Academic Overview

General Student Information

Registration

Students must be properly registered and have their tuition and fees paid for all courses they are attending. No student shall be permitted to attend a class without processing a registration form, regardless of whether that class is being taken for credit, audit or continuing education units (CEU).

Melbourne Campus and Extended Studies

Access Florida Tech is the online portal that enables enrolled students at Florida Tech to register for classes, make schedule changes, and access and print their academic and personal information. Students may view and print course descriptions, semester class schedules, address and telephone information, all grades to date and a financial account summary by term, in addition to making payments. Access Florida Tech can be found via the Florida Tech home page at www.fit.edu. Obtaining access to student-specific information online requires a TRACKS account username and password assigned to students by the institution.

Florida Tech Online

Registering before admission allows students to begin classes while gathering all application components. Students are required to complete the online application and submit the required documents including a complete academic history. Students may register for up to two consecutive 8-week terms before being fully admitted.

Registering before admission and pending formal acceptance requires a determination of a high probability of eventual acceptance into the program applied for and that registration before admission is in the best interest of both the academic unit and the student.

Students who register before admission are not eligible to receive federal student financial aid until fully admitted to the university. Such registration requires a preliminary review of written documentation from the degree-granting institution (not necessarily official) showing previous academic courses taken, grades received and degrees awarded. In the event that applicants are denied admission while enrolled, they will be given the option of either withdrawing with full tuition refund or completing the courses underway. If the applicant completes one or more courses before being denied admission or completes a course for any other reason, he or she will not be given the option of withdrawing or receiving a tuition refund after completing the course.

Minimum Degree Requirements

Degree programs at Florida Tech use the semester credit hour unit. All programs offered at the university meet or exceed the minimum accreditation requirement of 60 successfully completed credit hours for the associate degree; 120 successfully completed credit hours for the bachelor’s degree; and 30 successfully completed credit hours for master’s degree programs. Doctoral programs will require a minimum of 42 successfully completed credit hours beyond the master’s degree.

Most programs at Florida Tech exceed the minimum and require students to successfully complete all coursework before being granted a degree. Students should work closely with their academic advisor to ascertain they have met the requirements for their chosen major.

Credit Hour Defined

Florida Tech defines one hour of classroom time as 50 minutes, in accordance with commonly accepted practice in higher education and in reasonable approximation of the Carnegie unit for contact time.

When courses are developed using new delivery models such as distance, online, hybrid and low residency, they are created by campus faculty or appropriate academically qualified subject matter experts, and submitted to the academic unit for review and endorsement. Academic units are responsible for identifying the amount of work represented in intended learning outcomes established for the course.

Student engagement may include online lectures, seminars, threaded discussions, video exercises, web-based laboratories and/ or additional structured learning activities and independent work in lieu of class time. Final review and approval is the responsibility of the Undergraduate Curriculum Committee (UGCC) or Graduate Council (GC) to ensure the workload and engagement required of the student are equivalent to standard credit hours. Conformity with the policy is also reinforced in a review of course content by the responsible academic unit.

The following are guidelines for implementation of Florida Tech’s credit hour policy.

Traditional Lecture Courses: A traditional one lecture credit hour is defined as a 50-minute in-class period for about 15 sessions over an academic semester (about 750 minutes), and a minimum of 100-minute combined out-of-class assignment/preparation period per session (about 1,500 minutes), for a total of 2,250 minutes of engaged learning time.

Hybrid or Online Courses: Credit hours associated with these organizational types of courses should be equivalent to credit hours for courses delivered traditionally. As stated above, academic units proposing these courses are responsible for identifying the amount of work represented in intended learning outcomes established for the course. Equivalency of the workload and engagement required of the student to standard credit hours will be determined by the UGCC or the Graduate Council.

Laboratory: A traditional one laboratory credit hour is defined as a 75- to 150-minutes in-laboratory period for at least 12 sessions over an academic semester, or 900 to 1,800 minutes.

Fieldwork/Practicum: One credit hour of fieldwork/practicum translates to 200- to 335-minutes for 15 sessions over an academic semester.

Internship: A traditional one internship credit hour is defined as 200-minutes of on-site or site-related activity per week for 15 weeks.

Applied Music/Large Ensembles/Chamber and Specialty Ensembles: One credit hour of ensemble/chamber work is equivalent to approximately three hours of instruction and a minimum of three hours of practice each week, on average, for 15 weeks. One half-hour credit of applied music instruction is defined as approximately one hour of instruction and a minimum of three hours of practice each week, on average, for 14 weeks.

Supervised Research Experience/Undergraduate Research: Supervised research is designated as one credit or three credits only. A traditional one-credit research experience is defined as 180- to 240-minutes per week of research-related activity. A traditional three-credit experience is defined as 540- to 720-minutes per week of research-related activity, plus an end-of-the-semester project deliverable.

Variable credit courses: Courses available for variable credit must meet Florida Tech’s credit hour policy requirements and must clearly demonstrate the amount of student work for each credit hour assigned.

Thesis/Dissertation: A one-credit thesis/dissertation experience is defined as a minimum of 180 minutes per week of scholarly activity.

Definition of Full Time/Part Time

Melbourne Campus

The following credit hour standards are used to determine a Melbourne campus student’s enrollment status. See “Veterans Accounts and Benefits ” for credit hour standards used for certification of students receiving veterans education benefits.

Florida Tech Online

The following credit hour standards are used to determine a Florida Tech Online student’s enrollment status. Florida Tech Online undergraduate students are strongly encouraged to limit their enrollment to two courses per 8-week term. See “Veterans Accounts and Benefits ” for credit hour standards used for certification of students receiving veterans education benefits.

Extended Studies

The graduate student policy above under “Melbourne Campus” applies equally to extended studies students. See “Veterans Accounts and Benefits ” for credit hour standards used for certification of students receiving veterans education benefits.

English Language Proficiency

All Students/Campuses

English language proficiency is required of all students whose home language is not English and who are taking academic courses at Florida Tech.

See “English and Languages ” in the School of Arts and Communication under the College of Psychology and Liberal Arts in the Degree Programs  section for information on acceptable proof of English proficiency, the availability of TOEFL examinations online and on campus, and help with English proficiency provided by Florida Tech to students whose home language is not English.

Demonstrating English Proficiency

English language proficiency is not required for admission, but enrollment in academic courses will be limited for all whose home language is not English until proficiency can be demonstrated. Florida Tech Online students must provide proof of English language proficiency before attending courses. See “English and Languages ” under the School of Arts and Communication in the College of Psychology and Liberal Arts for more information, along with references to the Florida Tech courses available to help establish proficiency.

Student Advising

An advisor in the first year experience office serves as the primary advisor for new students who enter the university with less than 30 earned credit hours throughout the initial academic year. Students transition to their appointed faculty advisors in their academic departments after two consecutive semesters. All other students proceed directly to advisement in their academic departments. New transfer students on the Melbourne campus with 30 or more earned credit hours are not required to complete University Experience (FYE 1000 ).

The academic advisor monitors the student’s academic progress toward a degree. A conference is held with each student before registration to ensure courses are scheduled in proper succession, all relevant academic policies are adhered to and the schedule best serves the academic needs of the student. Once arranged, scheduled courses for undergraduates cannot be changed without the academic advisor’s written permission, except for changes between sections of the same course before the end of the first week of class. The academic advisor is available throughout the academic year for consultation by appointment, and students are strongly encouraged to seek the counsel of their academic advisor in other matters beyond registration and schedule changes.

Florida Tech Online students are advised by the online coordinator or academic program chair of their major.

Extended studies students should contact their program chair or the site director at their location for advising issues.

Transcripts

All courses taken at Florida Tech are indicated in chronological order on the student’s academic transcript. A request for a transcript may be made in writing to the Office of the Registrar, Records Unit, with the appropriate fee enclosed, by logging in to Access Florida Tech or by fax to (321) 674-7827. Students with holds on their accounts will not be able to order transcripts online.

Grade Point Average (GPA)

A student’s academic standing is expressed by the cumulative GPA, determined by dividing the total number of grade points earned at Florida Tech by the total number of credit hours attempted. The number of grade points for each course is the product of the credit hours for the course, and A = 4, B = 3, C = 2, D = 1, F = 0. Plus and minus grades (e.g., B+) are not used at Florida Tech. The GPA is truncated at three digits. In the case of multiple degrees earned as a graduate student, the transcript reports both an overall GPA for all courses taken and the program GPA based on courses that apply to each degree.

Undergraduate and graduate GPAs are never combined. An undergraduate student who takes a graduate course and wishes it to be included on his or her undergraduate transcript must submit a written request to the registrar’s office. Once the graduate course has been included on the undergraduate transcript it cannot be used toward fulfillment of the requirements of any graduate degree, except in the case of students participating in an accelerated master’s program. Accelerated or fast track programs are not available in all majors or colleges.

Notification of Grades

At the end of each semester (or 8-week term for Florida Tech Online students), the registrar’s office notifies enrolled students of grades earned by posting them to the student’s online record. These grades become a part of the official student permanent record and are not subject to change, except on authorization from the instructor, academic unit head and respective dean.

Melbourne Campus

During the ninth week of classes, Melbourne campus students not making satisfactory progress in 1000- and 2000-level courses are notified of their status.

Florida Tech Online

The e-learning platform (ELP) makes weekly notifications to students when they have not shown satisfactory progress in an assignment.

Incomplete Work

An I is given when a course cannot be completed because of circumstances beyond the student’s control. The I indicates the coursework is qualitatively satisfactory and there is a reasonable expectancy that completion of the remaining work would result in a passing grade. The instructor must provide a statement of the work to be completed to the head of the academic unit. The student must complete the work at the earliest possible time but before the beginning of the seventh week of the following semester (fourth week for Florida Tech Online), unless an earlier deadline is established at the time the I is recorded and the student is notified of this fact. Incomplete grades from the spring semester automatically become an F after the sixth week of the following fall semester.

A waiver of the six-week time limitation requires written permission of the cognizant dean. The I will automatically become an F in the seventh week (fifth week for Florida Tech Online) unless an approved waiver with a satisfactory completion date has been received by the registrar’s office.

College of Aeronautics flight courses (AVF) are exempt from the six-week time limit. Flight courses still carrying an I after one calendar year will automatically become an F unless a waiver stating a satisfactory completion date signed by the director of FIT Aviation and approved by the dean of the college has been received by the registrar’s office.

Petition to Graduate

Melbourne Campus and Extended Studies Students

A student planning to receive any degree must file a Petition to Graduate no later than the date shown in the academic calendar appropriate to their admission status (Melbourne campus or extended studies). Students filing petitions after the due date are subject to a late fee and may not be able to graduate as planned because of insufficient time to verify completion of requirements. Petitions are available online (www.fit.edu/registrar/forms.php), from the registrar’s office, respective academic unit or extended studies site. A petition to graduate must be accompanied by a degree/program plan signed by the academic unit.

Florida Tech Online Students

An online student planning to receive any degree must file a Petition to Graduate no later than Friday of the 5th week of the term prior to the intended graduation term, which may be the term classes are completed. It is possible to petition late with the payment of a late fee. Late petitions will not be accepted within three days of commencement exercises. The student may forego the late fee by petitioning for the following term.

Drop/Withdrawal Policy

Students are responsible for maintaining written evidence of all drops/withdrawals. Telephone and email drops/withdrawals will not be accepted. Failure to attend classes or verbal notification to instructors does not constitute an official drop or withdrawal. Students who drop or withdraw without filing the proper form will receive a failing grade of F.

Melbourne Campus and Extended Studies Students

To add or drop a course, or withdraw from the university, a student must complete a Change in Registration Status form. Melbourne campus students withdrawing from the university are asked to complete a withdrawal survey in the Registration Center. Extended studies students are asked to complete the survey in the student’s site office.

Failure to attend classes or verbal notification to instructors does not constitute an official drop or withdrawal. Students who drop or withdraw without filing the proper form will receive a failing grade of F. When a Melbourne campus or extended studies student drops a course during the first two weeks of class (except in a summer term) the course will not appear on the permanent academic record.

After this date, a W will appear on the permanent record for each dropped course. The W is not used in the computation of the semester and cumulative grade point average. The last day to drop a course without receiving a failing grade is published in the academic calendar.

Florida Tech Online Students

Students must withdraw through Access Florida Tech. Students can drop a course through the end of the first week of classes without receiving a grade of W. From the end of the first week through the end of the sixth week, a grade of W will be assigned. That grade will be reflected on their transcript, but not calculated into a grade point average. Withdrawals after week six will result in the grade earned in the class. To initiate a withdrawal from an online class, students must log into Access Florida Tech.

Withdrawals during week one are considered drops. A grade of W is not added to the transcript. Florida Tech Online students can drop a course through the end of the first week of classes without receiving a grade of W.

If a Florida Tech Online undergraduate student withdraws from Mastering eLearning (ASC 1006 ), a graded degree requirement for all Florida Tech Online undergraduate degree programs, they will be required to register for it the next term they take courses. After three course withdrawals, a student will be placed in the lowest level mathematics and communication courses, usually determined by the diagnostic assessments from ASC 1006 .

