Academic Policies

Credit Hour 

KSU defines a credit hour as a minimum of 2,250 minutes of academic engagement per semester. For many courses, the time is distributed as 750 minutes of direct, faculty-led instruction and 1,500 minutes of out-of-class academic engagement.  For a 15-week semester (i.e., Spring Semester or Fall Semester), that equates to 50 minutes of direct, faculty-led instruction and 100 minutes of out-of-class academic engagement per week.  An equivalent amount of work and a minimum of 2,250 minutes of academic engagement per credit hour is required for credit-bearing educational activities, for which the direct, faculty-led instruction time varies, including internship, field experience, cooperative education, and some online courses.  Thus, this definition applies regardless of type of course, term length, and delivery mode.

Transcripts

Current and formerly enrolled KSU students may request a Kennesaw State University Transcript using the on-line order process. Students may request transcripts to be mailed or delivered electronically. The cost is $5.00 per transcript. Telephone requests will not be honored.

Due to provisions of the Student’s Right to Privacy Act, the student is the only one who can authorize release of his/her records.

Student Guide to Degree Progression (DegreeWorks)

DegreeWorks is a web-based advising tool that provides real-time advice on degree completion. This system is designed to aid and facilitate academic advising. It is not intended to replace face-to-face advising sessions. DegreeWorks is available to all degree seeking graduate students who have a catalog year equal to Fall 2011 or later.

Students with a catalog year prior to those listed above should continue to meet with their academic advisor concerning degree progression.

Students can access DegreeWorks through Owl Express.

Cross Registration-Atlanta Regional Consortium for Higher Education (ARCHE)

Kennesaw State University is a member of the Atlanta Regional Consortium for Higher Education (ARCHE), an association of colleges and universities in the Atlanta area offering a combination of reciprocal academic services, such as cross registration, interlibrary loans, and visiting-scholars program.

The cross-registration program is available to students officially enrolled in ARCHE institutions. This program is distinct from transient status in that it is possible for a student to register for an approved course at any of the 20 consortium schools and receive credit, while paying tuition costs to the home institution. The intent is to allow a qualified student to complete coursework in that student’s area of study that is not available at the home institution.

A student applying to cross register must meet all eligibility requirements under the ARCHE agreement and the partnering school. Courses taken at a partnering school are transferred back as transfer credit. Credits earned through the ARCHE program do not count in the KSU residency requirement.

To be eligible to participate, the student must be in good standing and must have the recommendation of the faculty adviser or Department Chair at the home institution. Cross registration may be pursued only for courses not offered at the home institution for the given term and is not recommended for a student enrolled in the student’s last semester before graduation. A KSU student must be enrolled for at least one semester hour at KSU in order to cross register. To apply for cross registration at an ARCHE member institution, a student must submit a Cross-Registration Application to the Office of the Registrar. KSU’s cross registration coordinator should be consulted for individual member college cross-registration deadlines.  A complete list of requirements for eligibility and registration procedures are located on the application.

Member Colleges

Agnes Scott College
Brenau University
Clark Atlanta University
Clayton College & State University
Columbia Theological Seminary
Emory University
Georgia Gwinnett College
Georgia Institute of Technology
Georgia State University
Interdenominational Theological Center
Kennesaw State University
Mercer University of Atlanta
Mercer University
Morehouse College
Morehouse School of Medicine
Oglethorpe University
Savannah College of Art and Design - Atlanta
Spelman College
University of Georgia
University of West Georgia

Withdrawal from Courses

A student may withdraw, using Owl Express, from one or more courses prior to one week before the last day of class. The student should consult the applicable academic calendar posted on the Office of Registrar website because the last day of class varies according to the part of the semester in which the student is enrolled.

A student who officially withdraws from a course by the end of the last day to withdraw without academic penalty will receive a grade of “W” and receive no credit. A student who officially withdraws from a course after the last day to withdraw without academic penalty and before the last week of classes during the semester will receive a grade of “WF,” which will be counted as an “F” in the grade point average calculation.

For attendance verification, the applicable faculty member will submit the last known date of academically related activity and one of the following symbols for each student who stopped attending the course.

