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Graduate College

Manual of Rules and Regulations of the Graduate College

The following text is from the Manual of Rules and Regulations of the Graduate College. The most up-to-date version of this manual is available online; see "For Students" on the Graduate College web site.

The Academic Program

Section I. Admission to the Graduate College

A. APPLICATION PROCEDURE

All students seeking to register for the first time in the Graduate College of The University of Iowa must secure formal admission from the director of Admissions. Applicants may obtain the proper forms from the Office of Admissions. Prospective students may also download the application or apply online from the admissions web site.

In addition to these forms, official transcripts, test scores, and other supporting material must be submitted by the designated deadline prior to the session in which admission is expected. Specific deadline dates will be established by the dean of the Graduate College and the director of Admissions and printed in the Catalog and elsewhere.

B. ADVANCED MEASUREMENT TESTS

Each graduate program will determine which, if any, advanced measurement test(s) will be required of the applicants to the program. Examples of such examinations include the General (Aptitude) Test of the Graduate Record Examination (GRE), the GRE Subject (Advanced) Tests, and the Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT). For those departments or programs that choose to require an examination, the examination must be required for all students; there cannot be exempt categories. Additionally, a final admission decision will not be made by the Office of Graduate Admissions until the student's scores have been received. The judgment of acceptable levels of performance on these tests, and the weight of such scores in the overall decision-making process, is left to the department or program.

C. ENGLISH FOR INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS

Prior to consideration for admission, international student applicants whose native language is other than English must take and pass either the TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language) or the IELTS (International English Language Testing System), unless they have received a degree from an accredited college or university in the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada (except Quebec), Australia, or New Zealand. These examinations are given at various times of the year and in many centers throughout the world.

International students transferring from unfinished degree programs of other universities in the United States who have not taken either of these examinations, or who have received a score lower than the minimum established by the Graduate College dean, must take the TOEFL or IELTS examination and receive a passing score prior to consideration for admission.

Students who barely pass the established minimum on the TOEFL, as well as all IELTS submitters, will be required to sit for an English evaluation upon arrival in Iowa City. The Graduate College will require these students to take and pass recommended course work in English usage at The University of Iowa designed especially for international students.

D. EARLY ADMISSION

A student who is within 6 s.h. of having satisfied all the requirements for the bachelor's degree at The University of Iowa or any other accredited college may be given provisional admission.

E. CANDIDACY

Admission to the Graduate College is not the equivalent of acceptance as a candidate for an advanced degree, which must be earned through work successfully completed at The University of Iowa. (See "Section X. Master's Degrees" and "Section XII. Doctor's Degrees.")

F. DECLARATION OF MAJOR AND DEGREE

Every applicant for admission must indicate on the application form the department or program of major interest and the degree, certificate, or professional objective he or she intends to pursue. The only exceptions to this regulation are the limited number of applicants registered as nondegree ("special") students. (See definition of nondegree status in next section.) Changes in the major or degree status may be made in the course of a student's graduate study with the approval of the department to which the transfer is proposed. To initiate such action, the student must file a change of major or degree status in the Office of Admissions.

G. ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS AND STATUS

Graduates of any college or university accredited by regional accrediting associations may be admitted to the Graduate College if their academic records meet the required standards. Upon admission, all students fall into one of the following three categories:

1. Regular--For students who have met the minimum requirements for admission and who have been accepted by a department, or interdepartmental degree program, for work leading to a graduate degree or certificate or for professional improvement. The minimum g.p.a. for admission as a regular student to all graduate programs is 3.00.

Departments or programs may petition the Graduate College dean for admission of a student whose g.p.a. is lower than 3.00, if there is sufficient evidence of the student's academic and/or professional achievement indicating his/her potential for success in a graduate program.

Departments, or committees in charge of interdepartmental degree programs, may, and often do, set higher minimum admission requirements than those set forth above for the Graduate College as a whole. Information concerning departmental or program requirements may be obtained directly from the executive of the department concerned.

2. Conditional--Students who are interested in working toward a graduate degree or certificate but who are required by a department to demonstrate their ability to do satisfactory graduate work before being admitted to regular status. To be admitted on a conditional basis, the student must be recommended by a department, which will assume responsibility for advising him or her. The student on conditional status must achieve regular status within two sessions of registration in the Graduate College by attaining a g.p.a. of at least 3.00 and acceptance by the major department, or be dismissed.

3. Nondegree (Special)--Students with a valid bachelor's degree and at least a 2.50 g.p.a. are eligible to register for a total of no more than two courses per semester. In addition, a nondegree student may not accumulate more than two courses within a given department/program under this classification. These students must be approved for admission by the Graduate College and the Office of Admissions. Nondegree graduate students are not eligible for a graduate degree.

H. ADMISSION OF FACULTY MEMBERS TO GRADUATE STUDY

Persons who hold faculty rank of assistant professor (including clinical assistant professor) or above at The University of Iowa may be admitted as nondegree students. (See "Section G" above.) A person holding faculty rank as specified above may petition the Graduate College dean for permission to enter a departmental program for work leading to an advanced degree, certificate, or professional improvement except in the department of his or her appointment or a closely related department. Such petitions must have prior approval of the department of appointment, dean of the college of appointment, the department in which study is to be pursued, and the Graduate College.

I. READMISSION

If a student's enrollment is interrupted for any reason so that she or he is not enrolled for three consecutive academic sessions (including the spring, summer, and fall sessions but excluding the winter session), the student must apply for readmission. The readmission application form must be used. The Graduate College will not require new letters of recommendation, a new Personal Statement section, a written explanation of the reasons for the absence, or a plan for degree completion. However, departments and programs may choose to require any or all of the foregoing.

Section II. Registration

A. STANDARD SCHEDULE

Students registered in the Graduate College may register for no more than 15 s.h. in all courses eligible for graduate credit (100-level or above). A maximum, graduate semester-hour registration will include all courses numbered 100 or above, whether they are offered as on-campus, extension, or workshop classes. In a schedule of mixed graduate and undergraduate courses, two hours of undergraduate credit may be substituted for 1 s.h. of graduate credit, with registration limited to a total of 18 s.h. This equivalency applies to the calculation of academic load only. Graduate credit is not given for courses numbered under 100. The maximum for the eight-week summer session is 8 s.h. Corresponding maximums for the three-week summer and winter sessions and the six-week summer session are 3 or 6 s.h., respectively.

