Academic Regulations
For up-to-date information, consult the online version of the university’s graduate catalog. It is the official graduate catalog and can be found at http://www.ecu.edu/cs-acad/grcat/. There are two versions of the online graduate catalog that students can reference. The HTML version allows the user easy navigation and indicates up-to-date curricular revisions. The PDF version is an exact replica of the printed graduate catalog. Ordinarily, a student may expect to earn a degree in accordance with the requirements of the curriculum described in the official graduate catalog in effect when he or she first entered the university, or in any subsequent catalog published while he or she is a student. Students should refer to the requirements of their respective college, school, or department for information about their programs of study and confer with their advisors. The university’s graduate catalogs are for informational purposes only, and do not constitute a contractual agreement between a student and East Carolina University. The university reserves the right to make changes in curricula, degree requirements, course offerings, or academic regulations at any time when, in the judgment of the graduate faculty, the Chancellor, or the Board of Trustees, such changes are in the best interest of the students and the university.
In order to judge the viability of an applicant for admission to the Graduate School at East Carolina University, it is necessary to have complete and accurate information about the applicant’s academic and professional background, medical history, criminal/disciplinary record, and other relevant personal details. When it is found that an applicant has deliberately lied, misrepresented, or in any fashion included information designed to mislead the application reviewers with respect to any component of the application portfolio, the following actions may take place:
If the applicant wishes to appeal the decision made by the Dean of Graduate Studies, the applicant has 10 business days from the date of the decision notification to file an appeal with the Graduate School Administrative Board (GSAB) through the Graduate School. The GSAB will hear the appeal at the first convenient, regularly-scheduled meeting and evaluate its merits. To reverse the decision made by the Graduate Dean, a two-thirds majority of a voting quorum must be had. In all cases where a termination of the application process or dismissal from the Graduate School has occurred, no refund of application fees will be made.
The university is in session five and one-half days each week. Classes usually meet for fifty-minute periods, but some of the courses meet for three hours in one evening or on Saturday morning. Only courses numbered 5000 or higher can be counted toward completion of graduate degrees or CAS programs. At least one-half of the credit for a master’s degree must be earned in courses for graduates only, numbering 6000 or above. During the summer terms, most courses are offered during the daytime. Three semester hour courses meet one and a half hours daily; five semester hour courses meet two and one-half hours daily. Other courses meet for the appropriate times in order to meet the total contact hour requirement. The university offers many graduate courses, workshops, conferences, and short courses during the summer session. Graduate degree credit can be earned only at the rate of one semester hour of credit for each calendar week of attendance. Graduate students who seek and obtain permission to take courses at other institutions for subsequent transfer to degree programs at East Carolina University may obtain credit only at the rate of one semester hour of credit for each calendar week of course attendance. Degree or CAS credit cannot be obtained through completion of correspondence courses.
Graduate students who are currently enrolled, and who have been accepted in a nondoctoral degree or CAS program, may receive credit by examination for a course in which they have not been enrolled for either credit or audit. This requires approval by the appropriate dean of a college, director of a professional school, or by the chairperson of a department in the Thomas Harriot College of Arts and Sciences and finally by the dean of the Graduate School. Appropriate forms are available in the Graduate School. Successful petitioners must pay to the university cashier a nonrefundable fee per semester hour in advance of the examination. The forms, bearing the receipt of the cashier, must be shown to the instructor conducting the examination who, in turn, must report the grade to the registrar and the dean of the Graduate School. The examination must be conducted within one week following approval of the petition by the dean of the Graduate School. The following departments and schools do not offer credit by examination: English, geography, history, political science, music, and nursing.
