Academic Policies and Procedures

Academic Calendar

The Chicago School of Professional Psychology’s Academic Calendar is built on a semester framework.

An on-ground student attends courses for three (3) semesters per academic year: fall, spring, and summer. Courses in the fall and spring semesters are 15 weeks in duration. Courses in the summer semester may be 8 weeks or 12 weeks in duration as determined by the academic program. Details on the duration of the summer courses are available on the campus-specific Academic Calendar documents documents posted to the Office of the Registrar website.

An online student attends courses for six (6) 8-week terms per academic year: Fall I, Fall II, Spring I, Spring II, Summer I, and Summer II. Details on term dates appear on the campus-specific Academic Calendar documents posted to the Office of the Registrar website.

A student is held to the administrative dates and deadlines for the enrolled program of study for all courses taken at TCSPP. An on-ground student who takes an online course is held to the administrative dates and deadlines of the on-ground campus per the Academic Calendar. An online student who takes an on-ground course is held to the administrative dates and deadlines of the online campus per the Academic Calendar.

Academic Honors

Undergraduate Programs

The Chicago School of Professional Psychology encourages students to challenge themselves intellectually, professionally, academically and personally. Academic honors acknowledge outstanding bachelor-level students for academic excellence and scholastic achievement.

Term Honors

Dean’s Honor List

An undergraduate student will be named to the Dean’s Honor List if all of the following conditions are met:

• Enrolled at least half time
• Earns a term/semester grade point average (GPA) of 3.5 to 3.79
• Maintains Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP)
• Does not earn any of the following grades: W, WF, IP, F, I, NC, NP
• Has all grades posted at the time term/semester evaluation is conducted

The Dean’s Honor List will be noted on the student’s transcript for the term/semester in which the honor is received. The Dean of Academic Affairs will notify the student of this award and will publish a Dean’s Honor List each term/semester.

President’s Honor List

An undergraduate student will be named to the President’s Honor List if all of the following conditions are met:

• Enrolled at least half time
• Earns a term/semester grade point average (GPA) of 3.80 to 4.00
• Maintains Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP)
• Does not earn any of the following grades: W, WF, IP, F, I, NC, NP
• Has all grades posted at the time term/semester evaluation is conducted

The President’s Honor List will be noted to the student’s transcript for the term/semester in which the honor is received. The Dean of Academic Affairs will notify the student of this award, and a President’s Honor List will be published each term/semester.

Degree Honors

An undergraduate student who earns a cumulative grade point average of 3.50 or higher will be recognized with degree honors. The honors will be awarded upon degree conferral and will be noted on the transcript and the diploma.

• Cum Laude: Student must earn Cumulative Grade Point Average (CGPA) between 3.50 and 3.69

• Magna Cum Laude: Student must earn Cumulative Grade Point Average (CGPA) between 3.70 and 3.85

• Summa Cum Laude: Student must earn Cumulative Grade Point Average (CGPA) between 3.86 and 4.00

To be eligible for degree honors, an undergraduate student must meet the ethical, legal, and professional standards defined in the TCSPP Academic Catalog and Student Handbook.

Graduate Programs

The Chicago School of Professional Psychology encourages students to challenge themselves intellectually, professionally, academically, and personally. Academic honors acknowledge outstanding master and doctoral-level students for academic excellence and scholastic achievement.

Honors are awarded upon degree conferral only to a degree-seeking graduate student who:

• Earns a cumulative grade point average (CGPA) of 4.00.
• Meets the ethical, legal, and professional standards defined in the TCSPP Academic Catalog and Student Handbook.
• Has been in compliance with institutional policies and procedures.

Degree Honors will be noted on the student transcript.

Academic Success Programs

To ensure academic preparedness, a key to success in graduate school, The Chicago School of Professional Psychology provides support through Academic Success Programs (ASP), which includes the Writing Assessment Process (WAP), Academic Writing Seminar (AWS), Graduate Student Success Program, Peer Writing Coaches, and E-Tutors. These programs, managed by NCADE, reinforce the skills a student needs in order to achieve academic goals.

The completion of WAP and AWS is an institutional requirement for all new graduate students, regardless of GPA or completion of other advanced degree programs. Based on the WAP result, a student may place out of the AWS and automatically earn a passing grade. A student incurs a one-time fee for participation in the WAP. (See TCSPP’s website for information regarding this fee.) A student who transfers from one TCSPP program to another or an alumnus who returns to TCSPP to continue studies is exempt from this requirement, provided that WAP and AWS requirements were fulfilled in the original program of study.

Writing Assessment Process (WAP): To complete the WAP, a student writes a 500-word essay in response to a specific prompt and submits it to NCADE for assessment by two writing specialists. The instructions for writing this essay are sent to all admitted graduate students upon deposit. The essay is due within 10 days of receipt of the notification. A student has the right to request a one-time extension. Failure to complete the WAP in a timely manner results in an account hold, and the student may not be able to continue in the academic program until successful completion is demonstrated. Based on the WAP score, a student may place out of the AWS. For questions, contact academicsuccess@thechicagoschool.edu.

Academic Writing Seminar (AWS): AWS is a seven-week online writing workshop taught by experienced writing instructors. While the AWS is available to all students, successful completion of the AWS with a final grade of “Pass” (P) is an institutional requirement for a student placed into it based on the WAP result. A student who receives a grade of “No Pass” (NP) is re-enrolled in the AWS the following term. Failure to earn a final grade of “Pass” (P) on a student’s second attempt may result in an Academic Development Plan or referral to the Student Affairs Committee. It is the sole responsibility of the student to make the necessary adjustments in the school, work, and personal schedule to ensure full participation in the AWS.

Admission Requirements

Undergraduate Admission

An applicant to an undergraduate program at The Chicago School of Professional Psychology is required to submit a completed application, application fee, proof of high school graduation (or the equivalent) or an earned Associate degree, and official transcripts from all schools listed in the application.

Qualifying Conferral

The qualifying conferral must occur on a date prior to the Add/Drop deadline of the term of entry. A student must provide proof of the qualifying conferral - high school graduation (or the equivalent) or proof of an earned Associate degree - by day 9 of the term of entry. A student who fails to meet this requirement will be removed from all courses and placed in a No Show status.

Proof of qualifying degree conferral must be provided in one of the following ways:

1. Official transcript from a Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA) recognized and accredited high school showing an earned high school diploma and date of graduation
2. Official Associate degree transcript from a regionally-accredited institution showing degree earned and date conferred
3. Official college transcript from a regionally-accredited institution that contains the high school name and date of graduation
4. Official NACES evaluation of an international diploma that contains the high school name and date of graduation
5. High school equivalency completed through home schooling as defined by state law
6. Official General Educational Development (GED) document
7. Official Test Assessing Secondary Completion (TASC) document
8. Official High School Equivalency Test (HiSET) document
9. Official documentation showing a passing score on a state-authorized exam that the state recognizes as equivalent to high school graduation
10. Letter showing the date of graduation written on high school letterhead and signed by a high school administrator with an academic title
11. Form DD214 showing the high school name and date of graduation, if listed

Official Transcripts

Official transcripts for all schools listed in the application must be on file by the end of the second term of enrollment. Failure to meet this requirement will result in removal from all courses and withdrawal from the institution.

Once admission has been offered, an applicant must pay the tuition deposit to reserve a spot in their program. The tuition deposit is nonrefundable.

Graduate Admission

An applicant to a graduate program at The Chicago School of Professional Psychology is required to submit a completed application, application fee, proof of qualifying degree conferral, and all official transcripts from institutions listed on the application. Admission is open to an individual who has earned a qualifying degree from a regionally-accredited institution and who meets other admission requirements as required by the desired academic program. Information on admission requirements by academic program is available in the Programs of Study descriptions found in this Catalog.

Qualifying Degree

The qualifying degree must be conferred on a date prior to the Add/Drop deadline of the term/semester of entry. A student must provide proof of qualifying degree conferral by day 9 of the term/semester of entry. A student who fails to meet this requirement will be removed from all courses and placed in a No Show status.

Proof must be provided in one of the following ways:

1. Official transcript showing qualifying degree conferral. An official transcript is printed on official transcript paper and bears the embossed or raised college seal, date, and the Registrar’s signature. An official transcript is delivered in a sealed envelope with the Registrar’s signature stamped across the seal. An official transcript can also be sent electronically directly from a transcript vendor. For international transcripts, an official NACES evaluation is required. See the International Transcript Evaluation policy.
2. Unofficial transcript showing qualifying degree conferral. An unofficial transcript is printed on plain paper and does not bear a college seal or registrar’s signature or is an opened transcript submitted by a student, marked as a student copy or stamped unofficial. An unofficial transcript must document: student name, institution name, courses completed with grades earned, specific degree conferred, and the conferral date.
3. An official letter on school letterhead from the qualifying degree granting institution’s Office of the Registrar that includes the specific conferral date, degree level, and name of degree conferred.

If an applicant has earned a graduate degree from a regionally-accredited institution, an exception to the qualifying degree requirement may be considered. An exception must be approved by the Department Chair and documented in the student’s record.

Official Transcripts

Official transcripts from all institutions listed in the application must be on file by the end of the first semester of enrollment (on-ground students) or second term of enrollment (online students). Failure to meet this requirement will result in removal from all courses and withdrawal from the institution.

Once admission has been offered, an applicant must pay the tuition deposit to reserve a spot in their program. The tuition deposit is nonrefundable.

International Admission

An international student must be enrolled fulltime to be eligible for on-ground study in the U.S. under a student (F-1) visa. A student in a non-immigrant status is not eligible for federal financial aid.

Upon gaining acceptance to an on-ground program, an applicant who is requesting sponsorship for a student visa (F-1) must submit a New Student Information Form and supporting documentation before a Certificate of Eligibility for Non-Immigrant Students (I-20) can be issued. For current information on minimum financial requirements and obtaining the I-20, please visit the international admissions page under section Admitted International Students.

International Transcript Evaluation

An international applicant must have non-U.S. transcripts evaluated by a NACES-approved (www.naces.org) evaluation agency. A “course-by-course” evaluation of the official transcript from the international institution where the qualifying degree was earned is required for consideration of admission for all applicants. The transcript evaluation must also include a general evaluation showing U.S. degree equivalency and grade point average (GPA). Transcript evaluations are not required from U.S. universities operating overseas, provided the institution is recognized by a U.S. regional accrediting body and with grades reported on a U.S. 4-point scale.

Language Requirement

An international applicant who indicates on their application that English is not their primary language must submit official scores from the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL), the International English Language Testing System (IELTS), or from a TCSPP partner who offers language evaluation services. This requirement does not apply to applicants who hold an earned associate degree or bachelor’s degree, or who have earned 60 credit hours from a university in which the language of instruction is English. A minimum score of 79 TOEFL or 6.5 IELTS is required for admission. Scores must be less than 2 years old.

