Continuous Enrollment
Continuous enrollment in graduate programs within the College of Arts and Sciences at Georgia State University is defined as registration for a total of six or more semester hours during all consecutive 12-month periods until completion of degree requirements. Completing degree requirements includes requirements such as thesis/dissertation defense, performance, or gallery show. The semester of completion is defined as extending until the first day of the next semester on the academic calendar.
All students in graduate degree programs are required to maintain continuous enrollment. This policy is designed to eliminate the need for readmission to the university, provide the opportunity for continuous use of facilities such as the library, and maximize the probability of completing the degree program within the time limitations set by college regulations.
For students who have completed all course work, but have not yet completed all degree requirements, this enrollment can be accomplished as appropriate for the department. Usually, this takes the form of registration for appropriate research courses.
Unless granted an approved leave of absence, a graduate student who fails to meet the continuous enrollment requirement will be placed on inactive status. To resume studies, it will be necessary that they formally apply for re-entry into the university and to the degree program. As a consequence, completion of the degree will require meeting any changed or additional requirements approved in the interim.
A student who finds it necessary to be excused from continuous enrollment in a graduate degree program must formally request a leave of absence from the college. The application for leave must be approved by the department and the academic associate dean. Leaves will be granted only under exceptional circumstances, such as military obligation or major illness, or for program-related activities, such as clinical internships or fellowships abroad, that prohibit the student from enrolling in courses. When there is no mutual agreement the decision will be made by the academic dean. Pending development of a university leave policy, all leave requests must also be approved by the Associate Provost for Academic Programs.