{"id":4008,"date":"2025-02-03T12:14:02","date_gmt":"2025-02-03T17:14:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.med.unc.edu\/microimm\/?page_id=4008"},"modified":"2025-02-03T12:44:06","modified_gmt":"2025-02-03T17:44:06","slug":"the-unc-graduate-school-and-you","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.med.unc.edu\/microimm\/the-unc-graduate-school-and-you\/","title":{"rendered":"The UNC Graduate School and You"},"content":{"rendered":"

Graduate School Policies<\/h2><\/h3>\n

The Graduate School sets overall policy for all PhD and MS degrees at UNC Chapel Hill.\u00a0 If you want to know all the details, see the online Graduate School handbook at https:\/\/handbook.unc.edu<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Grading of Graduate Courses<\/h2><\/h3>\n

Graduate courses at UNC are intentionally graded on a scale that cannot be used to calculate a GPA https:\/\/handbook.unc.edu\/grading.html<\/a>:<\/p>\n

H = High Pass \u2013 Clear Excellence
\nP = Pass \u2013 Entirely Satisfactory Graduate Work
\nL = Low Pass \u2013 Inadequate Graduate Work
\nF = Fail<\/p>\n

Graduate School Forms<\/h2><\/h3>\n

As explained in separate documents on MCRO PhD or MS requirements, student must meet several degree milestones imposed by the Graduate School.\u00a0 Student progress is recorded via various forms, the current versions of which are found at https:\/\/gradschool.unc.edu\/academics\/resources\/forms.html<\/a>.\u00a0 Obtain copies of your form from the Student Services Specialist prior to the corresponding committee meetings, obtain faculty signatures, and return to the Student Services Specialist, who will submit them to the Graduate School.\u00a0 The Graduate School is working to switch from paper to online forms.<\/p>\n

Doctoral Committee and Project<\/em><\/h4>\n

Part I: Report of Doctoral Committee Composition
\n<\/em>\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Approved by the DGS.\u00a0 Updated whenever your committee changes.<\/p>\n

Part II: Report of Approved Dissertation Project
\n<\/em>You provide a working title of your dissertation.\u00a0 Signed by all members of your dissertation committee.<\/p>\n

Doctoral Exam Report Form<\/em><\/h4>\n

Part I \u2013 Report of Written Preliminary Exam
\n<\/em>\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Signed by MCRO preliminary exam coordinator.<\/p>\n

Part II \u2013 Report of Oral Examination
\n<\/em>Signed by Common Reviewer for your oral preliminary exam.<\/p>\n

Part III \u2013 Report of the Final Oral Examination
\n<\/em>Signed by all committee members present at your private defense.<\/p>\n

Part IV \u2013 Report of the Final Dissertation
\n<\/em>Signed by all committee members.\u00a0 Chair usually withholds signature until requested edit are completed.<\/p>\n

Master\u2019s Comprehensive Exam or Substitute Report<\/em><\/h4>\n

Although MCRO requires MS students to form a thesis committee and secure approval of their thesis project, neither is formally reported to the Graduate School.<\/p>\n

Part I \u2013 Report of Written Preliminary Exam
\nPart II \u2013 Report of Oral Examination
\n<\/em>\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 MS students must pass either a written or oral preliminary exam, most commonly a written exam organized by their research advisor.\u00a0 The committee chair signs the exam outcome.\u00a0 If a MS student uses a PhD written or oral preliminary exam to meet this requirement, then the form should be signed by the PhD preliminary exam coordinator (written) or the Common Reviewer (oral).<\/p>\n

Part III \u2013 Report of the Final Oral Examination
\n<\/em>Signed by all committee members present at your private defense.<\/p>\n

Part IV \u2013 Report of the Final Thesis
\n<\/em>Signed by all committee members.\u00a0 Chair usually withholds signature until requested edit are completed<\/p>\n

Program Certification of Degree Requirements
\n<\/em><\/h4>\n

Signed by the DGS after your public seminar, confirming student has completed all requirements for the PhD or MS degree imposed by MCRO.<\/p>\n

Dissertation\/Thesis<\/h2><\/h3>\n

Graduate School resources for formatting and submitting your dissertation or thesis are at https:\/\/gradschool.unc.edu\/academics\/thesis-diss\/<\/a>.<\/p>\n

A separate MCRO document provides advice on composition of the dissertation.<\/p>\n

Graduate School Funding Opportunities<\/h2><\/h3>\n

The Graduate School offers various fellowships and awards to UNC graduate students, summarized at https:\/\/gradschool.unc.edu\/funding\/gradschool\/<\/a>.\u00a0 The programs most commonly used by MCRO students are:<\/p>\n