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Graduate Studies
MPH and MSPH Academic Program Policies
Faculty Advisors
Each student is assigned a faculty advisor soon after admission. The role of the faculty advisor is to counsel the student in academic and non-academic matters. In addition, the faculty advisor interacts with the Office of the Dean of Students, the Department of Educational Services, and other student support services to ensure that any assistance that may be required is available to the student. Students in the dual degree programs are normally advised by their respective Dual Degree Coordinators.
New students are expected to arrive in Grenada at least one week prior to the start of classes to ensure that they are registered for classes, and to give themselves some time to become acclimated with life on a tropical island. It is important to keep in mind that life happens at a considerably slower pace in Grenada than in the United States or other countries, thus students should give themselves time to settle into their accommodations, acquaint themselves with the campus and arrange desired facilities in this somewhat relaxed pace. Note, however, that the pace of life in Grenada and the pace of studies in the Department are not to be confused. The academic programs in this Department are conducted at an accelerated pace, requiring of students the same amount of work as would be normal in a typical 16-week semester in a US university but in half as much time.
ALL students, at the beginning of every semester, MUST return to the Island in time to register for classes and attend their first class. Arriving on time avoids problems associated with getting a desired course, adding or dropping a course, or other administrative steps. Students who are unable to arrive for the beginning of the semester should contact their faculty advisor or the Department Chair. Please note that since some semesters may have public holidays, lectures and or exams which occur on those holidays will be automatically switched to the Friday of that same week. Students are therefore reminded that they are not to book their return ticket home, until the official end of each semester
Students are expected to attend all classes and other related academic activities such as labs, small group discussions and field trips, as defined in each course. A faculty member may take class attendance and participation into account when determining grades, provided that a clear written statement on this aspect of the course and its impact on grading is described in the course syllabus and distributed in class at the beginning of each term
Students are permitted to add or drop a course up to the end of the first week of the start of that class. Students should consult with their faculty advisor or Department Chair prior to adding or dropping a course. The student must complete the Add/Drop Form available in the Office of the Registrar and submit it with all required signatures by the add/drop deadline. All forms should be submitted to the Office of the Registrar. No record of the “dropped” course will appear on the student’s transcript, unless the course is dropped after the first week of that class. In that case a “W” (withdrawal) is recorded on the transcript. Non-attendance does not constitute dropping a course and no refund or credit will be granted for any course which is not officially dropped by the appropriate deadline
Medical Excuse
The procedure for obtaining a medical excuse for illness or inability to participate in a class activity, including an examination, is the same procedure as used by the School of Medicine. It must be emphasized that students who are believed to be impaired, for any reason, be it physical, psychological or social, are advised not to take an exam or attempt an assignment while impaired. Instead, these students are encouraged to contact the Dean of Students office before the assignment is due or the examination is scheduled to occur.
The grading system in the Department of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, unless otherwise indicated, follows the grading policies of the School of Medicine. The system, which documents the academic progress of students, is designed to recognize superior work as well as provide indications of serious academic problems. Faculty assigns a letter grade reflecting the performance of each student in a course. Grade points are assigned to each letter grade based on a 4-point system. Cumulative grade point averages are calculated each term.
| Letter Grade | Grade Points/Credit | Meaning |
| A | 4.0 | Excellent |
| B | 3.0 | Good |
| C | 2.0 | Satisfactory |
| F | 0.0 | Fail |
PUBH 890: Practicum in Public Health, PUBH 892: Capstone Seminar, and PUBH 894: Public Health Research Thesis are the exception in that they are graded Pass/Fail (P/F). Students must receive a grade of A, B, C, or F in all courses as designated by the grading scheme for that course. Note that as of Fall 2003, PUBH 881: Independent Study and PUBH 893: Capstone Seminar is also graded according to the standard graduated scheme (A, B, C and F).
The letter "W" is used to indicate withdrawal from the course for the term before 50% of the course has been attempted (i.e., before week four of the term). After 50% of the course has been attempted, the designation "WP" and "WF" are used to indicate whether the student was passing or failing at the time of withdrawal.
A "CC" is used to designate Continuing Course, and is a temporary grade, assigned only for PUBH 890: Practicum in Public Health and PUBH 894: Public Health Research Thesis. In this case, students must demonstrate progress in the course from one term to the next as determined by the designated faculty member.
