School of Graduate Studies Catalog | 2026-2027 Academic Year

Vice Provost of Graduate Studies: David Feldon
Associate Vice Provost of Graduate Studies: Susannah French

Location: Old Main Building 164
Phone: (435) 797-1189
Website: School of Graduate Studies

Graduate Degrees and Majors
For a list of graduate programs offered at Utah State University, please review the Degree Finder.

NOTE: Within the text of this Catalog, the abbreviation SGS denotes School of Graduate Studies.

Section 1. Graduate Admissions Policies

Section 2. Graduate Assistantships

Section 3. Student Classifications

Section 4. General Regulations for Graduate Study

Section 5. Research and Intellectual Property

Section 6. Supervisory Committees

Section 7. Program of Study

Section 8. Master’s Degree Requirements

Section 9. Post-Master’s Professional Degrees & Graduate Interdepartmental Degrees and Certificates

Section 10. Doctoral Degree Requirements

Section 11. Graduate Certificates

Section 12. Thesis, Plan B Paper or Project, and Dissertation

Section 13. USU Graduate School Deadlines

Section 14. Graduation Application Requirement

Section 15. Reasons Graduate Students Will Be Denied for Graduation

Section 16. Graduation

Section 1. Graduate School Admissions Policies

It is expected that all graduate admissions applications submitted by the program’s deadline will be reviewed by the department.

1.1 Application Requirements

The following items must be received by the School of Graduate Studies before an applicant’s graduate admission application (this application process is the same for graduate certificates) will be considered complete:

A Bachelor’s Degree

A bachelor’s degree (or, for some doctoral programs, a master’s degree), that is or will be completed before the student matriculates in the academic department, from an accredited U.S. college or university or a similarly recognized international university is required for admission to a graduate program.

Three-year bachelor’s degrees from accredited or similarly recognized institutions are accepted with the approval of the academic department and the School of Graduate Studies Admissions Director.

Note for International Applicants: The School of Graduate Studies does not accept Higher National Diplomas (HNDs).

A 3.0 or Higher Grade-Point Average

The School of Graduate Studies will calculate GPAs based on the applicant’s cumulative undergraduate GPA. 30 graduate credits will be taken from an earned graduate degree or degree in progress. NOTE: We do not use post-baccalaureate credits to calculate a GPA.

Application Fee

The School of Graduate Studies requires a $55 ($25 for graduate certificates) nonrefundable application fee that must be paid electronically via debit/credit card at the time of the application submission. Any other payment method will not be accepted.

Refunds are not given for incomplete applications or for non-admittance to a graduate program.

NOTE: Paying the application fee does not guarantee admission to a graduate program.

Application fees will be waived for McNair Scholars and active USU Honors students.

Application Fee Waivers

The School of Graduate Studies does not give out application fee waivers to applicants.

Supplemental Application Materials:

Three Letters of Recommendation

If the applicant has been enrolled in school during the last five years, at least two of the letters must come from individuals who are familiar with and can make an authoritative assessment of the applicant’s recent academic performance. The School of Graduate Studies cannot fill out or edit a letter of recommendation request form. The School of Graduate Studies must receive letters of recommendation from the recommender directly and cannot accept copies submitted by the applicant.

Official Transcripts

For admission, the School of Graduate Studies requires official transcripts from each previously attended college and/or university (except Utah State University).

This includes official college transcripts for any concurrent enrollment credit earned if it is not already on the applicant’s undergraduate transcript.

Transcripts are considered official when they are:

Sent directly to the USU School of Graduate Studies by mail (see mailing address below) from the applicant’s previous institution(s). Sent directly to the USU School of Graduate Studies by email from the applicant’s previous institution(s) to graduateadmissions@usu.edu

Submitting Official Transcripts

If an applicant is accepted into a program and matriculates at USU, official copies sent directly from each issuing institution to the School of Graduate Studies will be required within the first semester of attendance. Any student that does not provide official transcripts within the allotted timeframe will have a hold put on their student account by the end of their first semester, preventing future course registration. This hold will be removed when the School of Graduate Studies receives the student’s official transcript with the degree verification.

Note for International Applicants: Transcripts not in English must be accompanied by a notarized translation.

The USU School of Graduate Studies will need a copy sent to us from the applicant’s institution, and if the institution does not translate them, then the applicant will need to have a copy sent to a certified translation company.

Companies such as WES and SPANTRAN are frequently used by International Applicants for notarized translation and certifications. Applicants cannot submit transcripts that they translated by themselves, or that were not translated by their school, or a certified translation company and have them considered official.

USU alumni do not need to provide USU transcripts; the School of Graduate Studies will pull them for the applicant.

Any exceptions to the official transcript policy will be based on a departmental review of the applicant’s circumstances and materials.

Methods to Submit Official Transcripts

Official transcripts from the applicant’s previous institution(s) can be sent to Utah State University School of Graduate Studies through mail or email. The applicant or student may also have their official transcripts submitted through the electronic clearinghouse or the official transcripts may be dropped off in person by the applicant or student in a sealed, unopened envelope from the previous institution(s) (see below).

Official transcripts can be mailed to:

Utah State University

School of Graduate Studies
0900 Old Main Hill
Logan, UT 84322-0900

Official transcripts can be emailed to:

graduateadmissions@usu.edu

If by electronic clearinghouse:

Please select: Utah State University School of Graduate Studies Logan, UT, U.S.

Official transcripts may be brought in person by the applicant or student:

The official transcripts in a sealed, unopened envelope from the previous institution(s) may also be dropped off by the applicant or student in person, to the School of Graduate Studies Office in the Old Main Building, room 164.

For questions regarding official transcripts, please contact the Utah State University Graduate Admissions Office at graduateadmissions@usu.edu

English Language Proficiency for International Applicants

International applicants are required to submit proof of proficiency in the English language.

Applicants who have completed two or more years of college in one of the countries listed on the Graduate Admissions Policies & Procedures website, and the primary language of instruction is English, are considered proficient in the English language and will not be required to provide additional evidence of English language proficiency.

For applicants that did not attend a minimum of two years in one of the countries listed on the website, the English proficiency requirement can be fulfilled in a few ways:

Applicants that attended schools in countries outside of the list that have English as the official language of instruction may request a letter from their previous institution’s registrar’s office and have it sent directly to the School of Graduate Studies.

This requirement can also be fulfilled if English is clearly listed as the language of instruction on an official transcript.

Applicants can take one of the approved English Proficiency exams listed below. Applicants should request that the testing agency send official exam scores directly to Utah State University.

TOEFL internet-based (iBT) exam score of 79 or paper-based exam score of 550.

The institution school code for Utah State University is 4857. *

IELTS score of 6.5 overall band score with a minimum of 5.0 on each subscale. *

The Michigan English Test (MET) score of 55.

Cambridge English Exam results of B2 First, C1 Advanced, or C2 Proficiency score of 176.

The School of Graduate Studies accepts Duolingo English test scores as a measurement of English language proficiency. NOTE: Duolingo English Test (DET) score of at least 105.

*All language scores must be official and sent to Utah State University from the testing center where the student took the exam. The Office of Global Engagement and the School of Graduate Studies Admissions Team will be able to access it from there. Scores more than 2 years old are not accepted.

Note on I-20 Applications (International Applicants):

The process for the I-20 begins with the Office of Global Engagement after a student is admitted and accepts their offer of admission through their application portal. Because of immigration regulations, international students cannot be admitted to provisional matriculation.

Please contact the Office of Global Engagement with further questions about the I-20.

NOTE: Some degree programs may have additional application requirements. Applicants should refer to their intended program for questions about any required tests, minimum required scores, statement of purpose, any accepted test score alternatives (such as a portfolio), and any other required application materials.

1.2. Application Deadlines

Graduate admissions application deadlines are program specific.

1.3. Application Procedures

Graduate admissions applications are submitted online in the application portal.

1.4 Application Edits

Edits to a graduate admissions application can only be made before an application is sent to the department for review. To make changes, applicants can send an email to graduateadmissions@usu.edu. NOTE: Once the application has been sent to the department, the School of Graduate Studies is no longer able to make changes to the application.

1.5. Closing Inactive Applications

Applications that have had no activity for 90 days (approximately three months) after the application due date are considered inactive and will be closed. Once an application is closed, it cannot be reopened or considered for future application seasons.

If for any reason an application will not be complete within the three-month period, applicants should contact graduate admissions to ask for a deferment of their application.

It is the applicant’s responsibility to defer their application in order to keep it open for another term.

1.6. Using Old Application Materials

The School of Graduate Studies requires all applicants to submit new application materials for each application submitted. This includes transcripts, letters of recommendation, and test scores. NOTE: Only official transcripts will be transferred if they are within two years of being submitted to the School of Graduate Studies.

1.7. Deferment

Deferments are available for students who 1.) need to delay their admission to the university or for 2.) those who need to extend their application period.

Students who have accepted their offer of admission and have been admitted to the university have the option to defer their start date. General acceptance into a program may be deferred for up to 1 year. Any amount of time beyond that is subject to approval by the Department, and the Vice Provost for the School of Graduate Studies.

Note for International Applicants: Please be aware that deferment for more than one year may require you to obtain a new I-20. For questions about a deferment as an international student, please contact the Office of Global Engagement.

To obtain a start-date deferral, students must contact their graduate program coordinator. Students have until the end of the semester of their entry term to defer their start date. If they do not take classes or request a deferral before this date, they will have to reapply in the next application cycle for a USU graduate program. Unfinished applications are closed 90 days after the end of the desired entry term. Once an application has been closed, applicants are required to reapply.

Leaves of absence are also available for students who have already completed classes at USU but need to take a break from their graduate program.

Section 2. Graduate Assistantships

A variety of assistantship opportunities are available to graduate students, and all are offered through individual colleges and departments. Students should check with their department to see what assistantships are available. All graduate assistantships entail a stipend and typically includes tuition support, and they are classified as P03 positions within the university employment system. However, different types of assistantships have differing elements, detailed below. Minimum stipend and compensation requirements are determined by the School of Graduate Studies.

2.1. Graduate Assistantship Position Overview

Graduate Assistantships are broken down into a few different positions:

Graduate Research Assistant

Graduate Trainee (Clinical, Library)

Graduate Teaching Assistant

Graduate Instructor

These positions are defined as follows:

Graduate Research Assistant

A graduate research assistant is a graduate student assigned to work under faculty guidance on one or more research projects. Research assistantships are granted through departments. Payment is a living stipend for the period of training. It is not an hourly rate or compensation for work.

Responsibilities:

Work on research projects under faculty guidance. Responsibilities cannot include clinical work or those expected of a teaching assistant, instructor, or grader.

Payment Structure and Performance:

Lump sum stipend disbursed according to the university pay schedule. RAs demonstrating poor performance may be evaluated negatively. Supervisors must provide clear feedback on problematic performance and provide guidance for performance improvement. RAs cannot have their stipend or tuition support rescinded, cancelled, or modified, regardless of absences or performance quality. Further, work associated with a research assistantship cannot be required past the semester of assistantship. However, a research assistantship does not need to be renewed following a semester of poor performance.

If a GRA resigns or otherwise voluntarily initiates termination of their assistantship prior to the scheduled date of position completion for the semester, disbursement of stipend will stop on the date that the resignation or student-initiated termination takes effect. Beginning on the effective date, the student will no longer be considered a trainee, so their total stipend awarded to support living expenses during the training period will be recalibrated to reflect their proportionate participation.

Absence Policy:

Excused absences mirror university hourly employee leave standards. A 0.5 FTE GRA is entitled to 12 hours of excused absences per semester. A 0.25 FTE GRA is entitled to 6 hours of excused absences per semester. Additional absences may be excused at the discretion of the supervisor provided that such decisions are made equitably for all assistants reporting to the supervisor.

Stipulations:

Complete required trainings, including Responsible Conduct of Research.

Health insurance (auto-enrolled in subsidized plan). Limited to 20 work hours per week during the academic year, unless granted a waiver by SGS up to 10 additional hours per week.

Required Terms:

Semester-based appointments only (Fall, Spring, Summer). First day of work = first day of semester; last day of work = last day of semester. NOT obligated to work during non-academic periods or university holidays. May choose to work more than required hours at own volition but cannot be negatively evaluated for choosing not to do so. Assistantship time and effort are separate from activities for which academic credit is received. Time and effort allocated to writing for publication may or may not be considered part of the assistantship. This should be determined in advance by the supervisor and the student.

Graduate Trainee

A Graduate Traineeship (GTR) is for a student to apply theoretical knowledge to real-world practice and gain hands-on experience. Work is done under the direction of an experienced faculty member. Payment is a living stipend for the period of training. It is not an hourly rate or compensation for work.

