Transfer Credit. Up to eight (8) semester credit hours may be transferred from other institutions to satisfy the degree requirements in the Master's program. This is the equivalent of four courses in the MAHG program. Generally, transferred credit hours cannot replace required courses in the Master's program; transferred credit hours are treated as elective credit hours in the Master's program. To transfer credit hours, the following conditions must apply:

• Credit hours transferred cannot have been used for another degree.
   
• A student must have earned the credit hours no longer than six years prior to acceptance into the Master's program.
   
• A student must have earned the credit hours at an accredited institution.
   
• The credit hours must be graduate level credit hours from a course in which the student received at least a B.
   
• Typically, the student should have earned the credit hours in a History or Government or Political Science department. Exceptions are possible.
   
• Quarter hours transferred into the University will be converted into semester hours, and all conversions will be rounded down to the nearest semester hour.

The student's Academic Advisor approves credit transfers. Any exceptions to this policy, which are granted rarely, must be approved by the Master's Program Faculty Committee.

To transfer credit, a student should ask the registrar of the institution where the credit was earned to send an official (embossed) copy of his or her transcript to Ashland University. The transcript should make clear that the credit hours are graduate credits. Transcripts should be sent to:

Master of American History and Government
Ashland University
401 College Avenue
Ashland, Ohio 44805

For prior approval of credit hours to be transferred, the student must submit a letter to their Academic Advisor along with a copy of the other institution's syllabus for the course. No other guarantees exist that credit hours will be transferable. Prior assurances given verbally by faculty or staff at Ashland University must be regarded as estimates or opinions; they do not commit the University to a course of actions.

Quarter hours are transferred at the rate of 0.67 semester hours for each quarter hour. For example, a three quarter credit hour course would be the equivalent of two semester hours, and a five quarter hour course would be the equivalent of 3.33 semester hours.

Time Limits. Students must complete all requirements for the Master's Degree within ten (10) years. This period begins with the date of the earliest Master's course and ends with the last hours applied toward the degree. In extraordinary circumstances, a time extension may be granted through approval of the Program Director.

Enrollment in Two Master's Programs at AU. It is possible to pursue two master's degrees simultaneously at Ashland University. Graduate students must have an advisor in each graduate degree program and plan with them an integrated course of study that satisfies the requirements of both degree programs. A program plan for the dual degree programs must be completed and submitted to the Dean of the Graduate School within the first semester of enrollment at Ashland University. The student must qualify for admission to each program and the Program Directors for both programs must sign the program plan. No more than 12 semester hours may be counted in both degree programs and this must be specified in the proposal.

Students who have been admitted to graduate study at Ashland University may take courses in any graduate program provided that the prerequisites have been met and providing that they have approval of the instructor or program director.

Students applying for a dual master's degree or a second master's degree may have the second application fee waived.

Students may pursue a second master's degree following completion of a master's degree providing that they meet the requirements for admission to the second master's degree. No more than 12 semester hours from the first master's program may be counted in the second masters program. The student must have earned a B or better in the courses. The transfer of these hours must be approved by the advisor in the second program and recorded in the Registrar's Office.

Students changing from one master's degree program to another must record that change and notify both program directors. They must meet the entrance requirements for admission to the new graduate program. The acceptance of course work from the original masters program must be approved by the advisor in the new program.

Waivers of Degree Requirements. Waivers of degree requirements, which will be granted rarely, must be approved by the Master of American History and Government Faculty Committee and the Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences. Requests for waivers must be submitted in writing to the Program Director.

Auditing Courses. Persons who do not wish to receive college credit or who do not meet minimal admission requirements may register as auditors upon payment of the audit fee and completion of all requirements for non-degree seeking students. Official records and grades are not maintained for auditors and audit classes cannot later be changed to a credit standing. Students will receive a grade report reflecting audit status.

Grade Point System. The following system of grading and point values applies to all courses in the Master's program:

A	4.00 quality points
A-	3.67 quality points
B+	3.33 quality points
B	3.00 quality points
B-	2.67 quality points
C+	2.33 quality points
C	2.00 quality points
C-	1.67 quality points
F	0.00 quality points

Other grades are:

AU (Audit) No grade or credit assigned.

I (Incomplete) May be given when students are not able to complete the course work due to illness, accidents, or other emergencies. This grade applies to work of acceptable quality when the full amount is not completed. It is never applied to unsatisfactory work. The required work must be completed within three months of the completion of the course. The professor has the option of extending the time period for completing the required work an additional semester. The "I" grade becomes "F" if not removed by the date specified.

IP (In-Progress) Given for thesis, capstone project, or directed study courses that are in progress. There are no time limits for completing the requirements for such courses except those imposed in the program.

K (Transfer) Credit accepted in transfer. Courses are recorded on the student's permanent academic record but not included in the cumulative point hour ratio.

W (Withdrawn) Assigned for official withdrawals within 24 hours of the beginning of the course. Not used in grade point average computation.

Course Repeat Policy. Any student receiving a B- or lower grade in a course may choose to retake that course in an attempt to raise his grade-point average. Both grades appear on the student's transcript. However, upon written request of the student, only the second grade will be used in calculating the GPA.

