2018-2019  Graduate Studies  Graduate Program and Degree Requirements

Graduate Program and Degree Requirements

The University reserves the right to modify the academic programs and regulations at its discretion. The most current information is available from the School of Graduate Studies website. Each program may have specific regulations in addition to those listed below.

Program Regulations

Program of Studies 

The Program of Studies shall meet program requirements as approved by Senate, and includes the required courses, work terms or other practice-based components, any competency exams, scholarly components, or other requirements. The School of Graduate Studies and the Graduate Program Coordinator/Chair prepare a Program of Study for each student. The Program of Study must be approved before the student registers in the program and must include all program course requirements. 

Program Requirements

Scholarly Content

All graduate programs at Nipissing University have a defined scholarly research component, which may take the form of a Thesis, an MRP, or a Research Project and Seminar.

Where appropriate for the discipline or field, another specified activity designed to test the acquisition of analytical and interpretive skills may be used. This may include a series of shorter research papers within courses, an exhibit of works, or a creative performance. In such cases, the appropriate scholarly content must be approved by the Dean of Graduate Studies and Research.

Practice-based Content

Where appropriate and possible, graduate programs at Nipissing have a defined practice-based component. This includes a co-op work program, a practicum, a work-term, a professional, community-or industry-based project/paper or Thesis, or some other form of practice-based or service-learning assessment.

Grading

With the exception of MRPs or Theses and courses with a Pass/Fail grade, the standardized grading system for graduate courses at Nipissing University is:

Graduate students must receive a grade of 70% or higher to receive credit for a course; however, each program may have further specific degree requirements.

Required Withdrawal from University

• Students who receive a final mark of less than 70% in one graduate course will be placed on academic probation. If the course is a required one, students MUST repeat the course and obtain at least 70% in the repeated course.
• If a student receives a final mark of less than 70% in two graduate courses, the student will be required to withdraw from the University.
• Students who are required to withdraw from the University will not be eligible to receive funding for the remainder of the year.
• Students who are required to be withdrawn from the University for academic reasons and who wish to re-apply may do so after one calendar year following the required withdrawal date.

Appeals of Academic Decisions

Appeals normally are heard regarding possible inequities in the process used in grading. Should a student not be satisfied with an awarded grade, he or she may appeal using the appeal process found within the Academic Calendar.

Additional Regulations

Time to Completion

A year is based on three terms: fall, winter, spring/summer

Full-Time Students

Full-time students must identify themselves as such when registering and on all documents.  Full-time students are those who are pursuing a program of study on campus and are geographically available. They maintain regular contact with their faculty advisor or research supervisor, if applicable. They are eligible for graduate funding.

Full-time students employed by Nipissing University work no more than an average of 10 hours per week at diversionary employment.  Diversionary employment is work that takes a student’s time away from his/her program of study and research.

Flexible-time Students

This option is intended to permit working professionals to be engaged in continued employment in areas related to the fields of research.  Students will normally register as full-time, but are not eligible for financial support from the university.

Continuous Registration

All graduate students must maintain continuous registration in each consecutive semester of study until they have completed the requirements of their program.  It is the student’s responsibility to ensure they are registered by the appropriate deadline for each term.

Students, who failed to register or re-register, by the deadline and have not been granted a Leave of Absence, will be registered in a University placeholder course and will be assessed the appropriate fees. Students who have failed to register or re-register for two consecutive terms will be considered to have left the program and withdrawn.

Students wanting to complete their program after they have been withdrawn from their program must apply for re-admission and pay the application fee. Students should be aware that in the event of readmission, continuation of the same research project and/or supervisor cannot be guaranteed. Additionally, it is possible that students will be unable to count previously earned graduate credit toward the completion of their degree.