Graduate Catalog

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The information in this catalog is current as of July 2009. Please contact individual programs for any additional information or changes.

The student is responsible for becoming informed and observing all program regulations and procedures. The student must be familiar with Graduate Catalog general regulations and requirements, specific degree program requirements, and offerings and requirements of the major academic unit. Rules are not waived for ignorance. Any exceptions to the policies stated in the Graduate Catalog must be approved by the Dean of the Graduate School. After admission to the Graduate School, but before the first registration, the student should consult the college and/or the graduate coordinator in the major academic unit about courses and degree requirements, deficiencies if any, and special regulations of the academic unit. The dean (or representative) of the college where the degree program is located must oversee all registrations. Once a supervisory committee is appointed, registration approval is the responsibility of the committee chair.

Catalog Year
Classification of Students
Confidentiality of Student Records
Academic Honesty
Student Conduct Code
Registration Requirements
Tuition/Fee Waivers
Attendance Policies
Change of Graduate Degree Program
Courses and Credits
Grades
Unsatisfactory Progress or Unsatisfactory Scholarship
Foreign Language Examination
Examinations
Preparation for Final Term
Awarding of Degrees
Attendance at Commencement

Catalog Year

Catalog year determines the set of academic requirements that must be fulfilled for graduation. Students graduate under the catalog in effect when they first enroll as degree-seeking students at UF provided they maintain continuous enrollment. Students who are unregistered for 2 or more consecutive terms must reapply for admission and will be assigned the catalog in effect when enrollment is resumed. With the approval of their college dean's office, students may opt to graduate under the requirements of a later catalog, but they must fulfill all graduation requirements from that alternative year. The University will make every reasonable effort to honor the curriculum requirements appropriate to each student's catalog year. However, courses and programs are sometimes discontinued and requirements may change as a result of curricular review or actions by accrediting associations and other agencies.

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Classification of Students

6 - Postbaccalaureate students: degree-holding students admitted to postbaccalaureate credits.

7 - Graduate students seeking a first master's degree.

8 - Graduate students who have earned a master's degree, or who have earned 36 or more credits while seeking a graduate degree, but who have not been admitted to doctoral candidacy.

9 - Graduate students admitted to doctoral candidacy.

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Confidentiality of Student Records

The University ensures the confidentiality of student educational records in accordance with State University System rules, state statutes, and FERPA, the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974, as amended, also known as the Buckley Amendment.

Student directory information that can be released to the public is limited to:

— Student name
— Local/permanent addresses and e-mail address
— Listed telephone number(s)
— Class and college
— Major
— Enrollment status (e.g., undergraduate or graduate level; full time or part time)
— Dates of attendance at UF
— Degree(s) and awards received at UF
— Most recent previous educational institution attended
— Weight and height of university athletes

Currently enrolled students must contact the appropriate agency/agencies to restrict release of directory information. The Office of the University Registrar, the Department of Housing and Residence Education, and Human Resource Services routinely release directory information to the public. Directory information may also be released by other university departments and/or employees.

— Students who want to restrict directory information must do so at the Office of the University Registrar in 222 Criser Hall.
— Students who live on campus also must request this restriction from the Department of Housing and Residence Education (next to Beaty Towers).
— Students who are also University employees must request this restriction from Human Resource Services.
— Students who do not want their addresses, phone numbers or personal information published on the Web should update their directory profile accordingly.

Student educational records may be released without a student's consent to school officials who have a legitimate educational interest in accessing the records. "School officials" shall include:

— An employee, agent or officer of the university or State University System of Florida in an administrative, supervisory, academic, research, or support staff position;
— Persons serving on university committees, boards and/or councils; and
— Persons employed by or under contract to the university to perform a special task, such as an attorney or an auditor.

"Legitimate educational interest" shall mean any authorized interest or activity undertaken in the name of the university for which access to an educational record is necessary or appropriate to the operation of the university or to the proper performance of the educational mission of the university. The university also may disclose information from a student's educational record without a student's consent to either individuals or entities permitted such access under applicable federal and state law.

