Academic Policies

Contact Info

Please review the sections below for more information about the Brown School's master's program policies.

Admissions Policies

The Brown School welcomes students from a wide range of academic backgrounds and considers each applicant holistically. Students entering the MSW program must hold a bachelor's degree or equivalent from an accredited college or university.

Admission and scholarship decisions are based primarily on a review of the following criteria:

• The applicant's commitment to the mission of the Brown School and their ability to introspectively articulate their reasons for pursuing a Master of Social Work degree.
• The applicant's academic performance, particularly their grade point average over the last 60 to 75 semester credit units, as reflected in transcripts submitted at the time of application. A minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale is preferred. 
  • Note: If applicable, applicants may use the optional field in the Academic History section of the application to describe any significant or extenuating circumstances related to their academic record.
• The applicant's human service-related experience, including paid work, volunteer service, research, and internships.
• Any specialized training relevant to the applicant's academic or professional background.
• The applicant's leadership experience and/or potential.
• The applicant's capacity for critical analysis of social work concepts and complex social issues.
• Letters of recommendation from the applicant's academic and/or professional references.

Application Timeline

Masters Application Deadline

Applications are accepted on a modified rolling basis; however, applicants are strongly encouraged to apply early.

• December 1 – Early Review Deadline: Applications completed by this date will receive first consideration for admission and scholarship. Early review decisions will be released no later than February 1.
• March 1 – Priority Review Deadline & Final Deadline for International Applicants: Applications completed by this date will receive priority consideration for admission and scholarship. This is also the final deadline for international applicants. Decisions are released within four to eight weeks of application completion.
• After March 1: Applications from domestic applicants only will be considered on a space-available basis until the final deadline of June 1.
• WashU 3-2 Applicants: Applications should be submitted early in the spring semester of the junior year, between January 1 and March 1.
• Admission Offer Response: Admitted students must respond to their offer of admission by May 1 (or within two weeks if admitted in late April or after).

A non-refundable $200 tuition deposit is required to accept admission and confirm intent to enroll.

Some scholarship offers may require accelerated responses from candidates.

International students must be prepared to immediately submit the WashU Affidavit of Financial Support to complete their intent to enroll.

Federal Student Loan & FAFSA Deadlines

Domestic students who are U.S. citizens, U.S. permanent residents, or eligible non-U.S. citizens wishing to be considered for Federal Financial Aid (work-study and student loans) should complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) for the appropriate academic year as soon as it is available.

Students will need their most recent tax return, their Federal Student Aid ID, and WashU’s school code of 002520.

Graduate students file as independents. No parent application is needed.

Once a student's FAFSA has been processed and that student has confirmed their intent to enroll, the Brown School Office of Student Financial Services will provide a financial aid package, which will include loans and any federal work-study. Note: The applicant's FAFSA results will not impact their Brown School Scholarship award.

Admitted Student Important Deadlines

• April 10 and 11 – Admitted Students Weekend
• May 1 – Intent to enroll deadline
• May 15 – Suggested deadline for international students to submit visa documentation
• July 1 – Deadline to submit a deferral request
• July 31 – Deadline to submit final official transcript
• August 1 – Suggested visa appointment deadline for international students
• August 24 – First day of classes Fall 2026

Additional deadlines and dates will be added throughout the spring semester.

Application Requirements

The applicant should review the following instructions carefully prior to beginning their application. The Brown School promotes a self-managed application process; it is the applicant's responsibility to monitor the status of their application and to ensure the timely submission of all required materials.

Applications will be considered complete and ready for review once all application requirements have been received. Applicants should plan accordingly to ensure that all components — including their video interview, letters of recommendation, and transcripts — are submitted by their intended deadline.

Transcripts

Applicants must demonstrate the successful completion of a bachelor's degree (or degree in progress*) from a regionally accredited college or university.

*

If the applicant's prerequisite degree is still in progress at the time of application, they should upload unofficial transcripts reflecting all coursework completed to date. Any offer of admission will be contingent upon the successful completion of the applicant's undergraduate degree.

Submitting Unofficial Transcripts

Unofficial electronic or scanned student-issued copies of transcripts must be submitted with the application. Applicants should record their academic institution(s) and upload their unofficial transcript(s) in the Academic History section of the application. Applicants must report all institutions where 6 or more credit units have been completed toward the applicant's primary undergraduate degree.

Unofficial transcripts must include the institution name, the applicant's name, dates of attendance, grades received for each course taken in all terms attended, degree information, and transcript key or interpretation guide.

Official Transcripts

Admitted students are required to provide a final official transcript from the institution that conferred their undergraduate degree. The Brown School reserves the right to revoke an offer of admission if discrepancies are found between the uploaded unofficial documents and official educational records.

Foreign Transcript Evaluation

Applicants who have earned (or will earn) their prerequisite degree outside of the United States and English-speaking Canada must provide a certified foreign credential evaluation.

Evaluations must be completed by a NACES^© member organization. Brown School applicants are eligible for a discounted rate and expedited review through our recommended partner, The Evaluation Company.

Additional information about the foreign credential evaluation requirement can be found on the International Master's Program Applicants page of the Brown School website.

Personal Statement

The applicant must provide a personal statement that describes their interest in social work and demonstrates their understanding of social work concepts. The essay should be two pages single-spaced and should include the following:

• Significant factors influencing the applicant's decision to pursue a Master of Social Work degree
• Relevant leadership experiences that will contribute to the applicant's overall success as a graduate student and in the social work profession
• The applicant's career goals and commitment to social work and social change
• Specific reasons the Brown School is a good fit for the applicant's educational and professional goals

Upload this statement to the Application Materials section of the application.

Résumé or Curriculum Vitae

The applicant must submit a comprehensive resume or curriculum vitae highlighting their experiences, skills, awards, and accomplishments.

Upload these documents to the Application Materials section of the application.

Video Interview

As part of the application process, the applicant is required to complete a brief asynchronous video interview.

After the applicant has submitted their application, a personalized link to our video interview platform, Kira Talent, will appear in the applicant's Application Checklist.

Additional information about the interview format and what to expect is available on the Video Interview Instructions page of the Brown School website.

Letters of Recommendation

Two letters of recommendation from professional and/or academic references are required.

The applicant will be asked to provide contact information for their recommenders in the Recommenders section of the application. After this information has been entered, each recommender will receive an email with instructions for completing the recommendation form and uploading a letter through our online system.

All recommendations must be submitted through the online system. Applicants should monitor the status of their recommendations to ensure they are received by the application deadline.

$50 Application Fee

A non-refundable application fee of $50 is required at the time of submission and must be paid online.

Automatic fee waivers are granted to current Washington University students, U.S. military service members, and members of federally or state-recognized Native American tribal nations.

A limited number of additional fee waivers are available for eligible U.S. applicants and are considered on a case-by-case basis. Supporting documentation may be required. International applicants are not eligible for fee waivers. Applicants who believe they may qualify should contact the Brown School Office of Admissions at brownadmissions@wustl.edu.

Scholarship Consideration Form

The Brown School offers a range of partial-tuition scholarships to assist students with funding their graduate degree.

To be considered for a Brown School scholarship, applicants must complete the Scholarship Consideration Form in the Application Materials section of the application.

Standardized Testing

The Brown School does not require a graduate entrance exam, such as the Graduate Record Exam (GRE), for admission to the MSW program.

International applicants are required to provide official English language proficiency test scores. Additional information about the language proficiency requirement can be found on the International Master's Program Applicants page of the Brown School website.

Additional Application Instructions for Specific Groups

Part-Time MSW Applicants

The Part-Time MSW option is designed for working professionals and students who need to take courses at times that do not interfere with work and other commitments. Students complete 60 credit units over three years, including summer semesters.

Applicants must indicate their intention to pursue the Part-Time MSW in the Program Information section of the application.

Visit the Part-Time MSW page of the Brown School website for detailed information about the Part-Time MSW option, including curriculum and course format.

Part-time MSW students may only pursue the Mental Health concentration due to course sequencing, scheduling constraints, and cohort-based curriculum design.

Advanced Standing MSW Applicants

If the applicant has earned a bachelor’s degree in social work from a program accredited by the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE) within the last six years, they may be eligible to enter the Brown School with Advanced Standing status.

The applicant must indicate their eligibility for Advanced Standing in the Program Information section of the application.

Visit the Advanced Standing MSW Curriculum page of the Brown School website for detailed information about the Advanced Standing MSW option, including eligibility requirements, curriculum, and program timelines.

3-2 MSW Program Applicants

The 3-2 MSW program application is available exclusively to current WashU undergraduate students in their junior year of study in the College of Arts & Sciences. The program allows students to earn their bachelor's degree and a graduate degree in social work in five years.

Applicants must be on track to complete all of their undergraduate distribution and major requirements by the end of their junior year, with elective credits available to be applied toward MSW course credit during their senior year (i.e., their first year of the MSW program).

Additional information about the 3-2 MSW program and eligibility requirements can be found on the 3-2 MSW Program page of the Brown School website.

Special Instructions for 3-2 MSW Applicants

In addition to carefully reviewing the MSW application requirements, 3-2 MSW applicants must take note of the following instructions:

• 3-2 applicants should apply early in the spring of their junior year so that fall coursework can be considered; the application should be submitted by March 1 of junior year.
• WashU undergraduate students must apply to the MSW program through the Washington University Graduate Admissions portal.
• Select Current WashU undergraduate student for Washington University Affiliation in the Additional Applicant Information section of the application.
• Select Bachelor’s/Master’s Program for Intended Level of Study in the Program Information section of the application.
• A link to initiate the Brown School 3-2 Program Eligibility Form through DocuSign will be available in the Program Information section of the application.
• 3-2 applicants are responsible for initiating the DocuSign eligibility form during the application process; the form must be completed and signed electronically by the applicant's undergraduate advisor(s) and Associate Dean of the College of Arts & Sciences to confirm the student's eligibility for the 3-2 program and to complete their application.

Dual Degree MSW Applicants

In partnership with other schools and programs at WashU, the Brown School offers structured dual degree programs that allow students to earn a Master of Social Work (MSW) degree alongside another graduate degree.

Dual degree options are available in a variety of disciplines, including public health, business administration, education, law, architecture, and urban design. Through a partnership with Eden Theological Seminary, students may pursue a dual degree in professional studies or divinity.

Separate applications are required for each program and are reviewed independently according to the admissions criteria of the respective schools. The applicant must indicate their intention to pursue a dual degree in the Program Information section of the MSW application and apply separately to the other program through the appropriate school:

• MSW/MPH: School of Public Health
• MSW/MBA: Olin Business School
• MSW/MAEd: Office of Graduate Studies, Arts & Sciences
• MSW/JD: School of Law
• MSW/MArch or MSW/MUD: Sam Fox School of Design & Visual Arts
• MSW/MDiv or MSW/MAPS: Eden Theological Seminary

If the applicant is currently enrolled in any of these programs, they may also apply to add the MSW and pursue a dual degree.

MSW students enrolled in an approved dual degree program are not eligible to pursue optional specializations due to cross-program credit requirements and limited elective capacity.

Visit the Dual Degrees page of the Brown School website for additional information about our dual degree offerings.

MSW Graduate Credit Transfer Applicants

The Brown School welcomes applications from students who wish to transfer from another graduate institution, subject to the school's policies for evaluating graduate-level credit earned prior to enrollment.

Eligibility Requirements

Applicants who have completed graduate-level coursework may request to have their previous coursework evaluated for transfer credit toward MSW program requirements.

• Applicants who have completed coursework in a Master of Social Work program accredited by the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE) may be eligible to transfer up to 19 credit units. These courses may be considered toward foundation-level, concentration-level, or elective requirements.
• Applicants who have completed graduate coursework in a related discipline may be eligible to transfer up to 9 credit units, which will be considered for elective credit only.

Courses are evaluated independently and must meet the following criteria to be considered for transfer credit:

• The course must have been completed at the graduate level at a regionally accredited U.S. college or university (courses completed at international institutions are not eligible).
• The course must have been delivered in person (online courses are not eligible).
• The course must have been completed within six years prior to matriculation at the Brown School.
• The course must not have been used toward the completion of another graduate degree.
• The applicant must have received a minimum grade of B (3.0 on a 4.0 scale), as shown on an official transcript.
• The applicant must provide a course description and syllabus.
• Academic credit will not be granted for life or work experience.

Meeting the eligibility requirements does not guarantee that transfer credit will be granted.

Evaluation Process

Applicants interested in receiving graduate transfer credit must contact the Brown School Office of Admissions & Recruitment after submitting their application to initiate the evaluation process. Instructions for completing the MSW Transfer Credit Request Form will be provided upon inquiry.

It is the applicant's responsibility to submit the Transfer Credit Request Form and all required supporting documentation as early as possible in the admissions process. Requests will not be accepted after September 1 of the applicant’s first term of enrollment. Incomplete submissions will not be evaluated.

Courses are reviewed in consultation with the MSW Program Office. Applicants will be notified of evaluation results via email within two to three weeks of submission.

Failure by any student to be truthful or honest in their application materials will result in rescission of admission and termination from the program. Students should answer all questions truthfully, and if questions arise throughout the application process, they should be addressed proactively with the Office of Admissions or the Associate Dean for Academic Affairs & Enrollment Management.

Attendance/Preparation

Active participation and preparation are expected of all students. Faculty members may — and often do — establish their own specific attendance, participation, and preparation requirements. Failure to meet these requirements may result in the lowering of a grade or failure of the course. Repeated unexcused absences may result in referral to the Assistant Dean of the program.

1-Credit Course Attendance Requirements

Due to the condensed nature of short courses and skill labs, students should not enroll in these courses unless they can attend all class sessions. Because of the intensive and participatory nature of short courses/skill labs, student absences are extremely disruptive to the learning process.

Attendance is required. If a student misses any part greater than half a day, they will receive an F for the course. With the exceptions of death in the immediate family, severe illness, or injury, any student who is absent for one full day of class or its equivalent will receive a failing grade.

Enrollment

Once a student has been admitted to the Brown School, their Primary Program of Study is the degree program to which they are admitted. Every admitted student is required to follow the policies as set by the Brown School. Following policies is especially important in situations regarding enrollment for courses at other schools within Washington University while a Brown School degree-seeking student.

Students who are seeking dual degrees with one program outside of the Brown School (e.g., MSW/MBA or MSW/JD program) will have their Primary Program of Study dependent on enrollment and the agreement of each school. Students may contact the academic records office of either school for clarification.

Student IDs are coded to a student's Primary Program of Study. A Primary Program of Study with the Brown School affords a student evening and weekend access to Brown School buildings. Dual degree students who have a Primary Program of Study with another Washington University program will have their IDs coded to allow access. 

Pre-Enrollment Policies

Tuition/Scholarship Assessment

A student’s Primary Program of Study semester designation determines how tuition and fees are assessed, as well as scholarship eligibility. Tuition varies between the Social Work and Social Policy programs in the Brown School and among the various graduate and professional schools at Washington University. 

During semesters that dual-degree students have their Primary Program of Study with the Brown School, they are assessed tuition according to their Brown School program's tuition and fee structure. They are also eligible to receive their scholarships from the Brown School. During semester that dual-degree students have their Primary Program of Study with another Washington University school or partner University, they are assessed tuition according to the program's tuition and fee structure, and are eligible to receive scholarships from the partner program. A dual-degree student cannot receive scholarships from both programs in a single semester. 

Full-Time Status

Students who meet the following criteria are considered full time:

• Fall and Spring Semesters
  • Enrolled in 9 or more credit units of coursework, which may include practicum credits, or
  • Enrolled in 3 or more credit units of practicum
• Summer Semesters
  • Enrolled in 6 or more credits units of coursework which may include practicum credits, or
  • Enrolled in 3 or more credit units of practicum

Fall and Spring semester enrollment caps: 15 units*

Summer semester enrollment cap: 6 units*

*

If a full-time student enrolls in a number of units that exceeds the semester enrollment cap, the student will be charged additional tuition at the per-credit-unit rate for those additional units. 

International students must maintain full-time status and work closely with the Office for International Students & Scholars to maintain their student status.

Students adding another degree after matriculation will adhere to the credit enrollment caps for the new degree for the year in which they start the new degree.

Full-time status at the Brown School allows students to enroll in Washington University health insurance and to obtain a Metro U-Pass.

Part-Time Status

A student is part-time under the following enrollment criteria:

• Fall and Spring Semesters
  • Enrolled in 4.5 to 9 credit units of coursework, or
  • Enrolled in 2 or fewer credit units of practicum
• Summer Semesters
  • Enrolled in 3 to 5 credit units of coursework, or
  • Enrolled in 2 or fewer credit units of practicum

If a student drops below full-time status in the Fall or Spring semesters, the student will be ineligible for their Brown School scholarship until they are once again enrolled full-time. If, however, Student Health Services or Disability Resources approves a student for a reduced course load, the student can receive a portion of their scholarship as long as they maintain part-time enrollment at the Brown School. 

Part-time status at the Brown School does not allow students to enroll in Washington University health insurance nor to obtain a Metro U-Pass, and it may affect financial aid and/or scholarships.

Employee and Student Status

The Brown School defers to Washington University policy regarding employee/student status.

It is the responsibility of the employee/student to refer to their department of employment and consult with their appropriate Human Resources representatives regarding University benefits, the Employee Tuition Assistance program, and any information related to earnings and employee/student taxation, such as student FICA exemptions. Individuals should seek the counsel of an informed tax preparer or adviser regarding potential employee/student tax implications.

Criminal Records and Background Check Notice for Social Workers

In Missouri, persons who have been convicted of certain felonies and misdemeanors cannot be licensed to practice social work. In addition, some agencies require criminal background checks as a condition of working as a practicum student. The ability to obtain a license or to complete the practicum requirements for a social work degree could be compromised for persons with a criminal record. It is expected that students evaluate their situation before enrolling in a professional social work degree program by consulting the rules and statutes, which can be found on the Missouri Division of Professional Registration website.

If it is determined that an admitted student was not truthful on their admissions application pertaining to a criminal background or other relevant information which may affect their ability to become licensed or work with our community partners, the student will be immediately dismissed from the program by the Dean. 

Prerequisities

Foundation Course Proficiency Examinations

All Foundation course materials are considered a necessary basis for further study and practice. Students with relevant experience or study are invited to take proficiency exams for the following Foundation courses: 

• Research Methods for MSW Students
• Human Behavior

Proficiency Exams are given prior to New Student Orientation. 

For study and test preparation, course overviews describing the content of the courses are available on the Brown School external website. 

A student may take a proficiency exam only once, prior to the beginning of the semester in which the student would enroll for the course. Students who pass a proficiency exam are exempt from taking the course associated with that proficiency exam but receive no course credit. Passing a proficiency exam makes additional elective credits available in the student’s degree program. 

Exam results will be sent to each student's Brown School email address. Per Brown School proficiency exam policy, proficiency exams may not be viewed by the student after they have been scored. Only proficiency exams passed are entered into student records. No record of exams a student attempted but did not pass will appear in their student record. 

The following are passing scores for the proficiency exams:

• Research Methods (MSW) = 70%
• Human Behavior = 70%

Degree Requirements

Master of Social Work

The formal requirements for the MSW degree are as follows:

1. Completion of a minimum of 60 credits beyond the baccalaureate degree
2. Evidence of satisfactory performance, defined as a B average or better (3.0 or higher cumulative grade point average) for all courses, and the completion of Foundation and Concentration fieldwork with a grade of Pass
3. Satisfactory completion of 21 credits of Foundation course requirements through course credit or through proficiency exam procedures
4. Completion of a minimum of 9 credits (960 hours) in practicum, comprised of the following:

• 1-credit Integrative Foundation Practicum Field Seminar
• 3 credits (360 hours) of Foundation level practicum
• 5 credits (600 hours) of Concentration level practicum
• A maximum of 14 practicum credits may be counted toward the degree, including any elective practicum credits

5. Satisfactory completion of 30 credits of Concentration course requirements for one of the approved Concentrations or an approved individualized program of study (see Individual Planning Forms for required courses for each Concentration and/or Specialization)

6. Completion of all components of the Master of Social Work Foundation and Concentration Assessment. The Master of Social Work Assessment has three components assessed at both the Foundation and Concentration levels: 1) a Comprehensive Knowledge Assessment; 2) a Case Study; and 3) a Practicum Education Assessment of Practice Behaviors.

7. Completion of all requirements for the degree within four years of initial matriculation
8. Apply for Program Completion in Workday and receive approval by the deadlines announced by the Brown School Office of Academic Records & Registration. Failure to Apply for Program Completion by the deadline will negate the student's ability to graduate in that semester; they then must wait until the next graduation date and meet the deadlines for the Application for Program Completion. These are hard deadlines. 

Learn more about declaring a concentration or specialization on the Academic and Course Related Policies and Procedures page of the Brown School website.

Master of Social Work (Advanced Standing)

See MSW requirements and, in addition, upon admission to the Brown School, applicants with a BSW from a CSWE-accredited program are eligible for a maximum of 19 waived credit hours of Foundation curriculum, based on submitted transcripts. Advanced Standing is awarded only for coursework completed in a CSWE-accredited baccalaureate social work program. 

Advanced Standing requests are expected before matriculation but must be received and approved prior to the end of the second week of the fall semester.

In order to be considered for Advanced Standing credit, BSW courses must be equivalent to Brown School MSW Foundation courses. Only courses with a grade of B or better will be eligible for credit. BSW graduates are eligible to take the proficiency exams for BSW courses in which they did not receive a B or better. Advanced Standing is not awarded for coursework in other undergraduate disciplines or for life or work experiences. 

All students entering the MSW program with a BSW will be required to take a two-week course, SWFN 5008 BSW Intensive: Bridge to Brown, held in August prior to the school year starting. The intensive will introduce students to essential skills for completing an accelerated MSW Program, such as evidence-based practice, social justice and human diversity, social, economic, and political environment, and research methods.

Students who are awarded the maximum of 19 waived credits will complete 39 credits for their MSW degree.

Learn more about declaring a concentration or specialization on the Academic and Course Related Policies and Procedures page of the Brown School website.

Master of Social Policy

The formal requirements for the MSP degree are as follows:

1. Completion of a minimum of 31 credits beyond the baccalaureate degree
2. Completion of five required courses covering the five core areas of social policy: statistics, economics, politics of public policy, policy analysis, management
3. Successful completion of 3 credits of specialized policy
4. Successful completion of 6 credit hours of preapproved elective courses
5. Successful completion of 3 credits (minimum of 360 hours) of practicum
6. Successful completion of two short courses (4 credit hours) 
7. Evidence of satisfactory performance defined as a B average or better (3.0 or higher cumulative grade point average) across all courses and the successful completion of fieldwork
8. Apply for Program Completion in Workday and receive approval by the deadlines announced by the Brown School Office of Academic Records & Registration. Failure to Apply for Program Completion by the deadline will negate the student's ability to graduate in that cycle; they then must wait until the next graduation date and meet the deadlines for the Application for Program Completion. These are hard deadlines.

Degree Requirements for Practicum

Please refer to the Field Education Handbook for all policies:

• MSW Field Education Handbook [PDF]

Maximum Period to Complete Studies

The MSW program allows for a maximum of four academic years from matriculation to complete the degree. This maximum period to complete studies includes any time away from the university and includes Advanced Standing students.

Students in the dual MSW/MPH program have a maximum of six academic years from matriculation to complete the degree.

The maximum period to complete studies for other dual degrees varies by program due to the different requirements of each program.

Graduation Policies

In order to graduate, a student must have a minimum 3.00 Cumulative GPA, and all students must file an Apply for Program Completion task in Workday Student, prior to the anticipated degree date. A student may apply more than once if their anticipated degree date changes.

Deadlines for completing the Apply for Program Completion task in any given semester are set by the Office of the University Registrar. Anticipated degree date deadlines are as follows: 

• Anticipated May graduation: March 1 by 11:59 p.m.*
• Anticipated August graduation: July 1 at 11:59 p.m.*
• Anticipated December graduation: November 1 at 11:59 p.m.*

*

If a deadline falls on a weekend or university holiday, it will be extended to the next business day.

When the deadlines are confirmed, students will be notified via WashU email.

If a student does not Apply for Program Completion, they are in jeopardy of not graduating in their intended semester and will have to delay to the subsequent semester. Their name may not be listed in the Commencement program, and they may not be able to participate in the ceremony. 

Completing this task will also be the student’s only opportunity to provide a pronunciation for their name to be used at Commencement.

Commencement Participation

Washington University hosts one Commencement ceremony each academic year, held in May. The University honors December graduates with a recognition ceremony. The Brown School is required to follow University policy and protocol with regard to Commencement events. 

Students who graduated in December of the previous year and those who will graduate in May or August of the current academic year are eligible to participate in the May Washington University Commencement and Brown School Recognition Ceremony.

In order to participate, students must RSVP for either event.

For dates and more information please refer to the Commencement Website.

Elective Credit for Work in Other Schools, Departments, Programs or Institutions

If a student would like to transfer graduate courses from institutions they attended prior to their enrollment at the Brown School, they should refer to these policies.

With preapproval, students may take up to 9 credits of graduate coursework outside of the Brown School at another Washington University school. Students should consult their advisor when choosing electives in order to make sure the set of electives meets the student’s long‐term career objectives and that courses are consistent with achieving competencies. 

Elective coursework completed at another school or institution can be considered if all of the following conditions are met:

• The form and documentation must be submitted prior to enrolling in the course and by the semester deadline to ensure that coursework will be accepted:
  • Required documentation includes the course syllabus and a statement from the student indicating the course's relevance to their education.
  • Preapproval transfer requests must be submitted by the following deadlines to be considered:
    • Fall semester: six weeks prior to the first day of the Fall semester
    • Summer semester: four weeks prior to the first day of the Summer semester
    • Spring semester: six weeks prior to the first day of the Spring semester
• The course is at the graduate level.
• A grade of B or better is earned.
• A transcript for the coursework must be submitted to the Brown School Registrar upon completion.
• No online courses are allowed. 

Degree Candidates

Students may enroll in a course at another university during their final semester in the program. If that course is required to fulfill graduation requirements, the Brown School’s Office Academic Records & Registration must receive a transcript indicating successful completion of the course prior to the grade deadline. Adherence to this deadline allows the student to be approved for graduation. Should an official transcript not be available until after that date, a letter on university letterhead must be sent directly to the Brown School Registrar indicating successful completion of course and received prior to the grade deadline. Once final grades are made available, an official transcript must be submitted to the Office of the Registrar. If the student does not end up enrolling or completing the approved course, the Brown School's Office Academic Records & Registration should be notified. 

Taking Courses at Other Schools

Students at the Brown School are assessed tuition based on enrollments caps and their Primary Program of Study every semester. If a student wishes to take a course at Washington University but outside of the Brown School, and they are within their credit cap for the semester, they may do so. If the Primary Program of Study is with the Brown School, they will be assessed Brown School tuition and any financial aid, including scholarships will be applied with the following stipulations:

Graduate Courses Counting Toward Graduation Requirements

Students must request that the courses count toward graduation credit by submitting an Elective Credit request through the Brown School Hub, and this must be approved by the Assistant Dean of the program. 

Notes:

• During their first year, 3/2 students are allowed to take up to 21 credit units (but the cap for Brown School courses applies) by submitting an Student Registration Exception form on the website of the Office of the University Registrar, which must then be approved by the Assistant Dean of the program. 
• 4000-level courses taken in an undergraduate school may be counted as elective credit as long as the student works with the teaching professor to add additional work to bring the course to graduate-level requirements. 

Courses Not Eligible

The programs within the university that are not eligible under this policy are the GX, PB, and PM divisions of the Olin School, the TG division and T courses in Engineering, Architecture A44 courses, and those offered by WashU Continuing & Professional Studies. 

Washington University Courses

For graduate courses outside of the Brown School but within Washington University in St. Louis, a student must contact the other school's Academic Records office for relevant approval processes and registration dates. Information about graduate courses offered at each school within Washington University can be found in Workday.

Tuition for a course taken outside the Brown School but within Washington University is included in the Brown School semester tuition calculations.

WashU Continuing & Professional Studies* and/or Washington University undergraduate courses do not count toward a student’s degree requirements.

*

Students will be charged additional per-credit-hour tuition for any WashU Continuing & Professional Studies credits. In addition, any credits taken through WashU Continuing & Professional Studies will not be counted toward the Brown School semester cap nor toward full-time enrollment.

Inter-University Exchange Program

With preapproval, students can take graduate-level courses toward elective or graduation requirements that are not offered at the Brown School, in the accredited social work programs at SLU and UMSL through the Inter-University Exchange Program. Please review the Inter-University Exchange Program page of the University's Registrar's website for more information about the program.

The following provisions apply to all coursework taken by Washington University students at Saint Louis University (SLU) or the University of Missouri-St. Louis (UMSL) through the Inter-University Exchange (IUE) program:

• Such courses can be used in the fulfillment of degree requirements and for elective credit only. 
• Such courses are not regularly offered at Washington University.
• Registration for such courses requires preliminary approval from the Brown School's Office Academic Records & Registration and course instructor, with the required documentation submitted through the Brown School Hub.
• Students at the home institution have first priority on course enrollment (i.e., a desired course at SLU or UMSL may be fully enrolled and unable to accept WashU students).
• Academic credit earned in such courses will be considered as resident credit, not transfer credit.
• Online courses are not eligible for credit. 
• Tuition for such courses will be paid to Washington University at the prevailing WashU rates; there is no additional tuition cost to the student who enrolls in IUE coursework on another campus. However, students are responsible for any and all fees charged by the other school.
• Every University Library has a unique set of privileges accessible to guest students. Students are advised to ask the library what privileges they will be granted during the course. 

Enrollment Instructions

1. Washington University students must be enrolled full-time in order to participate in the IUE program and have no holds, financial or otherwise, on their academic record at WashU or at the host institution.
2. The student must complete the Inter-University Exchange application form which is located on the Brown School Hub. 
3. The student must complete an elective credit request also located on the Brown School Hub, if the course is to count as an elective.
4. The student must provide all information requested in the top portion of the form and indicate the course in which they wish to enroll.
5. The student must obtain the approval signature of the professor teaching the class (or department chair) at SLU or UMSL, preferably in person, but it can be done via email and attach it with the submission on the Hub request.
6. IUE Hub submissions must be submitted prior to registering for the semester in which the course will be taken. 
7. Course enrollment is handled administratively by the university registrar's office of the home and host institutions. WashU students registered for IUE coursework will see these courses on their class schedule and academic record in Workday under Subject Codes SLU and UMSL.

Final grades are recorded when received from the host institution. The student does not need to obtain an official transcript from SLU or UMSL to receive academic credit for IUE coursework at WashU.

Work/Life Experience

The Brown School does not grant academic credit for life or work experience.

Other Institutions

Once a course is approved prior to enrollment, an official transcript must be sent to the Brown School’s Office Academic Records & Registration for final credit/course satisfaction from any outside institution. A grade of B or better is required for transfer credit. 

Taking coursework outside of the Brown School in a student’s final semester is not recommended as an official transcript may not be received by the grade deadline for graduation.

The Brown School does not accept courses offered online as transfer credit. 

Class Information

Registration

Students register for classes via Workday Student. Once registered, students can see their registration under the Current Classes tab. For all matters pertaining to registration, timing is critical. Students should pay close attention to any pre-registration deadlines set by their advisors or the Brown School Office of Academic Records & Registration and to the online registration dates noted on the Registration Policies and Procedures page of the Office of the University Registrar website.

Adding/Dropping/Withdrawing From Individual Courses

Students may add or drop courses via Workday Student for Fall and Spring semesters within a specified time frame as established by the Brown School Office of Academic Records & Registration.

If a course is dropped prior to the drop deadline, the course will no longer appear on the student's record.

Course Add/Withdrawal Deadlines

Students should discuss these decisions with the course instructor and/or their Academic Advisor as well as the Financial Aid Office in advance of requesting the withdrawal to determine any curricular and/or financial implications. Students who are terminated from their practicum after the drop deadline, will receive a “W” on their transcript and have to retake their practicum requirements in a subsequent semester.

​For all course add/drop deadlines, please check the Academic Calendar on the website of the Office of the University Registrar for exact dates.​

Full Semester Courses

• Add Deadline: 11:59 p.m. on the second Thursday of the semester
• Drop Deadline (not visible on transcript): 11:59 p.m. on the second Thursday of the semester
• Drop Deadline ("W" for Withdrawal on transcript): after previous Drop Deadline and before the end of fourth week

All Other Courses (Intersession)

Fall/Spring/Summer: 

• Add Deadline: 11:59 p.m. on the day before the first class
• Drop Deadline (not visible on transcript): 11:59 p.m. on the day before the first class. 
• Drop Deadline ("W" for Withdrawal on transcript): 11:59 p.m. on the day of the first class.

Brown School Waitlist Overview

The waitlist feature in Workday allows students to place themselves in line to enroll in a waitlisted course (maximum enrollment reached) as seats become available. This tool is designed to give students a chance to get into these courses. It is not intended to assist students in getting a “preferred” schedule.

Students are placed on the waitlist in the order in which they requested to waitlist the class. The first person to submit a waitlist request will be first on the waitlist. When a seat in the class becomes available, the registration system will fill the opening with the first eligible person on the waitlist.

Once on a waitlist, students are responsible for monitoring their active waitlist requests via Workday Student. Visit the Waitlists in Workday Student page for more information.

Waitlist Tips

• Waitlist positions are displayed on the student's "My Waitlisted Courses" table in Workday Student. Workday will send a notification to the first student on the waitlist if a spot opens in the course. The student will have 72 hours to enroll themselves. After the 72 hours, the student will drop to the end of the waitlist and the spot will be offered to the next student on the waitlist. It is highly recommended that students turn on notifications so they are alerted when a spot opens in a waitlisted course.
• After the last day of waitlist processing (end of the second week), all waitlisted students (for full semester courses) will expire and students will be removed from the waitlist.
• Waitlist requests may be added or dropped, but they cannot be modified.
• If a student no longer wishes to take a course that they are waitlisted for, they must drop the waitlist request in order to be certain that they will not be enrolled into the course. Waitlists may be dropped via the "My Waitlisted Courses" table in Workday Student.
• Students on a waitlist may gain access to the course content in Canvas, including communication from the professor. This is not an indication that the student has been enrolled in the class. Students should refer to Workday to determine whether or not they are enrolled. In addition, students who attend a class for which they have been waitlisted will be asked to leave. A student attending a class for which they are waitlisted will not improve their chances of being removed from a waitlist. It will be considered a violation of the professional integrity policy for a student to attend a class for which they are waitlisted when they have not yet been enrolled from the waitlist. 

Cancellation of Classes

Whenever possible, professors will send students an email notification regarding class cancellation and make-up sessions. Especially in the event of severe weather, students are encouraged to check their email for updates on class cancellations. 

Classes: Start and End Times

Unless otherwise noted, all Brown School classes begin and end at the time published in the WashU course listings and via their Workday Student schedule. 