The maximum semester-hour registration for work scheduled outside of the regular eight-week summer session will be arranged on a basis proportionate to that stated above with the approval of the Graduate College dean. In the regular semester, 9 s.h. constitutes full-time registration. (Fellows are required to carry at least 9 s.h. during a semester as a condition of their appointments.) One-quarter-time and one-third-time appointees are permitted to register for the maximum 15 s.h. per semester and 8 s.h. during the eight-week summer session.

B. COURSES NOT INCLUDED IN FULL REGISTRATION

In addition to a full schedule, a graduate student may register for offered courses carrying 0 s.h. of credit.

C. CHANGES IN ANNOUNCED CREDIT

Graduate students may not register for more credit than that offered for any course, but may register for less credit, or no credit, by permission of the instructor. The number of courses a graduate student may take for limited or no credit is subject to the consent of the advisor and the approval of the dean of the Graduate College.

D. REDUCED SCHEDULES FOR TEACHING AND RESEARCH ASSISTANTS AND OTHER APPOINTEES

1. One-half-time appointees may register for not more than 12 s.h. during a semester or 6 s.h. during the eight-week summer session.

2. Five-eighths-time appointees may register for not more than 10 s.h. during a semester or 5 s.h. during the eight-week summer session.

3. Two-thirds- and three-quarter-time appointees may register for not more than 9 s.h. during a semester or 5 s.h. during the eight-week summer session.

4. Seven-eighths-time appointees may register for not more than 7 s.h. during a semester or 4 s.h. during the eight-week summer session.

5. Full-time appointees, including full-time instructors, may register for not more than 6 s.h. during a semester or 3 s.h. during the eight-week summer session.

E. RETROACTIVE REGISTRATION

No form of retroactive registration is permitted.

F. REGISTRATION FOR PART OF A SESSION

A graduate student may register at any time during the semester or the eight-week summer session for not more than 1 s.h. of credit for each of the remaining weeks of classes (not including the examination period) in the term. The total registration may not exceed the 15 s.h. permitted for a semester and the 8 s.h. permitted for the eight-week summer session. Registration after the last day of the second week of a semester or the third day of the second week of a summer session is permitted only in courses involving special projects, readings, individual study, thesis, or research, with the signed approval of the instructor concerned and the Graduate College dean. Proportional credit limitations and deadlines for the three-week and six-week summer sessions will be established on a prorated basis.

G. EXTRAMURAL REGISTRATION

After admission to a departmental program in the Graduate College, registration for work done off campus may be accepted for residence credit under the following circumstances:

1. Traveling Scholar Program of the Committee on Institutional Cooperation (see "Section III").

2. Research at approved locations under the direction of members of the graduate faculty of The University of Iowa.

3. Fieldwork as part of a regularly scheduled course or research program.

4. Courses taught off campus by members of the graduate faculty (see "Section X.D" and "Section XII.C" for minimum semester hours required on campus for the master's and doctor's degrees).

5. Residence graduate credit from another Iowa Regents' university (see "Section V.B").

6. As many as 9 s.h. of graduate work taken at the Quad Cities Graduate Center from faculty other than faculty of the Iowa Regents' universities, provided the work is acceptable to the student's major department for the specified degree.

Extramural registration does not count toward residence credit in the following circumstance:

Course work transferred from another institution.

H. SYSTEM OF COURSE NUMBERS

Courses primarily for graduate students are numbered 200 or above in each department. Courses open to and carrying credit for both graduate and undergraduate students are numbered from 100 to 199. A student must be enrolled in the Graduate College in order to earn graduate credit for course work numbered 100 or above. Courses below 100 are not accepted for graduate credit irrespective of a student's classification. Graduate credit may not be earned for taking courses numbered below 100 by registering in such courses as readings, special projects, or independent study having course numbers of 100 or above.

I. AUDITING OF COURSES

Upon approval of the instructor and the advisor, graduate students may audit courses for zero credit. Fee assessment for auditing courses is based on the number of hours for which the course is offered, with a minimum of 1 s.h. Auditing is permitted only for a student who is currently registered. See "Section VI.C" for the marking system.

J. DROPPING OF COURSES

All graduate students who drop courses after the deadline date established by the dean of the Graduate College for each session and published by the registrar shall receive the grade of F unless the entire registration is withdrawn. This regulation may be waived by the Graduate College dean only on the recommendation of the Student Health director or the Counseling Service. If a student withdraws registration after the deadline date, the student must obtain permission from the dean of the Graduate College before being permitted to reregister.

Section III. Traveling Scholar Program

A. PURPOSE

The program, under the auspices of the Committee on Institutional Cooperation representing 12 universities in the Midwest, enables a doctoral student to take advantage of special resources available on another campus but not available on his or her own campus: special course offerings, research opportunities, unique laboratories, and library collections.

B. PROCEDURE

1. A CIC Traveling Scholar first must be recommended by his or her own graduate advisor, who will approach an appropriate faculty member at the possible host institution in regard to a visiting arrangement.

2. After agreement by the student's advisor and the faculty member at the host institution, graduate deans at both institutions will be fully informed by the advisor and have the power to approve or disapprove.

3. A CIC Traveling Scholar will be registered at the home university, and fees will be collected and kept by that institution.

4. Credit for the work taken will be recorded at the home university.

5. Those desiring additional information should inquire at the office of the Graduate College.

C. CONDITIONS

CIC Traveling Scholars will normally be limited to two semesters or three quarters on another campus. Each university retains its full right to accept or reject any student who wishes to study under its auspices.

Section IV. Academic Standing, Probation, and Dismissal

A. NONDOCTORAL STUDENTS

A nondoctoral departmental (master's, professional improvement, certificate) student, except one on conditional status, shall be placed on probation if, after completing 8 s.h. of graduate work, the student's cumulative grade-point average on graduate work done at The University of Iowa falls below 2.75. If, after completing 8 more s.h. of graduate work at this University, the student's cumulative grade-point average remains below 2.75, the student shall be denied permission to reregister within any departmental program; otherwise the student shall be restored to good standing.*

Nondoctoral, nondepartmental (nondegree, extension, workshop) students shall be evaluated for probation and dismissal purposes based on the same semester-hour sequence as stated above, at a minimum cumulative grade-point average of 2.50.

