The University of Alabama at Birmingham

177 Pages·2016·2.29 MB·English

2016-2017
GRADUATE
CATALOG
Table of Contents Mathematics ...................................................................... 54
Physics .................................................................................... 54
Psychology .............................................................................. 56
Graduate ................................................................................................. 3
Behavioral Neuroscience .................................................. 58
About UAB ....................................................................................... 3
Lifespan Developmental Psychology ................................ 58
General Information ................................................................... 3
Medical/Clinical Psychology .............................................. 58
Non Academic Policies ............................................................. 6
Sociology ................................................................................. 59
Trustees & Administration ......................................................... 7
Medical Sociology ............................................................. 59
Admissions ....................................................................................... 8
Sociology .......................................................................... 61
Academic Progress ........................................................................ 10
Joint Health Sciences .................................................................... 62
Enrollment ............................................................................... 16
Biochemistry & Structural Biology Theme ............................... 62
Completion of a Degree ................................................................. 17
Cancer Biology Theme ............................................................ 63
Financial Information ...................................................................... 21
Cell, Molecular, and Developmental Biology Theme ............... 64
Graduate Assistantships and Fellowships ...................................... 24
Genetics, Genomics and Bioinformatics Theme ...................... 67
Student Life .................................................................................... 24
Immunology Theme ................................................................. 69
Student Services and Facilities ...................................................... 26
Microbiology Theme ................................................................ 71
Collat School of Business .............................................................. 33
Neuroscience theme ............................................................... 72
Accounting and Finance .......................................................... 33
Pathobiology and Molecular Medicine Theme ......................... 74
Business Administration .......................................................... 35
School of Dentistry ......................................................................... 76
Management, Information systems & Quantitative Methods
.................................................................................................. 36 Dentistry .................................................................................. 76
Management Information Systems ................................... 37 DMD/PhD Program ................................................................. 78
College of Arts & Sciences ............................................................ 38 School of Education ....................................................................... 78
Interdisciplinary Programs ....................................................... 38 Interdisciplinary Progams ........................................................ 79
Computer Forensics and Security Management ............... 38 Curriculum and Instruction ...................................................... 79
Leonardo Art & Engineering Graduate Certificate ............. 40 Arts Education .................................................................. 80
Anthropology ........................................................................... 41 Music .......................................................................... 80
Art & Art History ...................................................................... 42 Early Childhood Education ............................................... 81
Biology ..................................................................................... 43 Elementary Education ....................................................... 81
Chemistry ................................................................................ 44 English as a Second Language ........................................ 81
Communication Studies ........................................................... 45 Reading ............................................................................ 81
Communication Management ........................................... 45 School Psychometry ......................................................... 82
Computer & Information Sciences ........................................... 45 High School Education ..................................................... 82
English ..................................................................................... 46 Special Education ............................................................. 82
Foreign Language ................................................................... 46 Teacher Leader ................................................................ 83
History ..................................................................................... 47 Human Studies ........................................................................ 83
Government ............................................................................. 48 School of Engineering .................................................................... 94
Public Administration ........................................................ 48 Interdisciplinary Programs ....................................................... 94
Justice Sciences ...................................................................... 50 Interdisciplinary Engineering ............................................. 94
Criminal Justice ................................................................ 50 Leonardo Art & Engineering Graduate Certificate ............. 96
Forensic Science .............................................................. 52 Professional Degree Programs ............................................... 97
Mathematics ............................................................................ 53 Advanced Safety Engineering and Management .............. 97
Applied Mathematics ........................................................ 53 Construction Engineering Management ............................ 98
Information Engineering Management .............................. 98 Environmental Health Sciences ............................................. 152
