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Other Academic RequirementsAcademic Credit The semester hour is the unit of academic credit and represents one hour of lecture or recitation or a minimum of two hours of laboratory work each week for one semester or the equivalent. Academic Standards A graduate student who is a candidate for a degree must earn an average of 3.0 or higher in all courses applicable to his/her degree and receive grades of "S" where grades of "S," "U," or "P" are awarded. Only courses with grades of "A", "B", "C", "S," or "P" may be applied to semester-hour requirements for the degree. Grades of "C" may constitute no more than 20% of the credits offered for graduation, or a maximum of two "C's" in two four-hour courses on the graduate level, whichever is greater. Semester hours with "C" grades in excess of this percentage or the allotted eight hours will not count toward the degree but will be figured in the total cumulative average. Graduate students in non-degree programs are expected to meet and maintain the same academic standards as students in degree programs. Although Virginia State University encourages a maximum of student responsibility, with a minimum of administrative regulation, it expects each student to maintain appropriate standards in his/her academic program. The University reserves the right to terminate the registration of any student who does not meet acceptable standards. Academically, a student whose record falls below standard or otherwise indicates a lack of ability or effort needed to succeed in graduate study will be denied permission for further study. Admission to Candidacy Admission to graduate study does not imply admission to candidacy for a degree. Students initially admitted into a program leading to a degree are evaluated later for advancement to degree candidacy. A student is eligible to apply for candidacy after he/she has completed a minimum of 12 semester hours of course work at this university in his/her approved program of study. He/she must, however, attain candidacy no later than the semester before he/she expects to graduate. In order to become a candidate for the master's degree, a student must satisfy the following requirements:
The application for admission to candidacy should be filed in duplicate. Application forms are obtained from the Graduate Office and, upon their completion, must be returned to the Graduate Office. No student may enroll for Research and Thesis, Thesis in Absentia, Master's Project, or the Comprehensive Examination before he/she has been admitted to candidacy. Application for Graduation A candidate for the master's degree or Certificate of Advanced Graduate Studies must file an Application for Graduation by dates published in the official academic year calendar (usually December 1) prior to the appropriate Commencement Exercise. Attendance Responsibility for regular class attendance rests with the student. Regulations concerning attendance in a particular course are at the discretion of the instructor and are announced in the opening class session. The University reserves the right to exclude from a graduate program, course, or final examination a student whose attendance in classes is unsatisfactory to the instructor of the class. Auditing Courses A student enrolled in a full program of studies, or its equivalent, may audit a course which contributes to his/her program provided his/her advisor approves and the instructor of the course agrees. Credit or grades are not assigned for auditing. Auditors are not accepted in seminars, practica, research courses, field courses, clinical courses, workshops, or similar courses. (See auditing fees under "Special Fees.") Certifying Hours and Completion of Requirements The Dean will certify the completion of degree requirements to an employer upon written request from the student. The request should include the full name, title, address, and zip code of the persons to whom the student wants such certification made. No more than 12 semester hours of course work toward the degree may be certified to any employer by the Dean of Graduate Studies prior to attaining candidacy. Only the Dean of Graduate Studies, Research and Outreach is authorized to certify the number of hours completed and the completion of degree requirements to an employer. Change of Degree Program Admission to the Graduate School in one program does not entitle a student to transfer to another program without applying for and being accepted by the new program as a new student. Any student wishing to change from one program to another must complete a Change of Major form (which requires a number of signatures including those of the original advisor and the chairperson of the department to which the student wishes to transfer). The forms are available in the Graduate Office. Concurrent Enrollment When the need exists, a student enrolled as a degree student may take graduate courses at another accredited institution. Prior approval of the advisor, department head and the Dean of the School of Graduate School, Research and Outreach is necessary. Continuing Education Credit The University makes no distinction between off-campus and on-campus courses, seeking to maintain the same high caliber of instruction irrespective of location. Therefore, courses included in the student's approved program of study may be taken through the continuing education program of Virginia State University. Courses taken for credit through continuing education programs of other institutions must have the prior approval of the major professor and the Dean of the School of Graduate Studies, Research and Outreach. Correspondence Credit Course Load The normal load for a graduate student enrolled during the regular academic year is twelve (12) semester hours; a maximum class load is seventeen (17) semester hours. To be considered in full-time study the student must be registered for not less than 12 semester hours of work. The academic load of a graduate student can not always be measured in terms of formal courses. Frequently, his assignment will consist largely or entirely of research. The Dean of the School of Graduate Studies, Research and Outreach will determine the extent to which these assignments are the equivalent of a full academic load. Part-time graduate students, in-service teachers, and other employed personnel are advised not to carry a load in excess of two graduate courses, except by special permission of the Dean of the School of Graduate Studies, Research and Outreach on recommendation of the major advisor. Without special permission, the course load for part-time students may not exceed 11 credit hours. During summer