Classroom Location Assignments

Classroom location assignments are finalized within the week before courses begin. Once finalized, students may log into Workday Student where they can view and print their schedules.​

Off-Campus Locations for Courses

If a course is being offered at an off-campus location, this information will be listed in course listings and on the course syllabus. Students are expected to arrange their own transportation to and from the specified off-campus location. Students who elect to carpool to courses taught off campus are not covered by WashU insurance, and a student's personal automobile insurance will be the primary coverage. Washington University's automobile policy provides no coverage for students driving their personal vehicles. Students are encouraged to seek alternate transportation. 

Course Conflicts and Overlaps

Students are not permitted to take courses whose class meeting times conflict or overlap. ​It is the student's responsibility to make sure courses do not conflict. 

Electronic Devices in the Classroom

Computers or other electronic devices, including “smart pens” (devices with an embedded computer and digital audio recorder that records the classroom lecture/discussion and links that recording to the notes taken by the student), may be used by students at the discretion of the faculty member to support the learning activities in the classroom. These activities include taking notes and accessing course readings under discussion. If a student wishes to use a smart-pen or other electronic device to audio record lectures or class discussions, they must notify the instructor in advance of doing so. Permission to use recording devices is at the discretion of the instructor, unless this use is an accommodation approved by Disability Resources. 

Nonacademic use of laptops and other devices and use of laptops or other devices for other coursework is distracting and seriously disrupts the learning process for other people in the classroom. Neither computers nor other electronic devices are to be used in the classroom during class for nonacademic reasons or for work on other coursework. Nonacademic use includes emailing, texting, social networking, playing games, instant messaging, and use of the Internet. Work on other coursework may include, but is not limited to, use of the internet, writing papers, using statistical software, analyzing data, and working on quizzes or exams. The nonacademic use of cell phones during class time is prohibited, and they should be set on silent before class begins. In the case of an emergency, please step out of the room to take the call. The instructor has the right to hold students accountable for meeting these expectations, and failure to do so may result in a loss of participation or attendance points, a loss of the privilege of device use in the classroom, or being asked to leave the classroom.

Auditing Courses

The Brown School allows only authorized visiting scholars and field instructors to audit courses. Field instructors may request to audit a course and must work with the professor to define expectations; they may not audit Intensive Trainings.

Disability Resources

The Brown School is committed to making its programs accessible to students with disabilities. 

Students with disabilities who wish to request academic accommodations are advised to complete a request for academic adjustments or services form as early as possible. Students are also welcome to contact Disability Resources (DR) to discuss any questions.

In order to create an effective accommodation plan, students must provide documentation of the disability, including information from a health care provider and schedule a meeting with DR to discuss their request. This information is used to clarify the functional impact of disability, which in turn helps DR develop an effective accommodation plan. 

Once an accommodation plan is determined, DR will create a letter of accommodation, known as a VISA letter. Students are advised to share the VISA with each course instructor and discuss how accommodations can be implemented in each course. Students are encouraged to let DR know if an accommodation needs a change or revision. 

While students work with DR to have accommodations approved, it is advised that students also speak with the Director of Student Affairs at the Brown School to discuss accommodation and accessibility needs.

Declaring a Concentration or Specialization

Students can declare and/or change their concentration and/or specialization in Workday Student. Students should declare their concentration as soon as possible, as some courses that may be taken in the second semester have eligibility requirements associated with concentration declarations. Students may change their concentration at a later date. 

Master of Social Work

MSW students are encouraged to declare a concentration prior to completing their first semester. Students may declare a specialization any time prior to their final semester. MSW Advanced Standing students must declare a concentration prior to their first semester.

Concentrations (not requiring approval) and Specializations can be declared via Workday Student.

Part-time students may be able to specialize if they are able to align their courses such that they meet the criteria for specialization. Unfortunately, this is rare considering the time at which many of these courses are offered (i.e., during the day). Most part-time students will not specialize. 

Concentrations: Seven Options (Required)

1. American Indian and Alaska Native
2. Children, Youth and Families
3. Health
4. Mental Health
5. Domestic Social and Economic Development
6. International Social and Economic Development
7. Social Impact Leadership

• Individualized Plan of Study*

*

Through a structured application process, students are able to develop a plan of study that draws on content from our existing seven concentrations. This is an application process that requires approval from the Assistant Dean of the MSW Program. MSW students who plan to individualize will need to complete the Individualized Program of Study Approval Process, located in the Brown Hub, adhering to the same deadlines outlined above.

Specializations (Optional)

• Management
• Older Adults and Aging Societies
• Policy
• Research
• Sexual Health and Education
• Social Entrepreneurship
• System Dynamics
• Violence and Injury Prevention

Master of Social Policy

There are no concentrations or specializations for the Master of Social Policy degree. Students are encouraged to use their elective course requirement (six credits) to select courses that build knowledge and skills in-line with their academic and professional objectives. 

Grades

Academic achievement at the Brown School is measured by letter grades. The Brown School utilizes a 4.0 GPA scale. Students pursuing a degree are graded accordingly to the following classification and point scale. A plus (+) or minus (-) sign after a grade indicates a greater or lesser degree of the assigned grade, based on the merit of the work.

Grade Scale/Grade Points per Unit

Grade Scale	Grade Points per Unit
A	4.0
A-	3.7
B+	3.3
B	3.0
B-	2.7
C+	2.3
C	2.0
C-	1.7
F	0.0
HP	​High Passing grade for Practicum
IP	In Progress, for Practicum
NP	No Pass
P	Passing grade for Practicum and Integrative Seminar

Grade Policies

The minimum GPA requirements needed to maintain eligibility for Satisfactory Academic Progress are dictated by the specific program of study. In each case, per the requirements of 34 C.F.R. 668.34(a)(4(ii), the federal student aid program requires a minimum of a C average to maintain eligibility for aid, but an individual degree or certificate program may have a higher minimum GPA for federal Satisfactory Academic Progress. 

The MSW and MSP programs at the Brown School require that students maintain a minimum cumulative grade-point average of 3.0 (on a 4.0 scale). Failing to meet the minimum 3.0 GPA places a student on academic probation for the subsequent semester. If a student is only enrolled in practicum for the subsequent semester (during which they are on academic probation), which is calculated on a pass/fail basis, then the student's grades will be reviewed after the following semester, when grades are earned.

Students will be notified by the Associate Dean for Student Affairs and Enrollment Management regarding academic probation.

1. Students can monitor their semester and cumulative GPA in Workday.
2. A minimum GPA of 3.0 is required for graduation.
3. If a student is placed on academic probation, there are financial aid implications. Students in this situation should discuss their options with the assistant director of financial aid.

A student on academic probation for more than one semester will have their case reviewed by the Assistant Dean of their program. The Assistant Dean may recommend continued academic probation or a remediation plan, or they may choose to refer the case to the Academic Progress Committee.

The Academic Progress Committee is responsible for reviewing students' academic progress and making decisions regarding appropriate actions, which may include continued academic probation, a required leave of absence, or termination from the program. More specific and up-to-date information about the Academic Progress Committee for students can be found on Inside Brown.

Pass/No Pass Courses

Few courses offered at the Brown School are strictly Pass/No Pass, and students are not permitted to choose whether to take a course Pass/No Pass. The only courses offered as Pass/No Pass are Practicum, Integrative Seminar, and CACE. 

Courses taken outside of the Brown School that are approved to count toward a degree must be for Quality Graded Credit (letter grade). 

Viewing Grades

Students can view their grades in Workday Student by clicking on Academic History. Grades will be displayed as soon as they have been recorded but the GPA calculation is performed overnight. The GPA shown on Workday Student will not reflect any grades recorded that day. Grades are not mailed. 

Grade Appeals

Upon receipt of a failing grade, a student may wish to request a regrade with the instructor. Students may initiate grade change requests for the following reasons:

• Criteria used in grading were not consistent with stated learning expectations in the syllabus.
• Criteria established for evaluation of student performance were not communicated to the student.
• Sufficient opportunities for student learning were not available or provided.
• Opportunities for remedial action regarding learning problems were not made available to the student.
• A discrepancy between the student’s evaluation of their performance and the instructor’s evaluation exists.

If, after consultation, the instructor maintains the grade, the student may then make a written appeal to the Assistant Dean of their program using the procedure outlined below. If the Assistant Dean is the faculty member who evaluated the grade, then the Associate Dean for Educational Programs will consider the appeal.

Appeal Procedure to Assistant Deans

1. The student will present a written appeal to the Assistant Dean, describing their wish to appeal the failing grade accompanied by specific reasons for the appeal, based on any of the five criteria outlined above.
2. The Assistant Dean will review the appeal and may render a final decision or can refer the case to the Academic Progress and Professional Integrity Committee (APPIC), which is a standing committee of three full-time faculty members. Faculty appointed to this committee shall not have a conflict of interest with the student (instructor, advisor, employer, supervisor). 

Academic Progress and Professional Integrity Committee (APPIC)

1. The Academic Progress and Professional Integrity Committee (APPIC) will examine materials demonstrating the student’s performance, stated learning expectations, stated evaluative comments, and statements of the instructor’s and student’s position and recommendations. The Committee will call the instructor and/or the student into the review session. Evidence must be limited to what can be made available and is relevant to the course in which there has been a pending grade of failure or as determined by the Committee.
2. Following the examination of materials and discussion with the involved parties, the Committee, in a session closed to the involved parties, will deliberate and will make a written recommendation to the Assistant Dean.
3. After receipt of the Committee’s recommendation, the Assistant Dean will communicate their decision in writing to the student, the instructor, and the student's advisor.

Grade Assignment for Withdrawals

If a student withdraws from either program or course after a semester’s Add/Drop deadline, a W (Withdraw) is recorded on their transcript.

Final Grade Deadline

The final date to enter grades is generally the Monday after the last day of the semester. Final grades are due by noon. This date is subject to change depending on holidays. Please refer to the Academic Calendar for the current year for specific dates.

All courses are required to have grades posted by this date with no exceptions.

Practicum Grades

The Office of Field Education will submit grades of IP (In Progress) for practicum grades at the end of each semester by the grade deadlines outlined by the Office of the University Registrar. These grades will be updated to HP or P when the student has completed their practicum requirements. All grades are required to be updated to a passing grade prior to graduation.

Incomplete Course Grade Policy

An interim placeholder of I, for Incomplete, is used by an instructor when a student experiences an extenuating circumstance preventing completion of the course requirements by the conclusion of the semester. The Incomplete Course Grade Policy is managed by the Brown School Office of Academic Records & Registration.

Incomplete Request Procedure

• Students must first discuss an Incomplete with their faculty.*
• If an Incomplete is agreed upon, a faculty member will submit an “I” grade for that semester.
• An Incomplete Course Completion Plan, crafted by both the faculty member and student is encouraged.

Students cannot graduate with an Incomplete on their record.

*

MSW Students must have completed and received a grade for Human Behavior, Social Work Practice with Individuals, Families & Groups (Practice II), and Social Justice & Human Diversity in order to begin their Foundation Practicum. If students receive an Incomplete in one of these courses, their Foundation Practicum start date will be delayed.

Timeline for Satisfying Course Requirements

• Students have 60 days from when semester grades are due, or the date the instructor sets (whichever comes first), to complete any outstanding work and submit it to the instructor.
• It is the student's responsibility to communicate with their instructors on the progress of their work.
• Incompletes will turn to Fs after the 60th day. If work is submitted at the deadline, the instructor still needs time to grade. The F grade will be changed once the instructor grades the work. Once the deadline has passed, the instructor will grade whatever has been submitted and post a final course grade.
  • This could result in a failing grade if outstanding work is not submitted by the deadline.

Incompletes and Restricted Registration/Enrollment

Students cannot enroll in a class if the prerequisite is incomplete.

Students with two or more incomplete grades, who are enrolled in practicum, are required to be on a Practicum Support Plan in collaboration with their Field Faculty Advisor. Additionally, students are only allowed to be enrolled in 1 credit of practicum until at least one of the incompletes is satisfied.

Students cannot start a new semester with 7 or more credits of incompletes; the deadline to clear below 7 credits is 11:59 p.m. on the Friday of the first week of the new semester.

• If incompletes do not fall below 7 credits by the deadline, the Brown School Office of Academic Records & Registration will withdraw the student from all semester courses.

Students with an incomplete who are scheduled to go on a Leave of Absence (LOA) must have a grade posted prior to the first date of leave. Whatever work is completed will be graded and any work not submitted will receive a zero. Based on this, an appropriate grade will be assigned with full acknowledgement that the final grade may result in an F grade.

• Students are encouraged to have their LOA officially start on the first day of the subsequent semester so that they can take the time in between the two terms to complete as much outstanding work as possible, prior to losing access to WashU systems.
• Note: Barring any extenuating circumstances, students who take an LOA prior to the completion of the semester will be withdrawn from all classes and will need to retake said classes upon return to the university.

Incomplete Practicum Grade Policy

An interim placeholder of IP (In Progress) is assigned by the instructor for the semester when a student has not completed all practicum requirements and/or the following practicum-related documentation: 

• Student Self-Evaluation of Competencies and Performance (Accessible on Inside Brown)
• Student Assessment of Practicum Experience (Accessible on Inside Brown)
• Field Instructor Evaluation of Practicum
  • Student: Send to Field Instructor after Self-Evaluation is completed.
• Practicum Timesheet (Accessible on Inside Brown)
  • Student: This document requires student and field instructor signatures.

If a student is completing practicum credits at the same organization for more than one semester, the IP grade will stand until the end of that experience and all documentation has been completed. A grade will then be assigned for all semesters.

If an interim placeholder of IP has been assigned, it is the student's responsibility to ensure the completion of all registered practicum hours and the submission of all practicum-related documentation to OFE by the following deadlines: 

• Practicum Credits registered for Fall Semester: May 1 of the current academic year
• Practicum Credits registered for Spring Semester: August 1 of the current year
• Practicum Credits registered for Summer Semester: December 1 of the subsequent academic year

If a student has not met the required semester deadlines to replace the IP, the Brown School Office of Academic Records & Registration will assign an NP (No Pass) for the registered practicum credits. Final practicum grades are HP (High Pass), P (Pass), and NP (No Pass).

If the grade is NP, the student must re-register and pay for the required practicum credits. No credit for previously accrued practicum hours will be counted. Students cannot graduate with an incomplete or an In Progress grade on their record.

Repeating a Course

Students who have done poorly in a course have the opportunity to repeat it, in accordance with these guidelines:

• There must be space in that course. 
• Courses taken at the Brown school may only be repeated at the Brown School.
• This option may only be applied once for the same course. A student may only attempt a single course two times. If the student takes a course (one that is a graduation requirement) for the second time and receives a failing grade, the student will be withdrawn from the program.
• Students must register for the same course number (instructor may be different). If a course is no longer offered, students may not substitute an alternative course.
• Tuition will be assessed. This may mean students will need to pay additional tuition for course credits above the program credit requirements. 
• On the transcript, the original course will remain on the transcript, but be designated with a note indicating that the course was repeated. The grade for the second and final attempt of the course will be recorded on the transcript as a letter grade.
• A repeated course will not be included in grade point average calculations in the first instance.
• The letter grade earned in the most recent attempt will be included in cumulative credit totals and a new grade point average will be calculated.
• All subsequently repeated courses and grades will be recorded on the transcript and noted that the course has been repeated.
• A course taken for undergraduate credit may not later be changed to graduate credit (Washington University undergraduate students only).
• Courses taken for credit towards an undergraduate degree may not be taken for graduate credit (Washington University undergraduate students only).
• If a student repeats a course after their degree has been awarded, the original course grade will not be excluded from the degree GPA.
• Students who have been dropped from a degree program may not use the course repeat process to gain readmission to that degree program.

Minimum GPA Policy and Academic Progress

All degree programs at the Brown School require that students maintain a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0 (on a 4.0 scale). The first semester that a student fails to meet the minimum 3.0 cumulative GPA, they will automatically be placed on Academic Probation for the next semester. If the student is only enrolled in practicum credit (Pass/Fail) for the next semester, then the student’s grades will be reviewed the following semester, when grades are earned. Students will be notified by the Associate Dean for Academic Affairs & Enrollment Management regarding Academic Probation.

There may be financial aid implications for a student placed on Academic Probation. Students should discuss their options with the Assistant Director of Financial Aid.

A student on Academic Probation for more than one semester will have their case reviewed by the Assistant Dean of their Program. The Assistant Dean may recommend continued Academic Probation, a remediation plan or may choose to refer the case to the Academic Progress and Professional Integrity Committee.

Academic Progress Committee

The Academic Progress and Professional Integrity Committee (APPIC) is a standing faculty committee responsible for reviewing matters related to students' academic progress and making decisions regarding appropriate actions, which may include but is not limited to continued academic probation, a remediation plan, a required leave of absence, or termination from the program. When acting under this policy, APPIC functions in its Academic Progress capacity and applies the procedures and academic actions outlined herein.

Student Rights and Responsibilities

If a student’ case is being sent to the Academic Progress Committee, they are entitled to the following: 

• Receive written notice of the hearing meeting
• Be advised of the relevant evidence of their case and access to relevant academic records
• Ask any questions
• Offer an explanation as to what occurred
• Present relevant material that would be helpful in understanding the circumstances under which their GPA fell below a 3.0 or they are not meeting other satisfactory academic progress

After the student has been advised of the hearing and the relevant accompanying evidence, the student has several options: 

• Agree to attend the hearing
• Decline to attend the hearing
• Request a leave of absence from the university
• Request to withdraw permanently from the university

The student may request to delay their response to the complaint by up to three business days. If no response is obtained within that time period, they will be referred for a hearing.

If the student refuses to respond or refuses to participate in the hearing, the Assistant Dean and/or the Academic Progress Committee may immediately proceed to recommend actions in accordance with this Policy. 

