Academic policies

> Academic standing
> Grades
> Graduation requirements
> Repetition of courses

The Quarter System

The graduate program at AUA is normally offered during three academic quarters: spring, summer, and fall.  Courses and independent studies may occasionally be offered during the winter quarter.

Grades

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The work of graduate students at AUA is evaluated on the basis of letter grades as follows: A (excellent), B (satisfactory), C (minimum passing level), D (unsatisfactory), I (incomplete), F (fail), P (pass).  For individual studies or seminars, students may be evaluated on the basis of the following: S (satisfactory) and U (unsatisfactory).  The grades A, B, and C may be modified by plus (+) or minus (-) suffixes reflecting the strength of the grade.

Grade points per letter are assigned as follows: A=4, B=3, C=2, D=1, F=0.  When attached to the grades A, B, C, plus grades carry three-tenths of a grade point more per unit, and minus grades three-tenths of a grade point less per unit, except for A+, which carries 4.0 grade points.  A student’s grade point average is computed on a scale of 4.0 and is based on courses taken at AUA.  Grades A, B, C, D, and F are used in determining the grade point average. Although grades P, S and U carry no grade point and are excluded from all grade point computations, students receive course credit.  Grade I carries no grade point and students do not receive course credit until completion of all necessary coursework and assignment of a grade.  Graduate students at AUA must maintain an overall grade point average of at least 3.0 in courses taken at AUA. 

Repetition of Courses

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Graduate students must repeat courses in which they received a grade of D or F.   When a student repeats a course in which he or she received a D or F, degree credit will be given only once, and only the most recently earned grade will be used to calculate the student’s cumulative grade point average.  Students who receive a grade of C+, C or C- have the option to repeat the course.  Degree or certificate credit and grade points will be computed in the same manner as for repeat courses.  Students receiving the I grade must duly complete the requirements of the course, or repeat the course, within one year from the time the grade was assigned. If students fail to do so, their I grade will be changed to an F grade.

Academic Standing (including probation and dismissal) 

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Based on their performance, graduate students at AUA are classified as: 1) in good academic standing, 2) on probationary status, or 3) subject to dismissal.  Students are considered to be in good academic standing if: 1) they are making adequate progress toward completion of degree requirements, and 2) they have a cumulative grade point average of at least 3.0.

Probation and Dismissal: Students who are not in good academic standing are considered to be on probation or subject to dismissal.  Probation is intended to provide a student whose performance is less than satisfactory with a period in which to correct the deficiencies and to raise performance to a level consistent with the minimum standards required by the University.

Graduate students can be placed on academic probation and ultimately dismissed if they fail to make normal progress toward their degree or certificate.  At the end of each quarter, the Office of the Registrar reviews the records of all registered graduate students.  Those whose records indicate academic deficiencies, i.e., a grade point average below 3.0 or inadequate progress toward completion of degree or certificate requirements, are reported to the Dean or Acting Dean, who will notify these students that they are on probation, subject to dismissal, or dismissed.  A student who has been dismissed from the University will not be readmitted. 

Letters notifying students of probationary status will specify the nature of the problem or deficiency, the steps to be taken to correct the deficiency, and a reasonable period in which to correct the problem or to show acceptable improvement.

A student who remains on probation during two consecutive quarters may be subject to dismissal.  Students are subject to dismissal if they do not correct their academic deficiencies after a reasonable period of probation.  Students are removed from probationary status when they raise their grade point average to at least 3.0.

Students have the right to appeal academic or administrative decisions that terminate their progress toward the degree.  Generally, students should initiate an appeal at the administrative level at which the action was recommended.  Only after the student’s appeal has been heard at that level may it be referred to the next higher administrative or academic level.  In cases of dismissal from the University, students may appeal once, in writing, to the Academic Standing Committee, which consists of all the Deans and Acting Deans.  This written appeal must be filed directly with the Director of Student Academic Affairs. A student who has been dismissed from the University for scholastic deficiencies (low GPA) will: (a) not be eligible for readmission to any AUA degree program, and (b) not have AUA privileges.

Degree or Certificate Requirements  

Home > Academic Programs > Academic Policies > Graduation Requirements

Colleges and programs set their own subject requirements for the degree/certificate. All study programs are approved by the Dean or Acting Dean of the appropriate College or Program.  Students must complete all published course requirements and must maintain a minimum grade point average of 3.0 in order to graduate.  Students cannot graduate if their transcripts have a D or F grade.  Degrees/certificates are awarded once in a year in October. 

Completion of Requirements for the Degree/Certificate

Students have a maximum of three years in which to complete all published requirements for their degree/certificate.  If they do not finish in that period, the appropriate College will terminate the candidacy of students within a reasonable time after their candidacy has lapsed beyond the three-year limit.

Transfer of Credit

1. An AUA student may petition to transfer to AUA up to 4 units of credit for a course completed at another recognized institution of higher learning, subject to the following conditions:

That the student earn a passing grade in the course for which transfer credit is requested;

That the student submit an official transcript from the institution at which the credit was earned, showing the grade and number of units awarded for the course in question; and

That the student provide evidence that the credits s/he is requesting to transfer to AUA will not be utilized to fulfill a program or degree requirement at another institution.

2. An applicant from another university who wishes to transfer his/her earned credits towards an AUA degree may be allowed to transfer one course with the approval of the Dean of the College. Furthermore, the Dean may allow fore more credits based on the results of the waiver examinations given by the Department to the Applicant.