Graduate Faculty & Student Handbook
Printable version- Admission Requirements
- Application Checklist
- Financial Support
- Academic Policies and Procedures
- Master's Requirements
- Doctoral Requirements
- Certificate Programs
- Cooperative & Special Degree Programs
ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS
Degree Admission
Please read the following information before you apply online. You must meet Graduate School and specific program requirements for admission. Please be aware of recommended and required deadlines. We recommend applying at least one year in advance of the term you wish to start.
Graduate School Requirements
- Degree: Bachelor's degree.
- Grades: A minimum undergraduate GPA of 2.75. This calculation includes both attempts in your repeated coursework.
- Transcripts: One official transcript (preferably two), sent directly to the Graduate School from each undergraduate and graduate school attended. If you attended UWM as an undergraduate, the Graduate School will obtain transcripts from the Undergraduate Records Office.
- English Proficiency: See the Center for International Education's Graduate Application Requirements.
- Reasons Statement: An essential part of your application, the Reasons Statement is used to determine the appropriateness of your educational and professional goals and serves as an example of your ability to express yourself in writing. In the statement:
- Explain your reasons for pursuing graduate study.
- Describe specific interests and your background in the field.
- List any relevant skills or training you have acquired.
- List relevant academic awards or honors you have received.
- If your program requires recommendations, list the names of those individuals who will write on your behalf.
Fee/s: a $45 base application fee is required of all applicants, and an additional $40 evaluation fee is required for applicants with college-level work from non-U.S. colleges.
Note: If you are applying to a doctoral program and already hold a UWM master's degree, you do not need to pay the application fee.
International Applicants
Please see the Center for Internation Education's International Student Admission page.
Program Requirements
Contact your specific program representative for additional requirements for your program.
Admission on Probation
If your overall undergraduate grade point average is under 2.75, you may be considered for admission on probation by presenting evidence of ability to succeed in graduate-level work. The following conditions must be fulfilled before you will be considered for admission.
Applicants with GPA of 2.50-2.74 must present at least one of the following:
- A grade point average of 3.0 or above during the final 60 semester credits of your baccalaureate degree program.
- Completion of 6 or more credits of program-approved, post-baccalaureate coursework in an academic area directly related to your chosen graduate program. The grades earned must be a "B" or better (B- not acceptable).
- Submission of official score reports from the Graduate Record Examination (GRE), the Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT), or Miller Analogies Test, that indicate a high probability of success in graduate school. Official is defined as having been sent directly from the testing service to UWM.
- An advanced degree with a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher.
Applicants with GPA below 2.50 must present at least TWO of the following conditions:
- A grade point average of 3.0 or above during the final 60 semester hours of your baccalaureate degree program.
- Completion of 9 or more credits of program-approved post-baccalaureate coursework in an academic area directly related to your chosen graduate program. The grades earned must be a "B" or better (B- not acceptable).
- Submission of official score reports from the Graduate Record Examination (GRE), the Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT), or Miller Analogies Test, that indicate a high probability of success in graduate school. Official is defined as having been sent directly from the testing service to UWM.
- An advanced degree with a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher.
Your proposed graduate program unit may have further requirements for consideration of admission on probation and removal of probationary status. If you are admitted, your graduate program representative is responsible for communicating to you the conditions for removal of probation.
Admission with Course Deficiencies
You may not be admitted with more than two course deficiencies, and they must be removed within three enrolled semesters. Deficiencies are monitored by the Graduate School and your graduate program unit. No course credits earned in making up deficiencies may be counted as program credits required for the degree. If the deficiencies are not removed within three enrolled semesters, a hold will be placed on your record and you must show sufficient cause for continuation of graduate status.
Senior-Graduate Admission
If you are a UWM student holding senior standing and are within 6 credits of graduation, and meet both the admission (regular status) requirements of the Graduate School and the proposed graduate program unit, you may apply and be considered for one semester's concurrent enrollment in the undergraduate college and in the Graduate School. Your entire program is subject to the regulations and requirements of the Graduate School. You receive graduate credit only if the requirements for the bachelor's degree, including proficiency tests, are completed by the end of the semester of senior-graduate enrollment. You are assessed graduate fees for all coursework taken during the semester of senior-graduate admission.
Certificate Admission
You must have a baccalaureate degree. A minimum 2.75 cumulative undergraduate grade point average is recommended.
You must declare your intent to pursue a certificate program before completing 6 credits in the certificate sequence. Submit an application or declaration of intent to the certificate program administrative office.
If you are not already admitted to the Graduate School, submit a non-degree application.
Transfer Credit
No more than 20% of the required credits may be taken at an institution other than UWM. These courses are subject to Graduate School transfer policy and must be approved by the director of the certificate program.
Articulation with Degree Programs
Post-baccalaureate certificate
Students may count credits toward both a UWM post-baccalaureate certificate and a UWM graduate degree, subject to Graduate School transfer policy.
Graduate certificate
No more than 50% of the credits required for a certificate may count toward meeting degree requirements.
Post-master's certificate
Credits applied toward a UWM graduate degree may not count toward a post-master's certificate.
Certificates and concentrations
Students may not earn a certificate and a concentration in the same area.
GPA Requirement
A minimum cumulative 3.0 grade point average in certificate courses taken at UWM is required.
Verification of Certificate Completion
For each student who completes the certificate program, the certificate program director will sign and send to the Graduate School a form listing the course number and title, grade, and semester of enrollment for all courses that meet certificate program requirements. Certificate completion will be posted on a student's official transcript.
Time Limit
Certificate program time limits shall be established as follows:
18 or fewer credits
Three years from initial enrollment in the certificate sequence.
19 or more credits
Four years from initial enrollment in the certificate sequence.
For certificates that are designed as add-ons to degree programs and are awarded concurrent with the degree, the time limit shall be the same as that of the degree program.
Non-Degree Candidate (NDC) Admission of Graduate Special
This admission category allows you to take courses for graduate credit without pursuing a degree. Acceptance as an NDC does not guarantee admission to a graduate degree program. Some departments have a minimum grade point average for admission. In addition, there are limits to the number of NDC credits that can be considered for transfer to a degree program. NDC students are usually not eligible for financial aid. International applicants need to contact the Center for International Education for additional NDC requirements.
NDC application requirements
- Bachelor's degree
- English proficiency
- $15 application processing fee
Transcripts
Check with the program to which you're seeking admission. Most departments do not require transcripts from NDC applicants.
APPLICATION CHECKLIST
- Make sure you satisfy the admission requirements for both the Graduate School AND the program you will be applying for.
- Submit your online application on time: Application submission dates vary by program. Contact your program for its deadline, and submit the Graduate School application 8-10 weeks earlier.
Pay the application fee(s): a $45 base application fee is required of all applicants, and an additional $40 evaluation fee is required for applicants with college-level work from non-U.S. colleges.
Note: If you are applying to a doctoral program and already hold a UWM master's degree, you do not need to pay the application fee.
- Send the following to the Graduate School:
- Transcripts (directly from the institution/s)
- Reasons Statement
- Send appropriate required items to your specific program.
- Watch your mailbox for information on monitoring your application status online.
Apply Online
When you're ready to apply you may do so online. Please choose below which type of program you will be applying for.
Before you apply, you may want to try out the online application demo.
Retention of Application Materials
The Graduate School will keep your application materials for one year. After one year you will need to apply again and submit all required application materials. All application materials become the property of the Graduate School and cannot be returned to the applicant, forwarded to another institution, or duplicated for any purpose.
FINANCIAL SUPPORT
Assistantships
The Graduate School publishes these guidelines for appointment of assistantships, but most assistants are appointed by academic departments. Contact your graduate program if you are interested in an appointment.
Contents
Teaching Assistants
A teaching assistant is an enrolled graduate student who is regularly assigned teaching and related responsibilities (other than manual or clerical responsibilities) under the supervision of a faculty member. Students with senior-graduate status are also eligible for teaching assistant appointments.
At UWM, only units offering credit instruction can appoint TAs. Other units, such as research centers, appoint research assistants or project assistants. U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services requires employers to verify the identity and employment eligibility of all employees. TAs must complete an Employment Eligibility Verification (I-9) form before starting their UWM employment.
Since TAs are counted as instructional staff in academic workload measurements applied to departments, it is important to observe the distinction between TAs and PAs.
Teaching Loads
Each school/college determines the relationship between percentage of appointment and teaching load. Department chairs and graduate program unit coordinators/directors review graduate assistant assignments to ensure equity in each TA's responsibilities and adherence to the MGAA agreement.
A TA's workload ordinarily requires 360-380 hours per semester for a half-time academic-year appointment and 240-254 hours per semester for a one-third (33%), academic-year appointment. A proportional number of hours will be calculated for other durations or percentages of appointment.
Credit Loads
- TAs employed at 33% or more must enroll for and complete at least 6 graduate credits (not including audit courses) in any one semester; the graduate program unit may require a higher credit minimum.
- TAs employed less than 33% must enroll for and complete at least 8 graduate credits in any semester; the graduate program unit may require a higher credit minimum.
- While preparing to take doctoral preliminary examinations, a TA may enroll for 1 graduate credit for one semester only. This option requires Graduate School approval before the start of the semester. To request this exemption, submit the Assistant Justification form. You must have already submitted the Application for the Doctoral Preliminary Examination to the Graduate School.
- A TA who has achieved dissertator status must enroll each semester for 3 graduate credits at the current per-credit dissertator rate.
- TAs who do not maintain the minimum graduate credit requirements for an assistantship appointment lose eligibility for an assistantship and tuition remission in the next academic term.
