GENERAL PROCEDURES

Although the Graduate School sets minimal hours requirements for both the M.A. and Ph.D. degrees, most students take coursework beyond this basic core.  Formal classes and seminars constitute the heart of degree programs, but independent study through readings-research-problem courses is often a useful adjunct.  Students wanting to take more than six hours of independent study courses, however, must first obtain permission from the Graduate Studies Committee (GSC).  In addition, a one-page statement of the nature of each independent course shall be prepared by the student, signed by the professor involved, and placed in the student's file.  If these statements are not so filed, the student will not be permitted to take the M.A. oral or Ph.D. comprehensive exam. 

Students are strongly discouraged from requesting "incompletes" in lieu of regular letter grades.  Students with six or more hours of "incomplete" grades will be denied permission to enroll until these hours are reduced to the allowable limit (i.e., five hours).

The department recommends that Graduate Teaching Assistants have their teaching evaluated by faculty.  Students should ask professors of their choice to visit their classes, and then, perhaps, repeat the procedure in subsequent semesters as a way of measuring improvement.  Evaluation results may be provided via a meeting between the student and the faculty member, a standard departmental peer evaluation form (available in the departmental office), or a letter.  Beyond the obvious advantage of improving teaching, this process will enable faculty members to comment directly on teaching skills when writing letters of recommendation for on-campus awards or postgraduate positions. 

All graduate students are strongly encouraged to attend the various departmental colloquia offered throughout the year.