Graduate & International Programs Student Handbook May 2017
TABLE OF CONTENTS Academic Integrity 3 Accommodation of Disabilities 3 Class Attendance, Participation, & Office Hours with Professors 3 Course Drop/Add & Withdrawal Deadlines 4 Degree Requirements 5 Dual Degree Programs 6 Examinations 6 Grading 8 Non-Law School Courses 9 Program Deferral, Leave of Absence, Medical Reduced Course Load, and Withdrawal 11 Registration 12 Transfer of Course Work 13 Tuition & Fees 13 Conclusion 14 Appendix 2
Academic Policies & Requirements Graduate & International Programs Academic Integrity The University of Southern California and the Law School expect its students to maintain the highest standards of academic integrity (please refer to the University of Southern California Academic Integrity policy Appendix A). Graduate & International Programs (G&IP) students who commit plagiarism or other acts of academic dishonesty are subject to expulsion from the program and the university. G&IP students are expected to make themselves thoroughly familiar with USC's academic integrity requirements. Accommodation of Disabilities Any student whose individual circumstances require special accommodations should notify the G&IP Office prior to registration to allow for the timely arrangement of appropriate accommodations. Such conditions may include, but are not limited to physical disabilities, learning disabilities and pregnancy. Students with disabilities are expected to comply fully with all examination policies and deadlines. Students who become disabled or who discover an existing disability should notify the G&IP Office immediately. In compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act, all Law School programs and activities are available to students without regard to individual disabilities. A student who contemplates requesting examination accommodations for the Bar Examination should contact the State Bar directly. Class Attendance, Participation & Office Hours with Professors Attendance The Law School policy regarding class attendance states that "regular and punctual class attendance" is an important part of the learning process and is necessary to satisfy residence and class hours requirements. Although application of this policy is left to the judgment of each instructor, many faculty use a general standard which allows a student to miss one class session per course unit-hour without an excuse. Some faculty enforce a much stricter standard. Some faculty require students to meet specific attendance requirements in order to receive a passing grade for the course. A student whose attendance is not regular and punctual may be withdrawn from enrollment and the instructor. Instructors are permitted to announce additional attendance requirements and penalties for their classes. Each instructor should announce his or her practice regarding attendance in the registration materials or during the first week of class. This is particularly important if the instructor plans to enforce a standard which is stricter than the general standard. If an instructor does not announce his or her attendance policy, students in the class should request that the instructor do so. 3
A student who needs to be absent for any extended period of time should notify the instructor and the G&IP Office in advance of the absence. A student who experiences a personal emergency (for example, a serious illness or a death in the family) should notify the G&IP Office immediately. Class Participation You can expect that your professors will call upon you some regularly during class. Thus, you will want to be prepared for each class by reading the assigned materials. Your professor will inform you whether class participation will be considered in his/her grading. Professors Your professors will have office hours throughout the semester. It is very important for you to take advantage of these office hours. If you have any concerns about your grasp of the subject matter of any particular class, you should visit your professor during these hours or make an appointment to discuss your concerns with the professor. Because most of our faculty are accessible and willing to meet with students individually or in small groups, you have the valuable opportunity to learn the faculty members' individual approaches to issues of interest to them. In addition, such meetings give you the opportunity to engage in discussion of substantive issues with your professors and other students. These discussions will assist you in learning the material. We encourage you to work with the professors of your classes on casebook problems or practice examination questions. Most faculty are available to assist you in learning how to respond to typical classroom discussion topics and examination questions for the courses they teach. You will find that spending time working on written answers to casebook problems or practice examinations are a particularly effective way to improve your performance. Please take the opportunity to visit your professors during their office hours if and when you have questions about the materials covered during class. All professors have office hours for this purpose. Take advantage of this opportunity. Course Drop/Add & Withdrawal Deadlines To drop, add or withdraw from a course, the G&IP student must inform the G&IP office of the student s intentions, and submit the online drop/add or withdrawal petition form directly to our G&IP office prior to the Drop/Add or Withdraw deadline (refer to Academic Calendar). G&IP students are responsible for observing the deadlines to drop or add a course and/or to withdraw from a course. Withdrawal from Courses A student may withdraw from a course without special permission during the drop/add period which is the first two weeks of class. A student who wishes to withdraw from a class after the drop/add period may do so only by submitting an online petition to the G&IP Office. A student may not withdraw from a course after the university s withdrawal deadline. 4