Qualifying Degree

The qualifying degree must be conferred on a date prior to the Add/Drop deadline of the term/semester of entry. An international student must provide proof of qualifying degree conferral by the Add/Drop deadline of the second semester of enrollment. Failing to meet this requirement will result in removal from all courses and withdrawal from the institution. Proof must be provided in one of the following ways: 

1. Official transcript showing qualifying degree conferral. An official transcript is printed on official transcript paper and bears the embossed or raised college seal, date, and the Registrar’s signature. An official transcript is delivered in a sealed envelope with the Registrar’s signature stamped across the seal. An official transcript can also be sent electronically directly from a transcript vendor.
2. Unofficial transcript showing qualifying degree conferral. An unofficial transcript is printed on plain paper and does not bear a college seal or registrar’s signature or is an opened transcript submitted by a student, marked as a student copy or stamped unofficial. An unofficial transcript must document: student name, institution name, courses completed with grades earned, specific degree conferred and the conferral date.
3. An official letter on school letterhead from the qualifying degree granting institution’s Office of the Registrar that includes the specific conferral date, degree level, and name of degree conferred.
4. An official or unofficial transcript evaluation of an international transcript from a National Association of Credential Evaluations Services (NACES)-approved evaluation service that includes the specific conferral date, degree level, and name of degree conferred, along with U.S. equivalency.

While a student may submit documentation listed in 1 through 4 above to prove qualifying degree conferral, submission of the official transcript evaluation is required for all students who attended an institution outside of the U.S.

Evaluation of Other Degree Types

A degree type that differs from a standard U.S. bachelor or master’s degree will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis. The following conditions will be considered:

1. The degree is recognized by a country’s Ministry of Education
2. The NACES-evaluation shows the degree as equivalent to the U.S. qualifying degree required by the program

Final decisions regarding exceptions to this policy will be made by TCSPP’s Vice President of Student Affairs and/or the Chief Operating Officer.

Admission Contingencies

For admission contingencies other than proof of the qualifying degree, all documents must be submitted prior to the start of the course registration period for the following semester for an on-ground student and by the Add/Drop deadline of the third term for an online student. Such items may be but are not limited to letters of recommendation or GRE scores.

If documents are missing after an on-ground student begins classes, the student’s record will be placed on hold, prohibiting future course registration. If unresolved, the on-ground student will be withdrawn on the Add/Drop deadline of the second semester of enrollment.

If documents are missing after an online student begins classes, the student record will be placed on hold. If unresolved by the start of the third term, the online student will be withdrawn on the Add/Drop deadline of the third term of enrollment.

Preparatory Coursework

Preparatory coursework refers to course(s) an applicant is required to take in order to enroll in an eligible graduate degree program. Preparatory courses are required for admission to the intended graduate program and do not count toward the requirements for the intended degree program.

An otherwise eligible applicant who must successfully complete preparatory coursework required for admission to a specific graduate program can attend TCSPP in a Preparatory Student classification.

An applicant who needs to take preparatory coursework for admission into a graduate program may apply to receive federal Direct Loans for one 12-consecutive month period.  The student must be enrolled at least half-time to be eligible for loans.  The student must complete the standard financial aid application process and meet all federal eligibility requirements. Only the courses listed in the applicable Programs of Study Admission Requirements section may be used for calculation of loan eligibility. Preparatory coursework that exceeds the 12-consecutive month period will not be eligible for financial aid. 

An applicant may review the individual Programs of Study Admission Requirements to view the specific courses required for admission to the intended graduate program. Once all preparatory coursework is successfully completed, the student may be admitted to the intended degree program.

All students are expected to attend and participate in their courses. All students in all delivery modalities (on-ground, online, and blended such as executive style or weekend programs) are recorded as either present or absent for each course during the first week of the term/semester based on participation in an online assigned academic activity. Assigned academic activities include posting an introduction, posting in a discussion forum, or submitting a quiz or assignment. A student cannot post attendance in any course prior to the start of any term/semester.

In addition to completing the online assigned academic activity, an on-ground student must attend face-to-face class meetings. Failure to attend face-to-face class meetings will have academic consequences as defined in the course syllabus.

A student who does not submit the assigned academic activity in an individual course during the first week of the term/semester will be administratively withdrawn from the course. A student who does not submit assigned academic activities during the first week of the term/semester in all courses will be administratively withdrawn from the institution.

Excused Absence

Should a student experience extenuating circumstances that necessitate absence from class, the student must notify the faculty member in advance. It is within the faculty member’s discretion to determine whether an absence is excused or unexcused. Reasons for granting an excused absence may include but are not limited to:

            a) Student illness or injury;

            b) Death, injury, or serious illness of an immediate family member;

            c) Religious observance;

            d) Jury duty or other government obligation.

The faculty member must notify the Office of the Registrar in writing when granting an excused absence. Attendance must be posted for the student upon return to the course. A student is required to provide written documentation substantiating an excused absence. Acceptable forms of documentation include medical documentation, copy of a jury summons, or a copy of a memorial service program. Documentation must be submitted to the Office of the Registrar.

Also, a student must inform the faculty member(s) in writing of the intent to stay enrolled in the course. The student is responsible for making arrangements to complete coursework missed due to an excused absence. An excused absence does not meet attendance requirements. However, a student’s request for an excused absence indicates the intent to remain enrolled in the course and at the institution. 

Failure to attend 60% of the term/semester may result in a prorated refund of financial aid. Any refund of tuition due to the student will be based on the applicable Refund Policies . 

Questions about disability accommodations for short-term impairments that limit a student’s ability to attend class must be directed to Student Affairs.

Class Cancellation

In cases of extreme weather, emergencies, or special events, The Chicago School of Professional Psychology may temporarily close a campus and/or cancel classes. Campus closure is at the discretion of the Campus Dean. Information on campus closures will be sent in the following ways:  

• Rave, TCSPP’s emergency text messaging notification system. Register for Rave at this link: http://www.getrave.com/login/tcsedsystem 
• The TCSPP email address
• An alert message on the myChicagoSchool student website

Information on class make-up will be available from the academic department in accordance with the credit hour policy.

Commencement

Commencement is a ceremony. Participation in the commencement ceremony is voluntary, and neither confers a degree nor releases a student from the obligation to satisfactorily complete curricular or other academic program requirements. Degree conferral will occur upon completion of all program requirements, and diploma issuance is contingent upon meeting all other obligations to the institution. See the Degree Completion policy for more information.

All bachelor, master, education specialist, and doctoral-level students are invited to participate in a commencement ceremony. A student may participate in only one commencement ceremony per degree earned. A student completing a certificate program may not participate in commencement.

To be considered for participation, a student must submit the Intent to Participate in Commencement form by the deadline published on myChicagoSchool.

Participation Requirements by Degree Level

Undergraduate Students (Bachelor)

An undergraduate student may be eligible to participate in a commencement ceremony if one of the following conditions are met:

1. All degree requirements are completed.
2. Degree requirements will be completed during the term/semester in which the ceremony occurs.

Graduate Students (Master, Education Specialist, Doctoral)

A graduate student may be eligible to participate in a commencement ceremony if one of the following conditions are met:

1. All degree requirements are completed.
2. Degree requirements will be completed during the term/semester in which the ceremony occurs.
3. Degree requirements will be completed in the term/semester immediately following the ceremony (approval of the academic department required).

Participation Requirements by Campus

TCSPP holds three commencement ceremonies per calendar year. The ceremonies occur in these general time frames:

• Chicago/Grayslake/TCSPP@XULA - Summer
• Southern California - Fall
• Washington, D.C. - Fall

An on-ground student may participate only in the home campus commencement ceremony.

An online student may participate in the commencement ceremony of their choosing. The online student must select a ceremony when completing the Intent to Participate in Commencement form. Once a ceremony has been selected, the student may not switch to another ceremony.

All courses offered at TCSPP, irrespective of varying credits, durations, and modalities, define one credit hour as:

• One hour of in-class instructional time and a minimum of out-of-class student preparation time for fifteen (15) weeks for one semester, or the equivalent amount of work over a different amount of time.  Out-of-class student preparation time increases with each degree level: Two (2) hours for undergraduate level courses, three (3) hours for master level courses, and three (3) hours plus additional dissertation preparation time for doctoral level courses. 
• The amount of learning required to progress toward completion of learning outcomes as defined by the rigor, complexity, and content of the degree level and the expectations of the profession. Student learning is verified by evidence in student achievement.

A credit hour is a minimum of a 53-minute period.  For courses offered in alternative timeframes or modalities, credit hour assignment shall be the equivalent of the in-class instructional time per week combined with the appropriate out-of-class student preparation time.

Degree Completion

Degree Credit Hours

Each academic program defines the number of semester credit hours required for degree completion. Where an academic program requires a practicum, internship, thesis, or dissertation, a student may be required to enroll in an extension course to accommodate study beyond the associated required courses. An extension course is counted as part of a student’s degree program. A student who successfully completes their practicum, internship, thesis, or dissertation within the required course series will not be required to enroll in extension courses.

Residency

Residency is defined as the portion of an academic program that must be completed at The Chicago School of Professional Psychology in order to earn a degree from the institution. It is required that a matriculated student will fulfill all degree requirements through courses offered at the institution. Academic programs with external approving or accrediting agencies must align residency requirements with the guidelines of those bodies. See the Program Guidebooks   for details.

A student who enters an academic program via an articulation agreement will be held to the requirements stated in the agreement.

• Undergraduate Programs

  A student entering an undergraduate degree program is permitted to transfer a maximum of 65% of the semester credit hours of transfer credit.  A student is required to complete a minimum of 35% of semester credit hours with the institution. Refer to the Undergraduate Transfer Credit policy for details.

• Graduate Programs

  Requests for transfer credit and course waiver must be submitted prior to the end of the first semester (second term) of enrollment. Refer to the Graduate Transfer Credit policy for details

Psy.D. in Clinical Psychology and Psy.D. in Clinical Forensic Psychology

A student enrolled in the Psy.D. in Clinical Psychology program or the Psy.D. in Clinical Forensic Psychology program must meet the following requirements in pursuit of the doctoral degree:

• Successful completion of 3 fulltime academic years of graduate study, at least 2 of which must be at TCSPP and at least 1 of which must be in fulltime residency, and
• Completion of an internship.

Rigor

To qualify for degree conferral, a student must:

• Be in Academic and Financial Aid Good Standing
• Have a cumulative grade point average of 2.0 or higher for undergraduate students or 3.0 or higher for graduate students
• Complete all training requirements as defined by the academic program
• Complete all competency exams required by the academic program, and
• Complete the capstone project, thesis, or dissertation required by the academic program

Additional Requirements

Once a degree is conferred, a student must meet the below requirements to be eligible to receive a diploma or official transcript:

• Resolve all financial debts to the institution
• Return all library books, test kits, or other school-owned materials, and
• Complete financial aid exit counseling

Degree Conferral

Upon successful completion of academic program requirements, a degree-seeking student declares the intent to graduate by submitting the online Petition for Degree Conferral within the deadlines published on the Office of the Registrar website.  A fee is assessed at the time of petition.

