The George Washington University School of Engineering and Applied Sciences Online Degree Programs
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    • Policies & Procedures – Doctoral Programs

    Students enrolled in the Online Engineering programs of study must conform to University, School, and Program requirements and regulations. Major links to GW and Online Engineering academic policies appear below.

    Academic Integrity

    All students — undergraduate, graduate, professional full time, part time, etc. — must be familiar with and abide by the provisions of the GW Code of Student Conduct.

    Admissions

    Admission to Online Engineering programs is selective. Meeting minimum requirements does not guarantee admission. No more than two favorable admission decisions will be rendered for any one person, whether the application for readmission is submitted because an applicant does not enroll in the semester admitted, or a student interrupts continuous enrollment, or a student is placed repeatedly on financial hold preventing registration. Students denied admission may reapply; unless circumstances have changed considerably, denials of admission are generally upheld on reapplication. When offered admission, it is only valid to start in that semester. Admission deferrals are not permitted. If you cannot begin in the semester you were admitted, you must reapply for admission.

    Attendance

    Live class sessions are held once a week through Zoom. Attendance is normally expected at all sessions. If an absence from a class meeting is needed (due to family/medical or work-related emergency), students must contact the instructor in advance.

    Communicating with the Office

    Online Engineering faculty, advisors and staff guide and support distance students primarily by email. This is the most effective technology, and it is critical to distance advising. There are several reasons for this:

    • Written communication ensures that we are clear, thorough, efficient, consistent and effective so students derive the most from their educational experience.
    • Just as online study allows students to schedule school around their work and family responsibilities, email gives them the same flexibility over time and distance.
    • Email quickly and efficiently provides a record of staff and faculty communications with individual students to foster growth and understanding.
    • The office can respond most quickly in writing: Students should expect that a communication will be answered within 1 business day.
    • We can take the time needed to advise online students with the same process and methodology that we would in a face-to-face setting.

    You can always reach us about our programs at: seasdoc@gwu.edu

    Should you require immediate technical assistance from our staff, contact Technical Support:

    Doctoral Student Guidelines

    The University reserves the right to change courses, programs, fees, academic calendar or other changes deemed necessary

    GW Bulletin

    The GW Bulletin provides, in one place, University and School academic regulations. Any Program academic regulations that vary from those in the Bulletin or on the SEAS web site will be published on this page.

    Leave of Absence

    Students in an online degree program are expected to be continuously enrolled in the program until a degree is conferred. A degree student who is in good academic and financial standing but finds it necessary to interrupt active pursuit of the degree may petition the Online Engineering Programs office for a leave of absence by emailing a full explanation and attaching a completed LOA form and any supporting documentation to seasdoc@gwu.edu. Petitions are usually answered within two work weeks.

    Ph.D. and D.Eng. students are generally not permitted leaves of absence because the courses are taken in lockstep, but a petition may be granted for an immediate family emergency (spouse, significant other, minor children) (up to 6 months), physical or mental health treatment (up to 6 months), or deployment to active military duty (up to one year).

    Registration

    The Online Engineering Programs office processes registrations for all students directly.

    • Approximately 60 days prior to the start of each session, students will receive a registration notice. Registration notices include information on the next course in their program as well as the exact date registrations are entered.
    • On the registration date, approximately 2-3 weeks before classes begin, students in good standing are registered for classes.

    Reviewing Your Account for Holds

    At least one week prior to your registration time, and again just before, you should check to make certain that you do not have any holds on your record that will prevent registration. You can find more information online at the Office of the Registrar

    Scheduling

    The schedule for online classes is:

    • Spring-1 (Jan-Mar)
    • Spring-2 (Mar-May)
    • Summer (Jun-Aug)
    • Fall-1 (Aug-Oct)
    • Fall-2 (Oct-Dec)

    Students take 2 courses per ten-week session during the classroom phase. Due to the accelerated, cohort format of the program, students take all courses in lock step. Classes cannot be taken out of sequence and students must remain continuously enrolled.

    Time Limits

    • The Doctor of Engineering degree programs are designed to be completed in two years and must be completed within three years.
    • The Doctor of Philosophy degree program is designed to be completed in three years and must be completed within five years.

    Timeline for Doctoral Defenses

    Spring 2023:
    Last Day for Advisor Approved Praxis/Dissertation Submission for AIR: Wednesday March 29th
    Last Defense: Wednesday April 5th
    Upload Deadline: Wednesday April 12th

    Summer 2023:
    Last Day for Advisor Approved Praxis/Dissertation Submission for AIR: Tuesday July 25th
    Last Defense: Tuesday August 8th
    Upload Deadline: Tuesday August 15th

    Transfer between Degree Programs

    Candidates who are in good academic standing may, with the approval of the program directors, transfer to the professional degree if they meet the qualifications and requirements specified by the program. Only one such transfer can be approved.

    Transfer of Credit

    Academic credit earned at another institution will not be transferred into any online graduate program offered through the SEAS Online Programs office.

    Withdrawals and Refunds

    All drop or withdrawal requests must come to the Online Engineering programs office.  Please email your request to seasdoc@gwu.edu.

    • Classroom Phase: Students may drop from courses during the classroom phase through the day after the second class meeting without any academic or financial penalty. After that time, students may withdraw through the day after the eighth class meeting and will receive a designation of “W” and are responsible for full tuition.
    • Research Phase: Students may drop from research courses during the research phase up to 15 calendar days after the start of the session without any academic or financial penalty. After that time, students may withdraw and will receive a designation of “W” and are responsible for full tuition.
    • Students who cannot complete a course due to medical issues during a session may seek an incomplete with proper medical documentation before the end of the final exam period in that session.

    Request Information

    To learn more about the Online Engineering Doctoral programs, please fill out the form below.

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