GRADUATE STUDENT RESOURCES
Re-entry Admission
Application for Graduate Re-entry (return to active status) for the College of Education & Human Development is necessary if a student qualifies as a “reentry” student. A reentry student is one who has been enrolled at Georgia State University and who meets at least one of the following criteria:
- has not registered for courses at Georgia State during any of the previous three semesters;
- has not registered for six or more credit hours for the current and the preceding two semesters;
- has been on scholastic suspension after an absence of one calendar year;
- has been on scholastic exclusion after an absence of five or more years.
There is a $25 application fee for all re-entry applicants. The application fee can be submitted upon submission of the Graduate Re-entry Application.
Continuous Enrollment Policy
According to Georgia State University policy, students in all graduate programs must maintain enrollment totaling six hours (or more) over all consecutive three semester periods (including summers). In other words, the total enrollment of the current term plus the two terms preceding it must add to six hours or more at all times. The status of all students will be checked by the midpoint of each term for compliance with the continuous enrollment requirement. Any student whose enrollment is out of compliance will receive a registration hold preventing all current and future registration. Those students will be notified by an e-mail message sent to their official Georgia State e-mail account. In order to graduate, students must be actively enrolled in the program of study during the semester in which they finish degree requirements for graduation.
Transfer Graduate Credit
To have graduate transfer of credits considered, complete the Transfer Graduate Credit form and attach appropriate documentation.
Change of Degree/Major
Students who elect to change their degree or major within the College of Education & Human Development must complete a New Application for admission and attach their rationale for the request to change their degree/major to the application under Applicant Documents. Change of Degree/Major requests are reviewed by the program faculty. Any admission requirements for new degree/major must be satisfied prior to faculty review. Non-degree seeking students cannot use the Change of Degree/Major process for admission to a degree-seeking program.
Directed Readings
A directed reading course gives students the opportunity to focus attention on a specific area of interest not covered in a regular course offering. A directed reading course may be extended beyond one term.
Petition for Waiver or Variance
Any student in the College of Education & Human Development may Petition for a Waiver or Variance of established policy, procedure, rule or guideline governed by the college. The Student Petition for Waiver or Variance must be submitted by the end of the term prior to the term in which the exception is needed. Note: This form should be used for requests of substitutions of required courses, waivers of college policies governing graduate students or waivers of college policies governing doctoral students.
Student Petition for Resolution
Students are encouraged to discuss academic or non-academic problems or grade concerns with the instructor prior to filing a formal petition in an effort to gain understanding about the basis of the treatment or grade. If the issue is not resolved informally, students should complete the Student Petition for Resolution process.
Readmission after Suspension
Students who have been academically suspended must complete the Application for Readmission After Suspension in order to remove the suspension and resume their program of study. If you are on suspension for more than three consecutive terms, you must also complete the reentry application. Students will attach a detailed narrative explaining their suspension and how they intend to improve their academic performance. Students will be required to obtain letters of support from their Faculty Advisor and their home Department Chair to support their application for readmission after suspension.
Academic Honesty
Georgia State University’s policy on academic honesty states that “…students be honest and that they submit for credit only the products of their own efforts.” Here are resources to help you adhere to this policy. In addition, the Georgia State University Policy on Academic Honesty provides definitions, examples, and procedures for resolving matters of academic honesty.
Degree Works
Graduate students in the College of Education & Human Development are responsible for monitoring their academic evaluation for accuracy, including the completion of both coursework and non-course milestones.
Access to Degree Works
Degree Works is a web-based advising tool which enables students to monitor progress toward degree completion. Degree Works looks at the degree requirements of the Georgia State catalog as well as coursework and non-course milestones. It also displays transfer credits, waivers, exemptions, and academic standing.
To access Degree Works, log into your PAWS account at paws.gsu.edu. Under the Academic Evaluation tab, select the current term and your desired program, then click on Generate Request.
Instructions for Degree Works
Degree Works instructional videos and a how-to document are available at here.
If you have any questions about non-course milestones, please contact your Graduate Advisor in the Office of Graduate Student Services. If you have questions about your coursework, please contact your Faculty Advisor in your home department.
Ed.D Advisory Committee
1. The major advisor serves as the chair of the Doctoral Advisory Committee, is a full-time member of the College of Education and Human Development faculty, holds primary appointment in the College of Education and Human Development, has been a faculty member at Georgia State University for at least one academic year, and holds an earned doctorate. Faculty with approved Joint Academic Appointments and University Graduate Professional Faculty Membership can serve as the chair of an Ed.D. Doctoral Advisory Committee.