Responsibilities:

Work is done under the direction of an experienced faculty member in a clinical setting for which supervised professional experience is a foundational component of training in the profession.

Responsibilities cannot include research or the duties of a teaching assistant, instructor, or grader.

Payment Structure and Performance:

Lump sum stipend disbursed according to the university pay schedule.

Trainees demonstrating poor performance may be evaluated negatively. Supervisors must provide clear feedback on problematic performance and provide guidance for performance improvement. In consultation with the department head, trainees with extremely poor performance or poor performance that persists after good faith efforts at feedback and remediation by the supervisor are complete may not have their assistantship renewed for the following semester. Students do not need to repay either tuition or stipend.

If a GTR resigns or otherwise voluntarily initiates termination of their traineeship prior to the scheduled date of position completion for the semester, disbursement of stipend will stop on the date that the resignation or student-initiated termination takes effect. Beginning on the effective date, the student will no longer be considered a trainee, so their total stipend awarded to support living expenses during the training period will be recalibrated to reflect their proportionate participation.

Absence Policy:

Excused absences mirror university hourly employee leave standards. A 0.5 FTE GTR is entitled to 12 hours of excused absences per semester. A 0.25 FTE GTR is entitled to 6 hours of excused absences per semester. Additional absences may be excused at the discretion of the supervisor provided that such decisions are made equitably for all assistants reporting to the supervisor.

Stipulations:

Complete required trainings. Health insurance (auto-enrolled in subsidized plan). Limited to 20 work hours per week during the academic year, unless granted a waiver by SGS up to 10 additional hours per week.

Terms:

The Department has discretion over start and end dates. May be required to start before semester and/or continue work after the semester. Start dates for a semester may be no earlier than the day following the last day of the prior semester, and end dates may be no later than the day prior to the first day of the following semester (e.g., a GTR for Fall semester can encompass, at maximum, dates from the day after the close of the preceding Summer semester to the day before first day of the Spring semester).Must report during assigned employment period. All university holidays apply.

Graduate Teaching Assistant

A graduate teaching assistant (GTA) is a graduate student assigned to assist one or more faculty with instruction. A GTA may lecture in a course occasionally, tutor students, or assist in some other teaching capacity, such as teaching a lab or recitation session under faculty supervision. A position that entails only grading without instructional responsibilities (i.e., grader) is not eligible to be a GTA.

Responsibilities:

Assist faculty with instruction. Lectures occasionally, tutor students. Leads lab/recitation sessions under faculty supervision. Helps to prepare courses before semester begins. Responsibilities cannot include those of a research assistant or trainee.

Payment Structure and Performance:

Paid according to the university pay schedule as an employee. TAs demonstrating poor performance may be evaluated negatively. Supervisors must provide clear feedback on problematic performance and provide guidance for performance improvement. In consultation with the department head, TAs with extremely poor performance or poor performance that persists after good faith efforts at feedback and remediation by the supervisor are complete may be removed from their position. Removal will entail a stop in pay, but tuition support cannot be rescinded. Students do not need to repay either compensation already received or tuition in the event of termination.

Absence Policy:

Excused absences mirror university hourly employee leave standards. A 0.5 FTE GTA is entitled to 12 hours of excused absences per semester. A 0.25 FTE GTA is entitled to 6 hours of excused absences per semester. Additional absences may be excused at the discretion of the supervisor provided that such decisions are made equitably for all assistants reporting to the supervisor.

If absences are able to be anticipated (i.e., not used for illness or emergent medical issue), then they must be scheduled in advance with the supervisor and coordinated to ensure TAs’ responsibilities are met to the greatest extent possible. If absences are not able to be anticipated (e.g., due to illness or other emergency), TAs will communicate with their supervisor as soon as possible to inform them of the absence and anticipated return.

Assistantship Stipulations:

Complete required trainings, including CEUS 7901 and 7902.

Health insurance (auto-enrolled in subsidized plan). Limited to 20 work hours per week during the academic year, unless granted a waiver by SGS up to 10 additional hours per week.

Terms:

The Department has discretion over start and end dates. May be required to start before semester (e.g., for class preparation). Start dates for a semester must be after the last day of the prior semester, and end dates must be no later than the deadline for submitting course grades.

Must report during assigned employment period. Teaching Assistant Consensual Relationship Policy applies (see below). All university holidays apply. Can be suspended or terminated.

Graduate Instructor

A graduate instructor (GI) is a graduate student who is the instructor of record for one or more courses for an entire semester.

Responsibilities:

Teaches a course (1) at the undergraduate level; or (2) at the master’s level if, and only if, the instructor holds a master’s degree at the time of instruction. Responsibilities cannot include those of a research assistant or graduate trainee.

Payment Structure and Performance:

Paid according to the university pay schedule as an employee. Graduate instructors demonstrating poor performance may be evaluated negatively. Supervisors must provide clear feedback on problematic performance and provide guidance for performance improvement. In consultation with the department head, graduate instructors with extremely poor performance or poor performance that persists after good faith efforts at feedback and remediation by the supervisor are complete may be removed from their position. Removal will entail a stop in pay, but tuition support cannot be rescinded. Students do not need to repay either compensation already received or tuition in the event of termination.

Absence Policy:

Excused absences mirror university hourly employee leave standards. A 0.5 FTE GI is entitled to 12 hours of excused absences per semester. A 0.25 FTE GI is entitled to 6 hours of excused absences per semester. Additional absences may be excused at the discretion of the supervisor provided that such decisions are made equitably for all assistants reporting to the supervisor.

If absences are able to be anticipated (i.e., not used for illness or emergent medical issue), then they must be scheduled in advance with the supervisor and coordinated to ensure GIs’ responsibilities are met to the greatest extent possible. If absences are not able to be anticipated (e.g., due to illness or other emergency), GIs will communicate with their supervisor as soon as possible to inform them of the absence and anticipated return.

Assistantship Stipulations:

Complete required training, including CEUS 7901, 7902, and 7903.

Health insurance (auto-enrolled in subsidized plan). Limited to 20 work hours per week during the academic year, unless granted a waiver by SGS up to 10 additional hours per week.

Terms:

Must report during assigned employment period. Teaching Assistant Consensual Relationship Policy applies (see below). All university holidays apply. Can be suspended or terminated.

2.2. Eligibility

To be eligible for a 20 hour/week (0.5 FTE) assistantship, full-time enrollment is required (6+ credits during coursework; 3+ after coursework with Full Time at 3 Credits form).

To be eligible for a 10 hour/week (0.25 FTE) assistantship, full-time enrollment is not required.

2.3. Conditions & Stipulations

Students with Multiple Assistantships

Students may hold multiple assistantships at once as long as the total hours per week across all positions does not exceed 20 (or 30 with a waiver from the School of Graduate Studies). Each assistantship must be processed separately with its own Electronic Personnel Action Form (EPAF). For example, a student with both 0.25 FTE (10 hours weekly) of GRA and 0.25 FTE (10 hours weekly) of GTA would have two separate EPAFs submitted by the supervising department(s)—one for the GRA and one for the GTA.

Graduate Student Health Insurance

All graduate students on a 0.5 FTE assistantship are required to have health insurance. Utah State University automatically enrolls students on a 0.5 FTE assistantship in a subsidized health insurance plan. Students may request to waive out of the subsidized graduate insurance if they have their own insurance coverage that has been approved by the Student Health Insurance Coordinator.

Students who do not opt out by the deadline will be required to pay the premiums for the duration of the plan. Please contact the Student Health Insurance Coordinator at ship@usu.edu for more information.

All Graduate Research Assistants, Graduate Trainees, Graduate Teaching Assistants, and Graduate Instructors must work at least one month during the semester to qualify for the graduate health insurance plan. If a student’s assistantship or traineeship ends before the completion of one month, the student does not qualify for the plan, and no premium is assessed to either the student or the department. Once a student meets the 1month minimum, they are eligible for coverage for the entire semester, and both the student and the hiring department are responsible for the full semester premium. If a department terminates a GTA or graduate instructor before the end of the semester, the department remains responsible for its full portion of the premium. If a student resigns or self-terminates before the end of the term, the department is still obligated to pay the full departmental share for that semester.

Departments that require students to sign a Subsidized Graduate Insurance Agreement may recover the departmental portion directly from the student; however, the School of Graduate Studies does not collect these funds on behalf of departments.

Credit Limit

Graduate students with assistantships cannot register for more than 12 credits per semester.

Teaching Assistant Consensual Relationship Policy

Based on USU Policy 4006.9.1, the university’s educational mission is promoted by professionalism. Professionalism is fostered by an atmosphere of mutual trust and

respect. Actions that harm this atmosphere undermine professionalism and hinder fulfillment of the university’s educational mission. Trust and respect are diminished when those in positions of authority abuse or appear to abuse their power. Those who abuse or appear to abuse their power in such a context violate their duty to the university community.

Graders, graduate teaching assistants, and graduate instructors exercise power over students, whether in giving them praise or criticism, evaluating them, making recommendations for their further studies or their future employment, or conferring any other benefits on them. Amorous relationships between graders, graduate teaching assistants, or graduate instructors and other students are not acceptable to the university when the grader, graduate teaching assistant, or graduate instructor has professional responsibility for the student. Such situations greatly increase the chances that the grader, graduate teaching assistant, or graduate instructor will abuse their power and sexually exploit the student. Voluntary consent by the student in such a relationship is suspect, given the fundamentally asymmetric nature of the relationship. Moreover, other students and faculty may be affected by such unprofessional behavior because it places the grader, graduate teaching assistant, or graduate instructor in a position to favor or advance one student’s interest at the expense of others and implicitly makes obtaining benefits contingent on amorous or sexual favors. Therefore, the university will view it as unprofessional conduct if graders, graduate teaching assistants, or graduate instructors engage in amorous relations with students in certain situations, even when both parties appear to have consented to the relationship.

No grader, graduate teaching assistant, or graduate instructor shall have an amorous

relationship (consensual or otherwise) with a student who is enrolled in a course in which the grader, graduate teaching assistant, or graduate instructor has responsibilities related to any of those roles.

Section 3. Student Classifications 

3.1. Matriculated Graduate Students  

Matriculated Graduate Students are those accepted by a department, with the approval of the Vice Provost of Graduate Studies, into a graduate degree program. A student may be accepted on a conditional basis.   

Conditional acceptance is granted when a student has prerequisites that need to be addressed.

The conditions and deadline for satisfying these requirements must be provided to the student by the department to which the student is accepted. Failure to meet these conditions may result in termination from the program.

A full-time matriculated graduate student must be one of the following: 

Registered for 9 or more graduate credits. 

Registered for 6 or more graduate credits if employed as a graduate assistant for 15 hours or more per week. 

Registered for 3 graduate credits* meeting one of the following: 

· All coursework is complete, with only the research component (thesis or dissertation) remaining. 

· The semester of final thesis, Plan B paper/project, or dissertation defense.

· The last semester of coursework required on the student’s Program of Study for non-thesis students.  

*Students registered for 3 credits must have an approved Program of Study and an approved Full-Time at 3 Credit (FT3) form. 

A graduate student on academic warning or probation has failed to make adequate progress in their degree program. Individual departments are responsible for determining and communicating the specific conditions and timeline for correcting the academic deficiencies.

This information will be provided to the student in writing and must be approved by the department head. Failure to meet these conditions by the specified deadline may result in the student’s removal from the degree program.

3.2. International Graduate Students  

An international student must be admitted to a degree program and hold a valid F-1 or J-1 visa before enrolling in classes at Utah State University. A student on an F-1 or J-1 visa must maintain full-time student status throughout the degree program. For more information, please contact the Office of Global Engagement. 

Section 4. General Regulations for Graduate Study

Each graduate student and graduate program coordinator/director are responsible for knowing and following the policies, regulations, procedures, and timelines of the School of Graduate Studies and of their program. The School of Graduate Studies is responsible for communicating any new or updated policies or procedures to both graduate program coordinators/directors and students. Graduate program coordinators/directors are responsible for ensuring that up-to-date information regarding policies and procedures is communicated to their graduate students. Students are responsible for understanding any new and updated information.

4.1. Required Sexual Misconduct Prevention Training

All Utah State University students are required to complete the Student Sexual Misconduct Prevention Training each academic year.

NOTE: If students are also employed on campus, then they must complete the required employee sexual misconduct prevention training, in addition to the student sexual misconduct prevention training.

New graduate students can sign up for a training in Learn Blue.

Continuing graduate students can access the training directly on the training website.

Students who do not complete this training will receive a registration hold and will not be able to register for the following semester. NOTE: The hold will be removed once the training has been completed. Please contact the Civil Rights & Title IX Office at training@usu.edu with any questions regarding this required training and its deadline.

