Idaho State University
Students seeking Master's Degrees, Educational Specialist Certificates, Family Centered Practice Certificates, or undertaking the Fifth Year Program in Teacher Education must submit a initial Program of Study form to the Office of Graduate Studies and Research during the first year of enrollment. Students enrolled in graduate programs which can be completed in less than two years are expected to submit the initial Program of Study by the end of the first semester of enrollment. A final program of study must be submitted during the semester immediately preceding the semester in which they intend to graduate. The final Program of Study form will list all requirements that must be completed in order to receive the degree or certificate.
If the requirements for the degree or certificate being sought change during a student's program, the student is entitled to follow those requirements in effect at the time of admission, or the student may elect to follow the new requirements.
Admission to candidacy for doctoral degrees occurs only after the student has passed a preliminary examination which is usually administered early in the program, or when substantially all coursework has been completed.
Students seeking doctoral degrees must submit a final Program of Study form to the Office of Graduate Studies and Research upon completion of examinations, but no later than the semester immediately preceding the semester in which they intend to graduate. The final Program of Study form will list all requirements that must be completed in order to receive the doctoral degree.
The Graduate Council affirms the policy regarding the participation of graduate students in classified or proprietary research as it is stated in the Idaho State University Patent Policy. "Idaho State University shall make only agreements with third parties which will not inhibit a student's timely completion of a course of study or degree." This shall be interpreted to mean that students must not be delayed in their program of study up to and including the award of the degree and that placement of the finished thesis or dissertation in the library for public access may not be delayed longer than six months.
Graduate student I.D. cards serve as permission to use the Library. Graduate students attempting to finish degree requirements, but who are not enrolled in courses and therefore do not hold a current student I.D., may obtain authorization to use the Library from the Office of Graduate Studies and Research.
Within the first two weeks of the semester or summer session in which the student expects to complete work for the degree, an application for graduation must be filed in the Office of Graduate Studies and Research. An application and diploma fee of $20 must be paid at this time in the Office of Registration and Records. If the student does not complete requirements during this semester or summer session, an updated application must be submitted for the subsequent semester and the $20 fee paid again in the Office of Graduate Studies and Research.
Degree applicants must submit all official transcripts before applying for a degree. Official transcripts to be used for transfer of credits into a degree program must be received before the application for a degree will be approved.
Applications for degrees will not be approved without the prior approval of a final Program of Study form.
All graduate students are to complete a final examination. Final examinations are scheduled by departments and reported to the Office of Graduate Studies and Research.
All examinations must be completed at least two weeks before the end of a semester or summer session in which the student plans to graduate. All graduate requirements must be completed prior to or at the end of the semester or summer session during which final examinations are held. Students writing theses or dissertations are given final oral examinations. Others are usually given both written and oral examinations. Doctoral students are required to take written examinations at various times prior to the final examination (see doctoral program descriptions). Oral examinations are open to all regular members of the faculty as observers. Oral examinations are not open to non-faculty without permission of the Dean of Graduate Studies and Research.
If the candidate's program requires a thesis, copies in substantially final form shall be in the hands of the examining committee at least two weeks before the date scheduled for the oral examination. Oral examinations are to be held at least two weeks prior to the date of graduation. If any member questions whether or not the substance or form of the thesis or dissertation is adequate, the committee as a whole decides if the thesis is sufficiently prepared for an oral examination. The major advisor is responsible for reporting a grade to the Registrar for all prior thesis registrations of the candidate when the thesis has been approved by the examining committee.
A Manual for Preparing Theses and Dissertations with detailed instruction for thesis/dissertation preparation and clearance is available from the Office of Graduate Studies and Research.
If the candidate's program requires no thesis, the department or college is responsible for having a written examination on the degree program prepared and administered. If the student's performance is judged to be satisfactory or if it is determined that deficiencies may be cleared up during the oral examination, the examining committee conducts the oral examination on the scheduled date. Otherwise, the student may be expected to complete subsequent requirements before the oral examination is held. Oral examinations for non-thesis students must also be completed two weeks prior to the date of graduation.
A student may petition the Dean of Graduate Studies and Research for exceptions to the rules and procedures stated in the Graduate Catalog or for consideration of problems not covered by the stated procedures. Petition forms for graduate students are available only from the Office of Graduate Studies and Research; undergraduate petitions forms will not be accepted.
A student would use the petition form to petition for:
1. withdrawal from courses after the deadline for withdrawal as stated in the University Calendar.
2. use of credits more than eight years old to count towards a master's degree.
3. transfer of credits from unclassified to classified status.
4. transfer of more than 30% of credits required for a degree from unclassified to classified status.
5. transfer of more than nine credits from another institution to a master's degree program at Idaho State University.
6. an extension of the maximum time (eight years) allowed for completion of a master's degree or educational specialist certificate.
7. an extension of the maximum time (five years) allowed for completion of a doctoral degree after comprehensive examinations have been passed.
8. correction of errors or inaccuracies on the student's official transcript.
9. any other deviation from Graduate School policy listed in this catalog.
Petition forms should not be used for:
1. appeals of a grade or of dismissal from a program. See the section on Appeals in this Catalog.
2. substitutions of courses within degree requirements or waivers of degree requirements. Exceptions to degree requirements are requested as a part of the approval process for the Program of Study form.
Students may voluntarily withdraw from a graduate course or a graduate program at any time. In such cases, the student must provide written request for the withdrawal by use of the appropriate withdrawal forms. Withdrawal from a course must occur prior to final examination week to avoid penalty. Voluntary withdrawal from a graduate program during an appeal of dismissal automatically terminates the appeals process.
Students receiving letters of dismissal will automatically be dropped from all graduate courses, regardless of whether they choose to appeal, and will receive a full refund of fees. A "W" grade will then be entered on the transcript for all graduate courses not completed. Students receiving dismissal letters after the 10th day of classes may petition the Dean of Graduate Studies and Research for permission to complete the graduate courses in which they are enrolled. Students who appeal the dismissal will be blocked from registration for further graduate courses during the appeals process itself. See also the section of this catalog entitled "Appeal of Dismissal."
A graduate student may be dismissed from a graduate program by a department/college according to the policy described in the Appeal of Dismissal section.
Idaho State University Academic Information
Revised: May 1, 1996
URL http://www.isu.edu/academic-info/prev-isu-cat/grad96/proginfo.html