*This requirement shall apply to students entering nondoctoral departmental programs beginning with the fall 2001 semester. A minimum cumulative grade-point average of 2.50 is required of nondoctoral departmental students admitted prior to that session.

B. DOCTORAL STUDENTS

A doctoral student on regular status shall be placed on probation if, after completing 8 s.h. of graduate work, the student's cumulative grade-point average on graduate work done at The University of Iowa falls below 3.00. If, after completing 8 more s.h. of graduate work at this University, the student's cumulative grade-point average remains below the required level, the student shall be dropped from the program and denied permission to reregister unless the student applies and is accepted for a nondoctoral degree or certificate program. If, after completing the second 8 s.h., the cumulative grade-point average is at least 3.00, the student is returned to good standing.*

*This requirement shall apply to students entering doctoral programs beginning with the fall 1979 semester. A minimum cumulative grade-point average of 2.70 is required of students admitted to doctoral programs prior to that session.

C. RESTRICTION ON STUDENTS ON PROBATION

A student on probation shall not be permitted to take comprehensive or final examinations leading to any degree or certificate, nor may the student receive any graduate degree or certificate.

D. DEPARTMENTAL REGULATIONS AND DISSEMINATION OF INFORMATION

In addition to the above University-wide requirements, departments may establish further requirements which then determine the individual student's standing with regard to probation and dismissal. To this end, each department or program shall compile a written list of standards and procedures for work in that area. These documents shall be on file in each departmental office and the office of the Graduate College dean. Copies are to be available for students in the departmental office, and departments shall make all reasonable efforts to inform students. Subsequent changes in standards or procedures shall be communicated by the department to each student and the Graduate College dean. Whenever departments revise standards for a given program, the new regulations will not apply retroactively to the disadvantage of those already in the program. In addition to notifying students that they are subject to the rules of the Graduate College as set forth in the Manual of Rules and Regulations, any standards established by the department more stringent than the general Graduate College requirements shall be stated. Information shall be provided outlining required courses applicable to the various departmental programs of study, examination procedures and other formal evaluations, departmental policies with regard to awarding and renewing assistantships, time limits on programs of study, departmental registration policies, departmental grade-point requirements, requirements for changing from one degree program to another within the department--especially from the master's to the doctor's--departmental probation and dismissal policies and procedures (see "E" following), and other matters as are appropriate. The nature of the departmental advisory system shall be explained to incoming students.

E. ACADEMIC PROGRESS, DEPARTMENTAL PROBATION, AND DISMISSAL PROCEDURES

If a student is failing to meet departmental standards, the department shall warn the student of this fact in writing. The notification shall specify in what way(s) the student is failing to meet the standards. The student shall be provided a reasonable amount of time to meet the standards prior to departmental dismissal. If conditions such as conditional admission or probation are imposed, the department shall give, at the time of its imposition, written explanation of this status and its time limits.

A student who will not be permitted to reregister for failure to meet standards shall be notified of this fact in writing with reasons for the action provided. Such dismissal may follow failure to meet conditions of admission, conditions of probation, pre-announced departmental grade-point requirements or other standards, or failure of a regularly scheduled examination or formal evaluation. If a student judges the dismissal decision improper, the student has a right to review. Each department shall establish procedures for handling such reviews. The procedures are to be approved by the Graduate College dean and shall afford a fair and expeditious review. A description of these procedures shall be included in the departmental regulations described above. (See "Section IV.D.")

F. PLAGIARISM BY GRADUATE STUDENTS

The Online Oxford English Dictionary (http://dictionary.oed.com/cgi/entry/50180578) defines "plagiarize" as follows, "to take and use as one's own (the thoughts, writings, or inventions of another person); to copy (literary work or ideas) improperly or without acknowledgement; (occas.) to pass off as one's own the thoughts or work of (another)." In practice, the exact definition of "plagiarize" or "plagiarism" is dependent upon the unique attributes of the creative work of a particular discipline. Thus, it is understood that different academic disciplines and cultures may have different interpretations as to the actual actions which constitute plagiarism. With this in mind, the Graduate College will operate in the following manner when a program or department discovers an act or acts of plagiarism on the part of a graduate student.

1) If the faculty members of a program or department determine that the transgression is not major, or else feel that there is a misunderstanding of the acts which constitute plagiarism, the program or department may wish to work with the student so as to prevent future occurrences of plagiarism on the part of that student. Written notification of the offense and the remediation for the offense must be sent to the Graduate College for inclusion in the student's file.

2) If the faculty members of a program or department discover an act (or acts) of plagiarism that is (are) sufficiently egregious that expulsion from the program is warranted, the student will be terminated from his or her graduate program for reasons of plagiarism. In this case, the student will be simultaneously terminated from the Graduate College of The University of Iowa. The program or department must notify the student of his or her termination in writing. All relevant facts, as well as the process for appealing the decision, must be contained in the termination letter. The Graduate College must receive a copy of the termination letter. If the graduate student resigns from the program to avoid being terminated for reasons of plagiarism, the student will be considered to have simultaneously resigned from the Graduate College. 

The appeal process for students accused of academic misconduct is specified in The University of Iowa document, "Policies and Regulations Affecting Students, C. Academic Misconduct," which states: "Questions of academic dishonesty arising within the colleges of Medicine, Law, Pharmacy, and Dentistry, and the Graduate College are treated on an individual basis." "In the Graduate College, the questions [of academic dishonesty] are handled at the departmental level. If the departmental decision is appealed, the dean may appoint an appeals committee of faculty and students from a slate of nominees prepared by the Graduate Council and the Graduate Student Senate to recommend an appropriate course of action."

The appeal process must be initiated by the student. If the student wishes to appeal the department's or program's action, that appeal must be lodged with the Associate Dean for Academic Affairs of the Graduate College within 30 days of program or departmental dismissal.

G. GRADUATE COLLEGE REVIEW OF DEPARTMENTAL DISMISSAL

Questions involving judgment of performance will not be reviewed beyond the department level. If, however, the student feels there has been unfairness or some procedural irregularity concerning dismissal, the student may pursue a grievance according to the Academic Grievance Procedure (AGP) established by the Graduate College. The AGP is available in the Graduate College. The student should consult with the Graduate College prior to initiating an academic grievance.

