SCHOOL
Dean: Kathleen C. Hilton
Graduate
Programs, Procedures, and Policies
Business
Administration (M.B.A.)
Public Administration (M.P.A.)
School Administration (M.S.A.)
Service
Agency Counseling (M.A.)
Education: Elementary, Middle Grades, Reading; School Counseling (M.A.Ed.)
English
Education (M.A., ESL Add-On Licensure)
Social Studies Education (M.A.)
The mission of the
Faculty share the University’s
commitment to academic excellence in a balanced program of teaching, research,
and service. They are committed to
excellence in teaching, engaging in the generation of knowledge, serving their
communities and professions, fostering the development of new roles and
relationships within, among, and between their disciplines, and modeling the
values of inquiry, continuous learning, creativity, and respect and
appreciation for the rights and views of others.
The
The
LOCATION
While graduate classes for the
GRADUATE PROGRAMS, PROCEDURES, AND POLICIES
MASTER’S DEGREE PROGRAMS OFFERED
Graduate courses are offered
during the evening hours in the regular semester and summer sessions. The following graduate programs are
available:
Master of Business Administration (M.B.A.)
Master of Public Administration (M.P.A.)
Master of School Administration (M.S.A.)
Master of Arts in Service Agency Counseling (M.A.)
Master of Arts in Education—Elementary Education (M.A.
Ed.)
Master of Arts in Education—Middle Grades Education (M.A. Ed.)
Master of Arts in Education—Reading Education (M.A. Ed.)
Master of Arts in
Education—
Master of Arts in Art Education (M.A.)
Master of Arts in English Education (M.A.)
Master of Arts in Mathematics Education (M.A.)
Master of Arts in Music Education (M.A.)
Master of Arts in Physical Education (M.A.)
Master of Arts in Science Education (M.A.)
Master of Arts in Social Studies Education (M.A.)
Master of Arts in Teaching (M.A.T.)
PROCEDURES AND POLICIES
Policies and procedures common
to all graduate programs of The University of North Carolina at Pembroke appear
in the following pages. Detailed information on each program, including
requirements specific to individual programs, is contained in subsequent pages.
Prospective students are urged to read this information carefully and to refer
to this catalog throughout their enrollment at UNCP.
Graduate Admissions:
UNCP welcomes applications
from qualified persons who have earned a baccalaureate degree from a regionally
accredited college or university, and whose academic preparation and aptitude
predict success in graduate studies. The Dean of the
Any student who supplies false
or misleading information or conceals pertinent facts in order to secure
admission to UNCP may be denied admission or, if admitted, may be immediately
dismissed from the University. Such a student may be ineligible to receive any
credit from the
Students may enter at the
beginning of any semester or summer term. Application materials and all supporting documentation should be
submitted to the
The
Categories of Admission:
The
a) full admission,
b) provisional admission,
c) special admission,
d) enrichment studies, and
e) visiting graduate student
These terms are further
defined below.
General Admission Requirements (Full or Provisional Admission)
All students seeking to enroll
in any graduate class must be admitted to the
a) submit a
completed application form to the
b) pay a $45.00 non‑refundable application fee;
c) submit two copies (one of which must be an official copy) of transcripts from all colleges/universities attended; one of these transcripts must indicate the date that the applicant’s baccalaureate degree was awarded;
d) have a satisfactory undergraduate academic record and meet at least one of the following minimum GPA (4.0 scale) requirements: an overall GPA of at least a 2.5 on all undergraduate work, or an overall GPA of at least a 3.0 in the undergraduate major, or a GPA of at least a 3.0 on all undergraduate work taken in the senior year;
e) submit an official report of satisfactory scores on the Miller Analogies Test (MAT), the Graduate Record Examination (GRE), or the Graduate Management Admissions Test (GMAT) {required for M.B.A.};
f) have three academic and/or professional recommendations submitted on their behalf. At least one recommendation should be from a college/university faculty member in the undergraduate major of the applicant; others should be from the applicant’s employer/supervisor;
e) submit a copy of a current NC teaching license if applying to the M.S.A., M.A.Ed., or an M.A. licensure program.
