Academic Standing
In accordance with the Federal Satisfactory Academic Progress Policy 34 CFR 668.34, all School of Public Health degree and graduate certificate candidates must maintain Good Standing during their studies. The academic status of every degree and graduate certificate student is reviewed at the end of each term. Failure to make satisfactory academic progress and remain in Good Standing can result in Academic Probation and Dismissal.
Please see the Student Financial Services office (OSFS) for the academic requirements to maintain financial aid.
Good Standing
Students maintain good academic standing when they achieve the following:
- Earn no deficient grades:
- Earn at least the minimum grade in courses with a minimum grade requirement (details below in Minimum Grade Requirements section).
- Earn no D or F grades.
- Meet completion standards:
- Successfully complete at least 66% of course units attempted each term.
- Part-time students must successfully complete at least 66% of course units attempted over the last two terms.
- Grades that are not considered a successful completion include: incomplete (I), missing grades (MG), withdrawals (W), and deficient grades (D, F, or below minimum).
- Make progress toward degree requirements as outlined in the Bulletin.
- Maintain a cumulative SPH GPA of at least 3.00.
Academic Warning
Students will be placed on Academic Warning if any of the following occur: (1) earn one deficient grade, (2) completion standards are not met, (3) SPH GPA is below 3.00 after 16 units attempted. Students will be notified in writing with a copy sent to the academic advisor.
Academic Probation
Students who are on Academic Warning will be placed on Academic Probation if any of the following occur in any subsequent terms: (1) deficient grades, (2) completion standards are not met, (3) failure to make upward progress toward a 3.00 GPA, (4) failure to resolve deficient grades. In addition, students will be placed on Academic Probation if any of the following occur: (1) they have earned two deficient grades at SPH*, (2) SPH GPA is below 3.00 after 32 units attempted.
If a student has a deficient grade in a required course and has not achieved the minimum grade by retaking the course, the deficient grade is considered unresolved. If a student on Academic Probation has any unresolved deficient grades, a reduced course load will be strongly recommended in the next term. Students on Academic Probation must meet with their academic advisor and devise an academic learning plan to achieve Good Standing and ultimately graduate. Students will be notified in writing with a copy sent to the academic advisor and the Student Financial Services office (OSFS). OSFS may determine that these students are no longer eligible for financial aid.
Academic Dismissal
Students who are on academic probation are subject to Academic Dismissal if any of the following occur in subsequent terms: (1) failure to make upward progress toward a 3.00 GPA, (2) failure to resolve deficient grades. In addition, students will be subject to academic dismissal if any of the following occur: (1) they have earned three deficient grades at SPH*, (2) it is not mathematically possible for them to achieve a 3.00 SPH GPA with 8 additional units (details below). A student who wishes to appeal their dismissal may do so by petitioning the Satisfactory Academic Progress Committee in writing. The written petition must be received by the SPH Registrar’s Office within 14 calendar days of the dismissal notice. The student should provide evidence of any extenuating circumstances. A final appeal can be made to the SPH Dean by sending a written petition to the Associate Dean for Education within seven calendar days of the committee’s decision notice. Dismissal results in permanent separation from the school.
*Zero-unit courses are not included in the deficient grade count for probation and dismissal.
Minimum Grade Requirements
Although the grade range for courses is A–F, students earn no academic units for “D” or “F” grades. Some SPH degree programs have specific courses with higher minimum grade requirements. If a student earns below the minimum grade, they will not earn degree units for the course. These courses are:
| Academic Program | Courses | Minimum Grade |
| Master of Public Health | PH 717, PH 718, PH 719, PH 720 | B– |
| Online Master of Public Health | All courses | B– |
| Master of Science | All courses | B– |
| Doctor of Philosophy | All courses | B |
| Doctor of Public Health | All courses | B |
| Graduate Certificate in Public Health | All courses | B– |
Retaking a Course
If a student earns below the minimum grade in a required course, they will not earn degree units for the course and they must retake the course or its curricular equivalent in the next term (fall/spring) the course is offered. Students retaking a course due to a deficient grade are eligible to be graded with the whole range of grades (A–F). No student will be permitted more than two course retakes to resolve deficient grades.
Grades for every course in which a student registers, including retaken courses, will appear on the student’s transcript. The units from courses in which a student earns a deficient grade are not counted toward the unit requirement for graduation; however, the grade is factored into the overall grade point average.
Students may not retake a course or its curricular equivalent if they have not earned a deficient grade in the course. Should a student retake the course or its curricular equivalent, the units and grade associated with the second registration will not count toward degree requirements or the GPA.
Below Minimum GPA at the End of the Degree Program
If a student does not attain a 3.00 GPA after they have met the unit requirements of their degree program, then the student is not eligible to graduate. In this case, the student may register for up to 8 additional graduate-level SPH units of coursework in order to raise their GPA to the minimum 3.00 standard. If it is not mathematically possible for a student to increase their GPA to 3.00 with the allotted additional units, the student will be dismissed from SPH without possibility of reinstatement.
Online MPH Students
Online MPH students will be placed on Academic Warning if their SPH GPA is below 3.00 after 16 units attempted. Students will be notified in writing with a copy sent to the academic advisor.
Online MPH students will be placed on Academic Probation if either of the following occurs:
- They have earned one deficient grade*.
- Their SPH GPA is below 3.00 after 32 units attempted.
Online MPH students will be subject to Academic Dismissal if either of the following occurs:
- They have earned two deficient grades*.
- It is not mathematically possible for them to achieve a 3.00 SPH GPA with the remaining units in the degree program.
In addition, online MPH students must make appropriate academic progress to remain in the program. Students admitted in a fall term must successfully complete SPH OM 701 by the end of the following fall term (students admitted in fall 2024 need to successfully complete SPH OM 701 by the end of fall 2025). Students admitted in a spring term must successfully complete SPH OM 701 by the end of the following spring term. Students who do not make appropriate academic progress are subject to removal from the program.
A student who wishes to appeal their dismissal may do so by petitioning the Satisfactory Academic Progress Committee in writing. The written petition must be received by the SPH Registrar’s office within 14 calendar days of the dismissal notice. The student should provide evidence of any extenuating circumstances. A final appeal can be made to the SPH Dean by sending a written petition to the Associate Dean for Education within seven calendar days of the committee’s decision notice. Dismissal results in permanent separation from the school.
* Zero-unit courses are not included in the deficient grade count for probation and dismissal.
