The university outlines specific registration procedures on the Registrar’s Calendars and Schedules page, which is updated prior to each semester by the Office of the Registrar. Students must register for classes using the procedures outlined in the class schedule including enrolling by the dates and times specified for each semester or special session. Students are expected to complete registration activity online through MyUNLV. MyUNLV also includes registration instructions and the class schedule. Each student must complete registration during the registration period, as specified on the academic calendar. Registration is not considered complete until all tuition and fees have been paid. Students paying tuition and/or fees after the date and time specified in the schedule may be charged a late fee. The registration or enrollment of a student ineligible to attend the university is subject to immediate cancellation.

Adding or Dropping Classes

The add/drop period is the period of time after the semester begins when students can add and drop their classes with no academic or financial penalties. For the fall and spring semesters the add/drop period is the first five days of classes. Summer add/drop dates can be found on the Summer Term website. Students may add or drop a course up to the close of the late registration period. After this date, and with approval, students may make changes only when the circumstance is sufficiently extraordinary to warrant an exception. Please note that the last day to add thesis/dissertation/culminating courses coincides with the last day to add classes with department and Graduate College permission. The last day to add classes is outlined in UNLV Office of the Registrar Calendars.

Administrative Drops and Classroom Conduct
- Failure to attend a course or to submit required work will result in a grade of F. The student who neglects a course is solely responsible for dropping the course or withdrawing from the university.
- An administrative drop may be initiated at the discretion of the instructor, who will record the circumstances. The approvals of the academic unit chair/director, and the dean of the college/school offering the course, are required.
- Students have a responsibility to conduct themselves in classes, libraries, and in other campus locations in ways that do not interfere with the rights of other students to learn or the rights of instructors to teach. Use of electronic devices such as cellular phones or recording devices or other potentially disruptive activities are subject to both university and instructors’ policies. If a student does not comply with requirements or obstructs the smooth functioning of the class, the instructor may opt for an administrative drop or initiate a student conduct complaint.
- Serious cases of misconduct, as defined by the UNLV Student Conduct Code, will be referred to the appropriate administrative officer for action.
Administrative Drop for Nonpayment
- Nonpayment of tuition and/or fees by the Administrative Drop for Nonpayment date listed in the term calendar may result in an administrative withdrawal/drop from classes.
Cancellation of Courses and Programs
- The university reserves the right to cancel any registration in which the enrollment is insufficient to warrant offering the course and/or to eliminate, cancel, phase out, or reduce in size courses and/or programs for financial, curricular or programmatic reasons.
- When programs are closed or eliminated, enrolled students will be given a fixed amount of time to complete their degree requirements or they may be given a free application to transfer to a different graduate program.
Dropping/Withdrawing from Classes
- A student who has officially dropped or withdrawn from a course is ineligible for further attendance in that course.
  - Dropping Courses: A student has the opportunity to drop a course up through the fifth business day of the semester (excluding modular/mid-semester courses) without penalty.
  - Withdrawing Courses: A student has the opportunity to withdraw up to the date identified on the UNLV academic calendar (which is 60% into the course). No withdrawal will be allowed after the last day to withdraw. Students who withdraw will be assigned a withdrawal grade (W), which will appear on the transcript but will not be calculated in the GPA, and be responsible for the tuition and fees associated with the withdrawn course. A student can qualify for a refund by withdrawing from all courses by the 50% refund date identified on the academic calendar. A grade of F will be recorded and will appear on the transcripts for students who stop attending class and fail to officially withdraw.
- Refer to the Office of the Registrar Calendars page for term-specific drop/withdraw deadlines.

Cancellation of Registration

The university reserves the right to cancel any registration in specific courses for which the student is ineligible. The registration of any student who is ineligible to attend the university is subject to immediate cancellation. The university also reserves the right to cancel the registration of an individual whose attendance, in the opinion of the appropriate administrative officials, would not be mutually beneficial to that person and to the institution.

Combined / Cross-listed Sections

Undergraduate/graduate (300/500, 400/500, and 400/600) level courses that share the same meeting time and days in the same classroom with the same instructor are considered to be cross-listed. In order for courses to be combined/cross-listed, they must undergo curricular approval via the Graduate College process. Please see the definitions below. Please note that graduate courses that are cross-listed with undergraduate courses require the graduate student to complete additional, more advanced work in the course, and they may be required to meet for some limited, additional hours to fulfill course requirements as indicated on the course syllabus.

