Graduate Courses in Biology
Master of Arts in Computer Information Systems
Graduate Courses in Education
Graduate Courses in Educational Media Technology
Master of Arts in Exercise Physiology
Master of Arts in Health Information Management
Master of Arts in Management
Graduate Courses in Music
Master of Arts in Nursing Program
Master of Arts in Occupational Therapy
Doctor of Physical Therapy
Graduate Courses in Psychology
The programs are:
Doctor of Physical Therapy
Master of Education in Curriculum and Instruction
Master of Education in Educational Media and Technology
Master of Education in Teaching
Master of Arts in Computer Information Systems
Master of Arts in Exercise Physiology
Master of Arts in Health Information Management
Master of Arts in Management
Master of Arts in Nursing
Master of Arts in Occupational Therapy
Graduate courses are also available in Biology, Music, and Psychology.
ACCREDITATION
The College of St. Scholastica is accredited by The Higher Learning Commission,
a commission of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools, to
offer the Doctorate of Physical Therapy, Master of Arts and Master of Education
degrees. The respective Graduate Programs are accredited by the following
professional associations: Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy
Education, Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education and
Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education. The respective graduate programs
are approved by the following associations or agencies: American Health Information
Management Association and Minnesota Board of Nursing. Licensure programs
offered through the Master of Education in Teaching and in Educational Media
and Technology are approved by the Minnesota Board of Teaching.
PROGRAM FORMAT/CLASS TIMES
To meet the needs of working adults, classes in several programs are scheduled
during evenings and weekends or in hybrid formats that include significant
online learning and reduce student travel to campus. Several programs are
primarily online and require only brief intensive classroom experiences at
the beginning and end of the program. The Doctor of Physical Therapy, Master
of Arts in Occupational Therapy and Master of Arts in Exercise Physiology
Programs require regular daytime classes. Consult the individual program
about format.
PROGRAMS IN OTHER COMMUNITIES
Graduate degree programs are offered by the College in off-campus locations
when sufficient interest is present in that region. When the College offers
a graduate degree program in an off-campus location, it makes a commitment
to bring to that location all core and elective courses that are necessary
to complete the degree. Several graduate programs are offered on our St.
Paul, St. Cloud and Brainerd campuses.
TUITION
Tuition rates vary by program and year. For current rates consult the Web
page for each program at http://grad.css.edu or contact the Graduate Studies
Office toll free at 866-478-9277.
APPLICATION FOR ADMISSION
Information about the admission process and application packets to each
graduate program are available online or by contacting the Graduate Studies
Office. A complete listing of the required application materials is included
with the program descriptions that follow in this catalog. Admission requirements
are determined by the individual graduate programs. Students should consult
the Graduate Studies Office or read the program application materials for
deadlines.
GRADUATE ENTRANCE EXAMINATIONS
The Miller Analogies Test (MAT) or Graduate Record Exam (GRE) is required
for some programs. Information regarding these exams is available from the
Graduate Studies Office.
ACCEPTANCE CATEGORIES
FULL ACCEPTANCE may be granted by the individual program based on departmental
policies and procedures to those students who have completed all admission
requirements. PROVISIONAL ACCEPTANCE may be granted to those students who
have not submitted all required admissions materials but who otherwise have
met the admission requirements. Students are allowed up to one semester to
submit remaining credentials. In order to receive financial aid, the student
must submit all outstanding admission materials by mid-term and be granted
full acceptance. PROBATIONARY ACCEPTANCE may be granted to those students
who do not meet the admission requirements, i.e. GPA or prerequisites, but
who otherwise exhibit reasonable evidence to indicate their ability to do
satisfactory graduate work. Students will be removed from probationary status
after completion of a minimum of 6 semester credits and the fulfillment of
the conditions for full acceptance identified in the probationary letter.
Students are not eligible for financial aid until granted full acceptance
into the program.
