INTRODUCTION TO THE HANDBOOK

The Master of Science in Allied Health Graduate Student Handbook contains the most current policies and procedures; thus, the handbook supersedes other student handbook publications regarding policies and procedures related to the Master of Science in Allied Health. This handbook does not replace published university requirements and should be used in conjunction with the Graduate Catalog and the Schedule of Classes to answer policy and procedural questions regarding your program of study.  The faculty encourages you to obtain and keep a copy of the Graduate Catalog for the year in which you were admitted, as well as this and any updated versions of the Graduate Student Handbook. 

The Steering Committee for the Allied Health Graduate Program

Steering Committee Members

Charles Faust IV, EdD

Associate Professor, Dental Hygiene

Douglas Masini, EdD

Assistant Professor, Cardiopulmonary Science

Donald Samples, EdD

Associate Professor, Chair, Allied Health Sciences

Connie Sharuga, PhD

Associate Professor, Dental Hygiene

Ester Verhovsek, EdD

Associate Professor, Graduate Coordinator

Master of Science in Allied Health

Graduate Student Handbook

East Tennessee State University

College of Public and Allied Health

Date of Publication: January 2006

TABLE OF CONTENTS

                                                      Academic CalendarFall Term 2006 11Spring Term 2006 12Summer Term 2007 13Sessions I 13Session II 14Admission 14Application for Admission 15Admission Categories 15Second Master’s Degrees 16Dual Degree Programs 17Advanced Admission for Undergraduates 17Graduate Student Advising 17Registration Procedures 17Readmission Reapplication 17Enrollment 18Grades 21Transfer of Credit 23Extension and Correspondence 23Experiential Learning Credit 23Institutional Review Board (IRB) 24 Family Educational Rights & Privacy Act 24Advisory committee 24Admission to Candidacy and Approval of Program of Study 25Program Timelines 25Time Limits 26Thesis Process 26Graduation 27Credits Earned Above Requirements for a Degree 27Required GPA 27Intent to Graduate 27Matriculation Limits 27Graduation Instructions 28Forms 28

Agreement 29

INTRODUCTION TO THE HANDBOOK

The Master of Science in Allied Health Graduate Student Handbook contains the most current policies and procedures; thus, the handbook supersedes other student handbook publications regarding policies and procedures related to the Master of Science in Allied Health. This handbook does not replace published university requirements and should be used in conjunction with the Graduate Catalog and the Schedule of Classes to answer policy and procedural questions regarding your program of study. The faculty encourages you to obtain and keep a copy of the Graduate Catalog for the year in which you were admitted, as well as this and any updated versions of the Graduate Student Handbook.

The Steering Committee for the Allied Health Graduate Program

Steering Committee MembersCharles Faust IV, EdDAssociate Professor, Dental HygieneDouglas Masini, EdDAssistant Professor, Cardiopulmonary ScienceDonald Samples, EdDAssociate Professor, Chair, Allied Health SciencesConnie Sharuga, PhDAssociate Professor, Dental HygieneEster Verhovsek, EdDAssociate Professor, Graduate Coordinator

