for departments. Other fields of study are inherently interdisciplinary and do not fit well with conventional disciplines around which departments are formed. Curricula must reflect intrinsically broad disciplinary affinities, and faculty must be drawn from more than one department.
The Graduate College oversees nine interdisciplinary programs and has joint responsibility with the College of Education for another; several others are planned. Existing interdisciplinary programs are as follows:
Other interdisciplinary programs include Communication (Ph.D.) (administered by the College of Public Programs), Humanities (M.A.) (administered by the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences), and Molecular and Cellular Biology (M.S., Ph.D.) (administered by the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences).
Each of these programs uses resources and faculty from several disciplines. The programs promote cooperative research and instruction among faculty who share common interests but are housed in different academic units. They allow students to pursue degrees that are intellectually coherent but that bring together diverse strengths of the university.
Certificate Programs
A number of certificate programs are offered by various academic units or programs on campus; see the “Certificates” table. - Back to Top
ADMISSION TO THE GRADUATE COLLEGE
Eligibility
Anyone who holds a bachelor’s (or equivalent) or graduate degree from a college or university of recognized standing is eligible to apply for admission to the Graduate College. Remedies for undergraduate deficiencies may be assigned if the undergraduate degree is based on credits not accepted by ASU, such as life experience or noncredit workshops and seminars.
Graduate College Requirements
Generally, an applicant must have a GPA of 3.00 (scale is 4.00 = A), or the equivalent, in the last two years of work leading to the bachelor’s degree. A student who enters a graduate degree program is expected to have undergraduate educational experiences, including general education studies, that are similar to those required for the baccalaureate degree at ASU.
Requirements of the Academic Unit
Academic units, departments or colleges, may have admission requirements in addition to those of the Graduate College. Many graduate programs require scores from a national admissions test such as the Graduate Record Examination (GRE), Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT), or the Miller Analogies Test (MAT). Some programs require a portfolio, letters of recommendation, or a statement of goals. Applicants should contact the academic unit regarding specific requirements.
Submission of an Application
For admission information and procedures, access the Web site at www.asu.edu/graduate/admission or refer to the Application for Graduate Admission booklet. Students may apply electronically.
Application Fee
Each application for entry to ASU graduate programs must be accompanied by a nonrefundable application fee. The fee is $45 to apply for admission to a degree program and $15 to apply for nondegree studies. For admission information and procedures, access the Web site at www.asu.edu/graduate/admission, or refer to the Application for Graduate Admission booklet.
International Applicants
Applicants who will attend the university while holding F–1 or J–1 visas must meet the regulations of the Immigration and Naturalization Services in addition to the requirements of the Graduate College and the academic units to which they apply.
International applicants must meet the requirements of the Graduate College as well as those of the degree programs to which they apply. Applicants from outside the United States are also required to submit additional materials and should follow the procedures described in the Application for Graduate Admission booklet, or access the Web site at www.asu.edu/graduate/admission. International applicants should read this information carefully to become familiar with all the requirements they must meet and should consult it often for the instructions they must follow in submitting materials. The Graduate Catalog provides essential information about ASU and its graduate programs, but applicants can also consult ASU’s listings in Peterson’s Graduate Education Directory and in the Directory of Graduate Programs (published by the Educational Testing Service).
Among the additional materials required of international students are scores from English language examinations. All applicants whose native language is not English must submit a score from the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL). All international applicants who do not speak English as a primary language and who wish to apply for teaching assistantships must pass an examination that certifies their skill in speaking English—either the Test of Spoken English (TSE), which may be taken in the student’s home country, or the SPEAK test, which is administered at ASU. Some degree programs also require TSE or SPEAK scores of applicants whose native language is not English. For specific information about TSE requirements, contact directly the head of the academic unit.
As required by the U.S. Immigration and Naturalization Service, international applicants must also verify that they have the financial resources to cover their expenses during graduate study at ASU. The Financial Guarantee form is available in the Application for Graduate Admission booklet. It can also be accessed through the Graduate College Web site at www.asu.edu/graduate/admission. International applicants must see that the form with a verification from a bank or sponsoring organization is completed and submitted to Graduate Admissions. The I–20 or the IAP66 (documents needed to obtain a student visa) are issued only after the completed, properly verified Financial Guarantee form has arrived. International students may enroll at ASU only if they have been admitted to a degree program, a certificate program, or the postbaccalaureate teacher education program. They must meet all appropriate immigration standards and requirements.
Applications are processed when they are received. However, international applicants should submit all materials in December or January in order to begin study the following fall semester and in August or September in order to begin study the following spring semester. An application fee of $45 (in U.S. funds) must accompany the formal application, which otherwise is not processed.
All F–1 or J–1 visa students must have insurance coverage against illness and accident before being permitted to register. Insurance must be maintained throughout the student’s enrollment in the university and may be obtained at the time of registration.
Upon arrival on campus, students must report to the advisor in the International Student Office.
Additional Information
The Graduate College does not have deadlines. Applications are processed as they are received. However, many academic units have specific and early deadlines; many units review applications once a year, usually in January or February for fall admission. Applicants are urged to contact the academic units regarding deadlines.
Academic units, which must indicate their willingness to admit applicants, frequently set higher standards than those established by the Graduate College. Many qualified applicants are denied because only a limited number of students are admitted each year.
Notice of Admission Decisions
Only the dean of the Graduate College can make formal offers of admission. The Graduate College notifies all applicants in writing of the admission decision.
All documents received by the university in connection with an application for admission become the property of ASU. If the applicant does not enroll in the university within one year, the admission documents may be destroyed.
The date (month/day/year) on the Graduate College dean’s letter of admission is the actual date of admission. If the student is enrolled in courses on the admission date, those courses—if applicable—may be considered part of a program of study. Courses taken the semester before this date are nondegree hours.
Admission Classifications
Regular Admission. Applicants who fulfill all requirements for admission and are acceptable to both the academic unit and the Graduate College are granted regular admission.
Regular Admission with Deficiencies. A student whose grades and test scores are at an acceptable level but who does not have the undergraduate background expected by the academic unit and the university may be required to complete courses to remedy deficiencies. The letter of admission specifies the deficiencies that must be completed before the student is awarded a graduate degree. Deficiency courses may not be applied toward the minimum hours required for the degree program.
