Academic Policies

For more information, visit the Policies page of the School of Public Health website.

Academic Calendar

The School of Public Health follows the Academic Calendar as set by the University Registrar. There is more information in this Bulletin and on the Office of the University Registrar’s website.

Grading Systems With Progress Requirements

Letter Grades 

Academic achievement at the School of Public Health is measured by letter grades. The School of Public Health utilizes a 4.0 GPA scale. Students pursuing a degree are graded in accordance with the following classification and point scale. A plus (+) or minus (-) sign after a grade indicates a greater or lesser degree of the assigned grade based on the merit of the work. The School of Public Health does not grant letter grades of A+ or D.

Grade Meaning Points per Unit
A 4.0
A- 3.7
B+ 3.3
B 3.0
B- 2.7
C+ 2.3
C 2.0
C- 1.7
D The School of Public Health does not assign this letter grade for any course.
F Failing work merits no credit and will not count toward the fulfilment of the degree requirement. 0.0
R Course has been retaken and student has earned a different grade. Holds no GPA value.
HP#, HP High Passing grade for Practicum and Capstone II.
P#, P Passing Grade for Practicum and Capstone II.
LP#, LP Low Pass, designated only for Practicum.
N No grade; interim placeholder. Must be replaced with a grade in order to receive credit.
I Incomplete; interim placeholder. Must be replaced with a grade. See Incomplete Grade Policy.
W Withdraw. Holds no GPA value.

Minimum GPA Policy and Academic Progress 

All degree programs at the School of Public Health require that students maintain a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0 (on a 4.0 scale). The first semester that a student fails to meet the minimum 3.0 cumulative GPA, they will automatically be placed on Academic Probation for the next semester. If the student is only enrolled in practicum credit (Pass/No Pass) for the next semester, then the student's grades will be reviewed the following semester, when grades are earned. Students will be notified by a representative of the MPH program regarding Academic Probation. 

There may be financial aid implications for a student placed on Academic Probation. Students should discuss their options with the Director of Student Financial Services. 

A student on Academic Probation for more than one semester will have their case reviewed by the MPH program.

GPA Requirements to Maintain Scholarships/Financial Aid 

School of Public Health Scholarships 

If a student drops below full-time status in the fall or spring semester, the student will be ineligible for their School of Public Health scholarship until they are once again enrolled full-time.  

Students who have been given scholarship must maintain a GPA of 3.0 each semester, fulfill any additional eligibility requirements, and enroll full time in the fall and spring semesters. Failure to meet a 3.0 GPA requirement after each semester places the scholarship at risk. 

If a student fails to meet the GPA requirement, they will receive a one-semester probation period. During the semester of probation, the student will continue to receive scholarship funds. If the student fails to meet the GPA requirement at the end of the probation semester, the scholarship may be rescinded. The program director will do a holistic review of the student's progress and with consultation from the Student Financial Services manager and may approve the continuation of scholarships after a second semester below a 3.0 cumulative GPA based on demonstrated academic improvement. 

Once a student attains the required 3.0 cumulative GPA, their scholarship will be reinstated. 

Federal Financial Aid 

The Department of Education (DOE) requires students to meet Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) standards in order to receive federal financial aid (loans and Work-Study). To maintain SAP, students must maintain the minimum requirements for cumulative GPA and pace. Students must also complete their degree within the maximum time frame allowed for the program, as defined below: 

  • The DOE SAP cumulative GPA requirement is 3.0 for a fall or spring semester. Summer semesters are not included. 
  • The pace requirement for maintaining SAP requires students earn credit for at least 67% of the credits attempted. Pace is defined as the number of credits earned divided by the number of credits attempted. 

If a student does not meet either the semester DOE GPA requirement or the pace requirement, federal financial aid is cancelled for the following semester. An appeal may be submitted to the Student Financial Services manager and must include the following: 

  • An explanation of why the SAP requirements were not achieved
  • How the student's situation has changed in order to achieve SAP requirements in the following semester

Students will be notified by the director of Student Financial Services regarding the decision on the appeal within two weeks of the appeal submission. 