In some cases, additional
information such as an essay, personal interview, or audition may be required. See program-specific admission document
requirements, including preferred references.
General Admissions Requirements (Special Admission)
Students seeking admission
into this category are frequently unable to submit all documents required for
full or provisional admission prior to the beginning of a semester. Other applicants enter this category with the
intention of transferring their graduate courses to another institution. All students seeking to enroll in this
non-matriculated special admission status may register for one semester only, for no more than six (6) hours, and are
cautioned that they have not been admitted into a degree granting program of an
academic department. In most cases,
students in this category should seek to convert their admission into full or
provisional status as soon as possible. All degree-seeking students who have enrolled with special admission status will have their records sealed after one
semester. Further enrollment is
prohibited without a change of admissions status. To be considered for special admissions an
applicant must:
a) submit a completed application to the
b) pay a $45.00, non-refundable application fee;
c) submit an official transcript indicating that he/she received a baccalaureate degree from a regionally accredited institution of higher learning; and
d) provide evidence of NC teacher licensure for all graduate licensure programs except the M.A.T.
General Admissions Requirements (Enrichment Studies)
Students seeking to enroll for
Enrichment Studies must meet the same admissions requirements as those stated
above for Special Admissions. Other
restrictions regarding this category appear below.
General Admissions Requirements (Visiting Graduate Students)
The
a) submit an
application to the
b) pay the non-refundable application fee of $45.00; and
c) submit a letter-of-good-standing signed by the graduate dean (or an appropriate official) of their home graduate school.
Additional information
regarding this admissions category appears below.
Education Programs: Licensure Requirement
Applicants for all graduate
degrees leading to licensure by the NC Department of Public Instruction must
submit a copy of any current licenses held. Applicants to the M.A. programs in
Art Education, English Education, Mathematics Education, Music Education,
Physical Education, Science Education, and Social Studies Education; to the M.A.Ed. programs in Elementary Education, Middle Grades
Education, and Reading Education; and to the Master of School Administration
program are expected to hold or be eligible to hold appropriate Standard
Professional I level NC licensure. Those who do not meet the licensure
requirement will not be eligible for a graduate licensure recommendation from
The University of North Carolina at Pembroke.
Standardized Examinations:
a) Miller
Analogies Test: The Miller Analogies Test or MAT is accepted by the
b) Graduate
Record Examination: The Graduate Record Examination (GRE) is offered by the
Educational Testing Service (ETS) of
c) Graduate Management Admissions Test: The Graduate Management Admissions Test or GMAT is also offered by the ETS. The web page address for this test is: www.mba.com
Deadlines: Applicants are expected to submit the completed application and all supporting documentation at least one month prior to the projected enrollment date. A qualified student whose application is not complete may be allowed to enroll (see special admission category) for a maximum of one semester with enrollment in that semester limited to six hours.
The Admissions Decision: The
admissions decision is made by the Dean of the
Quantitative Criteria: Quantitative criteria are those data with numerical values. These commonly include the applicant’s scores on standardized tests (e.g., the Graduate Record Exam {GRE}, the Miller Analogies Test {MAT}, and the Graduate Management Admissions Test {GMAT}) and the applicant’s grade point average (GPA). Consideration may be given to any additional numerical information that the prospective graduate student may wish to submit.
Qualitative
Criteria: As a nontraditional
a) letters-of-recommendation from former professors, immediate supervisors of employment, and professional colleagues;
b) biographical statements of past experiences and professional goals;
c) narratives of personal professional goals (required for MPA and both Counseling degree programs) or a philosophy of education statement (required for Music and Social Studies Education);
d) personal
interviews (required for M.P.A.) or an audition (required for Music); and
e) a professional résumé.
Enrollment For Additional
Graduate Teacher Licensure: Students
who possess graduate (G level or M level) licensure by the North Carolina
Department of Public Instruction may enroll in some graduate programs to earn
additional graduate licensure. Students who wish to exercise this option must
apply to the
Students who hold a master’s
degree in a counseling area (e.g., Community Counseling) and who wish to obtain
licensure as a school counselor and students who possess graduate licensure in
a teaching area and wish to obtain a school administration license must apply
for admission to the licensure-only program. Admissions requirements are identical to those for the degree program;
additional policies may be obtained from the Office of Graduate Studies.