Design and Commercialization ......................................... 99 Epidemiology ......................................................................... 157
Biomedical Engineering ......................................................... 100 Health Behavior ..................................................................... 161
Civil, Construction and Environmental Engineering ............... 101 Health Care Organization and Policy .................................... 165
Civil Engineering ............................................................. 101 The Graduate School ................................................................... 173
Electrical and Computer Engineering .................................... 104 Graduate School Professional Development ......................... 173
Electrical Engineering ..................................................... 104 Program Index ............................................................................. 173
Computer Engineering .................................................... 105 Addenda ....................................................................................... 174
Materials Science and Engineering ....................................... 106 Index ................................................................................................... 175
Mechanical Engineering ........................................................ 108
School of Health Professions ....................................................... 109
Interdisciplinary Programs ..................................................... 110
Health Focused Patient/Client management for Physical and
Occupational Therapists ................................................. 110
Rehabilitation Science .................................................... 110
Clinical and Diagnostic Sciences .......................................... 111
Biomedical and Health Sciences .................................... 111
Biotechnology ................................................................. 112
Biotechnology Regulatory Affairs Certificate ................... 113
Clinical Laboratory Sciences .......................................... 114
Genetic Counseling ........................................................ 115
Health Physics ................................................................ 116
Nuclear Medicine Technology ........................................ 117
Physican Assistant Studies ............................................. 118
Health Services Administration .............................................. 120
Administration Health Services ....................................... 120
Health Administration ...................................................... 122
Health Informatics ........................................................... 123
Healthcare Quality and Safety ........................................ 124
Nutrition Sciences ................................................................. 126
Occupational Therapy ........................................................... 128
Physical Therapy ................................................................... 134
School of Medicine ...................................................................... 136
Interdisciplinary Programs ..................................................... 136
Gerontology ........................................................................... 136
Medical Scientist Training Program ....................................... 137
School of Nursing ........................................................................ 137
School of Optometry .................................................................... 143
Vision Sciences ..................................................................... 143
School of Public Health ................................................................ 144
Interdisciplinary Programs ..................................................... 146
Biostatistics ............................................................................ 148
The University of Alabama at Birmingham 3
Graduate by the faculty member's department chair and/or graduate program
director, and membership is required of all individuals teaching courses
for graduate credit and of members of graduate study committees. A
Welcome to the UAB Graduate complete listing of the graduate faculty can be found on the Graduate
School Web site (http://www.uab.edu/graduate/gradfaclist).
School
Graduate School Professional
The UAB Graduate School seeks to nurture skills that transcend Development Program
disciplinary boundaries, preparing graduate students to participate
Through its Professional Development Program, the Graduate School
successfully in professional and academic arenas. With coordinated and
offers courses, workshops and seminars designed to help graduate
interdisciplinary degree programs available, the UAB Graduate School
students, postdoctoral fellows, and other academic professionals develop
offers students an opportunity to tailor their educational experience to
communication and other career-enhancing skills. Current offerings
their own career objective. The Graduate School administers doctoral
include credit-bearing courses and workshops, as well as free seminars,
programs, post-masters education specialist programs, and master’s
in writing, funding, presentations, and teaching at the college level. More
level programs, with additional programs planned for the future.
information and schedules are available at the Professional Development
Graduate students, you should expect many challenges as they build Program’s Web site (www.uab.edu/pdp).
upon previous educational experiences in new and exciting ways.
Graduate School Deadlines
Graduate education has a distinctly different character from that of
undergraduate education. Students explore their chosen area of study
All Graduate School deadlines, as indicated on the calendar or in
in greater depth, and are also challenged to reach across boundaries
explanation of policies and procedures, unless otherwise stated, are final
and address larger intellectual issues. There will be greater emphasis on
by 5:00 p.m. on the date specified, by which time all transactions must be
originality and the creation of new knowledge.
completed and documents received in the Graduate School. Transactions
The Graduate Catalog outlines all of the policies and procedures and documents requiring the action or approval of graduate advisors,
pertaining to academic performance, degree progress, academic and committee members, instructors, department chairs, academic deans,
non- academic conduct, and student responsibilities. UAB graduate or others prior to receipt by the Graduate School should be initiated by
students are expected to be familiar with these policies and to abide by the appropriate person (student, instructor, graduate advisor, or other)
them. Failure to do so may impede a student’s progress or may result in sufficiently in advance of the Graduate School deadline for the required
disciplinary action and, in some cases, dismissal. In addition to Graduate actions to be taken and approvals made or declined before the deadline.