Academic Progress Committee Procedures

The Academic Progress & Professional Integrity Committee (APPIC) is composed of three full-time faculty members. The Associate Dean of Academic Affairs & Enrollment Management will be responsible for scheduling hearings at the next scheduled meeting of the APPIC and for notifying the person(s) who are to appear before the committee. A copy of the procedures for the conduct of the hearing will be provided in writing to the person(s) who are scheduled to appear, together with notification of the time and place of the hearing. A copy of these documents will be provided to the Assistant Dean of the Program. 

A student may decline to attend the hearing. In such a case, a student may advise the Associate Dean in writing of any mitigating circumstance(s) that should be weighed by the committee in its consideration of its decision. Any student who does not appear at the formal hearing retains the right to appeal any actions imposed by the Academic Progress & Professional Integrity Committee. 

The formal hearing will be held as a closed hearing. The hearing may include the committee, the Associate Dean, the Assistant Dean of the Program, the faculty member (if applicable) the student, and one additional faculty or staff advisor chosen by the student respondent or witness and/or the person making the complaint. All advisors must respect the confidentiality of the disciplinary process and are there only for support. Advisors must be part of the Washington University in St. Louis community as staff or faculty members. Individuals external to the university are not allowed to serve as advisors. Ex officio members of the committee may include the academic deans, academic advisors, members of the Academic Affairs team, or others as deemed appropriate by the committee and the Associate Dean for Academic Affairs & Enrollment Management. Additional participants may be called upon by the committee to provide information as needed.

The Academic Progress & Professional Integrity Committee will employ the following specific procedures in hearing a case: 

• Prior to the hearing, documents to be considered by the committee will be made available to the committee, the student, and any other parties who need to be involved in the committee as determined by the Associate Dean. Any materials made available are considered confidential for the members of the committee and the student. Failure to maintain the confidentiality of the materials within this process may be considered a violation of this policy.
• If the committee wishes to have other individuals present to provide information to the committee, they may request that participation. Such other individuals are invited but not obligated to be present.
• If the complainant (faculty member in many cases) chooses to participate in the hearing, they may outline the basis of their complaint. If they choose not to or are unavailable, the complaint will be provided in writing and referenced during the hearing and will have been provided to the student ahead of time per these procedures.
• The committee will meet with the student and ask the student to present a statement summarizing the case/charge against the academic circumstance that brought them to the Academic Progress Committee and any additional information relevant for the committee to know.
• During the hearing, the Committee may ask questions of the student as it pertains to their academic circumstances or any previous circumstances in which the student has been involved. Questions should be made to ascertain what happened, to determine credibility, and to help inform outcomes.
• At the end of the hearing, students may make closing remarks to the committee but are not obligated to do so.

Immediately following the hearing, the Academic Progress & Professional Integrity Committee will meet in closed session to consider all of the information presented. The committee will determine next steps for the student based on the academic progress issue that led to the committee meeting. The Associate Dean or designated representative will notify the student within five business days of the determination of the committee. The Associate Dean will also notify the Assistant Dean of the program concerning the committee's decision. 

Actions

The following academic actions may be taken if a student's case is sent to the Academic Progress Committee:

• Continuing in the program on academic probation
• Continuing in the program if certain conditions are met
• Counseling the student to voluntarily withdraw from the program
• Dismissing the student from the program
• Other actions as deemed appropriate by the committee

Appeals

• For cases resulting in suspension or dismissal from the program, the student will have the right to appeal in writing to the Dean of the Brown School (or their designee) within five business days after being notified by the Associate Dean. Such appeal shall be made in writing to the Dean and shall be limited to the following grounds:
  • There was a material deviation from the procedures outlined in the Academic Progress Policy that would significantly impact the outcome of the case or may have resulted in a different finding.
  • New or relevant information, not available at the time of the hearing, has arisen that would significantly impact the outcome of the case.
• The appeal must outline the reason for the appeal and provide all information relevant to the case for consideration of the appeal. The Dean will have the opportunity to request additional information, if needed. The Dean will determine whether a material deviation from the procedures occurred or if new information has been made available that would significantly alter the outcome of the hearing.
• If the Dean grants the appeal, they may order a new hearing or may reduce or modify the outcomes imposed.
• The Dean may uphold the decision of the committee and choose not to grant the appeal.
• The Dean will inform the student, in writing, of their determination.
• All decisions are final.

Record Keeping

It is the responsibility of the Associate Dean to maintain the records concerning academic progress. When a student has been sent to an Academic Progress Hearing, a letter summarizing the case, the outcome, and the recommendation will be placed in the student's official file in the Brown School's Office of Academic Records & Registration. 

Student Support

• This policy recognizes the inherent stress associated with engaging in a process like this. Students are encouraged to get support via on-campus or off-campus resources.
• Student confidentiality throughout this process is required. However, students should the seek support of friends, family, and advisors, as needed. This should be a limited group of people who can also maintain the confidentiality and privacy of the professional integrity process, and documents designated as confidential in the process should not be shared.
• Students should contact the Associate Dean for Academic Affairs and Enrollment Management or a member of the Student Engagement team if they need support as they manage this process.

GPA Requirements to Maintain Scholarships/Financial Aid

Brown School Scholarships

If a student drops below full-time status in the Fall or Spring semester, the student will be ineligible for their Brown School scholarship until they are once again enrolled full-time. If, however, Student Health Services or Disability Resources approves a student for a reduced course load, the student can receive half of their scholarship as long as they maintain part-time enrollment at the Brown School. 

Students who have been given scholarships must maintain a GPA of 3.0* each semester, fulfill any additional eligibility requirements, and enroll full time in the Fall and Spring semesters. Failure to meet a 3.0 GPA requirement after each semester places the scholarship at risk.

If a student fails to meet the GPA requirement, they will receive a one-semester probation period. During the semester of probation, the student will continue to receive scholarship funds. If the student fails to meet the GPA requirement at the end of the probation semester, the scholarship may be rescinded. The Assistant Dean of the Program will do a holistic review of the student’s progress and with consultation from the Assistant Director of Financial Aid, may approve continuation of scholarships after a second semester below a 3.0 cumulative GPA, based on demonstrated academic improvement.

Once a student attains the required 3.0 cumulative GPA, their scholarship will be reinstated.

*

Students receiving the full-tuition Buder Foundation Scholarship must maintain a cumulative GPA of at least 3.1. 

Federal Financial Aid

The Department of Education (DOE) requires students to meet Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) standards in order to receive federal financial aid (loans and Work-Study). In order to maintain SAP, students must maintain minimum requirements for cumulative GPA and pace. Students must also complete their degree within the maximum time frame allowed for the program, as defined below:

• The DOE SAP cumulative GPA requirement is 3.0 for a Fall or Spring semester. Summer semesters are not included.
• The pace requirement for maintaining SAP requires students earn credit for at least 67% of the credits attempted. Pace is defined as the number of credits earned divided by the number of credits attempted.

If a student does not meet either the semester DOE GPA requirement or the pace requirement, federal financial aid is cancelled for the following semester. An appeal may be submitted to the Assistant Director of Financial Aid and must include the following:

• An explanation of why the SAP requirements were not achieved
• How the student’s situation has changed in order to achieve SAP requirements in the following semester

Students will be notified by the Assistant Director of Financial aid regarding the decision on the appeal within two weeks of the appeal submission. 

Transcripts

• Requests for an official transcript must be submitted online through the Office of the University Registrar.
• Online orders are submitted through Workday Student via the "Request Official Transcripts for Students" task, or through the public access webpage (access with consent form and signature).
• Students are encouraged to review their Unofficial Transcript in Workday Student before requesting an official transcript, particularly when final grades are being posted; an unofficial transcript report is available in Workday Student for this purpose.
• There is a $10 fee per official transcript, payable upon submission of an order.

Record Retention

The Brown School's Office of Academic Records & Registration maintains a record for each enrolled graduate student, along with the Office of the University Registrar. Records generally contain the student's application to the Brown School at Washington University in St. Louis (excluding letters of recommendation), the student’s transcripts from other universities, and, when applicable, various records from the student’s tenure at Washington University in St. Louis. The Brown School's Office of Academic Records & Registration also stores historical evidence of student completion of forms such as grade change requests, registration commitment forms, graduation applications, student submitted forms, and final transcripts after graduation.

Academic Integrity

Academic Integrity in the Office of the Provost aims to create a fair, consistent, clear, effective, and timely process to address academic integrity violations, to bolster trust in the process, to provide structured takeaways for students, and to increase overall support for faculty, staff and students regarding academic integrity. The Academic Integrity Coordinators are dedicated to encouraging responsible community behavior, educating students, and facilitating accountability in situations where violations of academic integrity policies have occurred. These standards and intervention efforts contribute to a positive university climate that encourages students to take responsibility for their actions, learn conflict resolution skills, enhance decision-making ability, and advance the development of social awareness and ethical values. 

The success and effectiveness of the academic integrity process will rely on a community committed to upholding a culture of honesty, responsibility, and integrity. Our community must prioritize this commitment by incorporating the values of academic integrity into our daily interactions including course lessons, group meetings, and beyond.

Policy

Academic or professional misconduct includes but is not limited to cheating, plagiarism, unauthorized use of artificially generated content, fabrication of data or records, unauthorized collaboration, resume or credential falsification, unauthorized use of resources, violation of test-taking conditions, or otherwise engaging in activity prohibited by the University or Academic Integrity policy.

Cheating

The term cheating includes but is not limited to the following: 1) the use of any unauthorized assistance or source in taking quizzes, tests, examinations, or other assessments; 2) the use of or referral to sources beyond those authorized by the instructor in writing papers, preparing reports, solving problems, or carrying out other assignments; 3) the acquisition or possession without permission of tests or other academic material belonging to a member of the University faculty or staff; or 4) knowingly providing any unauthorized assistance to another student on quizzes, tests, examinations, or other assessments. 

Plagiarism

The term plagiarism includes but is not limited to the following: 1) the use by paraphrase or direct quotation of the published work of another source without properly crediting the author or source with footnotes, citations or bibliographical reference; 2) the unacknowledged use of materials prepared by another person or by an individual or company engaged in the selling of term papers or other academic materials; or 3) the unacknowledged use of original work/material that has been produced through collaboration with others.

Unauthorized Use of Artificially Generated Content

The term unauthorized use of artificially generated content includes but is not limited to the following: 1) the use of artificial intelligence tools or other tools that generate artificial content in taking quizzes, tests, examinations, or other assessments without permission from the instructor; 2) submitting work for evaluation as one’s own that was produced in material or substantial part through use of artificial intelligence tools or other tools that generate artificial content without permission from the instructor; 3) using artificial intelligence tools or other tools that generate artificial content in a manner contrary to instructions from the instructor; or 4) using artificial intelligence tools or other tools that generate artificial content in a manner that violates any other provision of these rules concerning academic dishonesty.

Fabrication or Falsification of Data or Records

Fabrication or falsification could include but is not limited to the following: 1) altering information on any exam, problem set, or class assignment being submitted for a re-grade; 2) altering, omitting, or inventing laboratory data to submit as one's own findings (this includes copying laboratory data from another student to present as one’s own, modifying data in a write-up, and/or providing data to another student to submit as one's own); or 3) falsification of experiential learning records, including practicum/internship hours, feedback forms and evaluations, and authorizing signatures. 

Other Forms of Academic Misconduct

• Knowingly make false allegations of academic misconduct against another student. 
• Request an academic benefit based on false information or deception. This includes requesting an extension of time, a better grade, or a recommendation from an instructor. 
• Make any changes (including adding material or erasing material) on any test paper, problem set, or class assignment being submitted for a re-grade. 
• Willful sabotage or damage to the efforts or work of others. The term sabotage includes, but is not limited to, the unauthorized interference with, modification of, or destruction of the work or intellectual property of another member of the University community. 
• Steal, deface, or damage academic facilities or materials. Collaborate with other students planning or engaging in any form of academic misconduct.
• Submit any academic work under someone else’s name other than one’s own. This includes but is not limited to sitting for another person’s exam; both parties will be held responsible. 
• Engage in any other form of academic misconduct not covered here. 

Procedures

Provided here is a step-by-step explanation of the academic integrity conduct process to help clarify expectations. 

1. When a faculty, student, or staff member is made aware of an alleged academic integrity violation, they should file a report online with Academic Integrity in the Office of the Provost within five business days of becoming aware of the incident.
2. The report is reviewed by an Academic Integrity Coordinator (AIC) to determine whether there is enough information to move forward with the academic integrity process. If there is insufficient information, the AIC may choose to investigate the report further, including if the AIC deems appropriate, conducting meetings with the parties and witnesses in an informal manner to obtain relevant information.
3. The student who has been accused of the academic integrity violation will receive an email with a notice of the alleged violation and a request to meet with an Academic Integrity Coordinator to discuss the allegation. This meeting is an opportunity to respond and share their perspective on the allegation that was reported. Failure to attend a meeting with the AIC will not prevent the case moving forward in the academic integrity process.
4. After the meeting the student will receive a letter via email outlining possible next steps. The responding student will choose to move forward with one of the following options, as stated in the Option Letter: 
   • Accepts responsibility for the violation and agrees to the proposed sanctions: If the student chooses to accept the responsibility for the violation, the process ends here. Non-response to the notification email after five business days will be considered as acceptance of responsibility for the alleged violation and proposed sanctions. 
   • Requests to participate in a facilitated conversation with the reporting party: This conversation provides the reporting party with the opportunity to explain why the student’s actions led to an allegation of academic misconduct and the student the chance to provide context for their actions in a more informal environment than that of a hearing. As a result of this meeting, the allegation may be resolved with either the student accepting responsibility for the violation and consequence or the reporting party dropping the allegation, or progressing to a hearing panel with members from the Academic Integrity Board. (Note: Although a student may request a facilitation, the reporting party may decline to participate. In that circumstance, the case will be resolved via an AIB panel hearing.)
   • Requests a panel hearing with members of the Academic Integrity Board (two faculty members and one student member).
5. The Academic Integrity Board Panel Hearing: 
   • If the responding student chooses to move forward with an AIB panel hearing, three members of the Academic Integrity Board (AIB) will convene to hear the academic integrity case. The AIB panel hearing will be chaired by a Student Conduct Officer or an Academic Integrity Coordinator. The reporting party will be asked to share information and respond to questions. The student will be asked to share information and respond to questions. At the conclusion of the hearing, the Panel will determine whether the responding student is more likely than not responsible for the alleged academic integrity violation. If the Panel finds a violation, the Panel will assign sanctions. The sanctions assigned by the Board may be different than those included in the Option Letter. 
   • The responding student and reporting party will be requested to provide witness names and contact information, documentation and evidence, relevant communication documents, a written statement, and other materials pertinent to the case five business days prior to the hearing. Please send all information to academicintegrity@wustl.edu.
   • All parties involved in the hearing panel will receive the evidence packet three business days prior to the scheduled hearing panel.
   • Please note that the student may bring a support person to an Academic Integrity hearing panel with the AI Board. A support person is any one person chosen by a Respondent, Complainant or Witness to accompany them at any meeting or interview throughout the student conduct procedure. A Support Person will serve at the student’s own expense and may include, for example, a friend, faculty member, advisor, or parent. The function and role of the Support Person is to provide support, advice, or assistance to the person requesting their presence. The Support Person shall not be permitted to actively participate in any part of the procedure and may not serve as a fact Witness or a party in the proceedings. Therefore, if the individual personally witnessed the events at issue or has other information relevant to the factual circumstances, they may not serve as the Support Person.
   • Faculty always hold the authority to assign the grade they deem appropriate.
   • If you need accommodations, including translation services, please alert the Academic Integrity Coordinator as soon as possible. You may also access English Language Support for Academic and Professional Communication.
6. Appeal Process:
   • If a student believes the Panel did not conduct a fair hearing, or if a student believes the sanction imposed is excessive, they may seek an appeal within 14 days of the original decision. In cases in which the decision resulted in suspension or expulsion, the appellate officer will be the Vice Provost of Educational Initiatives or the Vice Provost for Graduate Education. For all other cases, the appellate officer will be the Chair of the Student Conduct Board. Appeals are governed by Section VI of the university Student Conduct Code.

Outcomes

If a student is found responsible for an academic integrity violation, they will receive a grade penalty and one or more sanctions. 

Grade Penalty Recommendation

The Academic Integrity Coordinator and/or the AI Board may recommend a grade penalty that corresponds with the level of infraction; a level one violation may result in a lowered grade on the assignment, a level two violation may result in a failing grade on the assignment, a level three violation may result in a lowered grade or failing grade in the class. The course faculty will determine grade penalties for the assignment and/or the course. 

Sanctions

• Educational Remedy: In addition to potential grade penalties, students responsible for an academic integrity violation will participate in an educational remedy to strengthen their understanding of academic integrity, identify the circumstances which led to their violation, and develop behaviors that will reduce the likelihood of future violations. The educational remedy will not negate or replace a grade penalty, which recognizes the coursework that was not authentically completed by the student.
• University Warning: A warning is a written notice of a Code violation finding and that a continuation or repetition of violations under the Code will result in more severe Sanctions.
• University Probation: A specific period of time during which the Student may be expected to complete an additional Sanction or may be restricted from participating in specified University events and activities. A continuation or repetition of Code violations may result in a more severe Sanction. 
• University Suspension: Suspension is the removal from student status in the University for a specified period of time. This sanction will be permanently noted in a student’s University record and on a student’s official transcript. 
• University Expulsion: Expulsion is the permanent removal from student status in the University. This sanction will be permanently noted in a student’s University record and on a student’s official transcript. 
• For more information about the process, visit the Office of the Provost's Academic Integrity website.

Professional Integrity Policy

As local, national, and international leaders in social work and social policy, the faculty, administration, and staff of the Brown School at Washington University in St. Louis are strongly committed to professional integrity. Professional integrity involves behaviors that are consistent with the professional and ethical expectations of one’s field. Brown School students must understand the unconditional imperative for honesty and ethical behavior in all professional endeavors as well as in everyday conduct within and beyond the Brown School community.