Enrollment For Enrichment
Purposes: Applicants who possess a
baccalaureate degree from an accredited institution of higher learning, are not
enrolled in degree programs at other institutions, and who wish to complete courses at UNCP for
personal or professional enrichment may qualify for admission as special
students (see general application procedures above). Students in this category
cannot enroll for more than six (6) semester hours in a semester. Continuation
of enrollment beyond one semester in this category requires the written
approval of the Dean of the
Enrollment as a Visiting
Graduate Student: Visiting graduate students enrolled in the graduate
schools of accredited institutions of higher learning are welcome at The
University of North Carolina at Pembroke. Qualified visiting graduate students may study for one semester or
summer at UNCP and transfer credits back to their home institutions. Visiting graduate students who wish to enroll
for an additional semester, must secure the written approval of the Dean of the
International Students: The
Second Master’s Degree: Students who possess a master’s degree and
wish to enroll at UNCP to earn a second master’s degree must apply for admission
to the selected program area and, upon acceptance, complete all program
requirements for that degree including comprehensive examinations. A maximum of
six semester hours of course work applied toward the first degree may be
applied toward the second master’s degree. The six hours must be approved by
the appropriate program director and the Dean of the
Undergraduate Enrollment
For Graduate Courses: Provided they
are otherwise qualified for admission to graduate study, seniors at UNCP who
are within 9 semester hours of graduation may apply to the Dean of the
Medical History Forms: All new students, and all re‑enrolling students who have been out of The University of North Carolina for one year, who plan to take 4 or more credit hours during the semester are required to complete a medical history form which includes required immunization documentation. This form must be on file before classes begin. This requirement applies to all students who take any on-campus courses. This form may be obtained from http://www.uncp.edu/shs/students and should be returned to Student Health Services. Students whose medical history forms are not on file by the specified deadline each semester are administratively withdrawn from the University.
MASTER’S DEGREE REQUIREMENTS
To receive a master’s degree
from The University of North Carolina at Pembroke students must successfully
complete the prescribed program of study, successfully pass the written
comprehensive examinations (or the equivalent), submit an application for
graduation, and be approved by the Faculty Senate. It is the responsibility of
the student to file an application for graduation with the UNCP Office of
Graduate Studies by the deadline established by that office. Candidates for the master’s degree are
expected to be present at commencement exercises in the prescribed dress.
Programs of Study: The program of study prescribed for each graduate degree program is detailed below. Additional course work may be specified for individuals based on their undergraduate records or professional experience. When such additional course work is required, it becomes part of a student’s prescribed program of study and must be completed for the degree to be awarded.
Academic Progress: Warning, Probation, and Dismissal: The academic progress of each graduate
student is monitored on a regular basis by the Dean of the
Level of Course Work: All course work applied toward the master’s degree must be earned in courses designed for graduate students (numbered 500 and above). No 400‑level course work may be applied to the master’s degree. No more than three semester hours of graduate credit earned in workshop courses may be applied toward a master’s degree.
Time Limits: All course work applied toward the master’s degree must have been completed within five years (six years for the School Counseling and Service Agency Counseling Programs) of formal admission to the program. The time requirement is based upon the calendar. For example, if a student enrolls for a Fall Semester graduate course, then this student is one year into his/her time limit at the start of the next Fall Semester.
Transfer Credit: A maximum of six hours of relevant graduate credit taken at another accredited institution with graduate level programs may be applied to degree requirements at the University with the approval of the appropriate program director and the Dean of the School Graduate of Studies. It is the responsibility of the student to apply for approval of transfer credit. No credit accepted for transfer may be earned by correspondence. The transfer credit is subject to the five year time limit (six years for the counseling programs) applied to all course work credited toward the master’s degree. No transfer credit will be accepted toward degree requirements once the student has matriculated at UNCP unless prior written approval for the credit has been received from both the appropriate program director and the Dean of the School of Graduate Studies. The form is available on the Graduate School website.
