2001
Graduate School Catalog


Academic Regulations
Hot Links

Grades
Students may receive quality grades of A, B, C, D, or F on graduate course work, but grades of D and F are not acceptable for graduate credit. In certain specifically designated courses the mark of Z is given to indicate that a student has received graduate credit but has been assigned no quality grade in the course; however, in courses approved for the Z mark, instructors may assign the quality grade of F. The only other marks that may be assigned in courses approved for the Z mark are I or W.

The nonquality mark of X designates courses in which the student is registered as an auditor. The nonquality mark of W is given to students to indicate withdrawal from the course. The I mark is given when, for unusual reasons acceptable to the instructor, course requirements cannot be completed within the enrollment period.

The IP mark may be given for specifically designated graduate research-oriented courses in which the nature of the course or the expectations of students in the course cannot anticipate completion within one semester. Students receiving the mark of I are expected to complete the course no later than the last class day of the next regular semester (excluding summer terms). Following this deadline, the I will be computed as an F in establishing a student's grade-point average. Students receiving the mark of IP are expected to complete the course within one calendar year of enrolling in the course. Following this deadline, the IP will be computed as an F in establishing a student's grade-point average. An I or IP grade may not be removed by formally enrolling in the same course in a subsequent semester at this University or any other institution. Where a student has at least three outstanding I or IP grades, the student is not permitted to enroll in additional courses until the number of temporary grades is reduced to fewer than three.

Graduate students must maintain at least a B average on all graduate work undertaken. Where a student is required to take, as part of the degree program, more than 12 hours in an area outside the field of specialization, a B average must be presented in both areas, computed separately. No grades or marks are given for courses designated as thesis, doctoral essay, or dissertation. In any situation in which a graduate student wishes to appeal a grade, he or she should contact the dean of the Graduate School for a copy of the Graduate School Appeal Procedure which shall apply in this case.

Probation
Students whose grade-point average falls below 3.0 in any semester will be placed on probation and expected to improve their grades to an acceptable level before the end of their next period of enrollment. If the grade-point average of a graduate student for a semester or term has been unsatisfactory, the dean of the Graduate school may refuse permission for the student to register for further work or change the student's classification.

Repeating Courses
Grades for all courses taken by Graduate students will remain a permanent part of their transcript. Except for courses identified in the catalog as "may be repeated for credit," no course may be repeated more than once, and no more than two courses may be repeated and applied toward a degree. In instances of repeated courses, the second grade will be used to determine eligibility to graduate. Departments may impose higher standards.

Forgiveness Policy - None

Discipline
The broad purpose underlying student discipline is to order University living in such a way that the interests of the student body as a whole and of the individuals comprising it are best served. The University reserves the right to sever the connection of any student with the University for appropriate reason. In any situation in which a graduate student wishes to appeal a charge of academic dishonesty, he or she should contact the dean of the Graduate School for a copy of the Graduate School Appeal Procedure which shall apply in this case.

Return to Top of Page

Minimum Load
A minimum registration of 3 hours is required of every graduate student in each regular semester and 1 hour during the summer session, including registration for thesis or dissertation.

Maximum Load
In the regular session, a graduate student may register for a maximum of 15 semester hours of graduate work per semester, including registration for the thesis or dissertation. In the summer session, the student may register for no more than 6 semester hours each term. Additional restrictions may be imposed by academic departments.

Maximum Load for Graduate Fellows and Assistants
Students receiving a full University Nonservice Fellowship must enroll for at least 9 hours per semester. Enrollments for students holding service appointments are governed by the following schedule:

Service requirement Minimum enrollment Maximum enrollment
3/4 time (30 hrs./week) 9 hrs.* 9 hrs.
1/2 time (20 hrs./week) 9 hrs. 12 hrs.**
1/4 time (10 hrs./week) 6 hrs. 12 hrs.
Less than 1/4 time 3 hrs. 15 hrs.

In order to be eligible to receive a partial tuition scholarship, graduate assistants must enroll for at least 9 hours of graduate credit.

*Only 6 hours of which can be in course work, the balance being made up of enrollment in thesis, dissertation, or recital hours.
**Only 9 hours of which can be in course work, the balance being made up of enrollment in thesis, dissertation, or recital hours.

