Zero-Credit Hour Courses, Graduate and Law

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Many of DePaul’s masters and doctoral degree programs require a thesis or dissertation to earn the degree.  The thesis or dissertation is often completed after all required credit hours and coursework is satisfied.  Programs may offer a variety of 0-credit hour courses to accurately represent the student’s status while the student completes the thesis or dissertation.  Each of these courses will have a unique course catalog number differentiating it from the others.  These course offerings include:

 

1)  Zero-credit hour course that supports a student’s full-time work on the thesis or dissertation

 

This course is reserved for students whose work on the thesis or dissertation is considered equivalent to that of a full-time course load.  Students enrolled in this course:

• ​are reported as enrolled full-time for federal reporting and fellowships
• are eligible to defer loans
• are eligible to apply for federal loans and borrow for living expenses
• may be limited by their program as to the number of times they are eligible to enroll for the course
• will receive a Pass or Fail grade determined by the thesis/dissertation director which supports the students work during the term

2)  Zero-credit hour course that supports a student's half-time work on the thesis or dissertation

This course is reserved for students whose work on the thesis or dissertation is considered equivalent to that of a half-time course load. Students enrolled in this course:

• are reported as enrolled half-time for federal reporting and fellowships
• are eligible to defer loans
• are eligible to apply for federal loan and borrow for living expenses
• may be limited by their program as to the number of times they are eligible to enroll for the course
• will receive a Pass or Fail grade determined by the thesis/dissertation director which supports the students work during the term

3)  Zero-credit hour course that supports a student's less than half-time work on the thesis or dissertation

This course is reserved for students whose work on the thesis or dissertation is considered equivalent to that of a less than half-time course load. Students enrolled in this course:

• are reported as enrolled less than half-time for federal reporting and fellowships
• may be limited by their program as to the number of times they are eligible to enroll for the course
• will receive a Pass or Fail grade determined by the thesis/dissertation director which supports the students work during the term

Please Note: 

1. Some graduate programs may require a final culminating project, practicum or exercise as part of the degree.  The above enrollment guidance may be followed for these courses if they are offered for 0-credit hours and should carry an enrollment status equivalency.
2. Students in zero-credit hour courses are subject to the time limit for degree completion as determined by their program.

There are other 0-credit hour courses offered by graduate or doctoral programs that do not fall into the above categories.  These courses will keep the student in an active status.  Each of these courses will have a unique course catalog number differentiating it from the others.

 

Examples of these courses may include:

• courses for students completing work in other courses where an IN or R grade was awarded who need access to university resources
• courses that are non-credit bearing degree program requirements (such as presentation skills, field experiences, etc.)

Please Note for Other 0-Credit Hour Courses: 

1. Depending on the type of course, the program will determine if a grade is required.
2. Students in zero-credit hour courses are subject to the time limit for degree completion as determined by their program.