Academic Standing

In accordance with the Federal Satisfactory Academic Progress Policy 34 CFR 668.34, all School of Public Health degree and graduate certificate candidates must maintain Good Standing during their studies. The academic status of every degree and graduate certificate student is reviewed at the end of each semester. Failure to make satisfactory academic progress and remain in Good Standing can result in Academic Probation and Dismissal.

Good Standing

Students maintain good academic standing when they achieve the following:

  • Earn no deficient grades:
    • Earn at least the minimum grade in courses with a minimum grade requirement (details below).
    • Earn no D or F grades.
  • Meet completion standards:
    • Successfully complete at least 66% of course credits attempted each semester.
    • Part-time students must successfully complete at least 66% of course credits attempted over the last two semesters.
    • Grades that are not considered a successful completion include: incomplete (I), missing grades (MG), withdrawals (W), and deficient grades (D, F, or below minimum).
  • Make progress toward degree requirements as outlined in the Bulletin.
  • Maintain a cumulative SPH GPA of at least 3.10.

Academic Warning

Students will be placed on Academic Warning if any of the following occur: (1) earn one deficient grade, (2) completion standards are not met, (3) SPH GPA is below 3.10. Students will be notified in writing with a copy sent to the academic advisor. Academic warning status and related correspondence are not part of the permanent academic record unless the student is subsequently dismissed from SPH for academic reasons.

Academic Probation

Students who are on Academic Warning will be placed on Academic Probation if any of the following occur in any subsequent semesters: (1) deficient grades, (2) completion standards are not met, (3) failure to make upward progress toward a 3.00 GPA, (4) failure to resolve deficient grades. In addition, students will be placed on Academic Probation if any of the following occur: (1) they have earned two deficient grades at SPH, (2) SPH GPA is below 2.90.

If a student has a deficient grade in a required course and has not achieved the minimum grade by retaking the course, the deficient grade is considered unresolved. If a student on Academic Probation has any unresolved deficient grades, they will be restricted to registering only for courses that will resolve the deficient grade(s) in the next semester. Students on Academic Probation must meet with their academic advisor and devise an academic learning plan to achieve Good Standing and ultimately graduate. Students will be notified in writing with a copy sent to the academic advisor and the Student Financial Services office (OSFS). OSFS may determine that these students are no longer eligible for financial aid. Academic probation status and related correspondence are not part of the permanent academic record unless the student is subsequently dismissed from SPH for academic reasons.

Academic Dismissal

Students who are on academic probation are subject to Academic Dismissal if any of the following occur in subsequent semesters: (1) deficient grades, (2) failure to make upward progress toward a 3.00 GPA, (3) failure to resolve deficient grades. In addition, students will be subject to academic dismissal if any of the following occur: (1) they have earned three deficient grades at SPH, (2) it is not mathematically possible for them to achieve a 3.0 SPH GPA with 8 additional credits (details below). A student who wishes to appeal their dismissal may do so by petitioning the Satisfactory Academic Progress Committee in writing. The written petition must be received by the SPH Registrar’s Office within 14 calendar days of the dismissal notice. The student should provide evidence of any extenuating circumstances.

Minimum Grade Requirements

Although the grade range for courses is A–F, students earn no academic credit for “D” or “F” grades. Some SPH degree programs have specific courses with higher minimum grade requirements. If a student earns below the minimum grade, they will not earn degree credit for the course. These courses are:

Academic Program Courses Minimum Grade
Master of Public Health PH717, PH718, PH719, PH720 B–
Executive Master of Public Health PH715, PH717, PH719, PH720 B–
Master of Science* All required courses B
Master of Science in Applied Biostatistics All required courses B–
Doctor of Philosophy in Environmental Health Core PhD courses B
Doctor of Philosophy in Epidemiology Core PhD courses B
Doctor of Philosophy in Health Services Research Core PhD courses B
Doctor of Public Health All courses B
Graduate Certificate in Modern Biostatistics in Clinical Trials All courses B
Graduate Certificate in Statistical Genetics All courses B
Graduate Certificate in Public Health All courses B–

*With the exception of MS in Applied Biostatistics

Retaking a Course

If a student earns below the minimum grade in a required course, they will not earn degree credit for the course and they must retake the course or its curricular equivalent in the next semester (fall/spring) the course is offered. Students retaking a course due to a deficient grade are eligible to be graded with the whole range of grades (A–F). No student will be permitted more than two course retakes to resolve deficient grades.

Grades for every course in which a student registers, including retaken courses, will appear on the student’s transcript. The credits from courses in which a student earns a deficient grade are not counted toward the credit requirement for graduation; however, the grade is factored into the overall grade point average.

Students may not retake a course or its curricular equivalent if they have not earned a deficient grade in the course. Should a student retake the course or its curricular equivalent, the credits and grade associated with the second registration will not count toward degree requirements or the GPA.

Below Minimum GPA at the End of the Degree Program

If a student does not attain a 3.00 GPA after they have met the credit requirements of their degree program, then the student is not eligible to graduate. In this case, the student may register for up to 8 additional graduate-level SPH credits of coursework in order to raise their GPA to the minimum 3.00 standard. If it is not mathematically possible for a student to increase their GPA to 3.00 with the allotted additional credits, the student will be dismissed from SPH without possibility of reinstatement.

Please see the Student Financial Services office (OSFS) for the academic requirements to maintain financial aid.