College of Graduate Studies

Jerry R. McMurtry, Dean (104 Morrill Hall; 208-885-6243).

The College of Graduate Studies was formally organized in 1925 (then designated as the Graduate School), but the university has awarded advanced degrees since 1897. The College of Graduate Studies encompasses all graduate programs of the university but does not supervise programs in the College of Law. This coverage of all regular disciplines and professional fields provides a wide variety of academic programs. Enrollments are large enough to make possible the vital interchange of ideas among students and between students and faculty that is necessary for graduate programs, yet enrollments are sufficiently small to permit close faculty-student relationships. Interdepartmental cooperation is an important factor on the Idaho campuses. The university is the chief research center for the state and as such operates active graduate programs in most areas providing a broad research base upon which graduate programs have been built.

Graduate Council

The Graduate Council is the representative body of and is empowered to act for the graduate faculty. It is responsible to and reports to the graduate faculty, which retains the authority to review actions of the council. Its function is to promote graduate instruction and research, formulate policies and long-range plans for the graduate programs, and review and act on student appeals and petitions that involve exceptions to accepted regulations and procedures of the College of Graduate Studies.

The Graduate Council is constituted of one member elected by and from the constituent graduate faculty of each of the colleges that offer programs leading to graduate degrees (except the J.D. degree); four members of the graduate faculty appointed by the president of the university; two graduate students; the dean of the College of Graduate Studies, who serves as chair; and the assistant or associate dean of the College of Graduate Studies, who serves as vice chair.

Undergraduate Enrollment in the College of Graduate Studies

A senior (90 or more credits) who has a cumulative grade-point average of 3.00 or higher may register for courses at the 500-level. Graduate courses taken as an undergraduate student will automatically be recorded on the undergraduate transcript. Undergraduate students desiring to have graduate level courses taken placed on a graduate transcript must follow the policies on reserving courses for the graduate transcript. If the credit reservation form is approved, a separate graduate transcript will be created for the student.

Additionally, up to 6 credits of institutional coursework numbered 400 or higher, with a grade of B or higher, used towards a baccalaureate degree may also be used towards a graduate degree with the approval of the student’s major professor. Refer to J-1-c. These six credits can be selected after the undergraduate degree is conferred.  

Reserving Undergraduate Courses for the Graduate Transcript

Students desiring to reserve courses from their undergraduate transcript to a graduate transcript may do so by filing the Credit Reservation Form with the College of Graduate Studies. Courses from the undergraduate record may be moved to a graduate transcript if they meet the following criteria: 1) the student has a cumulative GPA of 3.00 or greater, 2) the course is at the 400 level or higher, 3) the grade in the course is A or B, and 4) the course was not used to meet the requirements for the undergraduate degree. No more than 12 credits of undergraduate work can be moved to the graduate transcript under this policy.

Whether reserving all 12 not used for the undergraduate degree or reserving 6 credits and sharing 6 between the undergraduate and graduate degree as per J-1-c, students are limited to 12 credits.

Students are responsible for the course reservation process. Undergraduate courses completed at another institution are not eligible to be reserved. Courses will not be reserved until final grades for the term have been posted. Students who have courses placed on a graduate transcript and later wish to be admitted to the College of Graduate Studies for work toward an advanced degree must apply for admission to the College of Graduate Studies following the usual procedures. All courses placed on the graduate transcript, regardless of course level, will be assessed graduate fees.

Non-Degree Enrollment in the College of Graduate Studies

A non-degree student may register for graduate level courses if they have earned an undergraduate or graduate degree with a cumulative grade point average of 3.00 of higher. Students desiring to register in graduate-level courses should send a copy of their transcript showing degree date and GPA to the College of Graduate Studies (cogs-forms@uidaho.edu) to have the block on 500-level courses removed. Students desiring to have graduate-level courses taken as a non-degree student placed on a graduate transcript must follow the policies on reserving courses for the graduate transcript.

Reserving Non-Degree Courses for the Graduate Transcript

Students desiring to move courses from their non-degree transcript to a graduate transcript may do so by filing the Credit Reservation Form with the College of Graduate Studies. Courses from the non-degree record may be moved to a graduate transcript if they meet the following criteria: 1) the student has a cumulative GPA of 3.00 or greater; 2) the course is at the 400-level or higher; and 3) the grade in the course is A, B, or Pass. No more than 12 credits of non-degree work can be moved to the graduate transcript under this policy. The combined total of transfer credits, correspondence credits, non-degree credits, credits moved from an undergraduate transcript that were not used toward an undergraduate degree, and approved credits more than eight years old at the time the degree is awarded shall not exceed 12 credits for master's programs designated as requiring 36 or fewer credits, and they shall not exceed one-third of the total credits in designated programs requiring more than 36 credits.

Students are responsible to initiate the course reservation process as soon as they enter a graduate program. Courses will not be reserved until final grades for the term have been posted. All courses placed on the graduate transcript, regardless of course level, will be assessed graduate fees.