Contents > Graduate Policies and Procedures
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2007–2008 Graduate Catalog
Graduate Policies and Procedures
Admission to the Graduate College
Graduate College Degree Requirements
Misconduct in Scholarly Research and Creative Activities
Assistantships and Associateships
Policies and Procedures of the Graduate Council Appeals Board
The Graduate College at ASU provides students with opportunities to study beyond the bachelor’s degree. The college admits students in programs leading to both professional and research-oriented advanced degrees. The MA, MS, and PhD degrees are awarded to students completing programs that culminate in research and creative endeavors. The PhD degree is the highest university award, conferred on candidates who have proven their ability as scholars and original researchers.
Professional graduate programs emphasize training that leads to professional practice. In these degree programs, students develop a mastery of a comprehensive body of knowledge and the ability to organize and carry out significant investigations in their professional field. Professional degrees usually are named Master of (Professional Field) and Doctor of (Professional Field), although some Master of Arts and Master of Science degree programs have professional tracks. The professional doctoral degree is the highest university award to candidates completing academic preparation for professional practice. For a list of ASU graduate degrees, see ASU Graduate Degrees.
Faculty members offering a specific graduate degree program may be members of a single academic unit (such as a department, school, or college), or they may form an interdisciplinary committee consisting of faculty from various academic units. The Graduate College awards degrees upon the recommendation of the faculty offering the graduate degree programs.
Admission to the Graduate College
Anyone who holds a bachelor’s (or equivalent) or graduate degree from a regionally-accredited college or university of recognized standing is eligible to apply for admission to the Graduate College. Remedies for undergraduate deficiencies may be assigned by academic units if the undergraduate degree is based on credits not accepted by ASU, such as life experience or noncredit workshops and seminars.
Generally, an applicant must have a GPA of 3.00 (scale is 4.00 = A), or the equivalent, in the last two years of work leading to the bachelor’s degree. A student who enters a graduate degree program is expected to have undergraduate educational experiences, including general education studies, that are similar to those required for the baccalaureate degree at ASU.
Requirements of the Academic Unit
Academic units, departments, or colleges, may have admission requirements in addition to those of the Graduate College. Many graduate programs require scores from a national admissions test such as the Graduate Record Examination, Graduate Management Admission Test, or the Miller Analogies Test. Some programs require a portfolio, letters of recommendation, or a statement of goals. Applicants should contact the academic unit regarding specific requirements.
For admission information and procedures, access the Web site at www.asu.edu/graduate/admissions. Students are encouraged to apply via the Web. If students cannot access the Internet, they may call the Graduate College at 480/965-6113.
Each application for entry to ASU graduate programs must be accompanied by a nonrefundable application fee. For current fees or admission information and procedures, access www.asu.edu/graduate/admissions.
Applicants who will attend the university while holding F-1 or J-1 visas must meet the requirements of U.S. immigration regulations in addition to the requirements of the Graduate College and the academic units to which they apply.
Applicants from outside the United States are also required to submit additional materials and should follow the procedures described in the Application for Graduate Admission booklet or on the Web at www.asu.edu/graduate/admissions. International applicants should read this information carefully to become familiar with all the requirements, consulting it often for instructions to follow regarding the submission of materials. This catalog provides essential information about ASU and its graduate programs.
As required by the U.S. government, international applicants must also verify that they have the financial resources to cover their expenses during graduate study at ASU. The Financial Guarantee form is available through the Graduate College Web site at www.asu.edu/graduate/admissions. The I-20 or the DS-2019 (documents needed to obtain a student visa) are issued only after the completed, properly verified Financial Guarantee form and supporting documents have arrived. International students may enroll at ASU only if they have been admitted to a degree program, a certificate program, or the postbaccalaureate teacher education program. They must meet all appropriate immigration standards and requirements.
Applications are processed when they are received. However, international applicants should submit all materials in December or January in order to begin study the following fall semester and in August or September in order to begin study the following spring semester. An application fee of $50 (in U.S. funds) must accompany each application.
All F-1 or J-1 visa students must have insurance coverage against illness and accident before being permitted to register. Insurance must be maintained throughout the student’s enrollment in the university and may be obtained at the time of registration.
Upon arrival on campus, students must report to an advisor in the International Student Office.
Applicants who are from a country whose native language is not English must provide evidence of English proficiency as indicated by acceptable scores on the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL), or the International English Language Testing System (IELTS), as follows:
1. The minimum TOEFL requirement for entry into any graduate program is 550 (paper-based) or 213 (computer-based).
2. The minimum IELTS requirement for entry into any graduate program is an overall band score of 6.5 with no individual band score below 6.0.
3. Individual academic units may have higher TOEFL or IELTS requirements for their various programs. Consult the department Web sites and this catalog for more information.
The following exceptions apply to the English proficiency requirement:
1. Applicants who have earned a bachelor’s degree or higher from a regionally accredited university in the United States are exempt from the English proficiency requirement. This study must have been done within the United States.
2. Applicants who have completed a minimum of 12 semester hours of graduate level study at a regionally accredited college or university in the United States with a GPA of 3.00 or higher are exempt from the English proficiency requirement.
3. Applicants who have completed at least 90 semester credit hours (or equivalent) with a cumulative grade point average of 3.00 or higher (on a 4.00 scale) at a regionally accredited institution in the United States are exempt from the English proficiency requirement.
4. Applicants who have completed the American English and Culture Program Advanced 2 Level (with grades of “B” or higher) are exempt from the English proficiency requirement.
All international applicants who are from a country whose native language is not English and who wish to apply for teaching assistantships must pass an examination that certifies their skill in speaking English—either the Test of Spoken English (TSE), which may be taken in the student’s home country, or the Speaking Proficiency English Assessment Kit (SPEAK) test, which is administered at ASU. Some degree programs also require TSE or SPEAK scores of applicants whose native language is not English. For specific information about TSE requirements, contact the head of the academic unit.
The Graduate College does not have deadlines. Applications are processed as they are received. However, many academic units have specific and early deadlines; many units review applications only once a year, usually in January or February for fall admission. Applicants are urged to contact the academic units regarding deadlines.
Academic units, which must indicate their willingness to admit applicants, frequently set higher standards than those established by the Graduate College. Many qualified applicants are denied because of limits on the number of students admitted each year.
Only the dean of the Graduate College can make formal offers of admission. The Graduate College notifies all applicants in writing of the admission decision.
All academic credentials and supporting materials received by the university in connection with an application for admission become the property of ASU. If the applicant does not enroll in the university within one year, the admission documents may be destroyed.
Applicants are admitted into the university for the semester and year indicated on their admission letter and initiate their program by registering for courses. Courses taken before the semester of admission are considered credit completed before admission to the degree program. For more information, see Credit Completed Before Admission.
Applicants who fulfill all requirements for admission and are academically acceptable to both the academic unit and the Graduate College are granted regular admission.
Regular Admission with Deficiencies
A student whose grades and test scores are at an acceptable level but who does not have the undergraduate background expected by the academic unit and the university may be required to complete courses to remedy deficiencies. Deficiency courses must be completed before the student is awarded a graduate degree. Deficiency courses may not be applied toward the minimum hours required for the degree program.
A student who does not meet minimum academic standards but has counterbalancing evidence to suggest the potential for success may be admitted on a provisional basis. Provisional admission provides an academic unit with more evidence on which to base its decision. Normally the academic unit reviews the student’s status following completion of 12 semester hours of approved graduate study. At that time, the academic unit recommends to the Graduate College a change in status to either regular admission or withdrawal from the program. When students have completed their provisional requirements, they should check with their advisors to make sure that the change of status has been recommended. A provisional student may also be assigned deficiencies.
