121 Baker Building
Phone 216-368-4390; Fax 216-368-4250

Lenore A. Kola, Ph.D. (Boston University)

Dean of Graduate Studies

Graduate Committee
General responsibility for overseeing programs of graduate study and for academic and other general regulations applicable to all graduate students and programs is delegated to the University Faculty Senate Committee on Graduate Studies. Each department, school, or interdisciplinary committee is responsible for its particular graduate programs within the framework of the general regulations. The Committee on Graduate Studies consists of the Dean of Graduate Studies, Associate Dean of Graduate Studies, nine faculty members elected by the University Faculty Senate and three graduate students elected by the Graduate Student Senate.

Graduate Student Senate
Students in the School of Graduate Studies are represented by a Graduate Student Senate, which consists of one student elected from each department that offers graduate programs. The officers of the senate are elected by the graduate student senators, who also select graduate student representatives to the University Faculty Senate and various campus committees.

For financial aid information see the "Financial Information" section of this Bulletin.

Applicants with good academic records from fully accredited universities and colleges will be considered for admission to graduate study at Case Western Reserve University. Admission must be recommended by the department or professional school of the university in which the applicant proposes to work and must be approved by the Dean of Graduate Studies.

Application Procedure
An applicant for admission must submit complete credentials to the proposed department or program at least 30 days before the first day of classes for the semester admission is requested. (Allow at least 60 days when applying from outside the United States.) An applicant for admission and concurrent financial aid consideration must have the completed application forms on file generally by March 1 for fall semester or by November 1 for spring semester. Most departments award financial aid for the academic year, which begins in the fall semester. The credentials must include the following items:

When a letter of acceptance for an international student has been issued, a copy is sent to the International Student’s Office where the I-20 is processed and sent to the student who must then obtain a student visa in order to begin study in the U.S. More detailed information can be obtained from the International Students’ Office and from the "Student Affairs" section of the Bulletin.

Full Standing
To be admitted to full standing the applicant must meet all the admissions criteria without conditions or academic provisions. Applicants must have a good academic record, e.g., a B average or rank in the upper third of his or her graduating class at an institution whose status and programs are readily assessed. The applicant will be expected to meet essentially all of the undergraduate prerequisites for the proposed field of graduate study. In addition to evidence of admissibility from transcripts, grade records, letters of recommendation and TOEFL test (English proficiency test for international students only), certain departments require that the applicant submit satisfactory scores on the Graduate Record Examination, the Miller Analogies Test, or the Graduate Management Admission Test.

Ordinarily a bachelor’s degree is required for unconditional admission to the graduate school. Under some circumstances, an admissions committee may recommend admission to the School of Graduate Studies on the basis of an equivalent experience. In this case, final approval for admission by the Dean of Graduate Studies is required.

Provisional Standing
Applicants who have academic deficiencies and do not qualify for admission with full standing are occasionally admitted provisionally. A student may give evidence of ability in his or her chosen field that is sufficiently convincing to warrant provisional admission, but the quantity or quality of the student’s preparation may be difficult to determine with sufficient certainty for admission in full standing. The provisions will be specified by the department to which the student is admitted, and stated in the official letter of admission from the Dean of Graduate Studies. A provisional graduate student is expected to complete appropriate course work and to meet the performance standards of the School of Graduate Studies within the first academic year of study. Although the provisional student’s records will be reviewed each semester, the student’s status will be reconsidered by the department no later than at the end of two semesters of study. At that time, if the student has satisfied the provisions associated with his or her admission in the judgment of the department and the Dean of Graduate Studies, the student will be given full standing; otherwise, he or she will be separated from further graduate study in that department.

Conditional Standing
Applicants who have missing documentation in their admissions file (such as an official academic transcript with degree posted or official copies of test scores), or who are required to attain higher achievement levels on standard tests such as the GRE or TOEFL, as specified by either the department or the School of Graduate Studies may be admitted conditionally. The condition (s) specified in the letter of acceptance must be satisfied prior to matriculation in the School of Graduate Studies.

Applicants are guaranteed admission only for the term specified in the letter of admission. An applicant who is unable to enroll in the semester for which he or she was initially admitted may request to postpone matriculation up to two regular academic semesters. In such cases, the department to which the applicant has applied may accept or reject the applicant’s request, and the terms of readmission may differ from the original offer. If a delay of more than two semesters is requested, the applicant’s file must be reviewed and reevaluated by the department. If more than two years elapse since acceptance, the applicant must reapply in the same manner as a new applicant. Because applicant files are only kept for a maximum of two years, all documentation will have to be resubmitted.

Individuals with earned bachelor’s degrees that want to enroll in classes for personal enrichment or to satisfy prerequisite course requirements for later admission to graduate programs may enroll as non-degree students in the office of the University Registrar. A student who wishes to register as a non-degree student should request the appropriate application form from the Registrar’s office and submit evidence that a bachelor’s degree has been earned. Students may enroll in undergraduate and graduate level courses. However, for graduate (400 level and above) courses, written consent from the instructor must be obtained. Continuation in non-degree status is at the discretion of the Dean of Graduate Studies.

