Full-Time Course Load Limitations
The minimum course load for status as a full-time graduate student is six semester hours during a trimester.
A course load for graduate students of up to ten hours per trimester is permitted. By special permission of the advisor and academic vice president, twelve hours per trimester may be taken. No more than twelve hours may be taken.
Independent Studies/Directed Readings/Courses at Other Institutions/Correspondence Courses
Independent study and/or directed readings courses are allowed, but only in situations where a required course is not available or in unusual circumstances that prevent a student from taking a course in the normal manner. Independent study and/or directed reading courses must be taken at William Carey University and are limited to six hours. Permission from the advisor and appropriate dean is required.
Students wishing to earn credit at another institution after the program plan is submitted must seek written approval for these courses prior to enrollment. No graduate credits earned by correspondence will apply toward a graduate degree.
Grades
The university uses the following grading system:
| A |
is reserved for work which is definitely superior in quality. |
| B |
is given for work which is consistently good and would be considered above average. |
| C |
is given for minimal work and shows that basic requirements in class assignments have been met, but is not considered standard work for graduate students. |
| F |
is given when the student has failed the course. |
| I |
A grade of “I” (incomplete), will be assigned only when unavoidable circumstances prevent completion of the work of the course on schedule and must be approved by the instructor and the academic dean. In order to be eligible for a grade of “I”, a student must be doing passing work, must have completed 80% of the required work for the class, and must provide appropriate documentation for requesting the incomplete. Requests are made using the Incomplete Grade Request Form obtained from the registrar’s office. When the work is completed satisfactorily, the “I” may be changed to any grade assigned by the instructor. If a grade of “I” is not changed to a passing grade by the end of the next trimester, it will automatically be changed to an “F.” |
Degree Completion and Final Assessment
A student must complete all required work within a period of six years after enrolling in graduate programs. All master’s degree programs at William Carey University require a candidate’s final assessment prior to graduation. This assessment may take the form of a written comprehensive exam, a portfolio, a capstone course, and/or oral examination.
Students who are candidates for May degrees on the Hattiesburg and Tradition campuses are required to file applications for their degrees in the registrar’s office by the Friday before Thanksgiving Break. Candidates for August graduation must file application for their degrees by the Friday before Spring Break. Late applications may be taken within 30 working days of these deadlines. There will be a $100.00 late fee in addition to the graduation fee.
Academic Standing
A 3.0 GPA on all graduate courses taken at William Carey is required for graduation. A student whose GPA drops below a 3.0 is placed on academic probation. Students are allowed to improve their GPA by retaking courses at William Carey; however, only one grade replacement is allowed. Grades from other retakes will be averaged in with grades from other courses. Students on probation may not improve their GPA by taking courses at other institutions. A student on academic probation must raise his/her GPA to a 3.0 by the end of the next trimester of enrollment or the student will be dismissed and cannot continue in the program.
Only two grades lower than a B are allowed. Upon receiving a second grade lower than a B, a student is advised to repeat one of the first two grades lower than a B before continuing in the program. A student making a third grade lower than a B will be dismissed from the program.
All appeals to policy relative to academic standing are made through the appropriate dean and, as necessary, to the graduate academic appeals subcommittee of the graduate committee.
Academic Advising
All new students are assigned an academic advisor in their major area of interest. The academic advisor will assist the student in designing a program of study that leads to the desired degree; however, the ultimate responsibility in the selection of courses that satisfy degree requirements rests with the student.
Academic Honesty
William Carey University seeks to create an environment that encourages continued growth of moral and ethical values, which include personal honesty and mutual trust. The university places high value on academic integrity and regards any act of academic dishonesty as a serious offense. Academic dishonesty is considered unethical and in violation of William Carey University’s academic standards and Christian commitment. The complete policy statement on academic integrity is in the student handbook, The Translation.
Attendance Regulations
Graduate students are expected to attend all class meetings. However, an absence may be granted in case of an emergency. It is the student’s responsibility to contact the instructor regarding the absence, and the student is responsible for all work missed. Excessive absences may seriously affect the work of the whole class as well as that of the individual students who are absent. Individual faculty members set their own attendance regulations for their classes and inform their students of them; however, students must attend 80% of the class meetings in order to receive credit for the course. The total number of absences for each student shall be reported for each class by each faculty member at the time of filing trimester grade rosters.
Change of Class Schedule
(Dropping and Adding Courses)
- No change of schedule, either in dropping a course or adding a course, may be made except by permission of the student’s academic advisor and dean.
- No student may register for a course after 10% of class meetings have occurred.
- Courses dropped within the first five weeks of a trimester will be recorded as “W” (withdrawn). Courses dropped after the midterm will receive a grade of “F.” Any student dropping a course at any time without the required approval receives an “F”in that course.
- Courses offered in mini-terms or with special schedules will have add/drop dates proportionate to length of course.
Withdrawals
Students desiring to drop a class or withdraw from the university must do so formally in order to avoid academic and financial penalties and should contact the office of the director of graduate studies or dean of the school for the proper procedure. Students are considered officially registered upon completion of the registration packets and payment of fees even though they may not attend a class. Students may withdraw through their Student Portal.
Any student who fails to attend all scheduled class meetings, for all registered courses, during the first three weeks of the term will be considered a “no-show.” Any student who is determined to be a “no-show” will be administratively withdrawn for the term.
Right to Change Requirements
This catalog and its contents are subject to change by action of the university faculty. Possible changes include, but are not limited to, graduation requirements, admission requirements, tuition, fees, curricula, and course content. Students are responsible for reading and responding to any such changes. The university is responsible for providing information to students on those changes.
The requirements as outlined in this catalog are valid for six years from the date of issuance. After that period, a student must change to the catalog currently in use.
Transcripts
Transcripts are issued by the registrar’s office.
- An official transcript is one bearing the signature of the registrar and the seal of the university and is mailed directly to whatever official may be designated by the student.
- When a transcript bearing the stamp “Issued to Student” is given to the person whose credits are transcribed thereon, the university assumes no responsibility for its accuracy after it leaves the registrar’s office.
- Transcripts of credit will not be issued for those students who have any type of administrative holds on their records.
Validation of Outdated Courses
Because of new developments within academic disciplines, some coursework may become outdated and not suitable for use toward a degree. The determination of whether or not a course has become outdated is made by the school or department where that course is taught. Students with outdated William Carey coursework not older than ten years at the point of student’s initial program of graduate study may validate it by successfully passing a test or completing required work if prior approval is granted by the advisor, dean, and current instructor of that course. Outdated coursework at other institutions will not be accepted.
Graduate Committee
The Graduate Committee is charged with the responsibility of approving policy and curriculum changes in William Carey University graduate programs. The committee is composed of faculty with graduate rank and graduate students. Faculty members are selected from the School of Education, the School of Nursing, the School of Natural and Behavioral Sciences, the School of Business, the School of Music and Ministry Studies, and from departments which offer graduate courses. Specific duties of the committee are:
- To develop university policies and procedures for graduate work.
- To establish and maintain the academic standards and regulations for graduate students and faculty.
- To conduct continuous study of the graduate curriculum in its relation to the purpose of the institution and changing state requirements.
- To review and recommend—after departmental and dean approval—to the graduate faculty all modifications of existing graduate courses, course descriptions, and programs.
- To review and recommend for approval to the Academic Council all new graduate programs or the deletion of graduate programs.
- To design and publish the graduate catalog through the office of the vice president of academic affairs.
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