School policies, students are responsible for knowing and abiding by all Deadline dates are available online at http://www.uab.edu/graduate/
UAB Polices and Procedures which can be located in the UAB Policies deadline-dates.
and Procedures Library at www.sppublic.ad.uab.edu/policies/Pages/
About UAB
default.aspx
The Graduate Council Over four decades, UAB has evolved from an academic extension center
into an autonomous, comprehensive urban university and academic
The Graduate Council is comprised of all graduate program directors. health center within the University of Alabama System. UAB has
The Graduate Council Advisory Committee is a subset of these program established wide-ranging programs in the College of Arts and Sciences
directors who have been designated by their school deans to serve in an and the schools of Business, Dentistry, Education, Engineering, Health
advisory capacity to the Graduate School Dean. The Advisory Committee Professions, Medicine, Nursing, Optometry and Public Health, with
reviews academic requirements, policies, procedures, and Graduate graduate programs serving all major units. Fall 2015 enrollment is more
School activities. The committee recommends and approves appropriate than 18,300, and the freshman class is the most academically prepared
changes. Changes in academic requirements and related policies require ever at UAB, with an average high school GPA of 3.66 and average ACT
a majority vote of the Advisory Committee. of 25 (putting the class in the top 21 percent nationally).
The Graduate Council Advisory Committee, through consultation with UAB is situated near downtown Birmingham and the historic Five Points
the Dean, is responsible for developing academic requirements and South district. The campus stretches across 100 square blocks and
describing these requirements through appropriate policies. The Dean, occupies more than 100 primary buildings. UAB is Alabama's largest
through consultation with the Graduate Council, is responsible for single-site employer, with more than 23,000 employees and an economic
developing procedures that effectively enforce academic requirements impact exceeding $5 billion annually on the state.
and implement policies. The Graduate Council Advisory Committee has
developed policies and procedures to ensure that high standards for General Information
graduate study are maintained at UAB. These policies and procedures
are available at the Graduate School’s Web site (http://www.uab.edu/
Role Statement
graduate/component/content/arti cle/23-students/catalog/72-policies-and-
procedures). UAB’s graduate offerings are shaped by its location in the state’s largest
metropolitan area, by its mandate to serve a large and heterogeneous
The Graduate Faculty
constituency, by its responsibility to contribute to the economic and
professional development of Birmingham and the state, and by its role of
Graduate faculty membership may be granted by the Dean of the
providing support to a nationally recognized academic health sciences
Graduate School to faculty members who demonstrate a high level of
center.
competence in teaching and scholarship. Graduate faculty are nominated
4 General Information
At the graduate level, programs serve the career needs of educators and at http://www.uab.edu/handbook. Such organizations include: Graduate
business leaders, as well as those involved in advancing the frontiers of Student Government (GSG), Black Graduate Student Association
the health sciences. Training for health professionals is available through (BGSA), Society for Advancement of Hispanics/Chicanos and Native
programs at the baccalaureate, master’s, doctoral, and professional Americans in Science (SACNAS), and Graduate Career Awareness and
degree levels. Trends (GCAT).
UAB also has the primary responsibility for meeting the state’s health Schools and Degrees
professional needs. It offers a comprehensive range of programs which
encompass both basic preparation and sophisticated graduate and This catalog contains information about graduate programs in the College
specialty training in medicine, dentistry, optometry, nursing, health of Arts and Sciences, School of Business, School of Dentistry, School of
professions, and public health. Education, School of Engineering, School of Health Professions, School
of Nursing, School of Optometry, School of Public Health and the Joint
As one of the nation’s leading research institutions, UAB emphasizes Health Sciences.
both basic and applied research. Although the majority of the university’s
research effort is in the biomedical sciences and related areas, all Most UAB graduate students are working toward a degree; however,
instructional programs are expected to participate in research activities. some have other educational goals. Graduate level degrees are usually
UAB’s urban setting necessitates the development of research programs characterized by the level of master's, specialist or doctoral.
that are responsive to the city’s economic, social, and cultural needs.
College of Arts & Sciences
Much of the research conducted at UAB is interdisciplinary in nature and
is organized through centers that bring together experts in a number Master of Arts
of related fields to concentrate on a particular problem or issue. UAB
attracts more than $400 million annually in research funding and currently Anthropology5
ranks 10th among public universities in funding from the National Art History1
Institutes of Health. the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement Communication Management
of Teaching has named the University of Alabama at Birmingham English
to its list of colleges and universities to receive its 2015 Community History
Engagement Classification. UAB is one of 51 universities nationally and Sociology
the only college in Alabama to be classified for high research activity and Psychology
community engagement.