Applicants who are interested in transferring course work into graduate degree programs are encouraged to seek early advice from the departments to which they intend to apply to insure that courses taken as non-degree students will satisfy departmental requirements. Non-degree students cannot assume that they will be admitted to any graduate degree program, or that all course work taken will transfer into the program. Only 400 level and higher course work will be considered for graduate transfer. The term of the earliest approved, transferred course will establish the date of entrance into the degree program. Courses transferred from non-degree status must have been taken within five years of the first term of matriculation as a degree seeking student and passed with a grade of B or better. Students considering transfer into a degree program will need to meet a minimum matriculation requirement of two semesters and six semester hours of course work.

Graduate study presupposes a considerable maturity on the part of the student in planning and reaching his or her educational objectives. The effectiveness of the graduate program lies jointly with the individual student and the faculty Advisor or advisory committee through early, substantive planning discussions. The formal requirements set forth in these regulations are intended to aid in the maintenance of uniform minimum standards of performance, to form a basis for planning programs of graduate study, and to provide for efficient management and coordination.

For each graduate student, an official planned program of study consisting of the courses and other requirements for the M.A., M.F.A., M.S., M.P.H., D.M.A., or Ph.D. degrees should be established in consultation with the major faculty Advisor or advisory committee. After the major faculty Advisor and department chair have approved the program of study, it should be submitted to the Dean of Graduate Studies to be placed in the student’s file. At the latest, students enrolled in Master’s programs must submit an approved program of study along with an application to graduate. For doctoral students, it must be submitted when the student advances to candidacy. A revised program of study must be submitted when any change in the original plan occurs. For graduate engineering students, additional details regarding degree program requirements are given in the Engineering section of the Bulletin. The various departments and schools may make such additional regulations concerning programs of study as may be necessary to reach particular academic goals. These regulations must be in writing, with a copy filed in the School of Graduate Studies.

Each graduate student will have a faculty advisor or advisory committee assigned by the department or professional school to assist the student in planning the program of study best designed to enable the student to reach appropriate educational objectives.

In recognition that the objectives of master’s degrees differ for various departments and for individual students, especially in the importance given to research, two general plans for master’s degrees may be followed:

Plan A
M.A. or M.S. with a thesis based on individual research and a final oral examination.

Plan B
M.A., M.F.A., M.P.H., or M.S. without a thesis but requiring a comprehensive examination and/or a major project to be administered by the academic unit.

The Master’s Thesis (Plan A)
The minimum requirements for the master’s degree under Plan A are 18 semester hours of course work plus a thesis equivalent to at least 9 semester hours of registration, or 21 semester hours of course work plus a thesis equivalent to at least 6 semester hours of registration. Once registered for thesis credit (Course 651), a student must continue 651 registration each succeeding regular semester until graduation. However, if a student is registered for course work or research toward the doctorate in the semester in which the thesis examination is expected to occur, concurrent registration for 651 is not required. At least 18 semester hours of course work, including thesis, must be at the 400 level or higher.

Each student must prepare an individual thesis. Joint theses are not permitted. The written thesis must conform to regulations concerning format, quality, and time of submission as established by the Dean of Graduate Studies. Detailed instructions can be obtained from the School of Graduate Studies.

For completion of master’s degrees under Plan A, an oral examination (defense) of the master’s thesis is required. This examination is conducted by a committee of at least three members of the University faculty, and the candidate’s thesis Advisor customarily serves as the chair of the examining committee. The other members of the committee are appointed by the chair of the department or curricular program faculty supervising the candidate’s course of study. The examining committee must agree unanimously that the candidate has passed the thesis examination. Because theses are made public immediately upon acceptance, they should not contain proprietary or classified material. When the research relates to proprietary material, the student and Advisor are responsible for making preliminary disclosures to the sponsor sufficiently in advance to permit timely release of the thesis, and these plans should be disclosed when the thesis is submitted to the School of Graduate Studies.

The minimum requirements for the master’s degree under Plan B are 27 semester hours of course work, a comprehensive examination, and in some fields, an approved project. At least 18 semester hours of course work must be at the 400 level or higher.

Each candidate for the master’s degree under Plan B must pass satisfactorily a comprehensive examination to be administered by the department or curricular program committee. The examination may be written or oral or both. A student must be registered during the semester in which any part of the comprehensive examination is taken. If not registered for other courses, the student will be required to register for one semester hour of EXAM 600, Comprehensive Examination, before taking the examination.

Engineering students are required to complete 3 to 6 semester hours of Special Problems (Project) course work, which must consist of an engineering project approved by the chair of the department offering the degree program, and may be carried out at the student’s place of employment with nominal supervision by a faculty Advisor or in the departmental laboratories under direct supervision. The project must culminate in a written report and examination by at least three professors including approval by the chair of the department.

Theater students in the M.F.A. program are required to register for six semester hours of Thesis Production (creative project), followed by an oral and written defense.

The degree of Doctor of Philosophy is awarded in recognition of in-depth knowledge in a major field and comprehensive understanding of related subjects together with a demonstration of ability to perform independent investigation and to communicate the results of such investigation in an acceptable dissertation.

Curricular Requirements
Within the framework of these general regulations, it is expected that a relevant program of study will be planned for each candidate for the doctorate by the student and the faculty Advisor or advisory committee. Such a program should include appropriate courses, together with work on the doctoral dissertation, and may also include, where relevant, such experiences as field work or practicum.

Although specific requirements vary among departments, students entering with a bachelor’s degree will satisfactorily complete a minimum of 36 semester hours of courses (which may include independent study/research, course 601), tutorials, and seminars. For students entering with an approved master’s degree, completion of at least 18 semester hours of course work is required. A minimum of 18 semester hours of dissertation research (Course 701) is required for all doctoral students.