Readmission Policy

A student must apply for readmission if he or she has been away from the university for two years, or four or more consecutive full-length semesters (12 or more 8-week terms for Florida Tech Online students and excluding Melbourne campus and extended studies summer terms) or who has attended another institution during an absence from the university. If readmission is approved, the degree requirements in place at the time of readmission, or later with academic approval, must be met. A student is not considered absent from the university during a period of study at another institution if a Request to Study at Another Institution form was submitted and approved before enrollment for the other institution’s courses. A student who has been away from the campus for less than four semesters (12 8-week terms for Florida Tech Online students) and who has not attended any other college or university may register for class without filing an application for readmission.

A student who leaves the university for military service will be readmitted with the same academic status he or she had when last in attendance at Florida Tech. This rule is binding as long as the student’s length of absence from the institution has not exceeded five years.

For students attending under the Servicemembers Opportunity Colleges (SOC), breaks-in-attendance of two years or fewer will not invalidate the Student Agreement, nor will the student’s activity be defined by taking courses exclusively at the home college.

Appeal procedures for students who have been academically dismissed and seek reinstatement are described under “Probation and Dismissal” in this section.

Course Numbers Defined

A Florida Tech course number consists of three subject code letters followed by a four-digit number. Numbers beginning with 0 are developmental in nature and do not count toward a degree. Numbers beginning with 1, 2, 3 and 4 indicate undergraduate courses, and those beginning with 5 and 6 indicate graduate courses. Graduate students may take 3000- and 4000-level courses, subject to limitations and restrictions delineated in graduate policy. 5000-level courses are intended for master’s and doctoral students. The 6000 series course are restricted to graduate students only.

Course Cancellation/Schedule Changes

The university reserves the right to cancel classes for which there is insufficient enrollment, to close a class when the enrollment limit in that class is reached and to make schedule changes as necessary, including changes in time, days, credit or instructor. The university takes the needs of students into account and schedule changes are made only when unavoidable.

Course Loads

All Students/Melbourne Campus

Students may register for a maximum of 21 semester credit hours for any fall or spring semester and 13 semester credit hours for any summer term. Registration in excess of that described above requires prior written permission of the dean of the appropriate college.

Course Substitution

Course substitutions or any other deviation from the stated requirements of a degree offered at Florida Tech must have the written approval of the student’s academic program chair or academic advisor and the academic unit head.

Continuing Education

A continuing education (CE) student is defined as one who is not seeking a degree from Florida Tech. CE students will customarily enroll for courses on the basis of receiving continuing education units (CEUs), rather than graduate or undergraduate credit. The CEU is a nationally recognized unit that indicates successful participation in a qualified program of continuing education. It is defined as 10 contact hours of participation in an organized educational experience under responsible sponsorship, capable direction and qualified instruction.

Students enrolled for CEUs in courses that are being offered for academic credit are required to do all homework, outside reading assignments, term papers or special assignments and to attend at least 90 percent of the class sessions, but they are not required to take midterm or final examinations.

In some situations, the CE student may want or need to receive credit rather than CEUs, and this alternative is allowable. Students enrolled for credit, whether degree-seeking or not, must take all examinations in addition to completing all course assignments. Students may switch from CEU to credit or vice versa, any time before the end of the first week of classes.

A CE student may not enroll in any course, either for credit or for CEUs, without the approval of the Academic Support Center and head of the academic unit offering the course. This approval will be based on a review of the student’s previous preparation and qualifications, an assessment that the student is capable of completing all course assignments (homework, reading, term papers, etc.) and may also take into consideration the effect of enrollment of CE students on the course and/or academic program. Such approval will be sought and given on a course-by-course basis, and may be withheld at the academic unit head’s discretion.

A CE student may seek admission to a degree program through the normal admission process. If a CE student subsequently decides to pursue either an undergraduate or graduate degree at Florida Tech and is accepted into that degree program, a maximum of 12 semester credit hours earned as a CE student may be applied toward the degree, provided the coursework is academically appropriate.

Directed Study

Melbourne Campus or Extended Studies

Directed study is a means of allowing a student to register for a course during a semester when it is not included in the online or printed Schedule of Classes. To enroll in a directed-study course, a Request for Directed Study Course form should be initiated and approved according to form instructions. Approval is at the discretion of the academic unit head or program chair responsible for the course, and normally requires evidence of a compelling need by the student. The student should submit the approved form to the Registration Center during normal registration hours. The tuition rate for a directed-study course is the standard undergraduate or graduate rate, plus an additional directed-study fee.

Auditing Classes

Melbourne Campus

A student may audit a course with the permission of his or her academic advisor and payment of an audit fee. The audit fee is waived for full-time undergraduate students. An auditor does not receive a grade; an AU is recorded on the transcript in place of the grade if the auditor has, in general, maintained a satisfactory course attendance (usually 75 percent class attendance) and completed the appropriate assignments. If the student does not meet requirements, a final grade of F may be awarded. No changes in registration from credit to audit or from audit to credit will be permitted after the second week of classes. Students must register for audit at the Registration Center.

Auditing classes is not available to Florida Tech Online students due to the fully-interactive nature of the online degree programs.

Senior Citizen Program

The senior citizen program allows individuals age 65 and over to enroll in courses for credit or audit without charge. Participation in this program is restricted to individuals who are seriously committed to learning and to courses taught on the Melbourne campus in Florida.

A prospective student wishing to enroll in the senior citizen program must apply for admission as a nondegree-seeking student and be admitted. All records of any prior postsecondary coursework must accompany the application. Copies of transcripts are acceptable in lieu of official transcripts. If no previous postsecondary coursework was completed, proof of high school graduation is required.

A brief statement of “Qualifications through Life Experience” may be submitted with the application. A statement of educational goals and a determination by the appropriate admission office (undergraduate or graduate) that the applicant’s educational and life experience history supports a reasonable expectation of successful accomplishment of those goals are necessary.

Enrollment is permitted based on space availability, following the last day of class in the preceding semester or summer term.

Release of Student Information

The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974 (FERPA) as Amended established a set of regulations governing access to and the release of personal and academic information contained in student education records. FERPA applies to the education records of persons who are or have been in attendance in postsecondary institutions, including students in cooperative or correspondence study programs. FERPA does not apply to records of applicants for admission who have been denied acceptance or, if accepted, do not attend an institution.

Education records are all records that contain information directly related to a student and are maintained by an educational agency or institution, or a party acting for the institution. Exceptions to education records include sole possession records, law enforcement unit records, employment records, health records and alumni records. Rights under FERPA are not given to students enrolled in one component of an institution who seek to be admitted in another component of the institution. It is in violation of FERPA to use a social security number provided by a third party to verify or match data in student records and provide that data to the third party without the student’s written consent.

Under FERPA, the rights accorded to parents transfer to students who have reached the age of 18 or who attend a postsecondary institution. These rights are:

1. The right to inspect and review their education records within 45 days of the day the university receives a request for access. Students should submit to the registrar, dean, head of the academic unit or other appropriate official, written requests that identify the record(s) they wish to inspect. The university official will make arrangements for access and notify the student of the time and place where the records may be inspected. If the records are not maintained by the university official to whom the request was submitted, that official shall advise the student of the correct official to whom the request should be made.
    
2. The right to request amendment of the student’s education records the student believes are inaccurate or misleading. A student should write the university official responsible for the record, clearly identify the part of the record they want changed and why it is felt to be inaccurate or misleading.
   
   FERPA was not intended to provide a process to be used to question substantive judgments that are correctly recorded. The rights of challenge are not intended to allow students to contest, for example, a grade in a course because they felt a higher grade should have been assigned.
   
   If the university decides not to amend the record as requested by the student, the university will notify the student of the decision and advise the student of his or her right to a hearing regarding the request for amendment. Additional information regarding the hearing procedures will be provided to the student when notified of the right to a hearing.
    
3. The right to consent to disclosure of personally identifiable information contained in the student’s educational records, except to the extent that FERPA authorizes disclosure without consent. One exception that permits disclosure without consent is disclosure to school officials with legitimate educational interests. A school official is a person employed by the university in an administrative, supervisory, academic or research, or support staff position, including law enforcement unit personnel and health staff; and a person or a company with whom the university has contracted, such as attorney, auditor or collection agent (includes consultants, volunteers and other non-employees performing institutional services and functions).
   
   Disclosure is defined as permitting access to or the release, transfer or other communication of the educational records of a student or the personally identifiable information contained therein to any party orally, in writing, by electronic means or by any other means. Disclosure of confidential information to a school official having a legitimate educational interest does not constitute authorization to share that information with a third party without the student’s written permission.
   
   FERPA allows release of the following directory information to the public without student consent: student’s name, address, telephone number, date and place of birth, major field(s) of study, email address, participation in officially recognized activities and sports, weight and height of athletic team members, dates of attendance, part-time or full-time status, degrees and awards/ honors received and the most recent educational institution attended other than Florida Tech.
   
   Students may prevent the release of directory information by completing a Request to Prevent Disclosure of Directory Information form available online and from the Office of the Registrar. By law, however, a student cannot prevent the release of directory information to the U.S. military for recruiting purposes. Student consent is required for the release of personally identifiable information such as semester grades, academic record, current academic standing, class schedules and Social Security/student number.
   
   Student consent is not legally required for disclosure of this information to certain government agencies/ officials, sponsoring agencies and to selected university personnel determined to have a legitimate educational interest in such records. Reports of alcohol or drug policy violations by students under the age of 21 may also be released to those entities. The university may exercise discretion in releasing personally identifiable information.
   
   Students may consent to release personally identifiable information to others by completing the Authorization for Release of Student Information form available online and from the registrar’s office.
   
   Information about the provisions of the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974 as Amended, and the full text of the law, may be obtained from the registrar’s office.
    
4. The right to file a complaint with the U.S. Department of Education concerning alleged failures by Florida Tech to comply with the requirements of FERPA. The name and address of the office that administers FERPA is: Family Compliance Office U.S. Department of Education 400 Maryland Ave., SW Washington, DC 20202-4605.

The Solomon Amendment established guidelines for the release of directory information to the United States military for recruiting purposes. This Congressional act allows release of the following directory information without student consent to military recruiters for present and previously enrolled students at least 17 years of age: student name, address, date and place of birth, telephone number, level of education, major field(s) of study, degrees received and the educational institution in which the student was most recently enrolled.

Student Right to Know

Florida Institute of Technology is in compliance with both the Student Right to Know Act of 1990 and the Campus Awareness and Campus Security Act of 1990.

The Office of Security and Safety keeps statistics on compliance with the act. These statistics are updated annually and can be found at www.fit.edu/security/crime_stats.php. They are also available upon request to other interested parties.

Florida Tech’s six-year graduation rate, based on the 2007 new first-year student cohort, is 54 percent.

Campus Standards, Behavior and University Discipline

A comprehensive system of rules, regulations and campus code of conduct is published online by the Office of the Dean of Students. Students are expected to familiarize themselves with these policies and to adhere to them.

Students who violate the university code of conduct, student housing rules and regulations, or any other university regulation are subject to disciplinary action by the university.

Students who are found to be responsible for serious violations of university policy are subject to dismissal.

Disciplinary matters are the responsibility of the dean of students.

Academic Integrity

Florida Tech views acts of cheating, plagiarism and academic dishonesty very seriously. The penalties for any type of dishonesty are at the instructor’s discretion in conjunction with the student’s college dean. Depending on the severity of the infraction, the penalties for acts that seem intentional range from a failing grade of F (0 points) on the assignment to a failing grade of F for the course. Severe acts that seem intentional will be forwarded to the dean of students with a recommendation for formal disciplinary action. Any act of dishonesty will be documented for future reference in the student’s academic file.

Faculty have access to www.turnitin.com. This online tool is used to determine if plagiarism has occurred and may be used at the discretion of the faculty member for any assignments, required coursework and tests.

Academic honesty is highly valued in all Florida Tech’s courses, whether in the classroom or online. The student must always submit work that represents original words or ideas. If any words or ideas are used that do not represent those original words or ideas, the student must cite all relevant sources and provide a clear definition of the extent to which such sources were used.

Words or ideas that require citation include, but are not limited to, all hard copy or electronic publications, whether copyrighted or not, and all verbal or visual communication when the content of such communication clearly originates from an identifiable source.

In a Florida Tech online course, all submissions to any public meeting (bulletin board or private mailbox) fall within the scope of words and ideas that require citations if used by someone other than the original author.

Academic dishonesty could involve:

• Having a tutor or friend complete a portion of the student’s assignments.
• Having a reviewer make extensive revisions to an assignment.
• Copying work submitted by another student to another public class meeting.
• Using information from online information services without proper citation.

Any of these practices could result in charges of academic dishonesty. The complete student conduct policies may be found in their respective areas online.

Undergraduate Student Information

Application Requirements

First-Year Melbourne Campus Admission

The Office of Undergraduate Admission carefully reviews all candidates for admission, using evaluation criteria to determine a student’s ability to complete several years of rigorous study. Applications are reviewed with reference to specific degree programs or for admission to first-year programs in General Engineering (College of Engineering), General Science (College of Science) or General Studies (School of Arts and Communication). In addition to a completed application for admission, applicants must submit:

• Transcripts indicating a strong high school curriculum and achievement in college preparatory classes
• SAT or ACT results
• An essay
• One letter of recommendation

The required documents will be used to determine the potential for success in an applicant’s chosen field of study.

Participation in special classes, clubs or teams that involve research projects/opportunities and advanced problem-solving techniques is encouraged and should be indicated in the application process.

