Section VI

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Graduate Catalogue

Section VI

ACADEMIC REGULATIONS AND PROCEDURES

1. CREDIT SYSTEM AND TOTAL MINIMUM CREDITS REQUIRED TO GRADUATE

The University of Cambodia operates on a credit system, where most courses carry a 3-credit load. Credits for courses are determined on a term basis for work satisfactorily accomplished: students earn credit hours upon passing a course. A minimum total of 54 credits is required to graduate with a Master’s degree; and 60 for graduation with a Doctoral Degree.

Depending on the number of credits taken each term, University of Cambodia graduate students may be classified as either part-time or full-time (see section III.6)

Note that the above credit requirements are the minimum requirements set by the University of Cambodia as well as the Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports. However, Colleges and majors may require higher number of credits to graduate.

2. GRADES AND GRADE POINTS

Grades and grade points awarded for individual courses reflect the quality of graduate student work at the University of Cambodia. Based on ACC guidelines, they are as follows:

Letter Grade	Grade Points	Score	Definitions
A	4.00	85-100	Excellent
B+	3.50	80-84	Very good
B	3.00	70-79	Good
C+	2.50	65-69	Fairly good
C	2.00	60-64	Fair
D+	1.50	55-59	Poor
D	1.00	50-54	Very poor
F	0.00	49 or below	Failing

Note that students are not given grade points for courses done outside the University.

3. GRADE POINT AVERAGE (GPA)

Grade point averages (GPAs) are determined for courses in which a student has received letter grades (thereby excluding ‘IN’, ‘NC’, ‘CR’, ‘W’, ‘AUD’). The GPA is obtained by first adding the products, for each course taken, of the grade point scored and the course’s number of credit hours (3, unless otherwise indicated); and then dividing this sum by the total number of credit hours. The GPA is based on any one term’s credits and grade points.

The cumulative GPA is based on the grades earned in courses taken at the University of Cambodia.

Graduate (Master’s and Doctoral degree candidates) students must maintain a minimum of a ‘B’ average, and thus a minimum GPA of 3.0: students are allowed a maximum of three 'C' grades (provided they maintain a GPA of more than 3.0), and 'D' grades cannot be counted. Some Colleges and degree programs may have higher requirements: students should check with their College Coordinator.

4. INCOMPLETE (IN)

An incomplete (‘IN’) is given to a student who has not completed a small but important part of a course’s work, if the instructor believes that this was caused by conditions beyond the student’s control. Students receiving a grade of ‘IN’ should consult their instructor promptly to determine the steps to be taken and the deadline to complete the course work for changing the grade of ‘IN’ to a final grade.

An instructor recording a grade of ‘IN’ on the final grade sheet will also record the grade that will replace the ‘IN’ if the work is not made up by the deadline. That grade is calculated on the basis of what grades the instructor has, averaged together with ‘F’s or zeros for all incomplete work (including the final examination, if it has not been taken). If the work is completed prior to the deadline, the instructor will report a change of grade, taking the completed work into consideration.

It is very important to note that all grades of ‘IN’ must be cleared by a student’s College by the end of the following term.

5. CREDIT/NO CREDIT OPTION (CR/NC)

The credit/no credit option provides students with the opportunity to broaden their education by venturing into subjects outside their fields of specialization without risking a low grade. The ‘CR’ designation denotes ‘C’-caliber work or better. However, students should be aware that some universities evaluate ‘CR’ as a ‘C’ and ‘NC’ as ‘F’.

Certain courses may be designated as mandatory CR/NC. In addition to any such mandatory CR/NC courses, no more than 21 credit hours of CR/NC courses may be counted toward the degree. Neither ‘CR’ nor ‘NC’ is included in the computation of the GPA. The CR/NC option must be reported during the registration period. The CR/NC option is limited to elective courses and is not permitted for any course taken to fulfill a University, College, or Department non-elective requirement, with the exception of courses the instructors themselves have designed CR/NC.

6. REPEATING COURSES

Students may repeat, for a better letter grade, a course in which they received a ‘C’, ‘D+’, ‘D’ or ‘F’ grade. The two grades for the course will be included in the GPA, but no additional credit toward the degree will be granted. Students may not repeat a course for which they received a grade of ‘B’ or better, or ‘CR’.

Students may repeat (but not for a letter grade) CR/NC courses in which they received a grade of ‘NC’.

8. DUPLICATE CREDITS

Academic credit is not awarded for courses or examinations that duplicate material for which academic credit has already been given. Thus repeating passed courses yields no additional credit, nor does taking more than one version of a cross-listed course.

9. EXAMINATIONS

Final exams are required in all graduate courses (except for writing courses, directed reading, creative arts, research, seminars, internships, and field work) and must be taken during the scheduled final exam period.

No exams (other than laboratory tests and short quizzes) are allowed during the last two weeks of instruction. Take-home final exams may be distributed at any time but students may not be required to turn them in before the scheduled final exam period.

In addition, a Comprehensive Exam may be required as part of a graduate degree program (see Section VIII.3.vi).

10. GRADE REPORT

Grades are available approximately 2 - 3 weeks after the final exam period. Grade reports are mailed to students at the end of each term. Students can also have access to the report on the University website.