Students have the right to review their own educational records for information and to determine accuracy. A photo I.D., other equivalent documentation or personal recognition by the custodian of the record will be required before access is granted. Parents of dependent students, as defined by the Internal Revenue Service, have these same rights upon presentation of proof of a student's dependent status. Each year when the catalog is published, students are notified of their FERPA rights.

If a student believes the educational record contains information that is inaccurate, misleading or in violation of his or her rights, the student can ask the institution to amend the record. The UF Student Guide outlines the procedures for challenging the content of a student record, as well as the policies governing access to and maintenance of student records.

Students who believe the university has not maintained the confidentiality of their educational record as required by law may file a complaint by contacting the Family Policy Compliance Office, U.S. Department of Education, 400 Maryland Avenue SW, Washington, DC 20202-5901.

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Academic Honesty

In the fall of 1995 the UF student body enacted a new honor code and voluntarily committed itself to the highest standards of honesty and integrity. When students enroll at the University, they commit themselves to the standard drafted and enacted by the students.

Preamble: In adopting this honor code, UF students recognize that academic honesty and integrity are fundamental values of the university community. Students who enroll at the University commit to holding themselves and their peers to the high standard of honor required by the honor code. Any individual who becomes aware of a violation of the honor code is bound by honor to take corrective action. The quality of a University of Florida education depends on community acceptance and enforcement of the honor code.

The Honor Code: We, the members of the University of Florida community, pledge to hold ourselves and our peers to the highest standards of honesty and integrity.

On all work submitted for credit by students at the University, the following pledge is either required or implied: "On my honor, I have neither given nor received unauthorized aid in doing this assignment."

The University requires all members of its community to be honest in all endeavors. A fundamental principle is that the whole process of learning and pursuit of knowledge is diminished by cheating, plagiarism and other acts of academic dishonesty. In addition, every dishonest act in the academic environment affects other students adversely, from the skewing of the grading curve to giving unfair advantage for honors or for professional or graduate school admission. Therefore, the University will take severe action against dishonest students. Similarly, measures will be taken against faculty, staff and administrators who practice dishonest or demeaning behavior.

Student responsibility: Students should report any condition that facilitates dishonesty to the instructor, department chair, college dean, or Student Honor Court.

Faculty responsibility: Faculty members have a duty to promote honest behavior and to avoid practices and environments that foster cheating in their classes. Teachers should encourage students to bring negative conditions or incidents of dishonesty to their attention. In their own work, teachers should practice the same high standards they expect from their students.

Administration responsibility: As highly visible members of our academic community, administrators should be ever vigilant to promote academic honesty and conduct their lives in an ethically exemplary manner.

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Student Conduct Code

Students enjoy the rights and privileges that accrue to membership in a university community and are subject to the responsibilities that accompany that membership. For a system of effective campus governance, it is incumbent upon all members of the campus community to notify appropriate officials of any violations of regulations and to assist in their enforcement. The University's conduct regulations, available to all students in the Student Guide, are set forth in Florida Administrative Code. Questions can be directed to the Dean of Students Office.

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Registration Requirements

The University of Florida operates on a semester system consisting of two 16-week terms and two 6-week summer terms. One semester credit equals 1.5 quarter credits. "Term" is used hereafter, instead of "semester".

Required Full-Time Registration

Graduate students on appointment: Required registration for fellows and trainees with stipends of $4,000 or greater per term (prorated for Summer) is 12 credits for Fall and Spring, 8 credits for Summer. Fellows whose stipends are less than $4,000 must register for at least 3 credits during fall and spring terms, and 2 credits for summer. Any additional credits are at the expense of the student. The full-time registration requirement is reduced for students who are graduate assistants. For students on appointment for the full summer, registration must total that specified for C term. Registration may be in any combination of A, B, or C terms. However, courses must be distributed so that the student is registered during each term on appointment. Students on appointment are financially liable for excess credits beyond the required registration. If a student on appointment drops below the required registration at any time in the semester, the student becomes financially liable for the entire registration. Students who do not register properly are not permitted to remain on appointment.

