The Graduate School

Contact Information

Mission

The Graduate School offers the administrative structure, leadership, and guidance necessary to support graduate education at Louisiana Tech University. The Graduate School works with the Provost, the Graduate Council, academic deans, graduate program coordinators, and graduate faculty to provide students with a superior educational and research environment within which to pursue rigorous, challenging, and relevant graduate and professional degrees.

Graduate Degrees Offered

Graduate degrees and certificates are described in the chapters devoted to the five colleges. An alphabetical list of graduate degree and certificate programs are also provided under the “Graduate Programs and Certificates” tab of the web page https://www.latech.edu/academic-programs/.

Immunization Policy

Louisiana law (Act 1047) requires all new students born after December 31, 1956, to provide proof of immunization against measles/mumps/rubella (MMR) and tetanus/diphtheria (TD). Louisiana law (Act 251) requires first-time freshmen to submit proof of immunization against meningitis. Forms for documenting immunization or establishing an exemption to this requirement are available from the Office of Admissions. Proof of immunity includes documentation of

• two measles vaccines administered after January 1, 1968, one of which must have been given on or after the first birthday.
• a mumps and rubella vaccine.
• meningitis vaccine.
• a tetanus/diphtheria combination within the past 10 years.

In the event of an outbreak of measles, mumps, meningitis, or rubella, students who have not provided documentation of immunity will be excluded from attendance of campus activities, including classes, until the appropriate disease incubation period has expired.

Graduate School Admission

Minimum admission standards are established by the Graduate Council for the University as detailed below. Graduate programs have the prerogative to be more selective and to establish higher standards. Deadlines for additional requirements may vary by program. International application deadlines are typically earlier than those for domestic applications.

Applications: Application for admission may be completed online on the Graduate School website (https://www.latech.edu/study-with-us/graduate/) by selecting APPLY NOW. Separate applications are required to be considered for more than one degree or certificate program. The processing fee for a second application may be waived if a student applies for simultaneous admission to a Graduate Certificate embedded within a degree program. An embedded Graduate Certificate refers to course work for the degree program that can also be applicable to the Graduate Certificate.

Test scores: Colleges may require that an applicant to Graduate School take the appropriate standardized test(s). Applicants for admission should visit the web pages of the colleges for specific test score requirements for the degree.

All international students are required to submit documentation of English proficiency before their application can be evaluated. The scores must be achieved within two years of application to the Graduate School. Minimum acceptable scores:

• Paper-based TOEFL score of 550 or higher.
• Internet-based TOEFL score of 80 or higher.
• IELTS score of 6.5 or higher total on 4 academic modules.
• DuoLingo score of 105 or higher.

Admission: Official admission notification will be emailed to each student by the Graduate School to the email address used to submit the application.

Note that in many cases, graduate admission decisions are based on the anticipated completion of an undergraduate degree. This decision is automatically withdrawn if the bachelor’s degree is not awarded before the date of registration.

Graduate Degree Admission Categories

Unconditional Admission

Unconditional admission requires that the applicant must have earned a bachelor’s degree or its equivalent from a regionally accredited American university or from a foreign institution of acceptable and verifiable standing. Accreditation status is verified using the American Council on Education’s publication Accredited Institutions of Postsecondary Education, and through use of the U.S. Department of Education’s Database of Accredited Postsecondary Institutions and Programs. The final decision rests with the Dean of the Graduate School and is based upon the recommendation of the admissions officials of the academic college the student wishes to enter. The following are minimum requirements for unconditional admission consideration:

1. Applicant must have earned a four-year bachelor’s degree from a college or university accredited at the institutional level by an accreditor recognized by the US Department of Education. Credentials of international students will be evaluated individually by the institution.
2. Minimum overall GPA of 2.50 on a 4.0 scale grade point average on all work attempted for the baccalaureate degree or 2.75 GPA on the last 60 hours attempted or a minimum overall GPA of 3.0 on at least nine hours of graduate credit.
3. Satisfactory scores on standardized test(s) specified by the academic college (if applicable).
4. Submission of all official admission documents to the Graduate School.

Admission to doctoral programs are granted only to applicants who meet the requirements for unconditional admission. As noted earlier, specific degree programs may impose higher standards for admission.

Conditional Admission

Conditional admission requires that the applicant must have earned a bachelor’s degree or its equivalent from a regionally accredited American university or from a foreign institution of acceptable and verifiable standing. Conditional admission may be gained by those applicants not qualified for unconditional admission while satisfying or validating his/her undergraduate deficiencies or meeting other conditions of admission. The final decision rests with the Dean of the Graduate School and is based upon the recommendation of the admissions officials of the academic college the student wishes to enter. The following are minimum requirements for conditional admission consideration:

1. Applicant must have earned a four-year bachelor’s degree from a college or university accredited at the institutional level by an accreditor recognized by the US Department of Education. Credentials of international students will be evaluated individually by the institution.
2. Minimum overall GPA of 2.25 on a 4.0 scale grade point average on all work attempted for the baccalaureate degree or 2.50 GPA on the last 60 hours attempted.
3. A maximum of 9 semester hours may be earned while students fulfill stipulated admission conditions. If conditions are not removed after 9 hours of graduate course work, the student will be dropped from the Graduate School.
    

Conditional status may be changed to Unconditional status when a student earns a minimum of 9 hours of graduate credit at Louisiana Tech, provided he or she has fulfilled the conditions of admission and has a B average (3.0/4.0 scale) on all work pursued for graduate credit, including no grade lower than C and not more than one course with a grade of C. Students must obtain unconditional status and meet all admission requirements before a degree will be conferred by Louisiana Tech University.  Please note that these admission requirements are the minimum established by the Graduate School. Departments and degree programs may have additional and more stringent admission conditions. Please check the relevant web pages for program-specific admission requirements.

Conditional status may be changed to unconditional status when a student earns a minimum of 9 hours of graduate credit at Louisiana Tech, provided the conditions of admission have been met and the student has maintained good standing as a graduate student.

Students must attain unconditional status and meet all admission requirements prior to graduation from Louisiana Tech University.

Transfer Admissions

The transfer admission category applies to an applicant who

1. is currently enrolled in a graduate program at another institution in the US and seeks admission to Louisiana Tech University’s Graduate School without completing that program, or
2. was previously enrolled in a graduate program at another institution in the US, but did not complete that degree.

Transfer admission students must meet the same requirements as entering graduate students, and be in good academic standing at the current institution (i.e., be eligible to return to the previous institution). An official transcript from the current institution reflecting the up-to-date academic record must be submitted before an admission decision can be made.

