Mar 19, 2024  
2019-2020 General Catalog 
    
2019-2020 General Catalog [ARCHIVED CATALOG]

LSU Online


Alexandera “Sasha” Thackaberry
Vice Provost
Renée L.A. Renegar
Assistant Director
LSU Online
2148 Pleasant Hall
Phone: (833) 280-5634

Academic Offerings

LSU Online supports superior distance education programs that produce highly qualified graduates in accordance with LSU’s vision and mission of collaborative and innovative teaching and research to transform the lives of our students and graduates so that they are able to lead and succeed in future endeavors.  LSU offers fully online degree programs at the graduate and post-baccalaureate levels. 

Information on degree offerings can be found on the LSU Online website

Admission

Those interested in applying for an online degree program must follow the same rules and procedures as students interested in studying in the on-campus program equivalents.  Information on the application processes can be obtained from the Graduate School and the Office of Undergraduate Admissions.

For Graduate School Assistance:

For Post-Baccalaureate and Undergraduate Assistance:

Email: gradonline@lsu.edu

Mail documents to:

Graduate School
West David Boyd Hall
Baton Rouge, LA 70803

Call: 225.578.2324

Email: ugonline@lsu.edu

Mail documents to:

LSU Undergraduate Online Programs
101 LSU Student Union Building
PO Box 16138
Baton Rouge, LA 70803

Call: 225.578.7334

Availability

Students must reside in one of the following states in order to qualify for admission to an online degree program at LSU:

Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin, Wyoming.  Please note, due to licensure requirements in some states, not all online programs are available to residents in every state.  Questions regarding this issue can email lsuonline@lsu.edu.

International students may also apply within these guidelines: International applicants who are seeking admission to an online degree program through LSU do not qualify for an LSU I-20/DS-2019 Certificate of Eligibility. U.S. Immigration regulations stipulate that international students who are seeking or are maintaining F-1 or J-1 student status must have a “physical presence” in traditional, classroom courses. Therefore, international students on an F-1 or J-1 document listed with Louisiana State University cannot exclusively complete an online degree program through LSU while inside the United States in order to maintain/continue their status. For more information, e-mail isograd@lsu.edu.

2019/2020 Academic and Registration Calendars

LSU Online follows a different academic and registration calendars than the equivalent on-campus programs.  Terms in the LSU Online programs occur in 7-week modules.  There are six module start dates in the academic year.  (See LSU Online academic calendar)

All course scheduling is completed through student MyLSU account by accessing “Registration Services” on the MyLSU desktop. Online registration deadlines can be found on the online academic calendar.

LSU offers students the ability to produce enrollment verification certificates and other registration documents via the web. To use these services, simply access the “Student Services” selection on the myLSU desktop and select the “Enrollment Certificate” option.

Financial Aid

LSU’s Office of Financial Aid is here to guide you through the process of applying for financial aid and planning the costs of your education. Additional information is available online for the Office of Financial Aid.

Graduate PLUS Loans. Specific information regarding this refund schedule is available through Financial Aid & Scholarships.

Military/Veteran Students

For an extensive overview relating to Louisiana State University’s policies relating to veteran’s benefits, visit the Veterans Affairs website.

Fee Bill

All fee bills are delivered electronically to student MyLSU accounts.  Tuition and fees must be paid by the published deadlines.  Payments may be made through MyLSU or by mailing payments. Tuition and fee schedules can be accessed on the Budget and Planning website

[1] The LSU Board of Supervisors may modify tuition and/or fees at any time without advance notice.

 

Refund Schedule  

Note that the online module registration calendar has specific dates associated with refunds for students choosing to resign and/or drop classes.

Friday before the first class day, 4:30 p.m. 100% refund
Second day of class, 4:30 p.m. 90% refund
Fifth day of class, 4:30 p.m. 50% refund
After fifth class day No refund

Regulations

LSU Online students are governed by the same academic requirements and regulations as on-campus students. 

Student Classification

  • Full-Time Students

    • LSU Online students will be considered full-time when enrolled for six hours of credit.

  • Half-Time Students

    • LSU Online students will be considered half-time when enrolled for three hours of credit.

Grade Requirements

Plus/Minus Grading System

Effective Fall 2015, the university implemented the Plus/Minus Grading System.

  • The definitions for letter grades when used in courses are presented below.
    • The letter grade A, including A+ and A-, denotes distinguished mastery of the course material.
    • The letter grade B, including B+ and B-, denotes good mastery of the course material.
    • The letter grade C, including C+ and C-, denotes acceptable mastery of the course material.
    • The letter grade D, including D+ and D-, denotes minimally acceptable achievement.
    • The letter grade F denotes failure.  
  • References to specific letter grades in university regulations and requirements refer to the full letter grade range. For example, if a grade of C is required, a student must achieve a final grade in the C range (i.e. C+, C, or C-) or better.
  • A grade of “P” (pass) denotes satisfactory completion (grade of “C” or better) of advanced-standing or proficiency examinations, pass-fail option courses, and certain other courses. A grade of “NC“ (no credit) indicates that no credit is earned.

Grading scale—A student’s GPA is determined by the ratio of quality points earned to semester hours attempted. Quality points are assigned to letter grades using the following scale:

GRADE

HOURS CARRIED

QUALITY POINTS

A+

1

4.3

A

1

4.0

A-

1

3.7

B+

1

3.3

B

1

3.0

B-

1

2.7

C+

1

2.3

C

1

2.0

C-

1

1.7

D+

1

1.3

D

1

1.0

D-

1

0.7

F

1

0.0

All courses taken for which the grades above are assigned, including repeated courses, are considered in calculating GPAs. Grades of “P,” “W,” “I,” and “NC” are not used in computing the official GPA and, therefore, do not carry quality points.  

