Requirements
Graduate Credits, Grades and Loads
Table of Contents

Grade Requirements

Starting in Summer 2019, the following grade requirements are in effect. The previous requirements can be found in the 2018-2019 course catalog. Students who were placed on probation or disqualification based on the old standards will stay on the same academic standing until they have successfully completed a term/semester after the new requirements take effect.

The following information is taken from the University Course Catalog (https://registrar.wnmu.edu/catalog/:

A graduate student is considered to be in Academic Good Standing if he or she has cumulative and semester G.P.A.s of 3.0 or higher and is showing satisfactory academic progress as shown in the table below:

Student Grade Academic Standing
Cumulative and Semester G.P.A. ≥ 3.00 Academic Good Standing
Cumulative or Semester G.P.A. < 3.0 Academic Probation
Semester G.P.A. < 3.0 while on probation Academic Disqualification
Cumulative and Semester G.P.A. < 3.0 Academic Disqualification

IMPORTANT: No more than three credit hours with a grade of C will count toward fulfillment of the requirements for the master’s degree, graduate certificate, or for an alternative licensure program. A cumulative grade point average of 3.0 is required for graduation. A student must be in good standing within their program to graduate.

A student who is disqualified from the Graduate Division may file an Appeal for Readmission for Academic Disqualification from the Graduate Division.  See the WNMU Catalog section “Appeal Process for Disqualification from the Graduate Division.”

Graduate Course Load

For purposes of verification for graduate assistantships, scholarships, financial aid, and loan deferments, WNMU certifies a student’s enrollment status as to full-time or part-time, according to the guidelines below.

Fall and Spring Semester

Status Credit Hours
Full Time 9 or more graduate Hours
Three Qtr. Time 7-8 graduate Hours
Half Time 5-6 graduate Hours
Less than Half Time 1-4 graduate Hours

Summer Terms

Status Credit Hours
Full Time 6 or more graduate Hours
Three Qtr. Time 5 graduate Hours
Half Time 3 graduate Hours
Less than Half Time 1-2 graduate Hours

The graduate student is limited to taking no more than 12 credit hours during each semester of the regular academic year (Fall and Spring Semesters.)  During the Summer Term, the student is limited to no more than 6 credit hours.  Graduate assistants and scholars are limited to between 6 and 12 graduate credit hours during a regular term.

Graduate Credit

All credits required for degree completion must be earned at WNMU with the exception of the maximum allowed transfer credit amount of 6.

Students who are deficient in certain undergraduate courses in the major field will be expected to remove these deficiencies without graduate credit.  However, when it is apparent that further work in auxiliary subjects may make a substantial contribution to the M.A. and/or M.A.T. graduate program, the student may be allowed to take up to 6 credit hours of courses at the undergraduate 400-level.  Registration for such courses must have the approval of the graduate student’s advisor, the Department Chair/Dean in which the courses are offered, and the Director of the Graduate Division.  The instructor is required to submit to the Director of the Graduate Division an outline of all extra work undertaken by the graduate student to justify graduate credit in a 400-level course. When students register for a course numbered below 500 for graduate credit, they must make certain that the registration form carries official notation of the fact.

Graduate Credit Time Limit

All graduate credit, including transfer credit, must have been earned within the seven years prior to issuance of the graduate degree unless a Petition for Validation of Courses over Seven Years Old is submitted and approved.