International Student Transfer

International transfer students (student visa holders currently attending another institution in the United States) must meet the criteria for transfer admissions (see above). The International Student Office will administer the immigration transfer process for international students arriving from other U.S. schools including issuing a new I-20 immigration document. International transfer students will receive the I-20 when they arrive on campus. A “Foreign Student Advisor Transfer Report” signed by an official from the previous school must be provided to the Louisiana Tech University International Student Office before arrival.

Readmission

Students must be in good academic standing with a minimum GGPA of 3.00. Students with a GGPA below 3.00 must appeal for reinstatement by following the Graduate Appeal Process in the current catalog.

Students returning to the same graduate program who interrupt their studies and do not enroll at Louisiana Tech for two or more consectuvie quarters (except for the Summer term) should complete a Readmission Application and pay the application processing fee. Programs determine during the application review whether applicants must pursue new curriculums or may remain in a previous curriculum, and whether previously complete course work is current and applicable to the degree program.

Students who interrupt their studies and do not enroll in the same graduate program at Louisiana Tech for any one quarter (excluding the summer term), must also submit a Readmission Graduate Application but no processing fee is required.

Students changing degree programs within the same college of their current degree program will complete a new Graduate Application, but a processing fee is not required. The curriculum and catalog in effect at the time of admission into the new program will be followed and no mixing of curricula is permitted in satisfying requiremtns for graduation.

Students changing degree programs requiring a transfer from one college to another college at Louisiana Tech must complete a new Graduate Application and pay the processing fee. The curriculum and catalog in effect at the time of admission into the new program will be followed and no mixing of curricula is permitted in satisfying requiremtns for graduation.

Readmission students who have attended another college/university since last enrolled at Louisiana Tech must submit an official transcript from each college/university attended. Transcripts must be transmitted directly from the college/university to Louisiana Tech. If the required transcripts are not received by the end of the first quarter of readmission, the student will not be permittted to enroll for any subsequent quarters. If the required transcripts are submitted and the student is determined to have been ineligible for readmission, no credit will be awarded for that quarter. Official Louisiana Tech academic transcripts will not be provided to any student with incomplete readmission records.

A new Plan of Study with all appropriate signatures must be filed with the Graduate School by the end of the quarter in which the new program is started (see Plan of Study section).

Graduate Non-Degree Admission Categories

All non-degree admission categories are subject to the minimum requirements for conditional admission as detailed above.

Graduate Certificate Program

Students wishing to enroll in this non-degree category must complete a Graduate School application, pay the processing fee, provide an official baccalaureate degree-posted transcript, and meet course prerequisites. and understand that they are not admitted to a graduate degree program.

Students seeking admission to a degree program containing an embedded Graduate Certificate (course work for the program and Graduate Certificate are applicable to both) during the same term are required to complete separate applications but can request the second application processing fee be waived.

Students must maintain the minimum grade standards set for Conditional admission to the Graduate School. See section on Grade Requirements for Graduate Students Admitted Conditionally. Each academic college has the prerogative to set higher standards for its respective graduate students.

A Graduate Certificate Program is a set of pre-determined subject-matter-specific graduate courses pursued to enhance an individual’s mastery of a subject area without completing a master’s program. As such, certificate programs are not shortened versions of existing master’s programs.

Successful completion of a Graduate Certificate Program results in the receipt of a certificate that specifies graduate certification in a specific area and is accompanied by the appropriate posting on the official Louisiana Tech University Certificate transcript.

Life-Long Learning (LLL)

Students wishing to enroll in this non-degree category must complete a Graduate School application, pay the application processing fee, must meet minimum Undergraduate Cumulative Grade Point Average (UGPA) requirements for Conditional admission, provide an official baccalaureate degree-posted transcript, meet course prerequisites, and understand that they are not admitted to a graduate degree program. Teachers may use their state certification in lieu of an official transcript for admission to the Life-Long Learning category. Each academic college has the prerogative to set higher standards for its respective graduate students. There is no limit to the number of courses that students may take in this category as long as they maintain the minimum grade standards set for Conditional admission to the Graduate School. See section on Grade Requirements for Graduate Students Admitted Conditionally.

LLL students may apply for a graduate degree program at any time by completing a Graduate School application and by meeting the admission requirements for that specific program. After admission to a graduate degree program, students may file a written request to the Director of Graduate Studies of the college to apply up to a maximum of 12 total semester hours of graduate credit earned under LLL to their graduate degree program upon review and approval by the student’s graduate advisor and coordinator of the graduate degree program.

Transient

Students admitted to a graduate program at another institution wishing to take a course(s) for transfer credit may be allowed to take such a course(s) with the approval of the Director of Graduate Studies in the college in which he or she would normally enroll. Students applying for transient status must

• Submit an official transcript certifying that they are actively pursuing an advanced degree at another institution and
• Be in good academic standing at that institution.

A maximum of 12 hours of transient credit will be allowed. Transcripts shall note that such credit is associated with the transient admission. Transient admission is good for one quarter only and students must reapply for any subsequent quarters.

Inter-Institutional Cooperative Program (ICP)

Students may enroll in graduate courses through the ICP program between Louisiana Tech and Grambling State University. Students participating in the ICP program must apply for transient status and follow the appropriate admission procedures. Transient admission is good for one quarter only. Courses taken through the ICP program must be included on a student’s approved Plan of Study in order to count towards degree requirements, and all course prerequisites must be met. Students not in good standing at one university are not eligible to enroll in graduate courses at the other university. Additional information may be obtained from the Office of the Registrar, 318/257-2176.

Transcript Submission Requirements

All official transcripts must be received in the Graduate School preferably 30 days in advance of registration for the session in which the student expects to enroll. Transcripts must be mailed directly from the college/university to Louisiana Tech Graduate School.

Policies governing the submission of transcripts for all graduate students are as follows:

• Transcripts must be mailed or electronically transmitted directly from the college/university to Louisiana Tech Graduate School and must bear the stamp/seal of the issuing institution. Transcripts must be from an accredited college/university. Accreditation status is verified using the American Council on Education’s publication Accredited Institutions of Postsecondary Education, and through use of the U.S. Department of Education’s Database of Accredited Postsecondary Institutions and Programs.
• Transcripts are accepted from institutions accredited by the following associations:
  • Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools, Commission on Higher Education
  • Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities
  • North Central Association of Colleges and Schools, Higher Learning Commission
  • New England Association of Schools and Colleges, Inc., Commission on Institutions of Higher Education
  • Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, Commission on Colleges
  • Western Association of Schools and Colleges, Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges
  • Western Association of Schools and Colleges, Accrediting Commission for Senior Colleges and Universities.

Masters and Doctoral: Students must submit all official transcripts (undergraduate and graduate) for evaluation of eligibility for these programs.

Transient and ICP: Students must submit an official transcript verifying that they are actively pursuing an advanced degree at another institution and are in good academic standing at the institution.

