Academic Standards
Academic Standards and Graduate Course Grades
Minimum GPA Requirement for Graduation
To be eligible for graduation, graduate students must maintain a minimum cumulative grade point average (GPA) of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale in all graduate coursework applied toward the degree.
Academic Probation and Dismissal
Graduate students whose cumulative GPA falls below 3.0 at the end of any semester will be placed on academic probation.
Students on probation must restore their cumulative GPA to at least 3.0 within the timeframe established below:
- Full-time students: One semester, or at most two semesters (excluding summer terms), depending on program requirements.
- Part-time students: Within the next 12 credit hours of graduate coursework.
Students who fail to meet the required GPA standard within the prescribed timeframe are subject to dismissal from their graduate program.
Graduate grades
Graduate courses may be assigned grades of A, A-, B+, B, B-, C+, C, C-, D+, D, D-, F, S, U, WP, or WF, in accordance with college, department, and program policies.
A grade of C (2.0) is the minimum passing grade for a graduate course. Courses in which a student earns a grade below C or a grade of U (Unsatisfactory) may not be used to fulfill degree requirements. Grades below C remain part of the student's academic record and are included in the calculation of the cumulative GPA.
Some graduate courses are graded on a satisfactory/unsatisfactory basis. A grade of:
- S (Satisfactory) earns graduate credit but is not included in the GPA calculation.
- U (Unsatisfactory) earns no credit and is not included in the GPA calculation.
A grade of WP (Withdrawal Passing) is not included in the GPA calculation. A grade of WF (Withdrawal Failing) is treated as a grade of F in the GPA calculation. These grades will be assigned to students who withdraw after the university established withdrawal period at the discretion of the instructor.
Incomplete Grades
The grade of IN (Incomplete) may be assigned when extraordinary circumstances prevent a student from completing course requirements during the term of enrollment.
An incomplete grade must be resolved by the end of the following semester (excluding summer terms), unless an extension is approved by the instructor and the appropriate college authority. The grade of IN is not included in GPA calculations while it remains on the student's record.
Students may not graduate with unresolved IN or *PR (In Progress) grades on their transcript or Plan of Study.
Course Repeats
Graduate programs may permit students to repeat a limited number of courses in which grades of C or below were earned. Individual colleges, departments, and degree programs may establish specific course repeat policies, subject to the following maximum limits:
- No more than two courses may be repeated.
- No more than 12 total credit hours may be repeated.
- Each eligible course may be repeated one time only.
Both the original grade and the repeated grade will remain on the official transcript and will be included in the calculation of the cumulative GPA.
Program-Specific Academic Requirements
Graduate programs may establish academic standards that exceed the minimum requirements outlined in this policy, including higher grade requirements for specific courses or degree completion. Students are responsible for consulting their graduate program director regarding any additional program-specific academic standards.
*Special Note on PR grades: Prior to 2024, the grade of PR may have been awarded to indicate work in progress for thesis or dissertation hours. This grade is no longer assigned, and faculty are now regularly assigning S, U, or IN. Students may not graduate with a PR on their transcript or Plan of Study.