Issuing Office

Registrar's Office

Affected Parties

Students

Policy Language

Students must maintain satisfactory academic standing to remain at Liberty.

Policy Rationale

To ensure that students understand the expectations set forth by the University in regard to academic performance, as well as the process for students placed on academic warning, probation, suspension or dismissal.

Definition of Glossary Terms

None

Procedures

Academic standing is calculated at the end of each Fall and Spring term, or upon completion of all courses within those terms, and is based on the student's cumulative GPA. At the discretion of the Registrar’s Office, a student may have his/her standing updated to good standing after completion of all courses in the Summer term.  Please refer to the end of this sub-section for a chart listing the cumulative GPAs required for good academic standing for all current degree programs.

A student’s cumulative GPA comprises all coursework completed at the current academic level (Undergraduate, Graduate or Doctoral) regardless of prior degree conferral, broken enrollment or a program/major change.

Students failing to attain and maintain the cumulative GPA required for good academic standing in their degree program will be placed on Academic Warning.  Students on Academic Warning will be required to take GRST 501 in their next semester of enrollment, unless they have already taken and passed the course.

At the end of the term on Academic Warning, students who fail to raise their cumulative GPA to the required level will be placed on Academic Probation.  Students on Academic Probation will be required to take GRST 501 in their next semester of enrollment, unless they have already taken and passed the course.

Additionally, students who are enrolled full-time and fail all courses will be placed on Academic Probation, unless they were previously on Academic Probation or Academic Suspension. Students who are enrolled full-time and fail all courses while on Academic Probation or Suspension will progress to the next academic standing level.

At the end of the term on Academic Probation, students who fail to raise their cumulative GPA to the required academic level will be placed on Academic Suspension.

All graduate and doctoral students, both residential and online, who desire to return to Liberty in the future must appeal to the Registrar’s Office in writing through the designated portal.  Appeals will be considered by the academic department.  If the student’s appeal is approved, an Academic Contract will be formulated. The student must agree in writing to abide by the terms of the Contract before being permitted to register for courses.

Students who fail to raise their cumulative GPA to the required academic level (see above) by the end of the subsequent term and/or who fail to meet the terms of their Academic Contract will be Academically Dismissed and will not be allowed to appeal to return to Liberty unless a period of at least two academic years has passed.

When academic standing is updated, students on Academic Warning, Probation, Suspension, and Dismissal will be sent a notification by the Registrar’s Office.

Students on Academic Suspension or Academic Dismissal are not eligible for admission as Special (non-degree-seeking) Students.

ACADEMIC STANDING GPA CHART

• 2.00

• All Advanced Graduate Certificates (excluding Executive and Post-Graduate Certificates)
• All Graduate Certificates (excluding the Graduate Certificate in Epidemiology)
• Master of Arts in Biblical Exposition (MA)
• Master of Arts in Christian Leadership Studies (MA)*
• Master of Arts in Christian Ministry (MACM)
• Master of Arts in Religion (MAR)
• Master of Arts in Sports Chaplaincy (MA)
• Master of Arts in Theological Studies (MATS)
• Master of Arts in Worship Studies (MA)
• Master of Divinity (MDiv)
• Master of Divinity-Chaplaincy - – 72-hour (MDiv)*
• Master of Divinity-Chaplaincy - – 75-hour (MDiv)*
• Master of Divinity-Chaplaincy - – 93-hour (MDiv)*
• Master of Divinity in Professional Chaplaincy (MDiv)
• Master of Religious Education (MRE)

• 2.50

• Master of Arts in Executive Leadership (MA)
• Master of Arts in Human Services (MA)*
• Master of Arts in Human Services Counseling (MA)
• Master of Arts in Interdisciplinary Studies (MA)
• Master of Arts in Management and Leadership (MAML)*
Master of Arts in Pastoral Counseling (MA)
• Master of Education in Curriculum and & Instruction (MEd)
• Master of Education in Teaching and & Learning (MEd)*
• Master of Education in Higher Education (MEd)

