4.8 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.

Dismissal from a degree program also results in suspension (dismissal) from the Graduate School.

Academic Standing

A graduate student must have a cumulative grade point average of 3.0 or better on all graduate work undertaken at The University of Alabama in order to be in good academic standing.

A student conditionally admitted to the Graduate School who has a cumulative grade point average of 3.0 or better after undertaking 12 semester hours of coursework at The University of Alabama and satisfies any other admit conditions specified by the department or The Graduate School will have earned good academic standing.  Failure to do so will result in Academic Suspension (dismissal) from the Graduate School.  If the 12 hours are completed in a term in which the total credits exceeds 12, the evaluation is made on the basis of all graduate-level work completed at the end of that term of enrollment.

A graduate student with good academic standing whose GPA drops below 3.0 at any time after earning 12 semester hours will have earned Academic Warning. Students who have earned academic warning or are in non-degree status may not hold graduate assistantships. Academic Warning must be removed by raising the overall grade point average to 3.0 or better during the 12 hours of graduate work immediately following the period in which the warning was earned.  Failure to do so will result in Academic Suspension (dismissal) from the Graduate School. 

"I" (incomplete) or "N" (no grade submitted) Grades

"I" and "N" grades are calculated in the student's overall grade point average as an "F."  They must be removed within four weeks during the next term of enrollment if the student's overall grade point average drops below a 3.0 as a result of the “I” or “N” grade(s).

Conditionally admitted students who fail to bring their overall GPA back up to a 3.0 or better by removing the "I" or "N" within the four weeks will earn Academic Suspension (dismissal) from the Graduate School. 

Graduate students with good academic standing who fail to bring their overall GPA back up to 3.0 or better by removing the "I" or "N" grade(s) within the four weeks will earn Academic Warning.  Academic warning must be removed by raising the overall grade point average to 3.0 or better during the 12 hours of graduate work immediately following the period in which the warning was earned.  Failure to do so will result in Academic Suspension (dismissal) from the Graduate School. 

A department may dismiss a student from a degree program if there is unsatisfactory academic or other progress toward completion of the degree.  As noted above, such departmental dismissal also results in suspension from the Graduate School.  For additional details see Admission to Doctoral Degree Programs and Degree Requirements in this Catalog.

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. 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 department or program 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, practicum experiences, internships, or other similar 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 dismissed from the program.  Dismissal from a degree program also results in suspension (dismissal) from the Graduate School.

Graduation Requirements

Grade Point Average (GPA)

Each student must have a cumulative average grade of 3.0 or better for 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 the student receives approval from the department and Graduate School and all other conditions noted in Section 4.9 of the Graduate Catalog 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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