• “NA” (never attended) for a student who never attended the course, never attended the course after the applicable Drop-Add date, or did not complete any academically related activity
• “W” (withdrew) for a student who stopped attending before the last day to withdraw without academic penalty for the applicable semester and whose academically related activity was deemed passing
• “WF” (withdrew failing) for a student who stopped attending after the last day to withdraw without academic penalty for the applicable semester, or who stopped attending before the last day to withdraw without academic penalty for the applicable semester and whose academically-related activity was deemed failing

The only exceptions to these withdrawal regulations will be for instances involving unusual circumstances, which must be fully documented, or military withdrawal (see below). A student may appeal to the Academic Standing Committee for consideration of unusual circumstances. Withdrawal dates are published in the official academic calendar. A student will receive a refund only when the student withdraws from ALL courses for the applicable semester and only by the schedule outlined in the University System refund policy.

Military Withdrawals

A student will receive a “WM” symbol for all courses and a full refund of tuition and mandatory fees and a pro rata refund of other fees for military and other services, as defined by BOR Policy Manual, Section 7.3.5.3. To request a military withdrawal, the student must submit a copy of official orders to the Office of the Registrar.

Military Short-Term Absence Policy

The University recognizes and appreciates the important contributions made in service of our country by Active Duty, Reserve, and National Guard members and their dependents. At times these students may be called to fulfill their duties for training or short-term deployment, which cause students to be absent from classes for a short period of time. These absences qualify as “excused absences” which means that the absence, with proper documentation provided, is not subject to penalty and coursework may be satisfied through agreement between individual instructors and students.

A. For any emergency orders where the student will be absent approximately 3 weeks or less: Students are responsible for making arrangements with instructors to maintain and/or make up classwork as needed. Service members should provide instructors with maximum advance notice of absences, providing copies of directives from the Military, Reserve, or National Guard.

B. A student who will be absent for up to three weeks will be allowed to make up any missed work within a reasonable time frame (generally up to 30 days) without a grade penalty. Instructors must accommodate absences of up to three weeks for 15-week semesters and a proportional duration for other sessions. It is the responsibility of the student to communicate in writing directly with each instructor, as far in advance as possible, so appropriate accommodations can be made.

C. For time-sensitive state or federal emergencies/activations where written documentation may not be available until the end of the obligation, the student is responsible for securing the orders to provide to faculty members upon return to the University.

Grading System

Issuance of grades and formulation of individual attendance policies are the prerogative of the instructor. The course instructor must make feedback available to each student about that student’s academic progress in the course prior to the last published day to withdraw without academic penalty. The Board of Regents (BOR) of the University System of Georgia (USG) Policy Manual, Section 3.5, states grades are expected to conform to those listed below.

The following are the final grades included in the determination of the scholastic grade point average (GPA). 

Other Grades

I: denotes an incomplete grade for the course. An incomplete grade may be awarded only when the student has done satisfactory work prior to the last two weeks of the semester but for nonacademic reasons beyond the student’s control, was unable to meet the full requirements of the course.

A grade of “I ” must be removed by the end of the next semester or term in which the “I” was originally assigned.

Upon completion of the course requirements within the specified time limit, a final grade will be assigned in the course based on the student’s total performance.

If the course requirements are not completed within the specified time limits, the “I ” will be changed to an “F ” for a course that awards grades of “A”, “B”, “C”, “D”, or “F” and the student’s cumulative and institutional GPA will be recalculated accordingly, or the “I” will be changed to a “U” for a course that awards a grade of “S” or “U.” An incomplete cannot be removed by reenrolling in the course.

IP: indicates credit has not been given in a course that requires a continuation of work beyond the term for which the student enrolled in the course.  This symbol cannot be substituted for an “I.”

K: indicates credit awarded from Prior Learning Assessment (portfolio review).

NR: indicates that no grade was reported. The grade will be changed to the appropriate grade once determined.

NA: Never Attended (for attendance verification). The grade will be changed to the appropriate withdrawal grade.

