4.6 SCHOLASTIC REQUIREMENTS

Many departments and programs produce manuals, procedures and policy guides, graduate student handbooks, and other publications for their students and faculty in graduate programs. These statements are designed to provide detailed and useful information; however, they are not statements of official policy of The University of Alabama. In all matters, the graduate catalog of The University of Alabama contains official policies as passed by the graduate faculty’s Graduate Council and shall supersede departmental, program, or college publications.

Degree requirements and academic performance standards outlined in this section are the minimum required. Satisfying these general requirements and standards, however, does not imply that all degree and program requirements have been met. Many departments, colleges, and schools establish additional requirements for their students. Accordingly, students may be dismissed from their programs for failure to meet departmental, college, or school standards. Such requirements are included in individual program descriptions in this catalog and/or in departmental and program manuals or policy statements. These special requirements shall not be considered in conflict with this catalog and shall have the same force as this catalog.

Academic Progress

A graduate student must have a cumulative grade point average of not less than 3.0 on all graduate work undertaken at The University of Alabama in order to be in good standing.

Academic warning. A graduate student with regular status in a graduate program who drops below a "B" average (at any time after earning 12 semester hours) will have earned academic warning. While the academic warning status is in place, the student will not be permitted to apply for admission to candidacy and may not hold an assistantship without approval of the graduate dean. This status must be removed by raising the overall average to a "B" or better during the 12 hours of graduate work immediately following the period in which the status was incurred. Failure to do so will result in the student's being dropped from the Graduate School.

Incomplete grades. A grade of "I" (incomplete) is evaluated as an "F" and must be removed within four weeks during the next term of enrollment if the student's overall grade point average drops below a "B" as a result of the incomplete grade. The evaluations of academic progress of students who register with "I" grades still on their records can result in academic warning or suspension.

Repeating courses. Courses may not be repeated for graduate credit; this includes courses initially taken on an audit basis. However, a course that is required in a student's curriculum in which a "D" or "F" is earned may be repeated for credit, upon the recommendation of the major department or program area and the dean of the Graduate School. Both grades will be considered in the computation of the grade point average.

Readmission. A person seeking readmission to the Graduate School to pursue a program of study different from the one from which the person was suspended can initiate consideration for readmission by completing an application for admission in the Graduate School and communicating with the academic unit of the new program. The graduate faculty of the new academic unit will consider the request for readmission upon receipt of the new application, will identify in a written request to the dean of the Graduate School the compelling reasons for readmission to the Graduate School, and will state the conditions required of the student upon readmission if readmission is granted by the dean of the Graduate School.  If readmission is granted, specific conditions of the readmission will be stipulated in the readmission letter to the student.

Reinstatement. A person seeking reinstatement to the same degree program after being suspended from the Graduate School can initiate consideration for reinstatement by communicating with the academic unit from which the person was dismissed. The graduate faculty of the academic unit will consider the request for reinstatement and, if the faculty request reinstatement, they will identify in a written request to the dean of the Graduate School the compelling reasons for reinstatement and the conditions required of the student if reinstatement is granted by the dean of the Graduate School.

Clinical components. In graduate programs that include clinical components, practicums, and/or internships, or other program requirements, each student's effectiveness will be given a broad-based evaluation by faculty and supervisors. Final decisions will be based on factors such as course grades, demonstrated clinical competence, personality factors, and relevant test scores. Many programs establish additional academic and/or professional requirements for their students. Failure to meet program requirements for academic progress and/or clinical components may result in the student’s being suspended from the program.

Graduation Requirements

Grade point average. The student must have a cumulative average grade of not less than "B" (3.0) in all graduate courses undertaken at The University of Alabama. Grades below "C" are counted in computing scholastic averages, but they do not carry credit toward a degree.

Seventy-five percent rule. At least 75 percent of the hours taken must have been completed with grades of ”A” or "B" at The University of Alabama. In applying this 75 percent rule, a maximum of 6 hours of thesis research may be counted, if appropriate.

400-level courses. A maximum of 6 semester hours of 400-level course credit may be accepted for a master's degree program, but only if conditions noted in the following section (titled "Course-Numbering System") are met. No 400-level credit (except the 6 hours accepted toward the master's degree) may be accepted for doctoral degree programs.

Pass/fail courses. A maximum of 20 percent of the student's required course credit may be taken on a pass/fail basis; 80 percent must be graded.

THE UNIVERSITY OF ALABAMA GRADUATE CATALOG

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Update: Sep. 2007