A student's transcript will indicate a "W" for any course which is dropped by petition after the drop/add period. A student who registers for a course, does not take the final exam and who has not officially withdrawn from the class, will receive a grade of F (failing). A student receiving a "W" for a course DOES NOT receive any tuition credit. Any student enrolled in LLM Legal Writing must adhere to the drop/add deadlines as provided by the instructors. Any student who intends to withdraw from the class after the drop/add period, must obtain the instructor s permission and signature in order for the G&IP Office to process the student s request to withdraw from the class. Degree Requirements LL.M. Program To earn a Master of Laws (LL.M.) degree, students must satisfactorily complete a total of 21 units in law courses, be in full-time attendance at USC for two semesters and maintain a minimum GPA of 2.6, consistent with the Law School grading scale for J.D. students. If pursuing a certificate, students must successfully complete the certificate requirements in addition to earning a cumulative GPA of 2.6 among the certificate courses. LL.M. students are required to take two foundational courses, LAW 520 Introduction to the U.S. Legal System and LAW 510 Legal Research. Students satisfy their remaining course requirements during two semesters by enrolling in courses and seminars selected from among the upper-division courses offered at the law school. LL.M. students are recommended to enroll in 10 to 12 units per semester. LL.M. Online Program To earn an Online Master of Laws (LL.M.) degree, students must satisfactorily complete a total of 21 units in law courses and maintain a minimum GPA of 2.6, consistent with the Law School grading scale for J.D. students. If pursuing the online Business Law Certificate, students must successfully complete the certificate requirements in addition to earning a cumulative GPA of 2.6 amongst the certificate courses. LL.M. students are required to take two foundation courses, LAW 520 Introduction to the U.S. Legal System and LAW 510 Legal Research. Students satisfy their remaining course requirements by enrolling in courses and seminars selected from among the online course offerings at the law school. M.C.L. Program To earn a Master of Comparative Law (M.C.L.) degree, students must satisfactorily complete a total of 24 units of coursework at the law school, including a comparative law course and the M.C.L. writing requirement, and maintain a minimum GPA of 2.6, consistent with the Law School grading scale for J.D. students. The writing requirement is satisfied by completing at least 2 units of Directed Research, which will result in meaningful written work not necessarily in the form of a scholarly paper. M.C.L. students are not permitted to enroll in courses for credit in which they have previously enrolled during their LL.M. studies. 5
2 Year LL.M. Program Students enrolled in the 2 Year Extended LL.M. Program must complete a minimum of 16 units in mandatory law courses during the first year. In addition, in their first year, Certificate in U.S. Legal Studies students will also enroll in 4 units (2 units per semester) of oral and written English classes taken at USC's American Language Institute, for a total of 20 units. Students who are native English speakers will be waived from our English requirements. In the second year, students must earn 21 units in mandatory and elective courses to earn the LL.M. degree. All courses must be taken on a full-time basis, beginning in fall semester. MSL Program To earn the Master s in Studies of Law (M.S.L) degree, students must satisfactorily complete a total of 21 mandatory units in law courses, be in full-time attendance at USC for three semesters and maintain a minimum GPA of 2.6, consistent with the Law School grading scale for J.D. students. Students will consult with their academic advisor regarding program of study. LL.M. in ADR Program To earn a Master of Laws in Alternative Dispute Resolution (LL.M. in ADR) degree, students must satisfactorily complete a total of 24 units in law courses, be enrolled in full-time or part-time attendance at USC, and maintain a minimum GPA of 2.6, consistent with the Law School grading scale for J.D. students. LL.M. in ADR students are required to take two courses, ADR Law and Policy: Arbitration and Mediation and ADR Ethics. International students are required to take one additional course, Introduction to U.S. Legal System. Students satisfy their remaining degree requirements by enrolling in elective courses. M.D.R. Program To earn a Master of Dispute Resolution (M.D.R.) degree, students must satisfactorily complete a total of 27 units in law courses, be enrolled in full-time or part-time attendance at USC, and maintain a minimum GPA of 2.6, consistent with the Law School grading scale for J.D. students. M.D.R. students are required to take three courses, ADR Law and Policy: Arbitration and Mediation, ADR Ethics, and Cross- Cultural Dispute Resolution. Students satisfy their remaining degree requirements by enrolling in elective courses. Dual Degree Programs Graduate & International Programs students are not permitted to participate in any dual degree programs. Examinations Examinations are normally given at the end of the fall and spring semesters. Some faculty may assign take-home examinations or research papers in lieu of an examination. The Law School s Director of Administrative Services administers 6
