Grade, Credit, and Time Requirements for Graduate Studies

Grade, Credit, and Time Requirements (Master’s Degree)

• Each degree candidate must present acceptable grades in coursework specified for a curriculum. Grades must average B or better, both over-all and in the major field. No more than 6 semester hours with a grade of C may be applied toward the fulfillment of degree requirements. A student who earns a third C becomes ineligible to continue in graduate school. In no case may a student earn more than 6 credit hours carrying a grade of C. Some departments have higher grade requirements.
• At least one-half of the minimum number of semester hours required in the student’s curriculum (not including thesis credit) must be taken in courses limited to graduate students.
• Upon satisfactory completion of a thesis, a total of 6 hours of thesis credit will be applied towards the fulfillment of degree requirements in appropriate programs.
• A student who does not present a thesis must complete a minimum of 30 semester hours of coursework.
• To apply toward a master’s degree, course credit must be earned within six calendar years. All grades received, even those earned in courses over six years old, are used in computing grade-point averages for graduate work.
• All degree regulations must be completed within six calendar years following admission to a master’s program. Admission is defined as the first semester the student is enrolled in a master’s program at the University of Louisiana at Lafayette.
• A maximum of 6 semester hours of graduate credit for application toward the master’s degree may be earned in courses in the sequence 497-498, 597-598, and 697-698 or in other individual or special studies courses.

Grade, Credit, and Time Requirements (Doctor of Philosophy)

• Each degree candidate must complete at least 72 hours of graduate credit subsequent to earning the bachelor’s degree; at least 48 of these hours must be in non-dissertation course work. It is the student’s responsibility to contact the graduate advisor to determine the acceptability of previous coursework. The Southern Association of Colleges and Schools requires that the majority of the credits applied toward the degree be earned through instruction at the institution granting the degree.
• Each degree candidate must present acceptable grades in the coursework specified for the curriculum. Grades must average B or better, both overall and in the major field. No more than one course in which a grade of C has been earned may be applied toward the fulfillment of degree requirements.
• At least one-half of the minimum semester hours required of each degree candidate (not including dissertation credit) must be in courses limited to graduate students. In some instances (for example, mathematics) the student may be required to earn a higher percentage of semester hours in courses at the 500 and 600 levels.
• Upon satisfactory completion of the dissertation, a minimum of 24 semester hours of dissertation credit will be applied toward the completion of degree requirements.
• All degree requirements must be completed within seven calendar years following admission to a Ph.D. program. Admission is defined as the first semester the student is enrolled as a Ph.D. student at the University of Louisiana at Lafayette.
• A maximum of 12 semester hours of graduate credit for application toward the Ph.D. degree may be earned in courses in the sequences 497-498, 597-598, and 697-698 or in other individual or special studies courses.

Grade, Credit, and Time Requirements (Doctor of Education)

• Each degree candidate must complete at least 60 hours of graduate credit subsequent to earning a master’s degree; at least 54 of these hours must be in non-dissertation course work. Each student is also required to schedule and pass EDLD 900 Doctoral Dissertation Seminar I. Once a student completes EDLD 900 and begins working on their dissertation, they must schedule EDLD 999dissertation hours until they are ready to defend and complete their dissertation. It is the student’s responsibility to contact the graduate advisor to determine the acceptability of previous coursework.
• Each degree candidate must present acceptable grades in the coursework specified for the curriculum. Grades must average B or better, both overall and in the major field. No more than one course in which a grade of C has been earned may be applied toward the fulfillment of degree requirements.
• At least one-half of the minimum semester hours required of each degree candidate (not including dissertation credit) must be in courses limited to graduate students.
• Upon satisfactory completion of the dissertation, the student will have a minimum of 6 semester hours of dissertation credit from EDLD 900 and EDLD 999.
• All degree requirements must be completed within six calendar years following admission to candidacy in the Ed.D. program. Admission to candidacy is defined as successful completion of the qualifying paper.
• A maximum of 12 semester hours of appropriate graduate coursework (six from the master’s degree and six from post-master’s course work), subject to approval by the Consortium, with prior approval by the candidate’s advisor, the program coordinator and the Graduate School Dean, may be transferred from other accredited institutions or from within a consortium institution.

Grade, Credit, and Time Requirements (Doctor of Nursing Practice)

• Each degree candidate must complete at least 39 hours of doctoral credit subsequent to earning a master’s degree; at least 29 of these hours must be earned in non-synthesis project coursework.
• Each degree candidate must complete a minimum of 1,000 post-baccalaureate supervised academic program practice hours. The required 420 practice hours in DNP program residency courses shall be included in these hours.
• Each degree candidate must present acceptable grades in the coursework specified for the curriculum, and must earn grades of B or better.No more than one course in which a grade of C has been earned may be permitted; a student who earns a second grade of C becomes ineligible to continue in the DNP program. No course in which a grade of C has been earned may be applied toward fulfillment of the DNP degree requirements.
• The Southern Association of Colleges and Schools requires that the majority of the credits applied toward the degree be earned through instruction at the institution granting the degree. A maximum of 19 semester hours of appropriate graduate coursework, subject to approval by the program coordinator and the Graduate School Dean, may be transferred from other accredited institutions. It is the student’s responsibility to contact the program coordinator to determine the acceptability of previous coursework and to apply to transfer that coursework.
• Transfer credits for Nursing 803, 809, 810, 811, 812, 821, 822, and 823 will not be considered.
• All degree requirements must be completed within five years following admission to the DNP program.Admission is defined as the first semester the student is enrolled as a DNP student at the University of Louisiana at Lafayette.