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.01 Nondegree Students

A nondegree student is one who takes regular university courses for academic credit (or audit) but has not formally been accepted into a degree program at American University. All nondegree registrations must be approved by an academic advisor. In addition, nondegree students studying at the graduate level must have the approval of the department, college, or school concerned for enrollment in 600‑ or 700‑level courses. Once enrolled, nondegree students are held to the same academic standards as degree students. Enrollment as a nondegree student does not guarantee acceptance into a degree program.

 

.02 Eligibility

Enrollment in nondegree status is open to persons:

A. Who have a high school diploma, or an equivalent diploma based on the results of the General Education Development (GED) tests;

B. Who, if currently enrolled in another collegiate institution, can provide a letter of good standing from their school;

C. Who are high school students with at least a B average and are recommended by a school counselor or principal;

D. Who meet the prerequisite of the course or courses and who are approved by an academic advisor; or

E. Who are international students or United States citizens whose previous educational attainments in foreign or U.S. schools are deemed to be of an acceptable level by American University. However, American University does not issue a “Certificate of Eligibility for Nonimmigrant (F-1) Student Status for Academic and Language Students” (Form I-20A-B) for nondegree study.

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.03 Nondegree Status (Undergraduate)

An undergraduate nondegree student is one who has not received a baccalaureate degree or its equivalent.

A. An undergraduate nondegree student who establishes eligibility for admission to undergraduate degree status may apply a limited amount of course work taken in nondegree status towards meeting the requirements of the degree. The course work must be appropriate to the degree program. Such a student must formally apply for admission to degree status. If application is approved by the Admissions Office, the following regulation is in effect:

Up to 30 credit hours earned in undergraduate nondegree status may be applied to the extent appropriate towards meeting major requirements, minor requirements, distributive or general education requirements, and electives, and will apply towards the university residency requirements.

Senate action and Provost approval, October 1987.

B. Upon enrollment, an undergraduate nondegree student is held to the same academic standards as a degree student. The dean’s office in which the student receives academic advising will monitor the student's academic progress following each term of the student's enrollment in nondegree status. The student is required to maintain at least a 2.0 (C) grade point average.

1. An undergraduate nondegree student who has failed to achieve and maintain a 2.0 (C) grade point average upon completion of 12 credit hours will be placed on academic probation by the dean.

2. An undergraduate nondegree student failing to maintain a cumulative grade point average of 2.0 (C) upon completion of twenty‑four (24) credit hours is subject to termination of enrollment as a nondegree student by the dean of the academic unit in which the student receives academic advising at the end of the current term.

3. Students evidencing a pattern of receiving failure (ZF) on the pass/fail method of grading and students evidencing a pattern of receiving incomplete (I) grades without showing progress towards completing the courses will be subject to termination of their enrollment as nondegree students, based on a lack of satisfactory academic achievement and in the best interests of the university and the student.

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.04 Nondegree Status (Graduate)

A graduate nondegree student is a student who has received a baccalaureate degree or the equivalent and enrolls in graduate‑level courses. A graduate nondegree student may be required to enroll in an undergraduate course or courses as a prerequisite to enrollment in graduate‑level courses.

A. Normally, not more than 12 credit hours of course work completed while in nondegree status may be applied towards meeting the requirements of a graduate degree (provided the courses taken in nondegree status were completed within seven years of the beginning of the semester in which the student is admitted to degree status; credit for courses completed prior to the seven‑year limitation must be approved by the dean of the major teaching unit in addition to the department chair).

Senate action and Provost approval, February 1989. Effective fall 1989.

B. Subject to the foregoing proviso, a maximum of 21 credit hours of nondegree course work may be applied to a graduate degree if the credit hours were earned as part of a completed graduate certificate program.

Senate action and Provost approval, November 1998. Effective fall 1998.

C. Those courses completed while in nondegree status that are not to be applied to the degree program must be designated in writing by the admitting department at the time of admission to graduate‑degree standing or by the end of the first semester of study in the degree program. Credit earned in graduate nondegree status that is applied to the degree program will apply towards the university residency requirement. (For calculation of graduate cumulative grade point average, see 55.00.02, Evaluation of Graduate Students: Grade Point Average)

Senate action and Provost approval, February 1989. Effective fall 1989.

D. The admission to graduate degree status of a nondegree student will ordinarily become effective at the beginning of the next academic session following the date on which the action is taken by the Admissions office. However, enrollment as a graduate nondegree student does not guarantee acceptance into a degree program.

E. International students and U.S. citizens whose native or first language is not English must show proof of proficiency either (1) on one of the accepted English-language proficiency tests mentioned in the Catalog sections and on the websites of the International Undergraduate Admissions Office and the graduate admissions offices of the individual schools and colleges, or (2) by alternative means as mentioned in the Catalog sections and on the websites of the International Undergraduate Admissions Office and the graduate admissions offices of the individual schools and colleges.

Senate action and Provost approval, March 1981. Effective March 1981.

F. A graduate nondegree student is held to the same academic standards as a graduate degree student. Prior to receiving permission to enroll in 600‑ or 700‑level courses, the student must receive the approval of the academic department.

G. The student is required to maintain at least a 3.0 (B) grade point average while enrolled in graduate nondegree status. Following each term for which the student is enrolled in nondegree status, the dean of the academic unit in which the student is advised will monitor the student's progress.

1. If at the end of 6 credit hours of graduate nondegree enrollment the student has failed to achieve and maintain a cumulative grade point average of 3.0 (B), the student will receive an academic warning.

2. A graduate nondegree student failing to maintain a cumulative grade point average of 3.0 (B) upon completion of 12 credit hours of graduate nondegree enrollment will be subject to termination as a nondegree student at the end of the current term.

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.05 Date of Termination

The monitoring of nondegree academic progress must necessarily take place during the term following the student's enrollment. In several cases, the student may be enrolled and participating in course work during the term the monitoring process is taking place. If it is necessary to terminate the student's enrollment, the student will be allowed to complete course work in progress. The termination will be effective at the end of the current term. The student's grades earned during the current term will not ordinarily be considered in the termination decision.

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.06 Re‑enrollment of Terminated Students

A. An undergraduate nondegree student failing to achieve a 2.0 (C) grade point average upon completion of 24 credit hours of academic credit and whose enrollment has been terminated may seek permission to re‑enroll in nondegree status after a waiting period equivalent to one full calendar year following the effective date of termination.

B. A graduate nondegree student failing to achieve a 3.0 (B) grade point average upon completion of 12 credit hours and whose enrollment has been terminated may seek permission to re‑enroll in nondegree status after a waiting period equivalent to one full calendar year following the effective date of termination.

C. The re‑enrolled nondegree student whose enrollment has previously been terminated must achieve the minimum grade point average for each subsequent course for which the student enrolls. In the case of the undergraduate nondegree student, the student must achieve a 2.0 (C) grade for each course. In the case of the graduate nondegree student, the student must achieve a 3.0 (B) for each course. Failure to achieve these grades will cause the student to be subject to immediate termination.

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.07 Degree to Nondegree Status

Students admitted to degree status ordinarily may not thereafter register as nondegree until they have successfully completed their degree requirements.

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