A degree is considered earned once the degree conferral date is posted on a student’s transcript. TCSPP confers degrees on the following days (see the Academic Calendar for specific dates):

• Official end of term/semester
• Last working day of the month, unless the month contains the end of the term/semester
• Grade due date of the 8-week and 12-week summer semesters (on-ground only)
• September 15

A student enrolled in any thesis or dissertation course who does not make timely progress as defined by the thesis or dissertation chair will be referred to the Student Affairs Committee for disciplinary action.

Information on accumulating postdoctoral hours is available from local, state, or regional licensing agencies.

Diplomas and Certificate Awards

Diplomas and certificates will be available six (6) to eight (8) weeks after all degree requirements have been verified by the Office of the Registrar. Expedited requests cannot be honored.

All diplomas and certificates are issued in the student’s name of record with TCSPP, and all diplomas and certificates are mailed to a student’s address of record with the institution. The student is responsible for the diploma or certificate replacement cost if it carries an incorrect name or if mailed to the incorrect address. To change the name of record with TCSPP, the student must submit a Student Personal Information Change Request form.

Diploma and Certificate Replacement

A lost or damaged diploma or certificate may be replaced for a fee. The replacement diploma or certificate will bear the signatures of current school officials but carry the original degree awarded date and degree title. The diploma or certificate will indicate that the document has been reissued. To order, a graduate must complete the Duplicate Diploma Request form. A fee is assessed at the time of order.

Dissertation

The dissertation is an essential component of a doctoral-level education. The dissertation provides an opportunity for a student to demonstrate command of a body of knowledge in a discipline and their ability to critically evaluate and synthesize this knowledge. 

A dissertation study is intended to make a significant contribution to the body of research in a discipline.  It must be scholarly, succinct, and of high enough quality to be published in a peer-reviewed journal.  The student’s dissertation work is supervised by a Dissertation Chair and an IRB committee who are responsible for approving the research proposal, overseeing the data collection and analysis, and reviewing the written draft of the dissertation.

Where a student needs time beyond the required dissertation course series to complete research or field work, they will be scheduled for a dissertation extension course. A dissertation extension course is counted as part of a student’s degree program. This course will allow a student to remain enrolled while completing and submitting their work. A student who successfully completes the dissertation within the required course series will not be required to enroll in a dissertation extension course.

A current student who wishes to enroll in an academic program at a different degree level must complete the standard admission process as requirements may be different (i.e. Master to Doctoral, Certificate to Master, or Doctoral to Master). A student must be in Academic and Financial Aid Good Standing, Programmatic Good Standing, and must be meet all financial obligations to the institution at the time of application and at the time of enrollment, if accepted.

Transcripts from prior schools remain on file and need not be resubmitted, but the student must release a TCSPP transcript and submit other admission documents as required in the application process.  This policy does not apply to a student enrolled under an internal articulation agreement.

A current student must complete all degree requirements and have the degree conferred to be eligible to start a new academic program. Degree conferral must occur either on or prior to the Add/Drop deadline. Concurrent enrollment is not permitted.   

A student who wishes to transfer to a different academic program at the same degree level must contact the Office of the Registrar. Refer to the Program Change policy.

Once awarded, transfer credit and waived courses remain on a student’s permanent record and cannot be removed from the academic transcript.  Earned credit hours are applicable toward one degree only. Credit hours may not be duplicated or double-counted toward the residency requirement for more than one degree unless the program has an articulation agreement.

Good Standing

The Chicago School of Professional Psychology defines Good Standing along two dimensions - ‘Academic and Financial Aid Good Standing’ and ‘Programmatic Good Standing.’

Academic and Financial Aid Good Standing

Academic and Financial Aid Good Standing is the minimum and necessary level of academic performance required of all students at TCSPP.

1. A graduate student is considered in good academic and financial aid standing if the student has earned a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or above.  An undergraduate student is considered in good academic and financial aid standing if the student has earned a cumulative GPA of 2.0 or above.
   1. The student must maintain the minimum cumulative grade point average to remain in this status.
   2. The cumulative GPA is reviewed at the end of every term/semester.
2. Graduate and undergraduate students are meeting the pace requirement for their admitted program.
   1. Students must progress to ensure academic program completion within the maximum timeframe.
   2. Pace or, rate of progress, is measured at the end of every term/semester.
   3. Pace is calculated as a period of time during which a student attempts 1.5 times the number of credit hours required to complete the program.
   4. For instance, if the published length of a program is 60 units, then the student must complete their program by the time the student reaches 90 attempted units (60 units X 150% = 90 units). Therefore, in order for a student to complete their program within the maximum timeframe, a student must complete a minimum of 66.67% of all units attempted (60 units ÷ 90 units = 66.67%).
   5. All units attempted or transferred in from another college are considered, even for periods in which the student did not receive financial aid.
3. Graduate and undergraduate students are not on Academic and Financial Aid Warning or Academic and Financial Aid Probation.

Programmatic Good Standing

Academic and Financial Aid Good Standing is recognized as the minimum requirement of all students at TCSPP. In addition, an academic program may have further academic, ethical, and performance requirements due to licensure and accreditation requirements and professional responsibility identified by individual disciplines. These programs may create a standard of performance which will be referred to as Programmatic Good Standing.

1. Programmatic Good Standing must include the above standard for Academic and Financial Aid Good Standing as the minimum for academic performance but may exceed this standard. Programmatic Good Standing may also include other metrics of performance.
2. Programmatic Good Standing must be published in the program guidebook and must be clearly explained to the students in a timely and appropriate manner. All standards must be fully accessible by students, faculty, and staff.
3. In the absence of a formal and published policy of Programmatic Good Standing, Academic and Financial Aid Good Standing shall serve as the default definition of standing for all TCSPP students.

Grading Policies

Academic Grading Criteria

The design, goals, and expectations instructors set forth in the syllabus for individual courses will determine the criteria by which a student is evaluated. Generally, in awarding academic grades, instructors may assess any or all of the following aspects of a student’s performance.

• Understanding the course material at a competent level
• Assessing and synthesizing research findings
• Analyzing theoretical materials
• Applying conceptual models to problems in practice
• Engaging in discussion and debate, and presenting a clearly articulated and defensible position on the issues
• Displaying intellectual curiosity and a desire to learn
• Writing in a clear and direct manner
• Demonstrating critical thinking and scientific inquiry
• Performing at competent levels on professional tasks

Administrative Grades

W (Withdrawal) and WF (Withdrawal Fail) grades are assigned by an Office of the Registrar staff member in accordance with the Drop/Withdrawal schedule outlined below. The W and WF grades cannot be assigned by a faculty member.

A W grade is issued when a student drops or is administratively withdrawn from a course before the deadline as listed below. A W grade is marked as attempted credits when calculating Pace (Rate of Progress) Satisfactory Academic Progress and will not impact the Grade Point Average. A WF grade is issued when a student drops or is administratively withdrawn from a course after the deadline as listed below, based on the student’s last date of attendance. Credits are marked as attempted and grade points are equivalent to an “F” grade.

15-week Courses

Drop/Withdrawal Schedule

12-week Courses

 Drop/Withdrawal Schedule

8-week Courses (On-Ground)

Drop/Withdrawal Schedule

8-week Courses (Online)

Drop/Withdrawal Schedule

 See the Academic Calendar for specific dates.

Applied Professional Practice

The student is required to complete the following steps in order to receive a grade for practicum/internship:

1. Turn in signed and completed Training Agreement on the Applied Professional Practice (APP) database by the second week of the semester.

2. Complete hour log by end of each semester.

3. Complete site evaluation by end of semester.

If any of the above steps are not met, the student’s registration will be placed on hold. The hold will be removed after the steps are completed. If a student does not submit required documentation including an hour log and training agreement by the end of the semester, then the hold will remain on the student’s record and the student will receive a grade of “In Progress” (IP). The IP grade will be changed to an “Incomplete” (I) after six (6) weeks of student noncompliance. Following the six (6) weeks of the “I”, the grade will revert to a “No Pass” (NP) grade and the student will be required to repeat the practicum placement and seminar class. Note that the IP grade may be used for an extended period of time at the discretion of APP.

In order to receive a passing grade for the seminar class, the student must have a passing site supervisor evaluation, passing seminar leader evaluation, completed hour log, and evaluation of site. If a student does not receive a passing evaluation from both the seminar and site, then the student may not pass the seminar course.

Incomplete

A student may request an Incomplete “I” grade from an instructor if:

1. Circumstances beyond the student’s control prevent the student from completing an element of the course required to determine a final grade (for example, take the final exam).
2. The student is passing the course at the time the incomplete “I” grade is requested.
3. The student can cite extraordinary circumstances and provide documentation of circumstances, if requested.
4. It is prior to the last day of course instruction.

A student that is called into active duty by the U.S. Military or National Guard or is experiencing economic hardship as a result of war, military operation, state or national emergency should consult the Military Leave of Absence Policy.

A student should be aware that:

• The instructor determines what work is required to remove the “I” grade. The student will receive the instructor’s directions for completion of the “I” grade in writing via an Incomplete form. For on-ground programs, the date of required completion must fall at least seven (7) calendar days before the Add/Drop deadline of the subsequent semester. For online programs, the dates of required completion may not extend beyond the Add/Drop deadline of the subsequent term. It is recommended that the completion time be brief to allow the instructor time to grade the remaining material and forward a grade to the Office of the Registrar before the subsequent term Add/Drop deadline. 
• Incomplete grades are not granted as a means of extending the standard amount of time given to complete the course.
• Should the student experience extenuating circumstances that prevent completion of coursework within the prescribed time period, the student must petition the Department Chair to extend the deadline. Requests should be made in writing after obtaining approval of the advisor and should include a specific date for completion of coursework.
• A student receiving an “I” grade may proceed with the next level of courses for the following semester. However, if the course for which the “I” grade was received is a prerequisite for a course(s) the subsequent semester, the student will be removed from that course until the “I” grade is replaced.
• Any student taking a leave of absence (LOA) with an “I” grade on the transcript may not submit work to replace the “I” grade while on a LOA. Additionally, separate from the request for a LOA, the student must petition the Department Chair for permission to extend the completion of the “I” grade into the semester in which they return from leave.
• The incomplete course will count in the credits attempted for the purpose of determining financial aid eligibility.
• If the student is incapacitated, the student’s advisor or Department Chair may initiate the request for the incomplete.
• A grade of “I” will be automatically changed to a grade of “F/NC/NP” unless the requirements stated in the “Incomplete Grade Request form” are met. All grades of “I” must be resolved prior to the start of a training experience.

Incomplete grades are also issued in the event that an “In Progress” (IP) training grade that is not resolved by the IP grade deadline (see the Applied Professional Practice Grading Policy for more information). A student with a cumulative GPA of less than 3.0 may be restricted from applying to and/or attending practicum or internship training.

Online Courses

Some online courses (e.g. dissertation courses) may extend beyond the end of the term/semester. For this reason, students may be assigned an IP grade. The IP grade will automatically change to “F/NC/NP” after four (4) weeks if the student does not submit the required deliverables.

An Applied Behavior Analysis student taking practicum through TCSPP will be graded according to the Applied Professional Practice Grading Policy. The student will automatically earn an “In Progress” (IP) grade at the end of each 8-week term, as practicum lasts beyond the end of the term. The IP grades will be replaced once final grading of week 8 is complete and as long as the student has also fulfilled the APP Grading Policy requirements.

