graduate school usa academic programs catalog

8/7/2019 Graduate School USA Academic Programs Catalog

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graduateschool.edu (888) 744-GRAD

AcademicPrograms

Catalog 2011-2012


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iAcademic Programs: 2011-2012 Ctlog

TABLE OF CONTENTS About the Catalog v

Catalog Changes v

Disability Support vi

Disability Services/Access or Students viEmployment Access viFacilities Access vi

Equal Access/Nondiscrimination vi

Afrmative Action/Equal Opportunity vi

Title IX vii

Crimes Prevention Act vii

National/State Sex Ofender Registry vii

Ofcial Communication to Students vii

Accreditation viiChanges in Student Data vii

Graduate School USA Board o Trustees viii

Graduate School USA History 1

Te Beginning 1Te Evolution 1Te Future 2

Graduate School USA Mission 2

Graduate School USA Vision 2

Graduate School USA Organizational Values 3Graduate School USA Goals 3

Graduate School USA Degree Program Location 3

Academic Calendar 4

ADMISSION AND REGISTRATION 6

Admission 6

Home-Schooled Students 6Probationary Admission 6Selective Admission Programs 6

International Students 6Readmitted Students 6

Disability Services 7

Admission and Registration Steps 7

Application or Admission 7

Skills Assessment 8

Placement into College-Level English, Math, Science Courses 8


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Courses, Skill-Building Writing and Mathematics 8Academic Skills Assessment Retesting Criteria 9 Academic Skills Assessment Waiver 9

Academic Advising 10

Class Schedule 10

Registration and Schedule Adjustment 10Early Registration Period 10Registration Period 10Late Registration Period and Schedule Adjustment Period 10

Course Withdrawal 11

Change o Duty Assignment Withdrawal or Change o Work Schedule Withdrawal 11Medical Withdrawal 11Military Service Withdrawal 11

Schedule Changes 12

Canceled Courses 12

Standby List 12

Course Audit 12

Course Load 12

Limited Enrollment Programs 12

Students with Disabilities 13

International Students 13

Transer o Credit 14

Determination o Comparability o Course Work 15Determination o Successul Completion o Each Course 15Required Documentation or ranser Credit Considerations 15

Credit Conversion to Semester Hours 15Examination Credit 15Non-Standard Postsecondary School Education (Non-Credit Courses) 16 Appeal o Credit ranser Decisions 16

Residency Requirement 17

English or Speakers o Other Languages (ESOL) 17

ESOL Courses 17ESOL Retesting Criteria 17ESOL Assessment est Waiver 17

Challenge Examinations 18

Textbooks 18

CLASS TUITION AND FEES 19

Tuition Rate 19

Fees 19

Audited Classes 19


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Returned Checks/Unpaid Accounts 19

Student Billing, Payment, and Reunds 19

Payment in Full 19Payment by Tird-Party Sponsors 20Outstanding Balances 20Reunds 20

Death o a Student 21

STUDENT PERSISTENCE AND COMPLETION INFORMATION

(STUDENT RIGHT TO KNOW) 22

WE ARE HERE TO HELP! 23

Admissions 23

Records 23

Advising 23

ACADEMIC POLICIES 24Policy Changes 24

Academic Freedom 24

Classifcation o Students 24

Declaring an Academic Program o Study 24

Changing a Program o Study 25

Skill Building/Academic Skills Program 25

Prerequisites and Corequisites 26

Standards o Satisactory Academic Standing 26

Academic Evaluation and Grades 26Grade Point Average Calculation 26

Grade Changes and Grade Disputes 27

Unsatisactory Academic Standing 27

Academic Monitoring 27Midterm Deciencies 27Academic Warning 27 Academic Probation 28 Academic Dismissal 28Reinstatement Following Academic Dismissal 28

Grades o Incomplete 28Repeating Courses 28

Course Substitutions and Course Waivers 29

Attendance 29

Graduation Requirements and Commencement 30

Participation in the Commencement (Graduation) Ceremony 30Diploma Release 30Honors 30


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NOTICE TO STUDENTS OF THEIR RIGHTS UNDER

THE FAMILY EDUCATIONAL RIGHTS AND PRIVACY ACT 31

Student Records 31

Right to Reuse Access 32Reusal to Provide Copies 32Amendment o Education Records 32

Destruction o Education Records 32Disclosure o Education Records 32Record o Disclosures 33Directory Inormation 34

Transcript Requests 34

Ownership o Documents 34

Verifcation o Enrollment 35

STUDENT SUPPORT SERVICES 36

Academic Advising 36

Career Services 36

Scholarships 36

New Student Orientation 36

Online Library 36

Online Learning 37

Computer Access 37

Career Success Strategies 37

Veteran Services and Military Services 37

Student Handbook 38

Student Grievances 38

FACILITIES 39

GENERAL EDUCATION CORE 40

Principles o the General Education Core Curriculum 40

General Education Learning Outcomes 40

Critical Tinking 40Inormation Literacy 40

Communication 41echnological and Scientic Efectiveness 41Civic, Personal, and Community Responsibility 41Quantitative Literacy 41 Arts Appreciation 41

Required Courses 42


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PROGRAMS OF STUDY 43

Accounting

Associate o Applied Science Degree Program 43

Accounting Federal Option


Federal Accounting/Auditing Certifcate 45Internal Revenue Agent Certifcate 46

Contracting Certifcate Program 47

Medical Laboratory Technician


Phlebotomy Technician Certifcate Program 48

Medical Laboratory echnician and PhlebotomyNational and/or State Legal Requirements or Eligibility or Licensure 49

Medical Assistant


Medical Ofce Administrative Assistant Certifcate Program 51

Electrocardiographic (ECG) Technician Certifcate Program 52

Medical Assistant, Medical Oce Administrative Assistant, and ECG echnicianNational and/or State Legal Requirements or Eligibility or Licensure 53

COURSE DESCRIPTIONS 54

ACADEMIC PROGRAMS ADMINISTRATION, FACULTY, AND STAFF 65

ABOUT THE CATALOGTis catalog is the ocial announcement o the academic programs, requirements, and regulations o GraduateSchool USA, and students enrolling in the School are subject to the provisions as stated or as modied by ocialinstitutional action Te School reserves the right to cancel any class or section or insucient enrollment orother good reason Although the School has made every reasonable efort to attain actual accuracy herein,no responsibility is assumed or editorial, clerical, or printing errors, or errors occasioned by honest mistakeAll inormation contained in this catalog is subject to change by appropriate ocials o Graduate School USAwithout prior notice

Te statements in the catalog are or inormational purposes only and should not be considered the basis o acontract between the institution and the student Tough the School catalog is produced as a reerence guide,each student is responsible or keeping apprised o current requirements or graduation or a particular degreeprogram Graduate School USA does not guarantee that courses will transer to other institutions or that studentswill gain employment upon completion o their programs o study

CATALOG CHANGESTe Board o rustees and/or administration o Graduate School USA reserve the right to change at any time,without notice, graduation requirements; ees and other charges; curriculum, course structure, and content; andother such matters as may be within its control, notwithstanding any inormation set orth in this catalog


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A Catalog Addendum may be published onlineby July 1 o each year, depending on the numbero changes incurred since the online Catalog waspublished Availability o a Catalog Addendum (ipublished) would be on the Schools website only

DISABILITY SUPPORTGraduate School USA does not discriminate on thebasis o disability in the admissions or employmentprocesses or in access to programs, acilities, oractivities Te ollowing persons, whose oces areat the 600 Maryland Avenue location, have beendesignated to coordinate compliance with thenondiscrimination requirements o the Americanswith Disabilities Act and Section 504 o theRehabilitation Act o 1973, as amended:

Disability Services/Access for StudentsCarolyn Nelson600 Maryland Avenue SW, Suite 330,Washington, DC 20024(202) [email protected]

