1302 General Information

1302.10 University Academic Policies

All students at Georgia State University are responsible for learning and observing all regulations and procedures required by the University and by the college and program or status in which they are enrolled. In no case will a regulation be waived or an exception granted because a student pleads ignorance of the regulation or asserts that he or she was not informed of a specific requirement by an advisor or other university authority. This chapter contains the academic regulations of the University. See the other parts of this catalog for information on the academic regulations of the various colleges and departments.

All students must become especially familiar with (1) this chapter, (2) the following chapter on university degree requirements and graduation, (3) their college’s chapter of this catalog, (4) the offerings and requirements of their major, and (5) the enrollment process found by accessing PAWS (Panther Access to Web Services) at paws.gsu.edu and found on the University’s web site www.gsu.edu, particularly under the Registrar and Student Financial Services pages, which contain more detailed information on the enrollment process.

While the provisions of this catalog will ordinarily be applied as stated, Georgia State reserves the right to change any provision listed in this catalog, including, but not limited to, academic requirements for graduation, without actual notice to individual students. The University will make every effort to keep students advised of any such changes. Students must note their responsibility to keep apprised of current graduation requirements for their particular degree programs.

1302.20 Student Computer Access Requirement

Each student enrolled at Georgia State University must have access to a computer, and any course offered at the University may require computer-based work. Further, the student’s computer must provide access to e-mail accounts, the World Wide Web using a current browser, and spreadsheet and word processing software. Departments and other units may establish minimum machine capability and software requirements, including the requirement that a student in a certain degree program must own a computer. It is the responsibility of each student to ensure his or her access to a computer. Computers are available in the open-access computer laboratories on campus that provide the basic level of computer capabilities, but these laboratories are heavily used and cannot guarantee a student access to a computer at a particular time.

1302.25 Georgia State University Email

Every student is assigned an official Georgia State University email address at the time of acceptance. It is essential that students regularly check this email account. Academic departments and student service units across campus use the University assigned email as a means of communicating with students about official university business, and students are held responsible for this information. Email from Georgia State will be sent to the student’s official Georgia State e-mail address. It will not be sent to any other address (such as a Gmail or Yahoo account). However, students may configure their Georgia State account to forward to another address.

1302.30 Academic Calendar

Georgia State University is on a semester system, and academic credit is awarded in semester hours. The fall and spring semesters are approximately 14 weeks each with mandatory final exams held during the 15th week. Summer semester is composed of three-week classes in May as well as seven-week classes beginning in June and two three-week half-term sessions. Enrollment in the three-week classes, half-term sessions or seven-week classes counts as having been enrolled in summer semester.

1310 Academic Advisement and Development

Georgia State University is committed to providing individual advice and assistance to students at every step of their degree program. The University offers services and programs to support the academic development of every student by helping them transition to college, succeed while enrolled and graduate in a timely manner.

All new freshmen (by admission category) are required to come to campus and complete New Student Orientation. Freshmen who do not attend orientation must enroll in a GSU 1010 class during their first semester of attendance at Georgia State. Transfer students are encouraged to attend a transfer orientation program designed to address the questions and circumstances of students who are new to Georgia State University but have attended college elsewhere before. All students who attend an in-person orientation will receive academic advisement during the orientation. All transfer, transient, transition, and postbaccalaureate students are required to complete the appropriate online orientation prior to registering for classes. Students who complete an online orientation program who have earned less than 90 credit hours should make an appointment with an advisor in the University Advisement Center to review their academic record. Postbaccalaureate students and those who have earned more than 90 credit hours should contact the Office of Academic Assistance in their college for advisement.

1310.10 New Student Orientation

New Student Orientation is the official Georgia State University new undergraduate student orientation program. New Student Orientation is required for new freshman and strongly encouraged for new transfer students. Orientation programs are designed to introduce students to the unique world of Georgia State and prepare them to make the most of both their academic and co-curricular experiences.

Students will receive a tour of Georgia State’s unique urban campus in downtown Atlanta, learn about important campus resources such as campus safety, review financial aid and more. Additional benefits of attending New Student Orientation are the connections made with fellow classmates as well as seasoned student leaders who will be assisting students throughout the orientation experience. At the end of the orientation day, students will receive academic advisement and register for classes.

New Student Orientation offers several options which can meet students specific needs at a time that’s convenient to their schedule. One-day and two-day orientation programs are offered for new freshman students and one-day and half-day orientation programs for new transfer students. There is also a special parent and guest orientation program which runs concurrently with all student programs.

For additional information, visit orientation online at orientation.gsu.edu or in person, Student Center East, Suite 304.

1310.20 Placement Testing

Math

A math placement test is recommended for all students who do not have credit for an Area A math course and is required for students who wish to take (or are required to take) Math 1111, College Algebra, or higher. Students may not register for a math course higher than that indicated by their placement test score. See Section 1410.15 for information about math course requirements for different majors.

Depending upon your status, new student, currently enrolled student, or returning student, see the following information that applies:

New Student (first semester at Georgia State)

All new students who wish to take (or are required to take) Math 1111 or higher should sign up for this exam on an available date and time as shown on their PAWS accounts. This is usually done prior to or in conjunction with New Student Orientation.

Current student (enrolled student that is presently taking classes at Georgia State)

Students who have enrolled at Georgia State during previous semesters will find test information at the Testing Center website (counselingcenter.gsu.edu/testing/) where testing is available for first-time as well as for re-test ($50 fee applies) purposes on a walk-in basis.

Returning student (returning to Georgia State after a semester or more absence)

Testing for returning students is conducted during scheduled times in the University’s Testing Center. See counselingcenter.gsu.edu/testing/ and click on Tests, then Math Placement for these dates and times.

Chemistry

A diagnostic chemistry test is required in order to register for Chemistry 1211, which is the prerequisite for BIOL 2107 and CHEM 1212. The test is administered by the Chemistry Department on campus at selected times through the University Testing Center.  Students with AP Chemistry scores of 2 or better, SAT subject scores of 600 or better, or those who have completed college level chemistry courses may be exempt from taking the test. See chemistry.gsu.edu/chem-1211k-online-placement-exam/ for additional information.

Foreign Languages

Placement exams in French, German, Spanish and Chinese are available to help students determine the course most appropriate for their abilities in French, German, Spanish and Chinese. All students with any prior experience in these languages are strongly encouraged to take the placement exam before registering for any language classes. Prerequisites in these courses are enforced. (See Appendix I, Course Descriptions, for the prerequisites of French, German, Spanish and Chinese courses.) Students may satisfy a prerequisite either by taking the indicated prerequisite course or by taking the French, German, Spanish or Chinese placement exam and earning a satisfactory score. Students may take the WebCAPE exam from any computer with internet access and a browser. (Go to http://mcl.gsu.edu/home/language-resources/placement-exams/webcape/ and click the link at the bottom for the WebCAPE placement exam. The user name is “gsu user” and the password is “panthers1”.) The WebCAPE takes approximately 20 minutes to complete, and students are given their score and class level at which they have been placed. As placement is strictly enforced, it is paramount that students take this test without any outside help or study aids. It is recommended that students print a copy of the email regarding their scores to keep for their records and academic advisement. Students who score between 200 and 399 points will be cleared automatically within 1 business day; email notifications will be sent to those with scores of 400 or higher. Only the first WebCAPE score within a 365-day period counts toward placement. Note: This exam is not part of New Student Orientation, so new students should take the exam prior to attending orientation or attempting to register for a French, German, Spanish or Chinese course. Also, the WebCAPE exam does not grant credit and is for placement purposes only; if a student scores above 400 they may consider taking the CLEP Exam (see Section 1320.40) to obtain up to 6 credit hours for language classes at the 2001 and 2002 level. For placement in languages other than German, Spanish, French or Chinese and for further information, students should contact the Department of World Languages and Cultures at wlc.gsu.edu or email at wlcinfo@gsu.edu.  For assessment and/or placement in any other languages taught by the Department of World Languages and Cultures, students are asked to contact the department directly.

1310.30 University Advisement Center

Every student at Georgia State University is assigned to an advisor who will provide them with the information necessary to complete the requirement necessary to complete their degree. All Perimeter College students will receive advisement through the University Advisement Center located at each Perimeter College location. At the Atlanta campus, any student who has earned less than 90 hours and has freshmen, sophomore or junior status, will be advised by the University Advisement Center. Any student who has earned 90 hours or more should seek advisement through the Office of Academic Assistance in the college of their major.

Advisors in the Center can assist students in the following ways:

• Evaluate transfer work and apply it to Georgia State University degree programs
• Explain catalog regulations
• Provide academic counseling
• Utilize predictive analytics to help students understand their academic risk and remain on path to degree
• Explain academic standing policies
• Discuss goals
• Assist with degree and major choices for undecided students
• Help students who are experiencing academic difficulties
• Provide direction to campus resources for further assistance

Perimeter College students may schedule advisement appointments by calling one of the following:

• Clarkston Campus/Online
  555 North Indian Creek Drive Clarkston, GA 30021-2361
  Phone: 678-891-3200
• Decatur Campus
  3251 Panthersville Road Decatur, GA 30034-3832
  Phone: 678-891-2300
• Dunwoody Campus
  2101 Womack Road Dunwoody, GA 30338-4435
  Phone: 770-274-5000
• Newton Campus
  239 Cedar Lane Covington, Georgia 30014
  Phone: 770-278-1200
• Alpharetta Campus
  3705 Brookside Parkway Alpharetta, GA 30022-4408
  Phone: 770-274-5200

All Atlanta campus students may contact the University Advisement Center at 404-413-2300 for advisement or to be directed to the Office of Academic Assistance for their college if they have 90 hours of more.

• Arts and Sciences
  Langdale Hall, 4th Floor
  Phone: 404-413-5000
• College of the Arts
  55 Park Place, Suite 910
  Phone: 404-413-5855
• Andrew Young School of Policy Studies
  14 Marietta Street, Suite G52
  Phone: 404-413-0021
• Byrdine F. Lewis College of Nursing and Health Professions
  Urban Life Building, Rm. 811
  Phone: 404-413-1000
• College of Education and Human Development
  College of Education Building, Rm. 300
  Phone: 404-413-8000
• J. Mack Robinson College of Business
  55 Park Place, Suite 1200
  Phone: 404-413-7115
• School of Public Health
  1 Park Place, Suite 640
  Phone: 404-413-1452

Walk-in advisement for 10 minute consultations and brief questions is also provided at each campus location daily.

1310.40 Office of Student Success

At Georgia State University, the institutional commitment is to be a “national model of undergraduate education demonstrating that students from all backgrounds can achieve academic and career success at high rates.” The Office of Student Success is comprised of the University Advisement Center and the Office of Undergraduate Studies. These offices exist to help students meet their academic goals and are focused on ways to increase the retention, progression and graduation of undergraduates at Georgia State University. Using data and analytics to better understand what puts students at academic risk, the Office of Student Success designs and administers programs that help students complete college in a timely manner. Their purpose is to lower barriers to educational opportunities, increase academic support and outreach, assist students in the transition from high school to college, and once students are in college, to help them successfully progress through their program of study.

The following are programs and services offered by the Office of Student Success:

Educational Opportunity Programs: the Scholarship Resource Center, Panther Retention Grant Program, Early College programs offered through Perimeter College, Dual Enrollment and TRIO funded programs including Upward Bound, Veterans’ Upward Bound, Educational Talent Search, and the Educational Opportunity Center

Academic Support and Outreach Programs: the University Advisement Center, Supplemental Instruction, Early Alert, Learning and Tutoring Centers at Perimeter College, Keep Hope Alive, Student Success Workshops, Academic Coaching and TRIO funded Student Support Services and Student Support Services (STEM) Programs

Transition and Progression Programs: Freshmen Learning Communities, GSU 1010 Freshmen Orientation Course, PCO 1020 Perimeter College Orientation course, GSU 1050 Survival Skills in College, Success Academy, the Panther Excellence Programs, Transition and Transfer Advisement, Latino Services and Outreach Office, Peer Mentors, 1^st-year book program, Atlanta-Based Learning and other initiatives.

University level Perspectives courses are administered through the Office of Undergraduate Studies in the Office of Student Success. These courses include:

PERS 2001 – Perspectives on Comparative Culture (2)

This category is composed of a group of interdisciplinary courses that provide a better understanding of the contemporary world through the study of different cultures. Sections will feature comparative culture study across societies or multi-cultural study within societies. Although courses may take a historical perspective, the goal is to foster a fuller understanding of the contemporary world.

PERS 2002 – Scientific Perspectives on Global Problems (2)

This category is composed of a group of interdisciplinary courses that deal with scientific approaches to important issues on the environment, public health, or technology.

PERS 2003 – Perspectives on Human Expression (2)

This category is a group of interdisciplinary courses that focus on the human condition, how people have expressed themselves through the arts and humanities, and how such representations have had broad historical and/or contemporary impact.

1310.50 Learning Support Program

The Learning Support Program (LSP) is for undergraduate students admitted on an exceptions basis who need remedial assistance in the areas of math, reading, and/or writing in order to be ready to take courses in the Core Curriculum.

Entering LSP

Students are placed into the Learning Support Program (LSP) if they meet any of the following conditions:

• Below a 3.2 Required High School Curriculum GPA
• An “old” SAT Verbal score below 430, a “new” SAT Reading score below 24, or an ACT Verbal score below 17.
• An “old” SAT Mathematics below 400, a “new” SAT Math score below 22, or an ACT Mathematics below 17.
• Below required scores on the ACCUPLACER placement tests if SAT or ACT scores are not provided.
• Failure to meet the College Preparatory Curriculum requirements in English or mathematics.
• The current minimum ACCUPLACER scores for direct placement into collegiate level courses are:
  • Reading 61
  • English eWrite 4
  • Math 67 (MATH 1101 / 1001)
  • Placement will be required for MATH 1111 – College Algebra with a score of 84
• Upon completion of MATH 1101 / 1001 with a grade of C or better students are eligible to enroll in MATH 1111 with the MATH 0999 co-requisite course for majors requiring college algebra.

LSP placement and courses

It is required that LSP students meet each term with an academic advisor for advice regarding course selection. For this reason, an advisement hold is placed on each LSP student’s record each term. The hold is lifted after the student has seen an advisor and their schedule is approved. Here are the LSP co-requisite courses offered:

However, students who have exited an area of Learning Support at any institution in the University System of Georgia are not required to re-enter that area upon transfer to Georgia State.

• English – ENGL 0999 (Support for ENGL Composition) taken with ENGL 1101
• Non-STEM Majors – MATH 0997 ( Support for Quantitative Reasoning) taken with Math 1001
• Non-STEM Majors- MATH 0998 (Support for Math Modeling) taken with MATH 1101
• STEM Majors – MATH 0999 (Support for College Algebra) taken with MATH 1111

LSP courses do not count towards degree requirements or a student’s GPA at Georgia State University. They are, however, used to calculate a GPA for Pell and other financial aid awards, and the courses and grades earned appear on a university transcript. LSP courses are graded using the same system as other Georgia State courses.

Exiting LSP

There is no limit on attempts for co-requisite remediation.