Examination Requirements
In order to meet the requirements for the doctorate, a student must pass satisfactorily a general examination (or a series of examinations covering different fields) specified and administered by the student’s department or supervising committee. The examination generally precedes advancement to candidacy. A student must be registered during the semester in which any part of the general or qualifying examination is taken. If not registered for other courses, the student will be required to register for one semester hour of EXAM 700, General/Qualifying Examination, before taking the examination. A student who fails the examination on the first attempt may be permitted to take the examination a second time within one year at the discretion of the department. Except in unusual circumstances, a student who fails the examination a second time will be separated from further graduate study within the same department or program.

Advancement to Candidacy
The formal acceptance of a student as a candidate for the doctoral degree is the responsibility of the student’s department or the committee supervising the doctoral program in accordance with the written procedures of the academic unit. At its discretion the supervising unit may require a student to pass qualifying examinations before candidacy is granted. Generally, advancement to candidacy allows the student to enter the dissertation research phase of the degree program, and occurs after all course work and exam requirements are satisfied. Students are expected to make regular and continuous progress toward the degree. Advancement to candidacy in a Ph.D. program should occur within a maximum of 6 years post-matriculation with a bachelor’s degree (no later than at the completion of 36 semester hours of graduate study) and 4 years post-matriculation with a master’s degree (no later than at the completion of 18 semester hours of graduate study). Students may continue in pre-candidacy status beyond this time by means of a petition to the School of Graduate Studies by a program director, based on evidence of student progress toward the degree. Individual programs can require advancement to candidacy before the time limit set in this policy.

The Dean of Graduate Studies must promptly be notified in writing of the decision concerning a student’s advancement to candidacy, and a copy of the notification must be sent to the student concerned. A student who is refused candidacy status may not undertake further study for credit toward the doctoral degree within the same department or supervising unit. With the approval of both the department concerned and the Dean of Graduate Studies, such a student may:

Dissertation Fellowship and Post-Candidacy Research
Students who have been advanced to candidacy and are within the five-year time limit for completion of the degree, but have not completed the dissertation, can register for 703 upon departmental recommendation and the approval of the School of Graduate Studies. Students will register for up to 8 credit hours for Dissertation Fellowship (703), but must also co-register for a least 1 credit hour of 701 or one credit hour of 701 and a course, with the total registration hours equaling 9 credit hours. No tuition is charged for 703 when accompanied by a paid credit hour(s) of tuition. This Dissertation Fellowship is available for a maximum of 6 consecutive semesters and cannot exceed a total of 36 credit hours. If the dissertation is not completed and defended in the last semester of the fellowship, the fellow must resume registration for course 701 at a minimum of one credit hour each semester through the allowed five-year limit. Registration for 703 cannot be used to postpone the normal timetable for completion of the 18 credit hour 701 requirement.

Although there is no general foreign language requirement for the doctorate, each department or supervising committee may set such requirements as are appropriate to the student’s program of study. It is the student’s responsibility to ascertain the foreign language requirements approved by the supervising unit. Each department must notify the Dean of Graduate Studies in writing of the specific language(s) required and the date of examination determining the student’s proficiency in the required language(s).

All candidates for the Ph.D. degree must submit a written dissertation as evidence of their ability to conduct independent research at an advanced level. The dissertation must represent a significant contribution to existing knowledge in the student’s field, and at least a portion of the content must be suitable for publication in a reputable professional journal or as a book or monograph. Students must prepare their own dissertations. Joint dissertations are not permitted. The written dissertation must conform to regulations concerning format, quality, and time of submission as established by the Dean of Graduate Studies. Detailed instructions can be obtained from the School of Graduate Studies.

Research work connected with a dissertation is to be carried out under the direct supervision of a member of the university faculty selected by the student in consultation with departmental faculty and approved by the chair of the department.

Two copies of each completed and acceptable dissertation will be deposited in the University library by the School of Graduate Studies. In addition, the student must guarantee the reproduction of the dissertation through University Microfilms, Ann Arbor, Michigan, before certification for the doctorate. Because dissertations are made public immediately upon acceptance, they should not contain proprietary or classified material. When the research relates to proprietary material, the student and Advisor are responsible for making preliminary disclosures to the sponsor in advance to permit timely release of the dissertation. These arrangements must be disclosed when the thesis is submitted to the School of Graduate Studies.

Each doctoral student is responsible for become sufficiently familiar with the research interests of the department or program faculty to choose in a timely manner a faculty member who will serve as the student’s research Advisor. The research Advisor is expected to provide mentorship in research conception, methods, performance and ethics, as well as focus on development of the student’s professional communication skills, building professional contacts in the field, and fostering the professional behavior standard of the field and research in general.

The research Advisor also assists with the selection of at least two other faculty to serve as members of the dissertation advisory committee. At a minimum, the dissertation defense committee must consist of four members of the University faculty, including at least one whose primary appointment is outside the student’s program, department or school. The committee is appointed by the Dean of Graduate Studies upon recommendation of the Chair of the department, division, or curricular program committee.

The student’s dissertation Advisor must be a member of the dissertation advisory committee and may serve as chair. The chair of the committee must be a regular Case Western Reserve University faculty member in the student’s program. Under special conditions, a former faculty member whose time of leaving the university has not exceeded 18 months may be approved as a voting university member by the Dean of Graduate Studies.

