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| The Graduate School |
Robert C. Cashner, Dean
In recognition of its duty to provide a center of learning for the community of New Orleans, the University established a graduate division in 1963, which later became The Graduate School in 1966. Beginning with master’s degree programs in chemistry and physics, The Graduate School furthered the expansion of knowledge with graduate programs across the disciplines. In 1965, six graduate degrees were conferred at commencement: one Master of Science in Chemistry and five Masters of Education. In May 1967, the University of New Orleans conferred its first Doctor of Philosophy degree.
The Graduate School administers all graduate programs on campus. The programs are designed to provide students with opportunities for comprehensive training in special fields of study, to instruct them in methods of independent investigation, and to foster the spirit of scholarship and research.
The pursuit of research and free inquiry demand rigor, and graduate students are expected to exceed minimum requirements and to master subjects rather than pass courses to simply comply with formal requirements. Coursework at the graduate level should lay the foundation for the individual scholarship of students.
Types of Admission and Requirements
Degree Program Admission
Applicants for admission to the Graduate School in a degree program are expected to have the following qualifications:
1. ‑A baccalaureate degree from a university or college approved by a recognized accrediting agency.
2. ‑Point-hour ratios of at least 2.5 for undergraduate work and 3.0 for all graduate and post-baccalaureate work for which a grade is given. (A-4, B-3, C-2, D-1, F-0)
3. ‑Satisfactory academic standing at the last university or college attended.
4. ‑Satisfactory admission test scores (see below).
An applicant who meets all of the above requirements may be granted unconditional admission, if accepted by the program and approved by the Dean of the Graduate School. Program admission standards may be higher than the minimum Graduate School requirements. Some programs also require their own application.
Applicants who fail to meet all the admission requirements may, in rare instances, be considered for probationary admission, but only upon very strong recommendation by the department concerned on the grounds of other evidence of ability to carry out the graduate program successfully. The Dean of the Graduate School will consider the merits of the case and determine whether probational admission is warranted.
Applicants who are unable to supply complete credentials because they are currently enrolled in a university program may be granted provisional admission provided all records, except for the semester in progress, have been submitted. In such cases complete credentials must be received not later than 30 days after the first day of classes in the fall and spring semester and not later than 15 days after the first day of classes in the summer session, or admission may be cancelled.
An applicant who has already earned a baccalaureate degree and who does not intend to pursue another undergraduate or graduate degree should apply to The Graduate School as a non-degree student. Students who apply for non-degree status are not required to submit admission test scores; with the following exceptions, they are not required to submit transcripts. (Those non-degree students who plan to enroll in a pre-professional program—pre-MBA, pre-medical, etc.—and those who are teachers taking courses for certification must submit official copies of all transcripts including the transcript certifying their baccalaureate or graduate degree.) A student, however, should carefully consider the problems that may arise in selecting this status. Short term benefits such as temporarily avoiding the admission test may be exchanged for long term serious disadvantages such as not being able to apply credits earned toward a degree program or not being eligible for prompt consideration for admission to a degree program until admission test scores or complete official transcripts are available. Also, some 6000-level courses are closed to non-degree students. Non-degree students are not eligible for federal financial aid.
Some applicants who apply to a degree program but who have not satisfied all the admission requirements may be admitted as provisional non-degree students temporarily until the missing materials have been supplied. Such non-degree students must supply any missing credentials in the same time period outlined above for degree program students. Provisional non-degree admission does not in any way guarantee subsequent admission on an unconditional basis nor admission to a degree program. It should be noted that provisional non-degree status for students intending to study in the areas of Business is rarely given because of the American Assembly of Collegiate Schools of Business accreditation requirements. A student who has not removed the cause of a provisional status cannot register for a second semester without special permission of the Graduate School.
Up to 12 hours earned as a non-degree student may be applied to a graduate degree program if and only if the courses carry graduate credit, the work is appropriate to the program, the appropriate graduate faculty recommends the acceptance of the credit hours, and the student is accepted into a degree program.
Non-degree students must read and comply with these provisions and departmental regulations to avoid serious problems.
Applicants should submit the application form along with required credentials at least 30 days prior to the beginning of registration for the semester for which they are applying (see late fee below). Credentials include admission test scores and official transcripts of all undergraduate and graduate college work taken, showing any degrees awarded. Transcripts must be sent directly to the Admissions Office from each and every college attended even if no credit was earned and even though the work may be shown on another transcript. The requests for these transcripts must be made early, as some colleges take considerable time to supply them.
The Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT) scores are required for the Master of Business Administration, Master of Science in Accounting, and Master of Science in Hospitality and Tourism Management. GMAT scores are also accepted for the Master of Arts in Arts Administration, the Master of Science in Health Care Management, the Master of Public Administration, and the Doctor of Philosophy in Financial Economics. General test scores from the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) must be submitted for all other programs. Some departments also require GRE subject test scores. Admission test scores older than 5 years at the time of registration for the semester for which the applicant wishes to be considered will not be accepted.
Applications must be accompanied by a one-time nonrefundable application fee of $40. An additional $30 late fee must also be sent for applications received after July 1 for fall semester admission; November 15 for spring semester; and May 1 for summer session.
RE-ENTRY Students who have interrupted their residence at the University by not registering for one full year must file an application for re-entry. Degree students must submit supplementary transcripts if any work has been taken at another institution during the interim.
MULTI-CAMPUS STUDENTS Students enrolled in graduate programs at other LSU System universities who wish to take courses at UNO should inquire at the Graduate School of their home institution for the procedure to be followed.
LETTER OF GOOD STANDING Students currently enrolled in graduate programs elsewhere who wish to register for transfer credit will not be required to submit complete transcripts, but may submit a transcript or a letter of good standing from the last institution attended and a statement of the highest degree attained with a statement that the courses taken at UNO will be accepted at the institution issuing the letter. A new application and new letter of good standing must be submitted each semester the student plans to register. The letter of good standing must come from the dean of the student’s graduate school.
Applicants whose native language is not English are required to submit scores earned on the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL), a test designed to ascertain proficiency in English and administered in many overseas testing centers. The Graduate School requires a composite score of at least 79-80 on the iBT (internet based), or 213 (computer-based), or 550 (paper-based). Individual programs may require higher scores. For additional information on the TOEFL you may visit their web site at www.toefl.org. Applicants must be advanced in English comprehension and be able to participate in class discussions. Further testing will be given to verify English competency when the student arrives on campus.
All admission credentials must be submitted prior to acceptance. Complete records must be on file at the University at least 90 days prior to the registration for the semester in which the student desires to start. Fees submitted must be payable in U.S. Dollars.
Those requiring a student visa may not be admitted as non-degree students, may not be admitted on probation, and may not normally be admitted provisionally.
The Graduate School will determine whether the applicant’s grades and coursework are equivalent to a bachelor’s degree from UNO. The applicant’s grade must be the equivalent of a “B’’ average or better (3.0 out of a possible 4.0).
A Statement of Financial Support must also be submitted, indicating financial ability to remain at the University long enough to complete degree requirements. An acceptable statement must be submitted prior to evaluation for admission.
All international students are required to participate in the LSU System student medical insurance program. Fees for this insurance will be assessed at registration.
Fees and Financial Resources
Consult Fees section.
A number of teaching, research, and service assistantships are available for qualified students in all areas of the University. Graduate assistants may be appointed for the academic year (nine months), fiscal year (12 months), or summer. Graduate assistants must be enrolled as full-time (9 hours in Fall and Spring and 6 hours in Summer) students and maintain a 3.0 grade point average. International graduate assistants who have primary responsibility for teaching a course (TA3) are required to have a TOEFL score of 250 (computer-based) or 600 (paper-based). Individual graduate programs may have higher requirements.
Assistantships provide a salary, tuition exemption, and a waiver of the non-resident fee. Should a graduate assistant resign or be terminated from the University, the student will be held accountable for all tuition and fees for that semester. Graduate assistants are not permitted to hold employment outside of the University without written authorization from the Dean of the Graduate School. Inquiries and applications should be made directly to the student’s degree program or University department.
The Graduate School at the University of New Orleans distributes merit-based awards each year. Scholastic performance, test scores, and leadership qualities are among the criteria evaluated. Applicants must be accepted to a UNO graduate program, have official transcripts on record, a suitable GRE or GMAT score, meet the GPA requirements for the award and maintain nine hours of coursework each semester (spring and fall). Students should contact their department chair or graduate coordinator to obtain an application. All awards are renewable annually for up to two years for master’s degree students (three years for MFA students) and four years for doctoral degree students, provided that students maintain the required cumulative GPA and successfully complete nine credit hours each semester.
Master’s Level Awards
Graduate Dean’s I
Only international students who have been accepted to a master’s program with an undergraduate GPA of 3.1-3.19 or a graduate GPA of 3.5-3.59 are eligible for this award. This scholarship provides $2,500 toward tuition for the academic year (fall and spring).