Social work and social policy are practice professions involving the management of complex systems and interpersonal relationships with people of varied backgrounds and identities, many of whom are vulnerable for a myriad of reasons. Brown School students entrusted with practicum responsibilities are expected to be cognizant and respectful of all agency personnel and clients with whom they become associated. We require that students entering our professions possess the skills to manage these relationships responsibly.

The Brown School faculty has developed a statement of expectations and procedures to help address issues of conduct that raise serious concerns about a student’s capacity for responsible social work or policy practice.

The Brown School defines professionalism as the demonstration of behaviors, attitudes, and skills that embody integrity, responsibility, and excellence. For social work students at the Brown School, this includes maintaining ethical standards, demonstrating cultural competence, engaging in continuous learning, showing respect and empathy towards clients and colleagues, and committing to the highest standards of practice in both academic settings and community fieldwork.

These Professional Integrity Standards and procedures apply to students enrolled in a graduate program at the Brown School, as well as to graduate students from other Washington University schools or colleges who enroll in courses within the Brown School. They also apply to dual degree students whose primary status is as a Brown School graduate degree student. These policies also apply to Brown School students taking courses in other schools or colleges at Washington University if those schools do not have an applicable policy governing their students or courses.

Professional Integrity Standards and Violations

Professional Integrity Standards

The Brown School minimally expects that students will do the following inside and outside the classroom (including online coursework and any online engagement in the curriculum) when engaged with colleagues, faculty, staff, fellow students, practicum supervisors, clients, and other constituents in university-sponsored programs and/or activities.

1. Conduct themselves in a manner consistent with the Code of Ethics adopted by the National Association of Social Workers.
2. Conduct themselves in a manner consistent with the university’s Student Code of Conduct and Code of Conduct.
3. Demonstrate an ability to speak, listen, and engage in a manner that is respectful, professional, and not harmful. This includes emotional self-regulation when frustrated or upset. Students are expected to respond to feedback and academic criticism professionally, including as it relates to their behaviors in and out of the classroom and at any practicum site.
4. Demonstrate clarity of thinking, including an ability to process information, conceptualize, and integrate knowledge. This is best demonstrated through in-class participation, attending class on time, and the timely completion of all assignments and projects.
5. Demonstrate honesty and responsibility in interactions and commitments with students, staff, and faculty and at the practicum agency. For example, this includes accurately recording and reporting practicum hours, keeping appointments, and attending class regularly and punctually in accordance with instructors' policies.
6. Demonstrate an ability to recognize personal biases in professional interactions and refrain from imposing personal, religious, or cultural values on others.
7. Represent personal backgrounds, experiences, and qualifications honestly.
8. Seek and use help for physical and mental health barriers that interfere with scholastic and professional performance, including engaging in treatment for substance abuse and mental health conditions when needed. Failure to care for oneself is a professionalism concern and may be addressed within this policy.
9. Respond to communication and outreach from Brown School and Washington University faculty and staff within a timely manner.
10. Respect and maintain the appearance and the functionality of all buildings, classrooms, and other facilities.
11. Engage with Brown School administration, faculty, and staff professionally at all times and assume the ethical and well-meaning intent of any individual with whom you engage.
12. Treat all members of the Brown School community, including fellow students and faculty, as professional colleagues to whom respect, grace, and kindness are warranted.
13. Communicate effectively with the Brown School community, which includes (but is not limited to) the following: reading and answering all emails in a timely fashion, preferably within 24 to 48 hours; emailing faculty at appropriate hours; using professional language in emails; responding to classmates for group work in a timely manner; and responding to outreach from any Brown School staff, administration, or your advisor as soon as you receive it.
14. Maintain the confidentiality of any documents and information that is to be treated as confidential. This may include any documents and information shared via the professional integrity process outlined in this document.
15. Students are prohibited from recording class or other interactions with Brown School faculty or staff without the express consent of the faculty or staff member (exceptions for disability accommodations) overseeing the class or meeting. Any recording made (with prior consent from all parties) should be maintained privately and not shared elsewhere.

Evidence that a student is meeting or failing to meet these expectations may come from a variety of sources, including observations of student behavior in the classroom and the field practicum; interactions with fellow students, faculty, and staff; personal statements; self-assessments; recorded interview situations; and feedback from students, staff, community members, or other sources.

Violations of the Professional Integrity Standards set forth above are taken seriously at the Brown School, and such behaviors may result in disciplinary action.

Reporting Student Misconduct

Faculty Responsibility

Faculty and instructors must report incidents of alleged student misconduct to the Associate Dean of Academic Affairs and Enrollment Management in a timely manner so that the incident may be handled fairly and consistently. Additionally, faculty may report directly to the Assistant Dean for their academic program. Assistants to the instructor are expected to report instances of student misconduct to their supervising instructors. If a student comes to a faculty member with information about a professional integrity violation, faculty members are expected to follow up on the issue and report or consult with an Assistant/Associate Dean as necessary.

Student Responsibility

If a student observes others violating these Professional Integrity Standards or other university policies, they are encouraged to report their concerns to the Assistant Dean of their program or the Associate Dean for Academic Affairs and Enrollment Management. Some students may also wish to address their concerns directly with the student of concern to facilitate an opportunity to resolve the matter. 

Field Instructor Responsibility

Field Instructors who believe that a student is not meeting the Professional Integrity Standards or other university policies or practicum expectations should notify their contact in the Office of Field Education who will consult with the Assistant Dean of Field Education.

Exam Proctor Responsibility

Exam proctors are expected to report incidents of suspected student misconduct to the course instructor and/or the Office of Disability Resources Disability Resource Center, if applicable.

Professional Integrity Procedures

Identification of Offense

Upon receipt of a report of an alleged violation of Professional Integrity, the Associate Dean or designated representative may investigate the matter, including but is not limited to gathering relevant information and communicating with instructor(s), student(s) involved, witnesses, and others as necessary. The Associate Dean for Academic Affairs and Enrollment Management will include or consult with the academic deans as needed. 

Depending on the seriousness of the report, the Associate Dean may choose to refer the matter directly to the Academic Progress & Professional Integrity Hearing Committee (APPIC) and/or the Office of Student Conduct and Community Standards.

Student Rights and Responsibilities

If a student is alleged to have violated the Professional Integrity Policy and the student is facing potential disciplinary action, they are entitled to the following:

• Receive written notice of the complaint allegations and the relevant policy offenses at issue.
• Ask questions relevant to the allegations or procedures.
• Offer a response to the allegations or other explanation as to what occurred.
• Present relevant material that would cast doubt on the complaint or the correctness of the charged policy violation.

Students must provide truthful information regarding the allegations. It is a violation of the student code of conduct, and this policy, to provide false information to the University or anyone acting on its behalf. 

After the student has been notified of the complaint, the student has several options:

• Admit to the charges and accept the recommended sanctions and waive their right to a hearing, as determined by the Associate Dean for Academic Affairs and Enrollment Management.
• Deny the charges and request a hearing in front of the Academic Progress & Professional Integrity Committee.
• Request a leave of absence from the university, in which case a notation will be added to the transcript indicating that there is a pending matter. The professional integrity matter will have to be resolved prior to re-enrollment.
• Request to withdraw permanently from the university with a transcript notation that there is an unresolved professional integrity matter pending.

As students in a professional, graduate program, participating in a professional integrity process is required if allegations are made that the student violated professional integrity standards. Students who fail to respond or refuse to participate in the professional integrity process or a hearing are not engaging in their academic pursuits in line with the standards of the profession or the Brown School. In these cases, students may be removed from their program via an administrative withdrawal. The Academic Progress & Professional Integrity Committee reserves the ability to proceed and make a decision regarding the complaint allegations without the participation of the student respondent. Any student who does not appear at the formal hearing retains the right to appeal any sanction imposed by the Academic Progress & Professional Integrity Committee. Failing to appear before a committee will not be considered a basis for appeal under this policy.

Allegations of a second professional integrity offense at any point in the student’s program may automatically be referred to the Academic Progress & Professional Integrity Committee.

If a student is found in violation of the Professional Integrity Policy, the student’s entire academic and student conduct history may be considered in determining sanctions.

Academic Progress & Professional Integrity Committee Procedures

• The Academic Progress & Professional Integrity Committee is a standing faculty committee of no less than three faculty members and will be chaired by the Associate Dean for Academic Affairs and Enrollment Management. Participating faculty will not have been involved in the allegation or have a conflict of interest that would preclude the instructor from participating in a non-biased manner.
• The Associate Dean for Academic Affairs & Enrollment Management or designated representative will be responsible for scheduling hearings at the earliest convenient time and for notifying the person(s) who are to appear before the committee. A copy of the procedures for the conduct of the hearing will be provided in writing to the person(s) who are scheduled to appear, together with notification of the time and place of the hearing.
• The formal hearing will be held as a closed hearing. Hearing attendees may include the committee, ex officio members described below, the student(s) charged, and one (1) additional faculty or staff advisor chosen by the student respondent or witness and/or the person making the complaint. All advisors must respect the confidentiality of the disciplinary process and are there only for support. Advisors must be part of the Washington University in St. Louis community as staff or faculty members. Individuals external to the university are not allowed to serve as advisors. Ex officio members of the committee may include the academic deans, academic advisors, members of the Academic Affairs team, or others as deemed appropriate by the committee and the Associate Dean for Academic Affairs & Enrollment Management. Additional participants may be called upon by the committee to provide information as needed.
• The Academic Progress & Professional Integrity Committee will employ the following specific procedures in hearing a case:
  • Prior to the hearing, documents to be considered by the committee will be made available to the committee, the complainant, and the student respondent. Any materials made available are considered confidential for the members of the committee and the student respondent. Failure to maintain the confidentiality of the materials within this process may be considered a violation of this policy.
  • If the committee wishes to have other individuals present to provide information to the committee, they may request that participation. Such other individuals are invited but not obligated to be present.
  • If the complainant chooses to participate in the hearing, they may outline the basis of their complaint. If they choose not to, or are unavailable, the complaint will provided in writing and referenced during the hearing, and will have been provided to the respondent ahead of time per these procedures.
  • The committee will meet with the student and ask the student to present a statement summarizing the case, charge against them, and any additional information relevant for the committee to know.
  • During the hearing, the Committee may ask questions of the student as it pertains to the case, or any previous cases the student has been involved in. Questions should be made to ascertain what happened, to determine credibility, and to help inform sanctioning.
  • Students participating in a committee hearing may choose to take responsibility for their actions. Students may also provide their insights into sanctions they think may benefit their remediation in this process.
  • At the end of the hearing, students may make closing remarks to the committee but are not obligated to.

Immediately following the hearing, the Academic Progress & Professional Integrity Committee will meet in closed session to consider all the information presented. The committee will, by majority vote of the faculty members, first determine whether the evidence establishes that it is more likely than not that the student respondent is in violation of all or part of the charges at issue. If the committee finding is “not in violation,” the Associate Dean or designated representative will notify the student within five business days. The chair also will notify the Assistant Dean of the program concerning the committee's decision.

If the committee finds the student respondent in violation for all or part of the charges brought against the student(s), the Academic Progress & Professional Integrity Committee will then decide by majority vote on appropriate sanctions for the offense in question. The committee will notify the Assistant Dean of the program regarding the outcome of the hearing and the recommended sanctions. The Associate Dean for Academic Affairs & Enrollment Management will notify the student in writing within five business days from the date of the hearing.

Sanctions

Sanctions will be imposed if a student is found to have violated or accepted responsibility for having violated the professional integrity policy. Sanctions may include any of the identified sanctions in the University Student Conduct Code. 

In order to protect the safety of any student or other member of the Brown School community, the University Student Conduct Code sets forth procedures for temporary suspension of students that may preclude a student from being present on campus, attending classes, and/or other School and University functions.

Appeals

• In cases resulting in suspension or expulsion/dismissal, the student respondent will have the right to appeal in writing to the Dean of the Brown School (or their designee) within five business days after being notified by the Associate Dean. Such appeal shall be made in writing to the Dean and shall be limited to the following grounds:
  • There was a material deviation from the procedures outlined in the Professional Integrity Policy that would significantly impact the outcome of the case or may have resulted in a different finding.
  • New or relevant information, not available at the time of the hearing, has arisen that would significantly impact the outcome of the case.
• The appeal must outline the reason for the appeal and provide all information relevant to the case for consideration of the appeal. The Dean will have the opportunity to request additional information, if needed. The Dean will determine whether a material deviation from the procedures occurred, or if new information has been made available, that would significantly alter the outcome of the hearing.
• If the Dean grants the appeal, they may order a new hearing or may reduce or modify the sanctions imposed.
• The Dean may uphold the decision of the committee and choose not to grant the appeal.
• The Dean will inform the student, in writing, of their determination. 
• All decisions are final.

Record Keeping

• It is the responsibility of the Associate Dean and their designees to maintain the records concerning professional integrity violations. When a student has been found to have violated this policy, the decision will be placed in the student’s official educational file.
• The Associate Dean or designated representative may also report the outcome to the University's Office of Student Conduct and Community Standards.
• Record retention will follow the Student Conduct Record Retention policy.

Student Support

• This policy recognizes the inherent stress associated with engaging in a process like this. Students are encouraged to get support via on-campus or off-campus resources.
• Student confidentiality throughout this process is required. However, students should seek the support of friends, family, and advisors, as needed. This should be a limited group of people who can also maintain the confidentiality and privacy of the professional integrity process, and documents designated as confidential in the process should not be shared.
• Students should contact the Associate Dean for Academic Affairs and Enrollment Management or a member of the Student Engagement team if they need support as they manage this process.

Time Away: Leave of Absence (LOA)

Degree-seeking students may request a leave of absence/time away for health or personal reasons. The process and requirements for requesting a leave are outlined on the Office of the University Registrar's website. Leaves may not exceed two years from the effective date of the leave, although individual programs may impose shorter limits.

Students are responsible for verifying their school and program policies, as well as any relevant immigration, financial aid, or institutional support requirements. Students who do not request and receive approval for reentry after two years will have their records withdrawn.

For federal reporting purposes, an approved leave of absence is reflected as such for 180 days. Any leave exceeding this duration is recorded as a withdrawal in federal systems.

The Brown School accepts two types of leaves: Personal and Medical.

• Personal leave* is used for any non-medical reasons (e.g. pregnancy, family obligations, military service, religious missions). 

• Medical leave is used for medical purposes such as evidence-based treatment, management of a health condition, and so on. Students must be approved by WashU Cares for a Medical LOA

A student who takes a Medical or Personal LOA after the 12th week of classes may have to take the subsequent semester off, which can include summer. The Brown School does not approve LOA paperwork submitted on or after the last day of classes of the semester.

A student who anticipates being on leave in any semester should discuss their situation with their academic advisor to consider all options and assess the potential consequences to their academic record. The timing of a Leave of Absence (LOA) may impact both academic credits and tuition charges. Prior to a student taking a LOA they should meet with their academic advisor and someone in the Brown School Student Financial Services department to discuss how taking a leave may affect them. 

*

International students requesting a personal leave of absence must leave the country within 15 days after submitting their request and are responsible for their visa. They must also meet with a staff member in the Office for International Students and Scholars.

Access During Time Away

Students on an approved leave will retain their Washington University email accounts and access to Workday to review records. However, access to university resources — including recreation facilities, libraries, and participation in activities — is paused during the leave.

Voluntary Withdrawal

A student may request a voluntary withdrawal if they no longer wish to pursue their degree at the Brown School.

Before initiating a voluntary withdrawal, students should do the following:

• Consult with their academic advisor to discuss all available options and understand the potential consequences for their academic record.
• Consider how the timing of their withdrawal might affect academic credits and tuition charges.

If a student decides to proceed with the voluntary withdrawal, the following formal procedure must be followed:

1. Complete the Time Away form in Workday.
   • The effective date of withdrawal will determine the student's grades and any potential tuition refund.
2. Meet with a Student Financial Services Advisor.
   • Schedule a meeting with a student financial services advisor to understand the impact of the withdrawal on any financial aid or scholarships.
3. Tuition Refund Policy
   • Refer to the tuition refund policy for details on potential tuition reimbursement based on the timing of the withdrawal.

Administrative Withdrawal

Enrollment and Attendance Requirement

• Students who fail to enroll in Fall or Spring courses or do not attend classes for which they are enrolled, without initiating a Leave of Absence or Voluntary Withdrawal, will be administratively withdrawn from the Brown School.
• This withdrawal will occur by the fourth week of the current semester if no corrective action is taken.

Unresponsiveness

• Students who fail to attend classes and become unresponsive to the Brown School or WashU administration may also be subject to administrative withdrawal.
• The Brown School or WashU will make reasonable efforts to contact the student.

Final Warning

• A final warning will be sent to the student if they remain unresponsive.
• If no response or corrective action is taken after the warning, the student may be administratively withdrawn from their program.

Termination

A student may be terminated from the Brown School for the following reasons:

1. Failure to meet academic standards
2. Inability to meet or maintain satisfactory academic progress

Expulsion

1. Academic Dishonesty
   • Acts of academic dishonesty, including but not limited to cheating, lying, and plagiarism
2. Ethics Violations
   • Behavior deemed to violate the NASW Code of Ethics
3. Policy Violations
   • Breach of University or School policies and procedures, including standards of professionalism.

The Academic Progress & Professional Integrity Committee may be convened to address concerns regarding a student's capacity, suitability, or appropriateness for studies or practice in social work or social policy. Academic Integrity concerns will be addressed by the Office of Academic Integrity within the Office of the Provost, in collaboration with Dean’s Staff.

Students who have been expelled from the Brown School are not eligible for reinstatement or readmission.