Life-Long Learning: Students must provide an official baccalaureate degree-posted transcript. Teachers may use their state certification for admission in lieu of an official transcript.

Graduate Certificate: Students must submit only an official baccalaureate degree-posted transcript.

Complete and official transcripts from all colleges/universities attended, whether credit was earned or transferable, must be received by Louisiana Tech directly from the institution. Students who fail to acknowledge attendance at any college or university in which they have been registered are subject to having their admission canceled or, if enrolled, to being dismissed from Louisiana Tech without refund of fees. Evaluations concerning probation, suspension, grades, grade point average, hours pursued, and hours earned are based on Louisiana Tech’s standards regardless of prior determinations at the other institutions attended. No student is admitted if under academic or disciplinary suspension from another college or university. No credit earned while under suspension from another institution is accepted toward a degree at Louisiana Tech.

Graduating Seniors - Concurrent Baccalaureate and Master’s Program Enrollment

The Concurrent Baccalaureate and Master’s Program enrollment is available to undergraduate seniors who are within 30 semester credit hours (SCH) of completing baccalaureate degree requirements at an institutional level accreditation (referred to as home institution from this point forward) and have a minimum cumulative undergraduate GPA of 3.2 on all undergraduate work attempted.

Students in this category may apply for Concurrent enrollment (see below), specifying a Master’s degree at Louisiana Tech towards which they may earn graduate credit in the concurrent enrollment program. If these students pursue the specified Master’s degree after earning the Baccalaureate degree, an application to the Graduate School will be processed without an application fee, the graduate credits earned thus far will apply towards the Master’s degree, and standardized tests such as the GRE and GMAT required of regular applicants may be waived by the program. The following criteria and regulations apply:

• Students retain undergraduate status at the home institution until they are awarded the baccalaureate degree.
• Once admitted, studentsmust enroll in one graduate course in the admitted term to retain Concurrent status and are expected to continue enrolling in subsequent regular terms, (i.e., Summer enrollment is not expected, unless the admitted term is Summer).
• Students may earn no more than 12 graduate credit hours while completing baccalaureate requirements, at the typical rate of three graduate credits per term. Enrollment for up to six graduate credit hours in one term may be allowed upon written approval of the student’s Dean at the home institution, and Louisiana Tech’s Dean of the Graduate School.
• While in the Concurrent program, the student shall maintain a minimum cumulative graduate GPA of 3.0 and remain in good academic standing as a graduate student at Louisiana Tech.
• The maximum number of consecutive terms (excluding Summer) in the Concurrent Enrollment program shall be four.

An application for Concurrent admission should be completed through Louisiana Tech’s Graduate School website (along with payment of the application fee), and submitted along with official transcripts, 2 letters of recommendation from faculty members at the home institution, and a letter from the student’s Dean at the home institution certifying that the applicant

(a) is within 30 hours of completing the requirements for the Baccalaureate degree, and

(b) has a cumulative GPA of 3.2 or higher in all undergraduate work pursued thus far.

A Concurrently enrolled student will be required to submit a letter from the Dean of the home institution, if not Louisiana Tech University, each quarter certifying that the student continues to make satisfactory academic progress towards the Baccalaureate degree.

A Concurrently enrolled student may lose Concurrent status in the following ways:

• If after being admitted to the Concurrent enrollment program, a student fails to enroll for a graduate course at Louisiana Tech in the admitted term.
• If after entering the Concurrent enrollment program, the student does not enroll in graduate courses for more than one quarter. Students in this category will have to apply for re-admission to the Concurrent enrollment program to continue earning graduate credits.
• If after entering the Concurrent enrollment program, a student enrolls in a graduate course that is not applicable to the Master’s degree specified in the Concurrent application.
• Upon completion of the baccalaureate program, a student decides to pursue a Master’s degree other than the one specified on the Concurrent application.
• The quarterly and cumulative graduate GPA drops below the minimum required 3.0. Concurrent students in this category will be dropped from the Concurrent program and must appeal for reinstatement prior to any further graduate admission or enrollment.

Students losing Concurrent enrollment status but who wish to pursue a Master’s degree at Louisiana Tech will be expected to meet the same admission requirements as regular applicants to the program. They will have to apply for admission to the Graduate School with application fee; the waiver of GRE and GMAT mentioned above may no longer apply; and the applicability of any graduate credits earned thus far towards the Master’s degree sought will be determined by the program.

While most Master’s degree programs offer Concurrent enrollment, only a limited number of programs offer all courses in an online format, and some offer selected courses in an online format. Students whose home institution is physically outside of the travel radius of the Louisiana Tech University campus should review the program selection carefully to determine if the graduate courses they wish to take are available online to facilitate Concurrent enrollment.

Graduating Seniors - Accelerated Baccalaureate and Master’s Program

Louisiana Tech undergraduate students in the Concurrent Enrollment Program may, subject to the approval of the undergraduate degree program administrators, use up to 12 credit hours of graduate courses to satisfy requirements in their undergraduate curriculum. The maximum number of hours that can be double counted in this fashion is subject to the requirement that the combined Baccalaureate and Master’s curricula will total a minimum of 144 credit hours.

Matriculation and Changing Programs

Students are expected to matriculate in the term in which admission is granted unless a request to defer the admission has been made to the Graduate School and approved. Students should follow registration procedures outlined on the Louisiana Tech web site (BOSS).

Upon arrival at Louisiana Tech, an international graduate student must enroll in the program he or she was admitted to for a minimum of one quarter. After fulfilling this requirement, a student may apply for admission to another academic program at Louisiana Tech University by following the Graduate School’s admission procedures.

Persons previously banned for disciplinary reasons or misconduct or criminal activities cannot register without the specific approval of the Dean of the Graduate School and the Vice President for Student Advancement.

Residency Regulations for Tuition Purposes

The residence status of an applicant or student is determined in accordance with the University of Louisiana System regulations and is based upon evidence provided in the application for admission and related documents. Residency status is not determined for students registered for 3 or fewer credit hours. Louisiana residency requirements are detailed under Louisiana Tech Policy 2309 (https://www.latech.edu/administration/policies/p-2309/). Any appeals of residency classification should follow the guidelines provided. Graduate applicants should address their residency appeal to the Dean of the Graduate School.

Regulations for Enrollment, Registration, and Graduation

Graduate Course Requirements

All 500-level courses are open to graduate students. Courses numbered in the 600- and 700-level generally require doctoral classification and are specifically associated with doctoral programs. There are courses numbered in the 400-level that are usually for seniors but may carry graduate credit. Graduate students taking 400-level courses for graduate credit are required to undertake additional work in order to bring the course requirements up to graduate-level rigor.