Graduate Dean’s II
Any student accepted to a master’s degree program with a 3.2-3.29 undergraduate or 3.7+ (U.S. resident) or 3.6-3.69 (international student) graduate GPA is eligible for this award. This scholarship provides either full in-state tuition for Louisiana residents or $5,000 toward out-of-state tuition for the academic year (fall and spring).
Full Graduate Dean’s Scholarship
Any student accepted to a master’s degree program with a 3.3+ undergraduate or 3.7+ graduate GPA is eligible for this award. This scholarship provides a waiver of tuition and the nonresident fee for the academic year (fall and spring).
Master’s and Doctoral Level Awards
Marcus B. Christian Graduate Scholarship
African-American and other U.S. minority students accepted to doctoral or master’s degree programs with a 3.0+ undergraduate GPA or 3.25+ master’s GPA are eligible for this award. Strong preference is given to Louisiana residents and to graduates of Southern University in New Orleans and other historically black institutions. This scholarship provides a waiver of tuition and the nonresident fee for the academic year (fall and spring).
Doctoral Level Awards
Graduate Dean’s III
Only international students who have been accepted to a doctoral program with an undergraduate GPA of 3.3-3.39 or a graduate GPA of 3.6-3.69 are eligible for this award. This scholarship provides $2,500 toward tuition for the academic year (fall and spring).
Graduate Dean’s IV
Any student accepted to a doctoral program with a 3.4-3.49 undergraduate or 3.7-3.79 graduate GPA is eligible for this award. This scholarship provides either full in-state tuition for Louisiana residents or $5,000 toward out-of-state tuition for the academic year (fall and spring).
Crescent City Doctoral Scholarship
Any student accepted to a doctoral program with a 3.5+ undergraduate GPA or a 3.8+ graduate GPA is eligible for this award. This scholarship provides a waiver of tuition and the nonresident fee for the academic year (fall and spring.)
Ernest G. Chachere Fellowship
Any African-American student accepted to a doctoral program with a 3.0+ undergraduate GPA or a 3.25+ master’s GPA are eligible for this award. Strong preference is given to Louisiana residents and to graduates of Southern University in New Orleans and other historically black institutions. This scholarship provides a waiver of tuition and the nonresident fee for the academic year (fall and spring) and a $6,000 stipend for the academic year. SUNO graduates entering a doctorate program in engineering are eligible for a $10,000 stipend.
For detailed information go to www.finaid.uno.edu or write the Office of Student Financial Aid, University of New Orleans, New Orleans, LA 70148.
The University, through its centralized Career Development Center, assists students and alumni with their career planning and provides information and materials on career development and employment opportunities. Professional counseling assistance is available to all students and alumni upon request. A permanent Career Information Library is maintained containing literature and publications concerning career fields and employers. The University is a member of the College Placement Council and endorses and follows the principles and practices of this national organization. Research data is continually being developed by this organization and is made available to both students and faculty to keep them currently informed on conditions and opportunities in the job market for college graduates.
During the fall and spring semesters, representatives from business, industry, government, and education visit the Career Planning and Placement Center to interview students for career employment. In order to participate in the interviewing, graduating students should register with the Center early in the fall of the year of their graduation by completing the registration packet. Departmental orientation programs are held each fall to acquaint students with the Career Planning and Placement Program.
A credentials service is available for students on an optional basis and procedures followed are as established in the Family Education Rights and Privacy Act of 1974.
Oak Ridge Associated Universities
The University of New Orleans is affiliated with the Oak Ridge Associated Universities and the Southeastern Universities Research Association. Both organizations provide research collaboration opportunities with federal research facilities, other universities within the southeast, and corporate organizations. Together the universities work toward acquiring joint opportunities to compete for large research projects, to acquire shared information technology and to work in additional ways made possible by the critical number of universities involved. The two organizations also offer opportunities to faculty and graduate students to participate in research through fellowships for graduate students and research affiliations for faculty.
Louisiana Universities Marine Consortium
The Louisiana Universities Marine Consortium (LUMCON) is an organization of public universities in the state including the University of New Orleans. LUMCON was chartered in 1979 to develop coordinated marine research and education within the state university system and provide coastal facilities for these programs.