Graduate-level course work taken elsewhere is not automatically applicable to a graduate degree program at East Carolina University. Applicants for admission must indicate clearly on application forms their attendance at other graduate-level institutions and petition college, school, or departmental advisors to apply such earned credits to their programs. College, school, or departmental petitions for application of transfer credit must be approved by the Graduate School. Ordinarily the Graduate School will approve the application of graduate course transfer credit only if (1) the college, school, or department so recommends; (2) the graduate credit was earned at a regionally accredited institution; (3) the student was admitted to a formal graduate degree program at the time the credit was earned with a minimum final course grade of B; and (4) the credit can be satisfactorily incorporated within the applicable time frame for completion of all degree requirements. Official transcripts which will provide adequate evidence to support such petitions must be supplied. Students who have been admitted to the Graduate School at East Carolina University may enroll at other regionally accredited graduate-level institutions for course work which is applicable to their programs provided they have obtained advance permission from their college, school, or graduate program director and the dean of the Graduate School. Forms for permission to take course work elsewhere may be secured from the Graduate School office. Such transfer work is included in the 20 percent maximum application of such credit to degree programs. Transfer credit for short courses or workshops can be obtained only at the rate of 1 semester hour of credit for each calendar week of course attendance; concurrent enrollment in two or more short courses or workshops is not permitted. Transdisciplinary Programs of StudyThe Graduate School of the East Carolina University encourages the development of programs in graduate education that are responsive to changing disciplinary, professional, economic, social and other circumstances. New programs may be developed by restructuring existing academic offerings across currently-defined institutional and disciplinary boundaries. In other cases, the disciplines themselves may need to be redefined. Such programs are the focus of this policy.Typically, transdisciplinary programs are of three distinct types. Consideration of the following principles specific to each of the different degree types may help in selecting the type of program to be established and submitted for review.
Only academic programs have the authority to propose and receive approval for new dual degree programs. Dual degree programs must balance structural efficiency with individual program integrity. They result in the awarding of two degrees from two different disciplines, generally at the master’s degree level, however, exceptions (e.g., MD/MBA) are possible. Note that a master’s degree student continuing on for a PhD in the same academic program is not considered a dual degree student under these guidelines. Students must apply to and be accepted by both programs individually before beginning in the dual degree program. In a practical sense, this means that students should apply to both academic programs at the same time or apply to the second program no later than during their first year of the first program. Dual degrees will not be awarded after the curricular requirements have already been met without initial application. Course credit transfers allowed above the normal 20 Percent Rule (see the Transfer Credit Policy) are specified in the dual degree program approvals from the Graduate School. Students who do not apply to both programs before beginning the curricular requirements will be subject to the 20 Percent Rule. In no case will more than 30 percent of a graduate program or 15 semester hours, whichever is greater, be counted in common between two degree programs. Students in officially recognized dual degree programs, other than the MD-PhD program, must apply to graduate for both degrees at the same time, even if the requirements for one degree are completed sooner than the second degree. Academic programs are asked to provide flexibility so students may be able to walk ceremoniously with their cohort even if they do not earn the degree that semester. To earn two degrees students register in one school or department and, with the cooperation of the second school or department, work out their program to cover the requirements for both. An application to the Graduate School must be submitted for each degree. The application fee of $60 need only be paid once. Dual degree proposals should first be created and approved by the appropriate hierarchy in each participating unit. Aside from the general principles above, materials should include: a description of the participating units/degrees, an overview of the existing academic course of studies, the rationale and demand for the new dual degree, the structure and resource support for the new dual degree, guidelines for academic eligibility and meeting Graduate School regulations, any other supporting materials to assist with a thorough review of the request. A letter of support from the Chair or Director of each participating unit stating faculty support must also accompany the proposal. Proposals should be submitted to The Graduate School for review:
Joint Degree ProgramsJoint Degree programs are those from which a single degree is awarded by two or more UNC constituent institutions or a UNC institution and a non-UNC educational institution who are participating in a joint degree program (e.g., PhD in Technology Management with Indiana State University).Proposals must follow the regular institutional processes for the approval of new degree programs at each participating institution within the UNC system before being submitted to the Board of Governors for approval. Indication of appropriate approvals by all participating UNC institutions, including approval by the chancellor/president of each participating institution, must be a part of all joint degree proposals. Prior to proposing the degree program, certification of the following must be agreed to:
