Academic Standing:

More than one B- on a transcript: It is expected that a student will complete all courses taken for credit with the grade of B- or better. If a student has more than one B- on their transcript, the program director and department Chair will assess the student's ability to meet degree requirements and make recommendations concerning the student's academic standing to the student, the department, and the Graduate School. The records of students who have been reviewed will be reassessed at the end of the following semester to determine whether sufficient progress has been made toward the degree sought. If sufficient progress has not been made, the department will recommend to the graduate dean that the student be administratively withdrawn.

Grades below B-: Courses for which a student receives a grade lower than B- may be retaken only once. The original grade earned remains in the student’s record. Students who receive a grade below a B- in a course will be reviewed by the program director and department Chair. The program director and department Chair will assess the student's ability to meet degree requirements and make recommendations concerning the student's academic standing to the student, the department, and the Graduate School. The records of students who have been reviewed will be reassessed at the end of the following semester to determine whether sufficient progress has been made toward the degree sought. If sufficient progress has not been made, the department will recommend to the graduate dean that the student be administratively withdrawn. If a student receives two grades or more lower than B-, the program director and department Chair will automatically recommend to the graduate dean that the student be administratively withdrawn.

Incompletes: Students who have more than one incomplete per semester will be reviewed by the program director and department Chair. The program director and department Chair will assess the student's ability to meet degree requirements and make recommendations concerning the student's academic standing to the student, the department, and the Graduate School. The records of students who have been reviewed will be reassessed at the end of the following semester to determine whether sufficient progress has been made toward the degree sought. If a student has an incomplete in a course after a second semester the department will recommend to the graduate dean that the student be administratively withdrawn.

Adding/Dropping a Course

During the first two weeks of a semester, a course may be dropped or added by submitting the proper form to the office of the Registrar. A course for which a student has registered remains on the record unless a formal petition to remove it has been approved by the dean within the first four weeks of the term. Courses that are dropped after the fourth week but prior to the last day of classes will carry the grade of "W" and remain on the transcript.

Auditing Classes

Auditing courses is not permitted in the graduate school. Students may arrange with an instructor to sit in on a course, but this course will not appear on the academic record.

Cross-Registration

During the academic year, full-time graduate students may take one course per semester for both a grade and credit through cross-registration agreements with the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy, the Gerald J. and Dorothy R. Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy, the Sackler School of Graduate Biomedical Sciences, Boston College, Boston University, and Brandeis University.

Cross-registration forms and course schedules are available at the Student Services Center. Students should discuss cross-registration options with their advisor prior to registering with other departments or schools. It is not possible to cross-register during the summer terms.

Exit Survey

The Graduate School of Arts and Sciences Exit Survey must be completed on-line prior to submitting the degree sheet to the Department. The survey can be found on the Graduate School website at http://ase.tufts.edu/gradstudy/studentServices.htm.

Explanation of Transcripts

Semester-hour equivalency
Each course credit is equivalent to 4.0 semester hours (regardless of whether laboratory work is involved).

In certain cases, although a student has completed a course normally assigned course credit value, and received a passing grade, the column headed "degree course value" will contain a figure of 0.0. There are, in general, three explanations for such an occurrence:

1. The student has taken the course more than once. Although a student at Tufts may repeat a course, degree credit is assigned only once.
2. The student has chosen to take the course "for grade only." A student electing this option will complete the course and have the letter grade figured into the cumulative average, but it may not be used to satisfy any degree requirements.
3. The student is enrolled in the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences and has received a grade lower than B-.

Grades Awarded to Graduate Students

A	= Superior work
B	= Meritorious work
C	= Unsatisfactory work not allowable for graduate credit
I	= Incomplete æ an indication by the instructor that more time will be allowed to complete the requirements of the course. Incomplete grades are only awarded under exceptional circumstances, and in accordance with University policy.
S, U	= Grades of S, "satisfactory," or U, "unsatisfactory," may be given by the instructor in special courses, in courses in supervised teaching, in research courses, in certain graduate colloquia, and in thesis and dissertation courses.
Y	= Work, such as internships and theses, that extend beyond the semester and which is not scheduled for evaluation during the current term.