Cross-listed Sections

Shared Definition: The term “cross-listing” is a general term that denotes jointly connecting at least two courses. All cross-listed courses must undergo standard curricular approval process either via the Faculty Senate (undergraduate) or the Graduate Course Review Committee (graduate). Cross-listed courses contain the same or similar content and may be in different programs (eg., WMST 621 & SOC 621) or different careers (e.g., BIOL 403 & BIOL 603). Cross-listed courses from different units must have appropriate approval from each respective units.
- They may or may not be scheduled as combined courses in class schedules.
- A cross-listed course is one that carries credit in more than one department or program. Students may not enroll in more than one of the cross-listed courses and may receive credit in one department only.
- If graduate courses are cross-listed with undergraduate courses, graduate students are required to complete additional, more advanced work in the course, and they may be required to meet for some limited, additional hours to fulfill course requirements as indicated on the course syllabus. Significant differentiation between graduate and undergraduate coursework requirements must be clearly evident and approved through the standard approval process including the Graduate College in upholding institutional standards. Graduate and undergraduate coursework must be differentiated to the extent that it is plausible that students taking the undergraduate content may take the crosslisted graduate course as a graduate student. These courses may or may not be combined in the schedule.
- 300- or 400-level courses may be cross-listed with 500-level courses; 400-level courses may also be cross-listed to 600-level courses. Courses that are at the 700 level and above may not be cross-listed with undergraduate courses.

Same-as Courses

Shared Definition: A specific type of cross-listed courses used in curriculum identifying a sequence within the same career type (e.g., CEM 651 & CEE 672)
- Undergraduate courses: Per NSHE CCN, although the prefix and number can differ, undergraduate same-as courses must have the same title, credits, course descriptions, and content. The parent/original course information must be retained in the UNLV catalog. Cross-listed courses are intra-institutional only. If another institution wishes to implement the cross-listed course, the parent course must be implemented first then additional cross-listed courses can be added. Parent courses will not be able to be deleted unless the same-as is removed prior to the deletion.
- Graduate courses may or may not share the same number, title, and/or course descriptions.

Combined

Shared Definition: Combined courses refers to offering courses assigned to the same scheduling resources such as classrooms, times, dates, days, and/or instructors. In order to be combined, a class must be curricularly approved. A curricularly approved cross-listing sequence does not mean that the courses will be combined automatically in the schedule. Departments will need to request to combine the courses every term and will be denied the combination if the courses have not undergone the appropriate curricular approvals.

Cross Schedule

On rare occasions, there is a need for courses with distinct instructors, content, and title to share a specialty space such as a: studio, tennis court, performance hall, green space, or other similar spaces. In these cases, the sections can be combined for purposes of sharing space only. Cross scheduling is not permitted for web, department-arranged, or remote classes. Cross scheduling is not permitted for the same instructor.

Course Credit Expiration

Courses completed more than 10 years prior to the student’s intended graduation term cannot be used towards a graduate program without an approved Time Limit Extension Form available in the Grad Rebel Gateway on the Forms tab under Additional Forms.

Course Repeat Policy

A failed course cannot be challenged by examination and it does not have to be repeated unless the course is a specific college or department requirement. A student receiving a final grade of ‘F’ in a course can obtain credit by registering for the course, repeating the class work, and receiving a passing grade. Any course may be repeated, regardless of the grade received. The fact that UNLV has granted a degree to a student shall not preclude the student’s right to repeat a course for the purpose of improving a grade. Credit will be allowed only once for successful completion of the course, except for courses designated in the catalog as allowable repeats; these courses may be repeated only up to the maximum number allowed in the catalog and MyUNLV system. A student may repeat any UNLV course once at UNLV and not have the original grade included in the computation of the grade point average. The repeat grade must be on the same grading option as the original grade. The original grade will remain on the student’s academic record with a notation.

When a course is repeated more than once, only the original grade is omitted in computing the GPA and all subsequent course attempts will be included in calculation of the GPA. For courses repeated prior to February 1971, both the original grade and the repeat grade are included in the GPA.

Credit by Examination

UNLV does not offer credit by examination for any graduate degree-, certificate-, microcredential- or non-degree-seeking students.

Credit Load Limitations

Graduate students normally may not take more than 15 credits during the fall and spring terms, unless they are in a professional program that specifically requires additional credits. Graduate students may take no more than six credit hours in a single five-week summer term and earn no more than a total of 15 credits during the summer term (pre, post, and regular five-week sessions combined). Students who want to exceed the standard maximum credit load, must submit an Authorization for Overload form available through the Grad Rebel Gateway. Overload requests will be processed by the Graduate College in MyUNLV on approval of the form.

