The full-time course load for graduate students is nine graduate credits, including coursework portfolio, professional project, field study or thesis. The maximum course load for graduate students is 16 credits with any combination of courses (graduate or undergraduate) during fall, winter or spring term. Twelve credit hours is the maximum load for graduate students during the six-week summer term.
Graduate courses may not be challenged for credit by examination. If a graduate student has extensive background in an academic area, the graduate student’s adviser may approve the substitution of an alternative graduate-level course in the student’s program of study. All substitutions must be documented and submitted to Student Success & Advising.
Graduate students are assigned a Program of Study upon admission, governed by the academic requirements of the student’s catalog year and tracked via the electronic degree audit. The institution may find it necessary to make changes to courses, degree, and/or program requirements. In the event that such changes affect students already enrolled, to the extent possible, the institution will find reasonable accommodations to ensure continued progression towards degree completion.
- Initial Verification: Students are required to review their degree audit with their assigned adviser during their first term of study to ensure accuracy.
- Individual Changes & Substitutions: Any deviations from the assigned Program of Study must be approved by Program Faculty and documented as an exception within the degree audit system.
This requirement applies to all degree-seeking students, as well as those pursuing endorsements, licensures, certificates, or specializations.
All graduate students are required to complete a culminating exit requirement as defined by their academic program and catalog year. The specific type, format, and number of exit requirements are determined by the student’s program of study and may include, but are not limited to, comprehensive examinations, theses, portfolios, action research projects, field studies, or professional projects. Requirements are documented in the program of study and administered in accordance with program guidelines.
Final written comprehensive examination will be based upon areas of study in the approved program of study. Students may retake the written comprehensive examinations only once. Graduate students who score unsatisfactorily (below C-) on any component of the comprehensive examination will be required to take a final oral examination on the unsatisfactory section. Final oral examinations will not be required of students who score a pass or above on all areas of the written comprehensive examination.
A graduate student is eligible to complete final evaluations only after all coursework has been completed or the student is in the final term of enrollment. Per policy, they can also participate in comprehensive exams in the spring term if they have two or fewer courses to finish during the subsequent summer term. All incomplete grades must be changed to a letter grade before a student will be allowed to take their comprehensive examination. An exception is made if the outstanding incomplete grade is for a current student teaching grade, exit project or special individual study course.
The graduate faculty consists of the President and Vice President of academic affairs of WOU, the academic Deans, the colleges’ graduate faculty, program coordinators, and members of the faculty who have been designated by their divisions.
To Teach Graduate Courses:
Qualifications: Earned graduate degree equivalent to or above the course degree level. Evidence of professional activity sufficient to assure awareness of current advances in the discipline or profession. Evidence of effective instruction or effectiveness in other types of professional presentations. In the case of new appointments, strength of evidence that indicates potential may substitute for experience.
To Serve on Graduate Student Committees:
Qualifications: Earned graduate degree equivalent to or above the student’s degree level. Evidence of professional activity or scholarship sufficient to assure awareness of current advances in the discipline or profession. Evidence of effectiveness in advising, participation on graduate student committees, and supervising graduate student research. In the case of new appointments, information suggesting potential for providing guidance to graduate students may substitute for participation on committees.
To Direct Master’s Exit Requirements:
Qualifications: Doctoral or other relevant terminal degree. A combination of a master’s degree and scholarly activity may be considered as a substitute for a doctoral or terminal degree. Evidence of professional activity and scholarship indicating participation in advances in the discipline or profession.
To Direct Doctoral Exit Requirements:
Qualifications: Doctoral degree. Evidence of professional activity and scholarship indicating active participation in current advances in the discipline or profession.
Graduate Faculty Exceptions:
For exceptions to any portion of the graduate faculty requirements, faculty may appeal to their college dean. The college dean will review and consider whether an exception is justified and upholds the academic integrity of WOU graduate programs.
Division chairs shall include information and updates on Graduate Faculty members as part of their annual spring review. This information should include which faculty meets the criteria for teaching, directing, and serving on committees.
The following grading scale is employed at the graduate level:
| Excellent: |
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A |
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A- |
| Acceptable: |
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B+ |
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B |
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B- |
| Below standard: |
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C+ |
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C |
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C- |
| Unsatisfactory performance (no credits earned): |
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D+ |
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D |
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D- |
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F |
The following marks are also used. These grades are disregarded in the computation of grade-point averages.
