Regulations and Requirements

Academic Actions and Exceptions

The University reserves the right to amend its rules and regulations within the limits commonly accepted by colleges and universities. Students must keep themselves informed of amendments.

Academic Warning and Dismissal

Optional dismissal from, or continued participation with academic warning in a graduate degree, certificate, or licensure program, are recommended by the graduate committee of the  program.

Optional Dismissal

If, in 400- to 800-level courses, a student receives:

1. one grade of F, or
2. two grades of less than B, or
3. two grades of NS,
4. two grades of U

Then the individual MUST be reviewed by the Graduate Program Committee to determine his or her ability to continue in graduate school. If the Graduate Program Committee determines that dismissal is in order, this recommendation is made to the Dean of the College of Graduate Studies for review and notification of the student.

Academic Warning

If it is determined that the student may continue in the graduate program, the Graduate Program Committee will notify the Dean of the College of Graduate Studies and the student, in writing, regarding the grounds under which continuation is possible.

Mandatory Dismissal

If, in 400- to 800-level courses, a student receives:

1. two F grades, or
2. accumulates a total of nine credit hours of B- or less grades and has a cumulative grade-point average below 3.0

Then the student will be dismissed automatically from the University by the Dean of the College of Graduate Studies.

Re-Admission

An academically dismissed student who is readmitted to the same graduate program, or enters a different graduate program, will again be dismissed by the College of Graduate Studies if the individual receives in 400-800 level courses:

1. One or more grades of “F” or
2. Two or more grades of “B-” or less

Programs may impose more stringent grade performance requirements on re-admitted students. Academic performance requirements must be stated clearly in readmission letters that are forwarded to the College of Graduate Studies for consideration.

A graduate student who receives a second academic dismissal is not eligible for further graduate study at the University.

Degree-Seeking Students: Re-Admission Procedures

• An academically dismissed degree, certificate, or licensure student who has been separated from the University for twelve or more months may request permission to be re-admitted to his or her prior program. Such requests are reviewed and acted upon by the Graduate Program Committee of the unit.
• An academically dismissed student who has been separated from the University for less than twelve months may petition for early re-admission. Early re-admission petitions must provide an explanation of the factors responsible for the student’s poor academic performance and present a convincing case for why he/she are now prepared to succeed in their studies. The petition should be submitted to the unit’s Graduate Program Committee. The committee shall act on the petition and present a step-by-step academic “game plan” that will lead to the completion of the program. The plan presented must have the full support of the student’s Graduate Program. The petition, recommendations and “game plan” will be presented to the College of Graduate Studies Petitions Committee, whose decision shall be final.
• Students who seek admission to a program other than the program from which they were academically dismissed are considered new applicants. To initiate consideration of admission to a new program, a student must submit an application for admission to the new graduate program. The Graduate Admissions Office will forward a copy of the student’s admission file to the Program Director of the new program.
• All graduate students dismissed from the College of Graduate Studies may not be readmitted by submission of an Application for Admission as a Non-Degree Graduate student without approval via the petition process through the College of Graduate Studies Petition’s Committee.

Non-Degree-Seeking Students: Re-Admission Procedures

• An academically dismissed non-degree student must petition the College of Graduate Studies Petitions Committee for re- admission consideration. Petition forms may be downloaded from the College of Graduate Studies Web site at http://www.csuohio.edu/gradcollege/students/pdf/petitionform.pdf
• For an academically dismissed Non-Degree Student seeking readmission after one calendar year (12 months) has elapsed, or seeking early readmission before one year has elapsed from the time of dismissal, a recommendation from the Director of the Graduate Program in which the student wishes to take classes is required before action will be taken by the Graduate College Petitions Committee. Re-admission petitions must provide an explanation of the factors responsible for the student’s poor academic performance and present a convincing case for why the person is now prepared to succeed in his/her studies. The petition should be submitted to the unit’s Graduate Program Committee. The committee shall act on the petition and present a step-by-step academic “game plan” that will lead to the completion of the program. The plan presented must have the full support of the student’s Graduate Program. The petition, recommendations and “game plan” should be submitted to the College of Graduate Studies Petitions Committee, whose decision is final.

Academic Reassessment Policy

A degree-seeking graduate student enrolled in the College of Graduate Studies may petition for academic reassessment for prior graduate course work taken at Cleveland State University. For individuals who wish to return to the same graduate degree program, there must be a three-year absence from the University before a reassessment petition can be submitted. The absence from the University can be voluntary on the part of the student or as the result of an academic dismissal. For students who wish to enter a different graduate degree program, and for former non-degree, certificate, and licensure graduate students who wish to enter a graduate degree program, there must be a one-year absence from the University before a petition for academic reassessment can be submitted. Academic reassessment is not available to students who are currently enrolled on a graduate certificate, licensure, or non-degree basis.

If academic reassessment is granted, all previous courses taken and grades received at Cleveland State University as a graduate student, and all transfer and transient credit granted while a graduate student at the University, will not be counted toward:

1. the number of credit hours taken and earned,
2. the cumulative grade-point average, and
3. the provisions for academic dismissal.

All previous academic work remains on the student’s graduate transcript, followed by an “Academic Reassessment” notation. Academic reassessment petitions must have departmental/program-level support in order to be considered by the College of Graduate Studies Petitions Committee. Academic reassessment petitions that do not have departmental/program support are considered by the University Graduate Council. An academic reassessment petition may be granted only once during a student’s graduate career at the University.

Exceptions and Petitions

Students seeking exemption from program requirements and/or regulations must petition their Graduate Program Committee, which acts on such requests and informs the student, the University Registrar, and the Dean of the College of Graduate Studies of its decision. Petitions concerning University and College of Graduate Studies requirements and regulations should be initiated through the graduate program advisor and graduate committee for recommendation. They are then forwarded to the Petitions Committee of the College of Graduate Studies for action. Once the College of Graduate Studies committee makes a decision, the student, the program advisor, and the program director are notified, and a notation is placed on the student’s academic record.