Satisfactory Academic Progress for PhD Programs

SAP for students in PhD programs is monitored by the degree program and school. Failure to maintain SAP may result in a student's immediate dismissal or placement on Academic Probation for the ensuing year. Most financial awards, including all federally funded awards, are contingent on the maintenance of SAP. All requests for funding for the subsequent academic year (as well as other opportunities such as service on school- and/or university-level committees, teaching experiences, and so on), are contingent upon SAP.

The following are the minimum standards of SAP for PhD students:

  1. PhD students must adhere to the Washington University Academic and Professional Integrity Policy for PhD Students by demonstrating honest and ethical behavior in all scholastic endeavors and in everyday conduct outside the scholarly community.
  2. Students are expected to proceed at a pace appropriate to enable them to finish within the time limits and milestone markers of their program. Students are expected to have completed all PhD requirements except for the dissertation by no later than the end of the fourth year of full-time graduate study.
  3. Students must secure a faculty advisor by the beginning of their second academic year.
  4. Students are expected to maintain a cumulative grade point average of at least 3.0.
  5. Students are expected not to carry at one time any more than 9 credits for which the grades of I (incomplete) or N (grade not recorded) are recorded. According to the School of Public Health, students have 60 days from when semester grades are due, or the date the instructor sets (whichever comes first), to complete any outstanding work. Unresolved incomplete grades automatically convert to an F. This does not apply to grades that have not been entered and the N grade (grade not recorded).
  6. Students must satisfactorily pass the Area Statement and Qualifying Exam, ideally by August 1 following the third academic year and no later than August 1 following the fourth academic year.
  7. After four years of full-time graduate study, doctoral students who cannot identify three faculty members who are willing to serve on their Dissertation Committee are considered not to be making satisfactory academic progress. The Dissertation Committee Approval Form must be filed before August 1 following the end of the fourth year in order to identify the membership of the student's Dissertation Committee.
  8. Students may take up to seven years to complete the PhD (i.e., by August 1 at the end of the seventh year). A one-year extension is available if circumstances warrant (see Degree Candidacy Extended in the School of Public Health PhD Bulletin). Extensions are obtained by application of the student to the degree program and approved by the Doctoral Education Subcommittee.

The program director provides ongoing verbal and written monitoring of academic progress for all first-year students throughout the first year. After the first year, the identified faculty advisor will take over this task. This process is initiated by the program manager each year during the spring semester. The student will submit their portion of the written evaluation, which will then be sent to their faculty advisor (or to the program director iduring the first year). The evaluation includes a student self-assessment, a review of the current transcript showing the coursework completed, advisor comments, and a review of the student's curriculum vitae. The student and advisor should meet to discuss the evaluation. The advisor will then send the completed evaluation to the program director for review by the specified deadline.

Timetable for Program Progress

Students are expected to proceed at a pace appropriate to enable them to finish within the time limits detailed below. Students are expected to have completed all PhD requirements except for the dissertation no later than the end of the fourth year of full-time graduate study. The purpose of these limits is to provide guidelines for satisfactory progress. The information below identifies the target years and time limits for the completion of program requirements:

  • Secure faculty advisor
    • Target year: 1
    • Limit year: 2
  • Coursework completed
    • Target year: 2
    • Limit year: 3
  • Area statement and qualifying exam passed
    • Target year: 3
    • Limit year: 4
  • Approval of dissertation proposal
    • Target year: 3
    • Limit year: 4
  • Dissertation defended
    • Target year: 4
    • Limit year: 7

While all students are encouraged to complete coursework within the first two years, some fellowships may require additional coursework into the third year. Students may take a limited number of courses (one or two) into the third year if necessary to meet their educational goals in consultation with their advisor.