Employment Access

Susan Seling600 Maryland Avenue SW, Suite 180,Washington, DC 20024

(202) [email protected]

Facilities Access Orlando Davis600 Maryland Avenue SW, Suite 180,Washington, DC 20024(202) [email protected]

I an alternate ormat o this catalog (such as a CD)is needed, please contact:

Carolyn Nelson

600 Maryland Avenue SW, Suite 330,Washington, DC 20024(202) [email protected]

EQUAL ACCESS/

NONDISCRIMINATIONGraduate School USA prohibits discrimination inall its programs and activities on the basis o race,color, national origin, age, disability, and, whereapplicable, on the basis o sex or gender, marital

status, amilial status, parental status, religion,creed, sexual orientation, genetic inormation,political belies, veterans status, or on the basis thatall or part o an individuals income is derived romany public assistance program or in reprisal orpursuing rights under any o the above

Persons with disabilities who require alternativemeans or communication o program inormation(interpreters, Braille, large print, audiotape, etc) shouldcontact Carolyn Nelson, special accommodationscoordinator, at (202) 314-3349

Graduate School USA is an equal opportunityprovider and employer

Questions regarding this policy or complaints odiscrimination should be addressed to:

Susan Seling600 Maryland Avenue SW, Suite 180,Washington, DC 20024(202) [email protected]

AFFIRMATIVE ACTION/EQUAL OPPORTUNITYGraduate School USA ofers equal employment andeducational opportunities to all employees, students,prospective employees, and prospective studentsArmative action, equal educational opportunities,and compliance with the Americans withDisabilities Act are viewed by the Board o rusteesas an integral part o the mission and purpose oGraduate School USA

Questions concerning this policy should be

addressed to:Susan SelingDirector o Human Capital Management,EEO Ocer(202) 314-3693


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TITLE IXEach college or university receiving ederalnancial assistance must designate at least oneproessional employee as the itle IX Coordinatorto oversee compliance eforts and investigate anycomplaint o sex discrimination Te itle IX

Coordinator is responsible or monitoring the overallimplementation o itle IX or the School Majorduties include, but are not limited to, monitoringthe ollowing areas:

Admissions and Recruitment

Educational Programs and Activities

Comparable acilities

n Participation in extracurricular activities

n Financial assistance

n

Student employment assistanceAdoption o procedures to provide prompt andequitable resolution o complaints is a criticalunction o the itle IX Coordinator TeCoordinator can assist persons alleging sexualharassment or discrimination in ling theirgrievance(s) In carrying out this responsibility,the Coordinator may work in concert with otherSchool ocials

Te itle IX Coordinator at Graduate SchoolUSA is Susan Seling, who also serves as director o

human capital management She can be reached inperson at: 600 Maryland Avenue SW, Suite 180,Washington, DC 20024

Tp: (202) 314-3693

mai:[email protected]

CRIMES PREVENTION ACTTe Federal Campus Sex Crimes PreventionAct requires registered sex ofenders/predators toprovide to the District o Columbia Metropolitan

Police Department notice o each institution ohigher education in the state at which the ofender/predator is employed, carries on a vocation, or isa student Any member o the Graduate SchoolUSA community who wishes to obtain urtherinormation regarding sex ofenders/predators in hisor her area may reer to the ollowing website:

National/State Sex Offender Registry

http://www.fbi.gov/hq/cid/cac/registry.htm

OFFICIAL COMMUNICATION

TO STUDENTSNew policies and policy changes will be

communicated to students on the ocial UpdatesWeb page o Academic Programs located atgraduateschool.edu/sub/AcademicProgram.php

Every admitted student is provided with an ocialGraduate School USA email account Students willbe able to log into their student email accountsapproximately 24 hours ater notication is receivedrom the School

Tis Graduate School USAissued email accountis to be used or all email correspondence withinstructors and other School ocials Ocial

correspondence rom the School (communicationsrom instructors, inormation about registration ornancial aid, etc) will be sent to students GraduateSchool USA email address ONLY Instructors andcollege ocials may reuse to accept emails sent bystudents using other email addresses

ACCREDITATIONGraduate School USA is accredited by theCommission o the Council on OccupationalEducation Complaints should be addressed to the

Council on Occupational Education, 7840 RoswellRoad, Building 300, Suite 325, Atlanta, GA 30350

CHANGES IN STUDENT DATAChanges o name, address, telephone numbers,or email address must be reported, in writing,to Carolyn Nelson, Registrar, 600 MarylandAvenue SW, Suite 330, Washington, DC 20024([email protected]),immediately upon change


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GRADUATE SCHOOL USA BOARD

OF TRUSTEES

Merle D Pierson, PhDChair, Board of Trustees

Michael Lambert

Vice Chair, Board of TrusteesJerry Ice, EdDPresident and CEO

John R BlockMember, Board of Trustees

Linda M Eagleeather, PhDMember, Board of Trustees

Warren MasterMember, Board of Trustees

Connie NewmanMember, Board of Trustees

Roger JR ClarkMember, Board of Trustees


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GRADUATE SCHOOL USA HISTORY

The Beginning

Graduate School USA was ounded in 1921 by

the secretary o agriculture to provide continuingeducation to the employees o the Department oAgriculture When the rst classes were ofered,176 students gathered ater work in the AgricultureBuilding on the Mall in Washington, DC Tesestudents could choose rom six science courses, aneconomics course, and a statistics course Classesmet two evenings a week, and the cost or a courseper semester was $15 Te primary purpose was toofer graduate-level and post-graduation trainingFrom the beginning, the Schools ocus was ondeveloping individuals and making governmentmore ecient and efective

The Evolution

Almost 90 years later, Graduate School USA is avibrant learning community or adult continuingeducation and proessional development, providingservices to government, the private sector, andindividuals Te School ofers a variety o trainingsolutions, including a diverse curriculum thatnow includes selected degree and credit certicateprograms A number o signicant changes haveoccurred through the years:

During World War II years, with the vastinux o new government employees, GraduateSchool USA expanded its daytime educationoferings to meet the continuing educationdemands o the growing workorce in DC, inboth the Department o Agriculture and othergovernment agencies

Graduate School USA rst ofered study bycorrespondence late in 1939, with a single

course in biological statistics A small programo courses was inaugurated in 1943 TeIndependent Study Program allowed students tostudy at their own rate, at the time and place otheir choice In 1976, more than 1,200 studentswere enrolled annually in the Independent StudyProgram From these beginnings evolved ourcurrent sel-paced distance education program

In 1961, the global arm o Graduate SchoolUSA was ormalized with the creation oour International Institute at the behest oRobert Kennedy Te International Instituteprovides tailored programs in the area ocapacity building, proessional and educationalexchanges, and governance to meet the needs ogovernmental institutions worldwide

In 1971, Graduate School USA recognizedthe value added o having courses evaluatedor transer credit and submitted 29 coursesin accounting, government, mathematics,management, personnel, and statistics orapproval by the American Council on Education

In 1979, the Government Audit raining Institutejoined Graduate School USA, further enhancingthe curriculum and meeting the professionaleducation requirements of the diverse auditcommunity through all levels of government

In 1995, Graduate School USA became anationwide training and education deliverysystem, with regional oces added in Atlanta,Chicago, Dallas, Philadelphia, and SanFrancisco, to manage a greatly expanded

daytime curriculum With a new ocuson developing leaders through long-termdevelopment programs, the School establishedthe Center or Leadership Development

In 2003, Graduate School USA merged theNational Independent Study Center withthe correspondence study program to orma nationwide delivery system o sel-pacededucation Beyond traditional instructor-ledclassroom and correspondence programs, weprovide condensed seminars; on-site workshops;

distance learning; online training; and satellite,video, and computer-enhanced learning usingthe Blackboard platorm Our use o AdobeConnect creates a simulated virtual classroomand enables Graduate School USA to createsynchronous, asynchronous, or blendedlearning solutions