Grade Expectations
Graduate students are expected to maintain a B (3.00 GPA) average on the courses fulfilling the degree requirements. Although grades of C+, C and C- are below the graduate standard, up to eight hours taken at WOU may be counted as credit toward a graduate degree. Individual programs can establish more rigorous policies concerning the use of C grades in a degree program.
All graduate courses will be designed to help students achieve well-defined objectives or student learning outcomes. Student learning outcomes encompass the range of student attributes and abilities that students should be able to demonstrate after successful completion of the course. In general, most graduate level courses should be letter-graded.
400/500 courses
Courses bearing dual-listed numbers (400/500) must provide students who are enrolled for 500-level credit with graduate-level learning. Expectations for learning outcomes in the graduate component of dual listed (400/500 level) courses are the same as for stand-alone 500-level courses. A distinction must be made between learning outcomes for students taking the course for undergraduate credit (400 level) and those taking the course for graduate credit (500 level). In most cases this distinction should include emphasis on developing skills in analysis, synthesis, and/or evaluation for the 500-level credit. The differences in student learning outcomes should be accompanied by appropriate differences in learning opportunities and evaluation procedures.
500-level courses
These courses are graduate courses in support of graduate certificate/endorsement/specialization or master’s degree programs.
Undergraduates of exceptional scholastic achievements may, outside of an Accelerated Undergraduate to Master’s Pathway (AUMP), program be admitted to these courses on the approval of the instructor and they may, if admitted, under some conditions, use a limited number of these courses toward a graduate certificate/endorsement/specialization or a master’s degree program. These courses have one or more of the following characteristics:
- They require upper division prerequisites in the discipline.
- They require an extensive theoretical base in the discipline.
- They increase or re-examine the existing knowledge or database of the discipline.
- They present core components or important peripheral components of the discipline at an advanced level.
600-level courses
These are graduate courses available for use by graduate and AUMP students, for graduate certificate/endorsement/specialization or master’s degree programs. In addition to exhibiting the characteristics of 500-level courses, these courses typically have an increased level of sophistication in developing skills in analysis, synthesis, and/or evaluation.
At least 50 percent of coursework in a graduate degree program must be 600 level.
700-level courses
These are graduate courses offered principally in support of doctoral-level instructional programs but also are available for use on graduate certificate or master’s level degree programs. In addition to exhibiting the characteristics of 600-level courses, these courses typically require 600-level prerequisites and they build on and increase the information presented in 600-level courses.
At least 50 percent of coursework in a doctoral degree program must be 700 level.
Blanket-Numbered Courses
Blanket-numbered courses have a zero-middle digit. See Limitations on Special Arrangement “0” Courses (G-11) regarding course limits.
- Research (601 or 701) is for research that is not part of the thesis. Data obtained from such research should not be incorporated into the thesis.
- Thesis (603 or 703) covers thesis research and writing. A student may register for thesis credit each term.
- Reading and Conference (605 or 705)
- Professional Projects (606 or 706) are used for special work not given under a formal course number.
- Seminar (607 or 707) is used both for departmental seminars and for special group work not given in a formal course.
- Workshop (608 or 708) is usually a special, short-term course covering a variety of topics.
- Practicum/Internships (609 or 709) is used for courses whose emphasis is the application of academic theory to the work environment.
Purpose:
To allow qualified WOU undergraduate students that wish to pursue a master’s program at WOU immediately after completing their undergraduate degree the opportunity to apply graduate coursework towards the completion of their undergraduate and master’s degrees.
Criteria for acceptance and continuation in the AUMP:
- Fully admitted undergraduates of senior standing.
- Cumulative WOU GPA of 3.2 or above.
- Pursuing an undergraduate program identified as participating in an approved AUMP.
- Meets any requirements set by the graduate program that is more than the stated minimum requirements.
- Undergraduate students who have been accepted to an accelerated undergraduate master’s pathway must complete all of their bachelor’s degree requirements and graduate within 12 months of the first day of the term in which they begin taking masters courses as part of the accelerated program. Students who fail to do so will undergo a progress review and may be dismissed from the accelerated program.
