Policy on Undergraduate Students taking Graduate Courses
A student who has earned at least 90 undergraduate credit hours at John Carroll University, which may include transfer credit, with a cumulative JCU grade-point average (GPA) of at least 3.0 is eligible to enroll in graduate coursework at JCU in the following circumstances.
Students not participating in accelerated dual degree programs (i.e. non-matriculating graduate studies):
Undergraduate students who have not been accepted to a JCU accelerated dual degree program (e.g. 3+2, 4+1 programs), but have already completed at least 90 credits with a 3.0 cumulative GPA, may apply to the Graduate School to take up to 6 credits of graduate coursework prior to undergraduate graduation–hereinafter referred to as "non-matriculating studies".
Under no circumstances may coursework taken in this scenario:
Satisfy undergraduate program or core requirements
Contribute to the 120 credit hours required for the baccalaureate degree
Factor into any aspect of the undergraduate grade point average (GPA)
Fulfill any other requirements toward undergraduate graduation
Registration for graduate courses is contingent on application to the Graduate School and acceptance for non-matriculating graduate studies at least two weeks prior to the date of registration. Students must be enrolled in a full-time load of undergraduate coursework in order to also register for graduate courses in that term, but the cumulative total of undergraduate and graduate coursework cannot exceed 18 credits. If a student is in their final semester of enrollment and their outstanding undergraduate requirements equal less than 12 credits, they must be registered for all outstanding undergraduate requirements in order to register for graduate coursework–this scenario has significant financial aid ramifications and the student is responsible for understanding the implications of this for their particular situation.
Graduate coursework taken by a non-matriculating student may later be applied toward a JCU Master’s degree or certificate program. If a student who takes graduate courses under the auspices of non-matriculating graduate studies subsequently matriculates into a JCU Master’s degree or certificate program, all of their graduate course grades will be reflected in their JCU graduate degree or certificate GPA unless the student is approved for academic forgiveness, per that policy.