Information on Graduate Studies

• Master’s Degree Requirements
• Registering for Courses
• Academic Policies
• Academic Standards
• Academic Dishonesty Policy

Geneseo provides master’s degree programs in Accounting and Education. Most programs are offered for full-time or part-time students, with courses generally scheduled in the late afternoon and evening. Internship and other field placement courses usually require students to be enrolled on a full-time basis for the duration of the internship.

Inquiries concerning graduate study in all areas should be referred to the Office of Graduate Admissions.

For program-specific questions, students may contact:

• Accounting Program: Harry Howe (Director, MS in Accounting)
• Education Programs: Jeanne Galbraith (Interim Dean, School of Education)
• History Program: Justin Behrend (Graduate Coordinator, MA in History)

Master’s Degree Requirements

The following general academic policies must be followed in meeting master’s degree requirements.

Plan of Study

Each student in a master’s degree program follows a formal plan of study, which they draw up in consultation with a faculty advisor. Although practices vary within each program, the College highly recommends that students file a formal plan before beginning graduate study and, certainly, no later than midterm of the first semester of graduate study. Changes in the formal program must be approved by the director/coordinator of the student’s graduate program (or designee).

Students in the MS Accounting normally complete that program as a single cohort. In the event of unusual circumstances, students can work with the program director to modify the normal course of study as circumstances may warrant.

Change of Degree Objective

A graduate student who desires to change from one degree program to another must secure the written approval of the program coordinators for both the current and new programs. An application for degree status must be filed for the new degree program.

Degree Time Limitations

A graduate student in a degree program who does not actively pursue a credit-bearing course of study at Geneseo for a period of three years is automatically separated from the College. 

If the student subsequently meets the admission standards in effect at the time of application for readmission, they may be admitted to a degree program current at that time. The appropriate School determines the courses completed prior to separation which are applicable to the degree program being pursued following readmission.

Only those credits which were earned within six years immediately prior to the completion of all degree requirements may be counted toward the master’s degree.

Transfer and Workshop Credit

Transfer credits may be accepted as part of a graduate program if they are:

1. graduate level and from a graduate degree program;
2. relevant to the student’s program;
3. from a fully accredited institution;
4. of “B” quality or higher;
5. less than five years old at the time of the student’s first enrollment at Geneseo

Students already enrolled in a graduate program at Geneseo should consult with their advisor and department chair, program director/coordinator prior to registering for courses which they wish to have transferred to their graduate program at the College. A maximum of six credits in graduate workshop courses may be accepted as part of a master’s degree program. All graduate workshop courses are designated, numerically, as 579, or 679. Subtitles for each workshop course offering are listed in the semester Master Schedule of Course Offerings. Workshops may be graded either on a Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory or regular grade basis. This information is contained in the course description of each specific workshop offering. S/U grades are not used in the computation of students’ grade-point averages.

The total of transfer and workshop credits accepted towards a master’s degree may not exceed 12 hours.

Enrollment in Undergraduate Courses

Credit toward a graduate degree may not be granted for coursework below the 500 level except following approval of a petition to the program director/coordinator. In general, such approval shall be limited to unusual program circumstances adequately documented in petitions.

Master’s Thesis (or Project)

Master’s degree candidates in several programs have the option to complete a thesis or project in partial fulfillment of degree requirements. Candidates should check the requirements of their specific program. The thesis is prepared under the direction of the major department and should demonstrate capacity for independent research, facility in organization and expression, and originality in thought. The thesis must receive the approval of the school or department, and the program’s general guidelines for its preparation should be consulted. A candidate considering completion of a thesis or project should review all guidelines with a faculty advisor before pursuing this choice. Students who anticipate selecting the thesis or project option should so notify the appropriate department office as early in their program as possible. A student must formally notify the director/coordinator of the graduate program of their intention to make a thesis defense. This registration should be done as soon as possible, but in no case later than two weeks prior to the defense.

A candidate for a thesis must:

1. be an admitted degree student;
2. have completed all major area course requirements and foreign language requirements by the end of the semester in which the thesis is written
3. be able to provide the examining committee with copies of the completed thesis a minimum of two weeks prior to the examination; and
4. have a graduate GPA of 3.00 or higher.

Comprehensive Examinations

Master’s degree candidates in several programs have the option to take a written comprehensive examination in partial fulfillment of degree requirements. Candidates should check the requirements of their specific program. The dates for the examination are set by each individual program but generally occur no later than two weeks prior to the end of the instructional period in which candidates expect to complete requirements for the master’s degree. Early in their graduate program, candidates should contact the Dean of their school or chair of department for specific information as to the nature of the comprehensive examination and for guidance in preparing for it. A student must register their intention to take a comprehensive examination. This registration should be done as soon as possible before the examination, but no later than two months prior to the examination.

A candidate for a comprehensive examination must:

1. be an admitted degree student;
2. be within six credits of graduation at the end of the semester in which the examination is taken;
3. have completed all major requirements and core area course requirements and foreign language requirements as specified in the candidate’s program; and
4. have a graduate GPA of 3.00 or higher.