examinations. Students must adhere to the examination procedures set forth in the Law School s G&IP Examination Procedures memorandum which will be distributed prior to the examination period. Provision of Extra Time during Examinations A decision will be made early in the fall semester as to the provision of extra time to G&IP students that meet the extra time criteria during examinations. Time management during your exams is critical. Plan to attend the G&IP Exam Preparation Workshop to enhance your exam-taking time management skills. The following requirements must be met in order to meet eligibility for extra time: Petitioner must not be a native English speaker AND; Must not have studied at an English speaking university for 2 academic years or more, AND; Must not have lived in the United States during the 5 years immediately preceding enrollment in the LLM or MCL program. If students meet the above requirements, they may be eligible for additional time on their in-class exams. This provision does not apply to take-home exams nor does it apply to in-class exams for G&IP-only or LLM-only courses such as Introduction to U.S. Legal Education, Reviewing & Negotiating Business Contracts and Topics in American Law. In the case of these classes, time accommodations will have been preconsidered by the instructor. The granting of extra exam time is at the discretion of USC Law School. G&IP students will be granted extra time on in-class exams, unless otherwise determined ineligible by the G&IP Office. An email notification is sent to students found ineligible for extra time. Your eligibility or ineligibility will apply to fall and spring semester exams. Eligible students will be granted 15 extra minutes per each hour of an exam. Before the exam begins, the proctor will advise students of the precise time that the exam will end - at which time all students must stop writing or typing. Exam Time With Extra Exam Time 1 hour exam 1 hour + 15 minutes 2 hour exam 2 hours + 30 minutes 3 hour exam 3 hours + 45 minutes 4 hour exam 4 hours + 60 minutes For example, a 3-hour exam starting at 9:00 am ends at 12:00 noon. For students who are eligible for extra time, the exam will end at 12:45 pm. If you have an exam that lasts 3 hours and 15 minutes, as another example, you will not be given pro-rated extra time for the 15 minutes. You will still be given 45 extra minutes only for the 3 hour and 15 minute test. G&IP students may be tested in the same rooms or in separate rooms from the J.D. students. Writing rooms and typing rooms will be available, as needed, for each exam administered. The 7
exam schedule will be posted on the Law School s website and should be checked daily during the exam period for any changes. Time management during your exams is critical. Plan to attend the G&IP Exam Preparation Workshop to enhance your exam-taking time management skills. Exam Rescheduling Policies If you have two exams at the same time, you must choose to reschedule one. If you meet any of the other criteria below for exam rescheduling, you may choose to reschedule an exam if you wish. To protect the anonymity of the grading process, students should not discuss exam rescheduling issues with course instructors. G&IP students may choose to reschedule a final exam only if: 1. the student has two exams in one day; or 2. the student has three exams in three consecutive days; or 3. the student has two exams in two contiguous examinations periods (e.g., Monday afternoon followed by Tuesday morning). Use of Dictionaries during Examinations Student who are granted extra time on their exams may use foreign language dictionaries during closed-book examinations. The G&IP Office will provide dictionaries for closed-book exams only. The dictionaries will be available at the front of the exam rooms and are for your use in translating unfamiliar English words that may appear on the exam. You may not bring your own dictionaries to closed-book exams. Students may bring their own dictionaries for open-book exams. Exam Preparation Workshop An exam preparation workshop is provided by our G&IP Academic Support Excellence Program iinstructor in the fall for those G&IP students who wish to participate. The workshop is designed to help you learn pre-examination preparation, effective outlining and organization within your exams and methods of organization for your exams. Grading G&IP students law courses are graded on the Law School s numeric grading system and are graded using the same standard as the JD students. This grading system ranges from 1.9 to 4.4 with explicit letter-grade equivalents ranging from F to A+. Most courses at the Law School are graded numerically. The Law School offers no courses on a "Pass/Fail" basis. Courses which are not graded numerically are graded on a CR/D/F basis. Some courses are graded exclusively on a CR/D/F basis; and some courses are offered to be taken on either basis at the student's option, depending on the professor. Law School s Grading System The Law School s grading system ranges from 1.9 to 4.4 with explicit letter-grade equivalents ranging from F to A+. The system differs from a typical letter-grade system (in which A=4.0, A-=3.7, and B+=3.3, etc.) in that faculty can assign intermediate 8
