Policies

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Admissions

Graduate Studies

105 FPH
Provo, UT 84602-1339
(801) 422-4091
http://www.byu.edu/gradstudies

Online applications, which are strongly encouraged because they require a shorter and more efficient processing time, can be submitted at http://www.byu.edu/gradstudies/admissions/applications/onlineapp.html. Paper applications can either be downloaded and printed from the Web site or requested from Graduate Studies (105 FPH) or the individual departments. The Law School (340 JRCB, Provo, UT 84602-8000, telephone [801] 422-4277) uses a separate form that they furnish upon request.

Deadlines for Application to Graduate Studies

Application deadlines vary by department and program and are listed in the catalog under the department sections and on the Graduate Studies Web site. All parts of the application (including test scores, letters of recommendation, transcripts, and any additional materials required by the department) must be received by Graduate Studies on or before the published deadline. Many programs recommend submitting complete applications at least 30 days before their published application deadlines.

Application Requirements

Admission to graduate study is highly selective and is granted to a specific program for a specific semester or term. As a minimum, applicants who wish to be considered for admission must accomplish the following:

1. Submit a complete application before the application deadline. An application is not considered complete until the application for admission, all official transcripts, letters of recommendation, the statement of intent, and the ecclesiastical endorsement (GS Form E) have been received and the application fee has been paid.
2. Satisfy specified departmental requirements for consideration before the application deadline, including national examinations (such as the GRE).
3. Agree to maintain university standards of personal conduct through the online application.
4. Receive a baccalaureate degree from an accredited U.S. or Canadian university before the expected semester of entry. Graduate Studies must receive an official transcript showing that the degree has been conferred. Without such verification, registration will not be permitted beyond the first semester.
5. Have earned at least a 3.0 GPA (on a 4.0 scale). The minimum GPA is determined by calculating the last 60 semester hours of an applicant's undergraduate degree upper-division course work. If an applicant's upper-division courses do not constitute 60 semester hours, lower level courses (beginning with the most recent) will be applied to satisfy the difference. The minimum GPA for a foreign undergraduate degree will be derived from the overall scholastic average of all of the courses counted toward the degree.

Note: Students applying concurrently to more than one program must complete a separate application for each program and pay a separate fee for each application, but they need submit only one Honor Code Commitment and one Ecclesiastical Endorsement.

International Applicants (all non-U.S.)

In addition to the requirements described above, international applicants must do the following:

1. All applicants whose native language is not English and who have not received a four-year bachelors degree from an accredited university in the United States, or the equivalent from a university in an English-speaking country exempt from the English proficiency test requirement, are required to submit official IELTS or TOEFL test scores to be considered for admission. In order to qualify for the exemption, the degree must be less than two years old at the time of enrollment. Applicants must receive a total band score of at least 7.0 on the IELTS (with a minimum band score of 6.0 on each module); at least 237 on the computer-based TOEFL test (580 if paper-based); or at least 85 on the TOEFL iBT (with a minimum score of 22 in the Speaking section and a minimum score of 21 in other sections). Note: Applicants who are citizens of Australia, Canada, New Zealand, the United Kingdom, or the Republic of Ireland are exempt from proof of English language proficiency.
2. Submit a completed Financial Certification form (GS I-1), with acceptable supporting documents. Master's applicants must provide proof of sufficient funds for two years; doctoral applicants must provide proof of sufficient funds for three years.
3. All applicants whose degree is awarded outside of the United States must submit all official transcripts, diplomas, and mark-sheets to one of the following agencies for a credential evaluation, which must include a comprehensive course-by-course evaluation and calculation of a grade point average (GPA):

International Education Research Foundation, Inc. (IERF)
P.O. Box 3665
Culver City, CA 90231-3665
or
World Education Services (WES)
P.O. Box 5087
Bowling Green Station
New York, NY 10274-5087
http:/www.wes.org
Applicants should request that an electronic report be sent directly to Graduate Studies.

Note: Brigham Young University will not process applications from applicants entering the United States with a B or tourist visa.