S: indicates satisfactory completion of a credit-bearing course and is not included in the calculation of the grade point average. The use of this grade is approved for thesis hours, student teaching, clinical practicum, internship and, proficiency requirements in graduate programs

U: indicates unsatisfactory completion of a credit-bearing course and is not included in the calculation of the grade point average. The use of this grade is approved for thesis hours, student teaching, clinical practicum, internship, and proficiency requirements in graduate programs.

V: indicates that the student was given permission to audit the course. It is not included in the calculation of the grade point average. A student may not transfer from audit to credit status or vice versa.

W: indicates the student was permitted to withdraw from the course without penalty. A course in which a grade of “W” has been assigned will not be included in the calculation of the student’s grade point average.

WF:  indicates the student was permitted to withdraw from a course with the approval of the Registrar after the withdrawal date listed in the Semester Schedule of Classes. The grade of “WF” is counted as an “F” in the calculation of the student’s grade point average

WM: indicates a student was permitted to withdraw without penalty at any time during the term based on a military service refund, as defined by BOR Policy Manual, Section 7.3.5.3.

Grade-Point Average

The grade-point average (GPA) is the average grade made by the student on all graduate course work for which he/she has enrolled. It is calculated by dividing the total number of quality points earned by the total number of semester hours attempted. Courses carrying “S,” “U,” “W,” or “I” grades are not included.

Grade Changes

Errors in grades must be reported to the Office of the Registrar immediately.  In general, no grade changes will be made after the end of the next semester after the grade was assigned, except with the approval of the Academic Standing Committee.  In general, the Academic Standing Committee, as described in University Handbook, Section 3.1.2, will not consider requests for grade changes beyond one year from the end of the semester in which the grade was assigned.  A petition for a grade change will not be accepted after the date of graduation.

Grade Appeals

A student’s rights to grade appeals are defined in the University catalog. Each faculty member must specify the grading policy in the syllabus at the beginning of the course. The faculty member may change the grading policy for cause after that time but must do so uniformly with ample notification to students.

The grading policy should be quite specific and should be distributed to each class in written form. Some departments may also require faculty members to file grading policy statements in the departmental office. Because the student can submit a grade appeal to the Department Chair within 20 business days after the first day of classes of the next academic term after the academic term in which the final grade was awarded to the student (see Grade Appeals Procedure below), it is strongly recommended that instructors retain any student papers, tests, projects, or other materials not returned to the student for 70 days after the end of a semester or if an appeal is filed until the appeal is resolved.

Grade Appeal Procedure

Kennesaw State University is committed to treating students fairly in the grading process. A student may appeal a final grade awarded for a course.  Interim grades or grades on specific assignments are not appealable. An appeal must be based on an allegation that the faculty member has violated the stated grading policy or/and that the grade was a result of discrimination or retaliation. The student has the burden of proving these allegations. All formal appeals under these procedures will be based only on the written record.

Informal

• The student is encouraged to discuss concerns and disputes over final course grades with the faculty member, prior to filing a formal grade appeal, to understand the basis of the grade. The faculty member is encouraged to be available to the student to discuss grades so that, if possible, grade disputes can be resolved informally.