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In 2007, the School was accredited by theCommission o the Council on OccupationalEducation Tis recognition allowed us tomove rom our parent US Departmento Agriculture to become an independenteducational institution

In 2009, Graduate School USA acquired most ofthe assets and liabilities of Southeastern University,a longstanding Washington, DC, educationalinstitution Te School has also enhanced itsportfolio through the creation of academicprograms leading to degrees and certicates

Since 1921, Graduate School USA has helpedmore than two million students create their ownsuccess stories

The Future

Our priorities remain the same occupationalsuccess and personal growth whether werehelping government workers to do their jobs moreefectively or helping members o the communitybetter position themselves to enter the workorce ormove ahead in their careers

While Graduate School USA has been best knownas the leading authority on government trainingand workorce development, were expanding ourenterprise to include academic program oferingsTese new programs are designed to help workingadults develop essential competencies or careersin government, as well as in private business andnot-or-prot organizations

GRADUATE SCHOOL USA MISSIONGraduate School USA is an independent,educational, not-or-prot institution headquarteredin the nations capital with additional sitesstrategically located throughout the US Te Schoolengages a diverse student population throughinnovative, as well as proven, approaches to teachingand learning that take advantage o its locations,its network o public and corporate leaders andpractitioners, state-o-the-art technologies, andits connections with major employers Te Schoolprovides a broad array o learning opportunitiesin ormats accessible to adult learners everywherethrough afordable training programs, continuing

education courses, executive and leadershipdevelopment programs, and credit oferings at thecerticate and associate degree levels

By providing challenging education and trainingopportunities to aspiring and seasoned proessionals,Graduate School USA prepares individuals to enter

and advance in careers in government, as well asrelated pursuits with private and not-or-protorganizations Working adults enhance careerskills and abilities, develop new competencies andqualications, and expand their understanding o theideals o a democratic society Education, training,and consulting services position governmentsand organizations to operate more efectively andeciently in reaching mission-critical goals

Te School osters individual and organizationalsuccess through a supportive, practitioner-centered

environment where public service is revered andlearners become leaders With unparalleled accessto developments in the workplace, Graduate SchoolUSA maintains up-to-date curricula, allowinglearners to remain current at every stage o theircareer and personal development, be successul inmeeting employment requirements, and contributeto organizational efectiveness

GRADUATE SCHOOL USA VISIONGraduate School USA is a worldwide leader in

afordable public sector education, training, andpersonal development Our comprehensive programsare recognized by the educational communityas well as our customers or high standards andmaking a diference in learners success Our utureembraces the delivery o education and trainingthrough the expanded use o technology to reachour students anytime, anywhere


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Ensure that programs and services remainrelevant to the communities, organizations, andmarkets we serve

Continually and consistently assess andimprove programs and services to ensuredesired learning outcomes

Provide and sustain a culture o exceptionalcustomer service and responsiveness thatmeets the educational and business needs othose we serve

Ensure a sound scal environment and makestrategic investments or a strong uture

Attract, develop, and retain highly qualied,diverse aculty and staf committed to ourmission and who create a learning environmentwhich is supportive, challenging, and rigorous

and who value service to others

GRADUATE SCHOOL USA

DEGREE PROGRAM LOCATION600 Maryland Avenue SWWashington, DC 20024-2520

GRADUATE SCHOOL USA

ORGANIzATIONAL VALUESLearning: We are committed to providing relevantand challenging learning opportunities or ourstudents, aculty, and staf, with an emphasis onlearning outcomes and the application o knowledge

to meet employers and learners needsPublic Service: We revere public service, andsupport all who strive to make a positive diferencein the lives o people, communities, and the nation

Excellence: We are ocused on academic excellence,and continually assess and improve all programs, aswell as instruction and customer support services

Diversity: We are committed to achieving andsustaining an inclusive community where ourstudents, aculty, and staf are enriched through an

open exchange o diverse ideas and learning rommultiple perspectives

Ethics: We practice openness, ethical behavior, andadherence to the highest proessional standards

GRADUATE SCHOOL USA GOALS Develop and deliver high-quality curricula,

programs, and support services that preparelearners or lielong proessional and personalsuccess, particularly in government careers

Provide broad and varied learning experiences

that develop career leadership potential ingovernment organizations and other relatedentities that serve Washington, DC, the nation,and the world

Deliver to organizations training, education, andconsulting services which build a knowledgeable,skilled workorce to more efectively andeciently meet mission-critical goals

each public servants and other public-sector-related proessionals the ethics and values

appropriate to responsible governments servingthe public good

Continually innovate to enhance the qualityo the learning environment and the diversityo learning approaches to meet the needs oadult learners


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ACADEMIC CALENDARFALL 2011 SUMMER 2012

Fall 2011 SemeSter (15 WeekS)

Published Schedule o Classes Available June 6, 2011

Last Day to Request a Course Substitution or Waiver August 12, 2011

Registration August 15-26, 2011

New Student Orientation August 27, 2011

Fall Semester Classes Begin August 29, 2011

Late Registration with Fee/Schedule Adjustment August 29 September 2, 2011

Last Day to Withdraw with a Reund One workday BEFORE the third class meeting

School Closed Labor Day Holiday September 5, 2011

No Classes September 6, 2011

Last Day to Apply or Fall Graduation* October 3, 2011

School Closed Columbus Day Holiday October 8-10, 2011

Last Day to Change Grades o Incomplete or Summer 2011 October 21, 2011

Last Day to Change rom Credit to Audit October 28, 2011

Last Day to Ocially Withdraw October 28, 2011

School Closed Veterans Day Holiday November 11, 2011

No Classes November 23, 2011

School Closed Tanksgiving Holiday November 24-26, 2011

Final Week December 12-15, 2011

Classes End December 15, 2011

Final Grades Due to Registrar December 20, 2011School Closed Christmas Day Holiday December 26, 2011

Spring 2012 SemeSter (15 WeekS)

Published Schedule o Classes Available November 7, 2011

School Closed New Years Day January 2, 2012

Last Day to Request a Course Substitution or Waiver January 6, 2012

Registration January 9-20, 2012

School Closed Martin Luther Kings Birthday Holiday January 16, 2012

New Student Orientation January 21, 2012Spring Semester Classes Begin January 23, 2012

Late Registration with Fee/Schedule Adjustment January 23-27, 2012



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Spring 2012 SemeSter (15 WeekS) continued

Last Day to Apply or Spring Graduation* March 1, 2012

Midterm Week March 13-19, 2012

Last Day to Change Grades o Incomplete or Fall 2011 March 19, 2012

Last Day to Change rom Credit to Audit March 26, 2012

Last Day to Ocially Withdraw March 26, 2012Final Week May 1-7, 2012

Classes End May 7, 2012

Final Grades Due to Registrar May 10, 2012

Last Day to Apply to Participate in Commencement May 21, 2012

Commencement June 2, 2012

Summer 2012 term (10 WeekS)

Published Schedule o Classes Available March 12, 2012

Last Day to Request a Course Substitution or Waiver May 18, 2012Registration May 21 June 1, 2012

School Closed Memorial Day Holiday May 28, 2012

Last Day to Apply or Summer Graduation* June 1, 2012

New Student Orientation June 2, 2012

Summer erm Classes Begin June 4, 2012

Late Registration with Fee/Schedule Adjustment June 4-8, 2012


School Closed Independence Day Holiday July 4, 2012

Midterm Week July 9-12, 2012Last Day to Change Grades o Incomplete or Spring 2012 July 12, 2012

