11824_JFKU_Catalog Front Cover.indd - John F. Kennedy University

General InformationCredit by AssessmentMaster’s-degree students may use Credit by Assessment (CBA) tofulfill only undergraduate prerequisite requirements.Undergraduate students may petition for credit for prior learningthrough CBA. Students interested in CBA should contact theirdepartment or program chair.CBA cannot be used to obtain credit for coursework alreadycompleted. Some degree requirements may not be eligible forsatisfaction through CBA. Students should check with thedepartment or program.A maximum of 30 quarter units may be earned through Credit byAssessment. e assessor determines the units awarded and theacademic level of those units (lower or upper division). eprogram advisor determines how those earned units are applied tothe student’s program.Payment of the assessment fee does not guarantee the outcome ofthe assessment or ensure that academic credit will be awarded.Units awarded through CBA will be graded on a Credit/no Creditbasis. All units earned through CBA will be designated as such onthe transcript. Units earned through CBA do not fulfill residencyrequirements.Master’s ThesisWhen a thesis, research report, or comparable project is requiredto fulfill degree requirements, the student must arrange an initialconference with the thesis coordinator of the degree program atleast one year before expected graduation.In consultation with the thesis coordinator, the student prepares aformal application and receives thesis instructions specific to thecollege or degree program. Approval for permission to enroll inthesis research must be obtained from the thesis coordinator priorto registration.Before beginning a project, the student’s writing abilities andpreparation for writing a research paper are assessed. A basiccomposition course may be required prior to the research courseand theses work if, in the judgment of the thesis coordinator, thestudent needs to strengthen basic writing skills. Specific programswith theses or final project components may require enrollment ina course that instructs the student in writing and research methods.e thesis coordinator, in consultation with the student, appointsat least one other member of the University faculty to serve withthe coordinator as the thesis committee. one member of thecommittee serves as faculty advisor. e student prepares a thesisproposal that must be approved by the thesis coordinator and thefaculty advisor at least two quarters before expected graduation.Approval must also be obtained from the faculty committeeestablished to protect individual and University rights against legaland ethical infringements.e student meets regularly with the faculty advisor for oral andwritten critiques of work in progress. e student will be asked towork with a writing instructor if the thesis draft is seriouslydeficient. Students needing writing assistance may want to contactthe JFK University Academic Support Center at (925) 969-3530.When the rough draft has been approved by all members of thethesis committee, the student prepares the final draft. Instructionson format should be obtained from the thesis coordinator. ethesis coordinator retains copies of all drafts of the proposal as wellas copies of critiques written by members of the thesis committee.e thesis coordinator has immediate responsibility and theAcademic vice President ultimate responsibility for guaranteeingthat the instruction and student work meet the university’sacademic quality standards.Students who plan to do thesis work in any of the colleges mustenroll in all required units of thesis or project research and maintaincontinuous enrollment. Students who need further help aftercompleting these courses must enroll for additional units asrequired by the individual program. Additional units, however, donot count toward fulfillment of unit requirements for the degree.Concurrent Enrollment at Other InstitutionsStudents may receive transfer credit for coursework being taken atanother institution concurrent with enrollment at JFK University.Prior to registration at the other institution, students should contactthe registrar’s office to verify transferability of the course, to ensurethat coursework will be applicable to degree requirements and thatUniversity residency requirements will be met. Students receivingfinancial aid should also contact the financial aid office.International students must have the written approval of theinternational student advisor.Cross-RegistrationSome courses not offered at JFK University may be taken throughcross-registration at the University of California, Berkeley;California State University, east Bay; Laney Community College;and Contra Costa College. Instructions and forms are available inthe registrar’s office. Students enrolled in a course throughcross-registration pay JFK University tuition and fees. Approval isgranted only to students needing these courses for their JFKUniversity residency.Grading Systeme grading system that appears in the following charts governsgrading symbols and computations for all undergraduate andgraduate students of the University. All letter grades carry qualitypoints and are computed in student GPAs. Students enrolled in theCollege of Law follow the grading system as it appears in the Collegeof Law catalog.effective fall 2013, grades of C+ and C are not acceptable in amaster’s degree or graduate certificate program. e minimumacceptable grade is B- in a master’s degree or graduate certificateprogram.e following marks may be assigned to undergraduate, master’s,and doctoral courses and have the same meaning regardless of thelevel. By definition, marks differ from grades in that they do notcarry quality points or count in the GPA (except for the UW—seenote below).Grading Criteria SymbolsLT: letter-grading in undergraduate courses, no auditors allowedwithout written permission from the program.LA: letter-grading in undergraduate courses, auditors are allowed.10 General Information John F. KenneDy UnIverSIty