Although an admission interview is not required, campus visits and interviews with admission counselors are highly recommended. An interview, mid-year grades or additional testing may be requested at the discretion of the admission committee.

Florida Tech accepts applications throughout the school year. Students may submit an application any time after the end of their junior year of high school. It is recommended that applicants for the fall semester submit all application materials as soon as possible after starting their senior year in high school and completing the SAT or ACT. Each applicant will be notified of an admission decision as soon as possible after the applicant’s file is complete and evaluated.

Florida Tech Online

General admission requirements for students applying for an associate or bachelor’s degree are as follows:

Any student with a high school diploma from a regionally accredited or state-approved high school, or a General Equivalency Development (GED) test is eligible to enroll. The final high school transcript and diploma type must indicate a readiness for college studies in a chosen academic program. Students must be 22 years of age or in active U.S. military service. The applied psychology, criminal justice and computer information systems degree programs are excluded from the age requirement. Students are required to take a minimum of the last 25 percent of credit hours while enrolled through Florida Tech in order to receive an associate or bachelor’s degree.

Admission Guidelines

Melbourne Campus

Applicants must demonstrate readiness to succeed in a challenging academic curriculum. The transcript from a regionally accredited or state-approved high school is the most important element of the application. While no minimum grade point average, class rank or standardized test score is specified, these measures must indicate a readiness for college studies in a chosen academic program. An applicant who is a U.S. citizen must have earned a high school diploma from a regionally accredited or state-approved high school or a GED by the date of first enrollment. All offers of admission are tentative if the student has high school or collegiate coursework in progress. Final admission is dependent on receipt and review of the student’s final transcripts.

Science and engineering applicants should complete four years of mathematics, the minimum level including trigonometry, mathematics analysis, analytical geometry or precalculus. Science and engineering applicants are also expected to have taken four years of science, to include physics and chemistry. It is recommends students take the most rigorous mathematics and science curriculum offered by the high school.

Applicants for aeronautics, business, psychology and liberal arts majors must complete at least three years of mathematics. A fourth year of mathematics is highly recommended. Applicants for these majors must also complete at least three years of science, with a fourth year recommended.

A home schooled applicant must submit a transcript of academic work that is approved by the state Department of Education from whichever state the applicant resides. The transcripts must include an assessment of the level attained in mathematics and science. In addition to the transcript of work, the student must provide written proof the curriculum meets state requirements; a self-descriptive, one-page essay that includes academic, community and athletic accomplishments, career goals and work experience; and SAT or ACT scores. Home schooled applicants may provide a GED in lieu of a department of education approved transcript. Although SAT II (Subject Examination) scores are not required, it is strongly suggested that SAT II results in mathematics (level 2), chemistry, physics and literature be submitted.

Applicants who present a GED must also present secondary school records and standardized test scores (SAT or ACT).

Florida Tech Online

Students may enroll for up to two consecutive 8-week terms before being fully admitted. Full admission is satisfied once all submitted material including official transcripts has been received and evaluated by Florida Tech. Students should complete the following steps:

Complete the online admission application.

Students with less than one year of full-time equivalency at a regionally accredited post-secondary school must provide official transcripts from a regionally accredited or state approved high school or GED.

Official transcripts are required for all students seeking admission to a Florida Tech online degree program. Provide official transcripts of all current or previously attended regionally accredited colleges and universities. These transcripts will be requested on the student’s behalf as part of the application process.

Provide official records for advanced testing/external examination credit (CLEP, DANTES, AARTS, SMARTS, advanced placement examinations).

Students with credit hours from other institutions will automatically be evaluated for transfer credit as a part of the application process. Only courses with a grade of C or better received from a regionally accredited college or university will be considered for transfer credit (see “Classification of Florida Tech Online Students” in this section).

All incoming degree-seeking students are required to take diagnostic assessments in mathematics and communication to determine the appropriate academic requirements and classes.

Only fully admitted students are eligible for federal financial aid. The full application is required if financial aid will be requested.

In accordance with federal and university policies, students requesting to receive financial aid must complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). All fully admitted, degree-seeking students who are eligible to receive financial aid will be awarded aid accordingly.

Transient Students

Transient students are those students who are using Florida Tech to meet requirements for their home institution. Florida Tech allows these students to enroll in up to two consecutive 8-week terms by following the transient student admissions process that includes an application and a copy of their current university transcripts. Transient students are not required to take Mastering eLearning (ASC 1006) or complete diagnostic assessments.

International Students on Melbourne Campus

Florida Tech is authorized under federal law to enroll non-immigrant students. Florida Tech provides a certificate of eligibility (I-20) to all admitted international students. The form is used to apply for the F-1 student visa. It also verifies to U.S. immigration officials the student is academically qualified to attend Florida Tech and has sufficient funds to cover the first year of study and that subsequent funds will be available for the future. Students must demonstrate proof of financial support at the time of application. Florida Tech policy states that students are required to attend for one full semester when entering the United States on a Florida Tech-provided I-20 form. Florida Tech will not release a student to another educational institution until the student completes one semester at Florida Tech (see “Office of International Student and Scholar Services” in the Institution Overview  section).

Transfer Students

Applicants to Florida Tech must demonstrate readiness to succeed in a challenging academic curriculum. Transcripts are the most important element of the application. While no minimum grade point average is specified, the student’s GPA must indicate a readiness for college studies in a chosen academic program. Transfer applicants must provide official transcripts from any and all colleges and universities attended. Students who have earned less than 24 semester credit hours will be evaluated as a first-year candidate (see “Application Requirements for First-Year Admission” in this section). Admission will be granted to those applicants who have completed appropriate coursework that indicates progress toward their chosen field of study.

Special High School or Community College Dual Enrollment

Upon application, Florida Tech may grant “special status” to an outstanding junior or senior enrolled in a high school in Brevard County, or an outstanding community college student from Eastern Florida State College or Indian River State College. Enrollment is on a reduced tuition basis and allows students to take up to a maximum of 12 semester credit hours in total. Registration is on a class-by-class space-available basis. Interested students should contact Florida Tech’s undergraduate admission office for application materials and the policy agreement.

Admitted Students on Melbourne Campus

Merit-based scholarships are determined at the time of admission to Florida Tech and are based on past academic performance (SAT or ACT results, class rank and GPA). To maximize opportunities for all types of assistance including federal, state and university need-based grants, it is recommended that students submit a FAFSA by March 1 of the academic year in which they wish to enroll. A copy of the student aid report should be sent to Florida Tech (list the Florida Tech Title IV code (001469) on the FAFSA).

Florida Tech subscribes to the College Board candidates’ reply date of May 1. A $300 nonrefundable tuition deposit is required as a means of confirming a student’s intention to attend Florida Tech. Payment is due by May 1. If the student is admitted after May 1, or for the spring or summer term, payment within 30 days of the date on the acceptance letter is required. The deposit guarantees a place in the entering class in the indicated major/program and is applied to the student’s account. In addition to the nonrefundable tuition deposit, admitted students must also submit the “Attendance Confirmation” form included with the acceptance packet.

Entering first-year students can qualify for advanced standing by earning academic credit through any of the following programs:

• Advanced Placement Exams (AP) administered each May by the College Board (must receive a score of four or five)
• International Baccalaureate (IB), based on an IB diploma, or a score of four or higher on the HL IB examinations
• Cambridge Advanced-Level Examinations (A-levels)
• Advanced Cambridge International Examinations (AICE)
• Dual enrollment at a regionally accredited college, university or community college

Official results of these examinations or college transcripts must come directly to Florida Tech from the examination board or college attended. The credit Florida Tech awards for each examination can be found through www.fit.edu/ugrad/exams.

Once admitted to the university, incoming students are assigned a TRACKS account username and password allowing access to Panther Pass. Panther Pass (https://pantherpass.fit.edu) is an admitted student portal that guides newly admitted students through all mandatory tasks required between acceptance and university orientation.

Examinations for Credit or Placement

Placement Examinations for Melbourne Campus Students

Placement examinations are administered to new freshmen online through Panther Pass via the university’s learning management system before and during the orientation period each semester. Academic credit can be earned on the basis of these examinations if the result is placement into a more advanced course than an entry-level course in the same field, as designated in the student’s published program.

There are two mathematics examinations given for specific majors. Depending on the incoming student’s major, they will be required to take the College Algebra Readiness Examination or the Calculus Readiness Examination. These examinations are given through Panther Pass before enrollment or once the student arrives on campus, and determine readiness for the mathematics courses required in the student’s degree program and can result in the award of advanced standing credit. A low score necessitates the student taking one or more preparatory courses before enrolling in the first mathematics courses listed as part of the program. A low score can also impact the student’s placement into chemistry. A very high score can result in an invitation for further testing to determine if additional credit is warranted.

The communication examination is required for new freshmen, and for all new transfer students except those who have received transfer credit for Composition and Rhetoric (COM 1101 ).

Many students entering Florida Tech are sufficiently proficient to qualify for advanced placement above the entrance level. Currently those advanced placements are in chemistry, physics and computer science. A qualified student should contact the academic program, academic advisor or the Academic Support Center to discuss advanced placement examinations in these areas.

International Students

International students do not take the communication placement examination. They are initially registered in English Writing Review (WRI 0100 ) and may be placed in Composition and Rhetoric (COM 1101 ) based on an in-class writing sample generated during the schedule adjustment period at the beginning of the semester or term.

Diagnostic Assessments for Florida Tech Online Students

All undergraduate degree-seeking students are required to complete certain diagnostic assessments during the first 8-week term. Academic credit is not earned on the basis of diagnostic assessments. The assessments aid in placement of the student in the correct level of courses as designated in the student’s published program plan.

As a requirement for Mastering eLearning (ASC 1006 ), all degree-seeking students must complete diagnostic assessments as assigned, without regard to transfer credits awarded or transfer credits under evaluation. Any transfer credit officially awarded will supersede scores received through diagnostic assessments.

Equivalency Examinations for Melbourne Students

These examinations are administered by academic departments to allow an undergraduate student to demonstrate proficiency in courses offered at the university. They are used with new students to evaluate advanced standing and to reconcile issues involving transfer credits. Specific limitations apply:

1. Students may not take an equivalency examination for any course
   1. for which they have been evaluated by a prior placement or equivalency examination;
   2. that is a prerequisite or a deficiency for a course for which they have received credit;*
   3. in which they have received a grade, including an F, W (withdrawal) or AU (audit);
   4. in which they are currently enrolled beyond the first week of classes; or
   5. that is a prerequisite for a course in which they are enrolled after the first week of classes for that course.*
2. Students may not take an equivalency examination for any course during the semester in which they have petitioned to graduate.
3. Equivalency examinations are not available for some courses. Information about excluded courses is available in each academic unit office. All humanities elective courses are excluded.
4. Equivalency examinations are not available for graduate-level courses, even if the purpose would be to apply the credit toward a bachelor’s degree, nor are equivalency credits earned for an undergraduate course applicable toward a graduate degree.

*An exception will be made for a transfer student during the first semester at Florida Tech following the semester in which the student has been officially notified of transfer-credit evaluation.

Advanced Placement Program (AP)

A Melbourne campus student receiving a grade of three or better on AP examinations in most subjects, but not receiving Florida Tech credit under the above provisions, is encouraged to petition to take an equivalency examination, if offered, for further evaluation of possible credit.

Advanced Placement Program for Florida Tech Online

Credit is awarded to Florida Tech Online students for the College Board Advanced Placement Program (AP) examinations on which a student scores four or higher, as detailed above, with the following exceptions:

College-Level Examination Program (CLEP)

Florida Tech grants academic credit for Subject Examinations only. To receive credit, the minimum score must be equal to or above the recommended percentile as published by the American Council on Education (ACE) and based on Florida Tech transfer credit policy. CLEP examinations are not administered on the Florida Tech campus.

Florida Tech expects students to take any CLEP examination before enrollment. Although a student may take these examinations while enrolled at Florida Tech, they may do so only with the permission of their major department and college dean. Credit earned from CLEP is excluded from the three-course limit that applies to the study at another institution policy. Students must take CLEP examinations before their last term of enrollment. Contact the registrar’s office (Florida Tech Online students contact their Florida Tech academic department) for further information.

International Examinations

Credit is awarded for grades of four or higher in the International Baccalaureate (IB) program for higher-level examinations and certain standard-level examinations for IB diploma holders. Based on a review of the subject areas and scores, credit is also awarded for receiving a C or better for the British GCE examinations at the advanced level (A-level), the Caribbean Advanced Proficiency Examinations (CAPE) when two units are completed, and the National Examinations Council of Tanzania (A-level). Credit may be awarded for the Advanced International Cambridge Examinations, Cambridge Pre-U Examinations and AP/Cambridge Capstone Program.

ACE/DANTES Examination Credit

Credit is only considered for Military Courses when listed on an official Joint Services Transcript or for Military Training Credit listed on an official Coast Guard Institute transcript. Credit is awarded based on ACE recommendation and Florida Tech transfer credit policy.

Credit is considered for DANTES Subject Standardized Tests (DSST) and CLEP subject area examinations through DANTES listed on an official DANTES transcript. Credit is awarded based on ACE recommendation and Florida Tech transfer credit policy.

Florida Tech expects students to take any DANTES examinations before enrollment. Although a student may take these examinations while enrolled at Florida Tech, they may do so only with the permission of their major department and college dean. Credit earned from DANTES is excluded from the three-course limit that applies to the study at another institution policy. Students must take DANTES examinations before their last term of enrollment. Contact the registrar’s office (Florida Tech Online students contact their Florida Tech academic department) for further information.

