Enrollment and Grading

Graduate Studies Information

The normal full-time enrollment for a graduate student is 9-12 credit hours per semester or 3-6 hours for the summer session. Students are not normally permitted to enroll for more than 16 hours a semester or more than 8 hours in the summer session. If a student is on the staff, the hours of enrollment should be limited according to Graduate School regulations. The enrollment of those holding foreign student (F-1) visas must conform to the minimum enrollment requirements established by the regulations of the Immigration and Naturalization Service. Foreign students must conform to the residence requirements established by the Graduate School, even if the minimal enrollments required by the INS are less. More information about enrollment can be found in the Graduate School Catalog.

Enrollment Status

The following student loads for coursework and/or appointments at the University of Kansas for teaching or research represent full-time graduate student status for purposes of qualifying for fellowship tenure, veteran's benefits, and similar certification, and in connection with meeting the residence requirements for doctoral degrees.

Full-time Status

Fall and Spring Semesters:
  • 9-12 credit hours = full-time
  • 7-8 hours plus 30% teaching or research appointment = full-time
  • 6 hours plus 40% + teaching or research appointment = full-time
Summer Semester:
  • 6 credit hours = full-time
  • 4-5 hours plus 25% teaching or research appointment = full-time
  • 3 hours plus 50% teaching or research appointment = full-time

Half-time Status

Fall and Spring Semesters:
  • 6 credit hours = half-time
  • 5 hours plus 10% teaching or research appointment = half-time
  • 4 hours plus 20% teaching or research appointment = half-time
  • 3 hours plus 25% teaching or research appointment = half-time
Summer Semester:
  • 3 credit hours = half-time
  • 25 hours plus 25% teaching or research appointment = half-time
  • 3 hours plus 50% teaching or research appointment = half-time

Masters candidates must be enrolled for at least 1 credit hour during the semester in which the Masters final examination is taken.

Seniors and Graduate Study (Co-enrollment)

Seniors at KU who will complete the requirements for a baccalaureate degree in a given semester, and who have a very strong academic record (grade point average higher than a 3.0 on a 4.0 scale) may apply for contingent admission to the Graduate School and request permission of the Graduate Division to co-enroll in the Graduate School for the final undergraduate semester.

Grading

The basic system in the Graduate School is an A, B, C, D, F system, where A designates above-average graduate work, B, average graduate work, C, passing but not average graduate work. D and F work does not count toward a degree.

The letter P is used in this system only to indicate participation in thesis (899), dissertation (999), and research enrollments (related to thesis or dissertation), and in the first semester enrollment of a two-semester sequence course. P grades for enrollments in research or dissertation leading to one of the doctorates may remain unchanged, but a letter grade (A, B, C, D or F) will be assigned in the last semester of enrollment to characterize the quality of the final product. The I grade is not appropriate for enrollment in thesis, dissertation, or research, and will not be accepted.

For enrollments other than thesis, dissertation, or research, the letter I is used to indicate course work that has been of passing quality, some part of which is, for good reason, unfinished. Serious Sickness, Accidents, or family situations may be examples of good reasons for awarding an I. An unacceptable reason for awarding an I is that the current performance is lower than desired by the student. The grade of I for graduate courses shall remain unchanged on the student's record except that, should the student subsequently complete the course work, the instructor would then change the I to a letter grade, i.e., A, B, C, D, or F. At least a B average is required on course work counted towards a master's and only courses graded A, B, or C may be so counted. Courses graded P, S, U, or I are excluded from the computation of the average.

Probation

Upon falling below a cumulative graduate grade-point average of 3.0, computed with the inclusion of grades earned at the University of Kansas for all courses including undergraduate courses taken to make up background deficiencies, the Graduate Division of the School of Engineering shall place the student on probation. If the student's overall graduate average has been raised to B by the end of the next semester of enrollment after being placed on probation, the student may be returned to regular status. If not, the student will not be permitted to re-enroll in the Graduate School unless the Graduate Division acts favorably on a recommendation from the Department for the student to continue in graduate study.

If admitted on probation, a student must earn an overall graduate average of at least 3.0 during the first semester of enrollment (in which case the student is considered to have achieved regular status). A student admitted on probation who fails to earn a 3.0 average in the first semester will normally not be permitted to re-enroll. When the particular circumstances may be deemed to justify continuation, and upon the recommendation of the Department, such a student may be continued on probation by the Graduate Division for one additional semester equivalent of full-time graduate study.

Course Numbering

Courses that may give graduate credit are numbered according to the following scheme:

  • Courses numbered 500-699 are designed primarily for juniors and seniors, but are also taken by some graduate students who have fewer than 30 hours of graduate credit.
  • Courses numbered 700-799 are designed primarily for graduate students who have fewer than 30 hours of graduate credit, but some undergraduates also take them.
  • Courses numbered 800-899 are designed primarily for graduate students who have fewer than 30 hours of graduate courses.
  • Courses numbered 900-999 are designed primarily for graduate students (Ph.D) who have 30 or more hours of graduate credit.

No course, regardless of its number, can give graduate credit unless it has been approved for graduate credit by the Graduate Division or the Graduate School, and is taught by a person holding a current appointment to the Graduate Faculty.