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graduate admissions policies

Graduate Programs Policies

Most graduate program policies can be found in the university catalog. Below are the most frequently referenced policies and procedures for various areas to assist faculty, staff, and students in familiarizing themselves with the university’s processes. 

Policy for Double Counting Credit Hours for Dual Degree and Joint Degree Programs

Purpose

This policy exists for the purpose of computing the double counting of credit hours for University of Michigan-Flint graduate students pursuing dual and joint degrees outside of a Rackham-approved program.  

Definitions

Joint-Degree – This is an accelerated graduate degree that creates an opportunity for exceptional undergraduate students to obtain both their undergraduate and graduate degrees by completing some undergraduate course requirements at the graduate level leading to a substantial savings in time and money. The graduate credit hours that satisfy undergraduate degree requirements also reduce the credit hours needed for the graduate degree and are typically referred to as double counting or credit sharing. Accelerated programs that rely on double counting to reduce time-to-degree are often referred to as “4+1, 3+2 or 3+3 accelerated programs”. 

Dual Degree – The University of Michigan-Flint provides arrangements for students to pursue two graduate degrees. Dual degree programs lead to two different degree citations on the transcript and two separate diplomas. The purpose of a dual degree program is to allow students to undertake complementary programs of graduate study through streamlined curricular arrangements that allow double-counting of courses (see below for details). UM-Flint offers some pre-approved dual degree programs and also provides opportunities for students to initiate dual degree programs on their own. Students should contact the graduate program(s) directly for more detailed information and additional program-specific requirements.  For more information, visit www.umflint.edu/graduateprograms/dual-degree-programs.

Dual Degree Policy

Students in an Approved Dual Degree Program

Students in dual degree programs may double-count a limited number of credit hours toward the requirements of both degrees. If a student of an approved dual degree program after completing the first degree, the student must complete a Dual Degree Course Election Form no later than one term prior to completing the second degree.

  • To preserve the integrity of each degree, at least half of the minimum required credit hours for each degree must be earned in the program under a UM-Flint registration and counted solely for that degree. For example, a student enrolled in a 36-hour master’s degree program may not apply more than a combination of 18 transfer and/or double-counted credit hours toward the UM-Flint program. 

Students in a Self-Initiated Dual Degree Program

Students may pursue a dual degree arrangement with two master’s programs that are not among those dual degree programs already approved.  Students are required to complete both programs’ requirements, allowing for double counting of coursework as approved. To request double counting in a self-initiated Dual Degree program, a student must complete a Dual Degree Course Election Form no later than one term prior to completing the second degree.  

Students pursuing at least one Rackham program use the Rackham Dual Degree Course Form; students pursuing two non-Rackham programs use the Dual Degree Course Election Form.

When considering a self-initiated dual degree program the following general guidelines apply:

  • A degree program may overlap with only one other program for the purpose of double-counting credit hours. In other words, credit hours may never be counted for three or more purposes. If a student seeks a third certificate or program, it must stand alone.
  • Some approved dual degree programs may differ from the calculation below. In these cases, students should refer to the approved catalog information on the dual degree program.
  • When double-counting with a certificate program, one sixth (⅙) of the minimum required hours for the Master’s/Professional degree alone can be double-counted.
  • Departments and programs may limit the double-counting of credit hours below the maximum, but may not allow double-counting above the limit. Some programs may not allow double-counting of credit hours. 
  • For students pursuing a doctoral degree who wish to create a student initiated Dual Degree program toward a master’s degree in another field, faculty in the master’s program will review the credits earned for the doctoral program to decide how many may apply toward the master’s degree. No course with “doctoral,” “dissertation,” or “preliminary” in the title may be counted toward a master’s degree.

The maximum number of credit hours that may be double-counted for a student initiated Dual Degree program may be determined by adding the minimum number of hours required for each program and dividing by six. For example:

Minimum credit hours required for Degree A30
Minimum credit hours required for Degree B36
Total66
Maximum number of credits that may be double-counted11

Any fraction resulting from these calculations must be rounded down to the nearest whole number of credit hours. Credit hours for a single course may not be split; a course must be double-counted in its entirety or not at all. Students initiating a Dual Degree should work with an advisor within their academic area to determine the best course of action.

