end of first sentence: it’s not quite clear which chair is asked to approve. The chair of the graduate studies department or the chair of the department of the student being enrolled?Reference
pirco
I’d like to see the case by case lenience emphasized over the GPA, given that I see applications for customized minors where very relevant courses are only offered on graduate level. The same might apply for current or future minors established by departments.Reference
Carl Zimring
Agreed, and this might open articulation agreements where students doing, for example, SLAS’s Sustainability Studies undergraduate minor might complete it with courses in Architecture’s Sustainable Environmental Studies Masters’ program. Doing so would allow the undergraduate to finish the minor with relevant thematic courses and perhaps give the undergraduate a preview to continuing on to graduate work.
Peter Macapia
I think that is also important. Undergrads with whom I’ve interacted during reviews are sometimes doing thesis work where a certain seminar would really benefit them, but regardless, they don’t have access to that seminar because it is in Grad program (SoA). Some seminars however, have a level of reading that can be a struggle even for graduate students, so flexibility important on a couple of levels.
Anonymous
Could “they may not substitute” be changed to “only with permission of the Undergraduate Chair of the student’s department, and in rare circumstances, can these courses be substituted”? These requests can’t be terribly frequent and this would allow Chairs to set policy and evaluate these on a case-by-case basis. Not all majors are made alike and we ought to leave room for an exceptional student who has a good reason, supported by the Chair, to make a substitution.Reference
Anonymous
Great point: it seems important that both the undergraduate and graduate chair approve this.Reference
Peter Macapia
Agreed on previous points. In GAUD SoA there has been some problem with allowing instructor permission or decision making ability with respect to even graduates taking courses. So, in a sense the system in that context gives more the Chair to decide who takes the course. Recently we were allowed to rank applicants. But not in previous years. The system is opaque to the faculty. This will make it more difficult for undergraduates to take a course unless we can placehold a couple of spots for undergraduates. Personally I am in favor of both grad and undergrad taking courses together. But we need to get the Chairs to assent to the policy and create space for that. It has to be explicit.Reference
Peter Macapia
Agreed. Also, in SoA thesis studio of 5th yr students involves directed research that would normally require advanced coursework, so permission to substitute might be helpful in this regardReference