Before filing a petition with the College of Graduate Studies, the student should thoroughly review all applicable regulations, so that the presentation is complete and accurate.

Petition Guidelines

The following guidelines must be followed so that petitions can be presented in a way most likely to correctly inform the College of Graduate Studies Petitions Committee. This body conducts the final review of graduate petitions.

When referring to a course, include the course number, title, semester taken, and the instructor’s name. Any petition requesting an exemption from a course requirement, a late withdrawal, or an extension of an incomplete grade must include an instructor’s dated statement. The instructor’s statement MUST include:

1. information on the student’s attendance and performance in the course;
2. whether or not the student’s request is supported by the instructor; and
3. the instructor’s rationale for supporting, or not supporting, the petition.

All requests for action on the grounds of medical, personal, legal, or work-related difficulties, either previous or ongoing, MUST include written documentation of the situation and a dated and signed statement on official letterhead from the appropriate person (attorney, doctor, dentist, employer, etc.). The documentation provided MUST address directly how the difficulties noted had an adverse effect on the student’s academic performance. Without this information/documentation, petitions will be returned to the student without Petitions Committee action.

Please note that the University Graduate Council has determined that poor academic performance on a midterm examination or in other course requirements does not constitute sufficient grounds for granting a student a late withdrawal from a course.

If questions arise in preparing a petition, contact the College of Graduate Studies at (216) 687-9370.

Late Registration

The Academic Calendar contains dates required for courses scheduled in regular and summer sessions. Please see the Academic Calendar for Last Day to Add, Last Day to Drop and Last Day to Withdraw at http://www.csuohio.edu/enrollmentservices/registrar/calendar/

For courses scheduled in alternative sessions, please view the Last Day to Add and Last Day to Drop (Withdraw) dates via CampusNet by viewing your schedule or viewing the course via Class Search. Please note that “The Last Day to Drop” in CampusNet is equivalent to the “Last Day to Withdraw” on the Academic Calendar. Alternatively scheduled courses dropped up to and through this date will result in a grade of W unless dropped within the first 10% of the course (ie. within 5 days of a 50 day course, including weekends and holidays). For the summer term, there are multiple sessions with different late registration deadlines. All deadline dates may be found on the Academic Calendar. Graduate students may register late for courses with instructor and program advisor approval, using the Graduate Student Late Registration/Add Form. Proof of Payment must accompany the registration. This form becomes invalid after the Last Day to Withdraw(Drop for ALT).

After the last day to withdraw, requests for Late Enrollment/Adds will not be accepted by Campus 411 after posted calendar deadlines. After posted deadlines, requests to late register/add will only be considered through a petition to the College of Graduate Studies. The Graduate College Petitions Committee will only consider requests where the student can show that demonstrable administrative error on the part of the University was responsible for her/his failure to register before posted deadlines. Late Registration Forms are available at the Campus411 Office and the College of Graduate Studies. The forms also may be downloaded from http://www.csuohio.edu/gradcollege/students/forms/index.html

Enrollment Regulations

The Office of the University Registrar’s web page http://www.csuohio.edu/enrollmentservices/registrar/ should be referenced for complete up-to-date information for registration information, course schedules, and procedures.

Enrollment Deadlines

Students are responsible for adhering to specific enrollment deadlines and procedures each term. This information is located on the University Registrar’s Web site. Enrollment/withdrawal deadlines vary by term.

Credit Hour Load

In order to qualify as full time graduate students, individuals must register for at least nine graduate credit hours. For the summer term, a full-time load is six credit hours per six-to-eight-week session, with a maximum of nine credit hours. All students who wish to take more than sixteen credit hours may do so only by completing an overload request approved by their program advisors and their Graduate Program Directors.

Catalog Rights

Degree candidates are responsible for meeting university graduation requirements stated in the Cleveland State University Catalog for the academic year in which they are admitted to Cleveland State University. These graduation requirements are known as catalog rights. Colleges reserve the right to alter the content of courses, add and delete courses, and change required curricula. It is the student’s responsibility to remain informed about such changes through regular interaction with their adviser in monitoring progress towards graduation. No university official can relieve students of this responsibility.

Students who interrupt their enrollment in the university for one full academic year or longer, consecutively, including summer, must meet the university graduation requirements of the catalog in effect when they return.

In all instances, students who return to Cleveland State University after enrolling at another college or university (except with transient or cross-registration permission) must follow the university graduation requirements of the catalog in effect at the time of their readmission.

Attendance Requirement

Students are expected to attend class. If a student expects to be absent for an extended period of time, notification should be given to the course instructor. Non-attendance does not constitute a withdrawal.

Course Numbers and Codes

Graduate Courses are numbered 500-899, and are coded as follows:

1. Course number
2. Course title

Courses numbered 500-599 are master’s-level courses, but are open to selected Cleveland State University graduating seniors. See the Undergraduate Students Taking Graduate Courses section in this Catalog. Courses 600-699 are master’s-level courses and are not open to undergraduate students.  Courses numbered 700-899 are doctoral-level courses. Graduate certificate, licensure, or master’s level students may not register for 800-level courses.

Grades

The grades for graduate courses are as follows:

An “I” grade may be assigned by the instructor when the following conditions are met:

1. The student has the potential to pass the course.
2. The student has not completed all requirements for reasons deemed justified by the instructor.

It is highly recommended that a contract be developed between the student and the instructor delineating when and how final course requirements will be met.

Note: There is no grade of C+, C- or D for graduate (500 to 899) courses. However, a C+ or D is a possible grade for graduate students enrolled in courses numbered 100 through 499.