Formal

• In situations where such informal resolution does not occur or is not successful, the student may appeal the final course grade to the Department Chair. The appeal must be in writing and describe the precise basis for the appeal. Any pertinent information must be submitted with the appeal in order to be considered in this or subsequent appeals. The appeal must be submitted within 20 business days after the first day of classes of the next academic term (fall, spring, summer) after the academic term in which the final grade was awarded to the student. The Chair will invite the faculty member who assigned the appealed grade to provide a written response to the student’s appeal statement. The Department Chair (or the Chair’s designee) will review the allegations and conduct any additional fact finding as needed and will provide a decision in writing to the student within 20 business days of the receipt of the complaint in the Department, if there is no allegation of discrimination or retaliation that impacted the grade. The Chair’s written decision will specifically address the relevant issues raised by the student.
  • If the student alleges that the grade was a result of discrimination or retaliation, the following procedures will be followed. The Chair will consult with the Office of Institutional Equity (OIE) if there is an allegation that discrimination or retaliation based on status in a protected class has an impact on the grade. Please see http://equity.kennesaw.edu/titleix/non-discrimination.php for the University’s Non-Discrimination Statement. The Director of Institutional Equity or designee will review the information provided by the Chair to determine jurisdiction, routing, and whether an investigation is warranted or more information is needed. If the OIE determines that an investigation is warranted, the OIE investigate. The general timeframe for the investigation is 60 business days, absent any special circumstances. The OIE will issue an investigation report to the Chair. The Chair will use the OIE investigation report to make the grade appeal decision and communicate the decision to the student within 20 business days after receipt of the OIE investigation report. The Chair’s written decision will specifically address the relevant issues raised by the student. 
• The student may appeal the Department Chair’s decision within 20 business days of being notified of the Chair’s decision. Such appeal will be made, in writing, to the Dean of the College in which the Department is located. At the Dean’s discretion, the Dean can appoint an advisory panel, consisting of two (2) faculty members from outside the department where the grade was awarded and one (1) student to review the written documentation and make a recommendation to the Dean. The advisory panel may invite the student and the faculty member who awarded the grade to meet with the panel to share each party’s position on the grade dispute. The panel will provide a written recommendation to the Dean within ten (10) business days of the receipt of the appeal. The Dean will issue a decision to the student, in writing, within ten (10) business days of the receipt of the report from the advisory panel or within twenty (20) business days of the receipt of the written complaint from the student if no panel was appointed.
• The student may appeal the Dean’s decision to the Provost, in writing, within twenty (20) business days of being notified of the Dean’s decision. [However, if it is a graduate course, the student will direct this written appeal to the Graduate Dean, and the Graduate Dean will issue a decision to the student, in writing, within twenty (20) business days of receiving the appeal. Within twenty (20) days of that decision, the student may then appeal to the Provost as described in this section]. The Provost will issue a decision to the student, in writing within twenty (20) business days of receiving the appeal.
• The Provost’s decision is final, and decisions regarding grades may not be appealed to the Board of Regents per BOR Policy Manual, Section 6.26.

Nothing in this grade appeals process prohibits the parties from settling this matter at any stage. However, any attempt to settle the matter through mediation does not affect the deadlines for this grade appeals process.

Catalog Year for Graduation Evaluation

Each student should meet with his/her academic advisor or departmental representative to determine the appropriate catalog to be used for academic advisement and evaluation of graduation requirements. Catalog selection applies only to the course requirements of that catalog; all other academic procedures and graduation requirements must be satisfied according to regulations in effect at the time of graduation.

A student may elect to be evaluated for graduation from any catalog in effect during the time he or she has been enrolled, provided that enrollment has been continuous, and the student does not change majors. If a student changes majors, he/she will be evaluated for graduation using the catalog in effect at the time of the change, or any subsequent catalog as long as the student is continuously enrolled.

Students readmitted will be evaluated for graduation from the catalog in effect at the time of readmission or reinstatement, or any catalog in effect during subsequent periods of continuous enrollment.

Registration 

All registration at Kennesaw State University is conducted over the web through Owl Express.

Registration Access

Access to registration will be granted by time tickets in Owl Express based on a student’s number of overall earned hours.  The University may grant earlier access to registration to certain students who have been approved by the University.

Verification of Course Schedule

Each student must verify that student’s class schedule for each semester enrolled. No course additions/deletions are permitted after Drop-Add period has ended. Each student is responsible for verifying the student’s class schedule, including credit hours, in Owl Express for accuracy.

Graduate Course Auditing Policy

Auditing of courses will be permitted for a regularly enrolled graduate student and on a space-available basis, for those who hold a graduate degree from Kennesaw State University. Auditing of courses is not allowed in the Coles Doctor of Business Administration, the Coles Executive MBA, the Master of Science in Conflict Management (MSCM), the Master of Science in Information Systems (MSIS), or any of KSU’s Master of Education (M.Ed.) programs. A student must have completed all prerequisites necessary for the course to be audited and is expected to complete all course requirements as noted on the course syllabus. A student may audit no more than 6 credit hours of graduate course work in a given term.

