Degree Requirements and Academic Policies

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Registration

The Office of the Registrar is responsible for the management of the registration process by which students enroll in, drop, and withdraw from courses. Through the registration process, students assume academic and financial responsibility for the courses in which they enroll. They are relieved of these responsibilities only by formally terminating enrollment by dropping or withdrawing in accordance with deadlines specified in the Academic Calendar and the corresponding prorated refund schedule available on the Student Accounts website at finance.uncc.edu/student-accounts/refunds.

Registration Deadlines

University policies determine when students may enroll or adjust their enrollment in courses. General deadlines are shown below and specific deadlines for a given term are available online at registrar.uncc.edu/printable-calendar.

Add/Drop Period

The Add/Drop period runs through the eighth calendar day of the Fall and Spring semesters (the second instructional day for the first and second Summer sessions).

During the Add/Drop Period, students can:

• Register for courses
• Drop a course(s) without record (and remain enrolled in other courses)
• Drop all courses without record
• Change the grade type to Audit or Pass/Unsatisfactory (refer to Auditing a Course and Pass/Unsatisfactory Option sections)
• Elect to retake a course with Grade Replacement (refer to Repeating Courses section)

After the Add/Drop Period students can withdraw from one or more courses in accordance with the Withdrawals policy.

Prerequisites and Permits

All students, including visitors and non-degree students, are required to meet course prerequisites and to obtain the required permissions to enroll in courses through the department which sponsors the course.

Auditing Courses

With the permission of the instructor and Graduate School, a Graduate Student may audit any course in which space is available.  Fees and procedures for this non-credit enrollment are the same as those for a credit enrollment.  The procedure for adding, dropping, or withdrawing from an audit course is the same as for credit enrollments.  In order to audit a class, a student must complete a Graduate Academic Petition and receive approval from the instructor and the Graduate School by the eighth calendar day of a semester.

No student will be allowed to change the designation of a course from audit to credit or from credit to audit after the eighth calendar day of a semester (or a proportional period for Summer sessions).  Participation of auditors in course discussions and in tests or examinations is optional with the instructor.  Students who audit receive no University credit, but they are expected to attend the course regularly. 

Early Entry to Graduate Programs

Exceptional undergraduate students at UNC Charlotte may be accepted into some certificate, master’s, and doctoral programs and begin work toward a graduate certificate or degree before completion of the baccalaureate degree.  In those programs offering this option, an applicant may be accepted at any time after completion of 75 or more credit hours of their undergraduate coursework, although it is expected that at least 90 credit hours of undergraduate coursework will have been earned by the time the first graduate course is taken.  These students will have provisional acceptance status in the graduate program, pending the award of the baccalaureate degree.

To be accepted to this program, the student must complete an application online at mygradschool.uncc.edu for the given graduate program and be approved for it.  In addition, the student must complete the Early Entry Program Form online at graduateschool.uncc.edu/current-students/forms and have it approved by the Undergraduate Advisor, the Graduate Program Director, and the Graduate School.   [Note: The Early Entry Program Form must be approved by the Graduate School before the student begins the Early Entry graduate coursework.  Failure to obtain prior Graduate School approval negates the ability to “double count” courses in an accelerated Early Entry Program.]  An undergraduate student must have at least a 3.2 overall GPA and have taken the appropriate graduate standardized test and earned an acceptable score.  A given program may have more rigorous admissions criteria.  If an Early Entry student has not met the normal admission requirements of a 3.0 overall undergraduate GPA at the end of his/her baccalaureate degree, she/he will be dismissed from the graduate program.

Students accepted into an Early Entry Program will be considered subject to the same policies that pertain to other matriculated graduate students.  However, the undergraduate program will remain the student’s primary program.  Early Entry students are eligible only for undergraduate-level financial aid, grants, and tuition awards.*  Early Entry students are restricted to 15 credit hours of graduate level coursework prior to the completion of the baccalaureate degree.  No courses taken before admission to the graduate program may be applied to a graduate degree.

Some Early Entry Programs permit students to “double count” graduate-level coursework towards outstanding requirements for the undergraduate degree.  The maximum number of graduate credits which may be “double counted” towards an undergraduate degree varies by program.  However, under no circumstances will more than 12 credit hours be double-counted.  Students use the Early Entry Program Form to detail which courses they plan to “double count” and which courses will be taken solely for graduate credit.  Only those graduate-level courses which are applied towards the undergraduate degree are eligible for undergraduate-level financial aid.

58 graduate programs currently offer an Early Entry option.  A list of Early Entry Programs may be found on the Graduate Admissions website at gradadmissions.uncc.edu/programs/early-entry.  To be considered for Early Entry admission, a student must complete and submit an application via the Graduate School’s admissions system at mygradschool.uncc.edu and provide supporting documents.

*Note: Students admitted to an Early Entry Program are not eligible to hold a graduate assistantship since they have not completed a baccalaureate degree. Students admitted into an Early Entry Program pay undergraduate fees and undergraduate tuition for all courses (graduate and undergraduate) for which they register until such time that the baccalaureate degree is completed (typically within two semesters).

Accelerated Master’s Programs

Exceptional undergraduate students may be accepted into an Accelerated Master’s Program whereby they simultaneously pursue the baccalaureate and master’s degrees and gain invaluable mentoring and research experience along the way.  The Accelerated Master’s Program may also be accelerated in which up to 12 hours earned at the graduate level may be substituted (“double counted”) for required undergraduate hours.  A list of Accelerated Master’s Programs may be found on the Undergraduate Admissions website at admissions.uncc.edu/academics/accelerated-masters-programs.

In the programs offering this option, an applicant may be considered for admission to the Master’s Program directly from high school with a minimum GPA 3.75 or above (on a 4.0 scale) and a minimum score of 1220 on the SAT.  For details, see the Undergraduate Admissions website at admissions.uncc.edu/academics/accelerated-masters-programs.

Note:  Students admitted to an Accelerated Master’s Program (undergraduate + graduate degrees) are not eligible to hold a graduate assistantship until their final year of study when they are only taking graduate courses.  In the Accelerated Master’s Program of study, when only graduate courses are taken (typically the final year of study), students are considered “graduate” students and are charged graduate tuition and fees.

Dual Undergraduate and Graduate Registration

First undergraduate degree students at UNC Charlotte who are required to take fewer than 12 credit hours of undergraduate work to fulfill all requirements for the bachelor’s degree may be allowed during their final semester to enroll in certain courses for the purpose of obtaining graduate credit.  Dually enrolled students will continue to be considered undergraduate students and be charged for the courses taken at the undergraduate level.  To be considered for dual enrollment, students should submit the online graduate application for admission as a post-baccalaureate student, submit a Special Request to the Graduate School requesting permission to be considered for dual enrollment, and attach to the Special Request a program of study outlining the requirements of the first undergraduate degree.  The total credit hours to be carried in this status shall not exceed 12 credit hours, of which no more than nine may be for graduate credit.  On the basis of work attempted prior to the final semester, such students must meet the grade point criteria for admission to a graduate degree program at the University.  No course for which credit is applied to an undergraduate degree may receive graduate credit.  Permission to take graduate courses under dual registration does not constitute admission to any graduate degree program at the University.  (Undergraduate students may also take graduate courses if admitted to an Early Entry Program or an Accelerated Master’s Program.)

Note: Only UNC Charlotte students pursuing their first undergraduate degree are eligible for dual undergraduate and graduate registration.  Fifth year undergraduate students (i.e., students pursuing a second undergraduate degree) are not eligible for dual undergraduate and graduate enrollment.

Inter-Institutional Registration

An inter-institutional registration program is available, for a limited number of undergraduate and graduate students, with the University of North Carolina at Greensboro, North Carolina State University, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Duke University, and North Carolina Central University. The registration process is initiated in the Office of the Registrar and requires the approval of the student’s College Dean and the Associate Dean of the Graduate School. Enrollment for Inter-Institutional is normally limited to the following:

• Fall and Spring terms: two courses per term for a graduate or professional student provided that the student is also registered for the balance of his/her normal load at UNC Charlotte.
• Summer sessions: one course per summer session provided the student is also registered for at least three hours per session at UNC Charlotte.

Tuition will be billed by UNC Charlotte for all courses taken, including the Inter-Institutional courses, at the prevailing tuition rate. Fees will be waived at the visiting institution unless there is a special fee associated with a particular course. In such a case, the student is responsible for payment of the fee. Students must adhere to the academic calendar for all adds, drops, and withdrawals at both institutions.

UNC Online Registration

Graduate students at UNC Charlotte are eligible to enroll in both graduate and undergraduate courses via UNC Online at online.northcarolina.edu.  UNC Charlotte students who enroll in a course through UNC Online are billed by UNC Charlotte.  However, courses taken through UNC Online are not considered residence credit.  In order to receive credit at UNC Charlotte for coursework taken through UNC Online, students must request to transfer the credit back to UNC Charlotte upon completion of the course.  Such requests are subject to the Transfer Credit policies outlined herein.  Students are advised to consult with their program before registering for a course through UNC Online.

Continuous Registration

Students in graduate degree programs are required to maintain continuous registration (Fall and Spring semesters) for thesis, dissertation, project, or directed study until work is completed.  Students are not required to enroll in any Summer term unless they are using University resources or they are completing degree requirements in that term.  Students using University resources should enroll in the number of graduate credit hours that best reflects the amount of resources being used (typically three (3) or more graduate credit hours).  The continuous registration requirement begins with the semester in which the student first registers for his/her thesis, dissertation, project, or directed study.  

Note: Students must be enrolled during the term (semester or summer) in which they graduate from the University.

Leave of Absence

Current students who are not enrolled and are not using University resources may apply for a leave of absence.  Students choosing this option must file a Graduate Academic Petition for a leave of absence that states they will not use University resources during the leave period.  If the leave of absence extends beyond one calendar year, the student’s matriculation is closed and the student must re-apply for active status in the graduate program.  International students on F-1 visa/status must remain continuously enrolled until the thesis, dissertation, project or directed study is completed.  Those international students who wish to apply for a leave of absence are advised to consult with the International Student/Scholar Office prior to filing the Graduate Academic Petition for leave of absence.  Students experiencing a medical emergency or other crisis should contact the Dean of Students Office.  Students with questions about the leave of absence option can contact The Graduate School.