Pay Basis
TAs are appointed on an academic-year appointment, consisting of the fall semester (4-1/2 months) and the spring semester (4-1/2 months).
Percentage of Appointment
TA appointments are at least 33%, except as provided in the MGAA contract. Appointments of more than 50% are permitted only under exceptional circumstances and with the advance approval of the Associate Dean for Graduate Academic Programs and Student Services.
To request approval, the appointing graduate program unit director must submit the Personnel Action form and a Graduate Assistant Justification form to the Graduate School Associate Dean for Graduate Academic Programs and Student Services, before the beginning of the appointment period.
Appointments of more than 75%, including concurrent appointments, are not permitted.
Term of Appointment
A TA appointment is for a specific period up to one year. Departments may make informal commitments for financial support beyond one year.
Concurrent Appointments
Concurrent appointments totaling more than 50% require Graduate School approval, and total appointments in excess of 75% are not permitted. The Personnel Action Form, completed by the appointing graduate program unit director, must list all concurrent UWM appointments and employment and must be approved by each appointing authority.
Pay Scale Classifications
There are four pay-scale classifications for TAs:
- Non-doctoral: A graduate student with a master's or non-degree classification, or a doctoral student without a master's degree and who has completed fewer than 24 credits of graduate work.
- Non-doctoral Year 2: A graduate student who falls within the non-doctoral parameters and who has completed a Teaching Assistant appointment of 33% or greater at UWM for two full academic semesters. Being appointed at lower levels of appointment (less than 33%), in other combinations of appointments (graduate PA, academic staff, fellowship, etc.) or during other calendar sessions (summer, UWinteriM) will not qualify an employee for the Non-doctoral Year 2 rate. This pay rate will not begin with a summer session but will be applicable with the next academic semester after the requisite appointment for two semesters as a TA at 33% or greater.
- Doctoral: A graduate student with a doctoral classification who has a master's degree, or who has completed 24 credits or more of graduate work at UWM.
- Dissertator: A doctoral student who has applied for, and meets the Graduate School requirements for dissertator status.
Salary Levels
Salary levels are negotiated as part of the MGAA agreement. Income and Social Security taxes are withheld. Earnings are reported on a W-2 form.
TA pay-scale changes from non-doctoral to doctoral are effective only at the beginning of the semester following the semester in which an assistant qualifies for a change in pay-scale classification.
Teaching Assistant Salary Schedule
The figures in the schedule are salaries only, and do not reflect the accompanying tuition remission.
2007-2008 (Including 2007 summer)
| C-Basis (9 month) | Full-Time Rate | 50% Appointment | 33% Appointment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Non-Doctoral | $22,088 | $11,044 | $7,289 |
| Non-Doctoral Year 2 * | $22,338 | $11,169 | $7,372 |
| Doctoral | $23,930 | $11,965 | $7,897 |
| Dissertator | $30,962 | $15,481 | $10,217 |
Summer Appointments
Credits
Continuing TAs may be appointed in the summer without minimum registration, provided they were appropriately registered in the spring. However, graduate program units may require a minimum summer credit load. Check with your graduate program unit and the MGAA contract about summer registration requirements for continuing TAs.
If your first appointment as a TA is for a summer session, you must enroll for a minimum of 2 graduate credits during the summer; 3 if a dissertator. Graduate program units may require a higher credit minimum.
Salary Basis
Salaries for a summer-session appointment are based on the salary schedule approved for the preceding year.
Percentage and Length of Appointment
Faculty, staff, and students should consult the MGAA contract for guidance on how to calculate summer appointment percentages based on the length of the particular summer session for which the graduate student is appointed and the duties expected of the student. In general, appointment percentages should not exceed 50% unless the compacted nature of the summer session requires hours of work that exceed a half-time appointment. Under no circumstances may a student be appointed for more than 100% at any given time or receive total compensation over all summer sessions that exceeds 2/9 of the full-time academic year salary for students in his or her classification. Department and school/college representatives are encouraged to consult with the Graduate School Associate Dean for Academic Programs and Student Services regarding the need for advanced approval for particularly high and/or complex summer appointments.
Project Assistants
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services requires employers to verify the identity and employment eligibility of all employees. PAs are required to complete an Employment Eligibility Verification (I-9) form before beginning their UWM employment.
A project assistant is an enrolled graduate student assigned to conduct research, training, administrative responsibilities, or other academic or academic support projects or programs—except regular preparation of instructional materials for courses, or manual or clerical assignments—under the supervision of a member of the faculty or academic staff.
Departmental chairs and graduate program unit coordinators/directors review graduate assistant assignments to ensure equity in each PA's responsibilities and adherence to the MGAA agreement.
Appointment Level
The appointment level is based on the graduate program unit's determination of the time required to perform the assigned duties. For PAs, satisfactory performance of duties normally requires 1,040 hours for a half-time, annual appointment. A proportional number of hours will be calculated for other durations or percentages of appointments.
Credit Loads
- PAs employed at 33% or more must enroll for and complete at least 6 graduate credits (not including audit courses) in any one semester; the graduate program unit may require a higher credit minimum.
- PAs employed less than 33% must enroll for and complete at least 8 graduate credits in any semester; the graduate program unit may require a higher credit minimum.
- While preparing to take doctoral preliminary examinations, a PA may enroll for 1 graduate credit for one semester only. This option requires Graduate School approval before the start of the semester. To request this exemption, submit the Assistant Justification form. You must have already submitted the Application for the Doctoral Preliminary Examination to the Graduate School.
- A PA who has achieved dissertator status must enroll each semester for 3 graduate credits at the current per-credit dissertator rate.
- PAs who do not maintain the minimum graduate credit requirements for an assistantship appointment lose eligibility for an assistantship and tuition remission in the next academic term.
Pay Basis
PAs are appointed on the following pay basis:
- Academic-year appointment. This is a 9-month appointment consisting of the fall semester (4-1/2 months) and the spring semester (4-1/2 months).
- Annual appointment. This is a 12-month appointment beginning on July 1 (the beginning of the fiscal year) and ending June 30 (the end of the fiscal year).
Pay Scale Classifications
There are three pay-scale classifications for PAs:
- Non-doctoral: A graduate student with a master's or non-degree classification, or a doctoral student without a master's degree and who has completed fewer than 24 credits of graduate work.
- Doctoral: A graduate student with a doctoral classification who has a master's degree, or who has completed 24 credits or more of graduate work.
- Dissertator: A doctoral student who has applied for, and meets the Graduate School requirements for dissertator status.
Percentage of Appointment
PA appointments are at least 33%, except as provided in the MGAA contract. Appointments of more than 50% are permitted only under exceptional circumstances and with the advance approval of the Associate Dean for Graduate Academic Programs and Student Services.
To request approval, the appointing graduate program unit director must submit the Personnel Action form and a Graduate Assistant Justification form to the Graduate School Associate Dean for Graduate Academic Programs and Student Services, before the beginning of the appointment period.
Appointments of more than 75%, including concurrent appointments, are not permitted.
Term of Appointment
A PA appointment is for a specific period up to one year. Departments may make informal commitments for financial support beyond one year.
Concurrent Appointments
Concurrent appointments totaling more than 50% require Graduate School approval, and total appointments in excess of 75% are not permitted. The Personnel Action Form, completed by the appointing graduate program unit director, must list all concurrent UWM appointments and employment and must be approved by each appointing authority.
Salary Levels
Salary levels are negotiated as a part of the MGAA agreement. Income and Social Security taxes are withheld. Earnings are reported on a W-2 form.
Project Assistant Salary Schedule
The figures in the schedule are salaries only, and do not reflect the accompanying tuition remission.
2007-2008
| C-Basis (9 month) | Full-Time Rate | 50% Appointment | 33% Appointment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Non-Doctoral | $19,929 | $9,965 | $6,577 |
| Doctoral | $21,575 | $10,788 | $7,120 |
| Dissertator | $27,745 | $13,873 | $9,156 |
| A-Basis (12 month) | Full-Time Rate | 50% Appointment | 33% Appointment |
| Non-Doctoral | $24,382 | $12,191 | $8,046 |
| Doctoral | $26,393 | $13,197 | $8,710 |
| Dissertator | $33,934 | $16,967 | $11,198 |
Summer Appointments
Credits
Continuing PAs may be appointed in the summer without minimum registration, provided they were appropriately registered in the spring. However, graduate program units may require a minimum summer credit load. Check with your graduate program unit and the MGAA contract about summer registration requirements for continuing PAs.
If your first appointment as a PA is for a summer session, you must enroll for a minimum of 2 graduate credits during the summer; 3 if a dissertator. Graduate program units may require a higher credit minimum.
Pay Basis and Length of Appointment
Salaries for a summer session appointment are normally based on the salary schedule approved for the preceding year, unless the appointment is an annual-basis appointment effective July 1.
An annual-basis summer appointment is usually for two months for the purpose of continuing appointments. For new appointments, it is generally for the months of July and August, at the new rate established for the new fiscal year beginning July 1.
An academic year-basis summer appointment is generally for four weeks or eight weeks.
Percentage of Appointment
Faculty, staff, and students should consult the MGAA contract for guidance on how to calculate summer appointment percentages based on the length of the particular summer session for which the graduate student is appointed and the duties expected of the student. In general, appointment percentages should not exceed 50% unless the compacted nature of the summer session requires hours of work that exceed a half-time appointment. Under no circumstances may a student be appointed for more than 100% at any given time or receive total compensation over all summer sessions that exceeds 2/9 of the full-time academic year salary for students in his or her classification. Department and College representatives are encouraged to consult with the Graduate School Associate Dean for Academic Programs and Student Services regarding the need for advanced approval for particularly high and/or complex summer appointments.