school, graduate students carry a normal class load of three semester hours during a three-week session and a normal class load of six hours during a six-week session. Thus, a student may earn nine semester hours of credit by attending a three-week and a six-week session. Course Numbers Two levels of courses are open to graduate students. Courses numbered at the 400 level are open to advanced undergraduate and graduate students but must be approved for graduate credit by the major advisor prior to the students' enrolling in the same. Courses numbered at the 500 and 600 levels are open to graduate students only. A graduate student's program of study must show at least fifty per cent (50%) of the courses offered for the degree in the 500-level series. Degree Requirements Graduate programs in the arts and sciences and in education lead to the Master of Arts, Master of Science or Master of Education degree. The M.A. degree is conferred when the major is in Economics, English, or History. The M.S. degree is conferred in all other majors that also include the preparation of a thesis. The M.Ed. degree is conferred in those professional teacher education programs that do not include Research and Thesis in the degree requirements. Candidates for the master's degree may elect a major in the fields of concentration listed below. Biology Master of Arts and Master of Science General requirements for the Master of Arts and the Master of Science degree are a minimum of 30 hours, which include 24-27 hours of course work plus a thesis (formal research study) of 3-6 hours. Additionally, a 36 to 39 hour non-thesis option is available in selected disciplines. Master of Education The Master of Education degree may be granted upon fulfillment of any of the following minimum requirements or options:
Certificate of Advanced Graduate Study The Certificate of Advanced Graduate Study (CAGS) is designed to provide advanced graduate specialization by completing a prescribed program of study. A minimum of 30 semester hours beyond the master's degree will be required to complete the program. Persons entering the program must hold a master's degree. However, the bachelor's degree or the master's degree must be in an area of vocational or occupational education. Program requirements are listed under the School of Liberal Arts and Education. Duplicate Credit Any course used as credit toward another degree (a bachelor's degree or earlier master's degree at VSU or elsewhere) will not be used again as credit in a master's degree program at Virginia State University. A course may be used only once; no duplicate credit is allowed. This applies also to master's degrees being pursued simultaneously at VSU and another institution. Faculty Advisors Each student admitted to graduate study in a specific program is assigned a faculty advisor by the Chairman of the student's major program area. Special students may also be assigned faculty advisors by the Dean. The advisor of the degree-seeking student is the major professor whose responsibilities are to (1) aid the student in planning a program of study, (2) advise the student regarding his/her progress toward the degree or certificate, (3) advise on student petitions, and (4) aid the Dean in observance of the University policies on graduate study. Final Examinations In addition to the regularly scheduled course examinations, a candidate for the master's degree must pass satisfactorily a final examination arranged by the chairman of his/her committee. This examination may be oral or written or both, and will cover the field of the student's major and minor work as well as the specialized area of the student's thesis if his/her program includes one. The student's special committee will report the results of his/her performance on the examination to the Graduate Office within twenty-four hours. A student who fails his/her final examination for the master's degree may, at the discretion of the Examining Committee, be allowed another examination not earlier than one semester after his/her failure. The Examining Committee, however, may recommend that the student take a course or courses before he/she is allowed a reexamination. General Student Appeals A student who considers any of the regulations of the School of Graduate Studies, Research and Outreach to have adverse effect upon his/her academic progress may request relief by addressing a written petition setting forth the particulars of the situation with approval of his/her advisor. The request should be addressed to the Policies and Petitions Committee in care of the Dean of the School of Graduate Studies, Research and Outreach. The Committee is composed of six graduate faculty members, plus the graduate dean. Grade Appeal The appeal procedure for a student in the case of a complaint about perceived inaccurate or unfair grading begins with contacting the faculty member, and further contact with the instructor's department chairperson, and then the Dean of the School of Graduate Studies, Research and Outreach if necessary. If the appeal is not resolved at any of the above levels, the student may submit a written request for review of the situation by the Policies and Petitions Committee. The chairman of this committee is the Graduate School Dean. Grading System The approved grade symbols and grade symbol definitions are as follows:
The following symbols are also used and have no quality point value, thereby being neutral in grade point average determination. Grade Symbol Definition
All grades earned are included in the determination of the cumulative average. Graduate Instruction Graduate instruction is given by (1) members of the graduate faculty; (2) other members of the program faculty whose level of training can provide the student expert guidance in specific areas in which such instructors possess special competence; (3) certain instructors, not members of the regular Virginia State University faculty, who have been approved to teach specific courses on the basis of preparation comparable to that of the graduate faculty. In general, approval to teach specific graduate courses is given instructors holding a doctoral degree and possessing experience and competence in the courses to be taught. Graduate Record Examination (GRE) At Virginia State University, all individuals seeking master's or post-master's degrees must submit test scores from the Graduate Record Examination (GRE). The GRE scores must be no more than six (6) years old when the student is admitted to the Graduate School. If the GRE was taken earlier, the student must take it again and submit new scores. The GRE is to be taken prior to enrollment or during the first semester of enrollment.