Curriculum Matriculation

Graduate students entering specific degree programs will follow the curricula in effect at the time of their admission to the University, as long as the students are pursuing their degrees on a continuing basis. Students changing degree programs or those transferring from other institutions will follow the curriculum in effect at the time of admission. Students may also follow an updated curriculum that becomes effective while in a program of study. The curriculum followed must be reflected in the Plan of Study approved by the degree program, college, and Graduate School.

Student Loads

A graduate student is verified as full-time with 6 or more graduate semester hours. A student receiving an assistantship must be qualified as a full-time graduate student. A graduate degree candidate, in his/her final quarter, may carry only the courses required for graduation and still be considered a full-time student.

The maximum graduate credit course load for a graduate student is 12 semester hours in a regular session. Not more than 9 hours of this total may be 500- and 600-level courses which will include, in master’s programs, research and thesis and/or special non-lecture courses, except with the permission of the student’s director of graduate studies. Graduate Assistants may not enroll for more than 9 hours.

Continuous Enrollment and Registration

If circumstances prevent continuous enrollment for one or more quarters (except Summer Quarter), graduate students must apply for readmission. Graduate students must remain continuously enrolled during the research/practicum phase of their program. Students requiring, at any point during the academic term in question, a faculty or staff member’s time and assistance, laboratory facilities, library services, etc., while engaged in research or practicum, must register for a minimum of 3 hours of graduate credit in the subject associated with the required activity – research or practicum. Students sitting for examinations only (i.e. not registered for coursework or research) must register in the appropriate examination course required by their academic program. Graduate students must comply with time limitations for completion of programs set by policy for the graduate program in which they are enrolled.

Graduate students will conform to the registration schedule of the University and may not enter later than the last allowable date published in the Academic Calendar by the University Registrar.

Graduate International students are required to be enrolled for a minimum of 6 graduate credit hours in their degree program each term until graduation to maintain F-1 student visa status.

During his/her first quarter of graduate study, and before registering for successive quarters, a graduate student must obtain his or her advisor’s approval of his/her proposed program (Plan of Study).

Graduate Status for Graduation

Graduate students are required to register for graduation in the quarter during which they complete all degree requirements. The candidate must be unconditionally admitted to their program (e.g. not in reinstatement/conditional readmission status).

A candidate for graduation who fails to pass the final examination in only one course during the last quarter’s work may be permitted to take a “deficiency examination” in this course. If the student fails the “deficiency examination,” the course must be repeated.

Graduation

Commencement exercises are held and advanced degrees may be conferred at the close of any quarter, including the Summer Quarter. A student who is scheduled to receive a degree at the end of a quarter is expected to attend the commencement exercises. Degree candidates are required to arrive at the place of assembly no later than 1 hour before commencement exercises are scheduled to begin. A candidate can petition to be absent through a written request to the University President.

The applicant for graduation must be registered at Louisiana Tech University. Applications for graduation must be reported to the appropriate director for graduate studies and to the University Registrar by Friday of the third week of the quarter in which the student expects to graduate. Arrangements for caps, gowns, and hoods should be made in the University Bookstore.

Oral Defense of Thesis or Dissertation

Graduate students completing a thesis or dissertation as part of their degree program should check with their academic college for specific requirements. Oral defense of a thesis or dissertation must take place no later than the 10^th class day of the quarter of expected graduation to allow sufficient time for revisions of the thesis/dissertation as recommended by the graduate committee, and for format checks by the college and the Graduate School. Students are strongly advised to complete their defense in the prior quarter. All published deadlines for submission of a thesis or dissertation to the Graduate School and Library must be met.

Grading System

Louisiana Tech uses a letter grade system and a 4.0 scale for GPA calculation, as described in the “Academic Standards” section of the Catalog. See below for explanation of certain grade categories that apply to graduate students.

Permanent Incomplete (PI) Grade

An “I” grade is awarded for Research & Thesis (551), or Research & Dissertation (651, 751, or PSYC 660) courses until the quarter in which the thesis or dissertation is accepted by the Graduate School. All grades of “I” awarded for these courses will be converted to Permanent Incomplete (PI) grades by the designated College representative (i.e. Associate Dean for Graduate Studies, Research Advisor, Instructor of Record, etc.) under the following circumstances:

• Student resigned from the academic program without completing the thesis or dissertation.
• Student changed from a thesis track to a non-thesis or practicum track within the same Master’s program.
• Time limitation for the degree has expired.

Thesis and dissertation course attempts with “I” grades changed to “PI” grades will remain on the student’s graduate transcript. The attempted hours will continue to be tracked in the cumulative attempted graduate semester hours statistic. The “PI” grade has no effect on GPA. The legend on the transcript will instruct the recipient that the student’s thesis or dissertation is no longer in progress and will not be completed at Louisiana Tech University.

Thesis or dissertation “I” grades converted to “PI” grades are not eligible for use toward any future academic program, or a future return to the initial program, at Louisiana Tech University.

No Credit (NC) Grade

The grade NC denotes no credit or hours earned and is not computed in any GPA calculation. At the graduate level, the NC grade is awarded for written and oral qualifying examinations, Research & Thesis (551), or Research & Dissertation (651, 751, or PSYC 660) courses if certain minimum requirements are not met.

Graduate School Grade Requirements

To receive a graduate degree from Louisiana Tech University, a student must be unconditionally admitted to the Graduate School and have a cumulative GPA of at least 3.0 on all work pursued for graduate credit while registered at Louisiana Tech, as listed on the student’s transcript, and a GPA of at least 3.0 on all graduate courses listed on the student’s approved plan of study. No grade lower than “C” and no more than two “C“s will count toward a graduate degree. If more than two grades of “C” or below are earned during a student’s graduate program and the cumulative GPA is below the 3.0 required, a student will be dropped from graduate status to post-baccalaureate status. Students dropped to post-baccalaureate status must appeal for reinstatement by following the Graduate Status Appeals Procedure. Each academic college has the prerogative to establish higher standards for its respective graduate students. Students are advised to refer to program-level and college standards as well as grade requirements.

Grade Requirements for Students Admitted Unconditionally

A graduate student unconditionally admitted to a graduate degree program will be placed on graduate academic probation if his/her quarterly or cumulative GPA, as listed on the student’s graduate transcript, drops below 3.0 on all work pursued for graduate credit. The student will be allowed two additional quarters (three consecutive quarters total) to regain his/her good standing in graduate status by restoring his/her graduate cumulative GPA above the 3.0 minimum and providing he/she earns grades no lower than a “B” while on academic probation. A student will be dropped from graduate status to postbaccalaureate status if he/she does not fulfill the requirements to be restored from graduate academic probation to unconditional graduate status during the 3 consecutive quarters. The student will be required to appeal his/her dismissal from the graduate program through the appropriate individual(s) in his/her college to the Graduate Council to be reinstated to graduate status.