Provisional Admission. A student who does not meet minimum academic standards but has counterbalancing evidence to suggest the potential for success may be admitted on a provisional basis. Provisional admission provides an academic unit with more evidence on which to base its decision. Normally the academic unit reviews the student’s status following completion of 12 semester hours of approved graduate study. At that time, the academic unit recommends to the Graduate College a change in status to either regular admission or withdrawal from the program. When students have completed their provisional requirements, they should check with their advisors to make sure that the change of status has been recommended. A provisional student may also be assigned deficiencies.
Nondegree Admission. A student not interested in earning a degree or not yet ready to apply to a particular degree program may enroll as a nondegree student. The application process is streamlined, and does not require submission of transcripts or test scores. For nondegree admission information and procedures, access the Web site at www.asu.edu/graduate/admission or refer to the Application for Graduate Admission booklet. Students may apply electronically. A maximum of nine hours taken at ASU while in this category may be applied toward a master’s degree if appropriate for the student’s program of study.
The six-year maximum time limit applies to nondegree semester hours appearing on a master’s program of study. In addition, because of limited class size and resources, certain academic units may limit the enrollment of nondegree students.
Recognition of a Degree
Recognition of a degree is acknowledgment that the program leading to the degree is equivalent to a program offered by ASU or is an acceptable program for the proposed graduate major at ASU. A student who enters a graduate degree program at ASU is expected to have undergraduate educational experiences, including general education studies, that are appropriate for the program.
Definition of a Unit of Credit
The Arizona Board of Regents has defined (May 26, 1979) a unit of credit for the institutions under its jurisdiction. A minimum of 45 hours of work by each student is required for each unit of credit. An hour of work is the equivalent of 50 minutes of class time (often called a “contact hour”) or 60 minutes of independent study work. For lecture-discussion courses, this requirement equates to at least 15 contact hours and a minimum of 30 hours of work outside of the classroom for each unit of credit. Even though the values of 15 and 30 may vary for different modes of instruction, the minimum total of 45 hours of work for each unit of credit is a constant. Since the unit of credit as defined by the Arizona Board of Regents is the cornerstone of academic degree programs at ASU, degrees granted by other institutions that are recognized by ASU should be based on a similar unit of credit. - Back to Top
GRADUATE COLLEGE PROCEDURES
Change in Graduate Degree Program
A change from one graduate degree program to another requires a new application to the Graduate College. The usual admission procedures are followed. For details on matters relating to the application fee, see “Admission Application.”
Readmission to the Graduate College
Any graduate student who has not been in attendance at the university for one or more semesters must submit an application for readmission to the Graduate College. The application should be submitted at least one month before the beginning of the semester in which the student plans to re-enter. For details on readmission and other matters relating to the application fee, access the Web site at www.asu.edu/graduate/admission or refer to the Application for Graduate Admission booklet.
Determination of Catalog Requirements
The Graduate Catalog is published annually. Requirements for an academic unit or college, campus, or the university as a whole, may change and are often upgraded.
In determining graduation requirements, a student may use only one catalog.
A student graduates under the curriculum, course requirements, and regulations for graduation in effect at the time of admission to a graduate degree program at ASU. A student may also choose to graduate under any subsequent catalog issued.
Some changes in policies and procedures affect all students regardless of the catalog used by the student. These policies and procedures may appear in the catalog or in other university publications.
Registration
Graduate students, like all university students, register during the intervals indicated in the Schedule of Classes issued by the Office of the Registrar. Details regarding registration and course drop-add procedures are also provided in the Schedule of Classes. Day and evening graduate classes, offered on or off campus, during the two regular semesters and the summer sessions, are considered part of the regular program.
InTouch, the ASU touch-tone telephone system for registration and fee payment, and the online registration system, accessed at any registrar site, ease the enrollment process.
Audit Enrollment
Graduate students may register as auditors in one or more courses with the approval of the supervisory committee chair and the consent of the instructor involved. The student must be registered properly and pay the fees for the course. An audited course is counted in the student’s maximum course load. It does not count for students who must take a minimum number of credits, e.g., teaching assistants or students receiving financial assistance. The mark of “X” is recorded for completion of an audited course, unless the instructor determines that the student’s participation or attendance has been inadequate, in which case a “W” may be recorded.
Withdrawal Policies and Procedures
Students who find it necessary to withdraw from the university should obtain and complete an official withdrawal form from any registrar site. Until officially withdrawn, the student is registered in all courses and, at the end of the semester, receives grades appropriate for the performance in each course. A student who officially withdraws from the university during the first four weeks of a semester receives the mark of “W” in all courses registered. A student who officially withdraws from the university later than the fourth week receives a mark of “W” or “E,” depending upon the quality of work at the time of official withdrawal. No student is permitted to withdraw during or after the last two weeks of the semester (the last week of classes and final examination week).
Failure to withdraw officially from a course results in a grade of “E,” which is used in the computation of the GPA. The Schedule of Classes lists the procedures for withdrawal.
An instructor may withdraw a student from a class with a mark of “W” or a grade of “E” for disruptive classroom behavior. A student may appeal an instructor-initiated withdrawal to the standards committee of the college in which the course is offered. The decision of the committee is final.
A graduate student who does not enroll for three calendar years is considered withdrawn and must reapply for admission to a degree program.
Unrestricted Withdrawal. During the first four weeks of a semester or the first six days of a summer session, a student may withdraw from any course with a mark of “W.” See the Schedule of Classes or the Summer Sessions Bulletin for the dates of the unrestricted withdrawal period.
Restricted Withdrawal. From the fifth week to the end of the 10th week of a semester and from the seventh day to the end of the third week of a summer session, students may withdraw with a mark of “W” from courses only in which the instructor certifies that they are passing at the time of the withdrawal. See the Schedule of Classes or the Summer Sessions Bulletin for dates of the restricted withdrawal period.
Medical Withdrawal. Normally, a medical withdrawal request is made in cases where serious illness or injury prevents a student from continuing courses and incompletes or when other arrangements with the instructor are not possible. Consideration is usually given for complete withdrawal. An application for less than a complete withdrawal must be well documented to justify the selective nature of the medical withdrawal request. This policy applies both to cases involving physical health problems and those involving mental or emotional difficulties.
