CHAPTER 6: SYSTEM OF STUDY

Article (32)

Studying for a postgraduate diploma includes courses, field work, applied courses and experimental activities that satisfy the following:

1.      The residency period should not be less than of two semesters and not more than four semesters; and

2.      The number of credit hours should not be less than 24 and not more than 36.

The University Board determines the required courses for the diploma degree as well as the name of the diploma degree as per proposal of both the Department and College Councils concerned and the recommendations of the Council of the Deanship of Graduate Studies.

Article (32-1)

The student who registered for a master’s degree, with or without a thesis, and failed to earn the degree, can transfer to a diploma program in the same field (if it is available), after approval of the DGSC subject to the recommendations of the department and college council, according to the specific implementation rules of the faculty concerned.

Article (33)

Studying for a master’s degree involves one of the following two approaches:

1.      Coursework and thesis with a minimum of 24 credits in addition to the thesis;

2.      Coursework in some fields of an applied nature with a minimum of 42 units of coursework including a graduation project that consists of a minimum of 3 CREDITS. The plan for the master’s degree should contain related graduate courses from other departments, whenever possible.

Article (33-1)

The student has the right to transfer (only once) from a master’s program (with coursework and thesis) to a master’s program (with coursework only) and vice versa after passing 50% of credit hours from each program, according to the following rules:

1.      Approval of the Head of Department and the Deans of the College and Graduate Studies.

2.      Transfer is possible only before six semesters of the official period, and never after six semesters.

3.      The student must apply for this transfer not less than one month before the beginning of the semester.

4.      To itemize an academic plan for the student showing the courses to be studied to fulfill the requirements for the degree.

Article(34)

Studying for a doctoral degree involves one of the following two approaches:

1.      Coursework and dissertation with a minimum of 30 graduate units after the master’s degree in addition to the dissertation.

2.      Dissertation and some courses with a minimum of 12 specialized CREDITS from the major, seminars, or research sessions as required, according to the student’s academic background and field of study.

Article (35)

1.      In all programs of Graduate Studies, six credit hours are the minimum to study in the main semesters, and three in summer semesters. 12 credit  hours are the maximum to study in the main semesters, an six in summer semesters.

2.      If the student is expected to graduate, then he can study 15 credit hours in the same semester but not more, provided his cumulative GPA is not less than 4.5.

3.      The thesis is not included in what is mentioned in (1) above about the maximum credit hours to be studied.

Article (35-1)

Studying for a postgraduate diploma includes courses, field work, applied courses and experimental activities that satisfy the following:

1. The residency period should not be less than of two semesters and not more than four semesters; and

2. The number of credit hours should not be less than 24 and not more than 36.

The University Board determines the required courses for the diploma degree as well as the name of the diploma degree as per proposal of both the Department and College Councils concerned and the recommendations of the Council of the Deanship of Graduate Studies.

Article (36)

1.      The maximum residency period for a master’s degree must not be less than four semesters and not more than eight semesters; not including the summer sessions.

2.      The residency period for a doctoral degree must not be less than six semesters and not more than ten semesters; the summer sessions are not included.

Article (37)

The maximum residency period for a degree starts from the registration for graduate courses up to the submission date of a report from the student’s advisor with a copy of the thesis (or any other requirements to the student program) to the Department Chairman. 

Article (38)

A graduate student must take at least 70% of the required CREDIT HOURS in the University awarding the degree. All work related to his thesis/dissertation must be completed in the same University.

Article (39)

A student cannot graduate until all the degree requirements are satisfied, with an overall grade of, at least, ‘very good’ (B).

Article (39-1)

At graduation, the general grade of the student is to be based on his/her cumulative GPA only in courses, and that is to be done in case the way of studying is by courses and thesis.