11. CREDIT TRANSFER

Students who were in good standing at another accredited university may transfer up to 12 credits which will be counted towards a Master’s or Doctoral degree at the University of Cambodia.

As a general rule, the following criteria will be taken into consideration for transferred courses:

the subject matter of the course is equivalent to a course in the University of Cambodia curriculum which counts towards a degree and meets (in order of priority) either the foundation requirements, the major’s core requirements or the list of acceptable elective courses
the equivalent of a University of Cambodia ‘B’ grade or better must have been earned overall for the course.

Students who want to transfer from another university or institution must submit the original transcripts or study records issued by their previous universities or institutions, together with the relevant form which can be obtained from the Office of Admissions and Records. Based upon these transcripts, the Office of Admissions and Records, together with the Coordinator or other representative of each College and the President or his representative, will determine on an individual basis which courses are transferable and can be counted towards a degree at the University of Cambodia. The student will then be notified within three days about the total number of transferable credits.

12. LANGUAGE COURSES

Teaching in the E-track at the University of Cambodia is based on the English language. Thus, students must show an adequate level of proficiency in English as part of the admission procedure. For those who are not yet competent, the University offers a series of Intensive English courses (note: these do not carry credits, and thus are not counted towards a degree). Thereafter, they are required to take, and pass, the University of Cambodia Graduate Entrance Examination, including the English Placement Exam (see Section III.1).

Students who plan to continue the study of another language begun elsewhere must take a language placement exam to determine the appropriate course in which they should enroll.

Native speakers of a foreign language or bilingual speakers may not enroll in, nor receive credit for, courses in that language. Such courses are designed for non-native speakers.

13. ACADEMIC PROBATION, SUSPENSION, AND DISMISSAL

All graduates and unregistered students who fail to meet the minimum academic requirements of the University or their College, Institute, Center or program may be placed on probation, suspended or dismissed. The guidelines that follow are generally applied. Further information may be obtained from the Office of the Student Academic Affairs of the University of Cambodia or the Coordinator of their College.

i. Probation Students may be placed on academic probation at the end of any term in which their cumulative GPA falls below 3.0 or in which they fail to maintain the minimum academic requirements of their College, Institute, Center or program. Probationary students continue work at the University but must achieve a current GPA of at least 3.0 in each probationary term to be allowed further registration. Students who are placed on academic probation for two consecutive terms will be either placed under suspension or be dismissed from the University.

Unless an extension has been granted by their College, students may be placed on probation if they have taken 24 credit hours beyond those required for graduation but still have not completed their specific program requirements.

Regulations governing academic probation will be applied at the end of each term.

ii. Suspension Students may be suspended when they fail to achieve a cumulative GPA of at least 3.0 after attempting 24 credit hours or when they fail to meet the terms of probation for two consecutive terms.

Regulations governing academic suspension are applied at the end of each term.

Applications for Return from Suspension Students who wish to return after suspension can apply to be reinstated at the Office of Admissions and Records of the University of Cambodia. However, they must apply at least two months prior to the term in which they wish to re-enroll.

Suspended students who attend another university will be considered “transfer students” when re-applying to the University of Cambodia and must meet all transfer requirements. They will have their work assessed by the College, Institute or Center in order to determine eligibility for re-admission.

Students who take no courses after being suspended for the required one term are eligible to be re-admitted into the College, Institute or Center from which they have been suspended provided they submit a new application form. However, re-admission to the University is not automatic if the student stays out beyond the required period.

Students re-admitted after suspension are placed on probation and must meet the terms and conditions of probation as stated above. Failure to do so will result in dismissal from the University of Cambodia.

iii. Dismissal Students on probation may be dismissed if they fail to maintain the minimum academic requirements or to meet the terms of probation.

Students who have been suspended and who subsequently fail to maintain the minimum academic requirements of the University of Cambodia or their College, Institute, Center or program or fail to meet the terms of probation may be dismissed. Such students will be re-admitted only in unusual circumstances.

Regulations governing academic dismissal are applied at the end of each term.

Once dismissed, a student is not eligible for re-admission to any degree- or credit-bearing program at the University of Cambodia for a minimum of one academic year. Students who have been dismissed one or more years from the University and who wish to apply for re-admission as a registered or unregistered student should do so on the admissions application form, following established procedures of the University. The student must meet the standard admission criteria applicable to all students. All Colleges at the University of Cambodia require a written statement from the student explaining the circumstances of the dismissal and a justification for reinstatement. If re-admitted, the student is placed on academic probation and must meet established terms of probation.

iv. Other Provisions Upon finding that a student is suffering from a physical or mental condition detrimental to the student or to the University, the Coordinator of the student’s College will, on medical advice, recommend proper action to be taken. The Coordinator may request that the student be withdrawn officially, without prejudice or academic penalty. Re-admission is contingent upon review and recommendation by the College.

DISCLAIMER:

THE UNIVERSITY OF CAMBODIA RESERVES THE RIGHT TO MAKE CHANGES TO THESE CATALOGS AS IT SEES FIT, SO THAT WE HAVE THE NECESSARY FLEXIBILITY IN AN EVER-EVOLVING WORLD.