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The Gladys W. and David H. Patton College of Education
Patton Hall
100 East Union St.
Athens, OH 45701-2979

Grades and Requirements

Standards of Work

Conferral of a graduate degree requires at least a B (3.00) grade point average (GPA) plus the required courses for the degree program being pursued. All students in master’s programs must maintain a minimum grade point average (GPA) of at least 3.00. Students whose GPA falls below 3.00 will be put on probation and must raise their GPA above 3.00 by the end of the following term. If a student’s GPA improves substantially after one term but remains below 3.00, they will remain on probation and may continue in the program only with the recommendation of the advisor and department chair. The Department of Education reserves the right to dismiss/suspend a 6 student with the option to reapply in the future. University regulations prohibit awarding any type of financial assistance to students who are on probation or who are conditionally admitted to a graduate program.

For master’s programs in The Patton College, no grade below C will be accepted on any coursework that is part of a student's program of study. If you receive a grade below C, you must repeat the course or, subject to approval by your advisor, revise your program of study with a different course substituted for the course carrying the grade below C If you repeat a course or substitute it with an approved course, the previously earned grade that was below a C is not removed from your transcript. The grade remains on the transcript and is used in the calculation of your GPA. Please refer to the Graduate Catalog for complete information.

You can only complete a course more than once for credit if the course is designated as repeatable. Repeatable courses are designed to be taken multiple times (e.g., thesis, practicum, reading, and special topics credits). You may not take a course a second or subsequent time if a prior attempt has met degree requirements.

When a student is unable to complete a course, other than a Master’s Research Project or Master’s Thesis, during the semester of enrollment, they may receive a grade of I with permission from the instructor. The student must complete the work within the first two weeks of his or her next semester of enrollment or two years from the end of the term in which the grade of “I” was given, whichever comes first, or the “I” converts automatically to an “F.” The instructor may at his or her discretion submit a change of grade request to the Office of the University Registrar. When the student applies for graduation, any Incompletes on the record will be calculated as “F” grades to determine eligibility for graduation and will be converted to “F” upon graduation. In extenuating circumstances, a student may receive a grade of PR with permission of the course instructor and an agreed-upon timeline for completing the course. If a student does not adhere to the timeline, the course instructor may change the grade to an F.

If the faculty member who assigned the I or PR is no longer with Ohio University, students should contact the Coordinator of the Program or the Chair of the Department of Teacher Education for guidance about completing the course and requesting a change of grade.

Professional Dispositions and Academic Integrity

Master’s students in the Department of Teacher Education must uphold and follow professional ethics, standards of practice, policies, and legal codes of professional conduct set by the Ohio Standards for the Teaching Profession (OSTP), the Interstate Teacher Assessment and Support Consortium (InTASC), the National Board Professional Teaching Standards, Specialized Professional Associations, and The Patton College core values. 

Students are expected to maintain academic integrity and avoid dishonesty or deception when fulfilling academic requirements. The OHIO graduate catalog and student code of conduct provide more information about expectations and consequences for academic misconduct.

Academic Grievance Procedure

The Graduate Catalog and the OHIO Faculty Handbook provide a process and timeline for individual grade appeals. As a first step, a grievance should be fully discussed with the instructor. If the problem cannot be resolved at that level, the student should next appeal to the chair of the department with which the faculty member is affiliated. The Chair of the Department may activate departmental grievance procedures to support the process. For a Department of Teacher Education faculty member, the Chair of the Department will consult with the departmental Graduate Committee. If no resolution is reached at the departmental level, the Chair of the Department can forward the appeal to the Dean of the college. If the grievance cannot be resolved to all parties' satisfaction at any of these levels, it can be brought before the University Grievance Board for review. The board reviews the grievance and submits its recommendations to all appropriate parties. Additional information about the rights and responsibilities of students and faculty concerning grade appeals can be obtained from the Office of the Ombudsperson.

Time Limit

Master’s students have six (6) years from the date of admission to complete the degree requirements. Doctoral students have seven (7) years from the date of admission to complete the degree requirements. Students who do not complete their requirements within the time limit may continue graduate study at OHIO only if exceptional circumstances are associated with the delay in progress. The Dean of The Patton College of Education may grant a one-term, one-time extension. The application for such an extension may be found on the forms webpage

Students who have not completed the degree requirements within the required time limit may apply for readmission to the program. Applications and guidelines for extension and readmission are available on the forms webpage.

Doctoral students have seven (7) years from the date of admission to complete the degree requirements. Students who do not complete their requirements within the time limit may continue graduate study at Ohio University only if exceptional circumstances are associated with the delay in progress. The Dean of The Patton College of Education may grant a one-term, one-time extension. The application for such an extension is available on the forms webpage.  

Credit Hours

The total number of hours required for the Master’s degree varies by program. The required minimum number of hours is 30 semester hours beyond the Bachelor’s degree. Master’s programs in Teacher Education may require hours beyond the minimum.

The total number of hours required for the doctoral degree varies by program. The required minimum number of hours is 90 semester hours beyond the bachelor's degree and 60 semester hours beyond the master's degree. Some programs in The Patton College require hours beyond the minimum. 

Academic Residency

The Patton College does not currently have residency requirements for Master’s degrees.

At Ohio University doctoral programs must articulate requirements, if any, for students’ on-campus presence, either periodic (as in a hybrid online/on-campus learning model) or continuous. This residency requirement is provided by The Graduate College in The Graduate Catalog under Fees and Ohio Residency.

Leave of Absence Policy

If you are enrolled in a degree program but do not expect to make progress toward your degree for some time due to personal, medical, or professional reasons, you should request a leave of absence from the degree program before leaving the program temporarily. Students on an approved leave of absence may not use university resources and services or engage in consultation with faculty in an academic capacity. A leave of absence does not extend the six-year time limit of the master’s degree. To request a leave of absence, you must submit a request to your advisor stating the reason for the leave and the expected duration of the leave. The Patton College Leave of Absence Policy and the form for submitting the request can be found on the forms webpage. The Patton College Master’s Handbook and the Graduate Catalog provide additional information about this policy.