Ohio Admin. Code 3337-2-09 - Graduate graduation requirements

(A) Standards of work. Conferral of either master's or PhD degree requires at least a "B" ( 3.00) grade-point average. The grade-point average in formal coursework will be computed separately from that in research, thesis, and dissertation credits to determine eligibility for graduation. At least a "B" ( 3.00) grade-point average is required in each category. No grade below "C" ( 2.00) can be used to satisfy any degree requirement. A department may establish more rigorous standards. All graduate students are expected to maintianmaintain at least an overall "B" ( 3.00) grade-point average on a continuing basis. Should any student achieve less tahnthan an overall "B" ( 3.00) grade-point average, the dean of the graduate college will solicit a written statement from that student's departmental graduate committee to justify continuation of the student in the program.

(B) Grading system. Academic work at Ohio university is evaluated on a twelve point grading scale. A grade of "A" equals 4.00; "A-" equals 3.67; "B+" equals 3.33; "B equals 3.00; "B-" equals 2.67; "C+" equals 2.33; "C" equals 2.00; "C-" 1.67; "D+" equals 1.33; "D" equals 1.00; "D-" equals 0.67 and "F" equals 0.00. In addition to letter grades, the following grades may also be recorded. Credit ("CR") is usually awarded for satisfactory completion of seminars, research projects, and thesis or dissertation credit. A student may receive a grade of progress ("PR") in courses which are not yet complete or which will extend over more than one quarter. Grades of "CR" or "PR" are not used in computing the student's grade point average. An incomplete ("I") indicates that the student has made progress in a course but has not finished the work required to receive a letter grade. An "I" symbol is not counted in quarter hours attempted, hours earned, or quality points until a letter grade is reported. If neither a letter grade nor notification from the instructor for an extension of time is received by the office of student records, the "I" symbol reverts to an "F" letter grade six weeks into the next quarter the student is enrolled. Requests from the instructor for extension of time beyond six weeks cannot exceed the end of the next quarter enrolled. Any remaining "I" symbols will be calculated as "F" in determining eligibility for graduation. Determination of the appropriate use of letter grades, "CR", "PR", or "I" is made by the department and is recorded in the office of student records. A grade of "NR" means that the instructor has not sumbitted a grade, or that there has been a processing error. The student should check with the instructor; if a grade was submitted, the student should go to the office of student records to learn what is necessary to clear up the problem. An administrative incomplete ("I") is given by the office of student records when a student fails to drop officially a course for which he or she has registered. Until removed, an administrative incomplete is computed as a "F" in calculation of the grade point average.

(C) The master's degree. A minimum of forty-five graduate credits is required for conferral of the master's degree. Additional credits may be required by individual departments. A program of study approved by the student's advisor and by the departmental graduate committee should be developed early in the student's first graduate quarter to insure that all degree requirements are satisfied in the most efficient manner possible. Since graduate work implies advanced study and some degree of specialization, a certain amount of undergraduate preparation in a subject or field of study is presupposed before graduate study may be undertaken in that subject or field. In most departments a minimum of twenty-seven undergraduate credits is required in the major area. The student is referred to the requirements listed by departments. The nature of Ohio university's master's degree programs may make it appropriate for students enrolled in certain programs to spend a given period of time in residence on the Athens campus. It is the student's responsibility to ascertain whether a period of residence is required in the student's major field and to plan a program of study accordingly by consulting with his or her advisor and departmental graduate committee. A comprehensive examination may be required. The nature and timing of the examination is determined by the department.

(1) Thesis requirement. The candidate prepares the thesis under the guidance of his or her thesis director on a subject in the field of his or her major work. The thesis provides an opportunity for, the student to formulate and express the results of research and study. The thesis requirement may be met by the presentation of the results of a creative activity in literature, music, fine arts, or industrial arts, together with a written essay indicating the purpose, procedure, problems, and bibliography involved in the work. Each department will prescribe the specific style manual to be following by its students. The student and his or her thesis director are responsible for the maintenance of accepted standards of grammar, sentence structure, punctuation, form and scholarly style in the thesis. A pamphlet, "Format for the Presentation of Theses and Dissertations," is available in the graduate college office. This booklet contains graduate college regulations regarding type, margins, quality of paper, and other aspects, as well as detailed directions for submitted submitting the finished thesis to the graduate college. Every student writing a thesis must obtain the current format and the printed list of quarterly deadlines for graduation from the graduate college office.

