{"id":113,"date":"2023-03-23T12:48:44","date_gmt":"2023-03-23T17:48:44","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/uwm.edu\/graduateschool\/?page_id=113"},"modified":"2026-01-02T10:18:19","modified_gmt":"2026-01-02T16:18:19","slug":"exceptions-to-graduate-school-policy","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/uwm.edu\/graduateschool\/students\/academic-policies-and-procedures\/appeals-and-exceptions\/exceptions-to-graduate-school-policy\/","title":{"rendered":"Exceptions to Graduate School Policy"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Exceptions to Graduate School academic policies and procedures may be granted (except in the case of credit overload) if the student and his or her graduate program representative are able to show that circumstances beyond the student\u2019s control\u2014illness, family emergency, etc.\u2014prevented the student from complying with the policies. (Ignorance of the rules is not an acceptable reason to request an exception.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Requests for exceptions must be submitted on a Graduate School Request for Exception Form<\/a> prior to the semester in which the rule or requirement applies, if at all possible.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Listed below are common types of exception requests, and the required elements and supporting signature for each type.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Credit Overload<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The maximum credit load for graduate students is 12 credits. Audited courses, Sport and Recreation courses, and zero-credit colloquium\/seminar courses are excluded from the total credit count.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Requests to carry an overload will be considered if the student has a strong academic record and no outstanding incompletes. The request must be supported by the student\u2019s advisor as well as the graduate program representative.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Dean\u2019s Approval Required to Continue<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

A graduate student will receive a Graduate Dean\u2019s Approval Required to Continue action if any of the following conditions exist:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \n
  1. The student\u2019s cumulative grade point average falls below 3.0.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  2. The student is not removed from probation status within three enrolled semesters.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  3. The student does not satisfy course deficiencies within three enrolled semesters.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  4. This action precludes registration for a subsequent semester.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n

    To receive permission to register following this action, students must demonstrate academic improvement and must show that factors that led to the placement of the Graduate Dean\u2019s Approval Required to Continue have been negated. The request must include a program of study for the following semester and must be supported by the graduate program representative and the student\u2019s advisor.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Extension of Time Limit<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

    The master\u2019s degree must be completed in five years for programs requiring 30 or fewer credits. For master\u2019s programs requiring more than 30 credits, the time limit is seven years. This includes capstone requirements such as a successful thesis defense or passing a comprehensive exam.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    The doctoral degree must be completed within ten years of initial enrollment in a doctoral program at 51ÁÔÆæ. This includes successful completion of all coursework, internships, examinations, the dissertation and the dissertation defense.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    For students entering doctoral program in the fall of 2000 and later, doctoral preliminary examinations must be passed within five years of initial enrollment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Requests for extending time limits must include all of the following:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

      \n
    1. An explanation for the delay<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    2. An explanation of how the factors that caused the delay have been resolved, or what steps are being taken to prevent further delays<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    3. A schedule for completion of the degree, including anticipated semester of graduation. Master\u2019s students writing a thesis and all doctoral students requesting time limit extensions should address the following as appropriate:\n