Comprehensive Examinations: In addition to the regular examinations in courses taken for graduate credit, candidates for some master’s degrees must pass written or oral comprehensive examinations.
The comprehensive examinations
are administered in the fall and spring semesters. Students in the M.A. in School and Service Agency Counseling Programs must complete all core courses and pass the
comprehensive examinations prior to enrolling in PCN 6100 or SCN 6110. Students in all other programs must have
completed, or be enrolled in their final semester of, course work to be
eligible to sit for the comprehensive examinations. Students must register for the comprehensive
exams by the date established by the School of Graduate Studies.
A student who fails any part
or parts of the comprehensive examinations must wait at least one semester
before retaking the part or parts of the exam failed. Exams may be attempted a
maximum of three times.
Information on the specific
format of the comprehensive examinations for individual program areas is
available from the program director for the individual graduate degrees.
Thesis: A thesis or research project may be completed as part of the program of study. Students completing a thesis are assigned a thesis advisor. The thesis project must be approved by the thesis advisor and a thesis committee. The thesis advisor will supervise the preparation of the prospectus of the thesis, approve it, submit it to the student’s thesis committee for approval, direct the student in the preparation of the thesis, assemble and chair the committee for the oral examination of the student on the thesis, and submit the necessary paperwork to the School of Graduate Studies. The advisor notifies the Dean of the School of Graduate Studies as to the time and date of the graduate student’s oral examination. The thesis must bear the signatures of the student’s academic advisor, members of the thesis committee, and the Dean of the School of Graduate Studies. The final approval of a thesis rests with the Dean of the School of Graduate Studies.
The original and two copies of
the approved thesis and abstract must be on file in the School of Graduate Studies
at least two weeks prior to the end of the semester in which the student
expects to complete program requirements. Two copies of the thesis must be
bound and will be retained by the University. Binding is arranged by the School
of Graduate Studies, and the student is charged at cost.
Lapsed Credit: In cases of documented merit and/or continuing professional experience within a given discipline, the Graduate Appeals Committee (GAC) of the Graduate Council may, at its discretion, entertain appeals cases for reinstatement of graduate credits earned more than five years ago at The University of North Carolina at Pembroke or another accredited institution of higher learning. This procedure is available for former graduate students seeking to return to graduate study. Such cases are evaluated and judged by the GAC on a merit basis. The GAC considers all cases on an individual, nonprecedent-setting basis. The GAC is authorized by the Graduate Council to consider reinstatement of a maximum of nine (9) semester hours of lapsed academic graduate credit from The University of North Carolina at Pembroke and six (6) semester hours of lapsed credit from another institution. No reinstatement appeal may go the GAC unless the appeal bears the signatures of the graduate director of the student’s graduate program, the chair of the appropriate academic department, and the Dean of the School of Graduate Studies. The GAC is the “due process” body for graduate students seeking to file reinstatement appeals, and its decisions are final. Graduate students seeking to file reinstatement appeals should schedule an appointment with the Dean of the School of Graduate Studies to discuss the appropriate details of filing such appeals.
Licensure: Students completing programs leading to graduate (M level) licensure by the State of North Carolina must submit a licensure application. Application forms are available on the Graduate School website and in the Licensure Office in the School of Education. As part of the licensure approval process, two years of teaching experience in the licensure area is required before UNC Pembroke will recommend the individual for a North Carolina master’s level license. Students adding new areas of licensure to their licenses are required to satisfactorily complete the prescribed Praxis Series Examinations. Recommendations for licensure cannot be forwarded to the Department of Public Instruction until official copies of satisfactory scores on the required specialty area exam are on file at UNCP.
ADDITIONAL POLICIES
Advisement: Each student admitted to a graduate program is assigned a graduate faculty member from the academic department as an advisor. Initially, graduate students are expected to meet with their advisors to plan their programs of study. Thereafter, they are expected to periodically meet with their advisors for further advisement. Advisement sessions are scheduled each semester in conjunction with pre-registration.