Master of Public Administration
As the senior public doctoral-level institution in the state’s major urban
Master of Science
area, UAB is committed to providing comprehensive programs in
continuing education consistent with the quality and diversity of its other Biology
offerings. The university’s faculty, staff, and students also serve as Chemistry
resources to the area through activities related to professional, economic, Computer and Information Sciences
and cultural growth and development. Computer Forensics and Security Management
Criminal Justice
Cultural Opportunities
Forensic Science
Mathematics
UAB’s urban location offers students unique cultural opportunities.
Physics
Located within walking distance of the campus is the Five Points South
district, where local and unique restaurants, shops, art galleries, and Doctor of Philosophy
music clubs are located. Not far from campus are the Birmingham
Applied Mathematics
Museum of Art, the Civil Rights Institute, the historic Alabama Theater,
Biology
and the Birmingham-Jefferson Convention Complex. Other nearby sites
Chemistry
include Sloss Furnace, a post-Civil War iron foundry which has been
Computer and Information Sciences
converted into a museum and informal music hall, and Oak Mountain
Medical Sociology
Amphitheater, an outdoor facility that features music-industry headliners
Physics
during the spring and summer concert season.
Psychology
UAB has a flourishing arts program. As many as 30 major music events
Biomedical Sciences/Joint Health Sciences
are produced each season at UAB, in addition to numerous theater
productions and student and professional art exhibitions. The Alys
Interdisciplinary Themes*
Robinson Stephens Performing Arts Center is a state-of-the-art facility
featuring 4 formal performance spaces: the 1,300-seat Jemison Concert Biochemistry, Structural and Stem Cell Biology
Hall, the 350-seat Morris K. Sirote proscenium theater, the 170-seat Cancer Biology
Reynolds-Kirschbaum Recital Hall, and the Odess Black Box Theater, Cell, Molecular and Developmental Biology
which can seat up to 120. Genetics, Genomics and Bioinformatics
Immunology
Student Life
Microbiology
Neuroscience
Graduate students at UAB have many opportunities to become involved
Pathobiology and Molecular Medicine
in the life of the university. Information about additional groups, both on
and off campus, can be found in the UAB Student Handbook, Direction
The University of Alabama at Birmingham 5
*Completion of the training requirements in one of the above Electrical Engineering
interdisciplinary themes provides eligibility for conferral of one of the Materials Engineering
following PhD degrees: Mechanical Engineering
• Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics Master of Engineering
• Cell Biology Advanced Safety Engineering and Management
• Cellular and Molecular Physiology Construction Engineering Management
• Genetics Design and Commercialization
• Microbiology Information Engineering and Management
• Neurobiology Doctor of Philosophy
• Pathology
Biomedical Engineering
• Pharmacology and Toxicology
Civil Engineering
Computer Engineering
School of Business
Interdisciplinary Engineering
Master of Accounting Materials Engineering
Master of Business Administration
School of Health Professions
Master of Science in Management Information
Systems Master of Science
School of Dentistry Biotechnology
Clinical Laboratory Science
Master of Science Genetic Counseling
School of Education Healthcare Quality and Safety
Nutrition Sciences
Master of Arts in Education Occupational Therapy
Arts Education
Master of Science in Health Administration
Community Health
Master of Science in Health Informatics
Early Childhood Education
Master of Science in Physician Assistant Studies
Educational Leadership
Elementary Education Doctorate of Physical Therapy
English as a Second Language Doctorate of Science in Administration Health
Health Education Services
High School Education
Doctor of Philosophy
Kinesiology
Music Education Administration Health Services
Reading Nutrition Sciences
School Counseling Rehabilitation Sciences
Special Education
School of Nursing
Educational Specialist
Master of Science in Nursing
Educational Leadership
Doctor of Nursing Practice
Early Childhood Education
Doctor of Philosophy
Elementary Education
English as a Second Language School of Optometry
Secondary Education
Special Education: Autism Spectrum Disorder Master of Science
Teacher Leadership Vision Sciences
Doctor of Education Doctor of Philosophy
Educational Leadership Vision Sciences
Doctor of Philosophy School of Public Health
Early Childhood Education
Master of Public Health
Health Education Promotion
Doctor of Public Health
School of Engineering Master of Science in Public Health
Doctor of Public Health
Master of Science
Doctor of Philosophy
Biomedical Engineering
Civil Engineering
6 Non-Academic Policies
Non-Academic Policies Patent Policy
UAB encourages the development of procurement and licensing of
Equal Opportunity and Discriminatory
patents for inventions in the interest of the public, the inventor, and the
Harassment Policy university.