LUMCON’s principal facility is the Universities Marine Center at Cocodrie. The Marine Center consists of a fifty thousand square foot laboratory-dormitory complex, ninety-five foot and fifty-five foot research vessels, numerous small vessels and collecting equipment, and docking and service facilities for all the vessels. Satellite facilities with laboratories, accommodations, and small boats are operational at Port Fourchon and at Fearman Bayou. The Port Fourchon Laboratory provides ready access to salt and brackish marshes, the bays and bayous of the Timbalier and Barataria Bay systems, beaches, and the Gulf of Mexico; while the Fearman Bayou Laboratory provides access to a wildlife refuge on Vermillion Bay, brackish and fresh water marshes, and coastal cheniers.
College courses in the marine sciences offered at all three facilities emphasize extensive field experience and studies of living organisms in their natural habitat and in the laboratory. Enrollment in each course may be limited by space and accommodations available at a particular laboratory, but applicants from member institutions of LUMCON will be given priority. Students enrolled at UNO will register for LUMCON courses through UNO and will pay tuition based on the UNO fee schedule. Credit for such courses will be awarded by UNO and will be recorded on student transcripts. For details of marine science courses to be offered at LUMCON facilities see course offering in Biological Sciences, and consult the Chairs of the Departments of Biological Sciences and Geology and Geophysics.
Louisiana Alliance for Minority Participation (LAMP)
The University of New Orleans is a recipient of funds from the National Science Foundation through the Louisiana Board of Regents to implement and administer a program on the UNO campus called the Louisiana Alliance for Minority Participation (LAMP). LAMP goals are to expand and reinforce systemic mentoring, including research participation and guidance to graduate students. The overall goal is to improve minority participation in science and math education and technology. Various LAMP programs introduce students to research tools and methods, provide hands-on research experience, build computer and technology skills, and help students prepare for graduate school.
Southeastern Universities Research Association (SURA)
The University of New Orleans has been a member of the Southeastern Universities Research Association (SURA) since 1993. SURA is a consortium of colleges and universities in the southern United States and the District of Columbia established as a nonstock, nonprofit corporation. SURA serves as an entity through which colleges, universities, and other organizations may cooperate with one another and with government in acquiring, developing, and using laboratories and other research facilities and in furthering knowledge and the application of that knowledge in the physical, biological, and other natural sciences and engineering.
SURA’s goals are to foster excellence in scientific research, to strengthen the scientific and technical capabilities of the nation and of the Southeast, and to provide outstanding training opportunities for the next generation of scientists and engineers.
Projects considered for SURA sponsorship must meet the following criteria:
• ‑‑High standards of scientific excellence;
• ‑‑Contribute significantly to the nation’s research capabilities and the advancement of science;
• ‑‑Best handled by a consortium, rather than a single institution;
• ‑‑Strengthen the scientific stature of the participating institutions and benefit the Southeast; and
• ‑‑Draw on inspired, dedicated leadership.
The most recent consortium emphases of SURA have focused on Information Technology (IT) and Internet II, advanced materials research, and coastal research activities.
GRADUATE REGULATIONS
Failure of students to acquaint themselves fully with the organization and regulations of the University and Graduate School may lead to complications for which the student must assume full responsibility.
Requirements
Graduate degrees are not conferred merely upon the basis of number of courses passed or on length of time spent in residence, but rather upon the basis of the quality and scope of a candidate’s knowledge and power of investigation. Requirements listed below must be interpreted with the understanding that the Graduate School prescribes only minimum standards. Individual departments, rather than the Graduate School, gain or lose reputation and standing according to the excellence of training given to their graduate students and for that reason are permitted to demand performance well in excess of the basic Graduate School requirements. A successful graduate student must possess the maturity and determination to satisfy intellectual curiosity. As a rule, students who have made averages lower than B in the major fields as undergraduates are not encouraged to proceed with graduate work.
Meeting specific requirements for admission to, or retention in, the Graduate School does not guarantee admission or permission to enter whatever course or curriculum a student desires to take. The University is not prepared to offer a variety of programs sufficient to meet the demands of all prospective students, nor has it the resources to instruct all who desire to enter. It is forced to concentrate its energies upon students who offer the greatest promise of development in the particular fields in which it is prepared to give training.
Departmental Requirements
In matters dealing with courses and curricula the Graduate School prescribes certain standards which it enforces. These may be regarded only as minimum requirements. Individual departments commonly set their own standards at higher levels. Graduate students must assume full responsibility for acquaintance with both general regulations and specific requirements of departments in which they pursue major and minor work.
