Graduate and Law Student Handbook 2025-26

Degree Information The title of your degree at graduation will be dependent on your program. The title may not be the most important part of your story, but it is important to understand the implications of those titles. Master of Arts: A postgraduate qualification, this degree usually takes about 1-2 additional years to earn, and it often requires students to perform original research and write a thesis. Master of Science: A postgraduate qualification, this degree usually takes about 1-2 additional years to earn, and is typically granted for studies in sciences, engineering and medicine and is usually for programs that are more focused on scientific and mathematical subjects. Master of Education: A Master of Education degree is designed for current educators who wish to expand their understanding of teaching theories, pedagogy, strategies and more. Though the degree is well-suited to teachers seeking new ways to make an even greater impact in the lives of their students, those who choose the MEd pathway often desire to expand their career beyond the classroom. Doctorate: A postgraduate qualification, this degree usually takes about 4-6 additional years to earn and is pursued once an individual has received their master’s degree. PhD students are required to produce original research that expands the boundaries of knowledge, normally in the form of a dissertation, and defend their work against experts in the field. Graduate and doctoral degrees offered: sandiego.edu/admission and-aid/graduate/explore programs/program-finder.php

Course Information In order to complete your degree, your courses will need to add up to a minimum amount of units. Unit: Most classes are 3 units, and students with 9+ units are considered full-time students CRN: A Course Reference Number is a specific class ID for registration. Add/Drop period: A short period during which students are able to add courses and drop courses at the start of the semester. Prerequisite: A course or requirement mandatory before taking a course at the next level. Co-requisite: A course or a requirement taken alongside another course or requirement. Core Requirements: The general classes or requirements needed to graduate. ▪ These are dependent on your specific program Syllabus: The course outline, assignments/exam dates instructor office hours, and defined expectations and student responsibilities. Waitlist: When classes are full, students can place themselves on a waitlist. If a space opens up, a student on the waitlist is added. ▪ Important: If taken off the waitlist you must add yourself to the class within 24 hours or your spot will go to the next student on the waitlist Withdrawal: When students need to leave a course after the add/drop period ends, they can withdraw from the course and have their grade recorded as a W. Students who leave their course(s) mid-semester without officially withdrawing will receive non-passing grades. Withdrawals have different financial and academic

consequences. Consult with Financial Aid if you are considering dropping

from full-time to part-time. Degree Completion

There are specific academic and financial requirements you must meet and administrative actions you must take in order to officially complete your degree. The terms below are important to keep in mind throughout your time at USD as you move toward graduation. Accredited: Government recognition of academic excellence. catalogs. sandiego.edu/graduate/about university-san-diego/accreditation GPA: (Grade Point Average) The average of all course grades, usually broken down per semester, or cumulative, which includes all courses since initial enrollment. Pass/Fall: Pass/Fail courses count toward credit hours without impacting GPA. Students must attain a C average or better to receive credit for a Pass/Fail course. Transcript: An official transcript is a copy of your permanent academic record and includes courses taken, dates of attendance, major, type of degree awarded, your cumulative grade point average (GPA) and all honors received at the school. Internship: Professional workplaces offer limited employment to students to supplement coursework with professional work experiences. Academic Campus Resources You are in control of your education at USD. We have a plethora of resources to ensure you feel that way too. Copley Library: The newly renovated Copley Library is a great place to study, check out course materials,

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