Full-Time Student Course Load

In order to be considered a full-time student in good standing, students must maintain a minimum grade-point average as well as carry a "full-time" course load.

Fellowship Students

Any student on graduate fellowship must take four non-seminar, non-independent study courses during each of the first three semesters to be considered a full-time student in good standing.

Teaching Assistants

Any student with a teaching assistantship must take three non-seminar, non-independent study courses during each of the first three semesters to be considered a full-time student in good standing.

Every student must register for 15 credit hours during the first four semesters. During semesters when a student is taking fewer than 4 graded courses, he/she should register for non-topical research, 997 or 999.

Grading System

The graduate courses are graded as follows:

A A- B+ B B- F

4.0 3.7 3.3 3.0 2.7 0.0

A, A-, B+ and B are passing grades. Students must have a grade point average of better than 3.0 to be considered in good standing within the department. During any semester, a student is expected to pass all his/her courses with a minimum passing grade. In the Graduate School of Arts & Sciences, this is B- (2.7).

IMPORTANT! The Department has the option to deny or reduce continued support to any student who has not maintained his/her status as a full-time student in good standing. In addition, the department may choose to increase the level of support for those students with exceptional records.

Departmental Colloquium

The faculty and graduate students meet on Friday afternoons at 4:00 PM for a Departmental Colloquium, in which a visiting speaker presents recent research work in the physical sciences. Refreshments are available at 3:30 PM. Notices are posted early in the week giving information about that week's speaker. Students must attend the Friday Colloquia to be considered in good standing by the department.

Safety

The Departmental Safety Committee attempts to ensure safe practices in our laboratories. Please see the Department’s Environmental Health and Safety Policies page for more information. New students may find the following of most immediate importance.

(a) To use the student shop, a student must have been certified, normally following a series of lessons conducted by shop personnel, as being able to use the equipment safely. The shop supervisor, Frankie Henderson, is in charge of this program.
(b) Safety glasses or goggles must be worn when working where the eyes are potentially exposed to flying debris or chemicals.
(c) When a student begins work in a teaching or research laboratory, he should become familiar with the other safety regulations, either by consulting his advisor or the Department's Director of Laboratories.

Application for Degree Candidacy

Students must file Applications for Degree Candidacy prior to deadlines given in the University catalog. Procedures for filing candidacy will be explained by Suzie Garrett in the Department Office.

Time Limits for Completion of Degrees

The Department and the Graduate School both have policies that require students to complete all master's degree work no later than five years and all Ph.D. work no later than seven years after entering the Graduate School.

Oral Examination

An oral examination in defense of the thesis (M.S.) or dissertation (Ph.D.) must be passed before a committee chosen by the Research Advisor and approved by the chair of the Graduate Program Committee, according to Departmental and School policies.