Full-time registration is 9 to 12 credits. However, most fellows must be registered for 12 credits in fall or spring and 8 credits in summer. Students not on an appointment may want to enroll full time to finish their degrees in the minimum time frame or may be required to enroll full time by external funding agencies or their academic units.

Full-time equivalent is required or prescribed registration; fewer than 9 to 12 credits but considered appropriate in specific circumstances. This includes students on a .25 to 1.00 FTE assistantship and other limited circumstances. See the Graduate Council Policy Manual. Lockstep programs such as M.B.A. are defined as cohorts who move together in the same enrollment sequence with courses taught in a particular order, on a particular schedule. Students have no flexibility in their program or sequence, and may not drop in and out of courses independently. On academic unit request, the Graduate School will certify specified students as full-time equivalent under the circumstances stated in the Graduate Council Policy Manual.

Part-time registration: Students not on an appointment and without a specific registration requirement by the government, external funding agency, or academic unit may register as a part-time student. Minimum registration is 3 credits in fall or spring and 2 credits in summer.

Employee registration: UF staff employed on a permanent, full-time basis may be permitted to waive fees up to a maximum of 6 credits per term on a space-available basis. Enrollment is limited to courses that do not increase direct costs to the University. Courses that increase direct costs can include TBA (to be arranged), computer courses, individualized courses, distance learning, internships, and dissertation and master's thesis courses. Laboratory courses are permitted on a space available basis. For updated information visit the Human Resource Services website: http://www.hr.ufl.edu/

Undergraduate registration in graduate courses: Upper-division undergraduate students may enroll in 5000-level courses with consent of the instructor. Normally, a student must have a GPA of at least 3.00. To enroll in 6000-level courses, a student must have senior standing, consent of the instructor, and an upper-division GPA of at least 3.00.

After a student is accepted to graduate school, up to 15 credits of graduate-level courses earned with a letter grade of B or better taken under this provision may be applied toward a graduate degree at UF, if credit for the course has not been used for an undergraduate degree, and if the transfer is approved by the academic unit and made as soon as the student is admitted to a graduate program.

Final term registration: During the term the final examination is given and during the term the degree is awarded, a student must be registered for at least 3 credits in fall or spring and 2 credits in summer. Thesis students must enroll in 6971 and doctoral students must enroll in 7980. Nonthesis students must enroll in course work that counts toward the graduate degree. Students on a fellowship, traineeship, or assistantship must be registered appropriately for their appointments.

Cleared prior:  Clearing prior is a possibility only for Thesis and Dissertation students who have met all published deadlines for the current term except Final Clearance from the Graduate Editorial Office. No other students are eligible. Clear Prior permits students to be exempt from registration for the term in which the degree will be awarded.

A student requesting to clear prior must meet ALL of the following criteria:

1. Student has successfully submitted a degree application for the current term within the published deadlines, as confirmed by print screen available from ISIS.

2. Student has appropriately satisfied the current term registration.

3. Student has successfully met the current term first submission deadlines for the thesis or dissertation, as confirmed by the Editorial Office via a confirmation e-mail to the student and committee chair.

4. Student has successfully met all other degree and administrative requirements within the published deadlines for the current term.

5. Student is in the process of finalizing the thesis or dissertation with the Graduate School Editorial Office. No other students are eligible.

6. Student has filed a Graduation Date Change Form at the Registrar’s Office by the last day of classes of the current term.

Drop/add: Courses may be dropped or added during drop/add without penalty. This period usually lasts 5 UF calendar days or 3 days for summer, starting with the first day of the term. Classes that meet for the first time after drop/add may be dropped without academic penalty or fee liability by the end of the next business day after the first meeting. This does not apply to laboratory sections. After this period, a course may be dropped and a W appears on the transcript. Students become financially liable for any course added or dropped after the deadline, including students with fee waivers.

Retaking courses: Graduate students may repeat courses in which they earn failing grades. Grade points from both the initial failed attempt and the first attempt earning a grade of C or better are included in computing the grade point average. The student receives credit for the satisfactory attempt only.