Students exit an LSP area when they successfully complete the collegiate course in their area(s) of remediation regardless of their grades in the co-requisite course. Exit for collegiate MATH includes a grade of D or better (C or better may be required for higher level mathematics prerequisites), and exit of collegiate ENGL is with a grade of C or better.

Students wishing to drop or withdraw from either the co-requisite or linked collegiate level course will be required to withdraw from BOTH courses. Any student experiencing difficulty and/or considering dropping or withdrawing from a LSP course must first meet with an advisor. The advisor will inform the student of the program’s drop and withdrawal policies, including the right to apply for an emergency withdrawal if an emergency situation exists.

Students requiring Learning Support in both English and Mathematics may defer enrollment in co-requisite Learning Support and the accompanying collegiate courses for one or the other area, but must be continuously enrolled in one or both until the college-level courses have been passed. All area A requirements must be completed within the first 30 hours of enrollment.

Requests for waivers to any of the above regulations should be submitted to the Director of the University Advisement Center.

1310.55 Required High School Curriculum (RHSC)

The Board of Regents of the University System of Georgia requires all students to have completed sufficient English, math, science, social science and language courses in high school as preparation for college-level coursework. Students admitted to Georgia State with a deficiency in one or more of these areas must make up the deficiency by taking Georgia State core classes (science, social science, or language) or passing the ACCUPLACER proficiency test (English or math). The University Advisement Center will advise students about which courses they can choose from to complete a RHSC requirement. Credits earned in courses taken to meet RHSC requirements do count toward graduation requirements. A grade of C or higher is required, and grades earned in these courses are counted in the student’s GPA. Students must complete all RHSC-required courses before they earn 30 hours and in their first three semesters of enrollment. Otherwise they may not register for any courses except RHSC courses until all requirements are complete.

Some transfer students are admitted with RHSC requirements that were satisfied at a previous college or university. In this case, transfer courses used to satisfy RHSC requirements may not be used toward graduation requirements at Georgia State.

1310.70 University Career Services

The central office for University Career Services (UCS) houses the comprehensive career center for the campus with programs, services, information, and counseling to assist students with career decisions, as well as preparation for and implementation of successful job and graduate /professional school searches. The central UCS office works with undergraduate and graduate students from the first year on campus through the one year anniversary of their graduation. Alumni beyond a year of graduation may enroll in Alumni Career Services, a program also housed within the office (Note: an Alumni Career Services fee is associated with some services). Students from all majors and areas of study, from all class levels, and from all colleges, are served.

Career Development services are available by appointment. Individual and group sessions are offered, always with the goal of helping students and alumni connect their passion and purpose with career opportunities. The career counselors also provide career assessments, which aid students in exploring career possibilities based on values, interests, and personality.

Workshops, information and career counselors are available to help students and alumni with their career exploration and assess their individual talents, skills, and interests, and to set career goals. Programs and materials, employer panels, employer information sessions, and career fairs provide up-to-date information for use in exploring careers and researching employers.

Through the Employer Relations team, University Career Services has programs and services that connect students, alumni, and employers for internship and career opportunities, as well as employment to meet expenses while attending school. Regular workshops, employer events such as mock interviews and résumé critique days, and online information help students prepare résumés, and develop interviewing and other job search skills.

The Cooperative Education and Internships program helps students prepare for in-depth co-op and internship learning experiences, which build skills and strengthen students’ competitiveness for future opportunities. The program also works with colleges and employers in supporting their co-op and internship initiatives. The Co-op Program is the formal hub for the Georgia State University Cooperative Education initiative.

The Graduate and Professional School Planning program assists students exploring advanced degree opportunities, either here at Georgia State University or at another campus within the United States or abroad. This program has materials to assist students in researching programs as well as support in making application. This program also sponsors the fall Graduate and Professional School Fair, which brings graduate school recruiters from across the country to meet interested Georgia State students.

The Career Resource Center (CRC) is the central point of contact for students and contains workstations with access to online career guidance, job postings, graduate/professional school information, and employer research databases.

Drop-In Hours is a walk-in resume and c.v. review service, available Tuesday through Friday, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. No appointment is needed and students are seen on a first-come first-serve basis.  During drop-in hours, students may work on their resumes and cover letters, ask questions regarding major selection, job search and related career questions.

All Georgia State University students have an account on Handshake (gsu.joinhandshake.com), a web-based career management system utilized by students, employers and the career services staff. Handshake is free to all enrolled students. Activation of the account (completing a profile and uploading a resume if seeking employment) provides 24/7 on- and off-campus access to many of the Career Resource Center’s online resources, as well as easy application to jobs, and information about career events and employers. Activation requires use of one’s campus ID and password and can be done remotely.

For more information on career counseling, career assessment, career exploration, graduate and professional school planning, internship and career opportunities, and job search support, visit the central office of University Career Services in 270 Student Center West or call 404-413-1820 or visit the website at career.gsu.edu.

1310.80 International Student and Scholar Services

252 Sparks Hall
isss.gsu.edu

International Student & Scholar Services (ISSS) provides support for Georgia State University’s non-immigrant international student, faculty, and researcher population, their dependents, and any foreign-born citizens and permanent residents of the United States who may need services. Services include orientations, immigration advisement, international student and scholar insurance support, student advocacy, and other personal assistance in adjusting to and joining the university community. The office staff serves as a liaison with all academic departments, the diplomatic corps, and a variety of international agencies and publishes a newsletter focusing on issues of interest to international students. International Services also offers assistance to academic departments wishing to invite foreign scholars or hire foreign faculty. Information concerning programs and services is available in 252 Sparks Hall, by calling 404-413-2070 or online at isss.gsu.edu.

International Student Orientation – Prior to the beginning of each semester, an orientation program is offered to provide assistance to new students on non-immigrant visa status. Students receive information and advice concerning federal immigration, the academic system in the United States, academic advisement and registration, the Atlanta community, and the mandatory health and accident insurance.

International Student Associations – Georgia State University has approximately twenty international student organizations that focus on celebrating the many countries and cultures represented on campus. They provide assistance for new and continuing international students, present cultural activities and events, and seek ways to share their culture with the campus. Information about the various associations and their umbrella group, the International Student Association Council, is available in the ISSS office, and online at isss.gsu.edu.

International Student Health Insurance – Health insurance is mandatory for all international students and scholars in F and J status enrolled at Georgia State, and is optional for other non-immigrant students. A special international student health and accident insurance policy is made available each academic year, and payment of the insurance premiums is collected along with tuition during the process of registration. Individuals who may already be covered by a policy are required to request a waiver with the insurance company the semester before enrollment. More information is available online at www.studentcenter.uhcsr.com/gsu or through Student Accounts.

1320 Course Credit

This section describes the various ways students may earn credit for Georgia State University courses without actually taking those courses at Georgia State.

1320.10 Transfer Credit Policy

When an applicant is accepted for undergraduate transfer admission, courses that parallel the curriculum of Georgia State University will be accepted for transfer credit. Credit must have been earned at institutions of higher education with full accreditation by one of the following accreditors:

• Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools
• New England Association of Schools and Colleges
• North Central Association of Colleges and Schools
• Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities
• Western Association of Schools and Colleges
• Southern Association of Colleges and Schools

Courses completed at a two-year college will be granted lower-division credit.

The total number of hours that may be earned toward a degree by extension or correspondence courses may not exceed 30 semester hours.

Joint Services Transcript (JST) credits earned while serving in the Armed Services may also be evaluated for transfer credit on a case by case basis by the student’s academic advisor in conjunction with the academic department offering the course.

In general, transfer credit will not be awarded for a course that a student has previously attempted at Georgia State (including attempts which resulted in a withdrawal). However, individual departments may waive this rule for their courses.

Because the university has a minimum academic residence requirement, the amount of transfer credit applicable to a degree program may be limited. (See Section 1440.) In addition, Colleges and Departments have their own transfer credit policies and this may also limit the amount of transfer credit applicable to a degree program. All such policies are stated in the Undergraduate Bachelor-Level Catalog in the following sections:

• 2000 Andrew Young School of Policy Studies
• 3020 College of Arts and Sciences
• 4050 College of Education
• 5020.10 Byrdine F. Lewis School of Nursing and Health Professions
• 7020.10 Robinson College of Business
• 10200 College of the Arts

Georgia State maintains a web resource, advisement.gsu.edu/transfer-students/equivalency-charts/, which indicates courses at other institutions that will be accepted as transfer credit (subject to the restrictions noted in this section).If a course at another  institution is not on this list, students should consult with the University Advisement Center.

The D Credit Grade Restriction applies to both resident and transfer credit. (See Section 1450.)

A student who takes a course at another institution will not receive transfer credit for that course until the end of the semester following the semester in which the course was taken. Therefore, students may not take courses for degree credit at another institution during the semester they plan to graduate from Georgia State.

Transfer Credit for Core Courses

1. Students will be granted credit for all of Areas A-E of the core if they hold one of the following:
   1. a baccalaureate degree from U.S. institution of higher education accredited by one of the six accreditors listed above
   2. for those who have graduated from a non-U.S. institution, the equivalent of a baccalaureate degree from a U.S. institution of higher education accredited by one of the six accreditors listed above as certified by Georgia State or a Georgia State-approved agency.
   3. an associate’s degree designed to transfer to a baccalaureate program from a University System of Georgia (USG) institution
2. However, there are two exceptions to the policy stated in 1 above.
   1. Students seeking a baccalaureate degree in biology, chemistry, computer science, geology, mathematics, physics, science education, or math education who do not hold a baccalaureate degree in one of these fields will only be granted credit for all of Areas B, C, and E. They will be granted credit in Areas A and D on a course-by-course basis.
   2. Students seeking a baccalaureate degree in nursing, nutrition or respiratory therapy will only be granted credit for all of Areas A, B, C, and E. They will be granted credit in Area D on a course-by-course basis.
3. Students who hold any other associate’s degree, such as an associate’s degree from a non-USG institution or an associate’s degree not designed to transfer to a baccalaureate program, will be granted transfer credit for core courses on a course-by-course basis.

1320.20 Credit Transfer for Transient Students

Transient students are Georgia State University degree-seeking undergraduates who enroll temporarily at another institution with the intention of returning to Georgia State. Georgia State remains the student’s home institution. Terms other than transient (such as visiting student, unclassified student, or special student) may be used at other institutions.

These regulations do not apply to credit earned through the ARCHE Cross Registration Program (section 1330.40).
It is vital that students considering transient status review the rules regarding transfer credit (Section 1320.10), the rules regarding academic residency (Section 1440), the rules regarding credit for grades of D (Section 1450), and individual college policies on the number of course attempts. The rules in these sections specify limits on the credits taken as a transient that will transfer to Georgia State as well as limits on the credits that will count towards the Georgia State degree requirements. Students are encouraged to check with their advisor and the transfer equivalency charts for more information about transfer credit prior to enrolling in the course. See http://advisement.gsu.edu/transfer-students/equivalency-charts/.

A degree-seeking undergraduate student who wishes to take academic courses elsewhere as a transient student and apply those credits toward the Georgia State degree is encouraged to certify the eligibility of the transient course for transfer credit with the University Advisement Center or the College Office of Academic Assistance. This should be done the semester before the student takes the transient class. Failure to certify that a transient course is eligible for transfer in a student’s degree program may result in a student taking a transient class that is not eligible for transfer credit or that does not count toward the fulfillment of degree requirements at Georgia State University.

It is the student’s responsibility to comply with application procedures and any other requirements that the other institution may have regarding establishing status as a transient student there.

After completing the course, it is the student’s responsibility to promptly request that an official transcript be sent from the other institution to: Georgia State University, Office of Undergraduate Admissions, P.O. Box 4009, Atlanta, GA 30302-4009. Once the official transcript is received, credit will be considered pending for the student’s degree program until finalized by an academic advisor. Questions about transfer credit for courses taken as a transient should be addressed to the student’s advisor in the University Advisement Center or the college Office of Academic Assistance.

1320.30 Credit for Correspondence or Extension Programs

Students may apply no more than 30 semester hours of work earned through correspondence or extension programs of other institutions toward the requirements for an undergraduate degree. Students are cautioned to consult with their academic advisor for additional college regulations on correspondence or extension work. Students must obtain the permission of the dean of their college, or the designated college representative, prior to taking correspondence courses to be applied toward the completion of the degree program.

1320.40 Credit by Examination

Georgia State University recognizes that learning can take place in various modes and places other than the traditional college classroom. Knowledge gained through experiential learning and other means is evaluated for possible college credit through examination. The Advanced Placement Program (AP), the College Level Examination Program (CLEP), and the International Baccalaureate Program (IB) are the most commonly used tests for this purpose. These are standardized examinations administered nationally each year. For information on CLEP, contact the University Testing Office, counselingcenter.gsu.edu/testing/. For information on AP and IB programs contact your high school guidance counselor.

Other standardized exams or special departmental examinations may be approved for credit. For further information, contact the appropriate college.

Georgia State University serves as a DANTES (DSST) test center; however Georgia State does not accept DSST credit.

For information on approved examinations, course equivalents, and credit award policies and requirements, please review the section below.

