GRADUATE STUDENT RESOURCES
- Policies & Procedures
- Academic Progress & Registration Instructions
- Ed.D. Students Advisory Committee
- Ph.D. Students Advisory Committee
- Common Doctoral Forms & Policies
- Guide to Creating Your Dissertation
- Graduation Clearance
- Workshops & Wellness Resources
- Graduate Assistantships & Campus Jobs
- CEHD Student Organizations
Graduate Catalog 2023-2024
The information contained in this chapter applies to programs, course offerings, and requirements specific to the College of Education & Human Development. However, the information in this chapter is to be considered supplemental to the general university information found in the preceding chapters of this catalog. Therefore, students should familiarize themselves thoroughly with general information on registration, fees and refunds, academic regulations, student life, and campus services. All policies, regulations, and requirements explained in the preceding chapters of this catalog also apply to the College of Education & Human Development.
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 “re-entry” student. A re-entry 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.
Re-entry Application Deadlines
Fall: June 1
Summer: April 1
Spring: November 1
Continuous Enrollment Policy Waiver Request
According to Georgia State University policy, students in all graduate programs must maintain enrollment totaling six hours (or more) overall 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. To access the continuous enrollment policy waiver request form, click the link.
Petition to Transfer Graduate Credit
To have graduate transfer of credits considered, complete the petition to 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 a 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 readings course gives students the opportunity to focus attention on a specific area of interest not covered in a regular course offering. A course may be extended beyond one term.
Petition for Waiver or Variance
Any student in the College of Education & Human Development may petition for waiver or variance of established policy, procedure, rule or guideline governed by the college. The 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 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.
Repeat to Replace
*for College of Education & Human Development graduate students only*
Under the conditions outlined below, graduate-level students who have retaken courses and earned a higher grade may request to have the first grade excluded from their institutional GPA. If the request is approved, the Office of the Registrar will make appropriate notations next to the original course on the student’s official transcript. Grades for all attempts at the course will appear on the student’s official transcript regardless of whether or not the grade has been excluded from the student’s GPA. A copy of the request and approval will become part of the student’s permanent record file. The attempt to repeat must be within the prescribed time limit for which courses count toward the degree. Students who have repeated courses prior to the course expiration timeframe will not be allowed to delete earlier attempts from their GPA calculation. Repeat to replace requires approval from the student’s graduate program and the Office of the Registrar. Academic programs may prohibit students from using the repeat to replace policy. *Note: this repeat to replace online form is for College of Education & Human Development graduate students only.*
Satisfactory Academic Plan (SAP)
All students on warning, supervision, or probation are required to participate in the university’s academic improvement program or satisfactory academic plan. The program includes a system of courses, counseling and advising to assist students with improving their performance and returning to good academic standing. The SAP form is only available by your assigned college advisor within the Office of Graduate Student Services. Register for your approved courses only and pay your fees. If you wish to change your schedule, you must obtain approval from an advisor in the Office of Graduate Student Services as well as your faculty advisor.
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 that 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 advisement.gsu.edu.
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.
Registration Instructions
- Log in to PAWS with your CampusID and password. You can look up or change your CampusID or password at http://campusid.gsu.edu.
- Scroll down to My Registration and select Add/Drop/Withdraw Courses.
- Select the appropriate registration term.
- If you have holds, you will be required to satisfy them before being able to register.
- Select Degree, Subject, Campus, Part of Term, and any other search parameters from the options on the Search page.
- Choose the course you would like to add and click “Add.”
- Review your Summary and click “Submit”.
- Select “Print Schedule and Options” tab to view and print your current registration schedule.
For a more detailed walk-thru of the registration process, view the Self Service Student Registration Demo.
Some courses require special authorization from a department or have registration restrictions or pre-requisites. The academic department must approve and enter the authorization in the registration system for you to successfully register and remain in the course. Overflow policies vary with each department. Contact the specific department for authorization and overflow information.
Dropping a Class
Refer to the Semester Calendar & Exam Schedules for registration dates to Drop courses. You Drop a class when you remove it from your schedule. A dropped class does not appear on your transcript. Late registration is the last time period for dropping a class. After the last day of late registration, only withdrawals are allowed. Students can withdraw themselves up to the mid-point of the semester.
Remember, to be certified as a full-time student, you must carry a minimum of 12 semester hours.
Withdrawing from a Class
View this video for instructions on how to withdraw from a course during the withdrawal period.
GPA Calculator
Need assistance with calculating your overall GPA? Check out the GPA calculator.
Ed.D. Advisory Committee (requires three committee members)
1. The major advisor serves as the chair of the doctoral advisory committee, is a full-time member of the College of Education & Human Development faculty, holds a primary appointment in the College of Education & 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 & 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 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 & Human Development or member outside of the college must be approved by the associate dean of doctorate 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 doctorate studies and research of the College of Education & Human Development. After the doctoral advisory committee has been established, the committee, student, department chair, and the associate dean of doctorate studies and research in the College of Education & Human Development must approve any subsequent change of membership.