Postbaccalaureate Nondegree Admission
A student not immediately intending to earn a degree may enroll as a postbaccalaureate nondegree student. The application process is streamlined and does not require submission of test scores or transcripts unless students are applying to a graduate certificate program as well. For postbaccalaureate nondegree admission information and procedures, access the Web site at www.asu.edu/graduate/admissions. A maximum of nine hours taken at ASU while in this category may be applied toward a master’s degree at ASU if appropriate for the student’s program of study.
The six-year maximum time limit applies to nondegree semester hours appearing on a master’s program of study. Also, because of limited class size and resources, certain academic units may limit the enrollment of nondegree students.
Recognition of a degree is acknowledgment that the program leading to the degree is equivalent to a program offered by ASU or is an acceptable program for the proposed graduate major at ASU. A student who enters a graduate degree program at ASU is expected to have undergraduate educational experiences, including general education studies, that are appropriate for the program.
Definition of a Unit of Credit
The Arizona Board of Regents has defined (May 26, 1979) a unit of credit for the institutions under its jurisdiction. A minimum of 45 hours of work by each student is required for each unit of credit. An hour of work is the equivalent of 50 minutes of class time (often called a “contact hour”) or 60 minutes of independent study work. For lecture-discussion courses, this requirement equates to at least 15 contact hours and a minimum of 30 hours of work outside of the classroom for each unit of credit. Even though the values of 15 and 30 may vary for different modes of instruction, the minimum total of 45 hours of work for each unit of credit is a constant. Since the unit of credit as defined by the Arizona Board of Regents is the cornerstone of academic degree programs at ASU, degrees granted by other institutions that are recognized by ASU should be based on a similar unit of credit.
Change in Graduate Degree Program
A change from one graduate degree program to another requires a new application to the Graduate College. The usual admission procedures are followed. For details on matters relating to the application fee, see Application Fee.
Readmission to the Graduate College
Any graduate student who has not been in attendance at the university for one semester must submit an application for readmission to the Graduate College. The application should be submitted at least one month before the beginning of the semester in which the student plans to reenter. For details on readmission and other matters relating to the application fee, access the Web site at www.asu.edu/graduate/admissions.
Determination of Catalog Requirements
The Graduate Catalog is published annually. Requirements for an academic unit or college, campus, or the university as a whole may change and are often updated.
A student graduates under the curriculum, course requirements, and regulations for graduation in effect at the time of admission to a graduate degree program at ASU. A student may also choose to graduate under any subsequent catalog.
Some changes in policies and procedures affect all students regardless of the catalog used by the student. These policies and procedures may appear in the catalog or in other university publications.
Graduate students, like all university students, register during the intervals indicated in the Registration and Tuition Payment Guide issued by the University Registrar’s Office. Details regarding registration and course drop-add procedures are also provided in the Registration and Tuition Payment Guide. Day and evening graduate classes, offered on or off campus during the two regular semesters and the summer sessions, are considered part of the regular program. The ASU Interactive online registration system, accessed at any registrar site, eases the enrollment process.
Graduate students may register as auditors in one or more courses with the approval of the supervisory committee chair and the consent of the instructor involved. The student must be registered properly and pay the fees for the course. An audited course is counted in the student’s maximum course load. It does not count for students who must take a minimum number of credits, e.g., teaching assistants or students receiving financial assistance. The mark of “X” is recorded for completion of an audited course, unless the instructor determines that the student’s participation or attendance has been inadequate, in which case a “W” may be recorded. Audited courses cannot be included in a graduate program of study.
Withdrawal Policies and Procedures
Withdrawal from the University
To withdraw from all classes after having paid registration fees, a student must submit a request to withdraw using ASU Interactive, or submit a signed request to any registrar location. The ASU Interactive complete withdrawal option is available through the semester transaction deadline. A student may withdraw from all courses with marks of “W” through the semester transaction deadline. See the Registration and Tuition Payment Guide or the Summer Sessions Bulletin for dates of the complete withdrawal periods. A student may not avoid any penalty for academic dishonesty by withdrawing from a course. A student may be reinstated to a course to receive a penalty of a reduced or failing grade, or XE.
Continuous Enrollment Policies
Graduate students must maintain continuous enrollment once admitted to a master’s or doctoral degree program. See Continuous Enrollment in a Master’s Degree Program and Continuous Enrollment in a Doctoral Degree Program.
An instructor may drop a student for nonattendance during the second week of classes in fall or spring semesters or the first four days of each summer session. Instructor-initiated drops for nonattendance are signed by the dean or dean’s designee. The college notifies students by mail. The student must contact the instructor before the end of the first week of classes if absences during that period cannot be avoided.
Instructor-Initiated Withdrawal
An instructor may withdraw a student from a course with a mark of “W” or a grade of “E” (0.00) only if the student’s continued presence in the course is disruptive to the instructor’s ability to conduct the course. A student may appeal an instructor-initiated withdrawal within 10 days of being withdrawn to the standards committee of the college in which the course is offered. The decision of the committee is final.
During the second week through the tenth week of the fall or spring semester, the third day through the third week of a summer session, or until the midpoint of the term for winter and flexibly scheduled sessions; a student may withdraw from any course with a grade of “W.” See the Online ASU Interactive Schedule of Classes or the Summer Sessions Bulletin for dates of the withdrawal period. A student may not avoid any penalty for academic dishonesty by withdrawing from a course. A student may be reinstated to a course to receive a penalty of a reduced or failing grade, or “XE.”
A student may withdraw with a grade of “W” from all classes through the semester transaction deadline, or on the last day of classes. A student may not avoid any penalty for academic dishonesty by withdrawing from a course. A student may be reinstated to a course to receive a penalty of a reduced or failing grade, or XE.
Normally, a medical withdrawal request is made in cases where serious illness or injury prevents a student from completing course work or when other arrangements with the instructor are not possible. Consideration is usually given for complete withdrawal. An application for less than a complete withdrawal must be well documented to justify the selective nature of the medical withdrawal request. This policy applies both to cases involving physical health problems and those involving mental or emotional difficulties.
To receive permission for a medical withdrawal from courses, a student must present a Request for Documented Medical Withdrawal form and proper documentation (usually a letter from a physician) of the medical condition to the medical withdrawal designee of the college of the student’s major. For complete procedural information, contact the appropriate medical withdrawal designee.
A student may not avoid any penalty for academic dishonesty by withdrawing from a course. A student may be reinstated to a course to receive a penalty of a reduced or failing grade, or XE.
Complete Withdrawal from a Graduate Degree Program
If a student wants to withdraw entirely from a graduate degree program, he or she must notify the Graduate College by completing the voluntary complete withdrawal form available on the Web at www.asu.edu/graduate/forms/index.html. Students must still complete the appropriate forms with the University Registrar to withdraw from their courses.
Once the voluntary complete withdrawal has been processed, the student must reapply to the university before he or she would be eligible to enroll (unless already enrolled in another graduate degree program concurrently). International students should contact the International Student Office before submitting a voluntary withdrawal form as it most likely will affect their visa status.
The course load is determined by the supervisory committee but is not to exceed 15 semester hours of credit during each of the two semesters. Refer to the latest Summer Sessions Bulletin for course load limits for five-week and eight-week sessions. An audited course is counted in the student’s maximum load.
