The Graduate School Professional Programs

Introduction

2012-2013 LSU Graduate Bulletin

This Graduate Bulletin contains information for individuals considering graduate study at Louisiana State University, as well as for enrolled students, faculty, and staff.

For prospective students, this bulletin provides a guide to LSU’s resources for graduate and professional study, the expertise of the graduate faculty, and other pertinent matters, including application procedures and criteria, graduate assistantships and fellowships, and degree requirements.

For enrolled students, faculty, and staff, this bulletin serves as a handbook for graduate study at LSU. The rules and regulations of The Graduate School, as well as detailed descriptions of requirements for advanced degrees, are included.

Additionally, an appendix links to two university policy statements that are of special interest to graduate students—PS-21 and PS-85. PS-21 governs the graduate assistantship program; PS-85 deals specifically with the preparation of teaching assistants for instructional duties.

This LSU Graduate Bulletin represents a flexible program of the current educational plans, offerings, and requirements that may be altered from time to time to carry out the purposes and objectives of Louisiana State University. The provisions of this publication do not constitute an offer for a contract that may be accepted by students through registration and enrollment in the university. The university reserves the right to change any provision, offering, or requirement at any time within the student’s period of study at LSU. LSU further reserves the right to require a student to withdraw from the university for cause at any time. LSU assures equal opportunity for all qualified persons without regard to race, creed, color, marital status, sexual orientation, religion, sex, age, national origin, physical or mental disability, or veteran’s status in the admission to, participation in, and treatment or employment in the programs and activities that the university operates and sponsors. Anyone having questions or complaints regarding equal opportunity at LSU should contact the Office of Human Resource Management, 304 Thomas Boyd Hall, LSU, Baton Rouge, Louisiana 70803; telephone 225-578-8200.

Statement of Accreditation

Louisiana State University and Agricultural & Mechanical College is accredited by the Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools to award bachelor’s, master’s, doctoral, and professional degrees.

The Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools is the recognized regional accrediting body in the 11 U.S. southern states (Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, north Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, and Virginia) for those institutions of higher education that award associate, baccalaureate, master’s, or doctoral degrees. The Commission on Colleges is the representative body of the College Delegate Assembly and is charged with carrying out the accreditation process. The Commission’s address is 1866 Southern Lane, Decatur, Georgia 30033; telephone 404-679-4500.

Graduate Programs

Information on specific degree programs or areas of study is available directly from the department offering the degree. Further information is available online at www.gradschool.lsu.edu. A complete listing of all graduate programs, concentrations and minors is available at http://gradschool.lsu.edu/Graduate%20Programs/item11846.html.

LSU has developed flexible rules for the composition of advisory committees for master’s and doctoral students, allowing students to work with professors from several departments. It is not possible to get a clear picture of the resources of the university without looking beyond the formal boundaries of the graduate program to which one is applying or in which one is enrolled.

A complete listing of graduate course offerings may be found in the Courses of Instruction  section. Course listings (and this Graduate Bulletin) may also be accessed online through the LSU homepage, www.lsu.edu.

Since some graduate courses are offered in a two- or three-year rotation, persons interested in knowing the specific courses available in a given academic year should request lists of graduate course offerings directly from the departments in which they are interested.

Admission

Applicants must be admitted to both The Graduate School and to a specific graduate program. All prospective graduate students must complete the online application that can be found at www.lsu.edu/gradapply.

Some departments require additional information admission for departmental assistantships and fellowships. Information regarding such requirements can be found in the departmental pages herein or at the website for the specific department.

Graduate Minors

Click here to view a list of Graduate Minors .

The Graduate School

GARY R. BYERLY
Dean

MARIE M. HAMILTON
Assistant Dean

RENÉE L. A. RENEGAR
Director of Student Services

CLOVIER I. TORRY
Director of Recruitment, Retention, and Diversity

Concepts and Purpose

The Graduate School’s primary purposes are:

• Supporting a broad array of graduate degree programs and extensive research opportunities designed to attract, educate, and graduate highly qualified students;
• Supporting faculty who are excellent teacher-scholars, nationally competitive in research and creative activities, and who, with staff and students, contribute to solving economic, cultural, environmental, educational, and social challenges via development of new resources.

The Graduate School administers more than 120 graduate degree programs offered at LSU. LSU’s Graduate School was established because the university recognized its obligation to provide an environment for research and inquiry and to make the results of these activities available to the public.

As the state’s center of academic research and advanced studies, The Graduate School administers a more extended and comprehensive program than any other educational institution in Louisiana.

LSU offers doctoral programs in 49 major fields of study. These programs offer opportunities for advanced training and research in all areas of the sciences, social sciences, and humanities. Master’s degree programs are offered in 73 major fields. These range from Master of Fine Arts degrees in creative writing, studio art, and theatre, to professional degree programs in social work, business administration, and library and information science.

Additional information about specific graduate and professional programs is published in catalogs, bulletins, and brochures that may be obtained from individual departments or schools at the addresses listed in this bulletin. This information may also be accessed online through the LSU homepage: www.lsu.edu.

History and Organization

The first awarded graduate degree on record was a master’s degree in civil engineering awarded in 1869. By 1890, 14 master’s degrees had been awarded, and by 1909, 32 individuals had received graduate diplomas. In 1909, the Graduate Department was established; the general supervision of graduate work was vested in a Committee on Graduate Courses. During the period from 1909 to 1931, 439 master’s degrees were awarded.

In 1931, The Graduate School was established, and the first graduate dean, Charles W. Pipkin, was appointed. The former Committee on Graduate Studies was reorganized into a Graduate Council. Doctoral programs were also established in 1931, and the first doctorate was awarded in 1935. From 1931 through spring 2012, 10,617 doctorates and 50,528 master’s degrees were awarded.

The Graduate School is administered by the graduate dean, in consultation with the Graduate Council. This council is composed of the dean of The Graduate School, who serves as ex-officio member, and 16 faculty members appointed for rotating terms of five years each by the graduate dean with the concurrence of the provost. The council considers proposals for new degree programs, recommends graduate faculty membership classifications, and recommends changes in Graduate School policy.

Admission to the Graduate Study

Admission to The Graduate School is awarded on the basis of evidence of academic achievement and promise. Applications of students who meet The Graduate School requirements are forwarded to the appropriate academic units for final approval.

Certain programs require higher admission standards than those of The Graduate School. Due to the high demand for many graduate programs, meeting the minimum requirements of The Graduate School does not guarantee admission into a particular program.

General Information

Applicants meeting the following requirements are eligible for regular admission to The Graduate School. Applicants failing to meet all requirements may be granted probationary admission, provided other substantial evidence of capacity to do satisfactory graduate work—including outstanding performance in post baccalaureate and/or graduate work, high Graduate Record Examination (GRE) scores (or Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT) scores, where appropriate), and other outstanding achievements—is presented.

Applicants with unsatisfactory undergraduate records who have completed a minimum of nine hours of graded graduate course work with at least a 3.33 graduate grade point average (GPA) (“A” = 4.0) in a graduate program and who have acceptable GRE scores (GMAT, where applicable) will be considered for admission.

Applicants who appear admissible on the basis of unofficial and/or incomplete transcripts of previous work or unofficial test scores, but who are unable to supply the required records prior to registration, may be granted provisional admission. Subsequent enrollment will not be permitted until all provisions are met. Provisional admission does not guarantee subsequent regular admission to The Graduate School.

Admission to a Degree Program

Regular Admission

Regular admission is awarded to applicants who intend to pursue a degree and meet the following requirements:

• A bachelor’s degree from an accredited U.S. institution or the equivalent from a foreign institution.
• A grade point average of at least 3.00 (“A”= 4.0) on all undergraduate work (or last half-degree requirement) and a 3.00 GPA or better on any graduate work already completed. International applicants must have at least a 3.00 GPA, or equivalent, on all college-level work attempted.
• Acceptable GRE scores (in some cases, a high GRE may be used to compensate for a low GPA). An acceptable GMAT score is required for graduate programs in the E. J. Ourso College of Business, except for the MS and PhD in economics. The MPA program and the Information Systems & Decision Sciences program will accept either the GRE or the GMAT.
• Acceptance by the graduate faculty in the applicant’s area of study. Applicants who are narrowly trained or who have taken a significant amount of work on a pass-fail basis or in ungraded courses may be required to submit scores on GRE Subject (Advanced) Tests before their applications can be considered. Consult individual departments for additional admission requirements.

Probationary Admission

Applicants who fail to meet one or more of the requirements for regular admission may be admitted on probation, provided additional evidence of capacity to do satisfactory work is presented. Such evidence might include superior performance in a substantial amount of post baccalaureate work, high GRE scores (GMAT scores, when appropriate), and other achievements.

Students entering on probation will remain on probation until the completion of nine hours of graduate-level, graded courses (“A,” “B,” and “C” only) with at least a 3.00 average. Part-time students entering on probation and registering for fewer than nine hours may be dropped from The Graduate School if their GPA is less than 3.00 during any semester in which they are registered.

Students admitted on probation may not be appointed to assistantships or fellowships until they attain good academic standing. (See PS-21 for additional information.)

Provisional Admission

Provisional admission may be considered for applicants who appear to be admissible on the basis of the credentials submitted, but who are unable to supply all of the required official records prior to registration. Students admitted provisionally must submit complete and satisfactory records within 60 days (45 days in summer term) after the first day of class for the semester in which graduate study begins. If these credentials are not received by the date specified, or if they prove to be unsatisfactory, students will not be permitted to register for the following semester. Provisional admission does not guarantee subsequent regular admission.

Admission of International Students

Applicants who have completed degree requirements outside the U.S. must present all of the following:

• A complete and accurate chronological outline of all previous college-level education.
• Authorized school or university records—transcripts, marksheets, certificates of degrees—showing all courses taken and all grades received (with certified translations if the records are in a language other than English).
• A bachelor’s degree or its equivalent, with a grade point average equivalent to a “B” or better on all previous undergraduate work (or last half-degree requirement) from an accredited college or university.
• Verification of the availability of sufficient funds to meet all costs while studying at LSU as an F-1 student before the I-20 Certificate of Eligibility will be processed. For the current list of estimated expenses for international students, please visit International Services’ website at www.oip.lsu.edu/iso/Dates%20and%20costs.htm.
• GRE Test scores (GMAT where appropriate).
• A satisfactory score on the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) or the International English Language Testing System (IELTS).

English Proficiency

An applicant whose native language is not English and/or who has been educated outside of the U.S. in a country or province where English is not the only official language must demonstrate proof of English proficiency by submitting either a TOEFL or an IELTS score before the application is evaluated for admission.

TOEFL:

On the TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language), the following minimum scores are required for admission:

• 550 (paper-based exam)
• 213 (computer-based exam)
• 79 (internet-based exam)

Information regarding TOEFL may be obtained by visiting the official website at www.toefl.org

IELTS:

On the IELTS (International English Language Testing Service), the following minimum score is required for admission:

• 6.5

Information about IELTS may be found at www.ielts.org. IELTS is jointly owned by the British Council, IDP: IELTS Australia, and the University of Cambridge ESOL Examinations. Official TOEFL/IELTS scores are those reported directly to LSU by the respective testing service at the request of the student.

Applicants may be exempt from the TOEFL / IELTS requirement if they have completed one of the following:

• A bachelor’s degree earned from an accredited U.S. institution;
• A college-level degree showing the completion of post-secondary education in a country where English is the primary official language.