STUDENTS NOT SEEKING A DEGREE
Students who are not seeking a degree at St. Scholastica are invited to
register for select graduate courses. They must have permission of the program
director and course instructor to enroll. After receiving permission, students
complete a Non-Degree Seeking Application in addition to the registration
form. Non-degree seeking students should carefully consider their choice
of courses in order to maximize the acceptability of these courses toward
some future degree at St. Scholastica or another institution. The maximum
number of credits that can be taken while not seeking a degree and later
applied toward a degree at the College is one-third of the total number of
credits required for that degree.
An international student
is one who is not a U.S. national or does not retain U.S. permanent resident
status.
Graduate Admission Requirements
REGISTRATION
Registration (the act of officially enrolling in classes) takes place during
the middle of the semester. Students confer with their faculty advisors to
review their educational plans and develop class schedules for the following
semester. At this time, the student receives an access code to register.
Students have the responsibility to contact their advisor to determine their
academic plan. Initial registration for those students newly accepted into
a graduate program is coordinated by the Graduate Program Director who acts
as the advisor for new students. In subsequent semesters, the advisors receive
a preprinted registration form for each of their advisees. In addition, for
independent study projects, a Course Study Proposal form available from the
Registrar is required. To insure accurate fee statements and data, upon which
many decisions are based, it is imperative that all students complete registration
each term according to the established procedures and deadlines.
AUDITING
A student may register to audit a course with prior approval of the faculty.
A student who registers to audit receives no academic credit in the course
and is charged one-third the tuition of those who register for credit in
the class. Changes from credit status to audit status or vice-versa must
be made prior to one-eighth of the course elapsing and are subject to faculty
approval. These changes are made by completing an Add/Drop/Withdrawal Notice
form.
CONTINUING ENROLLMENT
Students who do not complete their thesis or applied project within the
designated time frame must continue to register while completing their work.
The fee for continuing enrollment equals the tuition for one graduate credit.
STUDENT STATUS
For the purposes of financial aid, a load of six graduate credits or more
is full time; three to five credits is half time.
COURSE ADDS
Once students have registered for at least one course in a term, they may,
with faculty permission, add other courses to their enrollment for the term
before one-eighth of the course has elapsed. Specific dates will be published
by the Registrar for each term. Depending on the amount of material covered
in a course prior to a proposed add, faculty may deny a student the permission
to enter the course. In order to add a course, the Add/Drop/Withdrawal Notice
form must be completed and submitted to the Registrar's Office.
COURSE DROPS AND WITHDRAWALS
Students may drop a course without incurring a record of enrollment before
one-eighth of the course has elapsed. Specific dates will be published by
the Registrar for each term. A student may withdraw from a course and a grade
of 'W' will be entered on the student's record if withdrawal happens before
threefifths of the course has elapsed. Students are not permitted to drop
or withdraw from a course after three-fifths of the course has elapsed, unless
circumstances beyond the control of the student prevented timely drop or
withdrawal. The Registrar will set drop and withdrawal deadlines. In order
to drop a course or withdraw from a course, the Add/Drop/Withdrawal Notice
form must be completed and submitted to the Registrar's Office.
ADD/DROP/WITHDRAWAL FEE
The forms to be completed for dropping, adding or withdrawing from a course
are available in the Office of the Registrar or from the academic advisor
or department office. A $5 Add/Drop/Withdrawal fee is required for all such
forms received at the Registrar's Office after the first week of classes.
REFUND POLICY
Students receive full refund of tuition if they withdraw before attending
the second meeting of the course or before submitting the first assignment
of a course delivered via distance learning or before one-tenth of a course
has elapsed for courses that are accelerated or meet for longer periods of
time. If they drop or withdraw after this point, the following schedule applies:
| Tuition and Course Lab Fees | Refund | |
| If Registrar certifies that the student officially dropped the first day of class or before: | 100% | |
| When student has attended classes and has processed the drop/add or withdrawal form to cancel within: | ||
| 10% of semester | 90% | |
| 20% of semester | 80% | |
| 30% of semester | 70% | |
| 40% of semester | 60% | |
| 50% of semester | 50% | |
| 60% of semester | 40% | |
| Thereafter | No refund |
No refund will be awarded until students have submitted a form and officially dropped or withdrawn from the course.