Transfer Credit

The student’s Graduate Program Director is responsible for determining the applicability of transferred credits to graduate program requirements. See the appropriate “Degree Requirements” sections of this Catalog for program-specific policies. General rules governing transferred credit are:

1. To obtain approval to receive transfer credit, the student must submit an Application for Transfer of Credit into a Graduate Degree Program form (available online at graduateschool.uncc.edu/current-students/forms), approved by the graduate program coordinator, to the Graduate School. If the courses being transferred are from another institution, the student must include an official copy of the transcript along with the request, as well as valid course descriptions from that institution. The University is not obligated to accept any courses for transfer credit.
2. No more than six credit hours of transfer credit will be considered for acceptance into a master’s degree program. The amount of transfer credit that may be accepted into a doctoral program varies by program. See program specific policies in this Catalog.
3. Undergraduate courses are not transferable for graduate credit.
4. Graduate courses that appear in the undergraduate section of a transcript are only transferable if the Registrar of the institution where the credit was received can verify in writing that the graduate courses in question were not counted toward the student’s undergraduate degree requirements.*
5. Courses which have been taken as part of any graduate program at UNC Charlotte or another institution for which the student has received a master’s or doctorate degree are not transferable into a certificate program or a second master’s degree program. The transferability of master’s degree or doctoral coursework into a doctoral program varies by program. See program specific policies in this Catalog.
6. The grade in any course accepted for transferred credit must be A or B, as defined by UNC Charlotte (a 3.0 or above on a 0.0-4.0 grade point scale). Coursework that has been graded on a Pass/No Credit or Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory basis will not be accepted for transfer. In some cases, the Graduate School will allow completed thesis credit (graded on a Pass/No Credit scale) to be transferred into a doctoral program. It should be noted that, although the credit for a course may transfer, the grade will not be used to calculate the graduate GPA at UNC Charlotte.
7. Courses accepted for transfer are subject to the same time limitation as courses taken in residence.
8. To be considered for transfer credit, the courses must have been undertaken at a regionally accredited institution.
9. Courses taken at an accredited institution using the quarter system may be transferred but the quarter hours will be converted to semester hour credit.
10.  Courses in which credit is accepted must be appropriate for approved University programs and curricula in which the student is enrolled.
11. Transfer credit is not awarded for non-degree seeking graduate students (i.e., post baccalaureate students).
12. Students may transfer the credits earned in a graduate certificate program toward a single degree that they pursue either in conjunction with the graduate certificate or after the certificate has been awarded. However, students may not transfer credits earned in one certificate program toward the satisfaction of requirements in a second certificate program.

*Note: This does not affect graduate courses taken while a student is enrolled in Early Entry status at UNC Charlotte.  Such courses appear in the Graduate section of the official transcript, and do not need to be transferred into the graduate program.

Credit by Examination

A student currently enrolled at UNC Charlotte may pass a specially prepared challenge examination and receive credit for a University course without having to do the normal coursework. The student contacts the program in which credit is sought to request administration of an examination. Since it may not be appropriate to award credit by examination for some courses, the decision to offer an examination is that of the program. If the graduate program authorizes an examination, the student is instructed to pay the fee for credit by examination and to bring the receipt of payment to the examination. Credit by examination will be indicated on the transcript, but no grade points will be awarded. Failure on such an examination will incur no grade-point penalty. No student may challenge a course for which either a passing or failing grade has been received at UNC Charlotte.

Change of Degree Program

To change from one degree program to another, a graduate student must complete the application for admission to the new program, pay the requisite application fee, submit a Statement of Purpose, and provide supporting documentation as specified in this Catalog in a timely manner and be recommended by the Graduate Program Director for admission to the new program of study, with the Graduate School rendering the final decision. The student should also provide the Graduate School with a letter indicating withdrawal from the initial degree program. Contact the Office of Graduate Admissions for additional information.

Note: Students on F-1 or J-1 visa status who change from one degree program to another may be required to submit proof of sufficient financial resources, especially if the change to another degree program requires the issuance of a new Form I-20 or DS-2019.

Application for the Degree and/or Graduate Certificate

All graduate students, including certificate students, must submit the Online Graduation Application no later than the published deadline in the term of graduation.  The Online Graduation Application can be found at my.uncc.edu under “Student Records”.  Degrees and certificates are conferred at commencement exercises held at the end of the Fall and Spring semesters; however, the diploma, graduate certificate, and/or transcript will reflect the term in which all requirements were completed.  Master’s diplomas and graduate certificates are mailed directly to the student after graduation clearance has been completed.

Students completing their degree and/or certificate requirements in May participate in the May commencement ceremony.  Students completing degrees and/or certificates in a summer term, as well as those completing in December, participate in the December commencement ceremony.  Doctoral students may be accompanied by one faculty member, typically their advisor, during the commencement ceremony.

Degree Audits

DegreeWorks (available via my.uncc.edu) contains the definitive degree audit for each graduate student.  Students are encouraged to review their individual audit each semester to ensure they are making satisfactory progress towards graduation.  In the term of graduation, each candidate’s DegreeWorks audit will be reviewed for accuracy by the graduate program and the Graduate School.  All program requirements specified in DegreeWorks must be met before the degree or certificate will be awarded.  If an audit does not appear accurate, a student should consult with the director of their graduate program to determine if an academic petition is necessary.

Earning a Second Degree

A student is permitted to earn a second graduate degree subject to the following conditions:

1. no work applied to a previously awarded degree may be applied to the new degree program
2. the student must be admitted to a degree program different from that of his/her previous graduate degree(s)
3. the student must successfully meet all requirements for the new degree

Dual Master’s Degrees

In certain instances, it may be possible for a student to obtain dual degrees in two master’s programs through the development of an integrated curriculum.  A dual master’s degree requires a special arrangement and should be viewed as atypical to standard practice. No degree program is obligated to enter into such an arrangement.

Although other restrictions may apply, basic admission and degree requirements are specified below:

The student must apply to each program separately and be admitted to both by the start of the third semester.  No admission requirements established by the Graduate School or by either individual program may be waived. For example, if one degree requires acceptable scores for the GRE and the other the MAT, the applicant must take each standardized exam to be considered for admission to both degrees.

1. Once admitted, the student must develop a suitable plan of study that is acceptable to both programs and to the Graduate School. This plan of study must be done within the first semester of a student’s matriculation in the Graduate School and in conjunction with Graduate Program Directors. The plan of study must be forwarded to the Graduate School for review and approval.
2. The student’s advisory committee must have representation from both degree programs. If there is no advisory committee, the student must have two advisors; one from each program.
3. The number of required credit hours for both degrees must not be less than 75% of the total minimum hours required to complete each degree separately. For instance, if degree program X requires 30 credit hours and Y 30 credit hours, a proposed dual degree should at a minimum require 45 credit hours.
4. The director of each degree program must agree on which courses may be applied to both sets of graduation requirements.
5. The student must complete the capstone requirements for both programs. For example, if program X requires a written thesis and program Y requires a comprehensive exam, the student must meet both degree obligations.
6. If there is a compulsory qualifying exam in each curriculum, it may be possible for the student to take a single exam as long as the examination committee agrees that the assessment covers sufficient background information for each discipline. If only one program requires a qualifying exam, the student is obligated to take the exam.
7. If the student withdraws or is suspended from one of the participating programs, the dual degree arrangement is automatically nullified.
8. All standard policies relating to transfer of and minimum GPA required to graduate, apply to any dual degree arrangement.
9. All of the coursework in the combined program of study must be completed before the student can apply for either of the degrees.
10. No dual degrees will be awarded retroactively.

Termination of Enrollment

Once a student has registered for classes and it becomes necessary to terminate the registration, there are two possible courses of action: (1) cancellation of enrollment, or (2) withdrawal from classes and/or from the University.  The method of registration termination depends upon the circumstances in each individual case.

Cancellation of Enrollment

A Cancellation of Enrollment will be processed for any student who has not paid their tuition and fees or made arrangements by the due date listed on the academic calendar at registrar.uncc.edu/printable-calendar.  A Cancellation Notice will be emailed to the student’s UNC Charlotte email address.  Other circumstances that may also result in a cancellation include, but are not limited to: being academically ineligible to continue in school; failure to pay tuition and fees; documented emergency; military deployment; and student conduct sanctions.

The Dean of Students Office may authorize a Cancellation of Enrollment through the University’s Office of the Registrar within the add/drop period for documented medical or personal crises or for reasons related to military deployment or required military training.

Dropping all courses prior to the last day of the add/drop period is the process by which a student cancels enrollment for the term. A student who wishes to cancel enrollment must do so via My UNC Charlotte at my.uncc.edu.  In cases where a new graduate student fails to enroll in the first term following admission to a graduate program, the Graduate School will withdraw the student’s admission.

Withdrawals

Students are allowed opportunities to withdraw from classes and receive a grade of W. The deadline to withdraw from one or more courses (including withdrawal from all courses) is at the 60% completion point of the term.  The precise date for each term will be published in the Academic Calendar at registrar.uncc.edu/printable-calendar.  After this deadline, late withdrawal will only be allowed for approved extenuating circumstances.  A grade of W will be recorded for each withdrawal without extenuating circumstances.  Courses marked W do not count in GPA calculations, but do count in attempted hour calculations for all graduate students.

International students on F-1 or J-1 visa status must carry a full course load each academic semester.  (Some exceptions apply.  See the International Student and Scholar Office for further information.)  Students who withdraw from UNC Charlotte are advised to consult the International Student and Scholar Office for information on maintaining valid F-1 or J-1 status, or reinstatement to valid F-1 or J-1 status.

Note: In situations where a student withdraws from all courses, the student must terminate all financial obligations with the University such as financial aid, housing, assistantships, etc., by completing necessary paperwork in each office.