Official transcripts or scores are required showing completion of one of the above before a student can be exempted from the TOEFL/ IELTS requirement. The Office of Graduate Student Services reserves the right to require a satisfactory TOEFL/IELTS score from any applicant. All international students who are admitted will be required to take an English placement test prior to registration.

Application deadlines for international students are the same as for all other applicants; however, because transcripts from foreign universities require special evaluation, prospective international students should begin the application process at least nine to twelve months prior to the semester in which they plan to enroll. Applications received after the deadline dates will be processed for the following semester or summer term. When sufficient scholastic records and acceptable evidence of English proficiency are not received early enough to determine admissibility for the semester for which application is made, consideration for a subsequent semester will be made only upon the applicant’s written request.

Upon arrival on campus and before registration, international applicants (except citizens of Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Ireland, the United Kingdom, certain Caribbean islands, and Belize) who have been admitted to The Graduate School must take the LSU Comprehensive English Language Test, consisting of the Michigan Test and a writing sample. Students with teaching duties whose tests indicate a deficiency in English will be required to register for appropriate English composition courses with a reduced load of graduate courses.

All international graduate students awarded graduate teaching assistantships must demonstrate proficiency in English. Any international graduate assistant who has not received a favorable recommendation from this speech course may not teach in any capacity.

An international applicant who has completed an undergraduate degree at an accredited U.S. institution must meet regular admission requirements. Before the applicant can be considered, The Graduate School must receive a satisfactory GRE or GMAT score. An international applicant will not be admitted until this information has been received.

Application Procedures

The application for admission to The Graduate School is accessed at www.lsu.edu/gradapply. Only online applications may be submitted to The Graduate School. Submission of the application fee requires a credit or debit card. The application fee is $50US for U.S. citizens and permanent residents and $70US for all other applicants.

A late fee of $25US is assessed if the application is submitted after the following dates: May 1 for spring intersession, July 15 for summer intersession, May 15 for the fall semester, October 15 for the spring semester, December 1 for winter intersession, and May 15 for the summer term. International applications received after these dates will be processed for the following semester and no late fee will be assessed. Fall applications should be received before the January 1 priority date in order to receive full consideration for assistantships, fellowships, or scholarships for which the applicant has applied.

International applicants are encouraged to determine course availability before applying for summer entry, and they are further encouraged to apply at least nine months in advance of their intended semester of enrollment. Applicants for graduate admission are responsible for the following:

1. Online Application:
   1. The completed online Application for Admission to Graduate Degree Program (www.lsu.edu/gradapply).
   2. The required application fee and any applicable late fee.
2. Submitting the following items to The Graduate School:
   1. One set of official transcripts of all previous college or university work from each institution attended. An official transcript bears the official seal of the issuing school. Photocopies, facsimiles, or transcripts marked “issued to student” are not official. Transfer credit posted on the records of other institutions is not accepted in lieu of transcripts from the original institution(s). If the college or university will supply an official transcript in a sealed and signed envelope, the student should obtain the transcript in this manner and submit it unopened. If the college or university will not send official transcripts to a student, please request that a transcript be sent to: LSU Office of Graduate Student Services, 114 David Boyd Hall, Baton Rouge, LA 70803. Transcripts from the LSU main campus need not be submitted.
   2. A satisfactory score on the verbal and quantitative portion of the Graduate Record Examination (GRE). LSU’s code for GRE reporting is R6373-5. Test information may be obtained from The Graduate School at LSU; graduate schools at most colleges and universities; or by writing to Educational Testing Service, P.O. Box 6000, Princeton, New Jersey 08541-6000. Allow at least six weeks for examination results to reach LSU.
      1. Applicants to the Master of Fine Arts program in studio art and theatre, Master of Music, and programs in business administration are not required to submit GRE scores. Applicants for the Master of Fine Arts in creative writing are required to submit GRE scores. Applicants to the Master of Fine Arts program in theatre (specialization in Scenic Technology and Design) are required to submit GRE Scores. Applicants to all other Master of Fine Arts programs in theatre are not required to submit GRE scores.
      2. The Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT) is required of applicants for all degrees in the E. J. Ourso College of Business, except for the MS and PhD with a major in economics which require the GRE. The Department of Information Systems & Decision Sciences and the MPA program will accept either the GRE or GMAT score. Application procedures for the GMAT are the same as described above. This examination may be taken at LSU. The LSU code for GMAT score reporting is R6373-5.
   3. International applicants should also submit:
      1. degree statements and an official English translation of each foreign document
      2. financial statement
      3. a satisfactory score on either the TOEFL or IELTS
   4. Three letters of recommendation; these letters may be submitted electronically through the online application.
3. Many departments have other specific departmental admission requirements. For specific information, consult the individual departments.

Admission is for the semester requested. Those admitted who do not register must make a written request to be reconsidered for admission for a subsequent semester. Request for a delay of admission will only be considered for two subsequent semesters from the original application semester (intersessions excluded). A new application is required for a delay of more than two semesters from the original semester of application (summer included). The Graduate School will not consider for admission any nonimmigrant that has entered the U.S. on an I-20 issued by another institution until that person has been enrolled for at least one semester at the institution issuing the I-20.

Non-Degree Admission

A student who holds a baccalaureate degree but who does not desire to enroll in a degree program in The Graduate School may enroll as a graduate nonmatriculating student. Course work is taken for academic credit, and all rules and regulations for graduate students apply. A student in this category must register for at least one course numbered 4000 or above each semester to maintain graduate status. Courses numbered below 4000 may be taken concurrently with graduate course work.

Enrollment in courses numbered 6000 and above is limited to a total of six semester hours for graduate students in this classification. However, an unlimited number of courses numbered 5999 and below may be taken.

No more than 12 hours of graduate credit taken as a nonmatriculating student may be applied toward the requirement for a master’s degree.

No more than 12 hours of combined credit transferred from other schools and earned as an LSU extension or nonmatriculating student may be applied toward a master’s degree at LSU. (See the section titled “Transfer of Credit”)

Students wishing to enroll only in courses numbered below 4000 should apply for undergraduate admission through the Office of Undergraduate Student Services & Student Aid, 1146 Pleasant Hall. Students classified as extension students are ineligible to enroll in on-campus courses. Applications for graduate non-degree admission may be completed by accessing the online application at www.lsu.edu/gradapply. Students applying for graduate non-degree admission must submit one official transcript from the highest degree-granting institution and from each institution where graduate credit was earned or attempted. Transcripts must indicate that the applicant has a 2.50 or better GPA on all undergraduate work completed and a 3.00 or better GPA on all graduate work completed. Transcripts should be mailed directly to the LSU Office of Graduate Student Services, 114 David Boyd Hall, Baton Rouge, LA 70803. In addition, a TOEFL score of at least 550 on the paper-based test, 213 on the computer-based test, or 79 on the Internet-based test, or an IELTS score of at least 6.5 must be received before an international student’s application is evaluated for admission. Applicants from Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Ireland, certain Caribbean islands, Belize, and the United Kingdom are exempt from the TOEFL or IELTS requirement. International students who have received a degree from an accredited institution in the U.S., Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Ireland, certain Caribbean islands, or the United Kingdom are also exempt from taking the TOEFL or the IELTS. A nonrefundable application fee must be submitted with the application. The application fee is $50US for U.S. citizens and permanent residents and $70US for all other applications.

Students not regularly admitted to the university may attend classes as auditors, provided they meet all previously mentioned requirements for admission, have written permission from the individual course instructor(s) and the graduate dean, and have made the necessary arrangements and paid the required fees. Prospective auditors should initiate registration by obtaining an “Audit Only” form from the Office of the University Registrar.

Regularly enrolled graduate students may also audit courses with consent of the individual instructor(s). Auditors will not receive degree credit and will not be permitted to take a credit examination on audited course work. However, previously audited courses may be taken for credit. Audited courses do not count in total course loads and are not recorded on official transcripts.

Readmission

Readmission to Original Program

Previously enrolled graduate students who fail to enroll for three or more consecutive semesters (summer term included) must reapply to The Graduate School. Applications for re-entry will be subject to reevaluation under current admission criteria; readmission is not guaranteed.

Official transcripts must be submitted if work has been taken at another institution since the student was last enrolled at LSU. The application deadlines for admission also apply for readmission, as do application fees and late fees.

Readmission with a Change of Program

A student wishing to pursue a degree or program other than the one originally sought and who has not enrolled for three or more semesters (including summer terms) must complete application procedures as described above and comply with the requirements for the new program. Acceptance into one program does not guarantee admission into another. The admission decision ultimately rests with the admission committee of the department or interdepartmental program concerned.

Decisions

All official notifications regarding admission to The Graduate School are conveyed to the student through the online application site. Students must log in to their application to view their admission status.

Graduate Fees & Financial Aid

Graduate student expenses, other than those explained below, will vary with the individual. The Board of Supervisors may change fees and costs for dining plans and housing at any time and without advance notice. Students should check the Office of Budget and Planning’s Website at www.bgtplan.lsu.edu.

The following discussion of fees, required minimum registration, and related matters covers items that apply only to graduate students and for which graduate students and undergraduates are treated differently. For all other fees (vehicle registration, audit, student insurance, the Student Health Center, and the like) see the LSU General Catalog.

Graduate Fees

Included in university fees for full-time graduate students are subscriptions to the Daily Reveille campus newspaper and Legacy student magazine; a copy of the Gumbo student yearbook; an allocation to Student Government; admission to various athletic events in the spring semester; membership in the LSU Student Union; and reduced golf green fees at the LSU Golf Course.

Student allocations included in university fees are a campus transit fee, a Student Recreational Sports Complex fee, a fee for “The Phone,” a KLSU radio fee, and an LSU Tiger TV fee. Additionally, university fees include a nonrefundable registration fee and a Student Health Center fee.

Application Fees

All applications for graduate admission must be paid when completing the online application process. Additional nonrefundable late fees, where applicable, are assessed for all applications received after the published deadlines for a given semester.

The late application fee also applies to applications for readmission submitted after the established deadline dates. International applicants should consult the section “Admission of International Students” for additional information.

Minimum Graduate Student Registration

Graduate students engaged in the writing of theses or dissertations are expected to register for research hours commensurate with the amount of university resources—faculty time, equipment, library facilities, and/or office space—to be used that semester. Out-of-town students are also expected to register for research hours if they are receiving any faculty advice or direction.

In addition, doctoral candidates must maintain continuous registration for a minimum of three semester hours of credit each regular semester (excluding summers) from the completion of the general examination to the end of the semester in which an approved dissertation is submitted to The Graduate School. Students must be registered for a minimum of one to three semester hours of credit during any semester in which they are taking master’s or doctoral examinations, including the qualifying examinations required by some departments.

“Degree Only” Registration

Students, who have completed all degree requirements, including final examinations taken in a previous semester, may register for “degree only” and pay only the graduation fee. “Degree only” registration is only allowed for students whose theses or dissertations are submitted to The Graduate School on or before the last day to add courses for credit. Non-thesis students may also register “degree only,” provided all degree requirements are met in a previous semester. Degree Only registration must be completed by close of business on the last date to add classes for the semester of graduation.

Audit Fees

Fees for auditing courses are in accordance with the regular semester and summer term fees. Fees for students enrolling for combined credit and audit work will be assessed in accordance with total hours scheduled.

Residency Status for Tuition Purposes

Eligibility for classification as a Louisiana resident is determined by The Graduate School in accordance with university regulations and is based on evidence provided on the application for admission and related documents. Regulations relate primarily to location of the permanent home and place of employment.