A computer-based administration of the GRE is given at many locations throughout the state and the country on a year-round basis. The GRE Information and Registration Bulletin is available in the Graduate Office. Students must take the General Test.
A student must score at least 330 on both the verbal and the quantitative portions of the GRE. A student who attains a score of 700 or more on the two subtests (verbal and quantitative) but not less than 300 on either also meets the required standard.
For validation purposes, two review courses, ENGL 516 (Advanced Writing) and MATH 499 (Mathematics Review), are offered each summer for students who have not met the GRE score requirements. The courses do not replace the GRE: students must take the GRE first and then take the review course or courses as needed. Independent Study An advanced graduate student may be allowed to pursue a course through independent study with the approval of his or her advisor, the instructor of the course, and the Dean of the School of Graduate Studies, Research and Outreach. Approval will not be given when the regular course is available or when the regular course has been unsuccessfully attempted. An outline of course requirements including proposed time schedule and number of credit hours to be assigned must be submitted to the graduate dean over the signature of the student, the advisor, and the instructor. Language Requirements Candidates for the Master of Arts or Master of Science degree must offer a minimum of two years of a modern foreign language in their undergraduate programs, or they must pass a reading examination of the language administered by a professor at VSU. French, German, and Russian are approved languages for science majors. For non-science majors, French, German, Russian, Italian, and Spanish are the approved languages, and may vary depending on the program of studies pursued. English is considered a tool language for all students, and may not be substituted as a foreign language for any student, domestic or foreign. For students who have completed two years of a modern foreign language in high school, one year of foreign language in college will satisfy this requirement. The language requirement is waived for majors in professional education programs or teacher education program sequences, e.g., mathematics education. There is also no language requirement for the program in economics and biology. Probation/Dismissal Graduate students must maintain a "B" average (3.00) in the courses taken in their approved graduate programs. A student who falls below 3.00 is put on probation with or without written notice from the Dean of the School of Graduate Studies and Continuing Education. If the cumulative average is not raised to 3.00 in the following semester, students will be notified by the Dean, in writing, that they have been discontinued from the program. Program Area Requirements In addition to the general requirements of the Graduate School listed, specific requirements of individual programs are listed under Programs of Study, where applicable. Where no discipline-specific requirements are indicated, the general admission requirements pertain. Program Cards A student's program of studies is not official until approved by the Dean of the School of Graduate Studies, Research and Outreach. The official program of courses for the master's degree must include a minimum of 50 per cent of the total program in major area courses. Reinstatement Graduate students suspended for academic reasons are never automatically reinstated. A student may appeal to the Policies and Petitions Committee to be given a chance to gain reinstatement. If the Committee approves, the student is allowed to enroll for one semester only to repeat the course or courses that pulled the average below 3.00 and caused the student to be dropped; no new course work may be taken while the student is seeking to be reinstated. If the student succeeds that semester in raising the average to 3.00, the student must then appeal to the committee for full reinstatement. If, after reinstatement, the grade-point average falls below 3.00 again, the student will not be permitted to continue graduate study at Virginia State University. Residence Requirements A minimum of 21 semester hours in a 30-hour program or 24 semester hours in a 36-hour program must be completed through the offerings of Virginia State University. Although full-time study is desirable, it is not required and many of the programs can be completed through part-time study. Some programs have special stipulations concerning part-time study, which should be carefully followed. Retention To be retained in an approved program of studies, a student is expected to maintain a minimum cumulative average of B. If the cumulative average in the approved program of studies falls below B, with or without candidacy, the student must bring the cumulative average up to B during the next period of enrollment in the approved program of studies. A student who fails to bring his/her average up to B, or whose average falls below B on a second occasion, will be dropped from the program in which he/she is enrolled. For the purposes of retention, cumulative averages are to be computed on the basis of hours completed within a student's approved program of studies. Schedule Changes Schedule changes must have the approval of the student's advisor. With the approval