Research Assistants
A research assistant (RA) is a UWM graduate student working toward a master's or Ph.D. degree. An appointment as an RA is appropriate if the activity performed by the RA is primarily for the benefit of the student's course of study and directly applicable to the student's research, thesis, or dissertation. An RA may be supported by federal research funds if it can be documented that the objectives of the sponsored research project providing the funding can be accomplished within the RA's established academic program. Tasks that are irrelevant or unnecessary to the student's academic program or repetitive beyond that necessary to achieve excellence in the activity are not appropriate for RA appointees.
An RA is required to register for a full load of graduate courses and research. A maximum RA stipend is established annually on an institution-wide basis, although the amount of each individual stipend may vary, depending on the appointment percentage. RA appointments for a stipend equivalent to an appointment of less than 33% are not permitted. RA appointments for a stipend equivalent to an appointment of greater than 50% require approval of the Associate Dean for Graduate Academic Programs and Student Services. Appointments for a stipend equivalent to an appointment at greater than 75% are not permitted.
RA appointments may not be combined with TA or PA appointments.
The degree of supervision of RAs is limited to that which normally exists between a teacher and student.
Appointment Of Research Assistants
The completion of an Employment Eligibility Verification (I-9) form is not required for RAs; RAs are not considered employees and are not governed by the MGAA contract.
Credit Loads
- RAs must enroll for and complete a full load of graduate courses each semester of their appointment. A full load is 8-12 graduate credits (not including audit courses).
- While preparing to take doctoral preliminary examinations, an RA may enroll for 1 graduate credit for one semester only. This option requires Graduate School approval before the beginning of the semester. To request this exemption, submit the Assistant Justification form. You must have already submitted the Application for the Doctoral Preliminary Examination to the Graduate School.
- An RA who has achieved dissertator status must enroll each semester for 3 graduate credits at the current per-credit dissertator rate.
- RAs who do not maintain the minimum credit requirements lose eligibility for an assistantship and tuition remission in the next academic term.
- To be eligible for tuition remission in the summer, an RA must have a summer appointment with a stipend equivalent to an appointment of 33% and register for 2 graduate credits (3 credits if a dissertator).
Length of Appointment
The graduate program unit may set a maximum length of time for reappointments.
Appointment Basis
RAs are appointed on one of the following bases:
Academic-year appointment
This is a 9-month appointment and consists of the fall semester (4-1/2 months) and the spring semester (4-1/2 months).
Annual appointment
This is a 12-month appointment which begins on July 1 (the beginning of the fiscal year) and ends June 30 (the end of the fiscal year).
Stipends
Stipends for RAs are set annually by the University Administration. Stipends are reported on an IRS Form W-2 earnings statement. Income tax, but not Social Security tax, will be withheld. Appointees may be able to deduct the cost of tuition, fees, books, supplies and equipment on their annual tax return; a tax expert should be consulted. For non-resident aliens, the full stipend is subject to income tax withholding.
2006-2007 & 2007-2008
| C-Basis (9 month) | Full-Time Rate | 50% Appointment | 33% Appointment |
|---|---|---|---|
| All | $34,000 | $17,000 | $11,220 |
| A-Basis (12 month) | Full-Time Rate | 50% Appointment | 33% Appointment | All | $41,555 | $20,778 | $13,713 |
Appointments for a stipend equivalent to an appointment of more than 50% are permitted only under exceptional circumstances and with the advance approval of the Graduate School. To request approval, the appointing department chair or graduate program unit director must submit a Personnel Action Form and the Graduate Assistant Justification form to the Associate Dean for Graduate Academic Programs and Student Services, before the beginning of the appointment period.
RA appointments for a stipend equivalent to an appointment less than 33% or greater than 75% are not permitted for graduate students.
Summer Appointments
Credits
Students holding an RA appointment during the summer session must enroll for and complete a minimum of 2 graduate credits; 3 credits if a dissertator.
Stipend Basis and Terms
Academic-Year Basis: This is a four-week or an eight-week appointment, and the stipend for an academic-year basis summer appointment is based on the stipend established for the preceding academic year ending June 30.
Annual Basis: This is a 2-month appointment for the purpose of continuing appointments on an annual basis, or for new appointments, and is generally for the months of June and July or July and August.
The stipend for the months of July and August for continuing or new annual-basis appointments is at the new stipend established for the fiscal year beginning July 1.
Percentage and Length of Appointment
Summer appointments for stipends equivalent to an appointment of more than 50% are permitted only under exceptional circumstances and must have the advance approval of the Graduate School Associate Dean for Graduate Academic Programs and Student Services.
Summer appointments for stipends equivalent to an appointment of more than 75%, including concurrent RA appointments, are not permitted.
Summer appointments of 12 weeks or three months at a stipend equivalent to an appointment of between 33% and 50% are permitted without Graduate School approval.
Graduate Assistants with Senior-Graduate Status
If a student with senior-graduate status is appointed to a teaching or project assistantship during the one semester of concurrent registration, the student is treated as a graduate student with regard to salary/stipend levels and eligibility for benefits. The student also is awarded the same salary/stipend as a graduate student and is eligible for a non-resident tuition remission and appropriate insurance benefits.
Fee Payment
RAs can arrange for the payment of mandatory fees with a three-installment-per-term deduction plan. A Graduate Assistant and Fellowship Certification and Payroll Deduction Authorization form should be submitted to the Bursar's Office, Mitchell Hall, Room 285. Subsequent fee assessment charges do not change the deduction (Additional assessments are to be paid by the student). Specific procedures are announced each term by the Bursar's Office. This information can be found at http://www.bfs.uwm.edu/fees. This deduction plan does not apply to the summer term.
Health Insurance and Other Insurance Options
If you have at least a one-semester or six-month, 33% appointment as a graduate assistant (TA, PA, or RA), you may be eligible for health or other benefits.
If you are interested in applying for health insurance or other fringe benefits, you must call the Benefits Office at 229-4925 within 30 days of your first contractual day in your initial UWM appointment.
International students must have health and accident insurance. To apply for health insurance through UWM, contact the Benefits Office. ISSS will require a copy of your completed health insurance application.
Fellowships
All fellowships are for full-time study. All fellowship recipients are eligible for comprehensive low-cost State Health Insurance and other benefits. In addition, fellowship recipients receive full coverage of in-state tuition and remission of out-of-state tuition (for students who are not residents of the State of Wisconsin).
Awardees are responsible for mandatory fees and additional instructional course fees (including distance education) above basic graduate tuition levels.
Application forms remain on this page after the application deadline for informational purposes; do not submit forms after the deadlines.
Dissertation Fellowships
The 2008-09 application deadline has passed.
Approximately 14 Dissertation Fellowships are awarded to students with dissertator status. Applicants must have obtained dissertator status by September 1 of the award year. Fellows currently receive a stipend of $14,000 for the 2007-2008 academic year (fall/spring).
- Award announcement: March 14, 2008
More Information
Graduate Fellowships, 261 Mitchell Hall; (414) 229-6267; fellowship@uwm.edu
Graduate School Fellowships
The 2008-09 application deadline has passed.
Approximately 14 Graduate School fellowships are awarded annually to exceptional newly admitted or currently enrolled UWM graduate students. Fellows currently receive a stipend of $11,332 for the 2007-2008 academic year (fall/spring).
- Award announcement: March 14, 2008
More Information
Graduate Fellowships, 261 Mitchell Hall; (414) 229-6267; fellowship@uwm.edu
Advanced Opportunity Program Diversity Fellowships
The 2008-09 application deadline has passed.
Approximately 25 new AOP Fellowships are awarded annually to qualified students who are members of groups underrepresented in graduate study or are otherwise disadvantaged. Applicants must be American citizens or permanent residents of the United States. Fellowship stipend is currently $14,000 for the 2007-2008 academic year (fall/spring) and $4,000 for summer session. Summer support is contingent on availability of funding.
- Award announcement: March 14, 2008
More Information
McNair/AOP Office, 239 Mitchell Hall; (414) 229-6618; aop@uwm.edu
Application Procedures and Selection Process
- Application submission. Fellowship application forms and all required supporting documents must be submitted to the applicant's graduate program unit by the published application deadline.
- Program unit evaluation. Following the application deadline, each unit evaluates all applications received, selects applicants for nomination, completes all nomination procedures, and forwards nominations to the Graduate School.
- Graduate School evaluation. For Dissertation Fellowships and Graduate School Fellowships, the Graduate Fellowship Committee reviews campus-wide nominations and selects recipients. For AOP Diversity Fellowships, the Graduate Student Special Assistance Committee reviews campus-wide nominations and selects recipients.
- Award announcements. All nominees of the Graduate School Fellowship and Dissertation Fellowship receive official written notification of fellowship award decisions from the Graduate School Recruitment and Fellowship Office. All nominees of the Advanced Opportunity Program Fellowship receive official written notification of fellowship award decisions from the McNair/AOP Office.
Fellowship Compliance
All fellowship recipients must be enrolled in a graduate degree program at UWM during the award period. Fellows must meet the Graduate School continuation requirements each semester and comply with the following Graduate Faculty Council regulations:
- Fellowship recipients must carry and complete a full load of 8-12 graduate credits each semester during the academic year and a minimum of 5 graduate credits if the fellowship is held during the summer session. Doctoral candidates who have attained dissertator status must carry three dissertator credits per semester.
