General
You can search for your graduate program director listed by college and program here.
Submit a written request for reinstatement to your graduate program director. Click here for additional information.
No, at ODU there is no grade forgiveness for graduate students by course substitution (i.e. taking a course and only counting the higher grade). There are two circumstances when grades may not be calculated in the cumulative GPA. Please see the policy on GPA following Separation and the policy on change of program found in the graduate catalog.
Master's students have six years, and Ph.D. students have eight years to finish their degree from the time they are first enrolled in the program. If degrees are completed outside of this time limit, the credits must be re-validated by examination before they can be applied toward the degree.
Yes, doctoral students who are finished with coursework and have passed their candidacy exams, but are still working on a dissertation, must be registered for at least 1 hour of dissertation credit (899) every semester through graduation. If the dissertation has been completed, students should register for at least one credit hour of doctoral credit (999).
Transcripts are provided by the Office of the University Registrar and can be requested through Leo Online. Requests should be submitted at least five days before they are needed. For more information, please visit the Registrar's website.
Prospective Graduate Student
Visit the Office of Admissions for a comprehensive list of Graduate School Programs organized by colleges. To read detailed descriptions of each program, please click here to access the current Graduate School catalog.
You can view the course schedule through Leo Online.
Each department has different requirements. Contact the Graduate Program Director of the program you wish to apply to for specific details.
Please click here to see a full list of Graduate Program Directors organized by college and department/degree program.
Yes, all courses are taken for credit at ODU, whether you are a degree or a non-degree seeking student, which will count toward your cumulative GPA.
This depends on the department. It would be best to contact the appropriate Graduate Program Director for this information.
Yes, but only courses can be transferred; your GPA will not transfer. The University only allows a maximum of 12 graduate credits to be transferred from another institution. Ultimately, the final decision as to whether credits will be "applied" to your ODU graduate program will be determined by the appropriate Graduate Program Director.
Graduate students typically rely on federal loan programs, graduate assistantships, scholarships, and work-study programs to finance their graduate education. Students must be degree-seeking and enrolled at least half-time in master's or doctoral level classes to receive up to $20,500 in Federal Direct Stafford Loans. For more information on sources of financial aid for graduate students please visit the Financial Aid website.
Admitted Graduate Students
Yes. Please click here to view the Graduate School's orientation program offered in the Fall and Spring semesters.
Complete registration through Leo Online. The Summer and Fall semester courses are available by March 7th and by October 7th for the Spring. Visit the Registrar's site to view additional registration dates.
Students must be enrolled in nine credits per semester to be considered a full-time graduate students at ODU. In a summer session, six credit hours are considered a full load.
No more than 12 credit hours per semester may be carried by a graduate student, except in unusual circumstances, with the permission of your Graduate Program Director.
Visit the Registrar's website for in-state tuition eligibility requirements. Please note: submit applications before the beginning of each semester.
Teaching, research, and administrative assistantships are available to full-time graduate students who meet the requirements listed under the Graduate Assistantship Guidelines. The availability of assistantships varies year to year. Click here for additional information about how to obtain a Graduate Assistantship, or contact your graduate program director for more information.
Yes. Teaching assistantships are available through individual programs. All graduate students selected as teaching assistants must pass the Graduate Teaching Assistant Instructor (GTAI) Institute, offered at the beginning of fall and spring semesters. For more information on the GTAI Institute, please visit the Graduate School's website.
Compensation is determined by graduate program directors and deans. The stipends vary by program and college. Contact your Graduate Program Director for specific qualifications and amounts.
No. The university does not allow this.
Yes. However, these situations must be worked out with your Graduate Program Director.
Ph.D. students and teaching assistants may apply for a faculty parking pass. Master's level graduate assistants who are not teaching may not apply for a faculty parking pass. More information about obtaining a faculty parking pass is available at the Parking Services website.