1320.50 College Board Advanced Placement (AP) Examination

Official test scores should be mailed directly from the College Board to the Georgia State University Office of Undergraduate Admissions for review. Questions regarding credit awards should be directed to the Office of Undergraduate Admissions at admissions.gsu.edu. High school counselors can provide information concerning the time and place for testing. Credit will be awarded for approved AP examinations as follows:

Exam: (Score for Georgia State Course Credit) = equivalent course prefix and number or explanation

• Art History: (3, 4, 5) = AH 1700
• Studio Art: Drawing: (3, 4, 5) = ART 1010
• Studio Art: 2-D Design: (3, 4, 5) = ART 1020
• Studio Art: 3-D Design: (3, 4, 5) = ART 1030
• Biology: (3) = BIOL 1103K (4,5) = BIOL 1103K, 1104K These courses make up the non-majors biology series and are not recommended for Biology majors.
• Chemistry: (3) = CHEM1211K; (4) = CHEM 1211K and exempt CHEM 1212K if passed above median grade on ACS exit exam; (5) = CHEM 1211K, 1212K
• Chinese Language and Culture: (3) = CHIN 2001; (4,5) = CHIN 2001, 2002
• Computer Science A or Computer Science AB: (3, 4, 5) = CSC 1301
• Macroeconomics: (3, 4, 5) = ECON 2105
• Microeconomics: (3, 4, 5) = ECON 2106
• English Language and Composition/ English Literature and Composition: (3, 4) = ENGL1101; (5) = ENGL 1101, 1102
• Environmental Science: (4, 5) = BIOL 1104K
• French Language and Culture: (3) = FREN 2001; (4) = FREN 2001, 2002; (5) = FREN 2001, 2002 and 3000-level course to be determined after consultation with department
• French Literature: (3) = FREN 2001; (4) = FREN 2001, 2002; (5) = FREN 2001, 2002 and 3033
• Human Geography: (3, 4, 5) = GEOG 1101
• Italian Language and Culture: (3) = consultation with department required for placement (4) = ITAL 2001; (5) = ITAL 2001, 2002
• German Language: (3) = GRMN 2001; (4) = GRMN 2001, 2002; (5) = GRMN 2001, 2002 and 3000-level course to be determined after consultation with department
• Japanese Language and Culture: (3) = JAPN 2001; (4,5) = JAPN 2001, 2002
• United States History: (3, 4, 5) = HIST 2110
• European History: (3, 4, 5) = HIST 1112
• World History: (3, 4, 5) = HIST 1112
• Latin: Vergil: (3, 4) = LATN 2001, 2002; (5) = LATN 2001, 2002 and 3000-level course to be determined after consultation with department
• Latin: Catullus/Horace: (4, 5) = 3000-level course(s) to be determined after consultation with department
• Latin Literature: (3, 4) = LATN 2001, 2002; (5) = LATN 2001, 2002 and 3000-level course to be determined after consultation with department
• Statistics: (3, 4, 5) = MATH 1070
• Calculus AB: (3) = MATH 1113; (4, 5) = MATH 1113, MATH 2211
• Calculus BC: (3) = MATH 2211; (4, 5) = MATH 2211, 2212
• Music Listening and Literature: (3, 4, 5) = MUA 1930
• Music Theory: (3, 4, 5) = MUS1099
• Physics I: (3 or higher) = PHYS 1111K
• Physics II: (3 or higher) = PHYS 1112K
• Physics B: (3) = PHYS 1111K; (4, 5) = PHYS 1111K, 1112K
• Physics C, Mechanics: (3, 4, 5) = PHYS 2211K
• Physics C, Electricity and Magnetism: (3, 4, 5) = PHYS 2212K
• Government and Politics: (3, 4, 5) = POLS 1101
• Psychology: (3, 4, 5) = PSYC 1101
• Spanish Language and Culture: (3) = SPAN 2001; (4) = SPAN 2001, 2002; (5) = SPAN 2001, 2002 and a 3000-level course to be determined after consultation with department
• Spanish Literature: (3) = SPAN 2001; (4) = SPAN 2001, 2002; (5) = SPAN 2001, 2002 and a 3000-level course to be determined after consultation with department

1320.60 College-Level Examination Program (CLEP)

Georgia State University awards credit for some College-Level Examination Program (CLEP) subject exams, Tests should not be scheduled during the last semester before graduation because the limited time remaining may not be sufficient to allow for course validation and the awarding of credit. For credit to be granted, the examination score must be at least 50 or higher regardless of the ACE recommendation. Credit will be as follows:

Exam = Georgia State Course Credit

• American Government = Pols 1101
• American Literature (w/essay) = Engl 2130
• Analyzing and Interpreting Literature (w/essay) = Engl 2140
• General Biology = Biol 1103K
• Calculus = Math 2211
• General Chemistry = Chem 1099 (elective credit only)
• College Algebra = Math 1111
• College Composition with Essay = Engl 1101
• College Mathematics = Math 1001
• English Literature (w/ essay) = Engl 2120
• College French-levels 1 & 2 = Fren 2001, 2002 (see below for additional information)
• College German-levels 1 & 2 = Grmn 2001, 2002 (see below for additional information)
• History of the United States I and History of the United States II 1865-present = Hist 2110
• Introductory Psychology = Psyc 1101
• Introductory Sociology = Soci 1101
• Precalculus = Math 1113
• Principles of Macroeconomics = Econ 2105
• Principles of Microeconomics = Econ 2106
• College Spanish-levels 1 & 2 = Span 2001, 2002 (see below for additional information)
• Western Civilization I: Ancient Near East to 1648 = Hist 1099 (elective credit only)
• Western Civilization II: 1648 to the Present = Hist 1099 (elective credit only)

Additional CLEP Information:

• The essay portion of all English exams is required in addition to the objective. Essay exams are reviewed by three readers, and the student must receive a grade of “Pass” from at least two readers.
• Foreign language credit awards are as follows:
  1. Spanish scores of 50-53 earn 3 semester hours of credit for SPAN 2001; Spanish scores of 54 and higher earn a total of 6 semester hours of credit for SPAN 2001 and 2002.
  2. German scores of 50-62 earn 3 semester hours of credit for GRMN 2001; German scores of 63 and higher earn a total of 6 semester hours of credit for GRMN 2001 and 2002.
  3. French scores of 50-51 earn 3 semester hours of credit for FREN 2001; French scores of 52 and higher earn a total of 6 semester hours of credit for FREN 2001 and 2002.
• If a student scores 50 or higher for American History I AND American History II, three semester hours will be granted for HIST 2110.
• Exams may be scheduled by contacting Georgia State University’s Testing Center counselingcenter.gsu.edu/testing/.

1320.70 International Baccalaureate (IB) Examinations

The amount of credit that may be granted for IB courses is limited to 24. Credit for standard level exams will only be granted to students who hold the IB diploma. Students who have only IB certificates will not be granted credit for standard level exams. Within these limits, departments have the authority to determine how much course credit will be awarded for International Baccalaureate examinations.

The following is the list of credit for IB exams:

SL = Standard Level
HL = Higher Level

Anthropology:

• SL 5 = ANTH 1102
• SL 6-7 = ANTH 1102, 2020
• HL 4 = ANTH 1102
• HL 5 = ANTH 1102, 2020
• HL 6-7 =ANTH 1102, 2020, and a 3000-level course to be determined by the Department

Art:

• SL 5 = ART 1010
• SL 6-7 = ART 1010, 1020
• HL 4 = ART 1010
• HL 5 = ART 1010, 1020
• HL 6-7 =ART 1010, 1020, and a 3000-level course to be determined by the Department

Arabic:

• SL 5 = ARBC 2001
• SL 6-7 = ARBC 2001, 2002
• HL 4 = ARBC 2001
• HL 5 = ARBC 2001, 2002
• HL 6-7 =ARBC 2001, 2002, and a 3000-level course to be determined by the Department

Biology:

• SL 5 = BIOL 1103K
• SL 6-7 = BIOL 1103K, 1104K
• HL 4 = BIOL 1103K
• HL 5 = BIOL 1103K, 1104K
• HL 6-7 = BIOL 1103K, 1104K, and a 3000-level course to be determined by the Department

Chemistry:

• SL 5 = CHEM 1211K
• SL 6-7 = CHEM 1211K, 1212K
• HL 4 = CHEM 1211K
• HL 5 = CHEM 1211K, 1212K
• HL 6-7 = CHEM 1211K, 1212K, and a 3000-level course to be determined by the Department

Chinese:

• SL 5 = CHIN 2001
• SL 6-7 = CHIN 2001, 2002
• HL 4 = CHIN 2001
• HL 5 = CHIN 2001, CHIN 2002
• HL 6-7 =CHIN 2001, 2002, and a 3000-level course to be determined by the Department

Computer Science:

• SL 5 = CSC 1301
• SL 6-7 = CSC 1301, 1302
• HL 4 = CSC 1301
• HL 5 = CSC 1301, 1302
• HL 6-7 = CSC 1301, 1302, and a 3000-level course to be determined by the Department

Economics:

• SL 5 = ECON 2100
• SL 6-7 = ECON 2105, Econ 2106
• HL 4 = ECON 2100
• HL 5 = ECON 2105, 2106
• HL 6-7 =ECON2105, 2106, and a 3000-level course to be determined by the Department

English:

• SL 5 = ENGL1101
• SL 6-7 = ENGL 1101, 1102
• HL 4 = ENGL 1101
• HL 5 = ENGL 1101, 1102
• HL 6-7 = ENGL 1101, 1102, and a 3000-level course to be determined by the Department

French:

• SL 5 = FREN 2001
• SL 6-7 = FREN 2001, 2002
• HL 4 = FREN 2001
• HL 5 = FREN 2001, 2002
• HL 6-7 = FREN 2001, 2002, and a 3000-level course to be determined by the Department

Geography:

• SL 5 = GEOG 1101
• SL 6-7 = GEOG 1101, 1113
• HL 4 = GEOG 1101
• HL 5 = GEOG 1101, 1113
• HL 6-7 = GEOG 1101, 1113 and a 3000-level course to be determined by the Department

German:

• SL 5 = GRMN 2001
• SL 6-7 = GRMN 2001, 2002
• HL 4 = GRMN 2001
• HL 5 = GRMN 2001, GRMN 2002
• HL 6-7 =GRMN 2001, 2002, and a 3000-level course to be determined by the Department

U.S. History:

• SL 5 = HIST 2110
• SL 6-7 = HIST 2110, 3200
• HL 4 = HIST 2110
• HL 5 = HIST 2110, 3200
• HL 6-7 = HIST 2110, 3200 and a 3000-level course to be determined by the Department

European History:

• SL 5 = HIST 1111
• SL 6-7 =HIST 1111, 1112
• HL 4 = HIST1111
• HL 5 =HIST 1111, 1112
• HL 6-7 = HIST 1111, 1112, and a 3000-level course to be determined by the Department

Mathematics:

• SL 5 = MATH 1111
• SL 6-7 = MATH 1111, 1113
• HL 4 = MATH 1220
• HL 5 = MATH 1220, 2211
• HL 6-7 = MATH 1220, 2211, and a 3000-level course to be determined by the Department

Music:

• SL 5 = MUA 1500
• SL 6-7 = MUA 1500, 1900
• HL 4 = MUA 1500
• HL 5 = MUA 1500, 1900
• HL 6-7 = MUA 1500, 1900, and a 3000-level course to be determined by the Department

Philosophy:

• SL 5 = PHIL 2010
• SL 6-7 = PHIL 2010, 2050
• HL 4 = PHIL 2010
• HL 5 = PHIL 2010, 2050
• HL 6-7 = PHIL 2010, 2050, and a 3000-level course to be determined by the Department

Physics:

• SL 5 = PHYS 2211K
• SL 6-7 = PHYS 2211K, 2212K
• HL 4 = PHYS 2211K
• HL 5 = PHYS 2211K, 2212K
• HL 6-7 = PHYS 2211K, 2212K, and a 3000-level course to be determined by the Department

Psychology:

• SL 5 = PSYC 1101
• SL 6-7 = PSYC 1101, 2101
• HL 4 = PSYC 1101
• HL 5 = PSYC 1101, 2101
• HL 6-7 = PSYC 1100, 2101 and a 3000-level course to be determined by the Department

Spanish:

• SL 5 = SPAN 2001
• SL 6-7 = SPAN 2001, 2002
• HL 4 = SPAN 2001
• HL 5 = SPAN 2001, 2002
• HL 6-7 =SPAN 2001, 2002, and a 3000-level course to be determined by the Department

Credit for other languages will be granted following the pattern set in the languages above.

1320.80 Credit for End of High School Examinations from Countries Other than the United States

Georgia State will consider awarding college credit for subject examinations taken at the end of the high school in countries other than the U.S. To be eligible for consideration, the examinations must be given nationally and must report scores by subject (not merely a total score). Students who wish for the University to consider awarding college for subject examinations taken at the end of the high school in countries should contact the Office of Admissions for more information.

1320.90 Credit for Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCs)

At Georgia State University, the granting of credit for MOOCs taken at other institutions is governed by the rules for transfer credit and credit by examination. If a MOOC was taken and transcripted at an accredited institution of higher education, decisions about credit for the MOOC are made according to the rules for transfer credit. (See Section 1320.10.) In some cases, credit for MOOCs may be earned according to the rules for credit by examination. (See Section 1320.40.)

1330 Registering for Classes

1330.05 Office of the Registrar

Enrollment Services Centers

Located on each campus. See the Registrar’s website for specific locations.
registrar.gsu.edu/assistance

1330.10 Registration Procedures

Students may not attend a course unless they have registered and paid for that course. Each semester students should go online for detailed information concerning the enrollment and registration process. Registration information can be found on registrar.gsu.edu and by accessing PAWS (Panther Access to Web Services) at paws.gsu.edu.

Students are urged to become knowledgeable about the entire enrollment process, which includes ensuring financial aid eligibility for the term and ensuring paying of tuition and fees by the payment deadline for that particular term.  Information on payment deadlines can be found on the Student Financial Services website at sfs.gsu.edu.

Where Registration Takes Place

Registration for courses takes place through PAWS (Panther Access to Web Services) where a list of courses offered for the semester can be found, as well as time ticket information, the registration agreement, and student holds that need to be addressed to permit registration for the term.

Preparing and Registering for Classes – Enrollment Process

Registering students should prepare a registration worksheet and ensure they meet all course prerequisites. Unless approved by the department chair, a student may only register for one section of a given course in a given session/term. All transactions can be completed on PAWS.

Step 1:  Run a Program Evaluation to Review Remaining Course Requirements and Schedule Advisor Appointments as Necessary

Step 2:  Register for Classes

Step 3:  Check Financial Aid Requirements for Eligibility and Accept Aid

Step 4:  View and Pay Charges on Panther Pay

Step 5:  Print your Course Schedule

Step 6:  Print the Semester Academic Calendar on the Registrar’s page

Any deviation from the prescribed procedure may result in unnecessary delays in registration or errors in the resulting schedule. The Office of the Registrar cannot be held responsible for errors resulting from the student’s failure to follow the prescribed registration, schedule adjustment and payment procedures. Any problems experienced with registration should be reported an Enrollment Services Center in person within 24 hours of the occurrence.

1330.12 Registration Notifications When Returning to Georgia State

All students must notify the Office of Undergraduate Admissions prior to registering if the student has attended another school since last attending Georgia State. The student must have an official transcript of credits sent from the school he or she attended. The student must be eligible to reenroll at the last school attended before he or she returns to Georgia State. Failure to submit this transcript by the midpoint of the first term after returning to Georgia State could result in the placing of a registration hold on the student’s record.

1330.15 Registration Time-Ticket Assignments

Students who are eligible to register will be given a registration time-ticket assignment approximately two weeks before registration begins.  Students can find their registration time-ticket assignments by accessing PAWS at paws.gsu.edu.

Students will also receive an email referring them to PAWS where they can view their registration time-ticket assignments.

A student’s time-ticket assignment is valid beginning at the student’s assigned time and continues through the last day of registration. Time-tickets are assigned with priority to students scheduled to graduate during the upcoming term, students in the Honors College, and approved student groups with documented limitations on their ability to register. Other continuing students are assigned tickets according to the total credit hours earned. Once a student is allowed access, the student can adjust his or her schedule on a first-come, first-served basis during the remaining registration period. Many classes fill up quickly. It is to the student’s advantage to attempt to register as soon as he or she is allowed access to the registration system.

1330.18 Late Registration

Registrations are considered late once the semester has begun. During late registration, access is on a first-come, first-served basis.  It is important that students register prior to the semester beginning in order to have the best opportunity to enroll in courses needed for degree completion. If a student’s first attempt to register is during late registration, a $50 non-refundable late fee will be charged. This $50 fee will also be charged if a student is dropped for nonpayment of fees and attempts to re-register during late registration.