- Fellowship recipients may not hold any other fellowship or scholarship concurrently with a Graduate School award, with the exception of small monetary awards or the UWM Chancellor's Graduate Student Award.
- Fellowship recipients may not accept full-time employment. University appointments (maximum of 25% TA, PA, or RA), or other student outside employment of up to 15 hours per week, are allowable.
Health Insurance
Fellows are eligible for health insurance benefits.
If you are interested in health insurance or other fringe benefits, you must apply within 30 days of your first contractual day in your initial UWM appointment. If a summer-session appointment is offered at the same time as a fall appointment, you must enroll within 30 days of the summer appointment. Contact the Benefits Office at 229-4925 for more information.
International students: Health and accident insurance is required of all international students attending UWM. Most international students purchase insurance from an insurance plan through CIE's International Student and Scholar Services. Please contact ISSS for information regarding an online application.
The Chancellor's Golda Meir Library Scholar Awards
The application deadline was Friday, March 23, 2007 at 5:00pm.
The Chancellor's Office at UWM announces two graduate student awards of $4,500 for the Academic Year 2007-08. Applications are invited from current UWM doctoral students; applications from advanced doctoral students and dissertators will be given priority consideration. Deadline for submission of applications is 5:00 p.m., Friday, March 23, 2007. Finalists will be asked to provide a letter of recommendation from their major professor. Submissions will be judged by a subcommittee of the University Libraries Committee. Members of the Subcommittee include faculty, academic staff and a representative of the Graduate School. The award recipients will be notified by the end of the spring semester, 2007.
Overview
The Chancellor's Golda Meir Library Scholar program is designed to provide two advanced graduate students with the resources necessary to pursue a year's intensive research in their chosen academic fields. The primary criteria are as follows:
- The candidates' overall scholarly record, including but not limited to previous degrees, grade point average, professional presentations and publications, teaching and service.
- A clearly demonstrated need and intent to make substantial use of the resources of the Golda Meir Library.
The Golda Meir Library will supply the award recipients with specialized information assistance and a study carrel for the duration of the awards. Additionally, the recipients are encouraged to use some of the funds to travel to national and/or international conferences, and to other institutions that are helpful in fostering work done primarily through the Golda Meir Library.
Terms of the Awards
At the end of the award period, the Chancellor's Golda Meir Library Scholars will present the results of their research at one of the installments of the Library's The Scholar and the Library: Fall 2008/Spring 2009 Series.
How to Apply
Please complete the application form and return it to Kenneth Buelow in Mitchell Hall 269 by 5:00 p.m., Friday, March 23, 2007.
Further information may be obtained from Kenneth Buelow at (414) 229-5449 or buelow@uwm.edu
Graduate Student Travel Award
October 17, 2008 deadline for travel between 7/1/08 and 12/31/08
April 10, 2009 deadline for travel between 1/1/09 and 6/30/09
Applications may be submitted in either semester for retroactive or prospective travel. Awards will be announced by late October or April, respectively. Late proposals will not be considered.
Overview
Students enrolled in UWM master's and doctoral programs are eligible to receive awards from the Graduate School in support of travel expenses for presenting papers at national or international professional meetings or conferences, or for performing or exhibiting original work. The student's presentation must be officially recognized by the sponsoring organization.
The limited funds available for travel support make this a highly competitive program. Applicants are encouraged to read and follow the guidelines and application requirements.
- Enrolled students with at least a 3.0 cumulative GPA are eligible.
- Students may receive an award during any semester(s) they are in residence, but preference will be given to those who have not previously received an award.
- The maximum amount of a request for support is $400.00. Awards may be made for less than the full amount requested. In exceptional situations, higher awards may be granted. Awards are given as reimbursement of expenses after the travel has been completed; travel receipts should not be submitted until after the awards have been made.
- An applicant must furnish evidence that his or her presentation, performance, or exhibition has been, or will be, officially recognized, e.g., by a letter or notice of acceptance or citation in the meeting's and/or event's program schedule. The application form requires the signature and statement of the student's major professor or the department/program chair.
- Students attending more than one event per travel period should submit separate proposals.
- Priority will be given to those individuals who:
- are giving first- or single-authored/solo presentations, performances, or exhibitions vs. co-authored, co-presented, or group presentations;
- are traveling to and participating in international or national conferences; and
- have not previously received an award.
For more information about the Graduate Student Travel Award program, contact Steve Atkinson (sda@uwm.edu, 229-4062).
Other Financial Support
In addition to Fellowships, Assistantships, and other internal awards, graduate students may also be eligble for the following types of financial support.
Internal Sources
Other UWM Scholarships & Fellowships
Other graduate fellowships, scholarships, and other awards are administered by individual graduate programs, university centers, and institutes. Consult your graduate program regarding the availability of additional funding opportunities.
Overseas Programs and Partnerships
Several opportunities for graduate students are offered by the Center for International Education.
Loans & Work Study
Financial support in the form of loans and Work-Study is available through the UWM Financial Aid Office.
Student Employment
The Career Development Center offers guidance and resources for students seeking on- and off-campus jobs, Work-Study, and career counseling. For more information, see the CDC's Student Jobs and Work-Study Web page.
External Sources
Searchable databases for extramural graduate fellowships, financial aid, grant opportunities, and scholarships.
- Community of Science Web
- Fastweb Financial Aid Search Through the Web
- FinAid
- FreSch!
- The National Academies
- Scholarship Resource Network Express
- Studentjobs.gov e-Scholar Fellowship Programs
ACADEMIC POLICIES & PROCEDURES
The requirements and regulations of the Graduate School as described in this section have been approved by the Graduate Faculty Committee and govern all graduate students.
Add/Drop policy
You may add or drop courses after the stated deadline only under extraordinary circumstances not related to academic performance. You must complete a Graduate School Request for Exception Form. If you request a drop for medical reasons, you must supply documentation from a physician. Such add/drops require approval of your instructor, your graduate program unit, and the Graduate School.
Courses dropped after the fourth week of classes remain on your record and are noted on transcripts with the W (Withdrawal) symbol.
Refer to the Department of Enrollment Services Web site for Add/Drop (Change of Registration) instructions and deadlines. Add/Drop forms are available online.
Appealing Academic Decisions
Appeals of academic decisions proceed through a three-step procedure beginning in the student's program or department and ending with the dean of the Graduate School. A graduate student who chooses to appeal an academic decision (e.g., grades, scholastic standing, graduation decisions) initiates the appeal with the appropriate authority within the department or program in which the decision was made. As dean of the school administering graduate programs, the dean of the Graduate School is the final authority on appeals of academic decisions. An appeal to the dean of the Graduate School is the third and final step in the appeal procedure and is made only after the first two steps in the appeals procedure have failed to produce a result that the student considers satisfactory. In pursuing an appeal, the student must observe the following sequence:
Step 1
The student appeals to the faculty member or faculty/staff body responsible for making the initial decision within 30 working days of the action that prompted the appeal. This appeal must be made in writing with substantiating reasons for the appeal. If requested by the student, the faculty member or body must provide the student with a written statement of the reason for the adverse decision.
Step 2
If the Step 1 decision is not in the student's favor, the student may, within 10 working days from the date the Step 1 decision is communicated to the student, appeal to the body designated by the graduate faculty of the student's program to hear appeals. This appeal must be in writing with substantiating reasons given for the appeal. In the event that any of the members of the body hearing the Step 2 appeal were involved in rendering the Step 1 decision being appealed, they must be replaced for the purpose of hearing the Step 2 appeal. Substitute members will be chosen by the program using established program appeal procedures. If necessary, the dean of the school or college in which the program is located may be asked to appoint replacement members of the committee.
If the Step 1 decision that is being appealed was handled by the committee for hearing appeals in the program, the Step 2 appeal should be made to the appropriate appeals committee of the school or college. If such a committee does not exist, the dean of the school or college should appoint an ad hoc committee to handle the appeal.
Step 3
If the Step 2 decision is negative, the student may, within 10 working days from the date of notification of that decision, appeal to the dean of the Graduate School. The student must provide information on the reason for the appeal, substantial evidence in support of the appeal, and the solution sought. All documentation must be forwarded to the Graduate School's associate dean for academic programs. The associate dean reviews the case and forwards the appeal with a recommendation to the dean of the Graduate School.
In appeals dealing with academic matters which fall within the purview of the faculty, the dean of the Graduate School will respect the faculty decision.
The Graduate Student Appeals Faculty Handbook, available in the office of the Associate Dean for Graduate Academic Programs (Mitchell 261, (414) 229-4100), has more information on the appeal process.
Audit courses
You do not receive a grade or earn graduate credit for audited courses. Auditors usually attend a course for the information available, generally without the commitment to carry out the assignments required for a grade. During the first week of classes, check with your instructor for the attendance and course work standards expected of auditors. Some courses cannot be audited; those marked with a # in the Schedule of Classes are closed to auditors.
Auditing a course has additional consequences for financial aid, maximum credit load and fellowship purposes. Please see specific sections regarding these items.
Change of Degree Program
If you decide to change from one degree program to another, you must submit a new Degree Application to the Graduate School. If you apply for the change more than one year after your original admission date, another $45 application fee is required.
Pursuing two programs at one time
Unless you are enrolled in a formally approved coordinated degree program, you may not work toward two UWM graduate degrees at the same time. If you are admitted to a second degree program before receiving a graduate degree in the first program, you are considered to have formally withdrawn from the first program and are no longer eligible for the degree in the first program.
Continuation
Your continuation is at the discretion of your graduate program unit, your major professor, and the Graduate School dean. The minimum graduation GPA requirement is a 3.0 (4.0 basis) or better in all work taken toward the degree.