The permission to audit form, available in the Office of the Registrar, must be submitted before the end of final registration. The form must be signed by the Graduate Program Director of the program offering the course to be audited. An audited course counts at full value in computing the student’s course load, tuition, and fees. The student’s name will appear on the official class rolls of the courses audited and on the student’s approved schedule of courses. No credit is granted for audited courses and a student is not permitted to change to or from an auditing status except through the regular procedures for schedule changes.

The symbol for auditing is “V” (visitor) and this symbol will at no time be changed to a “W” on the basis of the auditor’s attendance in the course. The audited course does not affect the student’s GPA and student will not be permitted to have the audit grade changed at any future date. Audited courses will not count toward degree completion for any of KSU’s graduate programs.

Continuous Enrollment Policy

• Students enrolled in a Graduate degree program must register for at least one course in at least one semester per academic year in order for the original program requirements for their degree to remain unchanged unless a Leave of Absence has been approved.
• If dissertation, thesis, capstone or project courses comprise 50% or more of a student’s credit hours in any semester, they must be continuously enrolled every semester thereafter until satisfying the requirements of the student’s program. Summer registration is not required unless the student intends to graduate in summer semester.
• Students who have completed all coursework and are planning to submit a thesis or project in partial fulfillment of the requirements for a master’s degree should register for thesis or project hours consistent with a realistic appraisal of the amount of remaining thesis work and required faculty involvement.
• Students who have completed all coursework and are planning to submit a dissertation in partial fulfillment of the requirements for a doctoral degree should register for dissertation hours consistent with a realistic appraisal of the amount of remaining dissertation work and required faculty involvement.
• Students are not eligible to receive thesis, dissertation or project guidance nor use campus resources during any term for which they are not registered.
• If a student has completed all degree requirements and will no longer require any of the campus resources or faculty time, the student may request an enrollment waiver.
• Graduate students must be registered for at least one semester hour in the semester, or proceeding semester, they plan to graduate.

Grading of Thesis/Dissertation credits: 

• A grade of “IP” will be recorded for all thesis, dissertation, or project credit work in progress and will automatically be recorded each semester the student is enrolled.
• Unless otherwise approved by The Graduate College, the grade of “S” or “U” must be recorded for all thesis, dissertation or project credit when completed.
• Unless otherwise approved by The Graduate College, the program will report a final thesis, dissertation or project grade of “S” or “U”. Any reported grade other than “S” or “U” may  be changed to an “S” or “U” grade according to the following: reported grade of “A”, “B”, “C” = “S”; “D”, “F” = “U”
• Upon completion of the thesis, dissertation or project requirements, final grades for preceding semesters will be changed to the appropriate grade.

​Leave of Absence

A leave of absence provides a mechanism for students experiencing unusual circumstances to be exempt temporarily from the continuous enrollment policy. A leave of absence requires approval of the Graduate Program Coordinator and The Graduate College. A leave of absence will be granted only for good cause such as serious medical and health-related issues; major financial and employment issues; pregnancy, childbirth, childcare, elder care, and other significant family issues; and other major personal circumstances that interfere with the ability to undertake graduate study.

1. An approved leave of absence stands in lieu of registering for the minimum of 1 credit for each semester for which the leave of absence is granted. During a leave of absence, students may not use KSU facilities, resources, or services designed or intended only for enrolled students; receive a graduate assistantship, fellowship, or financial aid from the University; or take any KSU courses related to their program of study. Time on leave counts toward any University, Graduate College, or program time limits pertaining to the degree being sought. The Graduate College, at its discretion, may grant an extension of the time to degree completion.
2. Application. Students may apply for a leave of absence for good cause such as serious medical and health-related issues; major financial and employment issues; pregnancy, childbirth, childcare, elder care, and other significant family issues; and other major personal circumstances that interfere with the ability to undertake graduate study. An approved leave of absence stands in lieu of registering for the minimum of 1 credit for each semester for which the leave of absence is granted.
3. External Limitations. An approved leave of absence does not exempt students from the enrollment requirements of other programs, offices and agencies such as the Veterans Administration, Immigration and Naturalization Service, and federal financial aid programs. Please note that eligibility for certain types of financial aid (including graduate assistantships) may require enrollment for credits beyond those required by the Continuous Enrollment Policy.  It is the student’s responsibility to notify other appropriate agencies as necessary, as well as ensuring the leave does not adversely affect the student.
4. Deadlines.  It is the student’s responsibility to apply for a leave of absence in a timely fashion.  A student may apply for a leave of absence before or during any semester in which they are not registered for courses. Application for a leave of absence must be received by the Graduate College on or before the last day of classes for the semester for which it is requested. A leave of absence will not be granted retroactively after the end of the semester.
5. Limits. A student may request a leave of absence for one semester, two consecutive semesters, or three consecutive semesters (summer semester included). There is a 12-month limit for any one request of leave of absence. A student may submit multiple requests for a leave of absence subject to a 3-semester limit while enrolled in a specific graduate program.