Transfer Credit

Florida Tech operates on the semester system. To convert credit hours transferred in from a quarter-system institution into semester credit hours, the number of quarter hours is divided by 1.5.

Undergraduate transfer credit may be awarded for courses taken at a college or university accredited by a regional accrediting association in the United States, or with equivalent recognition in the case of a college or university elsewhere. Flight credit is transferable subject to FAA rules for transferability between schools.

Any student who transfers to Florida Tech with an Associate of Arts degree from a regionally accredited institution in the U.S. automatically meets Florida Tech’s humanities core requirement for HUM 2051  and one 3-credit humanities core course. Transfer students should see the humanities and communication department for applicable course substitutions in the case of transferring to Florida Tech with less than an associate degree.

Credit at the junior or senior level (3000- and 4000-level courses) may be awarded for courses taken at a regionally accredited community college only when there is a formal agreement between the community college and Florida Tech. In the absence of a formal agreement the maximum course level granted toward transfer credit is sophomore- level (2000-level course). Elective credit may be awarded. The student should contact his/her academic department for information regarding the possibility of an appropriate academic department course substitution.

Transfer credit requires a grade of at least C- or equivalent and a determination that the work is equivalent to that given at Florida Tech in course content and hours.

Florida Tech uses ACE recommendations as guidelines when reviewing all United States military and transfer credit. Transferability and applicability will vary based on the student’s major requirements and/or degree program. All transfer courses, including military credit, are required to adhere to the overall academic standards and requirements of the university. 

A course that includes a significant writing or speaking component must be taught entirely in English to be eligible for transfer. Credits can be transferred without being applicable toward the student’s desired degree. Grades and grade points are not transferable. Florida Tech’s forgiveness policy is not applicable toward transfer credits.

Credit will not be given for courses listed on a transcript when credit was received by examinations such as equivalency, advanced standing or other examinations, competency- or assessment-based; courses without a grade or carrying grades but not credit hours; courses which are developmental in nature; vocational/technical courses; or for internships, seminars, practicums or experiential learning. In most cases, credit will not be given for courses completed more than 10 years before Florida Tech enrollment. Transfer credit for grades of P or S is subject to approval.

Melbourne Campus

All requests for transfer credit, including credit earned by taking AP examinations, subject area CLEP examinations, etc., must be submitted to the registrar. All official transcripts and documents must be submitted before the completion of the first semester of enrollment. Requests for additional transfer credit must be made before the end of the second semester. Requests for advanced standing must be submitted to the appropriate academic unit head no later than 45 days after initial registration.

If the course equivalency is questionable, credit may be granted by equivalency examination.

The official certification of transfer credit is performed by the registrar’s office based on evaluations performed by the academic units responsible for the subject matter areas represented by the transfer courses, except for courses for which there is no corresponding Florida Tech program. In the latter case, the registrar is the sole approving authority. Official transfer credit is reported on the transcript in terms of equivalent Florida Tech course identifications, if any, and otherwise as electives, either with the subject area identified (e.g., physical science elective) or as undesignated transfer credits. The use of any transfer credit, other than credit for a specific Florida Tech course, in meeting degree requirements is subject to the approval of the faculty responsible for the degree program. Transfer students are encouraged to provide the registrar with college catalog(s) and/or course syllabi and names of textbooks used in courses to help assure a thorough transfer credit evaluation.

Certification of transfer credit is based on official transcripts bearing the correct seals and authorized signatures from all former institutions. A transcript is considered official only when each issuing institution sends the transcript directly to the Florida Tech undergraduate admission office or the registrar’s office. The registrar’s office coordinates the process by working with the academic unit overseeing the subject matter to certify how the course may be transferred, and provides notice of the official evaluation.

The student’s academic unit completes the application of transfer credit to the degree program. While Florida Tech makes every effort to complete the official certification of transfer credit before the student’s arrival at Florida Tech, university policy allows one semester in which to complete this process. The academic college reserves the right to review transfer credit evaluations for errors and make corrections within 60 days from the date of transfer credit evaluation notice. Once the evaluation is complete, students may appeal the decision by providing the registrar’s office with a syllabus of the course in question from the term during which the course was taken.

Florida Tech Online

The transfer credit policies outlined above apply equally to online students with the following exceptions and clarifications:

University policy allows two consecutive 8-week terms in which to complete the transfer credit process. The academic college reserves the right to review transfer credit evaluations for errors and make corrections within 60 days from the date of transfer credit evaluation notice.

The official certification of transfer credit for Florida Tech Online students is performed by the Office of Online Learning, based on evaluations performed by the academic units responsible for the subject matter areas represented by the transfer courses, except for courses for which there is no corresponding Florida Tech program. In the latter case, the registrar is the sole approving authority.

A transcript is considered official only when sent directly to Florida Tech Online at Florida Tech from the issuing institution. The online learning office coordinates the process once all completed documentation is received, certifies courses without respect to the major and provides notice of the official evaluation. Florida Tech academic departments overseeing undergraduate online programs reserve the right to determine the transferability of courses taken five years or more before Florida Tech enrollment. The decision is based on comparing the transferring course description in content and credit hours from the term in which the course was taken, to the courses currently taught by Florida Tech. Once the transfer credit evaluation is complete, students may appeal the decision by providing tceua@fit.edu with a syllabus of the course in question from the term in which the course was taken. Students who wish to appeal a transfer rejected due to the statute of limitations may do so by contacting their Florida Tech academic department’s undergraduate online program coordinator. Appeals will be considered on a case-by-case basis. Online students are ineligible to waive program requirements through equivalency examinations.

Courses taken at another university that are equivalent in content and credit hours to College Algebra (MTH 1701 ) will be considered for transfer only if the course was taken within 10 years of enrollment at Florida Tech. Exceptions to this policy will be considered when the student scores 35 or higher on the Mathematics Diagnostic Examination taken during Mastering eLearning (ASC 1006 ) followed by the student submitting an exception to policy request via email to tceua@fit.edu.

International University Transfer Credit

Undergraduate transfer credit may be awarded for courses taken at an international college or university that is recognized as being degree-granting by that country’s educational governing authority. The student may be required to contact the country’s educational governing authority to request that official documentation be sent from the educational governing authority directly to the Florida Tech registrar’s office.

A student requesting transfer credit for academic work completed at an international educational institution must request that official transcripts be sent directly to the appropriate admission office from all previous institutions, showing all courses taken, dates and grades. A transcript is considered official only when each issuing institution mails the transcript directly to Florida Tech’s undergraduate admission or registrar’s office. Official course descriptions and/or syllabi are also required. In the case of transcripts and course syllabi that are not in English, official English translations are required. Florida Tech reserves the right to require the student to request an independent evaluation and/or recommendation regarding the international institution, performed by an agency specified by Florida Tech.

While Florida Tech makes every effort to complete the official certification of transfer credit before the student’s arrival at the university, policy allows one semester (two 8-week terms for Florida Tech Online) in which to complete this process. Transfer credit criteria mentioned in the section above apply to transfer credit from international institutions.

Foreign Credential Evaluation for International Applicants

All degree seeking Melbourne campus and Orlando international applicants with any university-level educational experience outside the United States are required to provide the Florida Tech admission office an official foreign credit evaluation (FCE) in English, including the cumulative grade point average. Florida Tech Online students, Virtual Campus students, non-matriculating/transient students and students from Florida Tech-approved international partner institutions are excluded from this requirement.

World Education Services (WES) is Florida Tech’s preferred foreign credit evaluator. A WES evaluation/transcript can be ordered at www.wes.org. The site shows what students must provide and how much they will be charged. Students with foreign academic documents need to order course-by-course evaluations by WES.

Students needing English translation of their academic documents may contact University Language Services (ULS) at www.universitylanguage.com/translation-academic-records/.

The FCE report is considered valid only if submitted electronically from WES directly to the Florida Tech admission office. WES will verify institutional accreditation status and complete an evaluation containing a description of credentials, including name, year awarded, name of institution attended, and major of field of study. It also provides the U.S. equivalent for each credential and lists all post-secondary subjects with their corresponding value expressed in the terms of U.S. semester credit and grade equivalents.

Each applicant must also request official transcripts from all previous regionally accredited institutions be sent directly to the admission office. The FCE report does not replace that requirement. Admission decisions for applicants who do not submit a valid FCE report in English will be deferred until the Florida Tech admission office receives the report.

Articulation Agreements

Articulation agreements exist with a number of schools in the United States and abroad. The majority of these agreements is with two-year colleges and is designed to provide ease of transfer for students who have completed the Associate of Arts degree. Florida Tech has an articulation agreement with all of Florida’s community and junior colleges.

Four-Year Guarantee

A four-year guarantee is offered to the incoming Melbourne campus freshman class. Florida Tech guarantees that a student who meets the following requirements will earn a bachelor’s degree in four years

• Declare a major as an incoming freshman and continue in that major until graduation*
• Consult the designated academic advisor before registering each semester
• Follow the curriculum plan presented in the University Catalog by taking and passing each course in the semester indicated
• Maintain a GPA of 2.0 or higher

*Students needing prerequisite coursework and those initially enrolled in nondegree programs (General Engineering, General Science or General Studies) do not qualify for this guarantee.

Grading and Hours

Undergraduate Grading System

Distinguished Student Scholars

Following each fall semester (or Fall-2 for Florida Tech Online students), all undergraduate students who have a cumulative GPA of 3.8 or higher and have completed more than 52 credit hours at Florida Tech are recipients of Distinguished Student Scholar recognition.

Dean’s List

Undergraduate students who earn 12 or more graded undergraduate credit hours in the semester with a semester GPA of at least 3.4 are considered to be “Dean’s List” students for that semester. Developmental courses beginning with a zero (i.e., WRI 0110) are not included in Dean’s List calculations and are not applied toward any Florida Tech degree.

Dean’s list designation will be listed on the student’s transcript. A congratulatory letter from the student’s dean confirming this designation will be provided on request to the dean’s office on the Melbourne campus.

Accelerated Master’s Programs

Undergraduate students who meet certain requirements may be eligible to participate in accelerated master’s programs that entail completing both bachelor’s and master’s degrees in five years by maintaining higher overall and program undergraduate GPAs and who are willing and able to carry increased course loads. High-achieving students are strongly recommended to discuss this option with their advisors. Accelerated programs are not available in all majors or colleges. Students who have been admitted into an approved accelerated or fast track master’s program may apply up to six 5000-level (graduate) credit hours to both the bachelor’s and master’s degrees.

Graduation Honors

At graduation, bachelor’s degree recipients achieving high academic performance are recognized according to their cumulative grade point averages. In the case of multiple bachelor’s degree recipients (multiple diplomas), the honors must be earned separately for each degree received and are determined by the program GPA based on courses that apply to the specific degree. In computing the cumulative GPA for graduation honors, transfer credits do not apply. Academic honors are listed on the student’s diploma and transcript. The honors are determined as follows:

Studies-Related Assistance

Melbourne Campus

The objective of the Student Success Program is to do everything possible to assure students are successful in their studies at Florida Tech. A major activity of this program is called Freshman Retention by Evaluation and Systematic Help (FRESH). FRESH assures that new freshmen are placed at the proper level in first-year courses, especially in mathematics and chemistry. Research conducted by Florida Tech and other universities categorizes most student problems as academic or social. With its primary focus on academic concerns, the program designs activities to promote the students’ academic development. Additionally, it helps enhance student appreciation of the ideas and principles that will sustain lifelong growth in judgment, integrity, emotional maturity and an understanding of people. Current areas of activity in addition to FRESH include:

• Counseling students when they need help with their studies or with campus life as it relates to their studies.
• Assuring that students are informed about the services available to them.
• Sponsoring noncredit seminars, courses for credit and other activities that add depth to students’ academic experiences and help them to succeed in their studies and in their careers.
• Referring students to other resources that can provide needed help.
• Acting as a liaison between students and academic units.
• Scheduling and publicizing timely academic advising activities. For example, freshman academic advisors meet with new freshmen during the sixth week of the new student’s first semester to review academic progress and discuss the curriculum.
• Sampling student opinion of both academic and support services offered by the university. Results are transmitted to students, the university faculty and administration.

Although most of the effort is directed toward the needs of freshmen, a growing portion is aimed at the needs of all students.

Academic Support Center

The Academic Support Center (ASC) is a multipurpose learning facility located in the Evans Library Pavilion. The ASC offers students free one-on-one tutoring in composition,  computer science, physics, accounting, chemistry, aeronautics and engineering courses. In addition, the ASC offers small group study sessions led by undergraduate honor student tutors.

Early Warning System

The Early Warning System, a service of the ASC and registrar’s office, requires advisors to contact their first-year students during the ninth week of the term if they are deficient in one or more courses.

Florida Tech Online

Online tutoring is available to students via a service called Smarthinking. Students can access this service by clicking on the Resources tab within their course site. Students can get live, online tutoring, as well as reviews and comments about essays and reports. Information about this service is available at www.smarthinking.com.

The e-learning platform (ELP) makes weekly notifications to students when they have not shown satisfactory progress in an assignment.

