2009-2010 Graduate Academic Catalog

8 Cedarville University Graduate Education 2009–10 Graduate Education Academic Information Controlling Catalog The Graduate Catalog in use when a student first enrolls governs his/her graduation requirements unless that catalog is over five years old or that student has left and then sought to re- enroll more than two years later. Consequently, that catalog should be retained and used as a guide in case changes are made in course or graduation requirements during the time the student is enrolled. A student may select a subsequent catalog if the student wishes, but all requirements from that catalog must be completed. Course Load A student’s academic load for any given term is subject to reduction or limitation by the dean or director of a particular graduate program for poor scholarship or excessive work responsibilities outside of school hours. Students who wish to take more than 12 credit hours in a given term must obtain permission from the dean or director of their graduate program. Repeating Courses Any course may be repeated once with the approval of the dean or director of the program sponsoring the course. When a student repeats a course, both grades are calculated into the cumulative grade point average. Credit hours for a repeated course count only once toward the credits needed for graduation. Independent Study On occasion special student circumstances may suggest that an independent study course option should be considered. Such an option might recognize opportunities to explore areas not covered in normal course structure, rewarding self-motivated students and encouraging joint study by faculty and students on specialized projects. Individual students and faculty members develop the specific criteria that must be met for the successful completion of independent study projects. However, the following guidelines govern the independent study program: • Only one independent study project may be undertaken in an academic term. • The maximum credit that may be earned for any one independent study project is three semester hours. • The faculty member supervising the independent study and the dean or director of a particular graduate program must sign the student’s independent study form. Registration for the independent study must occur at the beginning of the semester in which the work is to be completed. • No more than six semester hours in independent study may be counted toward the graduate degree. • In general independent study projects cannot be taken in lieu of required courses unless special arrangements have been made through the department sponsoring the course and the director of that particular graduate program. • It is the prerogative of individual faculty members to offer independent study courses or not. • Participating faculty members determine the letter grade. Transfer Credits Transfer credit is allowed at the discretion of the University for courses that clearly correspond to required/elective courses offered in the graduate and professional programs at Cedarville University. The dean or director of the academic program is responsible for evaluating all requests for transfer credit within that program. Courses will be considered for transfer evaluation only if: • they were taken at regionally accredited colleges/universities (unless otherwise accepted by the academic department), • a “B” or higher was earned, and • the course was completed not more than seven years prior to the time of the transfer request. Transient Study Coursework to be completed at other institutions by a student enrolled at Cedarville University must be approved by the dean or director of the graduate program at Cedarville that would accept the transfer credit. This approval must occur before the course is taken . Students enrolled in other colleges or universities may take courses at Cedarville University on a “permission to take courses” basis. The application to take courses may be obtained from the graduate admissions office. Graduation Requirements and Procedure Students are responsible to see that all graduation requirements are met. A degree candidate should carefully study the requirements for his/her desired degree (see Academic Programs) as well as the general requirements listed below. • Meet all admission and proficiency requirements. • Submit an application for graduation to the office of the registrar by February 1 of the year the candidate plans to participate in the spring commencement ceremony. This includes graduates who plan to complete their degree programs in the fall following commencement. • Pay any applicable graduation fees. Second Graduate Degree A student who earns a graduate degree from Cedarville University, or any other regionally accredited institution of higher education (or one otherwise recognized by Cedarville University), may apply up to nine semester hours of credit from that degree’s requirements toward the second master’s degree if the receiving department determines the coursework to be equivalent. Student Responsibility Each student assumes full responsibility for knowing Cedarville University standards, regulations, and procedures along with those of the graduate and professional programs. While all personnel at Cedarville University endeavor to help students in every way possible, the responsibility for meeting requirements stated in this catalog rests with the student and not the advisor or the University. Students are responsible for tracking their progress toward meeting all graduation requirements.