Scholastic Standards
In fulfilling graduate course requirements on any plan of study, only grades of A, B, or C are acceptable. For master's paper (797), master's thesis (798), and doctoral dissertation (799), only the grade of satisfactory (S) is acceptable. For seminar (790), case studies (792), individual study/tutorial (793), practicum/internship (794), or field experience (795), only grades of A, B, C, or S are acceptable for graduate credit.
All courses taken by a graduate student for which grades are given will be used in calculating the grade point average, except where a course has been repeated. Both grades will appear on the transcript, but only the second grade will be used in calculating the grade point average. (A specific course can be retaken only once, and only three total courses can be retaken).
Satisfactory or Unsatisfactory is assigned for research credits, and they are not used in calculating the GPA. To be in academic good standing and to receive a graduate degree, a student must have a cumulative grade point average of at least 3.0.
Programs and/or supervisory committees may require a higher performance than C in certain courses. While some courses may be used for graduate credit with a grade of C, courses with grades of D, F, and U may not be used for graduate credit. Acquisition of more than two grades of C, D, F and U may be grounds for dismissal upon recommendation by the program administrator.
Any student in GOOD STANDING whose cumulative grade point average drops to less than 3.0 at any time of attendance is automatically placed on academic WARNING. Any student admitted in CONDITIONAL status because of grade deficiency is automatically placed on academic WARNING. If a student on academic WARNING fails to achieve a cumulative grade point average of at least 3.0 in the subsequent semester of attendance, then the student will be placed on academic PROBATION.
A student on academic PROBATION may not continue the pursuit of the graduate degree program without a waiver from the Dean of The Graduate School acting on a recommendation from the appropriate program administrator. This recommendation must include a review of the student's status and a proposed plan of remediation which will allow the student an opportunity to return to a cumulative grade point average of at least 3.0 within one additional semester. If the cumulative grade point average is not at least 3.0 after this one additional semester, the student will be dismissed from his or her graduate program.
A student on academic PROBATION is not eligible for a graduate assistantship or tuition waiver.
These minimal scholastic requirements apply to each student enrolled in The Graduate School. Additional requirements may exist for certain graduate programs.
Enrollment Status
Nine credits are considered a full-time graduate load. To receive financial aid, students must be enrolled at least half-time (ie 5 credits). Loan deferment may also require full or half-time status. Eligibility varies with financial aid programs and students should contact their lender for requirements.
Graduate Assistants working 20 hours per week are considered full-time if registered for five or more graduate credits. Federal law requires all international students with a 20-hour per week assistantship to carry at least six graduate credits for full-time status. Graduate students wishing to register for more than 15 credits in a regular semester shall secure the approval of their department chair and the Dean of the Graduate School.
Graduate Courses
Courses approved at the 600 and 700 level may be taken for graduate credit and used to satisfy course requirements on the student's graduate plan of study. Didactic courses are those courses approved for graduate credit numbered 601-689, 691, 700-789 and 791. Courses numbered 690, 692-699, 790, and 792-799 are considered special or experimental courses and are not to be included as didactic courses on a plan of study. Courses that a student has used to fulfill the requirements of a baccalaureate degree may not be used on that student's graduate plan of study.
Registration for Research Credit
A student conducting research for the disquisition is to be enrolled in 797, 798, or 799 for the number of credits specified on the plan of study. If a student's program has a cap on the number of 797, 798 or 799 credits that may be earned in the pursuit of degree, the student is to register for 797R, 798R, or 799R (or regular credit at the discretion of the host Program) during each semester in which the student uses faculty consultation and/or University facilities and/or University administration. Such registration is required even in absentia when faculty and/or administration time is consumed in manuscript review, communication, and other forms of assistance.
Continuing Education Graduate Courses
Graduate courses administered through the Office of Distance and Continuing Education (DCE) are eligible for graduate degree plans of study if they carry a permanent course number, or the 691/791 or 696/796 designation. Courses numbered 691/791 are trial courses and course numbered 696/796 are special topic courses; courses 691/791 are viewed as didactic courses. The 696/796 courses can be counted as didactic courses if they are later approved as permanent courses.
Courses designed for professional advancement are given the number 600. Although such courses are considered graduate level, they cannot be included on NDSU graduate degree plans of study.
Course instructors must be full of associate members of the NDSU graduate faculty or approved in advance by the administrator of the unit whose course prefix is used, the appropriate academic dean, and the Graduate Dean.
Continuous Enrollment/Leave of Absence
Graduate credit for any course work that is more than seven (7) calendar years old at the time of the final examination cannot be used to satisfy a master's degree program. The analogous time limitation for a doctoral degree is 10 years. Following the final examination, the candidate has one (1) year during which to provide The Graduate School a disquisition for which the Graduate Dean will sign final approval of all requirements for the degree. Should the disquisition not be deposited as specified or any other degree requirements not be completed within this time limit, the student must repeat the final examination.
Several signatures are required for admittance into The Graduate School, and several signatures are required to either graduate or withdraw from the system. It is only fair to the system that graduate students inform The Graduate School as to their whereabouts. Students who interrupt their graduate program prior to the completion of all degree requirements must maintain continuous enrollment for the Fall and/or Spring Semesters of the absence or obtain a leave of absence, which is to be submitted in writing for approval by the Graduate Dean.
Continuous enrollment is required until all degree requirements are completed, including submitting final copies of a thesis, paper, or dissertation. The penalty for not maintaining continuous enrollment can become steep. The Graduate Dean will not approve the degree until the student has registered for the appropriate number of credits of research for any Fall and/or Spring Semesters not covered by either registration or leave of absence. The number of these credits, determined by the Graduate Dean after consulting with the student and the chair of the student's supervisory committee, will amount to at least one (1) credit per semester not covered by either registration or leave of absence, but not more than four (4) credits total. A student who has not registered for longer than a continuous two-year period must also reapply for admission and is subject to the degree requirements at the time of readmission.
NOTE: Leaves of absence do not amend in any way the seven and ten-year time limitations.
