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About Graduate Studies and Degrees
Graduate Studies
The University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign is a leading center for graduate education in the nation. A distinguished graduate faculty of approximately 2,000 members supervises and guides graduate students in research, scholarship, and teaching.
The University is the home of numerous national centers conducting research across many disciplines, including computing, engineering, education, genetics, and the arts.
The Graduate College is an administrative unit that has jurisdiction over all programs leading to advanced degrees. The Graduate College develops and safeguards standards of graduate work and promotes and assists research by faculty members and graduate students in all fields.
Graduate Degrees
The University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign enrolls approximately 8,200 graduate students and offers advanced degrees in more than 100 fields of study. Master's and doctoral degrees are offered in many disciplines, including professional and performing arts fields.
Descriptions of these degrees are given in the departmental sections of this catalog. More detailed descriptions of graduate programs and the requirements for the degrees may be obtained from the individual departments.
Admission and Registration
General Requirements
Applicants should have graduated from an accredited college or university, or should hold or expect to be granted by the end of the current academic year a baccalaureate degree (or its equivalent) comparable in content and in number of credit hours to that granted by the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Applicants should have a grade point average of at least 3.0 (A = 4.0) computed from the last 60 hours of undergraduate work and any graduate work completed. Meeting these minimum admission requirements of the Graduate College, however, does not guarantee admission; individual departments may set a minimum grade point average higher than that of the Graduate College and may impose other special admission requirements and conditions. Because applicants to most departments compete for a limited number of positions, many who exceed minimum requirements may be denied admission.
Applicants for admission to the Graduate College with undergraduate academic records showing "pass," "satisfactory," "credit," or other similar entries in advanced courses that have a bearing on the student's field of specialization should submit a written evaluation or a letter grade by the instructor in each such course. Because some departments have special examination requirements, applicants should check with their prospective departments; for example, the Departments of Accountancy and Business Administration require the Graduate Management Admission Test instead of the Graduate Record Examination. Information regarding specific departmental requirements may be accessed through the Graduate College Web site.
Prospective students are urged to apply for admission as early as possible, preferably in October or November for the summer session and fall semester, and September or October for the spring semester. Applications for a given term may not be accepted during the three weeks preceding the beginning of that term.
The University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign is committed to maintaining a safe environment for all members of the University community. As part of this commitment, the University requires applicants who are under current indictment or who have been convicted of a crime (other than a routine traffic offense or in a juvenile proceeding) to disclose this information as a mandatory step in the application process. A previous conviction or current indictment does not automatically bar admission to the University, but does require review. Complete information about the process is provided in the application for admission to the Graduate College.
Domestic applicants are encouraged to complete and submit the Web-based application available at the Graduate College Web site given above. Paper applications may be obtained by printing the electronic application, by contacting the department of interest, or by requesting them from the Graduate College at the following address: Graduate College, 202 Coble Hall, 801 South Wright Street, Champaign, IL 61820. Application forms for international students may be obtained by writing to the Office of Admissions and Records, 901 West Illinois Street, Urbana, IL 61801 or from the Web site listed above. A nonrefundable application fee must be received before any application can be processed. International applicants must submit official records of all higher education, including certificates of degrees with the dates the degrees were conferred. If only one original is available and would be difficult to replace, an attested or certified copy should be submitted. All records not in English must be accompanied by a certified English translation. Records should show the individual subjects studied and the grades received in each subject.
International applicants are required to submit proof of adequate finances for the entire period of planned study. Applicants unable to provide satisfactory evidence of adequate finances will not be granted admission.
Eligible applicants whose native language is not English must take the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL), given throughout the world. Applicants should make arrangements directly with the TOEFL Application Office, P.O. Box 6155, Princeton, NJ 08541-6155, U.S.A. or via their Web site. Graduate applicants may be exempt from this testing if, within five years of the proposed date of enrollment at Illinois, they have completed at least two academic years of full-time study in a country where English is the primary language and in a school where English is the primary language of instruction. A course load of 12 hours per semester is considered full-time study at Illinois.
The University requires a score of at least 550 on the paper-based TOEFL examination (213 on the computer-based TOEFL), and many departments require higher scores. In addition, all non-native English-speaking applicants to the Graduate College who are admitted on the basis of their academic credentials but score 607 to 550 on the paper-based TOEFL (253 to 213 on the computer-based TOEFL) or fail to submit a required TOEFL score will be admitted on limited status and will be required to take the English as a Second Language Placement Test (EPT) upon their arrival. Students may be required to complete English as a Second Language courses depending on their scores on the EPT.