2. A second member of the Doctoral Advisory Committee must be a full-time member of the College of Education and Human Development faculty (or have a joint appointment) holding an earned doctorate.
3. A third member of the Doctoral Advisory Committee is an individual who can support the student’s dissertation research. The third member must also hold an earned doctorate. After the Doctoral Advisory Committee has been established, the committee, the student, and the department chair must approve any subsequent change of membership.
4. Any part-time instructor in the College of Education and Human Development or member outside of the college must be approved by the Associate Dean of Graduate Studies and Research.
5. All committee members must hold a terminal degree.
All appointments to the Doctoral Advisory Committee, including its chair, are subject to approval by each student, the department chair, and the Associate Dean for Graduate Studies and Research of the College of Education and Human Development. After the Doctoral Advisory Committee has been established, the committee, student, department chair, and the Associate Dean of Graduate Studies and Research of the College of Education and Human Development must approve any subsequent change of membership.
Ph.D. Advisory Committee
By the end of the first year in the program or by the completion of 27 semester hours, doctoral students are required to establish their Doctoral Advisory Committee.
The Doctoral Advisory Committee consists of a minimum of three members:
1. The major advisor serves as the chair of the Doctoral Advisory Committee, is a full-time, tenure track member of the College of Education and Human Development faculty, holds primary appointment in the College of Education and Human Development, has been a faculty member at Georgia State University for at least one academic year, is a member of the faculty of the major to which the students have been admitted, holds an earned doctorate, and holds Graduate Research Faculty Membership. Faculty with approved Joint Academic Appointments and University Graduate Research Faculty Membership can serve as the chair of a Ph.D. Doctoral Advisory Committee.
2. A second member of the Doctoral Advisory Committee must be a full-time member of the College of Education and Human Development faculty (or have joint appointment) holding an earned doctorate and Graduate Research Faculty Membership.
3. A third member of the Doctoral Advisory Committee must represent a major outside the student’s major and holds an earned terminal degree.
4. Any part-time instructor in the College of Education and Human Development or member outside of the college must be approved by the Associate Dean of Graduate Studies and Research.
5. All committee members must hold a terminal degree.
All appointments to the Doctoral Advisory Committee, including its chair, are subject to approval by each student, the department chair, and the Associate Dean for Graduate Studies and Research of the College of Education and Human Development. After the Doctoral Advisory Committee has been established, the committee, student, department chair, and the Associate Dean for Graduate Studies and Research of the College of Education and Human Development must approve any subsequent change of membership.
Dissertation Prospectus and Dissertation Advisory Committee
Following completion of the student’s comprehensive examination but before approval of the prospectus, the student and the student’s advisor will recommend formation of the Dissertation Advisory Committee.
The majority of the committee, including the committee chair, must hold graduate research faculty status in the College of Education and Human Development.
The Dissertation Prospectus and Dissertation Advisory consists of a minimum of four members:
1. Faculty with approved Joint Academic Appointments and University Graduate Research Faculty Membership can serve as the chair of a Ph.D. Dissertation Advisory Committee.
2. The resulting Dissertation Advisory Committee should represent expertise in both the area of the research topic and the proposed research methodology
3. Consist of no fewer than four members with earned doctorates, which means that at least three Dissertation Advisory Committee members must be College of Education and Human Development faculty who hold graduate faculty research status or approved by reciprocal agreements between colleges and schools, which recognizes each others graduate research faculty.
4. Any proposed member of the Dissertation Advisory Committee not meeting these requirements must be approved by the Associate Dean of Graduate Studies and Research. Any part-time instructor in the College of Education and Human Development or member outside of the college must be approved by the Associate Dean of Graduate Studies and Research.
5. All committee members must hold a terminal degree.
All appointments to the Dissertation Prospectus & Dissertation Advisory Committee, including its chair, are subject to approval by each student, the department chair, and the Associate Dean for Graduate Studies and Research of the College of Education and Human Development. After the Dissertation Prospectus & Dissertation Advisory Committee has been established, the committee, student, department chair, and the Associate Dean for Graduate Studies and Research of the College of Education and Human Development must approve any subsequent change of membership.
Download the Forms
- Ed.D. for Educational Leadership Program of Study & Advisory Committee
- Ed.D. in Curriculum & Instruction Program of Study & Advisory Committee
- Ph.D. Program of Study & Advisory Committee
Comprehensive Exam Report
The comprehensive examination report includes a written examination and may also include an oral portion. Doctoral students have two opportunities to pass the comprehensive examination. Students who do not pass the examination on the second attempt are not permitted to continue in the doctoral program.