Graduation Requirements

To receive an associate degree or a bachelor’s degree, a cumulative Florida Tech grade point average of 2.0 or higher is required. In the case of a student seeking two or more associate or bachelor’s degrees (see “Dual Majors and Additional Degrees”), a program GPA of at least 2.0 is required in each program for which a degree is awarded, as well as the overall GPA of at least 2.0 that is required for the award of any associate or bachelor’s degree (see “Grade Point Average” for the definitions of program and overall GPA).

A student is not permitted to graduate unless all financial obligations have been satisfied. All program requirements must be completed no later than 24 hours before commencement exercises. Program requirements completed after the deadline will cause a delay in the awarding of the degree.

Students should petition to graduate and attend the commencement ceremony for the term program requirements are met. Melbourne campus and extended studies students attend the spring ceremony if requirements are met in spring and the fall ceremony if the requirements are met in summer or fall. Florida Tech Online students participate in the Melbourne commencement ceremony in spring if they satisfy requirements during Spring-1 or Spring-2 and the fall commencement ceremony if they satisfy requirements during Summer-1, Summer-2, Fall-1 or Fall-2.

All required documentation such as course substitution forms, transfer credit, defense or final program examinations must be received by the graduation office (undergraduates) or the Office of Graduate Programs (graduate students) by the second Monday before the end of the semester in order for the candidate to participate in the commencement ceremony.

Residency Requirements for Graduation

To qualify for an associate or bachelor’s degree from the university, no less than 25 percent of work must be completed while enrolled and attending Florida Tech. The 25 percent requirement cannot be waived.

The university reserves the right to change requirements for graduation when it is decided that such changes are necessary. Students are generally graduated according to the degree requirements of their peer group in effect at the time of their admission, unless attendance has not been continuous.

Undergraduate Core Requirements

A common purpose of all undergraduate programs at Florida Tech is to impart an understanding of our current technology-centered civilization and its historical background. All students seeking a bachelor’s degree are therefore required to complete the following core requirements:

Communication (9 credit hours)

Including COM 1101 , COM 1102  and one additional 3-credit communication course.

Humanities (9 credit hours)

Including HUM 2051 , one 3-credit humanities course from the humanities core requirement list below and one additional 3-credit humanities course.

Any student who transfers to Florida Tech with an Associate of Arts degree from a regionally accredited institution in the U.S. automatically meets Florida Tech’s humanities core requirement for HUM 2051  and one 3-credit humanities core course. Transfer students should see the humanities and communication department for applicable course substitutions in the case of transferring to Florida Tech with less than an associate degree.

Humanities Core Courses

HUM 2052 Civilization 2: Renaissance Through Modern  
HUM 2142 World Art History 2: Early Modern to Post-Colonial  
HUM 2212 British and American Literature    
HUM 2213 British and American Literature 2  
HUM 2331 American History: Pre-Columbian to Civil War Era  
HUM 2332 American History: From Reconstruction to the Present  
HUM 3333 American Military History  

Not all humanities core courses are offered online or every term; check the current schedule of classes for humanities core options.

Mathematics (6 credit hours)

Physical and/or Life Sciences (6 credit hours)

Social Sciences (3 credit hours)

In addition to the 33 credit hours of general education curriculum, there is a computer literacy requirement that can be met by earning credit for one of the courses designated as CL in the Course Descriptions section.

There is also a requirement to complete the one-credit course, University Experience (FYE 1000  ), during the first year for all new Melbourne campus students. New transfer students on the Melbourne campus with 30 or more earned credit hours are not required to complete FYE 1000  and should consult with their academic program chairs or advisors for an appropriate substitution. Florida Tech Online students are required to enroll in Mastering eLearning (ASC 1006 ) during the first term.

Courses listed under more than one prefix (i.e., Primer for Biomath, BIO 2332  and MTH 2332 ) may not be repeated for credit under the alternate prefix.

Core requirements for the associate degree in Florida Tech Online are as described in this catalog for each degree program and include the minimum undergraduate core requirements as described above.

Scholarly Inquiry Requirement

SACS (see “Accreditation and Memberships” in the Institution Overview  section) requires each university to develop and implement a unique quality enhancement plan to enhance student learning in all undergraduate programs in a manner consistent with the university’s mission, heritage and recognized strengths.

Florida Tech’s ongoing emphasis on the relationships among research, teaching and learning led to the selection of scholarly inquiry as the theme for the plan. Its goals focus on student application of academic knowledge, and student problem-solving and communication skills. Florida Tech’s quality enhancement plan is designed to accommodate the various forms of scholarly inquiry including student design projects, student research and investigations undertaken as part of preprofessional internships.

All research projects are undertaken during the junior and/or senior year (may be the third or fourth year for Florida Tech Online students). Courses within the scholarly inquiry plan are designated as Q in the Degree Programs  and Course Descriptions  sections. Consistent with this, all undergraduate students are required to plan, undertake and report on a scholarly project in an area of their own choosing that is approved by the instructor of the Q-designated courses in their program of study.

Cooperative Education Credits

Students participating in the university’s cooperative education program (CWE 1001 , CWE 2001 , CWE 3001  and CWE 4001 ) receive free elective credits. College of Engineering students can use CWE 3003  for a maximum of three credit hours of technical elective. All participating students are classified as full-time students when working full time. Engineering students are encouraged to participate in the engineering co-op program (EPE 1000 , EPE 1100 , EPE 2100  and EPE 3100 ).

The applicability of these credits toward degree requirements is limited and dependent on the degree being sought and the nature of the work experience.

Electives

The following definitions of electives pertain to all degree programs at Florida Tech. The student should consult these definitions when selecting appropriate courses to satisfy the electives listed under program requirements. The counsel and consent of the student’s academic program chair or advisor is important in the final selection.

Engineering Design Elective

Engineering design is the process of devising a system, component or process to meet desired needs. It is a decision-making process, often iterative, in which the basic sciences, mathematics and engineering sciences are applied to convert resources optimally to meet a stated objective. Among the fundamental elements of the design process are the establishment of objectives and criteria, synthesis, analysis, construction, testing and evaluation. Central to the process are the essential and complementary roles of synthesis and analysis. Each engineering design course includes some of the following features: development of student creativity, use of open-ended problems, formulation of design-problem statements and specifications, consideration of alternative solutions, feasibility considerations, detailed system descriptions and a variety of realistic constraints, such as economic factors, safety, reliability, aesthetics, ethics and social impact. A list of approved engineering design electives is normally available in each engineering department office.

Engineering Science Elective

Engineering sciences have their roots in mathematics and basic sciences but carry knowledge further toward a creative application. These studies provide bridges between mathematics, basic science and engineering practice. A list of approved engineering science electives is normally available in each engineering department office.

Flight Training

Flight training is available to any Melbourne campus student and may be used as elective credit in many degree programs with program chair or advisor approval. FAA Private Pilot Certificate training requires only two courses totaling five semester hours of credit.

Foreign Languages

Students who have had less than two years of foreign-language study at the secondary level may enroll in elementary language courses at Florida Tech. Students who have had two or more years of foreign-language study at the secondary level and students who transfer one year of foreign-language study to Florida Tech from another college or university must enroll in intermediate courses. Native or multilingual speakers of foreign languages may not enroll in elementary or intermediate courses; they may, however, enroll in advanced-level courses. The head of the department of humanities and communication will make final decisions regarding the placement of students in foreign-language courses.

Free Elective

Free electives may be any courses 1000-level or above taken at Florida Tech, or courses taken elsewhere if transfer credit is awarded by Florida Tech. Courses can be combined to satisfy the specified free elective credits (e.g., three 1-credit courses can satisfy one 3-credit listing in a degree program) or vice versa (one 3-credit course for three 1-credit courses). No more than a total of four credit hours of free elective credits earned for physical education activities and/or health education can be applied toward meeting degree requirements.

Humanities Elective

Courses concerned with human culture including literature, history, philosophy, religion, linguistics, professional ethics and foreign languages other than a student’s home language meet the requirements for humanities electives. Courses in art, music and drama, other than performance courses, also meet these requirements. These courses are designated as humanities (HU) or humanities/social science (HU/ SS) electives in the Course Descriptions  section.

A foreign language is considered to be the student’s home language if it is the formal or commonly used language of the student’s country or community, or if it was the language used as the medium of interaction in all or part of the student’s pre-university education.

Humanities elective credits may not be granted by equivalency examinations.

Liberal Arts Elective

A liberal arts elective is any course offered by the School of Arts and Communication (HUM, COM, LNG, MUS) or any psychology course (PSY). Certain BUS and EDS courses may also be considered liberal arts electives as determined by the student’s academic unit.

Restricted Elective

A restricted elective is an elective selected from a specified academic discipline. The academic discipline is included in the specification of the elective, e.g., Restricted Elective (Chemistry) or Restricted Elective (CHM). The level of the elective may also be specified by the academic unit.

Social Science Elective

Studies of society and of the relationship of the individual to society including anthropology, psychology, sociology, economics, political science, history, linguistics and social responsibility meet the requirements for social science electives. These courses are designated as SS or HU/SS electives in the Course Descriptions  section.

Social science elective credits may not be granted by equivalency examinations.

Technical Elective

A technical elective is a course in any field of science or engineering, subject to department or program approval. Courses classified as mathematics, basic science, applied science, engineering science, engineering design or some combination of these satisfies the requirement. These courses should be at a level appropriate to the level at which they appear in the program.

Academic Regulations

The following represents an abbreviated presentation of some of the more commonly encountered regulations affecting undergraduate students at Florida Tech (see also other definitions in this section). Most can be found on the Florida Tech website. For other academic policies and regulations, the vice president for academic affairs should be consulted. Academic policies are subject to change.

Attendance

Melbourne Campus

Students registered for any course are expected to attend all lectures and must attend all laboratories, examinations, quizzes and practical exercises, subject to penalties specified by the instructor for that course.

Students who miss class must obtain permission from the course instructor to make up missed work. This permission must be requested at the earliest possible opportunity, and before the absence if possible. The student must arrange with the instructor to make up the missed work. The makeup must be completed within two weeks after the absence. In the case of missed final examinations, the policy on Incomplete (I) applies. In mitigating circumstances, the instructor, with the concurrence of the academic unit head offering the course, may require an alternative to making up the missed work.

If circumstances require a student to report late for a class or to leave before the class is over, prior notification should be given to the instructor if possible. Repeated occurrences may result in the student being temporarily denied admission to the classroom.

The professor of military science of the Army ROTC unit has sole authority to determine attendance regulations in ROTC classes.

Florida Tech Online

The e-learning platform (ELP) tracks student attendance electronically. In order to participate in class or access class materials, students are required to log into the system with a unique username and password.

Attendance for Florida Tech Online classes is required. Non-attendance may also be recorded by the student’s failure to log in to registered classes, failure to take part in discussion boards or forums, failure to respond to an instructor’s email or any combination of these.

Classification of Students

All new students are classified as freshmen unless they have completed sufficient transferable credit hours at another college or university to qualify for advanced standing at Florida Tech. The university operates on the semester system, and course credits are computed on that basis. For those students who have completed college work elsewhere, classification is based on credit hours accepted at Florida Tech rather than the amount of work presented.

Melbourne campus undergraduate students are classified by student level as follows:

Students whose studies at Florida Tech began under the quarter system are classified on the basis of all credits earned under both systems, with quarter hours being translated to semester hours according to the ratio of three quarter hours to two semester hours.

Florida Tech Online Students

Florida Tech defines the academic year for Florida Tech Online undergraduate programs as 24 credit hours over 32 weeks of instruction. Students are classified by year as:

All new students are classified as first year unless they have completed sufficient transferable credit hours at another college or university to qualify for advanced standing at Florida Tech. The university operates on the semester system and course credits are computed on that basis. For those students who have completed work elsewhere, classification is based on credit hours accepted at Florida Tech rather than the amount of work presented.

Dual Majors and Additional Degrees

The dual major is recognized any time a student completes all degree requirements for two bachelor’s degree programs. On completion of the requirements for both programs, the student receives one diploma noting both majors (e.g., “Bachelor of Science in Mathematics and Interdisciplinary Science” or “Bachelor of Science in Biological Sciences/Ecology and Marine Biology Options”). A student may become a candidate for a second bachelor’s degree (two diplomas) when he or she has completed at least 15 credit hours of additional Florida Tech work beyond the requirements of a single degree in the major requiring the higher number of credits and all requirements listed for both degree programs.

A student may become a candidate for a second or subsequent associate degree when he or she has completed at least nine credit hours of additional Florida Tech work beyond the requirements of a single associate degree in the major requiring the higher number of credits, and all requirements listed for both degree programs.

Florida Tech Online students may pursue a concurrent dual degree only from within the Florida Tech Online programs currently offered. Florida Tech Online students may not seek a second degree from an academic unit outside Florida Tech Online while currently fulfilling requirements for the first degree. A student may only enroll consecutively for a second degree from another academic unit at Florida Tech.

Minors

Florida Tech offers minor programs in several areas of study. Colleges/ departments may designate minors that require 18-21 credit hours of selected coursework, excluding the core courses COM 1101 , COM 1102 , HUM 2051  and one humanities (HUM) core course from the published list. The intent of the minor is to encourage and recognize focused study in a field outside the student’s major. Therefore, no more than nine credit hours applied to the minor may be named courses in the major. At least nine credit hours of the minor must be taken at the Melbourne campus (see below for the online minor offered to Florida Tech Online students). A minor program GPA of at least 2.0 is required in order to receive recognition for the minor on the student’s diploma, and the minor is only awarded at the same time as the major. Additional restrictions may be placed by the college/ department offering the minor.