All teaching and research assistants and associates must enroll for a minimum of six semester hours during each semester (fall and spring) of their appointment. The six hours cannot include audit enrollment. Enrollment in continuing registration (595, 695, or 795) does not fulfill the six-hour requirement. A half-time (50 percent) teaching and research assistant or associate working 20 clock hours per week may not register for more than 12 semester hours of course work each semester; a third-time (33 percent) assistant or associate for more than 13 semester hours; and a quarter-time (25 percent) assistant or associate for more than 15 semester hours.
All graduate students doing research; working on theses or dissertations; taking comprehensive, Graduate Foreign Language, or final examinations; or using university facilities or faculty time must be registered for a minimum of one semester hour of credit (not audit) that appears on the program of study or is an appropriate graduate-level course, such as 595, 695, or 795 Continuing Registration.
Enrollment Verification Guidelines
The registrar is responsible for verifying enrollment according to the general guidelines.
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* For enrollment verification purposes, “graduate assistant” is a generic term that includes teaching assistants, research assistants, teaching associates, and research associates. |
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Graduate College Degree Requirements
The Graduate College’ Referral Office offers general information about policies, procedures, requirements, and support services. Students with regular admission status should contact their academic unit for degree program advising and program of study planning.
The Grades table below defines grades and gives their values.
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1
Although the scale includes a grade of A+ with a value of 4.33, 2 This grade is usually given pending completion of courses. |
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Ordinarily the instructor of a course has full discretion in selecting which grades to use and report from the available grading options.
A grade of “P” (pass) in a 400-level course may not appear on a program of study because the grade is not used at the graduate level. Grades on transfer work or ASU law credit are not included in computing GPAs (see Scholarship).
Grades of “D” (1.00) and “E” (0.00) cannot be used to meet the requirements for a graduate degree, although they are used to compute GPAs. A student receiving a grade of “D” (1.00) or “E” (0.00) must repeat the course in a regularly scheduled (not an independent study) class if it is to be included in the program of study. However, both the “D” (1.00) or “E” (0.00) and the new grade are used to compute GPAs.
Graduate course work (500-, 600-, and 700-level courses) reported as an “I” (incomplete) must be completed within one calendar year. At the time the “I” grade is given, the student must complete a “Request for Grade of Incomplete” form. The form first serves as a record of the “I” grade and the work required to complete it. When the student has completed the work, the form then serves as a change-of-grade authorization.
If the work specified on the form is not completed within one calendar year, the “I” grade (500-, 600-, and 700-level courses) becomes part of the student’s permanent transcript, and the student is not allowed to complete the course work as specified on the “Incomplete” form. The student may, however, repeat the course after the “I” has become permanent, by reregistering, paying fees, and fulfilling all course requirements. The grade for the repeated course appears on the transcript but does not replace the permanent “I.”
A grade of “W” is given whenever a student officially withdraws.
Graduate students (degree or nondegree) may retake any course at any level at ASU, but all grades remain on the student transcript as well as in GPA calculations. For more information, see Scholarship.
University Policy for Student Appeal Procedures on Grades
The following steps, beginning with step A, must be followed by any student seeking to appeal a grade. Student grade appeals must be processed in the regular semester immediately following the issuance of the grade in dispute (by commencement for fall or spring), regardless of whether the student is enrolled at the university. University policy protects students filing grievances and those who are witnesses from retaliation. Students who believe they are victims of retaliation should immediately contact the dean of the college in which the course is offered.
A. The aggrieved student must first follow the informal procedure of conferring with the instructor, stating the evidence (if any) and reasons for questioning that the grade received was not given in good faith. The instructor is obliged to review the matter, explain the grading procedure utilized, and show how the grade in question was determined. If the instructor is a graduate assistant and this interview does not resolve the difficulty, the student may then go to the faculty member in charge of the course (regular faculty member or director of the course sequence) with the problem.
B. If the grading dispute is not resolved in step A, the student may appeal to the department chair or other appropriate chair of the area within the department (if any). The department chair may confer with the instructor to handle the problem. Step B applies only in departmentalized colleges.
C. If these discussions are not adequate to settle the matter to the complainant’s satisfaction, the student may then confer with the dean of the college concerned (or the dean-designate), who will review the case. If unresolved, the dean or designate may refer the case to the college academic grievance hearing committee to review the case formally. In most instances, however, the grievance procedure does not go beyond this level.
The following procedure takes place after steps A, B, and C (or A and C) have been completed.
D. Each college has on file in the office of the dean (and in each department of the college) the procedures and composition of the undergraduate or graduate academic grievance hearing committee for student grievances. Each college committee shall operate under grievance procedures as stated, which satisfy due process requirements. The committee shall always meet with the student and the instructor in an attempt to resolve the differences. At the conclusion of the hearing, the committee shall send its recommendations to the dean.
E. Final action in each case is taken by the dean after full consideration of the committee’s recommendation. Grade changes, if any are recommended, may be made by the dean. The dean shall inform the student, instructor, department chair (if any), the registrar, and the grievance committee of any action taken.
To be eligible for a degree in the Graduate College, a student must achieve two GPAs of 3.00 or higher. The first is based on the program of study GPA; the second on the overall graduate GPA.
The program of study GPA is based on all courses that appear on the program of study (with the exception of transfer and law credits). The overall graduate GPA is based on all courses numbered 500 or higher that appear on the transcript, with the exception of:
1. courses counted toward an undergraduate degree at ASU (unless shared with a master’s degree in an approved bachelor’s/master’s degree program); and
2. courses noted as deficiencies in the original letter of admission.
Courses taken as an undergraduate at ASU and reserved for use in a graduate degree program are included in the overall graduate GPA. Graduate students (degree or nondegree) may retake any course at any level at ASU, but all grades remain on the student transcript as well as in GPA calculations.
Academic excellence is expected of students doing graduate work. Upon recommendation from the head of the academic unit, the dean of the Graduate College can withdraw a student who is not progressing satisfactorily.
The designation of honors (such as cum laude) is reserved for undergraduates. The Graduate College does not use these academic distinctions.
Courses at the 500, 600, and 700 levels are graduate credit courses. Courses at the 400 level may apply to graduate degree requirements when appearing on an approved program of study. However, 400-level courses are not graduate courses by definition and cannot be certified as such for purposes of employment or transferring to other institutions.
Reserving of Course Credit by Undergraduates
Undergraduate students who obtained senior status at the conclusion of the preceding enrollment term at ASU may enroll in a 400-level or graduate-level course and reserve the credit for possible use in a future graduate program. The course cannot be used to meet any baccalaureate graduation requirements. Before registration in the class, the student must submit a Graduate College petition form requesting credit reservation; the form must be signed by the student’s undergraduate advisor, the head of the academic unit offering the class, and the dean of the Graduate College.
Permission to reserve a course does not guarantee that the student will be admitted to a graduate degree program or that the course may be used toward graduate degree requirements. A maximum of nine semester hours of credit may be reserved, and only courses with a grade of “B” (3.00) or higher are applicable. Reserved credit is classified as nondegree credit and must fall within the six-year time limit for master’s degrees to be included on a program of study. The maximum course load for a student enrolled in a reserved course is 15 semester hours during a regular semester and six hours during a summer session.
Transfer of credit is the acceptance of credit from another institution for inclusion in a program of study leading to a degree awarded by ASU.