Grade Requirements for Students Admitted Conditionally

A graduate student conditionally admitted to a graduate degree or graduate non-degree program is not eligible for graduate academic probation and therefore must maintain a 3.0 graduate average while completing the conditions of his/her graduate admission. Failure to achieve a quarterly and cumulative graduate GPA of 3.0 or better will result in the student being dropped from graduate status to post-baccalaureate status. The student will be required to appeal his/her dismissal from the graduate program through the appropriate individual(s) in his/her college to the Graduate Council to be reinstated to graduate status.

Students admitted under the Graduate Certificate Program, Life Long Learning program, Transient, and Interinstitutional Cooperative Program (ICP) categories are required to earn a 3.0 or better each quarter of registration.

Appeals Procedures

Final Grade Appeals Procedure

A final grade in a course represents the cumulative evaluation and judgment of the faculty member placed in charge of that course. If a student thinks the final grade in a course was not determined in accordance with University policies or was determined arbitrarily, the student may appeal by adhering to and completing the following three-step procedure by the 10th class day of the academic quarter immediately following the quarter in which the appealed grade was received.

1. Confer with the faculty member, setting forth clearly all points of concern. If the student remains unsatisfied with the results of the conference, proceed to Step 2.
2. Confer with the head of the department in which the course is taught, clearly setting forth all points of concern. If the student remains unsatisfied, proceed to Step 3.
3. Write a letter of appeal to the dean of the college in which the course is taught. The dean will send copies of the letter to the faculty member and department head.

• The student must initiate the written appeal by providing an accurate and complete statement of all facts pertaining to the matter. Falsification may result in disciplinary action.
• The dean must receive the letter within the first 10 class days of the academic quarter immediately following the quarter in which the appealed grade was received.

Notification: The dean may make a decision, which would be final in the matter. The decision should normally be communicated to the student within 10 class days after the appeal deadline.

The dean may refer the appeal to a college committee for review and recommendation. The committee’s report would be a recommendation to the dean, whose decision would be final. When appeals are referred to the Committee, the final decision should normally be communicated to the student by the dean within 20 class days after the appeal deadline.

In reviewing the appeals, both the dean and the committee would have broad latitude in their procedures and recommendations, taking appropriate account of the interest of both the student and the faculty member. In all cases, the dean shall communicate the final decision to the student, faculty member, department head, and, if a grade change is involved, the University Registrar.

NOTE: In the case of academic misconduct where a faculty member invokes a grade penalty on a student, the faculty member will report the incident and penalty to his/her department head and to the Office of Student Life. If the student chooses to appeal the sanctions, the student will follow the procedures contained in the Academic Honor Code (Section Eight: Appeals) paragraphs of this catalog.

Graduate Status Appeals Procedure

Students who have been dropped to postbaccalaureate status for failing to meet the grade requirements described above may appeal to be reinstated so that they may continue to enroll in graduate courses under “conditional” status. Students who are not in good standing may also appeal to be reinstated solely for the purpose of applying to another program. The new program determines any condition of admissions. The appeals process is initiated by the student by completing and submitting the web-based form which can be found at https://forms.latech.edu. The appeal is reviewed by the student’s graduate advisor and the college Director of Graduate Studies who will either approve the appeal and specify conditions for reinstatement or deny the appeal. The outcome of the appeal will be communicated by email to the student by the Graduate School.

• The College decision may be appealed to the University Graduate Council by sending the appeal and supporting documents to the Dean of Graduate School. The Council will make a decision at a scheduled meeting or by poll vote.
• A student may appeal the decision of the Graduate Council to the Provost.
• A decision of the Provost may be appealed to the President of Louisiana Tech University.

Appeal for Reinstatement When Changing Programs

Students who are in poor academic standing at the time of leaving the program and /or college must submit a written letter of appeal to the original College to reinstate them in that College solely for the purpose of applying to another program.

Academic Misconduct

Academic misconduct at the University is determined by the faculty member, committee, or other supervisor(s) under whom such misconduct occurs. The misconduct may occur in an individual class, a comprehensive exam, a practicum, an internship, a thesis or dissertation, a research project, a multi-quarter sequence of courses, or any other academically related matter or setting. Sanctions may range from dismissal from the University or an academic degree program to a failing grade or other penalty as determined by the faculty member, Plan of Study committee, supervising authority, or judiciary. The student has the right to appeal the charge of academic misconduct in accordance with the procedures contained in the Academic Honor Code (Section Eight: Appeals) paragraphs of this catalog.

General Requirements for Master’s Degrees

The requirements outlined below are the minimum required by the Graduate School. Some departments impose requirements that are more restrictive and extensive than these general requirements. The student is advised to check the department or college section of the Catalog for the area of study to be pursued.

Advisory Committee

All students are assigned a temporary advisor upon admission to Graduate School. The primary responsibility of the temporary advisor is to counsel the student upon arrival on courses to take during the first term of study. Depending on the degree and option pursued, the program or the student may then choose or be assigned a permanent advisor, as described below.

Thesis, Practicum, and/or Comprehension Examination with Committee Membership Programs

Students pursuing a Master’s degree with the thesis or research-based practicum options and/or comprehension examinations overseen by a committee will choose or are assigned a Major Advisor within the first year of study. After consultation with the Major Advisor, an Advisory Committee consisting of 3-5 members of the graduate faculty will be appointed for each student no later than the second year of study. For students pursuing a program of study administered by more than one college, the Advisory Committee shall consist of at least 3 members, with at least 1 member from each of the participating colleges. Colleges may require a specific makeup of committee membership for specific degree programs.

Course Work Only, Practicum, and/or Comprehensive Examinations with Single Membership Programs

Students pursuing a Master’s degree with the course work only, or practice-based practicum options, and/or comprehensive examinations overseen by a single individual are only required to have the Major Advisor. However, the decision to require an Advisory Committee will be left to the discretion of the College and Academic Program.

Plan of Study

The student should consult with the Major Advisor and develop an initial Plan of Study by the end of the first quarter of graduate study, which should be submitted for approvals through the https://forms.latech.edu web site. The Plan of Study may be revised at any time with the approval of the Major Advisor and Advisory Committee. A final Plan of Study that shows all graduate grades earned except final grades for the current quarter must be completed and submitted to the Graduate School prior to graduation. This document will be the basis for determining whether the student has met all the requirements for the degree.

Minimum Credit Requirement

The minimum credit requirement for the master’s degree is 30 semester hours of graduate work, not more than 6 of which may be allowed for research and thesis. In optional programs not requiring a thesis, the standard course requirements should not be less than 30 hours. Students who do not write a thesis must demonstrate acceptable proficiency in research and reporting. A minimum of one half of the credit hours for the degree must be in courses open only to graduate students.