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Tuition/Fee Waivers

Tuition waivers which accompany fellowships greater than $4000 per term (prorated for Summer) or assistantships .25 FTE or greater will apply to the required registration credits.  These credits must count towards the degree, do not include audited courses, correspondence work, DOCE courses, or courses designated as "self-funded" by the registrar.

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Attendance Policies

Students are responsible for meeting all academic objectives as defined by the instructor. Absences count from the first class meeting. In general, acceptable reasons for absences from class include illness, serious family emergencies, special curricular requirements, military obligation, severe weather conditions, religious holidays, and participation in official University activities. Absences from class for court-imposed legal obligations (e.g., jury duty or subpoena) must be excused. Other reasons also may be approved.

Students may not attend classes unless they are registered officially or approved to audit with evidence of having paid audit fees. After the end of drop/add, the Office of the University Registrar provides official class rolls/addenda to instructors. Students who do not attend at least one of the first 2 class meetings of a course or laboratory in which they are registered and who have not contacted the academic unit to indicate their intent may be dropped from the course. Students must not assume that they will automatically be dropped if they fail to attend the first few days of class. The academic unit will notify students dropped from courses or laboratories by posting a notice in the academic unit office. Students may request reinstatement on a space-available basis if documented evidence is presented. The University recognizes the right of the individual professor to make attendance mandatory. After due warning, professors may prohibit further attendance and then assign a failing grade for excessive absences.

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Change of Graduate Degree Program

To change majors, thesis/non-thesis/project option, or degree level (same or different college), the academic unit must submit a Change of Graduate Degree Program for Graduate Students via the Graduate Information Management System (GIMS) to the Graduate School. The form must be signed by an authorized representative of the new academic unit and college, and then submitted to the Graduate School for processing. Any changes to degree programs, including thesis/non-thesis/project option, MUST occur before the published midpoint deadline of the student's final term.

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Courses and Credits

Undergraduate courses (1000-2999) may not be used as any part of the graduate degree requirements. All 1000- and 2000-level courses may be taken on a satisfactory/unsatisfactory (S/U) basis.

Six credits of undergraduate courses (3000-4999) outside the major may count when taken as part of an approved graduate program. Consult the Academic Unit before registering.

Courses numbered 5000 and above are limited to graduate students, with the exception described under Undergraduate Registration in Graduate Courses. Courses numbered 7000 and above are normally for advanced graduate students.

No more than 5 credits each of 6910 (Supervised Research) and 6940 (Supervised Teaching) may be taken by a graduate student at UF. Students who have taken 5 credits of 6910 cannot take 7910; the rule also applies to 6940 and 7940.

Audited courses at any level do not count toward any graduate degree requirements.

For a complete list of approved graduate courses, see Fields of Instruction. Academic units decide which of these graduate courses to offer in a given term. Contact the academic unit for information on available courses.

Generally, graduate courses may not be repeated for credit. However, there is no limit on courses numbered 6971, 6972, 6979, 7979, and 7980. Other courses repeated for credit indicate "max" after the single term credit, as listed in the Fields of Instruction.

Professional work: Graduate students may receive credit toward their degrees for courses in professional programs (e.g., J.D., D.V.M., or M.D.) when their advisers and graduate coordinators certify that the course work is appropriate for their programs and when the students receive permission from the academic units and colleges offering the courses. A list of such courses for each student must be filed with Graduate Student Records (106 Grinter) and is limited to a maximum of 9 credits toward the master's degree and 30 credits toward the doctorate.

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Grades

Passing, Non-Punitive and Failing Grades: The Office of the University Registrar records student grades. The word "credit" refers to one semester hour, generally representing one hour per week of lecture or two or more hours per week of laboratory work.

