Graduate Studies

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Graduate Student Responsibilities

The graduate experience is a shared responsibility between the graduate student and their advisor; however, the initiation of many necessary tasks rest with the student. The following is a general listing of student responsibilities.

• Semester Hour Minimum

The candidate must earn graduate credit amounting to a minimum of 36 semester hours. Undergraduate courses taken for leveling or as undesignated electives are used in the calculation of the semester and cumulative grade point averages and thus determine one's academic standing.

• Graduate Advisor and Student's Advisory Committee

The graduate advisor, designated by a department, assists students in planning their initial course work prior to granting of admission to the program of study. Before seeking enrollment in any course that might be applied toward a master's degree, students must consult their advisors. A temporary advisor will be available to those enrolling for the first time in an off-campus course.

After receiving admission to the College of Graduate Studies and enrolling for graduate courses, the student should consult with the graduate advisor concerning appointment of an advisory committee. The advisory committee is responsible for guiding and directing the student's entire academic program, which includes initiating all academic actions concerning the student, developing the degree plan, and administering the comprehensive testing prior to conferral of master's degree. For more information on this topic, see our handbook.

• Degree Plans

A graduate student's degree plan includes all courses listed for degree credit on the official degree plan form. A degree plan must be filed before completion of 12 semester hours of credit. All courses on the approved degree plan must be completed with a satisfactory grade to meet requirements for the degree. Changes in an approved degree plan can be made by recommendation to the Dean of the College of Graduate Studies by the student's complete advisory committee and head of his/her major department.

Courses listed for graduate credit on the approved degree plan in which the student has received a final grade may not normally be removed from the degree plan, although courses acceptable for graduate credit may be added. The student's advisory committee, head of his/her major department, and the Dean of the College of Graduate Studies must approve exceptions to this policy.

• Degree Major

All degrees require a minimum of 18 semester hours to be completed in the student's major field. At least 12 hours must be 500-level courses.

The graduate major requires an undergraduate background of at least 24 semester hours, including 12 advanced hours. However, graduate students who have taken 18 hours of advanced undergraduate education courses as a prerequisite for a teaching certificate may be admitted to a Master of Education degree program. Students choosing the Political Science concentration for the MA may be admitted with a baccalaureate degree in any social science or valid bachelor's-level degree and one year's experience in the public service field.

• Degree Minor

A student may declare a minor of 12 hours in a second field. It is possible for anyone with an established major to take a minor in any department that offers 6 hours of graduate courses and 6 hours of upper-level undergraduate courses. If a minor is declared, one-half of the minor courses must be at the 500 level.

• Dress for Success

  
  
  • In developing your professional wardrobe, keep in mind some of the following guidelines:
  
  1.  Stay stylish, but not over the top.  You want to appear “with it” but you do not need to blindly follow every passing fad to a fault.
  
  2.  Leave the bling at home.  Do not chance an accident or the loss of meaningful jewelry.  Simple, classic and minimal are the key words here.
  
  3.  Never show your undergarments.  This includes bra straps and underwear when bending over.
  
  4.  Avoid cleavage.
  
  5.  Do not wear clothes with holes.  The current fashion accepts distressed, damaged and worn jeans.  Wear these items during non-working hours.
  
  6.  Wash and iron your clothes.  In college,  you may have rolled out of bed and grabbed the shirt off the floor.  This is not acceptable in the workplace.
  
  7.  Pay attention to your shoes.  Wear professional shoes that compliment your dress attire.
  
  8.  Make sure your clothes fit properly.  Too tight or too loose can be the target for student comments.
  
  
  
  • Women & Men
  
  Hair:  Natural colors, conservative hairstyles, neat and well groomed.
  
  Jewelry:  Go conservative; no more than two earrings per lobe and must be on the lower portion of the earlobe; multiple bracelets and necklaces kept to a minimum so as not to be distracting.  No visible tattoos or body piercing.
  
  Shoes:  Shoes must be neat, clean, without scuffs or tears, and shined where appropriate; no heels higher than 3 inches; no athletic shoes, Crocs or flip-flops .
  
  Hats or Head Covers:  hats are not appropriate in the classroom; head covers that are required for medical and religious purposes or to honor cultural tradition are allowed.
  
  
  • Women only
  
  Makeup:  natural tones
  
  Tops:  No strapless, spaghetti or halter tops, must not show any skin at the waist or midriff when arms are raised; neckline must be high enough that no cleavage is visible when bent over; no sheer material; not tight or form-fitting; appropriate foundation garments.
  
  Skirts/Dresses:  Must not be too baggy or too tight; hemline must be no higher than the top of the knee;
  
  
  • Men only
  
  Shirts:  Polo or oxford-type shirts;  must be tucked-in; tie
  
  Pants:  Docker-style slacks or dress pants; worn at the waist; plain belt; no jeans