Plus/Minus Grading and Regulations Applicable on a Course-by-Course Basis—All regulations applicable on a course-by-course basis and requiring a specific letter grade are interpreted to mean a specific letter grade range.  For example, if a student must achieve a C or better in one course as a prerequisite for subsequent course, the student must achieve a final grade in the C range (i.e., C+, C or C-) or better. 

Good Standing

GRADUATE STUDENTS

Graduate students are considered to be in good standing, making satisfactory academic progress towards the degree, if they earn a 3.00 cumulative average on all graduate coursework taken within the University (all campuses) and a 3.00 module average on all coursework (undergraduate and graduate).

UNDERGRADUATE STUDENTS (including post-baccalaureate students)

Undergraduate students are in good standing if they are eligible to continue or to re-enroll at the university even if on scholastic probation or on scholastic warning status.

Scholastic Probation and Suspension of Graduate Students

A student whose cumulative LSU average is below 3.00 will be placed on probation, except that a student whose cumulative average is as low as 2.75 may be dropped from The Graduate School without having a probationary period. A student already on probation whose cumulative average is below 3.00 will be dropped from The Graduate School. Rules governing students admitted on probation are given in the “Graduate Admission” section in the LSU General Catalog. The grades recorded determine the student’s academic status, even if the student changes to a different graduate degree program.

Online students who have been dropped from a graduate degree program and are ineligible to continue in The Graduate School may not reapply as online non-degree students.

Scholastic Probation and Drop of Post-Baccalaureate and Undergraduate Students

University Scholastic Warning

At the end of an LSU Online module, students will be placed on University Scholastic Warning if their GPAs are one to nine quality points below a 2.00 on all work attempted or on all work attempted in the University (all campuses). A notation to that effect will be recorded on their transcripts. Students will remain on University Scholastic Warning until they bring their GPAs up to 2.00, or are placed on University Scholastic Probation.

University Scholastic Probation

At the end of an LSU Online module, students will be placed on University Scholastic Probation if their GPAs are 10 or more quality points below a 2.00 on all work attempted or on all work attempted in the University (all campuses). Students will remain on University Scholastic Probation until they have cumulative averages of 2.00 or higher on all college work attempted and on all work attempted in the University (all campuses).

Students who have been removed from University Scholastic Probation will be placed on probation again at the end of any LSU Online module in which their University or cumulative averages are less than 2.00.

University Scholastic Drop

Students on University Scholastic Probation will be dropped from the university at the end of any LSU Online module if their module average is less than 2.00, unless application of the Grade Exclusion Policy by undergraduates results in the students’ University and cumulative GPAs recomputed to 2.00 or higher.

Re-entry after Scholastic Drop

LSU Online undergraduate and post-baccalaureate students dropped for the first time for academic reasons can be considered for readmission when they have been out of the University (all campuses) for two consecutive modules.
LSU Online undergraduate and post-baccalaureate students dropped the second or subsequent time for academic reasons must remain out of the University (all campuses) for one calendar year.

In either instance, readmission may be delayed or denied at the discretion of the dean of the college in which the student desires to enroll. Students entering the university after University Scholastic Drop will be admitted on University Scholastic Probation.

Incomplete Grades

If a student is awarded an incomplete grade for an LSU Online course, the student has until the final day of class in the next module, whether the student registers for the next module or not, to complete the course.

Time Limit for Graduate Students

Programs for master’s degrees must be completed within five years from entrance into a degree program. Credit for individual courses taken at LSU more than five years before the termination of a program may be revalidated by the student’s graduate committee through an examination. This examination may be oral, written, or both oral and written, depending on the requirements of the department concerned. The documentation of such an examination must be signed by members of the committee, the department’s graduate advisor, and reported to the Graduate School on the appropriate form before the request for the student’s final examination will be approved. No more than 50 percent of the courses in a student’s program may be revalidated and counted toward the degree requirements. However, some departments do not revalidate course work. Students should check with the department chair or graduate advisor to ensure revalidation is allowed.

Break in Enrollment

Students who do not enroll for a calendar year will be required to reapply for admission.

Standards of Conduct

The university’s guidelines and expectations for behavior and accountability procedures for students are outlined in the Code of Student Conduct. Policies and procedures governing student organizations, activities, and conduct may be accessed at www.lsu.edu/deanofstudents and www.lsu.edu/campuslife. Student Advocacy & Accountability has administrative responsibility for coordinating all university accountability procedures for students and student organizations. Students who are charged with alleged violations of the Code of Student Conduct are provided rights, including the right to a notice and a hearing. Additional details regarding standards of conduct may be found at: www.lsu.edu/saa. LSU’s Commitment to Community is an additional university document which details the expectation to uphold the highest standards of performance in an academic and social environment.

Graduation

Upon successful completion of all degree requirements, LSU Online students will have their degrees conferred at the end of the module in which all work was successfully completed.  LSU conducts on-campus commencement exercises in May, August, and December.  LSU Online students are invited to attend the commencement exercise immediately following the module in which degree requirements were successfully completed.  For information regarding commencement, please access the Commencement site.

GRADUATE STUDENTS

Students must file for graduation in accordance with published LSU Graduate School processes and deadlines: see Steps to Graduation.

UNDERGRADUATE STUDENTS (including post-baccalaureate students)

Undergraduates must inform their dean’s office regarding their intention to graduate. The deadlines for contacting dean’s offices regarding graduation are as follows:

The dean’s offices will provide additional information about the procedure to check out for graduation and payment of the diploma fee.