Study Abroad and Field Experience

If the travel portion of a Study Abroad or Field Experience course concludes after the end of the term/semester, all students will receive a temporary grade of “In Progress” (IP). Once final course deliverables have been submitted and evaluated, the IP grade will be changed to a letter grade. If a student fails to submit final deliverables prior to the end date of the subsequent term/semester, the student will earn a grade of “F/NC/NP” in the course. A student wishing to appeal a grade in a study abroad or field experience course may do so for up to four (4) weeks from the end date of the subsequent term/semester.

Grade Appeal

A final course grade may be appealed only when the grading criteria stated in the course syllabus and/or the Academic Catalog & Student Handbook have not been followed. A student must be able to present clear evidence of the misapplication of published grading criteria to have a course final grade appeal considered.

A change to a course final grade may be approved only by the faculty member who assigned the course final grade, the Department Chair, or a faculty member or committee of faculty appointed by a Department Chair.

To appeal a course final grade, the following procedure must be used:

1. The student must speak with the faculty member who assigned the course final grade to attempt a resolution. If a resolution is not achieved, the student must move to step 2.
2. The student must complete the Grade Appeal Request form and submit it to the Department Chair or designee by the Add/Drop deadline of the term/semester immediately following the one in which the course final grade in question was earned. The Department Chair or designee will attempt to resolve the appeal within the department. This process will include a consultation with the faculty member who assigned the course final grade and a consultation with the appealing student. It may also include a review of the appeal by another department faculty member or committee of faculty. If the Department Chair determines that a resolution is not achieved, the Department Chair or designee must move to step 3.
3. The Department Chair or designee will consult with the Dean of Academic Affairs to formally review the concern and make a decision on the course final grade appeal. The decision of the Department Chair or designee in consultation with the Dean of Academic Affairs is final and cannot be appealed.

Grade Change

A change to a posted grade assigned by a faculty member may be approved by an instructor, Department Chair, or faculty committee appointed by a Department Chair. Grade changes can have registration, satisfactory academic progress, and financial aid implications. For these reasons, it is important that grade changes are submitted to the Office of the Registrar in a timely fashion.

A grade change form may be submitted until the Add/Drop deadline one full semester or two (2) terms for online courses after the original grade was submitted. For example, if a grade is awarded at the end of the fall semester, a grade change form will be accepted until the Add/Drop deadline of the subsequent summer semester or summer I term for online programs.

A student may appeal a posted grade. Please see the Grade Appeal Process  for details.

Grade Point Classification

All academic work in courses, seminars, independent studies, and practicum/internship is evaluated by the instructor and noted on the student’s transcript. A faculty member awards one of the following grades, excluding administrative grades:

*deadline may vary per the instructional delivery modalities. See the Academic Calendar for details.

Grade Point Average (GPA)

The GPA is determined by dividing the total number of grade points earned by the total number of credit hours attempted. All grade points earned are counted equally on a 4.0 scale.

Repeating a Course

A student must make Satisfactory Academic Progress toward a degree by maintaining a Cumulative Grade Point Average (CGPA) of 2.0 for undergraduate programs or 3.0 for graduate programs. An undergraduate student who receives a course grade of “D” and below or a graduate student who receives a course grade of “C” and below is required to repeat or replace the course, as courses with such grades do not count toward degree requirements.

The repeated course must be successfully completed within one academic year in order for the student to receive course credit and to have the course counted toward degree requirements. When the course is successfully completed, the new course grade will be computed in the CGPA; the quality points for the original grade will no longer be computed in the CGPA but will count toward credits attempted thereby affecting SAP. All final grades remain in the student’s record and appear on the official transcript.

A repeated course counts toward fulltime or half-time enrollment status only once. A course repeated more than once neither qualifies for financial aid nor is counted in a student’s enrollment status. Some courses can be taken multiple times and are not considered a repeated course under this policy. See the Repeated Courses Exemption List  for details. See Financial Aid and Student Accounts  for information on earning aid for a repeated course.

Leave of Absence

TCSPP requires all degree-seeking students to remain continuously enrolled through the fall, spring, and summer terms/semesters. A student who experiences an unforeseeable and unexpected circumstance that necessitates a break in enrollment may consider either a leave of absence (LOA) or withdrawal from the institution.

Should study be interrupted between terms/semesters or before the Add/Drop deadline of a term/semester, a LOA may be considered. A LOA allows a student to return to the same academic program under the requirements in effect when the LOA began. A LOA is granted only between terms/semesters or before the Add/Drop deadline of any term/semester. A LOA will not be granted after the Add/Drop deadline of an active term/semester.

An unforeseeable and unexpected circumstance is defined as a significant change in the student’s health (severe illness or injury), financial situation, employment, or urgent personal matter. Course unavailability does not constitute an unforeseeable and unexpected circumstance so does not qualify a student for a LOA. See the Withdrawal policy for information on a temporary withdrawal related to course unavailability.

The duration of a LOA may not exceed 180 calendar days in any 12-month period. For this reason, students are limited to taking two online terms/one on-ground semester of LOA in any 12-month period. An online student who desires an additional term of LOA must contact the Campus Registrar for eligibility. A student is eligible for a maximum of six online terms/three on-ground semesters of LOA over the duration of an academic program assuming all conditions set forth in this policy are met. 

Failure to return to active status at the conclusion of a LOA will result in administrative withdrawal from TCSPP. Upon withdrawal, the grace period for a federal student loan recipient will begin with the last date of attendance recorded at the school prior to the LOA.

Should study be interrupted during an active term/semester after the Add/Drop deadline, withdrawal from the institution may be requested. A withdrawn student may return to the institution following the guidelines in the Returning Students policy. See the Military Leave of Absence policy for information on service-related leave.

Eligibility for LOA

To be eligible for LOA, a student must:

• Experience an unforeseeable and unexpected circumstance that leads to a significant change as described above;
• Expect to return from LOA for a subsequent term/semester that falls within the timeframe outlined above;
• Be in Academic and Financial Aid Good Standing per the Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) policy.  A student who is not meeting SAP is not eligible for a LOA;
• Be in Programmatic Good Standing per the Good Standing policy, if applicable;
• Meet with the Office of Financial Aid regarding financial impact;
• Clear any financial account hold, if applicable. A student with a financial account hold is not eligible for a LOA;
• Be cleared of any disciplinary action, if applicable. A student with a pending Student Affairs Committee (SAC) hearing is not eligible for LOA;
• Have earned credit hours toward a degree requirement in at least two online terms or one on-ground semester.

Requesting a LOA

Before petitioning, a student considering LOA is strongly encouraged to consult with the Department Chair or Advisor to understand any programmatic impact. An international student in F-1 or J-1 status must consult with the Designated School Official (DSO) to understand the impact of a LOA on immigration status. A student engaged in practicum or internship is strongly advised to confer with the practicum or internship coordinator to understand any training implications.

To request a LOA, a student must:

• Complete the Leave of Absence Request in full, including obtaining all required signatures;
• Clearly state the unforeseeable and unexpected circumstance(s) for the LOA and provide documentation that substantiates circumstance(s). The school may request additional information prior to evaluating a student’s request;
• Specify the expected term/semester of return;
• Submit the completed document to the Office of the Registrar prior to the Add/Drop deadline of the requested term/semester.

A LOA is noted on a student’s transcript for each approved term/semester. A retroactive LOA is not permitted.

A student on a LOA is bound by TCSPP’s Code of Conduct and must adhere to the same professional standards as an active student. A LOA does not extend the seven academic year degree completion timeframe for a Psy.D. in Clinical Psychology student.

The Military Leave of Absence (MLOA) provides a no-penalty, time-unrestricted leave of absence for affected individuals, their spouses and dependents. The MLOA provides relief of student charges based upon deployment notification and financial aid sources.

Affected individuals include the following, as well as their spouses and dependents:

• Active duty military personnel serving during a war, military operation, state or national emergency.

• Members of the National Guard performing a qualifying duty (e.g. called to active service by the Governor, President, Secretary of Defense for a period of more than 30 consecutive days) during a war, military operation, state or national emergency.

• Service Members who suffer economic hardship as a result of a war, military operation, state or national emergency.

A student who is called to active military duty should promptly notify the Office of the Registrar in writing via the Leave of Absence request form, including submitting the military orders with departure date. If military orders are classified and cannot be shared, a letter from the commanding officer regarding the date of deployment and confidentiality status will be accepted. MLOA does not count against program time to completion; however, repayment of Federal Financial Aid may be required after 180 days have expired. MLOA is available to a student who is deployed regardless of the student’s SAP status.

If the student withdraws from current courses on or before week 5 of an 8-week term or on or before week 10 for a 15-week semester, the student will receive a full refund of tuition and fees, and be removed from all courses in progress, thereby removing them from the student’s record. A grade of “W” will be recorded on the student’s transcript. If the student withdraws from current courses on or after week 6 of an 8-week term or on or after week 11 of a 15-week semester, the student will receive full credit with grades earned at the time of MLOA. If a course relies on a final project and/or examination to determine satisfactory performance, no credit will be granted until all required work is completed. A student taking online courses may continue to be enrolled in those courses, if possible. A student wanting to complete their courses via independent study may do so with the consent of the faculty member(s).

Posthumous Degree

The Chicago School of Professional Psychology may grant a degree posthumously to recognize the achievement of a deceased student. A request for a posthumously-awarded degree must originate with the deceased’s Department Chair and be submitted in writing to the Dean of Academic Affairs.

The request should describe the deceased’s academic standing and progress in the program at the time of passing. To be considered for a posthumous degree, the deceased student must have been:

• In the final stage of the academic program (e.g. completing the thesis or dissertation, practicum or internship, a final program capstone, or in the final term/semester of study as determined by the academic department);
• Expected to successfully complete all degree requirements;
• In good academic, disciplinary, and programmatic standing; and
• Enrolled at time of passing or on an approved leave of absence.

The Dean of Academic Affairs will be responsible for evaluating the request against the criteria above in consultation with the Campus Registrar and Vice President of Student Affairs. If the Dean of Academic Affairs grants the request, the Campus Dean and the Campus Registrar will be notified. The Campus Dean and the Dean of Academic Affairs will contact the deceased’s family to make arrangements for presenting the diploma. 

Releasing the Educational Record

TCSPP will release a deceased’s record within one year of passing to the following individuals:

• The individual(s) named on a signed FERPA - Student Authorization Release Form, if on file with the institution.
• The deceased’s next of kin. The request must be accompanied by official documentation.
• The individual designated as the representative of the deceased’s estate. The request must be accompanied by official documentation.
• In response to a subpoena or court order.
• To any other individual, if determined by the institution to be in the best interest of the deceased or the institution.

After one year has elapsed following the death of a student or alumni, TCSPP may release the educational records of the deceased at its discretion. ​

Program Change

A student in good standing who desires to change their academic program or campus may do so using the process outlined in this policy. When considering a campus or academic program change, a student must be in good standing at the time of request and upon enrollment in the new academic program and/or at the new campus. A student may request to change their area of focus/study or concentration under this policy.

