GRADUATE ACADEMIC REGULATIONS AND POLICIES

Oversight of the Graduate Academic Regulations and Policies is given to the Graduate Council and the Academic Policies Committee of the Faculty Senate. Graduate students are expected to become familiar with these regulations, as they apply to all students enrolled in graduate courses at Kentucky State University. In some cases, these general policies are superseded by more stringent requirements established for individual programs. Also, the limitations in the definitions may be modified to meet accreditation, licensing, and/or certification requirements.

I. General

  • A semester credit hour represents one clock hour of recitation or lecture, or two clock hours of laboratory per week for one semester for most courses; some courses are calculated according to accreditation standards in the particular area.
  • Quality points are the assigned points of a specific letter grade. The total quality points of a course are calculated by multiplying the quality point value of the letter grade earned by the number of semester credit hours for the course (see Section VII).
  • The cumulative grade-point average is defined as the total number of quality points earned in all courses taken at Kentucky State University in which the student received a grade of “A,” “B,” “C,” “D,” or “F” divided by the total number of semester credit hours in all courses taken at the University in which the student received a grade of “A,” “B,” “C,” “D,” or “F.”
  • If a course is repeated, only the highest grade will be used in the computation of the cumulative grade-point average.
  • Unless specifically described in the course description as a repeatable course, credit may be earned only once for courses that are repeated.
  • All grades earned at Kentucky State University will remain on the student's transcript and in the permanent record.
  • The current grade-point average is defined as the total number of quality points earned in all courses in which the student received a grade of “A,” “B,” “C,” “D,” or “F” during the last term (summer session/semester) of enrollment divided by the total number of semester credit hours in all courses in which the student received a grade of “A,” “B,” “C,” “D,” or “F” during the last term (summer session/semester) of enrollment.

ceived a grade of “A,” “B,” “C,” “D,” or “F” during the last term (summer session/semester) of enrollment.

II. Definitions of Programs and Areas of Specialization

Master's Degree Program

A master’s degree program is a planned and approved program of study leading to graduation with a master’s degree. Each master’s degree program requires at least 30 graduate semester credit hours and no more than 45 graduate semester credit hours. The master’s degree program must be completed within six years of initial enrollment as a degree seeking graduate student. Some programs require degree completion within fewer years of initial enrollment. Please consult the program descriptions in the program sections.

The Area of Specialization

Graduate programs may consist of a core program of study within the academic unit as well as required additional study in one or more areas of specialization selected from options within or related to the discipline. The area of specialization shall consist of a minimum of 9 graduate semester credit hours and a maximum of 12 graduate semester credit hours.

Prerequisites and Support Courses

A graduate program may identify and require graduate and/or undergraduate courses as are justified for proper completion of the graduate program. Courses may be from within the discipline (prerequisites) or from other disciplines (prerequisites or support courses). Such credits thus required may not be included in the graduate semester credit hours required for degree completion. Please consult the requirements of the program for these limitations.

The limitations in the definitions may be modified to meet accreditation, licensing, and/or certification requirements.

III. Academic Requirements for Graduation

A. Students must submit a completed graduate application for a degree to their graduate program according to the prescribed schedule in the Academic Calendar. No late applications will be accepted. Students must submit a new application for a degree if they have been unsuccessful

KSU CATALOGUE, 2009-2010

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