4.2. Grades, Credits, & Course Number Acceptability

4.2.1. Course-Level Numbering and Acceptability

7000-7989 are doctorate-level courses. With supervisory committee and instructor approval they may be used in a master’s program.

6000-6989 are master’s-level courses. With supervisory committee approval they may be used in a doctoral program. A minimum of 18 credits may be used on an approved program of study.

5000-5990 are advanced, upper-division courses. A maximum of 12 credits may be used on an approved program of study.

4.2.2. Auditing Courses

For information regarding auditing a course, please review the Auditing Classes section of the USU General Catalog.

4.2.3. Special Topics & Independent Study Courses

Departments may create their own policies regarding special topics and independent study courses, provided they do not conflict with any University or Graduate School policies.

4.2.4. Semester Credit Limit

Students must have authorization from their department to enroll in more than 18 credits a semester and submit the Registration Action Form request for approval.

4.2.5. Minimum Grades and Credit Acceptability

Graduate students are required to maintain at least a 3.0 GPA for degree-program courses. Grades of C- or lower will not be accepted for a graduate degree. Programs have the right to require a higher minimum grade. Please review individual program catalog pages for minimum grade requirements.

4.2.6. Incomplete (I) - Grade Policy

Incomplete (I) Grade policy information can be referenced directly in the USU General Catalog.

4.2.7. Temporary (T) - Grade Policy

Temporary (T) Grade policy information can be referenced directly in the USU General Catalog.

4.2.8. Pass (P) - Grade Policy

Pass (P) will be accepted only for seminars, special problems, thesis, or dissertation research, and continuing graduate advisement.

4.2.9. Correspondence Course Credits

Distance Education correspondence (independent study) courses are not accepted for graduate degrees.

4.3. Split Form Policy

Undergraduate students at Utah State University who, are in good academic standing and intend to pursue a graduate degree, may file a Split Form. NOTE: This form requests to reserve up to 12 semester credits from their undergraduate record for a future graduate degree.

4.3.1. Split Form Eligibility and Requirements

To get a Split Form approved, a student must a.) apply for undergraduate graduation, b.) be enrolled in at least one required undergraduate class. c.) have a cumulative undergraduate GPA of 3.0 or higher in the semester the form is submitted. d.) apply and pay the application fee to the School of Graduate Studies (see SGS Catalog Section 1: Graduate Admissions Policies above). e.) receive the instructor’s permission to register for graduate courses.

4.3.2. Important Considerations

Graduate Admission is Not Guaranteed: Approval of a Split Form does not guarantee admission into the School of Graduate Studies.

Graduate Matriculation: A transitional student will not be officially matriculated into a graduate program until their bachelor’s degree has been completed.

No Double-Counting: A course cannot be applied toward the undergraduate and graduate degree.

Deadline: The Split Form must be submitted before the student’s bachelor’s degree is completed and officially posted on their transcript.

4.3.3. Split Form Course Transcripts

By default, undergraduate courses (0010–4990) are posted to the undergraduate transcript.

Graduate courses (6000–7990) are posted to the graduate transcript. The posting of 5000-5990 level courses will not count towards a graduate degree unless it is included on an approved split form and the course level has been changed by the Office of the Registrar.

4.3.4. Requesting the Split

Undergraduate students who meet the qualifications must submit a Split Form to the School of Graduate Studies to specify which courses should be "split out" for their graduate degree.

4.4. Transfer and Nonmatriculated Credits

4.4.1. Transferring Graduate Credits

Credit Limit: Master's and doctoral students may transfer a maximum of 12 graduate semester credits from other accredited institutions into a graduate program at Utah State University.

Source: These credits may include those earned with a "P" grade.

Transfer Restrictions: Credits cannot have been used toward another degree.

Approval Process: All transfer credits require approval from both the student's supervisory committee (major professor if a supervisory committee is not required) and the Vice Provost of Graduate Studies. For credits with a "P" grade, committee approval is specifically required.

Transcript Display: Approved transfer credits will appear on the official Utah State University transcript upon completion of the degree.

4.4.2. Transferred Nonmatriculated Credits

These stipulations apply to transferred nonmatriculated credits: no more than 12 semester credits taken at Utah State University or another institution prior to matriculation at Utah State University may be used in a program of study, if approved by the student’s supervisory committee. NOTE: This is not applicable to certificates.

4.5. Concurrent Graduate Degrees

Students may pursue concurrent master’s degrees or concurrent master’s and doctoral degrees. This requires approval from the cooperating departments and the Vice Provost of Graduate Studies.

4.5.1. Admissions Process

Apply to the First Program: A student must first submit a standard application (see SGS Catalog Section 1: Graduate Admissions Policies) and be admitted into their first graduate degree program.

Apply for Concurrent Status: Once admitted to the first program, the student may apply for a second degree program by submitting a Concurrent Degrees form to the School of Graduate Studies.

Meet the Deadline: For the degrees to be considered concurrent, admission to the second degree program must be finalized before the end of the second semester in the first degree program.

4.5.2. Concurrent Degree Credit Overlap Limit

A maximum of 9 credits may overlap between the two degree programs with departmental approval. This overlap allows a student to complete both degrees with up to 9 fewer total credits for the second degree than would otherwise be required for two separate degrees.

4.5.3. Credit Application

Allocated courses will not be applied to both degrees. Shared (concurrent) credits may not be applied to both degrees. The first degree will be awarded upon completion of its full minimum credit requirement. The second degree will reflect the approved credit overlap, and the shared coursework will not be listed on its Program of Study.

4.5.4. Concurrent Master’s-Master's Degree Programs

In special cases, a student may concurrently complete the requirements for two master’s degrees, in the same or in different departments, with fewer than the total credits required, provided that the following conditions are met:

· The student must submit a Concurrent Degrees request and be accepted into the second program or prior to completing 50% of the credits required for the first program.

· For students doing two professional degrees or one professional degree and one research degree (M.S. or Ph.D.) there are no special rules for the construction of supervisory committees beyond what is normal in each program.

· Students doing concurrent research degrees will have two supervisory committees, one for each program.

· The major professor for one degree program must be a member on the committee for the other degree program.

· The other committee members for the two supervisory committees need only follow SGS and program guidelines and faculty may serve on both supervisory committees. *

*The Supervisory Committee form and Program of Study must be in accordance with the School of Graduate Studies and program requirements.

For questions about policies regarding Supervisory Committees, please review SGS Catalog Section 6 below.

4.5.5. Concurrent Doctoral-Master’s Degree Programs

In special cases, a student may complete concurrently all requirements for a doctoral degree and a master’s degree with fewer than the total credits required by both programs, provided that the following conditions are met:

· The student must submit a Concurrent Degrees request and be accepted into the second program or prior to completing 50% of the credits required for the first program.

· Students doing concurrent research degrees will have two supervisory committees, one for each program.

· The major professor for one degree program must be a member on the committee for the other degree program.

· The other committee members for the two supervisory committees need only follow SGS and program guidelines and faculty may serve on both supervisory committees. *

*The Supervisory Committee form and Program of Study must be in accordance with the School of Graduate Studies and program requirements.

For questions about policies regarding Supervisory Committees, please review SGS Catalog Section 6 below.

4.5.6. Concurrent Doctoral-Doctoral Degree Programs

Students are not permitted to enroll concurrently in two doctoral programs when both programs require the completion of a dissertation.

· Two scholarly dissertations would place overlapping demands on research, scholarly output, and faculty oversight that are not compatible with the institution’s expectations for original, independent doctoral-level work. However, a capstone project with an applied emphasis for a professional doctorate and a traditional dissertation with a scholarly emphasis reflect complementary rather than overlapping objectives.

· Students are permitted to enroll concurrently in two doctoral programs when one program requires a dissertation and the other requires a practicum or capstone, provided that the following conditions are met:  

· In these cases, the nature of the practicum or capstone—being applied, supervised professional practice rather than a major research study—does not conflict with the scholarly requirements of producing an original dissertation. The scope and objectives of the practicum/capstone and the dissertation may not overlap.

· The student must submit a Concurrent Degrees request and be accepted into the second program or prior to completing 50% of the credits required for the first program.  

· Students doing concurrent doctoral degrees will have two supervisory committees, one for each program.

· The major professor for one degree program must be a member on the committee for the other degree program.

· The other committee members for the two supervisory committees need only follow SGS and program guidelines and faculty may serve on both supervisory committees. *

*The Supervisory Committee form and Program of Study must be in accordance with the School of Graduate Studies and program requirements.

For questions about policies regarding Supervisory Committees, please review SGS Catalog Section 6 below.

4.6. Graduate Student Leave of Absence

A leave of absence may be granted under the following conditions:

· Illness, required military service, and other extenuating circumstances acceptable to the department head and the Vice Provost of Graduate Studies.

· Lack of availability of courses.

· Participation in a planned program based primarily on summer semester courses.

· For the second or third condition to apply, the student must have an approved Program of Study.

To request a leave of absence, a Leave of Absence request must be approved by the department head and submitted to the School of Graduate Studies. A leave of absence may be the basis for extending the time limit to complete a degree, but not to extend the time limit for course validity. A student needing to extend an approved Leave of Absence should contact their Graduate Program Coordinator.

Should the reason for leave change, a new submission and approvals are required. International students should note that taking a leave of absence will affect their immigration status. For questions, international students should contact the Office of Global Engagement.

Students who take a leave of absence from the university should note that this will affect the status of their federal or private student loan status. Students will need to contact their loan servicer for more information.

Prior to requesting a leave of absence, students are responsible for dropping courses in accordance with all university calendar deadlines and procedures. All students on a leave of absence will maintain their IT access for one year beginning the semester that they take a leave of absence.

Any additional time after the allotted one year will need special permission from the student’s home department and the School of Graduate Studies. Time spent on a leave of absence does not count toward the six-year time limit for completing a master’s degree, as set by the School of Graduate Studies. The duration of the leave will be subtracted from the time calculated from the original matriculation date.

Example: If a student begins their master’s program in Fall 2020 and takes a one-year leave of absence from Fall 2022 to Fall 2023, their six-year completion window will be extended to Fall 2027 instead of Fall 2026.

NOTE: This policy does not apply to the eight-year revalidation policy, which is outlined separately in SGS Catalog Section 4.10.2. below.

4.7. Continuous Enrollment

· To maintain full-time status graduate students are required to be registered for the appropriate number of credits in both fall and spring semesters. Graduate students are considered to be active in summer even when not registered for credits.

· Note for International Students: Summer is considered a vacation semester for students who were enrolled in spring and intend to enroll the following fall semester. International students must be enrolled full-time in the summer if summer is their first or last semester.

· Full-time enrollment can mean different things: 9 credits (at least 6 of which must be in-person for international students), 6 credits with a .37 - .5 FTE assistantship, at least 3 of which must be in-person, or 3 credits with an approved Full Time at 3 Credits (FT3) form, all of which must be in-person.

· If less than 3 credits are needed to graduate, then international students who need full-time status must enroll in a minimum of 1 in-person credit with an approved Reduced Course Load (RCL) form.

· A Reduced Course Load (RCL) form cannot be used after the completion of the grace semester (for more information about the grace semester, please see SGS Catalog Section 4.8. below).

· If International Students have any questions about the Full-Time at 3 Credits (FT3) form or the Reduced Course Load (RCL) form, they should contact the Office of Global Engagement.

4.8. Grace Semester

Doctoral and master’s students will be given until the last day of the next semester (spring, summer or fall) following a successful defense to complete remaining degree requirements. This is the “grace semester” and does not require students to be registered for credits unless needed to remain compliant with F-1 or J-1 visa criteria.

If a student has not completed all degree requirements by the end of the grace semester, the student must register for at least one (1) credit in any semester during which degree requirements will be completed, including a second defense. International students should consult with the Office of Global Engagement regarding SEVIS regulations to determine how many credits they are required to take to remain compliant with F-1 or J-1 visa criteria.

If all degree requirements, including the submission of a final thesis, Plan B paper/project, or dissertation to USU Libraries, are not complete by the conclusion of the grace semester, then the student must defend the thesis, Plan B paper/project, or dissertation a second time. See definitions of minor and major revisions and their relationship to the need to defend a second time described in SGS Catalog Section 12.5: During the Final Defense. The major professor, with support of all members of the supervisory committee, may submit an appeal to the Vice Provost of Graduate Studies, justifying why the student should not be required to defend the thesis, Plan B paper/project, or dissertation a second time.

4.9. Complete Withdrawal from the University

4.9.1. For Matriculated and Enrolled Graduate Students

To initiate a complete withdrawal from a graduate program, email the School of Graduate Studies at gradforms@usu.edu, the student's A-number will be needed. The withdrawal date is in accordance with the registration calendar.