Section V. Credits

A. TRANSFER OF GRADUATE CREDIT

Graduate work at other institutions will be entered on the student's permanent record by the Office of Admissions and a report of this action will be sent to the student and to his or her major department. Credit for these courses toward an advanced degree at Iowa must have the approval of the major department and the dean of the Graduate College. (See "Section X.E." and "Section XII.E.", Reduction of Old Credits.)

B. RESIDENCE TRANSFER CREDIT

After admission to a departmental program in the Graduate College, residence graduate credit from another Iowa Regents' university may be counted as residence credit at this institution, provided such work is acceptable to the student's major department on the basis of the department's determination of its applicability toward the degree. (See "Sections X.D." and "XII.C" for minimum semester hours required on campus for the master's and doctor's degrees, and "Sections X.E. and XII.E.", Reduction of Old Credits.)

C. GRADUATE CREDIT FOR VETERANS

Credit may be granted for studies pursued in war and military situations under such regulations as may be formulated by the national educational agencies and under such adaptation of standing rules as the Graduate Council may authorize from time to time to meet group or individual situations. The value of such credit in satisfying requirements for a degree will be determined by the major department with the approval of the dean.

D. WITHDRAWAL OF REGISTRATION AND PROPORTIONAL CREDIT FOR STUDENTS ENTERING MILITARY SERVICE

1. Students who leave within the first six weeks of the semester receive no credit.

2. Students who leave within the period of seven to nine weeks receive one-half credit.

3. Students who leave within the period of 10 to 12 weeks receive two-thirds credit.

4. Grade reports for the one-half and two-thirds credit periods: (a) Instructors report grades only as satisfactory or unsatisfactory. (b) Credit is to be assigned on the basis of total registration minus thesis and seminar. (c) Courses are to be counted toward specific degree requirements only after the student returns and then only with the department's approval.

5. Students who complete the twelfth week receive full credit.

6. Grade reports for the full-credit period: (a) Grades are to be reported only at the end of the semester. (b) Credit is to be reported in specific courses.

7. In each instance, the instructor reports the student's credit, grade, and date of withdrawal. No credit is granted unless the student's work is satisfactory at the time of leaving.

8. The amount of credit in thesis and research registration is to be reported to the registrar by individual instructors on the above basis except that less or zero credit may be assigned.

Section VI. Marking System

A. MARKS CARRYING GRADUATE CREDIT

These are A+, A, A-, B+, B, B-, C+, C, C-, and S--satisfactory.

B. MARKS CARRYING NO GRADUATE CREDIT

These are D+, D, D-, F, I--incomplete, W--withdrawn without discredit, R--registered, and U--unsatisfactory.

C. AUDIT

R is assigned when a student registered for zero credit attends as an auditor throughout the course; if the student fails to meet the instructor's requirements for class attendance, W is assigned.

D. INCOMPLETE

The grade of I is to be used only when a student's work during a session cannot be completed because of illness, accident, or other circumstances beyond the student's control. In registrations for thesis, research, or independent study, the satisfactory/unsatisfactory grades may be applied. (See next paragraph, "E".) An incomplete will automatically be converted to an F at the end of the next full semester (summer and winter sessions excluded), even if the student does not enroll after the session the I was posted.

The specific deadline for the faculty's report on I grades to the registrar will be set by the Office of the Registrar for each session and printed in the academic calendar. Courses may not be repeated to remove incompletes; removal of an I is accomplished only through completion of the specific work for which the mark is given.

E. THESIS, RESEARCH, READINGS, INDEPENDENT STUDY, AND SPECIAL PROJECTS

Grades of S and U may be used for registrations in thesis, research, readings, independent study, and special projects. S--satisfactory means that the student receives credit for the work; U--unsatisfactory means that he or she receives no credit. Neither S nor U is used in computing grade-point averages. At a later date, the instructor may change the S to a letter grade. In addition, departments may ask the Graduate College dean for permission to use grades of S and U as described above for courses which, because of their special or experimental nature, are judged to be more appropriate for such grading. The type of grading system to be used in the above cases should always be mutually understood by the instructor and student.

F. GRADES OF S AND U

S and U may be used for courses taken by a graduate student outside the major department or interdepartmental degree program provided that the instructor of the course and the student's departmental advisor approve the registration. Arrangements for satisfactory/unsatisfactory grading in these courses are accomplished by filing a card with appropriate signatures in the Registrar's Office at the time of registration, or no later than the last day of the second week of a semester or the third day of the second week of a summer session. No changes from letter grades to satisfactory/unsatisfactory grades or vice versa will be allowed after these dates.

It is not the policy of the Graduate College to abandon the traditional letter grades described in this section; however, in certain exceptional instances, departments having several areas of concentration involving widely differing types of effort may request the permission of the Graduate Council to allow students majoring in one area to register in courses in another area within the same department or program on a satisfactory/unsatisfactory basis. In these instances, satisfactory/unsatisfactory cards will be used as described in the preceding paragraph.

G. COMPUTED GRADE-POINT AVERAGE

This is based only upon graduate work graded A+=4.33, 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, and F=0. Although a grade of A+ has a value of 4.33 in computing a student's g.p.a., the cumulative average is truncated so as not to exceed 4.00.

Section VII. Graduate Appointments

A. SCHOLARSHIPS

Scholarships are competitive and are awarded on merit.

1. Eligibility for graduate scholarships and fellowships will include but will not be exclusive to: (a) registration in the Graduate College; (b) cumulative g.p.a. of at least 3.00; (c) a satisfactory rate of progress in completing the program for the degree.

2. Preference will be given to candidates for the doctoral degree.

3. Recommendations for graduate scholarships may be made to the Graduate College by the appropriate department executive, director, or dean. A graduate scholarship may be awarded whether or not a student holds an assistantship. The amount of scholarship for the academic year may vary, but in no case exceed the comprehensive fee assessed. Scholarships will be credited to the student's University account.

B. GRADUATE COLLEGE FELLOWSHIPS

Fellowships are awarded by the Graduate College upon recommendation by departments to students with outstanding academic records. Fellows must be registered as full-time students. The primary purpose of the awards is to permit an advanced student to complete his or her dissertation or creative project and take the degree. Other terms of the award will be established by the Graduate College dean in consultation with the Graduate Council.

