Academic Evaluation/Standards
Continuation in graduate studies requires satisfactory progress toward a graduate degree. Evidence of such progress includes maintenance of a minimum 3.0 cumulative grade point average each term. The progress of each student is reviewed each term. Failure to maintain the minimum 3.0 cumulative GPA will result in placement on probation. Any student on probation must not only achieve a 3.0 cumulative average within two successive terms following the term in which the deficiency occurred, but must also maintain at least a 3.0 term average in any term in which he or she is on probation. Failure to meet either of these requirements will result in dismissal from graduate studies at Drexel. Graduate students must have a minimum 3.0 cumulative GPA in order to graduate. The computation of academic standing is based on hours earned each term.
Academic Year
(Pertains only to non-Executive students and MD/MPH students currently enrolled in medical school)
The academic year at Drexel is based on four three-month terms, which run approximately as follows:
- Fall term runs from late September to mid-December.
- Winter term runs from early January to the end of March.
- Spring term runs from early April to mid-June.
- Summer term runs from late June to mid-September. The regular weekly schedule of classes includes Saturday morning sessions.
Change of Program of Study/Major (Transfer)
Graduate students may transfer from one graduate program into another with the written approval of both departmental graduate advisors and the Office of Research and Graduate Studies. Students should obtain the Graduate Transfer Form from the Office of Research and Graduate Studies website. To gain approval for a transfer into a new program, a graduate student must meet with that program's graduate advisors, who will review his or her current transcript and may review his or her original admissions information. If the student is qualified for the new program, the graduate advisors will sign the transfer form. The student must then be released from his or her original program by meeting with that department's graduate advisors, who will sign the transfer form if the release is approved. Students must receive written approval from both graduate advisors. If final approval is granted to transfer into a new graduate program, the student should meet with the graduate advisors of the new program to establish a plan of study for that program.
Class Attendance
Graduate students whose names do not appear on an official class list are not officially enrolled. Students not officially enrolled may not attend classes. These students should be referred to their academic advisors.
Course Load Limitations for Each Term
The maximum number of credits that can be taken in a term is 15, and the maximum number of work hours is 40 per week.
Credit Duplication
No graduate course used for an undergraduate degree may be counted again for graduate credit.
Degrees and Graduation Requirements
Application for Degree
Students who expect to graduate must file an Application for Degree form no later than the specified deadlines (found on the form). Students who are unable to graduate must submit a new Application for Degree form in the next term they anticipate graduating. Degrees earned during any term will be awarded at the end of that term after all grades have been submitted. Commencement is held once a year, in June.
Graduation Requirements
The following conditions must be met in order for a student to receive a degree:
- An Application for Degree must be filed not later than deadlines specified in the Academic Calendar.
- Specific course requirements must be completed for the program or major in which the student is enrolled.
- A grade point average of 3.0 or higher must be achieved for all coursework undertaken at Drexel University.
- All grades for required courses must be submitted. No student will be approved for a degree while an unreported grade for a required course remains on his or her record.
- A master's student must receive final approval for graduation from his or her department representative.
- A doctoral student must receive final approval for graduation from the Office of Research and Graduate Studies.
- Students must satisfy all financial obligations to the University.
- If for any reason a student does not meet all requirements for graduation two days before commencement, he or she cannot graduate until the term in which all requirements are met.
- If a student completes all requirements for graduation in any term other than the spring term, the degree will be awarded in the term in which the requirements are met. All financial obligations to the University must be met before the student receives his or her diploma.
Adding/Withdrawing Courses
With the written permission of the instructor and advisors or dean, graduate students may withdraw from a course up to the last day of classes for the term in which the course is taken and before the Final exam in the course. Refunds and credit depend on the date of the transaction and the University Refund Policy.
Full-Time/Part-Time Status
Graduate students are considered to be full time if they meet any of the following criteria:
- Register for nine or more credits
- Register for at least one credit as a Ph.D. candidate All other graduate students are considered part-time.
Grades/Grading System
Audit Grading Option
Graduate students may audit a course when they wish to receive instruction in a particular area but do not wish to receive a grade or credit. This option is available only to graduate students and may be added up to the last day of classes and before the final examination.
Term Grades
All grades are to be submitted via banner Web 48 hours after the Final examination has been given. Where no exam is given, grades are to be submitted 72 hours after the last official scheduled meeting time for the course.
Grade Changes - Statute of Limitations
Grades appearing on a student's academic record may not be changed after one calendar year from the end of the term in which the grade was received. Exceptions due to extenuating circumstances require approval of the academic dean of the department offering the course and the Vice Provost for Research and Graduate Studies. Final grades appearing on a student's academic transcript cannot be changed after the graduation date. Changes requested to correct administrative errors require the approval of the University Registrar.
Grade Not Reported
If an instructor fails to report a grade for a student, an automatic notation of "NGR" is recorded. This is not a grade, but a temporary indicator that requires prompt resolution leading either to the removal of the course from the student's record or to the assignment of a grade. If a Final grade is not reported by the end of the next calendar term, an administrative grade of F will be recorded on the student's transcript. It will be calculated as a failure in the student's GPA and is considered a permanent grade. Students are urged to check their records each term and follow up when required.
Grade Point Average
Grade point average is based on the grade weighted by the credit hours for all courses taken at Drexel University while classified as a graduate student, whether the course is graduate or undergraduate and whether part of a degree program or not. Only grades of A, B, and C are acceptable to fulfill graduate studies requirements. Grade point averages are computed from letter grade equivalencies as follows:
Grading System
Grade Grade points per credit hour
|
A |
|
4.0 |
|
B |
|
3.0 |
|
C |
|
2.0 |
|
F |
|
0.0 |
|
W |
|
0.0 |
|
|
|
|
Letter grades are given for individual courses, and grade points are used to compute
grade point averages for each student at the end of each term, on both a term and a
cumulative basis.