(2) Oral thesis examination. An oral thesis examination is required of all students presenting theses to the graduate college. The examining committee is composed of the director for the thesis as chairman and two or more additional faculty members. The student and the thesis director, in consultation with members of the examining committee, set a time and place for the examination. Final copies of the thesis must be presented to members of the student's examination committee at least two weeks before the date of the oral examination to allow adequate review of the manuscript. Results of the examination are reported to the graduate college and the office of student records as soon as final approval of the thesis is given.

(3) Nonthesis option. Several departments have master's decree programs with nonthesis options. In consultation with his or her advisor, the student should be aware that many academic areas regard a nonthesis master's program as a terminal degree program.

(4) Transfer of credit. A maximim of twelve hours of graduate credit may be transferred from an accredited university to a master's degree program at Ohio university providing the following conditions are met. The credits to be transferred must have been designated as graduate credit at the institution where taken. The credits must be letter graded "A" or "B" and must have been earned in the past five years. The credits must be applicable toward an advanced degree at the institution where taken and must have been earned courses taught by members of that institution's graduate faculty. Credit for courses taken in correspondence is not accepted. Any request for transfer of credit must first be recommended by the student's advisor and departmental graduate committee before final review and approval by the dean of the graduate college.

(5) Time limit for the masters program. The maximum time allowed between the date when a student first registers for graduate study and the date when the requirements for the master's degree are completed is six calendar years. Students who do not complete their requirements within the six-year period may be permitted to continue in graduate study only if exceptional circumstances are associated with the delay in progress.

(6) Second master's degree. A student who wishes to earn a second master's' degree at Ohio university must make formal application for admission to the department in which the second master's degree is sought. In addition, the student must prepare a program of study for each master's degree by listing the course number, name, and number of credits. No more than twelve credits from one master's degree program may be used in satisfaction of degree requirements in a second master's degree program. Each program of study must be signed by the departmental graduate committees in both departments in which master's degrees will be earned. The student must then submit the programs of study to the dean of the graduate college for final approval. Any admission status given in a second master's degree program must be regarded as provisional until the programs of study/, are approved by the dean of the graduate college. "NOTE": There are restrictions on financial support for students seeking second master's degrees. Inquire within the graduate college office regarding eligibility for continued support.

(D) The doctor of philosophy degree. The PhD degree is granted on the basis of evidence that the candidate has achieved a high level of scholarship and proficiency in research rather than solely on the basis of successful completion of a prescribed amount of coursework. The student's competence and ability to work independently and to write creatively are established by qualifying and comprehensive examinations and the quality of a dissertation submitted as an account of his or her original research.

(1) Program study and advisory committee. The graduate committee of the student's department will assign an advisor and an advisory committee, who will outline the proposed program of study for the degree. Graduate work completed at another university will be considered by the departmental graduate committee and the student's advisory committee in the development of the student's program of study. A minimum of nine quarters of study and research beyond the bachelor's degree is normally needed to meet requirements for the PhD degree. At the appropriate time, often when the dissertation proposal is nearing approval, the departmental graduate committee will forward to the dean of the graduate college a recommendation for appointment of a graduate college representative, together with the names of other dissertation committee members and the title of the student's dissertation.

(2) Comprehensive examination. When coursework is virtually completed, and upon the recommendation of the advisory committee, the student takes a comprehensive examination, which is given for the purpose of establishing his or her mastery of the fields of specialization and readiness for advanced research. The results of the examination must be reported to the graduate college within one week on a form provided by the graduate college.

(3) Scholarly discipline requirement. Each department shall determine the auxiliary research competencies needed by candidates for the PhD degree. Competence will be determined by standards and methods established by the individual departments. Each student who expects to demonstrate proficiency in one of the scholarly disciplines in which examinations are arranged by the graduate college, (e.g. statistics, computer science, etc.) must file an appropriate "Intent Form". These forms'' are available from and should be filed with the graduate college. The student must be registered for a minimum of two hours in the quarter in which the examination is taken. The French, German, Russian and Spanish proficiency examinations of the educational testing service are given at Ohio university several times during the year. Information and application forms may be obtained at the graduate college office. Application forms are returned to the graduate college office where the ten dollar nonrefundable registration fee is paid.

