Navigating Through Your Program
Printed below are answers to key questions intended to help you navigate through your graduate program in the School of Education.
What are some important dates I should know?
A good source of information on important dates throughout the semester such as registration days, holidays, and other important deadlines is the University of Delaware Academic Calendar.
For updates, changes, and the latest information on upcoming events, please go to the Announcements page of the Graduate Student Services website.
Do I need to be enrolled every Fall or Spring semester?
To be considered a full-time student, graduates must be enrolled in 9 credits a semester. Graduate students must be continuously enrolled each fall and spring semester while completing their degree program. If for any reason a graduate student is unable to enroll in any given semester, they must ask for a leave of absence. Students who seek a leave of absence for personal, medical, or professional reasons should obtain written approval from the chair or graduate program coordinator of their instructional area. The letter should specify the amount of time needed, and the time of absence will not affect the limitation of time for completion of the degree requirements.
In addition, students must be aware that in order to be eligible to graduate, students must be enrolled in at least one course or in sustaining credit during the semester they intend to graduate. For example, if you are planning to graduate in February, you must be enrolled in Winter Session.
If I am supported by an assistantship during the summer, what are my registration requirements?
According to the University of Delaware Student Handbook, students who are supported by the University with any type of graduate assistantship during the summer months (e.g., teaching assistants, research assistants, or fellows) are required to be enrolled in at least 3 credits during the 7.5 week summer session. They must work in an environment that is related to the student's degree program, and their funding amount will meet the minimum requirement per month in June and July.
If I am a Delaware public elementary and secondary school teacher and/or instructional aid, what do I have to do to receive a waiver of tuition for summer sessions?
Delaware public elementary and secondary school teachers and instructional aides receive a waiver of tuition for summer sessions. However, teachers are required to pay a nominal fee for each session to cover both General and Registration Fees. To qualify, teachers must have proof of certification as a regular, provisional, temporary, or substitute teacher in the State of Delaware. They also must have taught one-half of the total class hours (90 days) in the preceding academic year. Prospective full-time teachers in the Delaware public schools may qualify for exemption if they present a copy of their completed contract for the following academic year or a letter from the principal or superintendent verifying a contract for the upcoming academic year, at the time of registration. Likewise, temporary or substitute teachers must submit to the Account Services Offices, prior to registration, a letter from the principal or superintendent certifying that they indeed worked at least 90 days during the prior academic year.
Is there a minimum cumulative GPA that I have to meet?
According to the University of Delaware Student Handbook, a student must have a minimum cumulative grade point average of 3.0 to be considered for an advanced degree. In addition, all grades received from courses applied toward the degree program must equal 3.0 or higher. All courses taken after the student has acquired a graduate student classification are applied to their cumulative index. Courses for which the grade is below a C- will still be applied to their cumulative index even though they do not count toward the degree.
What is the time limit for the completion of my degree?
The time limit for the completion of a degree begins with the date of matriculation and is specified in each student's letter of admission. The University requires the completion of a master's degree within a maximum of ten consecutive semesters. Doctoral degree students, who have already acquired a master's degree, are given ten consecutive semesters, and those who have not received a master's degree have a time limit of fourteen consecutive semesters. A student completing all requirements for a master's degree and subsequently given permission to continue toward the doctoral degree is given ten additional consecutive semesters. Students who declare a change in their degree program are given ten consecutive semesters from the beginning of the first year in the latest program.
What happens if I cannot complete my degree within the time limit given to me when I began the program?
If circumstances arise that make it impossible to complete the degree program in the allotted time, a student may request a time extension. An extension petition must be approved first by the student's advisor and then by the SOE Graduate Coordinator.
Do EDUC 500-level courses count to satisfy my degree requirements?
Graduate students cannot use EDUC 500-level courses to satisfy degree requirements in their education graduate programs. These courses are designed to be professional development courses and are intentionally not as rigorous as 600- and 800-level graduate courses. This is a University policy, outlined in the Graduate Catalog as "Courses numbered 500 to 599." These courses are designed for the non-specialist and may not be counted for graduate credit in the student's degree program.
This policy would also apply to education graduate students who take courses as non-matriculated, continuing education students prior to matriculating in an education graduate program. These students are not grandfathered and are responsible for knowing that these courses do not count towards degree requirements.
What if I take a 500-level course in a department other then the Education Department such as the Math Department, or the History Department?
With pre-approval of the student's advisor, 500-level courses taken outside the student's major department may be applied toward a graduate degree. For example, an M.Ed. student with a specialization in math education may count MATH 500 towards their degree if it is pre-approved by the student's advisor and the faculty in that specialization area.
How do I transfer credit earned through the Continuing Education Program at the University of Delaware?
Students who have earned credits as a continuing education non-degree student (CEND) at the University of Delaware may "roll in" a maximum of 9 previously earned graduate credits after they matriculate in a program. The CEND courses can be transferred if they are courses at the 600- or 800-level, if the course was appropriate to the specific degree program, and if the course is approved by the student's advisor and the Director or Graduate Coordinator of the SOE. The request must be submitted using a Request for Transfer of Graduate Credit form.
How do I transfer credit earned at another institution?
Graduate credits that have been earned from another institution will be evaluated by the student's academic department. The request must be submitted by using a Request for Transfer of Graduate Credit form . A maximum of 9 credits can be transferred in provided that the coursework was not used to satisfy previous degree requirements. University policy states that any courses used in fulfillment of a previous degree cannot be counted toward a subsequent degree.
What is the residency requirement for Ph.D. students?
University policy states that for all Ph.D. students, at least one continuous academic year must be devoted exclusively to full-time study (9 credits/semester) in their major field. The residency requirement may be fulfilled in the fall and spring semesters or in the spring and fall semesters, but not during summer or winter sessions. This policy does not apply to Ed.D. or master's students.
What do I need to know about course substitutions?
You must fill out a Course Substitution Form and have it approved by your advisor and the Director or Graduate Coordinator of the SOE prior to enrolling in the course.
Where can I get information on Human Subjects?
All SOE faculty and student research must receive Human Subjects approval and clearance. For guidelines and procedures, follow this link to SOE Human Subjects Approval.