Withdrawals (for Extenuating Circumstances)

Students who experience a current term personal or medical crisis or military deployment may request a withdrawal with extenuating circumstances through the Dean of Students Office.  In very rare circumstances, students who wish to request a withdrawal with extenuating circumstances for past terms must submit an academic petition to the Graduate School.  If a student’s request for a withdrawal with extenuating circumstances is approved, the student will be removed from registered classes with a transcript notation of “WE” and a withdrawal tag will be placed on the student’s registration.  If a student’s request for a withdrawal with extenuating circumstances is denied, graduate students may appeal that decision to the Dean of the Graduate School.

Termination by the University

The University maintains the right to terminate a student’s enrollment in a course for a variety of reasons including, but not limited to: course schedule changes, course cancellation due to low enrollment, or the student’s nonfulfillment of course prerequisites.  The University maintains the right to terminate a student’s enrollment in all courses in a term for a variety of reasons including, but not limited to: academic suspension, suspension for violation of the Code of Student Responsibility, or suspension in violation of the Code of Student Academic Integrity.  Students who have been suspended for academic or disciplinary reasons must reapply for admission as described in the Readmission of Former Students policy.

Course Descriptions

Related course descriptions are provided with each degree/non-degree program in the Catalog. Course descriptions provide the following information: subject prefix; course number; course title; semester credit hours assigned to the course; prerequisites and/or corequisites (if any) and a brief description of the course content.  The description may specify the number of class (lecture) and/or laboratory sessions and hours. If no class hours are given, the number of class hours per week is the same as the number of credit hours credit assigned to the course.

For example:
SUBJ 6234. Title of Course. (Credit Hours)  Pre/corequisites.  Brief description of course content.

Course Numbering System

Courses are identified by four-digit numbers. The first digit indicates the level of the course:

• 5000-5999 = graduate courses with parallel undergraduate courses listed at the 4000 level
• 6000-7999 = graduate certificate and master’s level courses
• 8000-9999 = doctoral level courses

The following second digits designate special types of courses:

• 0 for topics
• 4 for internships and practicum
• 5 for cooperative education
• 6 for seminars
• 7 for Honors courses
• 8 for independent study
• 9 for research

Prerequisites and Corequisites

A prerequisite is a requirement that must be met (or a course that must be passed) before enrolling in a more advanced course. A corequisite is a course which should be taken in the same semester as another.

Cross-Listed Courses

A cross-listed course is a single course which is simultaneously listed in the schedule of course offerings by two or more academic departments. They share the same meeting times, room, instructor(s), and curriculum. Students may only receive credit for the single section of the cross-listed course for which they are registered. Credit will not be awarded for a course where credit has been awarded for a cross-listed course.

Frequency

The frequency of offering a course is listed in parentheses at the end of the course description. Courses offered every year are designated by semester(s) only. Courses offered every other year are designated by semester and/or odd or even years. “On demand” courses are offered as needed and if a qualified instructor is available.

Changes

Course descriptions and numbers are accurate at the time of publication of the Catalog. For the most current information, please consult the department or the most current online version of the Graduate Catalog at catalog.uncc.edu.

Course Load

An appropriate course load is dependent upon two factors: the scholastic ability of the student as reflected by his/her academic history and the time available for study. For students without a graduate assistantship, a course load of 9 credit hours constitutes a normal full semester program for a graduate student. This is lower than the normal undergraduate load because of the extensive reading, independent thinking, and individual research required of graduate students. Generally, graduate students should not register for more than 12 credit hours during a semester.

A graduate assistant must register for at least six graduate-level credit hours during each semester in which an assistantship is awarded. Graduate assistants enrolled in the Graduate Assistance Support Plan (GASP) must register for a minimum of 9 graduate credit hours each term until they graduate, even if they exhaust all GASP funding before their final term.

International students on F-1 visa/status are required, by immigration regulations, to pursue a full course load during each academic semester, except during official school breaks (e.g., summer vacation and winter holidays) or unless a reduced course load is approved in advance by the Designated School Officer (DSO) at the International Students/Scholar Office. Failure to enroll for a full course load without prior approval is considered a violation of the F-1 legal status.

Classroom Attendance and Policies

Each instructor determines the classroom policies (including attendance regulations) for his or her courses.  In general, students are expected to attend punctually all scheduled sessions in the courses for which they are registered, to demonstrate civil behavior while in class, and to complete all of the course requirements.  Instructors may outline additional and more specific standards in the course syllabus, especially when attendance is part of the grading criteria for the class.  For online synchronous classes, instructors can choose to take attendance with any technology available to them.  Absences from class may be excused by the instructor for such reasons as personal illness or participating as an authorized University representative in an out-of-town event.  Whenever possible, students are expected to seek the permission of the instructor prior to absences.  Absences for religious holidays fall under University Policy 409, Religious Accommodation for Students.

Grading and Related Policies

Instructors assign grades on the basis of their evaluation of the academic performance of each student enrolled in their courses. At the end of the term, the grades are reported to the Office of the Registrar which is responsible for maintaining student academic records and making grades available to students.

Grades

Letters are used to designate the quality of student academic achievement.

Grade of I (Incomplete)

The grade of I is assigned at the discretion of the instructor when a student who is otherwise passing has not, due to circumstances beyond his/her control, completed all the work in the course. The missing work must be completed by the deadline specified by the instructor, but no later than 12 months. If the I is not removed during the specified time, a grade of U as appropriate is automatically assigned. Time extensions for the completion of an I beyond one year cannot be approved except by a Graduate Academic Petition to the Graduate School under extraordinary circumstances. The grade of I cannot be removed by enrolling again in the same course, and students should not re-enroll in a course in which they have been assigned the grade of I.

Grade of IP (In Progress)

The grade of IP is based on coursework for courses that extend over more than one semester. For example, a course that requires enrollment for two consecutive semesters would be eligible for an IP grade in the first term (i.e., Certificate Project, Master’s Thesis, Master’s Project, Doctoral Dissertation, etc.). The grade in the second term is also awarded for the course in the first semester. A grade of IP should not be given for coursework to be completed in one given term. It cannot be substituted for a grade of I. For a student in good standing in a certificate program, an IP grade expires after four years, and if no final grade has been awarded by that time, the IP grade will default to a grade of N (no credit). For a student in good standing in a master’s degree program, an IP grade expires after six years, and if no final grade has been awarded by that time, the IP grade will default to a grade of N (no credit). For a student in good standing in a doctoral program, an IP grade expires after eight years, and if no final grade has been awarded by that time, the IP grade will default to a grade of N (no credit).

Grade of W (Withdrawal)

No grade will be given for a course dropped on or before the last day to drop a course without record. After this period, a student is permitted to withdraw from a course with a grade of W. The deadline to withdraw from one or more courses (including withdrawing from all courses) is 60% of the way through the term, which for Fall or Spring semesters is during the 9th week. The precise date for each term is published in the Academic Calendar. After this deadline, withdrawal is only allowed for approved extenuating circumstances. Unsatisfactory academic performance itself is not an extenuating circumstance. The date of withdrawal is determined when the “Withdrawal” notification is received by the Office of the Registrar. The grade of W is posted on the academic transcript.

Grade of WE (Withdrawal for Extenuating Circumstances)

After the deadline to withdraw from a course, a student may, in certain circumstances, request to withdraw from his or her courses based on an extenuating circumstance (i.e., a medical emergency, a death in the immediate family, or other serious event).  The student must provide documentation to support his/her request.  WE requests for the current term are submitted through the Office of the Dean of Students.  If approved, a grade of WE is noted on the student’s transcript.

Grade of N (No Credit)

The grade of N (No Credit) is used in very special circumstances. The N grade signifies that there is no credit given for the course. Therefore, any course that receives the N grade does not enter into the student’s grade point average. The N grade is used for the master’s and doctoral level, resident and non-resident, graduate student continuing registration courses (GRAD 7999 or GRAD 9999). The N grade is also used to replace IP grades which have expired, and for GRAD 8990. These are the only three uses for the N grade.

Pass/Unsatisfactory Option

Certain graduate courses, such as research seminars, tutorials, internships, theses or dissertations, may be designated for Pass/Unsatisfactory grading upon recommendation of the offering department and approval of the Graduate Council. The grade of P (Pass) in such a course shall be considered as evidence of satisfactory performance. A grade of U (Unsatisfactory) will affect eligibility for continued enrollment and will not apply toward requirements for the degree. Graduate students may not take the Pass/Unsatisfactory option for a standard graded course, with the exception of GRAD courses.

Grade Point Average (GPA)

The grade point average for a graduate student is based only on those graduate courses taken at UNC Charlotte. It is determined by multiplying the number of grade points for each grade (A=4, B=3, C=2, U=0) by the number of credit hours credit received in that courses adding all accumulated grade points together, and then dividing by the total number of credit hours the student has attempted except those for which the student received a grade of I, IP, W, P, N, AU, or NR. When a course not listed as “May be repeated for credit” is repeated, no additional credit hours attempted accrue and the hours earned and grade points of the previous grade are replaced by those of the current grade.

Graduate students must have a 3.0 GPA in the courses on their degree plan of study in order to graduate. However, the grades for all courses attempted will remain on the transcript and will be included in the calculation of the student’s GPA as it is reported on the transcript.

Repeating Graduate Courses

Graduate students are allowed to repeat a maximum of two courses in which the student has been assigned a grade of C or U (but not an I). If the course grade has resulted in suspension or termination of enrollment, the student must appeal to be reinstated in order to repeat the course. A given course may be repeated one time only. Each grade earned in a repeated course is shown on the student’s transcript. The record of the first attempt remains a part of the student’s permanent record and counts in the number of marginal (C) grades accumulated. However, the hours earned and grade in the first attempt are not computed in the GPA. Successfully repeating a course does not change the number of marginal (C) grades accumulated. Enrollment will be terminated if a student receives a grade of U in a repeated course for which the student previously earned a U.

Final Grades

Final grades are available through the secure student access pages of My UNC Charlotte online at my.uncc.edu. 

Final Grade Changes and Appeals from Final Course Grades

When a final course grade other than Incomplete (I) is officially reported by the instructor at the end of an academic term, the grade is recorded by the Office of the Registrar and can be changed only if the grade has been assigned arbitrarily or impermissibly as defined in University Policy 410, Policy and Procedures for Student Appeals of Final Course Grades, available online at legal.uncc.edu/policies/up-410.