numbers, such as 3.4. Each number-grade on the system has a letter-grade equivalent. The grading scale includes the following number grades and letter-grade equivalents: Numerical Grade Equivalent Letter Grade Numerical Grade Equivalent Letter Grade Numerical Grade 4.4 A+ 3.4 B+ 2.4 C 4.3 A+ 3.3 B+ 2.3 C- 4.2 A+ 3.2 B 2.2 C- 4.1 A+ 3.1 B 2.1 C- 4.0 A 3.0 B 2.0 D 3.9 A 2.9 B- 1.9 F 3.8 A 2.8 B- 3.7 A- 2.7 B- 3.6 A- 2.6 C+ 3.5 A- 2.5 C+ Equivalent Letter Grade CR/D/F Grading G&IP students may elect to take no more than 5 total units of law courses on a CR/D/F grading basis in lieu of a numeric grade. Exceptions to this limit may be granted in cases where the student chooses classes that only offer CR/D/F as a grading option (i.e., Legal Research, Legal Writing, etc). Grades under the CR/D/F option will be entered on the student s transcript as CR (passing and satisfactory) provided that the student earns the equivalent of 2.1 to 4.4, or D (passing but not satisfactory) which is entered on the student s transcript at the numerical grade equivalent (2.0), or F (failing) which is entered on the student s transcript at the numerical grade equivalent (1.9). A CR grade is not calculated in the student s GPA, however, a D or an F under CR/D/F grading is calculated in the student s GPA. To change the grading method of a course, the G&IP student must provide an online grade change request petition directly to the G&IP Office prior to the CR/D/F deadline. The G&IP Office will confirm with the G&IP student whether or not the grading change can be implemented. G&IP students are responsible for observing the CR/D/F deadlines. Please refer to the Academic Calendar or the Law School s Student ConnectionsMyLaw portal, which is published throughout each semester. Grade Normalization Policy In order to achieve fairness and consistency, grades in all courses are "normalized," which means that the average and the distribution of grades are controlled, following the Law School's historic grading patterns. Grades are entered into a computerized normalization program. Students with questions regarding the Law School's grading system are encouraged to contact the G&IP office. In those instances where G&IP students are enrolled in first-year courses, the grades for the first-year students are normalized without including the G&IP students. 9
G&IP Student Grading Standards Grades awarded to G&IP students reflect the same standards that apply to J.D. students. Whenever possible, exams are blind graded, so that faculty do not know the individual identity or degree program of the student. Blind grading aims to assign G&IP students the same grade that a J.D. student would earn for an identical exam or paper. Accommodations for language difficulties are made by allowing some G&IP students additional time for exams, and by permitting them to use dictionaries even in closedbook exams. The particular rules for G&IP grading vary somewhat depending on the class. In firstyear classes, the curve is established based only on first-year J.D. students, excluding G&IP and other students in the class. Our G&IP students are then awarded the grade that their raw score would have received had a J.D. in the class scored at that level. Thus for first-year classes, G&IP students have no effect on the J.D. curve, though they are graded using it. For most upper level classes, G&IP students are graded along with the J.D. students, using the same standards, and are included in the class curve. The law school offers a few classes that are open only to our foreign G&IP students, including Introduction to U.S. Legal Education. Because there are no J.D. students taking this class, we cannot fully implement our principle that G&IP students will receive the same grade that a J.D. would receive for identical work. We have no comparable J.D. work. Instead we use our general upper level curve, with a 3.2 median and a constrained spread for these classes. G&IP grades become final and are subject to appeal according to the same rules as J.D. grades. Non- Law School Courses Any G&IP student who wishes to enroll in courses outside the Law School, not in conjunction with a certificate program, must submit a petition to the G&IP office prior to the start of the semester in which the course will be taken. G&IP students may be permitted to take graduate-level, non-law classes from other schools within USC, provided that the petition is approved by the Associate Dean of Graduate & International Programs. If a G&IP student should wish to enroll in a course outside of the Law School, the student will be charged tuition for the full unit-value for the additional course; tuition charges for non-law courses are assessed by the non-law department. The Law School has no ability to reduce or waive those non-law charges. G&IP students will not receive credit toward their degree on their transcript for non-law course(s) outside of a certificate program. The G&IP student must also verify that the class is open for registration by contacting the school or department. If the petition is approved, it is the G&IP student s responsibility to arrange their registration in the class, including identifying the course number, the course title, the units, hours/days and instructor of the non-law course(s). The G&IP Office will not register G&IP students in non-law courses. 10
