Graduate Programs
Academic credit is expressed in semester hours (s.h.). A semester hour of credit is equivalent to one 50-minute period of class per week or one 150-minute laboratory session per week, for one semester.
Campus-based programs at MBU use the definition that one credit hour equals one hour of classroom instruction and two hours of out of class student work each week for fifteen weeks. In the asynchronous learning environment, traditional face-to-face time is redefined as the time a typical student spends interacting with course content. This definition excludes out of class student work but assumes the “two for one” ratio cited in the federal guidelines. Courses taught in the online format must be equivalent to the same courses taught in the traditional format. Credit hours in short sessions (i.e., summer semesters or 7-week sub-term sessions) will be awarded proportionately to those earned for the same activity during a regular term of the institution. The definition of contact hours in online and short session classes is based on the following guidelines:
- The course syllabus will clearly document that the course covers the same amount of material or course content that would normally be expected if the class were in the traditional format. Clear documentation includes the course objectives covered, the course topics covered, and the stated expectations for readings, projects, and other assignments as well as the stated learning outcomes. It is the responsibility of faculty teaching in an asynchronous environment to determine if the course content delivered in an asynchronous environment is of sufficient scope and rigor to ensure the amount of material delivered is comparable to a similar campus-based course.
- During the planning and development of an asynchronous course, faculty should estimate the time a typical student will take interacting with the course content. This should be equivalent to the number of contact hours normally expected in a face-to-face course, and should be documented in the course syllabus. Hours for completing homework assignments, working on projects, studying for examinations, etc., should be considered outside the contact hour requirements for the course.
- Attendance policies can be determined by the evaluation of student participation in scheduled online discussions, required interaction with the faculty as well as other classmates, and the timely submission of class assignments rather than simply by the number of logins provided in the statistics measured by the learning management system.
Syllabus
The syllabus of each graduate course includes a schedule of class contact hours required for the course. The syllabus includes goals, requirements, assignments, and attendance and grading policies, as well as criteria for evaluating students’ work.
Course Numbering
The following conventions apply to MBU’s course numbering system:
100-level — introductory, generally no prerequisites
200-level — intermediate, may have prerequisites
300-level — major courses, generally have prerequisites
400-level — senior projects
500-level and above — graduate courses
Course Numerical Suffixes
These two-digit suffixes have specialized meaning beyond the course level:
77 colloquium offered on a one-time basis
80 teaching assistantship
87 internship
90 directed inquiry
97 CLEP credit
98 portfolio credit in MBU Online only
99 experimental course in MBU Online only
Grades
The grading symbols used by the university are as follows:
|
A |
Excellent |
|
B |
Competent |
|
C |
Minimum passing |
|
D |
Insufficient |
|
F |
Failing |
|
NC |
No credit |
|
P |
Pass |
|
CR |
Credit by examination |
|
I |
Incomplete |
|
NR |
No grade reported (temporary) |
|
AU |
Audit (satisfactory) |
|
W |
Withdrawn |
Grade Point Equivalents
Grade point equivalents are as follows (there is no grade of A+):
MDCHS does not use + or -.
| A | 4 |
| A- | 3.7 |
| B+ | 3.3 |
| B | 3 |
| B- | 2.7 |
| C+ | 2.3 |
| C | 2 |
| C- | 1.7 |
| D+ | 1.3 |
| D | 1 |
| D- | 0.7 |
Grade point average is determined by dividing total grade points earned by the total semester hours credit attempted for a regular grade.
Grade Changes
Requests for grade changes will not be considered if initiated by students later than the first week of classes in the calendar term following distribution of the official grade which is being contested.
A student with questions about a grade should first contact the course instructor to determine if there is an error. If so, the instructor must report the correct grade to the university registrar immediately. If there is no error, and the student desires to contest the grade, the student must submit written reason(s) for the appeal to the dean of the respective college.
The dean forms a hearing committee consisting of the dean, the university registrar, and two faculty members. The committee reviews the written appeal, hears statements from both the student and the instructor involved, and approves or disallows a change.
Repetition of Courses
Students may repeat a course in which a grade of C, D, F or NC was earned. Original grades are not removed from the permanent record, but in the case of C, D or F grades, the lower grade is removed from calculation of the cumulative grade point average. The original grade cannot be replaced by an NC. Students are allowed three graded attempts of a course. Repeat work can be done at MBU or at another institution, subject to the guidelines for transfer of credit, and only if appropriate MBU faculty certify that the transfer course is sufficiently similar to the MBU course being repeated. Students will receive only credit for transfer work, not grade points. However, the C, D or F grade earned in the MBU course will be removed from calculation of the MBU cumulative grade point average.
Rules for Pass/No Credit (P/NC)
- Courses taken P/NC are not included in the computation of grade point average.
- Grades of A through D-are designated as Pass.
- All courses required by the instructor to be taken P/NC, including internships, are excluded from the above limits. All such courses are designated in the course description in the catalog.
Rules for Grades of Incomplete
Incomplete Grades (There are no more ET extensions)
The temporary grade of Incomplete ("I") may be given at the end of a course if, for reasons beyond the student's control, a student is unable to complete the course work. An Incomplete may be given only with the approval of the course instructor and the student's advisor. To request an incomplete, a student must fill out an Incomplete Request Form, including all necessary approvals. Incomplete requests must be submitted by 4:30pm on the last day of class (not exams).
The deadlines for Incomplete coursework to be completed by the student are as follows, unless otherwise indicated by the instructor:
| Full semester courses | the end of the following semester, not including Summer term |
| Sub-term or 7-week courses | the end of the following sub-term, not including Summer term |
| Full semester Summer term courses | the end of Fall term |
| Sub-term or 7-week Summer term courses | the end of the following sub-term |
The instructor may assign an earlier deadline if they deem necessary.
In unusual circumstances, such as prolonged illness, with the approval of the instructor and advisor, time may be extended.
If the coursework is not completed within the specified time, the instructor will assign a course grade awarded by the instructor based on the work completed to date.
Rules for Examinations and Make-Up Exams
To receive credit for a course, a student must take the examination or its equivalent as prescribed for the course by the instructor. A scheduled examination may be postponed for reasons beyond the student’s control such as death in the family or illness. Approval for such postponement must be obtained from the instructor and a college dean. Students who, for other than unavoidable reasons, miss an examination receive a grade of F or No Credit (NC) for the course unless, because of extenuating circumstances, they are given permission by an associate dean to make up the examination. All postponed examinations must be rescheduled and taken at the earliest practical date. Students involved must make these arrangements with a college dean and the course instructor. Failure to make such arrangements will be considered grounds for a grade of F or NC for the course.
Auditing Courses
Students may audit courses; neither grade nor credit is awarded. Auditors should observe the following standards:
- Permission of the university registrar and the instructor of the course must be secured before the end of the first week of class
- Minimum attendance of approximately 75% of class meetings
- Reading assignments and class participation to the satisfaction of the instructor; exemption from papers, tests, examinations, or other written work
- Students who audit courses are, with the consent of the instructor and universtiy registrar, free to drop out at any time without penalty