Minors may be chosen from within or outside the student’s major college. Minors will be indicated on the student’s transcript and resulting diploma. Requests to pursue a minor will require approval of the minor program plan by both the major and minor program chairs. The request for a minor must be made before filing the petition to graduate and must be indicated on the petition.

Information about each minor program offered at Florida Tech may be found within the college/department section offering the minor.

Florida Tech Online offers a minor in human resources management for its online students. All other minors are offered only in the classroom on the Melbourne campus.

Forgiveness Policy

The forgiveness policy is a system by which an undergraduate student may repeat an undergraduate course with only the last grade received for this course (this grade may be an F) used in the cumulative grade point average, and in evaluating the fulfillment of graduation requirements. All grades received in any course, including those retaken under the forgiveness policy, are retained and recorded on the transcript. Credits where the forgiveness policy has been applied to a course will be removed from both the term and overall GPA.

An undergraduate student is allowed to apply forgiveness to undergraduate courses a maximum of five times during his or her Florida Tech career. No forgiveness is allowed for subsequent retakes above the maximum of five; all subsequent grades are averaged into the cumulative GPA. A student attaining 90 or more credit hours may not apply the forgiveness policy to 1000- and 2000-level courses. The forgiveness policy does not apply to graduate courses, even if taken by an undergraduate student, or to undergraduate courses taken by a graduate student.

A Request to Retake a Course form must be completed for every course retaken under the forgiveness policy. To be applied, this form is due in the registrar’s office no later than Friday of the 12th week of classes for fall or spring semester, Friday of the third week before the end of regular classes for a summer term, and no later than Friday of the fifth week of classes for Florida Tech Online students. This form is a binding agreement between the student and Florida Tech. Once applied to a repeated course, forgiveness cannot be reversed.

Prerequisite Requirement for Registration

To ensure proper completion of prerequisite courses, any Melbourne campus student who fails or receives an incomplete for a course that is a listed prerequisite for a course in which they register the following term, will have that course automatically dropped as soon as the incomplete or failing grade is posted to the student’s record. The student should work with their advisor to update their program plan or request to retake the failed prerequisite.

Not Permitted to Register

When it is determined by the academic dean of the college in which a student is enrolled that a student is deliberately trying to circumvent university academic policy, regardless of scholarship, the dean may determine that such a student is not permitted to register.

Study at Other Institutions

A currently enrolled student may take a limited number of courses at other regionally accredited institutions for transfer to a Florida Tech undergraduate degree program. Prior approval is mandatory. The student must complete and submit all applicable forms with all required signatures and a written justification. A copy of the other institution’s published course description(s) may be required. Florida Tech Online students must submit a copy of the other institutions’ published course description(s).

Melbourne campus students who request to study at another institution for a summer term will be directed to take the course(s) online if the course is offered through Florida Tech Online during Summer-1 or Summer-2 terms. These students pay Florida Tech Online rates (no other discounts apply). This policy does not apply to graduate students. International students need to contact ISSS and their sponsors for special exceptions to the policy.

Florida Tech’s forgiveness policy is not applicable under the Undergraduate Request to Study at Another Institution policy. Financial aid recipients may wish to consult their financial aid counselor before requesting to study at another institution.

All requirements affecting transfer of credits taken elsewhere for application toward a Florida Tech bachelor’s degree apply, as listed in this section. After becoming a Florida Tech student, no more than three courses may be taken elsewhere and applied toward a Florida Tech degree. The residency requirements for graduation apply.

A course that includes a significant writing or speaking component must be taught entirely in English to be eligible for transfer.

No credit will be awarded for a course taken elsewhere if the student was ineligible for any reason to take the equivalent course at Florida Tech.

The student must request an official transcript be sent by the other institution directly to the Florida Tech registrar’s office. Any student in their final year or term must request official transcripts be sent immediately on completion of the course or as near as possible to the end of the Florida Tech term in which they plan to graduate to avoid having their graduation date delayed until the following term.

This catalog does not list the complete policy for studying at another institution. The complete policy on study at other institutions can be obtained from the appropriate office or online from the university website.

Florida Tech Online students should email tceua@fit.edu for mandatory prior approval by the credential evaluator in the online learning office before beginning study at another institution.

Change of Major

During their studies, students receive exposure to a number of different academic subjects, and some are attracted to programs different from their initial choices. A change of major is possible if the student requests the change online and has the request approved by the new academic unit head. After a change of major, courses unrelated to the new program will not be used in computing the student’s cumulative GPA. However, all earned grades and credits remain on the transcript.

Following a change of major, the degree requirements in the new major may be based on either the student’s original catalog, or the catalog in effect at the time of the change of major, or on a catalog between those two, subject to the approval of the academic unit head, as indicated on the submitted request.

The policy above applies equally to Florida Tech Online students, with the exception that a change of major will not change a transfer credit evaluation.

Undeclared Major on Melbourne Campus

A new student may be uncertain about the specific academic program he or she wishes to pursue. The undeclared major gives a new student the opportunity to explore the general area of interest more broadly for a limited time before choosing a specific major.

Three freshman-year undeclared major programs are available on the Melbourne campus: General Engineering (College of Engineering), General Science (College of Science) and General Studies (School of Arts and Communication). The general studies program is for those who may wish to pursue a major in business administration, communication, humanities or psychology. More information on these programs may be found under each college in the Degree Programs  section.

Undergraduates Applying Graduate Courses to Bachelor’s Degree

Undergraduates may receive written authorization to take a graduate class (5000 level) and apply it to their bachelor degree requirements. Once a course is approved for use in a degree program and is recorded on the transcript, no reversal is permitted.

Undergraduates accepted into accelerated master’s programs (fast track) may apply up to six 5000-level (graduate) credit hours to both the bachelor’s and master’s degrees in accordance with Florida Tech policy.

Probation and Dismissal

Academic Probation

Academic probation status will be applied to an undergraduate student with a term GPA less than 1.5 or a cumulative GPA less than 2.0 at the end of any term. A student on academic probation is not permitted to register for more than 15 credit hours without the approval of the student’s dean. The student’s academic performance is reviewed at the end of the probationary term. The probationary status is continued if the cumulative GPA is less than 2.0 and falls within the minimum standards shown here.

Note: Credit hours above include transfer credits, credits by examination and all Florida Tech credits earned.

The academic probation status is removed after the review if the term GPA is 1.5 or higher and cumulative GPA is 2.0 or higher.

Academic Dismissal

A student whose cumulative GPA does not reach the level defined above is academically dismissed at the end of the probationary term, with the exception of a student who has been reinstated and is meeting all reinstatement conditions.

Melbourne Campus

A summer grace period is available to a student who would normally be academically dismissed at the end of a spring term probationary period but who has registered for the summer term by the last day of spring term’s final examination week. Such a student will not be academically dismissed but will be re-evaluated at the end of the summer term. A student who fails to meet previous reinstatement conditions does not qualify for the summer grace period and will be academically dismissed at the end of spring term. The grace period is not available to students enrolled in 8-week online terms.

Academic Dismissal Notification/Right Of Appeal

The registrar will send notification of academic dismissal from the university to the student.

An academically dismissed student may be reinstated for educationally sound reasons by special action of the Academic Standing Committee of the college in which the student is enrolled. A letter requesting reinstatement should be submitted to the committee through the registrar. A student who has been away from the university for four or more consecutive semesters (12 or more 8-week terms) and was dismissed after the last term of enrollment must submit a letter of appeal for reinstatement. The letter is sent to the undergraduate admission office along with the application for readmission.

Students reinstated by the Academic Standing Committee may be subject to special requirements as determined by the committee. Failure to meet the conditions specified at the time of reinstatement will result in a second dismissal, with the student retaining the right to request another reinstatement, although such requests are normally granted only in extraordinary cases.

Disciplinary Dismissal

The university reserves the right to dismiss any student at any time if there is just cause and such action is consistent with the policies outlined online in the Student Handbook.

Any student dismissed for disciplinary reasons will not be entitled to receive any refunds, will forfeit all fees and deposits, and will receive failing grades for all courses scheduled during the semester unless recommended otherwise by the University Disciplinary Committee or designated conduct officer and approved by the dean of students.

Students are expected to be familiar with the “Code of Conduct and University Discipline System” detailed in policies online in the Student Handbook.

Graduate Student Information

Academic Policies

Academic policies for graduate students are published on the Florida Tech website (www.fit.edu), under graduate programs. All graduate students are advised to review graduate policy early in their graduate careers and to refer to the website or the Office of Graduate Programs on the Melbourne campus if in doubt about any aspect of graduate policy.

Admission Policies for All Students

Admission to graduate study is granted to qualified applicants. Successful applicants for the master’s degree will have received a bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited institution, or its equivalent internationally, in a program that provides suitable preparation in the applicant’s chosen field. Admission to doctoral study is granted to a limited number of applicants. Successful applicants to doctoral study will normally have received both a bachelor’s and master’s degree, but admission with only a bachelor’s degree is possible for superior students. The academic record of the applicant must indicate probable success in the desired program. As a general rule, an undergraduate cumulative GPA of at least 3.0 is required, and for doctoral programs a cumulative graduate GPA of at least 3.2 is required for admission. Individual academic units may have higher minimum standards. Only in unusual cases, in which clear and substantive evidence justifies such action, will students be admitted who do not meet this standard.

For those cases in which the student has acceptable undergraduate achievement but has course deficiencies, the major academic unit will specify the criteria that must be met to remove the deficiencies.

Extended Studies Application

Application for admission to extended studies can be submitted online. The application must be accompanied by payment of the nonrefundable application fee.

One officially certified copy of all undergraduate and graduate (if applicable) transcripts must be sent directly from the student’s institution to Graduate Admissions, Online Learning and Off-campus Programs, 150 W. University Blvd., Melbourne, Florida 32901. One additional certified copy of all transcripts may be requested for site use.

Transcripts from foreign universities must be accompanied by a certified English translation.

Florida Tech Online Application

Applicants for master’s degree programs may request their applications for the upcoming term from www.floridatechonline.com. Students must complete the application and provide all required documents to be considered for full admission or to request financial aid. Only fully admitted students are eligible for federal financial aid. Applicants may enroll in up to two consecutive 8-week terms before being fully admitted. The steps below are required.

Application and Fee: Complete the online application at www.floridatechonline.com. The amount required varies based on the degree program.

Transcripts: Provide official transcripts from all colleges or universities attended. Transcripts will be requested on the student’s behalf as part of application process.

Recommendations: For the MBA degree, potential applicants are requested to submit recommendations from individuals who can attest to previous academic and professional performance and potential for success in graduate study. See the instructions on the online application for submission of recommendation letters.

Résumé: A résumé is requested of all applicants for graduate admission and should detail all past professional and educational experiences including such information as publications and memberships in professional organizations. Nontraditional educational experiences, teaching and relevant employment should be included.

Statement of Intention: A brief Microsoft® Word® document (no longer than one page) explaining the applicant’s reasons for pursuing an MBA, what gains are expected from the program, factors that may positively impact study in the program and any special circumstances that should be considered during the application review. The document should answer the following:

• Why enrollment in an MBA program?
• Why enrollment in Florida Tech?
• How do applicant’s academic and professional history relate to the intended program of study?

Transient Students

A transient student is defined as any student in another accredited university pursuing a master’s degree. A transient student may seek admission to a degree program through the normal admission process. If a transient student subsequently decides to pursue either an undergraduate or graduate degree at Florida Tech and is accepted into the degree program, a maximum of 12 semester credit hours earned as a transient student may be applied toward the degree, provided the coursework is academically appropriate. Transient students are required to:

• Complete the online application form.
• Provide a copy of transcripts from the university that granted the bachelor’s degree.
• Provide a copy of transcripts from current graduate program.
• Pay the nonrefundable application fee.
• Provide proof of English language proficiency if English is not the student’s home language.
• Provide a copy of passport or naturalization papers if the student is not a U.S. citizen.

All transient students must have met all prerequisite requirements and may be registered for no more than two consecutive 8-week terms. Once the Florida Tech courses have been completed, the student may request a transcript to be sent to his/her home academic institution from Florida Tech after grades are posted. This is not an automatic process. Students must request the transcript to be sent.

Transient students are required to be in good standing at their home academic institution. No more than 12 semester credit hours of graduate courses taken as a transient student may be transferred to an academic degree program at Florida Tech.

Melbourne Campus Application

Applications are available online at www.fit.edu/grad. Applications should be submitted according to the following guidelines:

*Program admits once a year for the fall semester.

Applications received after the program-designated deadline will be considered, but late applicants may be at a disadvantage in terms of being admitted and/or receiving scholarships, fellowships and assistantships. It is the student’s responsibility to ensure the graduate admissions office receives all materials required for evaluation of the application before the deadline. Late applications may not be evaluated for the entrance term requested.

Application Fee: A nonrefundable application fee must accompany any application. The amount required is shown on the application.

Transcripts: An official certified transcript must be sent to the Office of Graduate Admissions by the registrar of each college or university attended.

The admission materials information at the top of each graduate degree program outlines the application materials described in the paragraphs below. Applicants should note especially the GRE/GMAT recommendations.