Program Deferral, Leave of Absence, Medical Reduced Course Load, and Withdrawal The LL.M. and M.C.L. programs are two-semester, full-time programs that are completed in consecutive fall and spring semesters. In the event that a student must interrupt their studies (leave of absence) or terminate their studies (withdrawal) for compelling reasons, such as sustained ill health, a request for leave of absence or withdrawal must be approved by the Associate Dean of Graduate & International Programs. Deferral Deferrals can be requested by students who are admitted to our program but who have not yet enrolled. For those that request a deferral and receive approval, they are, in effect, postponing their enrollment. Leave of Absence Leaves of absence can be requested by law students who have completed one academic semester of study and who are in good standing. International students on F1 and J1 visas must return to their home countries during the leave, unless they have been granted a medical leave of absence that has been approved through USC s Office of International Services (OIS). Leaves will not be granted for more than one year. In order to return to USC after a leave of absence of over 5 months, it is necessary to obtain a new USC Form I-20. A student cannot use the previous Form I-20 as it is no longer valid. Please note that it is the student s responsibility to contact the G&IP Office and OIS at least 2 months prior to returning to USC to request the new Form I-20. Please also be aware that it may be necessary to provide financial documentation demonstrating ability to pay tuition and living expenses for at least one academic year. After a leave of absence of five months or more outside the United States the F-1 student must also pay the SEVIS fee and apply for a new F-1 visa, even though they may possess an unexpired visa. CIS regulations state that an international student must be in F-1 status for a full academic year in order to be eligible for optional practical training or curricular practical training. Contact OIS immediately to discuss this requirement if you are taking a leave of absence of over 5 months. Medical Leave of Absence The university permits F-1 students to go on a medical leave of absence and remain in the U.S. if the student obtains a doctor s letter recommending leave of absence for medical/mental health reasons. You must receive prior approval for this leave from the G&IP Office and OIS. If you fail to obtain advance approval from your program office and OIS and you remain in the U.S., you will be violating your F-1 immigration status. Requirements / Limitations: Not more than 12 months total leave are allowed per degree level Must have letter from U.S. licensed medical doctor, doctor of osteopathy, or licensed clinical psychologist recommending leave for a specific semester Must have PRIOR approval from OIS before withdrawing from classes 11
Returning to full enrollment: You MUST report to OIS within 21 days of the start of new semester to tell us that you have resumed full time enrollment. Bring your I-20 and passport with you. Medical Reduced Course Load F-1 students may drop below full time registration if you obtain a doctor s letter recommending the reduced course load for medical / mental health reasons. You must receive prior approval for this reduction in the minimum course load from the OIS. If you fail to obtain advance approval from the OIS and you remain in the U.S., you will be violating your F-1 immigration status. Requirements / Limitations: Not more than 12 months total medical reduced course load are allowed per degree level. Must have letter from U.S. licensed medical doctor, doctor of osteopathy, or licensed clinical psychologist recommending that you take less than the minimum units required. Must have prior approval from OIS before withdrawing from classes Must take no less than 4 units if a master s student, 3 units if a Ph.D. student, or 6 units if an undergraduate student with a Medical Reduced Course Load. If your doctor believes you cannot handle these units, then you should apply for a Medical Leave of Absence. Withdrawal Students who must completely withdraw from a program (without having taken a preapproved reduced course load, a leave of absence or a medical leave of absence) must notify the G&IP Office in writing of their withdrawal from the program. Students should contact the G&IP Office for more information or assistance. A student who has been authorized to withdraw from classes has 15 days to depart from the U.S. The student s F-1 visa will be expired. Students who terminate their course of study without obtaining prior approval are not eligible for any additional grace period. Students who have withdrawn from the LL.M. or M.C.L. program may apply for readmission to the program for a future academic year. There is no guarantee of readmission. Please note that this information may be updated periodically by the university. Refer to this link for the most current information from the university on rules and procedures: http://sait.usc.edu/ois/intl-students/maintaining-status/guidelines.aspx Registration Students will register for courses using USC s online Web Registration System. Instructions and detailed information will be provided prior to each registration period. Please note that exchange students and students enrolled in the LLM in ADR, MDR, ADR Certificate, and 2-Year LL.M. Programs will be registered manually by the G&IP s Registrar Office. 12