The Notice of Admission
The Notice of Admission is issued by the Office of Admissions and Records to applicants when their admission to the University is complete, i.e., when they have been recommended for admission by the department and have been determined to be eligible by Graduate College criteria and the Office of Admissions and Records. The Notice of Admission is the only official verification that admission has been approved; it is issued for a specific term and should be brought to the initial registration. Letters issued by departments may indicate recommendation for admission but are not official notices of admission.
A department may request, on an applicant's behalf, that an applicant admitted for a particular term be allowed to enter in a different term without having to repeat the application process. These requests for change of term of entry are granted only if the new term of entry is within one year of the term originally set. Applicants should note that a Notice of Admission for the fall term is also valid for the preceding summer session, and that one issued for the summer session, if not marked "summers only," is also valid for the following fall semester.
The Notice of Admission will specify the admission status of the student: whether the admission is as a degree candidate or as a nondegree student, whether full graduate standing or limited status has been approved, and whether additional credentials are still needed. Each admitted student must submit complete academic credentials to the Office of Admissions and Records before the registration period for the student's second term of attendance. Registration for the second term will be blocked if the required official transcripts have not been received.
The Notice of Admission may state specific conditions for admission. Admitted students should have a clear understanding of the conditions or should seek clarification from their major departments. A student may be admitted on limited status if his or her preadmission grade point average (GPA), which is based on the last 60 semester hours of undergraduate work and any completed graduate work, is below the Graduate College minimum of 3.0 (A = 4.0), or if the academic record shows other deficiencies or nontraditional academic qualifications. After the student has satisfied the conditions imposed, his or her major department should request that the Graduate College change the student from limited status to full graduate standing. No advanced degree will be awarded to a student who has not qualified for, and been granted, full graduate standing.
Enrollment Patterns
Each student admitted can choose one of two enrollment patterns: continuous, in which the student enrolls each fall and spring semester, with summer sessions optional; or consecutive summers only, in which the student enrolls only for summer sessions.
Nondegree Status
Students with nondegree status are admitted to courses on a part-time basis if classroom space is available. Once accepted for admission by a department and the Graduate College, a nondegree student has the same enrollment pattern options as a degree candidate. Either the major department or the Graduate College, however, may discontinue the nondegree status at the end of any term. A student need not apply each semester for readmission as a nondegree student as long as he or she maintains one of the established patterns of enrollment.
Several restrictions and conditions apply to nondegree status. Nondegree students:
a. Are not eligible to register early.
b. Cannot register until the fourth day of classes in the fall or spring semester. The late registration fee will be waived if the student completes his or her registration on or before the tenth day of instruction in a semester.
c. Are limited to taking fewer than three units or fewer than 12 hours per semester. A nondegree student will not be granted full-time status unless he or she is participating in a special program for which full-time approval has been obtained from the Graduate College prior to admission. Participants in the CIC Traveling Scholar Program who visit Illinois may also be full-time nondegree students.
d. Are not eligible for financial aid (fellowships, assistantships) administered by the Graduate College.
e. Must apply for admission if they wish to become candidates for a degree. If the student is later approved for degree status, a maximum of three units of nondegree credit may be applied to a degree.
A nondegree student who wishes to enroll only during the summer sessions need not be admitted by a specific department but may carry an unassigned student status within the Graduate College. Certification of an earned bachelor's degree is all that is required for admission. Such a student is allowed to register continuously from summer to summer until the final authorized term set at admission is reached, assuming an acceptable GPA is maintained.
Registration
U of I Direct is the system that allows students to register for courses by computer. Students who register for courses agree to pay tuition and fees to the University according to the payment policies and schedules adopted by the Board of Trustees. If a student wishes to cancel registration, and thus avoid payment of tuition and fee charges, the student must do so by 5:00 p.m. of the first day of instruction of the term.
Unauthorized use of University of Illinois computerized systems, data, or resources; unauthorized use of another individual's identification, account or password; or an attempt to gain unauthorized access is prohibited by University policy and may constitute a violation of Illinois state law.
Because course descriptions found in the Courses catalog are not intended to be complete, students should check with their department's graduate studies office or talk with instructors involved to find out about reading lists, papers, projects, and examinations for particular courses.