A student may appeal to add a class after late registration has ended. If the appeal is approved, the student will be charged a $37.50 manual schedule adjustment fee in addition to tuition and fees. This fee is charged for each appeal approved. Appeals should be directed to the department that teaches the course. If a student decides not to attend the course once the appeal has been approved and added to the student’s schedule, the student must officially withdraw from the course on PAWS, prior to the semester midpoint.

Students may not appeal to faculty to have a course dropped. If an administrative academic error has occurred, students should contact the academic department offering the course for a resolution.

1330.20 Immunizations

Immunization Office
141 Piedmont Avenue, Suite D
health.gsu.edu

All new students attending regularly scheduled classes on campus or receiving resident credit are required to submit a certificate of immunization prior to registering for and attending such classes.

The immunizations required are Measles, Mumps & Rubella (MMR), Tetanus/Diphtheria/Pertussis (Tdap), Varicella (chicken pox), and Hepatitis B. In addition, the Meningitis Law requires students residing in university housing to have the Meningococcal vaccine. For more information, see the Georgia State Clinic website updates at health.gsu.edu.

Every student attending classes on campus must complete the immunization requirements of the University System of Georgia. The requirement varies according to the age of the student as follows:

• Students 18 years or younger at the beginning of the term must show proof of immunity to Hepatitis B, MMR, Tdap, and Varicella (chickenpox).
• Students 19 years and older at the beginning of the term are strongly recommended to be immunized for Hepatitis B, but they are not required to show proof of immunity to Hepatitis B. They are required to show proof of immunity to MMR, Tdap and Varicella.
• Students born outside the United States on or before 12/31/1956 must show proof of immunity to Tdap and Varicella only.
• Students born in the United States on or before 12/31/1956 are required to show proof of Tdap only.
• Students born in the United States on or before 12/31/1980 are exempt from showing proof of the Varicella vaccine. They are required to submit proof of immunity for MMR, Tdap.
• Students born 12/31/1980 or later must submit proof of MMR, Varicella and Tdap.
• Students born outside the United States 01/01/1957 or later must provide proof of MMR, Tdap, and Varicella.

The Immunization Office must receive these records two weeks before the last day of late registration. It will take up to five business days to enter the data into the system. Immunization holds will be placed on student accounts to prevent registration and drop/add until the requirement is satisfied.

Students seeking exemption for religious reasons must submit a completed affidavit form to the Immunization Office indicating their religious exemption request. This form is located on the immunizations website. Students with medical reasons for exemption must submit a doctor’s letter indicating if this is a permanent or temporary exemption, and, if temporary, the date of expiration. When the temporary exemption expires, the student must complete all immunization requirements. In the event of an epidemic or a threatened epidemic of any disease preventable by immunization, and when an emergency has been declared by appropriate health authorities, additional steps will be undertaken to protect the health of the University community. In the event of a declared public health emergency, persons who do not have proof of immunization on file will not be allowed to participate in classes or other activities on campus.

Students seeking military exemptions must show their DD214 form or Military ID proving active within the last 2 years.

Additional information and copies of the immunization certification form may be obtained by contacting the Immunization Office located in 141 Piedmont Avenue, Ste. D, or by telephone at 404-413-1940, or online at health.gsu.edu.

Meningitis: Georgia law requires that students residing in campus housing be provided information on meningococcal disease and vaccination. After reviewing information about the risks for the disease and the benefits of prevention by the meningitis vaccine, students 18 years and older are required to sign a form kept on file in the Housing Office. Students less than 18 years of age must show their parent or guardian’s signature on the form. This “Meningococcal Disease Notification” form documents that the information was reviewed and the option of the vaccine was provided, and/or date the vaccination was elicited. Compliance with the state law is a requirement for residing in campus housing and is part of the housing contract. Forms and further information are available from the Housing Office at 404-413-1800 or by email at housing@gsu.edu.

1330.25 Audit Status

Enrolled students who wish to audit a course must get approval from the course instructor. Registration for an audit should be submitted to a campus Enrollment Services Center (locations can be found on the Office of the Registrar web site at registrar.gsu.edu). Students should not pre-register for courses they wish to audit. Any tuition and fees for auditing a class are assessed just as they are for courses taken for credit. Any requirements for prerequisites must be satisfied before registering to audit a course. No academic credit is earned in this status. Audit status is not covered by financial aid, and audit hours do not apply toward full-time enrollment. Students may not transfer from audit to credit status or vice-versa after the last day to register for courses.

1330.30 Course Load

Full-time Course Load: To be certified as full-time students, students must carry a minimum of 12 semester hours. However, a course load of 30 semester hours per year is required in order to complete an undergraduate degree program in four years.

A student who is enrolled in less than a full-time course of study at Georgia State may be in jeopardy of the following:

• Losing insurance coverage under his or her parent/guardian’s insurance policy;
• Being placed on a loan repayment schedule by a lender or guarantor if the student is the recipient of federal financial aid; and/or
• Losing a scholarship if the guidelines for receiving the scholarship require full-time enrollment.

Half-time Course Load: Half-time enrollment is 6 to 11 semester hours for students.

Increased Course Load: A student may schedule as many as 18 semester hours without special permission. Requests for exceptions to the maximum course load of 18 semester hours will be considered by the University  Advisement Center or the Office of Academic Assistance of a student’s college if the student has completed a course load of 15 semester hours in some previous semester at Georgia State University with a grade point average of at least 3.00 for the semester and if either of the following conditions is met:

• The student attained the President’s List designation during his or her most recent enrollment at Georgia State and, if a reentering student, has achieved a grade of A for all credit hours earned elsewhere since the most recent enrollment at Georgia State; or
• The student has earned 60 semester hours of credit and has a cumulative grade point average of at least 3.00 for the preceding two semesters of residence.

International Students: International students in the student visa status of F and J are required to carry a full-time course load as defined by the Department of Homeland Security (currently 12 credit hours per semester for undergraduate students). An international student who is enrolled on a student visa may be in jeopardy of being out of compliance with the Department of Homeland Security if enrolled in less than a full-time course of study. Additionally, those F and J international students enrolling for the first time in summer school must carry six credit hours to be considered full-time for immigration purposes.

1330.33 Registration Restrictions

Registration in some courses in some majors is restricted. Refer to the college sections of this catalog for more information.

1330.35 Taking a Course More Than Once

Colleges may limit the number of times a student can take a course for a grade. Colleges may place this limit on some courses but not others, and different courses may have different limits. All limits are stated in the catalog. For purposes of this policy, a student takes a course for a grade when they receive a grade notation included in the grade point average calculation. For example, a student who earns an A or a WF has taken the course for a grade, but a student who earns an S or W has not. If a student takes a course multiple times at another institution or at Georgia State, the grade earned in the final attempt will determine the applicability of the course to the degree requirements. A student who wishes to take a course more times than authorized by the college must enroll as an auditor.

1330.38 Cross-Level Registration Policy

Atlanta Campus to Perimeter

Atlanta Campus (baccalaureate degree-seeking) students must receive advance written authorization to be allowed to register for Perimeter College courses. Students may take up to four Perimeter College courses, during summer semester only, provided they:

• satisfy all prerequisites for the courses
• have completed 12 credit hours at the Atlanta Campus
• have a minimum institutional GPA of 2.0

Under extraordinary circumstances, students may seek advance written authorization to take Perimeter College courses during the fall or spring semesters. Any such approved courses will count towards the four-course limit.

Please check with the University Advisement Center or the Office of Academic Assistance in the college for additional details.

Perimeter to Atlanta Campus 

Perimeter College (associate degree-seeking) students must receive advance written authorization to be allowed to register for Atlanta Campus courses. Students may take up to four Atlanta Campus courses, provided they:

• satisfy all prerequisites for the courses
• have completed 30 credit hours (12 of which must have been completed at Perimeter College)
• have a minimum institutional GPA of 2.5

Please check with the University Advisement Center for additional details.

1330.40 ARCHE Cross Registration Program

Georgia State University students may enroll in courses offered by member institutions of the Atlanta Regional Consortium for Higher Education (ARCHE) under a cross registration agreement. Students who wish to cross register must meet all eligibility requirements under the ARCHE agreement and the University. Courses taken through cross registration are considered resident credit. Students may learn more about cross registration or obtain an ARCHE Cross Registration Application at registrar.gsu.edu/registration/cross-registration/.

Application Deadlines

Fall Semester: July 15
Spring Semester: November 15
Summer Semester: April 15 

Eligibility Criteria

• Students must be in good standing and have a minimum Georgia State University cumulative GPA of 2.0 and the required GPA to enroll in the Georgia State course which is most similar to the course the student wishes cross register
• Students must be concurrently enrolled in at least one Georgia State course.
• Students must meet prerequisites for requested course(s) as defined by Georgia State University and the host institution.
• Students must meet the host institution’s immunization and health requirements.
• First-semester freshmen may not cross register (unless cross registering in courses for purposes of ROTC training or marching band).

Course Restrictions

Students may not cross register for a course if

• The course is offered at Georgia State that semester.
• The course has been previously attempted at Georgia State (including attempts which resulted in a withdrawal or an unsatisfactory grade).
• The course or an appropriate substitute is routinely available at Georgia State (that is, offered each semester or on a specified regular basis, such as every fall). Determination of whether the course is routinely available is made by the advisement office in consultation with the chair or director of the academic unit that offers the course.
• The College and/or degree program has restrictions or departmental requirements for the specific course.
• The student expects to graduate from Georgia State during the semester the student wishes to cross register a course.

Students are limited to two cross registered courses per semester, and the combined course load at Georgia State University and the host institution may not exceed 18 credit hours.

The student’s transfer credit, cross registration credit, and credit by examination applicable to their degree program may not exceed 75 percent of their degree requirements.

Procedures

Students who wish to cross register must complete and submit an ARCHE Cross Registration Application to the Office of the Registrar, room 224, Sparks Hall. ARCHE Cross Registration Applications are available online: registrar.gsu.edu/registration/cross-registration/.

Students who wish to take academic courses at an ARCHE institution must obtain written approval in advance from the University Advisement Center or the Office of Academic Assistance in the student’s college. Course outlines (syllabi) and catalog information may be required so content can be evaluated before approval is granted by the Office of Academic Assistance.

Students are not allowed to pre-register in courses they wish to cross register. Once all approvals have been obtained, the host institution’s Cross Registration Coordinator will register students for the approved course(s) on a space-available basis after the host institution’s regularly enrolled or continuing students have had first priority for registration. The host institution’s Cross Registration Coordinator will inform the student of approval and registration status.

Georgia State University’s students will pay Georgia State University’s tuition and fee rates via PAWS. However, special fees (lab fees, parking and equipment lease) and security deposits must be paid to the host institution.

Students must abide by all host institutions’ policies and schedules regarding immunization requirements, grades, exam dates, absences, and add/drop/withdrawal deadlines. To withdraw from a course, both Georgia State University and the host institution’s withdrawal procedures must be followed. Changes in registration must be approved by Georgia State University and the host institution’s Cross Registration Coordinators.

Upon completion of the course, the host institution’s Cross Registration Coordinator will send a final transcript to Georgia State University. Students who receive a grade of Incomplete at a host institution should recognize that the time limit for removal of a grade of Incomplete must not exceed Georgia State University’s deadline for removal of a grade of incomplete (see section 1350.30 Changes in Grade). It is the student’s responsibility to request an official transcript from the host institution once the grade of Incomplete has been satisfied and a final grade has been assigned.

Students must complete a new ARCHE Cross Registration Application for any subsequent term.

Cross registration is available in the summer on a limited basis. Consult the Office of the Registrar for more information. The participating ARCHE member institutions are: Agnes Scott College, Atlanta College of Art, Brenau University, Clark Atlanta University, Clayton State University, Columbia Theological Seminary, Emory University, Georgia Gwinnett College, Georgia Institute of Technology, Interdenominational Theological Center, Kennesaw State University, Mercer University Atlanta Campus, Morehouse College, Morehouse School of Medicine, Oglethorpe University, Savannah College of Art and Design – Atlanta, Southern Polytechnic State University, Spelman College, State University of West Georgia, and University of Georgia.

Cross registration credits count as resident credit and all grade requirements apply. (See Sections 1440, 1450, 1460, and 1480.)

1330.55 Off-Campus Courses

Many courses are offered to Georgia State University students at non-campus locations. Students taking these courses must meet the same academic requirements and deadlines as students attending classes at the downtown campus. Each semester a list of courses offered at non-campus locations can be found by accessing the online registration system in PAWS at paws.gsu.edu.

1332 Revision of Class Schedules (Add/Drop/Withdraw)

Students who wish to revise their class schedules must follow the procedure appropriate for the period of time in the semester (see section 1332.10 below). During the published registration periods for each semester, students may revise their schedules by accessing PAWS. Schedule revisions are defined as any changes to a student’s schedule and include adding, dropping and/or withdrawing classes.

All schedule adjustments must be completed by the official deadline as published in the online Semester Calendars at paws.gsu.edu. Printable calendars can also be found at registrar.gsu.edu.

1332.10 Adding / Dropping / Withdrawing Classes (Student Initiated)

Students are responsible for formally adding, dropping or withdrawing from courses using the online registration system, PAWS at paws.gsu.edu.  Students may not attend a course unless they have registered for that course, nor should students simply stop attending a course unless they have formally dropped or withdrawn from that course. Students should be aware of the financial obligations and academic impact of adding, dropping or withdrawing from courses. Students should contact the Student Financial Management Center and their academic advisor for more information.

Course Add: Students who are eligible to register for classes may add courses to their official registration schedule by accessing the online registration system in PAWS.  See section 1330.10 for Registration Procedures.

Course Drop: Students who wish to remove a course from their academic record must drop their course in PAWS prior to 5:00 p.m. on the last day of the late registration period (see the Academic Calendar for official dates). Dropped courses do not appear on the student’s official academic record (which includes their academic transcript) and do not incur tuition and fee charges. Note: Dropping courses and lowering your credit hours for the term may have consequences academically or financially including Federal Student Aid, VA Educational Benefits, etc. See section 1330.30 for additional information on course load requirements. (For information on course drops due to failure to pay tuition and fees, see section 1210.20).

Course Withdrawal: After the end of the late registration period and up to the semester midpoint (see the Academic Calendar for official dates), students who wish to no longer attend or participate in a course may withdraw from that course using the online registration system in PAWS. Withdrawn courses appear on a student’s official academic record (which includes their academic transcript) and incur charges. Undergraduate degree-seeking students are limited in the number of courses they may withdraw from without academic penalties. Students will receive a grade of W or WF for any class withdrawn during this period depending on whether or not they have exceeded their limit of withdrawals with a grade of W.

After the semester midpoint, students may no longer initiate a withdrawal from a course on PAWS. Courses that are not officially withdrawn prior to the midpoint will be awarded grades based on academic performance.

Note: Withdrawing courses for the term may have consequences academically or financially including Federal Student Aid, VA Educational Benefits, etc. See section 1330.30 for additional information on course load requirements.