Transfer credits may not be applied toward the minimum degree requirements for an ASU degree if they have been counted toward the minimum requirements for a previously-awarded degree.
The number of hours transferred from other institutions may not exceed 20 percent of the total minimum semester hours required for a master’s degree unless stated otherwise for a specific degree program. Up to 12 semester hours of credit taken at another institution and not counted toward a previous degree may be counted toward the minimum semester hours required for a specific ASU doctoral degree program. In all cases, the inclusion of transfer courses on a program of study is subject to approval by the academic unit and the Graduate College.
Certain types of graduate credits cannot be transferred to ASU, including the following:
1. credits awarded by postsecondary institutions in the United States that lack candidate status or accreditation by a regional accrediting association;
2. credits awarded by postsecondary institutions for life experience;
3. credits awarded by postsecondary institutions for courses taken at noncollegiate institutions (e.g., government agencies, corporations, and industrial firms);
4. credits awarded by postsecondary institutions for noncredit courses, workshops, and seminars offered by other postsecondary institutions as part of continuing education programs;
5. credits given for extension courses; and
6. credits completed before the posting of a bachelor’s degree.
Acceptable academic credits earned at other institutions that are based on a unit of credit different from the ones prescribed by the Arizona Board of Regents are subject to conversion before being transferred to ASU.
Transfer credits must be acceptable toward graduate degrees at the institution where the courses were completed. Only resident graduate courses (at the institution where the courses were completed) with an “A” (4.00) or “B” (3.00) grade may be transferred. A course with the grade of pass, credit, or satisfactory may not be transferred. Additionally, transfer credits must be within the six-year time limit to be used on a master’s program of study.
Official transcripts of any transfer credit to be used on a program of study must be sent directly to the Graduate Admissions Office from the Office of the Registrar at the institution where the credit was earned.
Credit Completed Before Admission
Credit taken before admission to an ASU graduate degree program is nondegree credit. The semester and year on the Graduate College dean’s letter of admission define the start of degree program enrollment. If the student is enrolled in courses during the semester and year stated on the admission letter, those courses—if applicable—may be considered part of a program of study, unless the student is an undergraduate. Credit reserved as an ASU undergraduate student is also classified as nondegree credit. See Reserving of Course Credit by Undergraduates.
With the approval of the student’s supervisory committee, the head of the academic unit, and the dean of the Graduate College, a maximum of nine semester hours of nondegree course work may be included in the program of study for a master’s degree; a maximum of 12 semester hours of credit completed before admission may be included on the program of study for a doctoral degree. Individual academic units may accept less than nine nondegree semester hours for master’s degrees and 12 nondegree semester hours for doctorates.
For more information, refer to the specific degree program.
Graduate Supervisory Committees
Upon the recommendation of the head of the academic unit, the dean of the Graduate College appoints a graduate student’s supervisory committee, consisting of a chair and other resident faculty members. The number of members serving on this committee depends on the degree program. Generally, graduate supervisory committees must consist of a minimum of three individuals.
Tenured/tenure-track faculty may serve as members of a graduate supervisory committee and chair or cochair of a master’s committee. Dissertation chairs and cochairs must be approved by the Graduate College. Emeritus faculty may serve as members or cochairs on graduate supervisory committees, and are eligible to serve as chairs with the recommendation of the academic unit and approval of the Graduate College.
Academic professionals (e.g., research scientists, research engineers), nontenure-track faculty (e.g., adjunct professors, research professors), and individuals granted affiliated faculty status through established university procedures may serve as chairs, cochairs, or members of thesis and dissertation committees with recommendation of the academic unit and upon approval by the Graduate College. Individuals who are recommended by an academic unit as eligible to serve as a chair or cochair must meet the criteria established by the academic unit to be approved by the Graduate College.
Qualified individuals outside the university, upon the recommendation of the head of the academic unit and approval of the Graduate College, may serve as members of thesis and dissertation committees; however, such individuals generally may not serve as chairs or cochairs. With the approval of the academic unit and the dean of the Graduate College, former ASU faculty with students completing their degrees may continue to serve as cochairs. At least half of the committee must be current faculty at ASU.
Exceptions to the graduate supervisory committee policies may be approved upon recommendation of the academic unit and approval of the Graduate College.
Graduate Foreign Language Examination
A graduate degree program may require proficiency in a foreign language. If a foreign language is required, students must demonstrate at least a reading knowledge in the area of study required by the supervisory committee and consistent with the requirements for the graduate degree program.
Students who are required to demonstrate proficiency in a foreign language must pass the Graduate Foreign Language Examination specific to their particular graduate program. The examinations are administered three times each year by the School of International Letters and Cultures, which certifies language competency. The chair of the student’s supervisory committee is responsible for providing the School of International Letters and Cultures with materials from which the examination is then prepared. The chair should submit or recommend relevant books or journals of approximately 200 pages in length in the desired foreign language.
A student may petition the Graduate College for a reexamination but must pass the examination in no more than three attempts.
Students who take the Graduate Foreign Language Examination must be registered for a minimum of one semester hour of credit (not audit) that appears on the program of study or is an appropriate graduate-level course—such as 595, 695, 795 Continuing Registration—in the semester or summer session in which the exam is taken.
The master’s thesis and doctoral dissertation must be based on original and independent research conducted by the student, under the guidance of the graduate supervisory committee while in attendance at ASU. The thesis or equivalent is an introduction to research writing.The dissertation should demonstrate the candidate’s mastery of research methods, theory, and tools of the discipline. Both the thesis and dissertation should demonstrate the candidate’s ability to address a major intellectual problem and to propose meaningful questions and hypotheses.
The Graduate College must review the final copy of the master’s thesis, doctoral dissertation, and equivalent documents that are required to be placed in the library, with the exception of the applied project. The student is required to submit a complete copy of the thesis or dissertation for format review at least 10 working days before the proposed date of the oral defense. Doctoral students should submit a completed Survey of Earned Doctorates Awarded, conducted by the National Research Council.
Graduate students and their supervisory committee chairs jointly select a style guide or journal format representative of the field of study. The Graduate College allows certain flexibility in the format of the manuscript, but Graduate College guidelines must be followed as outlined in the Format Manual. Copies of the Format Manual are available in the Graduate College and at www.asu.edu/graduate/formatmanual on the Web.
The student must submit two final copies of the thesis or dissertation to the ASU Bookstore for binding. The student is responsible for the binding fees. Bound copies are placed in Hayden Library and Archives. Doctoral students are responsible for the University Microfilms International (UMI) microfilming fee, which covers the expense of having the document sent to UMI, where it is microfilmed and cataloged. Information on the dissertation later appears in Dissertation Abstracts International. The original signature of the doctoral student must appear on the UMI Dissertation Agreement Form.
Coauthored Work in Theses and Dissertations
The Graduate Council recognizes the necessity of collaborative research by graduate students with their mentors and with other graduate students. These efforts often result in coauthored works, such as journal articles and presentations at meetings. However, each student must complete a thesis or dissertation that is representative of the research or joint project that is an independent scholarly work.
When it is necessary to include data or information contained in coauthored works or the actual coauthored works in a thesis or dissertation, the graduate author is responsible for obtaining necessary permissions from involved parties, crediting the sources and inspiration of the research, and properly acknowledging the coauthors.
Research Involving Human and Animal Subjects
Dissertations or theses that make use of research involving human or animal subjects must include a statement indicating that the research has been approved by the appropriate university body.