Full Disclosure Requirement

All information and documents required for admission must be submitted, including transcripts from every institution attended. Note: If BYU was the last school attended, BYU transcripts do not need to be submitted. Incomplete information or falsification of information constitutes grounds for immediate dismissal and loss of all credit earned at BYU. Once the university receives application materials, those materials become the property of the university and are kept in the strictest confidence as required by university policy. Once the parts of an application have been received, materials will not be returned to the applicant.

Admissions Process

Graduate Studies receives and checks all parts of the application for completeness. Information for the department, the statement of intent, one copy of the official transcripts, letters of recommendation, and other departmental requirements are forwarded to the department; other parts of the application are retained in Graduate Studies. When the application is complete, Graduate Studies clears the applicant for the department's consideration and asks for the department's recommendation. International applicants must also include the IELTS or TOEFL score. Financial certification is required of international applicants prior to their being issued a visa document.

Notice of Acceptance or Denial

After the admissions file has been reviewed for final acceptance by the department and Graduate Studies, the university notifies applicants of the admissions decision. Only a letter from Graduate Studies grants official university acceptance. International applicants receive an I-20 form with their official acceptance letter; the I-20 is used to obtain a student visa (F-1).

Newly admitted international students are required to attend an orientation meeting at the beginning of their first semester. Details are available at International Services (1351 WSC, Provo, UT 84602-7917, telephone [801] 422-2695).

Registration

B-130 ASB
Provo, UT 84602-1114
(801) 422-2824

Eligibility

Upon receipt of an official letter of acceptance from Graduate Studies, new graduate students are eligible to register. New students lose their eligibility if they do not register for a minimum of 2 credit hours in the first semester/term for which they have been admitted. Continuing graduate students are eligible if they have fulfilled the minimum registration requirement (6 hours per year) in the preceding academic year and have submitted a continuing ecclesiastical endorsement.

Graduate Student Enrollment in Free Religion Courses

Graduate students are eligible to attend religion courses on a space-available basis without incurring any additional tuition costs. To qualify for this privilege, please do not formally register for a religion course. If you formally register, tuition will be assessed. Instead fill out ADV Form 6, Graduate Request for No-Cost/No Credit Religion Course. Note: No credits are earned or grades received. Details about this privilege are available from Graduate Studies, 105 FPH, (801) 422-4091.

Registration Requirements

First Semester

Because acceptance is granted for a specific semester, students are required to register for at least 2 hours in the semester or term for which acceptance has been granted, or the acceptance is forfeit. New students who do not enroll in the semester or term for which they are accepted and who wish to enroll in a subsequent semester must inform Graduate Studies immediately. Reapplying to a subsequent semester or term requires a new application and fee. Acceptance in one semester or term does not guarantee acceptance in a subsequent semester or term.

Minimum Registration Requirement

U.S. Students, Semester or Term. U.S. graduate students are required to register for at least 2 credit hours during a semester or term in which they use any university facilities, consult with faculty, or take comprehensive or oral examinations. The number of graduate credit hours for which they register must, in the judgment of the faculty advisor, accurately reflect the student's involvement in graduate study and use of university resources such as libraries, laboratories, and computer facilities. In no case will the registration be for fewer than 2 credit hours per semester.

U.S. Students, Academic Year. To retain active status and to qualify for subsequent registration, graduate students must register for at least 6 semester hours each school year and receive acceptable grades (no D, E, W, NS, or I grades are allowed, nor are audits or correspondence courses). Students who do not fulfill this yearly requirement are dropped from their graduate programs; they lose their graduate status and must apply for readmission if they wish to continue.

International Students. Nine credit hours has been determined to constitute a full course of study at BYU. Therefore, international students must register for at least 9 semester hours each fall and winter semester to satisfy U.S. Immigration regulations. Questions should be directed to International Services (1351 WSC, Provo, UT 84602-7917, [801] 422-2695).

