This section explains commonly used terms in graduate studies.
Academic Standing: Students are normally in good academic standing if they are making adequate progress toward the completion of degree requirements; have a cumulative grade-point average of at least 3.0; and do not have an excessive number of incomplete grades on their records.
Appointments: Graduate Appointments on the Alfaisal University campus are assigned the following titles: Graduate Student Teaching Assistant (TA) and Graduate Student Research Assistant (RA).
Concurrent Program: A concurrent program is the combination of two master’s degree programs, normally on the same campus, in which a limited number of units may be used in common to reduce the time needed to earn both degrees.
Designated Emphasis: A designated emphasis is a specialization, such as a new method of inquiry or an important field of application, which is relevant to two or more existing doctoral degree programs. Faculty members who wish to offer a designated emphasis must form a Graduate Group to administer the program. Approval by the Graduate Council is required.
Graduate Adviser: Graduate Advisers are nominated by College Deans or Department Chairs and appointed by the VP of the Office of Research & Graduate Studies, who acts on behalf of the Research & Graduate Studies Council. They provide guidance for entering and continuing students concerning the various steps necessary to earn their degrees.
Graduate Council: The Graduate Council is the administrative arm of the Graduate School. It is a committee consisting of Alfaisal University faculty. Composed of faculty members, the Council is responsible for all academic matters related to graduate education on campus. One of the major duties of the Council is to conduct periodic reviews of all graduate programs to make sure they are functioning at the highest possible level, and to plan for the future.
Graduate Group: A graduate group is an academic unit, comprised of a core faculty from two or more existing colleges/departments, which offers a doctoral degree in a new method of inquiry or new field of study that has been approved by the Graduate Council. An established college/department is designated to host the graduate group since the group has no funding of its own or administrative support.
Graduate School: The Graduate School oversees graduate students’ progress from admission to completion of their degree programs. The School monitors student’s administration and regulations to guide students through the various steps required for the degree.
Major Adviser: Also called Thesis or Dissertation Adviser, a Major Adviser is usually chosen by the student in consultation with the Graduate Adviser. The Major Adviser guides a student’s thesis or dissertation research and writing.
Master’s/Thesis Advisory Committee: The Master’s/Thesis Advisory Committee, selected by the student in conjunction with the Graduate Adviser, guides the research and writing of the master’s thesis. The committee is made up of three faculty members, at least two of whom must be from the student’s home college/department. Typically, the committee chair is the student’s research adviser.
Office of Research, Innovation & Commercialization (ORIC): The Office of Research, Innovation & Commercialization is responsible for all aspects of internal & external funding including post award management and commercialization of intellectual property (IP) created by faculty & students. The Office is responsible for the core research laboratories at the University.
Probation: Students who are not in good academic standing are considered to be on academic probation or subject to dismissal. Students may also be placed on probation for not meeting Student Affairs requirements or expectations. Probation is intended to provide students whose performance is less than satisfactory with a period of time in which to correct the deficiencies and to raise their performance to a level consistent with the minimum standards set by the Student Affairs/Office of Graduate Studies. Students on probationary status may register, but they may not hold academic appointments, receive graduate scholarships, or be awarded advanced degrees.
Program (also known as a track or plan): A program is a sequence of course work and supervised study leading to a degree, normally within a department of instruction. The term is used synonymously with field or subfield and also to refer to a subspecialty in which undergraduates or graduates may concentrate their study.
Public Seminar: Toward the end of the Master’s Thesis or Doctoral Dissertation and just before the Oral Defense, a student gives a public seminar on the study.
Researcher Assistant (RA): A Research Assistant (RA) is a graduate student at Alfaisal University who is engaged in research projects related to their dissertation under faculty supervision. There are no specific eligibility requirements regarding level of skills or previous experience, which permits colleges/departments and organized research units to make RA appointments at levels appropriate to resources and recruitment needs.
Student Affairs/College: Student Affairs/college is an administrative unit with space and resources. also includes budgeted faculty members who offer instruction in a titled, specialized discipline. At the graduate level, programs of study lead to the M.Sc., EMBA, and doctoral degrees. For a list of graduate programs at Alfaisal University, consult the Graduate School as well as individual colleges.
Teaching Assistant (TA): A TA must have fulfilled the necessary academic, spoken English language proficiency, and registration and enrollment requirements for appointment. Chosen for excellent scholarship and promise as a teacher, a TA serves as an apprentice under the active supervision of the instructor in charge of the course. An appointment as a TA is for one academic year or less. TA appointments may not exceed half time.
Thesis: Students completing a Thesis Option master’s degree are expected to write a report, referred to as a thesis, on the results of an original investigation, in conjunction with the Master’s/Thesis Advisory Committee. Length and style of the thesis vary by college. All theses are filed with the Graduate School though the Library.
Thesis Examination Committee: This master’s level examination committee will consist of four members: a non-voting Chair, and three other members, who may be from the Master’s Advisory Committee and one may be the External Evaluator.
Tutor: A tutor provides training to individuals or small groups of students who require additional teaching help. Tutors at Alfaisal University work under the direct supervision of a faculty member holding an appropriate instructional title.