Transfer Credits

A graduate student must earn at least two-thirds of the credit hours required for a master’s degree at Louisiana Tech University.

Upon approval of the department involved, 1/3 of the hours required for the master’s degree, a maximum of 12 semester hours of graduate resident credit, may be transferred for degree credit from a U. S. regionally accredited college or university. Accreditation status is confirmed through the publications Higher Education Directory and Accredited Institutions of Postsecondary Education. The grade earned must be “B” or above, and the credits must be accepted as applicable to the master’s degree program by the student’s academic college. Extension courses, research and thesis, or practicum credits are not eligible for transfer. Transfer credit from non-U.S. institutions may require the evaluation of transcripts by an external agency. The request for transfer credit is initiated by the student through the advisor and the Director of Graduate Studies of the college. The final approval of transfer credit rests with the Dean of the Graduate School.

Thesis

The specific requirements for the structure and content of a thesis is established by the colleges or specific degree programs. The “Thesis & Dissertation” pages of the Graduate School website provides links to the general guidelines, the signature forms (college-specific), and a template which incorporates acceptable format requirements. Some degree programs may have different format requirements which, if consistently applied, are also acceptable.

Students requiring a faculty member’s time and assistance, laboratory facilities, library services, etc., while engaged in research and/or practicum must register for a minimum of 3 hours of graduate credit in the subject associated with the required activity – research, or practicum.

Should a chair of a thesis committee leave the University and no suitable faculty member on staff at the University be available to fulfill the duties of chair, then, at the discretion of the College and with the approval of the Dean of the Graduate School, the chair in question may continue to serve on a voluntary basis with an honorary appointment to the University’s Graduate Faculty for that specific purpose only. The honorary appointment will normally terminate upon the student’s successful completion of the thesis or upon the chair’s subsequent replacement by a suitable faculty member on staff at the University.

Examinations

Oral and/or written comprehensive examinations will be administered by the Advisory Committee sufficiently in advance of graduation in order that the dean of the academic college (or a representative) in which the student is a candidate for a graduate degree may notify the Graduate School Office. This notification should be made at least one week before commencement and should state that all requirements have been satisfied, contingent upon satisfactory grades for the final quarter. Otherwise, the candidate will be delayed one quarter in receiving his or her degree. A student who does not successfully pass the comprehensive examination is entitled to only one repeat examination. No oral or written comprehensive examination is required for the MBA and MPA.

Time Limit for Degree

The time limit for the completion of all requirements for the master’s degree shall be six consecutive calendar years from the time of initial enrollment in the degree. 

Appeal:  Appeals for extension of the time limit must originate with the student. The appeal must describe the circumstances that prevented the student from completing the degree in a timely manner, a plan, and a timeline for the remaining steps to complete the degree. The appeal will be reviewed by the College graduate director, Dean of the College, and the Dean of the Graduate School and, if appropriate, approved. An extension to the time limit for degree completion will not normally exceed one year. 

Dual-Degree Progrmas

Students wishing to pursue two degrees simultaneously (e.g., a master’s and a doctoral degree) must provide the Graduate School with documentation for the Primary and Secondary degree program from the college(s) in which the degree program(s) resides. Appropriate admission procedures must be followed and separate applications submitted for each degree program. Each degree program must be supervised by an appropriate Advisory Committee with all paperwork, including Plan of Study, completed and submitted for each program being pursued. One degree is assigned as the primary degree and the other, secondary. The Primary program must be completed first. If two master’s degrees are sought simultaneously, the requirements for “Earning a Second Master’s Degree” (see below) apply to the secondary program.

Earning a Second Master’s Degree

A student pursuing a second master’s degree must earn a minimum of 18 additional graduate hours at Louisiana Tech, including thesis or practicum if required, and must satisfy the requirements for a minimum number of exclusive graduate courses to be taken in the area in which the second degree is being earned. Some programs may require more than 18 hours. A student pursuing a second master’s degree may be allowed to apply, from a previous graduate degree at Louisiana Tech University, a maximum of one-half the credits required for the second degree, if the courses are approved by the second degree program. Transfer hours will not be approved on a second master’s degree.

Pursing Two Concentrations

A graduate student may earn two concentrations within the same degree/major combination, provided that at least 30% of the total credit hours applied towards one concentration is distinct from the other, and the requirements for both concentrations are completed at the time of graduation. Thesis and Practicum credits from one concentration cannot be applied to the other. Separate Plans of Study are required for each concentration.

General Requirements for Doctoral Degrees

The doctoral degree is earned by intensive individual study, inquiry, and original research by a well-qualified candidate under the close supervision of appropriate graduate faculty.

Because of the unique nature of each doctoral program and external programmatic constraints such as accreditation guidelines, the university-authorized requirements for individual doctoral programs may be more rigorous than the general requirements listed in this section or as specified by the State Board of Supervisors, which would be described in the Students should refer to Catalog chapters under individual colleges or on appropriate college web sites.

Major Advisor and Doctoral Advisory Committee

An academic advisor  is assigned by the college to each student upon approval for admission to the Graduate School. In some colleges, the student is encouraged to find a research advisor in the first one or two terms who will then become the Major Advisor. It is the responsibility of the Major Advisor to confer with the student to assemble a Doctoral Advisory Committee comprised of three to five members of the Graduate Faculty (including the major advisor, who will chair the committee). Each college and degree program may have specific requirements for the Doctoral Advisory Committee membership.

Should a chair of a  Doctoral Advisory Committee leave the University and no suitable faculty member on staff at the University be available to fulfill the duties of chair, then, at the discretion of the College and with the approval of the Dean of the Graduate School, the chair in question may continue to serve on a voluntary basis with an honorary appointment to the University’s Graduate Faculty for that specific purpose only. The honorary  appointment will terminate upon the student’s successful completion of the thesis/dissertation or upon the chair’s subsequent replacement by a suitable faculty member on staff at the University.

The Doctoral Advisory Committee may also include external experts who do not hold faculty appointments at Louisiana Tech University. They should be nominated for honorary membership in the Graduate Faculty and meet the minimum criteria for nomination established by each college.

Plan of Study

The student and Major Advisor shall collaboratively develop an initial Plan of Study (PoS) by the end of the third quarter of graduate study (Summer Quarter is not counted). The PoS may be revised as needed or as various milestones are met during the doctoral study (see below). A final Plan of Study with all graduate grades earned except final grades for the current quarter must be completed and submitted to the Graduate School prior to graduation.

Doctoral Milestones and Admission to Candidacy

Doctoral students are expected to meet the following milestones unless alternate milestones are specified in the  explicitly specified in the College requirements for the degree:

1)     Written Comprehensive Examinations: These may be based on a set of core courses or a set of core competencies that are expected of all students in the degree program. Colleges may set a time limit by which this milestone must be achieved. Colleges may also restrict the number of times the Written Comprehensive Examination may be attempted.