Research involving human subjects conducted under the auspices of Arizona State University is reviewed by the University Human Subjects Institutional Review Board (IRB) in compliance with federal regulations. Research involving human subjects concerns the collection of data on subjects whose performance of any activity is required for the purpose of compiling data. This includes data obtained by observation, interview, questionnaire, experiment, or a secondary source. Documents containing any data collection from human subjects require that applications be submitted to the University Human Subjects IRB for approval before data collection or recruitment of subjects is initiated.
Research involving the use of animals conducted under the auspices of Arizona State University is reviewed by the Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC) in compliance with federal regulations. Documents containing any data collection from animal research require that applications be submitted to the Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee for approval.
Students should apply for graduation with the Graduation section of the University Registrar’s Office no later than the date specified in the Graduate College Calendar. All fees are payable at that time. Students applying for graduation after the deadline listed in the calendar are required to pay a late fee. When a student applies for graduation, the student is officially notified of any requirements he or she has not yet completed.
Students are requested to complete a questionnaire that serves as a graduate student exit survey.
Students who do not complete all degree requirements by their anticipated graduation date are required to reapply for graduation.
Work taken during summer sessions carries the same scholastic recognition as that taken during a regular semester. A complete schedule of offerings is available in the Summer Sessions Bulletin, which may be obtained from the Office of Summer Sessions.
The “Graduate College Calendar,” page 23 , lists deadlines for the submission of theses and dissertations to the Graduate College, the last day to apply for graduation, the last day to hold an oral defense of a thesis or dissertation, and the last day to submit theses and dissertations to the ASU Bookstore for binding. This information is also available on the Web at www.asu.edu/graduate/generalinfo/GradDdlns. Published dates are subject to change.
Graduate students are responsible for knowing and observing all procedures and requirements of the Graduate College as defined in this catalog and the Format Manual. Each student should also be informed about the requirements of his or her degree program and any special requirements within the academic unit.
The highest standards of academic integrity are expected of all students. The failure of any student to meet these standards may result in suspension or expulsion from the university and/or other sanctions as specified in the academic integrity policies of individual colleges.
Violations of academic integrity include, but are not limited to, cheating, fabrication, tampering, plagiarism, or facilitating such activities.
The university academic integrity policy is available in the Office of Student Life, or on the Web at asu.edu/studentlife/judicial/academic_integrity.htm.
Misconduct in Scholarly Research and Creative Activities
Students are expected to maintain the highest standards of integrity and truthfulness in scholarly research and creative activities. Misconduct in scholarly research and creative activities includes, but is not limited to, fabrication, falsification or misrepresentation of data, and plagiarism. Misconduct by any student may result in suspension or expulsion from the university and other sanctions as specified by the individual colleges. Policies on misconduct are available in the Office of the Vice President for Research and Economic Affairs and on the Web at www.asu.edu/aad/manuals/rsp/rsp210.html.
Assistantships and Associateships
Since it is necessary for all applicants to be admitted to degree programs before awards are made, students should apply for admission through the Graduate Admissions Office at the same time they apply for financial assistance.
Teaching and Research Assistantships and Associateships
Appointments as teaching or research assistants and associates (TAs and RAs) are available in most academic units offering graduate work to students admitted with regular status. Students who have completed a master’s degree or the equivalent may be considered for graduate associateships when available.
Note: All teaching and research assistants and associates must enroll for a minimum of six semester hours of appropriate credit during each semester of their appointment. The six hours cannot include audit enrollment. A half-time (50 percent) teaching and research assistant or associate working 20 clock hours per week may not register for more than 12 hours of course work each semester; a third-time (33 percent) assistant or associate for more than 13 hours; and a quarter-time (25 percent) assistant or associate for more than 15 hours.
During the summer sessions, teaching or research assistants and associates employed 25 percent time may enroll for a maximum of six semester hours during a five-week session or nine hours during the eight-week session; those employed 50 percent time may enroll for a maximum of five hours during a five-week session or seven hours during the eight-week session.
Teaching and research assistants and associates are treated as residents for tuition purposes. To be eligible, TAs and RAs must be 25 percent FTE or more and their first working day must occur before the end of the first five days of instruction during the semester in question. TAs and RAs also receive partial resident tuition waivers/remission, and TAs/RAs at 50 percent FTE are eligible for university-provided student health insurance.
A number of academic units administer assistantships and associateships under research programs sponsored and supported by government, industry, and foundations. Inquiries concerning requirements and deadlines, as well as applications, should be sent to the head of the appropriate academic unit.
Assistantships, Associateships, and Commercial Services
All graduate students who are hired for class/course support or who hold assistantships or associateships for a specific course—including teaching assistants and research assistants—may not take or provide notes for that course to commercial notetaking services or students. An exception may be made by the course instructor(s) on a case-by-case basis as an authorized support service for a disabled student. This policy covers all commercial activities (e.g., notetaking and paid review sessions) that might be associated with a course for which the assistant or associate has assigned responsibilities.
Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974
This act, known as the Buckley Amendment, sets forth the requirements governing the protection of the privacy of the educational records of students who are or have been in attendance at ASU.
For the purpose of this act, an eligible student is defined as any individual formally admitted to and enrolled at ASU or the parents of a dependent eligible student. Dependency is defined by Section 152 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1954.
Any information or data recorded in any medium, including, but not limited to, handwriting, print, tapes, film, microfilm, microfiche, and electronic means.
The educational record refers to those records that are directly related to a student and are maintained by an educational institution. Two types of educational records are subject to the provisions of this act, (1) directory information and (2) personally identifiable information. The term does not include those records specifically excluded by Section 99.3 of the Privacy Act.
Directory information includes the following student information: name, local and permanent address, local telephone number, date and place of birth, citizenship, resident status, academic level, major field of study, college of enrollment, participation in officially recognized activities and sports, weight and height of members of athletic teams, dates of attendance, degrees and awards received, and the most recent previous educational agency or institution attended by the student.
Personally Identifiable Information
Personally identifiable information includes the name of a student, the student’s parent or other family member(s), a personal identifier such as the student’s ASU ID or Social Security number, a list of personal characteristics, or other information that would make the student’s identity easily traceable and any information, including directory information, that the student has indicated not to be released.
The Office of the Registrar enforces a financial records hold or administrative hold on the records of a student when an outstanding financial obligation or disciplinary action has been reported.
When a financial hold is placed on the record, the following results may occur:
1. No official transcript is issued.
2. Registration privileges are suspended.
3. Other student services are revoked.
When an administrative hold is placed on the record, the following results may occur:
1. Registration privileges are suspended.
2. Other student services may be revoked.
The hold remains effective until removed by the initiating office. It is the student’s responsibility to clear the conditions causing the hold.
Students may inspect and review their educational records. Some form of photo identification must be displayed before access to educational records is allowed.
Directory information may be released to anyone without consent of the student, unless the student indicates otherwise. Students may request that this information not be released by completing a form in the Office of the Registrar. Request to withhold this information will exclude the student from being listed in the annual Directory.
All other educational records that contain personally identifiable information may not be released without the written consent of the student.
Students may grant access to parents or agencies by completing a form in the Office of the Registrar.
Location of Policy and Records
The Custodian of Educational Records at ASU is the Office of the Registrar. Copies of this policy are available in the following offices: the Reserve Section of Hayden Library and the Noble Science and Engineering Library, the Office of the Registrar, the Offices of Undergraduate and Graduate Admissions, and the Student Life Office. The Office of the Registrar also maintains a directory that lists all educational records maintained on students by ASU.