Departments looking to develop new dual degree programs must follow the above calculation to determine the maximum number of credits allowable for double counting.

Double counting is allowed in cases where a student graduates from one degree program before completing the second degree. In these cases, the courses to be double counted must have been taken no more than five years prior to the completion of the second program.  Appropriate signatures from both programs must be obtained on the Dual Degree Course Election Form.

Joint-Degree Policy

The maximum number of graduate level credits that can be counted toward an undergraduate degree are outlined below. Accelerated program proposals must specify which courses in the graduate curriculum can be double counted with the undergraduate requirements and how they fit into the undergraduate program of study. This can be done by specifying which specific graduate courses replace required undergraduate courses, as well as which courses from the graduate program may replace undergraduate 300+ level elective courses.

Typically, graduate programs designate graduate courses with similar subject-matter to undergraduate degree requirements (i.e. allowing accelerated students to take the 500 level course corresponding to a similar 400 level undergraduate requirement). Graduate level double counted courses are delivered at a higher level of rigor and must not be taken until students are officially admitted into the graduate program. 

Maximum number of graduate level credits that can be counted toward an undergraduate degree: 

  • In joint-degree programs, at least 50% of the credits allocated for the master’s degree – usually 15 of 30 – must be for courses designed for graduate work.

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English Proficiency

If English is not your native language and you are not from an exempt country, even if you are currently a U.S. citizen or permanent resident and regardless of how long you have resided or been educated in the U.S.*, you must demonstrate English proficiency by providing evidence through one of the following methods:

*If you are a U.S. citizen or permanent resident and wish to waive this requirement, you may make your case to the director of your program of application. The director, in turn, must make the case to the Director of Graduate Programs. You must provide sufficient evidence that you have the requisite English proficiency. Please note that some programs or departments may prohibit exceptions to the requirements.

**The university reserves the right to require an applicant to provide other evidence of English proficiency if independent sources cannot verify that the language of instruction was exclusively English.

Physician Assistant (MS) applicants: see Physician Assistant (MS) Requirements for details on English Proficiency requirements.

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Minimum GPA Admission Policy for UM-Flint Graduate Programs

Background

Each individual graduate program at the University of Michigan-Flint is responsible for setting admission requirements and a minimum grade point average required for standard admission.  In some cases, applicants who do not meet the stated minimum GPA of their proposed program of study but who show potential for academic success are admitted, usually with probationary admission.  In order to maintain high standards of graduate study at UM-Flint, the university has adopted this minimum GPA policy.

This policy does not apply to programs affiliated with the Rackham School of Graduate Studies at Ann Arbor.  Rackham does not have a fixed minimum policy; however, if a program wants to admit an applicant with a GPA of 2.5 or lower, the program is required to provide an explanation justifying the recommendation.

Policy

Admission to a University of Michigan-Flint graduate program requires a minimum undergraduate grade point average of 2.5 on a 4.0 scale.  GPAs of international applicants will be computed through an external evaluation or by the Office of Graduate Programs in certain situations and must be equivalent to 2.5 or better.  Additionally, applicants must meet the admission requirements of the program to which they apply.  Departments and programs wishing to admit an applicant with less than the minimum GPA must submit a statement of explanation to the Provost, or his/her designee who will make the final decision.

Process

If a department or program wishes to admit an applicant with less than the minimum GPA, they must submit a statement of explanation to the Provost, or his/her designee.  This statement can be submitted with the admission decision form to the Office of Graduate Programs.  The Provost, or his/her designee will review the statement and decision of the department and make a final admission decision.  The Provost, or his/her designee, will notify the department or program that it is okay to proceed with admission.

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Guidelines on Awarding Posthumous Graduate Degrees

A posthumous graduate degree can be awarded if the following four conditions are met:

  • The degree is awarded from a non-Rackham school or college
  • At least 75% of the degree requirements for the program in which the student was enrolled have been completed (regardless of the number of completed credits) or at the time of death, the student was enrolled in the final semester of study in all courses necessary to complete degree requirements.
  • The GPA is at least the higher of 3.0 or the degree requirement
  • The program faculty in the student’s program of study recommends such a degree

In all other cases, the respective dean should consider sending a letter of recognition or a certificate of achievement.

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