Academic Services

Remaining in Good Academic Standing

To remain in good academic standing a student must make timely progress toward degree completion and satisfactorily meet the following standards of scholarship established by University and campus Academic Senate regulations or Graduate Council rulings:

• Maintain a cumulative GPA of at least 3.0
• Take courses for a letter grade to achieve the minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0, since courses graded Pass/No Pass or Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory earn 0.0 grade points and do not contribute to good standing
• Keep the student transcript free of excessive units of unfinished coursework, defined as 12 or more units of Incomplete, No Grade, and/or No Record
• Advance to doctoral candidacy within four years of admission to and enrollment in a doctoral program
• Complete the master's degree within the four-year time limit
• Complete the doctoral degree within the seven-year time limit
• Meet all departmental degree requirements in accordance with departmental time limits, including satisfactory performance in core courses (grade of B or better required, or a higher departmental stipulation) and on the required project or examinations; pass departmental examinations within the number of attempts permitted by the student's department and Graduate Council.
• Form a master's or doctoral committee; present a thesis plan or dissertation research proposal acceptable to the committee; complete a thesis or dissertation acceptable to all committee members; and successfully pass a final defense of the thesis or dissertation when required.

NOTE: Some departments establish GPA and individual course grade standards higher than the B/3.0 criterion. Students should check carefully on departmental requirements for good standing and adequate progress toward the degree.

Please consult the Graduate Handbook for more information regarding particular requirements to remain in good academic standing.