ETSU Mission/Institutional Purpose

East Tennessee State University strives to create a community of learning that actively advances the fundamental values of higher education - the free interchange of ideas, curiosity and the desire for learning, critical thinking and self-reflection, ethical behavior, academic freedom, and appreciation of human diversity. Every academic program and support unit at ETSU contributes to the creation of this community. The university places primary emphasis on student learning through effective and innovative teaching by faculty, working in partnership with administration and staff. It seeks to promote students’ intellectual and social development by providing academic programs and co-curricular opportunities that meet high standards of quality.ETSU embraces its regional setting and proudly reflects its traditional roots and Appalachian heritage. The university is committed to expanding student access and actively recruits well qualified undergraduate and graduate students from throughout Tennessee, especially from Northeast Tennessee and adjacent states. In addition, it supports selected programs that attract students from across the nation as well as from other countries. The university makes educational opportunities available to all eligible people without regard to age, gender, color, race, religion, national origin, disability, veteran status, or sexual orientation.The university pursues community partnerships that will both enhance its institutional effectiveness and serve the region. It places special emphasis on community-based and interdisciplinary learning. ETSU is a leader in improving the intellectual, cultural, economic, political, social, and health environment of Northeast Tennessee and the Southern Appalachian region. The university demonstrates special commitment to enhancing P-16 education, workforce development, civic responsibility, uses of technology, and providing distinctive educational service and research appropriate to its mission.ETSU offers programs through ten colleges and schools related to five areas: arts and sciences, business, education, health sciences, and technology. It affirms the value of liberal education for all undergraduate students and offers programs of study leading to expertise in the arts and sciences and selected professional fields. The university places a distinctive emphasis on improving student competence in writing, oral communication, and using information technology. It strives to address the needs of gifted students seeking greater educational challenges and nontraditional students returning to the classroom. ETSU is committed to providing a rich campus life, offering a variety of residential opportunities and student activities, and supporting excellent intercollegiate and intramural athletic programs.The university is recognized for its unique focus on the health sciences. ETSU’s Division of Health Sciences, composed of the colleges of Medicine, Nursing, Pharmacy, and Public and Allied Health, seeks to support the health and wellness of the people of Southern Appalachia, with special emphasis on meeting the needs of rural populations. The university is committed to providing programs that achieve distinctive levels of regional and national recognition, to providing a variety of delivery systems (including online) to enhance access, and to becoming increasingly comprehensive in its focus on health sciences through expanding its inventory of undergraduate and graduate programming.ETSU offers graduate programs to meet the needs of its student population and extensive service region. These programs award master’s degrees in most liberal arts disciplines and technical and professional fields. The university awards doctoral degrees in education and in selected disciplines that reflect its health sciences mission.The university is committed to improving the availability and quality of programming for individuals seeking educational opportunities beyond the Johnson City campus and via the Internet. ETSU also seeks to use emerging technologies to enhance the quality of instruction it provides to all of its students.As a doctoral research-intensive university, ETSU is committed to teaching based in scholarship and to advancing programs of research and creative activity that improve the quality of life in the region, the state, the nation, and the world. The university seeks to provide an environment in which faculty, students, and staff are encouraged to inquire and to produce and disseminate the highest quality scholarly and creative work. To sustain and enhance this environment, ETSU seeks to secure financial support for research and creative programs through partnerships with broader communities, through effective management and through aggressive pursuit of extramural support and creative entrepreneurial initiatives.

East Tennessee State University strives to achieve optimal efficiency in its use of resources while always seeking to offer instructional, research, and public service programs of the highest quality. The university recognizes that employees are its most valuable resource and students its most important constituents. Putting people first is the foremost value guiding ETSU’s operations. (revised 10/27/04)