Full-time Student
A graduate student registered for 9 or more credit hours during the fall or spring semesters at the University is considered to be a full-time student. In a summer term a graduate student registered for 4 or more semester hours is considered a full-time student though, to satisfy residence requirements, the student must enroll for a total of 9 hours during the summer session terms.

Return to Top of Page

Withdrawal from a Course
Registration for a course makes the student responsible for attending that course until the course is completed or until, with the approval of the instructor and the dean of the Graduate School, the registrar authorizes withdrawal from the course. The last day that a student may withdraw from a class without a record of enrollment in each semester is listed in the Academic Calendar.

Return to Top of Page

Graduate Credit for Senior Undergraduates
Under certain conditions, University of Mississippi seniors within 15 semester hours of the bachelor's degree may enroll for a maximum of 3 semester hours of graduate courses at the 500 level, and seniors within 12 semester hours of the bachelor's degree may enroll for a maximum of 6 semester hours of graduate courses at the 500 level on which graduate credit will be given towards a degree program in the Graduate School. The conditions are that the student must have an overall grade-point average of at least 3.00 on the last 60 hours of undergraduate work and be otherwise qualified for admission to the Graduate School, that these courses must not be counted towards satisfying the requirements for the bachelor's degree, and that the department chair concerned and the dean of the Graduate School must have approved the courses for graduate credit before the undergraduate enrolls in them. In no case may more than 6 semester hours be earned by an undergraduate for graduate credit. Courses taken by undergraduates for graduate credit must be designated with the suffix G. Under no circumstances may undergraduates enroll in courses at the 600 level or above.

Return to Top of Page

Transfer of Graduate Credit from Another Institution
A student may receive credit for work accomplished in recognized institutions upon the recommendation of the department and the approval of the dean of the Graduate School. Only courses for which the student received the grade of B or higher may be transferred. Transfer of credit from another institution will not be accepted for workshops, internships, and other courses of a similar nature, and for courses in which regular letter grades are not awarded. Grades from other institutions may not substitute for unsatisfactory grades earned at the University; nor may the grade of A or B earned at another institution be used to offset a lower grade earned at the University. Transfer work from another institution that constitutes an overload while enrolled as a full-time student at The University of Mississippi will not be accepted.

All transfer of credit is subject to the following conditions: (1) The residence or degree credit requirement is not reduced. (2) The other graduate school must offer a graduate degree in the field in which the work has been completed. (3) The student must have completed at least 12 semester hours of acceptable graduate course work at the University before transfer will be considered. (4) The credit must be recommended by the student's department in the University as specifically applicable to the student's degree program. (5) If the field is education, the other graduate school must be accredited for graduate study by the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education and by the regional accrediting association. For master's degree students, a maximum of 6 semester hours of credit may be transferred; no more than 12 hours may be transferred for the Master of Fine Arts and Specialist degrees. The 6-hour transfer policy also applies within the University. No more than 6 hours, subject to departmental approval, may be applied from a previous master's degree to a second master's degree.

There is a six-year time limit on the applicability of transferred credit, as there is on all credits applicable towards the master's degree. No work will be accepted for transfer to a doctoral program, but departmental doctoral program requirements may be waived or reduced as a result of graduate work completed at other institutions; however, Graduate School minimum degree requirements must be met.

Correspondence Work
The Graduate School does not accept course work taken by correspondence.

Return to Top of Page

Application for a Degree
A student is expected to submit an application for a degree during the last semester or summer term of resident enrollment. If the student is not able to complete degree requirements at the end of that period, the student will resubmit the application during the semester or summer term at the end of which the student expects to graduate. A student must be formally admitted to the degree program prior to the beginning of the semester in which the degree is awarded and must meet the requirements of the catalog under which he or she was admitted or readmitted.

Final Enrollment
All students planning to receive their graduate degrees must be enrolled for at least 3 hours (thesis, dissertation, or course work) during the fall or spring semester in which they take the final oral and/or written examination. Those planning to graduate during the summer must be enrolled for at least one hour.

Return to Top of Page

The Graduate School
113 Old Chemistry Bldg.
PO Box 1848
University, MS 38677
Phone: (662) 915-7474 Fax: (662) 915-7577

Ole Miss News and Events | City of Oxford

Financial Aid | Housing Office | International Programs | Health Center | Library


Last Modified: Monday, 07-May-2001 9:54 AM
Copyright © 1999-2001 The University of Mississippi. All rights reserved.