Withdrawal Policy

During the academic year, a student may withdraw from a course through the end of the tenth week of the semester in a 16-week semester. Academic Calendar dates are subject to change. Please check CampusNet for the most up to date information about specific course dates. Courses scheduled outside of the traditional semester schedule are indicated in CampusNet as ALT(alternative) session courses. Add/drop/withdrawal deadlines for ALT courses are adjusted according to the length of the session. Withdrawal deadlines can be found online at http://www.csuohio.edu/enrollmentservices/registrar/calendar/.

After the final date for withdrawal, a student may officially withdraw from a course only by means of a petition approved by the College of Graduate Studies Petitions Committee (see the Exceptions and Petitions section of this Catalog).

Please note that the University Graduate Council has determined that poor academic performance on a midterm examination or in other course requirements does not constitute sufficient grounds for granting a student a late withdrawal from a course.

Withdrawal from a course without approval, as indicated above, constitutes a failure, and a grade of F will be recorded on the student’s record.

Administrative Withdrawal

The University has the authority to withdraw students from classes. Such withdrawals can occur upon the request of instructors or academic departments for various reasons, including lack of prerequisite course work or inappropriate placement results. Additionally, the University may cancel a student’s enrollment for lack of payment or payment arrangements.

Grade-Point Average

The academic standing of a graduate student is expressed as a cumulative grade-point average. This is determined at the end of each semester by dividing the total quality points (the summation of the credit hours multiplied by the point value for each class) by the total credit hours attempted in courses in which the student has received a grade of A, A-, B+, B, B-, C, or F. All grade-point averages are carried to two decimal places (unrounded). After being admitted to a graduate program and registering as a graduate student, grades for all 400- to 800-level courses taken are computed into a student’s grade-point average.

Academic Standing

To be considered in Good Academic Standing, a graduate student must maintain a graduate grade-point average of 3.0 or above.

Change of Grade

Once the Office of the University Registrar receives a letter grade, a faculty member may change the grade

1. because of an error in computation;
2. due to a recording error; or
3. because of circumstances he or she deems “extraordinary” which bears on the appropriateness of the grade awarded.

A change of grade request for a graduate course requires the approval of the Dean of the College of Graduate Studies.

Repeating a Course

Repeating a graduate course does not eliminate an earlier recorded grade on the student’s transcript. With the exception of courses designed to have variable content from semester to semester, a repeated course will not count more than once in meeting graduate degree requirements. When a student repeats a course, both grades are counted in computing the graduate cumulative grade point average.

Audit of Courses

The grade of No Credit (N/C) is given when a student audits a course. A student who audits a course pays regular tuition but does not receive a letter grade or  credit for the course. Only a student registered in the course may audit it.

An Authorization to Audit form must be presented when registering. It must include the signature of the student’s program advisor. A student may not change his or her grading status in a course from audit to a regular grade basis, or vice versa, after the first week of classes.

Academic Support Courses

The courses listed below are graded on an S/U basis. Graduate students do not receive credit toward meeting degree requirements. A grade of U does not influence a graduate student’s grade-point average, nor are U grades considered in the University’s academic warning and dismissal regulations for graduate students.

English as a Second Language

ESL 415, ESL 502 , ESL 503  and ESL 504  

Descriptions of these courses can be found at https://www.csuohio.edu/cehs/te/undergraduate-and-graduate-student-information

Credit by Examination

A graduate degree, certificate, or licensure student may request to receive credit by examination for a course with departmental approval and with the permission of the Dean of the College of Graduate Studies. The grading of such examinations is conducted by a faculty member or committee from the department in which the student takes the examination. Performance must be at the B level or better to receive credit by examination. The student must pay a $20 fee for each examination. Graduate Credit by Examination forms are available online at http://www.csuohio.edu/sites/default/files/creditbyexam.pdf or in the College of Graduate Studies Office (Parker Hannifin Hall, third floor).

Cross Registration

In July of 2011, Cleveland State University, Kent State University, Northeast Ohio Medical University, Ohio University The University of Akron, and Youngstown State University approved an agreement that allows graduate degree-seeking students to cross-register for graduate courses at the Eastern Ohio universities.

In order to cross register for a course, a student must be in good standing, with a grade-point average higher than 3.0, and be within the time limits for completion of the degree program.

Cleveland State University students must use the Approval for Acceptance of Graduate Course Work at Northeast Ohio Public Universities form that may be downloaded at http://www.csuohio.edu/sites/csuohio.edu.graduate-studies/files/crossregistration.pdf to apply to take graduate-level courses at one of the other universities in the program. The student attends the course at the host university but still registers at Cleveland State University for a Special Topics course with a title and course number corresponding to the course at the host institution [e.g., a special topics listing might be SOC 685 KSU Multivariate Time-Series Analysis (4-0-4)].

A student must receive approval at Cleveland State University for cross registration from the department chair and the student’s academic advisor, who determines whether or not the course work is appropriate to the student’s degree program. The student must demonstrate that the course at the host institution is necessary for his or her program of study and that the course is not available at Cleveland State at a reasonable stage in the student’s degree program. The student also must receive approval at the host institution from the course instructor, department chair, and the Dean of the College of Graduate Studies.

Students may not cross register for thesis, research, and dissertation credits.

Transfer Credit

Transfer credit is subject to departmental regulations and is not permitted without the approval of the Graduate Program Committee concerned. Departments may limit transfer credit to less than the maximum permitted by the College of Graduate Studies.