Last Day to Change rom Credit to Audit July 19, 2012

Last Day to Ocially Withdraw July 19, 2012

Final Week August 6-9, 2012

Classes End August 9, 2012

Final Grades Due to Registrar August 14, 2012

* Graduate School USA has one commencement ceremony each year in June Students within six credits of programcompletion and eligible to graduate are encouraged to participate Contact the Registrar for further details


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ADMISSIONTe ollowing admission requirements apply to

the admission o students who intend to enroll incourses or academic credit:

Undergraduate students are required to be twenty-one (21) years o age or older and meet at least oneo the ollowing admission standards:

Earned a high school diploma with a gradepoint average (GPA) o 20 or above on a40 scale

Possess a General Equivalency Diploma (GED)

All applicants must submit an admission application

with the required non-reundable application ee

Home-Schooled Students

Graduate School USA welcomes home-schooledstudents to apply or undergraduate admissionHome-schooled applicants with an ocial GEDmust submit the ollowing:

1 Undergraduate application with required non-reundable application ee;

2 Ocial GED scores; and

3 Ocial transcripts i the applicant has takencourses through a secondary or postsecondaryinstitution

I a home-schooled student does not have an ocialGED score, then (under the student eligibilityprovisions o the Higher Education OpportunityAct) the applicant must provide verication ocompletion o high school, and may do so through:

1Home-school transcripts with letter ocompletion;

2 ranscripts rom a regionally accreditedhome-school program with certication ocompletion and proo that the home-schoolprogram is registered or recognized by its ownstate department o education; or

3 Written verication rom appropriate schooldistrict that the student has met requirements

or a high school diploma in his or her homestate

Home-schooled students who earn diplomasthrough regionally accredited schools are consideredor admission under the Schools standardadmissions policies based on grade point average

Probationary Admission

At the discretion o the Provost or his or herdesignee, students who do not meet the admissionsrequirements or minimum age or grade point

average may be admitted on a probationary basisand must meet the conditions placed on theiradmission within the established time rame orelse be administratively withdrawn rom GraduateSchool USA

Selective Admission Programs

Te Provost may, or sound academic reasons,impose additional restrictions on admissions tospecic academic programs, or may cap enrollmentto any program i the number o applicants exceeds

the number that can reasonably be accommodatedby the program at any specic time

International Students

International students are required to demonstrateprociency in English and must meet all GraduateSchool USA regulations and the US Departmento Homeland Security/US Citizenship andImmigration Services requirements regarding theirimmigration status Students should contact theAdmissions Oce or urther inormation

Readmitted Students

Any student who voluntarily withdraws romthe School can be considered or readmission inany subsequent semester Students who have notattended or one year or more must submit a new

ADMISSION AND REGISTRATION


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application and pay a non-reundableapplication ee

Students whose requests or withdrawal or militaryservice or withdrawal or medical reasons areapproved by Graduate School USA will not need tocomplete an application or readmission, nor pay an

application ee, provided their cumulative approvedabsence does not exceed ve years

Students who are administratively withdrawnor who are dismissed or insucient academicperormance or conduct violations must complywith the conditions established or their particularcase once any appeal rights have been exhaustedRequests or re-enrollment must be in writing andaddressed to the Admissions Oce Te decisionas to whether a ormer student will be allowedreadmission to the School and any conditions

or restrictions attached to such readmission arediscretionary on the part o the School

Allied health curricula may have readmissionpolicies that are diferent rom the general policieso the School Tese policies will be given to eachstudent enrolled in allied health curricula in theStudent Policy Handbook or each program

DISABILITY SERVICESTe School will not impose or apply admission oreligibility criteria that screen out or tend to screenout individuals on the basis o their disability, unlesssuch criteria are necessary or the provision o theprogram, service, or activity being ofered Studentswith disabilities must be able to meet the minimumstandards o the particular program, service, oractivity to which admission is sought

In order to receive services, students must beadmitted to and/or enrolled in Graduate SchoolUSA Auxiliary aids, academic adjustments, orother special services determined to be necessaryare provided at no cost to the student Servicesdeemed appropriate in order to provide programaccess to disabled students are provided at no costto the student Te School requires a minimum othirty (30) days and a maximum o ninety (90)days or review and provision o services requiringspecial unding

Documentation regarding a disability is keptcondential, and only inormation necessary or theprovision o appropriate support services is released

Students or applicants who believe they haveexperienced discrimination on the basis o adisability may seek resolution through the Schools

grievance procedures

ADMISSION AND

REGISTRATION STEPS Submit application, copy o government-issued

photo identication, and application ee

Submit all ocial high school andcollege transcripts

Once an acceptance letter is received,contact the Admissions Oce to schedule an

appointment or skills assessment testing(unless waived)

ake skills assessment test(s)

Contact assigned academic advisor orcourse selections

Register on assigned date

Pay bill

Attend New Student Orientation

Attend class(es)

APPLICATION FOR ADMISSIONIndividuals wishing to apply to Graduate SchoolUSA must complete an application orm, availablerom the Admissions Oce or via the Schoolwebsite Applications, along with the applicationee, may be mailed to Graduate School USA,Admissions Oce, 600 Maryland Avenue SW,Suite 330, Washington, DC 20024, or axed to(202) 479-2501

Required Transcripts

Each applicant must have ocial copies otranscripts o all previous high school and college(i any) work submitted directly to GraduateSchool USA ranscripts become the property othe School upon receipt and may not be copied orstudent use Opened transcripts and axed copies


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are NO considered ocial transcripts Acceptanceby Graduate School USA is conditional based uponreceipt o nal ocial transcripts

GED Recipients

Applicants who have a high school equivalency

certicate should request that an ocial copy besent directly to Graduate School USA, AdmissionsOce

SKILLS ASSESSMENTAll Graduate School USA courses have theprerequisite that students place at least at the pre-college English and mathematics level and that theirreading skills allow them to be successul; manycourses have higher-level prerequisites Placementinto these courses is determined by perormance

on the assessment tests Students who are identiedas possessing skills below college level in reading,writing, and/or mathematics will be required tosuccessully complete skill-building courses in thesubject area(s) prior to enrolling in college-levelcourses at Graduate School USA Students whoneed to complete skill-building course work maybe reerred to one o the Schools partnering adulteducation programs Skill-building courses are non-transerable and do not count toward college creditsrequired or graduation

Students whose native language is not Englishand who did not attend an institution whereinstruction is conducted in English must take theest o English as a Foreign Language (OEFL)or International English Language esting System(IELS) exam to demonstrate English prociency

Students pursuing a degree or certicate in theallied health program will also need to demonstrateprociency in science and may be required to take aspecialized assessment test in this area

Academic advisors work closely with students todevelop plans or completing the required skill-building courses to meet college-readiness standardsFor urther inormation, contact the Oce oAcademic Advising at (202) 314-3651

Students must have applied for admission toGraduate School USA prior to taking assessmenttests. Results o the assessment tests will be utilized

by academic advisors to determine where the studentwill begin course work and in what courses thestudent may enroll Students who are not preparedat the pre-college level (as determined by the School)may be prohibited rom taking any courses atGraduate School USA until their skills meet the

established test score benchmark(s)Assessment test scores are valid or a period oone (1) year

Students with properly documented disabilities mayreceive appropriate testing accommodations

Placement into College-Level English,

Math, Science Courses

Department chairs and the Oce o AcademicAdvising are responsible or establishing benchmarkscores by which students shall be placed inskill-building and college-level English and/ormath courses Students who do not demonstrateprociency in science may be required to enroll in ageneral science course prior to enrolling in biologyor chemistry

Courses, Skill-Building Writing

and Mathematics

Graduate School USA ofers skill-building coursesat the pre-college level in writing and mathematics

Students whose assessment test results indicatea need or pre-college development in writing ormathematics must enroll in the skill-buildingcourse(s) and pass with a grade o P (Pass)Academic advisors assist students in registering orthe appropriate level o classes and may limit thecourses, as well as the number o credits, in whichthese students may enroll