To receive permission for a medical withdrawal from courses, a student must present a Request for Documented Medical Withdrawal form and proper documentation (usually a letter from a physician) of the medical condition to the medical-withdrawal designee of the college of the student’s major. For complete procedural information, contact the appropriate medical withdrawal designee.
Course Load
The course load is determined by the supervisory committee but is not to exceed 15 semester hours of credit during each of the two semesters. Refer to the current Summer Sessions Bulletin for course load limit for five-week and eight-week sessions. An audited course is counted in the student’s maximum load.
All graduate assistants and associates must enroll for a minimum of six semester hours during each semester (fall and spring) of their appointment. The six hours cannot include audit enrollment. Enrollment in continuing registration (595, 695, or 795) does not fulfill the six-hour requirement. A half-time (50%) graduate assistant or associate working 20 clock hours per week may not register for more than 12 hours of course work each semester; a third-time (33%) assistant or associate for more than 13 hours; and a quarter-time (25%) assistant or associate for more than 15 hours.
All graduate students doing research, working on theses or dissertations, taking comprehensive or final examinations, or using university facilities or faculty time, must be registered for a minimum of one hour of credit, not audit, that appears on the program of study or is an appropriate graduate-level course, such as 595, 695, or 795 Continuing Registration.
Doctoral students fulfilling residence requirements for the Doctor of Philosophy and Doctor of Musical Arts degrees must be enrolled full time (nine semester hours minimum or six semester hours for graduate assistants) during the specified period. See “Residency Classification Procedures and Policies” and specific degree requirements for fulfilling residence requirements for other doctoral degree programs.
Summer Course Loads. Refer to the current Summer Sessions Bulletin for course load limit for five-week and eight-week sessions.
Enrollment Verification Guidelines. The registrar is responsible for verifying enrollment according to the general guidelines in the “Enrollment Verification Guidelines” table. - Back to Top
| Full-Time | Half-Time | Less Than Half-Time | |||||||
| Regular Semester | |||||||||
| Graduate | 9 or more hours | 5–8 hours | 4 or fewer hours | ||||||
| Graduate Assistant* | 6 or more hours | ||||||||
| Five-Week Summer Session | |||||||||
| Graduate | 3 or more hours | 2 hours | 1 hour | ||||||
| Graduate Assistant* | 2 or more hours | 1 hour | |||||||
| Eight-Week Summer Session | |||||||||
| Graduate | 5 or more hours | 3–4 hours | 2 or fewer hours | ||||||
| * | For enrollment verification purposes, graduate assistant is a generic term that includes teaching assistant, research assistant, graduate assistant, teaching associate, research associate, and graduate associate. |
GRADUATE COLLEGE DEGREE REQUIREMENTS
Graduate Advising
Advising is much more than technical support; it is an integral part of graduate education. Students’ programs of study are generally tailored to meet individual needs, and students should seek advice from faculty or advisors as they plan their course work, examinations, and other degree requirements.
Grading
The “Grades” table defines grades and gives their values.
A grade of “P” (pass) in a 400-level course may not appear on a program of study. Grades on transfer work or ASU law credit are not included in computing GPAs.
Grades of “D” and “E” cannot be used to meet the requirements for a graduate degree, although they are used to compute the GPAs. A student receiving a grade of “D” or “E” must repeat the course in a regularly scheduled (not an independent study) class if it is to be included in the program of study. However, both the “D” or “E” and the new grade are used to compute the GPAs.
Graduate course work (500-, 600-, and 700-level courses) reported as an “I” (incomplete) must be completed within one calendar year. At the time the “I” grade is given, the student must complete a “Request for Grade of Incomplete” form. The form first serves as a record of the “I” grade and the work required to complete it. When the student has completed the work, the form then serves as a change-of-grade authorization.
If the work specified on the form is not completed within one calendar year, the “I” grade (500-, 600-, and 700-level courses) becomes part of the student’s permanent transcript. The student is not allowed to complete the course work as specified on the “Incomplete” form. The student may, however, repeat the course after the “I” has become permanent, by reregistering, paying fees, and fulfilling all course requirements. The grade for the repeated course appears on the transcript but does not replace the permanent “I.”
Repeating ASU Courses. Graduate students (degree or nondegree) may retake any courses at any level at ASU, but all grades remain on the student transcript as well as in GPA calculations.
| Grade | Definition | Value | Notes |
| A | Excellent | 4.00 | |
| B | Good | 3.00 | |
| C | Passing | 2.00 | |
| D | No graduate credit | 1.00 | |
| E | Failure | 0.00 | |
| W | Withdrawal | This grade is given whenever a student officially withdraws from a class. | |
| I | Incomplete | ||
| X | Audit | ||
| Y | Satisfactory | ||
| Z | Course in progress | This grade is usually given pending completion of courses. |
University Policy for Student Appeal Procedures on Grades
Informal. The steps outlined below, beginning with step A, must be followed by any student seeking to appeal a grade. Student grade appeals must be processed in the regular semester immediately following the issuance of the grade in dispute (by commencement for fall or spring), regardless of whether the student is enrolled at the university. It is university policy that students filing grievances and those who are witnesses will be protected from retaliation. Students who believe they are victims of retaliation should immediately contact the dean of the college in which the course is offered.
| A. | The aggrieved student must first undergo the informal procedure of conferring with the instructor, stating the evidence (if any) and reasons for questioning that the grade received was not given in good faith. The instructor is obliged to review the matter, explain the grading procedure utilized, and show how the grade in question was determined. If the instructor is a graduate assistant and this interview does not resolve the difficulty, the student may then go to the faculty member in charge of the course (regular faculty member or director of the course sequence) with the problem. |
| B. | If the grading dispute is not resolved in step A, the student may appeal to the department chair or other appropriate chair of the area within the department (if any). The department chair may confer with the instructor to handle the problem. Step B applies only in departmentalized colleges. |
| C. | If these discussions are not adequate to settle the matter to the complainant’s satisfaction, the student may then confer with the dean of the college concerned (or the dean-designate), who will review the case. If unresolved, the dean or designate may refer the case to the college academic grievance hearing committee to review the case formally. In most instances, however, the grievance procedure will not go beyond this level. |
Formal. The following procedure takes place after steps A, B, and C (or A and C) have been completed.
| D. | Each college has on file in the office of the dean (and in each department of the college) the procedures and composition of the undergraduate or graduate academic grievance hearing committee for student grievances. Each college committee shall operate under grievance procedures as stated which satisfy due process requirements. The committee shall always meet with the student and the instructor in an attempt to resolve the differences. At the conclusion of the hearing, the committee shall send its recommendations to the dean. |
| E. | Final action in each case will be taken by the dean after full consideration of the committee’s recommendation. Grade changes, if any are recommended, may be made by the dean. The dean shall inform the student, instructor, department chair (if any), the registrar, and the grievance committee of any action taken. |
Scholarship
To be eligible for a degree in the Graduate College, a student must achieve two GPAs of “B” (3.00) or higher. The first GPA is based on all courses numbered 500 or higher that appear on the transcript. (Courses noted as deficiencies in the original letter of admission are not included.) The second GPA is based on all courses that appear on the program of study.