Provisions:
- 500- and 600-level courses that may count toward both the bachelor’s and master’s programs will be determined through collaboration of designated faculty members in each program.
- AUMP students may take a maximum of 16 graduate credits while classified as an undergraduate.
- Minimum grade of B (3.0) or better is required for a course to apply to the master’s level program.
- Courses graded on a Pass/No Credit or Satisfactory/No Credit basis are not eligible for use in AUMP programs.
- The number of graduate credits earned in the AUMP program that can be applied to a master’s program will be determined by the graduate program.
- The number of graduate credits earned in the AUMP program that can be applied to an undergraduate program will be determined by the undergraduate program.
Cost:
- Undergraduates accepted into AUMP will pay at the undergraduate rate for the approved AUMP courses they take while still an undergraduate.
- Upon full admission as a master’s student applicable graduate tuition rates apply.
Graduate students enrolled at Western Oregon University are expected to conform to basic regulations and policies developed to govern the behavior of students as members of the university community. Violations of the regulations subject a student to appropriate disciplinary or judicial action. Refer to the Code of Student Responsibility for detailed expectations. Additional information regarding the regulations and procedures for disciplinary action and appeal are available via the Office of Student Conduct and Community Standards website.
Individual graduate programs may establish additional professional and ethical standards. Students are responsible for understanding and complying with these standards.
When program faculty determine that a student has not met established professional or ethical standards, the program is responsible for addressing the concern, which may include remediation or dismissal, in accordance with program and university policies. Matters involving potential Title IX violations are handled through the University’s Title IX processes.
A graduate student is considered to have graduated from WOU when the Office of the Registrar verifies that all university and program requirements have been satisfied. Graduation is conferred at the close of each academic term. Upon graduation, the student’s academic record is closed.
Commencement exercises are held once annually in June.
All graduate students must submit an online Application to Graduate. This application initiates the final degree evaluation process and must be submitted by the second Friday of the term in which they are applying to graduate. Specific deadlines are published in the University Academic Calendar.
Students who have completed more than half of their program requirements are eligible to apply to graduate.
Graduation and commencement are not the same. A student graduates from WOU after applying to graduate and after the Office of the Registrar determines that all university academic requirements have been met. Students may graduate at the end of any academic term. Commencement is WOU’s annual ceremony in June that recognizes students’ completion of degrees.
Students who are eligible and wish to participate, must submit all required information by the deadline posted on the University Academic Calendar. Failure to submit the necessary information by published deadlines may result in the student’s name not being included in the published Commencement program. Students receiving their specializations, endorsements or certificates only are not eligible to participate in Commencement. Commencement is held for graduate students receiving graduate degrees.
Degree Tracks is the official degree evaluation system for students and advisers. Students use this online system to check their progress toward their degree. For information on how to access and use Degree Tracks, see the Office of the Registrar website.
All incomplete grades must be completed and the grades entered by the instructor, NO LATER than the end of the term graduation is planned or the default grade will be applied.
However, an unresolved incomplete grade may prevent graduation because the default grade lowers a student’s GPA or prevents a needed requirement from being met. Students are strongly encouraged to resolve incomplete grades within the shortest possible time to prevent problems closer to graduation.
Students are required to declare their intention to participate in June commencement according to the deadline specified on the Academic Calendar on the Office of the Registrar’s website.
Students who have graduated in the previous summer, fall or winter terms are eligible to attend the Commencement ceremony. Students who have applied to graduate in spring, summer, or fall immediately following spring term may also participate in the ceremony.
A maximum of 15 credit hours of workshops, special arrangement and practicum courses may be applied to a graduate degree program. These courses must be pre-approved by the appropriate adviser. Fifteen credit hours of 506, 606, 706, 507, 607, 707, 508, 608, 708, 509, 609, and 709 courses may be included in a program. Additionally, there is a limit of nine credit hours of any one number.
Minimum Registration Requirement
Degree-seeking graduate students are required to register once per academic year until all degree requirements have been completed unless on an academic leave of absence. Graduate students involved in activities requiring any faculty time or library or use of other University resources are required to register for a minimum of one graduate credit during each term in which these activities occur. This includes students engaged in any phase or aspect of research, exit project, or thesis. A minimum of one graduate credit of registration is required any term (including summer) when students are completing a major milestone for the degree such as submission of a final project, thesis defense, taking comprehensive exams, and graduation. Individual graduate programs may have additional enrollment requirements relative to the amount of time required of the faculty or University resources.
