Academic
Catalog August 2008 - August 2009 Undergraduate
and Graduate
You are expected to pursue your graduate degrees with a minimum of interruption and maintain continuous enrollment. If you are in a master’s degree program and do not enroll for three consecutive semesters (does not include summer), you will be considered withdrawn from the university and must reapply for readmission to resume your degree program. If you are enrolled in a doctoral degree program, you are expected to be continuously enrolled each fall and spring semester until all requirements for the degree have been fulfilled.
Even if you have completed all course requirements for a degree, you may need to use lab or other university facilities to carry out a required independent study or research project. For the protection of both you and the university, you must enroll for units of credit during any terms, including summers, that you use university facilities or require the professional time of faculty members.
When you begin working on a master’s final project (689), thesis (699), or dissertation (799), we expect you to enroll each semester from the time you begin this work until completion of degree. You must register for a minimum of one credit each fall and spring semester. If you are using research or other university facilities, and/or the professional time of faculty members, you should enroll for at least three units. During the term you complete and defend your thesis (699) or dissertation (799), you must enroll for at least three units to reflect the increased demands on faculty time.
If you do not maintain continuous enrollment after your work has begun on your thesis/master’s final project/dissertation and you do not have an approved leave of absence on file with the Graduate College and wish to resume work, you must submit a new application for admission and register for additional credits of Master’s Final Project (689), Thesis (699), or Dissertation (799) in an amount, equal to the number of such credits missed while not maintaining continuous enrollment.
In extenuating circumstances, you may petition for exception to the continuous enrollment policy. The petition form which is available on the graduate college website (home.nau.edu/gradcol/publications.asp) must be approved by your advisor, graduate coordinator and/or department chair and sent to the Associate Dean of the Graduate College for final approval. Your request must be filed and approved before the anticipated absence.