4.9.2. For Newly Admitted Students

If the student has not yet registered for courses or have only applied, they must contact graduateadmissions@usu.edu to withdraw. To re-enroll, these students must formally reapply to the School of Graduate Studies and resubmit all supplementary documents for departmental review.

4.9.3. Prior to Withdrawing

Students are responsible for dropping their individual courses in compliance with university deadlines and procedures. This is required before the university will process a complete withdrawal.

Note for International Students: International students should note that taking a complete withdrawal from the university will affect their immigration status. For questions, international students should contact the Office of Global Engagement.

NOTE: Students who take a complete withdrawal from the university should note that this will affect the status of their federal or private student loan status. Students will need to contact their loan servicer for more information.

4.9.4. Deadlines

Once final examinations for a semester have begun, a complete withdrawal is no longer possible. Students who do not complete the withdrawal process by the deadline will receive grades and academic credit earned for their courses, which will be included on their transcript.

4.9.5. Readmission

A student who completely withdraws must be formally readmitted to the university before re-enrolling.

4.10. Graduate Degree Time Limit & Coursework Revalidation

4.10.1. Graduate Degree Time Limit

Master’s Degrees

A master’s degree must be completed within six years of entering the degree program.

Additional time may be requested by the student’s committee and submitted to the Vice Provost of Graduate Studies for review.

Doctoral Degrees

A doctorate degree must be completed within eight years of entering the degree program.

Additional time may be requested by the student’s committee and submitted to the Vice Provost of Graduate Studies for review.

4.10.2. Coursework Revalidation

· Coursework more than eight years old at the time of degree completion may not be used for a graduate degree unless it is revalidated.

· If permitted by the departmental or interdepartmental degree program policy, a supervisory committee may develop and submit a revalidation plan to the Vice Provost of Graduate Studies for approval. Revalidation entails some activity which demonstrates the student’s current knowledge of the full scope of the course’s content as specified in the syllabus.

· Committees have wide latitude in the types of activities proposed for revalidation (e.g., essay, project, oral exam). However, no program benchmark assessment (e.g., qualifying exam, comprehensive exam, thesis/Plan B paper or project/dissertation proposal) may be used for revalidation.

· The plan and determination must be verified in writing and include the Vice Provost of Graduate Studies and the student’s major professor or other person(s) responsible for the revalidation. Work experience cannot be substituted for out-of-date coursework or used for revalidation, except where current work experience can be documented to have involved the use of current knowledge and application of material currently covered in the coursework, as documented in the original course syllabus.

· Graduate credits from another institution exceeding the eight-year limit at the time of degree completion may be transferred to a Utah State University graduate degree only if the student’s supervisory committee provides a justification acceptable to the Vice Provost of Graduate Studies.

· The revalidation procedures described above apply.

4.11. Academic Nepotism

A faculty member is not to participate in admission or graduate assistant employment decisions, serve as major professor, or serve on the supervisory committee of a relative, including a person with whom the faculty member has or has had an amorous relationship. Graduate students may enroll in classes taught by a relative only under special conditions. For information, contact the department head or the School of Graduate Studies.

4.12. GPA Policy & Low-GPA Notification for Graduate Students

Graduate students are required to maintain at least a 3.0 GPA for degree-program courses.

It is a department’s right to require a higher GPA. Please check the program’s catalog for specific GPA requirements. The School of Graduate Studies will notify GPCs, GPDs, and/or Department Heads of students whose cumulative or overall GPA is below 3.0 at the completion of fall and spring semesters. The department will then notify and coordinate with the students to ensure their future success. If a student’s institution GPA remains below 3.0 for two consecutive semesters, the student may be placed on probationary status, and their graduate program may be terminated.

4.13. Matriculation of Faculty

Except under unusual circumstances, it is the policy of the university not to grant graduate degrees to its own faculty members, where the degree satisfies a prerequisite for appointment or advancement in rank. Requests for exceptions must be individually considered and approved by the provost based on appropriate recommendations. Please see Faculty Policies for more information.

4.14. Monitoring of Progress

The student’s department and the School of Graduate Studies monitor the progress of graduate students. For continued participation in a graduate program, a student must complete all requirements in a timely manner. In reviewing a student’s progress, several factors will be considered, including demonstrated ability to develop a thesis proposal, independence in the conduct of research, performance on comprehensive examinations, GPA, and special program requirements. Satisfactory progress also involves maintaining the standards of professional ethics and integrity expected in the student’s discipline.

Section 5. Research and Intellectual Property

5.1. Regulatory Approval & Responsible Conduct

All University research involving human subjects, animal subjects, radiation materials, recombinant DNA, biohazardous materials, certain highly toxic chemicals, restricted foreign parties, or export-controlled items must be reviewed and approved by the appropriate University committee(s) before the research is started.

Graduate students are, with the assistance of their advisors, responsible for obtaining the necessary approval for their research. Verification of regulatory approval must be submitted to the School of Graduate Studies before the student’s master’s Thesis/Project Approval Form or doctoral Application for Candidacy can be approved.

For further information, please contact Research Integrity and Compliance.

5.1.1. Responsible Conduct of Research (RCR)

· All research degrees (doctoral, MS/A, and MFA) are required to complete the Responsible Conduct of Research course offered on the CITI website. Doctoral degrees include Ph.D., Au.D., Ed.D., and DVM.

· RCR training is also required for any students who are supported by funding from some federal agencies (NSF, USDA-NIFA).

· Graduate students who are supported by funding from the NIH are required to complete a face-to-face component through the Division of Research Integrity and Compliance.

· If a Master’s Plan B paper/project requires research, the student’s Committee will require completion of the RCR CITI Training.

· Completion of RCR training is required as part of the initial Supervisory Committee Approval (SCAF) form for master’s and doctoral students (for more information, please review SGS Catalog Section 6: Supervisory Committees below).

For more information about the Responsible Conduct of Research Training, please check out the USU RCR website.

5.2. Academic Honesty and Research Misconduct

Maintaining the highest standards of academic honesty and research ethics is especially important at the graduate level, where students are expected to do original, scholarly work in preparation for future professional and academic roles.

Academic dishonesty is defined in The Code of Policies and Procedures for Students at Utah State University Article VI, Section 1 to include cheating, falsification of information, and plagiarism. Students who violate any item of the above policy will be subject to the University disciplinary procedures as outlined in Article VI, Section 3 of the Student Code.

5.2.1. Research Misconduct

Research misconduct is defined as fabrication, falsification, or plagiarism in proposing, performing, or reviewing research, or in reporting research results.

Fabrication means making up data or results and recording or reporting them.

Falsification means manipulating research materials, equipment, or processes, or changing or omitting data or results such that the research is not accurately represented in the research record.

Plagiarism The appropriation of another person’s ideas, processes, results, or words without giving appropriate credit. Plagiarism includes the unattributed verbatim or nearly verbatim copying of sentences and paragraphs from another's work that materially misleads the reader regarding the contributions of the author. It does not include the limited use of identical or nearly identical phrases that describe a commonly used methodology. Plagiarism does not include self-plagiarism or authorship or credit disputes, including disputes among former collaborators who participated jointly in the development or conduct of a research project.

Research Misconduct does not include honest errors, differences of opinion, or publication disputes. Research is a vital part of graduate education; therefore, appropriate scientific and research conduct is not only expected, but required.

Allegations of research misconduct involving funded research are handled through the Office of Research. If the research is not externally sponsored, allegations are handled following The Code of Policies and Procedures for Students at Utah State University. Research misconduct may be determined either during or after a student’s program.

Students found guilty of research misconduct may face penalties including:

· (1) correction and reanalysis of data

· (2) and/or rewriting of the thesis or dissertation, with resubmission and a new defense required,

· (3) and/or loss of financial assistance.

· If the misconduct is found to have been knowingly or deliberately committed, the penalty may include dismissal from a program or revocation of an awarded degree.

5.2.2. Reporting Suspected Research Misconduct

USU employees or students who learn of potential Research Misconduct are encouraged to submit a claim for appropriate review.

Claims can be submitted through:

USU’s Research Integrity and Compliance Office

435-797-0485

compliance@usu.edu

USU’s Ethics & Compliance Hotline

A Dean, Director, or Department Head, who has a duty to pass the claim to the Research Integrity & Compliance Office

5.2.3. How are Research Misconduct Allegations Reviewed?

The Research Integrity & Compliance Office maintains Research Misconduct Procedures.

These procedures meet federal standards and are reviewed and approved by the Office of Research Integrity within Health & Human Services. All allegations will undergo an assessment phase as soon as possible, and if sufficient credible evidence is present, will move to an inquiry and/or investigation phase. NOTE: Because the definition of Research Misconduct is narrow, not all allegations may fall under Research Misconduct. Non-Research Misconduct improprieties will be referred to other offices on campus as appropriate (Human Resources, Provost, etc.).

5.3. Appeals Procedure

Graduate students with grievances relating to academic matters may appeal to the Vice Provost of Graduate Studies following the steps and procedures outlined in The Code of Policies and Procedures for Students at Utah State University.

NOTE: For any questions related to Responsible Conduct of Research (RCR) and Research Misconduct, please contact the Research Integrity & Compliance Team.

Section 6. Supervisory Committees

All full-time faculty and staff at USU eligible to serve on Supervisory Committees must be members in good standing of the USU graduate faculty.

Individuals who are affiliated with other institutions or have limited USU affiliations (e.g., adjunct instructors, emerita and emeritus faculty) can be appointed to serve as committee members on an ad hoc basis through a separate process, which requires approval from the appropriate Department Head and the Vice Provost for Graduate Studies.

6.1. Master’s Plan A and Plan B

A completed initial Supervisory Committee Approval form should be submitted to the School of Graduate Studies for final approval by the end of the student’s second semester.

· As part of the initial Supervisory Committee Approval (SCAF) form, completion of Responsible Conduct of Research (RCR) CITI Training is required for all MS/A (thesis), MA, and MFA students.

· It is also required for all students funded by NIH, NSF, or USDA-NIFA.

· If a Plan B paper/project requires research, the student’s Committee will require completion of the RCR CITI Training.

· The School of Graduate Studies does not require proposal defenses for Plan B papers/projects that do not include empirical research

· Additionally, the training may be recommended for any master’s student if their committee determines it is appropriate for the student’s thesis or project.

· RCR CITI Training must be completed before the initial SCAF form is submitted.

· NOTE: If the SCAF form does not have all required committee roles filled and the completed RCR training (if required), it will be denied.

See SGS Catalog Section 5.1.1., for further information about the Responsible Conduct of Research requirement or contact Research Integrity and Compliance.

A master’s degree supervisory committee must include at least three members who hold a master’s degree or higher and are members of the USU Graduate Faculty. If the degree is a Plan A, all members must have completed a thesis or dissertation.

· The major professor must be from within the student’s department. At least one member must represent the student’s area of specialization, and at least one member must be from outside the home department or specialization area and a member of the USU Graduate Faculty in good standing.

· NOTE: For special accommodations, the department must receive approval from the Vice Provost of Graduate Studies.

· It is permissible for one member of the committee to be affiliated with an outside institution, affiliated with USU on a part-time basis (e.g., adjunct faculty), or an emeritus or emerita; this individual can only be added to a committee with the permission of the appropriate Department Head and the Vice Provost for Graduate Studies.

While it is the expectation that all members of a thesis or Plan B paper/project committee uphold these values, the specific role of the outside member of a thesis or Plan B paper/project committee is to ensure the success of the thesis/Plan B paper or project process for the student with regard to three primary goals:

· A fair, ethical, and humane process for the student.

· Rigorous academic and intellectual experience that yields meaningful insights accessible to the disciplinary and broader communities.

· And safeguarding against “group think” or tacit expectations that may not be intuitive or evident to the student.

Within School of Graduate Studies and departmental requirements, the supervisory committee for a master’s degree does the following:

· Determines courses for the student’s Program of Study.

· Conducts any required departmental qualifying examinations.

· Supervises the student’s thesis research, Plan B paper/project, or other degree project.

· Conducts the defense or final examination.

NOTE: The defense or final examination must be scheduled through the School of Graduate Studies. The major professor, who serves as the chairperson of the committee, usually directs the thesis, Plan B paper/project, or other degree project.

· A faculty member should not serve on a supervisory committee if, for any reason, they will not be available for committee meetings.

· All committee members must attend the defense at the date and time registered with the School of Graduate Studies.

· Members of the committee are permitted to participate remotely with both audio and video interaction. Students should work with their committee members to arrange defense participation and details prior to submitting an Appointment for Thesis/Project/Dissertation Defense form.

· Changes to a supervisory committee must be documented and approved by submitting a Supervisory Committee Revision form to the School of Graduate Studies and cannot be made during the six weeks prior to the defense without a written request from the Department Head and approval of the Vice Provost of Graduate Studies.

