Academic Regulation

Discipline

It is assumed that all students who come to Rose-Hulman have an earnest desire to take advantage of the opportunities offered and will be ready to cooperate with the faculty in eliminating practices which interfere with or lessen the efficiency of the work of instruction.

Membership in the student body carries with it a responsibility for accepting and living within the rules, policies and regulations of the Institute. Every student will, therefore, be held accountable by college authorities for his or her conduct on all occasions.

No student will be permitted to continue in school if he or she fails to observe the obligations he or she has assumed upon matriculation.

Graduate Grade Point Average

Occasionally, a graduate student will be required to take coursework designed to remedy deficiencies in the preparation provided by his or her Bachelor's degree program. Such coursework is remedial or background in nature and does not fulfill specific content requirements of the Master's degree program. The student's department and the Graduate Studies committee are concerned that the student demonstrate satisfactory progress in the background coursework as well as in the coursework stipulated by his or her plan of study. Therefore, grades in both background coursework and coursework making up the specified plan of study will be examined to evaluate student progress.

A satisfactory background course grade point average (BGPA) is a necessary but not a sufficient condition for successful completion of the requirements for an MS degree program. The status of any student whose BGPA falls below 3.0 will be reviewed by his or her graduate program advisor and by the department head of the program in which he or she is enrolled. Upon recommendation of the department head, the Graduate Studies Committee can act to place such a student on probation or to drop him or her from the graduate program. However, the Graduate Studies Committee cannot unilaterally take such action.

The graduate grade point average (GGPA) will be computed on the basis of student achievement only in those courses which are stipulated in the student's plan of study for credit toward the completion of his or her program. Thesis credit hours will be excluded. The GGPA will be the grade point average used by the Graduate Studies Committee to evaluate all questions related to satisfactory progress toward completion of the MS degree (e.g., probation, continued enrollment, financial assistance), unless it has received a recommendation from the department head as outlined in the preceding paragraph.

The procedure described in the preceding paragraph places a direct responsibility on the graduate student, his or her advisory committee, and his or her department to stipulate those courses which will make up the student's plan of study and which will count toward the completion of the student's MS program.

Scholastic Standing

The programs of study indicate the course requirements for the various degrees in the order in which they must be taken. The grades earned in the various courses are based on the quality of daily work and the results of tests and examinations and are expressed in letters according to the following scale:

A = 4 C+ = 2.5 D = 1
B+ = 3.5 C = 2 F = 0
B = 3 D+ = 1.5

Cumulative grade point-ratios are computed at the end of each term. Students must progress at a level at least 3.00 to avoid academic probation. A minimum cumulative point-ratio of 3.00 is required for graduation.

Credit Requirements

Master of Science in Engineering Management (MSEM) students should refer to page 35 for the specific credit requirements of that program. Master of Science in Environmental Engineering students should refer to page 36 for specific credit requirements of that program.

Requirements for the Master's degree are the satisfactory completion of at least 51 quarter-hours with a grade of C or better in each course, and with a minimum cumulative GGPA index of 3.0 or better, based on an approved plan of study. Excluding MSEM students, up to 12 of the required 51 quarter hours may be thesis research. Courses taken on a S-U basis or pass/fail basis do not count toward a graduate degree. Thesis research is given a grade of S or U at the end of each quarter of thesis registration. The Institute's normal grading system applies to graduate courses as do the rules pertaining to withdrawal from a course. Any course change or withdrawal requires approval signed by the instructor of the course, the student's advisor, and the Associate Dean of the Faculty. No grade replacement for courses in the student's plan of study will be accepted.

Transfer Credit

A maximum of 12 quarter hours of graduate course credit completed at other graduate schools may be counted toward completion of the Master's degree at Rose-Hulman with the approval of the student's advisory committee.

Graduate courses taken at Rose-Hulman as an undergraduate may be counted for graduate credit provided the courses

were not used to satisfy the requirements for a B.S. degree, and
fulfill requirements in his/her plan of study.
The student must request permission to receive graduate credit prior to enrollment in the course. See GRADUATE COURSES section of the Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology Academic Rules and Procedures for detailed procedures.
Academic Probation

A graduate student whose cumulative graduate grade point average (GGPA) falls below 3.0/4.0 is automatically placed on academic probation. Probationary status is removed only when a graduate student's cumulative GGPA equals or exceeds the minimum 3.0/4.0 required to earn the Master's degree. A graduate student who remains on probation after completing 12 credit hours since being placed on probation will be dismissed from the program. Students on probation cannot hold a graduate assistantship and cannot enroll for more than 12 credit hours per quarter. A student whose cumulative GGPA drops below 2.5/4.0 will automatically be dismissed from the graduate program.