The only passing grades for graduate students are A, A-, B+, B, B-, C+, C, and S. Grades of C+ and C count toward a graduate degree if an equal number of credits in courses numbered 5000 or higher have been earned with grades of B+ and A, respectively. Grade points are not given for S and U grades; S and U grades are not used to calculate grade point averages. All letter-graded courses eligible to count toward the graduate degree, except 1000- and 2000-level courses, are used to calculate the cumulative grade-point average.   Letter grades of C-, D+, D, D- or E are not considered passing at the graduate level, although the grade points associated with these letter grades are in included in grade point average calculations.

Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory: Grades of S and U are the only grades awarded in courses numbered 6910 (Supervised Research), 6940 (Supervised Teaching), 6971 (Research for Master's Thesis), 6972 (Engineer's Research), 7979 (Advanced Research), and 7980 (Research for Doctoral Dissertation). Additional courses for which S and U grades apply are noted in the academic unit offerings in the Fields of Instruction section of the catalog.

All language courses regardless of level may be taken S/U if the student's major is not a language and the courses are not used to satisfy a minor, with approval from the student's supervisory committee chair and the instructor of the course. S/U approval should be made by the published deadline date. All 1000 and 2000 level courses may be taken S/U. No other courses (graduate, undergraduate, or professional) may be taken for an S/U grade.

Deferred grade H: The grade of H is not a substitute for a grade of S, U, or I. Courses for which H grades are appropriate must be so noted in their catalog descriptions, and must be approved by the Graduate Curriculum Committee and the Graduate School. This grade may be used only in special situations where the expected unit of work may be developed over a period of time greater than a single term. All grades of H must be removed before a graduate degree can be awarded.

Incomplete grades: Grades of I (incomplete) received during the preceding term should be removed as soon as possible. Grades of I carry no quality points and become punitive after 1 term. All grades of I must be removed before a graduate degree can be awarded.

Passing Grades and Grade Points Prior to Summer A 2009

A = 4.0
B+ = 3.5
B = 3.0
C+ = 2.5
C = 2.0
D+ = 1.5
D = 1.0
E = 0
WF = 0
I = 0
NG = 0
S-U = 0

Passing Grades and Grade Points Effective Summer A 2009

A = 4.0
A- = 3.67
B+ = 3.33
B = 3.0
B- = 2.67
C+ = 2.33
C = 2.0
C- = 1.67
D+ = 1.33
D = 1.0
D- = .67
E = 0
WF = 0
I = 0
NG = 0
S-U = 0

Note: The degree-granting college may require a minimum grade of C in particular courses.

Non-Punitive Grades and Symbols:
Zero Grade Points Not Counted in GPA

W = Withdrew
U = Unsatisfactory
H = Deferred grade assigned only in approved sequential courses or correspondence study
N* = No grade reported
I* = Incomplete

Failing Grades:
Zero Grade Points Counted in GPA

E = Failure
WF = Withdrew failing
NG = No grade reported
I = Incomplete

Unsatisfactory Progress or Unsatisfactory Scholarship

Any graduate student may be denied further registration if progress toward completing the program becomes unsatisfactory to the academic unit, college, or Dean of the Graduate School. Unsatisfactory scholarship is defined as failure to maintain a B average (3.00) in all work attempted. Graduate students need an overall GPA of 3.00 truncated and a 3.00 truncated GPA in their major (and in the minor, if a minor is declared) at graduation. Students with less than a 3.00 GPA may not hold an assistantship or fellowship.

Foreign Language Examination

A foreign language examination is not required for all degree programs. For specific information on foreign language requirements, contact the graduate coordinator of your academic unit.

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Examinations

The student must register for sufficient and appropriate graduate credits during the term any examination is taken. The student's supervisory committee is responsible for administering the written and oral qualifying examinations and the final oral examination for the defense of the thesis, project, or dissertation.

All members of the supervisory committee must sign the appropriate forms, including the Electronic Thesis and Dissertation (ETD) signature page, for the student to meet the requirements of the examination. The signed forms are to remain in the students' folder in the academic unit. Electronic information will be sent to the Graduate School via the Graduate Information Management System (GIMS) for the Final Exam Form and UF Publishing Agreement, once the student successfully defends.  The signed ETD Signature Page should be held by the Academic Unit until all Committee stipulations have been met; however, it should be delivered to the Graduate School Editorial Office no later than the Final Clearance Deadline for the intended term of degree award. 

