Academic and Professional Behavior Policies
MSW Student Standards
The Graduate College of Social Work (GCSW) faculty and professional staff are responsible for determining whether students demonstrate the required level of classroom, practicum, professional, and ethical achievement appropriate for professional interactions with colleagues, faculty, practicum instructors, administrators, staff, and clients.
The College is committed to the treatment of students with fairness and equity throughout the program. The MSW Student Standards apply to students’ enrollment in the MSW program at any point in time, from admission to graduation. Each admitted student is required to read, comprehend and complete the Student Standards. Students are required to adhere to MSW program policies, GCSW and University of Houston (UH) policies.
Enrollment Status
Applicants request admission into either face to face, hybrid, or online enrollment status. Face to face is a full-time program that is completed in 2 years. Hybrid and online programs are part-time and take three years to complete.
Most students are admitted into the specific enrollment status to which they have applied; however, the GCSW reserves the right to limit the number of students admitted in each enrollment model in a given year. Students who wish to change their status prior to their initial enrollment may have to postpone starting the program for a full year if all slots are full. Once enrolled officially (i.e., tuition and fees are paid), students may change their status only with the recommendation of the academic advisor and approval from the Assistant Dean of Admissions and Student Affairs.
Final Course Letter Grade
Courses graded as S, U, or I will not be considered in computing a grade point average. A grade of “pass” in a course is equivalent to the letter grade of “B.”
| Grade Scale |
| Grade |
Percent |
| A |
90 - 100% of the points |
| B |
80 - 89% |
| C |
70 - 79% |
| D |
60 - 69% |
| F |
Below 60% |
GPA requirement, Academic Warning and Probation
Students must maintain a 3.0 grade point average (GPA) and satisfactory performance in all courses, including practicum. If a student’s cumulative GPA falls below 3.00, the student is placed on Academic Warning. When a student is placed on Academic Warning, the student will be notified and will be instructed to contact their academic advisor.
A student regains satisfactory academic standing when their cumulative GPA returns to 3.00 or above.
If the student does not raise the GPA to 3.0 after one long semester on Academic Warning, the student will be placed on Academic Probation. A student on Academic Probation will be dismissed from the program if either of the following occurs:
- the student’s cumulative GPA remains below 3.0 after completing an additional 9 SCH of letter-graded coursework.
- the student has not completed 9 SCH of letter-graded coursework within two long semesters after being placed on academic probation and the student’s cumulative GPA remains below 3.0.
Failure to maintain a 3.00 GPA may also result in loss of financial support.
Students admitted conditionally must earn a minimum GPA of 3.0 in their first semester of graduate work at the GCSW. Failure to achieve a 3.0 GPA will result in dismissal from the MSW program.
Automatic Academic Dismissal
Whether or not in repeated courses, a student is automatically dismissed from the program based on the Low Grade Rule as follows:
- Receives 3 low grades of D’s, F’s and/or U’s in graduate courses attempted at this college, whether or not in repeated courses.
A student on Academic Probation (see 1.4.2 GPA Requirement, Academic Warning and Probation) will be dismissed from the graduate program if either of the following occurs:
- the student’s cumulative GPA remains below 3.0 after completing an additional 9 SCH of letter-graded coursework.
- the student has not completed 9 SCH of letter-graded coursework within two long semesters after being placed on Academic Probation and the student’s cumulative GPA remains below 3.0.
Students admitted conditionally must earn a minimum GPA of 3.0 in their first semester of graduate work at the GCSW. Failure to achieve a 3.0 GPA will result in dismissal from the M.S.W. program.
A student who is dismissed is ineligible for an MSW degree at this College and will not be permitted to re-enroll in the MSW Program.