Enrollment Verification

Immediate online official enrollment verification certificates for current students are available through the National Student Clearinghouse. Please note that enrollment information cannot be verified until the last day to add/drop for a semester. This is so that the verification is an accurate indication of your semester enrollment. The National Student Clearinghouse Free Self-Service Site is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. For more information visit the Office of the Registrar’s Enrollment Verification page.

Experimental Courses (X Courses)

Graduate experimental courses undergo an expedited review in Curriculog in which includes approval by the coordinator (department faculty), department chair, academic dean’s office, Grad Course Review Committee, and Graduate College. However, experimental courses (x courses) may be offered a maximum of two times and within a two year limit after approval.

Full- and Part-Time Enrollment

For university purposes, graduate students enrolled in nine or more credits in a semester are considered full-time; GAs need only enroll in six graduate credits per semester to count as full-time. Graduate students who are not GAs and enrolled in fewer than nine credits in a semester are considered part-time students. Please note the exceptions below:

For graduate students who are United States veterans who are using veteran education benefits, enrollment in five to eight credits is considered half-time; fewer than five enrolled credits is considered less than half-time.
For federal financial aid purposes, any graduate student who is enrolled in fewer than nine graduate credits in a semester will be considered a part-time student even if they are a graduate assistant.
For graduate students who are United States veterans who are using veteran education benefits, enrollment in five to eight credits is considered half-time; fewer than five enrolled credits is considered less than half-time.
International students must refer to the Enrollment Policy for International Students section for more information on enrollment requirements.
Dropped, audited, and withdrawn classes do not count towards enrollment.

Fully Online Programs

UNLV offers graduate degrees that are available both fully online, fully in-person or blended and in person. This allows students to select their mode of instruction (modality) and matriculate in person on campus, take a combination of in person and online classes, or enroll in the program as a fully online student. In accordance with Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) and at UNLV, a fully online/distance education graduate student is one who has committed to pursue their entire degree, certificate, or microcredential exclusively through online education/distance education. All coursework requirements of the program must be available online either synchronously or asynchronously. Per IPEDS, non-instructional in-person requirements (e.g, orientation, testing, academic support, practicum, residency, internship, etc.) do not exclude a course or program from being classified as exclusively online/distance education.

Benefits and restrictions

The benefits of students enrolled in an exclusively fully online program include: access to seats in designated online sections and waiver of immunization requirements. Students enrolled in a fully online program are restricted to being enrolled in only online designated sections and must meet immunization requirements if they are enrolled simultaneously in programs that are in-person and/or blended microcredential, certificates, and/or concurrent degree programs. Also, I-20s cannot be issued for online degree programs, certificate programs, microcredential programs or for non-degree-seeking courses taken.

Modality change process for graduate students

If programs offer a fully online option, students may choose to opt in or opt out of an exclusively fully online offering at the time of admission. Once admitted, students may change their program modality by:

Sending an email to their respective Graduate College Retention, Progression, and Completion (RPC) Coordinator (grad.rpc@unlv.edu).
The RPC Coordinator will review the benefits and restrictions of being a fully online student. For students seeking to opt out of being a fully online student, the RPC Coordinator will verify that students are aware that they will no longer receive the online student benefits.
The RPC Coordinator will review and approve your request via email. (Note: benefits and restrictions will not go into effect until the next semester for students requesting a modality change after the first day of classes.)

Student Readiness in Opting into Fully Online Programs

Prior to enrolling into fully online modality programs, students should ask themselves the following three questions to determine their readiness:
Does my computer meet the technology requirements for WebCampus?

Students will require a computer with the basic computer specifications for WebCampus: Canvas and modern web browser. Because some courses may include videos, a fast internet connection is highly recommended. See WebCampus Support for more information.

3. Am I self-motivated?

Successful online learning requires that students are self-motivated and disciplined in order to meet the course requirements.

4. Am I able to manage my time well?

Many aspects of online courses occur asynchronously. This means that students and instructor(s) in the course will not need to be online at the same time. Usually, there are no set meeting times which allows for students to have the flexibility in their schedules. This may be challenging for students who learn best through face-to-face interaction with their instructors and classmates. However, for students who are organized and able to manage their time, online education can be a convenient and rewarding learning experience.