UAB is committed to equal opportunity in education and employment, and Data Protection and Security Policy
the maintenance and promotion of nondiscrimination and prevention of
discriminatory harassment in all aspects of education, recruitment and Data (electronic) created at UAB must be protected and maintained
employment of individuals throughout the university. in accordance with all applicable federal and state laws and university
policies.
Immunization Policy
Student E-Mail Address Policy
UAB requires that first-time entering students, international students
and scholars, and students in health-related schools provide proof of November 10, 2003
immunization against certain diseases.
See also:
Non-Resident Tuition Policy
Electronic Data Processing Security Policy
This policy addresses non-resident tuition, certification of residency status
Acceptable Use Policy
by campus officials, and establishment of campus policies to administer
an appeals process. Network Usage Guidelines
Drug-Free Campus Policy for Students Purpose
Unlawful possession, use, manufacture, distribution, or dispensing of illicit UAB provides electronic mail resources in support of its instruction,
drugs, controlled substances, or alcoholic beverages by any UAB student research, and service activities. The purpose of this policy is to
is prohibited. establish the use of electronic mail (e-mail) as one of the official
methods for communicating with UAB students.
Drug-Free Campus Policy for Students -
Official Communications Using E-Mail
Attachment A
Addresses
This attachment for the Drug-free Campus Policy for Students
outlines the Federal penalties and sanctions for the illegal In a similar manner as mail distribution of paper communiqués to a
possession of a controlled substance. student's "permanent" address is considered an official method for
distributions to students, so also are official e-mail messages sent
Drug-Free Campus Policy for Students -
by UAB to a student's "@UAB.EDU" e-mail address considered
Attachment B an official distribution method. For purposes of this policy, "official"
communiqués or e-mails as used here are those established as
This attachment to the Drug-free Campus Policy for Students
"official" through other approval mechanisms in place at UAB.
outlines the health risks associated with the use of drugs and
alcohol. Student Requirements and
Responsibilities
Drug Free Campus/Workplace Policy -
Attachment B.1 Every student enrolled at UAB must have an e-mail address that
ends with "@UAB.EDU". Such an e-mail address is required for
This Attachment to the Drug-Free Campus and Drug-Free
a student to register for UAB credit courses. It is the student's
Workplace Policies outlines effects related to the consumption of
responsibility to obtain an official UAB e-mail address in a timely
alcohol.
manner from the UAB e-mail registering system (BlazerID World
Wide Web site). This will require the student also to have a valid,
Drug-Free Campus Policy for Students -
current, and reliable electronic mailbox through an Internet Service
Attachment C
Provider (ISP) or portal or on a server administered by the student's
academic department, or on the central mail service provided by
This attachment to the Drug-Free Campus Policy describes
the Office of the Vice President for Information Technology. It is
available programs through UAB offering counseling and assistance
the student's responsibility to check his or her e-mail regularly for
for drug and alcohol abuse.
distribution of official UAB communiqués. UAB recommends that
Copyright Policy e-mail be checked at least once a day, when practicable. UAB
is not responsible for lost, rejected, or delayed e-mail forwarded
The University of Alabama at Birmingham (the "University") is dedicated by UAB from a student's "@UAB.EDU" address to off campus or
to instruction, research and service to benefit society and encourages its unsupported e-mail services or providers. Such lost, rejected, or
faculty, staff and students to carry out scholarly endeavors in an open delayed e-mail does not absolve the student from responsibilities
and free atmosphere, and to publish the results of such work without associated with an official UAB communiqué sent to the student's
restraint, consistent with applicable law and policy. official UAB e-mail address ("@UAB.EDU"). If there is a change in a
student's e-mail address to which the"@UAB.EDU" alias address is
The University of Alabama at Birmingham 7
re-directed, it is the student's responsibility to make the changes in Harris V. Morrissette
the UAB e-mail registering system.