For guidelines on applying this policy, please visit University Policy 411, Request for Review of a Final Course Grade Guidelines for Students, online at legal.uncc.edu/policies/up-411.

Students should follow the procedures outlined in that policy if they believe that the final course grade that has been assigned is incorrect. The policy encourages the student to discuss the grade with the instructor as soon as possible after the grade is received. Students should note, however, that the University is not obliged to respond to a grade appeal unless the student files it with the appropriate department chairperson or interdisciplinary program director within the first four weeks following the last day of the regular semester or the summer term in which the grade was received. When a grade is assigned consistent with University policy, only the instructor has the right to change the grade except as provided in the Incomplete grade policy. When an instructor reports a grade change for a grade other than I, the Change of Grade request must be approved by his/her Department Chairperson and the Graduate School.

Academic Standing

Requirements for Continued Enrollment

All graduate students whether degree seeking or non-degree seeking (post baccalaureate) must maintain satisfactory grades. In addition, students enrolled in any graduate program must maintain satisfactory progress toward the degree. Students are expected to achieve a commendable or satisfactory grade (A or B) in all coursework attempted for graduate credit. Students who fail to maintain satisfactory progress toward their degree or who do not achieve commendable or satisfactory grades in all their graduate coursework are subject to suspension and/or termination from their program of study and/or the Graduate School.

International students on F-1 or J-1 visa status must carry a full course load each academic semester (Some exceptions apply. See International Student/Scholar Office for further information.) Students who are suspended or terminated from their program of study are advised to consult the International Student/Scholar Office for information on maintaining valid F-1 or J-1 status, or reinstatement to valid F-1 or J-1 status.

Academic Suspension

All graduate students (degree/certificate seeking and post baccalaureate) are subject to academic suspension. An accumulation of three marginal C grades in any graduate coursework will result in suspension of the student’s enrollment. If a student makes a grade of U in any graduate course, enrollment will be suspended. A graduate student whose enrollment has been suspended because of grades is ineligible to register in any semester or summer session unless properly reinstated through the appeal process.

Note: Some departments and/or programs have stricter regulations on suspension than those of the Graduate School. See the academic regulations presented in the program specific sections of this Catalog.

Appeal Procedure

Graduate students may appeal a suspension or termination using the procedures described in the following paragraphs. Other grievances relating to academic status are to be addressed to the Graduate School.

Appeal of Academic Suspension for the Purpose of Reinstatement

A student who has been suspended from the Graduate School and/or a program of study may appeal his/her suspension and must be reinstated in order to continue his/her studies. After notification of suspension is received, the student initiates the appeal procedure by submitting a Suspension Appeal Form to the Graduate Program Director of his/her academic program explaining any extenuating circumstances. The Graduate Program Director will forward this form to the Graduate School with a recommendation regarding reinstatement. Non-degree seeking licensure students in the College of Education, submit the Suspension Appeal Form to the Associate Dean of the College of Education. All other non-degree seeking students submit the Suspension Appeal Form in Banner Self-Service. The Associate Dean of the Graduate School makes the decision on the suspension appeal and notifies the student of the decision in writing.

A student readmitted to a graduate program through reinstatement will be expected to complete the degree program with satisfactory or commendable performance (A or B grades). Should a student receive a grade of C or U in a graduate course after being reinstated to the program, enrollment in the graduate program will be terminated.

A student who is denied readmission through the suspension appeal process is considered to be terminated from the Graduate School and/or the graduate program. Terminated students may appeal their termination as identified in the section entitled “Appeal of Academic Termination for the Purpose of Reinstatement.”

Academic Termination of Non-Degree Seeking Students

Academic termination of non-degree seeking (post-baccalaureate) students may occur in two ways.

1. A student’s graduate status will be terminated if, after receiving an initial suspension (see “Academic Suspension”) and subsequent reinstatement (see “Appeal of Academic Suspension for the Purpose of Reinstatement”), the student receives a grade of C or U in a graduate-level course.
    
2. A student’s graduate studies may be terminated if he/she fails to maintain the general standards of the Graduate School (e.g., accumulation of more than one C grade in a term resulting in a total of four or more C grades in his/her graduate academic record, three C grades and one U, or two or more U grades in a single term).
    
3. Students who are suspended from the Graduate School and are denied re-admittance through the suspension appeal process (see “Appeal of Academic Suspension for the Purpose of Reinstatement”) are considered terminated from the Graduate School.

Academic Termination of Degree/Certificate Seeking Students

Academic termination of a degree/certificate graduate student’s program of studies may occur in four ways.

1. Students may be required to terminate their graduate studies if they fail to maintain satisfactory academic progress. One example of failure to maintain satisfactory academic progress is non-adherence to the schedule of “Time Limits for Degrees.”
   
   When a program determines that a student is making unsatisfactory progress, the program notifies the student in writing of the program’s concern about the student’s performance. Such a warning specifies the source of the concern, the applicable program and/or Graduate School rules, and the proposed action. Warnings specify when and on what basis a recommendation for academic termination will be considered by the program. A probationary period of one academic semester is normal.
   
   Following the probationary period, a student who fails to meet the provisions of the warning is subject to termination from the program. If the program believes that termination is warranted, the graduate program director or coordinator communicates to the Associate Dean of the Graduate School in writing the specific reasons involved, all warnings communicated to the student, the program and/or advisory committee procedures and actions leading to the recommendation, and the mailing address of the student. After considering all of the information, the Associate Dean will make a decision. If the decision is to terminate, the Associate Dean will notify the student of his/her termination from the Graduate School.
    
2. A student’s graduate studies may be terminated if he/she fails to maintain the specific standards of the student’s academic program as described in the program specific sections of the Graduate Catalog (e.g., a doctoral program may indicate that the accumulation of two C grades or one U grade is grounds for termination from the program) or the general standards of the Graduate School for termination (e.g., accumulation of more than one C grade in a term resulting in a total of four or more C grades in his/her graduate academic record, three C grades and one U, or two or more U grades in a single term).
   
   Note: A graduate student may be terminated without prior suspension if he/she receives four C grades, regardless of the semester in which the grades were received.
    
3. A student’s graduate studies will be terminated if, after receiving an initial suspension (see “Academic Suspension”) and subsequent reinstatement (see “Appeal of Academic Suspension for the Purpose of Reinstatement”), the student receives a grade of C or U in a graduate level course.
    
4. Students who are suspended from a graduate program and are denied re-admittance through the suspension appeal process (see “Appeal of Academic Suspension for the Purpose of Reinstatement”) are considered terminated from their graduate program.

Readmission of Terminated Graduate Students

Students who have been academically terminated from the Graduate School and/or a UNC Charlotte graduate program are not eligible for readmission as either a degree seeking or non-degree seeking graduate student. However, if after two years the student can demonstrate the potential for academic success and/or personal and professional development since leaving the University, the student may initiate a request for readmission to the Graduate School. The student may initiate the request for readmission to the program from which he/she was terminated, to a different graduate program, or as a post-baccalaureate student. Students seeking readmission must submit a new application package which includes the full set of materials identified in the section entitled “General Application Requirements for Admission  ” In addition, the student must include within his/her essay (Statement of Purpose) a section explaining the circumstances that led to his/her termination from the UNC Charlotte Graduate School and a discussion of the academic and/or personal and professional development since last attending the University that has prepared him/her for a successful return to graduate studies.

Appeal of Academic Termination for the Purpose of Reinstatement (Post-Baccalaureate Students)

While an action of termination is considered final, a post-baccalaureate student who is terminated may appeal that termination to the Graduate School if there are unusual or extenuating circumstances.

To initiate an Appeal of Academic Termination, the student must send a written letter to the Graduate School requesting consideration of his/her case by the UNC Charlotte Graduate School Appeals Committee. In the written request, the student must make his/her case for reinstatement. If appropriate, the student may include two letters from UNC Charlotte faculty or academic administrative personnel who are knowledgeable of the student’s academic capabilities and are supportive of the student’s reinstatement to the Graduate School. A termination appeal request and the supporting documentation must be received by the Graduate School within 30 days of the date on the letter of termination.

Once the Graduate School receives the Appeal of Termination, it will be forwarded to the Chair of the Graduate School Appeals Committee. This Committee will review all relevant materials and make a recommendation to the Dean of the Graduate School. The Dean of the Graduate School makes the decision on the Appeal of Termination case and his/her decision is final.

Appeal of Academic Termination for the Purpose of Reinstatement (Degree-Seeking Students)

While an action of termination is considered final, a student who is terminated from a graduate program may appeal that termination to the Graduate School if there are unusual or extenuating circumstances. The type of academic termination will determine the permissible grounds for the appeal and the specific procedure utilized.

Category 1: Academic Termination Based on Failure to Maintain Commendable or Satisfactory Performance in Coursework
Category 1 appeals are available to students who have been terminated for receiving a U or C grade after an initial suspension and students who fail to maintain the specific grading standards of an academic program. In these cases, an Appeal of Academic Termination submitted to the Graduate School must be supported by the student’s graduate program. Without support from the student’s graduate program, academic termination of this type is always considered a final action.

To initiate a Category 1 Appeal of Academic Termination, the student must send a written letter to the Graduate School requesting consideration of his/her case by the UNC Charlotte Graduate School Appeals Committee. In the written request, the student must make his/her case for reinstatement. Included with the student’s letter must be at least two letters of support for reinstatement from the student’s academic program. For master’s degree students, the termination appeal should include a letter from the program coordinator/director and a letter from the department chair, major advisor and/or the thesis/project advisor. For a doctoral student, a termination appeal should include a letter from the program coordinator/director and the advisory committee or dissertation committee chair. The letters from the program must specify what expectations must be met by the student if he/she is readmitted to the program. A termination appeal request and the supporting documentation must be received by the Graduate School within 30 days of the date on the letter of termination.

Once the Graduate School receives a Category 1 Appeal of Termination, it will be forwarded to the Chair of the Graduate School Appeals Committee. This Committee will review all relevant materials and make a recommendation to the Dean of the Graduate School. The Dean of the Graduate School makes the decision on the Appeal of Termination case and his/her decision is final.