2)     Oral Comprehensive Examinations: These may be based on the results of the written comprehensive examinations but may also include other topics relevant for the student’s dissertation research. Colleges may set a time limit by which this milestone must be achieved. Colleges may also restrict the number of times the Oral Comprehensive Examination may be attempted.

3)     Dissertation Proposal Defense: This typically requires the candidate to present and defend the subject matter and the plan to conduct the research on which the dissertation will be based. Colleges may set a time limit by which this milestone must be achieved. In some degree programs, the Oral Comprehensive and Dissertation Proposal Defense may be merged.

A student who successfully achieves the three milestones above is admitted to candidacy for the doctoral degree.

Students who are unable to meet the deadlines for meeting these milestones may appeal to the college Associate Dean for Graduate Studies through their Major Advisor. Such appeals should provide reasons for failing to meet the deadline and include a detailed plan for meeting the deadlines within a reasonable time period (typically two or three quarters).

Dissertation Defense

An examination defending the dissertation must be completed successfully. The dissertation defense will involve a public presentation followed by questions from the audience, and a private session in which the candidate interacts with the Doctoral Advisory Committee. If the dissertation contains proprietary or classified information, the sensitive material may be excluded from the public presentation. The Graduate School publishes the deadlines for reviewing and approving dissertations at the college and Graduate School levels. The dissertation defense should be scheduled such that these deadlines can be met.

Residence Requirement

The doctoral student is required to spend at least 3 quarters of graduate study in continuous residence. The transfer of course work from a recognized graduate school carries with it the transfer of residence credit, but a majority of the total credits required for a doctoral degree (excluding research and dissertation) must be earned from Louisiana Tech University.

Time Limitation

A program leading to a doctoral degree normally shall be the equivalent of at least 3 years of graduate study beyond the baccalaureate degree.

Doctoral students will have nine years from initial enrollment in the degree to complete all requirements for the degree. All prior work applied to the degree (including transfer and locally earned credits) must have been completed within nine calendar years immediately preceding the date on which the degree is conferred. A student who does not complete the doctoral degree within the time limits described will be dropped from the program.

Appeal:  Appeals for extension of the time limit must originate with the student. The appeal must describe the circumstances that prevented the student from completing the degree in a timely manner, a plan, and a timeline for the remaining steps to complete the degree. The appeal will be reviewed by the College graduate director, Dean of the College, and the Dean of the Graduate School and, if appropriate, approved. An extension to the time limit for degree completion will not normally exceed two years.

Minimum Credit Requirement

Formal course work is of indisputable value to bring the student into a scholarly relationship with members of the graduate faculty and to demonstrate accepted knowledge of a subject. A program leading to a doctoral degree normally shall be the equivalent of at least 3 years of graduate study beyond the baccalaureate degree.

Transfer Credits

Doctoral-level transfer credits can be granted for appropriate courses in which the grade earned is “B” or above, provided the credits are accepted as applicable to the degree program by the student’s academic college. Individual doctoral programs may impose more restrictive criteria for approving transfer credit. No transfer credit for extension courses will be accepted. Research and dissertation credits are not eligible for transfer.

The request for transfer credit is initiated by the student through the advisor and the Director of Graduate Studies of the college. Transfer credit from non-U.S. institutions may require the evaluation of transcripts by an external agency. The final approval of transfer credit rests with the Dean of the Graduate School. A majority of the total credits required for a doctoral degree (excluding research and dissertation) must be earned at Louisiana Tech.

Transfer credit for graduate courses will be posted on the student’s transcript only by written request from the student’s graduate committee chairperson and approved by the college graduate director. Transfer credit will be posted only for courses listed on the student’s approved Plan of Study.

Research and Dissertation

The dissertation is required of all candidates for the doctoral degree and must be supported by adequate research and independent study of a problem of reasonable scope under the close supervision of appropriate graduate faculty. Each student is responsible for becoming knowledgeable of Graduate School and specific program requirements and policies. A minimum of 15 semester hours of credit is granted for this research and dissertation through the medium of appropriate registrations as guided by the student’s Advisory Committee. Some doctoral programs may require more than the minimum 15 credit hours of research and dissertation. If the student does not complete the course during the quarter in which they are registered for it, an “I” grade will be given in the course until such time as all requirements are completed, including the dissertation. The limit on clearing this grade is graduation. Grades of “I” and “S” are used for these courses.

If a student’s dissertation contains proprietary information that the student wishes to retain as proprietary after submitting their dissertation to the Graduate School and the Library, the student is permitted, based upon the recommendation of the chair of the committee responsible for approval of a student’s dissertation to the Graduate School, to embargo the document for a specified time period (typically six months to a year). Dissertations that incorporate classified research may be subject to indefinite embargo.

General Requirements for Graduate Certificate Programs

Graduate Certificate Programs consist of a minimum of 12 to 24 graduate semester hours. No more than one-third of the 12 to 24 semester hours can be taken at the 400-level (eligible for graduate credit). All course work must be registered for and completed through Louisiana Tech University within a three-year (twelve-quarter) time limit.

Graduate students enrolled in Graduate Degree Programs (master’s or doctoral) at Louisiana Tech University can be concurrently enrolled in a Graduate Certificate Program. Undergraduate seniors are not eligible for concurrent enrollment in the Graduate Certificate Program.

The Graduate Certificate Program is a non-degree track. It should be noted that success in or successful completion of a Graduate Certificate Program does not guarantee admission into a Graduate Degree Program. Federal Title IV student financial assistance and tuition waivers will not be available for students classified as graduate certificate students.

Transfer Credits

Transfer credits cannot be used to meet the requirements of a Graduate Certificate program.

Grade Requirements

Graduate Certificate Program students will meet the following quarterly and cumulative grade requirements at Louisiana Tech University:

• Graduate Certificate students must maintain a quarterly and cumulative 3.0 GPA on all course work.
• No grade lower than “C” and no more than two C’s will be counted toward a Graduate Certificate Program.
• Failure to achieve the quarterly/cumulative GPA requirements will result in the student being dropped from the certificate program.
• Student appeals for reinstatement will follow the Graduate Status Appeals Procedure (details can be found in this chapter of the University Catalog).

Full-time status for a Graduate Certificate Program student will consist of a minimum of 6 graduate semester hours. Graduate Certificate Program students should remain continuously enrolled until completion of their program. If they are unable to do so, they must apply for admission upon return to the program.

Financial Aid for Graduate Students

Louisiana Tech University provides equal educational opportunities for all graduate students, and this policy of equal opportunity is fully implemented in all programs of financial aid to assist students in obtaining an education at Louisiana Tech.

