MFA Degree Policies
Studio Space
Only on-campus MFA-degree program students (those accepted into the graduate program by the ECU Graduate School as well as the School of Art and Design) are assured studio space (see NASAD [http://nasad.arts-accredit.org/] requirements). Such studio space is only guaranteed within the SoAD area for which the graduate student’s application was accepted. Non-degree students are NOT guaranteed studio space.
Transfer Credit/Waiver Information
Up to one-third of the credit hours in a program may be earned in any regionally accredited institution. No credit hours completed as part of a previously-earned master’s degree can be counted toward a second master’s degree.
Graduate-level coursework taken elsewhere is not automatically applied to a graduate degree program at East Carolina University. The Graduate School must approve college, school, or departmental petitions for application of transfer credit.
Students who have been admitted to the Graduate School at East Carolina University may enroll at other regionally accredited graduate-level institutions for coursework if it applies to their programs. Students must have advance permission from their college, school, or Graduate Program Director and the Dean of the Graduate School.
To make a transfer credit inquiry or request, download the transfer request form from the following website [https://registrar.ecu.edu/forms/] and submit the completed form to the Graduate Program Director.
The Area Coordinator will make transfer credit decisions of the concentration to which that credit would be applied. The Graduate Director will inform the applicant of the decision. If the request is approved, the Graduate Director will forward the application to the Graduate School for consideration.
Change of Degree or Studio Major
School of Art and Design graduate students who wish to change degree programs or studio majors are subject to the same standards of faculty review as the initial graduate applicant.
The following procedures will be observed:
- A student must file a petition to change program using the form available on the Graduate School website
- The completed form is submitted to the Graduate Program Director, and the student’s credentials will be sent to the new school or department for evaluation and recommendation.
- The petitioning student will be notified by the program concerning the outcome of the petition.
A student who petitions successfully for transfer to a new degree program must complete new program requirements at the time of the change of program. Any courses credited from the old program must meet the time frame requirements for completion of the new program.
Policy on Completion of Degree Requirements and Graduation
Graduate students who have previously registered for all credits in a graduate degree program but have not completed all requirements (e.g., thesis, professional paper, internship, etc.) must continue to register each semester (except summer terms) until all degree requirements are completed and filed with the registrar. Students must be enrolled for at least one credit hour during the semester of graduation except for the summer if registered for the prior spring semester. Students may request a leave of absence for special circumstances but are not permitted to use university resources during the period of their leave of absence. Students may petition the Graduate School for an exception to the continuous registration requirement if all degree requirements are completed before the first day of class in the next term.
Incomplete Policy
A grade of I (incomplete) must be removed within one year from the date of receiving that grade, following the procedures outlined in the graduate catalog. Any exceptions to this policy must be made through appeal to both the Graduate Committee and the student’s area coordinator. Any student who does not remove an Incomplete in one year will not be able to receive an assistantship until the incomplete has been removed.
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