Category 2: Academic Termination Based on Programmatic Action
Category 2 appeals are for students who have been terminated for failure to maintain satisfactory progress in an academic program and for students who have been denied re-admittance through the suspension appeal process. Academic decisions based on the disciplinary expertise and judgment of graduate faculty members and program coordinators/directors in a particular field are not subject to appeal. The fact that a programmatic decision goes against a student’s desire for continuation in an academic degree program is not grounds for a termination appeal. However, a Category 2 appeal may be brought on the grounds that there was “procedural error” or “discrimination” in the termination decision.

To initiate a Category 2 Appeal of Academic Termination, the student must send a written letter to the Graduate School requesting consideration of his/her case by the UNC Charlotte Graduate School Appeals Committee. In the written request, the student must make his/her case for reinstatement. If the student is alleging “procedural error,” the student must specify what procedures were utilized and how the program deviated from the specified procedures. If the basis of the appeal is “discrimination,” the student must show how his/her case was handled substantially different from those of other students in similar circumstances. A termination appeal request and the supporting documentation must be received by the Graduate School within 30 days of the date on the letter of termination.

Once the Graduate School receives a Category 2 Appeal of Termination, it will be forwarded to the Chair of the Graduate School Appeals Committee. The Chair of the Appeals Committee will contact the program in question and request a response to allegations of “procedural error” and/or “discrimination.” The program will have two weeks to respond to the request of the Appeals Committee Chair. Once all relevant information had been received, the Committee will review the materials and make a recommendation to the Dean of the Graduate School. The Dean of the Graduate School makes the decision on the Appeal of Termination case and his/her decision is final.

Graduate School Appeals Committee

The Graduate School Appeals Committee is authorized to review appeals for reinstatement from graduate students who have been academically terminated. The Committee does not hear grade appeals, for which a separate procedure exists. The Appeals Committee is comprised of four members. The Associate Dean of the Graduate School serves as the ex officio, non-voting chair of the committee. The three voting members of the Appeals Committee are graduate faculty members named by the Dean of the Graduate School.

Disciplinary Suspension

Readmission is not automatic for graduate students suspended for disciplinary reasons. To be considered for readmission, a graduate student must reapply to the Graduate Admissions Office using the online application. An explanation of the circumstances surrounding any disciplinary suspension must be included in the Campus Safety section of the application for admission. Similarly, the applicant must meet all requirements established by the academic program and/or the University before readmission will be considered. (See the “UNC Charlotte Code of Student Responsibility  ” for a more complete discussion of disciplinary suspension.)

Master’s Degree Requirements

Residence Requirements

No more than six credit hours of transferred credit are accepted toward a master’s degree. All other work must be residence credit.

Residence credit is credit that is earned under the conditions specified herein and may be applied toward the attainment of graduate degrees at UNC Charlotte. These conditions must be satisfied regardless of the location (on campus, online, or distance) in which the course is given.

Instruction
The instructor must be a member of the UNC Charlotte Graduate Faculty.

Course(s)
The content of each course must be approved by regularly established college, Graduate School and University curricular processes before the course is scheduled or offered.

Residence credit may also be awarded by virtue of an examination administered by the Graduate Faculty of the department offering credit. A student may also, with the prior approval of the appropriate UNC Charlotte department and the Dean of the Graduate School, take graduate courses for residence and course credit at other regionally accredited institutions.

Advisory Committee

All students in graduate programs must have a graduate advisor who is a regular member of the Graduate Faculty in the student’s major program.  The graduate program director appoints the graduate advisor.  Students completing a master’s thesis are required to establish an advisory committee, with the graduate advisor serving as chair or co-chair.  Master’s programs may choose to require an advisory committee in cases where a student is not completing a thesis, such as a master’s project and/or final oral examinations.

In all situations requiring a committee, the committee will consist of at least three graduate faculty members, one of whom is designated as chair.  For students completing a master’s thesis, committee membership must be filed with the Graduate School at the time of the student’s proposal defense.

Program Approval

Each student’s individual program of study must be approved by his/her department/college. A maximum of six hours of transferred credit may be included in the approved program of study.

Minimum Hours and Quality

A student is expected to satisfactorily complete a minimum of 30 to 60 credit hours of approved graduate level courses, depending upon his/her individual program, with an overall GPA of 3.0 or above in courses on the degree plan of study. Grades in all courses attempted, whether or not on the plan of study, will remain on the transcript and will be included in the calculation of the student’s GPA as it is reported on the transcript. No more than six hours evaluated as C may be counted toward the minimum hours required for the master’s degree.

Culminating Experience

The intent of graduate education is to provide broad exposure to a specific discipline, culminating in an independently researched comprehensive demonstration of a student’s competence in the field.  For both the Master of Arts (M.A.) and Master of Science (M.S.) degrees, the culminating experience is normally a thesis or written comprehensive examination.  In some cases, M.A. or M.S. programs may substitute another culminating experience, such as an independent research project, internship, portfolio, or capstone course.  Such substitutions must be formally approved through the graduate curriculum review process.  Students must be enrolled during the semester in which they take the comprehensive examination or any other type of culminating experience.

A few graduate programs offer professional (non-research) master’s degrees in designated fields.  Most professional master’s programs at UNC Charlotte require a culminating experience.  In rare cases, a professional master’s degree program may seek approval, via the graduate curriculum review process, to waive the culminating experience requirement provided the program can sufficiently demonstrate that this practice is consistent with the guidelines of its field and/or accreditation requirements.  (Note: The culminating experience requirement cannot be waived for individual students.)

Comprehensive Assessment

The plan of study for a master’s degree may or may not include a comprehensive assessment. Comprehensive assessments are administered written and/or orally by graduate program faculty. Students who fail a comprehensive assessment are subject to termination and should discuss options with their graduate program director. With program approval, a comprehensive assessment may be retaken one time. If the student fails the exam a second time, the program may, in rare circumstance and with compelling evidence, allow a student to, within four months, retake the exam (or portion of the exam). In such cases, the program must document the circumstances under which the student is allowed to retake portions of the exam and demonstrate that the student’s committee unanimously supports the decision. Documentation must be submitted to the Graduate School for review prior to the exam date. In no instance will the student be allowed to take the exam (or portion of the exam) a fourth time. Students may only appeal a termination to the Graduate School if their appeal to retake the exam is based on a procedural error or discrimination (please see the Category 2 appeal description under Appeal for Academic Termination) and their initial appeal to the program was denied.

Thesis

The plan of study for a master’s degree may or may not include completion of a thesis.  The thesis and non-thesis approaches are designed to meet the needs of students preparing for different types of careers and represent qualitatively different educational experiences.  Consequently, the academic departments and the Dean of the Graduate School discourage any switching from one plan to another.  If a switch from a thesis to non-thesis plan is approved, the grade of I for the thesis work will be changed to W on the transcript with no refund of tuition for the course(s).  Students pursuing the thesis option must successfully defend a proposal of his/her thesis topic.  Upon successful defense of the proposal, students should submit the Proposal Defense for Doctoral Dissertation and/or Master’s thesis form to the Graduate School.  This form is available on the Graduate School website.

The thesis should be submitted for final approval by the student’s thesis committee at least three weeks before the date of the oral examination in which the thesis is defended.  Following the successful completion of this defense, the master’s candidate must submit a copy of the approved and error-free thesis to the Graduate School (via ProQuest) no later than the filing date indicated in the University Calendar.  Guidelines for the preparation of the thesis are available online at gradlife.uncc.edu/resources/dissertation-thesis-formatting.  Additionally, the student must submit the Defense Report for Doctoral Dissertation and/or Master’s thesis form and the original thesis title page to the Graduate School (with original signatures).

Time Limit

No course older than six years may be applied towards a master’s degree (including transfer credit).  This policy is in place because of the University’s interest in a degree being current when it is awarded.  Courses that exceed this time limit must be revalidated or retaken, whichever the graduate program decides necessary, if they are to count in a degree program.

To revalidate a course, the student, along with the program coordinator and the course instructor, prepare a revalidation plan that must be reviewed and approved by the Graduate School. This plan often involves taking a special examination designed by the faculty of the graduate program. Once the plan has been completed, the program coordinator must notify the Graduate School in writing. The Revalidation Form is available on the Graduate School website at graduateschool.uncc.edu/current-students/forms.

Students may not revalidate courses with a grade of C or lower, courses that are internships or other forms of practica, or courses taken at other institutions. Additionally, no more than 25% of the courses on a student’s program of study may be revalidated and for master’s students no course older than eight years may be revalidated.

Courses and Other Requirements

The courses and other requirements for specific degree programs are presented in each of their individual sections throughout this Catalog.  Students are encouraged to review their individual DegreeWorks audit prior to registration to ensure they are making sufficient progress towards graduation.

Application for Degree

Students should submit the Online Graduation Application at the beginning of the term in which they anticipate completion of the master’s program.  Adherence to Graduate School deadlines is expected. Students are encouraged to review their individual DegreeWorks audit to ensure they have met all graduation requirements.

Ph.D. Degree Requirements

A doctoral degree is conferred by the University after the student has demonstrated outstanding scholarship in an approved program of study. Candidates must satisfy all University degree requirements in addition to all standards established by the doctoral faculty of their particular program. Specific program degree requirements are listed under the respective doctoral programs in this Catalog. In some cases, requirements in a given program are more stringent than the minimum requirements established by the Graduate School.

Ordinarily, a student must complete at least 72 post-baccalaureate credit hours in order to earn the Ph.D.

Advisory Committees

All students in graduate programs must have a graduate advisor who is a regular member of the Graduate Faculty in the student’s major program.  The graduate program director appoints the graduate advisor.  When there is a compelling reason to do so, another faculty member may serve as “co-chair.”

For doctoral students, the dissertation committee will consist of at least four Graduate Faculty members, one of whom is appointed by the Dean of the Graduate School as the Graduate Faculty representative. Dissertations are chaired by graduate faculty and are selected by agreement between the student and the faculty member. A doctoral student may select only one faculty member as chair of the committee.