A student classified as a resident is one who has abandoned all prior domiciles and has been domiciled in the state of Louisiana continuously for at least one full year (365 days) immediately preceding the first day of classes of the term for which classification as a resident is sought. Physical presence within the state solely for educational purposes without substantial evidence of the intent to remain in Louisiana will not be sufficient for resident classification, regardless of the length of time within the state. Further detailed information is available in PM 31 and on the Graduate School website.

Graduation Fees

• Master’s degree fee—$35; processing fee, $20
• Doctoral degree fee—$55; processing fee, $35
• Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree fee, $40
• Duplicate diploma fee—$20 (charged if a diploma is ordered and student does not graduate at that commencement)
• Replacement diploma fee—$30

Special Research Fees

• For specially planned research programs arranged through the Office of International Programs, departmental research fees are applicable and vary with the individual program.
• For students in the School of Social Work, an internship fee of $100 per course is assessed. The fee(s) must be paid by all students enrolled in SW 7007 , SW 7008 , SW 7502 , and SW 7503 .
• For students in the School of Veterinary Medicine, a microscope fee of $40 per semester is assessed to each student in Years I and II of the professional curriculum. Regularly admitted students are not assessed fees in the summer (regardless of the elective blocks taken in Year III and IV). Regularly admitted students accepted from contract states pay the same fees as Louisiana residents, with respective states paying an additional increment as specified by contract.

Tuition and Required Fees

Tuition and required fees are subject to change. For current figures, please visit the website of the Office of Budget and Planning. For information about room rent, dining plans, refunds, and other special fees, see the LSU General Catalog.

Financial Aid

The university offers financial assistance to graduate students through a variety of programs, including fellowships, assistantships, internships, student jobs, and loans. Since these programs are administered by separate offices, a student interested in applying should contact the appropriate office for more detailed information.

Students should work with their financial aid officer to carefully study the impact of any employment or award on their eligibility for student loans.

Fellowships and Scholarships

The Graduate School offers a number of fellowships and scholarships to exceptional students. Most students can expect to receive some type of aid throughout their graduate careers. In some cases, recipients are required to have completed a minimum amount of graduate work prior to receiving an award. All such assistance is awarded on the basis of the individual’s academic achievements. Interested students should contact the graduate advisor of the department in which they plan to study.

Graduate Enrichment Funds • Superior graduate students awarded departmental assistantships and fellowships in selected departments may receive a monetary enhancement to their departmental assistantship or fellowship. Interested students should contact the graduate advisor of the department in which they plan to study.

Graduate School Dissertation Fellowships • Dissertation fellowships are available to exceptional doctoral students who will begin their final year of study. A maximum one-year (9 month) stipend of $18,000 is awarded. Resident and nonresident tuition are exempted. The recipient will be responsible for paying the required university fees.

Applicants must be able to demonstrate that there is a high probability for completion of the dissertation during the fellowship year. Dissertation fellowships are available only to full-time students. For information on application procedures that entail departmental nomination each spring for the following fiscal year, please visit the Financial Assistance section of The Graduate School web page. Interested students should contact the graduate advisor of the department in which they plan to study.

Board of Regents Graduate Fellowship Program (PhD and MFA) • The Louisiana Educational Quality Support Fund provides Board of Regents Graduate Fellowships for exceptionally qualified graduate students in selected professional programs. These awards range from $14,000 to $30,000+ per year for up to four years. Resident and nonresident tuition are exempted. Recipients are responsible for paying required university fees. Academic departments eligible for these awards vary from year to year. Most major areas award these fellowships annually, including humanities, social sciences, basic sciences, arts, design, education, agriculture, and engineering.

Applications must be submitted to the candidate’s department and must include scores on the verbal and quantitative portions of the Graduate Record Examination (or GMAT scores if appropriate), an official transcript of all grade point averages on all college work, a one-page narrative of educational goals, and three letters of recommendation Interested students should contact the graduate advisor of the department in which they plan to study.

Graduate School Tuition Awards • The graduate dean may award up to 200 tuition exemptions to incoming graduate students from underrepresented groups. These tuition awards provide for an exemption from either the resident fee or both the resident and nonresident fees for up to two years. Recipients are responsible for paying required university fees. Preference will be given to African Americans and students from Latin American countries. Students must be regularly admitted to a graduate program at LSU and be nominated by their department. Interested students should contact the graduate advisor of the department in which they plan to study.

Assistantships

More than 2,000 teaching, research, and service assistantships are awarded annually. All communication regarding graduate assistantships should be directed to the chair of the appropriate department. Applications and supporting credentials are accepted at all times, but priority for graduate assistantships beginning in the fall semester is given to applicants who submit their materials by early January. Students who accept assistantships before April 15 may be free to resign in order to accept another offer up to that date. An acceptance given or left in force after April 15 is a commitment not to accept another appointment without first obtaining formal release from the prior commitment.

A graduate assistantship is intended to be supportive of the student’s educational experience by relating to the graduate program in which the student is enrolled. Proposed appointment to duties unrelated to the student’s major program must have the concurrence of the student’s major department prior to approval by The Graduate School.

Eligibility Requirements • Graduate students with acceptable academic records may be appointed to graduate assistantships. A student admitted on probation may not be appointed to a graduate assistantship until he or she achieves good standing. A graduate student placed on academic probation by The Graduate School for failing to make satisfactory progress may not be appointed or reappointed to a graduate assistantship unless the student’s cumulative/semester grade point average is at least 3.00.

Details and additional information regarding eligibility for a graduate assistantship may be found in PS-21—available online, in the appendices of this bulletin, from The Graduate School, and in departmental offices.

Stipends • Graduate assistant stipend levels vary widely depending on the department and assigned duties. Assigned duties may include research, teaching, and/or service. Graduate assistantship appointments may also be for one-third or one-quarter time, with an appropriate adjustment in the stipend. Appointments for more than one-half time require special justification. Although most appointments are made on an academic-year basis, assistantships are available in certain departments during the summer months, with an appropriate adjustment in the stipend. Fiscal year appointments are also available.

Federal Financial Aid Programs

LSU administers all Title IV federal programs which are based on a student’s demonstrated financial need. Funds received from the federal programs help students to cover school expenses, including tuition and fees, room and board, books and supplies, and transportation. All such programs are subject to regulations authorized by the United States Department of Education, as well as university policies consistent with these federal regulations and are subject to change.

Detailed information on these programs can be found on the Internet at www.lsu.edu/financialaid.

Eligibility for Financial Aid

All students must meet the following criteria to apply for Title IV federal aid—grants, work study, and loans:

• Be enrolled as a regular student in a degree-granting or certificate program.
• Be a U.S. citizen or eligible noncitizen (permanent resident).
• Be enrolled at least half-time (most programs—regular semesters: graduate, five hours; summer term: graduate, three hours).
• Not be in default on prior student loans or owe a refund on a federal grant.
• Be making satisfactory academic progress as described in the section, Satisfactory Academic Progress for Purposes of Financial Aid Eligibility.

Application for Federal Financial Aid

Students who wish to apply for the financial programs described in this section should file either the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) or the Renewal Application. The FAFSA is available online at www.fafsa.gov. Students are encouraged to file the application by March 1 for summer or fall enrollment or October 1 for spring enrollment. These applications cover aid awarded for the upcoming academic year (beginning with the summer term) and application must be made each year.

Once the Office of Undergraduate Student Services and Student Aid has received your FAFSA, additional documentation will be requested through your MYLSU accounts. To receive a loan for the academic year, the deadline to return all required documents is the first business day of May. To receive a semester only loan, the deadline to return all required documents is:

• Summer only loans: last business day of July.
• Fall only loans: first business day of December.
• Spring only loans: first business day of May.

Once all documents are processed, an award letter will be sent via the student’s MyLSU account to allow him or her to accept or decline his or her aid. The deadline for a student to accept a loan is:

• Semester only loans: first day of final exams for that semester.
• Academic year loans (summer/fall/spring or fall/spring loans): first day of spring semester final exams

Please note that students will not receive an award notice until all verification documents have been properly submitted and processed. Documents submitted after the stated deadlines may not result in an award. Student submitting documents after the stated deadlines may jeopardize their opportunity to receive funding for that academic year.

Direct Student Loans

Students apply for consideration for Federal Direct Loans (glossary) and Federal Perkins Loans (glossary) by completing the FAFSA.

A Federal Direct Subsidized Stafford Loan is awarded on the basis of the student’s financial need and other specific eligibility requirements. The federal government does not charge interest on these loans while borrowers are enrolled at least half-time, during a six-month grace period, or during authorized periods of deferment. Payments are not required while borrowers are enrolled at least half-time, during a six-month grace period, or during authorized periods of deferment. This loan has a 1.0% origination fee.

A Federal Direct Unsubsidized Stafford Loan is not based on the student’s financial need, but students must also meet specific eligibility requirements. Interest is charged throughout the life of the loan at a 6.8% interest rate. The borrower may choose to pay the interest charged on the loan or allow the interest to be capitalized (added to the loan principal). Payments are not required while borrowers are enrolled at least half-time, during a six-month grace period, or during authorized periods of deferment. This loan has a 1.0% origination fee.

The Federal Perkins Loan is awarded on the basis of financial need demonstrated by the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). Students are encouraged to apply early as the funds are limited. No interest is charged while the student is in school. Interest accrues at a fixed 5% after the grace period. Repayment begins nine months after the student ceases to be enrolled at least half time.

A separate application is required for the following loans:

The Federal Direct Graduate PLUS Loan for Graduate Students is not based on financial need and is limited to a graduate/professional student. The annual limit is equal to the student’s cost of attendance, as defined by LSU, minus any other financial aid the student is receiving. Students are required to pass a credit check. The interest is a fixed 7.9 percent and this loan has a 4.0% origination fee.

Alternative loans are private (non-federal) loans. Unlike the previously mentioned loans, you are not considered for these loans when you complete the FAFSA. The terms vary widely as do the eligibility criteria.

You (and your co-borrower, if applicable) should carefully research the options and apply for the alternative loan that best suits your needs. Keep in mind that usually your best option is to pursue federal loans. Be sure you have applied for all of the federal loans you are eligible for before you consider private loans. If you do wish to take out a private educational loan, you need to provide any documentation requested by the sponsor of the loan and follow the application procedure that is specific to that loan.

Loan Cancellation

The deadlines for a student (or parent in the case of a PLUS loan) to cancel one or more of their loans or disbursements of their loan(s), is as follows:

Academic year loans: first business day of May.
Summer only loans: last business day of July.

• Fall only loans: first business day of December.
• Spring only loans: first business day of May.

Contact the Student Aid Division of the Office of Undergraduate Student Services & Student Aid for information on how to complete this process. Exceptions to the stated deadlines will be made on a case-by-case basis.

Satisfactory Academic Progress for Purposes of Financial Aid Eligibility for Graduate/Professional Students

For the purpose of participating in any of the federal student aid programs, the LSU Office of Undergraduate Student Services and Student Aid has established the following policy for determining satisfactory progress for graduate and professional students:

Graduate Students

• Students must have a 3.0 cumulative GPA.
• Students must earn at least 75 percent of hours attempted for the past academic year.
• Master’s students may receive financial aid for a maximum of five years from the first semester of their program.
• Students pursuing a second master’s degree may receive financial aid for a maximum of five years from the first semester enrolled in the program. Students pursuing a third master’s degree are not eligible for federal financial aid.
• Doctoral students may receive financial aid for a maximum of seven years from the first semester of their program.
• Students pursuing a second doctoral degree are not eligible for federal financial aid.

