Graduate Program FAQs

Time limits for the completion of degree requirements begin with the date of matriculation into the program and are specifically expressed in the student’s letter of admission from the Graduate College.

Master’s degree program = 10 consecutive semesters (5 years). If a student completes these requirements and opts to continue in the program (with permission) toward a Ph.D, you are granted an additional ten consecutive semesters.

Ph.D program (with a MS program already completed) = 10 consecutive semesters to complete the requirements.

Ph.D program (without a MS) = fourteen consecutive semesters (7 years) to complete the requirements.

If extenuating circumstances exist that are beyond a student’s control, a request for an extension of time limit would have to be made by the student, in writing, to the departmental graduate committee. The request would be have to be approved by the departmental graduate committee and the student’s advisor. The department will forward this request to the Graduate College, who will in turn determine the student’s eligibility for a time extension and will notify the student in writing of its decision to grant an extension of time.

A student must be classified as full-time to be eligible to hold a teaching, research, or graduate assistantship and must register for a minimum of 6 hours of graduate level courses each fall and spring semester to meet full-time status. Students receiving a Tuition Assistantship must register for a minimum of 9 credit hours of graduate level courses each fall and spring semester.

Students holding a fellowship or those who are attending without any form of funding must register for at least 9 credit hours of graduate-level courses each fall and spring semester to meet full-time status.

In both cases, these graduate level courses must be taken for credit and must be maintained throughout the semester.

Students who have completed all required course credits needed for their degree (including six credits of Master’s thesis or nine credits of Doctoral dissertation credits) except for the submission of the thesis or dissertation can register for either Master’s Sustaining or Doctoral Sustaining. Students in sustaining status are considered full-time.

Generally, a maximum load is 12 graduate credit hours per semester; however, additional credit hours may be taken with the approval of the student’s adviser and the Associate Dean of the Graduate Program, Dr. Mary Martin. You will not be able to register for credit hours over the maximum as permission must be obtained from the Graduate College to carry an overload in any session. This permission must be granted prior to attempting to register for the additional credits and well in advance of the end of the free drop add period for the semester.

Graduate students are required to maintain continuous registration each fall and spring semester to be eligible to continue in a degree program. Failure to comply with the requirement either in courses, in sustaining credit or with approved leave of absence will be taken as evidence that the student has terminated his/her graduate program and the matriculated status to the graduate program will be terminated and recorded on the student’s transcript.

Yes. This information is outlined within the departmental graduate program policy statement.
All full time students who have not been granted sustaining status must register for a seminar in their area of concentration as well a technical course every semester. Seminars are listed in the course inventory as ELEG 661, 662, 663 & 664.

No. Examples of technical courses include related departmental ELEG / CPEG credit courses, foundation courses, associated Math / Physics & Science credit coursework at a graduate program level (600 or above) that are taken for credit (no auditing).

Special problem coursework (ELEG666 or 866) can be considered only twice towards a student’s degree. This type of coursework credit requires discussion with and approval from the student’s research advisor. The Independent Study and DLE Agreement web form would need to be submitted to illustrate the specific details of the coursework on the transcript.

Sustaining status is only appropriate at the end of the course of study. Sustaining status indicates that a student in the graduate program has completed all courses and required credits.

Typically, a student may go on sustaining status while wrapping up research, dissertation writing, etc.

When a student is in sustaining status they do not have to meet the departmental Graduate Policy requirement for being enrolled in at least one technical course and a seminar within the students’ concentration area.

The initial registration to sustaining is granted only after Dr. Mary Martin reviews the policy statement and the student’s transcript to ensure that they have met all of the credit courses, thesis credits, dissertation credits and examination requirements pertinent to their specific degree. The Graduate College may automatically roll over the student’s sustaining registration from term to term, but the student is responsible for checking their registration each fall and spring to make sure they are properly registered.

Sustaining registration is required for the summer and winter session only if the degree is awarded at the conclusion of the summer or winter session. The appropriate Application for Advanced Degree form would need to be submitted to the Graduate College by the designated deadline date issued by the Graduate College for those sessions.

The student must complete and submit the required Change of Classification Form for Graduate Students.

The form requires approval from your advisor, the Department Graduate Director and the Associate Dean of the Graduate College, Dr. Mary Martin.