Grievance Procedures and Reporting of Concerns

Each member of the Tufts community has methods of recourse if s/he feels unfairly treated by another member of the University community or has concerns about a policy or program. The Department of Education recommends that the following steps be taken to address concerns:

1. The student should first discuss the problem directly with the person or persons involved.
2. If the problem is not resolved, the student is encouraged to discuss the problem with her or his program advisor.
3. If there is need for further consultation, the problem may be presented to the Department Chair.
4. If after conferring with their advisor or the Department Chair, the problem is still unresolved, the student may discuss the problem with the Dean of the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences. However, it is important that the student inform the appropriate Department representatives of the problem before bringing it to the Dean of the Graduate School. If necessary, the Dean of the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences will make further recommendations for referral.

Students who have any questions about the appropriate procedures for voicing concerns should consult a faculty member or the Department Chair.

Incomplete Grades

An incomplete may be awarded only if the student has completed substantial work in the course and the instructor judges the reasons for granting incomplete status to be valid. The instructor must also determine that the work can be completed in the time specified on the "Incomplete Form." It is the responsibility of the student to request an incomplete before the due date of the required work.

If a faculty member grants an incomplete grade, then the student must complete all work in the course within six weeks after the first day of classes in the subsequent semester (fall or spring only; summer terms are excluded). If the student has completed the work within the stated time, then the work will be evaluated without prejudice. Upon the student's completion of work in the course, the instructor must submit a final grade to the registrar within eight weeks after the first day of classes of the subsequent semester.

If a course is not completed by the designated time, then the graduate school dean will submit the default grade specified on the incomplete form. Under exceptional circumstances, such as a prolonged illness, a student may request an extension of the six-week deadline. Such an extension of time may be granted at the discretion of the instructor.

Any such agreement between the student and instructor must be submitted in writing to the dean for transmission to the registrar.

Independent Study

Students who wish to explore a topic not in the curriculum may find an instructor to guide independent study. The student should define as clearly as possible the area of interest and should approach faculty whose interests and expertise seem closest to the topic.

Pre-registration

Students are strongly encouraged to pre-register for courses for the upcoming semester. Pre-registration facilitates planning and program development. Pre-registration dates, usually mid-November for spring semester and early April for the fall semester, are noted in the Tufts Academic Calendar. Students are expected to meet with their faculty advisor prior to pre-registration to plan for the upcoming semester.

Registration
A student must be registered, or must be on an approved leave of absence, for every academic-year semester between matriculation and graduation. In the event that the student does not register by the end of the second week of classes, he or she will be administratively withdrawn and subject to a reinstatement fee.

A student who has completed all their coursework or who are doing thesis research and are awaiting their degree, must be registered for Master's Continuation- ED 401 part-time students or ED 402 full-time students during the semester they are planning to receive their degree.

Procedures for Awarding of Degree

Degrees are awarded four times per academic year, usually in August, November, February, and May. Students who expect to complete all the requirements for their graduate degree must complete both a degree sheet and graduate exit survey with the Office of Graduate and Professional Studies. Both forms can be found on the graduate school website at http://ase.tufts.edu/gradstudy/studentservices.htm.

The degree sheet must have the appropriate signatures and approvals from the student's faculty advisor and department chair. A Department member must submit the degree sheet to the Office of Graduate and Professional Studies at the beginning of the semester in which a student expects to receive their degree. The exit survey must be completed on-line prior to submitting the degree sheet. For detailed information on the awarding of degrees, please refer to the Tufts Graduate Student Handbook.

Registration in Other Departments or Schools

A graduate student in the Department of Education may enroll in graduate courses in another department to satisfy degree requirements. Permission to do so may be obtained from the student's advisor.

Summer School Tuition

Tuition for summer school courses is included in the graduate tuition fees paid for the degree, provided that courses taken during the summer are required for the degree, and that the courses taken are not repeat courses or courses that are taken in excess of degree requirements.

All graduate students registering for summer courses must pay $45 summer school registration fee.

Part-time students who have not completed payment for their degree will be charged the graduate school tuition for courses taken over the summer. Unless tuition payments are made in advance for the full degree, part-time students are not eligible for scholarship assistance for courses taken during the summer or academic year.

Students taking independent study or special topics study during the summer must show that these courses are required for their degree program and must obtain approval from the Chair of the Department of Education prior to registering for credit.