Refund Policy

Withdrawal From All Courses: Fall and Spring Full-Semester Courses

In order to qualify for any tuition refund as listed below, courses must be dropped before 11:59 pm on Friday of the week indicated. This policy applies only to students who withdraw (or take a Leave of Absence) from all semester courses.

• 100% tuition refund: Courses dropped before end of second week
• 70% tuition refund: Courses dropped before end of fourth week
• 50% tuition refund: Courses dropped before end of eighth week

Courses dropped after the end of the eighth week will receive no tuition refund. 

Withdrawal From All Courses: Summer

In order to qualify for any tuition refunds, students must meet the following deadlines:

• 100% tuition refund: Courses dropped by 11:59 p.m. of the first day of class.
• 80% tuition refund: Courses dropped by 11:59 p.m. of the second day of class.*

*

If the second day of class is the next day (i.e., if the course is a week-long intensive), then the student must drop the class by 11:59 p.m. on that second day to get a refund. If the second class is the following week, then the course must be dropped by 11:59 p.m. on the date of that second class.

Courses dropped after 11:59 p.m. of the second day of classes will receive no tuition refund.

Withdrawal From Individual Courses

• For students who withdraw from one or more courses but remain enrolled in the minimum number of credits required for full-time enrollment, there is no tuition adjustment/refund.
• The Brown School Offices of Academic Records and Registration and Financial Aid will inform students about any financial aid and scholarship implications if their enrollment falls to less than full time. 

Reentry/Readmission After Time Away

Students seeking to resume their studies must request reentry through the process outlined in the Brown School Bulletin and on the Office of the University Registrar website. A reentry application is required, and, depending on the nature of the leave, additional steps or documentation may be necessary.

Reinstatement Guidelines

Return From Time Away

Applies to students who:

• Are returning from an approved personal or medical leave of absence
• Voluntarily withdrew from the program
• Returning within 180 days of separation

Reentry (Reenter)

Applies to students who:

• Are returning from an approved personal or medical leave of absence
• Voluntarily withdrew from the program
• Returning after 180+ days of separation
• Returning within the maximum time to degree completion

Readmission (Reapply)

Applies to students who:

• Were administratively withdrawn
• Were unable to complete the program within the required time frame from their original matriculation date
• Returning after 180+ days of separation
• Requesting to return outside the maximum time to degree completion

Ineligible to Return

Applies to students who:

• Were academically withdrawn
• Were expelled or terminated from the program

Maximum Time for Degree Completion

Degree requirements must be completed within the following timelines, measured from the new matriculation semester:

Program Length/Maximum Time Allowed

• ​Two-year program: Four years
• Three-year program: Five years
• Four-year program: Six years
• Five-year program: Seven years
• Six-year program: Eight years

Reinstatement Request Process

To be considered for reentry or readmission, students must first initiate the request for reinstatement on the Office of the University Registrar's website and then complete the Brown School Reinstatement Request application. Upon submission, the Brown School's Office of Academic Records & Registration will conduct an academic record audit and notify the student via email regarding next steps.

Reentry and Readmission Outcomes

Based on the review, one of the following outcomes will be determined:

Outcome 1: Return From Time Away

Students returning within 180 days must complete the Request to Return from Time Away form in Workday.

• The application must be submitted at least six weeks before the semester start date.
• Late applications may be considered for the following semester.
• The Brown School only reinstates students for Fall and Spring semesters (not Summer).
• Students returning from a Medical Leave of Absence (MLOA) must follow WashU Cares’ reentry policies and deadlines.

Outcome 2: Request to Reenter

Students returning after 180 days must complete the Request to Re-Enter form in Slate.

• The application must be submitted at least six weeks before the semester start date.
• Late applications may be considered for the following semester.
• The Brown School only reinstates students for Fall and Spring semesters (not Summer).
• Students returning from a Medical Leave of Absence (MLOA) must follow WashU Cares’ reentry policies and deadlines.

Outcome 3: Request for Readmission

Students who were voluntarily withdrawn and have exceeded the maximum time allowed for degree completion, must reapply for admission as a new student.

• Students must complete an admission application in Slate for a Brown School program.
• Applicants must follow admissions deadlines, policies, and requirements set by the Office of Admissions & Recruitment.
• If accepted, students will be enrolled as new students.

Outcome 4: Ineligible to Return

Students who were academically withdrawn or expelled are not eligible to return.

If a reinstatement request is denied, the student will receive an official email notification from the Brown School's Office of Academic Records & Registration or the Associate Dean of Student Affairs & Enrollment Management.

Decision-Making Factors

Decisions are based on the following:

• The student’s academic standing at the time of last enrollment.
• Activities undertaken during the time away.
• The length of absence from the program.
• Potential for successful completion of the program, as determined by the Brown School.
• Availability of academic and financial resources to support the student’s return.
• Any other relevant factors.

Approval for Reentry or Readmission is not guaranteed. The student will receive an email with detailed instructions based on their assigned outcome. Some conditions may apply.

Additional Requirements

Resolving Accounting Holds

• Students with outstanding balances must resolve their Student Accounting holds before their application for Reentry or Reapplication can be considered.

Credits for Previous Coursework

• Credits for Brown School coursework taken before a student’s return are not automatically counted toward the degree. They require review by the Office of Admissions & Recruitment and/or the Brown School's Office of Academic Records & Registration.
• Coursework completed more than six years prior to Reentry or Readmission will not be considered for credit toward the degree.

Returning from Medical Leave of Absence (MLOA)

• Students requesting return from a Medical LOA must follow the WashU Cares reentry policies and deadlines and obtain approval from Washington University Student Health Services (SHS) before returning.
• Deadlines for Medical LOA Reinstatement:
  • Fall Semester: Submit request to SHS between June 1 – July 1
  • Spring Semester: Submit request to SHS between Nov. 1 – Dec. 1
  • Summer reinstatement is not permitted by SHS.

Students Approved for Reentry

• Within the first two weeks of the semester in which the student returns from a Leave of Absence (LOA), the student is required to meet with the Associate Dean of Student Affairs and Enrollment Management (or designee) to develop an academic success plan for the remainder of their program.
• Students must complete degree requirements within the original time frame for degree completion based on their original matriculation date.

Changes in Course Offerings

• If course offerings or degree requirements have been revised, the program may require the student to complete additional courses, exams, or other requisites to fulfill degree completion.

Scholarships/Tuition

Reentry

1. Scholarship Eligibility
   • Students approved for re-entry will retain eligibility for any remaining funds from the scholarship award granted at the time of their original admission to the program.
2. Tuition and Fees
   • Reinstated students will be assessed tuition and fees based on the current tuition rate and fee structure in effect for the academic year in which they return to the Brown School.

Readmission

1. Scholarship Eligibility
   • Students approved for readmission are no longer eligible to receive scholarships previously awarded by the Brown School.
2. Scholarship Reconsideration
   • Students will be reconsidered for merit-based scholarships by the Office of Admissions & Recruitment. This process will follow the same criteria and procedures as for new applicants to the Brown School.
3. Financial Assistance
   • Students should contact the Brown School Office of Student Financial Services for information on available financial aid and funding options.
4. Tuition and Fees
   • Returning students will be assessed tuition and fees according to the current tuition rates and fee structure in effect for the academic year of their return to the Brown School.

Holds

The University and the Brown School can place a Hold on a student’s record for various reasons. If you have a Hold on your record you will not be allowed to register for classes in the following semester, order a transcript, or use Bear Bucks. Holds should be cleared with the department that placed it (such as by paying your bill at Student Financial Services).

The University Registrar’s Office places holds on records of students who do not enter current address (Home and Local) and telephone information. 

The Brown School's Office of Academic Records and Registration can place holds on the records of students for the following reasons:

• Online orientation
• 3/2 students for registration purposes
• Entering emergency contact in Workday Student
• Having over 6 credit units marked Incomplete
• Declaring a concentration (MSW only)
• Submitting completed Advancing Standing paperwork (MSW Advanced Standing only)

Other university holds may include past due balances, parking tickets, student conduct, not completing required university processes (e.g., immunizations, Title IX training), and other issues.

Students can find specific details about any holds on their account within Workday Student.

Independent Study

The Brown School allows for Independent Study credits to be earned, in accordance with the following policies.

The purpose of an independent study is to enable a student to gain an in-depth knowledge of an area germane to a student’s course of study, which is not offered in a course at the Brown School. The need for and value of an independent study will be evaluated very carefully to determine if an independent study is justified. The student and the supervising full-time Brown School faculty member will arrange objectives for the content of each independent study. All independent studies should result in a tangible output as a basis for evaluation (e.g., a notebook, written paper, web page, or media presentation).

• Independent Study can only be applied toward fulfilling elective credit requirements credits.
• Independent Study must be taken for a letter grade. 
• Only full-time Brown School faculty are eligible to serve as the faculty of record/independent study supervisor/liaison.
• Students must have a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher in their graduate program and must have completed a minimum of five courses at the Brown School. 
• No more than 6 Independent Study credits may be applied towards satisfying elective credit degree requirements at the Brown School.
• No more than 3 credits of independent study may be taken in a single semester. 
• 1 credit unit is equal to 15 hours of contact between the student and faculty member. Long-distance independent studies may be permitted with the approval of the program's Assistant Dean.
• No more than two students may work on the same independent study simultaneously and there must be a clear delineation of tasks.
• The content of an Independent Study course, and the reason for requesting it, must be detailed in an Independent Study proposal developed by the student and the instructor (graduate full-time Brown School faculty member). 
• Before the proposal is submitted to the Brown School's Office of Academic Records and Registration for approval by the Associate or Assistant Dean of the student's program, the instructor who will direct the study must approve it. 
• The scope and rigor as well as the intellectual demands of an Independent Study proposal must equal or exceed those of regular graduate courses offered at the Brown School.
• A student may not audit or sit in on a course to receive independent study credit. 
• Independent Studies may not be done retroactively. That is, the agreement for Independent Study is to be completed, signed, and approved by all parties prior to the initiation of the project, and no later than the add deadline.
• Independent Studies adhere to the add deadline of full semester courses. Students may not add or drop an independent study course after these posted deadlines. 

You may request an Independent Study through the Brown School Hub.

Faculty Responsibilities

The faculty member has several major roles, including teacher, scholar-researcher, and citizen in the school, University, and community. The role of faculty carries clear responsibilities to students and the institution.

Students are entitled to an atmosphere conducive to learning and to evenhanded treatment in all aspects of the teacher–student relationship. Faculty members may not refuse enrollment or refuse to teach students on the grounds of students’ beliefs or the possible uses to which they may put the knowledge to be gained in a course. A faculty member may not use the authority inherent in the instructional role to sexually harass, to discriminate against by reason of race, color, age, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, veteran status, disability or genetic information, or to compel a student to make particular personal choices as to political action or their role in society.

Grading, Testing, and Evaluation

Evaluation of students and awarding of credit must be based on academic performance, professionally judged, and not on matters irrelevant to that performance, such as personality, race, color, age, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, veteran status, disability information or genetic information, or personal beliefs.

Tests must be designed to cover only the subject matter and material that the faculty member has assigned. The faculty member should take reasonable steps to prevent student cheating such as plagiarism, copying from other students, or use of other types of unfair aids. 

Regularly Scheduled Classes

Faculty members have a responsibility to provide instruction during regularly scheduled classes. When illness or other factors necessitate absence from class, the faculty member is responsible for rescheduling the canceled class or providing some type of substitute. When professors cancel a class, an email will be sent to enrolled students whenever possible. Professors also use email to notify students of cancellations and make-ups. When severe weather occurs, some professors may cancel class. Students should check the WashU website and their email before traveling to campus when the weather is particularly severe.​

Adherence to Curriculum

It is a faculty member’s position, based on mastery of their subject and scholarship that entitles them to freedom in the presentation of subject matter. Thus, it is improper for a faculty member to include material that has no relation to the subject or to fail to present the subject matter of courses as approved generally by the faculty in its collective responsibility for the curriculum and in adherence to Council on Social Work Education (CSWE) accreditation standards. Students enroll in courses on the basis of descriptions provided in course listings. Thus, it is important that faculty members adhere to them in teaching their courses. ​

Accessibility

Faculty members have a responsibility to make themselves accessible to students at times other than class periods. They should provide regularly scheduled office hours and procedures through which students can schedule appointments as well as timely response to email.

Office Hours

All full-time faculty teaching during a particular semester should post their office hours each semester. In addition, faculty may be available by appointment during the academic year. To meet with an adjunct faculty member, students should speak with the instructor after class or email them to arrange an appointment. 

Course Descriptions and Outlines/Syllabi

Course descriptions for the Brown School and all other Washington University colleges and schools are available in Workday.

Course syllabi are available to enrolled students via the Canvas course page.

Course Evaluations

Students are expected to complete a confidential online course evaluation at the middle and/or end of each course. These evaluations are used by the faculty and Assistant Deans of Social Work & Social Policy to improve course content and quality of instruction. Online course evaluation results for recent semesters can also be viewed at the evaluation website.

Application for Program Completion

In order to graduate, a student must have a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.00 (GPAs are never rounded up), complete all program requirements, and fill out the Application for Program Completion in Workday Student. The student must be registered for all required credits to complete their Program of Study in this final semester in order to complete the application.

The deadline to submit this form will be listed on the University's Academic Calendar. Students who miss this deadline will not graduate in that semester.

If a student does not file an Application for Program Completion:

1. They will not graduate in their intended semester and will have to delay to the subsequent semester.
2. Their name may not be listed in the Commencement program.
3. They may not be able to participate in the ceremony.

Filling out this application will also be the student's only opportunity to provide a pronunciation for their name to be used at Commencement.

Statement of Student Rights

The Brown School Faculty has developed and approved the following list of student rights. Students have:

• The right to organize in their own interests as students.
• The right to have representation and participation on approved standing committees of the Brown School.
• The right, individually or in association with other individuals, to engage freely in off-campus activities, exercising their rights as citizens of community, state, and nation. Students shall not claim to formally represent the Brown School or Washington University during these activities.
• The right to establish and issue electronic or print publications free of any censorship or other pressure aimed at controlling editorial policy. Such publications shall not claim to represent the Brown School or Washington University.
• The right to petition through proper channels for changes in curriculum, professional practicum, faculty/concentration, academic and/or field advisor, and failing grades and to petition through proper channels in cases of grievance.
• The right to receive appropriate recognition for their contribution to the process of research or scholarly endeavors under faculty direction as part of their formal academic program.
• The right of equal opportunity to enjoy these rights without regard to race, color, age, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, veteran status, disability, or genetic information.

Enumeration of certain rights herein shall not be construed as to nullify or limit any other rights possessed by students; exercise of these rights falls within more general Washington University-wide policies. 

Student Grievances

From time to time, students may have concerns regarding a peer, faculty or staff member’s conduct within or beyond the classroom. It is important that students, faculty, and staff have a common understanding of how such concerns may be expressed.

Addressing Concerns to an Individual

Some concerns students have regarding interactions with peers, faculty classroom conduct or meetings with staff result from poor communication or misperceptions of interactions. Many such problems can best be resolved through discussion between individuals. If a student has a concern and they feel comfortable, they should contact the student, faculty or staff member as quickly as possible to request a meeting to respectfully discuss the matter. Everyone should be willing to listen to legitimate concerns and to rectify the problems. 

Students may choose to consult with another faculty or staff member for advice prior to any conversation.

Addressing Concerns to Administration

Some concerns may not be appropriate for discussion with the individual student, faculty or staff member, may be related to larger systemic issues, or may not be resolved through discussion with the student, faculty or staff member. In these cases, students may report a concern using any or all of the following processes:

• Student of Concern Report
• Mid and Final Course Evaluations
• Exit Survey given at time of graduation
• Student Experience Survey in the spring
• Academic and Student Affairs and other departmental surveys
• Utilizing the Tell Brown online submission form available 24/7
• Assistant or Associate Dean for Social Work or Social Policy (for faculty concerns)
• Associate Dean for Student Affairs & Enrollment Management (for staff concerns)
• The Bias Report and Support System

Additional resources can be found on the Reporting Options page of the WashU website.

Student concerns are taken seriously by the administration. In no circumstances will retaliatory actions against a student for submitting such a concern be tolerated. Once a concern is received, an administrator will review and determine whether it should be referred to another administrator or department. If the student submitting the concern has identified themselves and indicates a wish to meet to discuss further, an administrator will contact the student to discuss the matter further, discuss the student’s formal and informal options to address the concern and, if appropriate, refer the student to additional resources.

Please review the sections below for more information about the Brown School's doctoral program policies.

PhD Course-Related Policies

Course Level

To count toward a graduate degree, courses must be offered at the graduate level, taken for a grade, and approved in advance by the student's advisor and program as eligible to count toward the student's degree. Graduate-level work includes Brown School courses, School of Medicine courses, and other program courses numbered at the 4000 or 5000 level. Audited courses and courses taken on a Pass/No Pass basis cannot be counted toward the degree. Students should consult their advisors regarding these options. Brown School courses cannot be taken for audit or Pass/No Pass grade option.

Brown School doctoral programs require a combination of coursework and research units to be completed for a degree. The minimum for the PhD in Social Work is 74 credits. Students should consult their program handbooks for courses specific to their programs. 21 credits from a master's program can be applied toward the 74 credit total.