C. FACULTY RESEARCH ASSISTANTSHIPS

Faculty research assistantships are awarded to qualified graduate students and serve two purposes: to provide research service to professorial members of the academic staff and to provide apprenticeship experience for graduate students who are in training in research. Not more than 20 hours of service per week are required of a half-time assistant. Other part-time service is scaled in proportion, and a limited academic schedule is permitted (see "Section II.D"). Appointments ordinarily are made for the nine-month academic year, but appointments may be made for other periods of time by special arrangement. Stipends vary with the qualifications of the appointee and the amount of service rendered.

D. GRADUATE TEACHING ASSISTANTSHIPS

These assistantships serve two purposes: assistance in the instructional program of the University and the preparation of future college teachers. In order to achieve both aims, scholastically superior graduate students who show exceptional promise as teachers are selected for graduate teaching assistantships. All appointments are made by the dean of the appropriate college on recommendation of the department.

E. ELIGIBILITY FOR SCHOLARSHIPS, FELLOWSHIPS, AND RESEARCH ASSISTANTSHIPS

Scholars, fellows, and faculty research assistants on the Graduate College budget must be registered as regular students in good standing in order to hold such appointments. Appointments will be terminated when registration and/or student status is terminated. In no instance may a student be promised or tendered an appointment until after approval for admission to the Graduate College by the director of Admissions.

F. LOANS

Graduate students requiring financial assistance may apply for loans at the Office of Student Financial Aid.

G. OTHER FORMS OF SUPPORT

Many departments offer financial assistance in the form of traineeships, part-time employment on research programs, or part-time teaching. Inquiries should be addressed directly to the major department.

Section VIII. Advanced Programs Offered in the Graduate College

The major areas in which the Graduate College offers degree programs are listed under "Degree Programs" at the beginning of this section of the Catalog.

Section IX. General Requirements for Advanced Degrees

A. APPLICATION FOR DEGREE

The student must file an application for an anticipated degree with the registrar by the deadline date printed in the Graduate College academic calendar for the session in which the degree will be conferred. The student must have the application signed by his or her advisor. Failure to file the application by the deadline date established by the Graduate College dean will result in postponement of graduation to a subsequent session.

B. ENROLLMENT IN FINAL SESSION

The student must be enrolled during the session in which the degree is to be conferred. Students who are away from the University campus during that session may meet this requirement by registering for independent study, research, or thesis hours according to the practice in the various departments. Doctoral candidates who have completed all work except the final examination may register for Doctoral Final Registration described in "Section XII.L" if such registration is appropriate. Master's candidates who have completed all work except the final examination may register for Master's Final Registration if such registration is appropriate. Both the Doctoral Final Registration and Master's Final Registration require a 2 s.h. tuition/fee payment, and may be repeated if the degree requirements are not completed in this session. Registration in a course for which tuition/fees are not assessed (Cooperative Education Internship, for example) will not satisfy this requirement.

Section X. Master's Degrees

A. KINDS OF DEGREES

The University of Iowa offers programs leading to the Master of Arts (M.A.) degree, Master of Science (M.S.) degree, and several professional master's degrees.

M.A. and M.S. degrees require mastery of methodologies and practices of research and scholarship of the discipline. A thesis describing original scholarship or research may be required. M.A./M.S. degrees may be designed either as preparation for entry into doctoral degree programs or to provide advanced study and accomplishment that serves a variety of career and other purposes. Degrees are awarded in many fields of study, or majors, consistent with conventions of the discipline (e.g., M.A. in Art, English, Psychology; M.S. in Chemistry, Mathematics, Physiology). (For complete list, see Section VIII.) M.A. and M.S. degrees require a minimum of 30 s.h., a final examination and, in some fields, a thesis.

Professional master's degrees provide knowledge, perspectives, and skills required for professional practice. Some programs may include introduction to research or scholarship sufficient to allow application of current literature to practice. Professional master's degrees generally are indicated by a three- or four-letter designation; examples include the Master of Fine Arts (M.F.A.), Master of Social Work (M.S.W.), Master of Public Health (M.P.H.), Master of Science in Nursing (M.S.N.), Master of Accountancy (M.Ac.). (For complete list, see Section VIII.) Professional master's degrees require a minimum of 30 s.h. Some may require a final examination as well as a thesis, papers, projects, colloquia, internships, or other experiential-based activity typical of preparation for practice in the field.

A student may prepare a proposal for an interdisciplinary course of study, including the plan of study defining course work, examination requirements, a research plan, and a committee of at least three faculty members, with either the department most directly concerned or the Graduate College designated as the sponsor. Final approval of such individual programs is granted by the Graduate College dean, who may add members to the student's supervising committee from other closely related departmental faculties or from the Graduate Council. The degree will be awarded in interdisciplinary studies (master's) stipulated in the approved graduate program and, parenthetically, the name of the sponsoring department.

B. PLAN OF STUDY

The applicant for a master's degree must file a plan of study approved by the advisor and the departmental executive with the Graduate College within the session in which the degree is to be granted and by the deadline date printed in the Graduate College academic calendar. If the session in which a student takes his or her final exam is earlier than the session in which the degree is to be granted, the Plan of Study must be filed prior to the administration of the student's final examination. The plan shall meet the requirements for the degree approved by the graduate faculty. (See also "Section IV.D. Departmental Regulations and Dissemination of Information.")

C. MAJOR AND RELATED FIELDS

The plan of study should provide for reasonable concentration in the major field of interest and, subject to the approval of the major department, may include related subjects from other departments.

D. ACADEMIC RESIDENCE REQUIREMENT

Of the minimum of 30 s.h. required for the degree, at least 24 s.h. must be completed under the auspices of The University of Iowa after admission to a graduate department/program. Various forms of extramural registration may qualify toward fulfillment of the aforementioned 24-hour residence requirement (see "Section II.G. Extramural Registration") in addition to regular on-campus registration. Students who have elected or who are required to write a thesis for conferral of their master's degrees, must complete at least 8 semester hours of the 24-hour, academic residence requirement on campus. At the discretion of the department, the 8-semester hour, on-campus requirement may be waived for nonthesis master's programs. Election of the waiver option is to be applied programmatically, and not on a student-by-student basis, and must be formally conveyed to the Graduate College.

E. REDUCTION OF OLD CREDITS

Courses taken ten or more years prior to the session in which the master's degree is to be conferred must be evaluated by the major department in order to determine the possible use of these credit hours within a student's plan of study. The department, in turn, must send a letter of petition to the Graduate College, requesting the use of any or all of these credits toward the fulfillment of degree requirements.