A joint degree must carry the name of each participating institution on student diplomas. Each student who will receive a joint degree must be approved by the institutional process for certifying a student to receive a degree by each UNC institution whose name will appear on the diploma. Information regarding UNC System policies on joint degrees may be found at: http://intranet.northcarolina.edu/docs/legal/policymanual/400.1.1.pdf. Interdisciplinary Degree PolicyInterdisciplinary Degree programs award a single degree for courses of study that involve work in multiple disciplines, but are not identified with any specific academic unit (for example, the PhD in Coastal Resource Management). Proposals must follow the regular institutional and UNC system processes for the approval of new degree programs. Proposals should place emphasis on defining the boundaries of the degree field. Intellectual coherence is critical, as is clearly defining the structure of the program (course work, practica, lab work, examinations, thesis, etc.). Reviewers will be especially attentive to issues of fit between field conceptualizations and the structural integrity of the proposed program.Great variety is present in the particular intellectual and academic needs of transdisciplinary programs of study, and the Graduate School endeavors to accommodate these needs as each case requires. There are a number of general principles typically applied in the Graduate School’s review of program proposals:
Proposal Submission Process - Those who wish to propose transdisciplinary programs are encouraged to seek advice, comment, and examples when putting their proposals together. It may be useful to seek advice from students, faculty, and administrators who are involved with existing transdisciplinary programs, particularly those within the same disciplinary family (natural sciences, medical sciences, professional schools, social sciences, humanities, and the arts). In the case of new joint degrees or interdisciplinary degrees, the UNC Academic Program Development Procedures will be followed. The approval process for dual degrees is detailed below. Senior Staff (dean, associate, and assistant deans) of the Graduate School should be involved as early as possible to provide guidance in the planning process.
Students regularly enrolled in the university wishing to audit course(s) must initiate the approval process with their advisor.
Students are expected to complete registration (including the payment of all required fees) on the dates prescribed in the university calendar. Students who register during the early registration period are required to pay their fees and secure their official schedules during a stipulated period prior to registration day. Students who fail to pay fees by this date will have their schedules canceled.
A graduate nondoctoral student may drop a course and receive no grade according to the date given in the Graduate School calendar. The student must process the schedule change form by taking the form signed by the program advisor to the Office of the Registrar. The advisor’s signature indicates awareness of the change. A student who drops a course after the last day for graduate students to drop a class without a grade will receive a final grade of F unless he or she has permission from the dean of the Graduate School to drop for medical reasons or other justification. Doctoral students may drop courses only with permission of their departmental chairperson or graduate committees. Students should pay particular attention to procedural directions printed on the forms. No course is officially dropped or added until the required procedure is completed.
In the Graduate School, grades consist of A, B, C, I, F, N, Q and R. Change of GradeA change of grade, other than I, for any reason, must be made within one year from the date the original grade was received.Definition of Grades
To meet the requirements for graduation and to remain in good academic standing, a student must demonstrate acceptable performance in course work after being admitted to a graduate program. This requires a cumulative 3.00 GPA in all course work. In addition to the expectations for successful performance of course work described in the previous paragraph, good academic standing requires satisfactory progress in the overall graduate program. The students’ advisor or graduate advisory committees may render judgments as to whether satisfactory progress is being made toward the degree, taking into account all aspects of academic performance and promise, not necessarily course work alone. A positive judgment is required to remain in good academic standing. For students involved in research-oriented programs, the student’s department and individual advisory committee are responsible for evaluating the student’s skills with respect to performing quality research. Failure to meet programmatic/departmental standards may result in program termination. Academic Probation - Failure to maintain good academic standing results in the student being placed on academic probation. (New regularly admitted students will not be placed on probation until they have completed 12 credits or two semesters of graduate work, whichever comes first.) The probationary period extends for one semester beyond the one in which this status is acquired and during which the student registers for courses that affect the GPA (i.e., traditionally graded regular and non-regular courses). The period allowed between being placed on probation and registering for courses that affect the GPA shall be limited by the student’s advisor or advisory committee