Limits on Withdrawals with a Grade of W

1. Students are allowed to withdraw with a grade of W a maximum of six times in their undergraduate bachelor-level careers at Georgia State.
2. The limit on withdrawals does not apply if a student withdraws from all classes during a term before the midpoint. However, students are only allowed to withdraw from all classes prior to the midpoint twice without having their withdrawals count against the limit. Students who withdraw from all classes a third or subsequent time will automatically receive a grade of WF in their classes if they have reached their limit of Ws.
3. It is possible that a student will withdraw from more than one class in a particular semester and not have enough Ws left to use a W in all those classes. In that case, classes will be awarded a W based on the date and time the student initiated the withdrawal from that class. For example, if a student had taken five Ws in their career at Georgia State and then withdrew from three of the four classes in which the student is enrolled, the student’s sixth W allowed would be assigned to the class from which the student withdrew first. The student would receive a WF in the other two classes. In these cases, students may make an appeal to the University Advisement Center or the student’s Office of Academic Advisement to shift the W from one class to another. Such requests must be made no later than the end of the subsequent semester in which the student withdrew from the classes. (Whether a student is enrolled in the semester after the semester in which the student withdrew from the classes does not change this time limit.) Students may not shift Ws between semesters.
4. The following types of withdrawals do not count against the limit on withdrawals with a grade of W.
   • Emergency withdrawals (see Section 1332.40).
   • Grades of WF (withdrawal failing which equals an F for GPA calculation purposes).
   • Grade of WM (withdrawal military).
   • Grade notation of “-” before the grade of W indicating non-attendance documented by the professor.
   • Withdrawals for nonpayment.
   • Withdrawals from courses numbered below 1000.
   • Withdrawals taken in semesters before Fall Semester 2006.
   • Withdrawals taken at other institutions.
   • Withdrawals for nonpayment.
   • Withdrawals from courses numbered below 1000.
5. If a course has a separate co-requisite lab or support course with a different course number, withdrawing from both courses simultaneously shall count as a single W with respect to the limit on voluntary Ws. This provision only applies to course that must be taken concurrently.
6. This policy applies to all degree-seeking undergraduate bachelor level students. It does not apply to non-degree students (such as post-baccalaureate and transient students).
7. Students who are withdrawn by faculty or the Office of the Registrar are subject to this policy. See section 1332.30 for more information.

Students formally withdrawing from all classes may be entitled to a partial refund of their fees (see Section 1240).

See sections 1332.20 through 1332.50 for additional information on course withdrawals.

1332.20 Withdrawals and Drops from Off-Campus Courses and Cancelled Courses

In general, if a student voluntarily withdraws from an non-campus based course, then the normal withdrawal policy applies (see section 1332.10). If the course’s schedule does not match a Georgia State University term, then the mid-point of the course will be the mid-point of the period from the first meeting of the course to the last meeting of the course.

If a course is cancelled by Georgia State after the first week of classes, then the student may choose between the following options:

• They may have the course dropped from their schedule (even if the course is cancelled after the end of Late Registration), or
• They may take a W in the course, or
• In coordination with the course instructor and the department chair, the student may develop an academically appropriate plan to complete the course. These plans must be approved by the instructor and the department chair.

1332.30 Course Withdrawal (Faculty Initiated)

Students are responsible for consulting the course syllabus for specific instructor policies regarding such matters as penalties for missing the first class, an exam, an assignment or a project.  These may include, among the other things, being withdrawn from a course. Students are expected to observe all policies governing the class. Faculty must clearly state these policies in the course syllabus. When a faculty member determines that a student is in violation of one of the class policies (for example, has missed a required assignment or has excessive absences), that faculty member may withdraw the student from the course. Courses involuntarily withdrawn by a faculty member count towards the student’s limit on withdrawn courses. Students involuntarily withdrawn prior to the midpoint of the course will be assigned a grade of W unless they have exceeded their maximum number of withdrawals allowed (see Section 1332.10). Students involuntarily withdrawn after the midpoint of the course will be assigned a grade of WF. Note that a WF is treated as an F for GPA calculation purposes. Using the official Georgia State University email system, the faculty member will notify a student who is involuntarily withdrawn, and within ten days of this notification, the student may petition to the department chair for reinstatement in the course.

Students involuntarily withdrawn from all classes may be entitled to a partial refund of their fees (see Section 1210).

1332.40 Emergency Withdrawal

Students may request an emergency withdrawal when a non-academic emergency situation occurs that prevents them from completing their course work (e.g., severe medical problems, traumatic events) and when the timing or nature of the emergency prevents them from voluntarily withdrawing from their classes. (See Section 1332.10.) Emergency withdrawals are subject to the following restrictions:

• Students must initiate an application for an emergency withdrawal no later than two academic years after the semester in which the courses were taken.
• Students may request emergency withdrawals in a maximum of two semesters of their enrollment at Georgia State.
• Students may not request an emergency withdrawal after degree conferral.

Emergency withdrawals normally apply to all the courses a student took in a semester. In exceptional cases, emergency withdrawals may be granted for some of a student’s courses. Students requesting an emergency withdrawal in some but not all of their courses must provide documentation to justify a partial withdrawal.

If a student is granted an emergency withdrawal, W grades will automatically be awarded.  W grades awarded as a result of the emergency withdrawal process do not count against the student’s voluntary withdrawal limits. (See Section 1332.10.)

For further information on emergency withdrawals, contact the Office of the Dean of Students at deanofstudents.gsu.edu.

1332.45 Military Withdrawal

Withdrawal for Military Service: Refunds and Grades

Full refunds of tuition and mandatory fees and pro rata refunds of elective fees may be considered for students who are:

1. Military reservists (including members of the National Guard) who, after having enrolled in courses and paid tuition and fees, receive orders without prior notice to active duty, reassigned for temporary duty, or mandatory training and the orders prevent completion of the term;
2. Commissioned officers of the United States Public Health Service Commissioned Corps (PHSCC) who receive deployment orders in response to a public health crisis or national emergency after having enrolled in courses and paid tuition and fees and the orders prevent completion of the term;
3. Active duty military personnel who, after having enrolled in courses and paid tuition and fees, receive reassignment, a temporary duty assignment, or a training assignment without prior notice and the orders prevent completion of the term; or,
4. Otherwise unusually and detrimentally affected by the activation of members of the reserve components or the deployment of active duty personnel of the Armed Forces of the United States who demonstrate a need for exceptional equitable relief.

This policy does not apply to a student enlisting in the Armed Forces prior to or during a semester, unless the student presents documentation showing his/her date to report to initial training was changed without the student’s prior knowledge and the new reporting date prevents completion of the term.

Students must officially withdraw and submit official orders to the Office of the Registrar, Sparks Hall 224, prior to leaving for the assignment. The student is not eligible for a military withdrawal in any course in which the student has completed the course requirements (for example, taking the final exam or submitting the final paper) and/or a grade has been assigned. Elective fees are to be prorated according to the date on which the student officially withdraws. Students who withdraw and receive a full tuition refund will receive a grade of “WM” (military withdrawal) for all courses from which the student has withdrawn.

Appeals Committee

Per the BOR’s policy on Military Service Refunds, 7.3.5.3, requests for exceptional relief are made directly to the president of the institution and the president will make a determination on each request expeditiously.

Requests for course withdrawals due to military service will first be considered by the certifying officials in the Office of the Registrar. If a student’s request is denied and the student feels his/her case requires exceptional relief due to an unusual or detrimental activation, then the request will be considered by the Military Outreach Committee.

The Military Outreach Committee consists of academic advisors, VA benefit certifying officials, ROTC representatives, associate deans and university representatives from the Counseling Center and Affirmative Action. This committee will make recommendations to approve or deny students’ requests to the Vice President for Enrollment and Provost/VP for Academic Affairs.

Appeals of the decision of the Vice President for Enrollment and Provost/VP for Academic Affairs may be initiated by the student within 5 business days of notification of the Vice President for Enrollment’s decision and will be considered by the Provost.

Appeals of the decision of the Provost may be initiated by the student within 5 business days of notification of the Provost’s decision and will be considered by the President.

1332.50 Non-Academic Withdrawal

See the Student Code of Conduct:  http://codeofconduct.gsu.edu/

1334 Class Attendance

The resources of the University are provided for the intellectual growth and development of its students. The University expects each student to take full responsibility for his or her academic work and academic progress. Students are expected to attend classes in order to gain command of the concepts and materials of their courses of study. As such, the University does not mandate the number or percentage of absences that are acceptable but suggests a guideline of 15 percent for determining an excessive level of absence. The specific class attendance policies for each class are at the discretion of the instructor, in accordance with the policies of the department and college.

All matters related to student absences, including making up work missed, are to be arranged between the student and the instructor before the semester begins or on the first week of classes. All instructors will, at the beginning of each semester, make a clear statement in the course syllabus for each of their classes, describing their policies for handling absences. Students are obligated to adhere to the requirements of each course and of each instructor. Instructors are encouraged to provide avenues for students to make up examinations and other work missed due to an excused absence.

Excused absences are recognized in the following cases:

1. University-Sponsored Events. Absences due to activities approved by the Office of the Provost, in which a student is an official representative of the University will be recognized as excused when the student informs the instructor in writing during the first week of the semester of his or her participation in an activity that may generate excused absences and the dates of planned absences for the semester. If requested, the appropriate university official will provide a memo stating the official nature of the university business in advance of the activity. Absences due to similar events, which could not have been anticipated earlier in the semester, will be recognized as excused absences upon advance notification of the instructor by an appropriate faculty advisor or administrator.
2. Legal Obligations. Absences due to legal obligations (for example, jury duty, military orders) will be recognized as excused absences. The student must provide the instructor with written documentation of such absences at the earliest possible date.
3. Religious Observances. Students wishing to have an excused absence due to the observation of a religious holiday of special importance must provide advance written request to each instructor by the end of the first week of classes.

Class Attendance by Veterans

The Department of Veterans Affairs requires that institutions of higher learning immediately report to them when a student discontinues attendance for any reason. Instructors must report to the Registrar’s Office the absence of a veteran student as soon as it is known that the veteran student will not be returning to class. Generally, this should be reported after one week of absences and no later than two weeks of nonattendance by a veteran student.

In addition, it is suggested that the faculty give due consideration to absences relating to the following events: death or major illness in student’s immediate family, illness of a dependent family member, illness that is too severe or contagious for students to attend class.

1336 Final Examinations

A student shall not be required to take more than two examinations within one 24-hour period during the published final examination period. More than two examinations within 24 hours are referred to as clustered examinations. A student who discovers an exam scheduling conflict should notify his or her professor at least 14 days prior to the final exam period beginning.

A student is considered to have an inappropriate clustering of final examinations when more than two examinations fall within 24 hours (for example, examinations at 8:30 a.m., 11:30 a.m., and 6:00 p.m. on the same day, or examinations at 6 p.m. on one day, and at 8:30 a.m. and 2:30 p.m. on the following day); the student is not considered to have an inappropriate clustering of examinations if the third examination in sequence begins at the same time on the subsequent day as the first examination (for example, 6:00 p.m. on one day, and 2:30 p.m. and 6:00 p.m. on the following day).

Students who have three or more clustered examinations may request of one professor that the examination be rescheduled according to the following procedure:

• If a final examination was rescheduled and thereby created a “cluster,” the instructor of the rescheduled examination will provide a special administration for the adversely affected student.
• If one or more of the clustered examinations is a “common examination” with an established conflict resolution time, the student may request to resolve the conflict by taking one of the common examinations in the conflict resolution time. If two or more of the examinations are “common examinations,” the student may choose which “common examination(s)” is to be rescheduled.
• If one of the clustered examinations is not a common examination or the result of rescheduling, the instructor of the middle examination(s) will provide a special administration for the adversely affected student.

Students must inform the instructor, in writing and at least 14 days before the beginning of the final exam period, that a clustered examination situation exists with respect to that instructor’s course and that the student will need to take the final examination as a special administration. If a student fails to inform the instructor, in writing and at least 14 days before the beginning of the final exam period, the instructor is not required to provide a special administration of the final examination.

Once a student has taken an examination, he or she cannot request a reexamination on the basis of this policy.

1340 Classification of Students and Courses

1340.10 Class Standing

Students are classified on the basis of total earned hours of academic credit as follows:

The classification under which a student registers at the beginning of any semester will continue through that semester.

1340.20 Change of Catalog Edition

Students must normally satisfy the degree requirements of the catalog in effect at the time they enter Georgia State University. However, in some circumstances, revisions may be required to provide more effective programs. The term “degree requirements” refers to the courses and grades required to earn the degree. Changes in academic regulations affect all students, regardless of the catalog edition; examples include the scholastic discipline policy, procedures for removing incomplete grades, and appeals procedures.

There are several instances when a student will be required to change catalog editions and satisfy the curricular degree requirements of the catalog in effect at the time he or she:

• Officially changes colleges within the university;
• Officially changes their degree;
• Officially changes majors within a college;
• Officially changes from post baccalaureate status to any degree-seeking status;
• Reenters the university after an absence of three or more semesters
• Reenrolls at Georgia State after attending another institution as a transient student with the intention of transferring credits earned at the other institution to Georgia State without having followed protocol as outlined on the Registrar’s Transient Request Form.  This regulation applies to any length of absence from the university. In such cases, students are considered to be transfer students;
• Reenrolls at Georgia State after attending another institution as a transfer student. This regulation applies to any length of absence from the university; and
• Has not graduated by the time his or her catalog edition is ten years old.

Students may choose to satisfy the degree requirements of a later catalog, but, if they choose to do this, they must meet all the requirements of the later catalog. Degree requirements of more than one catalog edition cannot be combined. Students who choose to satisfy requirements of a later catalog must notify the University Advisement Center or the Office of Academic Assistance of their college.

Any requests for exceptions to the “change of catalog edition” policy must be submitted as an appeal of academic regulations and graduation requirements and processed as a University level petition.

1340.30 Declaration of Major

All applicants other than freshman must declare a degree and major at application. All freshmen must declare a degree and major one calendar year after their first enrollment at Georgia State. Students are encouraged to declare a major as early as possible. This is especially true for students following a track in natural sciences, health sciences, or mathematics. Colleges and departments may require students to declare a degree and major earlier than indicated above. The Director of the University Advisement Center is authorized to grant exemptions to this policy.

1340.35 Change of Degree Major and College

Students may request to change majors within one college at Georgia State University or change to another college. If the request is approved, students will transfer their academic standings (good, warning, supervision, or probation). Some programs have special requirements for admission, so students should contact the University Advisement Center or the Office of Academic Assistance of the desired college to determine if special criteria apply.

To request a change of degree, major, or college, students should contact the University Advisement Center or the Office of Academic Assistance of the college in which they are currently enrolled. Students who change degree, majors or colleges will be required to satisfy the degree requirements in effect at the time the change is officially recorded. Students who have applied to graduate must declare their degree, major, and minor/concentration (if applicable) with their advisement office prior to their final semester to avoid a possible delay in graduating.

1340.40 Double Major

A double major consists of two separate majors in the same baccalaureate degree (for example, B.S. with majors in Criminal Justice and Psychology), regardless of the college or colleges in which that degree is awarded. A double major is earned when the student completes all requirements for each of the majors and all requirements for the degree. The minimum residence requirement of 39 semester hours at Georgia State University in courses numbered 3000 or above must be met for the first major. If the second major is completed concurrently with the first major, or within five calendar years of the first major, this requirement shall be deemed to have been satisfied for both majors.