The University

East Tennessee State University is one of the principal campuses governed by the Tennessee Board of Regents. Since it opened in 1911 as a two-year normal school educating teachers, ETSU has grown into a major, diversified educational institution serving more than 11,800 students and the Tri-Cities Tennessee/Virginia, the nation’s first "All-America City" region.Attracting students from all 50 of the United States and numerous other countries, ETSU is comprised of ten colleges and schools: College of Arts and Sciences, College of Business and Technology, College of Education, Honors College, James H. Quillen College of Medicine, College of Nursing, College of Pharmacy, College of Public and Allied Health, School of Continuing Studies, and School of Graduate Studies. ETSU nurtures an educational environment which respects individuality and stimulates creativity. It expands educational opportunities for all who desire and need university preparation while maintaining a setting conducive to intellectual curiosity and one that produces an enjoyable campus life.The university is committed to the needs of all its students, including undergraduates, graduates, and students and residents in the College of Medicine. While serving a wide range of students – from those who have emerging potential for university-level coursework to the gifted – ETSU provides all citizens in the region opportunities to continue lifelong learning. The institution has a strong commitment to those individuals whose experiences, age, family responsibilities, and aspirations place them among a large group of collegians.ETSU has expanded to include baccalaureate degree programs in many fields and graduate programs which result in the master’s degree, educational specialist degree, and doctorate. For undergraduates, the university offers broad programming which embraces the philosophy of a liberal education for all with special programs leading to a primary level of expertise in the arts and sciences disciplines and selected professional fields. Its master’s studies provide advanced and increasingly specialized preparation in the academic, technical, and professional fields essential to both the needs of the population and regional development. Doctoral programs are available in education, psychology, public health, and in the health sciences. The more than 100 degree programs offered at ETSU are organized within the areas of arts and sciences, business, education, health sciences and services, and technology.The university offers all programs and degrees during its regular day schedule, and extensive evening programs are also provided. With a 350-acre main campus in Johnson City along with centers in Kingsport and Elizabethton and a site in Bristol, ETSU maintains a semester enrollment of more than 11,800 students and serves 5,000-10,000 persons annually through continuing education and extended service programs.A statewide leader in articulation, ETSU shares over 300 agreements with 14 state and regional colleges and universities, allowing students to transfer credit hours easily. Further, ETSU presents more courses through interactive television than any other college or university in Tennessee.Affirming a commitment to the fundamental values of higher education, ETSU presents programs of study that promote curiosity, stimulate thought, encourage self-reflection, and foster a genuine desire for learning; offer a broadened world view and encourage the free interchange of ideas; and, importantly, reflect concern for creating a responsible, ethical society. ETSU faculty and students together constantly strive to expand the frontiers of academic inquiry and, in doing so, identify the programs that best serve the region, state, nation, and world. Institutional emphases are placed on teaching and learning, while the pursuit of research and public service is necessary to fully realize the university’s objectives. Through scholarship, research, and creative publication, the ETSU faculty increasingly participate in a critical review of modern civilization’s accumulated body of knowledge and are expected to add findings from their own investigations to the record. Faculty and staff also perform professional service when they employ their understanding of disciplines and fields of expertise to aid selected endeavors by the university’s several publics.Assistance in meeting the health care needs in the region has been a vital role of ETSU throughout its history. Programs in health education, public and environmental health, nursing, and others, some dating from the institution’s earliest days, have evolved into formal colleges. The establishment of the James H. Quillen College of Medicine and its combination with the colleges of Nursing and Public and Allied Health to form a Division of Health Sciences create greater opportunities to serve the region, state, and nation through the development of a comprehensive academic health sciences center in Northeast Tennessee.Focusing its primary interest and effort on planning for the future, the university is distinctly different in its vision, as outlined in "Turning Toward 2011: A Report by the Commission on the Future of ETSU."  The faculty, staff, community leaders, alumni, and students – more than 100 of them in all – who spent two years anticipating what ETSU might be like on the way to its centennial in 2011 described a university that will continue to build alliances beyond its walls, exerting strong leadership in health care and promotion, economic development, education, environmental concerns, crime and violence issues, and government/public administration.  In doing so, ETSU seeks to balance the innovations of the 21st century with the need to preserve the human contact that must continue to characterize teaching and learning at East Tennessee State University, as it has since 1911.

The goals of the Master of Science Degree in Allied Health program at ETSU are stated as follows:

Curriculum

The program of study in the Master of Science in Allied Health consist of 18 hours of major field core, 12 hours of guided electives, and a 6 hour thesis or non-thesis capstone project. The student will work with their advisor to select courses from the guided electives that meet their professional needs and career aspirations. Students have the option of guided electives in allied health administration and education, and public health. 1. Allied Health Major Field Core:

                        ALHE 5000 Information Technology in Allied Health Sciences 1

2. Guided Electives:

The advanced practice seminar option is designed as a culminating clinical experience in administration or education to provide an alternative to the thesis option. Students will be required to present an advance practice plan and identify a clinical preceptor prior to beginning their project to their graduate committee. Advanced practice seminars include a minimum of 120 clock hours of clinical practice in the approved area. Upon completion of the experience, the student will be required to provide a written evaluation of the project. Additional, the student will be required to perform an oral defense of the findings to their committee and others as outlined in the graduate catalog.The thesis option constitutes a significant part of the work toward a master’s degree. The thesis must represent a high standard of scholarly inquiry, methodology, techniques, statistics, and literature review. Candidates for degrees are required to present findings to their graduate committee and others invited in the form of an oral defense. Students must meet additional thesis requirements as stated in the ETSU Graduate Catalog.All students in the Master of Science in Allied Health who are involved in writing a master’s thesis shall register for at least three credit hours of thesis credit each semester from the time they finish their coursework until the time all requirements for the degree are completed. A degree candidate must be enrolled for a minimum of three semester hours of graduate credit during the semester of degree completion. If the students reach the 6 credit hour limit for thesis work, they will be required to enroll in ALHE 5990 Readings and Research until thesis is completed. For more information concerning Thesis requirements, see Thesis Process page.

