What to Expect
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.
Graduate Catalog
The catalog has very important and useful information. It is your
duty as a graduate student to read the catalog. It can be found on the web.
Graduate Catalog.
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 Physical Therapy program will be dismissed
from the program if so recommended by the Physical Therapy Academic Committee.