Students whose skills are below the pre-college levelor who, ater two attempts, do not successullycomplete a skill-building course(s) will be reerred

to an outside education partner or skill-buildinginstruction Ater successul completion o theoutside education program, the student must also


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Important:

When requesting a waiver rom any portiono the assessment test, students are required tosubmit all documentation with the Assessmentest Waiver Request orm to the AdmissionsOce

Students submitting ocial college transcriptsto the Admissions Oce or evaluation duringthe admission process are not required to submitan Assessment est Waiver Request orm

Students who change their academic programwill be reevaluated or assessment testingrequirements

ACADEMIC ADVISINGCurrently enrolled students are notied oupcoming registration periods through the academiccalendar and the schedule o classes Te student isresponsible or scheduling an appointment with anacademic advisor prior to registration Meeting withan academic advisor is required or registration

CLASS SCHEDULETe published class schedule or any given termwill be available at least two weeks beoreregistration or that term begins Changes to theschedule ater publication are kept to a minimum toprovide certainty to students Normally, changes to

the days and/or times when a course is ofered willnot be permitted

REGISTRATION AND

SCHEDULE ADJUSTMENTAdmitted students will receive course planningand registration inormation rom an admissionsadvisor Based on the students program o study,course planning and registration inormation aterthe initial enrollment is obtained rom either anacademic advisor or a aculty advisor

Early Registration Period

Students who are within 15 credits o graduationmay register during the early registration period Tedates or the early registration period are publishedin the academic calendar o each terms CourseSchedule Students may register during the early

registration period only i they have met all nancialobligations to the School

Students with disabilities who are receiving servicesrom the special accommodations coordinator arealso encouraged to register early

Registration PeriodRegistration dates or each term are published inthe Catalogand in the Course Schedule Te ullregistration process involves developing the studentscourse schedule, approval o course selections byan academic advisor, processing the registrationorm by the Registrars Oce, and payment otuition and ees Students are allowed to registeror the upcoming term only ater all charges or theprevious term have been paid in ull

It is each students responsibility to consult with anacademic advisor every term to determine that he orshe is enrolled in the classes necessary to completethe requirements or graduation It is ultimatelythe students responsibility to ensure that allrequirements are met. Students will receive agrade or each course or which they register unlessthey adjust their schedules (during the scheduleadjustment or withdrawal period) to reect the actthat they no longer wish to be enrolled inthe course

Ater students complete the registration process,they are obligated to pay tuition and ees by the datestated in the Course Scheduleand on the studentsbill Unless other arrangements have been approvedby the Bursars Oce, students will be droppedrom classes i bills are not paid by thedate specied

Late Registration Period and Schedule

Adjustment Period

Students may register during the late registration

period listed in the current Course Scheduleand arerequired to pay a late registration ee or each courseStudents who enroll in a course ater the rst classmeeting are required to contact the instructor and tomake up any work missed prior to joining the class

Students may also add and/or drop courses uponapproval o an academic advisor during the lateregistration period and are required to pay a


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schedule adjustment ee Schedule adjustmentsmade as a result o course cancellations by theSchool are not subject to the schedule adjustmentee Students who are on a standby list or a courseare not charged a schedule adjustment ee or addingthe course

In order to add or drop a course, students mustmeet with an academic advisor Students receivingederal nancial aid may be required to meet witha nancial aid advisor to ensure that their scheduleadjustment will not adversely afect their nancialaid eligibility International students on F-1 visasare required to meet with an international studentadvisor to ensure that their schedule adjustmentswill not adversely afect their visa status

COURSE WITHDRAWAL

Course withdrawal is the ocial process or ceasingparticipation in a course uition is reundedaccording to the policy detailed in this Catalog;ees are non-reundable Beore withdrawing roma course, students are required to coner with anacademic advisor Ater the schedule adjustmentperiod has passed, a student may withdraw rom acourse at any time up to and including one weekater the midpoint o any term Te deadline orcourse withdrawal is stated in this Catalogandeach terms Course Schedule A student may not

withdraw rom a course ater the deadline orcourse withdrawal Students receive a grade ofW for courses from which they ociallywithdraw. Students who do not complete acourse and do not ocially withdraw receivethe grade earned according to the instructorsgrading scale as outlined in the course syllabus.Students are strongly encouraged to discuss theirplans to withdraw rom a course with the instructor,the department chair, or an academic advisor,and i applicable, the Oce o Financial Aid orInternational Student Advising

Change of Duty Assignment Withdrawal

or Change of Work Schedule Withdrawal

Students may apply or a course withdrawalater the established deadline due to a temporaryor permanent change o duty assignment bytheir employers Such requests require credible

documentation and are granted only i aContract or a Grade o Incomplete or otheraccommodation is not easible All courses or whicha student is registered at the time o withdrawalreceive a grade o W All such withdrawals musthave the approval o the Provost and, i appropriate,

the Oce o Financial Aid or International StudentAdvising In most cases, students who withdraw dueto change o duty assignment or change o workschedule receive a tuition credit and may re-registeror courses at a later date or no additional charge

Medical Withdrawal

A student may apply or a medical withdrawal inextraordinary cases in which serious illness, injury,or mental health diculties prevent him or herrom continuing in all classes or the term, and

i Contracts or a Grade o Incomplete or otherarrangements with instructors are not easibleAll requests or a medical withdrawal requirethorough and credible documentation All coursesor which a student is registered at the time owithdrawal receive a grade o MW A medicalwithdrawal must have the approval o the Provostand, i appropriate, the Oce o Financial Aidor International Student Advising In most cases,students who withdraw or medical reasons receivea tuition credit and may re-register or coursesat a later date or no additional charge Suchstudents will not need to complete an applicationor readmission nor pay an application ee,provided their cumulative absence does not exceedve (5) years

Military Service Withdrawal

An enrolled student who withdraws rom the Schoolor service with the United States Armed Forcesduring the course o enrollment may re-enrollupon return rom service as a continuing studentStudents must provide a certied copy o militaryorders In most cases, students who withdraw ormilitary service during a term receive a tuition creditor the term and may re-register or courses at a laterdate or no additional charge Courses or whicha student is registered at the time o withdrawalreceive a grade o SW Such students will notneed to complete an application or readmission nor


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pay an application ee, provided their cumulativeabsence or such service does not exceed ve(5) years

SCHEDULE CHANGESFrom time to time, the School may have to change

instructors, times, and/or meeting days GraduateSchool USA reserves the right to make schedulechanges as necessary and will make every efort tonotiy students in a timely manner

CANCELED COURSESTe School announces course cancellations priorto the beginning o the late registration periodI, or any reason, the School cancels a course orwhich a student has enrolled, the student will beautomatically dropped rom the course and notied

via email Students are responsible or providingcurrent email addresses and or checking the list ocanceled courses each term Students experiencingcourse cancellations are responsible or contactingthe Academic Advising Oce beore the end o theschedule adjustment period to make course changesIn order to maintain their various student statuses,this process is particularly important or recipientso ederal nancial aid and international studentsuition or canceled course(s) will be reunded orreassigned, as appropriate Students will not becharged the schedule adjustment ee or coursesadded to replace canceled courses

Standby List

Students may be added to a standby list or coursesthat are ully enrolled As space becomes available,students are notied in sequence o the opportunityto register or the course and must do so within 24hours, or the opportunity passes to the next studenton the standby list

COURSE AUDITStudents who wish to attend a class without earningcredit may register or the course as an auditor Astudent may not change rom credit to audit statusater the end o the withdrawal period Audits donot count as part o the students credit load orpurposes o loan deerments, nancial aid, or F-1

immigration status uition and ees are assessed asthough the course is taken or credit

Students may not change rom audit to credit statusater the schedule adjustment period