The committee for doctoral students is indicated on the Appointment of Doctoral Dissertation Committee form (available in the Graduate School office or online). At the time that the Appointment of Doctoral Dissertation Committee form is approved, the Graduate School appoints the Graduate Faculty Representative to serve on the doctoral committee.

Graduate Faculty Representative

The graduate faculty representative is a member of the doctoral student’s advisory committee appointed by the Graduate School.  This faculty member’s role is primarily but not totally procedural.  He/she must 1) assure that the doctoral student is treated fairly and impartially by his or her advisory committee, and 2) assure that University standards and policies are upheld.  For these reasons, it is preferable for faculty serving in this role to have prior experience serving on a dissertation committee.  The faculty member may also participate in the development and evaluation of the student’s research to the extent appropriate for the faculty member’s background.  The Graduate Faculty Representative is a full voting member of the committee.  This representative is generally appointed prior to the student’s dissertation proposal defense and must participate in the formation of the student’s topic and in the final dissertation examination.  A student’s advisor may consult with the Graduate School regarding selection of this representative.

Program of Study

Although the maximum amount of credit past the baccalaureate degree that a Ph.D. student may transfer towards a doctorate is 30 credit hours, only courses appropriate for the approved program and curriculum in which the student is enrolled may be transferred. Appropriate courses should be determined by the student’s supervisory committee and approved by the program coordinator before the request is submitted to the Graduate School. This rule applies whether the courses were taken at UNC Charlotte or elsewhere and whether a master’s degree was earned or not. However, no more than six hours taken when the student was in post-baccalaureate (non-degree seeking) status may be applied toward the doctoral degree.

Course and Other Program Requirements

The course and other requirements for each degree program are indicated in the program descriptions in the following pages.

Time Limit

No course older than eight years may be applied towards a Ph.D. (excluding transfer credit).  Courses that exceed this time limit must be revalidated or retaken, whichever the graduate program decides necessary, if they are to count in a degree program.

To revalidate a course, the student, along with the program coordinator and the course instructor, prepare a revalidation plan that must be reviewed and approved by the Graduate School. This plan often involves taking a special examination designed by the faculty of the graduate program. Once the plan has been completed, the program coordinator must notify the Graduate School in writing. The Revalidation Form is available on the Graduate School website at graduateschool.uncc.edu/current-students/forms.

Students may not revalidate courses with a grade of C or lower, courses that are internships or other forms of practica, or courses taken at other institutions. Additionally, no more than 25% of the courses on a student’s program of study may be revalidated, and no course older than ten years may be revalidated.

Residence

All doctoral students are required to complete a substantial residency requirement during which they have sustained contact with the graduate faculty. This requirement is specified in the program descriptions.

Qualifying Examination

Each student must complete a qualifying examination. Ordinarily students who enter a Ph.D. program directly from a baccalaureate program sit for this examination before the end of their third post-baccalaureate year in the program while students who enter a Ph.D. program from a master’s degree program take the examination before the end of their first year in the doctoral program. To sit for this examination, the student must have at least a 3.0 GPA and must have removed any conditions upon admission. Qualifying assessments are administered by graduate program faculty. Students who fail a qualifying assessment are subject to termination and should discuss options with their graduate program director. With program approval, a qualifying assessment may be retaken one time. If the student fails the exam a second time, the program may, in rare circumstance and with compelling evidence, allow a student to, within four months, retake the exam (or portion of the exam). In such cases, the program must document the circumstances under which the student is allowed to retake portions of the exam and demonstrate that the student’s committee unanimously supports the decision. Documentation must be submitted to the Graduate School for review prior to the exam date. In no instance will the student be allowed to take the exam (or portion of the exam) a fourth time. Students may only appeal a termination to the Graduate School if their appeal to retake the exam is based on a procedural error or discrimination (please see the Category 2 appeal description under Appeal for Academic Termination) and their initial appeal to the program was denied.

Candidacy

The dissertation topic may be proposed after the student has passed the qualifying examination.  The dissertation topic proposal must be defended at a meeting of the student’s advisory/dissertation committee.  A written dissertation proposal must be submitted to the advisory/dissertation committee at least two weeks prior to the scheduled defense.  A doctoral student advances to candidacy after the dissertation proposal has been approved by the student’s advisory/dissertation committee and the Graduate School.  Results of the dissertation proposal defense should be submitted to the Graduate School via the Proposal Defense for Doctoral Dissertation and/or Master’s thesis form directly after the defense.  Candidacy must be achieved at least one term prior to the term of graduation.

Dissertation

The doctoral program of study must include 18 hours of research credit including dissertation credit. The doctoral candidate must be continuously enrolled in dissertation credit hours (Also see:  Student Responsibility - Continuous Registration) beginning with the semester after the dissertation topic proposal is approved until the semester of graduation.

It is generally expected that all dissertation committee members be physically present for the dissertation proposal defense and for the dissertation final defense. If there is an exceptional case in which one committee member needs to participate in the proposal or final defense from a remote location, the student and all committee members must assure that all the conditions listed on the Approval of Remote Committee Participation Form are met.  (No more than one committee member may participate from a remote location.)  This form, which may be obtained from the Graduate School, must be completed and returned to the Graduate School at least two weeks prior to the scheduled proposal or final defense.

The dissertation must be submitted for final review by the student’s committee at least three weeks before the date of the final examination in which the dissertation is defended.  Following the successful completion of this defense, the doctoral candidate must submit one electronic copy of the approved error-free manuscript to the Graduate School (via ProQuest) no later than the filing date indicated in the University calendar.  Guidelines for the preparation of the dissertation are online at gradlife.uncc.edu/resources/dissertation-thesis-formatting.  Each student must submit the Defense Report for Doctoral Dissertation and/or Master’s thesis form, the Submission and ETD Signature form, and the original dissertation title page to the Graduate School (with original signatures).

The Graduate School requires publication of the dissertation through ProQuest, an online database of dissertations.  The student is responsible for paying the optional copyrighting fees. Any other arrangements for publications of the dissertation must not interfere with publication through ProQuest.  It may be appropriate for some students to restrict access to their dissertation temporarily (such as when a patent application is pending).  In these cases, the student and his/her committee must submit a sequester request to the Graduate School explaining why restricted access is needed.

Final Examination

Each candidate must pass a final examination over the contents of the dissertation.  Sometimes called the “dissertation defense” or the “dissertation oral,” this meeting is open to all members of the University community and must be announced to campus.  The announcement of the final defense can be uploaded by the advisor to the Graduate School website at least 10 days prior to the date and disseminated through the Academic Affairs listserv.  The announcement of the dissertation defense should include identification of the student’s full name, the date of the defense, the location of the defense, the time of the defense, the title of the dissertation, the name of the Chair of the dissertation committee, and a brief Abstract of the dissertation.  The defense constitutes the final exam for a doctoral student.  The decision of the faculty advisory committee is final.  In the rare event of a split decision, typically the faculty come to an agreement as to whether the student defense is acceptable.  It is the responsibility of the committee chair to work within his/her abilities to resolve any impasse among committee members.  If no resolution is feasible, then the chair should consult with the Graduate School.  No student is permitted to take the final examination more than twice.

Application for Degree

Students should submit the Online Graduation Application at the beginning of the term in which they anticipate defending their dissertation.  Adherence to Graduate School deadlines is expected.  Degree requirements are completed when students successfully defend their dissertation and file the final copy of the dissertation in the Graduate School.  Students are encouraged to review their individual DegreeWorks audit to ensure they have met all graduation requirements.

DBA Degree Requirements

The Doctor of Business Administration (D.B.A.) degree is conferred by the University after the student has successfully completed all requirements in an approved doctoral program of study in the College of Business.  Specific program degree requirements are described in the College of Business  section of this Catalog.

Program of Study

All credits for the DBA degree must be completed in-residence at UNC Charlotte.

Time Limit

No course older than eight years may be applied towards the DBA.  Courses that exceed this time limit must be revalidated or retaken, whichever the graduate program decides necessary, if they are to count in a degree program.

To revalidate a course, the student, along with the program coordinator and the course instructor, prepare a revalidation plan that must be reviewed and approved by the Graduate School.  This plan often involves taking a special examination designed by the faculty of the graduate program.  Once the plan has been completed, the program coordinator must notify the Graduate School in writing.  The Revalidation Form is available on the Graduate School website at graduateschool.uncc.edu/current-students/forms.

Students may not revalidate courses with a grade of C or lower, courses that are internships or other forms of practica, or courses taken at other institutions.  Additionally, no more than 25% of the courses on a student’s program of study may be revalidated, and no course older than ten years may be revalidated.

Qualifying Assessment

Upon approval of the dissertation topic, the student begins to develop their research project.  The student’s dissertation proposal serves as the primary component of the qualifying assessment for the DBA program.  Students who fail a qualifying assessment are subject to termination and should discuss options with their graduate program director.  With program approval, a qualifying assessment may be retaken one time.  If the student fails the assessment a second time, the program may, in rare circumstance and with compelling evidence, allow a student to, within four months, retake the exam (or portion of the exam).  In such cases, the program must document the circumstances under which the student is allowed to retake portions of the exam and demonstrate that the student’s committee unanimously supports the decision.  Documentation must be submitted to the Graduate School for review prior to the exam date.  In no instance will the student be allowed to take the exam (or portion of the exam) a fourth time.  Students may only appeal a termination to the Graduate School if their appeal to retake the exam is based on a procedural error or discrimination (see the Category 2 appeal description under Appeal for Academic Termination) and their initial appeal to the program was denied.

Admission to Candidacy Requirements

Students are recommended for admission to candidacy after successfully completing the written and oral comprehensive examination, subject to the approval of the student’s Advisory Committee and the Dean of the Graduate School.  A student may not achieve candidacy and graduate in the same term.  Candidacy must be achieved at least one term prior to the term of graduation.