Policies and Procedures of the Graduate Council Appeals Board
The Graduate Council Appeals Board (GCAB) acts as the appeals body for graduate students seeking redress on academic decisions regarding their graduate programs. Before initiating an appeal, the graduate student should fully utilize all other appeal and review processes available in the student’s program, department, or college. The student should also discuss the situation with the associate dean of the Graduate College to explore resolution of the matter at the unit or college level before filing an appeal.
The GCAB reviews written appeals of graduate students concerning
1. retention in graduate programs (with the limitations described below);
2. procedural matters in graduate student programs (e.g., procedures related to programs of study, theses, dissertations, and preliminary or comprehensive exams); and
3. other academic issues that are not covered by other university policies or processes.
The GCAB does not review appeals of course grades, allegations of academic dishonesty or scientific misconduct, matters relating to employment or assistantships, allegations of discrimination, or appeals for which the graduate student has not fully utilized all other appeal and review procedures in the academic unit and academic college. The GCAB normally does not review the application of department or program policies regarding adequate academic progress and objective performance or progress measures. Students should be aware of the involvement of other appropriate units:
1. Grade appeals are subject to review by the dean of the academic college.
2. Allegations of academic dishonesty are subject to review under the ASU Student Academic Integrity Policy.
3. Allegations of scientific misconduct are subject to review under ASU policy RSP 210 (“Misconduct in Research”) in the Research and Sponsored Projects Policy and Procedures Manual.
4. Allegations of discrimination should be directed to the ASU Office of Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action.
The Guidelines for Graduate Appeals describing further the GCAB appeal procedures, process, and jurisdiction are available from the Graduate College and on the Web at asu.edu/graduate/current/studentappeals.htm.
The graduate certificate is a programmatic or linked series of courses in a single field or in a field that crosses disciplinary boundaries. Graduate certificates facilitate professional growth for people who already hold the baccalaureate degree. Unlike more extensive graduate programs that provide candidates with research skills for a profession in academe or industry, graduate certificates offer candidates an opportunity for growth in their present fields of employment, an opportunity to try out a new field in which they may ultimately complete a graduate degree, or an opportunity for personal enrichment.
Applicants intending to pursue a graduate certificate must hold a bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited institution and should have a cumulative junior/senior undergraduate GPA of 3.00 or higher. See Admission to the Graduate College for complete general graduate admission requirements. Contact the appropriate graduate certificate program for specific admission requirements.
A minimum of 15 semester hours of graduate work approved by the student’s graduate certificate program and the Graduate College is required for a graduate certificate. More than 15 semester hours are required in certain programs. No more than one-fifth (20 percent) of the minimum required credit hours for a graduate certificate may be transferred from another university. All course work used to complete an ASU graduate certificate must be completed within a six-year time limit. 400-level courses may be allowed with prior approval from the appropriate certificate program; however, note that a minimum of two-thirds of the courses taken to complete the certificate must be at the 500 level or above. Under most circumstances, applicable certificate course work must not have been used to fulfill requirements for a previously awarded degree. To be awarded a graduate certificate from ASU, all courses that will count for the certificate must have a cumulative GPA of 3.00 or higher.
Awarding of the Graduate Certificate
Students are eligible for the official posting of the graduate certificate to their transcripts when all applicable course work has been successfully completed and Graduate College scholarship requirements have been met. Students must complete, sign, and submit to their specific graduate certificate program the Application for Awarding of a Graduate Certificate form to be verified first by the certificate program and then by the Graduate College, thus ensuring that all requirements have been met before the graduate certificate is officially posted.
Faculty at ASU offer programs leading to the Master of Arts (MA) degree, the Master of Science (MS) degree, and various professional master’s degrees. The MA and MS programs serve primarily as an introduction to research; the professional master’s programs are intended primarily as a preparation for a career in professional practice.
Admission to all Master’s Degree Programs
Students wishing to enroll in a master’s program at ASU are admitted according to the procedure described under Admission to the Graduate College. Since graduate work presupposes adequate preparation in a selected field at the undergraduate level, deficiencies are specified at the time of admission by the academic unit involved.
A minimum of 30 semester hours of graduate work approved by a student’s supervisory committee and the Graduate College is required. More than 30 semester hours are required in certain programs.
The supervisory committee is responsible for the guidance and direction of the student’s graduate program. The committee is appointed by the dean of the Graduate College upon the recommendation of the head of the academic unit. It is composed of a minimum of three members, including a chair or two cochairs, for students writing a thesis or equivalent. The supervisory committee must be approved by the dean of the Graduate College before the student may apply for the comprehensive examination or applied project, and before the student can register for 599 Thesis hours as part of the thesis requirement, if required for the degree program.
After regular status has been granted, it is in the student’s best interest to have an official program of study filed with the Graduate College at the earliest possible date. The program is approved by the dean of the Graduate College upon recommendation of the program of study advisor and the head of the academic unit. Changes in the planned program may be made by the student’s program of study advisor, with the approval of the head of the academic unit and the dean of the Graduate College. A student is not eligible to apply for the comprehensive or final examination until a program of study has been approved.
Credit Completed Before Admission
For detailed information regarding this policy, see Credit Completed Before Admission.
Sandra Day O’Connor College of Law Credit
The Graduate College accepts a numerical grade of 70 or above for courses taken in the Sandra Day O’Connor College of Law at ASU as part of an approved program of study for a master’s degree program. These grades are not used in the two GPAs calculated for graduation. See Scholarship.
A maximum of six semester hours taken in the Sandra Day O’Connor College of Law may be included in a 30-hour program of study for a master’s degree. For a 36- to 45-hour program, the number of hours is limited to a maximum of nine semester hours of course work in the Sandra Day O’Connor College of Law.
A graduate degree program may have a foreign language requirement. For certification of proficiency, see Graduate Foreign Language Examination.
Comprehensive Examination and Applied Project
A comprehensive examination or applied project administered by the academic unit, is required in all professional master’s programs that do not have a thesis or equivalent requirement. A comprehensive examination is optional in other master’s programs. Students are not eligible to apply for the comprehensive examination or applied project until they have been regularly admitted, have filed an approved program of study and removed any deficiencies. Students are required to register for at least one semester hour of credit that appears on the program of study or one hour of appropriate graduate-level credit (such as 595 Continuing Registration) during the semester or summer session in which they take the comprehensive examination. Failure in the comprehensive examination is considered final unless the supervisory committee and the head of the academic unit recommend, and the dean of the Graduate College approves, a reexamination. Only one reexamination is permitted. A reexamination may be administered no sooner than three months and no later than one year from the date of the original examination.
Thesis or Equivalent Requirements
To satisfy the research requirement for most MA or MS degrees, a student is expected to present a thesis or equivalent, which is defended in an oral examination. Some professional master’s programs may also require a thesis or equivalent. The requirement varies with each degree program.
Credit taken to fulfill the thesis or equivalent enrollment requirement must appear on the program of study. A student writing a thesis must include on the program of study six 599 Thesis hours devoted to the writing of the thesis.
Each student must be enrolled for at least one semester hour of credit that appears on the program of study or one hour of appropriate graduate-level credit (such as 595 Continuing Registration) during the semester (including summer session) in which the student defends the thesis or equivalent.
