I. INTRODUCTION

GRADUATE BULLETIN

ACADEMIC RULES AND REGULATIONS

Academic Year 2025-26 (rev. 08/26/2025)

Previously published Graduate Bulletin policies, rules, and regulations are superseded by this document.
Graduate Studies Policies Website: https://grad.georgetown.edu/academics/current-students/#policies-and-procedures
Graduate Studies Website: http://grad.georgetown.edu

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     I. INTRODUCTION
    II. REGISTRATION                         A. Registration Eligibility                                  B. Registration Requirements                                         C. Enrollment Certification                               D. Enrollment Requirements of International Students                                     E. The Registration Process                                          1. Registration Holds                                              2. Registration                                           3. Language Study Scholarships                                          4. Tuition and Fees                                                  a. Late Registration and Late Payment Fees                                                5. The Add/Drop Process                                        6. Withdrawal from Courses and Refund Schedule                              F. Standard Modes of Registration and Enrollment Time Status                                         1. Academic Course Credits                                                 a. Tutorial Courses                                                 b. Prerequisites and Skills Courses                                        c. Thesis Research                                        d. Continuous Registration                              G. Other Modes of Registration                                       1. Provisional Student Status                                   2. Enrollment during Summer Session                                  3. Enrollment through the Consortium                                  4. Enrollment in Georgetown University Law Center Courses                         H. Withdrawal from Coursework or Graduate Program                                  1. Voluntary Withdrawal                                       a. Withdrawal from one or more courses b. Withdrawal from a graduate degree program                                  2. Forced Withdrawal for Failure to Maintain Registration                                    3. Reinstatement or Readmission after Withdrawal
       III. ACADEMIC REGULATIONS & PROCEDURES                                  A. The Grading System                                    1. Grades for Graduate Coursework                                              2. Audit and Pass / Fail Options                                      4. Completion of Coursework; "Incomplete" Courses                                  5. “NR” Grades                                      6. Appeals Contesting Final Course Grades and Other Academic Assessments                                  B. Transfer of Credit, Advanced Standing, and Prior Graduate School Enrollment                                             1. Transfer of Credit toward the Master’s or Doctoral Degree                                            2. Advanced Standing Toward the Doctoral Degree                                     3. Use of Graduate Credits Earned in Another Graduate Program                             C. Time Limits for Completing Degrees                                   1. Master’s Degrees                                             2. Doctoral Degrees                                              3. Dual-Degree Programs                                      4. Requests for Extension of Time Limits                                D. Standards of Satisfactory Academic Performance                                E. Faculty Mentoring                              F. Request to Change Graduate Program                                     G. Appeals Regarding Termination of Degree Candidacy
        IV. REQUIREMENTS FOR DEGREES                           A. "Thesis" and "Non-Thesis" Programs                                     B. Thesis, Doctoral Project, and Dissertation Guidelines                                     1. Thesis, Doctoral Project, or Dissertation Proposal                                              a. Research on Human Subjects                             C. The Master's Degree                                     1. Comprehensive Examination for the Master's Degree                                          2. Final Defense of the Master's Thesis                                           3. Award of a Master’s Degree “In Passing” or as a “Terminal” Degree                                 D. The Doctoral Degree                                    1. Qualifying and Comprehensive Examinations for the Doctoral Degree                                         a. Doctoral Candidacy                                          b. Dissertation/Doctoral Project Committee                                                c. Final Defense of the Dissertation/Doctoral Project                                     E. Dual-Degree and Joint-Degree Programs                                  1. Accelerated Programs                                  2. Dual-Graduate Degree Programs                                  3. Joint-Degree Programs                                  4. Concurrent-Degree Programs                                  5. Individualized Dual-Degree Programs                                   a. Requirements for Individual Degree Programs                    V. GRADUATION & COMMENCEMENT                                  A. Application for Graduate Degree                                   B. Publication of Theses, Doctoral Projects, and Dissertations                                 C. Diplomas and Transcripts                   VI. ACADEMIC INTEGRITY: POLICIES & PROCEDURES                                    A. Jurisdiction                                   B. Academic Integrity Procedures for Certificate Students, Master’s Students, and Doctoral Students in Coursework                                  1. The Honor Council                                  2. Students Enrolled in Dual-Degree Programs                                  3. Students Enrolled in Consortium Courses or at Other Universities                             C. Reporting Allegations of Academic Misconduct                          D. Academic Integrity Procedures for Doctoral Students in Thesis Research                                  1. Adjudication of Allegations                                         a. Standing Committee on Academic Integrity                                         b. Transmittal of Allegations and Decision to Investigate                                             c. Investigation of Allegations by the Adjudication Committee                                   d. Determination of Responsibility for Academic Misconduct                                  2. Sanctions                                  3. Appeals                                  4. Accommodations
        VII. GRADUATE STUDENT LEAVE POLICIES                                      A. Personal Leave of Absence                                B. Medical Leave of Absence                                 C. U.S. Military Service Leave and Re-Enrollment Policy                                              1. Military Leave and Refund Procedures                                   a. Definition                                         b. Student Responsibilities                                             c. University Procedures                                2. Military Re-Enrollment Procedures                                   a. Definition                                         b. Student Responsibilities                                             c. University Procedures                          D. Parental Leave Policy for Graduate Students                               E. Leave Policies for Graduate Research Assistants, Teaching Assistants, and Teaching Associates                                  1. Holidays and Personal Time Off                                       2. Medical Leave from Assistantship                                  3. Parental Leave                                  4. Family Leave
                 VIII. STUDENT STATUSES AND PRIVILEGES                          A. "IP" — Inactive Status with Privileges                                B. "IS" — Inactive Status                           C. "IC" — Inactive Completed Program              IX. INFRINGEMENT OF NON-ACADEMIC RULES OF CONDUCT                         IX. OTHER POLICIES                                 A. Awareness of Program and University Communications                                B. Local Off-Campus Address                                    C. Student Billing and Payment Policies