Graduate students (degree or nondegree) may retake any courses at any level at ASU, but all grades remain on the student transcript as well as in GPA calculations.
Academic excellence is expected of students doing graduate work. Upon recommendation from the head of the academic unit, the dean of the Graduate College can withdraw a student who is not progressing satisfactorily.
The designation of honors (summa cum laude, magna cum laude, and cum laude) is reserved for undergraduates. The Graduate College does not use these academic distinctions.
Graduate Credit Courses
Courses at the 500, 600, and 700 levels are graduate credit courses. Courses at the 400 level apply to graduate degree requirements when appearing on an approved program of study. However, 400-level courses are not graduate courses by definition and cannot be certified as such for purposes of employment or transferring to other institutions.
Reserving of Course Credit by Undergraduates. Seniors at ASU within 12 semester hours of graduation may enroll in a 400-level or graduate course and reserve the credit for possible use in a future graduate program. The course cannot be used to meet a baccalaureate graduation requirement. Before registration in the class, the student must submit a Graduate College Petition form requesting credit reservation; the form must be signed by the student’s advisor, the head of the academic unit offering the class, and the dean of the Graduate College.
Permission to reserve a course does not guarantee admission to a graduate degree program or that the course may be used toward graduate degree requirements. A maximum of nine hours of credit may be reserved, and only courses with an “A” or “B” grade are applicable. Reserved credit earned before admission to a graduate degree program is classified as nondegree credit. The maximum course load for a student enrolled in a reserved course is 15 semester hours during a regular semester and six hours during a summer session.
Transfer Credit. Transfer of credit is the acceptance of credit from another institution for inclusion in a program of study leading to a degree awarded by ASU. The number of hours transferred from other institutions may not exceed 20% of the total minimum semester hours required for a master’s degree unless stated otherwise for a specific degree program.
Transfer credit taken before admission to a graduate degree program at ASU Main or East is nondegree credit. Nondegree credit taken at ASU Main or East combined with nondegree credit taken at another institution may not exceed nine hours on the master’s program of study. The nine-hour limit does not apply to doctoral programs.
The date (month/day/year) on the Graduate College dean’s letter of admission is the actual date of admission. If the student is enrolled in courses on the admission date, those courses—if applicable—may be considered part of a program of study. Courses taken the semester before this date are nondegree hours. Courses taken at ASU West are considered transferred credit.
Transfer credits must be acceptable toward graduate degrees at the institution where the courses were completed. Certain types of graduate credits cannot be transferred to ASU, including the following:
Acceptable academic credits earned at other institutions that are based on a different unit of credit than the ones prescribed by the Arizona Board of Regents are subject to conversion before being transferred to ASU.
Only resident graduate courses with an “A” or “B” grade may be transferred. A course with the grade of pass, credit, or satisfactory may not be transferred.
Official transcripts of any transfer credit to be used on a program of study must be sent directly to the Graduate Admissions Office from the Office of the Registrar at the institution where the credit was earned.
Graduate Supervisory Committees
When the program of study is filed, upon the recommendation of the head of the academic unit, the dean of the Graduate College appoints a graduate student’s supervisory committee, consisting of a chair and other resident faculty members. The number of members serving on this committee depends on the degree program.
Academic professionals (e.g., research scientists, research engineers), nontenure-track faculty (e.g., adjunct professors, research professors), and individuals granted affiliated faculty status through established university procedures may serve as cochairs, members, or extra members of thesis and dissertation committees upon approval by the Graduate College. Individuals who are recommended by an academic unit as eligible to serve as a cochair must meet the criteria established by the academic unit and be approved by the Graduate College.
Upon the recommendation of the committee chair and head of the academic unit, ASU West tenured (or tenure-track) faculty may serve as committee members for master’s and doctoral committees at ASU Main. ASU West tenured (or tenure-track) faculty may serve as cochairs for theses and dissertations at ASU Main upon the recommendation of the head of the academic unit and approval of the dean of the Graduate College. Cochairs must meet the academic unit’s criteria for chairing theses and dissertations.
Qualified individuals outside the university, upon the recommendation of the head of the academic unit and approval of the Graduate College, may serve as members of thesis and dissertation committees; however, such individuals may not serve as chairs or cochairs (unless they have affiliated faculty status). With the approval of the academic unit and the dean of the Graduate College, former ASU faculty with students completing their degrees may continue to serve as cochairs. At least 50 percent of the committee must be made up of faculty from ASU Main.
Foreign Language Requirements
A graduate degree program may require proficiency in a foreign language. If a foreign language is required, students must demonstrate at least a reading knowledge in the area of study required by the supervisory committee and consistent with the requirements for the graduate degree program. Normally, the language is selected from French, German, Russian, or Spanish, although other languages may be recommended when there is adequate justification.
Students who are required to demonstrate proficiency in a foreign language must pass a foreign language examination specific to their particular graduate programs. The examinations are administered three times each year by the Department of Languages and Literatures, which certifies language competency. Students planning to take the examination must register in the Graduate College at least one month in advance of the examination date. The chair of the student’s supervisory committee is responsible for providing the Department of Languages and Literatures with materials from which the examination is then prepared. The chair should submit or recommend relevant books or journals of approximately 200 pages in length in the desired foreign language.
A student may petition the Graduate College for a re-examination but must pass the examination in no more than three attempts.