1. All transfer credit must be earned at an accredited graduate college or university and not have been utilized to fulfill a requirement for any other degree.
2. Transfer credit cannot exceed nine graduate hours for master’s degree students, and one-third of the total graduate hours required for certificate, licensure, and doctoral degree students. Requests for an extension of the limit on transfer credit must be approved by the department/program graduate committee. Such requests do not require review and approval by the College of Graduate Studies Petitions Committee.
3. All credits requested for transfer must carry a letter grade of A, A-, B+, or B in graduate courses. No S/F graded courses may be transferred. Petitions are not considered for an exemption from this requirement.
4. All transfer credit must be within the six-year statute of limitations on course work applicable to fulfillment of graduate degree, certificate, or licensure requirements at the time of program completion. Requests for an extension of the six-year limit on transfer credit must be approved by the departmental/program graduate committee. Transfer credits taken ten or more years previous to the anticipated point of degree completion also must be reviewed and approved by the College of Graduate Studies Petitions Committee.
5. Students seeking transfer credit must have Regular Graduate Student Status and be in good academic standing at both Cleveland State University and the school at which the credits were earned.
6. Students admitted to Cleveland State must receive prior approval to take courses elsewhere as Transient Students for transfer into their programs.
7. Credit awarded in transfer is not recorded on a transcript until the student has completed twelve hours of graduate (500- to 800-level) course work at Cleveland State University and has achieved a graduate grade point average of 3.0 or better.

Graduate Credit Transfer forms may be downloaded at http://www.csuohio.edu/graduate-studies/current-students/graduate-students-downloadable-forms. They are also available in the College of Graduate Studies and program offices.

Application of Credits Toward Multiple Advanced Degrees

1. A student who has earned either a master’s or Juris Doctor degree at Cleveland State University may apply toward a subsequent advanced degree a maximum of ten credits of graduate or law school course work earned toward the first degree under the following conditions:
   1. The department granting the second degree has determined the acceptability of the credits;
   2. The credits were earned with a grade of B or better; or a grade in the Juris Doctor program that the department has determined is equivalent to a “B” in a master’s program; and
   3. The credits were earned within the six-year statute of limitations on course work applicable to fulfillment of graduate degree requirements at the time of graduation from the second degree program. Work over ten years old at the anticipated point of degree completion also must be reviewed and approved by the College of  Graduate Studies Petitions Committee.
2. Cleveland State University students earning a doctoral degree should earn no more than one third of the credits toward that degree from their CSU master’s or J.D. degree. For example, in a sixty credit hour doctoral program, no more than 20 credits hours can be carried forward from the master’s or J.D. degree. The following conditions must be met:
   1. The department granting the second degree has determined the acceptability of the credits;
   2. The credits were earned with a grade of B or better in a master’s program or a grade in the Juris Doctor program that the department granting the Ph.D. has determined is equivalent to a “B” in a master’s program;
   3. The credits were earned within the six-year statue of limitations on course work applicable to fulfillment of graduate degree requirements at the time of graduation from the second degree program. Work over ten years old at the anticipated point of degree completion also must be reviewed and approved by the College of Graduate Studies Petitions Committee.

Petitions to extend the time period to complete the second degree at Cleveland State University must receive the approval of the departmental/ program graduate committee. If approved by the departmental/program graduate committee, petitions to extend the time period to complete the second degree do not require review and approval by the College of Graduate Studies Petitions Committee unless the work is ten or more years dated at the anticipated point of degree completion.

Undergraduate Courses Taken for Graduate Credit

With program approval, a registered graduate student may use a maximum of eight 400-level credits taken to meet master’s degree requirements. These courses may not be offered by the department/program in which the graduate degree would be awarded. No 400-level courses taken by a student as an undergraduate may be used for graduate credit.

A graduate student may not use courses below the 400 level to meet graduate degree, certificate, or licensure requirements, although the student may take such courses for remedial purposes or to remove deficiencies.

Undergraduate Students Taking Graduate Courses

An undergraduate student who is pursuing a baccalaureate degree at Cleveland State University may take one or more (maximum of nine credit hours) graduate courses, at the 500 level only, if the student meets all of the following conditions:

1. The student must be within thirty credits of graduation;
2. The student must have an overall grade-point average of 2.75 or better through the preceding semester;
3. The student must have a 3.0 or better grade-point average in the major field.
4. The student must obtain permission from his or her advisor, the instructor of the course, and the department chair, via signatures on the Undergraduate Request for Graduate Course form which can be found at http://www.csuohio.edu/sites/default/files/undergradstudentpermission.pdf

An undergraduate student who is deficient in any of the above conditions may not take a graduate course unless the request is approved by the Dean of the College of Graduate Studies.

Credit for these courses-up to a maximum of nine credits for courses in which the grade received is B or above-may be applied at a later point to a graduate degree program provided that the credit was not used to satisfy baccalaureate  degree requirements. Internal transfer of credit is subject to transfer credit regulations and procedures.

Post-baccalaureate students who are enrolled at the undergraduate level but are not pursuing a second bachelor’s degree may not register for graduate-level classes. Post-baccalaureate students who are pursuing a second bachelor’s degree at Cleveland State University may register for 500-level courses as long as the above four noted conditions are met. Course registration will be canceled for students who do not meet these requirements.

Graduate Program Transfer

An admitted and enrolled graduate student may request to transfer to another graduate degree program. The individual should meet with his or her current graduate advisor and Graduate Program Director, and the Graduate Program Director of the “new” graduate program, before submitting a Program Transfer Request Form to the Graduate Admissions Office (for domestic students) or the Center for International Programs and Services (for international students).

After consulting with his or her advisor and the two Graduate Program Directors, the student should complete this form fully and submit it. The form should be submitted at least six weeks before the desired term of transfer. Once the form is received, a copy of the student’s admission file will be submitted to the Graduate Program Director of the “new” program. The transfer is not effective until the “new” program renders a favorable decision, and the Graduate Admissions Office or the Center for International Services and Programs approves admission to the new program. The Graduate Program Transfer Request form is available at http://www.csuohio.edu/sites/default/files/TransferRequest.pdf.