Professional Students

• Students must have a 2.0 cumulative GPA.
• Students must earn at least 75 percent of hours attempted for the past academic year.
• Law students enrolled in the JD/BCL program may receive financial aid for a maximum of 145 attempted credit hours.
• Law students enrolled in the LLM program may receive financial aid for a maximum of 39 attempted hours.
• Students enrolled in the DVM program may receive financial aid for a maximum of 265 attempted course hours.

If these established criteria are not met at the end of the spring semester, students may seek to appeal if mitigating circumstances affected their academic performance. Students are notified when they are not considered to be making satisfactory academic progress at the end of the next spring semester. For a student to reestablish eligibility they must either:

1. receive an approved appeal or
2. meet the satisfactory academic progress requirements at the end of the next spring semester.

The complete satisfactory academic progress policy may be viewed at www.lsu.edu/financialaid.

Resignations/Unofficial Withdrawals

Students who receive financial aid funds and then resign or unofficially withdraw (cease attendance) during the first 60 percent of the enrollment period will be required to repay all or part of the aid they received. The amount of aid that must be returned is based on the period of time the student remained enrolled. Federal aid must be returned to the appropriate programs in the following order: Unsubsidized Federal Stafford Loans, Subsidized Federal Stafford Loans, Perkins Loans, Graduate PLUS Loans, PLUS (Parent) Loans. The amount of aid to be returned will be calculated at the time of resignation. For unofficial withdrawals, the amount will be calculated at the end of the enrollment period. Until this obligation is settled, requests for academic transcripts will not be processed and any further financial aid may be in jeopardy.

Campus Employment

The Career Services location in B-4 Coates Hall provides assistance to those who seek part-time, internship, co-op, or volunteer positions on and off campus. Graduate students should inquire about the availability of assistantships in their departmental offices. For additional information, visit www.lsu.edu/career.

Short-Term LSU Loans

Full-time students who have completed registration and have not received a credit balance check may apply for shortterm Hiram Student Loans in the amount of $500 for graduate/professional students. Students must not be on academic probation to receive these loans. Students must have repaid any prior short-term loans to be eligible. Loans are made starting on the first day of classes and continue for the first two weeks of classes. Students are permitted a maximum of 60 days to repay the loan in full. A two percent service charge is assessed on the amount borrowed. This two percent service charge is equivalent to an annual interest rate of 12 percent.

Hiram Student Loans are to be repaid at the Office of Bursar Operations, 125 Thomas Boyd Hall, on or before the maturity date shown on the promissory note signed by the student at the time the loan was negotiated. Students who fail to repay Hiram Student Loans by the maturity date may jeopardize their chances of receiving future loans.

Accounts that must be turned over to LSU’s attorneys for collection are assessed an additional collection fee.

All international students who are interested in Hiram Loans should contact the International Student Office prior to receiving loans or working in jobs on campus.

Services for Students with Disabilities

Students with physical disabilities who must confer with a financial aid officer should contact the office for an appointment in advance so that appropriate accommodations can be made.

VETERANS’ BENEFITS

The Office of the University Registrar, 112 Thomas Boyd Hall, provides counseling and information for veterans attending LSU. Enrollment certifications to the Veterans’ Administration are handled through this office, and all veterans and eligible dependents of deceased or disabled veterans are urged to establish contact with the Office of Veterans’ Affairs when they arrive on campus. New students who wish to receive advance pay should notify this office at least 30 days prior to registration. Information is also available at the Office of Veterans’ Affairs website: www.lsu.edu/vetaffairs.

Graduate School Regulations

The following discussion of general Graduate School regulations should be read in conjunction with the section “Requirements for Advanced Degrees.” Regulations common to graduate and undergraduate students (the Code of Conduct, grade appeals, etc.) are covered in the section, “Undergraduate Degree Requirements, Regulations.”

Graduate School requirements are minimal, and in many cases, are exceeded by those of individual departments. Statements of specific departmental requirements for degrees are included in the departmental section of this bulletin. Most departments also have brochures describing their programs and requirements in detail.

Program Change

Graduate students must assume full responsibility for knowledge of Graduate School policies and departmental requirements concerning their individual degree programs. Advances in knowledge and changes in methodology at times require alterations in degree programs. Therefore, graduate students should be aware of the current regulations and requirements of The Graduate School and of their departments at all times. Current regulations and requirements take precedence over any previously promulgated policies.

Between LSU General Catalog and LSU Graduate Bulletin issues, notices of changes will be available from The Graduate School and from each department.

Graduate Credit

A student may receive graduate credit only for courses taught by members of the graduate faculty or other persons approved in advance by the dean of The Graduate School. Except as noted, a student may receive graduate credit only for work taken while officially enrolled as a graduate student.

Any student dropped from a graduate program because of unsatisfactory performance will not be permitted to take courses for credit toward a graduate degree beyond the semester in which the student is dropped. In addition, graduate students may not take credit examinations in graduate-level courses.

Graduate Credit in Law

Students registered in The Graduate School may receive graduate credit for certain courses offered by the Hebert Law Center if the courses have been approved in advance by the Hebert Law Center and the dean of The Graduate School. Students should submit a written petition to The Graduate School for such approval. They must obtain permission from the vice chancellor of the Paul M. Hebert Law Center in order to register for these courses.

Dual Degree Programs

Students interested in these programs are encouraged to visit the individual program sites.

• JD/CL-MBA
• JD/CL-MMC
• JD/CL-MPA
• JD/CL-MS in Finance

LSU and the Paul M. Hebert Law Center offer several dual degree programs, allowing a student to earn both the JD/CL and a master’s degree.

Students enrolling in the dual degree programs must be admitted separately to the LSU Graduate School and the Law Center. Students should consult with the admissions office of each institution prior to enrollment.

Each program has specific requirements, which can be found by visiting the websites listed above.

Students successfully completing one of the programs listed above will receive two degrees, a JD/CL awarded by LSU’s Hebert Law Center and a master’s degree awarded by LSU.

Transfer of Credit

Hours transferred may not exceed one-half of the total semester hours of graduate course work (thesis hours excepted) required for the student’s degree program. For example, a maximum of 12 hours may be transferred in a master’s program requiring 24 hours of course work.

A maximum of 12 semester hours of credit earned as an LSU extension or non-matriculating student may, in some cases, be used in a master’s degree program if approved by the department chair and the dean of The Graduate School. This includes a maximum of six hours at the 6000 level and above for LSU extension or non-matriculating credit.

A maximum of 12 hours of transfer credit from other schools may, in some cases, be used in a master’s degree program if approved by the department chair and the dean of The Graduate School. Only six hours applied toward a previous master’s degree may be applied toward a second master’s degree (see the section “Second Master’s Degree”).

To petition for acceptance of these credits, the student must be currently enrolled, must have completed at least nine hours of graduate residence course work in a degree program at LSU, and must be in good academic standing.

Transfer credit from other accredited schools must have been earned for graduate residence credit. This course work must be judged appropriate to the student’s program by the graduate faculty of the major department, must have been taught by a professor whose credentials are comparable to those of graduate faculty at LSU, and must, in terms of time invested, be comparable to graduate courses at LSU. Transfer work may not be used to fulfill the master’s program requirement that at least one-half of the minimum required credit be in courses at or above the 7000 level.

No more than 12 hours of combined credit transferred from other schools and earned as an LSU extension or nonmatriculating student may be applied toward a master’s degree at LSU. Credit earned as an LSU extension or nonmatriculating student or transferred from another institution must be for course work in which the student earned a grade of “A” or “B.” Courses in which a grade of “C” was earned will not be accepted for transfer into a master’s degree program.

Transfer work must have been completed within five years of the time the student is eligible to petition. Once transfer credit is approved, it is valid as long as the master’s degree is completed within the five-year time limit or the transfer work is within five years of degree completion.

Graduate work transferred from other institutions may be applied toward degree requirements, but the grades earned will not be computed in the LSU graduate average nor will transfer work appear on the official transcript. Graduate course work taken at other campuses within the LSU System is not considered transfer credit, and any number of hours may be applied toward a degree if approved by the chair of the student’s department on this campus.

Graduate Credit for LSU Seniors

A senior at LSU who needs fewer than 15 semester hours to complete requirements for the bachelor’s degree, who has maintained a grade point average of at least 3.00 during the preceding year at LSU, and who has a cumulative grade point average of at least 2.75, may be permitted to register for graduate credit in courses numbered 4000-4999, provided he or she registers for all the remaining courses required for graduation and for no more than 15 semester hours total. This privilege applies only during the final semester of the student’s undergraduate work and is extended only upon recommendation of the dean of the student’s college and approval of the dean of The Graduate School. The head of the department in which the student plans to enroll as a graduate student must also approve courses taken for graduate credit.

A student must complete all undergraduate degree credit courses in order to retain the privilege of obtaining graduate credit for the remaining courses. The requested signatures of approval must be submitted—on a form designed specifically for this program—to The Graduate School by the last day to add classes in the semester in which graduate credit is desired.

Correspondence Study

No graduate credit is allowed for work done by correspondence study at this or any other university.

Eligibility of Faculty and Staff for Graduate Degrees

LSU System regulations govern LSU employees’ eligibility to work toward graduate degrees. A faculty member above the rank of instructor may not work toward a graduate degree at this university. Other employees who, in the opinion of the Graduate Council, are of equivalent status may not work toward graduate degrees. Non-faculty, professional staff, and/or administrators may pursue master’s degrees; only those who do not hold positions where there is a potential conflict of interest will be permitted to pursue doctoral degrees.

If an employee serving as a professional staff member and/or administrator wishes to pursue a doctoral degree, the employee, his or her immediate supervisor, and the chair of the department in which he or she wishes to pursue the degree must submit to the dean of The Graduate School statements outlining the employee’s job responsibilities and providing an analysis of the independence of the employee’s official duties from the department in which doctoral work is to be taken. The Graduate Council will review these statements and make a recommendation through official channels to the chancellor.

Graduate Grading System

Grades in The Graduate School have the following meanings:

• Marks carrying advanced degree credit are “A,” “B,” “C” (up to, but no more than six hours); “S” (satisfactory); and “P” (pass).
• Marks carrying no credit for advanced degrees are “D” (poor), “F” (fail), “I” (incomplete), “W” (withdrawn), “U” (unsatisfactory), and “NC” (no credit).
• Cumulative grade point average is the average based only on graduate work graded “A,” “B,” “C,” “D,” and “F” (“A” = 4, “B” = 3, “C” = 2, “D” = 1, “F” = 0).
• Semester grade point average is the average based on graduate and undergraduate work graded “A,” “B,” “C,” “D,” and “F.”

The university’s policies and procedures governing grade appeals are described in the LSU General Catalog:

“I” Grade: An “I” grade indicates that course performance was satisfactory, but because of circumstances beyond the student’s control, all requirements were not met. Authorization from the dean of The Graduate School is not required to assign an “I” grade to a graduate student.

An “I” grade should never be given to enable a student to do additional work to bring up a deficient grade. A task should not be assigned to a class that will take longer than a semester to complete, thus causing everyone in the class to get an “I” grade. An “I” grade may not be given for a course taken in the semester in which the student graduates if that course is listed on the application for degree or if changing the “I” grade to an “F” would result in the student’s cumulative average being less than 3.00. Authorization from the dean of The Graduate School is not required to assign an “I” grade to a graduate student. An “I” grade should never be assigned for thesis/dissertation research. “S” (satisfactory) and “U” (unsatisfactory) grades are given for thesis (8000) and dissertation (9000) research courses up to and including the semester the student graduates.