Identity Verification in Online Courses

Students must use their own campus-issued ACE ID and password to log in to WebCampus. Any student enrolled in online or hybrid course(s) is expected to read and adhere to the Student Academic Misconduct Policy, which defines, “acting or attempting to act as a substitute for another, or using or attempting to use a substitute, in any academic evaluation or assignment” as a form of academic misconduct. Intentionally sharing ACE login credentials with another person may be considered an attempt to use a substitute and could result in investigation and sanctions, as outlined in the Student Academic Misconduct Policy.

Additionally, any student enrolled in online courses are expected to read and adhere to the Acceptable Use of Computing and Information Technology Resources Policy, which prohibits sharing university accounts with other persons without authorization.

In general, all graded assignments and assessments for University online courses should be hosted in WebCampus or another University managed platform that requires ACE login credentials for access. The University’s current policy is at: https://www.unlv.edu/policies/identity-verification-online-courses-policy.

Grade Point Average

A candidate for a graduate degree/certificate/microcredential must have a minimum Graduate Program GPA of 3.00 to be eligible to graduate or receive a certificate or microcredential. The Graduate Program GPA, computed by the Graduate College, includes all completed graduate coursework accepted at admission and all subsequently approved coursework that is being applied toward a degree or certificate via the Plan of Study form Parts I and II. This Graduate Program GPA is different from the cumulative graduate GPA listed on the student’s transcript. The cumulative graduate GPA reflects all of the graduate-level courses taken while a graduate student (graduate degree and/or non-degree) in any microcredential, certificate, or program at UNLV.

Graduate-Level Grades

At UNLV the following symbols are used in reporting and recording graduate student grades:

A - Superior (4.0)

B - Passing (3.0)

C - Below Average (2.0)

D - Deficient (1.0)

F - Fail

AD - Audit (not graded, no credit toward GPA)

I - Incomplete (see guidelines below)

S - Satisfactory

U- Unsatisfactory

X- Hold: Grade is used only for thesis or dissertation courses. Grade is changed upon successful completion of thesis or dissertation by the Graduate College on receipt of a passing Culminating Experience Results form

Faculty members have the option of using plus (+) and minus (-) for grades of A, B, C, and D. Exception: A+ grades are not given. At the graduate level, grades below a B are generally considered unacceptable. Graduate students must have a 3.0 GPA for coursework used towards the program (via an approved plan of study) in order to qualify for graduation.

Note: At the graduate level, grades below a B or B- (depending on the program) are often considered unacceptable and some program handbooks prohibit students from using course grades below a specific cut-off on their degree program. All graduate students must have a graduate program GPA of 3.0 or higher in order to qualify for graduation. A course in which the student earns a grade lower than C may never be used to fulfill graduate degree, certificate, or microcredential requirements.

Graduate Students Taking Undergraduate-Level Courses

If a graduate student enrolls in undergraduate-level courses in their graduate career (under a graduate non-degree-seeking or graduate degree- or certificate-seeking program or microcredential-seeking program), the undergraduate course enrollment will be marked as “cross-career” on the student’s official transcript and those courses will not contribute to earned credits or graduate GPA.

If graduate students need undergraduate-level courses to show as earned credit on their transcript for employment or educational reasons, they must submit and pay for an undergraduate non-degree seeking application through the Office of Undergraduate Admissions and register for those courses in an undergraduate career.
If a graduate student takes undergraduate courses in their graduate career and needs them changed to reflect earned credit at a later date, they will be required to submit and pay for an undergraduate non-degree seeking application through the Office of Undergraduate Admissions in order for the coursework to be moved.
If graduate students complete the requirements for an undergraduate microcredential and enroll in the required coursework under the undergraduate career, they will be awarded the undergraduate microcredential.

Graduate Credit

All courses numbered 500-999+ or above are considered graduate-level. Undergraduate-level courses are numbered 100-499. Some graduate level courses are not usable for graduate credits. One example of this are courses with an RPDP prefix; these are non-graduate credit granting courses and are indicated as such on the UNLV transcript.

500-level classes are generally seen as remedial graduate courses, and they may also be used for non-degree, non-credit bearing courses; these may be cross-listed with 300 or 400 level undergraduate courses, with appropriate curricular review and approval.

600-level classes are generally seen as foundational graduate coursework, and/or masters level coursework; these courses may be cross-listed with 400-level undergraduate courses, with appropriate curricular review and approval. When cross-listed with an undergraduate course, graduate student course requirements will be different from, and more rigorous than, those of undergraduates. As much as possible, 600-level graduate classes should not be cross-listed with undergraduate courses unless there are specific disciplinary, accreditation, and/or programmatic reasons to do so.

700+-level classes are generally seen as advanced graduate coursework and/or doctoral level coursework; they may not be cross-listed with undergraduate courses.