After five years from the date of the awarding of the first major, credit that was used to satisfy the university’s academic residence requirement cannot be applied toward the university’s residence requirement for the second major. Regardless of when the second major is completed.

At least one-half of the courses comprising both majors must be taken at Georgia State.

Whether in one degree or two, a student may not graduate with more than two majors. (For example, a student may not earn a B.S. with a double major in Economics and Psychology and also a B.A. in English. This would constitute three majors and would not be permissible.)

Students who wish to earn double majors should consult with the University Advisement Center or the Office of Academic Assistance of their current college and, if the second major is offered by another college in the university, with the Office of Academic Assistance of the relevant college for information on procedures to follow.

The Dean of the Honors College may, in exceptional circumstances, allow a student in the Honors College to complete three majors in one or two degrees.

1340.45 Dual Degrees

Dual degrees are earned when a student satisfies all requirements for two different baccalaureate degrees (for example, B.A. and B.S.) within one or more colleges of Georgia State University. The minimum residence requirement of 39 semester hours at Georgia State University in courses numbered 3000 or above must be met for the first degree. If the second degree is completed concurrently with the first degree, or within five calendar years of the first degree, this requirement shall be deemed to have been satisfied for both degrees. After five years from the date of the award of the first degree, credit that has been used to satisfy the university’s academic residence requirement for this degree cannot be applied toward the university’s minimum academic residence requirement for the second degree. Regardless of when the second degree is completed, both degrees require that at least one-half of the courses comprising the major must be taken at Georgia State. If a department offers more than one degree, it may prohibit a student from earning more than one degree in that department. This restriction will appear in the Program Degree Requirements section of the description of the major.

Students who wish to earn dual degrees should consult with the University Advisement Center or the Office of Academic Assistance of their current college and, if the second degree is offered by another college of this university, with the Office of Academic Assistance of the relevant college for information on procedures to follow.

1340.50 Dual Undergraduate/Graduate Degree Programs

Georgia State offers a number of dual undergraduate/graduate degree programs where select, high caliber students can complete both the bachelor’s degree and one of several prestigious graduate degrees in up to a year’s less time than it would take to pursue the two degrees consecutively. A list of the specific dual degree programs offered and information regarding admission qualifications can be found at enrollment.gsu.edu/catalogs/dual-undergraduate-graduate-degree-programs/.

1340.60 Classification of Courses

Courses are numbered as follows:

1350 The Grading System

1350.10 Grades

The following grades are used to specify level of performance in academic courses:

A: Excellent

B: Good

C: Satisfactory

(Minimum grade required for certain courses, as specified elsewhere in this catalog.)

D: Passing

A grade of D, while earning credit hours, will not apply toward the degree in courses requiring a grade of C or higher. Georgia State University will allow no more than 12 semester hours of D grades to apply toward degree requirements. Certain programs limit this further. See Section 1450 for more details.

F: Failure

This grade indicates failure. No credit toward graduation is given for a course in which a grade of F was received.

WF: Withdrawal while Failing

This grade indicates failure. No credit toward graduation is given for a course in which a grade of WF was received. A WF and F are treated the same for GPA calculation purposes.

The grades listed below are approved for use in the cases indicated but will not be included in the determination of a student’s cumulative grade point average:

W: Withdrawal

This symbol indicates that a student was permitted to withdraw from the course without penalty. (See “WF: Withdrawal While Failing” above, and Section 1332)

WM: Military Withdrawal

This symbol indicates that active duty military personnel and military reservists (including members of the National Guard) received emergency orders to active duty or reassignment during the term without penalty. (see Military Withdrawal, Section 1332.45).

I: Incomplete

The notation of I may be given to a student who, for nonacademic reasons beyond his or her control, is unable to meet the full requirements of a course. In order to qualify for an “I”, a student must:

• Have completed most of the major assignments of the course (generally all but one); and
• Be earning a passing grade in the course (aside from the assignments not completed) in the judgment of the instructor.

When a student has a nonacademic reason for not completing one or more of the assignments for a course, including examinations, and wishes to receive an incomplete for the course, it is the responsibility of the student to inform the instructor in person or in writing of the reason. A grade of incomplete is awarded at the discretion of the instructor and is not the prerogative of the student. Conditions to be met for removing a grade of incomplete are established by the instructor. Registering in a subsequent semester for a course in which a grade of incomplete has been received will not remove the grade of incomplete. (See Section 1350.30, paragraph 2.) No student may graduate with an “I” on his or her record for that degree program. If the requirements to remove a grade of incomplete are not met prior to the deadline, the grade of I will convert to a grade of F.

IP: In Progress

This symbol indicates that credit has not been given in courses that require a continuation of work beyond the term for which the student registered for the course. The use of this symbol is approved for dissertation, thesis, study abroad and project courses (such as student teaching, clinical practice and internships). The IP notation may be replaced with an appropriate grade by the instructor. This symbol cannot be substituted for an “I.”This grade is used in the Learning Support Program (LSP) to indicate that a student has demonstrated academic growth in the course; however, the level of achievement is not sufficient to meet all of the course requirements. In LSP, the grade of IP is a permanent grade and does not meet the minimum exit criteria for any course in the program.

S: Satisfactory

This symbol indicates that credit has been given for completion of degree requirements other than academic course work. The use of this symbol is approved for dissertation and thesis hours, student teaching, clinical practicum, internship, and proficiency requirements in graduate programs. This symbol is also used in a Regents’ Test Preparation Course when the Regents’ Test was passed.

U: Unsatisfactory

This symbol indicates unsatisfactory performance in an attempt to complete degree requirements other than academic course work. No credit will be given. The use of this symbol is approved for dissertation and thesis hours, student teaching, clinical practicum, internship, and proficiency requirements in graduate programs. This symbol is also used in a Regents’ Test Preparation Course when the Regents’ Test was not passed.

V: Audit

This notation is used when a student has audited a course. Students do not earn academic credit for such courses. See Section 1330.25.

K: Credit-by-examination

This symbol indicates that a student was given credit for a course based on successful performance on an examination approved for this purpose.

NR: Not Reported

This symbol indicates that a student’s grade was not reported to the Registrar’s Office by the grade submission deadline. The deadline for reporting grades for the term is published in the online Semester Calendar. The grade will be updated as soon as the instructor reports the grade.

GP: Grade Pending

This symbol indicates a grade will be assigned pending the outcome of an academic honesty case. See Section 1380.

GH: Grade Hold

This symbol indicates a grade will be assigned pending the outcome of a reinstatement appeal.

1350.20 Cumulative Grade Point Average (GPA)

Georgia State University has three cumulative grade point averages that are used to determine academic progress and appear on student’s permanent records.

Institutional GPA – Based on courses taken at Georgia State University

This cumulative grade point average is calculated by dividing all hours attempted at Georgia State University into total quality points earned. Quality points are calculated by multiplying hours earned for each course by the numerical value of the grade earned. (See the following table for numerical equivalents of letter grades.)  Credits earned in other institutions, credit by examination, credits which carry S/U grades, CLEP credit, IB credit, AP credit, remedial courses and courses specifically excluded by University policy are not used in computing the grade point average.

The institutional grade point average is used in determining your academic standing, and determines your eligibility for graduation. (A 2.00 is required for undergraduate students for graduation.)

Overall Grade Point Average: – Based on courses taken at Georgia State University and transfer grades.

The overall grade point average is calculated by dividing all hours attempted at Georgia State University and those transferred into total quality points earned. Quality points are calculated by multiplying hours earned for each course by the numerical value of the grade earned. (See the following table for numerical equivalents of letter grades.)  Credit by examination, credits which carry S/U grades, CLEP credit, IB credit, AP credit, remedial courses, and courses specifically excluded by University policy are not used in computing the grade point average.

This GPA is used by some departments that require admission to a major. See specific admission requirements within the program descriptions.

HOPE Grade Point Average:  The HOPE grade point average is calculated by dividing all hours attempted since high school graduation. This will include credits attempted for remedial courses. The calculation of this GPA does not include plus or minus attributes.  For example, both a B+ and B- will be treated as the equivalent of a B.  All grades from previous institutions attended are calculated in this grade point average.

This GPA is used to determine eligibility for the HOPE scholarship.

All grade point averages are rounded to the hundredth place. For example, 2.676 is rounded to 2.68.

All attempts at all academic courses taken are included in these calculations, based on the definitions listed above, of total number of grade points earned and the total number of semester hours attempted.

The numerical value (grade point) for academic letter grades are as follows:

The symbols I (Incomplete), IP (In Progress), W (Withdrawal), S (Satisfactory), U (Unsatisfactory), V (Audit), K (Credit-by-examination), and NR (Not Reported) do not have numerical equivalents and are not used in calculating grade point averages. The Department of Veterans Affairs defines the U and V as non-punitive grades; however, veteran students should notify the veterans’ counselor immediately upon receiving a grade of U or V.

1350.25 Repeat to Replace Policy

Under the conditions outlined below, bachelor-level students who have retaken courses and earned a higher grade may request to have the first grade excluded from their bachelor-level institutional GPA. If the request is approved, the Office of the Registrar will make appropriate notations next to the original course and the retaken course on the student’s official transcript. Grades for all attempts of the course will appear on the student’s official transcript regardless of whether or not the grade has been excluded from the student’s GPA. This policy has no effect on any GPA requirements set by state or federal laws/regulations (such as the GPA requirements set by the HOPE scholarship program). A copy of the request and approval will become part of the student’s permanent record file. The attempt to repeat a course must be made in Fall 2011 or thereafter. Students who have repeated courses prior to this date will not be allowed to delete earlier attempts from their GPA calculation. Academic Colleges may prohibit students from repeating certain courses.

An undergraduate student may request to have a grade excluded from GPA computation under the following conditions:

• Before requesting to apply the repeat-to-replace policy, a student must have retaken the same undergraduate course (or the renumbered substitute for that course) in the same department at Georgia State and earned a higher grade in the course retaken. 
• No more than a total of four course grades (from four different courses) may be replaced and excluded from the student’s GPA.
• A student may request repeat-to-replace for a course repeated during the intended semester of graduation. Requests must be submitted before the end of the second week of classes. Such requests will only be honored if the student needs a higher grade in the course to graduate.
• Once a request has been approved the request cannot be revoked or reversed.
• This policy applies only to the first recorded grade in a course that a student has repeated. For example, suppose that a student took a course three times. The student may use the second or third grade to replace the first grade. The student may not use the third grade to replace the second grade.
• Only grades that are part of a student’s institutional GPA may be replaced. For example, Ws, Ss, and Us cannot be replaced.
• This policy does not apply if the original grade was assigned as a result of a violation of the Academic Honesty policy. (The University maintains internal records of violations of the Academic Honesty policy. In addition, in some cases, violations of the Academic Honesty policy are noted on the transcript. Whether the violation is recorded internally or on the transcript, a student may not replace a grade that was awarded as a result of a violation of the Academic Honesty policy.)
• The Repeat-to-Replace applies only to degree-seeking students pursuing their first associate-level or bachelor-level degree at Georgia State.
• Students may not use this policy to replace grades awarded prior to semester conversion (for example, quarter courses).

1350.30 Changes in Grade

A course grade that has been reported by the instructor to the Office of the Registrar and recorded on the student’s academic record cannot be changed except in the following circumstances:

• Error in grade. If a student believes that there is an error in a grade, the student should discuss the situation with the instructor. A request for a change of grade assigned by an instructor who has left the University should be addressed to the chair of the department.
• Removal of an Incomplete. A student receiving a grade of I (incomplete) is expected to consult with the instructor within the prescribed time limit and to complete all necessary work. The period of time given to a student to remove a grade of I is established by the instructor, subject only to the maximum time limit set by the University. The University requires that a grade of I be removed no later than the end of the second academic term after the grade of I was assigned (whether or not the student was enrolled during these two terms). The Office of the Registrar will assign a grade of F at the end of the second academic term unless the Office of the Registrar receives an approved grade change request from the instructor. (If the student enrolled for S/U grading, a U will be assigned.). Using the grade change request process, instructors may or may not change this F/U to an authorized academic grade (i.e., A, B, C, D, S or WF) but may not change it back to an I. Instructors may not change an I to a W unless an Emergency Withdrawal is awarded. In exceptional cases, departments may authorize students to have an I grade for more than two semesters. Such authorizations must be approved by the department chair. The authorization to extend the I beyond two semesters must be renewed each semester. Registering in a subsequent semester for a course in which a grade of incomplete has been received will not remove the grade of incomplete. (See Section 1350.30, paragraph 2.) No student may graduate with an “I” on his or her record for that degree program. If the requirements to remove a grade of incomplete are not met prior to the deadline, the grade of I will convert to a grade of F.

1350.40 Posthumous Grades

When a student passes away before completing all assignments in a course, that student will be awarded a grade of W in the course. However, if the student has completed more than half the work required for the course and earned a grade of A or B in that work, the instructor may award the student an A or a B.

See section 1490.40 concerning requests for a posthumous degree.

1352 Academic Recognitions

President’s List: Degree-seeking students with a minimum Georgia State University cumulative grade point average (GPA) of 2.00 who complete at least nine semester hours of academic credit in fall or spring term (or six semester hours in summer term) with no Incompletes for the semester and who earn a 4.00 GPA will be placed on the President’s List for the semester.

Dean’s List: Degree-seeking students with a minimum Georgia State cumulative grade point average (GPA) of 2.00 who complete at least nine semester hours of academic credit in fall or spring term (or six semester hours in summer term) with no Incompletes for the semester and who earn a GPA of at least 3.50 shall be placed on the appropriate Dean’s List for the semester.

President’s and Dean’s Lists are posted on the university website three to four weeks in the subsequent semester.

1352.20 Signature Experiences

A signature experience course makes learning comes alive and encourages students to be active in their own education. Specifically, in a signature experience course, students:

1. Apply what they are learning in the classroom to the experience
2. Engage in an experience over a sustained period of time
3. Learn through experiences that are not typically encountered in the standard classroom and
4. Produce a final product that is evaluated by a faculty member.

The central learning outcome of a signature experience is the ability to apply knowledge/skills outside of a standard classroom context. Several areas of knowledge or skills are commonly addressed in Signature Experience courses, including 1) written and verbal communication; 2) critical thinking; 3) problem-solving; 4) application of knowledge to career plans, as well as to local, national, and global awareness; and 5) professional preparedness. Final products include (but are not limited to) research papers, conference presentations, presentation of works of art, case studies, and reflection papers. Signature experiences are offered as part of courses that earn course credit. Courses that have multiple sections can be either stand-alone signature experiences, where all students in every section participate in the signature experience component, or the course may have only specific sections with a signature experience dimension.” Every major offers at least one signature experience. Common types of signature experiences offered by departments include Study Abroad, Practicums, Internships, Field Studies, and Research opportunities as well as the preparation of an Honor’s Thesis.

There are six categories of signature experiences:

• Students have an Arts Signature Experience when they participate in the production or presentation of creative works.
• Students have a City Signature Experience when they participate in activities that are related to the unique challenges of urban environments.
• Students have a Global Signature Experience when they participate in activities that offer them the opportunity to learn and engage as global citizens.
• Students have a Professional Signature Experience when they participate in work-related experiences.
• Students have a Research Signature Experience when they work on a research project.
• Students have a Service Signature Experience when they integrate service and learning activities to address a community need.

Units may place appropriate prerequisites on admission to their signature experience courses. Departments may choose to create programs centered around one or more Signature Experience course. In these cases, they may limit the number of students who may enter a signature experience and set up appropriate admissions processes to determine who is accepted into a their program.

1352.30 Global Scholars

At graduation, students who who earn a B or better in five 3000-4000 courses with a global perspectives designation will be recognized as Global Scholars.

To be eligible to be a Global Scholar, students must have an overall GPA of 3.0 when they become juniors. (Students who are juniors when they first enroll at Georgia State must have a transfer GPA of 3.0.) In addition, Global Scholar must have an overall GPA of 3.0 at graduation.

At least two of these five courses must be outside the discipline of the student’s major. However, in cases, where a major gives credit for 3000-4000 courses outside its discipline, those courses count as being outside the discipline of the student’s major. For example, the pre-education concentration of the major in African-American Studies (AAS) allows students to meet some of the requirements of the AAS major with courses other than those with the AAS prefix. Courses with HIST, POLS, GEOG, ECON, and EDUC prefixes count towards the AAS major. For the purposes the Global Scholars program, the courses with HIST, POLS, GEOG, ECON, and EDUC prefixes are outside the discipline of the student’s major.

Global competence is defined as “the skills, knowledge, and awareness that enhance the ability to function in a global environment.” Each of these aspects of global competence can be further subdivided as follows:

Skills

• Foreign language skills: the ability to communicate in a language other than English
• Communication skills:  the ability to communicate with diverse audiences and with people from different backgrounds and learning styles
• Analytical skills:  the ability to analyze and synthesize comparative and cross-cultural information with sound judgment

Knowledge

• Comparative grasp of political systems, histories, religions, cultures, literatures, economies, etc.
• Recognition of global interconnectedness and conflict
• Ability to think critically about the U.S. and see it in a global context

Awareness

• Openness to different thoughts, ideas, and perspectives; curiosity; adaptability; flexibility in ambiguous or unfamiliar situations as well as in international or intercultural environments
• Willingness to stay abreast of international current events and seek out new intercultural opportunities at home or abroad
• Appreciation of and respect for difference and diversity and a highly developed sense of empathy, awareness, and concern

1352.40 City Scholars

At graduation, students who earn a B or better in five 3000-4000 courses with a cities perspectives designation will be recognized as City Scholars.

To be eligible to be a City Scholar, students must have an overall GPA of 3.0 when they become juniors. (Students who are juniors when they first enroll at Georgia State must have a transfer GPA of 3.0.) In addition, City Scholars must have an overall GPA of 3.0 at graduation.

At least two of these five courses must be outside the discipline of the student’s major. However, in cases, where a major gives credit for 3000-4000 courses outside its discipline, those courses count as being outside the discipline of the student’s major. For example, the pre-law concentration of the major in philosophy (PHIL) allows students to meet some of the requirements of the PHIL major with courses other than those with the PHIL prefix. For example some courses with HIST or POLS prefixes count towards the PHIL major. For the purposes the City Scholars program, the courses with HIST and POLS prefixes are outside the discipline of the student’s major.

Courses are designed to help students develop competence in urban issues and thus help them to become leaders in understanding the complex challenges of cities and in developing effective solutions to those challenges.

City courses at Georgia State are ones that meet one or more of the following criteria:

1. Have as a substantial focus the historical, geographical, social, cultural, economic, environmental, political, policy & planning, and/or design dimensions of city life.
2. Provide students with hands-on experience in addressing or investigating problems or opportunities inherent in city life.

Competence in urban issues is defined as “the skills, knowledge, and awareness that enhance the ability to understand and address the problems and possibilities of cities.”

Skills

• Analytical skills: the ability to analyze and synthesize comparative and diverse information about cities with sound judgment
• Communication skills: the ability to communicate with diverse audiences and with people from different backgrounds and learning styles
• Organizational skills: the ability to recognize diverse contributing partners and find ways to integrate other disciplines toward a constructive end

Knowledge

• Recognition of the complex interconnectedness of cities in urban systems
• Ability to think critically about the complex challenges posed by the city as a creative force in society

Awareness

• Interest in new and different thoughts, ideas, and perspectives; curiosity; adaptability; flexibility in ambiguous or unique situations
• Appreciation of and respect for differences and diversity, coupled with a developed sense of openness, empathy, and concern
• Advocacy for effective solutions that contribute to livable communities and sustainable cities

1360 Academic Support

1360.10 Scholastic Discipline

There are four levels of scholastic discipline for all students regardless of status or program: warning, supervision, probation, and exclusion. A student who is eligible to enroll in courses is in good standing.

Students are placed on:

• Warning when their cumulative Georgia State University GPA is below 2.0 and they were not on supervision or probation the previous semester in attendance. However, students on warning who attempt 6 or more semester hours in the subsequent semester and earn a Georgia State term GPA of 2.3 or better will remain on warning.
• Supervision when their cumulative Georgia State GPA is below 2.0 and they were on warning the previous semester in attendance. However, students on supervision who attempt 6 or more semester hours and earn a Georgia State term GPA of 2.3 or better will remain on supervision.
• Probation when their cumulative Georgia State GPA is below 2.0 and they were on supervision the previous semester in attendance. However, students on probation who attempt 6 or more semester hours and earn a Georgia State term GPA of 2.3 or better will remain on probation.
• Exclusion when their cumulative Georgia State GPA is below 2.0 and they were on probation the previous semester in attendance.

Students on warning, supervision or probation may be allowed to enroll with specific restrictions (see Section 1360.20). Students on exclusion are not eligible to enroll in any baccalaureate undergraduate program at Georgia State. No transfer credit will be accepted for courses taken at other institutions while on exclusion.

Students on warning, supervision, or probation should refer to Section 1360.20 and consult with an advisor in the University Advisement Center for additional information about scholastic discipline.

1360.20 Academic Improvement Program (AIP)

The Academic Improvement Program (AIP) is intended to assist students in extricating themselves from scholastic discipline and to meet the graduation requirement of an institutional Georgia State University GPA of 2.0 or higher. The elements of AIP are registration approvals by an advisor, course load limits, and survival skills instruction. For further information about AIP, please contact the University Advisement Center at advisement.gsu.edu.

Students on warning or supervision are required to participate in AIP as follows: (a) have their registration approved by an academic advisor; (b) register for no more than 13 semester hours; (c) and take any other steps required by the academic advisor (for example, seeing their major advisor, participating in an assessment by the Counseling Center, etc.). Students on warning or supervision must continue to participate in AIP until their institutional Georgia State GPA is 2.0 or higher.

A college may, at its option, require students on probation not to enroll at Georgia State for one semester. If students on probation are allowed to enroll, they are required to participate in AIP as follows: (a) have their registration approved by an academic advisor; (b) register for no more than 13 semester hours; and (c) take any other steps required by the academic advisor (for example, seeing their major advisor, participating in an assessment by the Counseling Center, etc.). Students enrolling while on probation must continue to participate in AIP until their institutional Georgia State GPA is 2.0 or higher.

Students participating in AIP may be assigned to GSU 1050, Survival Skills for College. GSU 1050 may be taken only once and does not count toward credit hour requirements for graduation. Credit hours enrolled in GSU 1050 count toward the 13 semester hour course load limit for students participating in AIP. Grades received for GSU 1050 are used to calculate the institutional GPA and the term GPA.

Students on exclusion are not eligible to enroll in any baccalaureate undergraduate program at Georgia State and may not participate in AIP.

Appeals for exemption from some or all of the requirements of AIP should be submitted to the director of the University Advisement Center. Appeals of decisions by the director of the University Advisement Center may be filed in accordance with the procedure for petition of university regulations. Information about AIP and appeals of AIP requirements is available from the University Advisement Center.

1360.30 Academic Renewal

Under certain conditions, Georgia State University allows its former undergraduate students to apply for academic renewal. This provision is intended to allow Georgia State degree-seeking students who have experienced academic difficulty to make a fresh start and to give them a final opportunity to earn a bachelor’s degree. It can apply to individuals on scholastic exclusion. These are the provisions of academic renewal:

Eligibility for Academic Renewal

• A minimum of five calendar years must have passed since last enrollment at Georgia State University.
• Former Department of Academic Foundations (formerly Division of Learning Support Programs and Developmental Studies) students may apply for academic renewal only if they completed all learning support programs requirements prior to the five-year absence.
• A student can be granted academic renewal only one time.
• A student who was excluded from Georgia State and has attended another college or university during the absence from Georgia State is not eligible for academic renewal.
• A student who was not excluded from Georgia State but attended another college or university during an absence of five or more years may choose one of these options, but not both:
  1. Return to Georgia State, having attended another accredited institution, subject to all relevant transfer and re-entry policies. The student will not be eligible for academic renewal but transfer credit will be granted for applicable courses taken during the absence and previously earned Georgia State credit is retained.
  2. Apply for academic renewal. If academic renewal is approved, no transfer credit will be granted for coursework completed during the absence.

Effects of Academic Renewal

• A cumulative GPA that reflects all attempts at all courses taken at Georgia State continues to be recorded on the student’s official transcript. A new renewal institutional GPA is begun when the student has been approved for academic renewal and is also recorded on the student’s official transcript. The renewal institutional GPA will be used for determining academic standing and eligibility for graduation.
• Academic credit for previously completed course work including transfer course work will be retained only for courses in which an A, B, or C grade has been earned.
• The grades for Georgia State academic credit that are retained are not calculated in the renewal institutional GPA. The courses are applied toward degree requirements are applicable. This credit, therefore, is placed in the same category as transfer credit, credit by examination, and courses with grades of S (not part of the calculated institutional GPA).
• Courses for which academic credit is not retained (those with grades of D or lower) must be repeated at Georgia State if they are required in the student’s degree program. All remaining degree requirements must be completed at Georgia State. No transient or transfer credit will be accepted.
• Whether the retained academic credit is still applicable for degree credit will depend on the degree requirements currently in effect at the time the student returns to Georgia State and on specific program regulations.
• All courses taken at Georgia State remain on the student’s official Georgia State transcript. At the time academic renewal is approved, this approval is noted on the student’s transcript. Any Georgia State course work for which credit can be retained is listed below the academic renewal notation.
• Reentry into a program that has specific admission requirements is not automatic. Academic renewal students who wish admission to such a program must apply directly to the program.
• Students must meet the academic residence requirement (see section 1440) using only course credit earned after academic renewal.
• To be eligible for honors at graduation, students must earn at least 60 hours of credit after academic renewal.

Applying for Academic Renewal

To apply for academic renewal, the student must obtain approval both from the Office of Undergraduate Admissions and from the University Advisement Center.

1. File an application for reentry to the university with the Office of Undergraduate Admissions, 200 Sparks Hall, http://admissions.gsu.edu/how-do-i-apply/other-enrollment-types/re-entry-students/.
2. File an application for academic renewal with the Universtity Advisement Center. The deadlines for applying for academic renewal in order to enroll for a semester are:

   To return in	Deadline
   Fall	July 1
   Spring	December 1
   Summer	May 1

Application for Academic Renewal before the prescribed deadlines will aid in the timely return of a decision. Those students whose return to Georgia State University is dependent on approval for academic renewal should be especially diligent in their timely submission of their application.

If a student does not apply for academic renewal at the time of enrollment, it can be requested after reenrollment if the application is filed within one calendar year.

• A student whose application for academic renewal is not approved will be notified by letter from the University Advisement Center. Unless specific information to the contrary is given in the letter, the student may reapply for academic renewal after one year has passed.
• Evaluation of a student’s application for academic renewal will be based on the student’s:
  1. Previous academic record;
  2. Previous student discipline record; and
  3. Current commitment to academic work.

1380 Academic Honesty

1. Introduction

As members of the academic community, students are expected to recognize and uphold standards of intellectual and academic integrity. The University assumes as a basic and minimum standard of conduct in academic matters that students be honest and that they submit for credit only the products of their own efforts. Both the ideals of scholarship and the need for fairness require that all dishonest work be rejected as a basis for academic credit. They also require that students refrain from any and all forms of dishonorable or unethical conduct related to their academic work.

The University’s policy on academic honesty is published in the Faculty Handbook (http://www2.gsu.edu/~wwwfhb/fhb.html) and the Student Handbook, On Campus, which is available to all members of the University community (http://studenthandbook.gsu.edu/). Academic honesty is a core value of the University and all members of the University community are responsible for abiding by the tenets of the policy. Georgia State students, faculty, and staff, are expected to report all instances of academic dishonesty to the appropriate authorities. The procedures for such reporting are outlined below and on file in the offices of the deans of each college, the Office of the Dean of Students, and the Office of the Provost.

Lack of knowledge of this policy is not an acceptable defense to any charge of academic dishonesty. In an effort to foster an environment of academic integrity and to prevent academic dishonesty, students are expected to discuss with faculty the expectations regarding course assignments and standards of conduct. Students are encouraged to discuss freely with faculty, academic advisors, and other members of the University community any questions pertaining to the provisions of this policy. In addition, students are encouraged to avail themselves of programs in establishing personal standards and ethics offered by the university.

No instructor or department may impose academic or disciplinary penalties for academic dishonesty outside the parameters of this policy. This policy applies to all incidents of academic dishonesty, including those that occur before a student graduates but are not discovered until after the degree is conferred. In such cases, it is possible that the application of this policy will lead to a failure to meet degree completion requirements and therefore a revocation of a student’s degree.

Many colleges and/or departments provide statements of what constitutes academic dishonesty within the context of their discipline, and recommend penalties for specific types of academic dishonesty. As noted in the Faculty Handbook, all syllabi are required to make reference to the Academic Honesty Policy; syllabi should also include a link to departmental standards where they exist.

2. Definitions and Examples
The examples and definitions given below are intended to clarify the standards by which academic honesty and academically honorable conduct are to be judged. The list is merely illustrative of the kinds of infractions that may occur, and it is not intended to be exhaustive. Moreover, the definitions and examples suggest conditions under which unacceptable behavior of the indicated types normally occurs; however, there may be unusual cases that fall outside these conditions which also will be judged unacceptable by the academic community.

Plagiarism. Plagiarism is presenting another person’s work as one’s own. Plagiarism includes any paraphrasing or summarizing of the works of another person without acknowledgment, including the submitting of another student’s work as one’s own. Plagiarism frequently involves a failure to acknowledge in the text, notes, or footnotes the quotation of the paragraphs, sentences, or even a few phrases written or spoken by someone else. The submission of research or completed papers or projects by someone else is plagiarism, as is the unacknowledged use of research sources gathered by someone else when that use is specifically forbidden by the faculty member. Failure to indicate the extent and nature of one’s reliance on other sources is also a form of plagiarism. Failure to indicate the extent and nature of one’s reliance on other sources is also a form of plagiarism. Any work, in whole or part, taken from the internet without properly referencing the corresponding URL (along with the author’s name and title of the work, if available) may be considered plagiarism. Finally, there may be forms of plagiarism that are unique to an individual discipline or course, examples of which should be provided in advance by the faculty member. The student is responsible for understanding the legitimate use of sources, the appropriate ways of acknowledging academic, scholarly or creative indebtedness, and the consequences of violating this responsibility.

