An overall average of B (3.00) is required for a graduate degree. The lowest grade for which credit is given in a graduate course is C. In upper division undergraduate courses taken for graduate credit, a graduate student must earn a grade of B or A to receive graduate credit. In addition to the above requirements, students who earn five credits or more in a single graduate course at the grade graduate level of C, will be automatically dismissed from their program and the University, as will students who earn one grade of F in any one course. Students who earn a grade of C in two graduate courses in a program of study, regardless of the total credit hours, will automatically be dismissed from their program and the University. Exceptions to this policy are listed below by program.

For students in the School of Business An overall cumulative GPA of B (3.00) is required to earn a graduate degree. The lowest grade for which credit is given in a graduate course is C. If at any time a student’s cumulative GPA falls below 3.00, the student will be placed on academic probation for the following session. If the student does not attain a minimum of 3.0 cumulative GPA at the end of the probationary session, the student will be dismissed. Students who earn a grade of F in any course will be dismissed from the MSBC program and the University

For students in the EdD program the lowest grade for which credit is given in a graduate course is C. Students who earn a grade of C in two EdD courses will automatically be dismissed from their program and the University. Students who earn one grade of F in any one course will be dismissed from the EdD program and the University.

For students in the Sena Jeter Naslund-Karen Mann Graduate School of Writing to remain in their respective MFA, MAW, or Graduate Certificate programs, evaluations of Credit Awarded (AWD) must be received at the end of each course. If an evaluation of Credit Not Awarded (NOC) is received, one course may be repeated one time. All tuition and appropriate fees are required. If at the end of the repeated course the student does not receive Credit Awarded, the student is not allowed to continue in the program. Failure in a second course results in automatic termination. It is the student's responsibility to determine how a Credit Not Awarded evaluation may or may not affect financial aid through student loans.

For students in the School of Social Work an overall cumulative GPA of B (3.00) is required to earn a graduate degree. The lowest grade for which credit is given in a graduate course is C.  In upper division undergraduate courses taken for graduate credit, a graduate student must earn a grade of B or A to receive graduate credit. When students have completed 12 or more semester hours of graduate course work with an average of less than 3.0, they will be placed on academic probation.  While on probation, students will have one full-time semester or the equivalent (9 credit hours) to remove the academic probation by earning a GPA of 3.0 or higher.  If probation is not removed, students will be dismissed form the MSW Program and the University.  Students who earn a grade of F in any course will be dismissed from the MSW program and the University.

The following policies are applicable for students in the entry-level DPT Program:

A. Academic Probation:

A graduate student failing to meet the criteria for satisfactory achievement will be placed on academic probation. A student on probation due to failure to meet the cumulative GPA of 3.0 will be allowed one semester to raise the cumulative GPA to a satisfactory level. Failure to achieve a 3.0 after one semester will result in dismissal from the program. Students may be placed on academic probation no more than two times. Students that fail to meet the cumulative GPA of 3.0 for a third time will be dismissed from the program.

B. Academic Dismissal

The following are grounds for dismissal from the program:

1. A grade below C in any course
2. A grade of C in more than 2 courses
3. More than a cumulative total of 3 retakes in courses with a laboratory component
4. Failure to pass both the lecture and practical exams in a course with a laboratory component
5. Failure to pass a Professional Practice course

Practical Examination Pass Policy

Students are allowed to retake only one practical exam within a course and must pass all subsequent practical exams in that course. Failure to do so will earn a course grade of F, and the student will be dismissed from the program. No more than 3 retakes will be allowed during the program. Failure of the fourth practical examination during the curriculum will constitute a course failure (F) of the course in which the fourth failure occurred, resulting in the student’s dismissal from the program at the end of the semester. Regardless of the points achieved in a course, students must pass both the didactic and lab portions of the course.

The following policies are applicable for students in the post-professional DPT Program:

A. Academic Probation:

A graduate student failing to meet the criteria for satisfactory achievement will be placed on academic probation. A student on probation due to failure to meet the cumulative GPA of 3.0 will be allowed one semester to raise the cumulative GPA to a satisfactory level. Failure to achieve a 3.0 after one semester will result in dismissal from the program. Students may be placed on academic probation no more than two times. Students that fail to meet the cumulative GPA of 3.0 for a third time will be dismissed from the program.

B. Academic Dismissal

The following are grounds for dismissal from the program:

1. A grade below C in any course
2. A grade of C in more than 2 courses

For information on procedures for student complaints and grievances regarding academic issues, see Professional and Academic Decisions: Student Appeal Procedures.

Back to Graduate Academic Policies

Back to Academic Status and Appeals