Qualifying Examinations

The Master of Science in Allied Health requires the successful completion of a qualifying examination near the end of the student’s program of study. The comprehensive examination will analyze the student’s ability to synthesize knowledge and skills acquired throughout the degree curriculum. Each faculty member on the student’s graduate committee will submit essay questions for the examination. Each semester qualifying examination dates will be posted for the students review. Upon completion of the qualifying examination, students will be required to schedule an oral defense within 14 days of the examination. The student’s performance in the final examination may be classified into one (1) of three (3) categories. They may (1) pass; (2) fail with no opportunity for re-examination; or (3) fail with an opportunity for further study and re-examination by the committee. The nature of such further study and a schedule for re-examining the student’s performance will be established by the committee. A second failure by any candidate will result in the student’s dismissal from the graduate program.

Culminating Experience

Prior to the student starting their culminating experience (thesis or advance practice seminar), a prospectus on the experience must be presented to the graduate committee for approval. Students should work with their graduate committee chair to schedule the prospectus presentation. Upon successful completion of the prospectus, students can began work toward their culminating experience.

Final Thesis/Culminating Experience Defense

Every candidate who has completed a thesis or advanced practice seminar is subject to final oral examination on the candidate’s work. The candidate may schedule the final defense when all other degree requirements have been satisfied. The date, time, and place of the examination will be agreed upon by the student and graduate committee. The final thesis defense will be attended by no fewer than 3 members of the student’s graduate committee and will be open to all faculty and invited quests. The date, time, and place for the final thesis defense must be announced by the candidate two weeks prior to its administration. The student works with their committee chair to establish a date, time, and accommodations for a place. Students have the option of a virtual defense since this is a distance education program. The graduate committee must receive the final copy of the thesis or advanced practice seminar paper two weeks prior to the scheduled final defense. Students that do not meet the two week deadline must reschedule their final thesis defense and my have to register for the next semester and be responsible for applicable fees.

Approval of the thesis will be by majority vote of the student’s graduate committee. Unsuccessful attempts to defend the thesis are handled by the graduate committee, however, failure to defend successfully may result in additional requirements or termination from the program. Immediately following the thesis defense, the graduate committee chair should report the results to the Dean of the School of Graduate Studies.

Student Conduct, Rights, and Responsibilities

University students are citizens of the state, local, and national governments and of the academic community, and are, therefore, expected to conduct themselves as law-abiding members of each community at all times. Admission to an institution of higher education carries with it special privileges and imposes special responsibilities apart from those rights and duties enjoyed by nonstudents. In recognition of the special relationship that exists between the actions as may be necessary to maintain campus conditions and preserve the integrity of the institution and its educational environment.Pursuant to this authorization, the Tennessee Board of Regents has developed regulations which are intended to govern student conduct on the campus. In addition, students are subject to all national, state, and local laws and ordinances. If a student’s violation of such laws or ordinances also adversely affects the institution’s pursuit of its educational objectives, the institution may enforce its own regulations regardless of any proceedings instituted by other authorities. Conversely, violation of any section of the Tennessee Board of Regents regulations or university rules may subject a student to disciplinary measures by the institution whether or not such conduct is simultaneously violative of state, local, or national laws.

A complete statement on institutional student disciplinary rules and procedures can found in the student handbook located in the ETSU telephone directory.

Student Complaint Policy and Procedure

East Tennessee State University is committed to maintaining a learning environment which promotes student academic excellence and personal development. Various departments on campus have written procedures which allow students to appeal actions taken by the department which directly affect the student. Students who wish to appeal a specific administrative decision should contact the appropriate department and request an appeal form. Students who have a concern about their academic advisement or other academic issues, including an action based upon academic policies, procedures, or deadlines, should contact the Director of University Advisement, P.O. Box 70291, Culp University Center, Phone: (423) 439-5244.Student concerns or complains pertaining to the Offices of Admissions, Financial Aid, or the Registrar should be directed to the Vice Provost, P.O. Box, Burgin Dossett Hall.Students who have a general complaint pertaining to university policies, procedures, or personnel should provide a written statement outlining the nature of the complaint to the Dean of Students, P.O. Box 70725, Culp University Center. Student complaints concerning sexual, racial, disability, and other harassment should be filed with the Director of Equal Employment Opportunity Affirmative Action, P.O. Box 70734, Burgin Dossett Hall. When the charge of harassment is by one student against another student, the complaint should be filed with the Dean of Students, P.O. Box 70725, Culp University Center.

