Masters Programs: Policies and Procedures
Admissions
To
be considered for admission, an applicant must provide all of
the following:
- A completed application for admission including the fee.
- Official transcripts form all institutions previously attended. If a degree was earned, the transcript must show the type of degree and date it was awarded.
- Official copies of scores earned on the GRE, GMAT, TOEFL as required.
- Two letters of reference attesting to personal and professional qualifications (some programs may require more than two letters of reference).
- A personal statement as required.
The potential applicant should refer to material from the individual programs for discussion of the admission requirements specific to each program.
An applicant may be classified as either of the following:
- Regular Admission – All of the above criteria have been satisfied.
- Non-matriculated (non-degree) – Has not met all of the above criteria.
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Transfer
Credit
If a syllabus indicates that a graduate course taken elsewhere
is equivalent to one given in a Program at Ramapo College, application
for transfer credits may be submitted. The criteria for acceptance
are different for each Program; therefore, students must discuss
transfer of credits with the Program Director.
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Graduation
Requirements
Admission to a Graduate Program does not mean acceptance to
candidacy for the Master’s Degree. In order to be admitted
to candidacy, the student must have:
- Attained "regular admission" status.
- Completed the required number of semester hours of graduate course work with an overall GPA of not less than 3.0.
- Removed all "Incomplete" grades.
- Filled a completed degree plan, transcript and graduation application.
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IP In Progress
This grade is assigned in such courses as Thesis Research, Internship, and Practicum when they are not completed at the end of the term.
I Incomplete No credit awarded
Given in exceptional circumstances when approved by the instructor and when requested by a student who has satisfactorily completed two-thirds of the course requirements up to the point of withdrawal. The work must be completed and submitted to the faculty member by the end of the following semester, at which time the "I" grade will be changed to the appropriate letter grade. If the work is not completed, the grade changes to an "F".
W Withdrawal No credit awarded
Given in exceptional circumstances with permission of the instructor and after a Withdrawal Form has been submitted to the appropriate Master’s Program Office, for withdrawal from a course. In cases where there are substantive medical reasons that prevent a student from completing the semester after the final withdrawal ("W") deadline is past, a student may request Withdrawal or Incomplete grades in all of his/her courses for medical reasons. Selective course withdrawal is not permitted. To qualify for this policy, the student must submit a written notarized request for Medical Withdrawal/Incomplete to the Registrar before the end of the semester. This request must be endorsed by a physician on appropriate letterhead and identify those contributing factors which prohibit continued academic participation. When the Medical Withdrawal/Incomplete is requested, the student must indicate in which courses he/she is requesting Incompletes and in which he/she is requesting Withdrawals. Incompletes can only be assigned with concurrence of the instructor and when appropriate. The student is obliged to be attentive to the College policy on Incomplete deadlines. Exceptions beyond these conditions may be appealed to the Provost. It is not the policy of the College to grant refunds of tuition and fees.
The following points are stressed:
- No undergraduate courses (100-400 level) will be used in calculating the GPA.
- A minimum grade of 3.0 is required to be in good standing.
- Any student whose cumulative GPA falls below 3.0 at the end of any term will be placed on academic probation. The probationary status must be removed by the time he/she completes (9) additional hours. If the GPA is not raised to a 3.0 or higher by that time, the student is subject to academic dismissal.
- All "I" grades must be removed before the close of the next semester following the semester in which the grade was earned.
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Course
Load Limitations
Full-time students in good academic standing may enroll for
(9) credit hours. Permission to exceed this limit must be secured
from the program director. Students on academic probation should
consider reducing their credit hour load until such status is
removed.
Non-degree students may only take up to (9) credits before being admitted to a program.
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Grading
Appeals
If a student believes a particular grade is unjustified, the
issue should first be discussed with the faculty member no later
than the beginning of the semester following the one in which
the course was taken (no later than one month after the grade
is formally assigned). If this discussion brings no resolution,
the student may submit a written appeal to the Program Director
who will convene the Academic Committee of the Program. After
conferring with the student and faculty member, the Academic
Committee will meet with both to attempt to resolve the problem.
If it is agreed that a grade change is warranted, the Academic
Committee will inform the Program Director who will forward
a faculty-endorsed Change of Grade Request with explanatory
reasons, to the registrar. If the Academic Committee renders
an opinion that does not support the student’s grade appeal,
the student may request the Program Director to make the Academic
Committee’s judgment available in writing. If a student
feels his or her appeal has not been satisfactorily resolved
at the Program level, a written grade appeal must be forwarded
to the Administrative Director of Graduate Programs. The Administrative
Director of Graduate Programs will consider only those grade
appeals that have previously received full deliberative discussion
at the Program level. The Administrative Director will convene
the Graduate Council, who after conferring with the student
and faculty member and reviewing the pertinent documentation,
may approve or decline the student’s grade appeal. The
recommendation of the Graduate Council is final.
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Appeals
of Academic Standing
Students must maintain a GPA of 3.0 to remain in good standing.
If a GPA falls below this for two consecutive semesters, a student
may be asked to withdraw from the program. If he or she wishes
to appeal this decision, a written appeal should be submitted
to the Program Director who will convene the Academic Committee
of the Program. After reviewing the appeal and interviewing
the student, the Committee will recommend to the Program Director
either that the student be permitted to remain in the Program
or that the he or she must withdraw. If the Academic Committee
renders an opinion that does not support the student’s
appeal, the student may request the Program Director to make
the Academic Committee’s judgment available in writing.