COURSE LOAD

Course load means the number o credit hours takenin a given term A ull-time course load is usually 15credit hours per semester

Students wishing to register or a course load omore than 18 credits during a all or spring semesteror more than 10 credits during a summer term musthave a cumulative grade point average o 30 orbetter, have completed at least two terms o ull-timestudy at Graduate School USA, and have approvalrom an academic advisor

Students who are admitted on a probationary statusor who are on academic probation may have theircourse load restricted Te notication o probationwill indicate any such restrictions Probationarystudents who have already registered or theollowing term may be required to reduce theircredit loads I students ail to reduce theircredit loads, the academic advisor will reduce thestudents loads

LIMITED ENROLLMENT PROGRAMSTere are some limited enrollment programsthat have more applicants than available spaceApplicants must meet additional requirements,including sucient math and science courses,clinical site visits, attendance at mandatoryorientation, CPR certication, physical (medical)examination, etc Some programs require theapplicant to remove any academic decienciesbeore consideration or the program Applicantsmay also be ranked according to the publishedcriteria or placement into one o the competitiveprograms Tis ranking may include perormance

in specic course work at the postsecondary level,related work experience, and/or specic proessionalcertications Te requirements or placement inspecic limited enrollment programs are publishedin each programs Student Policy Handbook

Applicants to limited enrollment programs shouldcontact the Admissions Oce Many limited


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enrollment programs have diferent applicationdeadlines and requirements that are subject tochange

Limited enrollment programs include:

Medical Laboratory echnician

Associate o Applied Science (AAS)*Phlebotomy echnician Certicate

*Currently accepting applications

Personal Interview

A personal interview is benecial to both theapplicant and to the admissions advisor Teapplicant has an opportunity to ask questions aboutthe School and its programs, while the admissionsadvisor evaluates the applicants interest in, and

ability to pursue, the program o study or which heor she applied

All correspondence concerning enrollmentand placement should be addressed to theAdmissions Oce

STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIESTe special accommodations coordinator providesa variety o support services or students withdisabilities and/or special requirements Newstudents are encouraged to contact the special

accommodations coordinator at least one monthprior to registration. Services are coordinatedto t the individual needs o the student and mayinclude sign language interpreters, computer-aidedreal-time translation (CAR) services, note-takingservices, tutoring reerral, textbook taping, testingaccommodations, and use o assistive technologyAcademic advising, priority registration, and reerralinormation are also available

Students requesting services are responsible orproviding current documentation rom a qualied

proessional veriying the disability and its impacton academic perormance Te verication mustreect the students present level o unctioning othe major lie activity afected by the impairment;generally, the verication must not be more thanthree (3) years old Te cost o obtaining theproessional verication shall be borne by thestudent I the initial verication is incomplete

or inadequate to determine the present extent othe disability and necessary accommodations, theSchool has the discretion to require a supplementalassessment o the disability Te cost o thesupplemental assessment shall be borne by thestudent Required documentation shall be provided

in advance o requesting support services unlessdoing so would cause an undue hardship or thestudent Documentation regarding a disability shallbe kept condential, and only inormation necessaryor the provision o appropriate support services isreleased or where disclosure is otherwise requiredby ederal or District o Columbia law, rule, orregulation

Te School requires a minimum o thirty (30) daysand a maximum o ninety (90) days or review andprovision o services requiring special unding

Students who believe they have experienceddiscrimination on the basis o a disability mayseek resolution through the Schools grievanceprocedures as set orth in the Student Issues andComplaints Policy

INTERNATIONAL STUDENTSTe Oce o Academic Advising assistsinternational student applicants who wish to applyor a student (F-1) visa or other non-immigrantvisa holders who want to convert to F-1 status Te

oce also provides ongoing assistance or F-1 visastudents in their communication with Citizenshipand Immigration Services (CIS), including but notlimited to application or appropriate employmentauthorization, extension o I-20 expiration date,transerring an I-20 to another college or university,travel outside the United States, and re-entryprocedures and documentation o F-1 status Inaddition, international students may seek adviceand reerral inormation on all aspects o living andstudying in the United States All international (F-1)

students are required by CIS regulations to have acurrent record o their local and oreign addresses onle with the School International applicants whosenative language is not English and who did notattend an English-speaking educational institutionmust take the est o English as a Foreign Language(OEFL) or International English Languageesting System (IELS) exam, unless the applicant


24/84


has received a baccalaureate or graduate degree roman accredited institution in the United States orother English-speaking country, in which case he orshe may be excepted rom this requirement

See the Student Handbookor detailedinormation regarding international student

admissions and services

TRANSFER OF CREDITStudents can satisy graduation requirements byapplying transer work rom other colleges anduniversities and credits rom approved examinationsGraduate School USA will notprovide a creditevaluation to any applicant prior to an ofer oadmission being extended to that student

Graduate School USA will consider credits intranser o courses successully completed through

the ollowing:

Postsecondary institutions holding regionalaccreditation or holding ocial candidacy statusor regional accreditation

Postsecondary institutions holding national orspecialized accreditation rom an associationrecognized by Graduate School USA

Formal learning experiences that have beenevaluated and recommended by the AmericanCouncil on Education (ACE) Program on

Noncollegiate Sponsored Instruction(PONSI) National Guide to College Creditfor Workforce Training

Army/ACE Registry ranscript System(AARS) and Sailor/Marine ACE Registryranscript System (SMAR) Te AARSand SMAR transcripts are AmericanCouncil on Educationapproved methods opresenting military experience or academiccredit Both AARS and SMAR transcriptsare available ree o charge to eligible soldiers,

sailors, and Marines In order to obtain acopy o their AARS transcript, students maywrite: Manager, AARS Operations Center,415 McPherson Avenue, Fort Leavenworth,KS 66027-1373 o order a SMARtranscript, contact the Operations Center [email protected]

Credits earned at non-US institutions that do nothold regional accreditation may be considered on acase-by-case basis

Developmental courses, English or Speakers oOther Languages (ESOL) courses, and coursestaken or audit are notconsidered or transer

Continuing education units (CEUs), proessionaldevelopment units (PDUs), and continuingproessional education units (CPEs) are measuresused only or non-credit continuing educationprograms Tereore, course work assigned thosevalues is noteligible or evaluation in the transerprocess, and Graduate School USA will not assigntranser credit to those courses

Course work will be considered or transer when itcan be shown that each course has been satisactorilycompleted with a grade o C or better, that the

course was comparable in content, nature, level, andrigor to course(s) ofered at Graduate School USA,and that the course is applicable to the studentsacademic program Where there is a match with aGraduate School USA course, the Graduate SchoolUSA course number will appear on the studenttranscript with the assigned credits Where nomatch is identied, the credits may be identiedas ranserred Elective, and a course numberis assigned at the appropriate level (eg, 100-levelor a reshman-level course) Grades attained at

another college or university are notused in thecomputation o the grade point average (GPA) atGraduate School USA and do not appear on thestudents transcript

All transer credits are provisional Te provisionalcredits are ully granted once the studentsuccessully completes one semester o course workas a degree student at Graduate School USA

Te Admissions Oce evaluates all undergraduateeducation presented rom outside Graduate SchoolUSA Te Admissions Oce may consult withthe department chair responsible or the programin which a student intends to pursue a degree todetermine the appropriateness and applicabilityo courses

Unless an agreement has been executed betweenGraduate School USA and another institutionallowing or the transer o blocks o credits, credit


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is transerred on a course-by-course basis It ispossible or a combination o courses rom anotherinstitution to present the same material as a singlecourse at Graduate School USA Upon appeal o anoriginal course-by-course denial o credit, a reviewo the originating institutions course syllabi and

sequencing will be made by the chairperson o theappropriate program in conjunction with the Oceo Academic Advising

