Continuous Enrollment Requirements

With the beginning of Fall Semester, 2006 graduate students active in a degree program (M.A.T., M.S., M.Ed., M.S.E., M.L.M, Ed.S., Ph.D.) must register for at least a total of six semester hours of course work during any period of three consecutive terms (fall, spring, summer) until completion of degree. In order to graduate, students must be registered in the program of study during the semester they finish degree requirements.

“IP” (in-progress) grades will require registration until the outstanding curriculum elements are complete. A student must also be registered to take an exit examination even if it is scored by an outside agency (such as GACE Content Assessments).

An “I” grade, if this is ALL a student needs to complete, will NOT require one hour of registration. Please refer to the official policy posted at http://www.gsu.edu/es/20564.html

Students who do not register for an entire year (12 months) and are not on official leave or covered by other exceptions will be made inactive in the program, and if they wish to continue, are required to follow reentry procedure. Re-acceptance into the program is not guaranteed. Reentering students are subject to the regulations of the Graduate Catalog and the degree program current at the time of reentry. Time limits for all academic requirements will remain unchanged.

Ph.D. students in the College of Education follow the college policy of registering for at least three (3) semester hours of research during the semester of the dissertation defense. Also, this college semester hour requirement supersedes that of the university.

Mandatory student fees will now be regulated accordingly to allow pro-rated charges for students registering for research or other semester hours less than six per semester.

Exceptions or adjustments to these requirements necessitate filing a Petition for Waiver or Exception to academic regulations in the College of Education.

Graduation Changes

Candidates for graduation in a degree program offered by the College of Education must be officially registered for classes the semester of completing all academic requirements for the degree sought, including thesis/ dissertation defense, portfolio, or other exit activities. Departments may determine the extent and type of hours that must be taken by the candidate during the concluding semester (except for Ph.D. candidates who must take three semester hours the semester of dissertation defense) as long as they meet the university minimum. Every candidate for completion must register with the Graduation Services Office of the Enrollment Management Office. These regulations are explained in the general university-wide section of this website, and a calendar of deadlines is published on the enrollment services pages. The semester of completion is defined as extending until the day prior to the date of official granting of degrees each semester as published on the academic calendar by Enrollment Services.

Return to Active Status

Students who wish to graduate but have been moved to "inactive" status must follow college reentry procedures. If for some reason, re-entry the reentry term is not open for applications, students should contact the OAA Office.

Frequently Asked Questions about Continuous Enrollment

Q: I have not been registered at Georgia State University for more than three semesters while I have been writing my dissertation. What will I have to do in order to graduate in summer semester, 2007?
First, be certain you have accomplished all the steps to apply for graduation, including re-entry. Beginning with the summer semester, 2007 you will have to meet the six-hours in 12 months requirement. You must be registered at Georgia State University in order to be cleared for completion in the College of Education. Check with your department graduate coordinator to determine the courses and the minimum number of hours required for your program.

Q: What if I register for a semester that I expect to graduate, but do not get everything finished or approved on time? Will I have to register again?
Yes. If you are current with continuous enrollment requirements you will only need to register for the minimum number of hours required by your department or one hour as stated by the university. This registration is required, however, even if you have previously met the six-hour standard, because you must be registered at Georgia State University to complete your degree.

Q: As part of my graduate program, I have an internship and must be away from campus for more than three terms without registration. How can I avoid the continuous enrollment penalty and reentry change of catalog?
If your not registering at Georgia State University is built into your degree program, your graduate coordinator should notify the OAA. On return from the internship, you will need to file for re-entry at the Office of Academic Assistance, not undergraduate admissions. You will still need to pay the $25 re-entry fee, but you will be permitted to follow the Graduate Catalog under which you were admitted to the program.

Q: Do I have to pay 100% of the mandatory student fees if I am only registered for a few hours of research to finish my thesis or dissertation?
No. Beginning summer, 2006 graduate students only pay 1/6th of the mandatory fees for each hour of registration under six hours. That means, if you are registered for less than six hours you will be charged a pro-rated student fees amount.

Q: I have finished all the requirements for my degree, but I have an outstanding "I" grade in one of my courses. Will I need to register while I complete the "I" although I have registered for more than six semester hours over the last two semesters?
No. If a student only lacks removal of an Incomplete (grade of "I") in order to graduate the student does not need to register for additional hours in the term of completion] as long as the number of hours required by the continuous enrollment policy have been met.