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Graduate School Forms & Policies

For a full explanation of graduate policies noted below, see the Graduate Catalog. Click link for general University policies regarding academic and student conduct, grade grievance, and student rights.

General Policies

  • Programs of study (POS): on file with Records within the first semester a student is on campus. These MUST resemble catalog copy for the degree program offered.
  • Academic load: full-time = 8 credit hours, part-time = 4 credit hours. Some scholarships or loans require enrollment in 8 credit hours; a G.A. may hold 6 credit hours. An international student (F-1/J-1 visa) must enroll in 8 hrs or complete paperwork for low-enrollment (even if a G.A.). Summer enrollment is 8/4 credits just like fall and winter.
  • Time to degree: a student must complete a graduate certificate in 3 years, a master's or specialist degree in 6 years, and a doctoral program in 7 years but may petition to extend this time period to the end of a specified semester. Petition for Modification or Waiver of Policy Form

Registration Policies 

  • 400-level courses: approved for graduate credit using 400 form at the beginning of the semester of enrollment; 9 credits of 400-level work may be used on a program of study with program approval. Graduate credit will post the week after grades are posted at the end of the term. Only pre-approved 400-level courses may earn graduate credit – seelist by college/dept. Students enrolled in 400-level independent study and 400-level special topics WILL NOT earn graduate credit – student must enroll using 500-level independent study number. Request to Enroll in Pre-approved 400 Level Courses Form
  • 500-level courses for undergraduate students: must use 500-level form as permission to register; must have completed 85 credit hours with a 2.7 GPA; enrollment must be approved by academic department; may enroll in 15 credits of graduate-level work; may transfer to a future graduate program if not used on ug degree. Undergraduate Request to take a 500 Level Course Form
  • Independent study/special topics: on the Program of Study a student may use no more than 12 credits total of special courses (including thesis, symposium, workshop, independent study, special topics) and no more than 6 credits of any one of these types of course but may petition to include them. Petition for Modification or Waiver of Policy Form
  • Credit/No credit: this grading option is attached to a course – it is not a grading option elected by the student.
  • Pass/Fail: graduate students may elect to take an undergraduate course for a pass/fail grade. The course may not be used on the graduate program of study. Form requesting p/f must be completed in the first week of the semester. Pass/Fail Application for Graduate Students Form
  • Doctoral student low enrollment:When enrolled in less than 4 credits, doctoral student MUST complete the form BEFORE the start of the semester.Doctoral Student Low Enrollment Form

Course Policies 

  • Incomplete course work: graduate students may receive an incomplete if 50% of the semester work is done with B or better grades; a student has one year to finish or receive an extension for up to 2 more years (3 years max from semester of enrollment); thesis or dissertation work may have longer than the three years to complete. The I-grade remains on the student's transcript; it does not change to an F-grade.
  • Course Withdrawal: student must submit to the Graduate School the withdrawal form plus attached documentation (medical information, etc.) to support reason for inability to complete the semester's course work. One may not withdraw due to low grades. GA's and doc fellows who withdraw must repay tuition (seek an incomplete). Satisfactory Academic Progress is affected for financial aid. F-1 and J-1 visa holders must seek prior approval for the withdrawal from the Office of International Students. A total withdrawal for the semester is processed through the Graduate School and Records/Registration. Late Withdrawal Form
  • Repeating courses: a graduate course may be repeated once if the grade was a B- or lower. The second grade is used in the GPA calculation. Both grades will appear on the transcript.

Records Policies

  • Transfer credit: with department permission, student may transfer up to 3 credits on a graduate certificate, 12 credits on a master's program, 6 credits on a specialist degree. Course must have B or better grade and be within time-to-degree guidelines. Request for Transfer of Credit Form The academic programs set transfer guidelines for doctoral students. Doctoral Student Transfer of Credit Form
  • Use of Credits from prior EMU coursework: a student may share six credits between two EMU master's degree programs completed concurrently or separately and may also, once admitted to the Graduate School, petition to transfer to the graduate transcript and Program of Study any completed 500-level courses taken as an undergraduate but not used toward that degree. Petition for Modification or Waiver of Policy Form
  • Removing your Conditional Admit Status: Each of the four Conditional Admit statuses has a policy for removing them so you are fully admitted to your program. The policy is different if you are a "bridge student."
  • Validation: coursework that is 6-10 years old (or will be at the time of graduation) may be updated by the student working directly with a faculty member to become current on the course material. A form is submitted; one credit of graduate in-state tuition is paid; work is completed; faculty member gets paid the amount of the tuition. (9 cr. max.) Validation of Out-of-Date Credit Form
  • Graduation: students must apply to graduate online through my.emich within the first three weeks of the semester Student Checklist for Program Completion; Records audits the file based on the POS and contacts the academic department if there is an issue or question. A 3.0 overall and in POS is needed. If work is not finished or if a form for policy issues such as transfer credit has not been processed, then the degree is denied. If work is not completed, student must re-apply online for the next semester. For 4,700 students, this is not an automatic process. Graduation audits are usually delayed because: there is no program of study on file; student is admitted to the wrong program/major code; student was conditionally admitted and never changed to full admission; or grades from incomplete work have not been submitted by faculty.
  • Probation and dismissal: GPA is below a 3.0 overall; students have three semesters on probation before dismissal. A student may receive low grades in individual courses as long as the overall and program of study GPA's remain above a 3.0 for graduation.

Awards

GA-Specific Forms