Readmission

Upon department and graduate dean approval to resume graduate study, former graduate students who were dropped for failure to meet the minimum registration requirement, and who wish to resume their graduate studies, must submit an Application to Resume Graduate Study and a Reapplication Honor Code Commitment Form (GS Form 6 and 6a available online at http://www.byu.edu/gradstudies), and pay a $125-nonrefundable processing fee. International students will also need to submit new Financial Certification forms (Form I-1 and/or I-2). Students should expect their previous course work to be reevaluated and their degree requirements to reflect current expectations of the program.

Loss of Eligibility to Register

Once enrolled, a graduate student becomes ineligible to register for subsequent semesters if:

1. The student has not fulfilled the minimum registration requirement (6 hours per academic year).
2. The student has not submitted a program of study as required: master's students by the third week of the second semester after admission; doctoral students by the third week of the beginning of the second year.
3. Graduate Studies has not received official transcripts showing that the required prerequisite degrees have been conferred.
4. The students time limit has expired.
5. The student has received two unacceptable evaluations in succession.
6. The student has withdrawn or has been terminated by the department.
7. The student has violated the BYU Honor Code and is not cleared by the Honor Code Office.
8. The student has failed to submit an annual continuing ecclesiastical endorsement.
9. The student has graduated from the graduate program.

Financial Aid Registration Requirements

It is the student's responsibility to comply with any registration requirements established by sponsoring agents for student loans, loan payment deferrals, assistantships, internships, scholarships, and awards.

Graduate Assistants, Interns, and Award Recipients. Graduate students receiving assistantships, awards, or internships through BYU must register for at least 2 hours per semester or for 1 hour per term. Departmental requirements may exceed these minimums, and international students must register for at least 9 semester hours each fall and winter semester.

BYU Short-Term Loans. Only degree-seeking students enrolled in day school who are making satisfactory academic progress are eligible for short-term BYU tuition loans. Since the amount borrowed is directly applied toward the cost of tuition, no minimum level of enrollment is required.

Federal Loans (Stafford Loans and Supplemental Student Loans). To qualify for federal loans, graduate students must normally register for at least 4.5 hours each semester or 2.5 hours each term. However, the regulations require that students who have used their six-month grace period but wish to defer payment on a previous federal loan must be registered full-time 8.5 or more hours per semester and 4.5 or more hours per term. Independent study, audit, or workshop classes cannot be used to meet the minimum hour requirement.

Verification of Enrollment Status

A student who is enrolled for 8.5 or more credit hours a semester or 4.5 credit hours or more for a term is considered full-time for tuition purposes. International students and students receiving financial assistance may be required to register for more hours to be considered a full-time student. A student enrolled for 4.5 to 8 credit hours a semester or 2.5 to 4 credit hours a term is considered a half-time student. Graduate students may request verification of their enrollment status from the Records Office, B-150, ASB, Provo, UT 84602-1114, (801) 422-2631.

Master's and doctoral students who are enrolled for fewer than 8.5 credit hours per semester can petition for full-time status. To be considered for full-time status a student must:

1. Have completed all required course work and have only the thesis or dissertation to complete, or be limited to less than full-time enrollment because of a required teaching assistantship, research assistantship, or internship. (The combination of TA/RA assignment and registration must be equivalent to a full-time load, e.g. half-time assistantship plus 6 credit hours of registration per semester.)
2. Be enrolled for at least 2 credit hours per semester or 1 credit hour per term of thesis, dissertation, project, or internship credit.
3. Be certified by his or her department as being engaged full-time (40 hours or more per week) in pursuit of a degree. Requests for such an exception should be directed to Graduate Studies.

Withdrawal or Discontinuance

Students who wish to withdraw from the university for the current semester or term must initiate that process at the Discontinuance Office, B-150 ASB, Provo, UT 84602-1114, (801) 422-7705.

Advisement

Academic Sponsor

Once accepted into a graduate program, students are assigned a department sponsor, often the department graduate coordinator, who guides their first registration and individual study until the student's graduate committee is appointed in the first semester.