Academic Warning
You will receive an academic warning if your semester grade point average falls below 3.0.
Graduate Dean's OK Required to Continue
You will receive a "Graduate Dean's OK Required to Continue" if any of the following conditions exist:
- Your cumulative grade point average falls below 3.0.
- You are not removed from probation status within three enrolled semesters.
- You do not satisfy English or course deficiencies within three enrolled semesters.
A hold will be placed on your record. This status prevents further registration and requires you to petition and obtain a positive recommendation from your graduate program unit before further registration will be permitted.
Academic Dismissal
The graduate program unit may recommend that you be academically dismissed for poor academic performance, lack of progress toward degree, or failure to meet graduate faculty policy or program requirements. The Graduate School, in consultation with the graduate program, may also initiate a dismissal for these reasons. In all cases, the Dean of the Graduate School makes the final decision regarding academic dismissal.
Recommendation for dismissal may be initiated for, but is not limited to, the following:
- A cumulative graduate grade point average below 3.0.
- Failing the doctoral preliminary examination.
- Failing to re-defend the doctoral dissertation within the time period specified for deferral status.
- Failing to successfully defend the doctoral dissertation upon a second attempt within the specified time period.
- Exceeding the time limit for preliminary exam or degree completion.
- U grades in dissertation courses.
Courses
Undergraduate/graduate
The courses listed for each graduate program in the Bulletin have been approved for graduate credit. Some 300-699 courses carry a U/G credit designation, meaning they have been approved to be offered for both undergraduate and graduate credit. To receive graduate credit, you must have graduate status and meet the special graduate student requirements indicated by the instructor on the syllabus. However, in any given semester a U/G course might be offered for undergraduate credit only. Consult the credit-level column in the Schedule of Classes to determine whether a U/G course is currently being offered for graduate credit. You will not receive graduate credit for any course that is not offered for graduate credit or for any U/G course for which you did not register as a graduate student.
Graduate
All 700-999 courses carry a G credit designation, meaning they have been approved to be offered for graduate credit only. You must have current graduate status to be eligible to earn graduate credit in these courses. Students in other classifications must obtain the instructor's approval to enroll in G courses. In a graduate student's program the majority of courses are expected to be in the 700-999 group.
Credit Requirements
Credit requirement information can be found in the following sections of this handbook: The Master's Degree; Doctor of Philosophy Degree; and Financial Assistance, for requirements for recipients of Graduate School-administered awards or assistantships.
Dean
Your dean is Colin Scanes. His official title is Vice Chancellor for Research and Economic Development and Dean of the Graduate School.
Exceptions to Graduate Faculty Policy
To request an exception to a rule, you must complete Part I of the Request for Exception Form and gather evidence of extenuating circumstances (letters, medical documentation, etc.) to support your request. You then submit the form and evidence to your program unit. Finally, the completed form should be sent to Mitchell 261, or mailed to UWM Graduate School Student Services, P.O. Box 340, Milwaukee, WI 53201-0340.
Graduate Student Services will return a copy of the form with a decision (Part III) in approximately four weeks, provided it is received complete with required signatures, and no additional information is needed.
Full-Time Enrollment
Graduate students enrolled for a minimum of 8 credits per semester or 6 credits during a summer session are considered full time, with the exceptions described below. (Fellowship recipients see Fellowship Compliance.)
UWM teaching and project assistants who are employed for one-third (33%) time or more must enroll for a minimum of 6 credits per semester. They are considered full-time with this minimum enrollment. The Graduate School and/or graduate program unit reserves the option to require a higher credit minimum for those who hold Graduate School awards (see Financial Assistance).
During the semester that you are preparing for doctoral prelims, you may enroll for a minimum of 1 graduate credit and still be considered full time for financial aid or grant purposes. This status is available for one semester only, and does not fulfill residence requirements . To request this option, you must have already submitted your Application for the Doctoral Preliminary Examination. Teaching, Project, and Research Assistants must also submit the Graduate Assistant Justification form, which is available in Mitchell 261 or by calling 229-4100.
Doctoral students (including teaching, research, and project assistants) who have reached dissertator status are required to carry 3 dissertator credits to be considered full-time.
Grade Definitions and Requirements
Grades with associated grade points
| Grade | Grade Points |
|---|---|
| A | 4.00 |
| A- | 3.67 |
| B+ | 3.33 |
| B | 3.00 |
| B- | 2.67 |
| C+ | 2.33 |
| C | 2.00 |
| C- | 1.67 |
| D+ | 1.33 |
| D | 1.00 |
| D- | 0.67 |
| F+,F | 0.00 |
Grade Definitions
- A: Superior work
- B: Satisfactory, but undistinguished work
- C: Work below the standard expected of graduate students
- D/F: Unsatisfactory work
Grades without associated grade points
- K: Pass
- E: Fail
- S: Satisfactory
- U: Unsatisfactory
Other course status designations
- I: Incomplete
- PI: Permanent Incomplete
- Credit: C- or above in credit/no credit course
- No Credit: Below C- in a credit/no credit course
- NC: Not Completed (audit courses only)
- P: Progress
- W: Withdrawal
Grades or course status outcomes of D+, D, D-, F+, F, E, I, PI, NC, U, W, and WR may not be used toward meeting degree requirements. The P course status designation must be converted to a grade upon the completion of the course requirements.
S and U grades
S and U are the only valid grades for master's capstone courses, master's theses, doctoral dissertation courses, and courses for which students register on an audit basis.
Credit/No Credit basis
You may not register for a course on a credit/no credit basis, except when a course is offered only for credit/no credit. (By definition, a grade of C- or above is required to receive credit under this type of registration.)
You can check your grades and other academic information on the PAWS Web site.
Holds (Service Indicators)
A hold may be placed on your record for the following reasons:
- An unpaid debt to the University.
- Failure to maintain continuous registration (dissertators only).
- Failure to show proof of insurance (international students only).
- Official transcript required for admission not received.
- Administrative obligation.
A hold on your record prohibits you from registering for classes, obtaining transcripts, or receiving your diploma. In addition, international students with holds cannot have non-immigrant papers processed by the Center for International Education (CIE).
You can check for holds on your record using the PAWS Web site.
Incomplete Policy
An Incomplete is appropriate only when the following conditions are present:
- You have done satisfactory work in a substantial fraction of the course requirements prior to grading time and provide the instructor with evidence of potential success in completing the remaining work.
- Extraordinary circumstances, not related to class performance, such as illness or family emergency, have prevented you from finishing the course requirements on time.
An Incomplete will not be given to enable you to do additional work to improve a grade.
It is your responsibility to initiate a request for an Incomplete. If approved, the instructor will indicate the conditions for the removal of the Incomplete, including the dates for submitting all remaining work. The instructor may deny a request for an Incomplete and assign a letter grade based on the work completed at that point.
You are responsible for seeing that the Incomplete is removed before the agreed deadline and that the instructor has reported the grade to the Graduate School. The instructor may change the I to a letter grade (including an F) or to a PI (Permanent Incomplete) if you fail to meet the deadline for completion.
Permanent Incomplete
If the instructor does not change the Incomplete to a regular letter grade within one year from assigning the Incomplete grade, the Incomplete will lapse to a Permanent Incomplete (PI), whether or not you are enrolled (A PI is not computed into the grade point average). The PI symbol subsequently cannot be changed to a regular letter grade. Except in cases where the work was completed, but the instructor neglected or was unable to file a grade change in time, the "PI" will remain on your record. If you have received a PI and want credit for that course, you must register again and complete the designated requirements. You may not register for a course for which an I remains on the transcript.
You may graduate with a PI provided all degree requirements have been met. All Incompletes must be removed or changed to a PI before you may graduate.
Major Professor as Advisor
You must have a major professor from your chosen graduate program unit. Many graduate program units assign a temporary advisor to direct the entering student's work.
The major professor advises on courses and graduate faculty requirements and supervises research. For the master's candidate, the major professor is chair of the master's thesis committee, if a thesis is required. For the doctoral candidate, the major professor serves as the chair of the dissertation committee and of the committee hearing the dissertation defense. All major professors must be members of the UWM Graduate Faculty. Doctoral advisors require approval by the doctoral program unit and the Graduate School.
Maximum/Minimum Credit Load
You may not register for more than 12 credits in a semester or 9 credits in the eight-week summer session or a total of 12 credits in all sessions between the end of Semester II and the beginning of Semester I. Audit, sport/recreation, and colloquium seminar credits are not counted when determining a graduate student's credit load; undergraduate credits are counted.
Overloads
Requests to exceed the maximum credit load are considered under the following circumstances:
- You are taking undergraduate certification coursework.
- You are making up deficiencies.
- You have exceptional circumstances resulting in special hardship.
You must have a cumulative GPA of 3.0 and no outstanding incompletes to be considered for overload approval. You must submit a Request for Exception Form along with recommendations from your major professor and your graduate program representative explaining the reasons and justification for the exception.
To be considered, your exception request must be submitted to Graduate Student Services before the enrollment period of the semester in question.
If you enroll for more than the maximum credit load without permission, courses will be dropped to reduce your course load to the maximum allowed.
Only individual student requests are reviewed. Overload requests for groups of students are not considered.
Minimum Credit Load
Every student who uses University resources must be enrolled at UWM. Minimum registration is 1 credit per semester or summer. If you are a doctoral student with dissertator status, see the Continuous Registration section on the Doctor of Philosophy Degree page. A student undertaking research and/or working on a project, paper, or thesis enrolls at UWM according to the amount of time required for the investigation as determined by the instructor and the major professor. You must be registered during the semester in which your degree is awarded.