· No committee member should agree to proceed with a defense until they have carefully read and approved the thesis or Plan B paper/project.

· Co-Advisors can be from any department but cannot also serve as the committee member from outside the department or specialization area.

· After the final defense of a Plan A thesis, the student should submit their finalization paperwork and finished manuscript to the School of Graduate Studies for review.

· Plan B papers/projects are defended but are not formally reviewed by the School of Graduate Studies, nor signed by the Vice Provost of Graduate Studies. Instead, they must be submitted directly to USU Libraries and uploaded to the institutional repository. See Plan B Report/Creative Project Submission Form. Once accepted, USU Libraries personnel will notify both the student and the School of Graduate Studies.

· Once approved, the manuscript will either be uploaded to USU’s institutional repository or, if the student wishes to embargo their work, submit their physical manuscript to USU Libraries. USU Libraries personnel will notify the student and the School of Graduate Studies once the manuscript is accepted.

6.2. Doctoral Degrees

A completed initial Supervisory Committee Approval form should be submitted to the School of Graduate Studies for approval by the end of the student’s third semester.

· As part of the initial Supervisory Committee Approval (SCAF) form, completion of Responsible Conduct of Research (RCR) CITI Training is required for all doctoral students and any master’s student whose committee deems it appropriate for their student to take.

· It is also required for all students funded by NIH, NSF, or USDA-NIFA.

· RCR CITI Training must be completed before the initial SCAF form is submitted.

· NOTE: If the SCAF form does not have all required committee roles filled and the completed RCR training will be denied.

See SGS Catalog Section 5.1.1., for further information about Responsible Conduct of Research requirement or contact Research Integrity and Compliance.

· A doctoral supervisory committee must include at least five members who hold a terminal degree (e.g., Ph.D., other doctorate, or terminal master’s degree such as an M.F.A.). The committee must consist of a major professor from inside the student’s department, and at least three members from within the student’s department and at least one member who is a member of the USU Graduate Faculty with an appointment outside either, the department or, interdepartmental degree-granting program, in which the student is enrolled; all of these individuals must be members in good standing of the USU graduate faculty.

· NOTE: For special accommodations, the department must receive approval from the Vice Provost of Graduate Studies.

· All committee members must have completed a dissertation or thesis requirement similar to that which the graduate student is completing.

While it is the expectation that all members of a dissertation committee uphold these values, the specific role of the outside member of a dissertation committee is to ensure the success of the dissertation/thesis process for the student with regard to three primary goals:

· A fair, ethical, and humane process for the student.

· Rigorous academic and intellectual experience that yields meaningful insights accessible to the disciplinary and broader communities.

· And safeguarding against “group think” or tacit expectations that may not be intuitive or evident to the student.

Within the School of Graduate Studies and departmental requirements, the doctoral supervisory committee does the following:

· Determines courses for the student’s Program of Study.

· Oversees any qualifying examinations and comprehensive examination, unless another departmental or program procedure is in place. *

· Approves the dissertation proposal.

· Supervises the student’s research and preparation of the dissertation.

· Participates in or conducts departmental annual reviews.

· Conducts the final oral examination.

NOTE: The major professor is the chairperson of the committee and usually directs the student’s research. Continuation in a doctoral program is contingent upon the availability of a major professor.

*Some departments or interdepartmental programs administer qualifying examinations. Each program has the responsibility of administering comprehensive examinations. The School of Graduate Studies does not have a policy regarding the nature of student comprehensive exams. Departments may dictate their own policies on this matter, provided that they do not violate University and School of Graduate Studies policies.

· A faculty member should not serve on a supervisory committee if, for any reason, they will not be available for committee meetings. All committee members must attend the defense at the date and time registered with the School of Graduate Studies.

· No committee member should agree to proceed with a defense until they have carefully read and approved the dissertation.

· After the final defense of a dissertation, the student should submit their finalization paperwork and finished manuscript to the School of Graduate Studies for review.

6.3. Concurrent Research Degrees and Supervisory Committees

· Students doing concurrent graduate degrees will have two supervisory committees, one for each program (please see SGS Catalog Section 4.5.4. for concurrent master’s-master's degree programs, Section 4.5.5. for concurrent doctoral-master's degree programs, and Section 4.5.6. for concurrent doctoral-doctoral degree programs, for further information about concurrent degree programs and supervisory committees).

· The major professor for each degree program must be a member of the supervisory committee for the other program. The other committee members for the two supervisory committees need only follow SGS and program guidelines and faculty may serve on both supervisory committees.

· The Supervisory Committee form and Program of Study must be in accordance with the School of Graduate Studies and program requirements.

6.4. Committee Members from Outside of the Department

It is the expectation that all members of a thesis/Plan B paper or project/dissertation committee uphold these values, the specific role of the committee member from outside of the department is to ensure the success of the thesis/Plan B paper or project/dissertation process for the student with regard to three primary goals:

· A fair, ethical, and humane process for the student.

· A rigorous academic, and intellectual experience that yields meaningful insights accessible to the disciplinary and broader communities.

· And safeguarding against “group think” or tacit expectations that may not be intuitive or evident to the student.

NOTE: The role of committee members from outside the department can only be filled by a member of the USU graduate faculty in good standing. While an individual from outside USU may be added to the committee, they are not eligible to fulfill the formal “outside committee member” role. All committee members, including members from outside of the department, must be approved by the Dean of the College, Department Head, and the Vice Provost of the School of Graduate Studies.

6.5. Committee Members from Outside the University

Committee members from outside the university may serve as a member at large of the committee. They are not eligible to serve as a committee chair or outside member. All committee members, including members outside the university, must be approved by the Dean of the College, Department Head, and the Vice Provost of the School of Graduate Studies.

6.6. Adjunct Faculty

An adjunct faculty member may serve as a member at large of the committee with approval from the Dean of the College, Department Head, and the Vice Provost of the School of Graduate Studies. Adjunct faculty may not fill the role of “Outside Committee Member.”

6.7. Emerita/Emeritus Faculty

Emerita/emeritus faculty may continue to serve as committee members or major professors on any committee on which they serve at the time they become emeritus. Emerita/emeritus faculty may shift from chair to member after they leave their normal faculty role, but they may not shift from member at large to chair or shift from member at large to outside member. They may serve as committee members on committees formed after they become emeritus, but not as major professor or outside member.

NOTE: The Department is responsible for ensuring that Emeritus/Emerita faculty retain an A# and IT access.

6.8. Faculty Who Leave Utah State University for Another Academic Institution or Job

Faculty who leave USU for another institution may continue to serve as committee members on graduate student committees upon the request of the department and with approval from the Vice Provost of Graduate Studies. The faculty member is responsible for updating their email in Banner, in order to receive notifications.

On graduate student committees where the departing member is the major professor, there must be a new major professor or a co-major professor who is a member of the graduate faculty in good standing at USU.

Section 7. Program of Study (POS)

7.1. Purpose

The Program of Study (POS) is a formal document outlining the student’s graduate coursework. It must meet specific credit requirements based on the student’s degree and prior education.

7.2. Program of Study Requirements

Credit Requirements:

Doctoral (with a prior master’s degree): At least 18 semester credits at the 6000-level or above.

Doctoral (without a prior bachelor’s degree): At least 30 semester credits at the 6000-level or above.

Master’s: At least 18 semester credits at the 6000-level or above.

NOTE: A Program of Study is not required for Graduate Certificates.

For questions about graduate degree requirements, please refer to SGS Catalog Section 8 for master’s degrees and Section 10 for doctoral degrees.

Coursework Restrictions:

Excluded Credits: Courses below the 5000-level, undergraduate prerequisites, and audited courses cannot be included.

Non-Acceptable Credits: The following are not acceptable for a graduate degree program:

· Continuing graduate advisement

· Individual home study

· Military science

Audited Courses: These cannot count towards a degree program or full-time status.

7.3. Submission Deadline

Master’s Degrees: A master’s student’s Program of Study should be submitted to the School of Graduate Studies for approval by the end of the second semester, after the Supervisory Committee Form (SCAF) has been submitted and approved. NOTE: Master’s Plan C Students do not submit Supervisory Committee Forms.

Doctoral Degrees: A doctoral student’s Program of Study should be submitted to the School of Graduate Studies for approval by the end of the third semester, after the Supervisory Committee form has been submitted and approved.

7.4. Approval

The student’s major professor, department head, committee members, and the School of Graduate Studies will receive an email notification from USU’s ServiceNow to review and approve the Program of Study. Once all approvals are obtained, the student and their GPC will receive a final email from ServiceNow with confirmation that the Program of Study was approved.

7.5. Revisions

All changes to the Program of Study (POS) must go through the Program of Study revision approval process. If a student needs assistance with revising their Program of Study, they should contact their Graduate Program Coordinator.

For questions about how to create or revise a Program of Study, students should contact their Graduate Program Coordinator.     

NOTE: Students should not wait until their final semester to submit required forms, as doing so may delay graduation. Timely submission is essential to ensure all degree requirements are met without complications.           

Section 8. Master’s Degree Requirements

Master’s Degree Plan Types:

Plan A: The Master’s Plan A option requires students to prepare and defend a thesis, which is a significant piece of original research or a new perspective on existing knowledge.

Plan B: The Master’s Plan B option requires the completion and defense of a paper or project, depending on the specific department and program requirements.

Plan C/Professional: The Master’s Plan C/Professional may be required to enroll in research credits, but thesis credits are not accepted on a Program of Study or applied towards a degree.

Credit Hours Requirement:

The minimum requirement for a master’s degree is 30 semester credits. Certain programs may have higher credit requirements for some master’s degrees.

Residency Requirement:

The School of Graduate Studies does not have any academic residency requirements for graduate students, but departments and colleges may impose residency requirements in their programs as they see fit.

Thesis Requirements:

Master’s Plan A: Students must complete a minimum of 6 and a maximum of 15 semester credits of thesis research (course 6970) as part of their Program of Study.

Master’s Plan B: Master’s Plan B students must complete a minimum of 2 semester credits of thesis research (course 6970); however, no more than 3 semester credits of thesis research credits may be included in an approved Program of Study.

Some degree programs may require creative project credits in addition to, or instead of, research credits.

NOTE: Registration for thesis credits should correspond with the semesters during which the research is actively conducted, and faculty supervision is provided.

Plan B Paper or Project Overview:

The Plan B paper/project is typically a literature review, developed through:

· Conceptualizing an area of inquiry.

· Planning a systematic search.

· Analyzing or critiquing the gathered information.

The resulting summary and conclusions should enhance the student’s understanding of the discipline.

Publication Policy for Degree Completion:

· The School of Graduate Studies recognizes that scholarly publications are a vital component of graduate training and may be essential for post degree success. Publications or manuscripts of which the student is a co-author may be included if the committee determines that the student made a substantial intellectual contribution to the work.

· Permission to include a publication or manuscript in a thesis/project does not depend on the order of authorship.

· Any included publication or manuscript must be a logical component of the overarching theme or themes addressed by the entire thesis, which, as a whole, must represent the student’s individual and original effort.

· The student is responsible for obtaining reprint permission from the copyright holder for any published works included as part of the thesis.

· A program or faculty mentor may require manuscripts to be submitted for publication as part of its degree completion requirements. However, because publication timelines are often subject to external factors, actual acceptance/publication of a manuscript cannot be a degree requirement, and time to degree cannot be extended to accommodate publication of a manuscript.

8.1. Receive Approval on Thesis or Plan B Paper/Project Research Proposal

Students should finalize their thesis or Plan B paper/project topic and present a formal research proposal to their supervisory committee for review and approval.

Action: Students should schedule a proposal meeting with their committee once their topic and research plan are clearly defined.

NOTE: Approval of the thesis or Plan B paper/project proposal is required before significant research or data collection begins.

8.2. Thesis/Project Proposal Approval (TPA) Form

Purpose

· All Master’s Plan A and Plan B students should submit a Thesis/Project Approval (TPA) form to confirm they have successfully defended their thesis or Plan B paper/project proposal with committee approval before the final defense. The School of Graduate Studies does not require proposal defenses for Plan B papers/projects that do not include empirical research.

· This form is also used to document that the student has obtained any necessary regulatory approval (IRB, IACUC, etc.) (see SGS Catalog Section 5.1 above) and completed any safety trainings necessary. The form should therefore be submitted after the student’s committee approves the thesis/project research proposal, and prior to the student conducting their research.

· For updates on IRB regulations and to determine whether a student’s research requires IRB approval, view USU's IRB webpage.

· The student, their major professor, committee members, Department Head, and IRB/IACUC (if needed) will receive an email notification from ServiceNow, to review and approve the Thesis/Project Approval form. Once all signatures are obtained electronically, all parties will receive a final email from Service Now with a completed form.