Graduate Committees

Master's (thesis and project) committees will consist of, at the minimum, three members; doctoral committees, five members. The members of both master's and doctoral committees must be graduate faculty. In those cases when a student declares a minor, one member of the committee must be from the minor department. Departments may have additional members; nevertheless, they are intended to be permanent members of the student's committee.

All committee members share in the responsibility for advising and directing the student concerning course work, degree requirements, and research (thesis and dissertation) and creative work. For example, all will participate in such events as prospectus meetings, comprehensive exams, and thesis/dissertation defenses and will be responsible for the evaluation of the student's performance. The individual contribution of committee members may vary by kind, effort, and intensity. Committee formation should occur no later than at the time of submission of the student's program of study.

Program of Study

The program of study is a carefully considered outline that helps students fulfill all course requirements. Master's students should complete the program of study under the direction of their graduate committee during the student's first semester, and in no case later than the third week of the second semester. Doctoral students should receive approval and submit their program of study during the first year, and in no case later than the third week of the beginning of the second year of study. Students without a program of study recorded with Graduate Studies will not be able to register for subsequent semesters. Necessary changes in a student's program or committee can be made if authorized by the student's committee and department graduate coordinator.

Joint Programs

There are a few programs at BYU that have been approved as joint programs. Joint degree programs provide students with the opportunity to earn two graduate degrees simultaneously and share some credit. It is expected that both degrees will be awarded together.

Progress Reports

Three times a year (fall, winter, and spring) each graduate student is sent an e-mail about accessing their progress report on the AIM system. It compares the individual program of study with the courses taken and summarizes the student's progress in a program: classes completed, current registration, needed classes, academic standing, and grade point average. In addition, the progress report alerts a student to possible problems with academic status, GPA, grade errors, current registration, prerequisite degrees needed, minimum registration requirements, time limits, and courses. Students are responsible to work with their departments regarding any needed changes.

Degree Requirements

The following minimum standards for graduate programs have been established by the university, though it is not uncommon for departments to have higher standards. Additional information about specific requirements for each graduate program appears under individual department listings in this catalog on the Graduate Studies Web site (http://ww.byu.edu/gradstudies). Furthermore, most departments publish detailed information about their program requirements that is available from department offices on request. Students should consult frequently with department graduate coordinators and committee chairs.

Doctoral Degree

Course Work Requirements

Graduate committees, appointed following admission to a graduate program, will help students prepare their programs of study. The following credit requirements must be met:

1. Credit Hours. The minimum required for students with no master's degree is 54 semester hours beyond the baccalaureate degree; but the 54 hours may not include undergraduate (100 to 400 level) or other courses needed to fulfill prerequisite and skill requirements, or more than 18 hours of dissertation credit. Students who have earned a master's degree must complete at least 36 semester hours of additional graduate work at BYU beyond the master's degree. So long as these restrictions are met, students may, with the approval of their graduate committee, apply up to 36 hours of a master's program toward a doctoral degree. Transfer credits from other universities may be considered as long as they are in excess of these minimums and they meet the rules for transfer credit. See the Credit Policies section of this catalog for information about credits that may not apply toward a graduate degree.
2. Minor. If a minor is declared as part of a doctoral degree, a student must:
   1. Obtain the approval of the department chair/graduate coordinator of the major and the minor departments.
   2. Select a graduate faculty member from the minor department (approved by the department chair/graduate coordinator of the minor department) to serve as a graduate committee member.
   3. Register for and complete at least 12 semester hours of approved graduate credit in the minor.
   4. Pass an oral or a written comprehensive examination in the minor field (prepared by the minor committee member).
3. Dissertation Credit. A student seeking a doctor of philosophy degree must register for and complete a minimum of 18 hours of dissertation credit. No more than 18 hours may count toward the 54 hours required, and all 18 hours may not be taken in one term or semester. Registration for dissertation credit and work on the dissertation must be concurrent.