A student should contact the Office of Financial Aid prior to requesting an academic program or campus change to determine financial aid implications. An international student who desires to change their academic program or campus must contact the Designated School Official (DSO). Agreements that facilitate credit articulation and provide a smooth transition between select academic programs may be available.

Program Transfer

A student who wishes to transfer to a different academic program at the same degree level on the same campus must meet all of the admissions requirements of the desired academic program. The student should discuss their intent to transfer with their current Department Chair and with the Department Chair of the new academic program. Program transfer is facilitated by the Program Change Request form.

Note that the new academic program may have different degree completion requirements. Not all coursework from the original academic program may transfer into the new academic program. A student seeking entry into a program that has or is seeking programmatic accreditation or specialized approval must go through the formal application for admission and transfer credit/course waiver process.  

Once awarded, transfer credit cannot be removed from a student’s transcript. Should a student voluntarily transfer to another academic program or to an updated version of the same academic program, all transfer credit applied will remain on the transcript as a justification for allowing the student to enroll in subsequent courses and as a record of completed credits, even where the transfer credit may not meet academic program requirements. 

Area of Focus/Study or Concentration Change

A student who desires to change their area of focus/study or concentration should discuss their intent with their Department Chair. The student should contact the Office of Financial Aid to determine financial aid implications prior to requesting an area of focus/study or concentration change. To request a change, the student must complete the Program Change Request form and submit it to the Office of the Registrar.

Campus Transfer

A student who wishes to transfer to the same academic program at the same degree level on a different campus must meet all of the admissions requirements of the desired academic program. The student should discuss their intent to transfer with their current Department Chair and with the Department Chair of the new academic program. Campus transfer is facilitated by the Program Change Request form.

Note that the new academic program may have different degree completion requirements. A student may be required to take additional courses to satisfy the certification or licensure requirements of the jurisdiction in which the new campus is located, if applicable. Not all coursework from the original academic program may transfer. A student seeking entry into an academic program that has or is seeking programmatic accreditation or specialized approval must go through the formal application for admission and transfer credit/course waiver process.

Once awarded, transfer credit cannot be removed from a student’s transcript. Should a student voluntarily transfer to the same academic program on a different campus, all transfer credit applied for the original academic program will remain on the transcript as a justification for allowing the student to enroll in subsequent courses and as a record of completed credits, even where the transfer credit may not meet academic program requirements.

Campus/Program Transfer

A student who wishes to transfer to a different academic program at the same degree level on a different campus must meet all admissions requirements of the desired academic program. The student should discuss their intent to transfer with their current Department Chair and with the Department Chair of the new academic program. The campus/program transfer process is facilitated by the Program Change Request form.

Due to differences in local requirements, the degree completion requirements of the new academic program on a different campus may vary. A student may be required to take additional courses to satisfy the certification or licensure requirements of the jurisdiction in which the new campus is located, if applicable. Not all coursework from the original academic program may transfer. A student seeking entry into an academic program that has or is seeking programmatic accreditation or specialized approval must go through the formal application for admission and transfer credit/course waiver process.

Once awarded, transfer credit cannot be removed from a student’s transcript. Should a student voluntarily transfer to the new academic program on a different campus, all transfer credit applied for the original academic program will remain on the transcript as a justification for allowing the student to enroll in subsequent courses and as a record of completed credits, even where the transfer credit may not meet academic program requirements.

Registration

TCSPP requires all students to maintain continuous enrollment during the full academic year (fall, spring, and summer terms/semesters) either on their home campus or a host campus. The home campus is the campus in which the student is actively enrolled. A host campus may be any other TCSPP campus or an institution with which TCSPP has an approved dual or joint degree program. All students are expected to register for courses prior to the start of the related term/semester and academic year.

Any student who does not register in any courses will be administratively withdrawn from TCSPP by the Add/Drop deadline as published on the Academic Calendar. This includes students with any registration holds. A registration hold may be caused by an outstanding financial account balance, overdue library materials, writing assessment, admission contingency, or other related items, and all holds must be cleared prior to course registration. A student must be registered to attend classes.

A student whose final academic program requirement is completion of a practicum and/or internship must be enrolled in a corresponding course unless the practicum or internship concludes prior to the end of the term/semester. A student whose final academic program requirement is copy editing of a thesis or dissertation must be enrolled in a corresponding course unless the copy editing will be completed prior to the end of the term/semester.

On-Ground

An on-ground student must register for courses each semester during the designated registration period as published on the Academic Calendar to avoid a late registration fee or administrative withdrawal. Courses are available on a first-come, first-served basis. TCSPP does not maintain wait lists for closed courses.

An on-ground student will be notified of the designated registration date(s) and times available via myChicagoSchool. A student’s registration time is based on the total credit hours earned as of the prior semester. During the Open Registration period, students may register for courses or modify their course schedule. Once Open Registration ends, online registration closes, and the Add/Drop period begins. See below for details on Add/Drop.

Information on first semester registration for a new on-ground student is contained in the academic program Welcome Letter posted to myChicagoSchool. The new student must register for courses by logging into the Academic Portal. A new student who is admitted during the Add/Drop period must work with Admissions to obtain the approval of the Department Chair to register for courses.

Online

All online programs have a pre-determined course sequence, and an online student is registered by the institution following that sequence. A student is registered multiple terms in advance, and the course schedule is available through myChicagoSchool. A new student who is admitted during the Add/Drop period must work with their Student Advisor to obtain the approval of the Department Chair to be registered for courses.

Add/Drop

The Add/Drop period begins on the first day of the term/semester and ends on the first Sunday of the term/semester. For new students, the Add/Drop period is the cancellation period.

During Add/Drop, a student may register for additional courses or remove courses from the course schedule. Department Chair approval is required for adding or dropping courses during the Add/Drop period. A student may request to add or drop a course by completing and submitting the Add/Drop Form prior to the Add/Drop deadline. An Add/Drop fee is charged per form submitted. After the Add/Drop deadline, courses may not be added to the course schedule.

After the Add/Drop deadline, a student who wishes to drop a course must complete and submit an Add/Drop Form to the Office of the Registrar. A student who drops a course after the Add/Drop deadline will receive a grade per the Administrative Grade policy. Dropping a course after the Add/Drop deadline may result in a prorated refund of tuition per the Refund Policy and may have financial aid implications.

While every effort is made to ensure courses are offered frequently, course availability varies. A deviation from the standard progression of a program such as dropping a course, repeating a course, taking a leave of absence, or reducing enrollment credit hours may, therefore, result in a session or term when a course that is needed is not available. In such cases, a student will be required to follow the temporary withdrawal policy in this Catalog. This may delay a student’s graduation and impact their financial aid eligibility.

A student who drops all courses will be administratively withdrawn from the institution. If the student is a financial aid recipient, being withdrawn from the institution before 60% of the term/semester has expired will result in a Return of Title IV calculation. This calculation will determine the percentage of the financial aid award earned and may result in returning funds to the lender. Such action may cause the student to owe a balance to the institution.

Course Auditing

To audit a course, a student registers for the course as if taken for credit. After registering, the student must request to audit using the Add/Drop Form, being certain to identify the course(s) to be taken as an auditor. The student must obtain the approval of the Department Chair and submit the form by the Add/Drop deadline. Failure to follow this procedure will result in earning a grade in the course.

The faculty determines participation requirements for a course auditor. Any course that a student has previously identified as an audit course may not be changed to a credit-bearing course after the Add/Drop deadline. Any course identified as a credit-bearing course may not be changed as an audit course after the Add/Drop deadline.

No credit hours are earned from an audited course, and audited courses are not computed in the grade point average. Students who successfully complete an audited course are assigned the “AU” grade notation. An audited course does not count toward continuous enrollment and is not be eligible for financial aid. A student enrolled in a certificate program may not audit courses. Study abroad courses are not eligible for auditing. Information on audit fees is available here.

Cross Registration

Cross Campus

A student may take a course on a different campus on a space available basis. A student is subject to the academic calendar of the home campus including course registration and Add/Drop deadlines.

To request approval for cross-campus registration, the student must consult with the Department Chair of the home degree program. If the request is supported, the home degree program Department Chair will work with the host degree program Department Chair to arrange for cross-campus registration. To facilitate course registration, a completed Course Substitution Petition must be submitted to the Office of the Registrar by the Add/Drop deadline.

If the course meets a home degree program requirement, it will be eligible for financial aid. If it does not meet a home degree program requirement, it will not be eligible for financial aid.

Cross Program

A student may take a course in a different degree program on a space available basis. To request approval for cross-program registration, the student must consult with the Department Chair of the home degree program. If the request is supported, the home degree program Department Chair will work with the host degree program Department Chair to arrange for cross-program registration. To facilitate registration for the course, a completed Course Substitution Petition must be submitted to the Office of the Registrar by the Add/Drop deadline.

If the course meets a home degree program requirement, it will be eligible for financial aid. If it does not meet a home degree program requirement, it will not be eligible for financial aid.

Cross Instructional Delivery Modality

An on-ground student taking an online course to meet a degree requirement must follow the home campus registration process. The student must register for all courses - on-ground and online terms I and II - prior to the on-ground Add/Drop deadline. An on-ground student who drops an online term II course will be held to the on-ground grade assignment (W/WF/NC/NP) and refund schedule. 

Study Abroad

A study abroad course may be used to meet a degree requirement if it is listed in the enrolled degree program, fulfills an elective requirement, or is approved as a substitution for a required course in the enrolled degree program. If it is determined that the study abroad course meets a degree requirement, it may be eligible for financial aid. If the study abroad course does not meet a degree requirement, it will not be eligible for financial aid.

To register for a study abroad course, the student must complete the Course Substitution Petition, obtain the Department Chair’s approval, and submit the form to the Office of the Registrar. Upon approval, the student will be registered in the Study Abroad course, the student’s record will reflect the approved substitution. 

Approval of a course substitution does not confirm a student’s eligibility or enrollment in the course. A student must apply through International Programs and Services to be considered for and enrolled in a study abroad course. Click on this link for detailed information.

Late Registration Fee for Continuing Students

A late registration fee will be charged to a student whose initial registration activity occurs during the Add/Drop Period.

A Student-at-Large (SAL) is a visiting student enrolled in courses outside of a certificate or degree program enrollment. A SAL may be eligible to enroll in courses on a space available basis. Information on SAL enrollment is available from the Office of Admission at 800.721.8072.

A SAL must meet all prerequisite requirements for the courses in which enrollment is desired. Typically, a SAL may complete a maximum of six (6) units of study with TCSPP (maximum 3 units per term/6 units per semester). A SAL who wishes to enroll in more than 3 units per term/6 units per semester must have written approval from the Department Chair.

A SAL enrollment does not qualify for fulltime or half-time enrollment status. A SAL is not eligible for financial aid.

Returning Students

Readmission

A former student who wishes to return to TCSPP 365 or more days after the date of withdrawal must reapply to the university. The former student must indicate a past academic history on the admission application. If readmitted, the student will return in the same Satisfactory Academic Progress status that was in effect on the date of withdrawal. Readmission is not guaranteed.