Grading: It is expected that students enrolled in graduate courses demonstrate breadth and depth of understanding significantly beyond the undergraduate level. While letter grades are used in the graduate program, they differ substantially in meaning from the undergraduate program.
A grade of “A” designates that the graduate student’s performance has been superior, going above and beyond what is normally expected in a graduate class.
A grade of “B” designates that the graduate student’s performance has been satisfactory and that the student has demonstrated the level of understanding normally expected in a graduate class.
A grade of “C” designates that the graduate student’s performance has been poor and that the student has demonstrated significantly less understanding than what is normally expected in a graduate class. Graduate students who earn a third grade of “C” are dismissed from their graduate programs and are ineligible to receive a graduate degree.
For grades of A, B, and C, faculty have the option of assigning a plus (+) or minus (-) in addition to the letter grade, but these do not affect the computation of the grade point average.
A grade of “F” designates failure of the course. A graduate student who receives an “F” is ineligible to continue graduate studies at the University.
The “I,” or incomplete, grade is given when a student is unable to complete required work because of an unavoidable circumstance such as illness. It is not to be given to enable a student to do additional work to improve a grade. Assigning the “I” grade is at the discretion of the individual instructor. It is the student’s responsibility to request the “I” grade. Generally, the student will have completed most of the work required for the course before the grade of “I” is requested. An incomplete must be removed within one semester (excluding summer term), or it will automatically be converted to a grade of “F” by the University Registrar. In determination of quality hours and quality point averages, an “I” is counted as an “F” until it is removed. An “I” grade does not fulfill prerequisite requirements.
A grade of “T” indicates grade pending and is issued only for thesis research and capstone courses and for the year-long internship in school administration.
Repetition of Courses: No graduate course may be repeated within the same program of study without permission of the Graduate Appeals Committee. A graduate student wishing to repeat a course must submit a written request to the Graduate Appeals Committee through the Dean of the School of Graduate Studies. Courses approved for repetition must be taken at The University of North Carolina at Pembroke.
Withdrawal Policy: Cognizant of the fact that at times circumstances change and situations arise that necessitate a student’s withdrawal from a course, graduate students with good cause may apply to withdraw from a course up to two weeks prior to the last official meeting of the class. It is the student’s responsibility to obtain the signature of the course instructor on the withdrawal form and submit the form to the Dean of the School of Graduate Studies. Students who do not officially withdraw from a course may not receive a grade of W. A grade of W may be received only once for a specified course, and no more than three Ws may be received in a student’s program of study. Withdrawing from a class does not excuse a student from the five year time limit (six years for the counseling programs) within which all program requirements must be completed.
Course Load: All courses, unless otherwise noted in the course description, are offered for three semester credit hours. Full-time graduate students (not employed full-time) may register for 9-12 hours during regular terms. Graduate students employed on a full‑time basis may enroll for a maximum of six semester hours per semester. Graduate students may enroll for a maximum of nine semester hours during the summer sessions. A maximum of six semester hours may be completed in one session. Graduate Assistants are required to enroll on a full-time basis.
Research Requirement: Several programs require that all degree‑seeking graduate students complete the appropriate research requirement (EDN 5660; PAD 5050; or PSY 5050 or 5100) within their first twelve semester hours of graduate study. Students should consult their assigned advisor or program director for program-specific guidelines regarding this policy.
Orientation Requirement: All degree‑seeking graduate students are required to attend the scheduled orientation session during their first semester of enrollment. Dates/times of the orientation session are announced prior to the beginning of the semester.
Due Process For Students: Any student whose entrance to, continuation in, or exit from the Graduate Program is denied by the Dean of the School of Graduate Studies acting upon policies established by the Graduate Council of The University of North Carolina at Pembroke has the right to appeal the denial. The Graduate Council has designated The Graduate Appeals Committee (GAC) as the “due process” body for all graduate students. The Dean of the School of Graduate Studies will notify the student of the denial and the policy upon which it is based. Within 10 working days of receipt of the denial the student wishing to appeal should submit a written request for appeal to the Dean of the School of Graduate Studies. The request should contain the reason(s) the student believes the denial should be reversed. If a request for appeal is not received within the 10 working days, it will not be considered. The Graduate Appeals Committee meets in February, June, and October; any appeal will be considered at the next meeting of the GAC. The student will be advised of the date, time, and location of the meeting, and provided the opportunity to appear before the GAC if s/he desires to do so. The decision of the Graduate Appeals Committee will be final.