Dissertation

Students must complete and defend a dissertation based on a research program approved by the student’s Dissertation Advisor and Advisory Committee which results in a high-quality, original, and substantial piece of research.  Students must be continually enrolled in BDBA 8999  for dissertation research credit, beginning with the semester following completion of the qualifying assessment and continuing through the semester of their graduation.  Defense of the dissertation is conducted in a final oral examination that is open to members of the University community.  The announcement of the final defense can be uploaded by the advisor to the Graduate School website at least 10 days prior to the date and disseminated through the Academic Affairs listserv.  The announcement of the dissertation defense should include identification of the student’s full name, the date of the defense, the location of the defense, the time of the defense, the title of the dissertation, the name of the Chair of the dissertation committee, and a brief Abstract of the dissertation.  The defense constitutes the final exam for a doctoral student.  The decision of the faculty advisory committee is final.  In the rare event of a split decision, typically the faculty come to an agreement as to whether the student defense is acceptable.  No student is permitted to take the final examination more than twice.

For doctoral students, the committee will consist of at least four Graduate Faculty members, one of whom is appointed by the Dean of the Graduate School as the Graduate Faculty Representative.

The committee for doctoral students is indicated on the Appointment of Doctoral Dissertation Committee form (available in the Graduate School office or online). At the time that the Appointment of Doctoral Dissertation Committee form is approved, the Graduate School appoints the Graduate Faculty Representative to serve on the doctoral committee.

It is generally expected that all dissertation committee members be physically present for the dissertation proposal defense and for the dissertation final defense.  If there is an exceptional case in which one committee member needs to participate in the proposal or final defense from a remote location, the student and all committee members must assure that all the conditions listed on the Approval of Remote Committee Participation Form are met.  (No more than one committee member may participate from a remote location.)  This form, which may be obtained from the Graduate School, must be completed and returned to the Graduate School at least two weeks prior to the scheduled proposal or final defense.

The dissertation must be submitted for final review by the student’s committee at least three weeks before the date of the final examination in which the dissertation is defended.  Following the successful completion of this defense, the doctoral candidate must submit one electronic copy of the approved error-free manuscript to the Graduate School (via ProQuest) no later than the filing date indicated in the University calendar.  Guidelines for the preparation of the dissertation are online at gradlife.uncc.edu/resources/dissertation-thesis-formatting.  Each student must submit the Defense Report for Doctoral Dissertation and/or Master’s thesis form, the Submission and ETD Signature form, and the original dissertation title page to the Graduate School (with original signatures).

The Graduate School requires publication of the dissertation through ProQuest, an online database of dissertations.  The student is responsible for paying the optional copyrighting fees.  Any other arrangements for publications of the dissertation must not interfere with publication through ProQuest.  It may be appropriate for some students to restrict access to their dissertation temporarily (such as when a patent application is pending).  In these cases, the student and his/her committee must submit a sequester request to the Graduate School explaining why restricted access is needed.

Graduate Faculty Representative

The graduate faculty representative is a member of the doctoral student’s advisory committee appointed by the Graduate School. This faculty member’s role is primarily but not totally procedural. He/she must: 1) assure that the doctoral student is treated fairly and impartially by his or her advisory committee, and 2) assure that University standards and policies are upheld.  For these reasons, it is preferable for faculty serving in this role to have prior experience serving on a dissertation committee.  The faculty member may also participate in the development and evaluation of the student’s research to the extent appropriate for the faculty member’s background.  The Graduate Faculty Representative is a full voting member of the committee.  This representative is generally appointed prior to the student’s dissertation proposal defense and must participate in the formation of the student’s topic and in the final dissertation examination.  A student’s advisor may consult with the Graduate School regarding selection of this representative.

Application for Degree

Students should submit the Online Graduation Application at the beginning of the term in which they anticipate defending their dissertation.  Adherence to Graduate School deadlines is expected.  Degree requirements are completed when students successfully defend their dissertation and file the final copy of the dissertation in the Graduate School.  Students are encouraged to review their individual DegreeWorks audit to ensure they have met all graduation requirements.

Ed.D. Degree Requirements

The Doctor of Education (Ed.D.) degree is conferred by the University after the student has successfully completed all requirements in an approved doctoral program of study in the College of Education. Specific program degree requirements are described in the College of Education section of this Catalog.

Program of Study

Although the maximum amount of credit past the master’s degree that an Ed.D. student may count towards a doctorate is 9 credit hours, only educational administration courses approved by the program coordinator may be transferred.  This rule applies whether the courses were taken at UNC Charlotte or elsewhere; however, no more than six hours taken when the student was in post-baccalaureate (non-degree seeking) status may be applied toward the doctoral degree.

Time Limit

No course older than eight years may be applied towards an Ed.D. (including transfer credit).  Courses that exceed this time limit must be revalidated or retaken, whichever the graduate program decides necessary, if they are to count in a degree program.

To revalidate a course, the student, along with the program coordinator and the course instructor, prepare a revalidation plan that must be reviewed and approved by the Graduate School. This plan often involves taking a special examination designed by the faculty of the graduate program. Once the plan has been completed, the program coordinator must notify the Graduate School in writing. The Revalidation Form is available on the Graduate School website at graduateschool.uncc.edu/current-students/forms.

Students may not revalidate courses with a grade of C or lower, courses that are internships or other forms of practica, or courses taken at other institutions. Additionally, no more than 25% of the courses on a student’s program of study may be revalidated, and no course older than ten years may be revalidated.

Qualifying Assessment

Students are required to successfully pass a written and oral examination. Qualifying assessments are administered by graduate program faculty. The examination is based upon the core areas of educational leadership, educational research, and instructional technology. Students who fail a qualifying assessment are subject to termination and should discuss options with their graduate program director. With program approval, a qualifying assessment may be retaken one time. If the student fails the exam a second time, the program may, in rare circumstance and with compelling evidence, allow a student to, within four months, retake the exam (or portion of the exam). In such case s, the program must document the circumstances under which the student is allowed to retake portions of the exam and demonstrate that the student’s committee unanimously supports the decision. Documentation must be submitted to the Graduate School for review prior to the exam date. In no instance will the student be allowed to take the exam (or portion of the exam) a fourth time. Students may only appeal a termination to the Graduate School if their appeal to retake the exam is based on a procedural error or discrimination (please see the Category 2 appeal description under Appeal for Academic Termination) and their initial appeal to the program was denied.

Admission to Candidacy Requirements

Students are recommended for admission to candidacy after successfully completing the written and oral comprehensive examination.  A student may not achieve candidacy and graduate in the same term.  Candidacy must be achieved at least one term prior to the term of graduation.

Dissertation

Students must complete and defend a dissertation focused on a specific problem or question relevant to K-12 or higher education organizations, administration, or leadership.  Students must be continually enrolled in ADMN 8999  (3 credit hours; (Fall, Spring, and Summer semesters) for dissertation research credit, beginning with the semester following completion of the qualifying assessment and continuing through the semester of their graduation.  Defense of the dissertation is conducted in a final oral examination that is open to members of the University community.  The announcement of the final defense can be uploaded by the advisor to the Graduate School website at least 10 days prior to the date and disseminated through the Academic Affairs listserv.  The announcement of the dissertation defense should include identification of the student’s full name, the date of the defense, the location of the defense, the time of the defense, the title of the dissertation, the name of the Chair of the dissertation committee, and a brief Abstract of the dissertation.  The defense constitutes the final exam for a doctoral student.  The decision of the faculty advisory committee is final.  In the rare event of a split decision, typically the faculty come to an agreement as to whether the student defense is acceptable.  No student is permitted to take the final examination more than twice.

For doctoral students, the committee will consist of at least four Graduate Faculty members, one of whom is appointed by the Dean of the Graduate School as the Graduate Faculty Representative.

The committee for doctoral students is indicated on the Appointment of Doctoral Dissertation Committee form (available in the Graduate School office or online). At the time that the Appointment of Doctoral Dissertation Committee form is approved, the Graduate School appoints the Graduate Faculty Representative to serve on the doctoral committee.

It is generally expected that all dissertation committee members be physically present for the dissertation proposal defense and for the dissertation final defense.  If there is an exceptional case in which one committee member needs to participate in the proposal or final defense from a remote location, the student and all committee members must assure that all the conditions listed on the Approval of Remote Committee Participation Form are met.  (No more than one committee member may participate from a remote location.)  This form, which may be obtained from the Graduate School, must be completed and returned to the Graduate School at least two weeks prior to the scheduled proposal or final defense.

The dissertation must be submitted for final review by the student’s committee at least three weeks before the date of the final examination in which the dissertation is defended.  Following the successful completion of this defense, the doctoral candidate must submit one electronic copy of the approved error-free manuscript to the Graduate School (via ProQuest) no later than the filing date indicated in the University calendar.  Guidelines for the preparation of the dissertation are online at gradlife.uncc.edu/resources/dissertation-thesis-formatting.  Each student must submit the Defense Report for Doctoral Dissertation and/or Master’s thesis form, the Submission and ETD Signature form, and the original dissertation title page to the Graduate School (with original signatures).

The Graduate School requires publication of the dissertation through ProQuest, an online database of dissertations.  The student is responsible for paying the optional copyrighting fees.  Any other arrangements for publications of the dissertation must not interfere with publication through ProQuest.  It may be appropriate for some students to restrict access to their dissertation temporarily (such as when a patent application is pending).  In these cases, the student and his/her committee must submit a sequester request to the Graduate School explaining why restricted access is needed.

Graduate Faculty Representative

The graduate faculty representative is a member of the doctoral student’s advisory committee appointed by the Graduate School. This faculty member’s role is primarily but not totally procedural. He/she must 1) assure that the doctoral student is treated fairly and impartially by his or her advisory committee, and 2) assure that University standards and policies are upheld.  For these reasons it is helpful for faculty serving in this role to have prior experience serving on a dissertation committee. The faculty member may also participate in the development and evaluation of the student’s research to the extent appropriate for the faculty member’s background. The Graduate Faculty Representative is a full voting member of the committee. This representative is generally appointed prior to the student’s dissertation proposal defense and must participate in the formation of the student’s topic and in the final dissertation examination.  A student’s advisor may consult with the Graduate School regarding selection of this representative.