Minnesota/Wisconsin Reciprocity Agreement
If you're a Minnesota resident, the tuition reciprocity agreement allows you to avoid non-resident tuition at UWM. Under the program, graduate students pay whichever state's resident tuition rate is higher.
Applicants are asked to apply electronically. You can also contact the Minnesota Office of Higher Education at 800-657-3866 or write to Reciprocity, Office of Higher Education, 1450 Energy Park Drive, Suite 350, St. Paul, MN 55108.
You may also contact the UWM Office of the Registrar at (414) 229-3796. A certification year runs from July 1 through June 30.
If you are not certified by the date fees are due, you must pay non-resident tuition and fees; the appropriate amount will be refunded upon certification by the Minnesota Office of Higher Education.
Re-entering the Graduate School
If you plan to return to your graduate program after an absence of more than two semesters (excluding summer and UWinteriM sessions), you must apply to re-enter. Following are requirements for re-entering students:
- Completion of a semester's work within the past five years.
- A cumulative graduate GPA of 3.0.
- Clearance of academic and administrative holds.
- Being within the time limit for degree completion.
- You may also need the approval of your graduate program unit. Check with your unit about its re-entry requirements.
You can download a re-entry form from this site. A $15 processing fee is required for re-entry.
Repeating Courses
You are allowed to repeat a course once in which a grade of B- or lower was earned. Both attempts appear on your transcript and both grades are calculated in the graduate grade point average. Only one attempt may be counted toward meeting degree requirements.
Time Limit — Master's
If your master's program requires 30 credits or fewer, you must complete all degree requirements within five years of your first enrollment in the program. If your program requires over 30 credits, you must complete all requirements within seven years. Some programs may have shorter time limits.
Time Limit — Ph.D.
All requirements for the doctoral degree must be completed within 10 years of the date you first enrolled in a doctoral program at UWM. This includes all coursework, the dissertation, and examinations required for the degree. Some programs may have shorter time limits. If you entered your doctoral program in the fall semester of 2000 or after, you have five years from your semester of entry to pass the preliminary examination.
Transcripts
Official graduate transcripts and unofficial copies can be obtained in Mitchell 261 or by completing and submitting an official Transcript Request form. There is an $8.00 fee for official transcripts; unofficial copies are free. Call 229-2564 for more information about graduate transcripts.
Winter Session
UWinteriM is a three-week session held during winter break. A schedule of classes is available during the fall semester. The following rules apply to graduate students:
- UWinteriM enrollment does not affect time-to-degree calculations.
- Graduation deadlines for fall, spring, and summer semesters are unaffected by UWinteriM enrollment. If you complete your degree requirements (e.g., thesis/dissertation defense, master's comprehensive exam, final course) during UWinteriM, you will graduate in May, but will not have to register during the spring semester.
- UWinteriM classes cannot satisfy enrollment requirements for graduate assistants (RA, TA, PA) or graduate school fellows. Students with teaching assistantships during UWinteriM are not required to register for UWinteriM classes. See the MGAA contract for more information.
- You may not register for more than three credits during UWinteriM.
Withdrawal
Withdrawal is the formal termination of a student's complete registration in all courses for the semester. To simply stop attending classes does not constitute a withdrawal. Withdrawals are not accepted by telephone. You must fill out a withdrawal form or send a letter by certified mail to give notice to the Graduate School of the withdrawal. The postmark date or the date the withdrawal form is received by the Graduate School becomes the effective date. This date determines the amount of fee/tuition that will be assessed. Check the UWM Web site for withdrawal deadlines and to determine the effect of withdrawal on your fees.
You may withdraw after the deadline only for reasons other than academic difficulty. You must first submit a Request for Exception to Graduate Student Services. If you request withdrawal for medical reasons, you must supply documentation from a physician.
Withdrawals will be noted on your transcript. Withdrawals after the fourth week of classes remain on your academic record with the course number and title followed by a W symbol.
MASTER'S REQUIREMENTS
Major professor as advisor
You must have a major professor from your chosen graduate program unit.
The major professor advises you on courses and graduate faculty requirements and supervises your research. He or she is also chair of the master's thesis committee, if one is required.
Minimum Credit Requirement
Each graduate program unit sets its own credit requirements. Contact your program representative.
Credit Transfer
The maximum number of transfer credits allowable is the higher of (a) 12 semester credits or (b) 40% of the total number of credits required for graduation. To qualify, the work must meet the following criteria:
- Graduate level, from an accredited institution.
- Taken within five years of admission to your UWM degree program.
- Not have been used to meet previous degree requirements.
- Grade of B or better (B- is not acceptable).
- Approved by your graduate program unit.
To transfer credit, you must submit a Graduate Transfer Credit Evaluation Form to the Graduate School. This form must also be completed by students in the UW-Green Bay/UWM and UW-Parkside/UWM cooperative programs.
An official transcript of the coursework listed on the form must be sent directly from the transfer institution to the Graduate School. Unofficial transcripts are unacceptable.
To take coursework at another institution as part of your master's program, you must obtain permission from your advisor and from the Graduate School. Taking coursework at another institution during the semester you intend to graduate is not recommended and does not satisfy the minimum registration requirement at UWM for your final semester of studies.
Transfer credit will be posted on your official record after you have completed one semester in your degree program. Transfer work is not calculated into the UWM GPA; only UWM coursework is calculated into the GPA.
Will you be writing a thesis?
If your master's program requires a thesis, it must comply with the Graduate School's Master's Thesis and Doctoral Dissertation Format Requirements, as well as any requirements specified by your graduate program unit. The thesis is approved by your major professor and/or thesis committee.
Research subject to institutional approval
All students, faculty, and staff who engage in research activity must be aware of the following requirements.
If your research involves human subjects, you must have prior approval from the Institutional Review Board for the Protection of Human Subjects in Research (IRB).
If your research involves radioactive materials, biohazards, or vertebrate animals, it must be completed under the protocol or authorization of a principal investigator and/or faculty member. University Safety and Assurances coordinates research compliance for these activities.
You will be asked to certify that you have received these approvals when you submit your thesis. The Graduate School will not accept a thesis containing research data collected without these approvals.
Final Evaluation
In order to receive a master's degree, you must show the ability to integrate your knowledge of your discipline through one or more of the following means, as determined by your graduate program unit:
- An oral and/or written comprehensive examination.
- Defense of a thesis.
- A comprehensive final project, paper, exhibition, or integrative course.
Time Limit
If your master's program requires 30 credits or fewer, you must complete all degree requirements within five years of your first enrollment in the program. If your program requires over 30 credits, you must complete all requirements within seven years. Some graduate program units have shorter time limits.
Graduation
Application
Submit a Master's Graduation Application on PAWS by the second week of the semester in which you expect to graduate, or the first week of June during the summer session. A non-refundable $40.00 graduation processing fee will be invoiced by the Bursar's Office during the semester. If you do not graduate when anticipated, you must re-apply to graduate in the next semester (with no additional fee).
Theses must be accepted by the Graduate School by the published deadline. If you miss the deadline, you must re-apply to graduate in the next semester. If your thesis is accepted before the start of that semester, you won't have to be registered. The date of graduation, however, will be the next semester.
Minimum Credit Registration
You must be registered for at least 1 UWM graduate credit (audit not allowed) during the semester your degree is awarded. If you have met all academic requirements and do not need to take another course, or if you have reached your thesis credit limit, you may enroll in course 888, "Candidate for Degree," if your program offers it. This course does not add to your credit total, apply to your degree, or affect your GPA. You are assessed the equivalent of one graduate credit in fees and receive a grade of S.
Review and Approval
The Graduate School reviews your record to ensure that you will have fulfilled degree requirements at the end of the current semester. Graduate faculty minimum graduation GPA requirement is a 3.0 (4.0 basis).
Your graduation application is then forwarded to your graduate program unit for its recommendation and approval. When your graduate program unit has reviewed and approved your application, it is returned to the Graduate School.
You cannot graduate with Incomplete, Not Reported, or Progress notations remaining on your record. Transcripts and diplomas cannot be released until Hold notations are cleared. The Graduate School has the final authorization to grant the degree.
Commencement Ceremony
Graduation ceremonies are held in May and December. August graduates attend the December graduation ceremony. Attendance at the commencement ceremonies is optional.
About a month before graduation, eligible master's degree candidates will receive a letter from the Secretary of the University's office containing the date, location, and time of the ceremony, as well as information on ordering caps and gowns. Caps and gowns are ordered online.
If you want your name to appear in the commencement booklet, be sure that your directory information with the University is not restricted. If you previously restricted the release of your address, phone number, and other limited information, visit the Department of Enrollment Services Information Center in Mellencamp 274 or fax a signed statement indicating that you wish to remove the restriction to (414) 229-6940.
Removal of the restriction will allow your directory information to be released for all publicity purposes, as well as the commencement booklet.
DOCTORAL REQUIREMENTS
The Ph.D. degree is the highest degree conferred by the University. It is a research degree, not conferred solely as a result of any prescribed period of study. The degree is granted on evidence of general proficiency, distinctive attainment in a defined academic field, and ability to carry out independent investigation as demonstrated in a dissertation that presents original research or creative scholarship with a high degree of literary skill. The following minimum requirements for the Ph.D. degree apply to all students. For more information, contact Graduate School Doctoral Service Representative Patricia Hayes, at 229-6263 or hayes@uwm.edu.