Until all coursework is completed successfully, a student receives a grade of Incomplete "I" following approval from the Dean of Students for the Incomplete (generally this is due to serious illness or catastrophic events during exam week). The grade "I" is a temporary grade and requires that course work be completed within 30 days of the beginning of the next term that the course is offered. If this is not done the grade will automatically change to an “F.” A student does not repeat the course if he/she has received an "I" grade.
Repeated Courses
Public health courses may be repeated under the following circumstances: A course taken in the program in which a student earned a grade of "F" may be repeated only once. Upon satisfactory completion, the grade of the first course will be replaced with that of the second course in the GPA calculation; however, the transcript will show the grades of both the original and repeated courses. Courses that have been completed with a passing grade may not be repeated for the purpose of improving the grade. Courses to be repeated MUST be taken at the next offering.
Committee on Satisfactory Academic Progress and Professional Standards (CAPPS)
A student's academic progress is evaluated by the Committee on Satisfactory Academic Progress and Professional Standards (CAPPS) at the end of each term (i.e., May, July and November). This Committee is co-chaired by the Dean of Students and Dean of Graduate Studies Program and composed of the Associate Dean of Enrolment Planning, the Associate Dean of the School of Veterinary Medicine and, when appropriate, the Course Directors for the segment of the academic program being reviewed, and all other public health faculty.
The Dean of Basic and Allied Health Sciences may also attend these meetings. The CAPPS reviews the student’s academic and non-academic performance. The Committee determines if a student is making satisfactory academic progress, must be recommended for dismissal, or is permitted to continue on academic or non-academic probation under specific conditions with a defined plan to remedy deficiencies within the public health program's regulations. The Committee has the prerogative to request that a student appears before it.
Continuous monitoring of a student's progress is ongoing by the Dean of Students in consultation with the course directors, faculty advisors, and the Department of Educational Services. This monitoring occurs to support a student's overall success. If a student has concerns about his/her academic progress that have not been satisfactorily addressed, he/she should contact the Dean of Students.
Academic probation is an internal marker placed in a student's progress file by the Committee on Satisfactory Academic Progress and Professional Standards. It allows a student who does not meet the Satisfactory Academic Progress guidelines to continue in the MPH program for one term with the prescribed program of courses. A student on academic probation must achieve a cumulative GPA of at least a 3.0 within the next academic term or full-time sequence of courses.
Standard for the Award of Public Health Degrees
The student will be deemed to have fulfilled all the requirements for the MPH or MSPH degrees after successfully completing at least 48 credits with an average GPA of at least 3.0. This will include the successful completion of a practicum in a public health practice organization and the submission of an acceptable draft of the Capstone Paper following its oral presentation in the case of the MPH. In the case of the MSPH the student will have successfully completed and defended an acceptable research thesis in the judgment of his/her Thesis Supervisory Committee. Completion of the degree requirements must be verified by a Degree Audit performed by the Office of the Registrar.
There is one commencement ceremony for the Graduate Studies program in May of each year. Eligible students are those who are expected to complete degree requirements by May. Students who are not anticipated to complete all of the requirements for the MPH or MSPH degree by May of any year, will have to be in good academic standing and satisfy the following conditions by March 15th, in order to be permitted to participate in that year’s commencement:
- Students must have a cumulative GPA of at least a 3.0 from the previous term and be expected to make passing grades in order to maintain the minimum required GPA.
- If the practicum is not completed, arrangements must be in place, including a signed Practicum Agreement Form.
- If the Capstone Seminar is outstanding, special permission will be required from the Department Chair in order to participate in the commencement ceremony.
- If the Research Thesis is in the final stage of completion, approval would have to be obtained from the Department Graduate Affairs Committee (GAC) on the recommendation of the Chair of the Student’s Thesis Supervisory Committee.
- Students must be within 6 or less credits of degree completion to take part in the ceremony.
Time Limitations for Completion of MPH and MSPH Degrees
Students in the Department of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, pursuing either the freestanding MPH or MSPH graduate degrees or the dual MD/MPH or DVM/MPH degrees are expected to complete all public health degree requirements in not more than five years. Students in the dual degree programs are specifically expected to complete the public health degree no later than six months after the completion of their primary degree (MD or DVM) or within five years, which ever occurs earlier. Any student who fails to comply with this policy but still wishes to complete his or her degree requirements, must make a formal application for an extension through the Dean of Students of the University.