Throughout the development and completion of the dissertation, members of the dissertation defense committee are expected to provide constructive criticism and helpful ideas generated by the research problem from the viewpoint of their particular expertise. Each member will make an assessment of the originality of the dissertation, its value, the contribution it makes, and the clarity, with which concepts are communicated, especially to a person outside the field. The doctoral student is expected to arrange meetings and maintain periodic contact with each committee member. A meeting of the full committee for the purpose of assessing the student’s progress should occur at least once a year until the completion of the dissertation.

Each doctoral candidate is required to pass a final oral examination in defense of the dissertation. The examination may also include an inquiry into the candidate’s competence in the major and related fields.

The defense must be scheduled with the School of Graduate Studies no later than three weeks before the date of the examination. The chair of the examining committee should give approval to schedule the defense when the written dissertation is ready for public scrutiny. The candidate must provide to each member of the committee a copy of the completed dissertation at least 10 days before the examination so that the committee members have an opportunity to read and discuss it in advance.

Scheduled defenses are made know through on-campus publication, and any member of the university may be present at that portion of the examination pre-designated as public by the chair of the dissertation advisory committee. Others may be present at the formal defense only by invitation of that chair.

The dissertation advisory committee is responsible for certifying that the quality and suitability of the material presented in the dissertation meet acceptable scholarly standards. A student will be certified as passing the final oral examination if no more than one of the voting members of the committee dissents.

Each IRB application must have a faculty member noted as the Responsible Investigator. Applications that are not fully completed as instructed will not be accepted. See University Policy on the involvement of Human Participants in Research for guidelines under which investigations involving human subjects may be pursued.

Courses numbered 100 to 399 are undergraduate-level courses. Courses numbered 400 and higher are graduate-level courses.

See the "University" section of this Bulletin for a list of valid grades for the School of Graduate Studies and their appropriate use in assigning to graduate students. The only grades that can be changed after they have been assigned by the instructor are Incompletes (I). All others will remain permanently on the student’s academic record. Additional work cannot be done to change an existing grade to a higher grade.

There are some grading schemes in the School of Graduate Studies that have important policy implications. They are:

Incomplete (I)
Grades of I should only be assigned for letter graded and Pass/No Pass courses for extenuating circumstances, and only when a student fails to complete a small segment of the course. Students may not sit in the same course in a later semester to complete the work required for the original course. All work for the incomplete grade must be made up, and the change of grade recorded in the Office of the University Registrar, by the date specified by the Instructor, but no later than the last day of class in the session following the one in which the I was received. Unresolved Incomplete grades will remain permanently on the student’s academic record, if the work is not made up by the designated deadline. A student who has a permanent Incomplete for a required course must retake the course in a later term. When an I grade is assigned by the instructor, he or she must also submit to the School of Graduate Studies the completed "Arrangement to Resolve a Grade of Incomplete" form indicating the date that the I grade will be resolved. If the student cannot complete the work for the Incomplete by the specified deadline, he or she must petition for an extension which must be endorsed by the instructor, and explain the reasons why the work has not been completed, and include a new date for completion. Students will be allowed only one extension of no more than one additional semester to complete the work for an I grade.

Pass/No Pass (P/NP)
Some graduate courses are graded on a pass or no pass basis, and students need to be aware of the regulations governing letter graded and pass/no pass credits. Of the minimum credit hours required beyond the bachelor’s degree to complete course work requirements, at least 12 credits must be letter graded for the Master’s degree, and at least 24 credits must be letter graded for the Ph.D. degree. For students with approved master’s degrees who are admitted to Ph.D. programs, at least 12 credits of the required minimum of 18 credits of course work must be letter graded. Letter graded courses should be the courses most central to the student’s plan of study. Additional credit hours of letter graded course work may be specified by departmental policy. Performance evaluation for course 601 (Independent study/Research) is limited to P/NP grading.

Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory (S/U)
Grades of Satisfactory (S) and Unsatisfactory (U) are to be used exclusively for three courses: 651 thesis research; 701, dissertation research; and 703, dissertation fellowship. Satisfactory indicates an acceptable level of progress towards completion of the research required for the degree, and Unsatisfactory indicates an unacceptable level of progress towards completion of the research for the degree. Any student who receives a grade of U will automatically be put on academic probation, and if a second U is received, the student will be separated from further study in his or her degree program.

Graduate Student Rights and Responsibilities
It is the responsibility of the student to become familiar with the general rules and regulations of the University not just those of the School of Graduate Studies. A member of the University community who is accused of violating any of these rules and regulations is subject to University disciplinary action. Due process procedures of adequate notice of all charges and a fair hearing will apply. Case Western Reserve University has established a mechanism whereby students of the University may express a grievance against the actions of other students or members of the faculty and staff. A statement of the policies and procedures to be followed in the case of academic infractions by graduate students may be obtained through the School of Graduate Studies. The policies and procedures governing all other infractions are detailed in the university’s annual Student Services Guide and in the "Student Affairs" section of this Bulletin. The University Office of Student Affairs should be consulted for non-academic infractions.

It is also the responsibility of the student to become acquainted with the general regulations and administrative procedures governing graduate study, together with the departmental or school regulations which apply to the student’s course of study, and, in consultation with the faculty Advisor or advisory committee of the supervising unit, to plan the program and carry out the work in accordance with these regulations and procedures.

