Graduate Education

Graduate faculty members whose appointments are current as of the publication date of the Graduate Catalog are listed by academic rank in the department(s) in which they serve. Comprehensive listings of the graduate faculty may also be found on The Graduate School's website.

 

Within the school and departmental sections of the Graduate Catalog, following the faculty member's name, where applicable, is a section number that students should use when registering for independent studies, reading, research, and thesis and dissertation courses with that particular professor. Areas of specialization are listed for each faculty member following the section number.

Courses numbered 400–699 are for advanced undergraduate and graduate students; courses numbered 700–999 are for graduate students only. The unit of measurement in meeting degree requirements is the semester hour — that is, one hour of lecture or at least two hours of laboratory or field work a week per semester. The number of credits, or the value of the course in semester hours, can be found after the course title in the listings for "Advanced Undergraduate and Graduate-level Courses" and "Graduate-level Courses." 

Grade Appeals

The procedure for grade appeals can be found in the Graduate School Handbook. Any questions regarding the grade appeals process should be directed to The Graduate School.

Orientation

The Graduate School sponsors a university-wide orientation program for new graduate students. Its goals are to

1. Acclimate them to the University community and
2. Provide information sessions on a range of topics relevant to graduate students such as broad campus resources, campus health facilities, Graduate and Professional Student Federation, and getting to know the local area.

Important reference materials and guides to the campus and Chapel Hill/Carrboro area community resources are available to students on The Graduate School's website. These resources include the Graduate School Handbook, Academic Integrity and Ethics, Thesis and Dissertation Guide, copies of University policies, and other helpful campus and community publications intended to be used throughout the student's graduate career. As orientation is a continuous process throughout a student's first year, The Graduate School also schedules a number of orientation workshops throughout the academic year on such topics as residency for tuition purposes, funding, and networking.

In addition to The Graduate School orientation, individual graduate and professional programs conduct department-based orientations for new students. Information regarding departmental orientations is available in the respective academic departmental offices.

Orientation and relocation information can be found on The Graduate School's website. The Graduate School Office, open year-round, is located on the second floor of Bynum Hall. Graduate School staff are available to answer questions and help students find the resources they need to make the most of their Carolina experience.

Professional Development in Graduate Education

The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill is committed to providing students with the highest quality graduate education. While this clearly entails academic training, it also includes a commitment to providing students with resources and services to enhance their graduate experience and to prepare them for their poststudent careers.

The cornerstone of professional development at Carolina is a series of workshops and selected one-credit-hour courses. These workshops cover topics designed to promote graduate student academic, professional, and personal growth. Sessions are designed to provide students with the opportunity to develop five areas of professional competency: communication, leadership, teaching and instruction, professional adaptability, and self-awareness. Additional information is available on the web.

Graduate Student Foreign Language Proficiency Assessment

The departments of Romance Studies, Germanic Languages and Classics offer foreign language proficiency assessments in French, German, Spanish, Italian, and Latin (classical or medieval) for graduate students needing to satisfy a departmental foreign language requirement. This service is offered once each semester. The Graduate School administers registration for these assessments. Registration and scheduling information is available on the web.

International Student and Scholar Services (ISSS)

International Student and Scholar Services promotes international educational exchange through its services and programs. ISSS serves as the principal administrative, programming, and advising office for approximately 2,500 international students, faculty members, and administrative staff at UNC–Chapel Hill, including research scholars and visiting professors. Located in the FedEx Global Education Center, ISSS issues and helps maintain visa documentation, provides advising related to immigration matters and adjustment to life in the United States, and serves as a liaison between international students and scholars, their departments, and governmental and private agencies involved in international education exchange. In addition to administrative and advising services, ISSS provides programming that helps international students and scholars maximize their experience at UNC–Chapel Hill. Programs include orientation, tax seminars, and various cultural programs. The center is a focal point for community service organizations, including the Host Family Program, Conversation Partners Program, Speakers' Bureau, and International Women's English Conversation Group. It also administers the UNC Class of '38 Summer Study Abroad Fellowships.