Graduate Program Completion Requirements

University Graduate Degree Requirements

Years to Complete Degree

1. A student has a period of six years from date of entry into the College of Graduate Studies to complete requirements for a master’s degree. Only course work, including transfer credit and credit by examination, completed within the immediate past six-year period will apply toward the master’s degree. Petitions to extend the time period to complete a master’s degree must receive the approval of the departmental/program graduate committee. Petitions to extend the time period to  complete a master’s degree up to ten years do not require review and approval by the College of Graduate Studies Petitions Committee. However, if a petition for an extension to up to ten years is denied at the departmental level, the student may appeal the denial to the College of Graduate Studies Petitions Committee for review and disposition. A petition to extend a master’s degree period beyond ten years must be submitted to the College of Graduate Studies Petitions Committee for review and disposition. Such petitions must show compelling reasons for the extension, and must document course-by course the currency of the work beyond the ten-year statute of limitations.
2. A student entering a doctoral program, either having received a master’s or professional degree from another institution or having interrupted his or her studies at Cleveland State University upon receipt of the master’s degree for more than one year, must complete doctoral degree requirements within ten calendar years from the date of entry into doctoral studies. Petitions to extend the ten-year period to complete a doctoral degree must receive the approval of the departmental/program graduate committee and must be submitted to the College of Graduate Studies Petitions Committee for review and disposition. Such petitions must show compelling reasons for the extension, and must document course-by-course the currency of the work beyond the statute of limitations.
3. A student who enrolls consecutively in a master’s then doctoral program without interruption of at least one academic year following receipt of the master’s degree must complete doctoral requirements within ten calendar years from the date of admission to the doctoral program. Petitions to extend the ten-year period to complete a doctoral degree must receive the approval of the departmental/program graduate committee and must be submitted to the College of Graduate Studies Petitions Committee for review and disposition. Such petitions must show compelling reasons for the extension, and must document course-by-course the currency of the work beyond the statute of limitations.

Course Requirements

4. A student who is a candidate for a master’s degree must fulfill the College of Graduate Studies’ residence requirement of having earned at least sixteen credit hours of acceptable graduate credit (with course grades of B or better) while enrolled at Cleveland State University.
5. Only eight credit hours of 400-level courses can be used to meet graduation requirements. The 400-level courses may not be offered by the department or program in which the master’s degree would be awarded. No 100- to 300-level courses may be applied toward a graduate degree. The remainder of the course requirements must be graduate-level (500-to-800-level) courses. Master’s degrees require a minimum of 30 semester credit hours for graduation. Doctoral degrees generally require the successful completion of at least 90 semester credit hours of work beyond the bachelor’s degree or at least 60 semester credit hours beyond the master’s degree.
6. Subject to departmental approval, nine graduate credit hours of transfer credit may be applied toward the requirements of a master’s degree, and no more than one-third of the total graduate hours required for the doctoral degree may be transfer credit for doctoral students. (See Transfer Credit and Credit by Examination policies earlier in this section of the Catalog.) Petitions to extend transfer credits should be submitted to the departmental/ program graduate committee. If approved by the departmental/ program graduate committee, such requests do not require review and approval by the College of Graduate Studies Petitions Committee. However, petitions for acceptance of more than nine hours of transfer credit, which are not approved at the departmental/program level, may be submitted to the College of Graduate Studies Petitions Committee for review and disposition. Not more than one-half of a student’s total graduate degree program may be a combination of transfer credit and credit by examination.

GPA Requirements

7. Achievement of at least a 3.0 cumulative grade-point average for all courses taken as a graduate student, including 400-level undergraduate courses, is required for graduation. All grade-point averages are carried to two decimal places (unrounded). The University Graduate Council has determined that the minimum 3.0 grade-point average required for graduation cannot be waived via petition.
8. A maximum of six credit hours of 500- to 800-level work graded on an S (satisfactory) basis may be used to meet degree requirements. Excluded from this requirement are courses that are graded only on an S/U or S/F basis.
9. A maximum of eight credit hours of work at the C-level for 400-level and above courses may apply toward graduate degree requirements. If permitted by program.

Graduation

10. A graduation application must be on file for the term the student intends to graduate for the posting of the degree to occur. There is no backdating of degrees. An application received after a term ends will be processed for the next term and the student is responsible for adhering to all requirements of the final term of graduation.
    
    In general, degree candidates should apply for graduation two semesters before their expected graduation date. Specific graduation application deadline dates may be found at http://www.csuohio.edu/enrollmentservices/registrar/graduation.html. Graduation applications can be obtained from Campus411.

Participation in Commencement

The University holds a Commencement ceremony in May for individuals who have completed all degree requirements by the end of the spring semester, and in December for those who have completed all degree requirements by the end of the summer and fall semesters.

Students are encouraged and expected to attend Commencement.

Doctoral students may not participate in the University commencement ceremony unless they have completed all of their required course work and have successfully defended their doctoral dissertation prior to the commencement exercise.

In order for a Master’s Degree student to participate in the University commencement ceremony, he or she must have completed all course work required to fulfill degree requirements and have defended the thesis or completed any required exit project, capstone course, or other exit requirement for the degree.