Although preference is not granted to G&IP students in the registration process, the Law School makes every effort to accommodate every student. Enrollment in various courses is sometimes difficult because the number of students desiring to participate exceeds the spaces available. In those cases, G&IP students will be waitlisted for desired courses. The G&IP Office does not guarantee enrollment in any course or seminar. Transfer of Course Work Transfer credit is not accepted for our LLM, Online LLM, MCL, and certificate programs. Transfer credit may be accepted for our LLM in ADR, MDR and MSL programs pursuant to the policy stated below. At the request of the incoming student, the Degree Progress Department in the Office of Academic Records and Registrar will determine whether course work taken elsewhere by such student is available for transfer credit. Then the faculty of the student's degree program will determine whether such credit is applicable toward a specific graduate degree, subject to approval by the dean of the degree-conferring unit. To be available for transfer credit, courses must be (1) from an accredited graduate school, (2) of a quality of at least 3.0 on a 4.0 grading scale, (3) constituting a fair and reasonable equivalent to current USC course work at the graduate level, and (4) logically fitting into the program for the degree. Transfer work must have been completed within seven years of admission to a USC master's degree program to be applied toward that degree. Courses used toward a degree completed elsewhere may not be applied toward a master's degree at USC Gould. If courses were not used toward a completed degree, the maximum number of transfer credits that may be applied toward a master's degree, subject to departmental approval, is no more than 25 percent of the minimum units required for the program. Graduate transfer credit will not be granted for course work taken elsewhere after a student has been admitted and enrolled at USC Gould unless the student receives prior written approval from the department. Students may not take courses elsewhere as a substitute for courses in which they have received grades that fail to meet departmental or university requirements. Transfer course work is applied as credit (CR) toward the degree and is not included in the calculation of a minimum grade point average for graduation. Tuition & Fees Tuition and fees must be settled by 5:00 pm on the Friday before the first day of each semester in order to avoid late fees (refer to the Academic Calendar). The University assesses late fees at the rate of $100 per week for the first three weeks of late payment. The Law School s flat tuition rate covers up to 15 units. Enrollment above 15 units will be charged at the University s current per unit rate. 13
Optional Tuition Refund Insurance The University offers students the option of purchasing tuition refund insurance through a private insurance carrier. The charge for this insurance is.41% of tuition and mandatory fees, or approximately $100 per semester. This Tuition Refund Plan provides a 100% tuition refund for students who become seriously ill or have an accident and must obtain a medical withdrawal from all classes; regardless of when the medical withdrawal is obtained (only 60% of tuition and mandatory fees are refunded for withdrawals due to nervous, mental or emotional disorders). Without the insurance, a 100% refund of tuition and mandatory fees is only given if the student withdraws within the first three weeks of classes; after week three, neither tuition nor mandatory fees are refunded, even if the withdrawal is for medical reasons. The deadline to request or decline tuition refund insurance is the end of the third week of classes each semester. Further information can be obtained at www.collegerefund.com/usc. The Law School strongly recommends that all students purchase this tuition refund insurance. Students with questions about the withdrawing from courses or tuition insurance should see the G&IP Office. Please note that this information may be updated periodically by the university. Refer to this link for the most current information from the university on rules and procedures: http://classes.usc.edu/term-20163/tuition-and-fees/ Conclusion This handbook is a compilation of information helpful to G&IP students. A more comprehensive J.D. Student Handbook, where many sections cover policies and procedures for all law students, is online at the MyLaw Portal. All policies and procedures outlined in this document are subject to change without notice. 14