Graduate Student Policies

Course Registration

Graduate students are required to consult with the Graduate Coordinator regarding all course registration. Before completing the first 15 hours of credit toward his/her degree program, a graduate student should submit a tentative degree program (TDP) to the Graduate Coordinator. If a graduate student fails to submit a TDP or does not adhere to the TDP, he/she may not be in compliance with the requirements for the MS/PhD degree. This may extend the time required to complete the degree. Any subsequent changes to the TDP must be approved by the Graduate Coordinator.

Some graduate students are required to take undergraduate computer science courses as prerequisite to their graduate program. The Graduate Coordinator meets with each student at the beginning of their program to determine their prerequisites.

Course Selection for Students who were BGSU Undergraduates

BGSU undergraduates often complete several 4000-level courses as part of their degree program. Courses completed at the 4000-level cannot be retaken at the 5000-level for credit. For example, a student who takes CS 4290 as an undergraduate cannot receive credit for CS 5290 as a graduate student.

Satisfactory Progress Policy

Students are required to make satisfactory progress towards their degree each semester. The Graduate College requires the student to maintain a 3.0 GPA and to complete at least two-thirds of the classes attempted each semester.

The Department of Computer Science has the following additional requirements regarding academic progress:

  • Students must maintain a 3.0 cumulative GPA. If the GPA falls below 3.0 in a semester, that student is given one additional semester to raise the GPA to at least 3.0. A student whose GPA remains below 3.0 for two consecutive semesters will generally be dismissed from the program.
  • A student who receives three grades of C in graduate courses will generally be dismissed from the program.
  • A student who receives a grade lower than C in a graduate course will generally be dismissed from the program.
  • Students who have been awarded Graduate Assistantships must maintain a 3.0 cumulative GPA. If the GPA falls below 3.0 in a semester, their contract may be terminated.

Students who wish to appeal a decision to be dropped from the program should contact the Graduate Coordinator to arrange a hearing at the department level. The student also has the right to appeal to the Graduate College.

Internship Credit Policy

Academic credit is available for internships that a student completes while enrolled in a graduate program. The internship must be related to the studies at BGSU. Students can receive 1 to 3 hours of credit in CS 6890 for each internship, but the total hours received for all internships can be no more than 3 credit hours.

These are the specific requirements for obtaining internship credit:

  • You must have completed at least one semester in the MS/PhD program before starting the internship.
  • Enrollment in the designated internship course is required for the duration of any approved internship or co-op employment.
  • Approximately 360 hours of work experience are needed to qualify for 3 hours of credit, with proportionately less required for 1 or 2 hours of credit.
  • To apply for internship credit and complete the internship course requirements, refer to the department's internship policy.

Transfer Credit & Residency Requirements

Graduate students may request approval to transfer previously completed graduate-level coursework toward a degree at Bowling Green State University. Transfer credit is not automatic and must be approved by the student’s graduate program and the Graduate College.

Transfer Credit

Only graduate-level coursework (5000-level or higher) completed at an accredited institution may be considered for transfer. Courses must be relevant to the student’s degree program and approved by the Graduate Coordinator.

  • Must not have been applied toward another completed degree
  • Is subject to program approval
  • Does not affect the student’s BGSU graduate GPA

University policy permits a maximum of 9 credit hours of transfer credit to be applied toward a master’s degree and 9 credit hours toward a doctoral degree, subject to program approval.

Students should consult their Graduate Coordinator early in their program if they intend to request transfer credit.

Residency Requirements

For master’s degree programs, university policy requires that at least 24 credit hours be earned at BGSU.

Doctoral programs follow university-wide credit hour and dissertation requirements as defined in Graduate College policy. Students should consult their program and the Graduate Catalog for specific doctoral credit expectations.

For complete and official policies, please refer to:

Updated: 03/04/2026 02:44PM