Academic Performance

Academic Performance and Progress in Post Bachelor’s Certificate Programs

Satisfactory academic performance and progress within the UMB certificate programs is a responsibility shared by the Graduate School, the certificate program, and students. Certificate programs with additional criteria and requirements approved by the Graduate School are covered under this policy. Students should review all graduate program handbooks and standards.

Satisfactory performance and progress is demonstrated by adherence to the following Graduate School standards:

Graduate students must maintain a minimum, cumulative grade-point average (GPA) of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale. Further, two or more grades of C or lower denote unsatisfactory progress in a certificate program and subject the student to academic dismissal regardless of cumulative GPA.
All courses must be taken for letter grade; courses taken as pass/fail (P/F) or audit (AU) may not be counted toward the certificate.
The course of study undertaken for a postbaccalaureate certificate must be ascertained from an approved program consisting of at least 12 graduate-level credit hours.
All requirements for the certificate must be completed within three years after admission. Periods of nonregistration (“stopping out” or approved leaves of absence) are included within this three-year period.
All credits for a certificate must be completed at the University of Maryland, Baltimore.
Students are expected to meet the highest standards of integrity; cheating, plagiarism, fabrication, or abetting the academic dishonesty of another will result in sanction and may lead to academic dismissal.

These guidelines are applicable to all UMB graduate students regardless of instructional delivery mode (i.e., traditional, online, or hybrid).

Failure to satisfy the Graduate School’s standards of satisfactory academic performance and progress — or nonadherence to program-specific policies and requirements — subjects a student to possible academic probation and/or dismissal.

Academic Performance and Progress in Master of Science Programs

Satisfactory academic performance and progress within the UMB Master of Science (MS) programs is a responsibility shared by the Graduate School, the graduate programs, and students. This policy specifies the elements of satisfactory academic performance and progress for students in UMB programs required by the Graduate School. MS programs with additional criteria and requirements approved by the Graduate School are covered under this policy. Students should review all graduate program handbooks and standards.

Failure to satisfy the Graduate School’s standards of satisfactory academic performance and progress subjects a student to possible academic dismissal, as does nonadherence to program-specific policies and requirements.

Satisfactory performance and progress is demonstrated by adherence to the following Graduate School standards:

All graduate students must maintain a minimum, cumulative grade-point average (GPA) of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale. The Graduate School reviews students’ academic performances each semester and session. Failure to maintain the minimum GPA requirement may result in academic dismissal.
Once admitted to a graduate program, a student has the obligation to continue a course of study and must register every semester in the academic year (fall and spring semesters) unless on an approved leave of absence. Failure to comply with the requirement to register every semester will be taken as evidence that the student has terminated their program and admission status in the Graduate School.
Any student admitted provisionally will be granted full graduate status when the provisions have been satisfied. Provisionally admitted students who fail to meet the terms of their admission may be dismissed.
The entire course of study undertaken for the Master of Science degree must form a unified, coherent program approved by the student’s advisor and the Graduate School. Students inadequately prepared for the required graduate courses may need to take additional courses to supplement their undergraduate work. These courses may not be considered as part of the graduate program.
The minimum number of credits required by the University and the Graduate School for the master’s degree is 30. Some programs or degree specializations require more credits. Students in a thesis option program must complete a minimum of 6 credits of master’s thesis research.
No more than 6 credits or two courses of graduate coursework taken as a nondegree student or at other regionally accredited institutions before matriculation in the Graduate School may apply toward the master’s degree. A request for transfer of credit should be completed shortly after matriculation. The student’s advisor and graduate program director must approve the form and submit it to the Graduate School. Official transcripts of the courses for which credit is requested must accompany the Transfer Request form. The student is subject to final examination in all work offered for the degree.
The Graduate School does not allow transfer credit for any courses applied to any other degree. The Graduate School does not grant credit for correspondence courses or “credit by examination” courses taken at other universities. Also, note that the Graduate School only transfers credit, not grades, from other universities.
Students must satisfactorily complete coursework and the required curriculum in a timely fashion. All requirements for the master’s degree must be completed within a five-year period. Courses completed more than five years before the expected date for receiving the master’s degree will not count toward that degree. The period of an approved leave of absence is included within the five-year period.
Students must adhere to the appropriate thesis or nonthesis guidelines outlined by the Graduate School and the program.
Students in an MS program with clinical or experimental requirements are expected to meet the requirements, standards, and expectations of those experiences.
Students are expected to meet the highest standards of integrity; the success of the entire academic enterprise depends on them doing so. Cheating, plagiarism, fabrication, or abetting the academic dishonesty of another will result in sanction and may lead to academic dismissal.