Courses Available for Graduate Credit

In addition to all 500 level courses, the advanced undergraduate courses listed in the back of this bulletin are available for graduate credit. The following points must be observed:

Only those undergraduate courses listed may be used for graduate credit.
No course at any level may be used for both graduate and undergraduate credit. No course used to satisfy requirements for any degree granted by another institution may be transferred for graduate credit.
No undergraduate courses taken at other institutions may be transferred to Rose-Hulman for graduate credit unless they are accepted for graduate credit at the institution from which transfer is requested.
No more than 12 quarter hours credit in courses below the 500-level can be applied to the Master's degree without approval of the Graduate Studies Committee. (Approved mathematics courses are excluded from the 12 hour limit.)
Enrollment of a graduate student in any course requires the approval of the student's advisory committee chairperson.
Graduate Seminar Courses

GS 501, GS 502, GS 503, and GS 504 are required of all graduate students EXCEPT MSEM students and those students enrolled in an off-the-Terre Haute-campus program such as that at the Naval Surface Warfare Center - Crane. Engineering management students, both at Crane and at other locations, are required to complete at least three credit hours from GS 511 through GS 51X, a series of technical seminars that are each worth one credit. All other Crane students are required to complete GS 510. All of the classes in the GS series are designed to help students prepare sound thesis research and/or develop successful project work.

Thesis

All Master's degree students except MSEM students must complete a thesis or comparable research experience. Thesis research for the Master's degree may count for no more than 12 of the 51 quarter hours required for the degree. A thesis may be based on work done in connection with scientific or technical employment, but all work presented in the thesis must be the work of the author of the thesis or else must be clearly labeled as being the work of someone else. A graduate student who is employed may register for thesis credit while working full time.

A thesis is normally required to receive a Master's degree. Under special circumstances, a student who qualifies can take 12 additional hours of course work in lieu of a thesis. The non-thesis option will be considered only when the student has comparable research experience. This comparable experience will be verified by documentary evidence provided by the student of his or her independent, creative, technical work. The scope of applicable work will usually encompass the generation, development, execution, and reporting of a technical concept. The acceptability of work submitted as comparable to the thesis experience will be determined by the student's advisory committee and the head of the student's major department. The onus of establishing the acceptability of such work will lie with the student. Application for a non-thesis option is made at the time of submission of the plan of study (refer to section in bulletin on Plan of Study). The signatures of the members of the advisory committee and the department head on the plan of study application form will constitute their endorsement of the acceptability of the student's comparable experience. On or near the time that the student completes the course work in his or her non-thesis plan of study, the advisory committee will conduct a public final examination covering the equivalent work and course work included in the plan of study.

Advisory Committee Chairperson, Advisory Committee and Plan of Study

The identification of an advisory committee chairperson and advisory committee and the formulation of a plan of study in a timely manner is essential for a student to make satisfactory progress in his or her program of graduate studies and for consideration or continuation of financial assistance. The following guide delineates the required steps:

A departmental academic advisor should be assigned to each student at the time he or she is admitted. The assigned academic advisor will serve until an advisory committee chairperson is selected.
The student should formally select an advisory committee chairperson (normally, the thesis advisor) as early as possible but at least before the end of the ninth week of the first quarter of graduate study. With the consent of the proposed advisory committee chairperson, the student should submit a completed form entitled "Request for the Appointment of an Advisory Committee Chairperson" to the head of his or her academic department. This form is available from the Office of Research and Graduate Studies.
In consultation with his or her advisory committee chairperson, the student should select an advisory committee and prepare a plan of study toward the degree before the end of the ninth week of the second quarter of graduate study. The advisory committee shall consist of the advisory committee chairperson and at least two additional faculty members, with a minimum of one from outside the major department. The student, in consultation with the proposed advisory committee, should develop an appropriate plan of study. Simultaneous appointment of the advisory committee and approval of the plan of study are obtained by written agreement of the advisor, the advisory committee, the head of the appropriate department, and the Associate Dean of the Faculty on the "Request for the Appointment of Advisory Committee" and "Plan of Study" forms. The plan of study may later be modified with the approval of the advisory committee chairperson, the advisory committee, the head of the appropriate department, and the Associate Dean of the Faculty. Generally, courses which are listed on the plan of study and have been completed by the student cannot be removed from the plan of study. The "Plan of Study" form is also used to record the preliminary research topic.