Completion of Certificate and Licensure Programs

1. A student has a period of six years from date of entry into the College of Graduate Studies to complete requirements for a graduate certificate or graduate licensure program. Only course work, including transfer credit and credit by examination, completed within the immediate past six-year period will apply toward program completion.
2. A maximum of one-third of graduate certificate or graduate licensure program requirements may be satisfied with Cleveland State University course work taken at the 400-level. Only 400-level courses taken from a department or program other than the one awarding the certificate or licensure may be used to meet completion requirements. No 400-level courses taken by a student as an undergraduate may be used to meet graduate certificate or licensure requirements.
3. Subject to departmental/program approval, a maximum of one-third of the requirements for a certificate or licensure program may be satisfied via transfer credit. (See the Transfer Credit Policy earlier in this section of the Catalog.)
4. Subject to departmental/program approval, not more than one-third of the requirements for a graduate certificate or licensure program may be satisfied via Credit by Examination. (See the Credit by Examination Policy earlier in this section of the Catalog.)
5. No 400-or-above-level course work with a grade of C may be used to meet graduate certificate program requirements. A maximum of six credits of 400-or-above-level course work with a grade of C may be used to meet licensure program requirements.
6. Not more than 50 percent of the required credits for a graduate certificate or licensure program can be satisfied by a combination of:
   1. 400-level courses;
   2. graduate transfer credit; and
   3. credit by examination for 500-and-above-level courses.
7. No course work taken on an S/F, S/U, or audit basis may be used to satisfy graduate certificate or licensure program requirements.
8. A minimum grade-point average of 3.0 for all 400-and-above-level work is required to satisfy licensure program requirements. A minimum grade-point average of 2.75 is required to be awarded a graduate certificate. Individual graduate certificate programs, however, may set the minimum GPA requirement at a higher level for the completion of their particular graduate certificate programs.

Graduate Certificate Students:

Graduate Program Directors complete and submit to the College of Graduate Studies [telephone (216) 687-9370] Graduate Certificate Completion forms. Forms should be submitted at the beginning of the semester of the anticipated date of program completion. Graduate Certificate Completion forms may be downloaded from the College of Graduate Studies Web site at http://www.csuohio.edu/gradcollege/students/forms/index.html#certificate. They are also available from the College of Graduate Studies.

The College of Graduate Studies will notify the Graduate Program Director and the involved student when Certificate program requirements are met, as well as instructing the University Registrar to record the Certificate award on the student’s academic record.

Regulations for Student Conduct

Cleveland State University has adopted policies concerning the rights and responsibilities of all students. The Cleveland State University Code of Student Conduct, available through the Department of Student Life (SC 319), outlines these policies and provides an overview of the role of the student as a participating member of the University community, defining students’ responsibilities, while protecting their right to pursue legitimate educational goals.

Student Academic Responsibility

Each graduate student is personally responsible for completing all University, College, and department degree requirements. It is the student’s responsibility to be informed of these requirements. A student’s advisor may not assume this responsibility, nor may the advisor substitute, waive, or exempt the student from any established requirement or academic regulation.

Academic Misconduct

The University Policy on Academic Misconduct exists to resolve problems such as plagiarism, cheating on examinations, papers completed by someone other than  the registered student, theft, mutilation of library materials, etc. The Policy, which details procedures for resolution of matters of conflict, channels of appeal, and penalties imposed, can be found in the Cleveland State University Code of Student Conduct.

Plagiarism Policy

Plagiarism is the act of presenting, as one’s own the ideas, opinions, writings, or work of another person without appropriate scholarly attribution. This act is a form of academic dishonesty and is a serious incident of academic misconduct.

Ideally, situations of plagiarism should be handled between the faculty member and the student. Any student who disagrees with the instructor’s decisions should follow standard channels of communication, going first to the department chairperson and then, if still not satisfied, writing to the academic dean of the college in which the course is offered. The Review Committee of the Faculty Senate decides the matter if it cannot be settled within the college. The committee is composed of two faculty members of the University, nominated by the Faculty Senate Steering Committee and elected at large by the faculty, and one student member of the University Judiciary, elected by the members of the body. The decision of the Review Committee is final. If the student is found guilty, the instructor or the committee informs the appropriate academic dean. A record of the decision is placed in the student’s academic file until the student graduates or separates from the University. A second infraction shall be cause for further action by the academic standards committee in the  appropriate college.

Grade Dispute Procedure

In disputing a course grade, the burden is on the student to demonstrate that an error has occurred or that a non uniform standard was applied in the assignment of the course grade.

If a student feels that an instructor’s assignment of a course grade is improper, the student should discuss the matter with the instructor within forty-five days following completion of the semester in which the course was taken.

If resolution does not result from this meeting, the student should promptly write to the chairperson of the instructor’s department (or an appropriately designated substitute), stating the nature of the dispute and its justification. The chairperson will provide the course instructor with a copy of the student’s statement and any additional documents submitted. The instructor should promptly respond, in writing, and a copy must be provided to the student. Further statements and documentation may be collected, if necessary, by the chairperson.

Once the written record is complete, the chairperson meets with the student (and instructor if possible in a three-way conference) to try to resolve the dispute. Any student who is not satisfied with the outcome of the meeting with the instructor and the department chairperson may continue the dispute by petitioning the College of Graduate Studies Grade Dispute Committee. In such cases, the chairperson must promptly transmit a copy (paper or electronic) of all submitted documents, including the chair’s recommendation concerning the dispute, to the College of Graduate Studies Grade Dispute Committee. The Committee will:

1. inform both the student and the instructor of the Committee’s membership;
2. send both parties copies of all written documents received and any additional materials gathered by the Committee;
3. allow both parties to respond in writing to any new materials assembled; and
4. schedule a hearing inviting both the student and instructor to present their positions on the dispute. Both the student and the involved faculty member are expected to be present at the hearing.

The recommendation of the College of Graduate Studies Grade Dispute Committee, along with a copy of the entire grade dispute file, is forwarded for final decision to the University Admissions and Standards Committee, which limits its review to the determination of the following of due process. The decision of the University Admissions and Standards Committee is transmitted in writing to both the student and the instructor. There is no further appeal within the University from the Admissions and Standards Committee’s decision.