Departmental Responsibility for Requirements
Requirements for master’s and doctoral degrees beyond those set forth in these regulations may be established by departments or curricular program committees with the approval of the Dean of Graduate Studies. Individual students may be required to take courses beyond the published requirements in order to successfully complete their degree programs. In such instances the student must be notified in writing upon matriculation by the chair of the department or curricular program, with a copy to be filed in the School of Graduate Studies.

Maintenance of Good Standing
A student maintains standing in the School of Graduate Studies by registering each fall and spring semester unless on an official leave of absence which has been approved by the School of Graduate Studies. A student is in good standing who meets the standards set by the academic department and the School of Graduate Studies to ensure normal progress toward the fulfillment of the stated requirements at levels of quality without warning or probation or extension of the allowable time limit for degree completion. Students whose quality point averages fall below minimum standards (3.00 for doctoral students; 2.75 for master’s) will automatically be placed on probation until the minimum standards are achieved. In addition, a student will be subject to separation from the university for any of the following reasons:

In calculating the quality-point average, courses taken as a student in the School of Graduate Studies at the 400 level or above, as well as any courses accepted toward fulfillment of degree requirements for which quality points are given, will be counted, including courses which may need to be repeated. Unless otherwise stated by the department a minimum cumulative quality-point average of 2.75 is required for the award of the Master’s degree, and a minimum cumulative quality-point average of 3.00 is required for award of the doctoral degree. Any department, school, or curricular program committee may choose to establish quality standards higher than those stated above if such additional requirements are made known in writing to the students upon matriculation, and are recorded with the Dean of Graduate Studies. In that case, the departmental standards supersede the minimum standards. Students who do not maintain the minimum quality point average will be placed on academic probation until the minimum standard has been achieved.

The doctoral residency requirement is intended to insure a period of intensive academic interaction with faculty and peers and of sustained independent research. Graduate students are considered to be in residence when they are fully engaged in academic work. As resident students they may teach at the university, take graduate courses, assist in course development, and engage in research or in other scholarly activities at the university. Regardless of the nature of the work, the student’s regular presence at the university is expected during fulfillment of the residency requirement.

The formal fulfillment of residency requires continuous registration in at least six consecutive academic terms (fall, spring and/or summer) from matriculation to a period not exceeding five years after the first credited hour(s) of dissertation research (701). The period while students are on a leave of absence do not count towards fulfilling the residency requirement. Within the context of continuity of registration, departments may enact other restrictions. In such instances, the departmental requirements take precedence and must formally be disclosed to the student at matriculation. This is meant to be a reflection of the appropriate reality that departments and fields have different norms and traditions of graduate study. For example, to fulfill the residency requirement, some departments may require the doctoral student to be registered for 9 or more semester hours of graduate credit in each of two consecutive semesters. Fulfillment of residency by all engineering Ph.D. candidates will be certified by their research Advisors and department chairs based on an assessment of active, concentrated involvement for a period of two consecutive semesters during their pursuit of the doctorate.

All the requirements for the master’s degree must be completed within five consecutive calendar years after matriculation as a graduate student, including any leaves of absence. Doctoral students have five consecutive calendar years from the semester of the first credited 701 registration, including leaves of absence, to complete all requirements for the doctorate. Any graduate student who fails to complete the requirements within the five year limit for his or her degree program will be subject to separation from further study unless granted an extension by the Dean of Graduate Studies with the recommendation of the faculty Advisor or advisory committee and approval by the department chair. An extension may be granted if the student and his or her advisor work out a plan of action for degree completion within a specified time frame which must be endorsed by the department chair. Students will be expected to meet all the specified deadlines outlined in the plan of action. The minimum acceptable registration during this extended period for each semester until graduation is three credit hours of 651 or 701, or, for Plan B Master’s students, an appropriate course.

Students undertaking graduate work are expected to pursue their studies according to a systematic plan each year whether registered for full or part-time study. Occasionally a student finds it necessary to interrupt his or her studies before completion of the graduate program. A leave of absence is not to be requested unless the circumstances are such that the student cannot continue graduate study. Under such circumstances the student must request in writing a leave of absence for a period not to exceed two consecutive regular academic semesters. In exceptional circumstances, the leave can be extended for another two semesters. However, the maximum amount of leave permitted per graduate program is four semesters. The reason for the leave must be stated clearly, and the request must be submitted to the Dean of Graduate Studies with the written endorsement of the student’s academic department. During a leave of absence the student must not seek aid from faculty members or use of the facilities of the university. This means that students may not take exams or defend theses and dissertations while on a leave. A leave of absence does not extend the maximum time permitted for the completion of degree requirements, and a leave cannot be taken while students are on extension of the five-year limit. At the expiration of the leave the student must resume registration unless formally granted an extension of the leave. Retroactive leaves are not permitted. A student who fails to obtain a leave of absence, or who fails to register following an official leave, must petition the Dean of Graduate Studies for reinstatement in order to resume work as a student in good standing at the university.

A student who is granted a maternity or paternity leave of absence related to infant care, as well as those who must fulfill military duty obligations can petition to extend the five-year time limit associated with completion of the degree. The length of the extension may not exceed two years. International students must check with the Office of International Student Services before petitioning for a leave of absence, as such a leave can affect their visa status.