Final Examination

Each successful Master's degree candidate (except MSEM students) must pass a final examination, which is conducted by the advisory committee. Generally, the candidate will be required to make a presentation of his or her thesis work and then take an oral examination from the advisory committee.

A candidate who has received approval to pursue a non-thesis option will be required to submit a written report on a project which demonstrates experience comparable to thesis research. He or she will also be required to make a presentation on his or her project work and then take an oral examination from the student's examining committee.

The final examination will include questions on the student's thesis or project work and may also include questions on fundamental principles in the student's field of study. An additional written examination may be required at the discretion of the advisory committee.

Thesis and Final Exam Deadlines

All graduate students must be enrolled the quarter in which they graduate. The following procedures relevant to completing the Master's program also are required of all graduate students (except MSEM students). Requirements for MSEM students are located on page 35 of this Bulletin.

The advisory committee chairperson's approval of the final draft of the thesis must be secured by the end of the eighth week of the quarter in which the degree is expected. At this time, approval of the format should be obtained from the Associate Dean of the Faculty. (The required thesis format may be accessed on the Rose-Hulman Learning Center web page.) Copies of the thesis must be delivered to the members of the advisory committee (see below) at least 10 days before the final examination.
Prior to taking the final examination for the M.S. degree (written, oral, or both) the student must ascertain that his/her advisor has received the "Final Examination Report" form. (The form will be sent to the advisor by the Office of Research and Graduate Studies.) This form should be completed by the chairperson and the examination committee during the final examination and thereafter returned to the Associate Dean of the Faculty.
The final examination must be taken no later than the ninth week of the quarter in which the degree is expected. There will be no exceptions.
The library and advisory committee chairperson's copies of the thesis must be submitted to the Office of Research and Graduate Studies no later than the last day of classes of the quarter. These copies must be accompanied by a short (150 to 200 word) abstract, which will be used in Institute publications. The original thesis will be recorded and deposited in the library. An electronic copy of the thesis must be submitted on CD-ROM.
Foreign Language Requirement

There is no foreign language requirement for the Master's degree at Rose-Hulman.

Academic Records

All academic records are maintained by the Registrar. The student is responsible for meeting the graduation requirements.

Attendance

The required times of attendance pursuant to "study and/or research" shall be from the first date of classes for each quarter until the day grades are due for that quarter.

Time Limit

All requirements for the Master of Science degree are to be fulfilled within five academic years from the time of entrance as a regular student in the graduate program. If studies are interrupted by military service, the time will be extended by the length of such service.

Diplomas and Degrees

Upon recommendation of the faculty and the approval of the Board of Trustees, the Institute will confer the degree of Master of Science upon each candidate who has met the requirements for that degree. The diploma will indicate the course of study in which the degree has been conferred. Each recipient of a degree is expected to attend and participate in Commencement exercises.

Commencement

The following rules govern the participation of graduate students in graduation exercises:

To be eligible to participate in a Spring Commencement Exercise, a graduate student (except MSEM students) must have taken his/her final oral examination by the end of the ninth week of the quarter and must have completed all the requirements for the graduate degree by the last day of classes of the quarter.
Immediately upon successful completion of all the requirements for a graduate degree, the student will be given a letter of completion by the Registrar.
Each graduate student who successfully completes all the requirements for a graduate degree is encouraged to participate in the next Spring Commencement Exercise for which he or she is eligible.
There is to be no "Summer Completion" for graduate students. Graduate students who complete the requirements less than one week prior to a given Spring Commencement, or after the Spring Commencement, cannot participate until the next Spring Commencement.
Each graduate student who participates in the Spring Commencement will be individually "hooded" on stage as he or she receives his or her degree. All M.S. completions for that year will be listed in the Commencement Program with their thesis title.
Graduate students who have completed all the requirements for a graduate degree but who do not participate in the Spring Commencement will receive their diplomas by mail as soon as they are printed.
Questions

Any questions concerning rules, procedures, etc., relating to graduate work should be directed to the Associate Dean of the Faculty.