Research, Theses, and Dissertations

Academic and Scientific Integrity

Cleveland State University is committed to maintaining academic and scientific integrity. It is the duty and responsibility of both faculty and students to conduct themselves, their educational pursuits, and their research in a manner consistent with the highest standards of honesty and professionalism. This commitment includes honesty in such tasks as taking examinations, writing papers, theses, and dissertations; recording research data; submitting proposals for external funding; and publishing the results of research. The ethical conduct of all members of the Cleveland State University community ensures the honor of the University and the trust of those within this academic community. The Graduate Dean is responsible for administering the University’s Policy for Responding to Allegations of Academic Research Misconduct that was approved by Cleveland State University’s Board of Trustees on February 12, 1997, as well as the University’s Policy for Managing Conflicts of Interest, which was revised and approved by the Cleveland State University Board of Trustees on May 27, 2003.

Research Involving Human Subjects

Students planning to conduct research involving human subjects must submit a proposal to the Institutional Review Board (IRB), prior to project commencement, through the IRB Coordinator at the Office of Sponsored Programs and Research (OSPR). The proposal must include, at a minimum, an application for project approval, a project description, and an informed consent statement. Proposal submission instructions, a proposal requirement checklist, and an application for project approval can be obtained from the OSPR in Parker Hannifin Hall, Room 218, or online at http://www.csuohio.edu/offices/spr/.

• Title 45, Code of Federal Regulations, Part 46: https://www.hhs.gov/ohrp/regulations-and-policy/regulations/45-cfr-46/index.html
• The Belmont Report, Ethical Principles and Guidelines for the Protection of Human Subjects of Research: https://www.hhs.gov/ohrp/regulations-and-policy/belmont-report/index.html

Questions concerning the IRB review and approval process should be directed to the OSPR/IRB staff at (216) 687-3630.

Thesis/Dissertation

Degree programs determine whether or not a thesis/dissertation is required for a graduate degree. A thesis/dissertation may take any of several forms, such as a scholarly essay, research report, or a creative artistic work. The format of such presentations does not need to conform to traditional standards of style where such standards are not appropriate. However, theses/ dissertations that take the form of traditional research reports should follow standard manuals of style, with any supplementary guides used by the various disciplines acceptable to the departmental graduate committee. A copy of the Thesis and Dissertation Format Guidelines is available at http://www.csuohio.edu/grad-college/thesis-dissertation-format-guidelines and from the College of Graduate Studies. Students are strongly encouraged to review the guidelines before preparing their theses or dissertations. A copy of the guidelines are available in the College of Graduate Studies, or accessed on line at: http://www.csuohio.edu/gradcollege/students/thesis/.

A student cannot be admitted to degree candidacy, or register for thesis/dissertation work, until the student is a Regular Graduate Student. Doctoral and master’s students must complete the Thesis/ Dissertation Proposal Approval form (download from the College of Graduate Studies Web site) and obtain the required signatures prior to thesis/dissertation registration. Once a student registers for thesis/dissertation credit, he or she must register for thesis/dissertation credit each semester during the academic year (fall and spring terms) until the completion and defense of the project. (See T Temporary noncredit grades, under Grades.) The number of thesis/dissertation credits required is a departmental matter. However, the student must register for a minimum of one thesis/dissertation credit each semester until the completion of the thesis/dissertation, acceptance by the program committee, and submission for final approval to the College of Graduate Studies.

Acceptance of the thesis/dissertation requires that the signatures of the advisor and at least two other Graduate Faculty committee members appear on the document. Master’s thesis committees must be composed of at least three members. The chairperson and at least two other members must hold Graduate Faculty status. Doctoral dissertation committees must consist of at least three members. The chairperson and at least two other members must hold Graduate Faculty status. At least one member of the dissertation committee must be from outside of the unit awarding the degree. The outside member must hold Graduate Faculty status; or be approved by the Graduate Dean. Both master’s thesis and doctoral dissertation committees may have additional members beyond the minimum of three persons. To be a voting member, the additional person(s) must have Graduate Faculty status. Committee members not holding Graduate Faculty status may serve as non-voting members of the committee. To determine if a faculty member holds Graduate Faculty status, consult the College of Graduate Studies’ website at: http://graduatestudies.csuohio.edu/graduate/rosters/facultyroster.html.

All doctoral dissertations require a public defense, announced to the University community with sufficient notice.

Once the thesis/dissertation has been approved by the committee, the student must submit the final draft of the thesis/dissertation for format review and approval to the College of Graduate Studies (all corrections mandated by their committee must be done prior to the draft submission). The submission for format approval should take place not less than one week prior to the last day of instruction in the semester in which the student plans to graduate. A  preliminary format examination is mandatory for the thesis/dissertation prior to submission of the electronic version to OhioLINK. However, a preliminary check does not guarantee the acceptability of the final version. To allow ample time for completing the final version, students are advised to schedule a format check well in advance of the deposit deadline. 

FORMAT CHECK

Master’s theses and doctoral dissertations must receive preliminary format approval by the College of Graduate Studies Office prior to acceptance of the final version for submission of the electronic version to OhioLINK.  This review is intended to minimize the likelihood of thesis rejection.  However, a preliminary check does not guarantee the acceptability of the final version.

The thesis/dissertation should be emailed to the College of Graduate Studies Office in Word format after the thesis/dissertation committee has approved the defense of the document.  To allow ample time for completing the final submission, students are to submit a preliminary electronic version well in advance of the final deposit deadline to the appropriate email address below:

• Master Thesis submissions should be emailed to:  masterthesis@csuohio.edu
• Doctoral Dissertation submissions should be emailed to:  phddissertation@csuohio.edu

The email should contain the student’s name and CSU ID# in the subject line.  Additionally, please include student name, CSU ID, telephone number, and current email address in the body of the email.