Incomplete Grades or “I”

The grade of ‘I’ — incomplete — can be granted when a student has satisfactorily completed at least three-fourths of the semester but, for reason(s) beyond the student’s control that are acceptable to the instructor, the student cannot complete the course, and the instructor believes that the student can finish the coursework without repeating the entire course again. In this case, the following rules apply:

The ‘I’ grade is used for content/lecture type courses (not thesis, dissertation, or select professional paper credits) designed to be completed within one year in instances where the student has completed the majority of the semester coursework, but is unable to complete all of the requirements with good cause. The professor is responsible for determining if the reason for non-completion is satisfactory, if an Incomplete grade is appropriate, and the terms of the Incomplete including what the student needs to do to successfully complete the course requirements as stated in the course syllabus to earn a final grade.
An ‘I’ may only be given when the majority of the coursework has been completed with a cumulative average of ‘B’ or better.
Graduate students receiving an ‘I’ grade have one calendar year to complete all course requirements and remove the ‘I’ grade; however, the instructor may require that it be made up in less time. If course requirements are not completed within one year, the Office of the Registrar will automatically record a grade of ‘F’. Undergraduate students enrolled in graduate-level courses must complete the coursework within one semester or the “I” will default to an “F.”
- Graduating Students: All incomplete grades must be resolved by the last day of the semester in which a student has applied to graduate. Semester start and end dates are published in the UNLV Academic Calendar.
- If incomplete coursework is not completed by the semester’s end, the student’s graduation application will either be rolled-over to the next semester or removed.
- For more details, please refer to the Forms and Milestones section on the Late-Career Students page in the Graduate Catalog.
Please see the Leaves of Absence section for information on incomplete grade completion for students with approved leaves of absence.

Instructional Course Delivery Modes

UNLV offers the delivery of instruction for graduate courses in a number of ways. Instruction mode refers to how a course section is delivered. When searching for classes in MyUNLV, students can view the instruction mode in the class details of each section. To search for specific modes, use the ‘Instruction Mode’ dropdown in Advanced Search.

In-person/On campus (Supplemental Web) - These are in-person classes that require physical attendance at the set days/time.

Hybrid - These are a mix of 50% asynchronous online and synchronous on campus meetings.

Web-Based - These are asynchronous fully online and do not require online activity at specified days/times.

Web-Live - These are synchronous fully online and require real-time virtual attendance at specified days/times.

Web-Based with On/Off Campus Meetings - These are asynchronous online with occasional in-person on or off campus meetings. In general, no more than 25% of the class will be in-person.

Web-live with In-Person Meetings - These are synchronous online and require real-time virtual attendance at specified days/times with occasional in-person on or off campus meetings. In general, no more than 25% of the class will be in-person.

Field Study - No set meeting pattern. These are research or special projects conducted outside of the classroom or lab setting and arranged between the student and the faculty member overseeing the field study.

Independent Study - No set meeting pattern. These are designed to allow students to work individually with a faculty member on a project or topic of mutual interest. These courses are arranged between the student and the faculty member overseeing the independent study.

Internship - No set meeting pattern. These courses are arranged between the student and the faculty member overseeing the internship.

Microcredentials

Academic credit-bearing microcredentials, represented by badges, are an alternative credential that signifies student achievement and are recorded on a student’s transcript. Credit-bearing microcredentials consist of 6 to 11 credits of college-level coursework, with an emphasis on workplace competencies for post-graduate success, re-skilling, or up-skilling. Microcredentials are often stackable toward a certificate and/or degree program, but they require the completion of fewer credits than either a certificate or degree program. For more information about graduate microcredentials completion, please visit our UNLV microcredential webpage and the Microcredential Guidelines.

Matriculating Through a Microcredential Program

Students are encouraged to engage with their College/School graduate coordinator or the Graduate College to familiarize themselves with the available campus resources, and to take advantage of the many types of help available at no additional charge.

Students who are already enrolled as graduate degree-seeking or certificate-seeking students do not need to apply for admission to a microcredential. Any graduate degree-seeking or certificate-seeking student who successfully completes all of the requirements for a microcredential (e.g. two or three required classes and a minimum grade attained) will be awarded the respective microcredential.

Students who are matriculated in a microcredential program, graduate degree-seeking, certificate- seeking, or non-degree-seeking students may enroll in up to 15 credit hours during the fall and spring semesters and up to 12 credits during the summer (no more than six credits in a single five-week term).

