Academic policies can be changed at any time by the University of North Texas Health Science Center at Fort Worth (HSC) School of Public Health (SPH). Students should review student policies for additional policies and procedures concerning their roles as students.
Academic Standing
Academic Standing of Student Officers
A student in SPH must be in good academic standing to run for office in any student organization and must remain in good academic standing throughout the term of office, if elected. If a student does not remain in good academic standing (cumulative GPA 2.8) throughout his/her term in office, he/she will be removed from his/her position.
Academic Probation and Dismissal
Policy can be found on the HSC Policy website.
Student Expectations: Cohort and Online
Policy can be found on the HSC Policy website.
Time Limitations
Policy can be found on the HSC Policy website.
Withdrawal Limit
Policy can be found on the HSC Policy website.
Admission
Policy can be found on the HSC Policy website.
Non-Degree Admission of Students
Policy can be found on the HSC Policy website.
Readmission of Former Students
Policy can be found on the HSC Policy website.
Appeals
Appeal/Grievance Process
Specific policies and procedures have been established for students seeking to appeal an admissions decision, grade appeals, or an extension of time to complete a degree. The policies are outlined below:
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Appeals concerning admission to HSC SPH should be addressed to the Dean.
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To request an extension of time, a petition in the form of a letter must be submitted to the SPH Office of Academic Services. The student’s academic record and the petition letter is then forwarded to the appropriate department chair for review and decision.
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Information concerning how to pursue appeals on any other matter can be sought from the SPH Office of Academic Services.
Comprehensive Examination Grade Appeal
Policy can be found on the HSC Policy website.
Course Assignment Grade Appeal
Policy can be found on the HSC policy website.
Course Grade Appeal
Policy can be found on the HSC policy website.
Curriculum
Change of Department/Concentration Area
Students who wish to change their area of concentration must submit the change of concentration form, statement of professional goals, unofficial transcript, and resume to the SPH Office of Academic Services at sphacademics@unthsc.edu. The student’s request will be reviewed and the student will be notified of the decision via email. Students in the cohort model can only request a change of concentration in the first semester of enrollment.
Degree Plan
Students must adhere to the degree plan that was effective upon admission to SPH.
Use of Transfer Credit
Policy can be found on the HSC policy website.
Courses
Auditing
Policy can be found on the HSC policy website.
Class Attendance
Regular and punctual class attendance is expected. Although, in general, students are graded on intellectual effort and performance, absences may lower the student’s grade where class participation is deemed essential by the faculty member. In those classes where participation is considered as part of the grade, the instructor should give written notice of the requirement at the beginning of the semester. An instructor may request the Registrar to withdraw a student from a course for lack of attendance.
If the instructor-initiated withdrawal falls within the time that the student is eligible to drop with instructor consent, a W will be assigned. If the withdrawal falls after this period, a W or WF will be assigned as appropriate.
Concentrations and similar academic units have authority to establish a concentration-wide or course-wide policy so long as the policy is in accord with the above stipulations.
For information on absence due to religious observances, visit the policy website.
Course Offerings
Individual courses are subject to change or withdrawal at any time and may not be offered each semester of every year. Any course may be cancelled from current offerings if the number of registrants is too small to justify conducting the course.
Definition of a Credit Hour
A credit hour is the unit by which an institution measures its course work. The amount of credit hours awarded for a course is based upon the instructional time and the type of course. Instructional time is measured in “contact hours,” which is defined as the time in which the student is involved in direct educational contact with the faculty member(s) teaching a particular course.
According to rules outlined by the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board (THECB), a traditional course in a fall or spring semester is defined as containing 15 weeks of instruction plus a week for final examinations. The HSC-SPH adheres to the THECB formula of 15 contact hours for each semester credit hour (SCH) and, thus, 45 contact hours for a three semester credit hour (3 SCH) course. (1 SCH=1 contact hour = 50 minute session).
Repeating Courses
Policy can be found at the HSC policy website.
Culminating Experience
Administration of Comprehensive Examinations
Master of Public Health (MPH)
Certified in Public Health Examination- All students must receive permission to enroll in the 0 SCH course. Specific requirements are listed on the SPH website.
Students are required to enroll in PHED 5000. This is a 0 semester credit hour course in the semester in which they intend to take the comprehensive examination. Students will receive a permission number from the departmental Comprehensive Exam Coordinator to enroll in the course.
Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)
Students are required to enroll in the concentration specific comprehensive examination course (BACH 6000 , BIOS 6000 , EPID 6000 ) to indicate they are ready to take the comprehensive examination. The PhD comprehensive examination is offered at least once per year. Students have two attempts to successfully pass the concentration specific comprehensive examination.
Enrollment
Concurrent Enrollment at another Institution
Policy can be found at the HSC policy website.
Enrollment of Continuing Students
Policy can be found at the HSC policy website.
Full-time Enrollment
A student must enroll for nine semester hours for the fall or spring semester to be considered full-time for that semester. Enrollment in a total of six semester hours is considered full-time for the summer.
When a student is enrolled in dissertation, practice experience, or internship course, the student will be considered full-time if enrolled in less than 3 credit hours.
PhD students who are enrolled only in the qualifying examination will be considered full-time for enrollment purposes as it relates to stipend funding only.
Students are responsible for meeting enrollment requirements for federal or state financial aid purposes.
Leave of Absence
Policy can be found at the HSC policy website.
Grading
Calculation of Grade Point Average (GPA)
Grades of A, B, C, F, and WF and associated semester credit hours will be used to calculate grade point averages. The GPA is calculated by dividing the total number of grade points by the total number of semester credit hours attempted. The number of semester hours attempted includes all courses with grades of A, B, C, F, and WF unless replaced by a later grade. Grades of I, NP, P, S, U, W, PR, or Z are not counted as courses attempted. All GPA calculations are subject to post audit and correction by the Registrar’s Office.
Grading System
All academic grades will appear on the student’s official HSC transcript as follows:
- A - 4 grade points for each semester credit hour
- B - 3 grade points for each semester credit hour
- C - 2 grade points for each semester credit hour
- F - 0 grade points for each semester credit hour
- WF - Withdraw Failing; 0 grade points
Designations and other symbols that do not earn grade points and are not used for the calculation of grade point averages are as follows:
- P/NP - Pass/No Pass
- S/U - Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory
- W - Withdrawal
- I - Incomplete
- PR - In Progress
- Z - Grade not recorded
Incomplete Grades
The instructor may assign an incomplete (I) grade for the course when the student cannot complete all course requirements due to extenuating circumstances beyond their control. The incomplete work is usually restricted to end-of-semester requirements identified in the course syllabus, such as taking an exam and/or completing a paper. The incomplete grade will not be assigned to allow for extra-credit work to be submitted after the end of a semester and should not be used when circumstances dictate the assignment of a “W,” “WF,” or an “F.”
The student must arrange with the instructor to finish the course at a later date by completing specified requirements. These requirements must be entered on the grade roster by the instructor. A grade of “I” cannot be submitted until after the faculty member and the student agree upon specific requirements and obtain approval from the Department Chair. Incomplete grades must be changed to a permanent grade by the date identified in the contract. The grade of incomplete converts to an “F” if the required work is not completed by the date identified in the contract. The grade of incomplete will also automatically convert to an “F” if a permanent grade is not assigned before the end of the grading period for the next term.
To receive an incomplete grade, a student must complete the appropriate forms. All forms are available on the SPH Office of Academic Services current student website or via email at academicssph@unthsc.edu.
Removal of an Incomplete Grade
A student must remove a grade of “Incomplete” by the last day of the subsequent semester in which the incomplete grade was obtained; no extensions will be granted. (Spring incompletes must be finalized by the end of the fall semester, summer incompletes must be finalized by the end of the fall semester, and fall incompletes must be removed by the end of the spring semester). If, at the end of the following semester, the incomplete grade has not been removed, a grade of “F” will be recorded.
An “Incomplete” is removed by completing the stipulated work and obtaining the appropriate signatures (on a Removal of Incomplete Grade/Change of Grade form available from the HSC Office of the Registrar). The instructor then files the form with the Office of the Registrar so that the grade and the GPA can be adjusted accordingly. If a student does not complete the stipulated work within the time specified, a grade of “F” will be recorded and the student’s GPA will be adjusted accordingly.
Graduation
Application for the Completion of the Certificate or Degree
Policy can be found at the HSC website.
Participation in Commencement Exercises
Students who have completed all graduation requirements may participate in commencement exercises.
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