Credits awarded based on examination programs(eg, AP, CLEP, DANES, et al) will generally nottranser Rather, Graduate School USA may grantcredit based on its policies governing these testingprograms (see below) Credits granted throughprior learning assessment (other than through anapproved examination program) may be acceptedi the student has successully completed more

advanced course work in the same discipline(s) atanother institution o higher education

Determination of Comparability of

Course Work

In most cases, i a course contains two-thirds othe content o a similar course at Graduate SchoolUSA and the learning outcomes are similar, thecourses will be judged to be comparable Tedepartment chair may, however, deviate rom thetwo-thirds guideline

Determination of Successful Completion

of Each Course

Te level o achievement or any course must beequal to or better than a grade o C Requiredscores or examination credit are stated belowGraduate School USA will generally accept gradeso P (Pass), C (Credit), or S (Satisactory), butmay require additional documentation Institutionswhich do not utilize an A-F grading scale may beasked to equate the grade to a C or better

It is the responsibility o the Admissions Ocein concert with the appropriate academic personnelto determine whether the level o achievemento all course work is equal to or above a C Itis the students responsibility to provide allrequired materials

Required Documentation for Transfer

Credit Considerations

All course work presented or transer must appearon an ocial transcript sent directly rom theoriginating teaching institution to the AdmissionsOce Copies, acsimiles, or student-carried

transcripts will not be accepted Students may alsobe asked to provide course descriptions, syllabi,catalogs, etc

All oreign transcripts not issued in English musthave an accompanying translation certied bythe originating teaching institution, governmenteducation agency o the host country, the AmericanEmbassy o the host country, or a proessionaltranslation service approved by Graduate SchoolUSA (eg, World Education Services, New York,NY) Foreign institutions which provide only one

original document certiying attendance, course oinstruction, and achievement should be asked tomail the certiying documents directly to GraduateSchool USA Te originals will be retained untilcredit transer has been completed Certied copieswill be retained or the students record, and theoriginals will be returned to the student

Credit Conversion to Semester Hours

All academic work accepted or transer will beconverted into semester hours o credit by the

Admissions Oce Quarter hours will be convertedto semester hours using a 2/3 (666) conversionactor Since only whole hours o credit may beawarded, should ractional hours result rom theconversion, the credit awarded will be rounded

Examination Credit

Te ollowing American and oreign standardizedexaminations which test postsecondary knowledge arerecognized or credit by Graduate School USA:

Te Advanced Placement (AP) Examination othe College Board

Te College Level Examination Program(CLEP) o the College Board

Te Deense Activity or Non-raditionalEducational Support (DANES) SubjectStandardization ests (DSSs)


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Te International Baccalaureate higher-levelexaminations (IB)

Te above list is not exhaustive and does notpreclude the addition o appropriate examinationswhich may be presented in the uture Credit isgranted only or courses applicable to the students

program o study as determined by the AdmissionsOce in consultation with the appropriatedepartment chair

Te standards o perormance required or creditconsideration are as ollows:

1 Advanced Placement (AP) Examinations ofthe College Board

AP gives students an opportunity to takecollege-level courses and external exams whilestill in high school

Credit is considered or all examsadministered Scores o 5 (extremely wellqualied, A) earn credits in all areas

Credits or scores below 5 are granted orspecic Graduate School USA coursesas determined by the chairperson o thediscipline governing the subject content othe Advanced Placement Examination

2 College Level Examination Program(CLEP) of the College Board

Only CLEP scores o 50 or above will beaccepted or credit

For more inormation regarding CLEPtests, seewww.collegeboard.com

3 Te Defense Activity for Non-raditional Support (DANES)SubjectStandardization ests (DSSs)

A specic DANES exam must carrya standard score equal to or abovethe ACE/CREDI minimum score

recommendation DANES Subject Standardization ests

which are comparable in the nature andscope o material examined to coursesofered at Graduate School USA will beconsidered or transer credit

For more inormation regarding DANESexams, seewww.dantes.doded.mil/Dantes_web/DANESHOME.asp

4 Te International Baccalaureate (IB)

Students must have received the ullInternational Baccalaureate diploma

Credit is considered or grades o 5, 6, or 7in higher-level subject exams as determinedby the appropriate department chair

Credit is awarded on a course-by-course basis

I a student has not achieved the requiredlevel o perormance as stated above, but hassuccessully completed more advanced coursework in the same discipline(s) at another institution,Graduate School USA will generally accept the

examination credits

Non-Standard Postsecondary School

Education (Non-Credit Courses)

Instruction which is comparable in content,nature, level, and rigor to courses at GraduateSchool USA may be granted credit i it carries theAmerican Council on Educations (ACE) Programon Noncollegiate Sponsored Instruction (PONSI)credit recommendation and i applicable to thestudents academic program Credit awarded or

any single course will not exceed the credit valueo the comparable course at Graduate School USAVeriable documentation o course completionis required For military servicemembers, credittranser requires presentation o orm DD-214 ordischarged personnel or orm DD-295 or activeduty personnel Military course numbers mustappear on the service record (Course work taken ata college or university, while in any o the brancheso the Armed Services, will be considered as atranser o credit rom that college or university)

Appeal of Credit Transfer Decisions

Upon presentation o a written appeal o acredit transer decision, the Oce o AcademicAdvising, in conjunction with the departmentchair or the specic degree program, will assess thecomparability o the course materials, past practices,


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and the students specic circumstances and coursesA written analysis will be provided to the Provost,who will render a nal decision A written responsewill be delivered to the student

RESIDENCY REQUIREMENT

o receive a Graduate School USA degree, thestudent must complete at least 50% o credithours required in the degree program at GraduateSchool USA Active duty servicemembers mustcomplete 25% o the degree program at GraduateSchool USA

ENGLISH FOR SPEAKERS OF

OTHER LANGUAGES (ESOL)Students whose primary language is not English arerequired to demonstrate prociency in English or

admission consideration Students test scores romthe est o English as a Foreign Language (OEFL)or International English Language esting System(IELS) exam must be submitted with theirapplication or admission to demonstrate Englishprociency A student may request a waiver o therequirement or the OEFL or IELS test scores orpurposes o admission to Graduate School USA ihe or she is naturalized or is an eligible non-citizen,or has completed his or her high school diploma,a bachelors degree, or an advanced degree in acountry where English is the language o instructionat the school

In order to ensure adequate preparation or college-level work, students whose rst language is notEnglish must demonstrate a specied prociencylevel in listening, in addition to reading and writing,prior to enrolling or any credit courses at GraduateSchool USA

Students whose English language skills are notat college level will be required to enroll in theappropriate ESOL course(s)

Students with properly documented disabilities mayreceive appropriate testing accommodations

ESOL Courses

Students whose assessment test results indicatea need or ESOL must enroll in and pass theappropriate course(s) prior to admission Academicadvisors assist students in registering or the

appropriate level o classes Ater successullycompleting the appropriate course(s), students areeligible to enroll in college-level courses

Graduate School USA does not ofer an extensivearray o ESOL courses or students whose Englishlanguage prociency is insucient or admission

Te School does, however, ofer a single term oESOL or students who already have some Englishuency and who otherwise would be prepared topursue postsecondary education For students whorequire more than a single semester o ESOL, studyat a partner institution is advised

ESOL Retesting Criteria

Students may not take the assessment test more thanonce in a our-month period Exceptions to thisrule are permitted with permission o the academic

advisor or recommendation o the instructor o acurrently enrolled student in ESOL Students whoretest and place at the college level while enrolled inan ESOL course are considered to have passed theESOL course and may continue to attend i they sodesire, or may stop attending (Tese students arenot eligible or a reund)