If a student feels his or her appeal has not been satisfactorily
resolved at the Program level, a written appeal must be forwarded
to the Administrative Director of Graduate Programs. The Administrative
Director of Graduate Programs will consider only those appeals
that have previously received full deliberative discussion at
the Program level. The Administrative Director will convene
the Graduate Council, who after conferring with the student
and faculty member and reviewing the pertinent documentation,
may approve or decline the student’s appeal. The recommendation
of the Graduate Council is final.
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Leaves
of Absence
If a student must take a leave of absence from a graduate program
for more than one semester, he or she can apply to the Program
Office for such a leave. A failure to register for more than
one semester without a filed application will require that the
student reapply for admission.
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Academic
Integrity
Every member of the Ramapo community is expected to be honest
and forthright in their academic endeavors. Since violations
of academic integrity erode community confidence and undermine
the pursuit of truth and knowledge at the College; academic
dishonesty must be avoided. There are four broad forms of academic
dishonesty:
1. Cheating is an act of deception by which a student misrepresents his or her mastery of material on a test or other academic exercise. Examples of cheating are:
- Copying from another student’s work
- Allowing another student to copy your work
- Using unauthorized materials such as a textbook or notebook during an examination
- Using specifically prepared materials such as notes written on clothing or other unauthorized notes, formula lists, etc., during an examination
- Collaborating with another person during an examination by giving or receiving information without authority.
2. Plagiarism occurs when a person represents someone else’s words, ideas, phrases, sentences, or data as one’s own work. When a student submits work that includes such material, the source of that information must be acknowledged through complete, accurate, and specific footnote references; verbatim statements must be acknowledged through quotation marks.
To avoid a charge of plagiarism, a student should be sure to include an acknowledgment of indebtedness:
- Whenever he or she quotes another person’s words directly
- Whenever he or she uses another person’s ideas, opinions, or theories,even if they have been completely paraphrased in one’s own words
- Whenever he or she uses facts, statistics, or other illustrative material taken from a source, unless the information is common knowledge.
3. Academic Misconduct includes the alteration of grades, involvement in the acquisition or distribution of unadministered tests, and the unauthorized submission of student work in more than one class. Examples of academic misconduct are:
- Changing, altering, falsifying, or being the accessory to the changing, altering, or falsifying of a grade report or form, or entering any College office or building for that purpose.
- Stealing, buying, selling, giving way, or otherwise obtaining all or part of any unadministered test or entering any College office or building for the purpose of obtaining an unadministered test.
- Submitting written work to fulfill the requirements of more than one course without the explicit permission of both instructors.
4. Fabrication refers to the deliberate use of invented information or the falsification of research or other findings with the intent to deceive. Examples of fabrication are:
- Citation of information not taken from the source indicated.
- Listing of sources in a bibliography or other report not used in that project.
- Fabricating data or source information in experiments, research projects, or other academic exercises.
- Submission as one’s own of any academic work prepared in whole or in part by others.
- Taking a test for another person or asking or allowing another to take a test for you.
- Falsifying information or signatures on registration, withdrawal, or other forms.
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Health
Requirements
Immunization Requirements and Forms
All students born on or after January 1, 1957 need proof of
two immunizations for Measles (Rubeola), one for German Measles
(Rubella), and one for Mumps. These immunizations must have
been given on or after the first birthday and the two Measles
(Rubeola) shots at least 30 days apart. Those students born
before 1957 are considered naturally immune to Measles
(Rubeola), German Measles (Rubella), and Mumps. A positive
blood titer for Measles, Mumps and Rubella antibodies is acceptable
proof; however, the titer results must be submitted in the
form of a lab report according to New Jersey state law (N.J.A.C.
8:57:6.1-6.13)
All students, in addition to the above requirements, are required to have a TB (tuberculosis) test no more than 6 months prior to admission to Ramapo College of NJ. This should be in the form of a Mantoux – PPD test.
An Immunization Requirements form is included in your acceptance packet from the Graduate Program. If you have not received this form, please call Health Services and we will mail or fax one to your attention.
Please be advised that you will not be able to register for classes unless these documents are received in the Health Services Office. Our fax number is (201) 684-7534 and the office number is (201) 684-7536.
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Students
With Disabilities
Ramapo College supports the protections available to students
with disabilities under Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act
of 1973 and the Americans With Disabilities Act of 1990. The
college presents a long history of commitment to providing equal
access for all students.
Regular admissions policy and procedure: Ramapo College does not have a separate program specifically for students with disabilities, and there is no separate admissions policy or procedure for applicants with disabilities. Disclosure of a disability, including self-identification on the admissions application, is entirely voluntary. All applicants are evaluated by the same admissions standards.
Accommodations and services for admitted students: Upon admission to Ramapo College, a student with a disability may request academic and other accommodations needed for equal access to college programs and services. The Office of Specialized Services facilitates equal access for students with documented physical, sensory, learning, or psychological disabilities. Academic advisement, tutoring, career and independent living counseling are also available to eligible students thanks to a US Department of Education Student Support Services grant.
Please refer to the Office of Specialized Services for further information about support for students with disabilities at Ramapo College.
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