TRANSFER CREDITS
Students may transfer a maximum number of six semester graduate credits
appropriate to the program and earned from a regionally-accredited college
or university toward completion of their St. Scholastica degree. Exceptions
to this policy for individual students may be made with approval of the departmental
admissions committee and the Dean of Graduate Studies. The transfer credit
must have been completed no more than seven years prior to the date the St.
Scholastica degree is completed. Forms to request transfer of credits can
be obtained from the Office of Graduate Studies. The College of St. Scholastica
will consider transfer credits from students who:
INDEPENDENT STUDY FOR CREDIT
Students must discuss the objectives and purpose of the independent study
project with their advisor before signing up for credit. A Course Study Proposal
form, available from the Registrar or the department office, must be submitted
by the student. The number of hours of credit granted should match the work
completed by the student. The following formula is used: 1 credit is equivalent
to a minimum of three hours of in-class work per week for 15 weeks or at
least 45 total hours of in-class work..
| A | evidence of exceptional and outstanding work | |
| B | evidence of acceptable work | |
| C | minimally acceptable if the required overall GPA is maintained for that program | |
| F | failing work | |
| P | The P (pass) may be used if agreed upon ahead of time by the faculty
and student. The P grade indicates successful completion of course requirements. |
|
| N | The N (no credit) grade is used when Pass/No Pass has been agreed upon and when course requirements have not been successfully completed. | |
| I | The I (incomplete) grade is given to students who have not fulfilled the course requirements by the end of the course/term due to extraordinary circumstances. The request for an I grade must be made to the faculty on the Graduate Course Incomplete Contract form prior to the end of the course. The I grade must be converted to a letter grade (A through F) or P or N within the contract timeframe. Alternately, the faculty may assign a grade of W (withdraw). | |
| IP | The IP (in progress) grade is used to signify courses that are usually not completed within the term due to the nature of the course. The IP grade must be converted to a letter grade (A through F) or P or N within 12 months from the time the course was ended. Alternatively, the instructor may assign a grade of W (withdraw). | |
| W | If a student receives a W grade because of failure to complete an I or IP and then later decides to retake or complete the course, he or she must register and pay tuition at the rate in effect at that time. No tuition refunds will be given in connection with withdrawals under this policy. |
In addition to the grade classifications listed above, some programs
may also use grades of A-, B+, B-, C+, and C-.
A student's performance is recorded in grades as follows:
| A | 4.0 grade points | C+ | 2.3 grade points | |
| A- | 3.7 grade points | C | 2.0 grade points | |
| B+ | 3.3 grade points | C- | 1.7 grade points | |
| B | 3.0 grade points | F | 0 grade points | |
| B- | 2.7 grade points |
INCOMPLETE POLICY
Students must request and negotiate the timeframe and requirements for an
incomplete from the course faculty prior to the end of the course. A Graduate
Course Incomplete Contract form must be filled out. The grade of "I" is given
when students, who have made significant progress, are unable to complete
the course requirements in the regular timeframe for a given course due to
causes that are beyond their control. Unless the grade of "I" is removed
by the deadline stated in the contract, the student will be graded based
on the coursework completed and the grade of A, B, C, F, N or P will be given.
The maximum deadline the faculty can assign for the removal of the grade
of "I" is 12 months from the end of the course. Students with multiple incompletes
may be required to withdraw from their program until all Incompletes have
been resolved. In extenuating circumstances, the student may request an extension
of the timeframe for the completion of the "I."
TIME LIMITS FOR COMPLETION OF
THE GRADUATE DEGREE
The credits required for obtaining a graduate degree, including transfer
credits, must have been earned within seven years. Transfer credits approved
early in the program may not apply toward the degree if they become older
than seven years before all of the degree requirements are completed.
THESIS OR RESEARCH STUDY
Each graduate program requires a culminating experience, e.g., a thesis,
research study, final project, internship, etc., and provides its own guidelines.