Grade Appeal Policy: The
Graduate Appeals Hearing Committee is the body which considers grade appeals
from graduate students. There are two
grounds for appealing a grade, evidence of miscalculation and material
deviation from information published in the course syllabus without adequate
notice of the change. Graduate students
who are unable to resolve questions with the course professor have 30 days from
the date grades are posted by the Registrar to file an appeal.
Students are to submit the completed, signed appeal
form and appropriate documentation to the Dean of the School of Graduate
Studies no later than 30 days after grades are posted. The decisions of the Graduate Appeals Hearing
Committee are final and do not set precedent; each case is considered on its
own merits. Any change resulting from
the appeal can be administratively accomplished.
GRADUATE EXPENSES
(Subject to change without notice.)
Graduate Application Fee: $40
GRADUATE EXPENSES: PER SEMESTER — REGULAR SESSION
Sem.
Hrs.
|
In‑State Tuition
|
Out‑of‑State Tuition
|
Fees
|
Ins.
|
In‑State Total
|
Out‑of‑State Total
|
9+
|
$1,010.50
|
$5,714.00
|
$584.27
|
$243.00
|
$1,837.77
|
$6,541.27
|
6-8
|
$757.88
|
$4,285.50
|
$389.50
|
0
|
$1,147.38
|
$4,675.00
|
3-5
|
$505.25
|
$2,857.00
|
$194.77
|
0
|
$700.02
|
$3,051.77
|
1-2
|
$252.63
|
$1,428.50
|
$194.77
|
0
|
$447.40
|
$1,623.27
|
Note: The above charges include mandatory fees. Graduate students may have miscellaneous fees in addition to these.
RESIDENCE STATUS FOR TUITION PURPOSES
It is a long‑standing
practice of the State to require students who are not residents of the State to
pay a higher rate of tuition than that charged North Carolina residents. To
qualify for in‑state tuition, the applicant must generally have lived in
North Carolina for a minimum period of twelve months immediately prior to his
or her enrollment in an institution of higher learning. During this twelve‑month
period, the applicant’s presence in the State must constitute legal residence
in accordance with the University’s guidelines as prescribed by the General
Assembly. Copies of the applicable North Carolina law and of implementing
regulations are available for inspection in the Sampson Livermore Library on
the UNCP campus and may be examined upon request. The student requesting in‑state
residence is responsible for being familiar with the contents of these two
documents. Military Waiver Forms are available for active duty U.S. military
personnel and their dependents stationed in North Carolina. Teacher Waiver
Request Forms are available for full-time public school teachers living in the
state and taking courses relevant to teacher licensure. The Teacher Waiver Form negates the
twelve-month waiting period for those teachers who otherwise qualify as
residents of North Carolina.
See the Student Finances for Undergraduate
Programs section for more detailed information regarding residency status. Contact the Office of New Student and Family
Orientation for further information.
GRADUATE ASSISTANTSHIPS
The School of Graduate Studies
offers a limited number of graduate assistantships to eligible students. To
qualify for an assistantship, a student must be admitted to full standing in
one of the graduate programs. The student must be enrolled within the School of
Graduate Studies on a full‑time basis (i.e., a minimum of 9 semester
hours per semester) and recommended by the Dean of the School of Graduate
Studies. Graduate assistants may receive
a waiver of in-state tuition charges for nine semester hours of graduate credit
per semester. Graduate students do not
receive a waiver from any fees charged by the University. Such fees must be paid at the time of
registration. All graduate assistant are
required to be employed for twenty (20) hours per week in order to receive the
maximum stipend of $3000.00 per semester. Graduate assistantships are not available during the summer months.