· The student’s thesis or Plan B paper/project defense is scheduled after the Thesis/Project Proposal Approval form is accepted (see SGS Catalog Section 12.2 below for more information about all required forms needed prior to a student's thesis or Plan B paper/project proposal defense).

Submission Deadline

· Master’s students are encouraged to submit the Thesis/Project Approval (TPA) form by the end of their second semester, after submitting and receiving approval for the Supervisory Committee Approval Form (SCAF) and the Program of Study (POS), (see SGS Catalog Section 6.1., for information about the SCAF form, and SGS Catalog Section 7.3., for information about submitting the POS form), a successful thesis/project proposal defense, all regulatory approval is in place, and any other required forms for the proposal defense have been submitted and accepted.

· Verification of regulatory approval must be submitted to the School of Graduate Studies before the student’s Thesis/Project Proposal Approval can be approved.

Section 9. Post-Master’s Professional Degrees & Graduate Interdepartmental Degrees and Certificates

Post-Master’s Professional Degrees:

Educational Specialist (EdS) programs, are designed for students who seek to improve their professional skills and knowledge beyond the master’s degree. The minimum requirement for each of these degrees is 30 semester credits beyond the master’s degree and 60 credits beyond a bachelor’s degree.

Graduate Interdepartmental Degrees and Certificates:   

Utah State University offers a number of interdepartmental graduate degrees. A full list of interdepartmental degrees and certificates is available through the School of Graduate Studies Degree Finder. 

Section 10. Doctoral Degree Requirements

Credit Hours Requirement:

30 to 60 academic credits beyond a master’s degree. 60 to 90 academic credits beyond a bachelor’s degree.

Specific credit-hour requirements vary by department. Students should consult their department for detailed program expectations.

Residency Requirement:

The School of Graduate Studies will not have any academic residency requirements for graduate students, but departments and colleges may impose residency requirements in their programs as they see fit.

Dissertation Credit Requirements:

A minimum of 12 dissertation credits (7970) for students entering with a master’s degree.

A minimum of 18 dissertation credits (7970) for students entering with a bachelor's degree.

Dissertation credits should be taken during the semesters when the actual dissertation work is being conducted, and faculty supervision is provided.

Publication Policy for Degree Completion:

The School of Graduate Studies recognizes that scholarly publications are a vital component of graduate training and may be essential for post degree success. Publications or manuscripts of which the student is a co-author may be included if the committee determines that the student made a substantial intellectual contribution to the work.

· Permission to include a publication or manuscript in a dissertation does not depend on the order of authorship.

· Any included publication or manuscript must be a logical component of the overarching theme or themes addressed by the entire dissertation, which, as a whole, must represent the student’s individual and original effort.

· The student is responsible for obtaining reprint permission from the copyright holder for any published works included as part of the dissertation.

Professional Doctoral Degrees – Au.D., Ed.D., and DVM

In addition to research-based doctoral degrees (e.g., Ph.D.), the university offers professional doctoral degrees such as:

· Doctor of Audiology (Au.D.)

· Doctor of Education (Ed.D.)

· Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM)

These degrees differ from traditional research doctorates in the following ways:

· Focus: Professional doctorates emphasize advanced practice, clinical training, and application of knowledge in professional settings, rather than original research.

· Capstone Requirements: Instead of a dissertation, these programs may require a clinical project, portfolio, or other culminating experience.

· Credit Requirements: Credit requirements vary by program and may not follow the same dissertation credit model as Ph.D. programs.

· Timeline: Professional doctorates may follow a different academic calendar or progression model, often with integrated internships or residencies.

· Students pursuing Au.D., Ed.D., or DVM degrees should consult their program’s handbook and Graduate Program Coordinator for detailed requirements, timelines, and completion procedures specific to their degree.

10.1. Comprehensive Examinations

Some departments or interdepartmental programs may require qualifying examinations in addition to comprehensive examinations.

Action: Students should check with their program for specific exam requirements and timelines.

Passing comprehensive exams is a major, required milestone toward candidacy and should generally be completed by the end of the second year. The School of Graduate Studies does not have a policy regarding the nature of student comprehensive exams, but it does require them. Departments may dictate their own policies on this matter, provided that they do not violate University and School of Graduate Studies policies.

10.1.1. Receive Approval on Dissertation Research Proposal

Students should finalize their dissertation topic and present a formal research proposal to their supervisory committee for review and approval.

Action: Students should schedule a proposal meeting with their committee once their topic and research plan are clearly defined.

NOTE: Approval of the dissertation proposal is required before significant research or data collection begins.

10.1.2. Application for Candidacy Submission and Approval

Purpose

· Submission of the Application for Candidacy (ACCD) Form is a significant point in the doctoral student’s program because the Major Professor, Supervisory Committee, and Department Head thereby attest that the student is ready to conduct independent dissertation research—although successful completion is not guaranteed.

· This form is also used to document that the student has obtained any necessary regulatory approval (IRB, IACUC, etc.) (see SGS Catalog Section 5.1 above) and completed any safety trainings necessary. The form should therefore be submitted after the student’s committee approves the dissertation research proposal, and prior to the student conducting their research.

· For updates on IRB regulations and to determine whether a student’s research requires IRB approval, view USU's IRB webpage.

· Students are permitted to enroll in dissertation credits in their last semester of coursework after they have successfully passed their comprehensive exams and received final approval for their application for candidacy.

Submission Deadline

Doctoral students are encouraged to submit this form by the end of their second year, as soon as their dissertation proposal is approved, all regulatory approval is complete, the student passes their comprehensive exams, and any other required forms for the proposal defense have been submitted and accepted (see SGS Catalog Section 12.2 below for more information about all required forms needed prior to a student's dissertation proposal defense). NOTE: The Supervisory Committee Approval Form (SCAF) and the Program of Study (POS), should already be submitted and approved by the end of the doctoral student's third semester (see SGS Catalog Section 6.2., for information about the SCAF form, and SGS Catalog Section 7.3., for information about submitting the POS form).
Verification of regulatory approval must be submitted to the School of Graduate Studies before the student’s Application for Candidacy can be approved.
The student, their Major Professor, Committee Members, Department Head, and IRB/IACUC (if needed) will receive an email notification from ServiceNow, to review and approve the Application for Candidacy form. Once all signatures are obtained electronically, all parties will receive a final email from Service Now with a completed form.
NOTE: The Application for Candidacy (ACCD) Form should be submitted at least three months prior to the student’s final defense.

Section 11. Graduate Certificates

11.1. Definition

· A graduate certificate is a post-bachelor’s or post-master’s certificate which must be less than 30 credits per Policy R402. It is stackable if, after its completion, it is eligible to meet degree completion requirements for a subsequent graduate degree or certificate. Students enrolled in a graduate certificate (i.e., post-bachelor’s or post-master’s certificate) program are considered graduate students under Utah State University policy.

11.2. Graduate Certificates

· These certificates are either post-bachelor’s or post-master’s credentials and include only courses at the 5000 level or above. Students must hold a bachelor’s degree prior to admission into the certificate program. These certificates may be stacked into a graduate degree or certificate if designated as stackable. Degree programs that accept stackable graduate certificates to meet degree requirements must specify which certificates they accept and how each will count toward degree requirements. However, stackable certificates cannot offset more than the total number of credits in the certificate at or above the 6000-level plus up to 12 credits at the 5000-level. Certificate programs are subject to same policies, procedures, and standards as graduate degree programs, including all university admissions and awarding policies (e.g., GPA, degree verification, program of study). Certificate programs may adopt more stringent GPA requirements than the School of Graduate Studies requires.

11.3. Graduate Certificate Stackability

· Every graduate certificate must be officially designated as either “stackable” or “not stackable” in the R401. If it is stackable: Every student must go through a separate admissions process, unless currently enrolled in the certificate program at the time of adoption of this policy. If it is not stackable: Students do not need to apply separately if they are already enrolled in a graduate degree program at the university (concurrent enrollment form required).

· If a student wishes to apply a stackable graduate certificate to a graduate degree, it must be applied to the degree’s program of study within six years of certificate completion. Course revalidation requirements apply only prior to certificate completion. Once the certificate is awarded, revalidation does not apply.

· Once a graduate certificate is awarded, the certificate may be included on a program of study toward a degree which names the certificate. Courses can be applied to a degree individually only before the certificate is completed (e.g., a student chooses to matriculate into a graduate degree program without completing the certificate and applies the courses to the degree’s program of study). The date of completion is the date the credential is posted to the transcript.

· Graduate courses included in a program of study for a degree program may be simultaneously applied to a non-stackable certificate.

Section 12. Thesis, Dissertation, Plan B Paper or Project

A graduate student does not automatically graduate with their degree once they defend or submit their thesis, dissertation, or Plan B paper/project. All other program and university requirements must be successfully fulfilled (for reference, please see SGS Catalog Section 8 for Master’s Degrees or Section 10 for Doctoral Degrees). The deadline for completing degree requirements is the last day of the semester at 5:00pm. Students with further questions, may contact their Graduate Program Coordinator.

12.1. Publication Requirements

Before beginning work on a thesis, dissertation, or Plan B paper/project, graduate students should review the School of Graduate Studies Publication Guide and are encouraged to attend a Thesis and Dissertation Information Session, held in-person and via Zoom.

Master’s Plan A and PhD students need to have a citation style guide/formatting guide/target journal for the overall paper or for each chapter. A citation style guide/manual is contingent on academic discipline. It dictates the information necessary for a citation and how the information is ordered, as well as punctuation and formatting.

Theses, projects, or dissertations may be prepared in either monograph or multiple-paper format.

· Monograph Format: This, the ‘traditional’ format, consists of a multi-chapter document that uses the same style throughout.

· Multiple-Paper Format: A thesis or dissertation using this format consists of at least two chapters, typically written as independent papers, preceded by an introductory chapter that sets the context for the research, and followed by a summary and conclusions chapter that integrates all the studies.

The content of a thesis, project, or dissertation must be approved by the student’s supervisory committee in two (2) stages: a proposal defense and a final defense.

· A thesis/project/dissertation proposal delineates the scope of scholarly work for a thesis, project, or dissertation. Once the committee approves the proposal in the proposal defense, the document is considered a binding agreement between the student and the committee regarding expectations for the final thesis, project, or dissertation.

· A final thesis/project/dissertation defense consists of a student delivering a presentation on the substance of their final thesis, project, or dissertation document and responding to questions or concerns raised by the committee. Following a successful defense, only minor edits to the document might be expected.

· As thesis/project/dissertation proposals and final documents are developed, drafts of sections should be submitted periodically to the major professor for critique.

· Committee members should be consulted, especially on sections that involve their special expertise.

Preparation of a Plan A thesis, Plan B paper/project, or dissertation is the culminating learning experience for a graduate student.

· The quality of the manuscript or project, which should represent the student’s own best work, is the responsibility of the student.

· Monitoring the quality of the Plan A thesis, Plan B paper/project, or dissertation and mentoring the student in writing are responsibilities of the major professor, with the assistance of the supervisory committee.

· Editing by anyone other than the major professor and the supervisory committee should be limited to mechanics, such as spelling and grammar.

Publications or manuscripts of which the student is a co-author may be included if the committee determines that the student made a substantial intellectual contribution to the work.

· Permission to include a publication or manuscript in a thesis, project, or dissertation does not depend on the order of authorship.

· Any included publication or manuscript must be a logical component of the overarching theme or themes addressed by the entire thesis, project, or dissertation, which, as a whole, must represent the student’s individual and original effort.

· When reprint permission is required, the student is responsible for obtaining said permission from the copyright holder for any published works included as part of the thesis, project, or dissertation, and the manuscript must adhere to stated attribution and citation requirements.

· A program may require manuscripts to be submitted for publication as part of its degree completion requirements. However, actual publication of a manuscript cannot be a degree requirement, and time to degree cannot be extended to accommodate publication of a manuscript.

12.2. Proposal Defense Requirements

Any proposal defense held without following the proper procedures as listed in this catalog may be invalid. All committee members must attend the proposal defense at the date and time registered with the School of Graduate Studies. While in-person defense is preferred and recommended, members of the committee may participate remotely with both audio and video interaction.

Students should work with their committee members to arrange defense participation and details prior to submitting an Appointment for Thesis/Project/Dissertation Proposal Defense (AFP) form. The form must be submitted at least 10 workdays prior to their proposal defense.

· If the Appointment for Thesis/Project/Dissertation Proposal Defense (AFP) is not fully approved before the date of defense, the defense is not official and will need to be rescheduled.

· If necessary, an appeal can be made to the Vice Provost for Graduate Studies.