Credits Used Toward a Graduate Microcredential

Credits earned to fulfill requirements for a microcredential may be used toward a subsequent graduate degree at UNLV with appropriate grades and approval of the graduate degree program and the Graduate College. Typically, microcredential or certificate course credits earned before or while simultaneously completing a graduate or professional degree may be approved to be used toward your graduate degree program. Students enrolled in a graduate or professional degree may still be awarded certificates or microcredentials as long as the microcredential/certificate course credits were taken prior to the completion of the graduate or professional degree. Microcredentials are a great way for students to take some classes, earn a credential, and confirm that they would like to pursue an area of study before enrolling in the full graduate program.

Credits earned to fulfill requirements for a UNLV microcredential may also be used simultaneously or toward a certificate with appropriate grades and approval of the graduate certificate, the department, and the Graduate College. Approval is not guaranteed. The age of the transfer work under consideration may also be a factor in the decision as to whether or not the coursework is applicable. Please note that if students have already earned a graduate degree or certificate at UNLV and have met the microcredential requirements, they will not be eligible to receive the microcredential retroactively.

Students must either complete the microcredential first, or earn it concurrently with their certificate or degree. Please see the Grad Catalog for specific microcredential requirements.

The following conditions apply for any credits that would be used toward a graduate microcredential:

Microcredentials generally require completion of 6 to 11 credits in graduate coursework. Specific credit requirements vary, and students should confirm the requirements for any given microcredential by reviewing the Graduate Catalog or by checking with their graduate coordinator of the college or school that offers the microcredential.
The university policy on catalog year applies to meeting microcredential program requirements. To receive a graduate microcredential, individuals must be admitted as a graduate certificate and/or degree-seeking student or a graduate non-degree seeking student. For students admitted and enrolled in professional schools, they will be required to either be admitted into a graduate program categorized as GRAD career standing or non-degree seeking graduate student PRIOR to beginning a microcredential program and before microcredentials may be granted.
Substituting credits within an existing microcredential will not be accepted generally and will require both program and Graduate College approval. Graduate credits from other institutions are not guaranteed to count toward UNLV microcredentials. The age of the transfer work under consideration may also be a factor in the decision as to whether or not the coursework is transferable. Students must submit a Transfer Credit Request Form, available on the Additional Forms tab in Grad Rebel Gateway, in order to request the transfer of coursework from other institutions. (Please see the Graduate Catalog for more information about transfer policies).
Students must complete all requirements for a microcredential successfully within three years of starting work on the microcredential (ie., first enrollment in one of the microcredential courses). Students must also adhere to the continuous enrollment policy as outlined in the Graduate Catalog.
Students must complete all required coursework and requirements for a microcredential with a minimum grade of “B” before the microcredential will be awarded. No course with a grade lower than a B may count toward a microcredential, even if students’ GPA is at or above a B level. Some microcredentials may require higher minimum grades.
Microcredentials at UNLV may possibly be “stacked.” Stackable microcredentials may be accumulated in a composed sequence and may lead to further certification, such as a certificate or degree. That is, credits used to meet requirements for a microcredential may also be used toward a certificate or a graduate degree program that the student is pursuing, provided that the credits meet academic requirements for the degree and the microcredential is awarded prior or concurrent to the certificate/degree program. A microcredential may be a subset of coursework from approved existing graduate certificates (with greater than 15 credits) or degrees. To determine which microcredentials are stackable to certificate or degrees, please consult with the graduate coordinator of the college or school that offers the certificate or degree program. Certificate-seeking and degree-seeking graduate students who wish to complete a microcredential while completing degree requirements should also speak to their graduate coordinator of the college or school that offers the microcredential before graduation from their programs.
Students who are matriculated in a microcredential program, graduate degree-seeking, certificate-seeking, or non-degree-seeking students may enroll in up to 15 credit hours during the fall and spring semesters and up to 12 credits during the summer (no more than six credits in a single five-week term).
Microcredentials are not awarded retroactively or after the conferral of a higher certificate or degree. That is, if students have already earned a graduate degree or certificate that may also contain a subset of courses listed as a microcredential, they will not be eligible to receive the microcredential retroactively. Students either need to complete the microcredential first, or earn it concurrently with their certificate or degree in order to be awarded the microcredential. Additionally, graduate microcredentials are only awarded to students who successfully complete all microcredential requirements following the creation of an officially sanctioned university microcredential. Students may use credits from one microcredential toward another microcredential provided that the credits meet academic requirements for the second microcredential and that no more than 3 credits that are used to fulfill the requirements of another graduate microcredential can count towards the requirements of another microcredential.
Completion of the microcredential will be noted on the official transcript automatically upon successful completion of all requirements for the microcredential and meeting the conditions for granting microcredentials per the Graduate Catalog. Students should contact their Graduate College Retention and Progression Coordinator (RPC) at grad.rpc@unlv.edu if they believe they have met the microcredential completion requirements but the notation does not appear on their transcripts.
Students who complete a microcredential alone are not invited to participate in commencement ceremonies. Students who complete a microcredential at the same time that they complete degree or certificate requirements may opt to participate in commencement when they apply to graduate from their degree/certificate program.

