Curricular and Other Academic Requirements

Students are responsible for observing all requirements and regulations that pertain to the degree they are seeking. Students should, therefore, familiarize themselves thoroughly with the requirements and policies outlined in this Bulletin, as well as the supplemental requirements and policies of the departments in which they are studying. Any exceptions to these policies must be approved by the department and by the dean of the College of Arts and Sciences in writing and filed in the Graduate Office in Science 127. The student is advised not to depend upon oral agreements if exceptions are to be made.

Credit for Graduate Study at Other Institutions

In no case will a master’s degree earned in the College of Arts and Sciences be awarded unless the student has satisfactorily completed a minimum of 24 credits of approved graduate study at Adelphi University; most degree programs require more than 24 credits earned at Adelphi. Once having been admitted to graduate study in the College and undertaken a program of study, students may take courses and transfer credits with a grade of A or B from another university only if authorized to do so by the department and the dean of the College prior to registering for graduate study in the other university. A maximum of 6 graduate credits taken in other approved graduate institutions may be applied toward meeting the requirements of the master’s degree. Any application of transfer credit toward an advanced graduate degree must have the express approval of the department concerned and the dean.

Candidacy for a Second Master’s Degree

Students who have been awarded a master’s degree in one field may be allowed to continue advanced study for another master’s degree, provided that it is in a separate, independent discipline. In so doing, they must apply and meet the admissions requirements of the chosen graduate program. A maximum of six graduate credits earned by the student in completing the requirements of the first master’s degree may be applied toward the second master’s degree. Such application of credit must, however, be designated for specific courses and be approved by the candidate’s adviser and the Dean. Also, the courses for which such transfer of credit is granted must have been taken within five years of the completion of the second master’s degree. At a minimum, the equivalent of a full year of additional graduate study must be successfully completed to qualify for the award of an additional master’s degree.

Admission of Auditors

The admission of students who want to audit graduate courses is possible only in exceptional cases. Students seeking admission as auditors must meet admission requirements and complete registration (including full payment of tuition and other fees) in the same way as the candidates for admission to graduate standing. Students admitted as auditors may request a change in their status, allowing them to earn credit for courses, provided that the request is approved by the instructor and submitted to the dean no later than the fifth meeting of the course.

Academic Advisement and Thesis Research

Upon beginning study for the master’s degree, students will be assigned an academic adviser. The adviser will approve the student’s program of studies and advise with regard to degree requirements and academic policies and regulations. In programs where a thesis is required students must be sponsored by a member of the graduate faculty of their department. The sponsor advises the candidate in the planning of the thesis research and the writing of the final report. Specific procedures for the review of thesis proposals vary with departments and should be clarified by the candidate with the sponsor in advance. After having written the thesis, the candidate will be examined on the thesis. The examination committee will consist of the thesis sponsor and at least two additional members of the faculty, one of whom is preferably from outside the student’s department. The sponsor arranges for the examination with the approval of the departmental chair and reports the results. The original copy of the thesis, certified on proper forms as approved in format and content, must be deposited in the Office of Graduate Studies, College of Arts and Sciences, in accordance with the deadlines established by the College. Upon deposit of the thesis, the candidate must arrange for its microfilming and publication. For further instructions and information on the master’s thesis or dissertation requirements, students should consult with the chair of their department.

Foreign Language Requirement

Although proficiency in a foreign language is not required for current Arts and Sciences degrees, reading proficiency in a language other than English is strongly recommended for those intending to pursue the Ph.D. Foreign language examinations are held during the early part of November and April every year. The student must request a departmental chair to make arrangements with the foreign language department concerning examinations no later than October 1 or March 1. Examinations will consist of the translation into English of foreign language texts of journal articles in the student’s major field. No special makeup examinations will be available for a failing candidate; however, candidates may repeat the examinations as regularly scheduled. The foreign language proficiencies may also be met by presenting satisfactory scores on the graduate language examinations of the Educational Testing Service, Princeton, New Jersey. Students wishing to enroll in any of the undergraduate courses in foreign languages offered by the University should consult the Undergraduate Bulletin. Special examinations in computer language and programming must be arranged through the departmental chair with the director of the Computing Center.

Independent Study

Permission for Independent Study forms are available from the Office of the Dean of the College. Students should consult with their academic adviser about the regulations governing independent study.



Graduate Courses, Credits and Grading

Numbering of Courses Hyphenated courses (e.g., CHE 631–632) are yearlong courses. Credits earned for the first half of a yearlong course may be applied toward fulfillment of degree requirements only upon satisfactory completion of the second half of the course. Comma courses (e.g., BIO 611, 612) are courses that extend over two semesters. Degree credit will be granted, however, for satisfactory completion of only one semester’s work in such courses.

Schedule
Most graduate courses are scheduled for late afternoon and evening hours in order to permit part-time (maximum of six credits) students to earn an advanced degree while employed or engaged in supervised work in their field.

Grading Policies

Grade Roster for Graduate Study:
A, B - Acceptable for credit toward degree requirements
C - Unacceptable for credit toward degree requirements
Pass/Fail (primarily for fieldwork, clinical practice, student teaching, and individual study)
P - Acceptable for credit toward degree requirements
F - Unacceptable: student subject to termination of degree candidacy and dismissal
IP - Denotes thesis or dissertation In Progress.

Grades and credits determined on completion of course requirements.

The grade of C is substandard for graduate study. Credits earned with a grade of C will not normally be accepted as applicable toward fulfilling degree requirements and may serve as grounds for dismissal from candidacy. Exceptions may be made when, in the judgment of the faculty, the student’s performance in certain other course work or areas of the program has been sufficiently outstanding to offset the work of C quality. The student is held responsible for ascertaining and fulfilling the policy of the department with respect to the acceptability of credits earned with a final grade of C. There is no grade of D in the College of Arts and Sciences graduate school.

The grade of P (passing or satisfactory) is used primarily for fieldwork, clinical practice, student teaching, or individual study. In such courses, use of the Pass/Fail option is at the discretion of the instructor. In other types of courses a Pass/Fail option can be employed only under exceptional circumstances. Permission must be granted by the course instructor, the student’s major department, the department offering the course, and the dean. A student earning a grade of F is subject to termination of degree candidacy and dismissal from further graduate study.

Students enrolled in thesis or dissertation research and selected other courses may receive a report of IP (In Progress) if they are making satisfactory progress. The grade of IP will carry through the term of its contract, after which it will become an I. The use of IP as a thesis or dissertation report (not for a class grade) is left to the discretion of the department. A final grade and credits will be assigned upon acceptance of the thesis or dissertation by the student’s advisory committee or upon completion of requirements in the course for which the IP was originally reported.

Credit for Courses

If a student repeats a course, both grades will appear on the transcript and will be used in computing the GPA. Credits will be counted only one time toward graduation.

Waiver of Academic Regulations

Requests for waiver of any academic regulation must be made in writing to the Dean of the College. Waiver requests should fully explain the reasons for the petition and include all pertinent documentation. Waiver requests will be considered by the Dean’s Office and the Academic Standards Committee of the College.