Doctoral Student Status
Most students have completed a master's degree before admission to a doctoral program. If you were admitted without the master's degree, you have the equivalent of master's student status until you complete the equivalent of the UWM master's degree on campus and receive the degree or are recommended for doctoral student status. Such recommendations are made to the Graduate School by the graduate program unit during the semester the master's degree credit level is attained.
If you are recommended by the graduate program unit for reclassification to doctoral student status, the master's degree is bypassed and the unit recommendation is considered by the Graduate School as an admission recommendation for continued study toward the doctoral degree.
If you receive the master's degree, you must file a new application for admission to the Graduate School to continue toward the doctoral degree.
Major Professor as Advisor
You must have at least a temporary advisor when you first enroll in your doctoral program. You must select a permanent advisor no later than the proposal hearing or the preliminary examination, whichever comes first (See Milestones of Doctoral Study below).
Your advisor is responsible for overseeing your transformation from apprentice to professional. Selecting your advisor is one of the most important decisions you will make in graduate school. This person will be your mentor—helping you shape your dissertation proposal, guiding you through the writing and defense of your dissertation, and often employing you as a research or teaching assistant. Your relationship with your advisor will directly affect the quality of your graduate school experience.
Credits and Courses
Courses
Your academic unit may apply any prior graduate-level courses that it deems appropriate to your program of study. The rest of the program of study contains the graduate courses, including research/dissertation credits, to be taken in doctoral status at UWM. Your academic unit verifies completion of these requirements when you apply for dissertator status.
Credits
The Graduate School requires a minimum of 54 graduate credits beyond the bachelor's degree. Some programs have a higher minimum credit requirement. The Graduate School monitors only completion of credit, not individual course requirements.
Grades for Doctoral Students in Dissertation/Research Courses
Doctoral students in research courses are assigned grades of S (satisfactory progress) or U (unsatisfactory progress). The U grade may be a result of a lack of progress in the dissertation or a lack of communication with the major professor regarding this progress.
Research course grades are permanent and are not changed upon completion of the dissertation. The satisfactory credits are added to the total required for the degree, but are not calculated in the GPA. The credits and S/U grades only appear on an unofficial transcript; only course enrollment (no grades or credits) appears on an official transcript.
Foreign Language/Research Skill
Each unit administering a doctoral program may establish foreign language and/or research skill requirements for its doctoral students. Inquiries on specific requirements should be addressed to your graduate program unit.
Residence
Residence requirements cannot be met at the master's level, and must be fulfilled before you can achieve dissertator status.
Continuous-year requirement
You must complete 8 to 12 graduate credits in each of two consecutive semesters, or 6 or more graduate credits in each of three consecutive semesters, exclusive of summer sessions. This requirement is intended to provide immersion in the chosen discipline and foster participation in the community of scholars.
50% of credits requirement
At least half of the graduate credits required for the Ph.D. must be completed at UWM in doctoral status.
Some program units have different residence requirements. See individual doctoral program descriptions for additional residence information.
Time Limit
All requirements for the doctoral degree must be completed within 10 years from the date you first enroll in a doctoral program at UWM. This includes all coursework, the dissertation, and examinations required for the degree. Students entering doctoral programs in the fall of 2000 or later must pass doctoral preliminary examinations within five years of initial doctoral program enrollment. Some programs may have shorter time limits.
Transfer Credit
If you wish to transfer graduate credits into your doctoral program, contact your program's doctoral advisor or the Graduate School doctoral specialist.
Doctoral Committee
You will need to assemble a doctoral committee consisting of graduate faculty to guide your studies and research. This committee will also approve your dissertation proposal and serve as the doctoral examining committee for your dissertation defense. The committee is chaired by your major professor.
Following are the general Graduate School regulations for formation of the doctoral committee:
- By the time of your dissertation proposal hearing (Milestone 4 below), the committee must have at least three UWM graduate faculty members, including your chosen major professor.
- By the time you are ready to defend your dissertation (Milestone 6 below), the committee must have at least five graduate faculty members, including your major professor. The dean may consider allowing one non-UWM graduate faculty member to sit on the committee at this stage. The major professor makes this request on your behalf. A curriculum vitae for the proposed external member is required.
Your graduate program unit may have more specific requirements for committee formation and membership.
When forming your committee, keep in mind that you will be working closely with its members for an extended period of time. Make sure to assemble a cohesive group; choosing members with similar research methods and approaches may be just as important as choosing people with closely compatible research interests. Your advisor or other mentors may provide ideas for possible committee members.
Maintain frequent contact with your committee members. If they hear from you often, they will be more likely to keep you in mind and advise you of new developments in your field or valuable research opportunities.
Replacement of Major Professor or Doctoral Committee Members
At any time, you may request that your advisor or members of your doctoral committee be replaced. Your advisor and committee members may also request release from their duties, with your consent. Ask your graduate program representative for more information.
In some cases, your advisor or committee members may remove themselves without your consent. These cases include:
- The advisor or member is involved in a conflict of interest.
- The advisor or member leaves the University.
- You change your dissertation topic or substantially change your dissertation proposal.
Once your dissertation proposal has been approved by the advisor and dissertation committee, your advisor or committee members cannot normally remove themselves if they become dissatisfied with your progress.
Research subject to institutional approval
All students, faculty, and staff who engage in research activity must be aware of the following requirements.
- If your research involves human subjects, you must have prior approval from the Institutional Review Board for the Protection of Human Subjects in Research (IRB).
- If your research involves radioactive materials, biohazards, or vertebrate animals, it must be completed under the protocol or authorization of a principal investigator and/or faculty member. University Safety and Assurances coordinates research compliance for these activities.
You will be asked to certify that you have received these approvals when you submit your dissertation. The Graduate School will not accept a dissertation containing research data collected without these approvals.
Milestones of Doctoral Study
1. Program of Study
The student and advisor prepare a Program of Study, which specifies all required and elective coursework, completed and proposed, that will be offered in fulfillment of degree requirements in the major field and in the minor. The Program of Study also specifies the foreign language, technical, or research skill requirements, if any, that will be offered in fulfillment of the program requirements.
Each academic unit has its own deadline for submitting the program of study. Submitting a copy to the Graduate School is not required, although in some cases it is helpful.
2. Doctoral Preliminary Examination
Doctoral preliminary examinations, or "prelims," as they are commonly called, are designed to assess a doctoral candidate's mastery of subject knowledge and application skills, and ensure adequate preparation for individual dissertation research. The Graduate School requires that you pass your prelims within five years of initial enrollment in your doctoral program.
Some program units require two or three prelims. Some may be written, others are oral, and many are a combination.
Your graduate program unit establishes the timing and structure of the prelims, as well as specific requirements and eligibility. Be sure to find out how preliminary exams are handled within your program unit. It may be helpful to ask other graduate students in your department about their experiences with prelims.
At the beginning of the semester that you are eligible to take the prelims, both you and your advisor must complete Sections I and II of the Application for the Doctoral Preliminary Examination. After you return it to the Graduate School, eligibility is validated and the Graduate School completes Section III. After the exam, the examining committee members and department graduate representative or chair complete Section IV and submit it to the Graduate School.
If you fail the prelim, your graduate program unit must provide you with its written policy regarding continuation. If you miss the scheduled prelims, you must file a new application for the next semester.
Your prelim results are posted in the memorandum section of your unofficial transcript. The completed form, with test results, is kept in your graduate record file.
After you pass the prelim(s), you are considered ready to undertake independent research.
One-credit exemption
During the semester that you are preparing for doctoral prelims, you may enroll for a minimum of 1 graduate credit and still be considered full time for financial aid or grant purposes. International students should check with the Center for International Education for more information. This status is available for one semester only, and does not fulfill residence requirements. To request this option, you must have already submitted your Application for the Doctoral Preliminary Examination. Teaching, project, and research assistants must also submit the Graduate Assistant Justification form for approval to enroll for this one-credit exemption.
3. Dissertator Status
You are eligible to become a dissertator when you have:
- Completed all major and minor course requirements.
- Passed the doctoral preliminary examination.
- Submitted a dissertation topic summary or proposal hearing form to the Graduate School.
- Met residence requirements.
- Cleared incomplete and "progress" grades/reports in non-research courses.
- Achieved a 3.0 or higher cumulative GPA.
- Completed the language requirement (if required).
- Completed other departmental requirements (if any).
You must submit an Application for Doctoral Dissertator Status for this information to be verified and approved by the Graduate School and your graduate program unit. You must submit the form before the semester begins.
Your dissertator status is confirmed with an e-mail from the Graduate School doctoral specialist to you and your department's graduate representative.
Continuous Registration
Doctoral students with dissertator status must maintain continuous registration.
- A dissertator must register for 3 graduate-level dissertation or research credits (at the current per-credit dissertator rate) each semester until the dissertation is accepted by the Graduate School. During any summers in which you use University facilities or faculty time, are a fellow or research assistant, or plan to graduate, you must register for 3 graduate-level credits (dissertator rate) in the regular eight-week summer session. Three is the minimum (and the maximum) number of graduate credits required per semester.
- The Graduate School will monitor your registration every semester to be sure that you are registered properly. The Graduate School has the authority to remove you from dissertator status if you are not in compliance with dissertator regulations. The Graduate School will notify you and your program unit of dissertator status requirements and of any registration problems. If you do not maintain continuous registration, you will be placed in a default status.
- Default status: If you break the continuous registration requirement after attaining dissertator status, you will be assessed a completion (dissertator default) fee of 12 credits. After re-entry, the 12-credit completion fee is reduced by 3 credits per semester for each consecutive semester of enrollment. If you return for at least 4 consecutive semesters following a break in registration, the completion fee is not assessed.