Many programs require that students have three copies of their thesis or
final project bound by the library-one copy for the library, one copy for
the program, and one copy for personal use. In these programs, students pay
for binding three copies of the final thesis or project through a fee included
in the capstone or research course. Binding of additional copies for personal
use may be purchased by the student through the library. After a student
has completed the final document and has obtained all necessary approvals
and signatures, the document is bound. The student must provide copies of
the document for the College following departmental guidelines.
APPLICATION FOR DEGREE
In order to receive the graduate degree, students must complete the Application
To Graduate form, including procuring the department signatures of the student
advisor and the Graduate Program Director. This form can be obtained from
the Graduate Studies Office. The completed form must be submitted to the
academic department secretary along with the $50 graduation fee. Fall semester
due date is October 1 and spring semester due date is February 1.
DISCIPLINARY POLICIES
Students may be placed on probation, or dismissed, for academic and behavioral
reasons. Most lapses in ethical or academic standards will be addressed with
probation, but some may be severe enough to warrant dismissal. A student
may be placed on probation only once during the timeframe of a given program.
Exceptions to this policy for individual students may be made with approval
of the program faculty and the Dean of Graduate Studies.
ACADEMIC PROBATION
At a minimum, students must maintain a cumulative GPA of 3.0. If the cumulative
GPA falls below 3.0, the student is placed on probation. Additional requirements
may apply within particular programs. If placed on probation, the student
must then achieve a GPA of 3.0 after completion of six subsequent credits.
Failure to do so will result in dismissal. Academic dishonesty such as plagiarism,
falsification of data, or cheating, will result, at a minimum, in failure
of the assignment involved, and may result in failure of the course or dismissal.
BEHAVIORAL PROBATION
Students are expected to abide by professional standards of behavior. Some
examples of reasons for behavioral probation are minor infractions in the
following areas: 1. Lying, stealing, or breach of confidentiality when dealing
with a patient/ client or related health record. 2. Behavioral or emotional
problems which are incompatible with competent and/or ethical performance
as a graduate student. 3. Failure to abide by the code of ethics governing
the discipline. 4. Impeding the learning of other students in the program
through disruptive behavior, lack of cooperation, or other actions or lapses.
5. Unprofessional behavior while in clinical/practicum/internship settings.
The student and the faculty of the department will create a set of expectations
to address the problems (i.e. a contract), and a specified period of time
will be set in which to correct them. Failure to conform to the terms of
the probationary contract will result in dismissal from the program.
DISMISSAL
A student who has been placed on probation and fails to correct problems
identified during the probationary period will be dismissed. Dismissal proceedings
will be initiated by the Graduate Program Director upon receipt of relevant
evidence. Students may be subject to dismissal for severe and/or repeated
academic or behavioral issues whereby expected academic or behavioral standards
are not met. The dismissal decision will be made by a committee of three
members of the program faculty. Dismissed students may appeal the decision
to the Graduate Council by following grievance procedures outlined in the
Graduate Program Policy Manual.
ACADEMIC HONESTY POLICY
Academic honesty and integrity are highly valued in The College of St. Scholastica
learning community. Academic honesty directly concerns ethical behaviors
which affect both the academic environment and the civic community. Plagiarism
and fraud may be grounds for dismissal.
GRIEVANCE PROCEDURES
The grievance procedure is a means for settling student-professor and/or
student-program complaints, including probation and dismissal questions.
The grievance must be filed within 20 academic days following the alleged
incident that caused the complaint or following the communication of dismissal.
An attempt should be made to resolve the grievance at the immediate level
of the student(s) and the faculty. If the complaint cannot be resolved at
this level, the student contacts the Graduate Program Director or Department
Chair who arranges for a hearing before the program/department faculty. If
the complaint cannot be resolved at this level, the student contacts the
Dean of Graduate Studies to initiate a formal grievance procedure. The Dean
schedules a meeting of the Graduate Council to hear the grievance. A quorum
of the Graduate Council for the purposes of hearing a grievance shall be
no fewer than three Graduate Program Directors and three elected faculty
representatives. The Graduate Council is the policy-making body for graduate
studies at the College and its decision is binding.