A former student must meet all admission, Academic Catalog, and degree requirements in effect at the time of re-application. The former student must reapply through the Office of Admission. This policy applies to all academic programs in all instructional delivery modalities. All holds must be resolved prior to registering for courses. See the Registration policy for more information.

A former student who wishes to return to TCSPP 364 or fewer days after the date of withdrawal should refer to the Reentry policy.

Readmission of Dismissed Students

A former student in dismissal status may not return to TCSPP until 365 or more days after the date of dismissal have passed. This applies to a former student dismissed due to not meeting all Satisfactory Academic Progress standards or due to a disciplinary action. The former student must indicate a past academic history on the admission application. Readmission is not guaranteed.

As part of the re-application process, a former student in dismissal status must submit supporting documentation that includes:

1. An explanation for previous unsatisfactory academic performance including any mitigating circumstances;
2. Evidence of the ability to succeed academically including new professional experience(s) or changed personal circumstances, and
3. Official documentation of any coursework completed while in dismissal status.

This documentation and the past academic history will be reviewed in considering the application for readmission. The passage of time alone does not substantiate eligibility for readmission or appeal for readmission. A former student in dismissal status is not eligible for auto admission.

If the former student is accepted by the admission committee of the desired department, the Department Chair will have the opportunity to review the admission file and render an independent decision. An offer of admission may be rescinded should it be discovered that a former student provided fraudulent information on the admission application.

Upon approval for readmission to TCSPP, the student must work with the Department Chair and the Office of the Registrar to create a SAP Development Plan that will ensure the timely return to Good Standing, if followed. A former student who returns from a Student Affairs Committee (SAC) dismissal must work with the Department Chair to create an Academic Development Plan (ADP) to ensure academic success in the program.

A former student who was previously in Academic and Financial Aid Dismissal or Academic and Financial Aid Probation status who is re-admitted to TCSPP will be placed on Academic and Financial Aid Probation and must follow the SAP Development Plan. If the student fails to meet the SAP Development Plan or SAP standards at the end of the Academic and Financial Aid Probation period, the student will be dismissed.

A former student dismissed from TCSPP due to exceeding the Maximum Timeframe (MTF) for the enrolled program may not return to the institution.

Readmission of Military Service Members

In compliance with criteria established by the Higher Education Opportunity Act of 2008, a student whose absence from TCSPP is necessitated by reason of service in the uniformed services shall be entitled to readmission at the same academic status attained prior to such service provided the student (or an appropriate officer of the Armed Forces) gives advance notice of such service to the Office of the Registrar and the cumulative length of the absence and of all previous absences by reason of service in the uniformed services does not exceed five (5) years.

However, no advance notice is required if the giving of such notice is precluded by military necessity such as a mission, operation, exercise, or requirement that is classified; or a pending or ongoing mission, operation, exercise, or requirement that may be compromised or otherwise adversely affected by public knowledge.

These readmission requirements apply to a student who performs service in the uniformed services, whether voluntary or involuntary, in the Armed Forces, including service as a member of the National Guard or Reserve, on active duty, active duty for training, or fulltime National Guard duty under Federal authority (but not State authority), for a period of more than 30 consecutive days under a call or order to active duty of more than 30 consecutive days.

In order for a service member to qualify for these benefits by reason of service, a student must submit appropriate documentation to TCSPP. Documents that might establish service member eligibility include but are not limited to:

• DD214 Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty.
• Copy of duty orders prepared by the facility where the orders were fulfilled carrying an endorsement indicating completion of the described service.
• Letter from the commanding officer of a Personnel Support Activity or someone of comparable authority.
• Certificate of completion from military training school.
• Discharge certificate showing character of service.
• Copy of extracts from payroll documents showing periods of service.
• Letter from National Disaster Medical System (NDMS) Team Leader or Administrative Officer verifying dates and times of NDMS training or Federal activation.

If the student is readmitted to the same degree program, the student will be assessed for the first academic year only the same tuition and fee charges that the student was or would have been assessed for the academic year during which the student left the institution.

If the student is admitted to a different academic program and for subsequent academic years for a student admitted to the same program, the student will be assessed no more than the tuition and fee charges that other students in the program are assessed for that academic year.

Reentry

A reentry student is an individual who wishes to return to their original TCSPP degree program 364 or fewer days after the date of withdrawal. Reentry is not guaranteed.

A reentry student must meet admission requirements that were in effect for the degree program in the Academic Catalog under which they were originally admitted. The reentry student will be required to complete all degree program requirements in effect at the time of withdrawal. A former student may request reentry through the Office of the Registrar.

A former student who wishes to return to TCSPP 365 or more days after the date of withdrawal or who wishes to return but in a different degree program should refer to the Readmission policy.

A reentry student must submit the Reentry Petition with a letter of intent detailing:

1. The reason for withdrawal,
2. Changes that have occurred since withdrawal that will allow for a successful return to school,
3. The expected date of graduation.

Previous academic performance and the letter of intent will be reviewed by the Department Chair.

A student in temporary withdrawal status due to course unavailability will be reentered automatically. A student in temporary withdrawal status due to a significant change in their life should contact the Registrar regarding return. More information on this procedure is available from the Office of the Registrar.

If approved, the student will return to the same Satisfactory Academic Progress status in effect on the date of withdrawal. This policy applies to all academic programs in all instructional delivery modalities. All holds must be resolved prior to registering for courses. See the Registration policy for more information.

California Graduate Institute of The Chicago School

The Chicago School of Professional Psychology acquired the assets of the California Graduate Institute in 2008 and acts as the custodian of all CGI Westwood and CGI Irvine academic records for any student who received a degree or became inactive prior to October 7, 2008.

Effective June 1, 2011, a former student of CGI who has not been actively enrolled at TCSPP is eligible to apply only to programs being offered to new students. Details on current program offerings are available through the Office of Admission.

Should a currently active CGI of TCS student be withdrawn from TCSPP for any reason, the student may apply to reenter the enrolled degree program at the time of withdrawal once following the procedure outlined under Reentry above. If approved for reentry, stipulations will be placed upon the resumed enrollment which may include but are not limited to assignment of an Academic Development Plan, a mandatory completion timeframe, and the requirement of maintaining continuous enrollment through degree completion while remaining in academic and programmatic good standing.

Failure to meet any stipulation determined at the point of reentry will result in dismissal from the institution. This policy may not be excepted.

International Students

Per U.S. immigration regulations, a former F-1 or J-1 international student has five (5) months from the SEVIS termination date to reenter a degree program and, thereby, reactivate their original immigration record. A former international student who wishes to return to TCSPP after 5 months must reapply through the Office of Global Enrollment.

A former international student who wishes to return to TCSPP after 5 months must meet all admission and Academic Catalog requirements in effect at the time of reapplication. If accepted, the international student must complete all degree requirements in effect at the time of readmission. All holds must be resolved prior to registering for courses. See the Registration policy for more information.

Note that returning to study in a new enrollment may delay an international student’s eligibility for work authorization (CPT or OPT).

Satisfactory Academic Progress

A student is required to maintain Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) toward the completion of a degree, certificate, or credential program while attending TCSPP. SAP is measured to ensure that a student is making satisfactory academic progress toward degree completion.

This SAP policy meets federal and accrediting agency regulations governing student eligibility for financial aid. This requirement applies to all students regardless of method of payment or enrollment status. Failure to meet these standards may result in the loss of financial aid eligibility.

SAP is measured qualitatively (grade-based) and quantitatively (time-based). The qualitative measure is cumulative grade point average (CGPA).  The quantitative measure is the percentage of attempted units that are successfully completed which is referred to as pace, or rate of progress.  A student must complete the required units for the program of study within the maximum allowable units attempted (150% of the required units), referred to as the maximum time frame (MTF).

SAP Standards

Qualitative Standards

Cumulative Grade Point Average (CGPA)

The cumulative GPA, the qualitative standard, includes all undergraduate and graduate level coursework attempted at TCSPP, excluding grades of Transfer Credit (TR), Course Waiver (WA), Credit (CR), No Credit (NC), In Progress (IP), Withdrawal (W), Incomplete (I), Audit (AU), Pass (P), and No Pass (NP). Only the latter grade is counted in the cumulative GPA for any repeated course. Credits accepted and applied in transfer and waiver, where applicable, are not included in the GPA calculation.

• A graduate student must maintain a cumulative GPA of 3.00 or above.
• An undergraduate student must maintain a cumulative GPA of 2.00 or above.

Quantitative Standards

Pace (Rate of Progress)

Pace (Rate of Progress) is measured at the end of every term/semester. Pace refers to the minimum percentage of attempted units a student must successfully complete to remain in Academic & Financial Aid Good Standing. A student successfully completes a course and earns the units attempted when the student’s performance merits a passing grade. Pace is calculated by dividing the number of credit hours earned by the number of credit hours attempted.

• Pace =   Cumulative number of credit hours successfully completed / Cumulative number of credit hours attempted

Attempted credit hours is defined as all courses attempted at TCSPP and recorded on the academic record, including course repeats, withdrawals, and incompletes. Credits accepted and applied in transfer count as both credit hours attempted and credit hours completed in the SAP Pace calculation. Grades that negatively impact Pace are Fail (F), Withdrawal Fail (WF), Incomplete (I), Withdrawal (W), No Credit (NC), No Pass (NP). Repeated courses negatively impact Pace since the original and repeated credits are counted as attempted units. Grades that apply to the pace calculation appear in the Letter Grade Standard Evaluation chart below.

• All graduate, certificate, and undergraduate students must maintain a minimum of 66.67% Pace for all attempted credits.

Maximum Timeframe (MTF)

Maximum Timeframe (MTF) requires the successful completion of all program requirements within 150% of the published program length as measured in credits attempted for the enrolled program. Credits accepted and applied in transfer toward a current enrollment are included as attempted and earned credits in determining the MTF. A student’s progress must ensure academic program completion within the MTF. The number of units required for graduation and the estimated time to degree completion for each academic program appear in the Program of Study descriptions available in the Academic Catalog.

• Program length is measured based on required credit hours; therefore, a student may not attempt more than 150% of the number of required credit hours in the degree program. 
  • For example, an academic program that requires 60 units for completion may not extend beyond 90 attempted units (60 units X 150% = 90 units). In order for the academic program to be completed within the MTF, the student must complete a minimum of 66.67% of all units attempted (60 units ÷ 90 units = 66.67%).

SAP Evaluation Period

SAP is evaluated at the end of each term/semester after all final grades are posted. After evaluation, a student who does not meet SAP standards will be notified in writing by the Office of the Registrar.  It is important for a student to check the school email frequently to respond to any communication regarding SAP status.

A student who wishes to transfer to a new campus or program must be in Academic Good Standing. An academic program change may impact the SAP evaluation period. The SAP review will include only TCSPP coursework that is applicable to the new program of study.

Veteran Affairs (VA) benefit recipients are responsible for complying with the SAP requirements established by the U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs for benefit eligibility. When a recipient is placed on Academic and Financial Aid Probation, TCSPP will report this status to the VA.