An “I” grade is valid only until the final day of classes in the next regular semester (fall or spring), whether or not the student is enrolled. “I” grades received in the spring semester or the summer term are valid until the end of classes in the fall semester. “I” grades received in the fall semester are valid until the final day of classes in the spring semester. There will be no extension of time. Responsibility for changing an “I” grade lies both with the student and the faculty member concerned. The faculty member’s failure to submit a “Grade Correction Report” to change the “I” grade by the final day of class for the next regular semester will result in the “I” grade becoming a permanent “F” grade.

Unusual circumstances that preclude a student from completion of course requirements may—at the discretion of the dean of The Graduate School—permit assignment of a permanent “I” grade.

Unusual circumstances might include, but would not be limited to, withdrawal of the student from the university because of prolonged medical problems, or death or resignation of the faculty member concerned, and the absence of another faculty member to supervise the unfinished work. The student must initiate the petition for a permanent “I” grade. This petition must be accompanied by a letter of justification from the faculty member concerned, if possible. The petition must also be endorsed by the chair of the student’s department before it is submitted to the dean of The Graduate School.

“W” grade: A “W” grade indicates that a course has been dropped between the dates specified in the academic calendar. In extraordinary cases, the dean of The Graduate School may authorize a resignation and/or course drop after the last date specified.

Pass-Fail Option

With approval of the student’s major professor, department chair, instructor of the course involved, and the dean of The Graduate School, a graduate student may register on a pass-fail basis for courses not included in the major or minor requirements. The deadline for changing from pass-fail grading to letter grading, or vice versa, is the last day for adding courses for credit.

If the student’s major department agrees, graduate courses passed with a grade of “P” may be offered for degree credit, but the grade will not be considered in computing the grade point average. For graduate-credit courses, a grade of “P” will be assigned only if the work is of at least “B” quality. A grade of “F” in a pass-fail course will be treated as any other “F.” Some departments have designated certain research and seminar courses to be taught on a pass-fail basis. All students enrolled in these courses will be graded in this manner.

Grade Requirements

Good Standing: Graduate students are considered to be in good academic standing, (making satisfactory academic progress), if they maintain a 3.00 cumulative grade point average on all graduate course work taken within the LSU System and a 3.00 semester average on all  course work (undergraduate and graduate), and earn a grade of “S” in research.

Probation and Dismissal: 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. For these purposes, a summer term is counted the same as a regular semester. A student already on probation whose cumulative average is below 3.00 will be dropped from The Graduate School. A student receiving a “U” grade in research will be placed on probation. A student receiving a second “U” in research may be dropped from The Graduate School. Rules governing students admitted on probation are given in the “Graduate Admission” section of this bulletin. The grades recorded determine the student’s academic status, even if the student changes to a different graduate degree program.

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

Applicants admitted on probation and students placed on probation may not be appointed to a graduate assistantship. Refer to PS-21 for further details concerning assistantships and students on probation.

Academic Dishonesty: Academic integrity and honesty must be fundamental qualities of any graduate student’s program, and a graduate student’s conduct must be above reproach. Academic dishonesty undermines the entire academic enterprise. As a result, it cannot and will not be tolerated. It is the responsibility of all students to familiarize themselves with the Code of Student Conduct and other university rules and regulations governing student conduct and activities.

The Office of the Vice Chancellor for Student Life has administrative responsibility for coordinating all university disciplinary procedures and practices.

Graduation: To receive a graduate degree, students must be enrolled for the semester and have at least a 3.00 cumulative average on all graduate course work taken that is applicable to the degree program and on all graduate course work taken while registered in The Graduate School. “S” and “P” grades are not considered in determining whether this minimum level of performance has been achieved. A maximum of six credit hours of course work with a grade of “C” may be counted toward degree requirements.

Graduate Registration

Specific registration dates for each semester or summer term are listed in the academic calendar. Registration procedures are published in the semester schedule of classes at the website of the University Registrar.

Course Loads

Any graduate student who is utilizing university facilities and/or faculty time must register for an appropriate course load. Graduate students engaged in writing or defending theses or dissertations are expected to register for research hours commensurate with the amount of university resources (faculty time, equipment, library facilities, and/or office space) to be utilized that semester. There is a continuous registration requirement for doctoral students who have passed the general examination.

Full-time Study in Graduate School

Full-time graduate students are expected to register for at least nine semester hours of work in the fall and spring semesters and six hours in the summer term.

Graduate students may, with prior written approval of the dean of The Graduate School, receive credit for work taken concurrently at another university. For example, LSU has a cooperative registration program with Southern University and some cooperative graduate programs with other universities in Louisiana.

Course Loads of Graduate Assistants

Graduate students holding graduate assistantship appointments must meet certain minimum registration requirements. Such students are expected to register for a full load—nine hours in the spring and fall, at least six of which must be at the graduate level, and six hours in the summer, at least three of which must be at the graduate level—each semester until all degree requirements are completed.

Course Loads of Graduate Students Taking Examinations

Students must be registered for a minimum of one to three semester hours of credit during any semester in which they are taking the master’s final examination or doctoral general examination, including the qualifying examinations required by some departments. Doctoral students who have completed the general examination should see the “Continuous Registration Requirement” section in the “Requirements for Advanced Degrees” section of this bulletin.

Course Loads of Full-Time Faculty and Other Academic Employees

A member of the faculty holding the rank of assistant professor or above may register for a maximum of four semester hours of credit each semester or summer term provided written approval has been given by the department chair and the dean of the college or school in which the faculty member is employed.

Full-time instructors and associates may register for a maximum of four semester hours of course work at the 7000 level or six semester hours (four during summer term) at the 4000 level.

Course Loads of Part-Time Faculty and Staff

Persons employed by the university half-time or less may register as full-time graduate students. Persons employed more than half-time by the university should not register as full-time graduate students. The maximum load permitted will depend on the extent of employment. Written permission to register as a full-time student must be obtained from the employee’s supervisor and academic advisory committee. Audits are not counted in the permitted load.

Registration of Employed Persons

The sum of the fraction of full-time registration and the fraction of full-time employment of nonacademic LSU employees should not exceed one and one-half. Written permission to exceed this registration/employment sum must be obtained from the employee’s supervisor and academic advisory committee.

“Degree Only” Registration

Students, who have completed all degree requirements, including final examinations taken in a previous semester, may register for “degree only” and pay only the graduation fee. “Degree only” registration is only allowed for students whose theses or dissertations are submitted to and approved by The Graduate School on or before the last day to add courses for credit. Eligible students must submit an application for degree and inform The Graduate School of their intent to register for “degree only.” Non-thesis students may also register “degree only,” provided all degree requirements are met in a previous semester.

Registration of Candidates for Degrees

Students expecting to receive their degrees in the current semester must be registered for course work or research hours unless they qualify to be registered “degree only” (see “Degree Only” Registration”). Eligible students must submit an “Application for Degree” by the published deadline.

Adding or Dropping Courses

A course may be added or dropped only in accordance with the dates indicated in the academic calendar. During the drop/add period, the student will initiate the action using the MyLSU online registration system. A change from credit to audit is treated as a drop and add action, but it must be approved by The Graduate School by the published deadline. See the “Auditing Courses” section below for additional information about auditing courses.

Auditing Courses

Regularly enrolled graduate students may audit courses with the consent of individual instructors. Auditors will not receive degree credit for courses audited, nor will they later be permitted to take a credit examination on work audited. However, courses previously audited may be taken for credit later. Audited courses do not count in total course loads and are not recorded on official transcripts.

Changing Degree Programs

A student in one degree program who wishes to change to another degree program, or a student who completes one degree and wishes to pursue another degree, must obtain approval of the current department, new department and The Graduate School. A “Request for Change of Department” form may be obtained from The Graduate School website.

Students wishing to pursue a different degree in the same department must obtain approval from the department. The department must notify The Graduate School in writing of such a change.

Dual Degree

Students wishing to pursue dual degrees must complete and submit the “Request for Dual Degree” form. Information on available dual degree programs is available in the departmental sites.

Resignation from the University

Dropping an entire course load constitutes resignation from the university for that semester. A graduate student who wishes to resign must first secure approval of the dean of The Graduate School. A resignation must be completed within 10 days of the date approved by the dean, and in no case later than the date shown in the academic calendar as the final date for resigning from the university. Completion of resignation involves clearance through certain administrative divisions of the university, as shown on the resignation form provided by The Graduate School. A student who abandons courses without resigning will receive a grade of “F” in each course.

Interinstitutional Cooperation

Academic Common Market

Louisiana participates with 13 other southern states in the Academic Common Market, an interstate agreement for sharing uncommon programs. Residents of these states who are accepted for admission into selected out-of-state programs can enroll on an in-state tuition basis.

To enroll as Academic Common Market students, applicants must be accepted for admission into a program to which their state has made arrangements to send its students, and obtain certification of residency from the Common Market Coordinator in their home state. Applications for admission should be made directly to the institution offering the program. Additional information about the Academic Common Market and programs available at in-state tuition rates for residents of Louisiana can be obtained from the Office of the University Registrar.

Cooperative Program with Southern University

See the section “LSU–Southern University Cooperative Programs ” in the LSU General Catalog for information about this program.

Multi-campus Registration, LSU System

With appropriate approval, LSU graduate students may take courses for resident credit at the LSU Health Sciences Center in New Orleans. Fees paid at LSU will be for the number of hours to be taken at LSU plus the number of hours to be taken at one of the other campuses in the LSU System.

An application for multi-campus registration may be obtained from the LSU Office of the University Registrar. In order to prevent delay in registration, this form should be submitted at least two weeks before the scheduled time of registration. Approval for multi-campus registration must be obtained from the student’s major department, the LSU Graduate School, the LSU Office of the University Registrar, the dean of the other campus’ college, and registrar of the other campus.

Cooperative Graduate Programs

Several of LSU’s graduate degree programs have specific cooperation with other universities in Louisiana. These programs include applied statistics, economics, education, oceanography and coastal sciences, physics, psychology, and systems science. Details and additional information may be obtained from the graduate coordinator in the appropriate area.

Foreign Exchange Programs

In order to provide students with a variety of culturally enriching experiences, The Graduate School has student exchange programs with foreign universities. Additional opportunities for study abroad are available through other campus offices. For more information, contact The Graduate School.

Requirements for Advanced Degrees

Satisfaction of the minimum requirements of The Graduate School, as stipulated in this bulletin, does not relieve graduate students of the responsibility for satisfying any additional requirements deemed appropriate by the graduate faculty of the degree programs in which they are enrolled.

Requirements for the Master’s Degree

Programs in liberal arts and social sciences ordinarily lead to the MA degree. Programs in other fields usually lead to the MS degree or to specialized master’s degrees.

Hours Required

The minimum requirement is 30 semester hours of graduate work, 24 hours of which must be in course work and six hours in thesis research. In programs not requiring a thesis, the minimum requirement is normally 36 semester hours. At least one-half of the minimum required credit in the student’s master’s program must be in courses at or above the 7000 level. Transfer work from other institutions may not be counted toward this requirement. Six hours of thesis credit will be counted as work above the 7000 level. Students pursuing a 36-hour non-thesis option must complete a minimum of 18 hours in courses numbered at or above 7000. A student’s efforts will be concentrated in one major field, but a department may require a minor of six or more semester hours of credit in one or more related fields.

