Time Limit for Completion of Graduate Degrees or Certificate Programs

The degree program (as defined in the plan of study) for master’s and Ed.S. degrees must be completed within ten consecutive calendar years. Graduate certificate programs (as defined in the plan of study) must be completed within the time limit specified by the certificate guidelines, but in no case can the time limit be longer than ten consecutive calendar years. Course work which would be over 10 years old at the completion of the degree program (as defined in the plan of study) cannot be used for a master’s or Ed.S. degree. Course work which would be over the time limit specified by the certificate guidelines, but in no case over 10 years old at the completion of the certificate program (as defined in the plan of study) cannot be used for a graduate certificate. The first day of class of the earliest course which appears on the student’s plan of study is the beginning of the student's graduate education.

Courses Taken at the University of Nebraska

There are no a priori limits on the transfer and applicability of credits earned in one program of the Graduate College of the University of Nebraska toward meeting requirements in another such program. However such credits must be individually evaluated and approved by the appropriate Graduate Program Committee and the appropriate Graduate Dean before they be transferred from one program to another.

Courses Taken Outside the University of Nebraska

Up to 1/3 of the course work required for a graduate program may be accepted from an accredited institution other than a unit of the University of Nebraska when the transfer is supported by the student's adviser and the appropriate Graduate Program Committee. Final approval will be made by the UNO Dean of Graduate Studies. All other policies regarding graduate programs will apply to programs containing transfer hours.

1.0 Automatic Dismissal
Graduate students are expected to do work of high caliber. Failure to do so will result in dismissal. In particular, the following will result in automatic dismissal from the degree or certificate program:

1.1 Receiving a grade of "D+", "D", or "F" in any course taken in the student's major field of study or in any course included in the plan of study or program of study.

1.2 Departments/Schools may have additional and more stringent criteria for evaluating a student's performance and progress and may demand a higher level of performance than that demanded by the Graduate College. A department/school or program unit may, under some circumstances, recommend dismissal of a student from a graduate program even though quality of work standards have been maintained. Grounds for dismissal could include, but are not limited to:

1. failure to be accepted by an appropriate thesis or dissertation adviser within stipulated time limitations;
2. failure to make timely progress toward the degree or certificate; and
3. failure to perform in course work, qualifying examination or research at an acceptable level in the respective department/school or program unit.

2.1 A grade of "C+" or below in any course involved in the first 12 hours of graduate study for provisionally admitted students;

2.2 Receiving at least nine hours of graduate credit with the grade of "C" or "C+" in any courses taken in the student's major field of study or in any courses included in the plan of study for master's or specialist's degrees or graduate certificates, regardless of the average;

2.3 Receiving at least six hours of graduate credit with the grade of "C" or "C+" in any courses taken in the student's major field of study or in any courses included in the program of study for doctoral degrees, regardless of the average;

2.4 Failure to maintain a "B" average in all graduate work taken as part of the degree or certificate program.

3.1 For students with unclassified or non-degree admission, the above quality of work standards apply to course work taken, just as if all such courses were included in a graduate plan of study.

3.2 A student will be automatically dismissed from all graduate standing or placed on probation should any of the above conditions occur.

Some departments/schools apply additional criteria of satisfactory performance beyond the requirements of the Graduate College. A copy of the department's/school's policy should be on file in the Graduate Studies Office and a copy distributed to every graduate student enrolled in the program.

5.1 The Graduate Program Committees or the Supervisory Committees in their respective departments/schools shall be responsible for monitoring quality of work in degree, certificate and unclassified programs and for recommending action.

1. The Graduate Studies Office will send a report to each department/ school at the start of each semester with the names of students who have received at least nine hours of graduate credit with a grade of "C+" or "C" as of the end of the previous semester.
   
2. b. The Graduate Studies Office will send a report to each department/ school at the start of each semester with the names of doctoral students who have received at least six hours of graduate credit with a grade of "C+" or "C" as of the end of the previous semester.

5.2 The Graduate Studies Office shall be responsible for monitoring quality of work in non-degree programs.

5.3 The Dean for Graduate Studies will make the final decision and notify graduate students of their status.

6.1 Students must be aware of the Quality of Work Standards of the Graduate College, as well as additional criteria of satisfactory performance in their respective department/school programs.

6.2 It is the student's responsibility to know when his or her previous course work has failed to meet those standards.

6.3 Students who are attending classes are still subject to dismissal if their department/school recommends that action based on its review of their previous performance.

Use of graduate credit earned for the first degree or certificate will be treated in the same manner as transfer credit from another institution if applied to the requirements for a second degree or certificate. Up to one-third of the course work required for the second master’s degree may consist of courses from a previous graduate degree. Up to one-third of the course work required for a second graduate certificate may consist of courses from a previous graduate certificate. All other policies regarding graduate programs apply.

Graduate Assistantships are available for qualified students who are enrolled in a graduate degree or certificate program.