A student must meet SAP in order to be eligible to graduate.

Academic and Financial Aid Warning: SAP Not Met

A student in good standing who does not meet SAP standards will be placed on Academic and Financial Aid Warning for the following term/semester. A student is given one term/semester to meet SAP standards, and is still eligible for federal financial aid during the Academic and Financial Aid Warning period.

A student on Academic and Financial Aid Warning must:

1. Meet with an academic advisor and/or the Department Chair to discuss academic implications.
2. Repeat any course in which “C” and below for graduate students or “D” and below for undergraduate students was earned as soon as the course is offered in a subsequent term/semester. This may occur in the term/semester that occurs immediately after the term/semester that resulted in the Academic and Financial Aid Warning status.

A student who does not meet SAP at the end of the Academic and Financial Aid Warning period will no longer be eligible to receive federal financial aid without a successful appeal. The student must successfully appeal in order to be placed in Academic and Financial Aid Probation status.  A student must submit the Reinstatement Petition including supporting documentation to the Office of the Registrar within 3 calendar days of notification. The Reinstatement Petition must be based on extenuating circumstances. 

The Reinstatement Petition will be reviewed by the academic department within 3 business days. The petition will either be approved or denied. The Office of the Registrar will notify the student of the academic department’s decision.

A student whose Reinstatement Petition is denied or who fails to petition for reinstatement will be dismissed from TCSPP.  If it is not mathematically possible for a student to meet SAP within four terms/two semesters, the student will be dismissed from the institution.

If the petition is approved, the student will:

1. Be placed on Academic and Financial Aid Probation and issued a SAP Development Plan. The academic department may also institute additional Academic Development Plan requirements that the student must meet.
2. Be required to meet with an advisor regarding SAP status.
3. Be required to repeat any course in which “C” and below for graduate students or “D” and below for undergraduate students was earned as soon as the course is offered in a subsequent term/semester. This may occur in the term/semester that occurs immediately after the term/semester that resulted in the Academic and Financial Aid Probation status.

Academic and Financial Aid Probation: SAP Not Met

A student who has been granted an appeal following a period of Academic and Financial Aid Warning is placed on Academic and Financial Aid Probation for the following term/semester.  A student who is placed on Academic and Financial Aid Probation will be issued a SAP Development Plan which will detail academic requirements to remain enrolled. A student who does not follow the SAP Development Plan and meet SAP at the end of the term/semester will be dismissed from the institution.

Should a student require more than two terms/one semester to meet SAP, this must be outlined in the SAP Development Plan. The student must follow the requirements of the SAP Development Plan in order to remain enrolled.  A student who does not follow the SAP Development Plan and meet SAP at the end of the term/semester will be dismissed from the institution.

At the conclusion of the term/semester of Academic and Financial Aid Probation, a student who does not meet the terms of their SAP Development Plan and/or does not meet SAP requirements will be dismissed from the institution. A dismissed student is not eligible to receive financial aid. Refer to the Readmission Policy.

Academic and Financial Aid Dismissal: Dismissal

A student is academically dismissed if the student fails to meet the conditions of the SAP Development Plan or SAP standards at the end of an Academic and Financial Aid Probation period. The dismissal will be noted permanently on the student’s official transcript.

A student who has been awarded financial aid or Veterans’ education benefits for the subsequent term/semester is advised that academic dismissal carries with it the cancellation of any financial aid or benefits. In-school loan deferment status ends as of the dismissal date. Financial aid previously received by a dismissed student may be returned to the lender by the institution depending on the date of dismissal. In such cases, the student may owe the institution for aid returned or outstanding charges.

A student who is re-admitted may be reconsidered for financial aid at that time. However, reinstatement does not necessarily mean that financial aid will be available for that term/semester or any future term/semester. A student who loses financial aid eligibility may be readmitted by improving their academic standing to meet the minimum standards of the SAP policy. Refer to the Re-Admission Policy and Financial Aid and Student Account Policies    for more information.

Maximum Timeframe Dismissal

A student who exceeds the 150% MTF for a program of study or who cannot mathematically complete the program of study within the MTF will be deemed ineligible for financial aid and dismissed from the institution.

Service Learning

Service learning is a teaching methodology which promotes learning outside of the classroom and in the community Local non-profit organizations and schools serve as co-educators and provide real world learning situations for students that, in turn, meet a community need. Service learning activities inform, clarify, illustrate, and stimulate additional thought about academic topics covered in the classroom, as well as encourage students to develop or strengthen a habit of service and social responsibility to the community. The Chicago School of Professional Psychology will code service learning courses with “-SL” applied to the section letter(s) to designate those courses with the service learning component.

Student Classification

A student enrolled in a doctoral (Ph.D., Psy.D., Ed.D.), master or specialist (M.A., M.S., Ed.S.) or graduate certificate programs is classified as a graduate-level student. A student enrolled in a bachelor (B.A., B.S.) degree program is considered an undergraduate-level student.

Undergraduate Grade Level

An undergraduate student is classified based on the number of semester credit hours earned, as follows:

Enrollment Status

The Chicago School of Professional Psychology has established minimum credit hour thresholds for determining fulltime and half-time enrollment status.

These enrollment standards are used for the following purposes:

• To determine eligibility for financial aid
• To provide enrollment verification
• To qualify for other student benefits

A semester is equivalent to two online terms. An online student must be enrolled for two (2) consecutive terms to be eligible for financial aid in the first of the two terms. An online student must be enrolled for the specified credit hours listed in the table above between terms I and II.                    

The financial aid cost of attendance is determined based on actual enrolled credit hours. For example, a one-credit hour course that is classified at auto fulltime qualifies a student for fulltime enrollment status. In this example, the financial aid cost of attendance budget will include funding for one-credit hour plus living and personal expenses. Taking two auto half-time courses does not qualify for fulltime enrollment status.

Auto fulltime courses qualify a student for immediate fulltime status for the purpose of determining financial aid and loan deferment eligibility. See the Auto Full Time Course List  for designated courses. Auto half-time courses qualify a student for immediate half-time status for the purpose of determining financial aid and loan deferment eligibility. See the Auto Half Time Course List    for designated courses.

The minimum credit hour threshold does not supersede academic program requirements regarding the pace at which a student must move through a degree program. An academic program may require a student to take more credit hours per term/semester in order to maintain adequate progress toward degree completion.

International students in F-1 or J-1 status must be enrolled fulltime each semester per immigration requirements, unless otherwise authorized.

An undergraduate student taking a 0 credit hour course that does not carry the auto fulltime or auto half-time designation (e.g. GEN010) must be enrolled in at least one other credit-bearing course to remain active.

A graduate student who is taking a 0 credit hour course that does not carry the auto fulltime or auto half-time designation (e.g. AS1, AS2) must be enrolled in at least one other credit-bearing course to remain active.

Reporting Enrollment Status

TCSPP has authorized the National Student Clearinghouse to provide enrollment and degree verification for students and alumni. A current student may obtain enrollment verification through Student Self Service​. A third party may obtain verification at www.degreeverify.org or by writing:

National Student Clearinghouse
2300 Dulles Station Boulevard, Suite 300
Herndon, VA 20171

The services provided by the National Student Clearinghouse are in full compliance with all applicable privacy laws including the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974 (FERPA).

The Office of the Registrar does not provide degree or enrollment verifications by email, telephone, or fax.

Transfer Credit and Course Waiver

Articulation Agreements         

An articulation agreement assists students in transferring credit between two different academic programs or between different higher education institutions. TCSPP maintains internal and external articulation agreements.

An internal articulation agreement allows a qualified student to begin study at a level above the enrolled degree program such as taking courses toward a master’s degree while completing the bachelor degree. An external articulation agreement identifies specific coursework completed at a partner institution that may be recognized as equivalent to TCSPP coursework. 

All transfer credit will be based on an individual evaluation of a student’s official transcripts and syllabi. Courses may vary depending upon the program of study and how credits are applied toward degree completion. A student who enters an academic program via an articulation agreement will be held to the requirements stated in the agreement. A student who transfers under the terms and conditions of any articulation agreement is subject to the requirements outlined by the articulation agreement and policies in the Academic Catalog & Student Handbook.

For an internal articulation agreement, a student must consult with the home Department Chair four terms/two semesters prior to the completion of the enrolled degree program.

Undergraduate Programs

Transfer Credit

The transfer credit process provides the opportunity for a student to have credit hours earned at another regionally accredited institution applied to the TCSPP degree program. Credit may be awarded for college-level course work either in progress or completed prior to matriculation into the TCSPP program. Grades received for transfer courses will not be calculated into the TCSPP cumulative grade point average. All requests for transfer credit must be submitted prior to the start of the first term/semester of enrollment.

The bachelor degree program requires successful completion of 120 semester credit hours. An undergraduate student is required to complete a minimum of 42 semester credit hours at TCSPP, or 35% of the total credit hours required for the degree. An undergraduate student is permitted to transfer in a maximum of 78 semester credit hours, or 65% of the total credit hours required for the degree. Within the 78 semester credit hours, a maximum of 30 nontraditional semester credit hours may be applied toward degree requirements, or 25% of the total credit hours for the degree. These 30 nontraditional semester credit hours may combine various types of nontraditional credit including credit earned through national testing programs, military training, and other sources (See Nontraditional Credits below for additional details).

The student is responsible for ensuring that all transfer credit documentation from all higher education institutions attended is submitted for evaluation prior to the Add/Drop deadline. Requests for transfers of credit are evaluated by the Transfer Credit Evaluator, and the decision to accept transfer credit rests solely with TCSPP. Approved transfer credit will be posted to the student’s transcript after the student remains enrolled past the Add/Drop deadline.

Approved transfer credit will not be factored into a new student’s registration time. All new students register during the same designated period regardless of transfer credit. Transfer credit may affect registration eligibility in subsequent terms.

Transfer credit is subject to the following conditions:

1. Course is at the undergraduate level, degree applicable and not designated as developmental or remedial. Graduate-level credit hours cannot be applied to an undergraduate degree, and remedial or developmental credit hours are not transferable.
2. Credit hours earned at an international institution that is fully accredited by a country’s Ministry of Education or by the United States Department of Education must be evaluated by a NACES-approved transcript evaluation agency. See the International Transcript Evaluation policy.
3. No duplication of credit hours. A student may not earn credit hours that duplicate an equivalent course/exam or a course of a similar level. Credit hours will not be accepted if they duplicate credit hours earned at TCSPP. The student is fully responsible for any charges incurred for duplicate coursework taken at TCSPP.
4. No regression. A student may not earn credit hours for a course that represents a regression from previously completed courses. A student may not transfer in or take TCSPP courses in an area in which they have already completed a course that is more advanced in content.
5. Upper-division courses will not be considered equivalent or duplicative of lower-division courses.
6. TCSPP requires an official transcript from the institution where the credit hours were earned as the institution does not accept third party evaluations for these purposes.
7. Course content is substantially equivalent to requested course. This is generally defined as equal or greater than 80% percent equivalent as determined by TCSPP.
8. Course grade is “C” or higher. Pass/Fail courses are eligible only if the pass grade is equivalent to a “C” or higher. Credit/No Credit grades are not eligible.
9. Number of semester credit hours earned matches or exceeds the number of semester credit hours for the requested course.

