NWCCU MSU Billings Self-Study Report
October 2008
Standard 2.F.1 - Graduate Records and Academic Credit
The admission policies for the graduate programs are listed in the Graduate
Catalog. All graduate programs have minimum admission standards. All programs
require a minimum GPA of 3.0 except for the Master of Science in Public Relations
and the Master of Education, which require a 3.25. All programs require a Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university. For all graduate applicants, the
following are required:
- Admission test scores
- Official transcripts
- GPA calculation form
- Letter of interest or application essay (program specific)
- Three letters of reference (program specific)
- Curriculum vitae or resume (program specific)
- Additional application requirements for international students.
All application criteria are described in the catalog in each department’s program
listings as well as on the University website. The Office of Graduate Studies assists
all of the programs and the Graduate Committee in developing and implementing
admissions policies as well as all graduate academic policies. Department faculty
determine the admission criteria for their individual programs. The Graduate
Committee approves overall admission criteria.
Evidence: 2.5 Graduate Catalog
Standard 2.F.2 - Graduate Program Admission Criteria
The Admission criteria for each graduate program are listed in the Graduate
Catalog. Each department admits candidates based on the published criteria. Files
containing admission materials with admission or rejection decisions are kept in the
Office of Graduate Studies. A Pre-Condition Checklist is kept in each file listing the
requirements for admission and the date each one was completed.
Completed application files are sent to individual departments. The department
faculty and or admission committees make the admission decision and then notify
the Office of Graduate Studies of their decision. The office then sends admission or
rejection letters out to applicants.
Student files contain the following:
- Graduate application
- Official transcripts from every college or University attended
- Standardized graduate admission test score reports
- Letters of reference
- Letters of application
- Plans of Study
- Acceptance letters from the University and from the Office of Graduate
Studies
- Rejection letters.
Evidence: Office of Graduate Studies Files
Standard 2.F.3 - Graduate Program Governance
The Graduate Committee is responsible for approving the general admission
criteria and policies for graduate study and the admission criteria for individual
graduate programs. The Graduate Committee consists of two faculty members from
each college offering graduate programs. The Committee meets one to two times per
month during the academic year. The functions of the Graduate Committee include
the following:
- Serve as the campus-wide committee that makes recommendations to the Academic Senate on all matters affecting graduate curricula and practices
- Serve as the campus-wide committee that makes recommendations to
the Academic Senate on all general University policies related to graduate
programs
- Establish qualification criteria for service on the Graduate Faculty and
recommend individual applicants to the Chancellor for appointment to the
Graduate Faculty
- Serve as the appeals body for deviations from campus-wide policies related
to graduate programs
- Provide assistance to the Director of Graduate Studies in all matters related
to administration of the graduate programs at MSU Billings.
Evidence:
- 6.10 Minutes of Graduate Committee meetings;
- Senate by-laws
Standard 2.F.4 - Graduation Requirements
MSU Billings uses a shared governance process for establishing graduation
requirements for each of its graduate programs. This process begins with the
originating academic department establishing or revising the requirements. All
proposals for graduation requirements must be reviewed and approved by the
relevant college curriculum committee. College approved proposals are forwarded to
the University Graduate Committee for approval, the University Academic Senate,
the Provost, the Chancellor and the Montana Board of Regents (BOR).
Graduation requirements for all degrees are initiated by the individual faculty and
department chairs in each program, approved by the individual college curriculum
committee, reviewed by the Graduate Committee and approved by the Academic
Senate. The requirements for each degree are posted in the Graduate Catalog.
Individual programs may have specific requirements, but the following are general
requirements for graduation:
- Maintain a 3.00 GPA or a 3.25 for the MSPR and M.Ed. for all courses
included in the plan of study
- Fulfill all curricular requirements in the approved plan of study
- Pass all written and oral examinations
- Provide the Office of Graduate Studies with final copies of the thesis, if
enrolled in the thesis option
- Complete a formal application for graduation with the Office of Admissions
and Records.
Once all the requirements have been completed and all required signatures
obtained, the student’s graduation date and degree are posted on the official
transcript.
Evidence:
- 2.5 Graduate Catalog;
- Standard 6 Governance and Administration;
- Senate by-laws
Standard 2.F.5 - Transfer Credit Policy
The transfer-credit policy is clearly listed in the catalog. Non-degree credits
can be transferred into a graduate program if they are approved by an advisor. All accepted. All transfer credits must be equivalent to courses in the student’s graduate
program at MSU Billings. The policy also clearly lists the credits that cannot be
transferred and the credits that will be determined by the individual programs. Each
of the three Colleges offering graduate programs has its own policy for transfer
credits listed in the catalog.
Evidence: 2.5 Graduate Catalog
Standard 2.F.6 - Graduate Program Credit for Experience
MSU Billings does not offer graduate credit for experience. The University
does, however, offer credit for independent study, internships and clinics. There is a
clear policy in place for governing graduate independent coursework. A maximum
of six credits of independent study may be used on an approved plan of study. A
Graduate Student Independent Study Agreement must be approved by the course
instructor, advisor, department chair, and Dean of the College.
Many graduate degree programs require completion of a practicum or supervised
field experience. Students must have an approved plan of study and meet all other
departmental requirements before an application for a field experience will be
accepted. Prior approval from the advisor and department chair is required before
registration is allowed. Students are required to spend a minimum of 45 hours onsite
for every semester credit earned. Hours vary by program. Supervision of the
experience may take a variety of forms—on-site mentor supervision, visits from
University faculty, online supervision through regular activity reports and time logs,
or contracting with part-time University supervisors. Supervision of the experience
is planned and agreed to by all parties and meets standards/expectations of the
specific program area.
Evidence: 2.5 Graduate Catalog
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