F. LIMIT ON PROFESSIONAL COURSES

Work taken by a student in the Colleges of Dentistry, Law, or Medicine while enrolled for a professional degree may be credited to a graduate program leading to a master's degree if it is taken after the student has earned a bachelor's degree or has completed work equivalent to that required for a bachelor's degree at The University of Iowa. The work accepted from the professional college must be directly related to the student's major field of study in the Graduate College and be approved as a part of the plan of study by the student's advisor and the major department. Work completed while registered for a professional degree in law, medicine, or dentistry will be counted as part of the residence requirement for nondoctoral degrees in the Graduate College only when the student is registered in an appropriate joint degree program.

G. TWO MASTER'S DEGREES

The granting by this university of two master's degrees simultaneously or in succession requires the satisfaction of all requirements for each degree separately, including two theses where a thesis is required for each, and two examinations, with a minimum combined total of 60 s.h. of graduate credit.

H. MASTER'S DEGREE WITH THESIS

Not more than 9 s.h. of credit for thesis research and writing shall be counted in satisfying the 30 s.h. minimum requirement. The thesis may be a scholarly study or an artistic production.

Beginning with the Fall 2009 Semester all master's theses, excluding MFA theses, must be submitted to the Graduate College in electronic format.  MFA students will have the option of submitting hard-copy or electronic theses.

The first deposit of a thesis (an ETD or one hard copy of the MFA thesis), complete and in final typed form, must be presented to the Graduate College for a check of formal characteristics by the first-deposit deadline date in the session in which the degree is to be conferred.  After approval by the Graduate College and by the thesis committee, the final deposit of the thesis (an ETD or two, identical hard copies of the MFA thesis) must be deposited with the Graduate College by the final deposit deadline date in the student's graduation session.  Failure to submit the first and final deposits of the thesis by the deadline dates established by the Graduate College will result in the postponement of graduation to a future session. [For detailed submission and formatting requirements, see Theses & Dissertations under Policies & Deadlines on the Graduate College web site.]

Nonrefundable fees are charged each thesis candidate to cover processing and publication costs of the thesis.

The thesis committee shall consist of at least three members of the graduate faculty and may or may not be identical to the final examination committee. (The final examination committee for the master's degree shall consist of at least three members of the graduate faculty, at least two of whom are from the major department. See "X.K. Examining Committee.")

I. MASTER'S DEGREE WITHOUT THESIS

A master's degree without thesis, consisting of at least 30 s.h. of graduate work, may be awarded upon the completion of a curriculum prescribed by a department and approved by the Graduate Council.

J. FINAL EXAMINATION

The requirements for master's degrees may include a final examination which, at the discretion of the major department, may be written or oral or both. Such an examination will not duplicate course examinations. It will be evaluated by the examining committee as satisfactory or unsatisfactory, with two unsatisfactory votes making the committee report unsatisfactory. The report of the final examination is due in the Graduate College not later than 48 hours after the examination, and by the deadline date established by the Graduate College.

If the department so recommends, a candidate who fails the examination may present himself or herself for reexamination, but not sooner than the next regularly scheduled examination period in the following session.

The examination may be repeated only once.

A student must graduate within one calendar year after passing the final examination for a master's degree; failure to meet this deadline will require reexamination of the student.

Upon recommendation of a department, the comprehensive examination for a doctoral degree may be substituted for the master's examination.

Some master's programs do not require a final exam. Students are responsible for checking the specific requirements of their individual degree programs.

K. EXAMINING COMMITTEE

The examining committee for the master's degree consists of at least three members of the Graduate Faculty appointed by the dean upon recommendation of the major department or program.  These committees are composed as follows:

At least two of the faculty members must be members of the UI tenure-track faculty.

At least two of the faculty members are from the major department (defined as faculty who hold a primary appointment, based upon salary, in the major department) or program, and are members of the tenure-track faculty.  (For interdisciplinary programs which do not have salary lines, the foregoing requirement will be interpreted to mean that at least two members of the committee must be formally appointed to the program.)

A member of the Graduate Faculty who does not hold a primary appointment (based upon salary) in the major department is required in those cases where a related field outside the major department is included in the final examination.

Departments and programs may request the dean's permission to replace one of the three members of the Graduate Faculty by a recognized scholar of professorial rank from another academic institution.  Also, a voting member may be added at the discretion of the Graduate College Dean.

Section XI. Graduate Certificate Programs

Graduate certificate programs reflect specialization, either within a field or in an area of study, research, or training. Some graduate certificate programs may be open only to students seeking degrees in related fields; others may be offered as independent programs. Graduate certificate programs are designed to enhance skills, to provide professional development and career advancement opportunities, to broaden career options, and for other purposes, both for traditional, full-time students and for those with full-time employment.

Graduate certificate programs usually require a minimum of 15 s.h. of specified course work and may, in addition, require papers, projects, or experiential learning components designed for specific cohorts. Certificate programs generally require two to three semesters to complete.

Examples include the graduate certificates in aging studies, American Indian and native studies, informatics, and advanced nurse practitioner. Requirements for each graduate certificate are included in The University of Iowa General Catalog.

Section XII. Doctor's Degrees

A. CHARACTER OF DEGREE

The Graduate College offers doctoral programs leading to the Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.), the highest degree awarded by the university; the Doctor of Musical Arts (D.M.A.); the professional Doctor of Physical Therapy (D.P.T.); the professional Doctor of Audiology (Au.D.); and the professional Doctor of Nursing Practice (D.N.P.). The Doctor of Philosophy degree indicates marked excellence in original research or other creative work, and superior comprehension in the discipline. The Doctor of Musical Arts degree indicates marked excellence in performance and pedagogy. The Doctor of Physical Therapy degree indicates marked excellence in physical therapy differential diagnosis and clinical integration. The Doctor of Audiology degree indicates marked excellence in theoretical and advanced clinical skills. The Doctor of Nursing Practice degree indicates marked excellence in clinical practice and the application of clinical theory in the classroom and administrative venues.

B. PREREQUISITES

The candidate must present evidence of having completed a satisfactory amount of undergraduate work in the subject proposed for investigation or, in the case of deficiency, must register for prerequisite courses.