Immunization Requirements
Each student entering the University is required to present evidence of immunization against certain vaccine-preventable diseases as defined by Illinois state law and required by University regulations. Admitted applicants will receive a Health Information and Medical History form, which should be returned to McKinley Health Center. Students who fail to return the completed Health Information form by the date shown on the form may be prohibited from registration until the requirement is met. This requirement applies to students entering the University for the first time, to transfer students, and also to those enrolling in a new graduate program but who may not be new to the University.
Tuberculosis Control
All new international students are required to complete tuberculosis screening at McKinley Health Center before completing registration. Evidence of freedom from tuberculosis is established by a negative tuberculin skin test performed within the previous 12 months by a health care provider at McKinley Health Center.
A person whose skin test is positive is required to have a chest x-ray. A person with a known history of positive reaction to the tuberculosis skin test will not be re-tested, but will require a chest x-ray to show evidence of freedom from active tuberculosis. An individual who has had a chest x-ray performed within the previous 12 months will not require an additional chest x-ray if the previous x-ray is obtainable and meets the University's standards. International students who have been treated or undergone a tuberculosis program should bring medical records with them. All medical records must be accompanied by a certified English translation.
Write the McKinley Health Center at mhc@uiuc.edu or see the McKinley Web site for more information.
Tuition and Fees
Tuition and fees are assessed on the basis of a student's status (resident or nonresident of Illinois), graduate program, and the amount of credit taken each term. In computing fees, one unit of credit is equivalent to four semester hours. A complete schedule of current tuition and fees and an explanation of the eligibility requirements for full or partial exemption are available from the Office of Admissions and Records, 901 West Illinois Street, Urbana, IL 61801 or from the Web site.
Residence for Tuition Assessment
Tuition is assessed in part on the basis of whether a student is a resident or nonresident of the state of Illinois in accordance with the University of Illinois Regulations Governing the Determination of Residence for Admissions and Assessment of Student Tuition. These regulations are published in the Code of Policies and Regulations Applying to All Students available at the Office of Admissions and Records, 901 West Illinois Street; the Dean of Students Office, 300 Turner Student Services Building; the Student Organization Complex, 280 Illini Union; or at www.uoapa.uillinois.edu/residency.html. The residence regulations and petitions for changing a student's status are available on request from the Office of Admissions and Records, 901 West Illinois Street, Urbana, IL 61801 or on its Web site listed above.
Generally, in order to be considered a resident for the assessment of tuition, a person must have been a bona fide resident of the state of Illinois for at least one year before initial registration. If an adult student has at least one parent who is a bona fide resident of Illinois, this one-year rule is waived as long as the student resides in Illinois during the period of registration at the University.
Academic staff, support staff, employees of the University, and staff of certain specifically identified related agencies on appointment for at least 25 percent of full-time services for not less than three-fourths of the term, as well as their spouses and dependent children, are treated as residents for tuition assessment purposes as long as they hold their appointments. Professional staff members and teachers in private or public elementary and secondary schools in Illinois are also eligible for in-state tuition charges. Persons who are serving on active duty in one of the armed forces of the United States and who are stationed and present in the state of Illinois, their spouses, and their dependent children may qualify upon petition for the in-state tuition rate. A student who is a U.S. citizen may also qualify upon petition for resident status if he or she is married to a resident of Illinois who meets all the requirements of the residency regulations. A non-U.S. citizen who meets and complies with all other applicable requirements may establish residence status (by petition) unless he or she holds a visa that on its face precludes an intent to reside in the United States.
Installment Plan for Payment of Charges
Students enrolled on campus may elect to pay tuition and all fees, flight instruction costs, and University residence hall charges (single-student housing only) in three approximately equal installments. The first installment is payable by the due date shown on the Registration Statement (within the first ten days of classes), the second is payable in October (March for spring semester), and the third in November (April for spring semester).
Students electing the installment plan are assessed a finance charge. Deferred installments and other charges billed through the student accounts-receivable system are subject to a delinquent service charge on any amounts not paid when due.
Refunds
Cancellation Of Registration. Individuals who have placed courses on their record prior to the beginning of the term and later decide not to attend the University may cancel their registration by 5:00 p.m. of the first day of instruction for the term and avoid all tuition and fee charges. Individuals who are ineligible to continue in the University for actions initiated by the University based on academic, disciplinary, or medical reasons before 5:00 p.m. on the first day of instruction for the term have their registrations become void and are not entitled to student privileges.
