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 In some cases, the general policies are superseded by more stringent requirements established for individual programs.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 Definitions
- A.A semester credit hour represents one clock hour of re-citation 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.
- B.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).
- C.The cumulative grade-point average is defined as the total number of quality points earned in all courses taken at Ke n tucky St ate 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 a re repeated.
- All grades earned at Kentucky State University will remain on the student's transcript and in the permanent record.
- D.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.
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. Eac h mas ter’s degree p rogram requir es 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 prog rams require degree c 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 must be required to be included in the graduate course's 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 an new application for a degree if they have been unsuccessful with a graduation attempt. An on-refundable graduation fee is assessed each time a student applies for graduation.
- B.Each graduate program has specific requirements for a student to complete in order to be awarded