Record Keeping and Microcredential Completion

Credit-bearing coursework taken toward graduate microcredential programs will be recorded on the official UNLV transcript, as will successful completion of microcredentials. No graduation application or application fee is required; microcredentials will be awarded automatically. However, students will not receive diplomas for the completion of microcredentials, nor will they be invited to participate in commencement ceremonies unless they are also completing degree programs in the same semester that they complete microcredentials.

Mode of Program Delivery

UNLV offers graduate programs that may be available both fully online, fully in-person or blended and in person. This allows students to select their mode of instruction (modality) and matriculate in person on campus, take a combination of in person and online classes, or enroll in the program as a fully online student. For a full list of academic programs, please visit the Degrees Directory.

In-Person Programs - program required courses are taught in-person on campus.

Online Programs - program required courses are taught as web-based courses. Per IPEDS, programs may require non-instructional in-person requirements (e.g, orientation, testing, academic support, practicum, residency, internship, etc.) and still be classified as exclusively online/distance education).

Blended Programs - program required courses are taught through a combination of in-person and web-based delivery.

Office of the Registrar and Schedules

The Office of the Registrar is the official repository of academic calendars, term calendars, and final exam schedules. Students can also find the Class Search and the Course Catalog in the MyUNLV registration system.

Pass/Fail Grades

The Satisfactory (S) or Failing (F), or Satisfactory (S) or Unsatisfactory (U) marks are used upon completion of the thesis, dissertation, professional paper, or for non-credit or satisfactory/fail courses. SXF grading scheme is typically used for thesis, dissertation and other appropriately approved culminating experiences. S/U grading is limited in use and not typically approved for common graduate courses. As much as possible, letter grades should be used when creating courses in graduate programs. Grade-point values are not assigned for S or U grades. F grades are calculated as a zero on transcripts and in the graduate GPA.

During the COVID-19 pandemic and the December 6, 2023 campus incident, the university allowed graduate students to opt for Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory (S/U) grading for the following semesters (i) during COVID19: spring 2020, summer 2020, fall 2020, spring 2021, summer 2021, and fall 2021 and (ii) during the December 6, 2023 campus incident: fall 2023. From classes held in spring 2020 through fall 2021 and then in fall 2023, the university considered letter grades of “B-” or higher as equivalent to “S”, and grades of “C+” or lower as equivalent to “U”. Graduate students in most programs (excluding students in some graduate programs due to licensure/accreditation requirements) will be permitted to count up to six credits of “Satisfactory” graded coursework from spring 2020 through fall 2021 and an additional three credits of “Satisfactory” graded coursework from fall 2023 toward master’s or doctoral degree requirements.

Beyond the COVID-19 and the December 6 incident exception described above, UNLV allows a maximum of three (3) graduate coursework satisfactory/unsatisfactory (S/U) units to apply towards a master’s degree, and up to six (6) credits of S/U or S/F coursework may be used toward doctoral degrees, excluding the S/U or S/F units allowed for the comprehensive examination, professional paper and thesis/dissertation units, but including transfer units. No pass/fail, satisfactory/unsatisfactory (S/U), satisfactory/fail (S/F), credits may be transferred into programs unless they were earned in the spring/summer/fall 2020 or 2021 semesters/trimesters/quarters during the COVID-19 pandemic or fall 2023 semester during the December 6 incident. For graduate courses, a grade of “S” indicates achievement equivalent to a “B” or above. The grade of “U” represents performance equivalent to a “B-” or below.

Transcripts of Credit

Official transcripts bear the university seal, the registrar’s signature, and reflect all academic work attempted at UNLV. Current students may access their unofficial transcript in their MyUNLV Student Center. Official transcripts are copies of student academic records of all work attempted at UNLV and bear the seal of the university and the registrar’s signature. Official transcripts may be requested via the Office of the Registrar. Transcripts of work from other institutions or any nontraditional credit transcripts will not be issued.

