My Program - What to Expect (Page 1 of 9)
What to Expect?
Average Number of Hours Taken Per Term
Graduate students (except Physical Therapy students) may enroll for a maximum of 12 semester credit hours (sch) of graduate level work in any long semester although the normal full-time load is 9 semester credit hours. Graduate students may enroll for 6 or 7 semester credit hours of graduate work each summer term, but the total load for the entire summer session shall not exceed 12 semester credit hours of graduate work. Both summer sessions are considered one semester. Physical Therapy students will enroll in up to 20 sch in a long term and up to 12 sch between both summer sessions. Since this is a cohort program, Physical Therapy students will take the number of hours each term as indicated on the degree plan.
A graduate, teaching, or research assistant who works one-half time or less for the University may, with the approval of the supervising faculty members and department head, register for a maximum load of 9 semester credit hours of graduate work per semester. An assistant who works one-quarter time or less may, with the approval of the supervising faculty member and department head, enroll for a maximum of 12 semester credit hours of graduate courses. Assistants who work half-time are required to enroll for a minimum of 6 semester credit hours per semester except in their last semester prior to graduation, and those who work one-quarter time are required to enroll for a minimum of 9 semester credit hours per semester except in their last semester prior to graduation.
Time Needed to Study
Graduate Students should study 3 hours for every 1 hour spent in the classroom, where undergrads should study 1 hour for every 1 hour spent in the classroom. Graduate classes try to invoke critical thinking and therefore are much more involved in research and are much more intense.
Class Size and Class Participation
Class sizes are a lot smaller at the graduate level. They range from 1-15 students depending on the subject being taught. Because the classes are so much smaller, much more participation is expected of the students. Part of your grade in your graduate courses is dependent on your participation.
Assignments
There are fewer class assignments but you will find that they are lengthier and require more thought to go into them than undergraduate assignments.
What is Expected of You?
Class Attendance and Participation
You are expected to attend class. Most classes meet only once a week and therefore it is very important that you make it to class. You are expected to come to class prepared and ready to participate.
Degree Plan
Your degree plan should be kept in a safe place. Your degree plan is your roadmap to graduation. You need to follow it exactly.
Read the Bulletin
The bulletin has very important and useful information. It is your duty as a graduate student to read the bulletin. It can be found on the web or you may pick up a hard copy from our office.
Course Load Requirements
Graduate students (except Physical Therapy students) may enroll for a maximum of 12 semester credit hours of graduate level work in any long semester although the normal full-time load is 9 semester credit hours. Graduate students who are not on probation and who have at least a 3.5 grade point average on all graduate work they have attempted at Angelo State University may, with the written permission of the Dean of the Graduate School, register for a maximum of 15 semester credit hours of graduate-level work in the semester in which they are graduating. Physical Therapy students will enroll in up to 20 sch in a long term and up to 12 sch between both summer sessions. Since this is a cohort program, Physical Therapy students will take the number of hours each term as indicated on the degree plan.
Graduate students may enroll for 6 or 7 semester credit hours of graduate work each summer term, but the total load for the entire summer session shall not exceed 12 semester credit hours of graduate work except that 15 semester credit hours may, with the prior written approval of the Dean of the Graduate School, be allowed for the student who is graduating. Both summer sessions are considered one semester.
A graduate, teaching, or research assistant who works one-half time or less for the University may, with the approval of the supervising faculty members and department head, register for a maximum load of 9 semester credit hours of graduate work per semester. An assistant who works one-quarter time or less may, with the approval of the supervising faculty member and department head, enroll for a maximum of 12 semester credit hours of graduate courses. Assistants who work half-time are required to enroll for a minimum of 6 semester credit hours per semester except in their last semester prior to graduation, and those who work one-quarter time are required to enroll for a minimum of 9 semester credit hours per semester except in their last semester prior to graduation.
Other Things You Need To Know
Full-Time Student
A graduate student shall be considered on full-time status if:
1. the student is enrolled for a minimum of 9 semester credit hours of graduate course work in a long semester or a minimum of 6 semester credit hours distributed in any way across the two summer terms; OR
2. the student has a Graduate Assistantship or Teaching Assistantship and is enrolled for a minimum of 6 semester credit hours of graduate course work in a long semester or a minimum of 3 semester hours distributed in any way across the two summer terms; OR
3. the student is working full time on a thesis and is enrolled in either 6399 or 6699.
Dropping a Course
Courses may be dropped during the first 12 days of a long semester or during the first 4 days of a summer term and no grade will be given. Such courses will not be listed on the student's permanent record. A student dropping a course after the registration period, but prior to the deadline published in the University calendar, will receive a W grade in the course.
A student dropping a course after the withdrawal deadline will receive a grade of "F". Ceasing to attend class does not constitute a formal course drop, and failure to drop a course properly will result in a failing grade in the course. To drop a course, the student must get a drop slip signed by the professor of the class and take it to the Registrar's Office.
Withdrawing from University
When a student drops ALL of his/her courses in a given term; an Application for withdrawal from the University must be initiated in the Office of Student Life. A student is not officially withdrawn until the withdrawal form has been completed, the approval of each of the appropriate University offices has been received, and the form has been returned for approval to the Office of Student Life. The student who fails to withdraw officially will receive a grade of F in all courses in progress. No transcripts will be issued to such a student until all records are clear.
Academic Status
Good Standing
A graduate student with Regular Status is academically in good standing if his or her grade point average for all graduate work completed at Angelo State University is at least 3.0.
Probation
When a Regular Status graduate student's grade point average drops below a 3.0, the student is placed on academic probation, and if it drops below a 2.0, the student may be dismissed from the Graduate School. A graduate student granted Provisional Admission is considered to be on academic probation. A thesis student who receives an NP grade in Thesis will be placed on probation.
Dismissal
A graduate student may be dismissed from Graduate School if his or her grade point average is less than 3.0 at the end of any semester during which the student is on academic probation, or if his/her grade point average drops below a 2.0. A student whose performance is unsatisfactory on both the first and second administrations of his or her Comprehensive Examination will be terminated from the graduate program in which he or she has been studying. A student who receives a second NP grade in Thesis will be dismissed from the Graduate School. A student in the Master of Physical Therapy program will be dismissed from the program if so recommended by the Physical Therapy Academic Committee.