Current Student

Home » Graduate Studies » FAQ » Current Student

1. How do I register for Directed Study?
2. What is the last day I can drop without a "W" grade?
3. What is an "I" Grade Contract?
4. How can I register for the Teaching Practicum?
5. How do I transfer credit?
6. What are the time limits for finishing coursework?
7. What is "Satisfactory Academic Progress?"
8. I've finished my required coursework. What should I register for now?
9. How much do post-coursework registrations cost?
10. Where can find Non-medical Leave of Absence (LOA) or Medical Leave/Reentry (MLOA) forms?
11. Am I eligible for travel reimbursement?
12. I've recently changed my name. How can I update my NEU record?
13. Whom should I contact when my address changes?
14. What are my options for fulfilling the language requirement/s?
15. I'm in the MA program, but I'd like to apply to the PhD program. What is the internal application process?

1. How do I register for Directed Study?
   Please review pg. 11 of the English graduate booklet. Forms for Directed/Independent Study registration can be found on the Forms for Graduate Students webpage.

top


2. What is the last day I can drop without a "W" grade?
   The Registrar's Office posts an academic calendar on their website each year. Please refer to this calendar for all important registration dates.
top


3. What is an "I" Grade Contract?
   "I" Grade Contract information can be found on the Forms for Graduate Students webpage.
top


4. How can I register for the Teaching Practicum?
   Information about the Teaching Practicum can be found on the Forms for Graduate Students webpage.
top


5. How do I transfer credit?
   Information about transferring credit can be found on the Transferring Credit webpage.
top


6. What are the time limits for finishing coursework?
   Please review pg. 11 of the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences' General Regulations booklet.
top


7. What is "Satisfactory Academic Progress?"
   The Graduate Studies Committee, in conjunction with the Graduate School, oversees students' progress toward the degree. At a minimum, satisfactory progress includes meeting deadlines for completing coursework, taking examinations, and completing the dissertation set by the English department and the graduate school. These deadlines are described in the section of the English graduate booklet that describes the Doctor of Philosophy Degree as well as in the General Regulations booklet. The student is responsible for being aware of these deadlines and should consult immediately with the advisor or the Graduate Chair in the event of difficulty in making progress at any stage. Satisfactory progress also includes the expectation that students will demonstrate continuing and appropriate activity (e.g., by submitting dissertation chapters in draft regularly to the dissertation committee).
   
   Failure to maintain satisfactory progress can lead to the withdrawal of the teaching assistantship or other financial support administered by the GSAS or the English department or to withdrawal from the program.
top


8. I've finished my required coursework. What should I register for now?
   

   ENGG 600: Masters Exam Prep

   Registration for ENGG 600 is exclusive to MA students. PhD students, please see ENGG 800 below.

   The MA student can register for ENGG 600 only once if s/he...
   • Has fewer than 6 s.h. of required coursework remaining AND
   • Needs to be registered full-time to qualify for tuition waiver, financial aid, or other program AND
   • Will complete the Masters Comprehensive Exam during the term.

   ENGG 800: Qualifying Exam Prep

   The PhD student can register for ENG G800 only once if s/he...

   • Has finished all coursework AND
     
   • Will complete the Qualifying/Comprehensive Exams during the term.

   PhD students who have finished coursework, but will not be completing all Qualifying/Comprehensive Exams by end of term should register for Doctoral Research (below).

   ENGG 869: Doctoral Research

   A PhD student may register for Doctoral Research no more than TWICE if s/he:

   • Has less than 6 s.h. of coursework remaining AND
   • Needs to be registered full-time to qualify for tuition waiver, financial aid, or other program AND
   • Is not completing Comprehensive Exams during the term.

   Upon completion of coursework, the PhD student has one calendar year to finish the Comprehensive Exams (e.g. completed coursework end of Fall 2006 - must complete exams by end of Fall 2007). During that time, you must be continuously registered, according to the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences' policy outlined in the General Regulations booklet (pg. 12). The student may take Doctoral Research during the first semester after coursework is complete, but s/he must register for Exam Prep during the next term, at the end of which exams must be complete.

   ENGG 890: Dissertation & ENGG 899: Dissertation Continuation

   After a PhD student reaches degree candidacy,

   • The student must register twice for ENGG 890.
   • Thereafter, until the completion of the dissertation, the student must register for ENGG 899.

   Please familiarize yourself with the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences' policy on Continuity of Registration.

top


9. How much do post-coursework registrations cost?
   Exam Prep, Doctoral Research, and Dissertation Continuation are charged at the equivalent rate of one semester hour of credit. Dissertation/Ph.D. Thesis is charged at a different rate which can be found on the Registrar's tuition website.
top


10. Where can find Non-medical Leave of Absence (LOA) or Medical Leave/Reentry (MLOA) forms?
    LOA information can be found on the Forms for Graduate Students webpage.
top


11. Am I eligible for travel reimbursement?
    The answer to this question can be found on the Travel Reimbursement webpage.
top



12. I've recently changed my name. How can I update my NEU record?
    You will need to show official name-change paperwork to the Registrar and submit a copy of the official paperwork to the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences. You may fax the copy to GSAS, 617-373-7281.
    top
    
    
    
13. Whom should I contact when my address changes?
    Contact the English Graduate Office as soon as possible, and when you can access your myNEU account, submit new contact information to the Registrar's Office via the link provided under the Self Services tab.
    top
    
    
    
14. What are my options for fulfilling the language requirement/s?
    

    An MA student must demonstrate reading proficiency in one language other than English; a Ph.D student must demonstrate reading proficiency in two. Languages commonly used to fulfill the requirement include French, Spanish, Italian, German, Hebrew, Latin, and Greek; students wishing to satisfy the requirement in a language other than these, including a signed language, should consult the Chair of the Graduate Studies Committee.

    Students may demonstrate proficiency in three ways:

    1) Reading examination. A student must pass a reading examination in the language provided for the English department by the Department of Modern Languages and evaluated by their faculty. Examinations are generally given once each semester, and the date will be announced well in advance. Students have one hour to translate passages of 200-250 words, on a topic related to literary studies. Dictionaries may be used; however, grammar or vocabulary aids such as “501 French Verbs” are not permitted. The examination is given on a pass/fail basis, and students will be notified of the result in writing. Students who do not pass may repeat the examination.

    2) Previous course work. A student may provide an official transcript demonstrating one year of intermediate-level undergraduate literature (not language) courses (or the equivalent in the case of signed languages) in the language with grades of “B” or higher. The transcript will be evaluated by the Chair of the Graduate Studies Committee, and the student will be notified of the result in writing.

    Doctoral students entering with a Master's degree may present evidence of having completed a similar examination at the previous institution. The request will be evaluated by the Graduate Coordinator.

    3) Native proficiency. A student may petition to have proficiency in a native language other than English count toward satisfaction of the requirement. Petitions and supporting materials will be evaluated by the Chair of the Graduate Studies Committee, and students will be notified of the result in writing.

    To assist students preparing for the language exam in a number of languages, including German, Japanese, French, Russian, Spanish, Latin, Portuguese, and Arabic, the Modern Languages Department has placed a set of auto-tutorial CD ROMS entitled Transparent Language Now on Reserve at the main circulation desk of the library. As Reserve items, the CD ROMS are available for use in the library for up to 3 hours.

    top
    
    
    
15. I'm in the MA program, but I'd like to apply to the PhD program. What is the internal application process?
    Information about the internal application process can be found on the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences' Current Students webpage.
    top