Theses and Dissertations
The master’s thesis or equivalent is an introduction to research writing. All doctoral degree candidates must submit a dissertation, with the exception of the Doctor of Musical Arts degree in Music (concentrations in choral conducting and solo performance), which requires three recitals and a research paper. The Ph.D. dissertation should be a valuable educational experience that demonstrates the candidate’s mastery of research methods, theory, and tools of the discipline. It should demonstrate the candidate’s ability to address a major intellectual problem and to propose meaningful questions and hypotheses. The dissertation should be a contribution to knowledge that is worthy of publication by an established press as a book or monograph or as one or more articles in a reputable journal.
For format, the Graduate College must review the final copy of the master’s thesis, doctoral dissertation, and other final documents that are required to be placed in the library. Copies of the Format Manual are available in the Graduate College and on the Web at www.asu.edu/graduate. The student is required to submit a complete copy of the thesis or dissertation for format review at least 10 working days (two weeks if there are no holidays during the time period) before the oral defense. Doctoral students must submit a completed Survey of Earned Doctorates Awarded in the United States, conducted by the National Research Council.
Graduate students and their supervisory committee chairs jointly select a style guide or journal format representative of the field of study. The Graduate College allows certain flexibility in the format of the manuscript, but Graduate College and library guidelines must be followed.
The student must submit two final copies of a thesis or dissertation to the ASU Bookstore for binding. The student is responsible for the binding fees. Bound copies are placed in the Hayden Library and Archives. Doctoral students must submit one copy of the title page, approval page, and abstract (which must not exceed 350 words); the original signature of the doctoral student must appear on the University Microfilms International (UMI) Dissertation Agreement Form. The student is responsible for the UMI microfilming fee, which covers the expense of having the document sent to UMI, where it is microfilmed and catalogued. Information on the dissertation will appear in Dissertation Abstracts International.
Application for Graduation
Students should apply for graduation no later than the date specified in the Graduate Catalog calendar. All fees are payable at that time. Students applying for graduation after the deadline listed in the Graduate Catalog calendar are required to pay a late fee. At the end of the semester in which they apply for graduation, students are officially notified of any requirements for their degree that they have not yet completed.
Students are requested to complete a questionnaire which serves as a graduate student exit survey.
Students who do not complete all degree requirements by their anticipated graduation date are required to pay a refiling fee.
Summer Sessions
Work taken during the summer sessions carries the same scholastic recognition as that taken during the regular semester. A complete schedule of offerings is available in the summer bulletins, which may be obtained from the Office of Summer Sessions.
Dates and Deadlines
The Graduate College calendar found in the current Graduate Catalog lists deadlines for the submission of theses and dissertations to the Graduate College, the last day to apply for graduation, the last day to hold an oral defense of a thesis or dissertation, and the last day to submit theses and dissertations to the ASU Bookstore for binding.
Student Responsibility
It is the responsibility of the graduate student to know and observe all procedures and requirements of the Graduate College as defined in the Graduate Catalog, the Schedule of Classes, and the Format Manual. Each student should also be informed about the requirements concerning the student’s degree program and any special requirements within the academic unit. - Back to Top
MISCONDUCT IN SCHOLARLY RESEARCH AND CREATIVE ACTIVITIES
Students are expected to maintain the highest standards of integrity and truthfulness in scholarly research and creative activities. Misconduct in scholarly research and creative activities includes, but is not limited to, fabrication, falsification or misrepresentation of data, and plagiarism. Misconduct by any student may result in suspension or expulsion from the university and other sanctions as specified by the individual colleges. Policies on misconduct are available in the Office of the Vice Provost for Research. (See www.asu.edu/aad/manuals/rsp/rsp111.html.) - Back to Top
ACADEMIC INTEGRITY
The highest standards of academic integrity are expected of all students. The failure of any student to meet these standards may result in suspension or expulsion from the university and/or other sanctions as specified in the academic integrity policies of the individual colleges.
Violations of academic integrity include, but are not limited to, cheating, fabrication, tampering, plagiarism, or facilitating such activities.
The university academic integrity policy is available in the Office of the Senior Vice President and Provost. (See www.asu.edu/aad/manuals/sta/sta104-01.html.) - Back to Top
ASSISTANTSHIPS AND ASSOCIATESHIPS
Application Procedure. Since it is necessary for all applicants to be admitted to degree programs before awards are made, students should apply for admission through the Graduate Admissions Office at the same time they apply for financial assistance. For definitions of research, teaching, and graduate assistantships and associateships, see the Graduate Assistant Handbook.
Graduate Assistantships and Associateships. Appointments as graduate assistants and associates are available in most academic units offering graduate work to students admitted with regular status. Students who have completed a master’s degree or the equivalent may be considered for graduate associateships when available. All graduate assistants and associates must enroll for a minimum of six semester hours during each semester of their appointment. The six hours cannot include audit enrollment. A half-time (50%) graduate assistant or associate working 20 clock hours per week may not register for more than 12 hours of course work each semester; a third-time (33%) assistant or associate for more than 13 hours; and a quarter-time (25%) assistant or associate for more than 15 hours.
During the summer sessions, graduate assistants employed 25% time may enroll for a maximum of six semester hours during a five-week session or nine hours during the eight-week session; those employed 50% time may enroll for a maximum of five hours during a five-week session or seven hours during the eight-week session; and those employed 100% time may enroll for a maximum of three hours during a five-week session or four hours during the eight-week session.
Graduate assistantships allow nonresident graduate students to pay tuition at the resident tuition rate. Eligibility applies to graduate assistants and associates working 25% or more time if their first working day occurs before the end of the first five days of instruction during the semester in question. Only under exceptional circumstances are exceptions granted by the Dean’s Office.
A number of academic units administer assistantships under research programs sponsored and supported by government, industry, and foundations. Inquiries concerning requirements and deadlines as well as applications should be sent to the head of the appropriate academic unit.
Assistantships, Associateships, and Commercial Services. All graduate students who are hired for class/course support or who hold assistantships or associateships for a specific course—including teaching assistants, research assistants, and graduate assistants—may not take or provide notes for that course to commercial notetaking services or students. An exception may be made by the course instructor(s) on a case-by-case basis as an authorized support service for a disabled student. This policy covers all commercial activities (e.g., notetaking and paid review sessions) that might be associated with a course for which the assistant/associate has assigned responsibilities. - Back to Top
STUDENT RECORDS
Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974
This act, known as the Buckley Amendment, sets forth the requirements governing the protection of the privacy of the educational records of students who are or have been in attendance at ASU.