C. RESIDENCE REQUIREMENT

The Ph.D. is granted primarily on the basis of achievement rather than on the accumulation of semester hours of credit; however, the candidate is expected to have completed at least three years of residence in a graduate college. At least part of this residence must be spent in full-time involvement in one's discipline, at this university, beyond the first 24 s.h. of graduate work; this requirement can be met either by: (1) enrollment as a full-time student (9 s.h. minimum) in each of two semesters; or (2) enrollment for a minimum of 6 s.h. in each of three semesters during which the student holds at least a one-quarter-time assistantship certified by the department as contributing to the student's doctoral program. (For purposes of record and assessment of fees, student registration should reflect accurately the amount and kind of work undertaken in the Graduate College. All doctoral programs, including acceptable transfer credit, will contain a minimum of 72 s.h. of graduate work.)

D. INTERDISCIPLINARY STUDIES PROGRAMS

A student may prepare a proposal for an interdisciplinary course of study, including the plan of study defining course work, examination requirements, research plan, and a committee of at least five faculty members with either the department most directly concerned or the Graduate College, designated as the sponsor. Final approval of such individual programs is granted by the Graduate College dean, who may add members to the student's supervising committee from other closely related departmental faculties or from the Graduate Council. The degree will be awarded in interdisciplinary studies (doctorate) stipulated in the approved graduate program and, parenthetically, the name of the sponsoring department.

E. REDUCTION OF OLD CREDITS

Courses taken 10 or more years prior to the doctoral comprehensive examination must be evaluated by the major department in order to determine the possible use of these credit hours within a student's plan of study. The department, in turn, must send a letter of petition to the Graduate College, requesting the use of any or all of these credits toward the fulfillment of degree requirements.

F. LIMIT ON PROFESSIONAL COURSES

Work taken by a student in the Colleges of Dentistry, Law, or Medicine while enrolled for a professional degree may be credited to a graduate program leading to a doctoral degree if it is taken after the student has earned a bachelor's degree or has completed work equivalent to that required for a bachelor's degree at The University of Iowa. The work accepted from the professional colleges must be directly related to the student's major field of study in the Graduate College, and the plan of study must be approved by the student's advisor and the major department. Work completed while registered for a professional degree in law, medicine, or dentistry will be counted as part of the one academic year which must be spent in residence as a doctoral student only when the student is registered in a formally established joint degree program.

G. JOINT PROGRAM FOR MASTER'S AND DOCTORAL DEGREES

Those students who expect to continue their training through the doctoral degree may pursue a joint program for the master's and doctor's degrees. The master's examination may be combined with the comprehensive examination for the doctorate for these candidates. The examining committee will file separate reports of its actions on the final examination for the master's degree and for the comprehensive examination. Upon recommendation of the department and approval of the Graduate College dean, students who are well qualified by previous training may submit a plan of study that leads directly to the doctoral degree without earning the master's degree as an intervening part.

H. REQUIREMENT IN FOREIGN LANGUAGES

There is no general Graduate College requirement in foreign languages. Those departments that do require competence in one or more foreign languages establish standards as to the extent and level of competence, as well as methods of testing. Specific requirements will be found in the departmental statements of standards and procedures (see "Section IV.D.").

Specifications of departmental requirements in foreign languages are filed in the Graduate College office and may be changed upon the initiative of the departments.

I. REQUIREMENTS FOR THE DOCTOR OF PHYSICAL THERAPY (D.P.T.), THE DOCTOR OF AUDIOLOGY (AU.D.), AND THE DOCTOR OF NURSING PRACTICE (D.N.P.)

Students enrolled in professional D.P.T., D.N.P., and Au.D. programs do not take comprehensive and final examinations and do not deposit a thesis with the Graduate College. The departments will be required to submit a doctoral plan of study to the Graduate College during the session of degree conferral. The plan will provide a listing of all graduate courses taken that apply toward the degree and a listing of courses in progress. The plan is to be filed no later than the deadline date printed in the Graduate College academic calendar.

J. PLAN OF STUDY

The development of a plan of study at the doctoral level is the responsibility of the student working together with his or her advisor. A formal plan of study must accompany the departmental request to the Graduate College for permission to conduct the comprehensive examination. The plan will provide a listing of all graduate courses taken that apply toward the degree and a listing of courses in progress or to be completed after the comprehensive examination.

K. COMPREHENSIVE EXAMINATION

The candidate must satisfactorily complete a comprehensive examination, consisting of written or oral parts or both at the discretion of the major department. Admission to the comprehensive examination is granted upon the recommendation of the major department, the filing of the plan of study, and the approval of the dean of the Graduate College. A student must be registered in the Graduate College at the time of the comprehensive examination, which must be satisfactorily completed not later than the session prior to the session of graduation. This examination, administered only on campus, is intended to be an inclusive evaluation of the candidate's mastery of the major and related fields of study, including the tools of research in which competence has been certified.

The comprehensive examination is not a deferred qualifying examination. It is intended to evaluate the candidate's mastery of the subject at or near the end of his or her formal preparation and prior to the completion of the dissertation. The comprehensive examination and the final examination, which is concerned chiefly with defense of the thesis and related subjects, are the two principal examinations for the Ph.D. and D.M.A. doctoral degrees.

The comprehensive examination will be evaluated by a convened meeting of the committee. Each committee member will sign the examination report as satisfactory, reservations, or unsatisfactory. The completed exam warrant will be submitted to the Graduate College office within 14 days after the completion of the examination. Two "unsatisfactory" votes will make the committee report unsatisfactory.

A vote of "reservations" should only be used when a faculty member feels that the deficiencies displayed by the student were modest, and can be readily rectified. In the event of a report with two or more votes of "reservations," the actions required of the student, by the committee, that are necessary to correct the deficiencies must be recorded and submitted to the Graduate College with the examination report form. Copies of the written statement of necessary actions should be kept by: the appropriate departmental executive, the chair of the examination committee, and the student. The statement must specify the time allowed for completion of the aforementioned actions. The language describing the actions must be specific. For instance, if additional course work is required, a list of suitable courses must be presented. If the candidate needs to rewrite his or her research prospectus, the deficient areas must be identified, etc. If the candidate satisfies the required actions in the specified period of time, the appropriate departmental executive will send a written report to the Graduate College indicating the date for which the examining committee considers the actions to have been satisfied. Upon approval of the dean of the Graduate College, the comprehensive exam will be recorded as "satisfactory" as of that date. If the actions are not satisfied on time, or if the actions are not of sufficient quality, the appropriate departmental executive will send a written report to the Graduate College indicating that fact. Upon approval of the dean of the Graduate College, the comprehensive exam will be recorded as "unsatisfactory" as of that date. The candidate will not be admitted to the final oral examination of the dissertation until a grade of "satisfactory" has been recorded for the comprehensive exam.

