Academic Standards
The candidate must maintain
a minimum standard of 3.0 on a 4.0 system (see requirements for candidacy). The
student must not accumulate more than six semester hours of credit below B (3.0).
Either of the above will result in the removal of the student from candidacy for
the degree.
A student
will be placed on probation at the close of any term in which the
cumulative GPA of less than 3.0 is achieved. A student is subject to
dismissal from the program if the minimum GPA is not obtained in the
subsequent 9 semester hours of course work. Students may apply for
readmission after one semester except graduate nursing students who if
dismissed for academic failure may not apply for readmission at any
time.
Students may apply for readmission to the MBA Program by filing a
written petition to the director of the MBA Program providing a detailed
explanation for the poor academic record and stating reasons why he/she
should be readmitted. A grade of "C" is required in all foundation
courses. Students in the MBA program must achieve a minimum grade of “C”
in all course work and must maintain a 3.0 GPA in the Professional and
Elective Courses.
Progression and retention in the MBA program requires a minimum grade of
"C" in all foundation, professional core and elective courses AND the
maintenance of a minimum grade point average (GPA) of 3.0 in the
professional core and elective courses.
Residence and Transfer Credits
Regardless of the degree option selected by the student, a minimum of 27
semester hours for the master’s degree and 24 semester hours for the
specialist degree must be earned in residence at Alcorn State
University.
The unconditionally admitted student is allowed to transfer a maximum of
six semester hours of graduate credit in which grades of "B" or better
are earned. These courses must have been taken at an accredited graduate
degree-granting institution. All credits to be transferred should be
approved by the student's academic advisor/Department Chairperson and
the School of Graduate Studies. Official transcripts of transfer credits
must be on file at the university prior to acceptance of the transfer
credits for approval.
Graduate nursing students are allowed to transfer a maximum of 12
semester hours of graduate credit in which grades of B or better are
earned. Exceptions will be considered on an individual basis.
Graduate Student Advising
All graduate students must meet with their academic advisors at least
once a semester to discuss their program. The student is ultimately
responsible for his/her program; however, meeting with an advisor will
help to avoid errors in program planning. If no advisor has been
assigned, the chairperson or designee will be responsible for the
advising.
Time Limit
All requirements for the Master of Science degree, including transfer
credits, must be completed within six years from the beginning of the
first term in which credit was earned toward the degree. If a student
fails to complete his program within the six-year time period, he/she
must petition the Graduate Office for an extension and present
sufficient evidence/reasons for failing to complete the program within
the specified time limit.
Load
When a student enrolls in courses for credit, nine to twelve (9-12)
hours is full-time for either the fall or spring semester. The maximum
load for either Summer I or Summer II shall be six semester hours
credit.
English Proficiency Examination
All candidates for the Master of Science and Master of Business
Administration degrees must demonstrate English writing proficiency. If
the student fails to make the required “cut-off” score he or she will be
admitted in the “special admissions” category. During the first twelve
hours of enrollment in the special admission status the student must
enroll as a full time student, maintain a 3.0/4.0 GPA and take the
Graduate English Proficiency Examination. If the student fails the
Graduate English Proficiency Examination, he/she must enroll in the EN
504 writing course. Students must pass this course to continue their
graduate class enrollment.
Students are required to make the following scores:
Test Satisfactory Score
Analytical Writing Portion of GRE General Test 3.0
GMAT Analytical Writing Component 3.5
Core Comprehensive Examinations -
School of Education and Psychology
All students enrolled in the School of Education graduate programs must
pass the Core Examination as a requirement for graduation. All students
who have successfully completed at least two of the Core courses and who
are officially enrolled in the third are eligible take the Core
Examination. An application to take the Comprehensive Examinations must
be filed in the Graduate Studies office and approved by the Dean of the
School of Graduate Studies before the Examination date.
All Master of Science/Specialist degree students are required to pass
the Area Examination. The time of the Area Examination is determined by
the student’s advisory committee or the department chairperson. Students
eligible to take the Area Examination should contact their advisor or
department chairperson.
This does not apply to the Master of Science in Nursing or to the Master
of Business Administration.
Proposed Program of Study Form
All graduate students must complete a proposed Program of Study form and
have it filed in the office of the Dean of the School of Graduate
Studies during the first semester of enrollment. The form must be
completed with the student's signature, the student's advisory committee
chairperson, and the dean's signature. The form should show the courses
to be taken. Any transfer courses approved by the student's advisor
Thesis option and/or Internship should also be on this form. Students
are required should also be on this form. Students are required to
submit a revised program of study form if changes are made in their
program of study.
Application for Degree
Students anticipating graduation in the spring should file an
application for degree by the first Friday in February. Those
anticipating completing degree requirements during the summer should
file their application by the second Friday in July and those
anticipating completing degree requirements during the fall should file
their application by the last Friday in October. Students who fail to
have proper materials and applications in on time will be deferred until
the next graduation period.
Cap and Gown Order Form
All students anticipating graduation must complete a Cap and Gown Order
Form by March 31. These forms are located in the Vice President for
Academic Affairs' Office. Graduation attire may be picked up the Friday
prior to the graduation exercises at the Housing Office.
Tuition and Fees
Students must confirm the amount of tuition and fees with the Business
Office each semester of enrollment.
Admission to Candidacy
After the student has filed the application for candidacy, the Dean of
the School of Graduate Studies will execute a formal response of the
students’ status in writing within thirty days of receipt of application
for candidacy for a graduate degree. Any and all exceptions to the
stated policies of the School of Graduate Studies will be determined by
the Graduate Council and promulgated by the Dean of the School of
Graduate Studies.
