DEGREE PROGRAMS
The mission of the LGS is to promote discovery and enduring knowledge by preparing innovative, thoughtful leaders in research, scholarship, teaching, and practice in service to the global good. The LGS expects students to complete a graduate program in sequence and as expeditiously as possible. In graduate education, student performance is more important than just fulfilling formal requirements. The graduate school experience typically includes lectures, seminars, laboratory courses, directed study, teaching opportunities, and research. A student’s program of study must be planned in consultation with an appointed adviser, director of graduate studies (DGS), program director (PD), or advisory committee. Generally, students are permitted to fulfill degree requirements under the policies of the LGS and the degree program handbook at the time of their first admission to the LGS. However, students may petition the program and the LGS if an extension or individual situations require a review of requirements.
Enrollment Status
Students in the LGS are enrolled in one of two forms:
Degree-Seeking: Students enrolled in courses intending to earn a doctorate, master’s degree, or certificate.
Non-Degree-Seeking/Special Standing: Students enrolled in one or more courses for personal or professional development but not to earn a degree.
Students must maintain enrollment by continuously registering for courses or research credit hours each term. With the exception of students on approved leaves of absence, students who do not register for one or more terms or who withdraw from all courses will become inactive and must apply for readmission. With the exception of students on approved leaves of absence, students who do not register for one or more terms or who withdraw from all courses will become inactive and must apply for readmission.
Unless instructed otherwise by their program, continuing degree-seeking students in the LGS can register via OPUS, the university registration system. Students are provided with specific instructions via email before the pre-registration dates to assist with the registration process. Pre-registration dates are listed on the University Registrar and LGS websites. Before registering, students should consult their advisor and check with program staff for program-specific requirements.
Minimum and Additional Program Requirements
The LGS sets minimum degree requirements. However, individual programs may have additional or more stringent requirements. Students should consult program handbooks, DGS, or PD to obtain further information on specific program requirements.
Transfer Credit or Programs
The LGS requires that most, if not all, credits counted toward LGS degrees be earned at Emory. Under certain circumstances, programs may appeal for up to nine hours of transfer credit from an accredited institution to be counted in place of Emory course study. Such transfers will only be considered if earned within the past seven years and only if the credits cannot be applied to another degree that has been previously conferred. No courses accepted for transfer credit can be applied toward a degree that has already been conferred. The DGS or PD must submit a written request to the LGS Director of Enrollment and Record Processes, confirm that transferred credits are not counted toward another degree, and indicate which Emory courses are deemed equivalent to the courses for which transfer credit is proposed. Any amount over nine hours must have strong support and justification from the program and be approved by the Dean.
Students admitted without sufficient prior preparation, or whose prior degrees were conferred eight or more years before admission, may be required to complete additional requirements. The DGS or PD will discuss any other requirements with the student.
Transferring to another LGS Degree Program
A student who wishes to transfer from one LGS program to another must speak with the DGS or the PD of both programs. Following the conversation, students should submit the Request for Program Transfer form, available in the LGS Connect Hub. The request will be considered for approval after review by the graduate program and the LGS Dean. Students wishing to transfer from one program to another do not have to submit new applications or fees.
If the transfer is approved, the new program DGS will recommend to LGS the number of hours to be credited from the prior program, based on the new degree objectives and requirements. Programs may prescribe additional course requirements for transferring students. The maximum credit that can be transferred from the student's former LGS program is 18 hours.
International students must consult with the International Student and Scholar Services office to determine any necessary adjustments to their I-20.
If the student is a veteran, they must notify the Office of the Registrar at registrar@emory.edu.
English Language Support
The LGS English Language Support Program (ELSP) recognizes that students enter LGS with multifaceted language backgrounds and offers language instruction and consultation to help multilingual students in their academic studies.
Newly admitted LGS students who indicated on their Emory Admission application that English is not their first language may take oral and written Emory-specific language proficiency assessments, either through referral by their individual programs or through self-selection.
The assessment of incoming graduate students, both master’s and doctoral level, occurs in August, before the beginning of the Fall Term. ELSP coursework will be recommended, typically during the first year of study, for students with intermediate-level language proficiency or less. Appropriate support for incoming students who use English as an additional language will be developed in consultation with individual programs. Based on assessment results, all other students can enroll in ELSP to further advance their English communication skills. ELSP coursework is for credit, graded on a satisfactory/unsatisfactory basis, and appears on students’ official transcripts.