Many students are anticipating reviews at the end of a term, PLEASE plan accordingly!  Preliminary reviews are processed on a first-come, first-served basis.  Theses and dissertations are reviewed in the order in which they are received.  The student is sent an email of the corrections that are needed, OhioLINK submission instructions, and contact information.

The last step in completing the thesis/dissertation requirements is to submit the approved copy to OhioLINK per the instructions of the College of Graduate Studies.

Discontinuation of a Thesis, Dissertation, or Alternate Exit Project

Should a student wish to discontinue a thesis/dissertation or an alternate exit project after receiving one or more T grades for previous registrations, the individual may request of the College of Graduate Studies Petitions Committee that W grades replace the T grades. Students who decide to switch from the thesis option to an alternate exit project, or vice versa, are not permitted retroactively to change, via petition, their registration in previous thesis or project course work.

Student Records

• Veterans Educational Benefits
• Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974 (FERPA)

Veterans Educational Benefits

The School Certifying Official certifies the enrollment of veterans to the Veterans Administration (VA), and those students who have completed an application for VA Educational Benefits should call 216-687-2053 and talk to a certifier in the VA Certifying Office. Additional help with other related veteran issues can be directed to the CSU Veteran & Military Resource Center located at 2254 Euclid Ave, Trinity Commons. Once the Letter of Eligibility (LOE) and change of program (VA form 22-1995) is on file, certification of enrollment will be automatic each semester unless specifically requested otherwise. Veterans that are using chapters 1606, 1607, or 30 will still have to verify enrollment by calling 1-888-GIBILL1 at the end of each month. Students with questions about their benefits or certification should speak with a Certifying Representative by calling 216-687-2053 or visiting the CSU Veteran & Military Resource Center. All enrollments are subject to audit by the Veterans Administration (VA). Any overpayment in veterans benefits discovered through a VA audit will result in the veteran assuming liability for repayment. All veterans are required to sign up for the Budget Payment Plan each semester to avoid late fees; this is a free service to our veteran students.

Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974 (FERPA)

The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) affords eligible students certain rights with respect to their education records. (An “eligible student” under FERPA is a student who is 18 years of age or older or who attends a postsecondary institution at any age.) These rights include:

1. The right to inspect and review the student’s education records within 45 days after the day Cleveland State University (“CSU”) receives a request for access. A student should submit a written request that identifies the record(s) the student wishes to inspect to the University Registrar. The Registrar will make arrangements for access and notify the student of the time and place where the records may be inspected.
2. The right to request the amendment of the student’s education records that the student believes is inaccurate, misleading, or otherwise in violation of the student’s privacy rights under FERPA.

A student who wishes to ask CSU to amend a record should submit a written request to the University Registrar, clearly identifying the part of the record the student wants changed, and specify why it should be changed. 

If CSU decides not to amend the record as requested, CSU will notify the student in writing of the decision and the student’s right to a hearing regarding the request for amendment. Additional information regarding the hearing procedures will be provided to the student when notified of the right to a hearing.

3. The right to provide written consent before CSU discloses personally identifiable information (PII) from the student’s education records, except to the extent that FERPA authorizes disclosure without consent. 

CSU discloses education records without a student’s prior written consent under the FERPA exception for disclosure to school officials with legitimate educational interests. A school official typically includes a person employed by CSU in an administrative, supervisory, academic, research, or support staff position (including law enforcement unit personnel and health staff); a person serving on the board of trustees; or a student serving on an official committee, such as a disciplinary, grievance committee, or in student government positions. A school official also may include a volunteer or contractor outside of CSU who performs an institutional service of function for which CSU would otherwise use its own employees and who is under the direct control of the University with respect to the use and maintenance of PII from education records, such as an attorney, auditor, or collection agent or a student volunteering to assist another school official in performing his or her tasks. A school official typically has a legitimate educational interest if the official needs to review an education record in order to fulfill his or her professional responsibilities for the University. 

Upon request, CSU also discloses education records without consent to officials of another school in which a student seeks or intends to enroll. 

See below for information regarding the disclosure of student information classified as directory information.

4. The right to file a complaint with the U.S. Department of Education concerning alleged failures by the CSU to comply with the requirements of FERPA. The name and address of the office that administers FERPA is: 

Family Policy Compliance Office
U.S. Department of Education
400 Maryland Avenue, SW
Washington, DC 20202

Directory Information

In accordance with federal law, the University classifies the following information on students as directory information and may make it available to other students and to the public:

1. Student Name
2. Home city and state
3. Home Address*
4. Participation in officially recognized activities and sports
5. Dates of attendance
6. Degrees and awards (honors) earned
7. University email address**

* Disclosure of the home address is restricted to state, local or national elected officials for the purpose of sending congratulatory letters, or to potential scholarship sponsors for the purpose of marketing scholarship opportunities. Requestors must complete and submit the Directory Information Request - Student Address Information form.

** Disclosure of the university email address is limited to users of the university email system only, and only for purposes of locating email addresses in the email directory.

Students who wish to restrict the release of the foregoing information can do so through CampusNet (Student tab, Directory Information) or by submitting the Directory Information Restriction Request form at All-in-1, MC 116. This restriction will remain in effect until you request it be removed. However, even if you file such a request, the University will release information as necessary if it is determined that disclosure is permitted by FERPA without prior consent (e.g., response to a subpoena, health or safety emergency, etc.). Please be aware that if a student requests that the forgoing information be withheld, it will be withheld from a variety of sources, including friends, relatives, prospective employers, insurance agencies, honor societies, and the news media. Students should carefully consider the consequences of withholding such information before doing so.

Since the University intends to make the above information public, it has the obligation to publish this annual notification of that intent and to provide a reasonable period of time in which students can designate such information that is not to be released.

The University reserves the right to publish a student directory listing names and addresses of students.