Unit of Credit

The University offers instruction and grants credit on the semester system, with the academic year on the Clarksville Campus including Fall and Spring semesters, and Summer term.  For students that have earned prior credit on the quarter system, one semester hour of credit is equivalent to 1.5 quarter hours credit or one quarter hour of credit is equivalent to two-thirds of a semester hour credit.

Classification of Courses

Courses of instruction for degree credit in the curriculum of the University are divided into three categories: lower division courses (typically regarded as freshman and sophomore level) are numbered 1000-2999; upper division courses (junior and senior level courses) are numbered 3000-4999.  Graduate courses are numbered 5000 and above. Undergraduate students may enroll in graduate courses only if they meet minimum requirements as listed in the Graduate Bulletin and receive prior approval of the Dean of Graduate Studies. Courses numbered below 1000 do not count for degree credit, but do count for determining fees, enrollment status and grade point average (GPA).

Graduate courses at Austin Peay State University build upon the foundation of undergraduate education and offer a more complex and rigorous experience. These courses seek to prepare students with the knowledge and skills to contribute to their fields through scholarship and/or professional practice.

To ensure differentiation from undergraduate courses, especially those within the same discipline, graduate courses are designed to lead to mastery within the discipline, which is shown through a comprehensive exam, thesis, capstone, or some other culminating activity or product that provides students the opportunity to express their content mastery. Furthermore, graduate courses utilize one or more of the following tactics to ensure appropriate post-baccalaureate rigor:

• in-depth review of the scholarly literature of the discipline

• advanced research writing within the discipline

• study of advanced topics within the discipline

• study of discipline-specific theory

• application of discipline-specific theory

• application of discipline content through field experience

• analysis and application of discipline methodology

Courses that are dual listed (enrolling both undergraduate and graduate students) use separate syllabi for the undergraduate and graduate students, and the graduate syllabus shows post-baccalaureate rigor as expressed above.

Course Offerings and Schedule of Classes

Courses offered during the fall and spring semesters and summer terms, together with the time and place of class meetings and official calendar, are available online at  https://www.apsu.edu/registrar/schedclasses.php under the Schedule of Classes link or in AP OneStop. The University reserves the right to cancel any course listed in the Schedule of Classes.

Prerequisites and Corequisites

It is the student's responsibility to check for satisfactory completion of prerequisites and necessary corequisites as listed in the Graduate Bulletin. Students must have passed or be currently enrolled in the appropriate prerequisite(s) or meet specified conditions prior to registration. Corequisites are courses in which students must register concurrently.

Special Problem Courses

The maximum total of semester hour credits allowed for all types of special problem courses is six (6).

Credit Load

The maximum load per semester for full-time students who are not graduate administrative assistants (GAAs), graduate teaching assistants (GTAs), or graduate research assistants (GRAs) is sixteen (16) hours of combined credit earned in graduate course work and research. GAAs, GTAs, and GRAs are limited to ten (10) hours in the fall and spring semesters. The minimum number of graduate credits that may be taken by a GAA, GTA, or GRA is six (6) hours in fall and spring semesters. Approval from the Graduate Coordinator and the Dean of the College of Graduate Studies is required for GAAs, GTAs, and GRAs to take more than ten (10) hours or less than six (6) hours in the fall and spring semesters. The Graduate Assistant Request to Add/Reduce Course Hours form can be found at http://www.apsu.edu/grad-studies/graduate-assistantships-financial-support/graduate-assistant-forms.php.

Time Status Classification and Maximum Load

1Graduate students enrolled in undergraduate courses also may refer to credit load in the Undergraduate Bulletin.

2This applies to the AP Center at Fort Campbell terms and Clarksville Campus Summer Term.

3Graduate assistants are limited to ten (10) graduate credit hours during the fall and spring semesters. To take additional hours, a graduate assistant must request approval from the Department Chair or Graduate Coordinator and the Dean of the College of Graduate Studies by submitting a Graduate Assistant Request to Add/Reduce Course Hours form. This form can be found at http://www.apsu.edu/grad-studies/graduate-assistantships-financial-support/graduate-assistant-forms.php .  

Grading System

At the end of each semester the student's quality of work is graded by the instructor. The grades are indicated by letters, with a four-point system being used:

Graduate In-Progress Grade Regulation

The IP grade would be utilized to allow a student an extended period of time to complete the necessary course requirements. Unless the student graduates and/or receives a satisfactory grade replacing the IP grade, an IP grade will automatically convert to an F grade after six (6) years from when the IP grade was assigned.

Grade Requirements for Graduation

The College of Graduate Studies establishes the minimum grade requirements for graduation among graduate students. However, individual programs may have additional requirements or even more rigorous standards based on accreditation standards or other academic criteria. Students are strongly encouraged to review their program's specific guidelines and consult their graduate coordinator for further clarification.

Grades of "A," "B," and "C" carry the appropriate quantity and quality credits. No credit will be given for the grades of "D" or "F. " Students will not be awarded a graduate degree if they have received grades of "D" or "F" in any courses taken to satisfy requirements for the program of study in which they are earning their graduate degree.

GPA Calculation and Repeating Graduate Courses (Grade Replacement)

Within any graduate program*, a single graduate level course may be repeated once (1) with the new grade earned replacing the older grade for the purposes of GPA calculations. However, all grades-earned in all courses will be listed on the transcript. After one (1) course is repeated with the original grade replaced by the newly repeated course grade earned, all future grades earned in repeated courses will be averaged for the purposes of GPA calculations. Only the grades of "C", "D", "F", "FN", and "FA" are eligible to be repeated. To initiate grade replacement, students must complete the Graduate Grade Replacement Form. Students are strongly encouraged to speak with the graduate coordinator or department chair prior to enrolling in a repeated course.

*Note: some graduate programs may have policies that disallow grade replacement. Please check with the graduate catalog, graduate program coordinator, and/or department chair for clarity.