of the advisor and the instructor of the class, a course may be added prior to the close of the second day of classes. A course may be dropped with a grade of "W" (withdrawn, no penalty) up to two weeks after mid-semester. A student with a master's degree from Virginia State University who pursues a second master's degree at the University is exempted from the GRE requirements. Students with master's degrees from other schools who have not taken the GRE must take and pass the GRE. VSU courses that apply to both master's degree programs do not have to be repeated, at the advisor's discretion, but the student must take electives to count toward the total semester-hour requirement of the program: 30, 33, 36, or other. Courses used for one degree can not be used for another degree whether taken at VSU or elsewhere. Summary Procedures for the Master's Degree
Thesis and Project Standards Standards for the thesis and project have been adopted by the Graduate Council. The bulletin which includes these regulations may be obtained from the Graduate Office. The thesis must be satisfactory to the student's Examining Committee in both scholarship and literary quality. The subject of the thesis approved by the major advisor of the student must be filed with the Dean of the School of Graduate Studies, Research and Outreach at least six months before the candidate expects to complete all requirements for the degree for which he/she is a candidate. The thesis advisor for every graduate student is his/her major professor unless the major professor approves the student to develop a thesis under another professor. The maximum credit assigned under Research and Thesis is three semester hours for all candidates who have credit in a formal research course such as ECON 590, Research Methodology; EDUC 513, Educational Research; and ENGL 517, Problems and Methods of Research. Students in departments which do not require a formal course in research techniques may receive a maximum of six semester hours for research and thesis. Each program offering a major for the master's degree has an assigned number for Research and Thesis. Those programs which offer the option of a project have a similarly assigned number. Students must register for the Research and Thesis course every semester or term until the thesis is completed. Those who progress satisfactorily will receive the grade of "S" at the end of each semester or term. After the thesis has been completed and approved, the student will receive a final grade for his/her work. A student who registers in Research and Thesis and whose performance is deemed unsatisfactory by the major professor will receive the grade of "U" at the end of the semester or term. Project standards will vary according to program requirements and the nature of the project. Students will be guided very closely by their advisors in the preparation of the projects and are expected to adhere to program requirements. The student must also register in the master's project course every semester or term until the project is completed. The grade of “S” will be given at the end of each semester or term if satisfactory progress is made. The student will receive a final grade for his/her work once the project has been completed and approved. One typewritten copy of the project should be deposited in the Graduate Office for submission to the library. Time Limit for the Completion of Degree Requirements All requirements for the master's degree must be completed within six years from the date of initial registration in the graduate program, excluding periods of military service. Students who encounter unique problems which prevent compliance with this regulation may address an appeal to the Chairman, Policies and Petitions Committee, in care of the School of Graduate Studies, Research and Outreach. Under compelling circumstances, students may be awarded extensions, totaling not more than two years, to the present limit of six years. This provision restricts the period for completion of the degree to a maximum of eight years. All transfer credit for the degree must have occurred within the designated period (six years) prior to the date of graduation. Transfer courses are not eligible for an extension of time. Test scores submitted in support of applications for admission must also be within the six-year period. Transfer Credit from Another Institution In a 30-hour program, nine semester hours earned at another accredited graduate school may be accepted toward the master's degree at Virginia State University. In a 36-semester hour program, 12 semester hours may be accepted. In any case, transfer credit from another institution must be approved by the major advisor and must be of "B" quality or higher. Transfer of credit in the core courses is not permitted. The core courses are Foundations of Education, Statistical Procedures in Psychology and Education, and Educational Research. All transfer credit will be applied after the student's application for and advancement to candidacy. Transfer credit can not be over six years old by the date of graduation; this limit can not be extended.
Students who withdraw officially from the University will receive grades of "W" in the courses in which they are registered. Students who withdraw without following official withdrawal procedures are subject to receiving the grade of record (F) on the final instructor's grade report. |