· Once an Appointment for Thesis/Project/Dissertation Proposal Defense (AFP) has been approved by the committee and the School of Graduate Studies, any changes to the date, time, and/or location require the submission and approval of a new Appointment for Thesis/Project/Dissertation Proposal Defense (AFP).

A proposal defense must include a vote to either pass or fail a proposal. Any changes made to the scope of the proposal during the proposal defense must be recorded in writing prior to the vote of the committee. If the proposal passes, it is considered to include the written change of scope. The student and all members of the committee must retain a copy of the text documenting a change in scope.

Proposal defenses cannot be suspended or cancelled once underway. The only possible outcomes of the proposal defense are a pass or fail decision by the committee. If the student fails the proposal defense, they may schedule a second defense in coordination with their major professor once the feedback from the supervisory committee during the first defense is addressed in a revised proposal document.

The results of the proposal defense and any additional requirements are recorded on the Record of Thesis/Project/Dissertation Proposal Defense (ROP) form, which is submitted to the School of Graduate Studies by the student’s Graduate Program Coordinator.

All Master’s Plan A and Plan B students should submit a Thesis/Project Approval (TPA) form to confirm they have successfully defended their thesis or Plan B paper/project proposal with committee approval before the final defense. NOTE: The School of Graduate Studies does not require proposal defenses for Plan B papers/projects that do not include empirical research.

· This form is also used to document that the student has obtained any necessary regulatory approvals (IRB, IACUC, etc.) (see SGS Catalog Section 5.1 above) and completed any safety trainings necessary. The form should therefore be submitted after the student’s committee approves the thesis/project research proposal, and prior to the student conducting their research.

· For updates on IRB regulations and to determine whether a student’s research requires IRB approval, view USU's IRB webpage.

· Verification of regulatory approval must be submitted to the School of Graduate Studies before the student’s Thesis/Project Approval (TPA) can be approved.

· The student, their major professor, Committee Members, Department Head, and IRB/IACUC (if needed) will receive an email notification from ServiceNow, to review and approve the Thesis/Project Approval form. Once all signatures are obtained electronically, all parties will receive a final email from Service Now with a completed form.

· The student’s thesis or Plan B paper/project defense is scheduled after the Thesis/Project Proposal Approval form is accepted.

Master’s Plan A and Plan B students are encouraged to submit the Thesis/Project Approval (TPA) form by the end of their second semester, after submitting and receiving approval for the Supervisory Committee Approval Form (SCAF) and the Program of Study (POS) (see SGS Catalog Section 6.1., for information about the SCAF form, and SGS Catalog Section 7.3., for information about submitting the POS form), a successful thesis/project proposal defense, all regulatory approval is in place, and any other required forms for the proposal defense have been submitted and accepted.

For doctoral students, the submission of the Application for Candidacy (ACCD) Form is a significant point in the student’s program because the Major Professor, Supervisory Committee, and Department Head thereby attest that the student is ready to conduct independent dissertation research—although successful completion is not guaranteed.

· This form is also used to document that the student has obtained any necessary regulatory approvals (IRB, IACUC, etc.) (see SGS Catalog Section 5.1 above) and completed any safety trainings necessary. The form should therefore be submitted after the student’s committee approves the dissertation research proposal, and prior to the student conducting their research.

· For updates on IRB regulations and to determine whether a student’s research requires IRB approval, view USU's IRB webpage.

· Verification of regulatory approvals must be submitted to the School of Graduate Studies before the student’s Application for Candidacy can be approved.

Doctoral students are encouraged to submit this form by the end of their second year, as soon as their dissertation proposal is approved, all regulatory approval is complete, the student passes their comprehensive exams, and any other required forms for the proposal defense have been submitted and accepted. NOTE: The Supervisory Committee Approval Form (SCAF) and the Program of Study (POS), should already be submitted and approved by the end of the doctoral student's third semester (see SGS Catalog Section 6.2., for information about the SCAF form, and SGS Catalog Section 7.3., for information about submitting the POS form).

· The student, their Major Professor, Committee Members, Department Head, and IRB/IACUC (if needed) will receive an email notification from ServiceNow, to review and approve the Application for Candidacy form. Once all signatures are obtained electronically, all parties will receive a final email from Service Now with a completed form.

· NOTE: The Application for Candidacy (ACCD) Form should be submitted at least three months prior to the student’s final defense.

12.3. Final Defense Requirements

Any final defense held without following the proper procedures as listed in this catalog may be invalid. Full-time students must be registered for at least 3 credits during the semester in which they defend their thesis, dissertation, or Plan B paper/project.

Domestic students may be registered for 1 credit during their defense semester; however, they will hold part time status. Students receiving financial aid are likely to be required to maintain full time status, so it is strongly advised to check with the Office of Student Financial Support before electing to take only 1 credit.

International students must be registered for 3 credits if they defend in Fall or Spring semesters with an approved Full-Time at 3 Credits (FT3) form. However, they may register for 1 credit if they are defending in the summer semester with an approved Reduced Course Load (RCL) form in their SEVIS record, and their program’s policy allows for it.

· NOTE: A Reduced Course Load (RCL) form can only be used one time and therefore cannot be used after the completion of the grace semester (see SGS Catalog Section 4.8.).

· If International Students have any questions about the Full-Time at 3 Credits (FT3) form or the Reduced Course Load (RCL) form, they should contact the Office of Global Engagement.

When the final defense is scheduled during a semester break, the student must enroll for at least 3 credits the following semester.

All defenses are public. All committee members must attend the defense at the date and time registered with the School of Graduate Studies. While in-person defense is preferred and recommended, members of the committee may participate remotely with both audio and video interaction. Students should work with their committee members to arrange defense participation and details prior to submitting an Appointment for Thesis/Project/Dissertation Defense (AFD) form.

Students should review their official committee to make sure it is correct. Changes in the membership of a supervisory committee cannot be made during the six weeks prior to the defense without a written request from the department head and approval of the Vice Provost of Graduate Studies. For questions about Supervisory Committees, please review SGS Catalog Section 6 above.

No committee member should agree to proceed with a defense until they have carefully read and agreed with the defensibility of the dissertation. The final defense should be scheduled by the student after all courses and the thesis, Plan B paper/project, or dissertation are completed.

12.4. Before the Final Defense

Students should determine when they need to have their degree in hand. The student should work with their Major Professor, Committee, and GPC, to determine a timeline for their thesis, Plan B paper/project, or dissertation completion. The submission deadline and the degree conferral date can be reviewed on the Graduate School Deadlines page.

· In order to meet the deadlines, students should submit their documents no later than 3 weeks before the last day of the semester.

· We cannot guarantee that paperwork will be processed in time to award a degree in the current semester if all materials are not submitted in final form by the submission deadline.

· All graduate degrees will be awarded within 45 days of the degree conferral date.

Students should submit their thesis, plan B paper/project, or dissertation to each committee member at least 4 weeks prior to their defense date for review.

Students should meet with their GPC to review and do the following:

· Conduct a final review of their official forms to make sure they are correct.

· SCAF and POS forms are approved and accurate.

· Discuss any departmental requirements.

· Review their official degree and plan type and ensure they are correct in Banner.

· Discuss how the defense room is reserved.

· Reserve a room.

Students must submit their Appointment for Thesis/Project/Dissertation Defense (AFD) form at least 10 workdays prior to their defense.

· When students fill out the AFD form, they will need to review their official committee to make sure that it is correct.

· Students should check on the progress of approvals for their AFD follow up with GPC and/or committee members to make sure it is approved in a timely manner.

· If the Appointment for Thesis/Project/Dissertation Defense (AFD) is not fully approved before the date of defense, the defense is not official and will need to be rescheduled. If necessary, an appeal can be made to the Vice Provost for Graduate Studies.

· Once an Appointment for Thesis/Project/Dissertation Defense (AFD) has been approved by the committee and the School of Graduate Studies, any changes to the date, time, and/or location require the submission and approval of a new Appointment for Thesis/Project/Dissertation Defense (AFD).

12.5. During the Final Defense

Students must be registered for at least 3 credits the semester they first defend a thesis, Plan B paper/project, or dissertation, or take final oral examinations.

The oral examination of the thesis, Plan B paper/project, or dissertation is a defense of a final document.

· Only minor changes, usually editorial, should be required following the defense. These changes must be completed by the end of the grace semester. Changes that take longer than the duration of the grace semester to complete will be assumed to be major and require a new defense.

· If all revisions are not complete by the end of the grace semester following a successful defense, then the major professor, with support of all members of the supervisory committee, may submit an appeal to the Vice Provost of Graduate Studies, justifying why the student should not be required to defend the thesis, Plan B paper/project, or dissertation a second time.

· If major changes are required, a defense of the revised document should be held. The student must be registered for at least 1 credit during the semester of a new defense.

During the defense, the student defends their thesis, Plan B paper/project, or dissertation and answers questions about the research or related topics.

· The results of the defense and any additional requirements are recorded on the Record of Thesis/Project/Dissertation Defense (ROD) form, which is submitted to the School of Graduate Studies by the student’s Graduate Program Coordinator.

· All members of the supervisory committee must approve and sign the thesis, Plan B paper/project, or dissertation. In the event of lack of unanimity, the matter is taken to the Vice Provost of Graduate Studies.

Any final examination held without following the proper procedures may be invalid.

· If all degree requirements are not complete by the end of the grace semester following a successful defense, then the major professor, with support of all members of the supervisory committee, must submit an appeal to the Vice Provost of Graduate Studies, justifying why the student should not be required to defend the thesis, Plan B paper/project, or dissertation a second time.

· Students must register for at least 1 credit the semester of their second defense.

12.5.1. Votes on Graduate Student Supervisory Committees

To be considered successful, it is expected that all members of a supervisory committee will approve the Ph.D. dissertation proposal or M.S. thesis proposal during a proposal defense. Likewise, it is expected that all members of the supervisory committee will approve the final Ph.D. dissertation, M.S. thesis, or Plan B paper/project for the final defense to be considered successful. However, for the final defense of a doctoral dissertation, a defense can be successful with a vote of 4 members in favor and 1 against or abstaining.

In all cases, the vote of each member of the committee during the defense constitutes their approval or disapproval of the proposal, thesis, Plan B paper, or dissertation. All members of the committee are required, as a condition of committee membership, to sign the forms associated with a successful defense, regardless of the member’s individual vote. Committee members’ signatures reflect concurrence that all policies and procedures of the thesis, Plan B paper/project, or dissertation proposal or final process were followed.

Any instances of a thesis or Plan B paper/project receiving only 2 votes in favor (out of 3) or a dissertation receiving 3 votes in favor (out of 5) that cannot be resolved by discussion of the committee shall be referred to the Vice Provost of Graduate Studies for resolution.

12.6. After the Proposal or Final Defense

The student should be informed of the defense results at the conclusion of the defense. The major professor or designated committee member should inform the GPC of the results of the defense as soon as possible. The GPC will then submit the Record of Thesis/Project/Dissertation Proposal Defense (ROP) or Record of Thesis/Project/Dissertation Defense (ROD) in ServiceNow, and the committee will verify the results of the defense. The student should discuss the ownership of data and authorship rights with their committee. Master's Plan A and Doctoral students should review and submit the Format & Style form and Authorship & Copyright form, and Title Page.

12.6.1. Grace Semester

Master’s and doctoral students will be given until the last day of the next semester (spring, summer or fall) following a successful defense to complete remaining degree requirements.

This is the “grace semester” and does not require students to be registered for credits unless needed to remain compliant with F-1 or J-1 visa criteria. NOTE: International students who have questions about F-1 or J-1 visa criteria, should contact the Office of Global Engagement.

For more information about the grace semester, please review SGS Catalog Section 4.8. above.

12.7. Thesis & Dissertation Review and Submission Process

Following the successful final defense of a thesis or dissertation, the student is responsible for completing any necessary edits, proofreading, and having it read and approved by the department before it is submitted to the School of Graduate Studies for review or, if it is a Plan B paper/project, deposited in the institutional repository. When the student is completely done editing their thesis/dissertation, they should have their GPC or departmental reviewer submit it for review to the School of Graduate Studies.

Once the document has been approved by the School of Graduate Studies, a final copy, including a title page that has been signed by all committee members, must be submitted online to the School of Graduate Studies for the Vice Provost’s signature.

After the defense, the following forms should be submitted in Service Now:

(All forms can be found on the Service Now platform)

· Dissertation/Thesis Format and Style/ETD form

· Authorship and Copyright form

· Embargo Request form (optional)

· Title Page

The student’s paper cannot be checked into the School of Graduate Studies queue for review until all the required forms are submitted and approved, their GPC has uploaded their completed thesis/dissertation to their review file, and their GPC has emailed the Graduate School Thesis/Dissertation Reviewer indicating that everything is in their file.

Students should also review final semester information for other deadlines and requirements.