Students must maintain continuous registration throughout their degree programs unless granted an official leave of absence. Students who fail to register for any academic term will be automatically withdrawn from their programs. Students who are withdrawn from their programs must petition for reinstatement in order to continue graduate study. The petition must be approved by both the student’s department and the Dean of Graduate Studies before the student may register for further course work as a student in full standing. In each case of readmission with full standing, the official letter will state the terms of readmission, including future time limits for the degree program, and the past course work that will be credited toward the degree. If more than 24 months have elapsed since the last registration, students may have to resubmit file materials if requested by the School of Graduate Studies.

Transfer of credit from another university toward master’s and doctoral degree requirements is awarded for appropriate course work (not applied to another degree program) taken prior to admission. Transfer of credit must be requested in the student’s first academic year, and must be appropriate for the student’s planned program of study. For master’s candidates, transferred credit is limited to six semester hours of graduate-level courses, and no credit for master’s thesis may be transferred from another university. No transfer of credit will be awarded towards the Ph.D. degree except by petition, and no credit for the doctoral dissertation may be transferred from another university.

To add or withdraw from courses or to change registration from credit to audit or the reverse, a student must obtain the appropriate official form to submit to the University Registrar in accordance with the dates published each academic term for such actions to be taken. Students must make appropriate changes to their schedules by the end of the first week of classes in order to avoid paying full tuition for courses withdrawn after the final drop/add date. Only complete withdrawal for the semester entitles a student to a percentage refund of the withdrawn courses after the first week of classes. (See the "Financial Information" section of the Bulletin under Refunds). Failure to attend class or merely giving notice to the instructor will not be regarded as official notice of withdrawal or change. When making changes in registration, the international student must be aware of maintaining full-time status. Full-time status requires registration for a minimum of 9 semester hours per semester. Students financed by federal loans must remain registered for at least 6 semester hours (defined as half-time) each semester to maintain continued eligibility for that funding or to initiate such a loan.

A candidate for a degree awarded by the School of Graduate Studies must make application for the degree to the School of Graduate Studies by the deadline established for that semester, which is approximately twelve weeks before the commencement date for which the degree is expected to be awarded. Students are encouraged to contact the School of Graduate Studies at the beginning of the semester in which they intend to graduate to obtain a packet of graduation materials. The candidate must meet all the deadlines for completion of degree requirements set forth in the calendar. All candidates must be registered for credit and in good standing during the semester in which the degree is awarded. Payment of tuition, fees, and fines is a prerequisite to the award of a degree.

It is a requirement of the School of Graduate Studies that a student be registered for credit in the semester in which he or she completes all the requirements to graduate in accordance with established deadlines for that semester. For a student engaged in thesis or dissertation research the completion of all requirements to graduate is not easily predicted, making it difficult to adhere to scheduled deadlines. If a student will not be able to meet the degree requirements to graduate in one semester, but will finish before the next semester begins, he or she can petition for a waiver of the requirement to be registered in the semester of graduation. To be granted a waiver of registration students must be registered for the appropriate thesis or dissertation credit hours in the semester (or summer session) immediately preceding the semester of graduation, complete all degree requirements including a current application to graduate, and submit all required materials to the School of Graduate Studies by the last day scheduled for the Drop/Add period of the next semester.

A student who qualifies for the waiver will be awarded the degree at the next graduation without the need to be registered or to pay a special fee. If a student fails to meet the waiver deadline, he or she will be required to register for the appropriate thesis or dissertation credit hours in the next semester, and to reapply for graduation in that semester.

Students have the right to petition for exceptions to these regulations. Such a petition should be addressed to the Dean of Graduate Studies. In most cases the student’s department or program committee must endorse the petition.

It is the responsibility of the School of Graduate studies to assure that all students enrolled for graduate credit at Case Western Reserve University have adequate access to faculty and administrative consideration of their grievances concerning academic issues. A three-step procedure has been established for graduate students to present complaints about academic actions they feel are unfair.

The Dean of Graduate Studies has the responsibility for the final decision, and the ruling from the Dean’s Office will be considered final and binding on the persons involved in the grievance. Additional information about the grievance procedure can be obtained from the School of Graduate Studies.

Graduate students accused of violating the University’s standards of conduct, which are detailed in this Bulletin (See Student Affairs section), are entitled to adequate notice of all charges and to a fair hearing and may subsequently be subject to disciplinary action. The process that is outlined in the Bulletin apply to academic infractions, e.g., cheating on examinations, plagiarism, and other forms of dishonesty in academic activities. Additional information is available from the School of Graduate Studies.

Office of Undergraduate Studies
102 Baker Building
Phone 216-368-2928; Fax 216-368-4718
E-mail: xx142@po.cwru.edu
Web page: http://www.cwru.edu/provost/ugstudies/undstud.htm

Margaret B. Robinson, M.A. (State University of New York at Stony Brook)
Dean of Undergraduate Studies

Timothy M. Dodd, M.A. (Fordham University)
Associate Dean of Undergraduate Studies

Julie L. Amon, M.Ed. (Kent State University)
Assistant Dean for Freshmen

Claudia C. Anderson, B.A. (Youngstown State University)
Director of Transfer/Special Programs

Julie M. Petek, Ph.D. (Kent State University)
Director of Degree Audit and Data Services

Joanne Westin, Ph.D. (Cornell University)
Pre-Medical Advisor

JoAnne Urban Jackson, J.D. (Northwestern University)
Pre-Law Advisor

Case Western Reserve University confers baccalaureate degrees based on programs offered by the faculties of the Case School of Engineering, the College of Arts and Sciences, the Frances Payne Bolton School of Nursing, the School of Medicine, and the Weatherhead School of Management. In addition, the University offers several baccalaureate programs jointly with the Cleveland Institute of Art, and the Cleveland Institute of Music.

