5.1. COURSE SELECTION

Where a Program of Studies has not yet been submitted or approved, the academic unit Head/designate shall confer with the student's Advisory Committee and ensure that the courses for which the student is registering are those which will be listed on the proposed Program of Studies.

5.2. ETHICS COURSE

All students shall complete the Graduate Research Ethics and Integrity Training Course (GPS 960) during the first term of their program.  Depending on the research area, some students may be required to complete an additional module geared for work with either human or animal subjects, as determined by the student’s Advisory Committee. Students must complete this training before they begin their research and data collection.

5.3. NON-CREDIT GPS COURSES

Students may elect to complete non-credit courses offered by the CGPS. Non-credit GPS courses will appear on students’ official transcripts.

5.4. AUDITING COURSES

With permission of both their own academic unit and the unit offering the courses, currently registered graduate students may audit undergraduate or graduate courses. For students who fall under the standard tuition model, if the audited course is part of a Program of Study that is approved by both the academic unit and the College of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies, no additional tuition is assessed. If the audited course is not included in the student’s Program of Study, tuition is applicable. Registration is required for auditing undergraduate courses and these courses will be recorded on the transcript.

Graduate students wishing to audit a class must submit the appropriate documentation, per the “Auditing a class” instructions on the University registration website: http://students.usask.ca/academics/classes.php

5.5. TRANSFER COURSE CREDIT

Academic work of high quality done in a recognized graduate school elsewhere and coming within the student’s program time limit may be accepted for credit. These credits must be included in the student’s Program of Studies as ‘Transfer Credit’.

Full documentation on the course(s) must be provided to the academic unit and the CGPS in advance of the term of intended enrolment, to ensure transfer credit is approved. The student must maintain registration at the U of S during the term of absence. The CGPS will forward a request to the Registrar to record the transfer credits on the student’s U of S transcript.

Work already applied toward another degree will not be accepted for credit.

5.5.1. MASTER'S STUDENTS

For Master’s students, transfer credits will be approved only:

  • After the student has established a satisfactory record in residence at the U of S for at least one-half of a regular academic session
  • On recommendation from the academic unit to the Dean of the CGPS
  • When the transfer of such credits coordinates with the student's chosen field of study
  • Within the five-year time limit
  • When at least 60% of the program requirements are completed at the University of Saskatchewan

5.5.2. PH.D. STUDENTS

For Ph.D. students, transfer credits will be approved only:

  • After the student has established a satisfactory record in residence here for at least one academic session
  • Within the six-year time limit
  • When at least 6 credit units at the graduate level are completed at the University of Saskatchewan, unless otherwise specified by the Program of Studies

5.6. REGULATIONS FOR FINAL GRADES

The University Council Regulations on Examinations are applicable with respect to the submission of final grades for graduate courses and student absences from final examinations.

Marks of IP (In Progress) may be submitted only with advanced permission the CGPS.

5.7. ADHERENCE TO ACADEMIC STANDARDS

Faculty are required to follow the descriptors in the procedural table Relationship between Literal Descriptor and Percentage Score below for appropriate interpretation of performance in graduate course work. Unsatisfactory performance must be reviewed immediately by the Graduate Chair and Advisory Committee.

Relationship between Literal Descriptor and Percentage Score

Percentage Literal Descriptor Description
90-100 Exceptional

A superior performance with consistent strong evidence of:

  • a comprehensive, incisive grasp of subject matter;
  • an ability to make insightful critical evaluation of information;
  • an exceptional capacity for original, creative and/or logical thinking;
  • an exceptional ability to organize, to analyze, to synthesize, to integrate ideas, and to express thoughts fluently;
  • an exceptional ability to analyze and solve difficult problems related to subject matter
80-89 Very Good to Excellent

A very good to excellent performance with strong evidence of:

  • a comprehensive grasp of subject matter;
  •  an ability to make sound critical evaluation of information;
  •  a very good to excellent capacity for original, creative and/or logical thinking;
  • a very good to excellent ability to organize, to analyze, to synthesize, to integrate ideas, and to express thoughts fluently;
  • a very good to excellent ability to analyze and solve difficult problems related to subject matter
70-79 Satisfactory to Good

A satisfactory to good performance with evidence of:

  • a substantial knowledge of subject matter;
  • a satisfactory to good understanding of the relevant issues and satisfactory to good familiarity with the relevant literature and technology;
  • satisfactory to good capacity for logical thinking;
  • some capacity for original and creative thinking;
  • a satisfactory to good ability to organize, to analyze, and to examine the subject matter in a critical and constructive manner;
  • a satisfactory to good ability to analyze and solve moderately difficult problems related to the subject matter
60-69 Poor

A generally weak performance, but with some evidence of:

  • a basic grasp of the subject matter;
  • some understanding of the basic issues;
  • some familiarity with the relevant literature & techniques;
  • some ability to develop solutions to moderately difficult problems related to the subject matter;
  • some ability to examine the material in a critical & analytical manner
<60 Failure
  • An unacceptable performance

5.8. GRADES REQUIRED TO PASS

The standards below are the minimum acceptable grades for passing a course. Individual academic units may establish a higher standard through a formal application process to the CGPS.

PGD Master's Ph. D.
Undergraduate Class 60% 70% None allowed
Graduate Class 60% 60% 70%
Cumulative overall average needed 65% 70% 70%

Percentage Scores of at least 70% are required for a minimal pass performance in undergraduate courses taken by graduate students.

Percentage Scores of at least 70% are required for a minimal pass performance for each course which is included in a Ph.D. program.

Graduate courses for which students receive grades of 60-69% are minimally acceptable in a Master's program, provided the GPA is at least 70%.

Graduate courses for which students receive grades of 60-64% are minimally acceptable in a Postgraduate Diploma program, provided the GPA is at least 65%.

Academic units wishing to apply higher than the minimum acceptable grades for passing a course should submit a course modification form (GSR 400.2) to the CGPS.  Forms can be found on the CGPS website.

The review/approval channel for such changes is: Academic Programs Committee; CGPS Executive Committee; Academic Programs Committee of Council.