[edit] Academic Credit Policies

[edit] Courses with Graduate Credit

Courses numbered in the 800 and 900 series offer graduate credit. Courses in the 900 series and those in the 800 series without counterpart 400 or lower series numbers are open exclusively to graduate students except by permission of the Dean of Graduate Studies. These 800-series courses are identified in this bulletin with an asterisk (*).

Courses numbered in the 500s, 600s and 700s are professional (law, dentistry, and architecture) level and carry graduate credit only if the letter “G” follows the course number.

Courses numbered 400 or lower are undergraduate level and cannot be applied towards a graduate degree.

The general prerequisite for courses in the 800 series is at least 12 hours of work in the same department or in approved courses in allied departments. The general prerequisite for courses in the 900 series is at least 18 hours in the same department which may include approved courses in allied departments.

A student who enrolls in a course must have completed the general prerequisite, including any specific prerequisite indicated for the course. According to policies governing graduate-level courses, there is a required differentiation of faculty expectation regarding student performance and therefore grading criteria.

[edit] Graduate Credit for Seniors

Seniors at UNL may be permitted up to 12 hours of credit for graduate courses taken in addition to the courses necessary for their undergraduate degree, provided that these credits are earned the calendar year prior to receipt of the baccalaureate. Before registering for graduate courses, seniors must obtain approval from the Dean of Graduate Studies on the Hold for Credit Form, available in 1100 Seaton Hall. Holding graduate credit keeps a senior registered as a member of an undergraduate college and allows one to continue any undergraduate scholarship or financial aid awarded. Courses taken before one graduates do not always transfer as graduate credit to other institutions nor can there be a guarantee from the Office of Graduate Studies that these courses would apply toward a particular graduate program.

If someone on another University system campus wishes to take graduate level classes at UNL, an intercampus form should be used, and any arrangement to hold for graduate credit would have to be made at the student’s home campus. UNL will not be able to certify graduate credit except for those students graduating at UNL. Students from schools outside of the University of Nebraska system will have to wait to receive graduate credit until they can qualify as graduate students.

In most situations it is best to hold credit (as noted in the first paragraph). However, under certain circumstances UNL seniors who are within 9 hours of graduation may apply, provide a Senior Check, and if accepted into a degree program, may be granted admission to UNL Graduate Studies. This admission would be contingent upon receipt of the baccalaureate within the calendar year. It would make one ineligible to continue any undergraduate scholarship or financial aid, but would allow one to apply for any financial support, fellowships, or assistantships open to graduate students.

Seniors in the University Honors Program are encouraged to consider taking 400/800-level courses at the 800 level with the concurrence of their adviser and permission of the instructor and Dean of Graduate Studies.

[edit] Transfer of Credit

No graduate credits will be accepted as transfer credit toward a masters program at UNL if the course work is 10 years or older or if the course work has been applied toward a previous masters degree at UNL or any other accredited institution. Similarly, no graduate credits will be accepted as transfer credit toward a subsequent doctoral program if the course work has been applied toward a previously completed doctoral degree at any institution, including UNL.

All graduate credits to be counted toward the satisfaction of postbaccalaureate degree requirements, including all transfer credits, must be recommended by the cognizant graduate committee of the student’s major department or area. Not less than 50 percent of the course work (excluding thesis) of the minimum number of graduate credits required for any subdoctoral graduate degree must be completed at the University of Nebraska. No graduate credits will be accepted as transfer credits unless earned at an institution fully accredited to offer graduate work in the field of the student’s major; nor should the student expect any graduate credits to be transferred unless the graduate committee evaluates the quality and suitability and determines that they are equal to or superior to offerings available at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln.

Approval of the Office of Graduate Studies is required for the transfer of graduate work taken elsewhere to a graduate degree program at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. It is the responsibility of the student to insure that official transcripts of graduate work taken elsewhere are sent by the institution where the work was completed and received by the Office of Graduate Studies well before the student plans to complete all other requirements for the graduate degree. Official transcripts should be sent to:

Dean of Graduate Studies
University of Nebraska-Lincoln
1100 Seaton Hall
PO Box 880619
Lincoln, NE 68588-0619

[edit] Credit by Examination

Credit by examination cannot be earned in graduate level courses or applied to graduate degree programs.

[edit] Grading System

The University uses an A through F grading system. The letter grades with point value (in parentheses) are: A+ (4.0), A (4.0), A- (3.67), B+ (3.33), B (3.0), B- (2.67), C+ (2.33), C (2.0), C- (1.67), D+ (1.33), D (1.0), D- (0.67), and F (0). Grades of W (dropped/withdrew), I (incomplete), P (pass/C or better), and N (no pass) may also be given. W, I, P, and N are not assigned grade points.