The comprehensive examination must be passed in its entirety before credit for the examination is awarded. A student failing all or part of an examination may request a second attempt to pass the test. The student’s request should be made in writing to the supervising department no later than thirty days after formal receipt of the failing grade notice. Second attempts will be made in the next scheduled offering of the examination unless special arrangements have been approved by the academic department(s) in question. Failure on the second attempt of all or any part of a comprehensive examination will subject a student to academic dismissal from the program. Candidates cannot attempt the comprehensive examination more than twice, with a retest of any part considered another attempt. Following an unsuccessful first attempt, the candidate cannot elect another terminal option such as a thesis or comprehensive project. Copies of the College Policies governing the administration of comprehensive examinations are available in the appropriate departmental offices.

Registering for Courses

For new graduate students, please send an email to the program’s contact (listed above) with a list of courses that you wish to take. Make sure you include your name, your G00#, the course titles, and the course CRN’s. When pre-registration begins for your second semester of classes, you will be able to register by yourself through Knightweb. 

Knightweb/Geneseo Student I.D. Numbers

Students use Knightweb in order to access their personal, registration, financial aid, and records information. If you have never used Knightweb before and do not know your Geneseo Student I.D. number, please contact Kelly Hoag. It would be a good idea to memorize this number as you will be using it often.

Graduate Course Numbering System

Courses numbered 600-699 are open only to matriculated graduate students majoring in the discipline offering them; those numbered 500-599 are open to all graduate students who fulfill prerequisites listed. Undergraduate courses are numbered 100-499. Undergraduate courses may be taken for graduate credit only upon special approval from the director/coordinator. Such petitions are rarely accepted.

Prerequisites

Certain courses list one or more prerequisites, which are usually indicated by department and course numbers. Satisfactory completion of the prerequisite course(s) is expected before registration for the advanced courses. Prerequisites are instituted to assist students in avoiding courses for which they are not adequately prepared and to maintain academic and/or instructional standards.

If a student believes they had “equivalent” preparation for a prerequisite, they may request a waiver of the prerequisite from the course instructor and/or program coordinator. The term “concurrently” or “co-requisite” means that simultaneous registration in the indicated course(s) must be maintained as long as the student remains registered in the original course. Previous completion of indicated course(s) also satisfies the requirement. In all cases, it is the student’s responsibility to abide by prerequisite statements. Doubts about eligibility should be resolved by consulting an academic advisor, the instructor of the course, or the School concerned.

Course Load

Course loads are determined by the program and the student in consultation with a student’s academic advisor. The maximum load for full-time graduate students during the regular academic year is 12 hours per semester, unless you are in the Accounting program which is 15 credit hours. During the summer term, the maximum load may exceed this limit where program requirements and course rotations require it. A petition to carry more than the maximum load during the summer term must be approved in writing by the student’s advisor and the Dean or program director/coordinator.

Directed and Independent Study Courses

Directed studies are created by individual arrangement between faculty and students. Class meetings are held at times mutually agreed upon by instructors and students, rather than on the published schedule. Course requirements are completed by students on an independent, individualized basis, under the guidance and supervision of members of the faculty. Within a single discipline or combinations thereof, students engage in academic pursuits such as: (1) conducting research and reporting results; (2) investigating problems and presenting and/or discussing conclusions; (3) reading intensively in the discipline(s); and (4) studying advanced subject matter content relating to a selected subject, special topic, or specific area. Opportunities for directed study are available in many of the content and departmental areas at the College. The levels at which such study can be undertaken vary, but the numbers of such courses end in “95.” 

Withdrawal from Course(s)

Students may withdraw from courses after the end of the add/drop period but before the withdrawal dates published each semester on the College’s academic calendar. In courses from which they have withdrawn, students receive the grade of “W,” which does not affect the grade point average; however, students who stop attending without withdrawing receive grades of “E.” Although W grades do not affect students’ grade point averages, they can affect hours completed for satisfactory progress requirements and are recorded on students’ transcripts.

Auditing Courses

Auditing graduate courses offered by the School of Education requires the permission of both the instructor of the course and the Dean of the School of Education. Auditing is not available for courses offered by the School of Business. The College provides no formal recognition or proof of attendance to auditors.

Academic Policies

Grading System

The grade point average defines the level of scholarship achieved by a student. It is used in determining scholastic standing and in establishing eligibility for honors. The average is computed by dividing the “quality points” earned by “credits carried.” “Carried credits” include all those for courses in which grades of A, A-, B+, B, B-, C+, C, C-, D, or E are received. Quality points are awarded as follows for each of these assigned final grades:

Grade point average

The “grade point average” defines the level of scholarship achieved by a student. The average is computed by dividing “quality points earned” by the “credits carried.” “Carried” hours include all those courses in which grades of A, A-, B+, B, B-, C+, C, C-, D, and E are recorded. Determination of a sample grade point average for a semester follows:

The grade point average in the example above equals 40.2 (quality points) divided by 12 (credits carried) = 3.35, which indicates a level of scholarship above a B (3.00) for the semester. (Note: Grade point averages are truncated to two decimal places, with no rounding up from a third decimal place.)

