Substandard Grades and Repeating a Course

An overall GPA of 3.0 is required to graduate with the M.S. degree.

In cases where students have a GPA < 3.0 as the result of earning substandard grades (below a B-), students may repeat a course to earn a higher grade a maximum of one time. The student is responsible for the entire amount of the tuition for retaking courses. If the student receives a higher grade the second time the course is taken, the higher grade will be calculated into the student's final GPA, and the lower grade will be dropped from the GPA calculation.

Any grade earned below a C- cannot be used to fulfill any graduation requirement.  The course must be repeated.

Students may not repeat a course more than once. If a lower grade is earned the second time, the course may not be repeated again, and the original grade stands.

Matriculated students may repeat a maximum of four courses (but each course may only be repeated once). If a student has not earned an overall GPA of 3.0 after repeating the maximum of four courses, the student will be dismissed from the program.

Non-matriculated students may repeat a maximum of two courses (again, each course may only be repeated once). If a student is seeking admission to the M.S. degree and does not have an overall 3.0 undergraduate GPA, the student may complete three courses in the RAQA program. (One of the courses must be Food and Drug Law). An overall 3.33 (B+) average must be earned in those three courses. If a 3.33 is not earned after a student has repeated two of the courses, the student will not be considered for admission to the MS. The student may complete a fourth course to earn the Drug Development certificate (though an overall 3.0 GPA is required for that certificate.

Substandard Grades and Reinstatement into the M.S. Program

An overall GPA of 3.0 is required to graduate with the M.S. When students have earned more than 3 substandard grades (below a B-) in graduate courses, the Graduate School will automatically issue a notice of dismissal from the master's program.

Students may appeal the dismissal decision by contacting the Office of Graduate Studies. When doing so, they must provide documented evidence that explains their poor performance in courses (i.e., unanticipated family issues, illness, and other emergencies). In addition, the individual must provide a plan to improve substandard grades in a manner that results in a GPA > 3.0 in a reasonable time frme.

Depending on the reasons outlined for the poor performance and the likelihood of success based on the plan of action provided in the appeal, the Office of Graduate Studies may decide to allow the student to be reinstated into the M.S. program. The student is responsible for all tuition costs incurred while retaking courses.

A student may be reinstated only once. If the student earns additional substandard grades after being reinstated, the student will be permanently dismissed from the master's program with no appeal possible.