Definitions
Eligible Student. For the purpose of this act, an eligible student is defined as any individual formally admitted to and enrolled at ASU or the parents of a dependent eligible student. Dependency is defined by Section 152 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1954.
Record. Any information or data recorded in any medium, including, but not limited to, handwriting, print, tapes, film, microfilm, microfiche, and electronic means.
Types of Information
Educational Record. The educational record refers to those records that are directly related to a student and are maintained by an educational institution. Two types of educational records are subject to the provisions of this act, (1) directory information and (2) personally identifiable information. The term does not include those records specifically excluded by Section 99.3 of the Privacy Act.
Directory Information. Directory information includes the following student information: name, local and permanent address, local telephone number, date and place of birth, citizenship, residency status, academic level, major field of study, college of enrollment, participation in officially recognized activities and sports, weight and height of members of athletic teams, dates of attendance, degrees and awards received, and the most recent previous educational agency or institution attended by the student.
Personally Identifiable Information. Personally identifiable information includes the name of a student, the student’s parent or other family member(s), a personal identifier such as the student’s Social Security number, a list of personal characteristics, or other information that would make the student’s identity easily traceable and any information, including directory information, that the student has indicated not to be released.
Access to Records
Eligible students, or parents of a dependent eligible student, may inspect and review their educational records. Some form of photo identification must be displayed before access to educational records is allowed.
Directory information may be released to anyone without consent of the student, unless the student indicates otherwise. Students may request that this information not be released by completing a form in the Office of the Registrar. Request to withhold this information will exclude the student from being listed in the annual Directory.
All other educational records that contain personally identifiable information may not be released without the written consent of the student. Parents of a dependent student may challenge denial of such access by producing the most current copy of Internal Revenue Form 1040. If that form lists the student in question as a dependent, the parents will be required to sign an affidavit that affirms that the student is their dependent. The affidavit will be retained by the Office of the Registrar. Upon receipt of the affidavit, the university will make student records available to parents for the rest of that calendar year as specified under the Privacy Act.
Students may grant access to parents or agencies by completing a form in the Office of the Registrar.
Location of Policy and Records
The Custodian of Educational Records at ASU is the Office of the Registrar. Copies of this policy are available in the following offices: the Reserve Section of Hayden Library and the Noble Science and Engineering Library, the Office of the Registrar, the Offices of Undergraduate and Graduate Admissions, and the Student Life Office. The Office of the Registrar also maintains a directory that lists all education records maintained on students by ASU. - Back to Top
POLICIES AND PROCEDURES OF THE GRADUATE COUNCIL APPEALS BOARD
The Graduate Council Appeals Board (GCAB) acts as the appeals body for graduate students seeking redress on academic decisions regarding their graduate program. Before filing an appeal, the graduate student should discuss the situation with the associate dean of the Graduate College to explore resolution of the matter at the unit or college level.
Graduate Council Appeals Board (GCAB). The purpose of the GCAB is to review written appeals of graduate students. (On occasion a faculty member may be appealing the decision about a graduate student made by a program, an academic unit, the Graduate College, or another college.) Such appeals concern
The GCAB consists of three or more members of the Graduate Council appointed by the dean of the Graduate College at the beginning of each academic year. In specific cases the GCAB may ask for additional members from the faculty or one or more graduate students to be appointed by the dean of the Graduate College. The GCAB is chaired by one of the members as designated by the dean or associate dean. The GCAB is assisted by the assistant dean who oversees the hearing but does not serve as a member of the GCAB. Membership is on an annual basis, but members of the Graduate Council may serve for a maximum of three consecutive years. To the extent possible, GCAB membership does not change during a student appeal. A member continues to serve on the GCAB into the next academic year if an appeal is continued during that time.
GCAB Meetings. The GCAB meets when notified by the assistant dean that an appeal is pending. The GCAB requires two-thirds of the committee present for a quorum. A GCAB member must disqualify herself or himself if a case involves a student in her or his academic unit or the member has some direct tie to the student who is appealing. The dean of the Graduate College replaces the individual with a current or past Graduate Council member. A recording secretary is selected before each appeal. This person keeps notes of the hearing. Secretarial support for typing notes is provided by the assistant dean. A tape is made of the hearing.
Jurisdiction of the GCAB. The GCAB has the authority to receive written appeals from graduate students on the review of any action or decision by any university faculty member, staff member, or administrator. However, any appeal must first be reviewed at the level of the academic unit from which the graduate student is making an appeal.
The GCAB has the right to decide not to hear an appeal. In this case, the decision of the academic unit is final. The GCAB may hear appeals on program dismissal, other academic issues, or procedural issues. In addition, the GCAB hears any appeal referred to it by the dean of the Graduate College.
The GCAB does not review
Appeals are not heard during the summer. The calendar stops on the last day of exams for the spring semester and begins on the first day of classes for the fall semester.
Mediation. Mediation between the graduate student and any university official is always a preferred option to a hearing. If mediation appears beneficial when the initial appeal is filed with the GCAB, the GCAB may recommend that mediation occur and select a mediator. If mediation is successful and both parties agree to the decision, a written record of the outcome is filed by the mediator with the GCAB, all parties involved, and the dean of the Graduate College. If mediation is not successful, the graduate student has 30 days from the end of the mediation process to request in writing a formal appeal hearing.
Authority. The GCAB may affirm or reverse the original decision being appealed and make such recommendations for further actions as seem appropriate. In the course of any hearing, the GCAB is authorized to request additional evidence or testimony by any student, faculty or staff member, administrator, other university employee, or other individual as a witness. The GCAB has final authority in procedural matters. The decision of the GCAB is final. The chair of the GCAB notifies all parties of the decision.
Filing an Appeal. Before an appeal comes to the GCAB, the normal channels for resolving disputes must have been consulted. The appellant should consult with the major professor to resolve the issue at that level. If the issue cannot be resolved with the major professor, the appellant should seek out the department chair or designated individual for resolution. In some cases, if the major professor and department chair have not been able to resolve the issue or the outcome still needs to be pursued, it may be appropriate to pursue the issue with the academic college dean. If the issue has not been resolved at one of these levels, an appeal to the GCAB may be pursued.