Students may not cancel their registration once they have used fee-supported services. If they leave the University, they must officially withdraw from the University.
Withdrawal from the University. Students who have been charged tuition and/or fees and later withdraw from the University prior to the completion of 60 percent of the term receive a refund on a pro rata basis. Assessed tuition, the service fee, the general fee, and the transportation fee are refunded on a pro rata basis less five percent of the assessed amount or $100, whichever is less. The health insurance and health services fees are nonrefundable. Students continue to be covered by health insurance and are eligible to receive health services (if these fees were paid) until the first day of instruction for the following term.
Before a refund is made to the student, the University must make a refund to appropriate financial aid programs providing assistance to the student. A student indebted to the University at the time of withdrawal will have the amount owed deducted from the amount of any refund available.
Students permitted to pay tuition and fees on the installment plan, or who make no payment at all, and then withdraw from the University are liable for the full amount of tuition and fees originally assessed less applicable refunds.
Special refund policies apply to those who withdraw to enter active duty in the armed forces or other approved national defense service.
Financial Aid
Financial aid is available in the form of fellowships, assistantships, tuition and service fee waivers, federal work-study programs, and loans.
Application Procedures
All students who apply for admission to graduate study receive consideration for fellowships (except those awarded in national competitions) and assistantships; there are no separate financial aid applications for applicants. Currently enrolled students seeking consideration for these awards should submit the Application for Graduate Appointment, available from departments or the Graduate College, to their major departments. Financial need is usually not a factor in awarding fellowships or assistantships administered by the University.
Continuing or new students should file the appropriate application, whether for admission or graduate appointment, with their major departments no later than February 15, and preferably earlier. (Some departments in high demand have deadlines earlier than February 15; prospective students are advised to make sure of the departmental deadline before applying.) While departments may, at their discretion, accept applications after the February 15 deadline, most departments make their financial aid decisions in February and March; thus, applications arriving later may not receive financial aid consideration. Departmental committees recommend students for fellowships to the Graduate College, which makes the final selections. Each department appoints its own teaching, research, or graduate assistants with the approval of the Office of Academic Human Resources. Fellowships can be awarded only to students who are enrolled in or have applied for admission to the Graduate College as degree candidates.
Fellowships
Additional information about fellowships administered by the Graduate College is at the Web site.
University Fellowships. These fellowships are awarded on the basis of academic and scholarly achievement. Each department sets its own stipend level and may supplement the fellowship with a teaching, research or graduate assistantship. Students should consult their departments about available support.
Illinois Distinguished Fellowships. These fellowships are limited in number and are awarded to students whose academic records evince only the highest scholarly achievement. Graduate departments may nominate incoming students in every field for the fellowships, which provide a stipend of $17,000 per year and a tuition waiver, and may be renewed for an additional two years, pending satisfactory progress in the fellow's academic program.
Graduate College Fellowships. These fellowships are part of the Graduate College's effort to increase the enrollment of students from certain underrepresented and disadvantaged groups. Fellowships are generally awarded to students who are beginning graduate work so that they can devote their first year entirely to study.
Most Graduate College Fellows are given support in the form of other fellowships and assistantships to continue their studies in subsequent years, provided their progress is satisfactory. Graduate College permission is required for concurrent employment of any type.
Dissertation Travel Grants. Dissertation travel grants up to $5,000 assist doctoral students whose dissertations would benefit substantially from domestic or international travel.
Dissertation Completion Fellowships. These fellowships provide $17,000 and a tuition waiver for one year and enable superior doctoral students to devote themselves full time to writing their dissertations. It is expected that the dissertation fellows will graduate by the end of the fellowship year. No concurrent employment is allowed.
Miscellaneous Grants. Small grant programs fund on-campus dissertation research, conference travel, and master's theses and projects.
Industrial, Endowed, and Special Fellowships. A number of firms, foundations, and individuals support fellowship awards for graduate students. The stipends and supplemental allowances for these fellowships vary and most of them are restricted to students in particular areas of study. In most cases, a tuition and service fee waiver is provided. Students should consult their departments about the availability of these fellowships.