Academic Performance and Progress in PhD Programs

Purpose: Satisfactory academic performance and progress within the University of Maryland Baltimore’s doctor of philosophy (PhD) programs is a shared responsibility of the University of Maryland Baltimore School of Graduate Studies (UMBSGS), the Doctoral Programs, and graduate students. This policy specifies the elements of satisfactory academic performance and progress for students in UMBGS PhD programs.

UMBGS Standards

After admission to a doctoral program, each student must continue a course of study and must register fall and spring semesters unless on an approved leave of Absence. Failure to comply with the requirement to register every semester will be taken as evidence that the student has terminated his or her program and admission status in the School of Graduate Studies.
Students accepted provisionally will have provisional admission status removed only after all provisions have been satisfied and the student has fulfilled all other UMBSGS and Doctoral Program requirements for non-provisional admission. This determination will be made by the Graduate Program Director and the UMBSGS Academic Coordinator.
Graduate students must maintain a minimum, cumulative grade point average (GPA) of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale.
UMBSGS does not impose a uniform protocol for preliminary, qualifying, or comprehensive examinations. Admission to candidacy occurs after fulfilling Doctoral Program requirements.
Students must communicate with faculty, staff and students in ways that are professional, respectful and civil, and which foster collaboration.
Students must establish and maintain a professional relationship with a faculty research advisor. The advisor must hold Regular membership in the Graduate Faculty with the appropriate knowledge and expertise to serve as research advisor.
Students must demonstrate the ability to conduct independent research by developing, presenting, and defending an original dissertation on a topic approved by the Doctoral Program. Evidence of completion of this requirement is submission of the committee approved dissertation to the School of Graduate Studies.
UMBSGS requires that students take and pass a doctoral examination of the dissertation comprised of an open presentation and a formal examination. The formal examination can only be attempted twice. A failure on the second attempt means the PhD degree is forfeited.
Students must be admitted to candidacy within five academic years of first term of enrollment in the Doctoral Program and at least two full sequential semesters or sessions (spring, summer, or fall) before graduation. All degree requirements, including the final examination of the dissertation, must be completed within four years of admission to candidacy and no more than nine years after admission into the Doctoral Program.
Students are expected to meet the highest standards of academic integrity. Plagiarism, fabrication, falsification, cheating, and other acts of academic dishonesty, or abetting the academic dishonesty of another will result in sanctions and may lead to academic dismissal.

Doctoral Program Standards

Students must meet all Doctoral Program requirements for satisfactory academic performance and progress as well as UMBSGS requirements. Students are advised to be familiar with all handbooks, requirements, and standards of their Doctoral Program.

Doctoral Programs may have requirements that are in addition to the UMBSGS standards listed above. Examples of additional Graduate Program requirements are laboratory rotations, journal clubs, presentation of papers/abstracts, and publication(s).
Doctoral Programs may have more stringent standards than the UMBSGS. Examples of more stringent standards are higher than 3.0 minimum GPA required by the UMBSGS, advancement to candidacy within four years instead of five, and program completion within seven instead of nine years.

The student is expected to meet the most stringent standard for each requirement, whether it is a standard of the UMBSGS or the Doctoral Program. Failure to meet any of the UMBSGS and Doctoral Program standards of academic performance and progress subjects a student to automatic academic probation and the possibility of dismissal.