A student may apply for transfer credit to meet an elective course requirement if the course supports the competencies and learning outcomes of the program and meets the following conditions:

1. The course must meet all other requirements for transfer credit.
2. The course must be at or above the equivalent degree level.
3. The course cannot duplicate other successfully completed requirements.

An unofficial transcript may be used for review of transfer credit prior to matriculation at TCSPP. However, in order for transfer credit to be processed, an official transcript must be received. An official transcript is delivered in a sealed envelope with the Registrar’s signature stamped across the seal. An official transcript can also be sent electronically directly from a transcript vendor.

Note: A BA Psychology student minoring in either health science or business may earn only a maximum of 6 semester credit hours of transfer credit.

Nontraditional Credits

TCSPP recognizes that learning can take place outside the traditional classroom. The institution accepts undergraduate credit hours earned through the successful completion of national testing programs, military training, and national credit recommendation programs.

National Testing Programs

Transfer credit hours may be awarded for successful completion of national testing programs. An official score report must be submitted to TCSPP for evaluation. A score lower than the American Council on Education (ACE) recommendation will not be considered for transfer credit National testing program scores are not factored into the TCSPP cumulative grade point average.

• AP Exams: A student who earned a score of 3 or higher on an Advanced Placement (AP) exam may have that score considered for college-level credit.
• CLEP Exams: A student who successfully passed a College‐Level Examination Program (CLEP) exam may have that score considered for college-level credit.
• DSST/DANTES Credit: A student who has successfully passed the DSST (DANTES Subject Standardized Tests) exam may have that score considered for college-level credit.
• IB Exams: A student who earned a score of 5 or higher on the International Baccalaureate (IB) exams may have that score considered for college-level credit.

Military

A student who has completed military credits may request to have their military transcript reviewed for transfer at TCSPP. Official military transcripts can be obtained via the Joint Service Transcript (JST) website and must be submitted to the Office of Admissions for evaluation. Coursework recommended for undergraduate academic credit at the lower or upper division level by ACE will be considered for transfer if the coursework is applicable to the student’s program of study at TCSPP. 

Other Sources of Acceptable Nontraditional Transfer Credits

Propero, SOPHIA, or Straighterline Courses: For general education or lower division elective credit hours, a student may complete an ACE-recommended course and then submit an official transcript to TCSPP. A student who wishes to pursue this option should contact Admissions. 

Portfolio Based Assessment: A student may earn up to 12 semester credit hours per portfolio completed and submitted. The student will incur all fees associated with the course up to and including submission of the portfolio. Portfolio Based Assessment is completed in conjunction with the Council for Adult and Experiential Learning (CAEL) and LearningCounts.org. A student may work with Admissions and visit http://www.learningcounts.org/ for more information.

Graduate Programs

Transfer Credit

The transfer credit process provides an opportunity for a student enrolled in a master or doctoral program to have credit hours earned at another institution or in another TCSPP program applied to the current program of study. Certificate programs do not permit transfer credit.

It is expected that a matriculated student will fulfill all degree requirements through courses offered at TCSPP. The transfer credit process provides an opportunity for a student to have credit hours earned at another institution or in another TCSPP program applied to the current program of study. In order to be eligible for transfer, credit hours must have been earned prior to matriculation into the current TCSPP program and from a recognized, regionally accredited degree-granting institution.

A Transfer Credit/Course Waiver Petition must be submitted for each course by the end of the first semester of enrollment (on-ground students) or second term of enrollment (online students). This petition must include the course details along with a course syllabus and official transcript documenting the grade earned in the course. The student is responsible for ensuring that all required documentation noted on the petition is submitted. A student who is granted transfer credit after the Add/Drop deadline due to late submittal that results in a schedule modification will be held to TCSPP’s refund schedule.

Requests for transfer credit are evaluated by the Department Chair or designee, and the decision to accept transfer credit rests solely with TCSPP. The institution reserves the right to require satisfactory performance on an examination before granting transfer credit. Approved transfer credit will be posted to the student’s transcript after the student remains enrolled past the Add/Drop deadline.

Approved transfer credit will not be factored into a new student’s registration time. All new students register during the same designated period regardless of transfer credit. Transfer credit may affect registration eligibility in subsequent terms.

Transfer credit is subject to the following conditions:

1. Course is at or above the equivalent degree level.
2. Credit hours earned in the United States must be from a recognized, regionally accredited degree-granting institution. Credit hours earned at international institutions that are fully accredited by a country’s Ministry of Education or accredited by the United States Department of Education must be evaluated by a NACES-approved transcript evaluation agency. See the International Transcript Evaluation policy.
3. Course content is substantially equivalent to requested course. This is generally defined as greater than 80 percent equivalent.
4. Course grade is a “B” or higher. Courses which carry Pass/Fail or Credit/No Credit grades are not eligible.
5. Credit not granted for practicum or internship.
6. Number of semester credit hours earned matches or exceeds the number of semester credit hours for the requested course.
7. No credit hours will be transferred for coursework that is more than 7 calendar years old. The Psy.D. in Clinical Psychology programs at Chicago, Los Angeles, Xavier University of New Orleans, and Washington, D. C. do not permit transfer credit for coursework that is more than 5 calendar years old.

The student will be charged a fee for each transfer credit hour awarded. Please refer to the schedule of tuition and fees for information. A student is not required to pay the transfer credit fee for TCSPP credit that is applied to a new program of study.

A student may apply for transfer credit to meet an elective course requirement if the course supports the competencies and learning outcomes of the program and meets the following conditions:

1. The course must meet all other requirements for transfer credit.
2. The course must be at or above the equivalent degree level.
3. The course cannot duplicate other successfully completed requirements.

Certificate programs do not permit transfer credit.

A TCSPP study abroad course may be used to satisfy a degree requirement if listed in the published program of study OR if approved for inclusion by the Department Chair. To ensure that a study abroad course will satisfy a degree requirement, a student must obtain written approval from the Department Chair prior to registration in the course. The student must submit the approved Course Substitution Petition to the Office of the Registrar.

Course Waiver

The course waiver process provides an opportunity for a student in a master or doctoral program to have course content completed at another institution or in another TCSPP program applied to the current program of study. Neither certificate programs nor the Psy.D. in Clinical Psychology programs at Chicago, Los Angeles, Xavier University of New Orleans, and Washington, D. C. permit course waiver.

It is expected that a matriculated student will fulfill all degree requirements through courses offered at TCSPP. The course waiver process provides an opportunity for a student to have course content completed at another institution or in another TCSPP program applied to the current program of study. A Transfer Credit/Course Waiver Petition must be submitted for each course. This petition must include the course details along with a course syllabus and official transcript documenting the grade earned in the course. The student is responsible for ensuring that all required documentation noted on the petition is submitted. Should an approved course waiver result in a schedule change after the Add/Drop deadline, the student will be held to the refund schedule.

Requests for course waiver are evaluated by the Department Chair or designee, and the decision to grant waiver rests solely with TCSPP. The institution reserves the right to require satisfactory performance on an examination before awarding a course waiver. A waived course will be posted to the student’s transcript after the student remains enrolled past the Add/Drop deadline.

An approved course waiver will not be factored into a new student’s registration time. All new students register during the same designated period regardless of course waiver.

Course waiver is subject to the following conditions:

1. Course is at or above the equivalent degree level.
2. Credit hours earned in the United States must be from a recognized, regionally accredited degree-granting institution. Credit hours earned at international institutions that are fully accredited by a country’s Ministry of Education or accredited by the United States Department of Education must be evaluated by a NACES-approved transcript evaluation agency. See the International Transcript Evaluation policy.
3. Waiver is not granted for practicum or internship courses.
4. Waiver is granted only for courses in which the grade earned was a “B” or higher. Pass/Fail or Credit/No Credit courses are ineligible.
5. No course more than 7 calendar years old is eligible for waiver.

Course waiver does not reduce the overall number of credit hours required for degree completion. A student who waives a course must replace the credit hours with other TCSPP courses either within or outside of the enrolled program of study. A student may request to take courses in another TCSPP academic program by submitting the Course Substitution Petition. 

A student seeking both transfer credit and course waiver may not exceed the total credit hours designated by the academic program. See the table below.

Withdrawal

A student is required to adhere to the Registration policy and remain continuously enrolled in the program of study throughout the fall, spring, and summer terms/semesters. Withdrawal from TCSPP during any period of enrollment has financial consequences and may necessitate the return of financial aid. All withdrawals are subject to the Refund Policies. 

A student should refer to the Grading policies to understand the impact a withdrawal will have on their grades. Prior to submitting an official request, a student is strongly encouraged to take the following steps:

• Consult with the Department Chair or Academic Advisor
• Consult with the practicum or internship site, if applicable
• Consult with the Office of Financial Aid and complete the exit interview
• Consult with Student Accounts regarding any financial obligations

An international student must consult with the Designated School Official (DSO) prior to making a withdrawal request as a change in enrollment status will impact immigration status. A student who wishes to return to TCSPP after withdrawal should refer to the Returning Students policy.

Official Withdrawal

A student who wishes officially withdraw from TCSPP must submit a Withdrawal Request to the Office of the Registrar. A student’s withdrawal date will be:

1. The date on which the Withdrawal Request form is submitted; or
2. Any earlier or later date that the institution documents as the last date of academic-related activity.

Administrative (Unofficial) Withdrawal

A student will be administratively withdrawn from TCSPP if the following conditions are not met by the Add/Drop deadline:

• A student does not resolve a registration hold;
• A student does not register for courses and/or attend classes; or
• A student does not return from an approved Leave of Absence as scheduled.

A student’s withdrawal date will be:

1. The last day of the last term/semester attended; or
2. Any earlier or later date that the institution documents as the last date of academic-related activity.

Temporary Withdrawal

A temporary withdrawal may be considered if one of the following conditions is met:

• A student faces an unforeseeable and unexpected circumstance (significant change in their health, financial situation, employment, or an urgent personal matter) after the Add/Drop deadline; or
• A student does not have a course to take as determined by the institution.

In addition to meeting one of the above conditions, the student must have an expected date of return to TCSPP. A student is limited to two online terms/one on-ground semester of temporary withdrawal in any 12-month period. An online student who desires an additional term of temporary withdrawal must contact the Campus Registrar for eligibility. A student in temporary withdrawal status who is subsequently placed on Pending Probation must submit a reinstatement petition to the Office of the Registrar prior to returning to TCSPP.

A student granted temporary withdrawal will be reentered through a no-hassle procedure. Failure to return to active status at the conclusion of the temporary withdrawal period will result in administrative withdrawal from TCSPP. See the Returning Students policy for details. A student who faces an unforeseeable and unexpected circumstance that leads to a significant change in their life and subsequent withdrawal from TCSPP after the Add/Drop deadline may appeal for financial relief using the institutional policy exception process. See Policy Exception  for details.