Federal Fellowships and Traineeships. These fellowships, such as the U.S. Public Health Service traineeships in the biomedical sciences and the Foreign Language and Area Studies Fellowships, are awarded as grants to institutions, which then select the recipients. Students should consult their departments as to the availability of these awards. Applicants for most federal fellowships must be U.S. citizens or permanent resident aliens; some programs are restricted to U.S. citizens. In most cases, a tuition and service fee waiver is provided.
Fellowships Awarded in National Competitions. The National Science Foundation awards approximately 900 fellowships nationwide each year to exceptional students in science and engineering, the social sciences, and the history and philosophy of science. The fellowships provide $16,000 per year plus tuition and may be held at any graduate school. College seniors and students who have completed not more than one semester of graduate study are eligible. The fellowship will be continued for up to three years if progress is satisfactory. Applications are available in October at www.orau.org/nsf/nsffel.htm.
The Howard Hughes Medical Institute Doctoral Fellowships in the Biological Sciences provide three years of support at $18,000 annually, plus tuition, all non-refundable fees, and a $250 supply allowance. Applications are available in September in the Graduate College Fellowship Office.
The Department of Defense awards three-year fellowships to outstanding students in certain fields in the sciences and engineering. U.S. citizens studying at Ph.D.-granting institutions are eligible. Applications are available in October at www.asee.org/ndseg.
A few other foundations and agencies also hold fellowship competitions but on a smaller scale and usually restricted to specific groups, such as the Ford Foundation fellowships for minority students or the American Association of University Women fellowships. Information on these and other fellowships is available early each fall in the Graduate College Fellowship Office.
Assistantships
General Information. The various departments of the University appoint graduate students as teaching, research, or graduate assistants. Applications should be made directly to the appropriate department. Students holding assistantships must be registered during the semesters of appointment and, in the case of assistantships requiring the performance of classroom teaching, must be proficient in oral English as determined by current University verification standards. Assistantship appointments ranging from 25 through 67 percent time for three-quarters of the semester provide waivers of either the full tuition or the base-rate tuition, depending on the graduate program of enrollment. The service fee is also waived. Students who held such waivers during the spring semester, and who have no appointments the following summer, are also entitled to the same tuition waiver for the summer term. Under certain conditions, students holding assistantships between May 21 and August 21 are not required to be registered.
Students who resign their appointments or whose appointments are canceled before rendering service for at least three-fourths of the term become subject to the full amount of the tuition and fees unless they withdraw from University classes at the same time or before the appointment becomes void, or they deposit their thesis with the Graduate College within one week following the resignation date. A term is defined as running from the first day of instruction through the last day of final examinations.
Federal Work-Study Assistantships
The Graduate College operates a small program of assistantships funded by the Federal Work-Study program, which provides subsidies to the stipends of students who can demonstrate financial need. Prospective applicants must have obtained the promise of assistantship appointment for the next academic year at the time of application, which should take place before January 31 of each year. Applicants must use the need-based financial aid procedure described in the section on loans below.
Tuition and Service Fee Waivers
At their discretion, departments or colleges may waive payment of the tuition and service fee for certain students. Applicants are advised to check with their prospective departments for further information.
Research Grants
A great number of organizations and foundations offer grants to support research in specialized fields. Information on these grants can be obtained from the Graduate College Fellowship Office, the Illinois Researcher Information Service, and departmental offices. Some schools and colleges publish additional materials concerning research grants and contracts.
Loans and other Need-Based Financial Aid
The Office of Student Financial Aid awards Federal Direct Student Loans, Federal Work-Study, and limited scholarships to graduate and professional students. To be eligible to receive this aid, a student must complete and file the Free Application for Federal Student Financial Aid (FAFSA). Filing the FAFSA between January 1 and March 15 will ensure priority consideration. Information about need-based assistance and application packets containing the FAFSA, as well as information on alternative non-need-based loans, are available from the Office of Student Financial Aid, 620 East John Street, Champaign (217-333-0100). Application for need-based assistance is made separately from applications for fellowships and assistantships.
If certification of full-time status is required (for example, for loans, immigration, or fellowships), a student must register for at least three units or the equivalent, regardless of any assistantship appointment.
Veterans' Assistance
Veterans who believe they may be eligible for educational benefits should contact the veterans' counselor in the Office of Student Financial Aid. Application for benefits should be made annually.
Employment
Part-time job opportunities, both on and off campus, are posted on the Office of Student Financial Aid's Web site at www.osfa.uiuc.edu/employ.htm. Students are not required to apply for need-based assistance to use employment staff services.