Placement on Academic Probation or Dismissal

If a student does not meet the UMBGS and the Doctoral Program’s standards of satisfactory academic performance or progress, then the student will automatically be placed on probation or dismissed. Written notice of this action will be provided by the School of Graduate Studies Office of Enrollment Affairs, including the reason for the action. A copy of the notice will be provided to the student’s Doctoral Program Director. Notice will be mailed to the student’s current address of record as noted on file with the UMB Registrar. Notice is deemed received by the student within 10 calendar days from the date of the notice. Each student is expected to notify the Registrar, UMBGS and the Doctoral Program of changes in address and check for correspondence at his or her address of record in a timely fashion.

For information on UMBGS policy and procedures for appeal of probation or academic dismissal see the policy here.

Effective March 31, 2006

_{^{Policy on Academic and Satisfactory Progress in University of Maryland Baltimore DMSc Programs}}

Purpose: Satisfactory academic performance and progress within the University of Maryland Baltimore’s Doctor of Medical Science (DMSc) programs is a shared responsibility of the University of Maryland Baltimore School of Graduate Studies (UMBSGS), the Doctoral Programs, and graduate students. This policy specifies the elements of satisfactory academic performance and progress for students in UMBSGS DMSc program.

UMBSGS Standards

After admission to the DMSc program, each student must continue a course of study and must register fall and spring semesters unless on an approved leave of Absence. Failure to comply with the requirement to register every semester will be taken as evidence that the student has terminated his or her program and admission status in the Graduate School.
Students accepted provisionally will have provisional admission status removed only after all provisions have been satisfied and the student has fulfilled all other UMBSGS and Doctoral Program requirements for non-provisional admission.
Graduate students must maintain a minimum, cumulative grade point average (GPA) of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale.
Students must establish and maintain a professional relationship with faculty advisor and clinical preceptors. The advisor must hold Associate or Regular membership in the Graduate Faculty with the appropriate knowledge and expertise to serve as an advisor.
Students must communicate with faculty, staff and students in ways that are professional, respectful and civil, and which foster collaboration.
Students must demonstrate advanced knowledge and skills relevant to Physician Assistant practice and leadership and the ability to conduct independent research by developing, presenting, and defending an original research project on a topic approved by the Doctoral Program. Evidence of completion of this requirement is submission of the research product to the Doctoral Program
All degree requirements, including the final examination of the dissertation, must be completed within six years of admission to the Doctoral Program.
Students are expected to meet the highest standards of academic integrity. Plagiarism, fabrication, falsification, cheating, and other acts of academic dishonesty, or abetting the academic dishonesty of another will result in sanctions and may lead to academic dismissal.

Doctoral Program Standards

Students must meet all Doctoral Program requirements for satisfactory academic performance and progress as well as UMGBS requirements. Students are advised to be familiar with all handbooks, requirements, and standards of their Doctoral Program.

Doctoral Programs may have requirements that are in addition to the UMBSGS standards listed above. Examples of additional Graduate Program requirements are clinical rotations, journal clubs, presentation of papers/abstracts, and publication(s).
Doctoral Programs may have more stringent standards than the UMBSGS. Examples of more stringent standards are higher than 3.0 minimum GPA required by the UMBSGS, advancement to candidacy within four years instead of five, and program completion within seven instead of nine years.

The student is expected to meet the most stringent standard for each requirement, whether it is a standard of the UMGBS or the Doctoral Program. Failure to meet any of the UMGBS and Doctoral Program standards of academic performance and progress subjects a student to automatic academic probation and the possibility of dismissal.

Placement on Academic Probation or Dismissal

If a student does not meet the UMBSGS and the Doctoral Program’s standards of satisfactory academic performance or progress, then the student will automatically be placed on probation or dismissed. Written notice of this action will be provided by the Graduate School Office of Enrollment Affairs, including the reason for the action. A copy of the notice will be provided to the student’s Doctoral Program Director. Notice will be mailed to the student’s current address of record as noted on file with the UMB Registrar. Notice is deemed received by the student within 10 calendar days from the date of the notice. Each student is expected to notify the Registrar, UMBSGS and the Doctoral Program of changes in address and check for correspondence at his or her address of record in a timely fashion.

For information on UMBSGS policy and procedures for appeal of probation or academic dismissal see the policy here.

Effective July 1, 2023