Cheating on Examinations. Cheating on examinations involves giving or receiving unauthorized help before, during, or after an examination. Examples of unauthorized help include the use of notes, texts, or “crib sheets” during an examination (unless specifically approved by the faculty member), or sharing information with another student during an examination (unless specifically approved by the faculty member). Other examples include intentionally allowing another student to view one’s own examination and collaboration before or after an examination if such collaboration is specifically forbidden by the faculty member.

Unauthorized Collaboration. Unauthorized collaboration means working with someone or getting assistance from someone (a classmate, friend, etc.) without specific permission from the instructor on any assignment (e.g., exam, paper, homework) that is turned in for a grade. It is also a violation of academic honesty to knowingly provide such assistance to another student. Collaborative work specifically authorized by a faculty member is allowed.

Falsification. It is a violation of academic honesty to misrepresent material or fabricate information in an academic exercise, assignment or proceeding (e.g., false or misleading citation of sources, the falsification of the results of experiments or of computer data, false or misleading information in an academic context in order to gain an unfair advantage).

Multiple Submissions. It is a violation of academic honesty to submit substantial portions of the same work for credit more than once without the explicit consent of the faculty member(s) to whom the material is submitted for additional credit. In cases in which there is a natural development of research or knowledge in a sequence of courses, use of prior work may be desirable, even required; however, the student is responsible for indicating in writing, as a part of such use, that the current work submitted for credit is cumulative in nature.

3. Information and Burden of Proof
In determining whether or not academic dishonesty has occurred, the standard which should be used is that guilt must be proven by a preponderance of the information. This means that if the information which indicates that academic dishonesty occurred produces a stronger impression and is more convincing as to its truth when weighed against opposing information, then academic dishonesty has been proved. In other words, the information does not have to be enough to free the mind from a reasonable doubt but must be sufficient to incline a reasonable and impartial mind to one side of the issue rather than to the other. Information as used in this statement can be any observation, admission, statement, or document which would either directly or circumstantially indicate that academic dishonesty has occurred.

4. Procedures for Resolving Matters of Academic Honesty

The following procedure is the only approved means for resolving matters of academic dishonesty, except for matters arising in the College of Law, which has its own Honor Code for handling such matters. It is available to all members of the academic community who wish to pursue an action against a student for academic dishonesty. A brief summary of the procedures is presented here; details of these procedures are found in the following sections.

1. The faculty member should discuss the incident with the student before filing a charge of academic dishonesty. The faculty member, in consultation with the department chair, prepares the Notice of Academic Dishonesty The chair forwards the notice to the college dean, who sends the notification to the student by university email or by certified mail.
2. The student must appeal in writing to the College Dean within 10 business days of the date the email was sent or the certified mail was received if the student wishes to deny the finding of academic dishonesty.
3. If the student does not appeal within 10 business days, the College Dean forwards the notice of academic dishonesty to the Dean of Students.
4. If the student appeals the charges, a College Hearing Committee conducts a hearing and reports its findings to the College Dean regarding guilt or innocence. If the student is found not guilty, the faculty member is notified to assign an appropriate grade. If the student is found guilty, the dean forwards the notice of academic dishonesty to the dean of students.
5. Any recommendation for a disciplinary penalty and a challenge of that disciplinary penalty submitted by the student, if any, is reviewed by the University Senate Committee on Student Discipline. Based on the committee’s recommendation, the provost makes a decision and takes action regarding any disciplinary sanction.
6. The dean of students maintains the disciplinary records on all findings of academic dishonesty and is responsible for forwarding notice of multiple findings to the Senate Committee on Student Discipline for review. Multiple findings may result in a disciplinary penalty even if one was not recommended by the faculty member.

5. Initiation of Action

If a member of the academic community believes that a student has engaged in academic dishonesty in a course, on a test, or as a part of an academic program, that individual is responsible for initiating action against the student or bringing the matter to the attention of an individual who may initiate action against the student (i.e., complete and submit a notification of academic honesty). In allegations of academic dishonesty involving course requirements, the course faculty member is required to initiate the action. If the alleged violation involves a departmental program requirement (e.g., comprehensive examination or language competency examination) or an institutionally-required test (e.g., test of Georgia/United States history or Georgia/United States constitutions), or if the individual who discovers the incident is not a faculty member, the individual should bring the matter to the attention of the faculty member and administrator who has responsibility of overseeing the activity (e.g., departmental chair, director of the Testing Office). If that administrator decides to bring charges of academic dishonesty against the student, then that administrator becomes the initiator. (Test proctors, laboratory assistants, and other individuals who are not course faculty members should bring any instances of alleged academic dishonesty to the attention of the course faculty member or their administrative superior. That individual, after weighing the information, may become the initiator by formally charging the student with academic dishonesty.)

The channel of review, recommendation, and decision-making follows the administrative lines associated with the course or program requirement involved. In any instance, however, when the alleged incident does not occur within the context of a course, and when it is unclear which college should have jurisdiction in review and decision-making, any unit may initiate the case.

For the sake of brevity the following processing procedures are written from an academic unit/college perspective. Nonacademic units (i.e., Testing Center) would substitute appropriate supervisory personnel at the respective levels. Herein the initiator will be referred to as faculty member and the administrative unit head will be referred to as chair, designating the departmental chair. Dean will refer to appropriate administrative supervisory personnel at the overall college or division level.

When an allegation of academic dishonesty is made, the relevant dean will inform the Office of the Registrar to place a grade of GP (grade pending) for the student in the course involved. Withdrawal from a course does not preclude the imposition of penalties for academic dishonesty. While the matter of academic dishonesty is pending, the student will be allowed to continue in the course and register for upcoming semesters.

A. Penalties to be Imposed
Penalties to be imposed in incidents of academic dishonesty are classified as academic or disciplinary. Academic penalties include assignment of a failing grade for a particular course requirement, or for the course itself, or for other tests or program assignments. They are set by the faculty member, in consultation with the department chair.

Disciplinary penalties can be sought in addition to those considered academic and could include, but are not limited to, the following: suspension, expulsion, transcript annotations (temporary for a period of five years or permanent, as designated). Course credit earned at other institutions while on suspension may not be transferred to Georgia State. Disciplinary penalties can be requested by the faculty member, in consultation with the chair; they must be reviewed by the University Senate Committee on Student Discipline and they are set by the provost.

B. Action at Administrative Unit (Department and College Level)
As soon as possible after the alleged incident, the faculty member should discuss the matter with the student. This discussion should be conducted in a manner which protects the rights and confidentiality of students. If the faculty member believes that academic dishonesty has occurred, the faculty member, in consultation with the department chair, will determine the appropriate academic penalty. The faculty member and the chair will complete a notice of academic dishonesty form describing the incident and indicating the academic penalty imposed and any recommended disciplinary penalty. The chair will forward the notice of academic dishonesty, which includes a statement of the right to appeal, to the dean of the college, who delivers it a either through the student’s official university email address or by certified mail.

C. Student Action
The student will have 10 business days after receipt of the notice of charges of academic dishonesty (i.e., the date that the email was sent or that the certified mail was received) to submit a written appeal denying the charges and providing any rationale for the appeal. The appeal should be addressed to the college dean of the initiator. In the event the student is found guilty of academic dishonesty, the student does not have the right to appeal the academic penalty assessed by the faculty member, unless the student can prove that such penalty was arbitrarily imposed or applied in a discriminatory manner.

If the student wishes to challenge a disciplinary penalty, the student must submit a written rationale for challenging the disciplinary penalty within 10 business days of receipt of the notice of charges of academic dishonesty. The statement of challenge should be addressed to the college dean. The college dean will forward the challenge to the dean of students for inclusion in the review of the disciplinary penalty by the University Senate Committee on Student Discipline. All disciplinary penalties are automatically reviewed by the University Senate Committee on Student Discipline, regardless of student appeal.

If the student has also filed an appeal denying the charges of academic dishonesty, any review of disciplinary penalty recommended will be delayed pending review of the charges of academic dishonesty by the college hearing committee.

D. College Action
1. No Appeal by the Student. If the student does not submit a written appeal to the college dean or challenge the disciplinary penalty within 10 business days, the college dean will notify the chair/faculty member to post any pending grade(s) immediately. The college dean will then forward the notice of academic dishonesty to the dean of students for inclusion in the student’s disciplinary file. Any recommendation of a disciplinary penalty will also be forwarded to the dean of students for appropriate review by the Senate Committee on Student Discipline.

2. Appeal by the Student.

1. If the student submits a written appeal of the charges of academic honesty, the college dean will forward the charges to the chair of a college hearing committee and will notify the faculty member to set forth in writing a comprehensive response describing the incident of academic dishonesty. This statement will be presented to the committee and to the student at least five (5) business days prior to the hearing.
2. If the student wishes to challenge the disciplinary penalty without appealing the charges of academic honesty, a college hearing committee will not be convened; instead, the college dean will forward the challenge to the dean of students for inclusion in the review of the disciplinary penalty by the University Senate Committee on Student Discipline.

3. Student Hearing Committee Process. Guidelines that Govern the Hearing of the Appeal by the College Student Hearing Committee

1. Within ten (10) business days after the committee receives the charges of academic dishonesty, a hearing date will be determined. The committee will notify the faculty member and the student of the time, date, and the place of the hearing. Copies of all charges of academic dishonesty and related materials for the hearing will be provided to the student at least five (5) business days in advance of the hearing.
2. The faculty member and the student will be allowed to make oral presentations, call witnesses, and present any documentary information regarding the incident in question. The hearing will be recorded on audio tape. The hearing will not be open to observers.
3. At the conclusion of the hearing, the committee will meet in closed session and will make its recommendation as to the guilt or innocence of the student based on a preponderance of information with respect to the charge of academic dishonesty. The committee chair will forward to the college dean its findings and recommendations in a written report within five (5) business days of the hearing.

4. College Decision on Appeals. Within five (5) business days of receiving the committee’s written report, the college dean will make the final decision regarding guilt or innocence. The college dean will notify all appropriate parties of the decision.

If the college dean finds the student not guilty, the matter will be terminated and no notice of charges will be filed with the dean of students. The college dean will notify the chair to post the pending course grade promptly and will notify the registrar to remove the GP (grade pending) on the student’s transcript.
If the college dean finds the student guilty, the notice of charges of academic dishonesty will be forwarded to the dean of students for inclusion in the student’s disciplinary file. The academic penalty stipulated by the faculty member will be imposed. The college dean will notify the chair to insure that any pending grade is posted promptly. The college dean will notify the registrar to remove the GP (grade pending) on the student’s transcript if only an academic penalty was involved.

If a disciplinary penalty has been recommended, the college dean will notify the registrar to continue the GP (grade pending) annotation until the disciplinary penalty can be reviewed by the University Senate Committee on Student Discipline.

5. Appeal of the Decision of the Dean. If the student or initiator wishes to appeal the decision of the college dean regarding guilt or innocence of the charges of academic dishonesty, the student or initiator may appeal to the provost. The subsequent appeal route would be to the president and then the Board of Regents. The student or initiator must submit a written statement of appeal to the provost within 10 business days of notification of the dean’s decision. The basis of the appeal must be on the grounds that the decision was arbitrary, capricious, or discriminatory.

E. UNIVERSITY SENATE COMMITTEE ON STUDENT DISCIPLINE ACTION
In cases where a disciplinary penalty has been recommended, the Senate Committee on Student Discipline will conduct a hearing to review the disciplinary penalty. The committee will review the faculty member’s notice of academic dishonesty and the student’s statement of challenge of the disciplinary penalty, if any. The faculty member and the student will be allowed to appear at the hearing to discuss the imposition of disciplinary penalties. Only the recommendation concerning the disciplinary penalty to be imposed will be considered by this committee. Issues of guilt or innocence are determined at the college level (see II.4 C and D above).

The Senate Committee will conduct the hearing in accordance with its regular hearing procedures. Copies of these procedures may be obtained from the Provost’s Office.

The Senate Committee on Student Discipline will provide its recommendation within five (5) business days of its hearing to the provost regarding appropriateness of the disciplinary penalty recommended by the college and/or whether other disciplinary penalties are to be imposed in addition to or in lieu of those already recommended by the college.

F. PROVOST ACTION

1. Decision of the Provost. The role of the provost in handling student appeals regarding the charge of academic honesty has been explained (see II.E.5 above). Based on the recommendation, the Provost will render a decision within ten (10) business days of receipt of the recommendation of the Senate Committee. The provost will notify the student, the referring dean, the department chair and the faculty member of the Senate Committee’s recommendations and of the provost’s decision. At that time the provost will also notify the registrar to annotate the student’s transcript, if necessary.
2. Appeal of the Decision of the Provost. If the student wishes to appeal the decision of the provost regarding the imposition of a disciplinary penalty, the student may appeal to the president, and then to the Board of Regents. The student must submit a written statement of appeal to the president within ten (10) business days of notification of the provost’s decision. The basis for such an appeal must be on the grounds that the decision was arbitrary, capricious, or discriminatory.

G. STUDENTS INVOLVED IN TWO OR MORE INCIDENTS OF ACADEMIC DISHONESTY
A student is subject to disciplinary action in addition to any already undertaken once it is determined that the student has been found guilty in a previous incident of academic dishonesty. In such cases, the dean of students will forward a report to the University Senate Committee on Student Discipline regarding the incidents of academic dishonesty which have been reported. The dean of students is responsible for initiating this report within ten (10) business days of notification of the proceedings of any subsequent finding of academic dishonesty.

The University Senate Committee on Student Discipline will review the report of the dean of students. The student may submit supplemental written documents for the committee’s review and may request to appear before the committee in its deliberations. After reviewing the matter, the committee will send a report to the provost with the recommendation for disciplinary penalty to be imposed. The provost will proceed as in G above.

H. GRIEVANCE PROCEDURES FOR ACADEMIC MATTERS

1. Each of the undergraduate colleges has stated policies for settling grievances of students for academic matters. Refer to the office of the dean of each college for policies.
2. Obligation to Report Suspected Violations. Members of the academic community, students, faculty and staff are expected to report all instances of academic dishonesty to the appropriate authorities. The procedures for such reporting are on file in the offices of the deans of each college.
3. Penalties. The University takes the matter of academic honesty most seriously. Penalties for violations vary, but include both suspension and permanent expulsion from the institution.

1382 Student Complaints, Petitions for Policy Waivers and Variances, and Appeals

The appeals procedure for students will follow different courses depending on the nature of the student’s appeal. Please refer to University Information Section 1050.80 under Polices and Disclosures in this catalog or visit enrollment.gsu.edu/assistance online for details.