Admission Requirements for Professional Development Students (597 Courses)

The Graduate School recognizes the need for individuals in their particular occupations to improve their professional capabilities by taking particular courses which would provide that service. Many of these students, particularly public school teachers, are best served if these courses are offered for graduate credit. In some cases the courses are workshops or short courses which can be taken in a short time period. These types of courses are "advanced" with respect to the students who enroll but are not courses which a particular discipline offers to a student with the goal of earning an advanced degree. Therefore, professional development courses are offered by many departments to meet the perceived need and are treated differently in the following respects:

1. Students may enroll in professional development courses offered under the 597 number without the necessity of being admitted to Graduate School. However, they must hold a baccalaureate degree from an accredited institution at the time they enter the class or receive special permission from the Dean of Graduate Studies and Research if they are last semester seniors.
2. The credits earned will not count toward an advanced degree nor may they be petitioned to count at a later date.
3. There is no limit to the number of 597 credits which a student may earn.
4. All instructors of 597 courses must have an advanced degree.
5. Students must certify for each 597 course for which they enroll that they possess a baccalaureate degree and agree to the conditions by which they are permitted to register for the course.
6. Students who have not been admitted previously to Graduate School at Idaho State University will be classified as Unclassified, Master's, Professional Development students. They will not be permitted to register for any graduate level courses except 597 courses unless they apply for admission and are accepted into the Graduate School.
7. Students who have been admitted into Graduate School are permitted to take 597 courses but must register for these courses by signing the special registration form in addition to the regular procedures for registration.
8. Departments shall determine if and when professional development courses are to be offered with their prefix.