Candidacy for a Degree
Admission to the Graduate School does not imply admission to candidacy for a degree. Only as a result of one or more semesters of superior work and departmental approval does a student qualify to apply for candidacy for a degree. Students on probation may not apply for candidacy.
Degrees for Faculty and Staff
The Graduate School will not award the doctoral degree to full-time faculty of UNO above the rank of instructor or to other employees who in the opinion of the Graduate Council are of equivalent status; nor will it permit such persons to register for credit toward a UNO doctorate.
Courses
All graduate courses for which the student meets the prerequisites are open to graduate students. Courses numbered above 6000 are graduate courses and only open to graduate students. Graduate credit is awarded for courses numbered 4000G-level and above. Graduate credit is not awarded for courses numbered 4000-level and below. Graduate courses are taught by a member of the graduate faculty, and are taken while the student is enrolled as a graduate student, or under the limited conditions in which an undergraduate may earn graduate credit (see Work by Undergraduates). Graduate students who enroll in 4000G-level courses will be expected to complete assignments conforming to the higher standards of scholarship and research that guide The Graduate School.
Maximum and Minimum Course Loads
The normal full-time course load for a graduate student is nine semester hours for the fall and spring semesters and six semester hours for the summer semester. Greater loads must have program and Graduate School approval. Students on graduate assistantships are expected to be enrolled full-time.
Work by Undergraduates
A UNO undergraduate student who lacks not more than six semester hours for the bachelor’s degree may be permitted, after scheduling all required work for the degree, to register for graduate credit in courses numbered below 6000. This privilege applies only during the final semester of undergraduate work and is extended only to students who have maintained an average of B or better during the preceding year at the University. It is extended only upon recommendation of the dean of the student’s college and approval of the Dean of The Graduate School. This approval must be obtained prior to the start of the semester involved. The courses for graduate credit must also be approved by the professor under whom the student intends to do major work as a graduate student. The total amount of work, graduate and undergraduate, for which a student covered by this provision may register may not exceed 15 semester hours.
Auditors
A student may be admitted to classes as an auditor by obtaining ad-mission to The Graduate School in the regular fashion and by receiving the written permission of the instructor of the course. Auditors will not receive university credit, nor will they be permitted to take a credit examination on work audited.
Students may not change from audit to credit after the last day to add a course. With permission of the instructor, they may change from credit to audit within the first 15 class days of the semester (7 class days in the summer).
Examinations
A student must be enrolled in the University to receive credit in any examination in course work or to satisfy other requirements for advanced degrees. A student may meet this requirement by registering for Examination Only and paying a fee of $15 at registration. Registration for Examination Only (that is, registration in 7040) is allowed for only one semester.
Multi-Campus Registration
Students enrolled in graduate programs at UNO who wish to take courses at other LSU System institutions should inquire at The Graduate School for the procedure to be followed.
Failure to Drop or Resign as Prescribed
Once enrolled in a course, there is a prescribed procedure for either dropping or resigning. It is the student’s responsibility to follow the required procedures and to meet the deadlines in this catalog for dropping courses and resigning from the University. Failure to comply usually results in a grade of F.
Correspondence Study
No graduate credit is allowed for work done by correspondence study.
Transfer of Credit
The majority of credits toward a graduate degree (either master’s or doctoral) must be earned at the University of New Orleans. The maximum hours that can be transferred for doctoral degrees vary. The specific program of interest should be consulted for the limitations and conditions on transfers for doctoral degrees. Only credits earned in courses may be transferred; thesis/dissertation research credits may not be transferred.
• ‑A maximum of 12 hours earned as a non-matriculating student may be used in a master’s degree program, if approved by the program and the Dean of The Graduate School.
• ‑A maximum of 12 hours of transfer credit from other schools may be used in a master’s degree program, if approved by the program and the Dean of The Graduate School.
• ‑A maximum of 12 hours from one master’s degree may apply to a second master’s degree, if approved by the program and the Dean of The Graduate School.
To petition for acceptance of these credits, the student must be currently enrolled, must have completed at least nine hours of graduate course work in a degree program at UNO, and must be in good academic standing. Transfer of credit is approved only for course work taken as a graduate student; no work graded lower than a B can be transferred, unless the course is a joint degree program requirement. Transfer credit offered toward a degree is subject to the same time limits as course work taken at UNO.
Graduate work transferred from other institutions may be applied toward degree requirements, but the grades earned will not be computed in the UNO graduate average, unless the course is a joint degree program requirement.