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Specialist Degree Policies
Graduate School Specialist Degree
Policies
General Requirements
The Specialist degree programs are
sixth-year programs of studies consisting of a minimum of 30
hours beyond the Master's degree. Each candidate's program will
be planned during the initial enrollment period with the
advisory committee to ensure that professional requirements are
met.
Transfer Credit
Subject to the approval of the students'
advisers, the Departmental Committee on Admissions, and the
graduate dean, specialist students who have a "B" grade average
or above in graduate work from another approved institution may
be permitted to transfer a maximum of nine semester hours of
credit. Requests for work to be taken at another institution for
transfer must have the advanced approval of the students'
advisers, committee on admissions, and the graduate dean. Only
work with "B" or better grades earned at an accredited graduate
school and acceptable toward a graduate degree at that
institution will be considered for transfer.
Selective Retention
Admission to a specialist degree program,
admission to candidacy for the degree, and final awarding of the
degree may be denied for unsatisfactory scholarship, or on the
grounds of unsatisfactory mental, moral, or emotional
attributes. An overall grade point average of 3.00 will be
required for the specialist degrees.
Residence Requirement
Candidates for Specialist degrees are
required to complete a minimum of 30 semester hours of graduate
work. Candidates must complete a minimum of 18 semester hours of
resident credit from Arkansas State University—Jonesboro. Twelve
semester hours may be earned in approved non-resident classes
offered by Arkansas State University. A maximum of nine semester
hours of graduate credit may be transferred from other approved
institutions. Candidates for the Specialist in Education degree
with a major in Psychology and Counseling must meet a residence
requirement by completing a minimum of six semester hours in one
academic semester (Fall or Spring only).
Admission to Candidacy
Application for admission to candidacy
for the specialist degree programs is made after a student has
fulfilled all provisions which may have been assigned at the
time of admission and earned a grade point average of 3.00 both
overall and within the major degree program. The number of hours required by each
program for admission to candidacy must be satisfactorily
completed before admission to candidacy will be approved. The S.C.C.T. degree program requires that 42 hours must have been
completed and the Ed.S. degree program in Educational
Administration requires that 12-18 hours must have been
completed. Students admitted with only a Bachelor's degree to
the Ed.S. program in Psychology and Counseling must have
completed 42 hours, while those admitted with a Master's degree
must have completed 12-18 hours.
The adviser in consultation with the student will complete the
candidacy form, sign it, and submit it in typewritten form in
triplicate to the graduate dean for approval.
Failure to apply
for admission to candidacy at the proper time may result in
failure to meet degree requirements and will result in a delay
in the conferring of the degree. In no case will a student be
granted a specialist degree at the spring commencement exercises
unless the application for admission to candidacy was accepted
prior to the end of the first week of the spring semester; in no
case will a student be granted a specialist degree at the summer
commencement exercises unless the application for admission to
candidacy was accepted prior to the end of the first week of the
first summer term; and in no case will a student be granted a
specialist degree at the winter commencement exercises unless
the application for admission to candidacy was accepted prior to
the end of the first week of the fall semester. These specific
dates are listed annually in the University Calendar in this
Bulletin. (See major department section for specific degree
requirements.)
Comprehensive Examination
All candidates for specialist degrees are
required to take a comprehensive examination over their program
of study. The comprehensive examination may be written or oral
or both as determined by the department in which the major is
earned. An examination period is scheduled by each department
during each enrollment period. The date of the examination is
announced during the second week of the session by each
department in writing to all enrolled students and to all
previously enrolled students who have requested notification.
Specialist candidates may choose to take the comprehensive
examination during any enrollment period at the departmentally
scheduled time. Students must notify the department chair of the
intent to sit for the examination at least two weeks prior to
the scheduled test date. Students must pass the examination
within the six year time limit for completion of degree
requirements. Students will not be permitted to take the
comprehensive examination unless a "B" average has been earned
on all graduate work completed.
The examination shall be prepared and graded by the
comprehensive examination committee selected from the faculty by
the chair of the major department and the dean of the college
with the approval of the graduate dean. Prior to a deadline
established by the Graduate School for each enrollment period,
the Graduate School must be notified in writing when students
have passed or failed the examination. Students failing the
examination may repeat it at a time approved by the
comprehensive examination committee but no earlier than the next
scheduled period. Before taking the examination again, students
should consult with the committee which may require the
completion of additional coursework or other additional study.
Students who fail the comprehensive examination the second time
will be dropped from candidacy for the degree.
Time to Degree
The time allowed for completion of the
specialist degree is six years, exclusive of time spent in the
armed forces of the United States. Graduate work completed prior
to six years from the students' date of completion of the degree
cannot be used to satisfy degree requirements. Transfer credit
taken prior to admission at Arkansas State University will be
included in the six year limit. |