A maximum of 12 semester hours of transfer credit from other schools and/or credit taken while classified as an LSU extension or non-matriculating student may, in some cases, be used in a master’s degree program if approved by the department chair and the dean of The Graduate School. See the “Transfer of Credit” section in the “Graduate School Regulations” section of this bulletin.

Application for Degree

Early in each semester or summer term there is a deadline for submitting the “Application for Degree” to The Graduate School. Master’s candidates are required to submit the “Application for Degree” form along with the “Master’s Application for Degree” forms. On these forms, a student lists all course work taken that applies toward the degree. Submission of the application carries with it the implication that the student intends to graduate that semester. If circumstances prevent graduation, an updated “Application for Degree” must be submitted to The Graduate School by the designated application for degree deadline for the next semester in which the student plans to graduate.

Time Limit

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 and the department’s graduate advisor and reported to The Graduate School on the “Master’s Course Revalidation form” before the request for the student’s final examination will be approved. Students are responsible for verifying if their department has a revalidation policy. No more than 50 percent of the courses in a student’s program may be revalidated and counted toward the degree requirements. For regulations regarding time limits and eligibility of transfer work, see the “Transfer of Credit” section in the “Graduate School Regulations” section of this bulletin.

The Thesis and the Master’s Committee

In most departments, the preparation of a thesis is an important element in the program leading to the master’s degree. The master’s thesis should demonstrate capacity for research, originality of thought, and facility in organizing materials. The thesis must be acceptable in subject matter and exhibit creditable literary workmanship. At least six semester hours of thesis credit are required for the master’s degree with the thesis option. For additional information concerning thesis preparation, consult the electronic thesis and dissertation guidelines available at etd.lsu.edu/.

Final acceptance of the master’s thesis rests with a committee of three or more members of the graduate faculty nominated by the chair of the major department and appointed by the dean of The Graduate School. See the “Graduate Faculty ” section of this bulletin for definitions of full, associate, and affiliate members of the graduate faculty.

The major professor, who must be from the major department, is designated as chair or co-chair of this committee. If either an adjunct or a non-tenure-track faculty member is the major professor, a full-time tenured or tenure-track graduate faculty member must co-chair the committee. Other committee members may be from the major department or from other pertinent departments. If there is an external minor, one committee member must represent the minor department. Both thesis and non-thesis committees must include at least one full member of the graduate faculty, and at least one-half of the committee’s graduate faculty members must be full-time tenured or tenure-track faculty members at LSU. Any additions to or changes in the makeup of this committee must be approved in advance by the dean of The Graduate School. The dean of The Graduate School may serve as a member of any committee or may appoint additional members.

Non-thesis Programs

Some departments offer optional non-thesis programs for the master’s degree. Departmental announcements indicate whether this option is available.

Comprehensive Final Examination

Candidates for master’s degrees in most programs are required to pass a comprehensive final examination. This examination may be oral, written, or both oral and written, depending on the requirements of the department concerned. In non-thesis programs, greater weight is ordinarily given to this examination, and it will probably be broader in scope than the examination given to a student who completes a thesis.

At least three weeks prior to the time this examination is to be given (and by the current semester deadline if the student is a degree candidate), the student’s department should submit to The Graduate School a request for appointment of the examining committee. Normally, a candidate for the master’s degree will take the final examination during the semester in which he or she plans to graduate. If a student wishes to take the final examination at an earlier date, the student’s committee must furnish the graduate dean with a sound academic reason for doing so. To be eligible to take the final exam, the student must have a 3.00 cumulative average. Exams may be taken anytime the university is open for business. In non-thesis programs, all degree requirements must be met no later than the deadline in the regular semester following the final examination.

This committee, nominated by the chair of the student’s major department and appointed by the dean of The Graduate School, is ordinarily composed of those faculty members who served as the student’s thesis committee. For the non-thesis option, the committee must consist of three or more members of the graduate faculty nominated by the chair of the major department and appointed by the dean of The Graduate School. At least one member of the examining committee must be a full member of the graduate faculty. The major professor serves as chair or co-chair of the examining committee. Representatives of the graduate faculty may be added by the dean.

For students defending a thesis, the examining committee must have copies of the thesis at least two weeks prior to the final examination.

In order for a student to pass this examination, there may not be more than one dissenting vote. Dissenting votes, along with assenting votes, must be recorded on the examination cards and the thesis approval sheets submitted to The Graduate School.

Timely Completion of the Degree after Final Exam

Approved theses, including Graduate School corrections, must be submitted to The Graduate School no later than the deadline for submission of approved theses in the regular semester following the final examination. As with thesis candidates, non-thesis students who pass the final exam in one semester must complete degree requirements no later than the next regular semester following the final exam. A final examination may be voided by the dean of The Graduate School for failure to submit the approved thesis in a timely manner as described.

Second Master’s Degree

Students who wish to obtain a second master’s degree from the university must meet all academic and residence requirements set by The Graduate School and the department concerned. A maximum of six hours from the first degree may be applied toward the second degree. These hours must be listed on the “Application for Degree” for the second master’s degree under the “Transfer or Petitioned Credits” section.

Accelerated Master’s Degree Program

The accelerated master’s program is open to superior undergraduate students who have completed at least 60 semester hours of credit (including AP credit) with a grade point average of at least 3.50 for all work taken at LSU. To be eligible, transfer students must have a 3.50 average on all undergraduate work taken prior to attending LSU and must complete at least one semester at LSU with a 3.50 GPA.

Acceptance into the accelerated program requires approval from the following: (1) chair of the undergraduate department in which the student is enrolled; (2) dean of the college in which the student is enrolled; (3) chair of the department or the coordinator of the interdisciplinary program in which the student proposes to work toward the master’s degree; and (4) dean of The Graduate School. The requested approvals will be given as signatures on a form designed specifically for this program. It is the responsibility of the chair or coordinator of the graduate program to appoint the student’s graduate faculty advisory committee.

Other admission requirements for graduate study, such as the GRE and the GMAT, will be waived until the student receives the baccalaureate degree and is ready to enter The Graduate School. Until that time, admission into the accelerated program will constitute provisional admission to the graduate program. Students will register as graduate students only after receiving the baccalaureate degree and satisfying departmental and The Graduate School admission requirements.

Continuing eligibility for the accelerated master’s program will require maintenance of a 3.50 average in all courses that apply to the undergraduate degree and a 3.00 average for all graduate course work.

Students who wish to obtain a master’s degree under this program must meet all academic and residence requirements set by The Graduate School and the department concerned. Requirements for the baccalaureate degree will not be affected.

Students may take a maximum of half of the required hours for the master’s degree while enrolled as undergraduates. These hours may be applied toward the master’s degree, provided a GPA of 3.00 in graduate course work is maintained and provided none of these hours apply toward the baccalaureate degree.

A student may wish to apply some graduate course work toward the undergraduate degree. In such instances, the graduate committee can alter the distribution of course work and independent study required for the master’s degree. No course credit can be applied toward more than one degree.

Requirements for the Doctor of Philosophy Degree

The Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) is the highest earned degree offered by universities. It is conferred only for work of distinction in which the student displays decided powers of original scholarship and only in recognition of marked ability and achievement. Nothing in the following summary of minimum standards should be construed to imply that the degree will be granted merely in recognition of faithful performance of prescribed work.

Satisfaction of the minimum requirements of The Graduate School, as stipulated in this bulletin, in no way relieves a doctoral student of responsibility for satisfying any additional requirements deemed appropriate by the graduate faculty of the degree program in which he or she is enrolled. The basic requirements are: (1) students must exhibit unmistakable evidence of mastery of a broad major field. Such evidence is ordinarily provided by passing a general examination; and (2) students must prove ability to complete a significant program of original research by preparing a dissertation embodying creative scholarship and by passing a rigorous final examination. The dissertation must add to the sum of existing knowledge and give evidence of considerable literary skill.

Course Work

While the Doctor of Philosophy degree cannot be earned solely by passing courses, the program of work prescribed by a department ordinarily provides for a substantial amount of course work, equivalent to three years of full-time study beyond the requirements for the baccalaureate degree. Some departments require considerably more course work.

Although course work requirements are concentrated in the student’s major field, a certain amount of work may be required in one or two minor fields. If there is minor course work, the Graduate Council recommends that the minor field requirement include at least one 7000-level course. The course work and the number of hours needed to satisfy the minor field requirement are determined by the graduate faculty in the minor department. The Graduate School recommends that the minimum minor hour requirement be no less than nine hours.

Academic Course Plan

The Graduate School does not require a formal qualifying examination or procedure for doctoral students, although departments may, if they wish, administer such examinations or procedures. A student is eligible to work toward a doctoral degree beginning with the semester in which he or she is formally admitted into a doctoral program.

After meeting with the student, the advisory committee will be required to approve a departmental-level academic course plan listing all curricular requirements for the degree during the first or second semester following the student’s formal admission to the doctoral program. If the student already has a master’s degree, the departmental-level academic course plan should be formulated during the first semester; if the student is bypassing the master’s degree, formulation may be delayed until the second semester. The advisory committee, which should include at least one representative from then minor field (if appropriate), is not necessarily identical to the student’s committee for the general examination. Then suggested general examination committee will be approved when the request for the general examination is submitted to The Graduate School.

The student’s departmental-level academic course plan is subject to Graduate School policy and departmental requirements. Graduate course work taken at another institution with grades of “A,” “B,” “P,” and “S,” or the equivalent, is not subject to the policy on transfer of credit for the master’s degree, and may be included in the departmental-level academic course plan if accepted by the department and the student’s advisory committee.

Advisory Committee

During the entire period of work toward the doctorate, the student’s program is directed by a special advisory committee. This advisory committee consists of three members of the graduate faculty. See the “Graduate Faculty ” section of this bulletin for definitions of full, associate, and affiliate members of the graduate faculty. After the outlines of the program have assumed more definite form and the direction of research has been clearly established, this special committee is enlarged to three or more members with the addition of The Graduate School Dean’s Representative. This enlargement must take place prior to the general examination.

The full advisory committee must comprise at least three members of the graduate faculty, including the major professor, who acts as chair or co-chair and who must be from the major department. If either an adjunct or a non-tenure track faculty member is the major professor, a full-time tenured or tenure-track graduate faculty member must co-chair the committee.

At least one-half of the graduate faculty on doctoral committees must be full-time tenured or tenure-track faculty at LSU. A minimum of two of those faculty members must be from the student’s major department and at least one of whom must be a full member of the LSU graduate faculty. The remaining members may be from the major department or may be from outside the department if pertinent to the student’s area of concentration, with the proviso that at least one of the remaining members must be a full member of the graduate faculty.

Any declared outside minors require representation, either from among the first three members of the committee or by additional appointments to the committee. The dean of The Graduate School may serve as an ex officio member. Members of the special advisory committee are nominated by the chair of the major department and appointed by the dean of The Graduate School, who may make any changes deemed desirable.

The dean of The Graduate School appoints a member or members of the graduate faculty to serve on doctoral general and final examination committees. These individuals represent the dean and the entire graduate faculty. They are full voting members of the committee with all the rights and responsibilities of the other committee members. In the case of final examinations, it is the responsibility of the department chair to ensure that the dean’s representatives receive copies of dissertations as soon as possible, but no later than two weeks before the date of the examination.

