All matriculated students should register in advance for spring and fall semesters and winter and summer sessions. Registration periods are scheduled for returning full-and part-time graduate students in late April for fall semester and in late November for spring semester.
The open drop/add period is a 10-day period of time at the beginning of each semester. A late drop/add or course withdrawal for unusual circumstances when adjustments to the student's schedule are needed requires permission form the instructor, the student's advisor and the Office of Graduate and Professional Education.
Graduate students are required to maintain continuous registration each fall and spring semester to be eligible to continue in a degree program. Failure to comply with the requirement of maintaining continuous registration in the fall and spring semesters either in courses, in sustaining credit, or with approved leave of absence will be taken as evidence that the student has terminated his/her graduate program, and the admitted status to the graduate program will be terminated.
A student who has incompletes in three or more courses may not register in the next regular semester (i.e., fall or spring) for additional courses without the approval of the Office of Graduate and Professional Education.
Students enrolled in at least 9 credit hours or in sustaining credit are considered full-time students. Those enrolled for fewer than 9 credit hours are considered part-time students, although students holding assistantships are considered full-time with six credits. Generally, a maximum load is 12 graduate credit hours; however, additional credit hours may be taken with the approval of the student's adviser and the Office of Graduate and Professional Education. A maximum course load in either summer or winter session is 7 credit hours. Permission must be obtained from the Office of Graduate and Professional Education to carry an overload in any session.
Once a graduate student who is completing a thesis, dissertation, or executive position paper has completed all required course credits needed for the degree (including six credits of Master's thesis [869] or nine to twelve credits of dissertation [969]) and all other degree requirements except the submission of the thesis, dissertation, or executive position paper, the student must maintain matriculation in the degree program during the fall and spring semesters by registering for either Master's Sustaining: Thesis (UNIV 899) or Doctoral Sustaining (UNIV 999). All students, including sustaining students, must be registered in the semester in which the degree is officially awarded. Sustaining registration is required for summer and winter session only if the degree is awarded at the conclusion of the summer or winter session. Students in sustaining status are considered full time.
Once a master's student pursuing a non-thesis option has registered for all required course credits needed for the degree, but has not completed other non-thesis degree option requirements such as a portfolio, research option paper, comprehensive examination, art show or exhibit, or incomplete grades, the student is required to maintain his/her eligibility for the degree program during the fall and spring semesters by registering for Master's Sustaining: Non-thesis (UNIV 895). All students, including sustaining students, must be registered in the semester in which the degree is officially awarded. Sustaining registration is required for summer and winter session only if the degree is awarded at the conclusion of the summer or winter session. Students in sustaining status are considered full time.
Students enrolled in a degree program who seek a leave of absence from the program for personal, medical, or professional reasons must first obtain written approval from the chair or graduate program coordinator of their instructional unit. The request and the recommendation from the department should be sent to the Office of Graduate and Professional Education for approval. The length of time needed for the leave should be indicated. Upon approval, the student's academic transcript will record the approved leave in the appropriate semesters. The period of absence will not affect the limitation of time for completion of the degree requirements as given in the student's official letter of admission. The Office of Graduate and Professional Education will send written notification of the approval or denial of the requested leave.
A graduate student wishing to resign from the University (i.e., terminate his/her association with the University and a specific degree program) may do so by submitting a letter to the Office of Graduate and Professional Education indicating the reasons for the resignation. The Office will cancel the student's matriculation and indicate the effective date of the resignation on the student's transcript.
Students who complete graduate credits with the classification of CEND (Continuing Education Nondegree) at the University of Delaware may use a maximum of 9 graduate credits earned with this classification toward their graduate degree. Up to 9 graduate credits earned at another institution will be evaluated at the written request of the student. The credits, but not the grades or quality points from other institutions are transferable to University of Delaware graduate records.
All requests for transfer credit should be directed to the student's major department using a Request for Transfer of Graduate Credit form. Transfer credits will be accepted provided that such credits:
Graduate courses counted toward a degree received elsewhere may not be transferred into a degree at the University of Delaware. Credits from institutions outside of the United States are generally not transferable to the University of Delaware.
Designated 400-level courses at the University of Delaware may be completed for graduate credit if the graduate student does additional work. Students must register for the course at the graduate level using the departmental number of 666 and submit a titling form for the course.
If a graduate student does not maintain continuous enrollment, graduate course credits expire five years after the course has been completed.
A change from one type of degree status to another while remaining in the same program requires a Change of Classification Formapproved by the student's advisor and graduate program director. International students in F1 or J1 status should also consult with the international student advisor.
A change from a degree in one graduate program to a degree in another program in another department or college requires the student to submit a completed admission application form to the Office of Graduate and Professional Education and follow the same procedures for admission as any other applicant.