Students may take courses in the summer following their first or second year; however, only summer coursework offered by the School of Public Health is available without cost to students. During the regular academic year, students may take courses outside the School of Public Health without cost. The deadline for passing the area statement and qualifying exam is firm. (Students are encouraged to complete this by August 1 following the third academic year and must complete it by no later than August 1 following the fourth academic year.) On rare occasions, a student and their advisor may apply to extend the exam deadline, but this does not extend the stipend period or the deadline for the defense of the dissertation. The seven-year limit for defense of the dissertation is also firm. Students are automatically dismissed from the program if they fail to meet the seven-year deadline.

Exceptions are rare and made only by approval of the director of the PhD program and the Doctoral Education Subcommittee. These exceptions must include a serious extenuating circumstance such as the need to take a medical leave of absence. A student may apply only once to the Doctoral Education Subcommittee to extend this deadline, and applications will be approved only if the student has a realistic plan to finish in a timely manner. It is unlikely that the Doctoral Education Subcommittee would extend the dissertation defense deadline without completion of the area statement, qualifying exam, and dissertation proposal.

Graduation Requirements

MPH Graduation Requirements

The formal requirements for the MPH degree are as follows:

  1. Completion of a minimum of 52 credits beyond the baccalaureate degree.
  2. Evidence of knowledge of human biology through previous courses completed or through an approved course with a grade of B or better.
  3. Evidence of satisfactory performance defined as a B average or better (3.0 or higher cumulative grade point average) across all courses and the successful completion of fieldwork with a grade of Pass.
  4. Satisfactory completion of program requirements through course credit or proficiency exam procedures.
    1. Satisfactory completion of 15 credits of Foundation courses and 34 credits of advanced-level courses.
    2. Satisfactory completion of 3 credits (360 hours) in practicum.
  5. Demonstration of biostatistics competency by achieving a minimum grade of B- or better.
    1. Students must receive a grade of B- or higher in Biostatistics in order to enroll in Applied Linear Modeling, Advanced Applied Linear Modeling, and practicum.
  6. Completion of all requirements for the degree within four years of initial matriculation.
  7. Receiving a passing grade in Capstone II.
  8. Passing the Certified in Public Health Exam (only for students who matriculated between Fall 2019 and Fall 2024).
  9. Completion of Application for Program Completion by the deadlines posted on the academic calendar.

Deadlines for Applying for Program Completion in any given semester are set by the Office of the University Registrar. Anticipated degree date deadlines are as follows: 

  • Anticipated May program completion – late December 
  • Anticipated August program completion – early July 
  • Anticipated December program completion – early October 

When the deadlines are confirmed for Applying for Program Completion, students will be notified via their WashU email address. 

If a student does not Apply for Program Completion, their name may not be listed in the Commencement program, and they may not be able to participate in the ceremony. Filing this form will also be the student’s only opportunity to provide a pronunciation for their name to be used at Commencement. 

Transfer Credit Policy

MPH Transfer Credits Prior to School of Public Health Enrollment

Applicants interested in receiving graduate transfer credit must notify the School of Public Health Office of Admissions & Recruitment to initiate the transfer credit evaluation process. Instructions for completing the MPH Transfer Credit Request form will be provided.

It is the applicant's responsibility to request transfer credit evaluation by submitting the MPH Transfer Credit Request form and all supporting documents as early as possible in their admissions process. Requests for credit evaluation will not be accepted after September 1 of the first term in which a student matriculates.

Incomplete submissions will not be evaluated.

Courses are evaluated in conjunction with the MPH Program Office. Applicants will be notified of evaluation results via email from the School of Public Health registrar within two or three weeks of submission.

Courses completed in a CEPH-accredited program may be evaluated for credit toward foundation-level coursework or elective requirements (maximum of 9 credit hours). Practicum hours are not eligible for transfer. Courses will only be approved if content and competencies are adequately covered in the coursework completed.

Transfer credits will be reflected on the student’s School of Public Health academic transcript.

PhD Transfer Credits

A maximum of 21 credits earned at institutions other than Washington University may be applied toward the PhD degree. Transfer credit must be recommended by the program director and approved by the registrar with the receipt of an official transcript. No graduate courses carrying grades lower than B can be accepted for transfer toward any graduate degree.

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