Classifications
DePaul Students and 5-year Programs
Undergraduate students in the College of Communication are eligible to apply for admission to the 5-year B.A./M.A. program. Admission is conditional until the bachelor's degree is posted on the DePaul transcript. The M.A. programs in Journalism, Media and Cinema Studies, Organizational and Multicultural Communication, Health Communication, and Relational Communication offer an accelerated master’s degree that begins in an undergraduate’s senior year and may be completed in one subsequent year. The combined degree programs are available to College of Communication undergraduates only. Further information about these 5-year B.A./M.A. programs can be found within specific program descriptions in this Catalog.
Reinstatement
In order for a student who has been dismissed to be reinstated into the program, the student must demonstrate a change in circumstances to an extent that would support successful completion. The student may petition for reinstatement after one calendar year following the dismissal. The Associate Dean of Graduate Programs must approve the petition.
Registration and Credit Hours
No one is permitted to attend a class for which he or she had not been properly registered. Credit is accumulated on the basis of quarter hours. The unit of credit is one quarter hour granted for 45 minutes of classroom work a week. The normal class extends over a ten-week period (or an accelerated five-week period in the summer, and accelerated three-week period in December). All courses carry four quarter hours of credit (2 2/3 semester hours), unless otherwise noted.
Full-time and Part-time Status
Students enrolled for eight or more quarter hours of credit are considered full-time. Those enrolled in 4 to 7 hours of credit are considered halftime. Those registered for less than 4 quarter hours of credit are considered less than half-time. For students fully employed, registration for two courses in a term is the suggested maximum.
Transfer Credit
For students who have taken graduate courses in another accredited university, DePaul allows for the transfer of up to three graduate courses (1/4 of the degree). The graduate program director determines whether any courses may transfer. Students requesting any course credit transfers should complete a Transfer of Credit Request Form and provide a copy of an official transcript showing the completed course and grade and a course syllabus. The graduate program director will review the courses and provide a determination, in writing, about whether they may be applied toward the MA degree. If so, which, if any, required courses they may replace. Applicants are encouraged to obtain all transfer approvals in writing before beginning the DePaul graduate program.