Emails generated through Service Now will be sent to the student/GPC indicating when the forms have been completed, when to upload the student’s paper, when the student has been added to the queue, and when the student’s paper has been processed by USU Libraries.

· All papers in the queue are processed in the order in which they are added. NOTE: Requests for expedited reviews will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis with no guaranteed approval.

· Students should allow at least three weeks for the initial review of their thesis or dissertation once it has been added to the queue (time to the initial review will vary based on the number of papers in the queue).

· If the student formatted chapters in accordance with a particular journal, please also submit to the School of Graduate Studies a sample(s) of target journal styles in PDF format.

Once a student’s thesis, dissertation, or Plan B paper/project has been finalized by the School of Graduate Studies and/or approved for deposit in USU’s institutional repository, the School of Graduate Studies will verify that all degree requirements have been met.

NOTE: Absolutely no changes will be accepted to the thesis or dissertation after it is accepted for deposit into USU’s institutional repository.

Students requesting an embargo are required to deposit a physical copy of their paper with USU Libraries. The student will receive an email from USU Libraries (sent to their official USU email address) with instructions to complete this step. USU Libraries will notify the student and the School of Graduate Studies once the manuscript is accepted. The School of Graduate Studies will contact the student to let them know if anything on the Completion Checklist is incomplete. Theses and dissertations must be submitted at least 3 weeks before the end of the semester. Please review the School of Graduate Studies Submission Deadlines.

12.8. Plan B Project Submission Process

Plan B papers/projects must:

· Follow the same format specifications as theses and dissertations (see Section 12.1. above).

· Reflect equivalent standards of scholarship, though they may be less intensive and not require the same level of originality as a Plan A thesis.

· Following the defense, some departments and programs require students to deposit Plan B papers/projects into the institutional repository. Major advisors are required to review and approve the submission, but the paper is not formally reviewed by the School of Graduate Studies or signed by the Vice Provost for Graduate Studies.

· Once a student’s Plan B paper/project has been finalized by the School of Graduate Studies and/or approved for deposit in USU’s institutional repository, the School of Graduate Studies will verify that all degree requirements have been met.

· NOTE: Absolutely no changes will be accepted to the Plan B paper/project after it is accepted for deposit into USU’s institutional repository.

· Students requesting an embargo are required to deposit a physical copy of their paper with USU Libraries. The student will receive an email from USU Libraries (sent to their official USU email address) with instructions to complete this step.

· USU Libraries will notify the student and the School of Graduate Studies once the manuscript is accepted.

Submission and Review

· Plan B papers/projects are defended but are not formally reviewed by the School of Graduate Studies, nor signed by the Vice Provost for Graduate Studies.

· Instead, they must be submitted directly to USU Libraries and uploaded to the institutional repository. See Plan B Report/Creative Project Submission Form.

· Plan B papers/projects, must be submitted at least 3 weeks before the end of the semester. Please review the School of Graduate Studies Submission Deadlines.

· Once accepted, USU Libraries personnel will notify both the student and the School of Graduate Studies.

12.9. Embargo Policy

If a student elects to embargo their work, they must submit an embargo request form to initiate the process, and the form and all additional steps must be complete by the School of Graduate Studies degree completion deadlines. An embargo means that the student’s work will be unavailable to read online for 5 years.

· A thesis, Plan B paper/project, or dissertation must not contain material that cannot be disclosed publicly. However, it is occasionally in the University’s best interest to delay disclosure of the contents of a thesis, Plan B paper/project, or dissertation while patenting and/or commercial development possibilities are investigated or for a period of report review by a funding agency.

· In such cases, electronic publication of a thesis, Plan B paper/project, or dissertation through submission to the institutional repository and to ProQuest (UMI) may be delayed without delaying awarding the student’s degree.

· Embargo of a thesis, Plan B paper/project, or dissertation must be approved by the student’s advisor, department head, and the Vice Provost of Graduate Studies.

· In addition, a printed copy of the thesis, Plan B paper/project, or dissertation must still be submitted to USU Libraries in accordance with the School of Graduate Studies degree completion deadlines.

· A copy of the publication delay policy and the procedure for requesting an embargo may be found on the USU Libraries website and the Merrill-Cazier Library website.

· If a student is unsure whether to embargo or not, please have them contact USU Libraries via email at digitalcommons@usu.edu.

Section 13. USU Graduate School Deadlines

For submission deadlines, and degree conferral dates, please review the Graduate School Deadlines page.

Section 14. Graduation Application Requirement

All graduate students – regardless of plan type – must complete a graduation application for the correct semester in which they intend to graduate. Note: A $15 fee must be paid when the graduation application is submitted for each degree program.

Reminder: Graduate students may submit only one graduation application per program.

14.1. Graduation Date Adjustments

Graduation dates will be manually updated by the Graduate School Registrar when the student’s degree is finalized. If a student has the wrong semester listed, the Graduate Program Coordinator must provide a list to the Graduate School Registrar so corrections can be made.

14.2. Diploma & Degree Awarding

In order to officially graduate and receive a diploma, graduate students must:

· Complete all graduate degree requirements. NOTE: To review graduate degree requirements, please see SGS Catalog Section 8 for Master’s degrees and Section 10 for Doctoral degrees.

· Submit a graduation application.

Once all graduation requirements have been met, students can expect to have their degree awarded within 45 days of the degree conferral date.

Section 15. Reasons Graduate Students Will Be Denied for Graduation

To ensure timely graduation, students must meet all academic and administrative requirements. Below is a list of common reasons a student may be denied graduation:

15.1. Missing Requirements

Unmet degree or credit requirements. To be awarded a graduate degree, students must fulfill all degree requirements. No verified degree from previous institution(s). Official transcripts must show degree earned and conferral date.

NOTE: Official transcripts should be received by the School of Graduate Studies (SGS) no later than the student’s first semester to avoid a hold on their account (see SGS Catalog Section 1: Graduate Admissions Policies).

Missing Required Forms – Master Plan A

· Supervisory Committee (SCAF) Form

· Program of Study

· Appointment for Thesis/Project/Dissertation Proposal Defense (AFP)

· Thesis/Project Approval (TPA)

· Record of Thesis/Project/Dissertation Proposal Defense (ROP)

· Appointment for Thesis/Project/Dissertation Defense (AFD)

· Authorship & Copyright

· Format and Style

· Title Page

· Graduation Application

· Record of Thesis/Project/Dissertation Defense (ROD)

Missing Required Forms – Master Plan B

· Supervisory Committee (SCAF) Form

· Program of Study

· Appointment for Thesis/Project/Dissertation Proposal Defense (AFP)

· Thesis/Project Approval (TPA)

· Record of Thesis/Project/Dissertation Proposal Defense (ROP)

· Appointment for Thesis/Project/Dissertation Defense (AFD)

· Plan B Report/Creative Project Submission Form

· Graduation Application

· Record of Thesis/Project/Dissertation Defense (ROD)

Missing Required Forms – Master Plan C

· Program of Study

· Graduation Application

Missing Required Forms – Doctorate

· Supervisory Committee (SCAF) Form

· Program of Study

· Appointment for Thesis/Project/Dissertation Proposal Defense (AFP)

· Application for Candidacy (ACCD)

· Record of Thesis/Project/Dissertation Proposal Defense (ROP)

· Appointment for Thesis/Project/Dissertation Defense (AFD)

· Authorship & Copyright

· Format and Style

· Title Page

· Graduation Application

· Record of Thesis/Project/Dissertation Defense (ROD)

For more information about required academic forms, please visit the Academics and Forms page on the School of Graduate Studies website.

15.2. Registration Issues

The student is registered for classes in the following semester

15.3. Thesis/Plan B Paper or Project/Dissertation Issues

Thesis, Plan B Paper/Project, or Dissertation not defended (see SGS Catalog Section 12., for information about requirements related to a thesis, Plan B paper/project, or dissertation defense).

15.4. Grade Issues

· GPA below 3.0 on the Program of Study.

· Unresolved Temporary (T) grades – must be changed by Faculty.

· Unresolved Incomplete (I) grades – must be changed by Faculty.

For questions about graduate degree requirements, please review SGS Catalog Section 8 for Master’s degrees, and Section 10 for Doctoral degrees.

Section 16. Graduation

16.1. Commencement Participation

Graduate students who graduate during the summer semester are eligible to participate in spring commencement of that academic year. For questions about commencement and convocation, please review the Utah State University Commencement page.

16.2. Graduate Student Diplomas

Diplomas for degrees conferred by the School of Graduate Studies are prepared by the main Utah State University Registrar’s Office at the end of each semester once degrees are awarded. For further questions, please review the Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) Page on the USU Registrar’s website.

16.3. Graduate School Transcripts

The School of Graduate Studies does not issue official or unofficial copies of transcripts. Students and alumni may request their transcript records through the main Utah State University Registrar’s Office.

16.4. Letters of Completion

Graduate students who have fulfilled all degree requirements before the end of the semester may request a letter from the School of Graduate Studies verifying degree completion for employment purposes.

Students may request a letter of completion by emailing the Graduate Registrar. A request for a letter of completion may take up to 24-48 work hours to complete. NOTE: Letters of completion will not be issued until a student’s thesis/dissertation has been reviewed by the SGS Thesis/Dissertation Reviewer and is ready to be transferred to USU Libraries for final processing. Master’s Plan B Students must have submitted their paper/project to USU Libraries.

School of Graduate Studies Catalog | 2026-2027 Academic Year

Table of Contents

Section 1. Graduate School Admissions Policies

1.1 Application Requirements

A Bachelor’s Degree

A 3.0 or Higher Grade-Point Average

Application Fee

Supplemental Application Materials:

Three Letters of Recommendation

Official Transcripts

English Language Proficiency for International Applicants

1.2. Application Deadlines

1.3. Application Procedures

1.4 Application Edits

1.5. Closing Inactive Applications

1.6. Using Old Application Materials

1.7. Deferment

Section 2. Graduate Assistantships

2.1. Graduate Assistantship Position Overview

These positions are defined as follows:

Graduate Research Assistant

Graduate Trainee

Graduate Teaching Assistant

Graduate Instructor

2.2. Eligibility

2.3. Conditions & Stipulations

Section 3. Student Classifications

3.1. Matriculated Graduate Students

3.2. International Graduate Students

Section 4. General Regulations for Graduate Study

4.1. Required Sexual Misconduct Prevention Training

4.2. Grades, Credits, & Course Number Acceptability

4.2.1. Course-Level Numbering and Acceptability

4.2.2. Auditing Courses

4.2.3. Special Topics & Independent Study Courses

4.2.4. Semester Credit Limit

4.2.5. Minimum Grades and Credit Acceptability

4.2.6. Incomplete (I) - Grade Policy

4.2.7. Temporary (T) - Grade Policy

4.2.8. Pass (P) - Grade Policy

4.2.9. Correspondence Course Credits

4.3. Split Form Policy

4.3.1. Split Form Eligibility and Requirements

4.3.2. Important Considerations

4.3.3. Split Form Course Transcripts

4.3.4. Requesting the Split

4.4. Transfer and Nonmatriculated Credits

4.4.1. Transferring Graduate Credits

4.4.2. Transferred Nonmatriculated Credits

4.5. Concurrent Graduate Degrees

4.5.1. Admissions Process

4.5.2. Concurrent Degree Credit Overlap Limit

4.5.3. Credit Application

4.5.4. Concurrent Master’s-Master's Degree Programs

4.5.5. Concurrent Doctoral-Master’s Degree Programs

4.5.6. Concurrent Doctoral-Doctoral Degree Programs

4.6. Graduate Student Leave of Absence

4.7. Continuous Enrollment

4.8. Grace Semester

4.9. Complete Withdrawal from the University

4.9.1. For Matriculated and Enrolled Graduate Students

4.9.2. For Newly Admitted Students

4.9.3. Prior to Withdrawing

4.9.4. Deadlines

4.9.5. Readmission

4.10. Graduate Degree Time Limit & Coursework Revalidation

4.10.1. Graduate Degree Time Limit

4.10.2. Coursework Revalidation

4.11. Academic Nepotism

4.12. GPA Policy & Low-GPA Notification for Graduate Students

4.13. Matriculation of Faculty

4.14. Monitoring of Progress

Section 5. Research and Intellectual Property

5.1. Regulatory Approval & Responsible Conduct

5.1.1. Responsible Conduct of Research (RCR)

5.2. Academic Honesty and Research Misconduct

5.2.1. Research Misconduct

5.2.2. Reporting Suspected Research Misconduct

5.2.3. How are Research Misconduct Allegations Reviewed?

5.3. Appeals Procedure

Section 3. Student Classifications 

3.1. Matriculated Graduate Students  

3.2. International Graduate Students  