ESOL Assessment Test Waiver

Students may qualiy or a test waiver i they meetone o the ollowing criteria:

a Earned an International Baccalaureate (IB)

b Hold an associate (or higher) degree rom anaccredited institution o higher educationrecognized by the School where English is theocial language o instruction

c Completed a course equivalent to collegecomposition rom an institution o highereducation where English is the ociallanguage o instruction with a grade o C orbetter, with a minimum GPA o 20

d Have earned an Advanced Placement test scoreo 3 or higher in English

e Earned the ollowing scores on theOEFL:

PB: 550 and have a score o 5 on the testo written English


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CB: 213 and have a score o 5 on the testo written English

IB: 80 or higher and a minimumindividual score o 19 or reading, 19 orlistening, 21 or speaking, and 21 orwriting

Earned a total score o 80 with a minimumscore o 80 in both speaking and writing onthe IELS exam

Note:

When requesting a waiver rom the assessmenttest, students are required to submit alldocumentation with the Assessment est WaiverRequest orm to the Admissions Oce

Students submitting ocial college transcripts

or OEFL/IELS test scores demonstratingEnglish prociency to the Admissions Oceor evaluation during the admission processare not required to submit an Assessment estWaiver Request orm

CHALLENGE EXAMINATIONSStudents seeking credit or learning experiencesthat do not qualiy or transer credit or a coursemay request a challenge examination A challengeexamination option is not available or every course

(Courses or which a CLEP or DANES exam isavailable may not be challenged; rather, the studentmust take the appropriate examination) Challengeexamination requests will not be approved orcourses which the student has already ailed or orwhich the student received a grade o IncompleteRequests must be made with ull justication tothe department chair; and, the decision to allowa challenge examination rests with thedepartment chair

Students must register and pay tuition or courses

to be challenged and must submit requests orchallenge examinations ater registering or thecourse(s) to be challenged I the student ails toperorm at a passing level on the examination, thestudent must attend the course and complete thecourse requirements (I the student passes theexamination, it is necessary to remain registered orthe class or the duration o the term in order or

the credits to appear on the students transcript)Students should contact the Registrars Oce orinormation on challenge exam processes

Students who successully challenge a course willreceive credit or the course with a grade o PTe course will not enter into grade point average

computations, but it will count toward the totalcredits earned

TEXTBOOKSOnly the books on the nal authorized booklistare to be used or classes Supplementary textbooksor recommended works are clearly identied assuch in the course syllabus and textbook listsStudents will not be required to purchasetextbooks that are not identied on the nalapproved booklist or that term Students should

check the course syllabus beore purchasing optionalor supplemental materials

Te Graduate School USA bookstore is onlineInormation regarding purchasing and returningtextbooks is available in the Student Handbook


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TUITION RATE

(Amounts in u.s. DollArs)

$270 per credit

FEESFees are established by the Board o rustees o theSchool and are subject to change without notice

Application ee $50*

echnology ee $35/term*

Late registration ee/changeo schedule ee $25*

Course ees (consumables) per course

ranscript ee $5*

Fax In USA $3* additional

Fax International $10* additional

Expedited $15* additional

Returned check ee $25*

Graduation ee** $150*

Degree replacement $80

Identication card replacement $10

*Not reundable**No charge or certicate programs

AUDITED CLASSESRegistration and tuition charges are the same orcourses taken as audits as or classes taken or creditAudited classes earn neither credit hours nor qualitypoints Requests to audit must be submitted to theOce o the Registrar by the last day o registrationand may not change rom credit to audit ater theend o the withdrawal period

RETURNED CHECKS/

UNPAID ACCOUNTSAny student who has a returned check shall benotied by certied letter I the returned check isnot cleared within the specied time, all academicrecords will be rozen until the account is clearedStudents who develop a pattern o payment byreturned checks will have this payment option

revoked Once identied, these individuals willbe required to pay by cash, money order, certiedcheck, or credit/debit card Te bank is authorized

to present NSF checks or payment a second time,which may result in additional ees being assessed

Unpaid student accounts, including returnedchecks, will prevent graduation, granting o credit,or release o transcripts

STUDENT BILLING, PAYMENT,

AND REFUNDSAt least monthly, Graduate School USA providesocial billing statements or letters to all studentswho have an outstanding balance due, reminding

them o payments due Te statement totals theamount due on a students account or any unpaidcharges, and previously unpaid account balances,as well as the date the bill was created, accounttransactions such as payments received, and exactcharges and credits to a students account as o thedate the bill was created

Students have two payment options: (1) pay in ullat the time o registration or (2) use a voucher orpurchase order rom a sponsor or employer

Students who do not pay the total tuition and eesat the time o registration are allowed to register andattend classes only i they possess a valid purchaseorder rom their sponsor or employer or an originalletter indicating that they have a tuition creditcovering the costs o the course(s)

Payment in Full

Payment in ull at the time o registration can bedone by mail (in the orm o a check, money order,cashiers check, or third-party vendor purchase

order) or in person at the Bursars Oce (in theorm o a check, money order, certied or cashierscheck drawn on a US bank, credit card [Visa,MasterCard, American Express], or third-partyvendor purchase order) Electronic transers/wiredpayments rom overseas banks are accepted only orthe amount o tuition and ees or the current term

CLASS TUITION AND FEES


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Payment by Third-Party Sponsors

Tird-party sponsor payments (eg, employers) maybe made via check, credit card, electronic undstranser, voucher, or contract Credit card paymentsmay be done by phone and voucher; contracts canbe axed to the Bursars Oce (ax number: [202]

479-2501) Tird-party sponsors and employerspaying with a purchase order are subject to theollowing conditions:

Te purchase order must clearly state studentsname, ID number, semester(s)/term(s) covered,items covered and not covered, and contactpersons name, phone number, ax number, andbilling address

Payment is due beore a student can registeror classes

I the student withdraws during the reundperiod, reunds are made to the third-partysponsor

Graduate School USA must be notiedimmediately o changes to the purchase order

Te ollowing conditions apply to students whenusing a purchase order:

Purchase orders shall be presented to theBursars Oce on or beore registration everysemester

Purchase orders may be axed, mailed, emailedrom a students sponsor, or presented in person

A student is responsible or payment o tuitionand ees i the purchase order is not received onor beore the ocial deadline; i the purchaseorder is subsequently received, a reund will begenerated or those students who previously paidwith personal unds

Account adjustments (corrections, sponsordisallowances, etc) can create a balance in astudents account at any time A student mustpay any balance that is not covered by a sponsor

Students shall keep addresses and phonenumbers current

Te ollowing conditions apply when accepting apurchase order:

Once a purchase order has been received by theBursars Oce, it will be applied to a studentsaccount within three (3) business days

I adjustments are made that create a balancedue in a students account, Graduate SchoolUSA will send the student a bill or will bill astudents sponsor, according to the purchaseorder I the adjustment creates a credit balance,a reund will be sent to the sponsor

Outstanding Balances

Nonpayment o outstanding balances results inthe ollowing:

Students may not begin a new registration

process unless and until previous term nancialobligations are met

Students who are delinquent in their paymentsare responsible or the cost o collectionincluding court costs and attorneys ees, with1% interest per month charged rom the day oregistration

Graduate School USA may withhold thestudents grades, diploma, and ocial transcript

Refunds

uition reunds are made as ollows:

Students are entitled to 100% o their tuition ithey ocially drop a course at least one workdaybeore the rst class meeting

Students are entitled to 90% o their tuition ithey ocially drop a course at least one workdaybeore the second class meeting

Students are entitled to 80% o their tuition ithey ocially drop a course at least one workdaybeore the third class meeting

Students are entitled to no reund i they dropater the third class meeting

Students will be entitled to a ull reund andapplicable ees i a class is canceled by GraduateSchool USA


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Death of a Student

In the event o a students death, all tuition andees the student had paid or the term may bereunded to the estate o the deceased upon requesto the executor


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Inormation about student completionand persistence in each o the academicprograms is available to students online atgraduateschool.edu/right2know

Te availability o this ino