Scott Phelps
UAB Responsibilities
William Britt Sexton
UAB will ensure that all students have access to an e-mail account
and will provide means for students who do not otherwise have Finis E. St. John IV
access to e-mail-capable computers to be able to check their e-mail
Marietta M. Urquhart
through such mechanisms as computer labs, the UAB libraries, and
public terminals. UAB will provide mechanisms to allow students to Kenneth L. Vandervoort, M.D.
request that their e-mail addresses not be published in a similar way
that other student directory information is not published. However, James W. Wilson, III
unpublished e-mail addresses will be used for sending official UAB
Trustees Emeriti
communiqués to students including communications to a group of
students such as a course e-mail list. Students also will be provided
Frank H. Bromberg, Jr.
mechanisms for requesting that their e-mail addresses not be used
for general UAB mailings that are not official communications with Paul W. Bryant, Jr.
students. UAB is not responsible for the handling or mishandling
of students' e-mail by non-UAB providers or by unofficial (non- Angus R. Cooper II
@UAB.EDU) e-mail servers.
Oliver H. Delchamps, Jr.
Student Records Policy
Garry Neil Drummond
The University of Alabama at Birmingham student records policy
Jack Edwards
complies with the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of
1974, as amended. All students enrolled or previously enrolled at Joseph L. Fine
UAB have certain rights with regard to information included in their
education records. These rights are the subject of this policy. Sandral Hullett, M.D.
Request to Withhold Directory Information PDF Andria Scott Hurst
Trustees & Administration Peter L. Lowe, M.A.I.
John J. McMahon, Jr.
The University of Alabama System Board
John T. Oliver, Jr.
of Trustees
Joe H. Ritch
The Honorable Robert J. Bentley
Cleophus Thomas, Jr.
Governor of Alabama
John Russell Thomas
President ex officio
The University of Alabama System
Thomas R. Bice, Ed.D.
Administration
State Superintendent of Education
Chancellor
ex officio
Robert E. Witt, Ph.D.
Trustees
Secretary of the Board
Karen P. Brooks, President pro tempore
Michael A. Bownes
John H. England, Jr.
The University of Alabama at Birmingham
Joseph C. Espy III
Administration
Ronald W. Gray
Ray L. Watts, M.D., President
Barbara Humphrey
Linda C. Lucas, Ph.D., Provost
John D. Johns
G. Allen Bolton, Jr., MPH, M.B.A., Vice President, Financial Affairs and
Administration
Vanessa Leonard
Tom Brannan, Interim Vice President, Development and Alumni
W. Davis Malone, III
Anne L. Buckley, A.P.R., Chief Communications Officer
8 Admissions
Curtis A. Carver, Jr., Ph.D., Vice President, Technology/Chief or a representative of the Graduate Dean. All credentials submitted
Information Officer as part of the application for admission become and remain property
of the university and will not be returned to the student, duplicated, or
Paulette Patterson Dilworth, Ph.D., Vice President, Diversity, Equity transferred to another institution.
and Inclusion
Any change in a student’s record prior to enrollment will necessitate
William Ferniany, Ph.D., Chief Executive Officer, UAB Health System a new review of the application. Any omissions or misrepresentations
on a student’s application for admission will automatically invalidate
John Jones, Ph.D., Vice President, Student Affairs
consideration by and acceptance to UAB. If, after a student is admitted to
Richard B. Marchase, Ph.D., Vice President, Research and Economic the university, information comes to light that indicates an applicant did
Development not meet all admission requirements, the applicant's offer of admission
will be rescinded.
Selwyn M. Vickers, M.D., F.A.C.S., Senior Vice President and Dean,
School of Medicine The application for admission, application instructions, and application
deadlines can be accessed at http://www.uab.edu/graduate/prospective-
Suzanne Austin, Ph.D., Senior Vice Provost for Student and Faculty students.