Undergraduates Taking Graduate-Level Courses

Undergraduate students who have completed a minimum of 90 semester credits and have a 3.00 or higher grade point average may enroll in graduate courses with appropriate approvals. Students in the Honors Program must have a minimum of 45 semester credits and a 3.00 or higher grade point average. All undergraduate coursework, whether completed at UNLV or another institution, is considered to ensure that the required minimum standards are met. The Approval for an Undergraduate to Enroll in Graduate-Level Coursework form, available on the Forms page of the Graduate College website must be completed and approved by the academic department and the Graduate College in order for permission to enroll to be granted. Students may enroll in up to six graduate-level credits during one semester.

Reserving Graduate Courses for Graduate Credit - Upon approval, and pursuant to the policy above, UNLV undergraduates may enroll in graduate-level coursework and reserve the credits earned for possible future use in an advanced degree program. Students must indicate that they are reserving the credit on the Approval for Undergraduate to Take A Graduate Course form. After approval of the form, the Graduate College notifies the Office of the Registrar, who will add a notation to the student’s transcript in MyUNLV indicating the courses have been reserved. In this instance, coursework reserved for graduate credit may not be used to satisfy baccalaureate degree requirements.
Reserving Graduate Courses for an Accelerated Program - Refer to the list of Accelerated Degree Programs in the Graduate Catalog. Upon approval, only a certain threshold of graduate credits may be used in graduate programs. Refer to the maximum number of credits and grades allowable that can be counted/transferred into each respective Accelerated program listed for admitted students.
Requesting Graduate Courses for Undergraduate Credit - Upon approval, UNLV undergraduates may enroll in graduate-level coursework for use in an undergraduate degree program. In order to do this, students must indicate that they are not reserving the credit for future graduate program use on the Approval for Undergraduate to Take A Graduate Course form. Courses used in an undergraduate program may not be applied toward an advanced degree at a later date.

Undergraduate Students Taking Graduate Microcredential Courses

Undergraduate students who have completed a minimum of 90 semester credits and have a 3.00 or higher grade point average may enroll in graduate courses with appropriate approvals. Students in the Honors Program must have a minimum of 45 semester credits and a 3.00 or higher grade point average. The Approval for an Undergraduate to Enroll in Graduate-Level Coursework form, available on the Forms page of the Graduate College website must be completed and approved by the academic department and the Graduate College for permission to enroll to be granted. Students may enroll in up to six graduate-level credits during one semester.

Reserving Graduate Courses for Graduate Credit - Upon approval, and pursuant to the policy above, UNLV undergraduates may enroll in graduate-level coursework and reserve the credits earned for possible future use in an advanced degree program. Students must indicate that they are reserving the credit on the Approval for Undergraduate to Take A Graduate Course form. After approval of the form, the Graduate College notifies the Office of the Registrar, who will add a notation to the student’s transcript in MyUNLV indicating the courses have been reserved. In this instance, coursework reserved for graduate credit may not be used to satisfy baccalaureate degree requirements.
Reserving Graduate Courses for an Accelerated Program - Refer to the list of Accelerated Degree Programs in the Graduate Catalog. Upon approval, only a certain threshold of graduate credits may be used in graduate programs. Refer to the maximum number of credits and grades allowable that can be counted/transferred into each respective Accelerated program listed for admitted students. Requesting Graduate Courses for Undergraduate Credit - Upon approval, UNLV undergraduates may enroll in graduate-level coursework for use in an undergraduate degree program. To do this, students must indicate that they are not reserving the credit for future graduate program use on the Approval for Undergraduate to Take A Graduate Course form. Courses used in an undergraduate program may not be applied toward an advanced degree at a later date.
Undergraduate students will be awarded a graduate microcredential by meeting all of the following conditions:
- Have reserved the graduate courses as described in the Graduate Catalog.
- Have successfully completed the requirements for graduate microcredentials.
- Have matriculated into an UNLV graduate program (certificate/degree) or a non-degree graduate student.
Students should contact their Graduate College Retention and Progression Coordinator (RPC) at grad.rpc@unlv.edu if they have questions.

Unit of Credit

The unit of credit, or semester hour, is generally defined as one 50-minute lecture per week for a semester. Two or three laboratory hours per week, depending on the amount of outside preparation required, usually carries the same credit as one lecture hour. UNLV follows the NWCCU guidelines and requirements for hours per credit.

Navigation:

Next: The Graduate Student Lifecycle

Previous: Admissions Policies (listed alphabetically)

Quick Links

Registration, Enrollment and Curricular Policies (listed alphabetically)