The qualifying and comprehensive oral examinations and the oral defense of a thesis, project or dissertation may be conducted using video and/or telecommunications.  However, the student and chair or co-chair must be in the same physical location.  All other members may participate from remote sites via technological means.

Supervisory Committees or academic units may set their own standards for attendance at oral examinations that exceed the minimum requirement stated above. 

Students are responsible for coordinating the scheduling of oral examinations with their committee or academic unit and must follow the policies set by their committee or academic unit, and the Graduate School.

The written comprehensive examination for the nonthesis master's degree may be taken at a remote site. All other qualifying and final examinations for graduate students must be held on the University of Florida campus. Exceptions to this policy are made only for certain graduate students whose examinations are administered at the Agricultural Research and Educational Centers or on the campuses of the universities in the State University System.

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Preparation for Final Term

The student is responsible for meeting all requirements and observing every deadline. Deadlines are given in this catalog, in the Graduate Student Handbook, and online at the Graduate School website.

When the thesis or dissertation is ready to be put in final form, the student should review the Format Requirements of the Graduate School Editorial Office and should work with the Application Support Center. The Application Support Center offers students free assistance with troubleshooting their document. It is highly recommended that all students writing theses and dissertations use their services, in order to alleviate some of the stress felt during the approval process. Students must also file a Degree Application with the Office of the University Registrar at the start of the final term and must meet minimum registration requirements. If the degree is not awarded, the student must RE-APPLY for the degree in a subsequent term and meet all other requirements for that term. Before the end of the previous term, the student may file The Graduation Date Change Form with the Registrar's office at 222 Criser Hall, to indicate their intent to change their degree award date.

Verification of Degree Candidate Status

This service is provided until 3 weeks before graduation. However, students who before that time have completed all requirements for the degree, filed the fully signed final examination report and achieved final acceptance of the thesis or dissertation, may request verification to that effect. Verification of Degree Candidate Status Request Forms are filled out by the candidate; signed by the supervisory committee chair, department chair, college dean, and the Graduate School Editorial Office (224 HUB); then given to Graduate Student Records (106 Grinter) for verification and processing.

Although a student may have fulfilled academic requirements, the degree is not awarded until the Graduate School certifies the degree to the University Registrar. That is done at the end of Fall, Spring, and Summer C terms for all students who completed degree requirements and applied to graduate. Some employers and licensure boards require the degree statement on the transcript, which is available about 3 days after certification in December, May, and August.

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Awarding of Degrees

The Graduate School authorizes a candidate to be awarded the degree appropriate to the course of study under the following conditions (see degree descriptions for details):

— The candidate must have completed all course requirements, including an internship or practicum if required, in the major and minor fields while observing time limits and limitations on transfer credit, on nonresident work, and on level of course work.

— The candidate's grade point average must be at least B (3.00, truncated) in the major and in all work attempted in the graduate program, including a minor where appropriate. All grades of I, H, and X must be resolved. Grades of I, X, D, E, and U require a written petition from the Academic Unit to the Dean of the Graduate School.

— The candidate must have satisfactorily completed all required examinations (qualifying, comprehensive, and final) and be recommended for the degree by the supervisory committee, major academic unit, and college.

— The dissertation or thesis must have been approved by the supervisory committee and accepted by the Graduate School. Projects must be approved by the academic unit, which then certifies completion to the Graduate School.

— Recommendations for awarding a degree include meeting all academic and professional qualifications as judged by the faculty of the appropriate academic unit.

— All requirements for the degree must be met while the candidate is a registered graduate student. Degrees are certified 3 times per year: December, May, and August.

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Attendance at Commencement

Graduates who are to receive advanced degrees are urged to attend Commencement to accept in person the honor indicated by the appropriate hood. Through the University Bookstore, the student may arrange to rent or buy the proper academic attire to be worn at Commencement.

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