Students must have a minimum overall cumulative grade point average of 3.0 to be eligible for the degree. In addition, the grades in courses specifically required for the degree program must average at least 3.0. All graduate-numbered courses taken with graduate student classification at the University of Delaware are applied to the cumulative index. Credit hours and courses for which the grade is below "C-" do not count toward the degree even though the grade is applied to the index.
The Office of Graduate Studies monitors the academic progress of all graduate students and notifies students in writing of all academic deficiencies. The cumulative GPA after each 9-hour increment determines academic standing. In addition to the University policy regarding minimum grade point averages, some departments require graduate students to maintain certain performance minima in their programs of study in all or in particular courses. Failure to meet the stated minima may lead to academic dismissal from the program.
If a graduate student fails to make satisfactory progress toward all degree requirements, permission may be denied to continue in the degree program. At the close of each semester, winter session or summer session, in those circumstances deemed appropriate by the department or program faculty exercising its professional judgment, the faculty of each department or program may evaluate the progress of a graduate student toward meeting the academic standards of the program in which the student is enrolled. In addition to graded course work, academic standards include, but are not limited to, professional, ethical, clinical and other standards required of graduate students. In the case of dismissal, the program director is required to send a report to the Office of Graduate and Professional Education that states the faculty vote on the decision causing dismissal and the justification for this action. The Office of Graduate and Professional Education will notify a student in writing when the student is being dismissed for failure to make satisfactory progress in the program and the procedures for the student to appeal the action.
Time limits for the completion of degree requirements begin with the date of matriculation and are specifically expressed in the student's letter of admission. The University time limit is ten consecutive semesters to complete the degree requirements for students entering a master's degree program. Students completing the requirements for the master's degree who are subsequently granted permission to continue toward the doctoral degree are given an additional ten consecutive semesters. Students entering a doctoral program with a master's degree are given ten consecutive semesters to complete the requirements. Students entering a doctoral program without a master's degree are given fourteen consecutive semesters to complete the requirements. Students who change their degree plan and have transferred from one degree program to another degree program are given ten consecutive semesters from the beginning of the first year in the latest program.
Requests for time extensions must be made in writing and approved by the student's advisory committee and the chair of the department's graduate committee. The department will forward the request to the Office of Graduate and Professional Education. The Office will determine the student's eligibility for a time extension and will notify the student in writing of its decision to grant an extension of time.