Academic Probation. To remain in good standing, students must maintain a cumulative 3.0 grade point average in the Master's program. Any time a student's cumulative grade point average falls below 3.0, the student may be placed on academic probation and is subject to dismissal. Academic probation is recorded as a permanent entry on the student's official record. The student has four courses (8 hours) in which to raise the grade point average to at least 3.0. Failure to meet this requirement may result in academic dismissal. If probation occurs or continues during the last semester, the Master of American History and Government Faculty Committee will determine what additional work, if any, the student must accomplish to continue, graduate, or be involuntarily withdrawn. The College of Arts and Sciences and Ashland University reserve the right to dismiss any student at any time for good cause.

Student Appeal Process. Students who have complaints or questions about instructional faculty performance or conduct should follow the procedure listed below. Any appeals must be initiated no later than the end of the semester following that in which the issue arose:

1. The student should consult the faculty member in question; it is only after this approach has been attempted that further recourse is appropriate. No appeal will be heard until this initial step has been taken. However, if the complaint involves conduct which the student does not feel comfortable raising with the faculty member, the student may file the complaint in writing with the Director of the Master of American History and Government program. The written complaint must specify the details and circumstances which justify the complaint and the action or decision sought by the student.
2. If consultation with the faculty member in question and the Director of the Master of American History and Government program does not produce satisfactory results, the student should submit his or her appeal in writing to the Chair of the Department of History and Political Science specifying the details and circumstances which justify the appeal and the action or decision sought by the student.
3. If the Chair of the Department of History and Political Science, after having consulted with the individual who is the subject of the complaint, denies the student's appeal or complaint, the student may submit a copy of the appeal to the Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences.
4. The Dean will review the information presented, make such inquiries as necessary and render judgment. If the student is dissatisfied, the final appeal is to the Provost.
5. A Review Committee hearing will be scheduled by the Provost involving the student, the Director of the Master of American History and Government program, the Chair of the Department of History and Political Science, and the faculty member in question, and the Dean. The committee will issue a ruling that disposes of the question or complaint including what action, if any, is required by the student, faculty member, or University.

Academic Integrity Policy. The Ashland University community strives to model leadership which is based upon Judeo-Christian beliefs and virtues which will encourage, develop, and sustain men and women of character to serve their professions, their communities, and the world. As members of Ashland University, students hold themselves to the highest standards of academic, personal, and social integrity. In keeping with the Ashland University commitment to the highest standards of academic, personal, and social integrity, students are expected to abide by the academic integrity standards outlined in this policy. Click here for the full academic integrity policy.

Special Policy Notes for Courses Offered at Philadelphia.

• Courses offered by the Ashland MAHG program in Philadelphia are open only to degree-seeking or non-degree continuing education students who have been formally admitted to Ashland University prior to the start of the course. Students will be held to the same admissions standards as any other Ashland graduate student.
• Grades consistent with Ashland University's graduate grading scale and those of the MAHG program will be assigned to each student based on the standards published in each course's syllabus. This syllabus will be available to students prior to the start of each course.
• The academic requirements and learning expectations of each course offered at the Philadelphia program site will be consistent with the requirements and expectations of a similar course offered at the Ashland campus.
• Students enrolled in MAHG courses at Philadelphia will be governed by the same policies published in the Graduate Catalog as students enrolled at the Ashland campus. Further, students enrolled in MAHG courses at Philadelphia will have the same rights and privileges as students enrolled at the Ashland campus.
• In general, MAHG courses in Philadelphia will be governed by the same rules and regulations as courses offered at the Ashland campus as published in the Graduate Catalog.

Graduation. The University has three graduation dates: December, May and August, with two ceremonies, one in May and one in December. In order to have the degree status listed on a transcript, students must apply for graduation (December, May, or August) by the appropriate deadline. Graduation applications are available online at the AU Registrar's website. All applications are to be returned to the Registrar's Office, 206 Founders Hall.

• Commencement. In order to attend May or December commencement, students must complete the robe/hood section of the Graduation and Commencement Application and submit it, with fee, no later than February 1 (for May graduates) or September 1 for December graduates). Students must submit the robe/hood portion of the application form with fee by the deadline or they will not be permitted to participate in the commencement ceremony.

• Degree Application Deadlines.
  • December Graduates: September 1
    Graduation application fee is $100.
    This deadline allows for verification of degree requirements of December graduates by the Registrar. The list of December graduates is sent to the Academic Standards and Graduation Committee for approval by the end of September. Any application received after September 1 will be charged a $25 late fee.

  • May Graduates: February 1
    Graduation application fee is $100.
    This deadline allows for verification of degree requirements of May graduates by the Registrar. The list of May graduates is sent to the Academic Standards and Graduation Committee for approval by the end of March. Any application received after February 1 will be charged a $25 late fee.

  • August Graduates Attending Commencement: May 1
    Graduation application fee is $100.
    Students completing coursework during the summer will be graduated in August but will participate in the December commencement ceremony. Diplomas will not be available until December. Official transcripts, reflecting graduation, will be available once the degree is posted. The list of August graduates is sent to the Academic Standards and Graduation Committee for approval by the first of May. Any application received after May 1 will be charged a $25 late fee.

• Completion of Coursework.

  Students planning to complete coursework by the end of fall semester should apply for the December date. That deadline is September 1.

  Students planning to complete coursework by the end of spring semester should apply for the May date. That deadline is February 1.

  Students planning to complete their coursework by the end of the summer should apply for the August date. That deadline is May 1.

  In all cases, there are two commencement ceremonies for the academic year (fall through summer). Those dates are May and December. Students are required to complete all coursework before walking in either ceremony. The deadline for May commencement application is February 1 and the deadline for December commencement application is September 1. Questions about the graduation process should be directed to the Registrar's Office at 419-289-5029.