Enrollment
Registration
Students will receive academic credit only for courses in which they are officially enrolled. Registration is mandatory. Registration deadlines are published in the Graduate Academic Calendar. Students are expected to submit their registration or register online (if available for their program) by the Mail-in Registration deadline.
Late Registration
Students who are unable to register before the Mail-in Registration deadline may register late up until the Last Day to Register, as published in the Graduate Academic Calendar. A $125 (nonrefundable) late registration fee and the current tuition and/or fees will be charged. The late fee may be waived for first-time students. Professor, dean, and registrar approval for registration after the deadline may be granted only in extreme cases where extenuating circumstances are evident and can be substantiated. An Academic General Petition is required.
Adding and Dropping Classes
Students may add and drop classes without financial penalty until the Last Day to Add or Drop Classes or Independent Studies by submitting an Add/Drop form. Such changes may be made only during the dates listed in the Academic Calendar. International students must obtain approval from International Student Services to add or drop a class.
Independent Study
Independent studies enable students to enrich their university experience by pursuing learning in a closely supervised program and providing opportunity for individual investigation of subject areas not covered in the regular course offerings.
Graduate students may receive credit for a maximum of six units of independent study to be applied to their degree program. No more than four units may be applied toward one project. A maximum of four units may be taken during one academic term. The independent study is recorded as XXX599 or XXX799 on the student’s permanent academic record.
An Independent Study form and Proposal must be submitted with a Registration form to the Office of the Graduate Registrar in the Graduate Center by the Last Day to Add or Drop Classes or Independent Studies. An independent study fee of $125 per unit will be assessed in addition to the regular tuition charge.
Course Tutorial
Course tutorial study deals with the replacement of a catalog course in terms of units, content, syllabus, outline, and testing.
In general, the course tutorial cannot substitute for a course that is offered on a regular basis. However, there may be occasions in which it may be utilized to fulfill a course requirement when a class is cancelled because of low enrollment. The actual course number, instead of an independent study number, is recorded on the student’s permanent academic record.
Course tutorial units do not count toward the maximum six independent study units allowed in a degree program.
Repeated Courses
Students may repeat courses at Azusa Pacific University. Both grades remain on record, but only the new grade is calculated into the student's grade-point average. The units are counted only once. It is the responsibility of the student to notify the Office of the Graduate Registrar in the Graduate Center at the time of registration when repeating a course. Current tuition is charged.
Auditing
A qualified student may apply for permission to audit a class. The student must meet the regular university entrance requirements and pay the audit tuition per unit. Students may not change their audit classification to obtain credit after the last date to add/drop, or change from credit to audit after the last day to withdraw from classes.
Withdrawal from Courses
Graduate students may withdraw from a class without grade penalty at any time during the first 10 weeks of the 15-week term and during the first 6 weeks of the 9-week term, starting the first day of classes.* The last day to withdraw for every term is indicated in the Academic Calendar. The student must secure the appropriate form from the Office of the Graduate Registrar in the Graduate Center and obtain an approval signature from the professor. The student will receive a W (withdrawal) grade in the course from which he or she withdraws. A student who never attends or stops attending a course for which he or she is officially registered will receive an F in that course if accepted procedures for withdrawal are not followed. If the student wishes to initiate a withdrawal after the deadline, he or she may do so by filing an Academic General Petition form available in the Office of the Graduate Registrar in the Graduate Center. Professor approval for withdrawal after the deadline should be granted only in extreme cases where extenuating circumstances are evident and can be substantiated. Petitions must be signed by the professor of the course in question and the department chair prior to submission to the registrar for approval. No financial adjustments will be made.
*International students must obtain approval from International Student Services to withdraw from courses.
Withdrawal from the University
A student who, for any reason, finds it necessary to withdraw from the university during the course of the semester must do so through the Office of the Graduate Registrar in the Graduate Center. International students must obtain approval from International Student Services to withdraw from the university. The student must complete the Class Withdrawal form. Failure to comply will mean that failing grades will be entered on the student's record. A letter indicating the student's intention of leaving the university must be submitted as well. If the student intends to return after some time, a Leave of Absence form should be submitted to extend the time limit for completing the degree.
Leaves of Absence
Students in good standing and making satisfactory progress toward their degrees who must interrupt their studies for a compelling reason (e.g., illness, study abroad, family conditions, or crises) may petition for a leave of absence for a stated period of time not to exceed two years. Requests for a leave must be in writing and state both the reasons for the leave and the semester in which the student will re-enroll. Leaves of absence must be approved by the chair of the Department of Doctoral Studies in Education and the dean of the School of Education in advance of the semester for which the leave is requested.
Students who fail to return to enrolled status at the end of an approved period of leave, or after two consecutive semesters of non-enrollment, will be considered no longer in pursuit of an advanced degree and must petition for re-admission if they choose to continue their program at a later time. If re-admitted at a later date, student must meet any new program requirements.
Honorable Dismissal
To qualify for an honorable dismissal, the student must be free from university financial obligations and disciplinary action. Academic disqualification does not constitute dishonorable dismissal.
Credit Hours
Semester credit is generally determined on the basis of the Carnegie system, which awards one unit of credit for each 50- to 55-minute class session per week. However, the nature of the course will determine the number of class-contact hours. Emphasis will be given to achieving course objectives.
Study Load
To be classified as a full-time graduate student at the master's or credential level, one must be enrolled in at least nine units per 15-week term (or combination of 15-week and 9-week terms within the same semester); at the doctorate level, six units. Comparable requirements for half-time status for 15-week semesters are five to eight units, and three units at the doctoral level. With certain restrictions, students at the dissertation level are considered full time if enrolled in any one of the following courses: EDUC 794, EDUC 795, GDMN 790, GDMN 792, PPSY 731, or PPSY 741. Students enrolled in PPSY 750, PPSY 751, or PPSY 752 are also considered full time. Students in the Ed.D. Program who work full time may not enroll in more than seven units. Students in the Clinical Psychology Program qualify for full-time status by taking at least seven units per 15-week semester and four to six units for half-time status.
Deferment Information
In general, in order to qualify for loan deferment, a student must be enrolled as at least a half-time student. Students should contact their lender with questions regarding the terms of the loan deferment eligibility.
Students who depend on loan deferments while they are enrolled in school should register for all terms within the semester at the same time (i.e., for fall deferment, register for Fall, Fall I and Fall II at the same time), so the deferment will become effective as quickly as possible.
Attendance Regulation
Class attendance is of paramount importance, and excessive absences will affect the final grade. Individual instructors define grading and attendance policies in the course instruction plan for each class.
Final Examinations
Assessment of learning will take place in each course per the course syllabus. If a final examination is required, no final examination shall be given to individual students before the regularly scheduled time. An exception cannot be made to this rule without the written approval of the instructor, department chair, and school dean.