Emergency Loans and Grants
In addition to major educational loans, the University makes special funds available. Graduate students with financial difficulties should go to the Office of Student Financial Aid. Staff members can determine the eligibility of students for emergency loans.
Students may also apply for Federal Direct Loans through the Office of Student Financial Aid.
International students may qualify for emergency funding from the Office of International Student Affairs. A limited number of small grants to meet acute needs may be available in the Graduate College.
GRADUATE COLLEGE REQUIREMENTS
The following are the general requirements of the Graduate College. A Handbook for Graduate Students and Advisers, which is distributed to all enrolled graduate students, gives the requirements in more detail; the handbook is also available on the Web at www.grad.uiuc.edu/grad_handbook. Graduate students should use the handbook as the official statement of Graduate College regulations during their graduate study on the Urbana-Champaign campus. Departments may have requirements that apply in addition to those of the Graduate College. A departmental standard higher than that of the Graduate College (e.g., the minimum grade point average for degree eligibility) replaces the Graduate College standard.
Departmental and Graduate College policies and requirements change from time to time and may not be immediately reflected in handbooks and other publications. New degree requirements, however, cannot be imposed retroactively on continuing graduate students. If degree requirements are changed, continuing students may complete their degree programs under the requirements in effect at the time of their initial enrollment in the Graduate College. They have the option, however, of electing to be governed by the new requirements if they so desire.
The Graduate College does not permit a student to earn a graduate degree similar to one obtained elsewhere.
Grading System
Final Grades. Final grades for courses are recorded as follows: A+, A, A-, B+, B, B-, C+, C, C-, D+, D, D-, F (fail). Credit for a course in which a student has received an F cannot be counted toward the degree. Points in the computation of grade point averages are as follows:
A+ 4.00 C+ 2.33 A 4.00 C 2.00 A- 3.67 C- 1.67 B+ 3.33 D+ 1.33 B 3.00 D 1.00 B- 2.67 D- 0.67
F Failure (including courses dropped for academic irregu- larities) = 0.00
Symbols used by the University include:
**F - F by rule. Grade of "F" on the letter scale = 0.00.
W - Officially withdrawn from a course. No credit is given.
Ex - Temporarily excused. An extension of time may be granted by the instructor, if permitted by departmental policy, to a student who has not completed the final examination or other requirements for the course. An excused grade given in the fall term must be replaced by a letter grade no later than the reading day of the spring term. An excused grade given in the spring or summer term must be replaced by a letter grade no later than the reading day of the fall term. Failure to complete the work within this time automatically results in a grade of "F by rule." If the student does not maintain continuous enrollment, the excused grade becomes an "F by rule" after one calendar year. An "F by rule" is distinguished from an "F" on the transcript, but counts as an "F" in computing the GPA.
Df - Grade temporarily deferred. Used only in research courses and in other approved courses that usually extend beyond one semester. The time limit for the Df grade to revert to "F by rule" is the same as for the Ex grade except in regard to the thesis research course (499) and certain other deferred courses. The Df symbol for thesis course (499) stands indefinitely until a Supplemental Grade Report Form is submitted by the adviser at the completion (successful or unsuccessful) of the thesis.
S or U - Satisfactory or Unsatisfactory. Used as final grades only in the thesis research course (499) and in certain other approved courses; not included in the GPA computation.
CR or NC - Credit or No Credit. Used only if students have registered for a course under the Credit-No Credit Option with the approval of their major department. A form requesting this option may be obtained from the student's department. No letter grade is given and none appears on the transcript.
Ab - Absent from the final examination without an acceptable excuse; counts as a failure (F) in the GPA.
Credit-No Credit Option. Subject to the restrictions of the Graduate College and the major department and with his or her adviser's approval, a student may register for graduate credit under the credit-no credit option. Over the entire course of a degree program, a student must earn at least two units of graded (A-D) coursework for each unit of credit-no credit coursework. In any one semester, a student may take no more than one unit on a credit-no credit basis.
Grade Point Average (GPA) Computation. A registered student's GPA is computed at the end of every term and reported in the Semester Grade Report, which is mailed to the student about ten days after the final day of examinations. The GPA includes units of coursework with grades of A through F and Ab but not those with grades of CR, NC, Ex, Df, S, and U. The GPA does not include courses taken for semester hour credit, nor does it include coursework transferred from other universities or colleges with the exception of the other two campuses of the University and CIC Traveling Scholar credit.