In every instance, the appropriate individual will investigate the complaint, seek an equitable solution, and respond to the student in a timely manner.

Campus Security Report

East Tennessee State University makes available to prospective students and employees the ETSU Security Information Report. This annual report includes campus crime statistics for the three (3) most recent calendar years and various campus policies concerning law enforcement, the reporting of criminal activity, and crime prevention programs. The ETSU Security Information Report is available upon request from East Tennessee State University Department of Public safety, Box 70646, Johnson City, Tennessee 37614-1702. The report can be accessed via the Internet at http://www.etsu.edu/dps/security_report.asp.

Student’s Bill of Rights

Students along with faculty, staff, and administrators are all members of the East Tennessee State University community. Inherent with such membership is the responsibility to conduct oneself reasonably to maintain a civil community which respects the rights of all individuals.

The student has certain rights guaranteed by the Federal and State Constitutions or statutorily created legislation including:

Academic Calendar 2006 - 2007

Fall Term 2006

*Some programs have earlier application deadlines; see individual programs for those dates

Admission

Application for admission to graduate study is open to any person with a bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited institution. The transcripts of applicants with bachelor’s degrees from nonregionally accredited institutions will be reviewed individually. If additional course-work is required to meet East Tennessee State University’s minimum accreditation standards for graduation, it should be specified at the time of admission.   

All application materials become the property of the university and will not be forwarded or returned. Incomplete applications are maintained in an active file for 12 months, after which the file is purged. Files in inactive status for 12 months may be purged, after which the student will be required to resubmit all new application materials prior to the deadline dates for the term in which registration/enrollment is anticipated. All materials are available on the web at: http://www.etsu.edu/gradstud/.

Applicants seeking admission to the School of Graduate Studies should have complete applications on file by the following preferred dates: June 1 for the fall semester, November 1 for the spring semester, and March 15 for the summer session. These deadlines are for U.S. residents. International students should follow the calendar listed in the Admission of International Students section of this catalog. Individual programs may have earlier admission deadlines. For this information, students should contact the department whose program they wish to enter. Since decisions regarding financial support (fellowships, assistantships, and scholarships) for the academic year are normally made in March and April of each year, applicants seeking financial assistance and admission for the fall semester are advised to submit completed applications for review by March 1. Applications can be submitted electronically via the web at: http://www.etsu.edu/gradstud/gradad.htm.

Application for Admission to the MSAH Degree Program

Students who apply to the Master of Science Degree in Allied Health must meet all of the requirements of the master’s degree as established by the School of Graduate Studies at East Tennessee State University. They must also meet the following program requirements:

Additional School of Graduate Studies admissions requirements include:

When all pertinent materials are received, the office of graduate admissions will review the application and, if university requirements are met, forward the materials to the graduate program for evaluation. Recommendation for admission to a program is the primary responsibility of the graduate program coordinator or department admissions committee chair. Graduate program admission requirements are defined in the Graduate Catalog. The final decision to admit or reject an applicant rests with the university through the Dean of the School of Graduate Studies.

Admission Categories

Admission to the School of Graduate Studies is based mainly on academic preparation and potential, though the university retains the right to deny admission on nonacademic grounds, such as emotional maturity and personal department. Admission is denied to those applicants who do not qualify for one of the following subcategories of admission. Unconditional Admission – A graduate student accepted unconditionally is a degree-seeking student who has fulfilled all of the School of Graduate Studies requirements and the criteria of the department to which the applicant is applying. Conditional Admission – This category of admission is designed for applicants who are in the process of completing prerequisite courses or degrees or whose credentials are less competitive.  Conditional admission may not be granted when significant admission criteria, such as required standardized testing, sufficient letters of recommendation, or in the case of international students, proof of an equivalent U.S. accredited undergraduate degree are missing.Conditions will be outlined in the admission letter and must be removed by the date specified. If no date is specified, they must be removed prior to the completion of 15 graduate credit hours or one calendar year, whichever is later. The student must submit a request for unconditional status. The Dean of the School of Graduate Studies will approve or deny the request upon recommendation from the degree program coordinator or program admissions committee. A student who has not met the conditional requirement deadlines will not be allowed to continue to register as a degree-seeking student and cannot be admitted to candidacy until the conditions have been met. Ultimately, failure to meet conditions of admission will result in dismissal from the program. Visiting Student Admission – Admission as a visiting student is reserved for students who plan to earn a limited number of credits for transfer to a college or university where they are enrolled for a degree program. Visiting students may be admitted with a letter of good standing from the college where they are enrolled for a graduate degree program and with completion of a non-degree application.