The faculties and administration are dedicated to offering educational programs that enable undergraduates to achieve disciplinary literacy in one or more major fields, to acquire educational breadth through study across the natural sciences, humanities and arts, and social sciences, and to learn to think critically and to communicate effectively. Furthering the University mission, the educational programs aim to foster the development of qualities of integrity, creativity, leadership, and societal engagement.

The bachelor’s degree programs engage students in in-depth study in one field (the major), as well as general education or core requirements. Overlap among the general education and core curricula for the various bachelors’ degree programs allows students flexibility and choice in the choice of majors and degree program. Foundational courses and seminars introduce students to modes of inquiry, thought, and communication in the natural sciences, humanities and arts, and social sciences.

Freshman advisors, departmental advisors, other faculty, and deans assist students in selecting from approximately 60 alternative curricula and major concentrations a field of study suited to the students’ interests and qualifications. Highly motivated and responsible students whose educational and career goals are better served through an individualized course of study may pursue academic programs of their own design through a Dean’s Approved Major.

Students with broad educational interests and goals may pursue concurrently two or more majors for the Bachelor of Arts degree, or may earn two bachelor’s degrees, completing both a Bachelor of Arts degree and a Bachelor of Science degree, or fulfilling the requirements for two Bachelor of Science degrees. The Bachelor of Music degree may be combined with either a Bachelor of Arts or a Bachelor of Science degree. Qualified students who wish to accelerate their undergraduate and graduate or professional studies may earn the opportunity to begin in the senior year advanced study toward a graduate or professional degree.

Students are encouraged to engage in independent study, practica, and research. Individual departments offer independent study opportunities to motivated and qualified students; and some departments offer courses which incorporate practical field experience or community service. The location of the University in University Circle, with its outstanding array of cultural, educational, and health care institutions, and the proximity and accessibility of the University’s various professional schools and their facilities enable undergraduates to draw upon diverse and distinctive resources to enrich their education.

Case Western Reserve University offers a broad range of programs in the liberal arts and sciences, engineering, management, accountancy, and nursing leading to the Bachelor of Arts (B.A.), and the Bachelor of Science (B.S.) degrees. These programs provide depth through concentrated study in a major field and breadth through the fulfillment of general education or core curriculum requirements, and free electives.

The B.A. is available in more than 40 fields in the humanities and arts, the social and behavioral sciences, and the natural sciences and mathematics. In addition, B.S. programs are offered in accounting, computer science, the natural sciences, mathematics, statistics, art education, music education, management, nursing, and nutrition. The B.S. in Engineering is available in 13 major fields.

The Bachelor of Music (B.M.) degree is offered through the Joint Program in Music of Case Western Reserve University and the Cleveland Institute of Music. Students who are candidates for the B.M. enroll in the Cleveland Institute of Music.

Listed below are all the undergraduate degrees offered by the University.

Accounting

Applied Mathematics

Art Education

Astronomy

Biochemistry

Biology

Chemistry

Computer Science

Geological Sciences

Management

Mathematics

Mathematics and Physics

Music Education

Nursing

Nutrition

Nutritional Biochemistry and Metabolism

Physics

Statistics

Aerospace Engineering

Biomedical Engineering

Chemical Engineering

Civil Engineering

Computer Engineering

Electrical Engineering

Engineering Physics

Fluid and Thermal Engineering Sciences

Materials Science and Engineering

Mechanical Engineering

Polymer Science and Engineering

Systems and Control Engineering

Engineering (undesignated)

With the exceptions of engineering physics and the undesignated major in engineering, all of the engineering programs listed above are accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission of the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (ABET).

Students who fail ENGL 150 will be required to repeat the course. Students who pass ENGL 150 with a grade of D or SAGES students whose writing portfolios are below the "C" competence level will be required to complete ENGL 180, Writing Tutorial (1 credit) with a grade of C or higher. ENGL 180 may be taken up to three times to achieve a C performance in English composition. On the basis of admission records or on the basis of the English placement examination for transfer students, students may be placed in ENGL 148, Introduction to Composition. Students placed in ENGL 148 must complete ENGL 148 with a grade of C or better in order to enroll in ENGL 150. A maximum of three hours of credit for ENGL 148 will count toward the requirements for a bachelor’s degree.

Definition of "C" Competence in English 150/English Composition.
"C" competence means that the student has demonstrated in the course of writing 7,000 words (an equivalent of 28 typed, double-spaced pages) that he or she can consistently produce an original paper which has, prior to revisions suggested by the instructor, the following characteristics: (1) Mechanics-The "C" paper is neat and free of repeated errors in spelling, verb, and pronoun form, agreement, sentence completion, punctuation, and capitalization. (2) Organization-The "C" paper clearly states a reasonably limited thesis on a subject appropriate to the assignment and continues to focus on the idea with some supporting detail (footnoted where necessary) and with transitions between sections that are clear, though not necessarily smooth. (3) Style-The "C" paper is generally clear and moderately concise, even though the word choice may be narrow and the emphasis awkward.

