Time Limit and Update Process for the Graduate Degree and Other Post-Baccalaureate Programs
All work towards the master’s degree and other post-baccalaureate programs (including work for which credit is transferred from another institution), the thesis, and final comprehensive examinations must be completed within a period of six years from the date admission to candidacy occurs, and no coursework may be more than ten years old at the time of degree completion. Extensions, by special request, for a longer period are possible under the following conditions:
1. Updating Courses As Part of Plan of Study Approval
As part of the process of filing a plan of study, a student must provide evidence of currency of knowledge in courses included in a plan of study that will be older than six years when the plan is completed. Under these conditions, requests for permission to update must be filed simultaneously with the plan of study on the “Graduate Course Update Request” form. The conditions and restraints governing these requests are as follows:
- Requests to update graduate course work will be restricted to course work applicable to the degree from an accredited institution carrying a letter grade of “B” or better.
- Requests to update graduate course work will be limited to no more than 10 semester credits.
- Attached to the form requesting that a course be updated shall be a statement of update objectives, activities, products, and evaluation process. The student, instructor, and the academic unit chairperson of the course must sign it.
- When the updating process for a course has been completed, the faculty member responsible for supervising the updating will forward to the Office of Graduate Studies a signed and dated copy of the request form specifying the satisfactory completion of the updating review process.
2. Time Extensions of a Plan Prior to Expiration Date
A time extension for a plan of study for any graduate degree or post-baccalaureate non-degree program may be requested by petition of the MSU Billings Graduate Committee. The petition for a time extension must be presented to the Committee prior to the end of the term in which the regular six-year time limit expires. The petition must include clearly stated justifications for the time extension and carry the signed recommendations of the student’s advisor and department chairperson. The petition will have as appendices duly executed “Graduate Course Update Request” forms for each course, up to a maximum of 10 semester credits, which will be out-of-date by the adjusted time of expected graduation.
3. Time Extensions After Expiration Date of a Plan
Consideration for time extension for an uncompleted and expired plan of study may be given on a case-by-case basis using the same review process as appropriate for an original plan of study. The student should begin by discussing his/her objectives and circumstances with the advisor or the unit chairperson. Requests to update certain courses, repeat courses, substitute more recent courses, change alternative and/or file a new plan of study are typical avenues to be explored.
4. Effective Date of Graduation Requirements
Within the six-year period, the student must meet the graduation requirements in effect in the catalog current at the time the plan of study was approved. Requests to change to the requirements of a different catalog must be approved by the advisor, academic department chairperson, and Dean, and be placed on file with the Director of Graduate Studies. The form, entitled “Request to Make a Change in Plan of Study” should be used and is available at the Office of Graduate Studies (also available online at www.msubillings.edu/grad).
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