Success
Admission as a Non-Degree Student
Bradley Barnes, Ph.D., Vice Provost for Enrollment Management
The non-degree category serves students who do not wish to pursue a
Gregg M. Janowski, Ph.D., Associate Provost for Assessment and graduate degree at UAB, as well as those who wish to begin graduate
Accreditation study before being admitted to a degree program. Not all graduate
courses are open to non-degree seeking graduate students. Although
J. Iwan O. Alexander, Ph.D., Dean, School of Engineering
there is no limit to the number of credit hours that may be earned as a
Shannon Blanton, Ph.D., Dean, Honors College non-degree seeking student, should a student later wish to pursue an
advanced degree at UAB, the credit earned while in non-degree seeking
Doreen C. Harper, Ph.D., RN, FAAN, Dean, School of Nursing status is not automatically acceptable toward the degree. A request for
transfer of non-degree seeking credits will not be considered until the
Eric P. Jack, Ph.D., Dean, Collat School of Business
student has completed at least 9 semester hours of graduate credit in the
current UAB program and is in good academic standing. No more than
Harold P. Jones, Ph.D., Dean, School of Health Professions
12 semester hours earned as a non-degree graduate student may
Lori McMahon, Ph.D., Graduate School be applied toward an advanced degree at UAB. Students wishing
to apply more than 12 semester hours are required to appeal to the
John M. Meador, Jr., Dean of Libraries Graduate School Dean for permission.
Max Michael III, M.D., Dean, School of Public Health Because of U.S. immigration requirements, international applicants (i.e.,
those who are neither U.S. citizens nor permanent residents) cannot
Kelly K. Nichols, O.D., M.P.H., Ph.D., F.A.A.O, Dean, School of
normally be considered for the non-degree category unless already
Optometry
residing in the United States. Immigration laws should be consulted to
determine eligibility of international students.
Robert E. Palazzo, Ph.D., Dean, College of Arts and Sciences
Change from Non-Degree to Degree-
Michael S. Reddy, D.M.D., D.M.SC. Dean, School of Dentistry
Seeking Status
Deborah L. Voltz, Ed.D, Dean, School of Education
A student with a non-degree classification who wishes to change to
Admissions
a degree-seeking classification must apply via the degree-seeking
application and submit the required documents (transcripts, entrance
Admission as a Degree-Seeking Student test score, recommendation letters, and program-specific supporting
documents). Degree-seeking admission of non-degree students is neither
UAB welcomes applications from all individuals whose preparation and automatic nor guaranteed.
abilities give them a reasonable chance of success in its programs. All
applicants must offer acceptable evidence of ability and intent to meet Readmission as a Degree-Seeking
the academic standards of the university. Degree-seeking graduate Student
students are those accepted into a specific graduate program to work
toward a specific advanced degree. In addition to the completed online Students who have not registered for three (3) consecutive semesters
application, the application procedure includes the submission of official will be changed to inactive student status and must apply for readmission
transcripts, standardized test scores, and letters of recommendation. To before they will be able to register for courses at UAB. Degree-seeking
be considered official, all academic documents required for admission students who meet the following criteria are able to apply for readmission
must be mailed to UAB directly from the colleges/universities attended, by submitting the Application for Readmission to Graduate Degree
and testing agencies. Degree-seeking applicants are also required Program form and paying the appropriate fee:
to submit additional program-specific credentials and documentation.
Each application is reviewed by the graduate program faculty, who 1. Were admitted to a UAB Graduate Degree-Seeking Program within
make an admissions recommendation to the Graduate School Dean the last five years, and
The University of Alabama at Birmingham 9
2. Have registered for and successfully passed at least one graduate while simultaneously earning credit toward the original degree. However,
course at UAB after being admitted to a IAB Graduate Degree- no more than 12 semester hours earned in the first degree program
Seeking Program BUT have not registered for courses for one may ever be applied toward the second degree.