within their criteria for determining satisfactory progress. Students on probation are subject to dismissal by the academic department or the Dean of Graduate Studies at the end of the probationary semester unless good academic standing has been regained. This requires adequate improvement in cumulative GPA (3.00) and/or satisfactory progress as determined by the student’s graduate advisor or advisory committee. If in the opinion of the student’s advisor or advisory committee, a student’s performance is sufficiently poor as to render the possibility of achieving good standing unlikely, it is within their prerogative to recommend immediate dismissal from the Graduate School. Such a recommendation must be documented in writing with substantive justification for this action in lieu of probation. It must be referred to the department chair or appropriate administrator for approval and the Dean of Graduate Studies for final action. A grievance may be filed by the procedure defined in the grievance policy. Students in integrated bachelor’s/master’s degree programs who have accumulated at least 120 credit hours of course work and who fail to maintain a 3.0 GPA in their graduate course work including any courses listed on their program of study will be placed on probation by the Graduate School and will have one semester in which to improve their cumulative grade point averages to no less than 3.0 in their graduate course work. Failure to bring the cumulative graduate GPA to at least 3.0 will result in dismissal from the Graduate School with no re-enrollment permitted prior to completion of the bachelor’s degree. Students who are dismissed from the Graduate School, and who are still in good standing within their undergraduate programs, will be permitted to complete their undergraduate degrees. If a student’s advisor, graduate advisory committee, or an appropriate graduate committee determine that the student is making unsatisfactory progress toward the degree and that satisfactory progress cannot reasonably be anticipated, immediate dismissal may be recommended. Such a recommendation must be documented in writing with substantive justification for this action in lieu of probation. It must be referred to the department chair for approval and the Dean of Graduate Studies for final action. Grades of C or higher must be earned in all required courses on a Program of Study. Standards and requirements for off-campus graduate study are the same as those standards and requirements on campus. The academic department chair or unit administrator has the basic responsibility for the implementation of this policy.
Informal resolution of appeals concerning unsatisfactory performance on comprehensive assessments, academic probation for reasons of unsatisfactory progress toward a degree, termination of or election to void assistantships, or dismissal from the graduate program is always the most desirable approach, and encouraged whenever possible. Before initiating a formal appeal, the student should discuss the problem with the person or persons whose actions are being challenged, henceforth referred to as the ‘academic officer’, within ten business days following the adverse recommendation or decision. The student should keep the head/chair of the department in which the student’s program resides apprised of the situation and progress of negotiations. For matters concerning unsatisfactory performance on comprehensive assessments, academic probation for reasons of unsatisfactory progress toward a degree, termination of or election to void assistantships, or dismissal from the graduate program, the appropriate academic officers are the student’s advisor, the graduate advising committee, and/or the student’s supervisor. If the matter is not resolved to the student’s satisfaction within twenty business days following the informal discussion between the student and the academic officer(s), the student may initiate a formal appeal by submitting the matter in writing to the dean of the Graduate School. The student shall have five additional business days to file this appeal. In the written appeal, the student must clearly address three important aspects of the appeal: 1) the action(s) being challenged, 2) the person(s) against whom the complaint is being made, and 3) the redress sought. A decision shall be deemed final on the expiration of the period for filing an appeal, or if an appeal is filed, upon issuance of a decision in such an appeal, whichever is later. No adverse recommendation or action shall be effective until such date. The dean of the Graduate School, together with the director of the Office of Student Rights and Responsibilities, shall examine the appeal and jointly determine whether the actions complained were disciplinary or academic. If the challenged action is deemed to be disciplinary, the dean of the Graduate School shall refer the complaint to the appropriate university officers responsible for disciplinary matters within five business days. If the challenged action is deemed to be an academic matter, other than a grading decision, the dean of the Graduate School shall implement the procedures defined below, keeping all records associated with the case. A review panel comprised of two faculty members and a graduate student will be appointed. One faculty member, from a college other than the one in which the student’s academic department resides, will be appointed by the dean of the Graduate School. The other faculty member, from the college in which the student’s program resides, will be appointed by the dean of the college. However, this representative will not be from the student appellant’s department. In the event that either of the two aforementioned deans is a complainant in the case, the vice chancellor for research and graduate studies will appoint the appropriate faculty members. The Graduate Student Council will provide a list of graduate students who expressed a