The academic year is divided into two semesters. The 15 week fall semester usually begins the last week of August, lasting to mid-December. Also 15 weeks, the spring semester begins mid-January, lasting to mid-May.
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The unit of credit is based on the number of 50-minute class periods or equivalent devoted to a particular subject. One credit is granted for approximately 15 class periods. The number of hours of credit for each course is given with the course description.
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Class attendance is expected in every course in which students are registered unless they enjoy the privilege of optional class attendance. Normally, illness or other sufficiently serious circumstances are the only legitimate reasons for missing class.
In case of absence, the student is responsible for class work, assignments, and/or examinations and must, with personal initiative, ascertain what is expected from the professor.
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Withdrawal and Credit/Audit Change
To withdraw from a course or to change registration from credit to audit or the reverse without penalty, a student must obtain from the Academic Dean the official form for this purpose for presentation to the Registrar. Failure to attend class or merely giving notice to the instructor will not be regarded as official notice of withdrawal.
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Students usually undergo examinations in all subjects at the end of each term. While such examinations might be oral, written examinations last a maximum of two hours for each subject. Tests might also be given at mid-term and from time to time during the term at the discretion of the professor although no specific days are set aside for such examinations.
One week each semester is designated as Master of Arts Symposia week. Students seeking the M.A. degree schedule their final seminar during the week.
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Grade reports are given to the students at the end of each term. Term grades are based on oral and written class work and examinations. The grade received is an evaluation of actual performance and the degree of mastery, which the student has manifested to the instructor.
The following grading system is employed:
Grade
Quality Points
A
4.00
A-
3.667
B+
3.333
B
3.00
B-
2.667
C+
2.333
C
2.00
C-
1.667
D
1.00
E
Conditional
F
Failure
I
Incomplete
NR
Grade not reported
P
Pass
L
Auditor
W
Withdrew with permission
If a professor judges that a student’s work was passing except for an examination or a major assignment, a Conditional (E) may be given and the opportunity of making up the matter within the time designated in the calendar is offered. Upon successful completion, the student may receive a grade no higher than “D.”
An incomplete (I) given for serious reasons, such as absence from a final examination because of illness, must also be made up within the time designated in the calendar but without restriction on the type of grade to be given.
An Incomplete (I) or Conditional (E) not fulfilled within the designated time becomes an “F.”
When students fail a required course, they must repeat the subject. Any failing grade is computed in the cumulative grade average after a successful repetition of the course.
The following descriptions serve as an evaluative measure of the professor’s assessment of student work. The use of pluses and minuses in the grading scale allows for an accurate evaluation of the student’s performance within the range of each letter grade.
[A, A-] Degrees of Outstanding achievement: exceptional aptitude, interest and performance. The student has demonstrated a number of the following characteristics: an exceptionally good grasp of the course material, evidence of self-initiated reading; cooperation in course activities; manifestation of exceptional capability and originality; a command of appropriate vocabulary and superior ability to integrate and make associations with other material studied.
[B+, B, B-] Good achievement: a significantly higher grasp of the course material, which goes beyond the required basic elements. The student has demonstrated a number of the following characteristics: a significantly more effective command of the material than is generally required; a demonstrated ability to perceive applications of principles and relate them to other material; work distinctly above the average; investment in extra-curricular work on his own on course material; a personal grasp of principles so they can be discussed with ease.
[C+, C, C-] Satisfactory achievement: a grasp of the basic content, which enables the instructor to certify the required mastery of the material of the course. The following characteristics are usually present: A command of the basic course content and demonstrated ability to make generally correct applications of principles; demonstrated ability to express knowledge intelligibly; the standard performance expected.
[D] Poor achievement: a minimal grasp of course content and limited ability to apply principles learned. The following may further characterize this level: sub-standard achievement as related to graduation; the instructor believes the student would not profit materially by repeating the course; the student may advance to course or courses to which the given course is a prerequisite but with dubious prospects of success.
[F] Failure: inability to meet minimal requirements as specified by the instructor. The student will need to repeat the course if he/she is within a degree program.
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Students in the second, third, fourth, and fifth year of theology whose cumulative point averages are 3.5 or above are classified as “honor students.”
They may be granted, at the discretion of an individual professor, the privilege of optional class attendance so they may acquire a more thorough knowledge of a subject through independent study under scholarly direction.
When professors judge that an honor student would gain more by class attendance, they may require attendance for a particular lecture or exercise or the entire course. The student must be present for all announced tests and is held responsible for all class materials and major assignments.
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Full-time degree-seeking students may participate in an independent study under the supervision of faculty members with the approval of the Academic Dean.
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Gospel values and contemporary social consciousness urge us to recognize and change those attitudes and practices, which are unjust. Christian tradition holds that all people are created in the image of God and that attitudes against anyone because of sex, age, race, or handicap diminish us all. Therefore, it is the policy of Saint Mary Seminary and Graduate School of Theology to foster the use of inclusive language in academic endeavors and to work to eliminate attitudes and customs that stereotype and separate persons one from another.
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Master of Divinity Degree
At the close of each term, a student is placed on academic probation when the cumulative grade point average is less than 2.00. The student is removed from probation that term in which the grade average rises to or about the stated value. Placement on, retention on, or removal from probation is noted on the semester grade report and the permanent record.
The following rules govern a student on academic probation:
A student who remains on probation for three consecutive semesters will be required to withdraw for insufficient academic ability.
A student who remains on probation for two consecutive semesters may choose:
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to continue the regular class hour load and attempt to remove the probation the third semester, or
-
to reduce the class hour load and lengthen the time of the course of studies.
A student on probation:
- may be required to submit a progress report to the Academic Dean
- may have extra-curricular activities curtailed in the case of candidates for the priesthood
- may not be admitted to candidacy or receive ministries/orders during that semester in which he is on probation
- may be asked to postpone the internship year to enroll in another semester of coursework to remove the probation
- will not be permitted to hold time consuming school offices
- may be required to lengthen the time of course studies.
Doctor of Ministry or Master of Arts Degree
At the close of each semester, a student is placed on academic probation when the cumulative grade point average is less than 3.00. The student is removed from probation that semester in which the grade average rises to or above the stated value. Placement on, retention on, or removal from probation is noted on the term grade report and the permanent record.
The following rules govern a student on academic probation:
A student who remains on probation for three consecutive semesters or upon accumulation of 18 semester hours will be required to withdraw for insufficient academic ability.
A student who remains on probation for two consecutive semesters may choose:
- to continue the regular class hour load and attempt to remove the probation the third semester, or
- reduce the class hour load and lengthen the time of the course of studies.