Teacher Education Candidates
Admission to the School of Graduate Studies does not mean that the
student has been accepted as a candidate for the master’s or specialist
degree. A student desiring to earn the degree must apply in writing for
admission to candidacy for a graduate degree by filing the proper
application forms with the Dean of the School of Graduate Studies. NOTE:
persons desiring “AA” certification must hold or qualify to hold a
Mississippi Teaching Certificate or its equivalent. They must also
conform to requirements for “AA” or “AAA” certification as listed in
state requirements, and qualify for the Master of Science in Education
or Specialist degree at Alcorn State University. The university will not
submit applications for “AA” or “AAA” certification unless the criteria
above are met. In addition to the above criteria, applicants must:
1. complete 12 semester hours of graduate work at Alcorn State
University with a “B” or better average;
2. remove all “incomplete” grades in the 12-15 hours of course work
where applicable;
3. submit program of study sheets indicating the grade in each
course approved by the student, the advisory committee chairperson,
the Dean of the School of Graduate Studies;
4. pass the Graduate English Proficiency examination during the
first semester of enrollment;
5. demonstrate sufficient promise for the master’s degree in terms
of personal and professional qualifications;
6. be admitted to candidacy at least one semester before the degree
is conferred.
Housing
Housing will be available for graduate students in modern air
conditioned dormitories. Limited facilities are available for married
students without children. There are 48 single rooms available for male
and female students. Housing for the graduate students is available on
the Natchez Campus. Persons interested in housing facilities should
contact the Office of Student Affairs, Alcorn State University, Alcorn
State, MS 39096.
Food Services
Graduate students may eat in the faculty section of the dining hall if
they desire. Food services are available by agreement at the
Copiah-Lincoln Community College facility located across the street from
the ASU Natchez campus. Costs vary depending on items selected from the
menu.
Assistantship
Limited research, and graduate assistantships are available. Persons
interested should write a letter of request for an assistantship to the
department chairperson, with a copy to the Dean of the School of
Graduate Studies. All application materials should be completed before
applying. The student must have at least an undergraduate GPA of
3.00/4.00 or above. Students should also contact the office of financial
aid concerning loans, work-study and other possible sources of funding.
Degrees With Honors
Honors are conferred as follows:
With Highest Distinction - Upon those candidates who attain a cumulative
average of 3.91 - 4.00
With High Distinction - Upon those candidates who attain a cumulative
average of 3.81 - 3.90
With Distinction - Upon those candidates who attain a cumulative average
of 3.71 - 3.80
Student Financial Obligation
Students are expected to pay, in full, all costs for a given term before
or during the time of registration. Any students or former students who
are indebted to the university may not register at the university,
graduate from the university nor will their transcript be released until
the debt is paid.
Academic Tracks
Plan A - Thesis Plan
This plan requires the completion of a minimum of 27 hours of Graduate
course work plus a thesis research project which yields six semester
hours of credit, and the passing of a comprehensive examination (this
does not apply to Graduate Nursing) in the professional education area
and the field of endorsement. The student will be advised by an advisory
committee, composed of one member from the professional education staff,
one member from the field of endorsement, and a third member designated
by the Dean of the Graduate Studies. The thesis option should be chosen
at the time of application for admission to the graduate program, and
should be reflected on the student’s proposal program of study.
The option of a project in the research process is also available to
graduate nursing students. The student is required to complete at least
three components of the research process under the guidance of a
research mentor.
The student is responsible for delivering the original and two copies of
the complete thesis/project to the office of the School of Graduate
Studies on or before the second Friday of April for May graduation and
on or before the second Friday in November for December graduation.
Students will follow the guidelines in the Handbook for Thesis,
published by the School of Graduate Studies.
Plan B - Non-Thesis Plan
This plan requires the completion a minimum of 33 hours of course work
which must be at the graduate level, and the passing of a final
comprehensive examination in the professional education field and the
field of endorsement. The student will be advised by an advisory
committee, composed of one member from the professional education staff,
one member from the field of endorsement, and a third member designated
by the Dean of the School of Graduate Studies. The final examination
will be administered by the advisory committee. A candidate may be
reexamined a second time after a minimum period of two months’ delay if
his/her performance on the first examination was unsatisfactory.
Programs will be individually prescribed by the student’s advisory
committee involved in each area of concentration. The non-Thesis Plan
does not apply to graduate programs in the School of Agriculture.
Undergraduate Senior Study
An undergraduate senior student with minimum total cumulative GPA of
3.00/4.00 who is enrolled in the last semester of course work that will
complete the requirements for a bachelor’s degree, may request advanced
graduate admission to enroll in (3) three to six (6) hours of graduate
courses provided the total course load does not exceed twelve (12)
hours. Courses for seniors are limited to first-year graduate level
courses. Graduate courses may not be used as credit toward an
undergraduate degree. The combination senior is not considered a
graduate student but may apply for admission to a graduate program upon
completion of the bachelor’s degree.
However, advanced admission to the graduate courses does not guarantee
subsequent admission to a graduate program. Courses taken for graduate
credit may count toward a graduate degree when/if the student is
admitted to a degree program at Alcorn State University and if approved
by the program’s graduate coordinator and department Chairperson. The
form for Pre-graduate Enrollment and an application for admission to the
Graduate School must be completed six (6) weeks prior to the beginning
of the semester in which advanced admission is sought.
