University Catalog 2006-2007

University Catalog > Academic Policies > Undergraduate Policies

Academic Policies

Undergraduate Policies

Student Classification

Admitted undergraduates are classified as follows: freshman, 0-29 credits completed; sophomore, 30-59 credits completed; junior, 60-89 credits completed; and senior, 90 or more credits completed. Full-time undergraduates are classified as those students enrolled in 12 or more credits per semester. Please note that different criteria for full-time status may apply for tuition, verification, and financial aid purposes. For more information, contact the offices of Student Accounts, Registrar, and Student Financial Aid, respectively.

Academic Advising

Admitted undergraduate students should meet regularly with the academic advisor to discuss academic programs, educational goals, and career plans. With their advisors, students plan academic programs to meet the general university degree requirements and specific requirements within their major fields. It is the student’s responsibility to read the catalog, and to know and fulfill the requirements of a specific baccalaureate degree. To assist in the advising process, Mason provides a computerized degree evaluation. Students may access their individualized reports through Patriot Web.

Individual departments establish their own advising processes; students should check with their departments for the appropriate procedures. During their freshman and sophomore years, students in the Honors Program in General Education plan their schedules with honors advisors. Every department coordinates advising of its honors students through the Honors Office, Enterprise Hall, Room 305.

Some departments require that students be advised prior to registration each semester. For the categories of students who may not register until they have seen an advisor, see the “Registration and Attendance” section of this chapter.

Academic Advising Center
Student Union Building I, Room 304, MS 2E6
Phone: 703-993-2470
Fax: 703-993-2478
Web: www.gmu.edu/departments/advising
E-mail: advisor@gmu.edu

Admitted students who have not yet declared a major or who are considering a change of major are assisted in the Academic Advising Center. Students are encouraged to make an appointment for information about general education requirements, programs, policies, procedures, and other academic concerns. The center also provides information and guidance for students who are interested in preprofessional programs in the health fields. Advising is available by appointment Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. until 5 p.m., and Tuesday until 8 p.m., when classes are in session.

Student Academic Affairs
Johnson Center, Room 245, MS 2C4
Phone: 703-993-9082
Fax: 703-993-9008
Web: www.gmu.edu/departments/saa

Student Academic Affairs consists of three centers: Freshman Center, Center for University Scholars, and the University Course Office (UNIV 100, 200, 300, and 400). Student Academic Affairs also oversees the Supplemental Instruction and Peer Advisor Programs, and it rules on all academic actions submitted by students not in a declared major.

Advising upon Entrance into Upper Division (Junior Standing)

Upon entrance into the upper division, every student should meet with an advisor to adopt a program of study. This meeting should include:

This advising session occurs in the semester in which the student will have completed 60 or more acceptable credits. The results are a matter of record, with any approved modifications being entered into the student’s computerized degree plan.

Although an upper-division student who has filed an approved program of study is usually not required to consult again with an academic advisor, it remains the student’s responsibility to seek approval for any program change so that the computerized degree plan may be kept up to date. In particular, once a student has completed 60 credits, a change of major requires an extended session with an advisor in the new major and approval of a new program of study before the change is complete.

A student in lower-division status may change majors by filing a Change/Declaration of Academic Program form with the registrar. These are minimal advising procedures to be followed in all undergraduate segments of the university; individual units may require additional advising sessions.

Medical Sciences Advisory Committee
Phone: 703-993-2470

The Medical Sciences Advisory Committee reviews qualified candidates for admission to health profession programs in allopathic and osteopathic medicine, dentistry, and podiatry, and writes a composite letter of evaluation in support of the applicant. The committee comprises university faculty and professional advising staff. Committee members also function as premed advisors. Students seeking information about admission to professional medical programs are encouraged to contact the chair of the Medical Sciences Advisory Committee, George Mason University, Student Academic Affairs and Advising, MS 2E6, Fairfax, Virginia 22030-4444.

Requirements for Retention

The following system of academic progress became effective in fall 2004 and applies to all undergraduate degree and nondegree students at Mason, including those formerly categorized as extended studies.

Academic retention is based solely on the cumulative GPA. The significance of the cumulative GPA varies according to the credit level, or cumulative earned credits, which is a combination of GPA credits earned at the university plus credits transferred from other institutions or obtained by testing.

Dean’s List

Students in degree status who take at least 6 credits in a semester, and earn a semester GPA of 3.50 or higher, merit placement on the Dean’s List. Courses subsequently repeated and excluded will not retroactively affect Dean’s List status. This notation will be placed on the individual’s permanent record.

Good Academic Standing

Students are in good academic standing unless academically dismissed, suspended, or on probation. Students on academic warning are still considered to be in good academic standing.