Before initiating an appeal, the graduate student should speak to the associate dean of the Graduate College to see if the issue can be resolved informally. Should negotiation, through the associate dean of the Graduate College, not succeed, the graduate student may submit a written appeal.
All appeals must be submitted in writing to the associate or assistant dean of the Graduate College. Witnesses and any other pertinent evidence must be listed in the appeal. The written appeal must specify the grounds for the appeal as listed in the document “Guidelines for Appeals,” available in the Graduate College. Only documents that follow the guidelines are considered, although university regulations pertinent to the case may be used as supporting grounds. It is incumbent upon the student to demonstrate to the GCAB that grounds for the appeal exist. The written appeal may not exceed 10 pages.
The associate or assistant dean notifies the appellee and requests, in writing, information from the appellee related to the case. The initial written response by the appellee is submitted within 15 days of receiving notice of the appeal. - Back to Top
Master’s Degrees
Faculty at ASU offer programs leading to the Master of Arts (M.A.) degree, the Master of Science (M.S.) degree, and various professional master’s degrees. The M.A. and M.S. programs serve primarily as an introduction to research; the professional master’s programs are intended primarily as a preparation for a career in professional practice. The student should consult the academic unit, as well as the sections on “Comprehensive Examinations” and “Thesis or Equivalent Requirements,” for information on the special requirements for these degrees.
Admission to All Master’s Degree Programs. Students wishing to enroll in a master’s program at ASU are admitted according to the procedure described in “Admission to the Graduate College.” Since graduate work presupposes adequate preparation in a selected field at the undergraduate level, deficiencies are specified at the time of admission by the academic unit involved.
Credit Requirements. A minimum of 30 semester hours of graduate work approved by a student’s supervisory committee and the Graduate College is required. More than 30 semester hours are required in certain programs.
Supervisory Committee. The supervisory committee is responsible for the guidance and direction of the student’s graduate program. The committee is composed of a minimum of three members, including a chair, for students writing a thesis or equivalent.
Program of Study. After regular status has been granted, it is in the student’s best interest to have an official program of study filed with the Graduate College at the earliest possible date. When the program of study is filed, a supervisory committee is appointed by the dean of the Graduate College upon the recommendation of the head of the academic unit (verified by the signature on the program of study). Changes in the planned program may be made by the student’s supervisory committee, with the approval of the head of the academic unit and the dean of the Graduate College. Forms for the submission of the program of study are available in the Graduate College and in the Graduation section of the Office of the Registrar, Student Services Building. A student is not eligible to apply for the comprehensive or final examination until a program of study has been approved and any foreign language requirement completed.
Credit Completed before Admission. With the approval of thestudent’s supervisory committee, the head of the academic unit, and the dean of the Graduate College, a maximum of nine semester hours of ASU (Main and East) graduate course work completed before admission to a graduate degree program may be included in the program of study for a master’s degree. The date (month/day/year) on the Graduate College dean’s letter of admission is the actual date of admission. If the student is enrolled in courses on the admission date, those courses—if applicable—may be considered part of a program of study. Courses taken the semester before this date are nondegree hours. Individual academic units may have a policy of accepting fewer than nine semester hours attained before admission. For details, refer to the specific degree program.
Graduate credit earned at another institution before admission to a graduate degree program at ASU is nondegree credit. Nondegree credit earned at ASU Main and East combined with nondegree credit earned at another institution may not exceed nine semester hours in the program of study. For example, if six semester hours earned before admission to ASU are transferred from another institution, only three nondegree semester hours may be from ASU Main or East for a master’s degree program. (See “Transfer Credit.”)
The six-year maximum time limit applies to nondegree/transferred semester hours appearing on a program of study. (See “Maximum Time Limit.”) Certain degree programs may have different maximum time limits. The student should refer to the specific degree program.
College of Law Credit. The Graduate College accepts a numerical grade of 70 or above for courses taken in the College of Law at ASU as part of an approved program of study for a master’s degree program. These grades are not used in the two GPAs calculated for graduation: the courses on the program of study and all courses numbered 500 and above.
A maximum of six semester hours taken in the College of Law may be included in a 30-hour program of study for a master’s degree. For a 36- to 45-hour program, the number of hours is limited to a maximum of nine semester hours of course work in the College of Law.
Foreign Language Requirements. A graduate degree program may have a foreign language requirement. This requirement must be fulfilled before the student is eligible to apply for the final written comprehensive examination or the defense of the thesis or equivalent. For certification of proficiency, see “Foreign Language Requirements.”
Comprehensive Examinations. A comprehensive examination, written, oral, or both, administered by the academic unit, is required in all professional master’s programs that do not have a thesis or equivalent requirement. A comprehensive examination is optional in other programs. Students are not eligible to apply for the comprehensives or for the oral defense of the thesis or equivalent until they have been regularly admitted, have filed an approved program of study, removed any deficiencies, and fulfilled any foreign language requirements. Students are required to register for at least one hour of credit that appears on the program of study or one hour of appropriate graduate-level credit (such as 595, 695, and 795 Continuing Registration) during the semester or summer session in which they take their comprehensive examinations. Failure in the comprehensive examination isconsidered final unless the supervisory committee and the head of the academic unit recommend, and the dean of the Graduate College approves, a re-examination. Only one re-examination is permitted. A re-examination may be administered no sooner than three months and no later than one year from the date of the original examination.
Thesis or Equivalent Requirements. To satisfy the research requirement for most M.A. or M.S. degrees, a student is expected to present a thesis or equivalent, which is defended in an oral examination. Some professional master’s programs may also require a thesis, research project, performance, or exhibition. The requirement varies with each major. Each student writing a thesis or equivalent must register for a minimum of six semester hours of thesis or for a combination of research and thesis totaling six hours, which are directed toward a common research problem.
Credit taken to fulfill the thesis or equivalent enrollment requirement must appear on the program of study.
A student writing a thesis must include on the program of study six hours of 592 Research and 599 Thesis, at least three of which must be 599 Thesis. Although additional 592 Research hours may be included on a program of study, a maximum of six hours of 599 Thesis may be used.
A thesis or equivalent should be of high quality, giving evidence that the program provided an introduction to research. Format evaluation of the thesis or equivalent, described in “Theses and Dissertations,” must be obtained before its submission to the Graduate College for the oral defense. The final approved copy is bound and placed in the Hayden Library. Copies of the Format Manual are available in the Graduate College.