Graduate Non-Degree Admission – This category of admission is for individuals who wish to enroll in graduate courses but who are not admitted to a graduate program at ETSU. These students are expected to have, at a minimum, a bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution and must submit an official transcript verifying the bachelor’s degree prior to the end of the first term of enrollment.  If official proof of degree is not submitted prior to the end of the first term of enrollment, the ETSU transcript showing credit earned in non-degree status will not be released. Departments may exclude non-degree students from designated courses, and it is a department’s prerogative to require non-degree students to have its approval prior to registering for any class. ETSU cannot assure a non-degree student that all or any work completed in this status will apply toward a degree. A student may petition to have a maximum of nine credit hours accepted for transfer credit upon subsequent admission to a degree program.

Second Master’s Degrees

A student holding an earned master’s degree from a regionally accredited U.S. institution may qualify for a second master’s degree by completing a minimum of 21 semester hours of ETSU graduate work for thesis programs, or 24 hours of ETSU graduate work for non-thesis programs, approved by the student’s advisory committee. All specific program requirements, with the possible exception of electives or duplicative courses, must be met for the second degree. Such requirements include the comprehensive exam or culminating experience, such as thesis, project, strategic experience, etc. In warranted circumstances, credit used to satisfy approved graduate certificate requirements may be applied toward the second degree.

Dual Degree Programs

In warranted circumstances, a student may seek admission to two master’s programs concurrently. Prior to admission to the second program, approval must be granted by the program coordinator in each program and by the Dean of the School of Graduate Studies. All requirements of both programs and the School of Graduate Studies, including matriculation limits, must be met, with the provision that up to nine hours of graduate coursework may be applied to both programs (thus possibly reducing by nine the total number of hours required for both degrees). Students will not be permitted to enroll simultaneously in a master’s degree  or graduate certificate program and in a doctoral degree program at ETSU.

Advanced Admission for Undergraduates

A senior, lacking no more than nine semester hours for graduation at East Tennessee State University, may register for graduate coursework. The total course load for a senior enrolled for graduate coursework may not exceed 12 credit hours. Requirements for the undergraduate degree must be completed during the semester in which the student is allowed to register for part-time graduate work. Petition forms, available in the School of Graduate Studies, must be signed by the undergraduate department chair and the Dean of the School of Graduate Studies.

Graduate Student Advising

All graduate students must meet with their academic advisors at least once a semester to discuss their program. The student is ultimately responsible for his or her program; however, counsel with an advisor has been assigned, the program coordinator or designee will be responsible for the advising.

Registration Procedures

Registration is available through GoldLink-Online. A calendar of these dates appears in the schedule of classes, published for each term. Students should contact the initial advisor designated in their letter of admission for assistance in planning and approval of their course registration. Students who have not received a letter of admission should contact the School of Graduate Studies. Please refer to the schedule of classes for information on GoldLink-Online. It is essential that registration be completed during the regular registration period. Late registration generally cannot be accommodated, but students are welcome to return for the next semester during regular registration.

 Readmission-Reapplication

If a student has not been active in a graduate program for more than a year, a readmission form must be filed and approved by the Dean of the School of Graduate Studies prior to re-enrollment.

Enrollment

Every student is required to enroll at the time and in the manner prescribed by the registrar. All charges for the ensuing semester must be paid, or otherwise provided for, before registration is completed. Continuous Enrollment – Students who wish to use support services of the university (computer, library, laboratories, studios, etc.) and/or require faculty guidance for studies, research, or preparation of a prospectus and are not enrolled for coursework or thesis must be registered for the appropriate non-degree credit course (5990 in Readings and Research each term university support or facilities are being used, including summer term. Students who have previously registered for thesis, dissertation, and/or readings and research must be continuously registered for a minimum of one graduate credit hour every subsequent semester, including summer, until completion of the degree.Readings and Research cannot count toward degree requirements.Candidates for a master’s degree with a thesis option must continue to register each semester (minimum of one credit) from the time of the initial registration for 5960-Thesis until the thesis is accepted by the School of Graduate Studies. (Individual programs may require minimum enrollments of up to 3 graduate credits.) No less than three credit hours nor more than six credit hours of thesis may be applied toward the master’s degree.