• 3.00

• Accelerated Master of Divinity - 75-hour (MDiv)*
• All Executive Certificates
• Doctor of Business Administration – project (DBA) – students admitted for Fall 2020 forward
• Doctor of Education in Christian Leadership (EdD)
• Doctor of Education in Community Care and Counseling & Counseling (EdD)
• Doctor of Education in Curriculum & Instruction - 54-hour (EdD)
• Doctor of Education in Curriculum and & Instruction - 60-hour (EdD)*
• Doctor of Education in Educational Leadership - 54-hour (EdD)
• Doctor of Education in Educational Leadership - 60-hour (EdD)*
• Doctor of Education in School Administration & Supervision (EdD)
• Doctor of Ministry (DMin)
• Doctor of Music Education (DME)
• Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP)
• Doctor of Philosophy in Anatomy and Advanced Educational Studies (PhD)
• Doctor of Philosophy in Anatomy & Cell Biology (PhD)
• Doctor of Philosophy in Bible Exposition (PhD)
• Doctor of Philosophy in Communication (PhD)
• Doctor of Philosophy in Counseling (PhD)*
• Doctor of Philosophy in Counselor Education and & Supervision (PhD)
• Doctor of Philosophy in Criminal Justice (PhD)
• Doctor of Philosophy in Education (PhD)
• Doctor of Philosophy in Engineering (PhD)
• Doctor of Philosophy in Higher Education Administration (PhD)
• Doctor of Philosophy in History (PhD)
• Doctor of Philosophy in Nursing (PhD)
• Doctor of Philosophy in Public Policy Psychology (PhD)
• Doctor of Philosophy in Public Administration (PhD)
• Doctor of Philosophy in Psychology Public Policy (PhD)
• Doctor of Philosophy in Strategic Media (PhD)
• Doctor of Philosophy in Theology and & Apologetics (PhD)
• Doctor of Psychology in Clinical Psychology (PsyD) – Available Spring 2021
• Doctor of Public Administration (DPA)
• Doctor of Strategic Leadership (DSL)
• Doctor of Worship Studies (DWS)
• Education Specialist in Curriculum and & Instruction (EdS)
• Education Specialist in Educational Leadership (EdS)
• Education Specialist in Higher Education Administration (EdS)
Executive Certificate in Curriculum and Instruction
Executive Certificate in Higher Education Administration
• Education Specialist in School Administration & Supervision
• Graduate Certificate in Epidemiology
• Juris Master (JM)
• Juris Master in American Legal Studies (JM)
• Juris Master in International Legal Studies (JM)
• Master of Arts in Addiction Counseling (MA)
• Master of Arts in Applied Industrial/Organizational Psychology (MA)
• Master of Arts in Applied Psychology (MA)
• Master of Arts in Biblical Studies (MABS)
• Master of Arts in Christian Apologetics (MA)
• Master of Arts in Clinical Mental Health Counseling (MA)
• Master of Arts in Communication (MA)
• Master of Arts in Composition (MA)
• Master of Arts in English (MA)
• Master of Arts in Ethnomusicology (MA)
• Master of Arts in Global Studies (MAGS)
• Master of Arts in History (MA)
• Master of Arts in History - Thesis & Comprehensive (MA)*
• Master of Arts in Marriage and & Family Counseling (MA)
• Master of Arts in Marriage and & Family Therapy (MA)
• Master of Arts in Medical Sciences (MA)
• Master of Arts in Music and & Worship (MA)
• Master of Arts in Music Education (MA)
• Master of Arts in Philosophical Studies (MAPS)*
Master of Arts in Professional Counseling - 48-hour (MA)*
• Master of Arts in Professional Counseling - 60-hour (MA)*
• Master of Arts in Professional Writing (MA)
• Master of Arts in Promotion and & Video Content (MA)
• Master of Arts in Public Policy (MAPP)
• Master of Arts in Strategic Communication (MA)
• Master of Arts in Teaching - 36- & 45-hour options (MAT)
• Master of Arts in Teaching English as a Second Language (MA)
• Master of Arts in Teaching in Special Education - 36- & 45-hour options (MAT)
• Master of Arts in Visual Communication Design (MA)
• Master of Business Administration (MBA)
• Master of Divinity in Academic/Pre-PhD (MDiv)*
• Master of Education (MEd)
• Master of Education in School Counseling (MEd)
• Master of Fine Arts in Creative Writing (MFA)
• Master of Fine Arts in Graphic Design (MFA)
• Master of Fine Arts in Studio Art (MFA)
• Master of Fine Arts in Studio and & Digital Arts (MFA)*
• Master of Laws in International Legal Studies (LLM)
• Master of Public Administration (MPA)
• Master of Public Health (MPH)
• Master of Science in Accounting (MS)
• Master of Science in Aeronautics (MS)
• Master of Science in Biomedical Sciences (MS)
• Master of Science in Criminal Justice (MS)
• Master of Science in Cyber Security (MS)
• Master of Science in Engineering (MS)
• Master of Science in Engineering Management (MS)
• Master of Science in Exercise Science (MS)*
• Master of Science in Exercise Science and & Wellness (MS)
• Master of Science in Finance (MS)
• Master of Science in Healthcare Administration - 42- & 48-hour options (MS)
• Master of Science in Health Informatics (MSHI)
• Master of Science in Human Biology (MS)
• Master of Science in Human Performance (MS)
• Master of Science in Information Systems (MSIS)
• Master of Science in Information Technology (MSIT)
• Master of Science in International Relations (MS)
• Master of Science in Marketing (MS)
• Master of Science in National Security (MS)
• Master of Science in Nursing (MSN)
• Master of Science in Nursing (MSN)/Master of Business Administration (MBA) - – dual degree
• Master of Science in Nursing (MSN)/Master of Science in Healthcare Administration (MS) - – dual degree
• Master of Science in Nutrition (MS)
• Master of Science in Political Science (MS)
• Master of Science in Project Management (MS)
• Master of Science in Psychology (MS)
• Master of Science in Social Media Management (MS)
• Master of Science in Sport Management (MS)
• Master of Theology (ThM)
• Post-Graduate Certificate in Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner

• 3.25

• Doctor of Business Administration - dissertation (DBA)*
• Doctor of Business Administration - project (DBA) – students admitted prior to Fall 2020*

*Degree program is no longer offered for new and re-applying students

Sanctions

None specified

Exceptions

None

Date of Last Review

9/3/2019