Student Retention Categories

The university’s minimum standard for academic achievement is 2.00 on a 4.00 scale. Students with at least 7 credits and a cumulative GPA of less than 2.00 fall into three categories: warning, probation, and suspension. All notations of academic standing are included in a student’s permanent record. The cumulative GPA range that defines each of the categories varies according to the credit level, as noted below:

GPA Retention Levels

Warning Probation Suspension
Credit Level Cumulative GPA range Cumulative GPA range Cumulative GPA range
7–16 0.00–1.99
17–29 1.75–1.99 1.00–1.74 0.00–0.99
30–44 1.80–1.99 1.10–1.79 0.00–1.09
45–59 1.85–1.99 1.25–1.84 0.00–1.24
60–74 1.90–1.99 1.40–1.89 0.00–1.39
75–89 1.95–1.99 1.55–1.94 0.00–1.54
90–104 1.98–1.99 1.70–1.97 0.00–1.69
105+ 1.85–1.99 0.00–1.84

Periods of Academic Suspension

Students who incur a first suspension following a spring semester or Summer Term serve a period of suspension through the next fall semester. Students who incur a first suspension following a fall semester serve a period of suspen-sion through the next Summer Term. A second suspension is for one calendar year: two semesters and a Summer Term. Students returning from suspension are on probation for one academic period. Course credits earned at other colleges during the period of suspension from Mason (for academic or nonacademic reasons) are not accepted for the degree program.

Academic Dismissal

A third suspension results in academic dismissal, a status that is usually permanent. In exceptional cases, students who have been dismissed may apply for readmission after a minimum absence of three calendar years from the university, but only if they meet one or more of the following conditions after having been dismissed:

Meeting the above requirements does not guarantee a return. The Office of Admissions and the appropriate school or college dean will make individual decisions in the best academic interests of the student and the university. For students seeking readmission to a new school or college, the new dean will make the decision in consultation with the former dean and the Office of Admissions. For more information, see the “Academic Clemency Policy” section of this chapter.

Academic Period

Academic period refers to fall semester, spring semester, or Summer Term. For determining the duration of academic warning, probation and suspension, an academic period is defined as follows:

Each academic period begins on the 15th day following the last scheduled day of final exams for the previous period. Each academic period ends on the 14th day after the last scheduled day of final exams. Example: Assume that the last scheduled day of final exams for a semester is Monday, December 23. That period then ends on Monday, January 6. The next period begins on Tuesday, January 7.

Academic Performance and Credit Limit

Undergraduate students on warning, probation, or returning from suspension are limited to a maximum of 13 credits for following semesters until they achieve good standing. Students preregistered for 14 or more credits are responsible for seeking academic advisement and adjusting their enrollment to a maximum of 13 credits.

Academic Standing and Student Activities

Only students in good academic standing are eligible to hold or run for elective or appointive office in any organization or activity associated with Mason, or to compete in any athletic or other activity representing Mason on either an intercollegiate or club level, or to serve as a working staff member of any student organization. Note that students on warning are considered to be in good standing.

A student whose eligibility for an activity requires the completion of a semester will have fulfilled that requirement when the student’s publicly scheduled exams are over, unless continued eligibility depends on the grades received. In the latter case, the student will not become eligible until the end of the semester as defined in the “Academic Period” section.

Academic Clemency

Undergraduate students returning to Mason after a separation of a minimum of three calendar years may petition their academic dean to have a number of previously earned grades and credits removed from the calculation of their cumulative GPA. Up to 16 credits and corresponding grades from courses previously completed at Mason may be removed from calculation of the GPA and will not be counted toward graduation requirements. Note that the courses, with their original grades and the notation “Academic Clemency,” will remain listed on the student’s transcript permanently. The petition for clemency must be filed in the first semester of returning to Mason; approval may depend on successful completion of that semester. Approval of the request is neither automatic nor guaranteed.

Undergraduate Academic Program

To plan a sound academic program, undergraduates should select a degree and major as soon as it is practical, but no later than four weeks before the end of the sophomore year. To declare a major, students should confer with the appropriate advisor or designate of either the new major pro-gram or, if undeclared, the Academic Advising Center (in Student Union Building I, Room 304). Students should obtain signatures from both departments in the “Change of Major” section of the Change/Declaration of Academic Program form, available in the Registrar’s Office and in the Academic Advising Center.

Change of Academic Program

Students considering a change in their academic program (major or degree) are encouraged to see an advisor in the Academic Advising Center or a faculty advisor in their prospective discipline. Departmental chapters of this catalog describe requirements for acceptance. Students not meeting the requirements may appeal to the department chair for an exception.