Incomplete Grades
The temporary grade of I (incomplete) is a conditional and temporary grade assigned when students for non-academic reasons beyond their control have not completed a relatively small part of all requirements for a course. The student must:
- be currently passing the course or have a reasonable chance of passing the course, in the judgment of the instructor (which may include the Office of Practicum Education);
- contact the instructor immediately regarding the reasons that prevent the student from completing the course, final assignment and/or final examination, and initiate the request for an I grade as soon as possible, before the end of the term;
- not re-enroll for the courses in which their grade is currently recorded as an I. Even when the conditions for fulfilling the course requirements include participation in all or part of the same course in another semester, the student must not re-enroll for the course;
- make arrangements with the instructor to complete the course requirements, if assigned;
- understand that the only way to have an I grade changed to a passing grade is to fulfill course requirements in accordance with the conditions and timeline specified by the instructor;
- understand that the grade of I (incomplete) must be changed by fulfillment of course requirements within 12 months of the end of the term or session in which the I grade was received, or it will be converted automatically to an F or U (in S-U graded courses); and
- understand that the grade of I may be changed only to another letter grade. If the student does not complete the course requirements in the time allotted (see point f. above) the I grade will convert to an F grade and will be noted as a lapsed incomplete on the student’s transcript. An I grade, once lapsed to an F grade or changed to another letter grade, may not be changed back to an I grade or to a grade of W.
After the course work is completed by the student, the instructor will submit an electronic grade change form to change the I grade to the grade earned. Incomplete grades must be resolved before graduation. In the case of a student enrolled in the graduating semester, a grade of I which has not been changed by the date of graduation will have the effect of an F or U.
Continuous Enrollment and Leave of Absense
Students are expected to maintain continuous enrollment throughout their course of study. A temporary, time limited leave of absence generally up to 12 months may be granted for compelling reasons. To take a leave of absence, students should complete a Request for Leave of Absence (LOA) form. Students who fail to maintain continuous enrollment without initiating an official leave of absence will be considered as having withdrawn from the MSW program. Students may be required to reapply for admission without continuous enrollment or an approved LOA request.
Time Limitation on Completion of Degrees
Students who are enrolled as graduate students at the University of Houston must complete the MSW program within five years of the date of enrollment.
Policy on Academic Dishonesty and Plagiarism
The full explanation of the UH Academic Honesty Policy and Procedure is available online. “Academic dishonesty” means employing a method or technique or engaging in conduct in an academic endeavor that contravenes the standards of ethical integrity expected at the University of Houston or by a course instructor to fulfill any and all academic requirements.
Process: Students shall have the responsibility of reporting incidents of alleged academic dishonesty to the instructor of record involved or to the appropriate authority if the alleged act is not associated with a specific class within 5 class days of the incident. Faculty or instructor of record shall have the responsibility of reporting incidents of alleged academic dishonesty through their departmental hearing officer within 5 class days of the incident (see Article 5 of the Academic Honesty Policy). The faculty should include the recommended sanction in the report. The departmental hearing officer will notify the student of the report and recommended sanction. The student can accept the sanction and waive a hearing or request a departmental hearing.
If either the student or the instructor wishes to appeal the decision of the departmental hearing officer, they must file a written request for a hearing with the college hearing officer within 10 class days of the departmental hearing officer’s decision. The Academic Honesty panel will consist of two faculty and three students chosen by the college hearing officer.
Academic Grievances
Students have the right to seek redress of any grievances related to their academic affairs. A grievance is an actual incident, or issue, which can be substantiated, and is regarded by a student as a just cause for protest. Persons against whom a grievance may be submitted include a classroom instructor, academic advisor, administrator, or other staff or faculty member of the Graduate College of Social Work. Students pursue a grievance with a desired outcome within the grievance. For more information and documentation please visit https://uh.edu/socialwork/current-students/policies/#AcaGrie
Student Grievance Policy - https://uh.edu/socialwork/current-students/policies/#AcaGrie
Grievance Cover Sheet - https://uh.edu/socialwork/current-students/policies/grievance-cover-sheet.pdf
Notice of Intent to File a Grievance - https://uh.edu/socialwork/current-students/policies/notice-of-intent-to-file-a-grievance.pdf
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