Master’s thesis defenses are open to all members of the university community. The oral defense engages the supervisory committee and the candidate in a critical, analytical discussion of the research and findings of the study as well as a review of the relation of the thesis to the major field. The presentation of a thesis defense in an open forum fosters a broader awareness of the state of graduate research at the university, promotes a wider scholarly dialogue among disciplines, and recognizes publicly the scholarly contributions of thesis candidates. Announcements are posted in prominent places in the student’s department. The supervisory committee may conduct the final part of its questioning in closed session. Committee deliberations and final vote are conducted in closed session.
In general, it is expected that oral defenses will be held on an ASU campus during regular business hours in order to facilitate student, faculty, and public accessibility. All members of the student’s approved Graduate Supervisory Committee must attend the oral defense. When there are sound educational reasons for holding a defense under different circumstances, contact the Graduate College for approval before scheduling the defense.
The final oral defense of the thesis or equivalent must be scheduled with the Graduate College at least 10 working days in advance of the planned defense date, and the form to schedule the defense must be submitted when the thesis is submitted for format review to the Graduate College. The forms are available on the Web site at www.asu.edu/graduate/forms.
The student is eligible for graduation when all course work is successfully completed, the Graduate College scholarship requirements have been met, any required comprehensive examinations have been passed, and the thesis or equivalent, if applicable, has been approved by the supervisory committee and accepted by the head of the academic unit and the dean of the Graduate College. The thesis must be submitted to the ASU bookstore for binding. See Application for Graduation.
Unless stated otherwise for a specific degree program, all work offered toward a master’s degree must be completed within six consecutive years. The six years begin with the first course included on a student’s approved program of study. For example, if the first course listed was taken fall semester 2002, the student must have completed all requirements by August 2008. The six-year maximum time limit applies to all semester credit hours appearing on a program of study, including nondegree, transfer, and law credits. See Sandra Day O’Connor College of Law Credit.
Continuous Enrollment in a Master’s Degree Program
A student in a master’s degree program who does not enroll for one calendar year is considered withdrawn from the university and must fully reapply for admission to resume his or her degree program.
See Withdrawal from the University.
A student may pursue concurrent master’s degrees with prior written approval from the head of the academic unit for each degree program and the Graduate College. A maximum of one-sixth of the minimum total semester hours for the completion of both degrees may be common hours shared between the two programs of study. The total number of hours common to both degree programs may vary from this maximum value only when the Graduate College has formally approved coordinated degree programs. In all cases, these guidelines must be followed:
1. course work common to both programs must constitute a well-planned and meaningful part of each of the programs and may only include course work completed after admission to both degree programs;
2. graduate credit transferred from another institution may be applied toward only one degree program;
3. the course work common to both programs may not include 599 Thesis or 592 Research credits leading to the thesis or equivalent in either degree; and
4. additional degree requirements for each degree program such as comprehensive examinations, applied projects, and/or the thesis must be exclusive and in the case of the thesis, an original work.
Concurrent enrollment in a doctoral program and master’s degree program may not have common hours appear on both programs of study.
Graduate students may apply for admission to a doctoral degree program by filing an application with the Graduate Admissions Office. For general requirements, see Admission to the Graduate College.
Course Work After Admission to Doctoral Program
In general, a student with an appropriate master’s degree must complete a minimum of 54 semester hours of approved graduate work, including 12 hours of dissertation (or recital for Music majors), after admission to the doctoral degree program at ASU. A student without an appropriate master’s degree usually must complete 84 to 90 semester hours of work at ASU.
Sandra Day O’Connor College of Law Credit
The Graduate College accepts a numerical grade of 70 or above for courses taken in the Sandra Day O’Connor College of Law at ASU as part of an approved program of study for a doctoral degree program, if the ASU law courses are deemed appropriate by the student’s academic unit. These grades are not used in the two GPAs calculated for graduation. See Scholarship.
Continuous Enrollment in a Doctoral Degree Program
Once admitted to a doctoral degree program, the student is expected to be enrolled continuously, excluding summer sessions, until all requirements for the degree have been fulfilled. Students must be enrolled in courses that meet the program requirements, which may include coursework, 792 Research, or 799 Dissertation. Credits that do not meet program requirements will not count toward continuous enrollment. If no additional credit is required toward the doctoral degree, the student may enroll for 695 or 795 Continuing Registration. Continuing Registration does not carry credit; no grade is given.
If a program of study must be interrupted for one semester, the student may apply for leave status. However, this leave status cannot exceed one semester. A petition for a leave of absence, endorsed by the members of the student’s supervisory committee and the head of the academic unit, must be approved by the dean of the Graduate College. This request must be filed and approved before the anticipated absence.
A student on leave is not required to pay fees, but is not permitted to place any demands on university faculty or use any university facilities. A student who interrupts a program of study without obtaining leave status may be removed automatically by the Graduate College, under the assumption that the student has decided to discontinue the program. A student removed by the Graduate College for this reason may reapply for admission; the application is considered along with all other new applications to the degree program.
Upon the recommendation of the head of the academic unit, the dean of the Graduate College appoints the student’s dissertation committee, consisting of a chair (or two co-chairs) and at least two other members. This committee must approve the subject and title of the dissertation. The members of the dissertation committee have the necessary knowledge and skills to advise the student during the formulation of the research topic and during the completion of the research and the dissertation. The program of study advisor may serve as the chair of the dissertation committee. The committee must be approved by the dean of the Graduate College before the student may apply for the comprehensive examinations, defend the dissertation prospectus, and register for 799 Dissertation hours as part of the dissertation requirement, if required for the degree program.
If the head of the academic unit recommends changes in membership for the committee after the committee has been appointed, the student must submit a change of committee form to the Graduate College and receive the approval of the dean of the Graduate College.
The program of study should be submitted as early as possible and must have the approval of the student’s program committee, head of the academic unit, and the dean of the Graduate College. Students may not apply credit hours earned for a doctoral degree previously awarded at ASU or another institution toward their current ASU doctoral degree. However, at the individual academic unit’s discretion, students may apply up to 30 semester hours from a previously awarded master’s degree toward their doctoral program of study.
The doctoral program of study generally consists of appropriate graduate course work and may also include 792 Research, if applicable. Students who are required to complete a dissertation for their doctoral program must include 12 (and only 12) semester hours of 799 Dissertation on the doctoral program of study.
Language requirements are determined by the academic unit concerned. For information concerning certification of proficiency, see Graduate Foreign Language Examination.
When students have essentially completed the course work in an approved program of study, they should request permission to take the comprehensive examinations. Doctoral comprehensive examinations are administered by a committee consisting of three to five members, depending on the requirements of the academic unit.
Foreign language requirements, if applicable, must be fulfilled before taking the comprehensive examinations. Students are required to register for at least one semester hour of credit that appears on the program of study or one hour of appropriate graduate-level credit (such as 795 Continuing Registration) during the semester or summer session in which they take their comprehensive examinations. These written and oral examinations are designed to test the student’s mastery of the field of specialization.
Failure in the comprehensive examinations is considered final unless the supervisory committee and the head of the academic unit recommend, and the dean of the Graduate College approves, a reexamination. A reexamination may be administered no sooner than three months and no later than one year from the date of the original examination. Only one reexamination is permitted.
Doctoral students (with the exception of students in the Doctor of Audiology program) achieve candidacy status in a letter from the dean of the Graduate College upon
1. passing the foreign language examination, if applicable;
2. passing the comprehensive examinations; and
3. successfully defending the dissertation prospectus, if applicable.
Doctoral students who have been advanced to candidacy are still required to maintain continuous enrollment until all degree requirements have been completed. See Continuous Enrollment.