Recommendations: Individuals who can attest to previous academic and professional performance and to potential for success in graduate study should mail letters of recommendation directly to the graduate admissions office. At least one letter of recommendation, if required, should be from a full-time faculty member, especially if the applicant is applying to a doctoral program; if a master’s thesis was carried out, a letter from the thesis advisor is normally required.

Résumé: The résumé should detail all past professional and educational experiences, including such information as publications and memberships in professional organizations. Nontraditional educational experiences, teaching and relevant employment should also be discussed.

Statement of Objectives: This statement of approximately 300 words should include a discussion of intended graduate study, professional career goals, and past and proposed activities in the field of study.

Graduate Record Examination (GRE): Official scores not more than five years old may be required. The computer-based test (CBT) is now the standard form for the General Test and may be taken year-round at designated sites around the country. International students may still have an opportunity to take the paper-based test at selected sites.

For a listing of the sites, check the GRE Information and Registration Bulletin available in the graduate admissions office and online. The official test results are mailed within four to six weeks of the examination date. The unofficial test results for the CBT are available immediately after the test. The official results of the CBT are mailed within 10-15 days of the examination date.

Graduate Management Admissions Test (GMAT): Although not required, the GMAT is strongly recommended for most Nathan M. Bisk College of Business applicants; for details see the section on admission requirements for the MBA degree program under the Nathan M. Bisk College of Business in the Degree Programs section. Substitution of GRE scores for the GMAT is allowed.

TOEFL Scores: Any student whose home language is not English may be accepted for any degree program but will be subject to limitations on registration for academic courses until certain English language requirements are met. Florida Tech  Online students must provide proof of English language proficiency before attending courses. For details see “English and Languages ” in the School of Arts and Communication under the College of Psychology and Liberal Arts in the Degree Programs section.

Assistantship Application: Each assistantship applicant must submit a completed assistantship application, three letters of reference and a statement of objectives. The priority deadline for all assistantship applications is January 15. Applications received after the program-designated deadline will be considered, but late applicants may be at a disadvantage in terms of being admitted and/or receiving scholarships, fellowships and assistantships. It is the student’s responsibility to ensure that the graduate admissions office receives all materials required for evaluation of the application before the deadline. All English language proficiency requirements apply.

Reapplication: Admission to most graduate programs is valid for two years from the semester of acceptance, but for the Psy.D. program and all biological sciences graduate programs, admission is only valid for the semester of acceptance. Individuals wishing to begin or resume graduate work after a two-year lapse are required to reapply for admission. Individuals who leave Florida Tech and attend another university without first having received written permission must reapply for admission and submit grade transcripts regardless of the length of time since last attending Florida Tech (see “Readmission Policy” in this section).

Other Forms: The Acceptance Confirmation Reply and Medical History forms should be completed and returned, and the tuition deposit submitted after formal admission to the university has been confirmed.

Check-In on Melbourne Campus

New students should complete Panther Pass in order to register for classes. Students may come to the graduate admissions office in Harris Commons during regular university business hours if they need to meet with an admissions counselor. This office is open during all breaks, except holidays. Refer to the appropriate academic calendar for reporting dates.

Florida Tech policy states that international students are required to attend for one full semester when entering the United States on a Florida Tech-provided I-20 form. Florida Tech will not release an international student to another educational institution until the student completes one semester at Florida Tech.

Registration Prior to Admission

Under certain circumstances, applicants can avoid delaying their education by registering for courses, for one semester only (two 8-week terms for Florida Tech Online students), while their applications are processed, provided they are citizens or permanent residents of the United States.

Students who register before admission are not eligible to receive federal student financial aid until they are admitted to the university. Such registration requires a preliminary review of written documentation from the degree-granting institution (not necessarily official) showing previous academic courses taken, grades received and degrees awarded. The academic unit head, or his or her designee, should carry out the review. Permission to register pending formal acceptance requires a decision that there is a high probability of eventual acceptance into the program applied for and registration before acceptance is in the best interest of both the academic unit and the student.

In the event applicants are denied admission while enrolled in graduate courses, they will be given the option of either withdrawing with full tuition refund or completing the courses underway. If the applicant completes one or more graduate courses before being denied admission or completes a course for any other reason, he or she will not be given the option of withdrawing or receiving a tuition refund after completing the course.

Master’s Degree Policies

Classification of Students

Assignment to one of the following classifications is made at the time of admission.

Regular Student: A student whose undergraduate GPA is 3.0 or greater out of a possible 4.0 and who meets all other criteria for admission to a particular program is classified as a regular student.

Provisional Student: A student who does not meet the above criteria and has no more than six deficiency courses can be classified as a provisional student.

Special Student: Special student classifications exist at both the undergraduate and graduate levels and are used for students who, for various reasons, are not enrolled in degree-seeking programs. Specific instances include:

• a student taking coursework for credit to apply at another institution;
• a student taking courses to fill specific professional or vocational needs; or
• a prospective graduate student with generally acceptable undergraduate achievements but with subject matter deficiencies (usually as a result of changing fields) that, in the judgment of the academic unit, preclude immediate acceptance into the degree program.

In the last-mentioned case, the student will normally have the option of pursuing an undergraduate degree in the desired discipline or making up the deficiencies while enrolled as a special student. The student will then be considered for admission to the appropriate graduate degree program once sufficient additional work has been done to form an adequate basis for a decision by the academic unit.

The customary classification of special students will be as undergraduate students, regardless of the existence of previous bachelor’s degrees. A student may, however, be classified as a special graduate student. In such a case, designation and continuation of graduate student status will be at the discretion of the cognizant academic unit, or the director of graduate programs in the case of students who are not seeking eventual admission to a graduate degree program.

Course Requirements

A candidate for the master’s degree must successfully complete at least 30 semester credit hours beyond the bachelor’s degree as specified on the approved program plan. A candidate for the specialist degree must successfully complete at least 30 semester credit hours beyond the master’s degree as specified on the approved program plan.

Course requirements are stated in each master’s degree program description. Students who meet certain requirements may be eligible to participate in accelerated Fast Track master’s programs that entail completing both bachelor’s and master’s degrees in five years by maintaining higher overall and program GPAs and who are willing and able to carry increased course loads. High-achieving students are strongly recommended to discuss this option with their advisors. Accelerated programs are not available in all majors or colleges.

The stated minimum credit hours can include any or all of the following, subject to academic unit approval and specific restrictions stated in graduate policy:

• Up to 12 semester hours of credit transferred from a regionally accredited institution or, in some cases, from a foreign university; or, in the case of a partner institution in a dual-degree program with Florida Tech, up to half of the total minimum credit hours.
• Up to six semester hours of credit for 3000- and 4000-level undergraduate courses taken while enrolled in a graduate program at Florida Tech provided that graduate-level rigor is documented. Only 4000-level courses will be considered if the courses are in the student’s major field of study.
• Up to one-half of the credit (nonthesis or nondesign project formal coursework) applied to the first degree may be used to satisfy the requirements of the second or subsequent degree. At least one-half of the coursework leading to any master’s degree granted by Florida Tech must have been taken at Florida Tech but never applied to any other degree.
• Credit previously used to meet the requirements of another master’s degree at Florida Tech may be used to meet up to half of the credits required for the later degree.
• Credit in excess of the seven-year statute of limitations if a waiver is in effect, in accordance with the statute of limitations as defined in this catalog.

Academic credit applied toward the requirements of a bachelor’s degree, at Florida Tech or elsewhere, may not be used in any graduate program at Florida Tech, regardless of the level of the course. An exception to this policy is granted only for students during their senior year when earning at least a B grade, and who have been admitted into an approved accelerated or fast track master’s program, to apply up to six 5000-level (graduate) credit hours to both the bachelor’s and master’s degrees.

Master’s students may receive written authorization to take an undergraduate course (generally at the 4000 level) and apply it to their master’s degree requirements (Graduate Policy 1.9). Once an undergraduate course is approved for use in the master’s degree and moved to the graduate transcript, no reversal is permitted.

Program Plan

Each master’s-level graduate student is required to have an approved program plan on file no later than one month before nine credit hours of graduate courses have been completed.

Only one program plan per degree can be in effect for a student at any given time. Because of the importance of the program plan in establishing a new program GPA following a change of major, no request to change majors will be processed unless accompanied by an approved new program plan. This requirement applies whether or not a degree was earned in the first major.

Graduate students receive a degree program plan/flow chart showing the most commonly accepted sequence of courses for their degree program as soon as admission is complete. Students should contact their academic program chair or advisor if they have not received a degree program plan/flow chart.

Thesis

Master’s theses are required in some programs and are optional in most others. The credit hours assigned to the thesis vary according to the program. A student cannot initially register for thesis unless his or her GPA is at least 3.0. Subsequent to the initial registration, the student must continue to register for at least three hours of thesis each academic term, including summer, until the thesis is defended and accepted by the graduate programs office. An interruption in thesis registration requires written approval in advance and is permissible only if the student is making no use of university facilities or personnel.

A grade of S (Satisfactory) or U (Unsatisfactory) is assigned at the end of each academic term, with zero credit hours earned. The candidate should contact the graduate programs office early in the thesis preparation process for guidance regarding style and format requirements. A Thesis Manual and Style Guide is available online and at the university bookstore.

After all research has been completed, the written thesis is distributed to committee members at least two weeks before the thesis defense is held. If the thesis defense is successful, a P grade is assigned corresponding to the required number of thesis credit hours. A minimum of five copies of the approved thesis must be received and accepted by the graduate programs office before the degree can be awarded.

Design Project

All requirements listed for theses in the preceding section apply equally to design projects.

Final Program Examination

A final examination is required of all thesis students (in this case called a “defense”) and in all other master’s programs with the exception of the programs in the Nathan M. Bisk College of Business, and any program in the College of Aeronautics or College of Psychology and Liberal Arts, for which there is no on-campus counterpart. For nonthesis students, the examination may be either written or oral, or both, at the discretion of the academic unit. For thesis and design project students, the examination consists primarily of an oral defense of the thesis or design project and takes place during the last term of registration for M.S. Thesis or design project. 

An examination candidate must have a grade point average (both program and overall, if different) of 3.0 or higher at the time of the examination to be permitted to schedule any final program examination. A candidate must be enrolled during the term the examination is taken or retaken in the case of a failed examination. An exception is made for a nonthesis student if a separate examination fee is paid.

All oral examinations must be included in the weekly schedule of examinations published by the graduate programs office. Scheduling an oral examination is the responsibility of the candidate and his or her committee. Notification to the graduate programs office too late for inclusion in the weekly schedule will normally result in postponement of the examination. Nonthesis oral examinations are open only to members of the graduate faculty. The thesis defense may be partitioned into two components: an optional “open” component open to anyone, and a mandatory “closed” component open only to members of the graduate faculty. If an academic unit requires a candidate’s final program examination to include an open component, this must be stated as a degree requirement in the university catalog entry for that master’s degree program.

For written examinations, application must be made by the student to the academic unit at least one month in advance of the desired examination date. Examination dates will normally be announced each term by academic units requiring written examinations. 

Transfer Credit

If the courses constitute a logical part of the student’s master’s program, a maximum of 12 semester hours of transfer credit from regionally accredited institutions may be accepted, with the approval of the head of the appropriate academic unit and the director of graduate programs under the following conditions:

• The courses must have been taken for graduate credit and must not have been applied previously to any undergraduate degree.
• They must have been graded courses, and grades of at least B or equivalent must have been earned in each course.

Graduate Study at Other Institutions

A currently enrolled student may take a limited number of courses at other institutions for transfer to a Florida Tech graduate degree program. The restrictions on graduate transfer credit listed above apply. Prior approval is mandatory. The student must complete and submit the designated form with all required signatures and a written justification. A copy of the other institution’s published course description(s) must be attached. The student must arrange for an official transcript to be sent by the other institution directly to the Florida Tech registrar’s office.

Doctoral Degree Requirements

Requirements for the Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) and Doctor of Business Administration (DBA) degrees include the general requirements listed here and specific program-by-program requirements and variations as presented in later sections. In addition to the Ph.D. degree, the university also offers the Doctor of Psychology (Psy.D.) degree, described under College of Psychology and Liberal Arts in the Degree Programs  section.

The Ph.D./DBA degrees are awarded on the basis of clear evidence that the recipient possesses knowledge of a broad field of learning and mastery of a particular area of concentration within that field. The work leading to the degree consists of advanced studies and research that represents a significant contribution to knowledge in the subject area. Each student must complete an approved program of study, pass a comprehensive examination, complete an original research program, and prepare and defend a dissertation on that research.

Credit Hour Requirements

Although the Ph.D./DBA are awarded primarily on the basis of original scholarly accomplishment rather than the accumulation of a specified number of credit hours, minimum standards are enforced regarding the number of credit hours that must be successfully completed by all Ph.D./DBA students, subject to the limitations delineated in graduate policy.

Graduate Policy 2.2.2 lists minimum requirements for total credit hours, coursework (formal and informal) credit hours, dissertation credit hours and supervised research credit hours.

Credit earned for courses taken in fulfillment of the requirements for a master’s degree, either at Florida Tech or elsewhere, may be used in meeting some of the minimum requirement for coursework, subject to the restrictions stated above and provided the courses are directly applicable to the field of the doctoral degree. A student should expect to take a significant amount of coursework at a more advanced level, even if graduate degrees in more than one field have been earned.