Incomplete
At the discretion of an instructor, the grade of "INC" may be reported in place of a grade for any course in which the instructor deems that the work has not been completed and that the student can complete the work within an agreed-upon amount of time (which must be in accordance with University policy and the statute of limitations governing grade changes). A grade of "INC" may be entered for a student at the time grades are submitted for the course. The conditions and terms for the completion of the course are at the discretion of the instructor and are to be mutually agreed upon by the instructor and the student. If the grade is not submitted within one year, the "INC" will turn into an "F" on the student's record and will be reflected in the student's GPA. The grade of "F" will be considered a permanent grade unless there are extenuating circumstances.
Time Requirements for Program Completion
Time requirements are placed on graduate programs of study to ensure that students receive instruction in, and graduate with, the most up-to-date, current knowledge available in their disciplines. It is expected that all graduate students will be able to complete their degrees within the stated time requirements. University policy provides that students who enter graduate study at the master's or post-baccalaureate level must complete their studies for their graduate degree(s) within seven years after initial graduate registration. In unusual circumstances, a student who finds that these time requirements are inadequate due to special circumstances must discuss this with his or her advisors. Together they may request an extension before the end of a student's stated time limit (either seven or five years). A student requesting an extension should work with his or her advisors to develop a plan of study and a time line for completion that is reasonable for the student. All formal extension requests must give a reasonable time for completion with an accompanying revised plan of study. Should an extension be required, please be aware that all courses will be reviewed for timeliness; some earlier coursework may have to be repeated. Extension requests for master's students must be forwarded after approval by the supervising professor (if on a research track) to the department graduate advisors, who will make the final decision. Extension requests for doctoral students must be forwarded, after approval by the supervising professor and the department graduate advisors, to the Office of Research and Graduate Studies, which will make the final decision.
External Transfer Credit
Acceptance of transfer credit from approved institutions is often dependent on the pertinence of the work to the degree program being pursued. Coursework that lies outside the scope of the degree program is not necessarily applicable for degree credit. Transfer graduate students should confer with their major departments at an early date to ensure that no misunderstanding occurs with regard to the use of transfer credit in their degree plans. Graduate transfer credit must be approved by the college/school in which the student is enrolled and may be allowed subject to the following restrictions:
- At least 30 graduate term credits (equivalent to 20 semester credits) of any master's degree program must be taken at Drexel.
- All transfer credit must have a grade of B or better, and the student's overall average in all prior graduate work must be a minimum of B.
- Transfer graduate credit will not be accepted unless it was taken within the general time limit of seven years prior to receipt of the degree (see Time Requirements for Program Completion). A student who wants to take a course off campus should submit a course syllabus to his or her Drexel graduate advisors to have it pre-approved. If the course can be included in the plan of study, the student may take the course off campus; if the grade is B or better, the student should submit the transcript to the graduate advisors for final approval. No graduate credit will be allowed for correspondence or extension work.
Withdrawal from the University
Graduate students who may find it necessary to withdraw from the University should seek advice from their departmental graduate advisors and their research supervisors, as appropriate. Those whose circumstances require withdrawal should notify the Office of Research and Graduate Studies. Refunds of tuition and fees are processed by the Student Receivables section of the Comptroller's Office in accordance with the University's official tuition refund policy.
Requirements Specific to Student Status
Non-matriculated
Graduate students accepted as non-matriculated because they lack complete required admissions credentials may remain in this temporary status while the required credentials are obtained until they complete 12 credits. Students who wish to achieve a graduate degree must matriculate into a degree-granting program as soon as possible but no later than the completion of 12 credits. To accomplish this the student must complete a Non- Matriculation to Matriculation Request Form. Non-matriculated students who do not wish to receive a graduate degree are welcome to remain in this non-degree status indefinitely. Be advised, however, that degrees are not conferred from this status. Should non-matriculated students later desire to apply for full matriculation, only courses that are included in a departmental degree program, up to 15 credits, may be transferable.
Plan of Study
(for non-Executive students)
Master's students should file a plan of study with the appropriate department as early as possible but no later than the start of the third term of study. The plan of study is prepared by the student in consultation with his or her supervising professor or graduate advisors, and should record all courses taken and to be taken to satisfy degree requirements. Students are expected to make satisfactory progress by keeping pace with the plan of study so established.
Second Master's Degree
Students with a previously completed master's degree from Drexel University may pursue a second master's degree in a different major without going through the admission process again. A student who has already completed a master's degree at Drexel may transfer up to 15 credits from the first into the second master's degree program, depending on departmental requirements in the new major, and may therefore complete the second master's degree with a minimum of 30 new graduate credits. Readmission into the second master's degree program is requested through the new departmental graduate advisors.
Final Oral Examination
Usually, this examination constitutes an open defense of the dissertation. However, the Final exam committee is always free to raise any questions it may wish. The committee must be approved by the Vice Provost for Research and Graduate Studies, via the Final Oral Defense Committee Appointment and Schedule form which must be submitted for approval one month prior to the defense.
The University mandates specific membership of the Final Oral Examining Committee. The committee must consist of at least five members, at least three of whom must be currently tenured or tenure-track Drexel faculty members. At least two of the committee members must be from outside the student's major area. At least one of the committee members must be from outside the student's department.
Dissertation Format Review
All doctoral dissertations, in addition to originality and scholarly content, must conform to University format requirements. Students should obtain a copy of the Thesis Manual located on the Office of Graduate Studies website. The doctoral student and supervising professor are responsible for conforming to the university format requirements.