Time Limit

Most doctoral degree programs are designed to be completed within four to five years. All doctoral degrees must be completed within eight years of the first semester of enrollment in the program. Matriculation in a program may be terminated at any time for failure to make satisfactory progress toward the degree. See the Credit Policies section of this catalog for more detailed information about outdated credits and the time limit.

Residency

Doctoral students must register for at least two consecutive 6-hour semesters on the BYU campus.

Comprehensive Examination

Doctoral students must pass a written comprehensive examination or qualifying experience in their field under the direction of the major department. An examination is normally given when the student has completed the required course work for the doctoral degree. Some departments also require an oral portion of the comprehensive examination. In the case of a declared minor, it is expected that the examination will include subject matter from the minor field.

Oral Defense of Dissertations

The final oral examination (defense of the dissertation) must be scheduled with Graduate Studies at least two weeks in advance. Final examinations may not be held during the interim periods between semesters or terms. All members of the BYU academic community are invited to attend the final oral examination, but only members of the student's graduate committee may question the candidate and vote on the candidates performance.

An unbound copy of the candidates dissertation must be placed in the student's graduate department at least two weeks in advance of the oral examination so that interested faculty and students may review it before the examination.

Examination Results

The committee may vote to pass, pass with qualification, recess, or fail the student.

If the decision is to pass with qualification, the committee may require minor revisions of the dissertation, strengthening of the candidates preparation in subject matter areas, or both. When these qualifications are cleared and the graduate committee chair has properly recorded the clearance with Graduate Studies, the student is judged to have passed the examination.

If two or more examiners vote to recess, the examination is recessed. This permits the candidate to reschedule (with the department and Graduate Studies) a second and final examination. The new examination cannot be held sooner than a month after the recessed examination and must be scheduled through Graduate Studies at least two weeks prior to the second examination.

If two or more examiners vote to fail, the examination is failed and the graduate degree program of the student is terminated.

Master's Degree

Course Work Requirements

Graduate committees or program advisors, appointed following admission to a graduate program, will help students prepare their programs of study. The following credit requirements must be met:

1. Credit Hours. A student seeking the master's degree must complete a total of at least 30 semester hours of credit (excluding prerequisite courses). See the Credit Policies section of this catalog for information about credits that may not apply toward a graduate degree.
2. Minor. If a minor is desired, a student must:
   1. Obtain the approval of the department chair of the major and the minor departments.
   2. Select a graduate faculty member (approved by the department chair of the minor department) to serve as a committee member.
   3. Register for and complete at least 9 semester hours of approved graduate credit in the minor.
   4. Pass an oral or a written comprehensive examination in the minor field (prepared by the minor committee member).
3. Thesis Credit or Project Credit. Students in thesis programs must register for and complete a minimum of 6 hours of thesis credit. No more than 6 hours of thesis credit may apply to the 30-hour minimum. Registration for thesis credit (from 1 to 6 hours per semester as approved by the graduate committee chair) and work on the thesis must be concurrent. For students in a project program, at least 2 project credit hours are required (see individual department requirement).

Time Limit

Most master's degree programs are designed to be completed within two years. All students must complete their programs within five years of the first semester of enrollment in the program. Matriculation in a program may be terminated at any time for failure to make satisfactory progress toward the degree. See the Credit Policies section of this catalog for more detailed information about outdated credits and the time limit.

Full-Time Registration Requirement

All graduate programs require a minimum of two full-time semesters of graduate tuition. In a few approved integrated master's programs, students may earn their baccalaureate and graduate degrees concurrently. Graduate tuition is calculated from the semester of acceptance into the graduate program. Students in such integrated programs must pay graduate tuition for two full-time semesters.

Comprehensive Examination

Many master's programs require comprehensive examinations, which in combination with the defense of the thesis are the culminating experience of the master's degree.

Oral Defense of Theses or Selected Projects

The final oral examination (defense of thesis or selected project) must be scheduled with Graduate Studies at least two weeks in advance. Final examinations may not be held during the interim periods between semesters. All members of the BYU academic community are notified and invited to attend the final oral examination, but only members of the student's graduate committee may question the candidate and vote on the candidates performance.