Full-Time & Maximum Course Load

For a graduate student nine (9) semester credit hours is a full-time load. A graduate student in good standing may enroll for twelve (12) semester credit hours in any semester. In order to enroll for more than twelve (12) semester hours, a student must obtain approval from the applicable graduate program director.

Graduate-Level Study

Graduate students may use graduate level work only to complete their degree requirements. Undergraduate coursework may not substitute or transfer more than one level; (i.e. 5000‐level course may not be used for 7000‐level courses and vice versa). Graduate‐level work may be used only in the undergraduate degree if a Double Owl Pathway is in place (maximum 9 credit hours). 

Classification of Courses  

Kennesaw State University divides courses completed for academic credit into four categories - lower division, upper division, graduate, and doctoral - representing increasing levels of rigor.  Lower division courses are numbered 1000-2999; upper division courses are numbered 3000-4999; graduate courses are numbered 5000-7999; doctoral courses are numbered 8000-9999.  Advanced undergraduate coursework for the five-year, Bachelor of Architecture program are numbered 5000-5999. Courses numbered below 1000 do not count for degree credit but do count for determining fees and enrollment status.

Residency Requirement

To receive a graduate degree from Kennesaw State University, students must complete at least 75% of the total semester hours required for the degree within their graduate program through instruction offered by Kennesaw State.  Credit hours earned through instruction offered by KSU does not include coursework transferred from other institutions or credits earned through a consortium that did not originate from KSU (i.e., cross registration).  All of these hours must be completed after the student has been admitted to the degree program.

Candidates for a second master’s degree at KSU must earn a minimum of 18 additional hours in excess of any hours used toward the first master’s degree (the exact number of hours will depend on specific degree requirements).

Time Limit (Age of Credit)

All requirements for a master’s degree must be completed within six years, beginning with the first registration in graduate-level classes following admission to the degree program. Unless otherwise stated in the specific program description in the graduate catalog, all requirements for a doctoral degree must be completed within ten years, beginning with the first registration in graduate-level classes following admission to the degree program. 

The Graduate College may grant an extension of time for conditions beyond the student’s control.

Transfer Credit

Graduate work taken at other regionally accredited institutions must be evaluated and approved by the program director and/or graduate committee of the respective program in order to satisfy degree requirements at KSU. Such transfer credit cannot exceed 25% of the total semester hours required for the degree and cannot reduce residency requirements. No grade below B may be accepted. Transfer grades are not used in calculating semester, summer term, or cumulative grade point averages. Individual degree programs may have additional specific requirements or limitations for transfer credit.

Refer to the program descriptions in this catalog for additional information.

Transfer credit is not permissible for any part of the Coles Doctor of Business Administration, Coles Executive MBA, or the Master of Science in Conflict Management programs.

Repeated Courses

A graduate student may repeat for credit no more than two graduate courses, one time each. Only courses in which a student previously earned a grade below “B” may be retaken for credit.  All grades received for work attempted at KSU are calculated in the cumulative grade point average. Grades for repeated courses are considered as work attempted and do not replace grades already received.

Individual degree programs may establish more stringent requirements. A student enrolled in KSU’s executive programs (Coles Executive MBA, and MSCM) may not repeat courses for credit toward a degree.

IP (In Progress) Grade

In most graduate courses, the grades “A,” “B,” “C,” “D,” “F,” “I” (Incomplete), “W” (Withdrawal), and “WF” (Withdrawal with an “F”) are awarded.

