If you are receiving a fellowship or assistantship, we expect you to complete the organized course work requirements for the MSE degree within four long-session semesters (plus a summer session). If you are not receiving a fellowship or assistantship, it is still in your best interest to make expeditious progress. For PhD students, we expect graduation in no more than 10 long semesters, but most students finish in fewer.
In all cases, it is vitally important to maintain a GPA of 3.0 or better or you will be placed on scholastic probation. While on scholastic probation you are not eligible for teaching assistantship or research assistantship positions or any of the associated benefits. A loss of an assistantship means you will not receive a stipend and you will have to pay tuition yourself and out-of-state residents will pay out-of-state tuition rates. You will be dismissed from the university if your overall GPA is below 3.0 for more than one (1) long semester.
You are expected to conduct research starting with your first semester. It is vitally important that you maintain communications with your supervisor to ensure that you are making adequate progress on your research. For most students, this will mean at least weekly meetings with your supervisor. Failure to make adequate progress in research can result in your teaching or research assistantship being withdrawn. A loss of an assistantship means you will not receive a stipend and you will have to pay tuition yourself and out-of-state residents will pay out-of-state tuition rates.
