CATALOG - University of Maryland University College

Preparing for Graduate StudyAs most students know, more is expectedat the graduate level than what is normallyrequired on the undergraduatelevel. During graduate study, more effortis required on an academic level, andthere are usually special requirementsthat must be completed at the end of thestudent’s program. UMUC requires studentsto complete comprehensive examsand a dissertation only at the doctorallevel. While many traditional master’sdegree programs may culminate with thecompletion of a thesis, most UMUC programsrequire an integrative end-ofprogramcapstone course instead.Students should refer to the catalog of theyear in which they began graduate studyfor the specific requirements related totheir program of study.All graduate students must maintain acumulative GPA of 3.0 and receive nograde of F to remain in good academicstanding. Academic progress is assessedat the end of each session. Other requirements,such as time limits to degree completion,also apply; details are providedon p. 122.NONPROGRAM COURSESBecause UMUC graduate students oftenenter graduate study with academic backgroundsin very different fields and returnto study after a gap of many years, UMUCoffers a number of courses outside theusual required program courses that aredesigned to help students succeed in theirgraduate studies. Most of these coursesare noncredit and optional; the coursein library research skills, however, isrequired for all students entering graduatestudy at UMUC. Complete course descriptionsare provided on pp. 69–107.Required Course in LibraryResearch SkillsUCSP 611 Introduction to Graduate LibraryResearch Skills is designed to familiarizestudents with online library and informationresources—material that is criticalfor 21st-century managers.This noncredit course is required for allnew graduate students and all inactivestudents who reapply for admission. Thegrading method is pass/fail. UCSP 611must be completed within the first 6 creditsof graduate study.Elective Credit Course in WritingStudents who have been out of academiafor a period of time or who do not writeoften in their professions are encouragedto enroll in COMM 600 Academic Writingfor Graduate Students in their first session.COMM 600 is specially designed to reinforceand strengthen the writing skillsnecessary for success in UMUC’s graduatedegree programs. Although the coursedoes not apply to any individual programrequirements, it does earn 3 credits.Elective Noncredit CoursesNoncredit courses (designated UCSP)are available in financial accounting, economics,and research methods and generallylast five to eight weeks. Althoughthese courses carry no UMUC credit, theyappear on the students’ official academictranscript. At the successful conclusion ofthe course, a grade of P (Pass) is posted.UMUC graduate students must be admittedor have an application on file beforeregistering for noncredit courses.Current information about fees and schedulingfor noncredit courses is available atwww.umuc.edu/grad/noncred.html.COURSE FORMATSUMUC offers courses online, on-site at anumber of Maryland locations, and in ahybrid format that combines on-site andonline instruction.All Graduate School of Managementand Technology on-site courses useWebTycho, UMUC’s Web-based coursemanagement system, as an enhancement.Faculty members may elect to use someor all of WebTycho’s online features inconjunction with face-to-face interactionsin the classroom.Hybrid classes meet on-site at a UMUClocation for about half the class sessions;the remainder of the course material iscovered online in the WebTycho classroom.The schedule of on-site sessionsis provided by the faculty member at thebeginning of the term. Hybrid courses areidentified in the most current graduateSchedule of Classes.Online courses maintain the same academicstandards as on-site courses.Course content, texts, requirements,assignments, and class participationare comparable for online and on-sitecourses; for example, students need toadhere to a course schedule for assignmentdeadlines and exam times.Computer and Internet AccessUMUC is committed to ensuring that studentsacquire the level of technologicalfluency needed for active participation incontemporary society and access to upto-dateresources.All UMUC students must be prepared toparticipate in asynchronous, computerbasedclass discussions, study groups,online database searches, course evaluations,and other online activities.This policy applies to students in bothclassroom-based and online courses.6