In some graduate courses, the notation “IP” (In Progress) is used, particularly thesis, dissertation, and capstone/project courses intended to extend beyond one semester. A student will enroll for a specified number of hours in each consecutive semester in which work is still in progress. While the work is in progress, the instructor will report a grade of “IP” for these credit hours at the end of each term. Thesis, dissertation, and project course credit hours taken during the semester that the work is completed will be awarded a grade of “S” (satisfactory) or “U” (unsatisfactory). Grades of “IP,” “S,” or “U” will not be computed in the student’s grade point average.

Expectations for Satisfactory Graduate Level Student Performance

A graduate student is expected to earn grades of at least “B” in most of the coursework for the student’s degree. For graduation, a graduate student must have earned a cumulative grade point average of at least 3.0 in all graduate course work at Kennesaw State University and a grade of “C” or better in each course presented to meet degree requirements.

I. Academic Probation

Whenever a graduate student’s institutional graduate grade point average drops below 3.0, that student will be placed on probation and be advised of the significance and potential consequences of this action. While on probation, the student will not be permitted to take comprehensive exams or obtain a graduate degree. Academic probation may also affect a student’s financial aid status or eligibility to hold a graduate assistantship. A graduate student can have the probationary status removed by raising their institutional grade point average to at least 3.0.

Individual graduate programs may have additional expectations and/or grading policies. Please see specific graduate program sections of the catalog for additional information on graduate expectations.

II. Dismissal

A graduate student will be dismissed from further graduate study under any of the following conditions.

• While on probation, the term GPA is less than 3.0.
• The student does not achieve an institutional graduate GPA of 3.0 after two semesters.

III. Reinstatement

As a general practice, a student who wishes to request reinstatement after dismissal must sit out at least one semester or summer term. The student must complete the “Request for Reinstatement” form and submit it to the Office of Graduate Admissions. The form will be routed to the appropriate graduate program personnel for review. The program will then forward their recommendation to the Dean of The Graduate College. The Dean of The Graduate College will then notify the appropriate graduate program director, the Office of the Registrar, and the student of the Graduate Dean’s decision. A graduate student who is granted a reinstatement must agree to a remediation plan. Any deviation from the remediation plan will result in permanent dismissal.

Individual graduate programs may have additional expectations and/or grading policies. Please see specific graduate program sections of the catalog for additional information on graduate expectations.

Graduation Requirements

Each candidate for a master’s or doctoral degree must petition to graduate online. A student may request in absentia status by writing to the registrar prior to the graduation exercises.  The student must pay all required fees, fines, and other financial obligations to KSU prior to receiving his/her diploma and/or other services.  Students with a balance may have a HOLD placed on their account until the balance is paid.

Subject to the limitations and qualifications stated elsewhere in this catalog, the requirements for an advanced degree are as follows.

1. A Petition to Graduate will be accepted and may be filed by the posted deadlines using the online petition to graduate form in Owl Express. To receive a graduate degree from Kennesaw State University, students must complete at least 75% of the total semester hours required for the degree within their graduate program through instruction offered by Kennesaw State. Credit hours earned through instruction offered by KSU does not include coursework transferred from other institutions or credits earned through a consortium that did not originate from KSU (i.e., cross registration).  All of these hours must be completed after the student has been admitted to the degree program. Candidates for a second master’s degree at KSU must earn a minimum of 18 additional hours in excess of any hours used toward the first master’s degree (the exact number of hours will depend on specific degree requirements).
2. Degree candidates must have earned an institutional grade point average of 3.0 calculated on all graduate courses attempted at KSU and a grade of “C” or better in each course presented to meet degree requirements.
3. With the approval of the Graduate Policy and Curriculum Committee, individual degree programs may establish additional graduation requirements (e.g., comprehensive exams, thesis).

Multiple Concentrations in a Single Degree Program

In graduate programs with specific concentrations, a student may qualify for an additional concentration (within the specified graduate program) by completing a minimum of 12 additional hours of appropriate course work beyond that required for the original concentration and by completing any special requirements of that concentration and only if the additional courses are completed before any of the student’s graduate credits will be more than six years old (or more than 10 years old for doctoral students). The grades in the additional hours must not cause the student’s grade point average to fall below a 3.0. All grades must be “C” or higher.