Travel Fund

A travel reimbursement fund is available to graduate students through the Office of the Dean. This fund is primarily intended for doctoral and master's candidates who travel to professional conferences directly related to their field of study and, in most cases present research papers. Other travel-related requests have also been supported. Awards are made on a first-come, first-served basis. All requests for assistance from this fund must be made at least two weeks in advance and should carry the endorsement of the student's faculty advisor. Applications and additional information are available through the Graduate School Dean's office.

Transfer of Credit, Leave of Absence, Extension of Time, and Transfer of Degree Program

The Graduate and Professional Studies Student Handbook includes forms that describe the procedures to be followed by students wishing to request a leave of absence, extension of time, or transfer of credit to their graduate program at Tufts. Application requests are not always granted. Each department in the University and the Graduate School reserves the right to accept or deny such requests.

• Transfer of Credit
  After matriculating in the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences, eligible students may apply for transfer credit for graduate-level courses taken at Tufts or at other institutions. A maximum of two relevant courses may be transferred to a master's degree. Two graduate-level courses taken either as a special student at Tufts University or at another institution may be transferred and used to fulfill requirements for advanced degrees provided that credits transferred:
  • carry the grade of B- or better (courses taken pass/fail cannot be transferred)
  • have been taken following completion of the baccalaureate degree
  • not have been counted toward another degree
  • have been earned in graduate-level courses at a properly accredited institution

  All courses to be transferred must be approved by the Department of Education. A student must have the approval of the Graduate School Executive Committee for all transfer credits in order to graduate. Students should plan to submit their requests to the GS Executive Committee well in advance of submission of the degree sheet to ensure that their name will be on the official degree candidate list. (The GS Executive Committee reserves the right to deny transfers of credit if it determines that all criteria have not been met.)
   

• Leave of Absence
  A leave of absence is granted for no more than one year. Written support of the student's advisor/chairperson must accompany the "Request for a Leave of Absence" form. International students may not take a leave of absence and remain in the United States. The International Center must be contacted to discuss the circumstances requiring the leave BEFORE any leave is authorized. For further information on leaves of absence, please refer to the Tufts Graduate Student Handbook.
   
• Extension of Time
  Extension of time is granted for no more than one year and must have the written support of the student's advisor/chairperson. For further information on extension of degree time, please refer to the Tufts Graduate Student Handbook.
   
• Request for Transfer of Degree Program
  Students who wish to transfer into a degree program other than the one to which they have been accepted must complete a formal request for transfer. These requests will be reviewed by the Department of Education Faculty Committee. A recommendation will be made to the Graduate School to accept or deny the request for transfer of degree. Students will be charged additional tuition costs for any extra coursework that is required to meet the new degree requirements.

Undergraduate Course Policy

Courses at Tufts are grouped in three categories:

• 001-099 = Undergraduate
• 100-199 = Undergraduate and Graduate
• 200- = Graduate Only

"Students in the Department of Education M.A.T. (teacher licensure) program are allowed to take up to two undergraduate level courses under the following conditions:

1. the student must receive a grade of B+ or better
2. the instructor must assign additional coursework to the student in order to satisfy graduate level requirements; and
3. elementary or introductory courses are not allowed except when required to meet state licensure requirements."

Waiver for Licensure Requirements

Students with previous coursework comparable to the required courses may apply for a waiver of the course. Requests for waivers or substitutions of courses for licensure may be made by completing a "Waiver Request" form. This form must be reviewed and approved first by the student's program advisor and appropriate instructors and then by the University Teacher Education committee composed of faculty from several departments in the University. Students are required to submit documentation of courses taken through transcripts, course descriptions, and syllabi and to describe how these courses fulfill the licensure requirements in the Tufts approved program.

Course for which students request a waiver do not necessarily need to be transferred into the student's graduate degree program. In other words, a course taken previously at Tufts or at another institution may receive approval as a substitution for a required course and count toward the licensure requirement without necessarily being counted toward the degree requirement. If the student decides to waive a course by providing evidence of having met the course requirements for licensure, the student is then free to take an elective course at Tufts to meet the 10-12 course requirement for the M.A.T. degree.

No more than two courses required for licensure may be waived within the student's program. Students who receive approvals for course waivers may elect to enroll in other courses relevant to their professional preparation in order to satisfy the requirement of completing 10-12 courses for the M.A.T. degree.