LIBRARY SERVICES
Special library services are available to graduate students, including extended
due dates and document delivery for students living more than 25 miles from
Duluth. Library access begins with an active St. Scholastica student ID,
obtained at orientation or via program directors. The Library's Web pages
provide on and off-campus links to specialized databases and explain current
policies and procedures.
STUDENT SERVICES
The Student Center for Health and Well-Being (SCHAWB) provides a wide range
of services designed to assist students in achieving their educational goals.
Graduate students may benefit from participating in personal counseling or
other offerings of the SCHAWB. The Office of Career Services may also be
helpful in relation to the job searches, credentials and career resources.
Graduate students are encouraged to take advantage of these services and
resources.
HEALTH SERVICE AND MEDICAL
INSURANCE
Full-time (taking 6 or more credits) graduate students taking classes on
campus are required to pay the $65 per semester student health fee. Full-time
(taking six or more credits) graduate students are required to carry health
insurance. If a graduate student is covered under an existing policy, she/he
needs to fill out an insurance waiver card each year. Without submission
of the insurance waiver card, the student is automatically enrolled and charged
the premium of the College's student insurance plan.
FINANCIAL AID
Financial aid is awarded on the basis of need or merit. Only students working
toward a degree or license are eligible; non-U.S. citizens are generally
not eligible for financial aid. Students admitted on probation are not eligible
for financial aid until they are granted full acceptance. A student must
be registered for a minimum of three graduate credits for the semester in
order to be eligible for Stafford Loans or the Student Education Loan Fund
(S.E.L.F.) Loans. Students should contact the Financial Aid Office to obtain
the proper forms that must be completed in order for eligibility for aid
to be determined. Traineeships may be available for some graduate nursing
students. Information on these traineeships is available from the Graduate
Program in Nursing.
TEMPORARY HOUSING
Temporary housing, for a night or two, is sometimes available in the College
student residence hall for a minimal charge. This service is useful for students
traveling great distances to classes or who attend classes in satellite locations
and want to spend extended time in the library. Interested students should
contact the Housing and Residential Life Office to inquire about the availability
of rooms and to make reservations.
GRADUATE PROGRAM HANDBOOKS
Each graduate department may have additional policies regarding such issues
as grading, provisional admission status or acceptability of transfer credits.
Students should consult the Graduate Program Director or the program handbook
for specific issues concerning their program.
George Beattie (ex officio)
Registrar
Rondell Berkeland, Ed.D., OTR/L
Associate Professor/Chair: Occupational Therapy
Tommy Boone, Ph.D., M.P.H.
Professor/Chair: Exercise Physiology
Tom Gibbons, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor/Chair: Computer Science/Information Systems
Larry Goodwin, Ph.D. (ex officio)
President
Robert Hartl, M.A.
Associate Professor/Chair: Management
Marie Kelsey, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor: Education
Director of Educational Media and Technology
Kathleen LaTour, M.A., R.H.I.A.
Assistant Professor/Chair: Healthcare Informatics/Information Management
Kevin McGrew, M.Ed., M.A. (ex officio)
Assistant Professor, Director of the Library
Betty Preus, Ed.D.
Associate Professor/Chair: Education
Cecelia Taylor, Ph.D. (ex officio)
Interim Vice President for Academic Affairs and Dean of Faculty
Denise Wise, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor/Chair: Physical Therapy
Martha Witrak, Ph.D., R.N.
Professor/ Chair: Nursing and Division of Health Sciences
Sr Edith Bogue, Ph.D.
(Behavioral Arts and Sciences) Assistant Professor: Sociology
Tsai (Cindy) Lin, Ph.D. (Behavioral Arts and Sciences)
Assistant Professor: Computer Science/Information Systems
Sr. Beverly Raway, D.N.Sc. (Health Sciences)
Assistant Professor: Nursing
Sr. Kathleen Niska, Ph.D. (Health Sciences)
Associate Professor: Nursing
LeAnn House, Ph.D. (Humanities)
Professor: Music
Lawrence McGahey, Ph.D. (Natural Sciences)
Professor/Chair: Chemistry and Division of Natural Sciences
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