If a grade below C is received, a student should check with his or her adviser or department to see if the course must be repeated. (A student may also choose to repeat a course.) In the computation of a graduate student's GPA and accumulated units toward a degree, the grade for the course when first taken is the grade that counts; the grade for the repeated course is ignored.
Minimum GPA. A student is required by the Graduate College to maintain a minimum GPA of 2.75 in order to continue in an advanced degree program. Many departments, however, require a minimum GPA of 3.0 or higher, and if this is the case, the higher minimum becomes the minimum enforced by the Graduate College.
A student who completes three or more units of graded coursework with a GPA of less than the minimum will receive a warning letter. If after the completion of three additional units of graded coursework a student's GPA has not been raised to or above the required minimum, or if the GPA falls below it at any time thereafter, the student will be placed on limited status. If, at the end of the first term (excluding summer terms) on limited status, the student's GPA still does not meet the minimum required, the student will be prohibited from further registration.
Advisers and departments take factors other than satisfactory grades into consideration in determining qualifications for advanced degrees. An adequate GPA does not in itself ensure continuation in an advanced degree program. Many departments keep records of deferred grades, as well as written evaluations by instructors. These factors, along with other skills and aptitudes, are considered by departments in determining satisfactory progress and in decisions to permit students to continue in master's and doctoral degree programs.
Credit
Graduate Credit. Graduate credit is measured in terms of units, with one unit equal to approximately four semester hours. Generally, courses in the 300 series may carry graduate or undergraduate credit and are open to both graduate and undergraduate students. Courses in the 400 series, with the exception of some courses such as foreign language, carry graduate credit and are restricted to graduate students except under special circumstances.
Credit for Work Completed Elsewhere. A student who has completed graduate-level coursework at an accredited institution within the last five years with grades of A or B, but has not applied the credits to another degree, may request, with departmental approval, that the credits be applied to a degree at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Generally, a maximum of three units of transfer credit may be counted toward a graduate degree. Students may request that such credit be accepted by submitting petition forms accompanied by official transcripts after successfully completing at least two units of graduate work on the Urbana-Champaign campus. Credit for a master's degree completed at the University of Illinois or at another institution cannot be used as partial fulfillment of the requirements for a second master's degree. If a student has earned a master's degree at another university and then completed additional coursework at that university before enrolling at the University of Illinois, the student may petition to transfer credit for that additional work to apply toward an Urbana-Champaign master's degree. A student who has a master's degree is considered to have completed the first stage of a doctoral program unless the department stipulates otherwise. It should be stressed, however, that any doctoral degree candidate, regardless of transfer credits or a master's degree completed elsewhere, must complete 16 units in residence on the Urbana-Champaign, Chicago, or Springfield campus of the University of Illinois or in courses meeting in other locations that have been approved by the Graduate College.
Research Credit and 499. The time devoted to research is recorded by registration in 499 (thesis credit) or in 400-level courses with such titles as "Independent Study," "Individual Topics," or "Special Problems." Registration in 499 indicates that the student's research is expected to result in a thesis in partial fulfillment of the requirements for a master's or doctoral degree. Therefore, all students registering in 499 should do so only with full departmental approval. Registration in 499 is required if a thesis is being completed as a degree requirement.
Extramural Courses. Graduate courses are offered by the University at various centers throughout the state. Information about these courses is available from the Office of Continuing Education or www.outreach.uiuc.edu. An extramural course is considered as work in residence if it is approved for graduate credit.
After the student has been admitted as a degree candidate, credit earned in extramural courses is counted toward an advanced degree and counted as credit earned in residence in the same way as credit earned in on-campus courses. A student may petition to include in his or her degree program graduate courses that he or she completed prior to admission as a degree candidate. If this request is granted, generally a maximum of three such units may be counted toward the degree.
Correspondence Courses. Credit for graduate-level correspondence courses may be applied toward an advanced degree but will not help fulfill the residence requirement. With departmental approval, correspondence courses may be used to fulfill prerequisites or remove deficiencies. A list of correspondence courses is available from the Office of Continuing Education or www.outreach.uiuc.edu.