Grading

Credit-conferring grades for PhD students are as follows: A, outstanding; B, good; and C, conditional. An A, B, or C grade may be modified by a plus or minus. Other grades are F, Failing; P, Pass; I, Incomplete; W, Withdrawal; IP, In Progress; and NP, No Pass. The mark of I reverts to an F grade 60 days after the grading deadline of the semester in which the I grade was given. The Brown School uses a 4-point scale for calculating grade-point averages tabulated as follows:

Grade/Points per Unit

Grade	Points per Unit
A	4.0
A-	3.7
B+	3.3
B	3.0
B-	2.7
C+	2.3
C	2.0
C-	1.7
F	0.0
P	Pass
F	Fail
I	Incomplete
W	Withdrawal
NP	No Pass
IP	In Progress

Course Retake

Brown School doctoral students may choose to retake a course with the permission of their advisor. If a course is repeated, only the second grade is included in the calculation of the GPA. Both enrollments and grades are shown on the student's official transcript. The symbol R next to the first enrollment's grade indicates that the course was later retaken. Credit toward the degree is allowed for the latest enrollment only. No student may use the retake option to replace a grade received as a sanction for violation of the Academic Integrity Policy. The R option may be invoked only once per course, and the original grade option must be retained.

Transfer Credit

A maximum of 21 units of graduate credit earned during a doctoral student's masters program at Washington University or another university may be applied toward the PhD required credit total of 74. Transfer credit must be recommended by the program director and approved by the registrar with receipt of an official transcript. No graduate courses carrying grades lower than B can be accepted for transfer toward any graduate degree. Other transfer credit scenarios will be reviewed on a case by case basis with a review of syllabi and transcripts needed before approval.

PhD Registration and Enrollment Policies

Full-Time Enrollment

Students admitted to a PhD program in the Brown School must maintain full-time continuous enrollment throughout the approved length of the program. Brown School PhD programs are to be completed within five years under normal conditions. During those years, students will be considered full-time with one or a combination of the following enrollments: 1) registered for 9 or more course units (including doctoral research units); or 2) registered for BSDC 9900 Doctoral Research (see In-Absentia Enrollment below). These courses indicate the student's full-time engagement in research or academic writing and should be used once a student has completed the total credit unit requirement for the program. PhD students who are not registered as described above may find themselves carrying a part-time status and could be in jeopardy of losing certain benefits or be in violation of their visa status. Part-time enrollments will be permitted only in extraordinary circumstances. BSDC 9900 Doctoral Research can be used for enrollment in circumstances requiring an eighth year of study.

Program Length Limit

The Brown School PhD maximum number of semesters of continuous enrollment is 14 (seven years). Students in one of the PhD programs who have not completed their terminal degrees and who have not withdrawn will be dismissed at the end of 14 semesters. An exception may be granted by the Brown School Dean on request by the program director if the student is expected to complete their degree during an eighth year of enrollment. Enrollment for a ninth continuous year will not be allowed. Semesters during which the student is on an approved leave of absence are not included on the enrollment clock.

Enrollment Extension

Students may be permitted to register for one additional year beyond their seven-year program length, when approved by their program. The advisor must submit a letter to the program director explaining the rationale for the extension and specifying a timeline for the student's completion of the dissertation. The program director presents the request to the PhD Administrative Committee; a majority vote is needed for final approval of the extension. Students approved for extension must enroll in BSDC 9900 Doctoral Research, which confers full-time enrollment status. Students registered for BSDC 9900 Doctoral Research may or may not receive financial support, but they are eligible to receive other benefits available to full-time PhD students, including health insurance and wellness fee subsidies.

Degree Candidacy Extended

In very rare circumstances, Degree Candidacy Extended Status allows PhD candidates who have not completed degree requirements within the program length to leave the full-time program but remain degree candidates. Extended degree candidates are not registered for any courses, have no enrollment status, and receive none of the benefits available to registered Washington University students, including student loan deferment. Advisors must submit to the program director the rationale for the student leaving the full-time program; the PhD Administrative Committee must approve the request by a majority vote. If approved, the student may remain a doctoral candidate for up to five years. If the PhD requirements are not completed, the candidate is immediately dismissed from the program.

In-Absentia Enrollment

During a student's period of regular registration, they may have a need or opportunity to study away from Washington University. Students, with their advisors, should submit a request for in-absentia enrollment to the program director. Directors consider requests on a case-by-case basis. If approved, the student will be registered for BSDC 9900 Doctoral Research for up to four consecutive or nonconsecutive fall/spring semesters. Semesters in which a student is registered in absentia are counted as part of the student's program length.

Leaves of Absence (Medical and Personal)

The Brown School accepts two types of leaves of absence (LOAs): personal and medical.

• Personal leave is used for any nonmedical emergency (e.g., pregnancy, death in the family).
• Medical leaves must be authorized by Student Health Services. Policies and procedures are listed on the Student Health Services website.

For either a personal or medical LOA from the Brown School, prior to leaving, the student must complete the Student Time Away Request in Workday. The Brown School does not approve LOA paperwork submitted after the last day of classes of the semester.

A personal LOA can be approved for up to one academic year. If a student anticipates being on leave for longer than one academic year, they must request an extension of their leave for up to one additional academic year and must complete a new LOA form with the new anticipated date of return.

A student who anticipates being on leave in any semester should discuss their situation with their academic advisor to consider all options and assess the potential consequences to their academic record. The timing of an LOA may impact both academic credits and tuition charges. Taking a leave may therefore adversely affect loan deferment, visa status, the right to rent university-owned housing, and so on. Most visa types would prevent international students from remaining in the United States while taking an LOA; such students should consult the Office for International Students and Scholars as well as their faculty advisor. Prior to a student taking an LOA, they should meet with the program manager and the Assistant Director of Financial Aid to discuss how taking a leave may affect their record.

A student who takes a medical or personal LOA after the 12th week of classes may have to take the subsequent semester off, which can include summer. Depending on the length of the leave and the structure of the current curriculum, previous credits may not count toward the degree being sought.

International students requesting a personal leave of absence must leave the country within 15 days after submitting their request, and these students are responsible for their visas. They must also meet with a staff member in the Office for International Students and Scholars.

Voluntary Withdrawal

A student may request a voluntary withdrawal if they no longer wish to pursue a doctoral degree at the Brown School. Before withdrawing, students should consult with their faculty advisor and program director to consider all options and assess the consequences to their academic record. The timing of a withdrawal may impact both academic credits and tuition charges, and the effective date of withdrawal will determine grades. If a student then wishes to voluntarily withdraw from the Brown School, the following formal procedure is required:

• Request and complete the PhD Request to Withdraw form, including a written statement of withdrawal. The form is available on InsideBrown. Additionally, complete the Student Time Away Request in Workday.
• Meet with the Office of Academic Records & Registration, who will advise the student on implications resulting from a voluntary withdrawal.

Involuntary Leave of Absence

The Washington University Involuntary Leave Policy applies to all undergraduate and graduate students.

Reinstatement

If the leave of absence has been less than two years, the student will have an active academic record and can request to return from leave within Workday. If it has been over two years, the student will have to submit an application for re-entry to WashU.  

Doctoral students on leave from the Brown School must submit the Student Return from Time Away request in Workday if their absence has been less than two years. Students whose absense has been longer than two years should contact the Brown School Office of Academic Records & Registration. Decisions regarding reinstatement or readmission may be based on the applicant’s academic status when last enrolled, their activities while away from campus, the length of their absence, the potential for successful completion of the program as determined by the Brown School, the ability of the department to support the applicant both academically and financially, as well as other relevant factors or considerations. An Application for Reinstatement must be completed 6 weeks prior to the first day of the term in which enrollment is requested. After this date, the application will be reviewed for reinstatement in the subsequent term. Once the application has been reviewed and a decision has been made, the student will receive notification via email.

​Students returning from medical leaves of absence must follow the deadlines described above and obtain approval from Washington University Student Health Services prior to returning. Student Health Services authorizes reinstatement based on the student demonstrating the adequate resolution of the conditions that required the leave. Reinstatement for the summer session is not allowed. Detailed information about reinstatement after a medical leave of absence can be found on the MLOA Information and Procedures page of the WashU Cares website.

Doctoral students who do not register in one of the scenarios as described under the full-time enrollment policy may have to apply for reinstatement if they wish to re-enroll at a future time.

PhD Academic Progress/Probation/Dismissal

Satisfactory Academic Progress

Satisfactory academic progress for students in PhD programs is monitored by the Brown School and the degree program. Failure to maintain satisfactory academic progress may result in a student's immediate dismissal or in their placement on academic probation for the ensuing year. Most financial awards — and all federally funded awards — are contingent on the maintenance of satisfactory academic progress. The following timetable presents key milestones by completion year in the program:

Program Req/Target Year/Limit Year

Program Requirements	Target Year	Limit Year
Secure faculty advisor	1	2
Coursework completed	2	3
Area statement completed and qualifying exam passed	3	4
Approval of dissertation proposal	3	4
Dissertation defended	4	7

The following are minimal standards of satisfactory academic progress for PhD students:

• PhD students must adhere to the Washington University Academic and Professional Integrity Policy for PhD Students for honesty and ethical behavior in all scholastic endeavors and in everyday conduct outside of the scholarly community.
• Students are expected to proceed at a pace appropriate to enable them to finish within the time limits and milestone markers of their programs. Students are expected to have completed all PhD requirements except for the dissertation by no later than the end of the fourth year of full-time graduate study.
• Students must secure a faculty advisor by the beginning of their second academic year.
• Students are expected to maintain a cumulative GPA of at least 3.0.
• Students are expected not to carry at one time any more than 9 credit units for which grades of I (Incomplete) are recorded.
• Students must satisfactorily pass the area statement and qualifying exam by August 1 following the third academic year.
• After four years of full-time graduate study, doctoral students who cannot identify three faculty members who are willing to serve on their Dissertation Committee are not considered to be making satisfactory academic progress. The Title, Scope and Procedure form must be filed before August 1 of the end of the fourth year in order to identify the membership of the student's Dissertation Committee.
• Students may take up to seven years to complete the PhD by August 1 at the end of the seventh year. A one-year extension is available if circumstances warrant (consult Enrollment Extension). Extensions are obtained by application by the student to the degree program and approved by the PhD Administrative Committee.

Academic and Professional Integrity for PhD Students

The Academic and Professional Integrity Policy (PDF) applies to all PhD students on the Danforth and Medical campuses, including dual-degree students when one of the degree programs is a PhD program.

Probation for Academic Reasons

Except for circumstances justifying immediate dismissal (see Dismissal for Academic Reasons), a student cannot be dismissed on the basis of academic performance without the opportunity to return to good standing during an identified period of probation. The purpose of probation is to do the following: 1) explicitly warn the student of their status; 2) provide the student with clear guidelines of the performance that will be necessary to return to good standing; and 3) provide the student with reasonable time to meet these expectations. To meet these objectives, probation normally should be designated for a minimum of three months. When the probation criteria involve coursework, then the probation period would normally correspond to the semester duration. A student on probation must receive a detailed letter from the program director stating the reasons for the probation and explicitly identifying the steps necessary for the student to return to good standing by the end of the probation period. A copy of this letter should be sent to the Brown School Dean. If a student does not meet all criteria for good academic standing but the department does not wish to place the student on probation, an appeal for this exception can be made to the PhD Administrative Committee.

At the end of a first probation, the student may 1) be returned to good standing; 2) be placed on a second consecutive probation; or 3) be dismissed from the program. A second consecutive probation must be accompanied by a new letter identifying the steps required to return to good standing. Although the purpose of the probationary period is to provide the student with time to improve, the decision of the program at the end of a probationary period could involve immediate notification of dismissal. At the end of a second continuous probation, the student will be either returned to good standing or dismissed.

A third probation will be allowed only if it is not continuous. A fourth probation will not be allowed. A student whose performance would result in a fourth probation will be dismissed immediately. A leave of absence cannot be used by a student to delay or nullify the consequences of a third consecutive or fourth probation.

Stipend support should continue during a probationary period unless the student is failing to meet the basic expectations of their position (e.g., repeatedly missing classes, repeatedly absent from faculty mentor meetings, failing to carry out research tasks). If a program or school decides to suspend stipend support under these circumstances, the student must be given a minimum of two weeks’ notice prior to the withholding of such support. If the student’s performance improves and they begin meeting the basic expectations of the program, stipend support should resume at that time. During all probationary semesters, tuition remission will remain as offered at initial enrollment.

The appeal of probation or dismissal by a student should follow the guidelines for Student Grievance procedures in that it should begin at the most local level. In cases of probation or dismissal, a student may appeal within 14 calendar days to the program director or another designated faculty representative from the PhD Administrative Committee. Appeals of probation end with the program director or the designated faculty representative (i.e., placement on probation cannot be appealed to the Brown School Dean). In cases where there is a perceived conflict of interest with the program director or the PhD Administrative Committee, another Brown School faculty member can be designated to address the appeal process for probation or dismissal.

Dismissal for Academic Reasons

Academic dismissal is distinct from withdrawal (initiated by the student), deactivation of a student’s record by a failure to register, and dismissal or other sanctions associated with the University Academic and Professional Integrity Policy or the University Student Judicial Code. Dismissals are recommended by the degree program and are not final until approved by the PhD Administrative Committee. Students may be dismissed immediately for extreme academic underperformance (see Satisfactory Academic Progress). Students who encounter personal situations that contribute to academic underperformance during a semester should be informed of the option to request a leave of absence rather than continuing enrollment with poor performance. The ability to complete mentored teaching responsibilities is not a sufficient basis for remaining enrolled.

For academic dismissal decisions, a graduate student may submit a final appeal of the dismissal to the Brown School Dean. Appeal requests must be initiated with the program director within 14 calendar days of formal notification of probation or dismissal, and appeals to the Dean must be made within 14 calendar days of a decision by the program director to uphold a student’s dismissal. Responses to appeals generally occur within the next 14 calendar days after the appeal is requested. Stipend support is discontinued at the time the student is notified of dismissal. The student is not eligible to receive stipend support during an appeal of dismissal; however, if the appeal is upheld, the student is eligible for stipend support covering the period of the dismissal appeal process. Students who have chosen to withdraw from their program (as opposed to taking an authorized leave) cannot appeal or seek reconsideration of this decision.

Student Grievance

From time to time, students may feel that they have legitimate complaints regarding academic matters or interactions with faculty members. It is important that students and faculty have a common understanding of how such complaints may be expressed and resolved. Students with complaints regarding academic matters should initially seek resolution from their faculty advisor and then then from their program director. Complaints that remain unresolved may be addressed to the PhD Administrative Committee. The final court of appeal for all doctoral students is the Brown School Dean.

Washington University policies state that members of the university community can expect to be free from discrimination and harassment. Students, faculty, staff and outside organizations working on campus are required to abide by specific policies prohibiting harassment. An allegation of discrimination or harassment may be appealed to the Vice Chancellor for Human Resources, who will determine whether to convene the Title IX Grievance Committee to hear the case. Visit the university's Discrimination and Harassment page for more information.

Dissertation Dissenting Votes

For the rare cases in which faculty raise concerns about a student's dissertation that cannot be resolved through subsequent revisions and that therefore result in dissenting (negative) vote(s), the Committee Chair will refer the case to the program director. If the program director is on the committee, they will designate an outside faculty to mediate. In the case of one or more dissenting votes, the Committee Chair and the dissenting voter will be asked to explain the reasons for the dissent in a letter to the program director or designee. After consulting with these and other members of the Committee, the director or their designee may accept the majority opinion and approve the dissertation, or they may seek the opinion of an additional reader. After considering this additional evidence, the director or their designee must approve or decline the dissertation. Failure to enlist a designee will be tantamount to a rejection of the dissertation.

Advisor/Advisee Relationship

The relationship between an advisor and an advisee is critical to the success of a student in a PhD program. If a situation arises in which it is determined that the existing advisor/advisee relationship should be terminated, either by the advisor or the advisee, the student will enter into a three-month probationary period so that the student can identify a new thesis research advisor. The student will continue to receive the customary stipend (if appropriate) and allowances until an advisor for the thesis research is identified or for three months, whichever comes first. After the three-month period, the student will either have established a new advisor/advisee relationship or, at the discretion of the program, be provided with a second three-month probationary period. At the end of either probationary period, the student may be dismissed from the program as not having made the appropriate academic progress. A third probationary period will not be permitted. A student is able to appeal the probation decision following the appropriate procedures as outlined earlier in these policies.

PhD Financial-Related Policies

Minimum Stipend Award

All Brown School PhD students receive a monthly stipend beginning in August of the first academic year of their full-time enrollment.

For the 2026-27 academic year, the minimum 12-month stipend is $37,853. The stipend amount is detailed in the admission offer letter for each first-year admitted student. Stipends are eligible for renewal for a period of five years for full-time enrolled students making satisfactory progress in the PhD program. International students will have higher stipends during their first year only due to visa supplements; for years two through five, the base stipend will go back to the school's base stipend amount.

Tuition and Fees

The maximum tuition fee is the equivalent of 9 semester units. Students who enroll for 9 or more units per semester are automatically regarded as full-time students and are charged a flat full-time rate. Students must enroll in at least 9 units of coursework and in BSDC 9900 Doctoral Research or Full-time Graduate Study in Absentia to maintain full-time status. Failure to register risks satisfactory academic progress. The tuition rate and fees are subject to annual change; however, Brown School doctoral students receive remission for these charges. Please note that students who do not register for two consecutive semesters could lose university benefits and will be considered candidates for dismissal.

Tuition Remission

The Brown School provides tuition remission for the length of the student’s program as long as academic progress is being made. To be eligible for tuition remission, courses must be taken at the graduate level. These include most Brown School and School of Medicine courses and skill labs and, depending on the program, courses numbered in the 4000s and 5000s in other schools. Courses offered through the School of Continuing & Professional Studies are non-remissible, and Brown School students cannot audit these courses.