An unbound copy of the candidates thesis or selected project must be placed in the student's graduate department at least two weeks in advance of the oral examination so that interested faculty and students may review it before the examination.

Examination Results

The committee may vote to pass, pass with qualification, recess, or fail the student.

If the decision is to pass with qualification, the committee may require minor revisions of the thesis or selected project, strengthening of the candidates preparation in subject matter areas, or both. When these qualifications are cleared and the committee chair has properly recorded the clearance with Graduate Studies, the student is judged to have passed the examination.

If two or more examiners vote to recess, the examination is recessed. This permits the candidate to reschedule (with the department and Graduate Studies) a second and final examination. The new examination cannot be held sooner than a month after the recessed examination and must be scheduled through Graduate Studies at least two weeks prior to the second examination.

If two or more examiners vote to fail, the examination is failed and the graduate degree program of the student is terminated.

Credit Policies

Graduate Courses

Seniors with exceptional ability may, on occasion, register for courses numbered in the 500 series but should be aware that such courses are taught at a graduate level and expectations may exceed the undergraduate's preparation.

All 600-level courses and above are reserved for graduate students. In exceptional circumstances selected post-baccalaureate students and undergraduate students may register for a 600-level course with permission from the instructor.

Appropriate Credit Enrollment

Because graduate study is more rigorous than undergraduate study, a student should not register for more than 12 hours in a semester or 6 hours in a term. In many programs, even that may be too much. Furthermore, registration for thesis and dissertation credit and work on the thesis and dissertation should be concurrent and reasonable. It would be inappropriate, for example, for a student to register for all 18 dissertation credit hours in one semester or term. Students should consult with their committee chair in determining an appropriate and reasonable credit enrollment.

Restrictions on Credits That May Apply Toward a Graduate Degree

PostBaccalaureate Studies (PBS), Senior, and Transfer Credit

With department approval, transfer, senior, and post-baccalaureate studies credit may be applied toward the degree according to the individual criteria listed below. The maximum number of transfer credit hours should constitute no more than 25 percent of the total hours required for the program, not to exceed 15 credit hours in any program. Contact Graduate Studies if you have any questions.

PBS Credit. Credit taken after the baccalaureate degree has been received, but before the semester of formal admission to a graduate program, is defined as PBS credit. Such credit can be considered as part of a graduate degree program only with department approval. PBS and senior credit combined cannot exceed 10 semester hours of a graduate program.

Senior Credit. In some restricted instances students seeking a master's degree may apply credit taken during the senior year at BYU toward that degree, but in no instances can this credit apply to both a baccalaureate and a graduate degree. Senior and PBS credit combined cannot exceed 10 semester hours of a graduate program.

Transfer Credit. Credit taken at other accredited universities in the United States or in Canada may, with department approval, count toward a graduate degree at BYU if the following conditions are met:

1. Courses to be transferred must be clearly graduate level.
2. The grade for such courses must be B or better (pass/fail courses are not transferable).
3. Home study, correspondence, and extension courses are not transferable.
4. Courses taken before a student begins graduate work at BYU must be approved during a students first semester of study at BYU.
5. Courses taken at another university after the student has begun studies at BYU must be preapproved by graduate committee members and graduate coordinators, and Graduate Studies must be notified.
6. Credit has not already been applied to another degree.

Under certain circumstances transfer credit from accredited or certified foreign universities may be considered for transfer if all the conditions described above for transferring credit are met and the department submits a written justification that assures the following before the classes are taken:

1. The foreign university is highly regarded as a recognized institution of higher education.
2. The content, rigor, and applicability of the courses are appropriate for the student's graduate program and will enrich the student's graduate experience.

A student may also choose to transfer the credit by successfully completing a challenge examination in the course(s).

Other BYU Credit

Lower-division courses (100- and 200-level courses), Independent Study (correspondence) courses, 300- and 400-level religion courses, and education courses numbered 514R may not apply toward a graduate degree.