A student must be enrolled for a minimum of one graduate credit hour during the term of graduation, with one exception: a student who does not meet the deadlines for completing degree requirements, including thesis defense and orals, but does complete all requirements, including approval of the thesis by the Dean of the School of Graduate Studies, before the first day of classes for the following semester, will not be required to register for the term in which the degree is awarded. Scheduling of Graduate Courses – A schedule of classes is published each term by the registrar. Graduate students should plan schedules with major advisors prior to registration. Note that graduate courses offered by the College of Medicine adhere to a calendar which may differ from that of the rest of the university. Combined Graduate and Undergraduate Enrollment (5xx7 and 5956 Courses) – In some curricula, master’s level students may enroll in 5xx7 and 5956 courses which are co-listed with 4xx7 and 4956 undergraduate courses. A student who has taken the 4xx7 or 4956 course for undergraduate credit cannot repeat the course for graduate credit. Graduate students enrolled in 5xx7 and 5956 courses shall be required to do specified work over and above that required of undergraduate students enrolled in companion 4xx7 and 4956 courses. Limitation on 5xx7 and 5956 Courses – No more than 30 percent of all courses taken in any program may come from the 5xx7 / 5956 series. Some doctoral programs disallow 5xx7 and 5956 courses.  Independent Studies, Problems, and Workshops – Students who wish to pursue individual studies, problems, or workshops of special interest may enroll for these courses provided that the topic for study has been defined and approved by the professor and the student’s advisor. Under no circumstances should registration for independent studies, problems, or workshop courses be used to attend a course with a different number or title at any level of course classification. Limitations on Independent Studies, Problems, and Workshops – No more than 30 percent of the semester hours for a graduate degree program may be taken in independent studies, problems, or workshops or in any combination of these types of courses. Graduate Course Load – The full-time course load for graduate students is nine graduate credit hours. Graduate course loads in excess of 15 hours require approval of the departmental chair and Dean of the School of Graduate Studies. Graduate Assistant and Tuition Scholars Course Loads –  Full- and half-time graduate assistants and tuition scholars are required to take a minimum of nine semester hours of graduate credit each semester. Full-time graduate assistants and tuition scholars may not exceed 13 graduate-level credits each term; half-time graduate assistants may not exceed 15 graduate-level credits each term. Graduate assistants and tuition scholars may take more than 15 semester hours only by approval of the departmental advisor and the Dean of the School of Graduate Studies. Requests for exceptions to this policy will be decided individually through consultation with the graduate coordinator and with the approval of the Dean of the School of Graduate Studies prior to the beginning of the term. Courses for Graduate Assistants –  Graduate Assistants are required to register for the following courses during fall and spring terms, as appropriate to their assigned responsibilities in teaching, research, or administration: 5019 Supervised Experience in Teaching, 5029 Supervised Experience in Research, or  5039 Supervised Experience in Administration. Class Attendance – Class enrollment represents a contract between faculty and students. Students are expected to attend classes regularly and provide faculty members with a reason for any absence. A complete policy statement regarding class attendance appears in the student handbook, Spectrum, which is included in the ETSU Telephone Directory and is available from the Office of the Vice President for Student Affairs. Auditing Courses – Students are permitted to enroll in regular university courses as auditors. Registration fees are the same for audit as for credit. Regular attendance is required. Audit enrollment will not be considered part of the minimum credits required for full-time enrollment. Audit enrollment will be counted in determining overloads.After the published "Last Day to Add a Course" students may not change their enrollment status in a course from credit to audit or from audit or credit.Instructors may administratively drop auditors for unsatisfactory class attendance. Enrollment of Disabled Persons and Persons over 60 Years of Age – (a) Audit Enrollment. Persons suffering from a permanent disability that totally incapacitates them from employment and persons 60 years of age or older may audit courses without the payment of fees. (b) Credit Enrollment. Disabled persons described in (a) above and persons 65 years of age or older may enroll for credit by payment of a service fee required to defray the cost of record-keeping.Enrollment of such disabled persons and persons 60 years of age or over is restricted to those who are domiciled in Tennessee and may be further limited or denied on an individual classroom basis according to space availability. Acceptable documentation of disability and age is required. Enrollment in classes offered through the James H. Quillen College of Medicine is not included in the provision. Adding a Course – A course(s) may be added through the late registration/late add period without special permission, unless the course has reached the established maximum enrollment. To add any class that has reached the enrollment limit requires permission of the instructor and department chair. After the late registration/late add period, special permission must be obtained from the instructor, the department chair, the Dean of the School of Graduate Studies, and the registrar and may be granted only in extenuating circumstances. Dropping a Course – A course(s) may be dropped during the first eight calendar weeks of a regular semester. Courses dropped during the first four weeks will not appear on the student’s permanent record. Students who drop a course after the fourth full week of classes through the eighth calendar week will receive a grade of "W". (During the summer session or when courses do not conform with established term dates, this schedule is adjusted appropriately to fit the condensed time frames. Consult the Schedule of Classes for exact dates.)After the eighth week a student may not drop a course, except where verifiable extenuating circumstances can be demonstrated. A petition for a late drop may be presented by the student for consideration to the appropriate dean. Verifiable extenuating circumstances may include illness, accidental injury, or other appropriate reasons. A course may not be dropped if there is an unresolved charge of academic misconduct.If approved by the dean, the student will receive a grade of "W" (Withdrawn) or "WF" (Withdrawn-Failing), as assigned by the instructor of the course. All approved petitions for late drops must be received in the Office of the Registrar no later than 4:30 p.m. two days before the end of classes for all academic terms. Under no circumstances will a student be permitted to drop a course after that time. Change of Field of Study – Students seeking to change their field of graduate study from one program to another must formally apply to the new graduate program. The student is responsible for ensuring that all admissions materials required by the new program are on file in the School of Graduate Studies prior to any program deadlines. Students must resign from the program in which they are currently enrolled prior to accepting admission into the new program. Students seeking to change concentrations within a program may do so by completing a Change of Program of Study form, which can be obtained from the School of Graduate Studies.