Guidelines for Preparing Dissertations
All doctoral dissertations must comply with the College of Education & Human Development’s format, style and procedural guidelines. After completing comprehensive exams, contact the Office of Graduate Student Services to get a copy of these guidelines or download the Guide for Preparation of Prospectuses and Dissertations.
Additionally, students can email coedissertations@gsu.edu to receive either the two-chapter dissertation template or the five-chapter dissertation template or find the template guides here.
Prospectus Announcement
When the prospectus is completed, the Office of Graduate Student Services disseminates a public announcement about the oral presentation. The announcement must be submitted 15 calendar days prior to the date of the presentation. The presentation must be scheduled on the main campus of the university between the first day of class and the last day of final exams. The presentation must be attended by no fewer than four members of the Dissertation Advisory Committee and is open to all College of Education & Human Development faculty and invited guests. View guidelines for the announcement of a prospectus presentation.
Recommendation to Doctoral Candidacy
Approval of doctoral candidacy requires the following:
- Successful completion of all coursework
- Successful completion of comprehensive exams
- Fulfillment of all residency requirements
- Submission and presentation of an approved dissertation prospectus
All requirements for doctoral candidacy must be completed within seven years of the first course taken on the doctoral program of study.
Dissertation Defense Announcement
When the dissertation is completed, the Office of Graduate Student Services disseminates a public announcement about the dissertation’s oral defense. The announcement must be submitted 15 calendar days prior to the date of the defense. The defense must be scheduled on the main campus of the university between the first day of class and the last day of final exams. The defense must be attended by no fewer than four members of the Dissertation Advisory Committee and is open to all College of Education & Human Development faculty and invited guests. View Guidelines for Announcement of Dissertation Defense.
Change in Program
To make a change in a doctoral student’s program of study, a student’s committee must submit the Doctoral Change in Program Form and receive approval.
We built a set of guidelines that will summarize the steps to follow, prepare for, write and submit a dissertation in the College of Education & Human Development.
View A Guide to Creating Your Dissertation »
Apply for Graduation
Apply for graduation through your PAWS account at paws.gsu.edu. Instructions and information can be found on the Office of the Registrar website at registrar.gsu.edu/graduation. You must apply for graduation TWO SEMESTERS in advance.
If you intended to graduate a previous semester and were unable to do so or if you know you will not graduate the semester for which you already applied should, please contact your Graduate Student Services Advisor to obtain the Graduation Change Request.
Coursework
Check your Degree Works audit to ensure that you are on track to graduate, as it is the definitive record for graduation clearance. All course blocks should be satisfied. This also includes any transfer credit from another institution, as well as any approved course substitutions. If you notice any discrepancies, please contact your Graduate Advisor in the Office of Graduate Student Services.
If you have questions about your coursework, please contact your Faculty Advisor in your home department.
Non-Course Milestones (comprehensive exam, thesis, dissertation)
Your Degree Works audit will also reflect the completion of all required non-course milestones. All of these milestone forms, with the exception of the final Thesis/Dissertation/Non-Thesis Approval Form, should be submitted to the Office of Graduate Student Services no later than the midpoint of your final semester.
Forms should be submitted to the Office of Graduates Services immediately upon completion. If you have any questions about non-course milestones, please contact Graduate Advisor in the Office of Graduate Student Services.
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College of Education & Human Development Chartered Student Organizations
- Alpha Upsilon Alpha
- Chi Sigma Iota- Renewed
- CommunicAid+Nation (CAN)
- Counseling Psychology Student Organization
- CPS Pride
- Doctoral Students for the Advancement of Mathematics Education (DSAME)
- EPS Graduate Student Association
- Rehabilitation Counseling Association
- Student Affiliates in School Psychology
- Graduate Association of Student Psychologists
- National Student Speech-Language-Hearing Association
- Health and Physical Education Club
- Sport Management and Administration Club
- Fellowship of Christian Athletes
- Kappa Delta Pi/Omicron Gamma Chapter
- Moving University Students Closer to Leadership in Exercise Science (MUSCLES)
- Doctoral Fellows
- Graduates in Instructional Technology
- Social Studies Association
- Tighter Grip
- Softer Touch
- EPSE Doctoral Student Association (EPSE-DSA)
- Panther Athletic Training Student Organization
Please contact the Student Activities Office with questions about the organizations listed at 404-413-1580.
Contact Us
The Office of Academic Assistance helps students through the admissions process whether undergraduate or graduate.
College Advisors
- Michael D. Carter — last names A-F email: mcarter3@gsu.edu
- Michelle McKnight — last names G-M email: mmcknight@gsu.edu
- Caroline Bukundo — last names N-Z email: cbukundo1@gsu.edu
College Recruitment
- Mickel Henderson — mhenderson39@gsu.edu