After earning the additional concentration, the student must submit a written request to the Office of the Registrar to include the concentration on the student’s record.

Dual Degrees

Dual Degrees in the University System of Georgia are defined according to the SACS Collaborative Academic Arrangements Policy. 

Kennesaw offers the following dual degree programs at the graduate level:
 

• Business Administration/Information Systems Dual Master’s Degree  
• Business Administration/Conflict Management Dual Master’s Degree   
• Business Administration/Public Administration Dual Master’s Degree  
• Business Administration/Social Work Dual Master’s Degree   
• Public Administration/Integrated Global Communication Dual Master’s Degree   

Multiple Graduate Degrees

A student may earn a particular master’s degree at Kennesaw State only once. A student wishing to complete a second graduate degree program must.

1. submit a new graduate application through the Office of Graduate Admissions;
2. meet with the program director for the second graduate degree program to plan appropriate courses after acceptance into that program;
3. meet all admission requirements in effect for the second graduate degree; and
4. fulfill all requirements for the second graduate degree.

For a second degree at the master’s level, the student may be able to use appropriate coursework from the original graduate degree. The exact number of hours will depend on specific degree requirements and will be determined in consultation with the program director. Students enrolled in an approved dual degree program must follow the stated curriculum and would not be eligible to follow this policy.

Each candidate for a second master’s degree must apply for graduation. An application for graduation will be accepted and may be filed online by the posted deadlines. A student may not graduate from the second graduate degree program before graduating from their initial graduate degree program.

Additional Academic Regulations

Individual degree programs may impose additional academic regulations. Consult with the program director, department head or advisor for this information. 

Disclaimer

The Graduate College may, at its discretion, waive or modify any of the foregoing. 

Faculty Curriculum Development Policies

Policy on Course Cross-Leveling

A cross-leveled course is a course that is offered by departments across numbers and/or level. The two courses that are cross-leveled are owned by the same department. It must have documentation with the Office of the Registrar and a proper description in the course catalog. (Requests for policy exceptions may be submitted to UPCC and/or GPCC.)

1. Cross-leveled courses are limited to the following two course pairs: 1) undergraduate upper division course/graduate course, and 2) graduate course/doctoral course. 9000 level special topics, directed study, thesis, internships, practica, and dissertation courses may not be cross-leveled.
2. Cross-leveled courses must be supported by a rationale for combining students of different levels.
3. Cross-leveled courses must ensure there is a clear distinction between the requirements of undergraduate and graduate students or graduate and doctoral students, with more advanced course work for the higher level degree program. This will be demonstrated in two different syllabi that include, but are not limited to, different objectives, assessments and/or outcomes.
4. Cross-leveled courses at the graduate level must be taught by faculty with graduate faculty status.
5. Sections of cross-leveled courses must share the same modality.

Zero-credit Hour Policy

Zero-credit courses allow students the opportunity to engage in innovative experiences beyond designated credit hours of a program. Programs may develop zero-credit courses for internships, participation in research, experiential learning, career preparation, international education, teaching assistantships, or other enhanced learning experiences for a major. Zero-credit courses may serve as pre-requisites for other courses.

Courses offered for zero-credits must be approved through the regular KSU curriculum approval process. Zero-credit courses are offered for no credit and do not incur tuition or university fee charges; however, course fees may apply. Zero-credit courses have satisfactory/unsatisfactory grading and will be reflected on a student’s transcript but will not be included in a student’s GPA. These courses must have an instructor of record and a syllabus with all required elements. Courses developed for zero-credit must not exceed 45 experiential hours or 15 contact hours and must recognize faculty workload through teaching or service. Programs must limit the number of zero-credit courses required to prevent overburdening of the students and the faculty/staff. These courses are not required to adhere to the curricular calendar and may be offered at any point during the year.

Zero-credit courses already in the catalog are exempt from this policy. As with all courses, if a course change is pursued, it is reconsidered under current policies. Exceptions to this policy will be considered if a justification is included in the proposal for curriculum committee review.