Requirements for the Master's Degree
The Graduate College requires a minimum of eight units of credit for the master's degree. At least three units must be in 400-level courses and two of these three units must be in the major field. Half or more of the units applied toward the degree must be earned in courses counted for residence credit. Residence credit is awarded for courses meeting on the Urbana-Champaign campus, on the Chicago or Springfield campuses, or in other locations approved by the Graduate College for graduate credit. Master's degrees are conferred in May, August, October, and January. A master's degree candidate must complete all degree requirements, under normal circumstances, within five years of first registering in the Graduate College.
Individual departments determine master's degree thesis requirements. Some departments require or recommend a thesis, while others ask for a "substantial research paper" or require only the minimum eight units of coursework. No more than three units of 499 (thesis credit), and only one or two units in some departments, can be applied to the master's degree.
Requirements for the Doctoral Degree
Credit and Residence. Doctoral degree programs are divided into three stages, as described below, and must include the successful completion of a minimum of 24 units of credit as well as the preliminary and final examinations. At least 16 of the units, which may include thesis credit, must be earned as residence credit in courses meeting on the Urbana-Champaign, Chicago, or Springfield campus, or in other locations approved by the Graduate College.
Stage I -The master's degree or its equivalent. The equivalent is at least eight units at this University or thirty-two semester hours (or forty-eight quarter hours) of acceptable graduate work at another university. Each department has a procedure for evaluating a student's progress toward the doctoral degree. This evaluation, whether by examination or other formal review, should take place no later than the end of the second year after a student enters the doctoral program. The evaluation results in a decision as to whether or not a student is making satisfactory progress, and should be communicated in writing to the student. In some departments, the evaluation may take the form of a qualifying examination, which a student must pass before entering Stage II of the doctoral degree program.
Stage II - One or more additional years devoted to coursework and research in preparation for the preliminary examination and fulfillment of any special departmental requirements not yet satisfied. Passing the preliminary examination and completing any special departmental requirements mark the end of Stage II.
Stage III - Research and other activities culminating in the deposit of an approved thesis and the holding of the final oral examination. Continuous registration, excluding summer terms, should be maintained until a student has completed the credit requirement for the doctoral degree. After two years following the student's last registration, the student must petition for reentry in order to continue doctoral study. Registration in 499 (thesis credit) is required for the term in which a student takes the final examination, regardless of when the thesis will be deposited with the Graduate College or when the degree will be conferred. Doctoral degrees are conferred in May, October, and January, but not in August.
Time Limit. A doctoral candidate must normally complete all degree requirements within seven years of first registering in the Graduate College. A student entering directly into Stage II, with a master's degree from another university or with a significant lapse of time since earning a master's degree on this campus, normally has six years in which to complete degree requirements.
Foreign Language Requirement. Each department establishes its own foreign language requirement. Many have no foreign language requirement.
Preliminary and Final Examinations
Preliminary examinations taken at the end of Stage II of doctoral programs may be oral, written, or both, depending on the department's policy. Final examinations are oral and public.
The dean of the Graduate College appoints doctoral committees, at departmental request, to administer preliminary and final examinations. These committees must be composed of at least four voting members, at least three of whom must be members of the graduate faculty; at least two members must be tenured.
Decisions of the committees for both preliminary and final examinations must be unanimous.
Theses
A thesis is an original, significant contribution to the scholarly literature of an academic discipline. The thesis must be the work of a single author. All candidates for the Ph.D. degree and candidates for most other doctoral degrees are required to submit theses. All completed theses must be acceptable for deposit in the Graduate College Thesis Office.
Before the degree is conferred, a student may find it desirable or expedient to publish some of the findings that will later be incorporated in the thesis. If this is done, an appropriate acknowledgment of the earlier publication should be included in the thesis. The Graduate College encourages such publication, but the thesis may not be published in its entirety before all degree requirements have been met.
If thesis research involves the use of human subjects, warm-blooded animals, or hazardous materials or procedures, the student must comply with the University's policies and procedures governing such work.
Because all theses are made available to the public, a thesis containing classified material, i.e., material deemed nonpublishable under federal security regulations, cannot be accepted.
Certificate OF ADVANCED STUDY
Some departments, such as those in the College of Education and the Graduate School of Library and Information Science, offer certificates of advanced study for students who are interested in professional training beyond the master's degree but who are not planning to obtain the doctorate. These programs usually require the completion of eight units of coursework beyond the master's degree. Information concerning specific advanced certificate programs is available from departmental offices.