Degree Works is an academic planning tool that produces easy-to-read and user-friendly academic evaluations to help you map out what courses and non-course milestones you need to complete to graduate. Students can access their Academic Evaluations through PAWS.

Degree Works looks at the degree requirements from the Georgia State graduate catalog and the coursework you complete to track your degree progression. You are encouraged to review your academic evaluation frequently, especially during registration.

The Degree Works video tutorials provide detailed instructions on how to use Degree Works. Topics include:

• Student responsive dashboard overview
• "Future classes" feature
• What-If navigation

Students must satisfy the course requirements of the graduate catalog in effect at the time they enter or reenter Georgia State University. Any student interested in fulfilling the requirements of a different catalog edition may submit a petition to deviate from college requirements.

Each student admitted into an IBMS graduate program must maintain an overall institutional grade point average (GPA) of 3.0 or better to maintain satisfactory academic standing. Students who fall below the 3.0 GPA requirement for all required course attempts will be reviewed for continuation in the M.I.S. or Ph.D. program, and students may receive a scholastic warning or be dismissed from their respective graduate program.

Check your Degree Works audit to ensure that you are on track to graduate, as it is the definitive record for graduation clearance. All course blocks should be satisfied. This also includes any transfer credit from another institution, as well as any approved course substitutions. If you notice any discrepancies, please email [email protected] as soon as possible.

Each student admitted into a graduate program in the institute must maintain an overall institutional grade point average (GPA) of 3.0 or better to receive their respective degree.

All M.I.S. students must complete all core coursework with a grade of B- or better. No more than six credit hours of grades less than a B- will be accepted towards the degree. No final course grade below a C will be accepted towards the degree.

All doctoral students must complete all core coursework with a grade of B- or better. No final course grade below B- will be accepted towards the degree.

Students must apply to graduate TWO SEMESTERS before the intended semester of graduation. The graduation application can be accessed in PAWS, and the Office of the Registrar provides instructions and important deadlines.

IBMS Exit Survey

All graduating IBMS master's and doctoral students are required to complete a brief exit survey. This is your opportunity to provide valuable feedback on your graduate program. This feedback is very important and helps to:

1. Inform program/curriculum updates for future students.
2. Keep IBMS administration in contact with IBMS alumni.

Completion of the survey is required for graduation checkout.

CGS Exit Survey

All graduating master's students are also asked to complete the CGS Exit Survey. The purpose of this study is the research the role of master's education in workforce development.

Upon completing this survey, please send a screenshot of the confirmation page to [email protected].

Survey of Earned Doctorates

All doctoral candidates are required to complete the Survey of Earned Doctorates (SED) before being fully cleared for graduation. The SED gathers information about new research doctorate graduates from universities across the United States.

Upon completing this survey, please send a copy of the completion certificate to [email protected].

The Master of Interdisciplinary Studies in Biomedical Science and Enterprise program allows enrolled students to pursue one of two tracks - research or professional. Each track includes targeted elective courses and an experiential capstone (e.g. capstone courses or master's thesis) designed to synthesize the interdisciplinary concepts learned in the program core.

Students interested in pursuing a different track than the one they applied for during the initial term of entry, must complete the Request to Change Track form linked below. Please discuss any track changes with your faculty advisor before submitting the request. Students are limited to two total track changes.

REQUEST TO CHANGE TRACK

When a Degree Works audit is processed, the courses are applied based on the catalog term under which you were admitted. This means that courses taken prior to your enrollment in an IBMS graduate program will not automatically count towards your degree. A course substitution will allow students to use coursework completed in a previous degree program or as a non-degree seeking/transient student at Georgia State University to satisfy course requirements in their current program of study. In order to request for these courses to count towards your degree, please use the Request for Course Substitution form.

REQUEST COURSE SUBSTITUTION

Graduate students who have retaken courses and earned a higher grade may be eligible to request exclusion of the first grade from their institutional GPA.

To learn more about the repeat to replace eligibility requirements, please refer to section 1350.25 Repeat to Replace Policy of the Graduate Catalog. Please use the Repeat to Replace form to submit your request.

REPEAT TO REPLACE REQUEST

Due to the unique nature of the courses included in the master’s program curriculum, transfer credit is not accepted for this program.

Transfer of credit in the IBMS doctoral program is defined as receiving graduate degree credit for a course completed at another institution, thereby reducing the number of graduate courses to be taken at Georgia State University.

To learn more about the transfer credit requirements, please refer to section 11020.35 Policy on Transfer Credit of the Graduate Catalog. Please use the Transfer Credit form to submit your request.

REQUEST TRANSFER CREDIT

Students are normally required to abide by all Institute requirements as outlined in the Graduate Catalog. However, students may request a waiver of specific requirements of the Institute or substitution of courses in a degree program by submitting a petition form including the rationale for the request and relevant documentation.

Petitions should be submitted at least two weeks before the event to which the petition relates. Approval of a petition for policy waiver is not guaranteed.

Possible Petition Types:

• Academic standing
• Appeal decision for admission after suspension or exclusion
• Changing catalog editions
• College registration restrictions: GPA/hours, prerequisites
• Course substitutions
• Extension of time limit for completing the degree
• GPA for graduation
• Hours shortages
• Policy on comprehensive exams, proficiencies, recitals, portfolios and similar evaluations
• Residency requirements
• Transient coursework

Before submitting a petition, please keep in mind that the university catalog and the IBMS Graduate Student Handbook state that it is the responsibility of each student to keep apprised of current requirements for their program. This means that a policy or requirement will not be waived solely because the student was unaware of the policy or requirement.

If you require assistance with preparing your petition, please schedule an advising appointment.