Course Loads
A full-time degree-seeking graduate student must take at least 9 credit hours in the Fall and Spring semesters,
with 12 semester hours being the maximum load. A half-time load is defined as enrolled in at least 4.5 credit hours in Fall and Spring terms. During the summer term, full-time
is 6 credit hours and half-time is 3 credit hours. There are two exceptions
to this policy: (1) For students in their last semester, a full-time load
is whatever is required to finish the degree program unless they are receiving federal loans. This is a one-time only
exception to the general policy. (2) For doctoral students who have passed the
candidacy exam and are registered for doctoral dissertation (XXX 7980) hours
only, full-time is 3 hours per semester until graduation. In order to meet residency
requirements, doctoral and specialist students must register for 9 hours in
two contiguous terms. Master's students in the Thesis option are required to
enroll in at least 1 hour (XXX 6971) each semester once they have completed all coursework and the thesis is still remaining, and until thesis completion and graduation. One hour of
thesis credit does not constitute full-time status unless the student is using
the one-time exception during the graduation semester.
Students receiving veterans' education benefits should contact Veterans' Affairs (www.va.sdes.ucf.edu)
for additional information about course loads.
International students should contact the International Services Center (ISC) to ensure that their enrollment conforms to the full-time definition for their visa status. International students should not change their course schedule or drop classes without advisement from the International Services Center. All international students who enroll in less than 9 hours per term must complete a Reduced Course Load Form with ISC that explains the nature of the reduced hours; this includes those who are enrolled in thesis or dissertation research or those in their last semester.
Nondegree-seeking students must be enrolled in 12 credit hours or more to be considered as full-time status.
Course Levels of Graduate Work
7000-Level Courses. These courses provide material at the most advanced graduate level. They are restricted to admitted doctoral students only.
6000-Level Courses. Advanced graduate-level courses. These courses are designed to build upon the beginning graduate-level courses and to deliver more advanced content and experiences. They are open only to graduate students. (Seniors, within nine hours of graduation that have a minimum 3.0 GPA and do not register for more than twelve hours, may request college permission to take a 6000-level class.) Students in 3+2 programs (combined bachelor's and master's programs) should check with their adviser before registering for 6000-level courses.
5000-Level Courses. Beginning graduate and advanced undergraduate level courses. These courses provide more advanced material than that found in undergraduate courses. They are designed primarily for beginning graduate students, but may be suitable for some advanced undergraduate seniors. They are open for registration to all graduate students and those seniors who receive approval of the appropriate Dean(s).
3000-4999 Courses. Junior- and senior-level courses (Upper-division). These courses contain advanced undergraduate-level material and are designed primarily for undergraduate juniors and seniors. When approved for inclusion in an individual program of graduate study by a supervisory committee approved by UCF Graduate Studies, selected 4000-4999 courses may serve the needs of individual graduate students. Under special circumstances 4000-level courses may be applied
toward a graduate degree, but not in excess of six semester hours. Only 4000-level
courses with a grade of "B-" or higher are acceptable in a program of study.
Courses at the 3000 level or below shall not be utilized in a graduate program
of study unless permission is obtained from the college prior to enrollment
in the course. Under no circumstances should 3000-level courses be used in a
doctoral program except as transfer credits as explained under "Transfer Credit"
for doctoral students in this catalog.
Language Requirements
Foreign language requirements shall be at the option of the individual departments
or appropriate units consistent with their college regulations.
Transfer of Credit When Accreditation Is Uncertain
Students who believe they have mastered the content of a graduate-level course
should present a portfolio to the graduate program director documenting the
learning experience. If the committee after examining the portfolio believes
the student has mastered the content presented in a graduate-level course, the
student should be allowed to demonstrate that mastery through examination. (See
"Credit by Examination or Waiver" below.) Correspondence courses are not acceptable
toward a graduate program of study; however, extension or continuing education
courses may be accepted.
The acceptance of courses from unaccredited agencies or institutions threatens
the integrity and value of the graduate degrees awarded by UCF. Graduate-level
course work demands the mastery of skills, theories, and concepts at a much
higher level than undergraduate-level course work. Therefore, the university
will not allow students to transfer course work from professional societies,
independent agencies, employees, or companies unless they are ACE (American
Council on Education) certified.
Credit by Examination or Waiver
Examination credit may be used to satisfy program course requirements, but
not credit hour requirements. Certain program requirements or courses may be
waived at the discretion of a program, although the total hours required for
the program must be satisfied.