Physical Education Requirement
Two semesters of non-credit courses in physical education are required as part of all undergraduate curricula. Normally this requirement will be satisfied in the freshman year and must be met by all undergraduate students unless waived by the chair of the Department of Physical Education or the Dean of Undergraduate Studies.

* = available only as 2nd major for B.A.

HA = Humanities and Arts

SS = Social Sciences

Foundation = for each degree/major a student must complete the foundation curriculum required for that degree/major

A&S = based on Arts & Sciences General Education Requirements

EC = based on Engineering Core (new in 1998)

WSOM = based on Weatherhead General Education Requirements

FPB = based on Nursing General Education Requirements

Candidates for the Bachelor of Arts degree, in addition to meeting the general requirements for bachelor’s degrees as described above, must also complete the following requirements:

American Studies*

Anthropology

Art History

Asian Studies (including Asian language)

Asian Studies (without Asian language)*

Astronomy

Biochemistry

Biology

Chemistry

Classics (Greek/Latin)

Communication Sciences

Comparative Literature

Computer Science

Economics

English

Environmental Geology

Environmental Studies*

Evolutionary Biology

French

French Studies

Geological Sciences

German

German Studies

Gerontological Studies*

History

History and Philosophy of Science and Technology

International Studies

Japanese Studies

Mathematics

Music

Natural Sciences*

Nutrition

Nutritional Biochemistry and Metabolism

Philosophy

Physics

Political Science

Pre-Architecture*

Psychology

Religion

Sociology

Spanish

Statistics

Theater Arts

Women’s Studies*

*indicates may be taken only as a second major

Any student interested in developing for the B.A. a major of his or her own design may submit, before the end of the sophomore year, a program proposal to the Office of Undergraduate Studies for approval by the Deans’ Committee.

Candidates for the Bachelor of Science degrees, in addition to meeting the general requirements for bachelor’s degrees as described above, must also complete the following requirements:

Bachelor of Science degrees conferred by the College of Arts and Sciences are offered in the following fields:

Applied Mathematics

Art Education

Astronomy

Biochemistry

Biology

Chemistry

Geological Sciences

Mathematics

Mathematics and Physics

Music Education

Nutrition

Nutritional Biochemistry and Metabolism

Physics

Statistics

Arts and Sciences General Education Requirements
General Education Requirements of the College of Arts and Sciences provide a broad educational foundation for programs in humanities and arts, social and behavioral sciences, and mathematics and natural sciences, leading to the Bachelor of Arts or the Bachelor of Science degree. The areas in which courses are required are indicated below. In some areas students must complete an approved two-course sequence. Courses that are approved to serve as the first course in a sequence or to meet the requirement for a single course in a specific area are shown in boldface. This information is subject to addition. An updated list that includes such courses as well as the approved two- course sequences is published annually in the Handbook for Undergraduate Students, and is available from the Office of Undergraduate Studies.

Students completing more than one major, or completing a major and one or more minors, classified under different general headings (natural sciences and mathematics, arts and humanities, social sciences) are exempt from a maximum of six semester hours of arts and sciences general education requirements. Specifically, students who complete two majors are exempt from six hours of general education requirements in the area of one of the majors or from three hours of general education requirements in each of the areas of the two majors. Students completing a minor are exempted from six hours of general education requirements in the area of the minor.

Candidates for the Bachelor of Science in Engineering (B.S.E.) degree, in addition to meeting the general requirements for bachelor’s degrees as described above, must also complete the following requirements:

Aerospace Engineering

Biomedical Engineering

Chemical Engineering

Civil Engineering

Computer Engineering

Electrical Engineering

Engineering Physics

Fluid and Thermal Engineering

Sciences

Materials Science and Engineering

Mechanical Engineering

Polymer Science and Engineering

Systems and Control Engineering

Engineering (undesignated)

With the exceptions of engineering physics and the undesignated major in engineering, all of the engineering programs listed above are accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission of the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (ABET).

Candidates for the Bachelor of Science in Computer Science degree, in addition to meeting the general requirements for bachelor’s degrees as described above, must also complete the following requirements:

For students who choose to complete a minor, up to 12 hours of these 21 hours, excluding ENGL 398N, may be used towards fulfillment of the minor requirements.

Two semesters of beginning work in a foreign language may be counted toward satisfaction of the requirement for a three-course sequence only when the sequence consists of three courses taken in a single foreign language. Credit for the first semester of beginning study (101 level) in a foreign language will not serve toward satisfaction of any degree requirement unless credit is earned for the second semester (level 102) as well.

*Sequences have been classified as follows:
Humanities: American Studies, Art History, Art Studio, Asian Studies, Chinese, Classics, Comparative Literature, English, French, German, History, History and Philosophy of Science and Technology, History of Technology and Science, Japanese, Music, Philosophy, Pre-Architecture, Religion, Russian, Spanish, and Theater Arts

Social and Behavioral Sciences: Anthropology, Communication Sciences, Economics, Gerontological Studies, Political Science, Psychology, and Sociology

For those humanities/social science sequences that are interdisciplinary (Artificial Intelligence, Environmental Studies, and Women’s Studies), the program advisor shall assign a program to one category or the other on the basis of its content.