willingness to serve on review panels from which the dean of the Graduate School will appoint a student from a department other than that of the student appellant. In the event that the dean of the Graduate School is a principal in the case, the vice chancellor for Research and Graduate Studies will appoint the student member. The review panel will consider the case in detail. It must review any and all written records of the case. It must afford the student appellant an opportunity to appear in person before it, and consider any written materials the student may wish to bring to its attention. The review panel will hear from the academic officer(s) whose action is being appealed and may confer with other involved parties. It shall evaluate any other information it deems important to its deliberations. Written summaries of the deliberations will be kept. To overcome the presumption of good faith in the performance judgment by the advisor, supervisor, and/or graduate committee, an appeal must demonstrate that the evaluation was based upon matters that are inappropriate or irrelevant to academic performance and applicable professional standards and that consideration of those matters was the deciding factor in the evaluation. Should the review panel find in favor of the student, it will submit a report, making appropriate recommendations, to the dean of the Graduate School, e.g., reassignment to a different advisor and/or graduate committee, administration of another examination, or alternative assistantship assignment. The dean of the Graduate School and the dean of the appellant’s college shall jointly review the case, giving due consideration to the review panel’s report and recommendation. Following consultation with the vice chancellor for Research and Graduate Studies, the dean of the Graduate School shall make the final decision of the university. In the event that the dean of the Graduate School is a principal in the case, the duties of the dean of the Graduate School, with respect to this case, shall be transferred to the vice chancellor for Research and Graduate Studies. In the event that the decision recommends termination of an assistantship due to unavailability of funds or other conditions beyond the university’s control or performance of assigned duties and functions as set forth in the terms and conditions applicable to graduate assistant appointments, such terminations must be approved by the chancellor, as the representative of the Board of Trustees.
Thesis topics must be approved by the thesis advisory committee and the chairperson of the department. All students whose thesis projects involve human subjects must have their proposals approved by the University and Medical Center Institutional Review Board (UMCIRB) before beginning their studies. All students whose research involves animals must have their proposals approved by the Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC). A copy of the appropriate committee approval must be submitted with the title of the thesis. Copies of the thesis must be presented by the student to his or her faculty thesis advisor for the use of the examining committee not later than one week prior to the date on which the examining committee will conduct the oral examination and defense of the thesis. At this oral defense of the thesis, the examining committee may ask the student questions regarding the subject matter in the major field. A student may attempt to defend the thesis no more than twice. Students in the EdD program must complete a scholarly dissertation. Specific requirements for the proposal and the dissertation are available from the coordinator of the EdD program. After the thesis or dissertation has been defended successfully, the original copy of the thesis or dissertation, prepared and printed on the required paper with the required format, properly signed by the director of the thesis or dissertation committee and the dean of the school or chair of the major department, must be submitted to the dean of the Graduate School. It must be delivered at least ten days prior to the last day of classes of the student’s final semester. After approval by the dean of the Graduate School, additional copies of the thesis or dissertation may be prepared by photocopy or printed by offset printing. Three copies (including the original) of the final, approved thesis must be submitted to the university library. These three copies will be bound at no cost to the student. Two of these copies remain in the university library and the third is delivered to the school or department of the student’s major. Additional copies may be bound at the student’s expense. These optional copies may be for the thesis director and the student’s personal use. For copy requirements and binding procedures for PhD dissertations, see program descriptions, Section 7, Curricula.
If student’s complaint is not rectified through the university grievance procedures, complaints may be sent to: Family Policy Compliance Office US Department of Education 400 Maryland Avenue SW Washington, DC 20202-4605
Residence RequirementThe residence requirement for a graduate degree program is met when a student has earned at least eighty percent of the required degree credit for his or her program (a program is defined as 30 or more s.h.) through enrollment in courses offered by East Carolina University. Individual graduate programs may specify additional residence requirements.
Graduation Enrollment RequirementsGraduate degree candidates must be enrolled for at least one credit during the fall, spring, or summer term in which they wish to graduate.
Students in the EdD program must complete their course work in six years. An extension may be granted with the approval of the faculty of the Department of Educational Leadership and the Graduate School. For limitation of PhD programs, see Section 7, Curricula.
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