Academic Conduct
Compared to undergraduate students, students at the graduate level are expected to conduct themselves with a higher level of integrity. In most cases, CECS graduate students also serve as role models for students at the undergraduate level. Accordingly, graduate students have a moral obligation to be honest, ethical members of the university community.
In close alignment with that expectation, the College of Engineering and Computer Science has a zero-tolerance approach with regards to graduate students found in violation of any UCF Rules of Conduct as outlined in the Golden Rule Student Handbook. Please refer to https://goldenrule.sdes.ucf.edu/ for a list of the Rules of Conduct at UCF. CECS graduate students who participate in the student conduct review process and found in violation of any Rule of Conduct will be automatically dismissed from their program(s) of study. In addition to being dismissed from the degree program, being found in violation of a Rule of Conduct through the student conduct review process could lead to being placed on disciplinary status at UCF. This includes being placed on disciplinary probation, deferred suspension, being suspended or dismissed from UCF for one or more semesters, and/or expulsion from the University.
To help discern what does and doesn’t qualify as academic misconduct, simply consult with your course’s instructor, your lab’s faculty advisor, your graduate program’s director, or CECS’s Office of Graduate Affairs. We are here to support you.
General Advising
- Advising for graduate students are handled by CECS faculty members due to the in-depth knowledge needed to customize your program and electives to match your research interest(s).
- Non-thesis students are typically advised by their Graduate Program Director (https://grad.cecs.ucf.edu/academic-programs/departments-and-key-contacts/), except for CECE students.
- CECS Graduate students take courses in the Summer C Session, beginning in May and ending in August.
- Registering for Thesis Credits (XXX 6971) for the first time
- Must complete in order:
- A Thesis Program of Study must be approved by the College of Graduate Studies.
- A Committee Formation must be approved by the College of Graduate Studies.
- Submit a UCF CECS Registration Agreement.
- These must be completed by the established deadline listed on the UCF Academic Calendar and Reposted on our website (https://grad.cecs.ucf.edu/for-students/upcoming-cecs-deadlines/). These are university deadlines and cannot be waived by the CECS Graduate Affairs Office.
- Must complete in order:
- Registering for Dissertation Credits (XXX 7980) for the first time
- Must complete in order:
- An updated Program of Study must be approved by the College of Graduate Studies.
- A Committee Formation must be approved by the College of Graduate Studies.
- Submit a UCF CECS Registration Agreement.
- These must be completed by the established deadline listed on the UCF Academic Calendar and Reposted on our website (https://grad.cecs.ucf.edu/for-students/upcoming-cecs-deadlines/). These are university deadlines and cannot be waived by the CECS Graduate Affairs Office.
- Must complete in order:
6000/7000 – Level Courses
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- Half of all credit hours must be at the 6000 or 7000 level to graduate.
- For MS programs this is 15 credit hours.
- For PhD programs this is 36 credit hours.
Transfer Work
- Officially transferred with official transcripts and by listing them on your Program of Study.
- Must be formal course work.
- Must be a B- or better (unless stipulated as a B or better).
- No more than half of your total program can be transfer work.
- Internal Transfer Work – course work completed at UCF:
- Limited to 15 hours completed in another or Non-Degree graduate program at UCF.
- Limited to 9 hours completed as an undergraduate student at UCF, unless you were part of the BS to MS Program.
- External Transfer Work – course work NOT completed at UCF:
- Limited to 9 hours
Active Student Policy
- Students can miss 2 consecutive semesters without being administratively discontinued from their program.
- If you plan on missing more than 2 semesters, you will need to submit a Special Leave of Absence request.
- If do you not submit the Special Leave of Absence and are administratively discontinued from the program, you will have to reapply for admission.
- The associated university policy is available here.
Satisfactory Progress
- All course work should be a B or better for use. However, after admitted, you can earn two C graded courses and remain eligible for graduation provided that your Graduate Status and Overall GPAs are a 3.000. Your C graded course work cannot be transfer course work.
- Graduate Status GPA – all graduate courses completed since admitted into your graduate program. Classes cannot be removed from this calculation. This GPA must be a 3.000 or better for satisfactory progress and eventual graduation.
- Overall Program of Study GPA – all graduate courses used toward your degree program. Classes may be removed from this GPA. This GPA must be a 3.000 or better for satisfactory progress and eventual graduation.
- If you earn a 2.999 Graduate Status GPA, you have an additional 18 hours to increase your GPA to a 3.000 or you will be dismissed from your graduate program. You must create a Probation Plan with your Graduate Program Director.
- If dismissed, you must either sit out for a calendar year and then reapply to the same program or be accepted to another graduate program.
College of Engineering and Computer Science – Policy on Dissertation/Thesis Defenses
The dissertation/thesis defense must be open to the public and announced two weeks prior to the date of the defense. You can submit your notice to www.grad.cecs.ucf.edu/graddefense.
Virtual dissertation/thesis defenses (off-campus defenses) are permitted. When entering your defense information, please enter your building as “Virtual” and the room area should be your Zoom link. Face-to-Face defenses are still an option for students and their committees.
Requests to deviate from the above policies due to extenuating circumstances will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis. Formal requests for exceptions (especially if the two-week lead time for the announcement was missed) should be sent by the student’s advisor to Dr. Ali Gordon at ali@ucf.edu.