Gwynedd Mercy University AY2023-2024 Graduate Academic Catalog
Religious Holidays
It is the policy of the University to respect the observance of major religious holidays . Where scheduling conflicts prove unavoidable , no student will be penalized because of religious reasons , and alternative means will be sought for satisfying the academic requirements involved .
Repeated Courses
Students must refer to their respective School ’ s guidelines regarding repeated courses and maintaining eligibility in their major . Students may repeat a course required in their major curriculum , or a prerequisite for each course in their major only once . Failure to meet the minimum grade requirement for the repeated course may result in program dismissal . Credit is earned only once . Both grades are recorded on the transcript . The lower grade is flagged with parentheses {()}, and the higher grade noted with an asterisk {*}. Only the higher grade ’ s quality points are used to calculate the grade point average .
Second Degree Program
A student who has earned a master ’ s degree from a regionally accredited university or college may apply for a second master ’ s degree at Gwynedd Mercy University . After application to the University is completed , a review of transcripts will be conducted by the Dean of the school to which the student is applying . Once acceptance towards program has occurred , a curriculum will be tailored to the educational goals of the student . Upon acceptance into the graduate program , all graduate credits must be earned at Gwynedd Mercy University . Students who have completed one master ’ s degree at Gwynedd Mercy University may apply a maximum of six credits from the first master ’ s degree to the second . A review of coursework will be conducted to determine applicability of credits to a second master ’ s . A minimum of 50 percent of the Gwynedd Mercy courses will be required for the University to sponsor a student for certification .
Graduate Student Transfer Credits
Graduate credits , typically not to exceed six , taken at other accredited institutions prior to matriculation , may be applied toward the master ’ s degree . The credits must have been taken within five years of admission and a grade of B or better must have been earned . The official transcript for transfer of credit must be on file prior to acceptance of credits for transfer . These credits are evaluated by either the Program Director or the Dean of the School .
Instructional Hour
Federal regulations require that the university confirms all courses meet the required number of in-class instructional hours . For all undergraduate term programs and non-lab courses , Gwynedd Mercy University defines an “ instructional hour ” as a 50-minute session . While Gwynedd Mercy University is committed to an outcomes-based approach to curriculum and assessment in accordance with its accreditation by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education ( MSCHE ) and other program accrediting associations , it also complies with and endorses the requirements of the Pennsylvania Department of Education on what constitutes a semester credit hour of instruction ( 22 PA . Code Chapter 31-21-31.22 ). The standard states that “ a semester hour represents a unit of curricular material that can normally be taught in a minimum of 14 hours of classroom instruction , plus outside preparation or the equivalent as determined by the faculty .” The institution also supports the federal
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