General Examination

It is in the best interests of students that those with high probability of continuing successfully toward a doctoral degree be identified as soon as possible. Doctoral students are, therefore, required to pass a rigorous qualifying examination or the general examination within three calendar years (36 months)—or a period deemed equivalent for part-time students—of their classification as doctoral students. Exception may be made to this if a department so notifies The Graduate School.

Whether a qualifying or general examination is used to meet the above requirement, the procedure should be sufficiently rigorous so as to provide reasonable confidence that the student who passes it may proceed successfully to a doctoral degree.

A student becomes eligible to take the general examination after demonstrating to the advisory committee adequate academic and professional aptitudes. Exams may be taken anytime the university is open for business. Students on probation will not be allowed to take the general examination. Students must be registered for a minimum of one to three hours of credit during the semester in which they are taking the general exam.

There is no Graduate School requirement that doctoral students pass a pre-general examination before becoming eligible to take the general examination. However, since pre-general examination requirements may be retained by individual departments, students should check with the appropriate departmental office concerning this requirement.

A request for the general examination must be submitted to The Graduate School by the student’s department chair at least three weeks prior to the proposed examination date. This request must state the time and place proposed and the names of faculty members nominated to serve as the examining committee. Under ordinary circumstances, these will be the members of the enlarged advisory committee; one or more representatives of the graduate faculty will be appointed by the dean of The Graduate School. Any additions to or changes in the makeup of this committee must be approved in advance by the dean of The Graduate School. At this time the final departmental-level academic course plan should be completed and submitted to The Graduate School with the “Request for General Exam.”

The general examination is ordinarily the most rigorous test in the entire doctoral program. In order for the student to pass this examination, there may not be more than one dissenting vote. Dissenting votes, along with assenting votes, must be recorded on the examination cards submitted to The Graduate School.

The examination may be oral, written, or oral and written, according to the rules of the major department. However, the minor department (if an outside minor has been declared) retains the right to decide the format of its part of the examination. The examination must be comprehensive enough to demonstrate expert competence over broad segments of the major field and a high degree of familiarity with the content of and current progress in one or more minor fields (if appropriate).

The general examination should be regarded as the culmination of a student’s program in course work. In most cases, the remaining time spent obtaining the degree is to be devoted to concentrated work on the dissertation and preparation for the final examination. When a student passes the general examination, report cards should be completed in duplicate and forwarded by faculty and staff only to The Graduate School.

Continuous Registration Requirement

Doctoral candidates must maintain continuous registration for a minimum of three semester hours of credit each regular semester (excluding summers) from the completion of the general examination to the end of the semester in which an approved dissertation is submitted to The Graduate School.

The dean of The Graduate School may exempt a student from the continuous registration requirement upon departmental certification that the student is in absentia from the university and is not drawing directly upon university resources. Exemptions are intended to accommodate students whose dissertation research requires extended periods of absence for field work in distant archives and laboratories; exemptions are not intended for students who have accepted positions as employees in business, industry, or education.

Dissertation

Students who have passed the general examination normally direct most of their energies toward preparation of the dissertation, which must be a contribution to knowledge in the major field of study. The dissertation must demonstrate a mastery of research techniques, ability to do original and independent research, and skill in formulating conclusions that in some way enlarge upon or modify accepted ideas.

The form of the dissertation must be in accordance with the instructions in the electronic thesis and dissertation guidelines available online at etd.lsu.edu.

LSU Alumni Association Distinguished Dissertation Award

The Distinguished Dissertation Award, consisting of $2,000 and a certificate, is presented annually to two doctoral students whose research and writing epitomize superior scholarship. One award is designated for a student in the arts, humanities, or social sciences and one for a student in science, engineering, or technology. These awards are made each spring in conjunction with the Distinguished Research Master Award.

Final Examination

A request for the final examination must be submitted to The Graduate School by the student’s department chair at least three weeks prior to the proposed examination date and by the current semester deadline, if the student is a candidate for a degree (see the academic calendar for all pertinent dates). This request must specify the major and minor fields (if appropriate), dissertation title, time and place proposed for the examination, and nominations for the examining committee. The examining committee, including the dean’s representative, must have copies of the dissertation at least two weeks prior to the final examination. Exams may be taken anytime the university is open for business.

Permission to hold the final examination will be granted by the dean of The Graduate School only after all the foregoing conditions are satisfied and three (3) calendar months have elapsed since the student passed the general examination.

The dean of The Graduate School will approve the final examination committee. In most cases, it will consist of the student’s special advisory committee or a similarly constituted group to which one or more additions have been made as representatives of the dean and the graduate faculty. Any additions to or changes in the makeup of this committee must be approved in advance of the examination.

Although the final examination is traditionally conducted as an oral test primarily concerned with the dissertation and related problems, the committee determines procedure and content, which may extend into subject matter related to major and minor fields (if appropriate), even though well removed from topics suggested by the dissertation.

In order for the student to pass this examination, there may not be more than one dissenting vote. Dissenting votes, along with assenting votes, must be recorded on the examination cards and the approval sheets submitted to The Graduate School.

Timely Completion of the Degree after the Final Exam

Approved dissertations, including Graduate School corrections, must be submitted to The Graduate School no later than the deadline for submission of approved dissertations in the regular semester following the final examination. A final examination may be voided by the dean of The Graduate School for failure to submit the approved dissertation in a timely manner as described.

Application for Degree

Early in each semester or summer term, there is a deadline for submitting the “Application for Degree” to The Graduate School. Doctoral candidates are required to submit the “Application for Degree” form.

Submission of this form carries with it the implication that the student intends to graduate that semester. If circumstances prevent graduation, an updated “Application for Degree” must be submitted to The Graduate School by the designated deadline for the semester in which the student plans to graduate.

Certification of Completion of Requirements

Upon timely submission of the “Application for Degree,” when the student has passed the final examination with no more than one member of the committee dissenting, and upon submitting a dissertation in acceptable form to The Graduate School, the student will be certified to the LSU Board of Supervisors by the dean of The Graduate School as having fulfilled all requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy. This certification takes place at the next commencement, at which time the degree is conferred.

Time Limit

The program for the doctoral degree must be completed within seven years from the time a student is classified as a doctoral student. This time limit may not be exceeded except by special permission of the advisory committee, department chair and college dean. A formal meeting of the advisory committee must be held to approve any time limit extension. No less than three calendar months may elapse between the passing of the general examination and the completion of all requirements for the doctoral degree.

Requirements for the Doctor of Musical Arts Degree

The Doctor of Musical Arts (DMA) is a professional degree in music. The course work, residence requirements, and examination sequences are similar to those for the PhD degree. Major differences in the two programs are in the dissertation and minor field requirements (if appropriate).

For the special admission and course requirements for this degree, consult the School of Music.

Graduate Faculty

Graduate Faculty membership status:

Graduate faculty membership status is indicated by a number plus a letter or just by letter as follows:

(M) Full member
(7M) Seven (7) year member
(6A) Six (6) year associate member
(3A) Three (3) year associate member
(3F) Three (3) year affiliate member
(3P) Three (3) year professional member
(EM) Emeritus full member status
(EA) Emeritus associate member status
(O) Ex-officio

Full descriptions of graduate faculty status can be found here .

Please note that graduate faculty status is subject to change. Current graduate faculty status can be checked here.

University Policy Statements

This section includes the full text of two university policy statements that are of special interest to graduate students. PS-21 governs the entire graduate assistantship program; PS-85 deals specifically with the preparation of teaching assistants for instructional duties. Other applicable Policy Statements, Permanent Memoranda, and additional rules and regulations are listed on the LSU Website. Students should pay particular attention to PM-64 and PS-106.

PS-21 • Graduate Assistantships

Overview

The primary mission of the LSU Graduate School is to promote excellence in graduate education. Part of this responsibility mandates that The Graduate School develop policies governing the appointment and evaluation of graduate assistants (GAs) and monitor their implementation by employing units.

These policies include setting minimum academic qualifications for holding GA appointments, establishing appointment and renewal procedures, setting average workloads, and reviewing stipend levels and ranges.

This policy statement outlines procedures and guidelines affecting the graduate assistantship program. For special policies on the preparation of teaching assistants for instructional duties in classrooms and laboratories, see PS-85, Preparation of Teaching Assistants.

Definitions

Graduate assistants are primarily students, not employees. Nevertheless, graduate assistant appointments are part-time employee-employer contracts between full-time graduate students and the university. As a result, the GA is obligated to fulfill assigned duties for the specified amount of time and is entitled to compensation within the range established by the university.

Graduate assistants must fall under one of the following categories:

• Teaching Assistant 1 (TA1)—GA duties do not include contact with students in scheduled meetings of classes and laboratories. GAs working under this category work in support of instructional programs, including such tasks as preparing examinations, grading papers, assisting in preparation of lectures, maintaining class records, and tutoring students outside of formal class and laboratory settings.
• Teaching Assistant 2 (TA2)—GA duties comprise all of those listed under TA1, but may also include such assignments as making presentations in laboratories or classrooms, conducting lectures, and leading discussion groups provided that the GA is neither the instructor of record nor has primary responsibility for assigning grades.
• Teaching Assistant 3 (TA3)—GA duties comprise all of those listed under TA1 and TA2, but also include teaching classes for credit as the instructor of record and/or as the person with primary responsibility for assigning course grades.
• Research Assistant (RA)—GAs working under this category will assist in conducting research.
• Service Assistant (SA)—GA duties will include, but are not limited to, assisting scholarly journals housed at LSU, conducting data analysis, assisting in library services, and other academic/professional assignments.

In units offering course work for graduate credit and employing graduate assistants, an associate or full member of the graduate faculty or the unit head must be assigned responsibility for the graduate assistantship program in all of its dimensions, including appointments, stipend amounts, work assignments, job descriptions, and evaluations. In nonacademic units the unit supervisor or designated representative is responsible for all aspects of the GA program.

The minimum award for a graduate assistantship will be equal to $5,400 for an academic year, $1,325 for a summer, and $6,725 for a fiscal year, all at a minimum appointment of 25% effort. Appointments for a single regular semester— fall or spring—must also be at a minimum of 25% effort at a minimum stipend equal to $2,700 for the semester. The amount of the calculated minimum awards will be reviewed on a periodic basis. Any exception to these stipulations requires special justification and the approval of the dean of The Graduate School. Stipend levels within units may vary; however, any differences among GA stipend rates must be based upon clearly written guidelines established for the various stipend levels. Differences in pay rates should be based on the qualifications of the individual appointed the amount and/or scope of the work required

Graduate assistants are considered residents for fee purposes only and only for the period of their appointment. To receive this consideration, GAs must be appointed by October 1, for fall semester; March 1, for spring semester; July 1 for summer semester. Graduate assistants will be responsible for the payment of their tuition and all non-instructional fees. Three methods of paying resident fees are available:

• payment in full during registration
• deferred payment,
• through payroll deduction.

Students choosing payroll deduction must sign an authorization (available in the Office of the Treasurer) to withhold the required amount. Any graduate assistant using the payroll deduction or deferred payment who resigns the assistantship during the semester will be responsible for any unpaid balance. Graduate assistants whose appointments are terminated for any reason and who were considered non-residents for fee purposes only may be liable for payment of full non-resident fees for the semester during which their appointments ended.

Qualifications

Only graduate students with acceptable academic records may be appointed to assistantships. Before an appointment can be considered in effect, a student must be admitted to The Graduate School and be registered as a full-time graduate student. To be considered full-time, students must maintain registration in a minimum of nine semester hours in the fall or spring semester (a minimum of six hours for graduate credit) or a minimum of six semester hours in the summer term (a minimum of three hours for graduate credit). Students admitted on probation may be appointed as GAs once they have completed nine hours of graduate-level graded courses with at least a 3.0 average, except under circumstances described below.

A graduate student who enters The Graduate School on probation, or who is placed on semester academic probation during an appointment period, may be awarded or permitted to retain the assistantship only if the student’s department can justify the retention to the dean of The Graduate School and only if the student’s cumulative grade point average is at least a 3.0. A student who enters The Graduate School on probation or who is placed on semester academic probation either for failure to earn a 3.0 semester average or for making a “U” in research, but who has a cumulative grade point average of at least 3.0, may be appointed to, or retained on, a graduate assistantship while on semester probation only once during the period of appointment. Failure to resolve the probation in the next semester or in the first semester of appointment for new students (i.e., earning a 3.0 GPA or better in nine hours of graded graduate level course work) will result in termination of the assistantship appointment.

Assistantships should not serve as impediments to the progress of graduate students toward their degrees. Likewise, GAs should not think of assistantships as providing semi-permanent employment. Accordingly, graduate assistantships are subject to limitations on funding as established by the employing units. Employing units must set forth their limitations on length of GA service clearly in letters of appointment.

Graduate assistants who serve as instructors of record (TA3-those having primary responsibility for assigning final grades of a credit course) must have earned at least 18 hours of graduate semester hours in their teaching discipline prior to their appointment. For further requirements in connection with the preparation of GAs for teaching assignments, see PS-85.

International students holding assistantships whose native language is not English must meet all current language requirements for international students.

Workload

The graduate assistantship should support the educational experience of the GA and should be related to the student’s graduate program. Any proposed appointment to duties unrelated to the student’s academic work must be requested in writing by the chair or graduate adviser of the student’s department before it will be approved by the dean of The Graduate School.

Graduate assistants are contractually required to devote full time to their graduate programs and to the responsibilities of their graduate assistantships. A GA may accept additional employment only with the approval of the chair or graduate adviser of the student’s department and the dean of The Graduate School.

Graduate assistants are primarily students, and their appointments may not exceed 50% of full-time effort (that is, 20 hours per week) without the approval of the dean of The Graduate School. The percentages at which GAs are appointed should be calculated on the basis of 100% equaling 40 hours per week. Thus, a 25% appointment would entail 10 hours of work per week. The percentages recorded when GAs are appointed should correspond with the number of hours of work per week stipulated in their job descriptions. Graduate assistants may not be assigned more than six semester hours of instructional duties per week without the consent of the dean of The Graduate School.

Appointments

Appropriate unit administrators or supervisors—departmental graduate advisors or unit heads in units offering course work for graduate credit—are responsible for extending assistantship offers to eligible graduate students. The offer of appointment, once accepted, becomes a formal contract between the student and appointing unit.

Appointing units must maintain current records on all GAs. Each GA file should include the following:

• one copy of the letter of appointment signed by the student;
• one copy of the job description of the position to which the assistant is being appointed, signed and dated by the student to indicate that she or he has received a copy; and
• one copy of a performance evaluation signed by both the student and evaluator covering each previous period of appointment for all reappointments.

NOTE: A change in source of funds for a graduate assistant (e.g., from one grant account to another) is not considered a new appointment.

A sample copy of the unit’s standard letter of appointment and job description must be sent to The Graduate School. In cases where a unit has more than one type of appointment letter and/or job description, one copy of each type must be sent to The Graduate School. These samples should be updated as necessary.

Tentative offers of graduate assistantships by departmental representatives to persons who have applied to The Graduate School, but have not yet been admitted, must clearly state the tentative nature of the offer and the condition that the applicant be accepted for regular admission to The Graduate School.

All offers of graduate assistantships must include the following paragraph:

Your appointment will be for a_______ month period beginning _______(date), may be renewed, and is contingent on your being a student in good standing in The Graduate School. A student on academic probation is not in good standing. While you hold a graduate assistantship or fellowship, you are expected to devote full time to your graduate program and the responsibilities of your graduate assistantship. The conditions of your employment as a graduate assistant include (1) adequate performance of assistantship duties and (2) satisfactory progress toward your degree. The term “satisfactory progress” includes, but is not limited to, maintaining semester and cumulative grade point averages of at least 3.0, taking and passing examinations on schedule, and, if applicable, working on your thesis or dissertation in a manner that meets the approval of your major professor; satisfactory progress toward the degree will be evaluated by appropriate graduate faculty of the degree program in which you are enrolled. Your performance in your assistantship duties will be evaluated in the context of a written job description; the chair or head of the department in which you are employed will be the final authority for judging performance of duties.

Units employing international graduate assistants must also state in the letter of appointment that the international student must meet current language requirements by the end of the first year, or risk losing the assistantship.

LSU, a member of the Council of Graduate Schools (CGS) in the United States, must also include a copy of the following resolution with all letters of appointment:

Resolution Regarding Graduate Scholars, Fellows, Trainees, and Assistants

Acceptance of an offer of financial support (such as graduate scholarship, fellowship, traineeship, or assistantship) for the next academic year by a prospective or enrolled graduate student completes an agreement that both student and graduate school expect to honor. In that context, the conditions affecting such offers and their acceptance must be defined carefully and understood by all parties.

Students are under no obligation to respond to offers of financial support prior to April 15; earlier deadlines for acceptance of such offers violate the intent of this Resolution. In those instances in which a student accepts an offer before April 15, and subsequently desires to withdraw that acceptance, the student may submit in writing a resignation of the appointment at any time through April 15. However, an acceptance given or left in force after April 15 commits the student not to accept another offer without first obtaining a written release from the institution to which a commitment has been made.

Similarly, an offer by an institution after April 15 is conditional on presentation by the student of the written release from any previously accepted offer. It is further agreed by the institutions and organizations subscribing to the above Resolution that a copy of this Resolution should accompany every scholarship, fellowship, traineeship, and assistantship offer.

Graduate assistantships terminate when an assistant is no longer eligible to continue as a full-time student in The Graduate School. Accordingly, a GA appointed for a fiscal year who becomes ineligible to continue at the end of the spring semester must be terminated at the close of the academic year. For the procedures on processing personnel action forms for graduate assistants, see the LSU Personnel Procedures Handbook.

Evaluation

Employing units are responsible for providing each GA with an annual written evaluation. This evaluation must be reviewed by the GA and one signed copy must be placed in the student’s departmental file. If an evaluation form is used, a sample must be submitted to The Graduate School; when more than one evaluation form is used, copies of each type must be on file in The Graduate School.

Grievances involving the employee-employer relationship of graduate assistants and the university shall be appealable through the supervisor of the employing unit (department chair, head, other unit supervisor, and, when GA funding resides above the unit level, through the dean or director) to the dean of The Graduate School.

PS-85 • Preparation of Teaching Assistants

Purpose

To lay out principles and requirements for the assignment, preparation, supervision, and evaluation of graduate teaching assistants at Louisiana State University.

Excellence in undergraduate and graduate instruction is central to the mission of the university. Preparation in pedagogy in a variety of teaching situations is an integral part of the education of graduate students. Accordingly, the graduate faculty must be committed to designing appropriate programs for the assignment, preparation, supervision, and evaluation of graduate teaching assistants with the aim of enhancing graduate student preparation and undergraduate learning. This policy statement should be read in the context of the general institutional policy on graduate assistantships as
set forth in PS-21.

Definitions

Graduate Teaching Assistants—all graduate assistants assigned to any instructional duties, including examination and lecture preparation, grading, and laboratory supervision.

Departments—all units employing graduate teaching assistants, including interdepartmental programs, institutes, and centers.

Instructors of Record—persons who have the primary responsibility for teaching courses and/or for assigning grades in courses.

Assignment of Graduate Teaching Assistants

Teaching assignments for graduate students must be consistent with the criteria established by accreditation agencies, with the current level of preparation of graduate students, and with the university’s commitment to providing graduate students with effective preparation in pedagogy. Accordingly:

• Consistent with accreditation criteria of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS), no graduate assistant with fewer than 18 hours of graduate work in the assistant’s teaching discipline may be assigned as the instructor of any section of any course (with the exception of laboratory sections, discussion sections, and physical education activities classes). Departments may petition the graduate dean for exceptions for relevant nonacademic experience or the possession of specific skills; departments must receive a favorable response to petitions for such exceptions before appointments are made.
• Consistent with state law, SACS criteria, and university policy, international graduate students whose native language is not English may not be assigned duties requiring proficiency in spoken English until proficiency has been certified.

Preparation of Instructors of Record

The preparation of graduate teaching assistants who serve as instructors of record is a crucial mission of the university, with critical implications for both undergraduate and graduate education. Accordingly, administrators and the faculty must ensure that:

• During the first semester as an instructor of record, each graduate assistant must be assigned a faculty mentor—an experienced teacher, charged with observing the assistant’s classes; reviewing the assistant’s lesson plans, assignments, and grading; and counseling the assistant in any and all aspects of pedagogy, grading, classroom management, etc.
• Teaching assistants who are instructors of record must be continued in the mentor program when the performance of the assistant does not meet acceptable classroom standards.
• All graduate teaching assistants who are instructors of record and who are not required by their departments to take courses in pedagogy for credit are expected to participate in university-wide programs for teaching assistants.
• All initial letters of appointment to teaching assistants must make clear the foregoing requirements.

Evaluation of Graduate Teaching Assistants

Essential to the university’s effort to ensure quality teaching at the undergraduate level and effective preparation of graduate teaching assistants, is an ongoing program of evaluation that must include the following items:

• Student evaluations for all courses in which the graduate assistant is the instructor of record.
• An evaluation by a faculty mentor at the end of the first semester in which a graduate assistant serves as an instructor of record.
• An annual evaluation of every teaching assistant’s overall performance

Department chairs and the directors of interdepartmental programs bear primary responsibility for ensuring that the assignment, preparation, supervision, and evaluation of graduate assistants conforms with the provisions of this policy. Departments must file with The Graduate School for approval a description of departmental preparation programs for teaching assistants, which must include, as stipulated above, a mentoring program and thorough evaluations of teaching performance.

Departmental plans must ensure that teaching assistants (whether or not they are instructors of record) are prepared, supervised, and evaluated with due regard for the university’s commitment to excellence in undergraduate instruction.

Appeals

The Office of Academic Affairs shall have oversight, through The Graduate School, of all provisions of this policy. Any appeals for exceptions to any provisions of this policy must be filed in writing with the dean of The Graduate School, who shall establish an advisory Graduate Assistantship Council to hear appeals and to advise the dean on all aspects of graduate assistantships, including matters pertaining to teaching assistants addressed in this policy.

The graduate program descriptions on the following pages include, for each major field, a variety of subheadings—program overview, administration, degree programs, the graduate faculty (including research areas), and other information of interest to students and applicants. These pages represent departmental and interdepartmental programs in which formal degrees are offered. Also included are interdepartmental programs that do not offer degrees. In these programs, a student enrolls in one of the participating departments and earns his or her degree in that department, although his or her research is done through the interdepartmental program.

For additional information about any graduate program at LSU, please contact the appropriate department.

Degree Programs

All degree programs are listed by title followed by the LSU curriculum code, e.g.:

• Master of Science (MS) in Petroleum Engineering (MSPE)
• Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Political Science (PPOLI)

A complete listing of degree programs offered can be found here.

Departments and Curricula