No other grades received at the College (e.g., P or S) earn quality points. Grades in courses taken at other schools and accepted in transfer do not earn quality points at Geneseo. At the end of each semester, two grade point averages are computed: one for the “Current Semester” (which reflects the results only of courses carried in the semester just completed) and the other for the “Cumulative Record” (which reflects the results of all courses carried to date at the College). Grade point averages calculated for students with “Incomplete” designations on their records are not official; the official computation is done when final grades have replaced any “I” and have been recorded.

S/U Grades

Grades of satisfactory (S) and unsatisfactory (U) are used to evaluate performance in certain graduate courses, including some workshop courses and practica. A grade of S indicates credit earned, and a grade of U indicates no credit awarded. Grades of S or U are not included in the computation of the grade-point average. Geneseo does not accept S grades (or its equivalent) from other institutions for transfer credit.

Pass-Fail Option

A graduate student may not elect the pass-fail option for any course.

“SP” Designation

“SP” (Satisfactory Progress) is used to report a student’s status in research courses when engaged in work which extends beyond one semester. When the work is completed, the “SP” is converted to a final letter grade assigned by the instructor. Credits for such courses are not computed in determining a student’s GPA until a final letter grade has been recorded.

Incomplete

An “I” (Incomplete) is a temporary grade given at the discretion of the instructor if they believe it is inadvisable or impossible for a student to complete the work of a course at the scheduled time for reasons clearly beyond the student’s control. The “I” must be removed before the completion of the fall or spring semester following the term in which it was recorded, after which the I may be converted to an E at the discretion of the College. An extension of time, because of special circumstances, may be granted by the instructor.

Repeated Courses

In general, matriculated students in graduate courses may repeat a course in which they have received a failing grade. (Some restrictions apply, including some student teaching placements and other practica. Students should consult individual department offices for specific restrictions.) Any course in which a student earns a passing grade may NOT be repeated for credit. Should a student enroll in a course successfully completed in a previous semester, the credit hours earned will not be included in the student’s total hours earned nor will the second grade earned be included in the student’s cumulative average. In addition, the course will be marked “REPEAT” on the student’s transcript. Contact the Financial Aid office, Erwin 104, regarding the impact of repeating courses on financial aid eligibility.

Appeal of Grades

A student who believes an instructor has assigned a grade which is either unfair or punitive for non-academic reasons, who has consulted the instructor, and who is still unsatisfied, may request a review of the grade by using the College policy on grade appeals. Specific information on the procedures can be obtained from the program director/coordinator or Dean.

Academic Advisement

Degree candidates in all programs are assigned advisors in their major field upon the recommendation of the program director/coordinator. Advisors provide counsel and assistance, but the responsibility for seeking advisement and fulfilling degree requirements rests with the student. Normally, non-matriculated students are not assigned advisors. 

Transcripts

A transcript reflects the results of courses in which the student was registered at the College. In addition, when applicable, they indicate either the date of graduation and the degree conferred or the date of withdrawal or dismissal. Students may request official transcripts of their permanent records via the Registrar’s Office. 

Academic Standards

Minimum Competence Requirement

Master’s candidates in any teacher education program must satisfy the 3.0 cumulative grade point average requirement to continue in their master’s program and to graduate. A grade of B- or better is required for each of the courses in their program, and any course in which the candidate has earned less than a B- cannot be used to meet program requirements.

Good Academic Standing

Graduate students whose cumulative graduate grade-point average falls below 3.0 but higher than the dismissal level specified above receive a letter of academic warning from the director of their graduate program. While these students are considered in good academic standing at the College, they are reminded that a cumulative grade-point average of 3.00 is required for the master’s degree. They may also wish to seek assistance from their advisor, program director, or Counseling Services.

Students receiving financial aid are required to attain satisfactory progress toward a master’s degree by completing a minimum number of credits per semester. Please contact the Financial Aid Office, Erwin 104 for more information.

Academic Probation

Students are placed on Academic Probation if they fail to:

1. remove schedule deficiencies;
2. satisfy provisional admission conditions (if applicable);
3. attain the necessary 3.0 grade-point average within the hourly requirements prescribed for the degree. Upon successful petition to the program director/coordinator, a candidate may be granted permission to take a maximum of six additional hours in an effort to attain the required grade-point average;
4. meet individual departmental standards (if applicable);
5. successfully complete all or any part of a comprehensive examination on the second attempt.

The student will be informed of this action by the program director/coordinator. Within 30 days of the date of this notice, the student may appeal the decision. Appeals must be submitted to the Dean of the appropriate School.

Academic Dishonesty Policy

Plagiarism

Plagiarism is the representation of someone else’s words or ideas as one’s own, or the arrangement of someone else’s material(s) as one’s own. Such misrepresentation may be sufficient grounds for a student’s receiving an “E” grade for the paper or presentation involved or may result in an “E” grade being assigned as the final grade for the course.

Any one of the following constitutes evidence of plagiarism:

1. direct quotation without identifying punctuation and citation of source;
2. paraphrase of expression or thought without proper attribution;
3. unacknowledged dependence upon a source in plan, organization, or argument.

Please visit the Office of Advising website for information on Student Academic Dishonesty Policy and Procedures.