Students taking undergraduate classes for deficiencies generally have a grade requirement set by the department. However, if no specific standard has been set, the graduate student is required to meet the same standard an undergraduate would be held to. That is, if the class is taken Pass/No pass, pass is the equivalent of a C or better.

[edit] Scholastic Grade Requirements

Credit in graduate-level courses is attained as follows:

1. A minimum grade of B is required for graduate credit in 800-level courses with 400 or lower counterparts within the student’s major department or area. A grade of B- is not acceptable.

2. A minimum grade of C or P (pass) is required for graduate credit in 800-level courses in minor, collateral, or supporting areas of work. A grade of C- is not acceptable. NOTE: A grade of B- or lower received in a minor course will result in a minor comprehensive being required.

3. A minimum grade of C or P (pass) is required for graduate credit in 900-level courses, or 800-level courses without 400 or lower counterparts.

When applied toward an advanced degree program, only courses at the 900 level, or 800 level without 400 or lower counterparts, in the major department or interdepartmental area may be taken on a pass/no pass (P/N) basis. In minor, collateral, or supporting areas of work 800-level courses with 400 or lower counterparts can be taken on a P/N basis.

A student failing to receive a minimum acceptable grade for graduate-level credit may not continue his/her program of studies without permission of the supervisory group or the departmental graduate committee concerned, which may require a special examination to determine the student’s qualifications for further work.

[edit] Incompletes

Students taking graduate courses should check with their instructor on what their responsibilities are to remove an incomplete. Normally there is no time limit for graduate students to remove an incomplete. However, the instructor does have the option of determining the requirements for completing the course and requisite date for removal of incompletes. It is helpful to have these requirements in writing to ensure there is no miscommunication between the instructor and student. Typically, thesis and dissertation credit hours are graded following the defense of these projects.

[edit] Drop and Add

Students may drop or add classes from the beginning of priority registration through the last day on which classes may be added for a term. Dates are published each semester in the Schedule of Classes or the Summer Sessions Bulletin. Students who do not initially register for classes until after the beginning of the term will be charged a late registration fee. No course may be added to a student’s record after the end of the add period (as published in the Schedule of Classes) without the permission of the instructor and the Office of Graduate Studies.

A course drop becomes effective for tuition and grade purposes on the date the transaction is processed by the student. Tuition liability for a course begins after the add period for a term.

A graduate student may drop a course without the instructor’s permission 3/4 of the way through the course. Any graduate student wishing to drop one or more classes after the 3/4 point of the term can do so only with the permission of the Office of Graduate Studies. The Dean of Graduate Studies will consult with the course instructor prior to approval. All courses dropped after the second week of the term are noted on the student’s academic record (transcript) with a “W” (withdrawn) grade designation.

For complete procedures, dates and regulations, refer to the current semester’s Schedule of Classes or the Summer Sessions Bulletin.

[edit] Correction of Registration Errors

A graduate student who has registered in error (for example, enrollment in the undergraduate level of a 400/800 course) should correct the error through the normal drop and add process during the term in which the error occurred. In the event the error is not recognized until a grade is posted, the student may appeal for correction of registration within sixty days of the posting of the grade report in the Records Office. Changes to a student registration record will not be made more than sixty days after grades are posted in the Records Office.

[edit] Withdrawal

If a student wishes to drop all courses being taken in the term, this is considered a withdrawal. Withdrawals may be accomplished through the eNRoll system or by filing a Cancellation/Withdrawal form with the Registration Office, 107 Canfield Administration Building. Students may withdraw from classes, regardless of circumstance, from the first day of classes through the 3/4-point of the term. Withdrawals that occur after the second week (or 2/16th) of the term but before the 3/4-point will be noted by automatic entry of a “W” grade for all uncompleted courses.

Any withdraw from classes after the 3/4 point of the term must be for extraordinary circumstances and will be granted only by petition through the Office of Graduate Studies. The Dean of Graduate Studies will consult with the course instructor prior to approval. The result of a successful petition will be posting of a grade of “W” on the transcript for the respective course(s). If the petition is denied the grade submitted by the instructor will be posted to the transcript.

If after the census date or the last day to add classes in each term the student decides to drop a course or courses and/or withdraw from the University, it is highly recommended that the student contact the Office of Scholarships and Financial Aid to discuss the implication the action may have on future eligibility to receive financial assistance.

If the student is on an assistantship, the student should contact the department Graduate Chair to discuss the ramifications of the withdrawal before actually withdrawing from the course work.

For complete procedures, dates and regulations refer to the current semester’s Schedule of Classes or the Summer Sessions Bulletin.