Thesis, Research Report, and Dissertation Grades
For thesis (XXX 6971 or 6973), doctoral dissertation (XXX 7980), and research report
(XXX 6909) courses, satisfactory (S) or unsatisfactory (U) grades are used to
reflect student progress in these courses. Should a student in a given term
be given an incomplete (I), then this grade should be changed to an S or U,
upon completion of the work. Other grades may not be assigned in these
courses. Students who do not maintain satisfactory progress in their research,
as determined by their thesis or dissertation advisory committee, may be reverted to post-baccalaureate
status.
Application for Graduate Degree
Graduate students should file an Intent to Graduate form with the graduate
program director by the last day of registration for the term of graduation.
If the student does not graduate in that term, a new form must be filed at the
beginning of registration for the term of anticipated graduation.
Application for Graduate Certificate
Those students, graduate or nondegree, who are completing a certificate must
file a Completion of Certificate form with the graduate program director by the last day of registration for the last course in the graduate certificate
program. If the student does not complete certificate requirements in that term,
a new form must be filed at the beginning of registration for the term of completion.
Thesis and Dissertation Requirements
An oral defense of an original thesis or dissertation is required with copies
of the approved thesis or dissertation being prepared in accordance with program,
college, and university requirements. Academic dishonesty in thesis, research
report and dissertation work may result in reversion to post-baccalaureate status
or termination from the degree program. Our emphasis on academic honesty requires
quotations or ideas of others to be accompanied by appropriate citations. The
Graduate Studies Thesis and Dissertation Manual describes UCF's formatting
requirements for theses/dissertations and outlines the steps graduate students
must follow to submit their theses/dissertations to UCF Graduate Studies
for binding. Graduate students can obtain the manual from the UCF Graduate
Studies website (www.graduate.ucf.edu).
Additionally, the Thesis/Dissertation Editor maintains online workshops to
inform graduate students about procedures, deadlines, and requirements associated
with preparing a thesis and dissertation www.graduate.ucf.edu.
All theses and dissertations that use research involving human subjects, including
surveys, must obtain approval from an independent board, the Institutional Review
Board (IRB), for this prior to starting the research. It is imperative that
proper procedures are followed when using human subjects in research projects.
Information about this process can be obtained from the Office of Research (www.research.ucf.edu).
Failure to obtain this prior approval could jeopardize receipt of the student's
degree.
Students who wish to complete their degree requirements in a given semester
must take their oral defense and turn in their final unbound copies to UCF Graduate Studies by the dates shown in the Academic Calendar.
Effective Fall 2004, all graduate students will be required to submit their thesis or dissertation electronically. Exceptions to this are available if needed from the Thesis and Dissertation Edictor at www.graduate.ucf.edu.
Certification for Degree
The college of the degree program must certify through the College Dean that
all program and college requirements have been met. Degree certification forms
(SASS audit forms or program of study with approval signatures) are forwarded
to UCF Graduate Studies for final determination that all program,
college, and university requirements have been met. Graduate students who have
completed all the requirements for the degree and have successfully completed
the required thesis or dissertation may request a letter to that effect prior
to the receipt of the degree. Such letters will be issued by UCF Graduate
Studies.
Certification of Completion of a Graduate Certificate
The college of the graduate certificate program must certify through the College
Dean that all program and college requirements have been met. Completed
Graduate Certificate forms (available at www.graduate.ucf.edu)
are forwarded to UCF Graduate Studies for final determination of program,
college, and university requirements.
For each certificate program, the graduate program director will certify successful completion of the program's academic requirements. UCF Graduate Studies will arrange for recording the completed certificate
on the student's transcript. The certificate is mailed to the student unless
the student or the graduate program requests other arrangements. Certificate
recipients are not recognized at commencement.
Registration in Term of Graduation
A student must be registered in any term in which UCF faculty or administrative
and professional time will be required (e.g., for review of thesis or research
report by faculty or editorial staff, for completion of internships, or for
comprehensive or other examinations). Therefore, unless the graduate program
certifies to UCF Graduate Studies that no UCF resources will be utilized,
a student must be registered in the term of graduation.
Readmission
To file for readmission or reactivation, students must complete a new application, submit the application fee, and update their residency information and health history (if applicable). Students should apply for readmission if they were previously admitted and enrolled in a graduate program but have been absent for two major semesters, and should apply for reactivation if they applied and were admitted into a graduate program within the last year but never attended. For more information on reactivation or readmission, please visit the Graduate Students website.
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Graduate Students