The final copy of the thesis or equivalent must be reviewed by the student’s supervisory committee and submitted to the Graduate College for format evaluation at least 10 working days before the defense date. The final oral examination in defense of the thesis or equivalent must be conducted at least one week before the degree conferral date. The examination is conducted by the supervisory committee. Applications for the examination are available at the Graduate College.
Each student must be enrolled for at least one hour of credit that appears on the program of study or one hour of appropriate graduate-level credit (such as 595, 695, or 795 Continuing Registration) during the semester or summer session in which the student defends the thesis or equivalent.
Open Thesis Defenses. Master’s thesis defenses are open to all members of the university community. The oral defense engages the supervisory committee and the candidate in a critical, analytical discussion of the research and findings of the study as well as a review of the relation of the thesis to the major field. The presentation of a thesis defense in an open forum fosters a broader awareness of the state of graduate research at the university, promotes a wider scholarly dialogue among disciplines, and recognizes publicly the scholarly contributions of thesis candidates. Announcements are posted in prominent places in the student’s department. Members of the university community are invited to thesis defenses through announcements published in ASU Insight, the university’s weekly news bulletin. The supervisory committee may conduct the final part of its questioning in closed session. Committee deliberations and final vote are conducted in closed session.
Graduation. The student is eligible for graduation when all course work is successfully completed, the Graduate College scholarship requirements have been met, any required comprehensive examinations have been passed, and the thesis or equivalent, if applicable, has been approved by the supervisory committee and accepted by the head of the academic unit and the dean of the Graduate College. See “Application for Graduation.”
Maximum Time Limit. Unless stated otherwise for a specific degree program, all work offered toward a master’s degree must be completed within six consecutive years. The six years begin with the first course included on a student’s approved program of study. For example, if the first course listed was taken fall semester, 1997, the student must complete all requirements by August 2003. The six-year maximum time limit applies to nondegree transferred semester hours appearing on a program of study. (See “Credit Completed before Admission.”)
Withdrawal Policy. See “Withdrawal Policies and Procedures.”
Programs Leading to Two Master’s Degrees. A student may pursue concurrent master’s degrees or a second master’s degree provided that a maximum of one-sixth of the minimum total semester hours required for the completion of both degrees is common to the two programs of study. The total number of hours common to both degree programs may vary from this maximum value only when the Graduate Council has formally approved coordinated degree programs.
In all cases these guidelines must be followed:
DOCTORAL DISSERTATIONS
The doctoral dissertation is based on a substantial and sustained research project and constitutes a significant contribution to knowledge in the student’s discipline. Accordingly, it is presumed that the results should be published in scholarly journals, books, or other appropriate forms, either before or following completion of the doctoral degree. The research on which the dissertation is based should have been conducted during the time of the student’s doctoral studies at ASU, under guidance of ASU faculty, and in accord with Graduate College policies and procedures.
The pedagogical function of the dissertation is twofold. On the one hand, students learn to conduct a major, independent research project and to present the results, all under the guidance of an experienced doctoral mentor. On the other hand, the dissertation is a demonstration of the student’s ability to conduct a major research project at the highest level of professional competence. The research experience culminates in a final oral exam, commonly known as the “dissertation defense.” At ASU, defenses are public; students and faculty from the candidate’s unit especially are encouraged to attend. In the successful dissertation defense, doctoral study culminates in a public affirmation of the student’s scholarly competence and of his or her new status in the community of scholars.
The doctoral student must submit two final copies of the dissertation or research paper (for D.M.A. degree students in certain concentrations) to the ASU Bookstore for binding. The student is responsible for the binding fees. Bound copies are placed in the Hayden Library and Archives. See “Theses and Dissertations,” for information on theses and dissertations.
Open Dissertation Defenses
Doctoral dissertation defenses are open to all members of the university community. The oral defense engages the supervisory committee and the candidate in a critical, analytical discussion of the research and findings of the study as well as a review of the relation of the dissertation to the specialized field in which it lies. The presentation of dissertation defenses in an open forum fosters a broader awareness of the state of graduate research at the university, promotes a wider scholarly dialogue among disciplines, and recognizes publicly the scholarly contributions of doctoral candidates. Announcements are posted in prominent places in the student’s department. Members of the university community are invited to dissertation defenses through announcements published in ASU Insight, the university’s weekly news bulletin. If circumstances warrant, the supervisory committee may conduct the final part of its questioning in closed session. Committee deliberations and the final vote are conducted in closed session.
Coauthored Work in Doctoral Dissertations
The Graduate Council recognizes the necessity of collaborative research by graduate students with their mentors and with other graduate students. These efforts often result in coauthored works such as journal articles and presentations at meetings. When data or information contained in coauthored works or the actual coauthored works themselves appear in a doctoral dissertation, the graduate author should obtain necessary permission from involved parties (such as written consent from coauthors and the journal that holds the copyright), credit the sources and inspiration of the research, and properly acknowledge the coauthors. (See www.asu.edu/aad/manuals/rsp/rsp106.html.)
Course Work After Admission to Doctoral Program
A student with an appropriate master’s degree must complete at ASU a minimum of 54 to 60 semester hours of approved graduate work, including 24 hours of dissertation and research (or recital for Music majors), after admission to the doctoral degree program. A student without an appropriate master’s degree usually must complete 84–90 semester hours of work at ASU.
Research and Dissertation Credits on Programs of Study
The doctoral program of study generally consists of appropriate graduate course work and 24 hours of 792 Research and 799 Dissertation. No more than 24 hours of 799 Dissertation may be included on the doctoral program of study.
Thesis Credit on Doctoral Programs of Study
A maximum of six hours of thesis credit may be included in a doctoral program of study. The thesis credit must be recorded, the thesis successfully defended, and the degree conferred.
College of Law Credit
The Graduate College accepts a numerical grade of 70 or above for courses taken in the College of Law at ASU as part of an approved program of study for a doctoral degree program, if the ASU law courses are deemed appropriate. These grades are not used in the two GPAs calculated for graduation, i.e., the courses on the program of study and all courses numbered 500 and above.
Withdrawal Policy
See “Withdrawal Policies and Procedures.” - Back to Top
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