Academic Services and Advising
Frequently Asked Questions
1.
Who is my academic advisor?
The director of student services assigned to each program serves as your primary academic advisor. Students in the doctoral program are also assigned to a faculty advisor. The breakdown of the programs is as follows:
Beth Eck: Ph.D. in Public Policy
Jill Emerson: Master's Programs
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2.
Where will my classes be held?
Master’s-level courses are typically held on the Arlington
campus with an occasional offering in Fairfax and doctoral-level
classes typically meet on the Fairfax campus with occasional offerings
in Arlington.
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3.
How do I add or drop a class after classes have started?
The add and drop periods are published each semester on the Academic Calendar, and schedule changes can be made using Patriot Web during the schedule adjustment period. Generally, you may add a course up to two calendar weeks into a 14-week semester and drop a course up to five calendar weeks after the first day of class (for a partial refund). After the drop deadline has passed, students are only permitted to withdraw from classes for extenuating, non-academic circumstances.
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4.
How can I add my name to the waitlist for a course?
Certain classes in SPP have a waitlist option. If you attempt to register for a course that is full, and a waitlist exists for that particular course, Patriot Web will permit you to add your name to the waitlist. The waitlist is an automatic process, each time a student drops the course, the first person on the waitlist receives an override permitting that student to register for the course. The override is in effect for three days. If you fail to register for the course during the three day time frame, the next student on the list is issued the override. Students who are waitlisted should check Patriot Web on a regular basis to determine if such an override has been issued.
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5.
How do I transfer credits earned in non-degree status into my program?
A maximum of 12 credit hours earned
while in non-degree status in the School of Public Policy can be
transferred into a Master’s program. Students must submit a Non-degree Transfer Credit form to the director of student services for their program. Requests should be filed during the first semester of enrollment as a degree-seeking student.
Doctoral students can receive a maximum of 30 credits for all previous graduate work. Please contact Beth Eck at eeck@gmu.edu or (703) 993-8225 for additional information.
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6.
How do I register for a consortium course?
Graduate students are permitted to take up to six credits through consortium classes during the course of their program. You should meet with the director of student services assigned to your program to discuss the process for obtaining approval and registration procedures. Additional consortium information can be found on the consortium web site.
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7.
When do I complete my graduation application?
You will receive instructions for completing the steps to graduation, including the graduation application, via e-mail during the semester in which you intend to graduate. The application cannot be completed prior to that point. Additional details about the graduation application process can be found on the registrar’s
web page.
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8.
What are typical course loads?
The university considers nine credits
to be a full-time load at the graduate level. International students
on F-1 or J-1 visas are required to carry nine or more credits each
semester. Students wishing to take more than the recommended credit
load, 13 hours for master’s students and 12 credit hours for
doctoral students, should first meet with their director of student
services to discuss their course load. Students taking fewer than
nine credit hours are classified as part-time students.
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9.
How do I take a semester off from the program?
Students requiring a leave of absence
from their program for a single semester must contact the appropriate
director of student services to request a leave of absence. Any
student taking two or more consecutive semesters off must obtain
permission to reenroll from the School of Public Policy. In certain
circumstances, the School may review the student’s academic
standing prior to granting reenrollment permission.
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10.
Can my G.P.A result in dismissal from the program?
Students enrolled in the School of
Public Policy must maintain good academic standing. Master’s
students are encouraged to consult their Student Services Handbook and Doctoral students are encouraged to consult the Student/Faculty Handbook for additional information. Students should pay particular attention to the following:
Master’s Students
- Students may apply a maximum of six credits of "C" work toward graduation.
- Receiving a grade of "F" in a single course will result in dismissal from the program.
- Receiving a grade of "C" in nine or more credit hours will result in dismissal from the program.
- Although a B- is an admissible grade for a course taken in degree status, a 3.0 average must be maintained and presented on the student’s application for graduation.
Doctoral Students
- A student who receives a B- or below in a core course must retake the course during the next term in which it is offered.
- Receiving a grade of "F" in a single course will result in dismissal from the program.
- Receiving a grade of B- or below in two or more 800-level courses, even if retaken, will result in dismissal from the program.
- Receiving a grade of B- or below in a single core course after the second attempt will result in dismissal from the program (since PUBP 709 is a remedial course for PUBP 801, a grade of B- or below in PUBP 709 will result in dismissal).
- Failing the comprehensive qualifying examination after the second attempt will result in dismissal from the program.
- Failing the field examination after the second attempt will result in dismissal from the program.
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