Students who wish to enroll in courses outside of these parameters and to receive tuition remission must submit justification of relevancy to their program with approval from their advisor to the program director. Likewise, doctoral students should discuss and receive permission from the program in advance if seeking remission for the cost of educational or training opportunities besides courses (e.g., summer institutes, professional development, external trainings, unrelated master’s degrees). Tuition remission is not guaranteed for the non-program–related coursework. Students pursuing a certificate or an unrelated master's degree in addition to their PhD must consult their program director and advisors about credit sharing between the programs.

Refunds

In the event that a PhD student is responsible for the tuition of a course, they should consult the school refund timeline and policies for information.

Insurance and Health-Related Subsidies

All full-time students on the Danforth Campus are charged a mandatory health fee that gives them access to the Student Health Center. In addition, they must either enroll in the student health insurance plan or present proof of comparable coverage. International students are not allowed to waive health insurance. Both the health fee and the health insurance premium are subject to annual change. The Brown School covers both costs plus 100% of the optional dental insurance through an enhancement added to students' monthly stipend. Students are then responsible for paying the balance for the cost of these items as they appear on the students' billing. Students receiving special fellowship support may have different arrangements for covering their health fees and insurance. Information about healthcare coverage can be found on the Washington University Human Resources site. Please consult the program manager for specific questions.

All students receiving the stipend for dental insurance will automatically be enrolled in the dental insurance plan. The charge for this plan will be on the student accounting bill. Students may elect to opt out of the dental coverage by contacting studentinsurance@wustl.edu. If the request to opt out of the dental insurance has been received before the deadline listed on the student health services website, the student account charge will be reversed within seven working days. Students can view the dental benefits on the UnitedHealthcare Student Resources site (select the "Dental/Vision" tab). More information may be found on the Washington University Student Health Insurance Plan Information page.

Please note the following:

1. Students will only be eligible to remain on the dental plan if they are on the medical plan. If a student waives the medical plan, they are not eligible to remain on the dental plan.
2. Students may enroll dependents on the dental plan by contacting UnitedHealthcare directly. Students must be on the dental plan in order to enroll dependents.
3. This stipend does not include vision insurance. Students may enroll in vision insurance directly through UnitedHealthcare.

Reimbursement for Professional Development Expenses

Full-time doctoral students may request up to $1,000 in support for professional development. Professional development entails presenting papers or posters at scholarly and professional conferences or attending workshops and classes on statistics or other topics of relevance to the dissertation. Students may also apply to use these funds for other dissertation-relevant expenditures, including computers, software, clerical assistance, and research-related incentives.

Part-Time Employment

If a full-time supported doctoral student wishes to accept part-time employment within or outside of Washington University, the following guidelines must be followed. The Internal Revenue Service, the Washington University Human Resources Office, and U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services all make important distinctions between students and employees. These guidelines are designed to assist doctoral students with retaining their status as students.

Brown School doctoral students receiving stipends or fellowships are allowed a maximum of 10 hours per week on average of additional part-time employment while maintaining their status as full-time students. Working up to 20 hours a week is approved on a case-by-case basis after consultation with the faculty advisor and approval from the program director. International students should consult with the Office for International Students & Scholars regarding requirements, and all students must consult and receive approval from their advisor and program director in order to accept an additional position outside of the stipend or fellowship. Fully supported students engaged in part-employment may have a reduction or even a cease in their stipend from the program.

Brown School doctoral students not receiving stipends or fellowships and who have yet to complete their PhD requirements must enroll in BSDC 9900 Doctoral Research. Enrollment confers full-time student status and continuing access to health insurance, university resources, and loan forbearance (see Enrollment Extension and In-Absentia Enrollment). Unfunded continuing students may work up to 20 hours per week on average if approved by their faculty advisor and program director. The request for outside employment may be denied for any reason related to research or academic progress. If approved, the student must abide by all applicable university, IRS, and immigration policies. The student also must keep their advisor and program director apprised of all extra activities. PhD students who are not registered or who are not compliant with the policies as described above may find themselves in a part-time status and thus could be in jeopardy of the loss of certain benefits or be in violation of their visa status. Part-time enrollments will be permitted only in extraordinary circumstances (refer to Degree Candidacy Extended).

Child Day Care Subsidy

The Child Day Care Subsidy is sponsored by Washington University in St. Louis, and its purpose is to help the families of PhD students meet the costs of child day care while the student pursues their studies.

The amount of child day care subsidy awarded to eligible applicants depends on their financial need, the number of children they have enrolled in child day care facilities, their child day care expenses, and available funding.

Requirements for Eligibility

To be considered for the Child Day Care Subsidy, a student should meet the following qualifications:

• Be enrolled full-time in a Washington University PhD degree program at the start of the award period
• Be the parent of a child under the age of 5, a child between 5 and 6 years old who is currently ineligible to attend kindergarten due to their date of birth, or a child with special needs under the age of 19
• Incur child day care expenses from a facility, center, or provider
• Apply for any available scholarships and aid at their chosen provider before applying for the Washington University child day care subsidy
• Be making satisfactory academic progress, as defined by their school/program
• Utilize child day care services because they are a single student or, if they are married or have a partner, because their spouse or partner is either a student (enrolled full time in an undergraduate or graduate degree program) or employed outside the home for a minimum of 20 hours per week (The student may be asked to attest to their spouse's or partner's employment or student status.)
• Complete the day care subsidy application by the deadline for each semester.

Day Care Subsidy Process

PhD students interested in receiving the child day care subsidy will complete a centralized application form found on the Vice Provost for Graduate Education (VPGE) website each fall or spring semester. The subsidy is not available during the summer term. Applications will route to the appropriate representative in the student’s selected school based on information communicated to the provost office staff. A financial administrator from each school/program will be responsible for reviewing the application to ensure the student meets the stated criteria. Eligible students will receive subsidy payments via Workday.

The application will request the initial information necessary to make most determinations. On occasion, school administrators may need to request supplemental information from the student in order to make a determination regarding eligibility. Questions not addressed in this document may be posed to the VPGE/Office of the Provost for clarification.

The provost’s office will be responsible for gathering and maintaining data for reporting purposes. Schools are requested to keep track of requests and payouts.

As students are approved for the subsidy, the school is responsible for notifying the student of their award and ensuring the payout. The subsidy will be paid as a lump sum. Students’ applications must be received by the end of the term in which they are requesting the subsidy.

Award Amounts

As of 2025, any PhD student who meets the eligibility requirements (see above) will receive the subsidy based on the following parameters:

• One eligible child: $3,550 per semester (FL/SP)
• Two eligible children: $4,550 per semester (FL/SP)
• Three or more eligible children: $5,550 per semester (FL/SP)

New Child Leave

Full-time PhD students may request a New Child Leave to assume care for a new child. They should maintain their full-time student status. Students on New Child Leave are not expected to participate in mentored teaching or research experience for up to 60 calendar days while they receive their current stipend support. Additional time off without receiving a stipend for up to a full semester will ordinarily be granted by the student’s home school if approved by the student’s department.

New Child Leave does not affect the student’s full-time status and will not appear on the student’s official transcript. New Child Leave must be taken within the first year after the child’s birth or adoption. Students should contact their department to request a New Child Leave. Students who receive support from external agencies should consult the policies and guidelines of the sponsor.

PhD General Requirements

Residence Requirement

Brown School PhD students are required to remain in residence until they have successfully completed the area statement and qualifying exam. Brown School students are strongly encouraged to remain in residence throughout their entire time in the program, with the exception of those students doing fieldwork to collect dissertation data. In all cases, a student receiving a fellowship must maintain full-time student status or forfeit the fellowship, and they may not accept other employment unless it has been specifically preapproved by the Brown School.

Area Statement and Qualifying Examination

Brown School PhD students demonstrate readiness to begin dissertation research by completing an area statement and passing a qualifying examination in their third or fourth year in the program. The area statement outlines an area of intellectual concern, reviews the literature, and highlights the importance of this area to practice and/or policy. Students work with their faculty advisor to develop the scope of the statement and to identify two additional doctorate-level Brown School or program-authorized faculty to serve on the Area Statement and Qualifying Exam Committee. In the spring of the second year in the program, students register for BSDC 9502 Area Statement and Qualifying Exam under their advisor, who serves the committee chair. The chair coordinates with the committee to approve the final draft and generate questions to be answered over a two-day closed-book or a seven-day open-notes exam. Each Committee member independently grades the answers to each question as “No Pass” or “Pass.” The advisor submits a grade of “Pass” for BSDC 9502 Area Statement and Qualifying Exam to indicate successful completion. If the committee agrees that one or more questions on the exam has received an overwhelming grade of “No Pass,” the student must rewrite the answer to a particular question or a substitute question of the committee's choice.

Students are expected to pass the area statement and qualifying exam by August 1 following their third year in the program. Exceptions for extraordinary extenuating circumstances are made only with an application to the program director along with confirmation from the advisor in regard to the rationale and reasonable deadline for completion. Failure to pass the area statement and qualifying exam by August 1 following the fourth year requires program review of the student's academic standing. A student may retake a failed exam once. Failure the second time requires withdrawal from the program. Within one year, the student may petition the program director of the appropriate doctoral program for a third and final opportunity to be examined. The program director, in collaboration with the Area Statement and Qualifying Exam Committee chair, will decide if a third attempt is warranted.

Mentored Experience Requirement

Brown School PhD students fulfill the university's mentored experience requirement through a sequence of teaching activities outlined in their Mentored Experience Implementation Plan. During their first year, students achieve basic competencies in teaching during new student orientation training and professional development courses by completing BSDC 8800 Professional Development Seminar I in the fall and BSDC 8801 Professional Development Seminar II in the spring. 

Students also must complete three teaching practica: BSDC 9003 Practicum in Teaching I, BSDC 9004 Practicum in Teaching II, and BSDC 9005 Practicum in Teaching III. These may be taken beginning in the spring semester of the first year, and they are designed to give students experience with lecture preparation and delivery, grading, and other aspects of course management under the guidance of an experienced faculty member. Supervising faculty may be adjuncts, teaching faculty, professors of practice or tenure-track faculty. Students may serve as assistants for any Brown School course and are encouraged to select courses that may become part of their own teaching repertoire in the future. The minimum involvement includes the following: 1) giving at least one full lecture based on notes developed by the student and approved in advance by the professor; 2) providing course-relevant consultation for students who are having problems learning the material; and 3) grading or critiquing student assignments. Faculty who agree to work with students to meet their teaching practicum requirements must hold supervisory meetings during the course of the semester, provide a short statement to the student that summarizes the student's major strengths and primary weaknesses as a teacher, and submit a letter grade for the practicum. Students cannot teach independently or be teaching assistants for pay until the teaching practica are completed.

Upon completion of the required professional development and teaching practica, Brown School PhD students can seek an Independent Teaching Experience. Non-credit teaching practica or independent paid teaching experiences (i.e., teaching fellowships) exist to meet school needs, not just the learning needs of students. Teaching fellows are PhD students appointed by the Brown School. They are answerable directly to the assistant deans for academic programs for the the MSW and MSP programs, who may not renew the contract of a teaching fellow who fails to make adequate progress toward the completion of the PhD.

Several factors determine the need for a non-credit teaching fellow. These include a request from the instructor, the associate deans for the master’s program (for MSW or MPH courses), or the director of the social work or public health doctoral program (for PhD courses). The need for a teaching practicum student is also based on student demand, class size, lab sections and the instructor’s release time. The instructor should seek a teaching practicum student to teach another course section or a paid lab after approval has been gained. Students who have not accomplished program milestones in a timely manner may not be allowed to do teaching practica or at least be restricted in regard to the number allowed during a given semester or summer.

Finally, the Graduate Teaching Citation is an optional program for Washington University PhD students who would like to gain teaching experience and expertise beyond the minimum requirements of their departments and of their graduate program. See the complete description on the website of the Washington University Center for Teaching and Learning.

Research practicums (BSDC 9000 Practicum in Research I, BSDC 9001 Practicum in Research II, and BSDC 9002 Practicum in Research III) may be taken beginning the spring semester of the first year. Students work with a faculty member and may or may not be paid according to whether they are working with a funded study or center. Students and the supervising faculty outline a plan for the practicums along with completing an electronic form that is approved by the advisor and PhD Program Director.

Dissertation

Brown School doctoral students must complete a dissertation to demonstrate their mastery of a specific field of knowledge and their capacity for original scholarly work. Students form a Dissertation Committee of faculty authorized by the program to mentor PhD students. The Dissertation Committee approves the subject and approach of the dissertation as evidenced by the student's completion of the Title, Scope and Procedure requirement.

The Dissertation Proposal Committee consists of at least four full-time Washington University faculty members who are authorized to supervise PhD students in their respective doctoral program of study (i.e., social work or public health sciences) and who have appropriate expertise in the proposed field of study. One of the faculty members must be the student’s faculty advisor, who will chair the Dissertation Committee; for social work, the chair must be tenure-track faculty in the Brown School. One of the four may be a member of the emeritus faculty. The Dissertation Defense Committee must include a fifth committee member external to the student's doctoral program of study. The external member could be inside or outside Washington University but must have a doctoral degree and an active research program at another university, in government, or in industry. Additional faculty member(s) may be added in cases where additional expertise is required.

A Notice of Title, Scope and Procedure form for the dissertation must be completed by the Dissertation Committee members and the program director. It must be submitted at least six months before the degree is expected to be conferred or before the beginning of the fifth year of full-time enrollment, whichever is earlier.

A Doctoral Dissertation Guide and a template that provides instructions regarding the format of the dissertation are available through the website of the Office of the Provost; both of these should be read carefully at every stage of dissertation preparation.

Each student is required to make the full text of the dissertation available to the committee members for their review at least one week before the dissertation defense. Most degree programs require two or more weeks for the review period.

Faculty Departures

The programs maintain lists of authorized faculty advisors who may chair and serve as internal members of student committees. Committee chairs and members who go on sabbatical or who take leaves of absence and are temporarily non-residents at Washington University may continue their roles as chairs with approval of the program director. If a committee chair ceases to be employed by the university, the student may request that the faculty continue to serve as co-chair of the committee. Another member of the committee must agree to serve as the co-chair, with the consent of the original chair, student, and program director. Then, the new co-chair should take the responsibility of providing the day-to-day guidance and decision making for the student's research and writing process. The co-chair structure is reserved for exceptional cases, and the normative structure continues to be a sole chair. A co-chair who is not able to commit sufficient time to the role should step down as chair and allow a different committee member to take their place. A co-chair arrangement must always benefit the student, who has the freedom to choose their advisor, as well as the faculty members involved. If an authorized committee member ceases to be employed by the university, the student may request that the faculty continue to sit on the committee. Consent from the faculty member and approval by the program director will include a decision on whether the departing faculty should be one of the four authorized members or an external member.

Dissertation Defense

At least three weeks prior to the preferred defense date, the candidate’s dissertation committee chairperson and/or the student's program director or manager must provide information regarding the preferred date, time and place of the oral defense of the dissertation and indicating the exact dissertation title. The notification should include the student’s curriculum vitae. The terminal dates for scheduling the final oral dissertation examination in time to receive the degree within a semester are set by the Office of the University Registrar.

The student assumes responsibility for making the full text of the dissertation accessible to all members of the final examination panel for their review at least two weeks in advance of the examination. The final oral examination is concentrated on the subject matter of the candidate’s dissertation. The examination of the student (i.e., the oral presentation) is treated as a confidential assessment of the student’s achievement. An open defense is permitted and highly encouraged by the Brown School, but it is not required. In consultation with the chair, students can choose to allow any or specific audience members to attend. The audience members are not allowed to speak during the presentation and must exit the room with the student after the presentation while the committee members deliberate after the presentation and discussion.

The defense consists of an oral presentation of the study, its results and its implications followed by a discussion/question-and-answer period with the committee members. Once this is completed, the student exits the room while the committee deliberates regarding the success of the defense and renders one of the following four decisions:

1. Pass with no recommended changes;
2. Pass with changes that are to be made in concert with the chair’s approval;
3. Pass with changes that an individual committee member wants to view before submission of the document; or
4. Did not pass as the student has not met sufficient standards and must do further work and attempt a second defense.

The Dissertation Defense Exam Approval Form available on InsideBrown should be completed by of all the Dissertation Defense Committee members after the defense.

Dissertation Submission

After successfully defending the dissertation and making any requested changes, the student must create an online account at ProQuest and submit the final text. The submission website requires students to choose among publishing and copyrighting services offered by ProQuest ETD Administrator, but the university permits students to make whichever choices they prefer. Students who defend their dissertations successfully have not completed their PhD requirements; they finish earning their degree only when their dissertation submission has been accepted. Students should plan to submit their dissertations and paperwork before the deadline; they may need to make corrections to their formatting or complete additional paperwork.

In addition, the following must be completed:

1. The Survey of Earned Doctorates. Students are encouraged to complete the Survey of Earned Doctorates prior to the dissertation deadline. They should do this as soon as possible so that a record of the survey arrives in time for graduation requirements to be met. Brown School administrators are notified automatically once the survey is completed. Electronic submission of the student's dissertation will not be processed or approved until this email arrives.
2. The Doctoral Exit Survey. The survey administered by the Office of Institutional Research gives graduating students an opportunity to evaluate Washington University, their doctoral program, faculty advising and professional development and to report on their plans for the future. The survey is sent via email from the Office of Institutional Research to PhD graduates each season (i.e., May, August, and December). If a student does not plan to graduate and receives this survey in error, they should email institutionalresearch@wustl.edu to have their name removed from the mailing list.

Students are highly encouraged to read the Dissertation Guide on the Vice Provost for Graduate Education website.

Degree Certification

If a student requires verification of a degree prior to the degree date and before the degree appears on the official transcript, the Brown School Registrar can prepare a degree certification on Brown School letterhead. Note that, to receive this certification, the student must have successfully completed all requirements for the degree, including the submission of the dissertation. Requests for degree certification are made via email to the Brown School Office of Academic Records & Registration.