Download the Program of Study & Advisory Committee Form Here
Ph.D. Advisory Committee (minimum of four committee members)
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 (3) 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 & Human Development faculty, holds a primary appointment in the College of Education & 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 & Human Development faculty (or have a 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 & Human Development or member outside of the college must be approved by the associate dean of doctorate 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 & Human Development. After the doctoral advisory committee has been established, the committee, student, department chair, and the associate dean of doctorate studies and research in the College of Education & Human Development must approve any subsequent change of membership.
Download the Program of Study & Advisory Committee Form Here
Dissertation Prospectus and Dissertation Advisory Committee
Following the completion of the student’s comprehensive examination but before approval of the prospectus, the student and the student’s advisor will recommend the 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 & Human Development.
The dissertation prospectus and dissertation advisory consist of a minimum of three (3) 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 & Human Development faculty who hold graduate faculty research status or approved by reciprocal agreements between colleges and schools, which recognizes each other’s graduate research faculty.
4. Any proposed member of the dissertation advisory committee not meeting these requirements must be approved by the associate dean of research and doctoral studies. Any part-time instructor in the College of Education & Human Development or member outside of the college must be approved by the associate dean of doctorate 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 & Human Development. After the dissertation prospectus & dissertation advisory committee has been established, the committee, student, department chair, and the associate dean for doctorate studies and research in the College of Education & Human Development must approve any subsequent change of membership.
Common Doctorate Forms (Ed.D. & Ph.D. candidates)
Doctoral Student Flowchart
The doctoral student flowchart will guide doctorate students with mapping out when required forms should be submitted for degree progression and completion.
Doctoral Calendar Dates (for fall 2023 graduation)
The deadlines for doctoral graduates is designed to help guide doctorate students with when required forms should be submitted for degree completion.
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 [email protected] to receive either the two-chapter dissertation template or the five-chapter dissertation template or find the template guides at our guide to creating your dissertation.
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 Candidacy
Approval of doctoral candidacy requires the following:
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- successful completion of all coursework
- successful completion of comprehensive exams
- fulfillment of all residency requirements
- submission and presentation of an approved dissertation prospectus
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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.
Doctoral Change in Program of Study
To make a change in a doctoral student’s program of study, a student’s committee must submit the Doctoral Change in Program of Study and receive approval.
A graduation application should be completed at least two terms prior to the term of degree completion. Please contact the Graduation Office at 404-413-2248 for further information.
The recommendation to doctoral candidacy form must be received by the Office Graduate Student Services prior to submitting the announcement of the dissertation defense.
All announcement deadlines, whether to present prospectus or defend the dissertation, are 15 calendar days prior to the day of presentation or defense. Presentation or defense must be held between the first day of class and the last day of exams (day term officially ends). The dates listed are in compliance with the current Georgia State University Graduate Bulletin, Education. Presentations or defenses are not allowed during term breaks (this includes spring break).
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 the webpage — 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 Student Services immediately upon completion. If you have any questions about non-course milestones, please contact Graduate Advisor in the Office of Graduate Student Services.
Fall 2023 Graduate Workshop Series
An introduction to library research resources and services | with Denise George | August 22nd @ 5:00 pm | online in Denise’s WebEx room linked here
The Georgia State University library offers an immense number of resources that are often overlooked. Did you know that the library has quick, free access to over 400 subscription databases? We also offer workshops on topics including search tools and strategies, APA Style, data visualization, statistical software, and more. Our Atlanta campus library is a beautiful space with views of the city, an outdoor veranda, glass walled study rooms, and even a mindfulness room. We also have technology for checkout including GoPros, wireless microphones, Chromebooks, and more.
Finding scholarly literature: From basic to advanced | with Denise George | August 29th @ 11:00 am in room CEHD 1025 | August 31st @ 5:00 pm online in Denise’s WebEx room linked here
In this session, we’ll start by making sure you have the LibKey Nomad browser extension for retrieving library subscribed content from the open web. Next, we’ll briefly discuss Google Scholar and other tools such as the GSU Library Discover search which is on the same platform as the GALILEO default search box. Then, we’ll navigate to specific library databases (such as ERIC and APA PsycINFO) and begin searching with natural language (Google like) searches. We’ll discover ways to refine that search to better represent the literature on your topic. We’ll also talk about how to find the best keywords and how to do basic citation tracking. Finally, we’ll discuss the simplest ways to do an advanced three-concept search in a library database.
Getting started with Zotero | with Denise George | September 6th @ 4:30 pm in room CEHD 1025
Zotero is a free reference management software. It allows you to create a personal library of PDFs (and other types of files). You can organize, sort, and search your library. It also allows you to cite while you write, create a shared library, and create notes and tags in your library. From the Zotero library, you can open and edit PDFs using Adobe and save the edits in your Zotero library. This will be an interactive session, so bring your laptop with Zotero downloaded.
