Academic Policies
Program Sheet
At the time of admission, each student is issued an individual program sheet which lists the courses required for completion of the degree. A second copy is kept with the student's records in the Graduate Office in case the original is lost. Students should request a copy should they misplace theirs.
Transfer Credits
Under certain conditions, the college permits transfer credit for graduate work done at another masters program accredited by the AACSB (The International Association for Management Education). The course must be taken within six years of the time the proposed degree is to be awarded by Kent State University and must be an appropriate substitute for a course in the Kent program. In addition, the student must have received a grade of "A" or "B" in the course. A maximum of twelve semester hours of transfer credit will be given.
Transfer Credit Procedure
To apply for transfer credit, complete the "Request for Transfer Credit" form which can be obtained in the Graduate Office, amd submit along this with the syllabus from the course. In addition, an official transcript showing the grade received must be on file.
Independent Study or Research
Students may enroll, with prior approval, for Independent Study/Research after completing twelve semester hours of coursework. Students in the MBA program may take only three hours of Independent Study/Research. An "Application for Independent Study or Research" form is available in the Graduate Office and must be approved before the student may register for the course.
Incompletes
Any student taking a grade of incomplete in a class must fill out an Incomplete Mark Form, have it signed by the instructor and return it to the Graduate Office by the Monday after finals. All incompletes must be cleared before graduation. In addition, students are expected to complete all coursework within the time specified on the incomplete form at any one time. Students who fail to meet these requirements will not be allowed to register for classes.
50000 Level Courses
Courses in the 50000 series are intended primarily for non-business graduate students. Therefore, MBA and MS in Accounting students will not receive credit toward their degree for any 50000 level course. MA in Economics students may receive degree credit for a maximum of six hours of coursework taken at the 50000 level with approval of the department.
Change In Degree Program
Students may request a change in degree program at any time by applying through the Graduate Office. Approval is not automatic, and courses taken in one program may not count towards the new program. Consult with the Department Chairperson and/or the graduate adviser to inquire about the academic focus and requirements of the new program.
Grades
Students are expected to maintain a 3.0 average in all work attempted at Kent, and are required to have a 3.0 average to graduate. Students may not satisfy this requirement by taking courses beyond the program requirement. Grades below "C" are not counted toward completion of requirements for the degree, but are counted in the GPA. Courses for which a grade below "C" are earned must be repeated and both attempts are counted in the student's GPA.
Dismissal from a Master's Program
Students may be dismissed from a program for failure to maintain a 3.0 GPA, having a combination of more than seven hours of "C" or lower grades, or more than four hours of grades lower than "C." In addition, students may be dismissed for making poor progress towards completion of the degree or failure to meet conditions set by the admissions committee.
Time Limits
Students must normally complete coursework within six calendar years after the first graduate registration at Kent State University. (Any credit being transferred for meeting degree requirements should also have been earned within six years). The student must petition the Associate Dean for extension, indicating the reason why an extension is appropriate and the length of time being requested.
Graduation
Students must apply for graduation to receive a degree. The application deadline for each term is published in the "Schedule of Classes." Application forms are available in the Graduate Office. To be approved for graduation, the student must have met all requirements for the degree with no outstanding incompletes or outstanding debts to the University. MBA students will receive a Graduation Review sheet upon applying, which lists all outstanding courses, hours earned and GPA.
Matriculation to the Ph.D. Program
Master's students applying for the Ph.D. program should complete the "Application to Matriculate" form available in the Graduate Office. Students who have not taken the GMAT (Graduate Management Admission Test), must do so before the application can be considered.
Internships
Full-time MBA students who are at least halfway through their program may apply for internship credit for one of their electives. This option is designed for two types of students: 1) those who have less than two years professional experience and 2) others who are interested in gaining career-relevant experience.
It is the student's responsibility to locate the internship, although the Career Services Center can provide assistance. The student must also find a member of the graduate faculty who will grade the project. Information packets and approval forms are available in the Graduate Office.
The internship can be used for 3 hours of elective credit.
Cheating and Plagiarism
According to University Policy: "(1) Students enrolled in the University, at all its campuses, are to perform their academic work according to standards set by faculty members, departments, schools and colleges of the university; and (2) Cheating and plagiarism constitute fraudulent misrepresentations for which no credit can be given and for which appropriate sanctions are warranted and will be applied." Please see the Digest of Rules and Regulations, which may be found in the University Phone Directory, or refer to the University Policy Register, which may be found in most administrative offices and the library.
In addition, it should be noted that all material on the World Wide Web and the Internet is considered published and therefore is subject to copyright laws. Consequently, use of this material should be treated in the same manner as use of any printed material. Copyright laws are strict and strongly enforced by large institutions.