Withdrawal from the University – Students withdrawing from the university-discontinuing matriculation in the university- during the first eight weeks of classes will receive a grade of "W" in all courses. Withdrawals from the university after the eighth week will be recorded with "W" or "WF" at the discretion of the instructor. (During the summer semester, or other shortened terms, this schedule is adjusted appropriately to fit the condensed time frame.) All requests for withdrawal must be received in the Office of the Registrar no later than 4:30 p.m. two days before the last day of classes of any academic term. Under no circumstances will a student be permitted to withdraw from the university after that time.

A student who does not withdraw by the official procedure will receive an "F" for each course. (Consult the Schedule of Classes for more details.)

Grades

Grades given in the School of Graduate Studies carry the following meaning and quality points:

To remain in good standing a graduate student must maintain an overall grade point average (GPA) of 3.0 "B" or better. Graduate credit will be given for grades of "A", "A^-", "B⁺", "B", "B^-", "C⁺", and "C" in graduate level courses. Graduate credit is not awarded for Pass/Fail grades. Grades of "P" of "F" do not count toward degree requirements. All graduate course grades earned at East Tennessee State University by a student will be used in computing the grade point average (GPA). An overall GPA of 3.0 is required for admission to candidacy and for graduation. "S", "SP", and "U" Grades—The letter grades of "S" (Satisfactory Completion), "SP" (Satisfactory Progress), and "U" (Unsatisfactory) are given for Readings and Research, Capstone Projects, Thesis, and Dissertation. A grade of "S" carries graduate credit and indicates satisfactory completion of the course. Each program must specify the number of hours required for Thesis/Dissertation or Readings and Research. Degree completion requires an "S" on the most recent hours associated with Thesis/Dissertation or Readings and Research. "SP" indicates progress toward project or research completion, but carries no credit This grade does not affect the student’s GPA. Students who receive an "SP" must, in subsequent semesters (including summer), enroll in additional hours of Thesis/Dissertations or Readings and Research until the requirements are completed. The "U" grade carries no credit and indicates unsatisfactory progress toward research or project completion. Students who receive a "U" must enroll for the course the following semester, including summer. The first "U" does not affect the GPA; the "U" is equivalent to an "F". Incomplete Grades – A grade of "I" (incomplete) indicates that a student was passing the course at th