Getting started with Endnote | with Denise & Joel | September 21st @ 4:00 pm in room CEHD 1025
Endnote is a free reference management software. It allows you to create a personal library of PDFs (and other types of files). You can organize, sort, and search your library. It also allows you to cite while you write, create a shared library, and create notes and tags in your library. This will be an interactive session, so bring your laptop with Endnote downloaded.
Beyond advanced: Boolean coding in library databases for systematic reviews or ultra refined results | with Denise George | September 27th @ 6:00 pm | online in Denise’s WebEx room linked here
For this session, you’ll need to already know how to navigate to specific library databases (such as ERIC, APA PsycINFO, PubMed, and more) and start an advanced three-concept search using Boolean terms (and, or, & not). We’ll start with an example search and discuss the use of parentheses, field codes, and other coding syntax. We’ll look at how that syntax changes across various platforms. We’ll also talk about term harvesting techniques. Bring your topics if you have them, and we’ll brainstorm options for refining your search.
A discussion of AL (Artificial Intelligence): Tools for scholarly research | with Denise George | October 10th @ 11:00 am in room CEHD 1025
In order to uphold academic honesty, it is likely that you will not be allowed to use AI tools such as ChatGPT in most of your academic projects. However, it’s important to recognize and discuss the different levels of AI that are infiltrating various applications in our everyday lives, including our research. We’ll also discuss strengths and weaknesses of various AI tools and discuss the ROBOT test for evaluating AI tools. Bring your ideas, concerns, and suggestions for AI tools to discuss.
Writing Studio – Writing can be tough. Setting aside blocks of time to writing can be a challenge. If you are in need of some accountability and would like to accomplish your writing goals the Virtual Graduate Student Write-In may be just what you need!
Need someone to peer edit your work? Be sure to sign up with an interactive session with a peer tutor through the Writing Studio here.
Counseling & Testing Center – Balancing graduate school and life is tough. And now with adding the enormously complex environment with working and schooling both remotely and in-person, stress is bound to find its way into our everyday life. Don’t get overwhelmed, instead get counseling help if and when you need.
Check out the counseling services available to you here.
Graduate School Professional Development Workshops – Not finding a graduate workshop to meet your needs? Check out the professional development workshops organized and hosted by our colleagues in the Graduate School. Click here to view their professional development schedule.
Writing Resources
- Grammarly proofreads your text for grammatical errors and plagiarism and also suggests corrections.
- Zotero allows you to attach PDFs, notes and images to your citations, organize them into collections for different projects and create bibliographies.
- EndNote is a program for managing bibliographic citations. It can automate much of the work of organizing and formatting citations and bibliographies in your writing. EndNote can connect to online sources such as GIL and article databases, output results in more than 1,000 different bibliographic styles, add notes and images to your citations and more.
- The Turnitin app in BrightSpace allows students to detect unintentional plagiarism in their writing and later view feedback on their writing from professors.
Archived Recordings
- Introduction to Library Resources (fall 2023) click here for the recording
- Dissertation Formatting (fall 2022) click here for the recording
- Endnote (spring 2022) click here for the recording
- Library Research (spring 2022) click here for the recording
- Need help with APA captions? Check out this helpful video here
- Check out the Writing Studio’s Resources for Writers – click here
Seeking a Graduate Assistantship?
Graduate assistantships are available in departments and colleges across campus including our departments, centers and clinics. Every assistantship differs according to the funding source; some may be for one semester only, others may be extended beyond one semester. The hours of employment, the amount of tuition paid, and any additional stipend offered varies. You can apply for assistantships any time after you have been admitted to a program. Please contact our department to see what programs offer graduate research assistantships.
- Communication Sciences & Disorders
- Counseling & Psychological Services
- Early Childhood & Elementary Education
- Educational Policy Studies
- Kinesiology & Health
- Learning Sciences
- Middle & Secondary Education
- Centers and Clinics
Be sure to cast a wide net when seeking a GRA appointment on campus. New admits who are looking for such opportunities are encouraged to reach out to specific departments, clinics, and centers around campus. Click here for some connections to get you started and to learn more about what a GRA appointment entails.
Graduate Assistantships (awarded)
- Have you been awarded a Graduate Research Assistantship (GRA) position? If so, your hiring department will submit a new hire transaction in the OneUSG system to hire you. Once this transaction has been entered, you will receive an email from Equifax prompting you to complete an electronic new hire packet.
- University Graduate Assistant Policy
- Remote Teaching & Learning
On-Campus Jobs
- Looking for an on-campus job? We encourage graduate students who are admitted to the college to use Handshake (hover over the student tab to navigate to Handshake) to help with the search for vacancies for student positions around campus.
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.