4. Dissertation Proposal Hearing
The dissertation proposal must be approved by your doctoral committee. Committee approval of the dissertation proposal establishes agreement on your chosen research and indicates that you have adequate preparation to complete the research.
Complete Section I of the Doctoral Dissertation Proposal Hearing Form and forward it to your major professor, who completes Section II at the time of the hearing. The form is submitted to Graduate Student Services for final processing.
Completion of this requirement is posted in the memorandum section of the unofficial transcript.
You can hold your proposal hearing before or after you achieve dissertator status.
Changes to Proposal
Any significant changes to the dissertation as presented in the proposal hearing must be approved. A new proposal and proposal hearing are required.
5. Dissertation
The dissertation is the report of an original investigation you have carried out under the direction of your major professor. The dissertation must be your own work. Although it may be the result of collaboration with others, it must reflect your own style, and a substantial portion must represent your own creative contribution.
Dissertation format requirements are published in Master's Thesis and Doctoral Dissertation Format Requirements. Also, every semester the Graduate School holds a workshop on thesis/dissertation formatting and graduation requirements.
6. Dissertation Defense & Graduation
Application
First, complete and submit Part I of the Application for the Doctoral Dissertation Defense and Graduation (through PAWS), no later than the end of the second week of the semester you expect to graduate. You must also pay a non-refundable $40 graduation processing fee, which will be billed by the Bursar's office during the semester. If you do not graduate when anticipated, another application must be submitted; an additional fee is not required. The Graduate School then completes Part II of the application and sends it to your program unit for completion of Part III.
At the same time you submit Part I of the application, send a draft of the dissertation to your major professor, who is responsible for determining the readiness of your dissertation for defense and scheduling a tentative defense date.
In order to graduate in the semester you applied for, the dissertation defense must be held at least two weeks before the graduation ceremony date. The Spring and Fall semesters are the best for scheduling defenses; scheduling during the summer may be very difficult.
Committee evaluation
Next, submit a draft of the dissertation to each of the five members of the doctoral examining committee, which is your doctoral committee. All committee members must read the dissertation in its entirety. The time allowed for members to read the dissertation is determined by the individual program units. A member cannot keep the dissertation for an inordinate amount of time because of the press of other duties. Service as a doctoral committee member is an integral part of a faculty member's teaching assignment, fully comparable to conducting classes.
After the committee members have read the dissertation, they advise your major professor on its readiness for defense. If substantial revisions are necessary, they must be completed before the defense date is confirmed. Your major professor contacts you to confirm this date.
Defense readiness confirmation
By mid-semester, the defense date should be set. Your major professor returns the application for defense and graduation to the Graduate School, confirming the date.
About a month before the defense, you must have dissertation format reviewed by the Doctoral Student Specialist for Graduate School requirements. Contact Pat Hayes (hayes@uwm.edu or (414) 229-6263) to make an appointment.
At this meeting, you will be given the "Survey of Earned Doctorate" form, the "Microfilm Agreement" form and the "Refund of Disbursement" form. These forms must be completed and submitted with the final, approved copy of your dissertation.
Readiness for defense does not indicate acceptance of the dissertation; it means the committee agrees that you have met the terms of your proposal and that the dissertation is defensible. The decision to hold a doctoral defense, moreover, is not solely that of the committee. If you insist on defending the dissertation before the committee believes it is ready, you may defend.
At least a week prior to the defense, the Graduate School sends a warrant to your department's graduate representative. This is the document the committee will sign on the day of the defense. If committee membership or the defense date changes, the Graduate School must be notified, and a new warrant will be issued.
Defense
The subject of the doctoral defense is the dissertation itself. The dissertation defense provides an opportunity for you to demonstrate your expertise after several years of preparatory coursework, research, and writing. You also will demonstrate your ability to explain ideas and methods embodied in the dissertation and to defend the implications and conclusions of your research.
The defense allows your committee members to verify your independent scholarly contributions. They may offer guidance regarding publication possibilities for the dissertation, and encourage further research efforts in your area of academic specialization.
Voting
All committee members are responsible for reading and voting on the dissertation.
At the conclusion of the defense, the committee may vote either pass or fail, or it may decide to defer the decision. The warrant (indicating pass or fail) or the deferral form must be returned to the Graduate School within 10 working days of the defense or a deferral is automatically assigned.
Pass. To pass the defense, a simple majority of the committee must vote to pass—in this case three out of five. No absentee ballots are allowed.
Fail. If you fail the defense, you may re-defend once after a waiting period, to be determined by the committee and communicated to you in writing. The Graduate School requires that this second defense take place within one calendar year of the original defense. A new application and warrant are required for the second defense.
Defer. If the committee determines that you need more than 10 working days to complete revisions to the dissertation, a deferral form must be so marked and submitted to the Graduate School within 10 working days of the defense.
Your major professor must notify you and the Graduate School of the specific reasons for the deferral action and the completion date required by the committee (not to exceed 4 months from the original defense date). If satisfactory changes are not made within 4 months, the deferral turns into a fail. You then have 8 months from the deferral deadline to pass a second defense.
You cannot graduate in deferral status and must register for the next semester if the deferral is not changed to a Pass by the Graduate School dissertation submission deadline.
The entire committee is responsible for verifying that the dissertation revisions have been made to their satisfaction. At this point, the committee passes or fails the dissertation and the major professor returns the signed warrant to the Graduate School.
7. Graduation
To graduate in the semester you applied for, you must meet these deadlines:
- During the first two weeks of the semester: Submit the Application for the Doctoral Dissertation Defense and Graduation to the Graduate School.
- At least two weeks before the graduation ceremony date: Hold the dissertation defense.
- By the published Graduate School dissertation submission deadline (one week before the ceremony date): The dissertation must be accepted by the Graduate School. Contact Pat Hayes (hayes@uwm.edu or (414) 229-6263) to make an appointment. At this appointment, you pay the microfilm fee of $55.00 (required), and the copyright fee (optional), prior to submission of your dissertation. Procedure for payment of these fees:
- Present the three copies of the "Refund of Disbursement" form to the Cashier, Mitchell Rm. 285, along with your payment.
- Be sure all three copies are stamped PAID, or a receipt is attached.
- The Cashier will keep one copy; one copy will be submitted with your dissertation; you will keep one copy.
If any of these deadlines are not met, you must apply and graduate in the next semester. You will not be required to register for the next semester if the dissertation has been defended, passed, and accepted by the Graduate School before the first day of classes for the next semester. The date of graduation, however, will be the next semester.
If you want your name to appear in the commencement bulletin, be sure that your directory information with the University is not restricted. If you restricted the release of your address, phone number, and other limited information, contact the Department of Enrollment Services Information Center, Mellencamp 274.
Graduation ceremonies are held in May and December. August graduates attend the December graduation ceremony.
About one month before graduation, all eligible degree candidates will receive a letter from the Secretary of the University's office containing the date, location, and time of the ceremony, as well as information on ordering caps and gowns. Caps and gowns are ordered online.
CERTIFICATE PROGRAMS
A certificate program is a sequence of courses that provides specialized knowledge and skills for personal enrichment, professional advancement, or career change. Certificate programs may provide:
- A basic introduction to an established field of study.
- An interdisciplinary approach linking several fields.
- A concentrated focus on a sub-field.
In most cases, certificates function independently of degree programs.
Graduate certificates are designed for students at the following levels:
- Post-Baccalaureate. For students who have completed a bachelor's degree and are enrolled for graduate credit, but are not enrolled simultaneously in a graduate degree program.
- Graduate. For students who are enrolled simultaneously in a graduate degree program.
- Post-Graduate. For students who have completed a master's or doctoral degree and are enrolled for graduate credit, but are not enrolled simultaneously in a graduate degree program.
A certificate also may be designed for students across two or more levels.
Admission
You must have a baccalaureate degree. A minimum 2.75 cumulative undergraduate grade point average is recommended.
You must declare your intent to pursue a certificate program before completing 6 credits in the certificate sequence. Submit an application or declaration of intent to the certificate program administrative office.
If you are not already admitted to the Graduate School, submit a non-degree application.
Transfer Credit
No more than 20% of the required credits may be taken at an institution other than UWM. These courses are subject to Graduate School transfer policy and must be approved by the director of the certificate program.
Articulation with Degree Programs
Post-baccalaureate certificate
Students may count credits toward both a UWM post-baccalaureate certificate and a UWM graduate degree, subject to Graduate School transfer policy.
Graduate certificate
No more than 50% of the credits required for a certificate may count toward meeting degree requirements.
Post-master's certificate
Credits applied toward a UWM graduate degree may not count toward a post-master's certificate.
Certificates and concentrations
Students may not earn a certificate and a concentration in the same area.
GPA Requirement
A minimum cumulative 3.0 grade point average in certificate courses taken at UWM is required.
Verification of Certificate Completion
For each student who completes the certificate program, the certificate program director will sign and send to the Graduate School a form listing the course number and title, grade, and semester of enrollment for all courses that meet certificate program requirements. Certificate completion will be posted on a student's official transcript.
Time Limit
Certificate program time limits shall be established as follows:
18 or fewer credits
Three years from initial enrollment in the certificate sequence.
19 or more credits
Four years from initial enrollment in the certificate sequence.
For certificates that are designed as add-ons to degree programs and are awarded concurrent with the degree, the time limit shall be the same as that of the degree program.
COOPERATIVE & SPECIAL DEGREE PROGRAMS
CIC Doctoral Traveling Scholar Program
Doctoral students may enroll for short-term study or research on the campus of another participating institution, through the Committee on Institutional Cooperatio