Once a student has completed 60 credits, a change of major requires a meeting with an advisor in the new major before the change is complete. To file a change of major, signatures of advisors or designates in both the new and former major programs must be obtained on the Change/Declaration of Academic Program form.

Credit for More than One Undergraduate Major

Students seeking to graduate with a BA or BS degree in two or more subjects must meet departmental requirements for the major in each field. For each major, at least 18 credits used to fulfill its requirements cannot be used to fulfill the requirements of another major, a concentration, a minor, or an undergraduate certificate.

Students given permission to pursue two or more concurrent majors must complete the “Declaration of Second Major” section of the Change/Declaration of Academic Program form, available in the Registrar’s Office or at registrar.gmu.edu/forms.html. The applicant must present a detailed program of study for both majors, and obtain the authorizing signature from the chair or director of the second major program and from the dean or director, if required by the college, school, or institute. When required, department chairs and deans or directors must also approve all changes to the programs of study. Students may begin a program at any time that permits completion before the anticipated graduation date.

Minors

Students may elect minor programs of study in addition to major fields by completing the “Declaration or Change of Minor” section of the Change/Declaration of Academic Program form. Minors usually require between 15 and 21 credits of study, at least 8 of which must be applied only to that minor and may not be used to fulfill requirements of the student’s major, concentration, an undergraduate certificate, or another minor. Students must complete at least 6 credits in their minor at Mason and achieve a minimum 2.00 GPA in courses applied to the minor. Students interested in a minor should consult the appropriate chapters in this catalog.

Baccalaureate Degree Requirements

To qualify for a bachelor’s degree, students must have been admitted, completed at least 120 credits that count toward graduation, fulfilled all degree requirements, and achieved a cumulative GPA of 2.00 or higher. Students seeking a bachelor’s degree must apply at least 45 credits of upper-level courses (numbered 300 or above) toward graduation requirements. Some programs may have higher standards for grades allowable in majors, minors, or certificates. Please refer to the appropriate section of the catalog for more information.

General Education Requirements

All undergraduates seeking a baccalaureate degree at Mason must complete the General Education requirements. For more details, go to the University General Education chapter of this catalog. Additional requirements for specific degree programs can be found in the description of each college or school in this catalog.

English Composition Requirement

Mason requires students to complete at least two semesters of English composition. Students enrolled in the honors program in General Education or in New Century College learning communities complete the English composition requirement as specified in those programs. All other students, unless they have received equivalent credit through transfer or proficiency exam, must enroll in ENGL 101 (or 100) upon admission and, after meeting its prerequisites, ENGL 302. Students must attain a minimum grade of C in composition courses to fulfill degree requirements.

Writing-Intensive Course Requirement

In addition to English composition, and as part of the university’s commitment to literacy in all programs, at least one course in each major has been designated “writing intensive.” While other courses in the major may require written projects, writing-intensive courses emphasize the process of drafting and revision. Faculty members give constructive comments on drafts of at least one course project. Students then revise and resubmit, or use for future submissions. Writing-intensive courses are numbered 300 and above. See the description of each major for the specific courses that fulfill the requirement.

Residence Requirements

At least one-fourth of the total credits applied to the degree must be completed at Mason, and must include at least 12 upper-level credits (courses numbered 300 or above) in the major program. For more information, see the “Credit Earned at Other Institutions” section.

Second Bachelor’s Degree

A second bachelor’s degree may be earned, either concurrently or sequentially. To graduate with two degrees, students must present at least 30 Mason credits beyond those required by either degree alone.

Students who are concurrently pursuing two bachelor’s degrees at Mason must present a detailed program of study for both degrees, and obtain authorizing signatures from the chair or director of each degree program and from the dean or director, if required by the college, school, or institute. Students may declare the second concurrent degree by completing the “Declaration of Second Bachelor’s Degree” section of the Change/Declaration of Academic Program form.

Application for a second bachelor’s degree declared after graduation from a first degree must be conducted through the Office of Admissions. Determination of academic standing starts anew for Mason graduates who return for a second bachelor’s degree. At least 30 credits must be taken after admission to the second degree to meet the university residency requirement for that degree.

University Honors

A student graduates with distinction from the university when at least 60 credits applied toward graduation are earned at Mason, and the student’s cumulative GPA is at least equal to one of three values: 3.90, summa cum laude; 3.70, magna cum laude; or 3.50, cum laude.

A student graduates with recognition from the university when between 45 and 59 (inclusive) credits applied toward graduation are earned at Mason, and the student’s cumulative GPA is at least 3.80.