Reenrollment
Any graduate student who does not enroll in courses for four consecutive terms will have their student status inactivated. To resume enrollment or have a degree, endorsement, specialization, or certificate awarded, the student must submit a re-enrollment application with adviser approval. Degree-seeking graduate students who fail to maintain continuous enrollment will be considered to have resigned from their program and must reapply for admission through the re-enrollment process. Readmission is not guaranteed and is subject to program review; programs may require submission of a new application for admission. Readmitted students must meet all current university and program admission requirements and are subject to the degree requirements in effect at the time of readmission.
Academic Leave of Absence
Graduate students in good standing may request an Official Leave of Absence to suspend their program of study for a good cause (i.e. illness, temporary departure for employment, family issues, financial need, or personal circumstances). Students must submit a Leave of Absence form indicating which term(s) they intend to be on leave. Students may request more than one leave, but combined leaves cannot exceed six terms. The request must be reviewed and approved by the graduate program and submitted to Student Success & Advising for processing. Students who are granted Leave of Absence may not use university resources or faculty time. A leave of absence does not waive or extend the time limit for completion of a graduate program.
Students who are working toward a planned program of graduate study must file for admission as outlined above if they expect to complete licensure requirements or become candidates for a degree. A maximum number of 15 credits of non-degree graduate coursework to be applied to an endorsement, certificate, specialization, and/or degree program.
Graduate students are expected to maintain a minimum cumulative grade point average (GPA) of 3.0 to remain in good academic standing and to continue progressing toward degree completion.
A student whose cumulative GPA falls below 3.0 at the end of any academic term will be considered not in good academic standing. Following the first term in which the cumulative GPA drops below 3.0, the student will be notified and provided with information about available academic support resources and advising.
If a student’s cumulative GPA remains below 3.0 for a subsequent term, the student will be subject to academic suspension.
Students who are academically suspended and wish to continue their studies must submit a formal petition for reinstatement. Approval of such petitions is not guaranteed and will be determined in accordance with program and institutional guidelines. If approved, reinstated students may be subject to specific conditions for continued enrollment.
See university regulation Incomplete Grades (W-2c)
- The instructor of a course has the final decision regarding the appropriateness and willingness to award a grade of incomplete.
- A graduate student with more than nine (9) hours of uncleared incomplete coursework (except for student teaching, internship, thesis, field study and/or professional project) will have a hold placed on registration until a petition has been submitted to Student Success & Advising and a remediation plan approved.
- A student requesting a grade of incomplete and the course instructor issuing a grade of incomplete must both sign a contract that specifies:
- The course assignments still need to be submitted to remove the incomplete grade.
- A timeline for completion of course requirements.
- A student who has a grade of incomplete in a course that is a prerequisite for a subsequent course may not enroll in the subsequent course until the grade of incomplete is removed or must receive the permission of the instructor to be allowed to enroll into the subsequent course.
- Any graduate program can decide to not allow a student to register for their final professional field experience (student teaching, internship, etc.) on the basis that incomplete grades have not been cleared before the beginning of the final professional field experience.
Transfer credits are those taken pre-admission to a graduate program at WOU or at another regionally accredited university.
Transfer credits, outside of a defined Accelerated Undergraduate Master’s Pathway, must be documented with an official sealed transcript from a regionally accredited university, approved by the student’s graduate program, and should be submitted early in the student’s program to Student Success & Advising. Transfer credits are subject to approval by the graduate program.
Courses to be transferred must be graduate level. It is the responsibility of the student wishing to transfer the course to provide necessary documentation to satisfy WOU guidelines.
Graduate students must earn a minimum of 2/3 of the credits required for their graduate degree at WOU, after formal admission to the graduate degree program. Individual programs may have stricter limitations. Pre-admission and transfer credits for graduate degrees must meet the following requirements: must be a letter grade of B- or higher and must total no more than 1/3 of the required credits for a graduate degree. Eligible WOU credits applied toward a completed graduate certificate can be applied toward a subsequent graduate degree without counting toward the pre-admission limits.
A maximum of 15 credits of non-degree graduate coursework can be applied to an endorsement or degree program with adviser approval.
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