An extensive financial aid program encompassing employment, loans, and scholarships is available to assist students. Need, skills, and academic performance are carefully weighed to develop a “financial package” for qualifying graduate students.

Employment is available in a wide variety of forms to the graduate student who is willing to work. Areas of work include but are not limited to clerical, maintenance, food service, laboratories, library, and dormitories. Pay rates are commensurate with the skill and experience required, and work is limited to avoid interference with academic pursuits. The University participates in the Federal College Work-Study program designed to assist students with financial need in addition to employment available through individual departments on campus.

The student is advised to make inquiries at the Office of Student Financial Aid in person or by writing to the office at Box 7925, Ruston, Louisiana 71272-0029 in January prior to fall enrollment.

Graduate students must be unconditionally admitted and enrolled in their degree program in order to qualify for their federal assistance. Federal regulations stipulate that any undergraduate and graduate student must be enrolled “in an eligible program for the purpose of obtaining a degree, certificate, or other recognized credential.” Non-degree students do not qualify for financial aid. Before graduate students can be considered eligible for any financial assistance, they must meet all admission standards as specified by the Graduate School and their academic college. Students admitted as Transient and Life-Long Learning are considered enrolled in a non-degree program, and, therefore, are not eligible to receive federal financial aid. Federal Title IV student financial assistance and tuition waivers are not available for students classified as graduate certificate students. All inquiries regarding these standards should be referred to the Graduate School or to the appropriate academic dean.

Graduate students must meet the requirements for “satisfactory progress” in order to be eligible for participation in the programs of student financial aid at Louisiana Tech University. What constitutes “satisfactory progress” and the consequences of failure to meet them successfully are applicable to the federal financial aid programs in a different fashion from regulations governing academic probation and suspension. Federal regulations frequently mandate amendments to established policies; consequently, financial aid participants (and potential participants) would be well-advised to maintain close liaison with the Financial Aid Office regarding these requirements.

All applicants for federal financial assistance must complete their file in the Financial Aid Office at least two months prior to the beginning of the quarter for which they seek to receive aid. Priority is given to applications received by or before published deadlines. The following sources of financial assistance are available to eligible students, providing funds are available.

Monthly Payment Options for Students and Families

Tuition Management Systems offer families several Monthly Payment Options to help make education expenses more affordable. The Interest-Free Monthly Payment Option enables families to spread all or part of the annual expenses over equal monthly payments. There are no interest charges and only a small annual fee. This plan includes life insurance protection covering the unpaid balance at no additional cost. Additionally, low-interest monthly payment options, including an unsecured loan, a home equity credit line, and federally backed loans, are also available. Please contact Tuition Management Systems at 1-800-722-4867 or 401-849-1550 for more information on these programs.

Federal Perkins Loan Program

A Perkins Loan is a low-interest loan designated to help undergraduate and graduate students pay educational costs. A graduate student may borrow up to an aggregate for all years of $60,000. A new student borrower has a nine-month “period of grace” after the student ceases to be enrolled on at least a half-time basis at the University before repayment must begin.

Subsidized and Unsubsidized Federal Stafford Loan Program (Formerly Guaranteed Student Loan Program)

Stafford loans are available for students meeting certain qualifications. Loans are made up to $8,500 per year for Subsidized Stafford and $12,000 per year in the Unsubsidized Stafford for graduate students. Aggregate loan limits are $138,500 for graduate/professional students of which no more than $65,500 of this amount may be in subsidized loans. The graduate debt limit includes any subsidized Stafford Loans received for undergraduate study.

After a student’s application has been processed by the Office of Student Financial Aid, his/her Stafford loan is electronically certified and submitted for guarantee. He/She will receive a promissory note from the Guarantee agency which he/she must complete with references and return to his/her lender, credit union, or savings and loan association. This process may take three weeks before funds are available. Under the Subsidized Stafford Loan Program, interest charges to the student and repayments begin six (6) months after the student is no longer at least a half-time student. In the Unsubsidized Stafford Loan Program, interest does accrue while the student is enrolled on at least a half-time basis and students are required to make interest payments while in school or have the interest capitalized. To apply, students must complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and a Louisiana Tech Financial Aid Data Form.

Academic Scholarships

Louisiana Tech University has a General Scholarship Program; in addition, each of the five colleges (Applied and Natural Sciences, Business, Education, Engineering & Science, and Liberal Arts) has its own scholarship program. Graduate students interested in applying should contact their academic college for more information.

Scholarships are divided into the following categories:

• Academic Scholarships. These scholarships are awarded on the basis of demonstrated ability—usually with regard to need.
• Grant-in-aid and Service Awards. Frequently, these are awarded on the basis of special skills and require the student to render a service to the University. Included in this category are scholarships in athletics, music, band, and academics.

Vocational Rehabilitation Grants

Vocational Rehabilitation is a public service program for physically and mentally handicapped individuals. To be eligible, a person must have a permanent disability which constitutes a job handicap. Graduate students with disabilities are advised to contact the Department of Vocational Rehabilitation in their districts for consideration of their cases.

Veterans’ Orphans Scholarships

These scholarships are awarded to sons and daughters of deceased war veterans. Students apply to the Department of Veterans’ Affairs in their district.

Graduate Assistantships

Assistantships are offered for students pursuing master’s or doctoral degree programs. A student should contact the appropriate college for information concerning these assistantships. Students admitted to Graduate School non-degree programs will not be considered for assistantship funding.

Applications for Graduate Assistantships should be submitted to the Graduate School at least 4 months prior to the term the student expects to enroll. For assistantships awarded in the Fall quarter, applications would need to be submitted by February 1 preceding the fiscal year (fiscal year begins July 1) for which application for admission is made. Assistantship forms can be completed online on the Graduate School web site at www.latech.edu/graduate_school/financial_assistance.

Eligibility requirements:

• Must be eligible for admission to the Graduate School,
• Must meet the requirements of the individual College, and
• Must submit a satisfactory standardized test score required in his/her field.

University Policies, Procedures, and Guidelines for Graduate Assistants may be viewed on the Graduate School website at www.latech.edu/graduate_school/financial_assistance/.

Federal regulations for student financial aid consider assistantships as a financial aid resource and must be calculated when determining a graduate student’s financial aid award.

Graduate Residentships

Graduate residentships are positions appointed by the Director of Housing for graduate students serving as hall directors in both men’s and women’s residence halls. Applicants may be married or single. There are limited positions available for summer. The applicant must be enrolled as a graduate student and agree to register for not more than six hours of course work each quarter. Responsibilities include residence hall staff supervision, program implementation, and coordination of hall administration. Additional information and application forms can be obtained from the Department of Housing, Louisiana Tech.