Application for Degree

Students should submit the Online Graduation Application at the beginning of the term in which they anticipate defending their dissertation.  Adherence to Graduate School deadlines is expected.  Degree requirements are completed when students successfully defend their dissertation and file the final copy of the dissertation in the Graduate School.  Students are encouraged to review their individual DegreeWorks audit to ensure they have met all graduation requirements.

DNP Degree Requirements

The Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) degree is conferred by the University after the student has successfully completed all requirements in an approved doctoral program of study in the School of Nursing.  Specific program degree requirements are described in the College of Health and Human Services  section of this Catalog.

Program of Study

No more than 6 credit hours will be accepted for transfer into the DNP program.  This rule applies whether the courses were taken at UNC Charlotte or elsewhere.  Eligibility of courses for transfer is determined jointly by the School of Nursing and the Graduate School.

Time Limit

No course older than six years may be applied towards the DNP degree (including transfer credit).  Courses that exceed this time limit must be revalidated or retaken, whichever the graduate program decides necessary, if they are to count in a degree program.

To revalidate a course, the student, along with the program coordinator and the course instructor, prepare a revalidation plan that must be reviewed and approved by the Graduate School.  This plan often involves taking a special examination designed by the faculty of the graduate program.  Once the plan has been completed, the program coordinator must notify the Graduate School in writing.  The Revalidation Form is available on the Graduate School website at graduateschool.uncc.edu/current-students/forms.

Students may not revalidate courses with a grade of C or lower, courses that are internships or other forms of practica, or courses taken at other institutions.  Additionally, no more than 25% of the courses on a student’s program of study may be revalidated, and no course older than ten years may be revalidated.

Qualifying Assessment

Upon approval of the DNP Scholarly Project topic, the student begins to develop the project.  Once the project development is complete, the student presents to the committee the final proposal for the project.  The student’s DNP Scholarly Project proposal serves as the primary component of the qualifying assessment for the DNP program.  Students who fail a qualifying assessment are subject to termination and should discuss options with their graduate program director.  With program approval, a qualifying assessment may be retaken one time.  If the student fails the assessment a second time, the program may, in rare circumstance and with compelling evidence, allow a student to, within four months, retake the exam (or portion of the exam). In such cases, the program must document the circumstances under which the student is allowed to retake portions of the exam and demonstrate that the student’s committee unanimously supports the decision.  Documentation must be submitted to the Graduate School for review prior to the exam date.  In no instance will the student be allowed to take the exam (or portion of the exam) a fourth time.  Students may only appeal a termination to the Graduate School if their appeal to retake the exam is based on a procedural error or discrimination (please see the Category 2 appeal description under Appeal for Academic Termination) and their initial appeal to the program was denied.

Admission to Candidacy Requirements

Students are recommended for admission to candidacy after successfully completing the DNP Scholarly Project defense.  A student may not achieve candidacy and graduate in the same term.  Candidacy must be achieved at least one term prior to the term of graduation. 

Scholarly Project

Students complete a DNP Scholarly Project in conjunction with their clinical residency courses.  The DNP Scholarly Project is a project that brings together the practice and scholarship aspects of the Doctor of Nursing Practice degree. It is designed to address complex practice issues that affect groups of patients, healthcare organizations, or healthcare systems while utilizing informatics, technology, and in-depth knowledge of the clinical and behavioral sciences.  The clinical scholarship required in the DNP Scholarly Project reflects mastery and competency in the student’s area of expertise.  The DNP Scholarly Project begins in the first semester of study and continues throughout the program, culminating in a scholarly public defense. Defense of the Scholarly Project is conducted in a final oral examination that is open to members of the University community.  The announcement of the final defense can be uploaded by the advisor to the Graduate School website at least 10 days prior to the date and disseminated through the Academic Affairs listserv.  The announcement of the Scholarly Project defense should include identification of the student’s full name, the date of the defense, the location of the defense, the time of the defense, the title of the Scholarly Project, the name of the Chair of the Scholarly Project committee, and a brief Abstract of the dissertation.  The defense constitutes the final exam for a doctoral student.  The decision of the faculty advisory committee is final.  In the rare event of a split decision, typically the faculty come to an agreement as to whether the student defense is acceptable.  No student is permitted to take the final examination more than twice.

The DNP Scholarly Project is guided by the DNP Scholarly Project Committee.  The composition of the DNP Scholarly Project committee includes: 1) a chair who is a doctoral prepared faculty member with regular graduate faculty status at UNC Charlotte; 2) an expert clinical mentor (Ph.D., DNP, M.D. or other doctoral prepared individual; 3) one additional faculty member; and 4) a graduate faculty representative appointed by the Graduate School at UNC Charlotte. It is the responsibility of the DNP Scholarly Project Committee to guide the student through project planning, implementation, and evaluation process.  The committee for doctoral students is indicated on the Appointment of Doctoral Dissertation Committee form (available online at the Graduate School’s website).  At the time that the Appointment of Doctoral Dissertation Committee form is approved, the Graduate School appoints the Graduate Faculty Representative to serve on the doctoral committee.

It is generally expected that all Scholarly Project committee members be physically present for the Scholarly Project proposal defense and for the final defense.  If there is an exceptional case in which one committee member needs to participate in the proposal or final defense from a remote location, the student and all committee members must assure that all the conditions listed on the Approval of Remote Committee Participation Form are met.  (No more than one committee member may participate from a remote location.)  This form, which may be obtained from the Graduate School’s website, must be completed and returned to the Graduate School at least two weeks prior to the scheduled proposal or final defense.

The Scholarly Project must be submitted for final review by the student’s committee at least three weeks before the date of the final examination in which the Scholarly Project is defended.  Following the successful completion of this defense, the doctoral candidate must submit one electronic copy of the approved error-free manuscript to the Graduate School (via ProQuest) no later than the filing date indicated in the University calendar.  Guidelines for the preparation of the Scholarly Project are available from the Graduate School and online at gradlife.uncc.edu/resources/dissertation-thesis-formatting.  Each student must submit the Defense Report for Doctoral Dissertation and/or Master’s thesis form and the original dissertation title page to the Graduate School (with original signatures).

The Graduate School requires publication of the Scholarly Project through ProQuest, an online database of dissertations.  The student is responsible for paying the optional copyrighting fees.  Any other arrangements for publications of the dissertation must not interfere with publication through ProQuest.

Graduate Faculty Representative

The graduate faculty representative is a member of the doctoral student’s advisory committee appointed by the Graduate School. This faculty member’s role is primarily but not totally procedural. He/she must 1) assure that the doctoral student is treated fairly and impartially by his or her advisory committee, and 2) assure that University standards and policies are upheld.  For these reasons it is helpful for faculty serving in this role to have prior experience serving on a Scholarly Project committee. The faculty member may also participate in the development and evaluation of the student’s research to the extent appropriate for the faculty member’s background. The Graduate Faculty Representative is a full voting member of the committee. This representative is generally appointed prior to the student’s Scholarly Project proposal defense and must participate in the formation of the student’s topic and in the final Scholarly Project examination.  A student’s advisor may consult with the Graduate School regarding selection of this representative.

Application for Degree

Students should submit the Online Graduation Application at the beginning of the term in which they anticipate defending their dissertation.  Adherence to Graduate School deadlines is expected.  Degree requirements are completed when students successfully defend their Scholarly Project and file the final copy of the Scholarly Project in the Graduate School.  Students are encouraged to review their individual DegreeWorks audit to ensure they have met all graduation requirements.

Graduate Certificate Requirements

The graduate certificate is awarded for successful completion of a coherent program of at least 12 credit hours proposed by a unit of the graduate faculty and approved by the Graduate Council. Students are admitted to a particular graduate certificate program and are advised by faculty in the unit offering the graduate certificate. Admission to a graduate certificate program is separate and distinct from admission to a graduate degree program. Admission to a certificate program is not an indication of subsequent admission to a degree program just as admission to a degree program is not an indication of admission to a certificate program.

Since the graduate certificate is not a degree, students may apply the credits earned in the certificate program toward a single degree that they pursue either in conjunction with the graduate certificate or after the certificate has been awarded. However, students may not apply credits earned in one certificate program toward the satisfaction of requirements in a second certificate program.

Students may enroll in a graduate certificate program only or may complete the certificate in conjunction with a graduate degree program at the University. Hours taken toward a graduate certificate may be counted toward a graduate degree program with the recommendation of the graduate program coordinator and the approval of the Graduate School.

Graduate certificate programs generally require at least 12 credit hours of graduate coursework. Up to six hours taken at post-baccalaureate status at UNC Charlotte may be applied toward a certificate with the recommendation of the program coordinator and the approval of the Graduate School. Students ordinarily may not transfer hours from another institution into a certificate program. The graduate certificate is awarded to a student who has completed the specified program of study with a GPA of 3.0 or above within four years from the time of enrollment in the first certificate course and has applied to graduate.

Time Limit

No courses older than four years may be applied towards a graduate certificate.  Courses that exceed this time limit must be retaken.

Application for Certificate

Students should submit the Online Graduation Application at the beginning of the term in which they anticipate completion of the certificate program.  Adherence to Graduate School deadlines is expected.  Students are encouraged to review their individual DegreeWorks audit to ensure they have met all graduation requirements.

Note: No Graduate Certificates will be awarded retroactively.

Academic Records and Transcripts

The Office of the Registrar is responsible for maintaining the official academic records for all students. Upon written request by the student or an online request through Banner Self-Service, an official transcript of the academic record will be issued to the person or institution designated, provided that all the student’s obligations to the University have been settled satisfactorily.

Requests should reach the Office of the Registrar at least one week before the date the transcript is needed. Students may request an official transcript through the secure student access pages of Banner Self Service within My UNC Charlotte online at my.uncc.edu or complete a request form available at registrar.uncc.edu/students/transcript-order. The Office of the Registrar cannot accept requests via email or telephone.

Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) Notification

In establishing  University Policy 402, Student Education Records, UNC Charlotte adheres to a policy of compliance with the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974, also known as FERPA, a federal law that affords students the following rights with respect to their education records.

For details, see the FERPA Annual Notification posted on the Office of Legal Affairs website. 

All questions concerning this FERPA Annual Notification may be directed to the attention of the Office of the Registrar.