Course and Program Grades

Courses not satisfying the requirements for a graduate degree are:

1. Any course with a grade of D+, D or F.
2. More than 12 credits with grade of C+ or below (the 4-C Rule).
3. Any course taken on a non-letter grade basis (except thesis).
4. More than 12 semester hours of credits from a previous graduate degree program.

The student must maintain a minimum grade point average of 3.0 in:

1. All courses taken as part of the official degree program.
2. All courses numbered 700 or above.
3. All courses taken for graduate credit, including those not included in the official degree program.
4. Pass/Fail — A “fail” grade counts toward the 4-C rule.

Publication Requirement for M.S. Students

An educational objective for M.S. students is that they have the ability to communicate their research results through oral presentations and written publications. Consistent with this objective, an M.S. student is required to submit, based on research performed while at USC, at least one conference paper (or abstract with presentation) or one journal paper prior to graduation.

Master’s Thesis

A thesis is required of all students seeking the M.S. degree. The student’s academic advisor must approve the subject of the thesis. The Graduate School will furnish general thesis regulations upon request. Any student who wishes to use University facilities or to confer with the faculty on thesis work must be officially enrolled for thesis credit.

Thesis Committee

A student’s M.S. Thesis Committee consists of the student’s advisor and the second reader of the student’s thesis.

Thesis Presentation and Defense

The thesis presentation is to be open to all members of the University community and guests. During the Fall and Spring semesters, the presentation and defense are to be conducted during normal business hours and on a day that faculty are expected to be on campus. The Graduate Director must approve the date and time of presentations given during the summer sessions.

Comprehensive Examination

For the M.E. degree, a student passes the comprehensive exam by demonstrating competence in a written exam.