ECE Graduate Handbook

Regulations

Student petitions for exceptions to the policies and requirements listed in the ECE Graduate Handbook will be considered by the Graduate Studies and Research Committee (GSRC). Petitions shall be submitted directly to the Graduate Studies Office (GSO).  Student petitioners may seek advice from GSRC faculty/student members on generic issues related to their petition but are advised not to discuss specific details.  Student petitioners should note that GSRC faculty/student members can not act as advocates on their behalf.  The petitioners should not give out any written documents to support their case to the faculty/student representatives but should supply all the relevant documents directly to the GSO.  The student’s own explanation as listed on the petition form shall be read in full to the GSRC.  (Limit: one page explanation by student). In the case that a GSRC faculty/student member is unable to form an unbiased opinion, the member should abstain from voting.

Upon admission, students will be initially assigned an academic advisor based on the technical interests indicated in the application.  The academic advisor is a regular or affiliate faculty member in ECE from whom students should seek general advice, such as in selecting courses for the Plan of Study.  For students who are offered a Graduate Research Assistantship, the research advisor should serve as the academic advisor, unless he/she is not a regular or affiliate faculty member in ECE.  All students are expected to meet with their advisors at least once per semester.

Regardless of funding, all students are expected to establish a relationship with an advisor who will direct their research and provide academic advising.  For M.S. Non-Thesis students, the advisor serves as the first reader of the Scholarly Paper.  For M.S. with Thesis students, the advisor chairs the Thesis Examining Committee.  For Ph.D. students, the advisor chairs the Research Proposal Exam and the Dissertation Examining Committee.

During the first semester in the program, students may wish to contact other faculty members who share their technical interests.  Students may consult with one of the department’s Area Advisors for guidance in locating a research advisor.  (See Department Overview for additional information on Area Advisors.)  The Graduate Studies Office can help put students in touch with an Area Advisor. 

At any time, students may request a change of advisor by filing the appropriate form.  This form must be signed by the faculty member who will serve as the new advisor.  The change of advisor is subject to the Graduate Director’s approval, and the former advisor will also be contacted.

Full-Time Status

From the Graduate Catalog (http://www.gradschool.umd.edu/catalog):

The Graduate School uses a unit system in making calculations to determine full-time or part-time student status. Please note that graduate units are different from credit hours. The number of graduate units per credit hour is calculated in the following manner:

• Courses in the series: 000-399 carry 2 units per credit hour.
• Courses in the series: 400-499 carry 4 units per credit hour.
• Courses in the series: 500-599 carry 5 units per credit hour.
• Courses in the series: 600-897 carry 6 units per credit hour.
• Master's Research course: 799 carries 12 units per credit hour.
• Pre-candidacy Doctoral Research courses: 898 carries 18 units per credit hour.
• Doctoral Dissertation Research: 899 carries 18 units per credit hour. All doctoral candidates must pay candidacy tuition for which they will be registered for six (6) credit hours of 899; this defines all currently registered doctoral candidates as full-time.

To be certified as full time, a graduate student must be officially registered for a combination of courses equivalent to 48 units per semester. Graduate assistants holding regular appointments have full-time status if they are registered for at least 24 units in addition to the assistantship; holders of half-time assistantships are considered full-time if registered for 36 units. Audited courses do not generate graduate units and cannot be used in calculating full-time or part-time status.

Full-time registration throughout the fall and spring semesters is required for international students on F-1 or J-1 visa.

Continuous Registration Requirements for all Graduate Students

From the Graduate Catalog (http://www.gradschool.umd.edu/catalog):

All graduate students must register for courses and pay associated tuition and fees each semester, not including summer and winter sessions, until the degree is awarded.

A student who fails to register and who has not requested and received a waiver of registration or "Leave of Absence for Childbearing, Adoption, Illness or Dependent Care" will be notified by the Graduate School after the first day of classes that the student must register for the current semester. The Graduate School will also inform the Graduate Director of the graduate program that the student is in jeopardy of termination. If the student does not register, he or she will be dismissed from the Graduate School at the end of the semester for failure to comply with the continuous registration requirement.

A student who is dismissed for non-registration may appeal dismissal during a 30-day period following the end of the semester of non-registration. If the student does not appeal, or if the appeal is denied, and the student wishes to continue in the Graduate School, the student must apply for readmission. In this case, readmission does not alter the initial requirements for time to complete the degree or advance to candidacy.

From the Graduate Catalog (http://www.gradschool.umd.edu/catalog):

In recognition of the effects that childbirth, adoption, illness, and caring for incapacitated dependents (such as children, ill or injured partners, or aging parents) may have on the time and energy that graduate students have to devote to their educational programs, the University allows students in such circumstances to apply for a leave of absence of up to two semesters during which time they do not intend to make academic progress toward the completion of their degree. The time taken on an approved leave of absence is not included in the time limitations for degree completion and advancement to candidacy.

If a leave of absence is granted by the Graduate School, all ECE department deadlines are shifted accordingly.

Return to Graduate Handbook Table of Contents

↑ Back to Top