The doctoral dissertation is based on a substantial and sustained research project and constitutes a significant contribution to knowledge in the student’s discipline. The research on which the dissertation is based should be conducted during the time of the student’s doctoral studies at ASU, under guidance of ASU faculty, and in accordance with Graduate College policies and procedures.
The purpose of the dissertation is for students to learn to conduct a major, independent research project and to present the results, all under the guidance of an experienced doctoral mentor. The dissertation is also a demonstration of the student’s ability to conduct a major research project at the highest level of professional competence. The research experience culminates in a final oral exam, commonly known as the “dissertation defense.” At ASU, defenses are public; students and faculty from the candidate’s unit are especially encouraged to attend. In the successful dissertation defense, doctoral study culminates in a public affirmation of the student’s scholarly competence and of his or her new status in the community of scholars.
The doctoral student must submit two final copies of the dissertation or research paper (research papers are for certain DMA concentrations only) to the ASU Bookstore for binding. The student is responsible for the binding fees. Bound copies are placed in Hayden Library and Archives.
If the student is unable to complete revisions to the dissertation and meet the ASU Bookstore deadline for the semester in which the defense is held, the student must complete the revisions and present the finished document to the ASU Bookstore by the submission deadline of the semester following the oral defense. For more information, see Theses and Dissertations.
Doctoral dissertation defenses are open to all members of the university community. The oral defense engages the supervisory committee and the candidate in a critical, analytical discussion of the research and findings of the study as well as a review of the relation of the dissertation to the specialized field in which it lies. The presentation of dissertation defenses in an open forum fosters a broader awareness of the state of graduate research at the university, promotes a wider scholarly dialogue among disciplines, and recognizes publicly the scholarly contributions of doctoral candidates. Announcements are posted in prominent places in the student’s department. Members of the university community are invited to dissertation defenses through announcements published in ASU Insight, the university’s weekly news bulletin.
If circumstances warrant, the supervisory committee may conduct the final part of its questioning in closed session. Committee deliberations and the final vote are conducted in closed session.
In general, it is expected that oral defenses will be held on an ASU campus during regular business hours in order to facilitate student, faculty, and public accessibility. All members of the student’s approved Graduate Supervisory Committee must attend the oral defense. When there are sound educational reasons for holding a defense under different circumstances, contact the Graduate College for approval before scheduling the defense.
The student is eligible for graduation when the Graduate College scholarship requirements have been met, the final oral examination has been passed, and the dissertation has been approved by the supervisory committee and accepted by the head of the academic unit and the dean of the Graduate College. Dissertations must be submitted to the ASU bookstore for binding. See Application for Graduation.
Doctoral students must complete all program requirements within a ten-year period. The ten-year period starts with the initial enrollment into the doctoral program. In addition, the student must take the final oral examination in defense of the dissertation within five years after passing the comprehensive examinations.
See Withdrawal Policies and Procedures.
A student may pursue concurrent doctoral degrees with prior written approval from the head of the academic unit for each degree program and the Graduate College. In all cases, these guidelines must be followed:
1. the student must be enrolled in both programs each fall and spring semester to maintain continuous enrollment or must petition for a leave of absence;
2. the two programs of study may not have shared hours taken at ASU, including credits completed as a nondegree student or reserved course work from a bachelor’s degree program;
3. graduate credit transferred from another institution may be applied toward only one degree program, which includes applied credit from a completed master’s degree; and
4. additional degree requirements for each degree program such as comprehensive examinations, the dissertation prospectus, and the dissertation must be exclusive and in the case of the dissertation, an original work.
Graduate students may apply for admission to the PhD program by filing an application with the Graduate Admissions Office. See Admission to the Graduate College, for general requirements.
The program of study should be submitted as early as possible and must have the approval of the student’s program committee, head of the academic unit, and the dean of the Graduate College. The program of study is reviewed simultaneously with the recommendation for the program committee.
A minimum of 84 semester hours is required for the PhD degree; 12 (and only 12) of these hours must be 799 Dissertation. Of the 84 semester hours, at least 30 hours (which may include research credit) of the approved PhD program and 12 dissertation hours must be completed after admission to the student’s PhD program.
Students may not apply credit hours earned for a doctoral degree previously awarded at ASU or another institution toward their current ASU doctoral degree. However, at the individual academic unit’s discretion, students may apply up to 30 semester hours from a previously awarded master’s degree toward their doctoral program of study.
Language requirements are determined by the academic unit concerned. For information concerning certification of proficiency, see Graduate Foreign Language Examination.
When students have essentially completed the course work for an approved program of study, they should request permission to take the comprehensive examinations. PhD comprehensive examinations are administered by a committee consisting of three to five members, depending on the requirements of the academic unit. Foreign language requirements, if applicable, must be fulfilled before taking the comprehensive examinations.
Students are required to register for at least one semester hour of credit that appears on the program of study or one hour of appropriate graduate-level credit (such as 795 Continuing Registration) during the semester or summer session in which they take their comprehensive examinations. Failure of the comprehensive examinations is considered final unless the supervisory committee and the head of the academic unit recommend, and the dean of the Graduate College approves, a reexamination. A reexamination may be administered no sooner than three months and no later than one year from the date of the original examination. Only one reexamination is permitted.
PhD students achieve candidacy status in a letter from the dean of the Graduate College upon
1. passing the foreign language examination, if applicable;
2. passing the comprehensive examinations; and
3. successfully defending the dissertation prospectus.
The student is expected to present a dissertation to satisfy the research requirement for the PhD degree. The dissertation is defended in an oral examination commonly known as the dissertation defense.
The final copy of the dissertation must be reviewed by the student’s supervisory committee and submitted to the Graduate College for format evaluation at least 10 working days before the defense date. The doctoral student must submit two final copies of the dissertation to the ASU Bookstore for binding. The student is responsible for the binding fees. Bound copies are placed in Hayden Library and Archives.
If the student is unable to complete revisions to the dissertation and meet the ASU Bookstore deadline for the semester in which the defense is held, the student must complete the revisions and present the finished document to the ASU Bookstore by the submission deadline of the semester following the oral defense. For more information, see Theses and Dissertations.
The final oral examination in defense of the dissertation is mandatory and must be held on an ASU campus. In general, it is expected that oral defenses will be held during regular business hours in order to facilitate student, faculty, and public accessibility. When there are sound educational reasons for holding a defense under different circumstances, contact the Graduate College for approval before scheduling the defense.
The oral examination must be scheduled with the Graduate College at least 10 working days in advance of the planned defense date. The form to schedule the defense must be submitted when the thesis is presented for format review to the Graduate College.
Each student must be enrolled for at least one semester hour of credit that appears on the program of study or one hour of appropriate graduate-level credit (such as 795 Continuing Registration) during the semester (including summer session) in which the student defends the dissertation.
The student is eligible for graduation when the Graduate College scholarship requirements have been met, the final oral examination has been passed, and the dissertation has been approved by the supervisory committee and accepted by the head of the academic unit and the dean of the Graduate College. Dissertations must be submitted to the ASU bookstore for binding. See Application for Graduation.
Doctoral students must complete all program requirements within a ten-year period. The ten-year period starts with the initial enrollment into the doctoral program. In addition, the student must take the final oral examination in defense of the dissertation within five years after passing the comprehensive examinations. Any exception must be approved by the supervisory committee and the dean of the Graduate College and ordinarily involves repetition of the comprehensive examinations.
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