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INTRODUCTION

The Graduate Bulletin establishes minimum requirements for admission and for the awarding of degrees. Schools, departments, and programs may set higher standards. Students are responsible for reading and understanding the relevant handbooks, rules, regulations, and procedures of their school or program, and the University-wide policies and procedures enumerated or linked to in this Bulletin. Recipients of merit-based financial aid must adhere to the terms established by their award letters. Ignorance of these rules does not serve as an excuse for infractions of them.

Exceptions to rules, regulations, and procedures can only be granted through the processes articulated in this Bulletin. No University officials, including faculty members, are authorized to grant exceptions individually, except where that right has been afforded to them by the Bulletin. Any student who is in doubt about how a rule, regulation, or procedure applies to them should seek clarification from their school dean’s office.

The policies in this Bulletin are established by the Joint Committee of Graduate Studies, which is managed by the Joint Office of Graduate Studies (JOGS). JOGS provides shared services, support, and oversight for graduate programs across the University. These policies apply to all credit-bearing graduate degree and certificate programs except for those awarding the Medical Doctorate (MD), the Juris Doctorate (JD), the Master of Laws (LLM), and the Doctorate of Juridical Science.

The University may update its policies, procedures, admissions requirements, curriculum, course offerings and requirements, course delivery modes or methods (including whether virtual or in person), arrangement of courses, academic and semester calendar, schedule, and duration graduation or degree requirements, conditions for eligibility for financial aid, tuition rates and fees, and resources and programming offered to students at any time for any reason. Any updates made to the Bulletin will be communicated to students. It is the responsibility of each student to keep well-informed with respect to the policies and requirements in the Graduate Bulletin and all other policies of the University, school, and program in which they are enrolled. The Graduate Bulletin applies to current students and is not a contract.

Questions may be addressed to the following University officials, as appropriate:

http://grad.georgetown.edu/people/