Course Substitutions

AOC Course Substitution Policy

Overview. A course substitution allows a student to request that a course not listed among the requirements of their declared Area of Concentration (AOC) be recognized as fulfilling a specific AOC requirement or as satisfying a required course prerequisite. Course substitutions acknowledge that intellectual content may overlap across disciplines and that a student’s academic preparation may be demonstrated through coursework taken outside the AOC’s standard offerings. Approval of a course substitution is a faculty determination made within the AOC and is not automatic.

Scope. This policy applies to two types of substitution requests: (a) AOC Requirement Substitution, in which a student requests that a course outside the AOC count toward a specific AOC requirement; and (b) Prerequisite Substitution, in which a student requests that a course serve as a substitute for a required prerequisite to another course within the AOC.
Eligibility. A student may submit a Provost’s Petition requesting for any course in which they have earned a passing grade. Prospective substitution requests (for a course not yet taken) will not be considered; the substitution review is conducted after the course has been completed and a final grade has been assigned.

Petition Process. To request a course substitution, the student must submit a Provost’s Petition Form to their faculty advisor. The petition must include: (a) the requirement that the course is meeting (b) a written justification of no more than one page explaining the intellectual or disciplinary basis for the substitution; and (c) any supporting materials the student considers relevant (e.g., course syllabus, written work completed in the substitute course). Faculty Review within the AOC. The faculty member receiving the petition will review it and, if appropriate, consult with other faculty members in the AOC. A decision to approve a course substitution must be consistent with the academic standards and learning outcomes of the AOC. The faculty member’s decision is forwarded to the Registrar’s Office for recording in the student’s degree audit file, regardless of outcome.

Disagreement Among AOC Faculty. If the reviewing faculty member’s initial determination is contested by another faculty member within the same AOC, the following resolution process applies:

• Step 1 — The student’s advisor will convene an informal discussion with the faculty members of the AOC. The advisor will attempt to reach a consensus determination within that period. If consensus is reached, the agreed outcome is communicated to the student and forwarded to the Registrar’s Office.
• Step 2 — Provost’s Office Review (final). If the advisor is unable to resolve the disagreement, the matter is referred in writing to the Office of the Provost. The Provost, or a designated representative, will review the petition, the faculty positions, and any supporting materials, and will issue a final binding determination within fifteen (15) calendar days of receiving the referral. The Provost’s determination is final and not subject to further faculty appeal within this process. The determination is communicated in writing to the student, the AOC faculty, and the Registrar’s Office.

Recordkeeping. All approved course substitutions will be recorded in the student’s official degree audit file by the Registrar’s Office. Approved substitutions are binding for purposes of degree certification.