Graduate Catalog: 2012-2013 - Alabama A&M University

AuditingA student may register to audit a course only with theapproval of the instructor. The letters "X" will berecorded on the transcript if the student satisfies theconditions agreed upon with the instructor. Allstudents who audit courses are required to beregistered as auditors.Incomplete WorkThe letter "IP" is recorded for incomplete work inprogrammatically designated research, thesis andfieldwork courses. The letter "I" may be given inother courses in which the scope of the student'sproject requires more time for its proper completion.An "I" grade given for courses other than thesis ordissertation research is to be removed within onesemester after the end of the term of registration forthe course. A course for which an "I" or "IP" isrecorded is not included in the calculation of theGPA, and no credit is awarded until the course iscompleted with a quality grade. Removal of an "I"must be authorized by the instructor and approved bythe School Dean on a Grade Change AuthorizationForm. A student may not graduate without removing"I" or "IP" grades from his/her record.Credits and Quality PointsEach credit for which letter grades are recorded havethe following quality value: A=4; B=3; C=2; D=1and F=0.. The GPA is defined as the total number ofquality points earned in courses divided by the totalnumber of credits attempted. Each credit for which“P” is recorded carries no designated number ofquality points but implies a performance in the rangeof 3 or 4. Courses for which "W", "I", or "AU" arerecorded do not contribute either credits or qualitypoints toward graduation. When a course is repeated,only the last grade received is counted in computingthe GPA. Graduate students must achieve theminimum GPA established by their programs, in nocase less than 3.00, in order to be eligible to take thecomprehensive examination, to be admitted tocandidacy or to be eligible for graduation.WithdrawalA student may withdraw from a course under theconditions listed below:1. Classes dropped after the first week of theregular semester and through the end of thewithdrawal period specified in the courseschedule will carry a grade of “W.”2. Classes dropped after the withdrawal period willcarry the actual grades obtained.Repetition of CoursesIn every case, all "D" and "F" grades must berepeated (graduate and undergraduate courses).Graduate students normally are not permitted torepeat courses for which they have received credit,but, under unusual circumstances, a department mayauthorize an exception to this policy. When agraduate student repeats a course in which the subjectmatter has not changed, only the last grade receivedis counted in computing the quality point average.However, graduate students are only allowed torepeat a course once. Any student who repeats andfails a course the second time will be dismissed fromthe graduate degree program.Grade ChangesA grade given by an instructor for completed workwill not be changed unless an error has been made inreporting or recording the grade. Re-examination orextra work may not be used as a basis for a change ofgrade.Independent StudyStudents who are using University facilities to anextent greater than represented by their formal courseload (and those required by a fellowship or otherappointment to be full-time students) are required toregister for an appropriate number of additionalcredits of Independent Study to reflect their correctstatus. All graduate study not under the directsupervision of a specific faculty member is, bydefinition, Independent Study. This includes studyfor comprehensive and overview examinations, thepreparation of research proposals, etc. Before astudent is permitted to take an independent studycourse, the student must have completed a minimumof 12 semester hours of graduate work.Field ResearchRegistration for Directed Study is limited to studentsin good academic standing who wish to study or26