In case of a report of unsatisfactory on a comprehensive examination, the committee may grant the candidate permission to present himself or herself for reexamination not sooner than four months after the first examination. The examination may be repeated only once, at the option of the department.

L. CONTINUOUS REGISTRATION AFTER COMPLETION OF THE COMPREHENSIVE EXAMINATION

The student is required to register each fall and spring semester after satisfactorily completing the comprehensive examination until the degree is awarded. If a student fails to register, the student may not be readmitted to candidacy until the student has submitted an application that has been approved by the student's advisor, the departmental executive, and the Graduate College dean.

In order to maintain continuous registration, doctoral students may register (1) for required and/or elective courses, research, and thesis hours to complete the plan of study, or (2) for Doctoral Continuous Registration (DCR). DCR requires a 2 s.h. tuition/fee payment. If a temporary lapse in a student's academic program is required due to military service, medical leave, maternity leave, or personal/family leave, a student may petition the Graduate College to be allowed to register for Ph.D. Postcomprehensive Registration (PCR), which allows for the assessment of a special minimum fee. If a petition is granted, it is to be understood that a student will not make significant use of university resources, or engage in significant consultation with the faculty. In the final semester, doctoral students may register for Doctoral Final Registration (DFR), which requires a 2 s.h. tuition/fee payment, or appropriate course work. The DFR may be repeated if the degree requirements are not completed in this session.

Under no circumstances may courses for which tuition/fees are not assessed (Cooperative Education Internship, for example), be used to satisfy the continuous registration or final registration requirement of the Graduate College.

No registration for the summer or winter sessions is required. The exceptions are when the student is taking a degree at the end of the summer session, or when enrollment is required by the student's department.

M. DISSERTATION FOR THE DOCTORAL DEGREE

Beginning with the Fall 2009 Semester all doctoral theses must be submitted to the Graduate College in electronic format.

The student's dissertation, complete and in final form, must be presented in ETD (electronic thesis/dissertation) format at the office of the Graduate College by the first-deposit deadline date in the session in which the degree is to be conferred. The final deposit of the approved ETD must be deposited at the office by the appropriate deadline date in the student's graduation semester.  The final deposit can be no later than the end of the semester (summers excluded) following the session in which the final examination is passed; failure to meet this deadline will require reexamination of the student.  Failure to submit the first and final deposits of the dissertation by the deadline dates established by the Graduate College will result in the postponement of graduation to a future session.  [For detailed submission and formatting requirements, see Theses & Dissertations under Policies & Deadlines on the Graduate College web site.]

Regulations regarding preparation of the dissertation shall be promulgated by the dean of the Graduate College. An external abstract of the dissertation, not to exceed 350 words of text, is to be deposited with the dissertation. The abstract must be approved and signed by the dissertation advisor. Approved ETDs will be forwarded to ProQuest for microfilming and digital archiving; the doctoral abstracts will be published in Dissertation Abstracts International. The PDF format of all electronic submissions will be forwarded by ProQuest to The University of Iowa Libraries, where they will be catalogued and made available for public use.

Dissertations shall be made available to all members of the examining committee not later than two weeks before the date of the examination.

N. DISSERTATION FEES

Nonrefundable fees are charged each doctoral candidate to cover processing and publication costs of the dissertation and abstract.

O. FINAL EXAMINATION

The work for the degree culminates in a final oral examination administered on campus. This examination should include: a critical inquiry into the purposes, methods, and results of the investigation--not a mere recapitulation of the procedures followed--and intensive questioning on areas of knowledge constituting the immediate context of the investigation.

The final examination may not be held until the next session after the student satisfactorily completes the comprehensive examination; however, a student must pass the final examination no later than five years after satisfactorily completing the comprehensive examination. Failure to meet this deadline will result in a reexamination of the student to determine his or her qualifications for taking the final examination. The procedures to be followed are the same as those for the comprehensive examination. (See "XII.K. Comprehensive Examination.")

Final examinations for the doctorate are open to the public. Members of the faculty of the Graduate College are especially invited to attend and, subject to the approval of the chair, to participate in the examination.

The report of the final examination is due in the Graduate College office not later than 48 hours after the examination. The final examination will be evaluated as satisfactory or unsatisfactory. Two unsatisfactory votes will make the committee report unsatisfactory. In case of a report of unsatisfactory in the final examination, the candidate may not present himself or herself for reexamination until the next session. The examination may be repeated only once, at the option of the major department.

P. EXAMINING COMMITTEES

The comprehensive and final examinations are conducted by committees of no fewer than five members of the Graduate Faculty appointed by the dean upon recommendation of the major department or program.  These committees are composed as follows:

At least four of the faculty members must be members of the UI tenure-track faculty.

At least two of the faculty members are from the major department (defined as faculty who hold a primary appointment, based upon salary, in the major department) or program, and are members of the tenure-track faculty.  (For interdisciplinary programs which do not have salary lines, the foregoing requirement will be interpreted to mean that at least two members of the committee must be formally appointed to the program.)

A member of the Graduate Faculty who does not hold a primary appointment (based upon salary) in the major department is required in those cases where a related field outside the major department is included in the comprehensive examination.

For the final examination one member of the committee must be a member of the Graduate Faculty who does not hold a primary appointment (based upon salary) in the major department.  This "outside" member must be a UI tenure-track faculty member. (For interdisciplinary programs which do not have salary lines, the foregoing requirement will be interpreted to mean that one member of the committee must be a tenure-track faculty member who is not appointed to the program; and all five members of the committee may not be from the same department.)

Departments and programs may request the dean's permission to replace one of the five members of the Graduate Faculty by a recognized scholar of professorial rank from another academic institution.  Also, a voting member may be added at the discretion of the Graduate College Dean.

Section XIII. Exceptions

Petitions to waive these regulations may be made for appropriate and justifiable reasons on behalf of any graduate student through the departmental executive to the dean and the Graduate Council.