No undergraduate courses may apply toward a doctoral degree (except those already applied to a master's degree).

Credits Certified by Challenge Examination

A student may wish to challenge a course in the program of study that covers material already mastered. In rare circumstances, and with the approval of the department and the graduate dean, up to 10 semester hours may be certified by challenge examination.

A graduate student may only challenge credit specific to the graduate program to which the student has been admitted.

Applications to take challenge examinations may be obtained from the Graduate Studies Web site: www.byu.edu/gradstudies/forms.

Outdated Credit and Time Limits

Only credit taken within the time limit for each degree may count toward the degree (eight years for doctoral degrees and five years for master's degrees). Petitions to extend time limits and include outdated credit are governed by the following:

1. Departments and colleges may petition for up to a one-year extension by providing reasonable evidence that extenuating circumstances caused an unavoidable delay in the student's progress toward a degree.
2. Departments and colleges may petition to allow credit outdated by more than one year but no more than five years to apply toward a degree, but the petition must be accompanied by impressive documentation that the credit in question has been updated by courses retaken, by special readings courses in the subjects outdated, or by examinations in each of the courses.
3. No credit outdated by more than five years may apply to a current degree, regardless of circumstances.

Academic Standards

Grade Point Average (GPA) Requirements

Graduate students whose graduate (program of study) GPA falls below 3.0 (prerequisite and skill courses are exempt) will not be allowed to graduate and may be dismissed from their graduate programs. Students whose grades frequently fall in the C range or below should consult with their committees about the advisability of continuing graduate study. No D credit may apply toward a graduate degree.

Evaluation of Student Progress

Students should complete their degree program in a timely fashion. Graduate students matriculated in programs should continually be enrolled in course work, be completing internships, and/or be actively involved in scholarly or creative work. Departments formally evaluate each graduate students progress twice during the academic year and inform the student in writing of his or her status. Each student is rated as making satisfactory, marginal, or unsatisfactory progress.

If marginal or unsatisfactory progress is noted, students will be notified in writing what they need to do, when it needs to be accomplished, and whom to contact for help to demonstrate satisfactory progress. Students who receive an unsatisfactory evaluation will not be eligible to obtain financial aid. The Financial Aid Office is required by federal regulations to evaluate a students performance to ensure that the student will be able to graduate within the maximum time frame.

If a student receives a marginal and an unsatisfactory or two unsatisfactory ratings in succession, the student's program will be terminated at the conclusion of the semester.

Termination of Graduate Status

Termination of graduate status may result if a student:

1. Fails to satisfactorily complete the conditions of acceptance.
2. Fails to fulfill the university's minimum registration requirement.
3. Makes a request to withdraw (with the intent to pursue a degree at another university, for personal reasons, or in response to department recommendation).
4. Receives a marginal and unsatisfactory rating in succession from the academic department.
5. Fails the departmental comprehensive examination.
6. Fails the final oral examination (defense of dissertation, thesis, or selected project).
7. Violates the university's standards of conduct or Honor Code.
8. Exceeds the time limit (five years for master's, eight years for doctoral).

Request for Review of Termination

A student dismissed or facing dismissal may request review of termination or impending termination. Such requests should be directed, in writing, to the department chair. A student who wishes further consideration may request review by the college dean. Ultimately, a final request for review may be made to the university graduate dean who, if circumstances warrant it, may appoint a committee of impartial faculty members to review the matter. All requests for review of termination must be initiated within one year of the semester in which the termination takes place.

Student Academic Grievances

The university has an established procedure for handling graduate student academic grievances. If consulting with the faculty member or the graduate committee chair does not resolve a grievance, a graduate student should describe the problem to the department graduate coordinator and/or the department chair. If difficulties persist, the student may ask the college dean and finally the graduate dean for review. All grievances must be presented within a year of the semester in question.

The Graduate Student Academic Grievance Policy can be found under the resource section of the Graduate Studies Web site (http://www.byu.edu/gradstudies).

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