academic year (3 semesters) or more, and
UAB Employee Admission
3. Have not attended any other university or college in the interim, and
4. Wish to return to the graduate program to which they were previously To maintain university accountability, UAB faculty and staff who wish to
admitted take occasional graduate courses may only register for these courses
after admission to the Graduate School in the non-degree seeking
Readmitted students must meet the degree requirements operative at
status. Admission of a UAB employee as a degree-seeking graduate
the time of readmission. Students who wish to return to the non-degree
student requires the concurrence of the applicant’s department chair
category after an absence of one or more years must submit a new non-
and dean(s), as well as the approvals required for other applicants to the
degree online application along with the required processing fee. This
same program. For more information regarding Educational Assistance,
form can be submitted online at http://www.uab.edu/graduate by clicking
visit the UAB Human Resources Web page at http://www.uab.edu/
"Apply Now."
humanresources/home/benefits.
Admission with Contingencies
UAB employees who wish to become full time graduate students and
continue to work part time cannot work more than 10 hours per week
Students lacking a limited number of specific qualifications may be
outside their commitment to meet the requirements of their predoctoral
admitted to graduate programs contingent upon completion of those
program.
qualifications. Graduate students admitted on contingency have until
the end of the first enrolled semester to resolve all contingencies.
UAB employees who enroll in a Ph.D. program and continue to work full
Examples of contingencies that must be resolved are submission of
time must meet the following requirements:
official transcripts, official test scores, official degree statements, required
course completion, etc. Students are informed of specific requirements 1. Cannot also be a full time student*
for continued enrollment and the time allowed for completion at the time 2. Cannot enroll for more than 18 credit hours per academic year
of admission. Failure to meet the requirements during the stipulated time (including fall, spring and summer)*
will result in a registration hold until the contingency is resolved and may
3. Are not eligible to be supported on a training grant as they are not full
result in dismissal from the Graduate School.
time students
Admission of Students Previously 4. Cannot be simultaneously supported by a UAB Graduate
Assistantship/Traineeship
Dismissed
5. Thesis or dissertation work may not be initiated until the student
When any individual applies to a graduate program, a significant part of enrolls in a program (i.e. data generated by the employee/student
the admissions decision involves an estimate, based on the applicant’s prior to enrollment that has been submitted for publication or
academic history, of whether the applicant can perform satisfactorily at published cannot be included in a thesis or dissertation)
the graduate level. Applicants who have previously been dismissed from 6. Must meet the same set of program requirements as all other
the Graduate School based on unsatisfactory academic performance students
must present convincing evidence to the program faculty and the 7. The dissertation committee is responsible for assuring that these
Graduate School Dean that a substantial improvement has occurred so stipulations are met
that it is probable that the applicant can now perform at the required level
8. The mentor/employer must acknowledge in writing their agreement
in graduate work.
for the employee to be a part time student while continuing to be a full
Combined Degree Programs time UAB employee. Written acknowledgments must be submitted to
the program director and the Graduate School.*
UAB offers students opportunities to pursue two advanced degrees 9. The Program Director and dissertation committee must agree in
concurrently. These are limited primarily to students pursuing both a writing to a protracted course of study*
research degree (such as the Ph.D. or M.S.) and a professional degree
(such as the M.D., D.M.D., O.D., or M.P.H.). *Stipulations 1, 2, 8 and 9 do not apply to employees of companies which
support their employees as full time students in a UAB Ph.D. program.
Students wishing to be enrolled in two programs concurrently should
must submit an a degree-seeking application and be admitted to each Equal Opportunity Policy
program individually. UAB also offers a limited number of 5th year
UAB administers its educational programs and activities, including
Masters (Fast Track) programs for students who wish to earn both the a
admission, without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation,
Bachelors and Masters degree in five years.
age, national origin, disability unrelated to job performance or Vietnam-
A minimum number of credit hours must be met for each degree. Courses era or disabled veteran status. The full text of this policy can be found
may be used to fulfill requirements for one degree, but not to fulfill the http://sppublic.ad.uab.edu/policies/Pages/default.aspx.
requirements for both degrees.
Office of Graduate Admissions
Concurrent Degrees
Mailing Address for Documents and Credentials:
Students who do not qualify for a combined degree program but wish
G03 Lister Hill Library
to begin work toward a second advanced degree may earn up to 12
semester hours in the additional program without special permission 1720 2nd Avenue South