(4) Academic residency requirement. At least three academic quarters of the doctoral program shall be in continuous residence on the Athens campus of Ohio university in an institutional full-time status (registration for fifteen graduate credits). Students who receive Ohio university stipend to have institutional full-time status by registering for nine or more graduate credits. The continuous residence requirement applies to the period of graduate study following the completion of the master's degree or the completion of forty-five graduate credits.

(5) Admission to candidacy. Admission to candidacy is achieved after the student has completed the following steps:

1) (a) formation of the dissertation committee (including the graduate college representative) and approval of the research proposal by this committee;

2) (b) satisfaction of all required scholarly disciplines, and

3) (c) successful completion of the comprehensive examination. Appropriate forms for indicating completion of the above are available from and are filed in the graduate college office.

(6) Dissertation. A dissertation,, which is the scholarly account of research in a new area of knowledge, is submitted by each candidate. Each department will prescribe the specific style manual to be followed by its students. A pamphlet, "Format for the Presentation of Theses and Dissertations," is available in the graduate college office. This booklet contains graduate college regulations regarding type, margins, quality of paper, abstract, and other aspects, as well as detailed directions for submitting the finished dissertation to the graduate college. Every degree candidate must obtain the current "format" and the list of quarterly deadlines for graduation from the graduate college office. One copy of the dissertation is submitted to "University Microfilms International" for editing and microfilming and will be made available for use by interlibrary loan. A copy of the dissertation abstract is published in "Dissertation Abstracts" by University Microfilms International.

(7) Copyright. Dissertations can be copyrighted at the time the manuscripts are sent to "University Microfilms international" lf Arrangements can Be made through the library for this service. Students should be aware that under current copyright procedures, microfilming by "University Microfilms international" constitutes publication. The author may lose the ability to obtain a copyright if the dissertation is not copyrighted at the time of submission to the graduate college. For further information contact the office of the director.

(8) Oral dissertation examination. An oral dissertation examination is required of all candidates for the PhD degree. The examining committee shall be composed of the student's doctoral committee, with the dissertation director as chairman, and a representative of the graduate college as previously appointed by the dean of the graduate college. In addition to the chairman and graduate college representative, at least two other members of the student's doctoral committee must participate in the oral dissertation examination. Final copies of the dissertation must be presented to members of the examining committee at least two weeks before the date of the oral examination to allow adequate time for review. The final arrangements for the examination shall be completed through the graduate college office at least ten days prior to the examination. Details of the examination, including time and place, will be sent to the examiners and to the student from the graduate college office.

(9) Time limit for PhD program. The doctoral program of study must be completed within seven calendar years of the date of its initiation as determined by the individual department and recorded in the graduate college, or within three calendar years of the date of the student's admission to candidacy, whichever occurs first. student's who do not complete requirements for the degree within the given period may be permitted to continue in graduate study only if exceptional circumstances are associated with the delay in progress.

(E) Guidelines for sponsored research. The graduate college does not accept theses or dissertations containing material developed as" part of a research project if the thesis or dissertation is restricted from publication. Publication, for this purpose, includes depositing the manuscript with the graduate college, the department, and cataloging by the Alden library, microfilming and distribution by university microfilms. However, upon the student's written request to the dean of the graduate college, publication may be delayed up to a maximum of twelve months if, in the judgment of the dean, the data upon which the thesis or dissertation is based are proprietary (i.e., legally protected as to copyright, patent secrecy, process of manufacture, etc.) and not available in the public domain. Request for delay must be submitted by the student, with the formal approval of the student's advisor, at least one academic quarter prior to the normal date of publication of the thesis or dissertation.

Notes

Ohio Admin. Code 3337-2-09

Effective: 3/14/2015
Promulgated Under: 111.15
Statutory Authority: 111.15
Rule Amplifies: 111.15
Prior Effective Dates: 3/16/1978