GRADUATE ACADEMIC PROGRESSION
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Academic Policies and Procedures
Please review the tabs below to find important information regarding your academic progression as a graduate student, including how to register for courses, request a transfer of credit and more. For further assistance or for questions about any of the policies outlined below, please send an email to biomedgrad@gsu.edu.
Register for Classes
The Self Service Student Registration Demo video provides step-by-step instructions on how to:
- View the schedule of classes
- View & clear registration holds
- Add & drop courses
- Troubleshoot registration errors
- Change variable credit hours (e.g. BMSC 6900, 8800, 8810)
- Print finalized schedule
Registration Error Messages
When registering for courses, you may encounter a registration error message. Please visit the Office of the Registrar website to learn what your error messages mean and how to get them corrected.
Removing Registration Holds
There are some instances where a hold will be applied to your account that prevents you from registering until the hold has been satisfied. Please visit the Office of the Registrar website to learn what your registration hold is for and how to get it removed.
Tuition & Fees
Typically, tuition and fees are due on the first day of courses each semester. Students should plan to pay their tuition and fees in a lump sum or enroll in a payment plan before the tuition and fees deadline posted on the academic calendar each semester.
Failure to pay your student account balance before the deadline will result in your courses being dropped.
Graduate students in the Institute for Biomedical Sciences are responsible for monitoring their academic evaluation for accuracy, including the completion of both required coursework and non-course milestones.
Degree Works/Academic Evaluation
Degree Works is a web-based advising tool which will produce easy-to-read and user-friendly academic evaluation to help students and advisors monitor progress toward degree completion. Degree Works looks at the degree requirements from the Georgia State catalog and the coursework completed to give students and advisors better information in selecting coursework and understanding degree requirements.
The Degree Works how-to document and video tutorials provide detailed instructions on how to view your academic audit in Degree Works.
Course Requirements
Students must normally satisfy the course requirements of the 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.
Academic Standing
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.
Course Requirements
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 biomedgrad@gsu.edu as soon as possible.
Grade Point Average (GPA) & Grade Requirements
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.
No final course grade below a "C" will be accepted toward the degree.
Apply to Graduate
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.
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:
- Inform program/curriculum updates for future students.
- Keep IBMS administration in contact with IBMS alumni.
Completion of the survey is required for graduation checkout.
Course Substitutions
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.
Transfer Credit
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.
Petition for Policy Waiver
Students are normally required to abide by all requirements of the college as outlined in the Graduate Catalog. However, students may request a waiver of specific requirements by sending an email to biomedgrad@gsu.edu and providing documentation/justification.
Petitions should be submitted two weeks prior to the event in which the petition relates. Approval of a petition for policy waiver is not guaranteed.
DOCUMENT LIBRARY
Research Workshops & Professional Development Resources
IBMS Office of Academic Assistance - Graduate Programs
In Person:
Courtland North, 4th Floor
106 Courtland St SE
Atlanta, GA 30303
Phone: 404-413-3650
Email: biomedgrad@gsu.edu
Schedule a Virtual Appointment: