Academic Load
All full-time students are enrolled in a minimum of nine (9) hours per semester and four (4) hours during a summer term. Three quarter-time students are enrolled in a minimum of seven (7) hours per semester and three (3) hours during a summer term. Half time students are enrolled in a minimum of five (5) hours per semester and two (2) hours during a summer term. Enrollments that exceed sixteen (16) hours during the fall and spring semester and nine (9) hours during the summer term are exceptions and must be approved by the advisor and Graduate Dean. Additional credit may be earned via interim courses.
Advisement and Enrollment
Each student admitted to a degree program is assigned an advisor in his/her major area of interest when the application for admission to a graduate program is approved. Advisors are available to assist students with enrollments and to provide general program information. The student, however, has the final responsibility of insuring that program requirements are met. Exceptions to requirements outlined in the Graduate Catalog must be approved by the advisor, chair, associate dean (where applicable), the dean of the academic unit, and the Graduate Dean.
Graduate students may pre-enroll on any of the enrollment dates listed in the course schedule or enroll during regular registration. For the fall and spring semesters, a special registration is held on the first Monday night evening classes are scheduled.
Application for Graduation
Candidates for the master's degree are responsible for completing the graduation application. Students are strongly encouraged to submit this application during the first two weeks of the semester in which they plan to graduate.
Candidacy for the Master's Degree
Admission to graduate studies and to a degree program is not the equivalent of Admission to Candidacy for the master's degree. It is the responsibility of the student to initiate the application for candidacy after the completion of 24-30 semester hours. The candidacy form must be submitted to the Graduate Office no later than the first Monday after close of the drop/add date each semester. The degree candidacy form is to be completed by the student in consultation with his/her major advisor and forwarded to the Graduate Office. The degree candidacy form must include only the courses that apply to the graduate degree program.
Grading System
A grade is given as recognition of certain levels of accomplishment in a course and is to be interpreted as follows:
Graduate Courses
- A (4.0), Excellent
- B (3.0), Average
- C (2.0), Below Average
- D (1.0), not acceptable toward a degree
- F (0.0), Failure
- S (0.0), Satisfactory
- U (0.0), Unsatisfactory
Incomplete
An incomplete grade may be used at the instructor's discretion to indicate that additional work is necessary to complete a course. To receive an "I" grade, the student should have satisfactorily completed a substantial portion of the required coursework for the semester. The time limit to satisfy the "I" will be at the discretion of the instructor. "I" grades not changed by the instructor to a credit-bearing grade or an "F" within the specified time limit will remain as a permanent "I" and not contribute to the student's GPA.
Withdrawal
Students may withdraw during the first eleven (11) weeks of class work in a regular semester or during the first four weeks of class in a summer semester and receive a grade of "W." Students may also withdraw officially any time prior to and including Friday of the week before final examinations begin and receive a "W" for courses in which they are doing passing work. Students who withdraw from a course in which they are failing will receive an "F" if the withdrawal occurs during the last five weeks of a regular semester or the last four weeks of a summer semester. Students who leave school without officially withdrawing will receive grades of "F" for courses in which they were enrolled. A grade of "W" has no effect on a student's grade point average.
Repeated Courses
When a course is repeated, both grades are used in computing the grade point average, but only one course may be applied toward degree requirements.
Inactive Students
- Graduate students will become inactive if no coursework is taken within one year of admittance into a degree program.
- Graduate students who have previously taken courses but have not completed any coursework for the past two years will receive a letter warning that their status will change to inactive if no coursework is taken for three years in a row.
- After three years with no coursework completed, students will be made inactive.
- Students will have to reapply to graduate school once they are made inactive.
Individual Study
Graduate students may enroll in an individual study in areas not available in conventional classes. A maximum of four (4) semester hours of individual study may be applied toward requirements of the master's degree upon approval of advisor.
Non-Discrimination Policy
Southwestern Oklahoma State University, to the extent required by law, in compliance with Title VI and Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, Section 402 or the Readjustment Assistance Act of 1974, Americans with Disabilities Act Amendment Act of 1990, the American with Disability Act as Amended of 2009, and other federal laws and regulations does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, age, religion, disability, gender, sexual orientation, genetic information or status as a veteran in any of its policies, practices, or procedures. This includes but is not limited to admissions, employment, financial assistance, housing and educational service.
Retention
A minimum graduate grade point average of 3.0 (B) is required in all master's degree programs. No grade lower than a "B" on applied music courses will be accepted toward requirements of the Master of Music degree. A maximum of six semester hours of "C" may be applied toward requirements of the Master of Business Administration and the Master of Education degrees.
After being admitted to a graduate program, a student will be placed on academic probation if the graduate grade point average falls below 3.0 (B) after the completion of twelve (12) semester hours, including transfer credit. During the first probation semester, a student must have a cumulative GPA and/or semester GPA of 3.0. If neither the cumulative nor semester GPA is a 3.0, the student will be allowed to register only as a part-time student (i.e., a maximum of five hours and three hours during the regular and summer term, respectively) until a cumulative GPA of 3.0 is achieved. If a student during a second semester of probation does not earn a 3.0 semester average, s/he will be dismissed from their graduate program. An academic reprieve is not applicable to graduate programs.
Transfer of Credits
A maximum of nine (9) applicable semester hours of graduate credit from accredited colleges and universities may apply toward requirements of a graduate degree at Southwestern Oklahoma State University (SWOSU). Only coursework with grades of "A" and "B" is eligible for transfer. All applicable graduate credit earned at SWOSU prior to admission into a degree program is considered as transfer credit.
Unclassified Graduate Students
Students who have previously completed a Masters Degree at SWOSU, or who do not wish to pursue a graduate degree, may be admitted as unclassified graduate students. These students must follow the graduate studies admission procedures. A maximum of nine hours taken as an unclassified student may transfer into a degree program. The nine-hour transfer policy includes any hours taken at another university, as well as hours taken at SWOSU before admission to a degree program.