Doctoral students may receive written authorization to take an undergraduate course (generally at the 4000 level) and apply it to their doctoral degree requirements (Graduate Policy 2.2.2). Once an undergraduate course is approved for use in the doctoral degree and moved to the graduate transcript, no reversal is permitted.

Doctoral Committee

At least 90 days before the comprehensive examination, the student must select a major advisor with the concurrence of the individual selected and the student’s academic unit head. The major advisor serves as both research supervisor and chair of the doctoral committee and need not be the same person who served as academic advisor while the student was taking courses.

At least 60 days before the comprehensive examination, the major advisor nominates a doctoral committee for approval by the student’s academic unit head and the director of graduate programs. The committee consists of at least four Florida Tech graduate faculty members, including the major advisor. One member must be a full-time graduate faculty member from an academic unit that is administratively different from the student’s and major advisor’s. At least three members, including the major advisor, must be approved for doctoral-level advising.

This committee serves in an advisory capacity throughout the remainder of the doctoral program and is responsible for formally evaluating the candidate’s progress by conducting the comprehensive examination, reviewing and approving the dissertation proposal, conducting the dissertation defense and approving the dissertation.

Comprehensive Examination

After the completion of all formal coursework (as determined by the academic unit) included in the doctoral program of study, the student is required to take a comprehensive examination administered by the doctoral committee established for the student. The examination covers the student’s major area of emphasis in depth but may also include other areas considered appropriate by the doctoral committee. The examination may be written, oral or both, according to the requirements of each doctoral program. To pass, the student must have the unanimous approval of the committee. A student who does not pass the examination may, at the option of a majority of the committee, be allowed one opportunity to retake the examination after a suitable period of study. The examination must be passed at least one calendar year before the degree is awarded. Scheduling the examination to meet this requirement is the responsibility of the candidate and his or her committee. A candidate must be enrolled at the time the examination is taken. Otherwise, a separate examination fee must be paid.

Dissertation Proposal

Subsequent to successful completion of the comprehensive examination, a dissertation proposal must be submitted to the doctoral committee, who ascertains if the subject of the dissertation is of doctoral quality and that completion of the dissertation is feasible.

Degree Candidacy

An overall grade point average of 3.2 is required for admission to candidacy. After a student has passed the comprehensive examination and has had the dissertation proposal approved by the doctoral committee, the student will be admitted to candidacy for the doctoral degree by submitting the required form for approval and forwarding it to the registrar.

Residency Requirement

The residency requirement consists of the performance of research under the direct supervision of Florida Tech faculty for at least one calendar year; and enrollment in a Florida Tech graduate program for a minimum of two years from the time of original registration.

A doctoral student who has been admitted to candidacy must normally register each academic term thereafter for at least three credit hours of dissertation throughout the remainder of his or her program. In some cases, registration for fewer credit hours is permitted in the final semester of registration. See the online graduate policies for details. After admission to doctoral candidacy, an interruption in registration is permissible only if the student is not making any use of university facilities or personnel, and with written approval by the academic unit head and the director of graduate programs.

The student’s dissertation performance is evaluated in each term of registration, and grades of S (Satisfactory) or U (Unsatisfactory) are assigned. These grades do not affect the student’s grade point average. S grades corresponding to the required number of dissertation credit hours are replaced by grades of P (Pass) upon successful completion of the dissertation.

Dissertation Preparation and Defense

The dissertation must demonstrate critical judgment, intellectual synthesis, creativity and skills in written communication. The general format must follow the guidelines established by the academic unit and the office of graduate programs. Copies of the dissertation must be submitted to the doctoral committee at least one month before the proposed date of the dissertation defense. The office of graduate programs must receive written notification of the defense at least two weeks before its scheduled date. The candidate and his or her committee chair are responsible for scheduling the examination and notifying the graduate programs office.

The doctoral committee administers the dissertation defense. The defense may be partitioned into two components: an optional “open” component open to anyone, and a mandatory “closed” component open only to members of the graduate faculty. If an academic unit requires a candidate’s defense to include an open component, this must be stated as a degree requirement in the university catalog entry for that Ph.D. program. Requirements for the degree are not completed until the dissertation is accepted by the graduate programs office. A completed UMI Publishing Agreement form and Survey of Earned Doctorates form (both available online and from the graduate programs office) and an additional title page and abstract must accompany the required dissertation copies.

Academic Unit Requirements

The requirements specified above comprise the minimum requirements for doctoral degrees at Florida Tech. Academic units may specify additional requirements for their doctoral degrees as defined by Florida Tech graduate policy.

Grading System

Graduate work is evaluated by letter grades, with only grades of A, B, C and P being credited toward graduate degrees. Grades of D, F and U are failing grades in graduate courses. Failed courses must be repeated at the earliest opportunity, if they are required courses. An elective course in which a D or F is received must be repeated, unless the academic unit approves an additional course to be taken in its place. When P/F (Pass/Fail) grading is used, the total credit hours earned increases without having any effect on the GPA if a grade of P is earned, whereas no credit hours are earned and the GPA is adversely affected in the case of a grade of F, just as with any other F. P/F grading is used for certain courses and for master’s theses, design projects, doctoral dissertations and doctoral research projects. The program GPA is based on the student’s program plan and includes all courses shown on the program plan as applying toward the degree, both graduate numbered and undergraduate numbered.

In cases where the degree-related GPA referred to above does not include all graduate courses taken at Florida Tech, an overall GPA is also calculated and reported. Graduate courses used to compute the overall GPA, but not the program GPA, include courses taken as deficiencies, courses unrelated to the student’s degree program, courses taken before a change of major and courses taken in satisfaction of the requirements of a previously earned graduate degree. Courses related to the degree program that are taken in excess of degree requirements are normally included in the program plan. It is not possible to delete a course from the GPA once the course has been taken, although an exception is made if the statute of limitations is exceeded, at which time it is dropped from the program plan and from both the program and overall GPAs on written request. Courses are not otherwise dropped from the overall GPA except by special action of the Graduate Council following a change of major. If no degree was earned in the first major and the courses are clearly not applicable to the new major, the council can approve deletion from the overall GPA.

Grades of S and U are used as progress grades in thesis, dissertation, design project, research and internship, and as final grades in some zero-credit seminar courses. They are similar to grades of P and F except that they carry no credit, and S grades (when used as progress grades) may be replaced at any later time by credit-carrying grades of P. U grades remain on the transcript permanently, but like grades of S, they do not affect the GPA.

The basic requirement for receiving any master’s degree is a GPA of at least 3.0 on a 4.0 scale where A = 4, B = 3, C = 2, D = 1, F = 0. Both the overall GPA and the applicable program GPA must be 3.0 or greater for a master’s degree to be awarded.

For a doctoral student, a 3.2 program GPA represents minimal satisfactory academic performance and is required for admission to candidacy and for graduation. In addition, an overall GPA of at least 3.0 is required, based on all courses taken as a graduate student at Florida Tech.

Statute of Limitations

Master’s Degree

A seven-year statute of limitations is in effect on all work applied toward a master’s degree at Florida Tech. All coursework and thesis research, including thesis/design project acceptance or final program examination, must be completed within a total elapsed time span of not more than seven years. An academic unit head may approve a waiver of the statute of limitations for up to six semester credit hours of coursework taken either at Florida Tech or elsewhere, subject to the following conditions:

• Any course so approved must have been completed within the previous 10 years, and with a grade of at least B.
• Only those courses where course content has not changed significantly in the intervening years may be approved.
• The student must provide evidence of current mastery of the course content.

The academic unit head must notify the registrar in writing of the action.

In the case of a waiver request that does not conform to these requirements, or a request involving more than six semester credit hours, the academic unit head may either deny the request outright or submit it to the academic dean, accompanied by proof of current mastery based on a written examination endorsed by Florida Tech faculty, with a recommendation for a favorable decision. In no case will a waiver request be considered if the original course grade was less than a B.

A waiver is in effect for a period of seven years from the time it is approved. Courses over the time limit for which the limit has not been waived may be removed from GPA calculations upon written request.

Extended Studies Full Course Load and Time Limits

The normal course load for a part-time extended studies student is two courses per semester, each requiring one class attendance each week. This allows completion of a degree program in less than two years; less if transfer credits are accepted. Although a degree program may be extended beyond two years, the cumulative work including transfer credits may not span an elapsed time of more than seven years.

Doctor of Philosophy and Doctor of Business Administration (Ph.D./DBA) Degrees

The statute of limitations for students pursuing a Ph.D./DBA degree is five years from the end of the academic semester during which the comprehensive examination is successfully completed. If this period should expire before completion of the degree and if the student wishes to continue enrollment in the program, a new doctoral committee must be formed and the comprehensive examination must be readministered. This new examination should reflect developments of importance in the area of study occurring since the first examination, as well as areas of general importance.

Doctor of Psychology (Psy.D.) Degree

A student who has not completed the requirements for the degree within seven years of initial enrollment will no longer be considered a candidate for the degree. Appeals for reinstatement of candidacy status must be directed to the Graduate Council.

Probation and Dismissal

Master’s Students

Master’s students must continue to demonstrate academic proficiency in coursework and must show reasonable progress toward the 3.0 GPA required for graduation.

Master’s students whose cumulative GPA falls below 3.0 are no longer considered to be in academic good standing. Students are returned to good standing by earning a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0.

Students no longer in academic good standing who fail to meet the required minimum term GPA of 3.0 will have their academic standing progress sequentially through warning, probation, suspension and dismissal as outlined below. Students’ transcripts will be annotated at the end of each term. Students and their academic unit will be informed about the student’s academic standing in writing at the end of any term when the cumulative GPA is below 3.0.

Academic Warning: When the student began the term in academic good standing but did not maintain the minimum 3.0 cumulative GPA required.

Academic Probation: When the student began the term in academic warning but did not achieve the minimum 3.0 term GPA required.

Academic Suspension: When the student began the term on academic probation but did not achieve the minimum 3.0 term GPA required. Suspended students will not be permitted to attend earlier than one calendar year from the date of suspension. Any exceptions must be approved by the academic unit head, college dean and the director of graduate programs.

Academic Dismissal: When the student began the term on probation after having been suspended but did not achieve the minimum 3.0 term GPA required. Dismissal will also result any time a graduate student earns a term or cumulative GPA less than 2.0, or two or more grades of U in courses taken as a graduate student.

In addition, any of the following conditions will result in immediate academic dismissal:

• A term or overall GPA below 2.0 at any time.
• Two or more grades of U in any courses taken as a graduate student.
• Judgment by the Graduate Council that the student is not making satisfactory academic progress, or that the academic efforts of other students are hampered by his or her presence.

Appeals for Reinstatement

Academic dismissals may be appealed for educationally sound reasons in writing and as instructed in the dismissal letter. Appellants must present relevant information. The academic unit head writes a recommendation to reinstate or deny reinstatement and forwards the appeal and recommendation to the dean of the appellant’s college for a decision. Appellants will not be permitted to register for or attend classes until after a favorable decision about the appeal has been made.

Appeals from Reinstatement Denials

A denial of the request for reinstatement will usually be considered final. Students who have additional, different or new circumstances may contact their academic unit head. A re-appeal will only be considered on the basis of new information not previously submitted by the student. The student will not be permitted to register for or attend class until a final decision on any re-appeal has been reached.

Reinstatements

Reinstated students will be so notified in writing and will be placed on probation. Their transcripts will be so annotated. Failure to meet reinstatement conditions will result in another dismissal.

Appeals from Second and Subsequent Dismissals

Appeals for reinstatement from a second or subsequent dismissal may only be submitted on the approval of the student’s academic advisor and the academic unit head. If not approved, the student has the right to appeal after one calendar year from the end of the last full semester attended.

Doctoral Students

The basic standard for successful performance at the doctoral level is a minimum 3.2 program GPA and an overall minimum GPA of 3.0. The program GPA for a doctoral student includes all courses shown on the program of study as applying toward the doctoral degree, both graduate numbered and undergraduate numbered. The overall GPA is based on all coursework taken at Florida Tech while enrolled as a graduate student. A program GPA less than 3.2 after 15 or more credit hours will result in probation; if the program GPA of 3.2 is not attained after completing the probationary semester, the dean of the graduate school will consider dismissal of the student. An overall GPA below 3.0 or two failing grades (D, F or U) at any stage of the doctoral program will result in the student’s dismissal. If a student fails to maintain satisfactory progress in coursework and/or research, as determined by the graduate faculty of the student’s major academic unit, academic dismissal may be recommended regardless of the GPA. In such cases, concurrence of the appropriate college dean and dean of the graduate school are required. A dismissed student has the right to appeal the dismissal by submitting a written request for reinstatement as instructed in the dismissal letter, stating the basis for the appeal. A letter of appeal should be submitted to the director of graduate programs. Appellants will not be permitted to register for or attend classes until a favorable decision about the appeal has been made.

Dismissal for Misconduct

Student conduct that violates the legal or ethical standards of the university may result in mandatory withdrawal from all classes and denial of permission to register in future terms for either a definite or indefinite period of time. Examples of academic misconduct that could result in these actions include cheating, plagiarism, knowingly furnishing false information to the university, or forging, altering or misusing university documents or academic credentials. Examples of research misconduct include fabrication, falsification, plagiarism, misappropriation of ideas of others or failure to comply with legal requirements governing research. A dismissed student has the right to appeal the dismissal by submitting a written request for reinstatement as instructed in the dismissal letter.