Frequently Asked Questions

Choose a course load that supports your program plan and academic timeline. The number of credits you take may also affect:

• Financial aid
• Assistantship eligibility
• Immigration status
• Health insurance
• Housing
• Loan eligibility
• Your expected graduation date

Note that full-time graduate study is defined as at least 9 credits per semester. Graduate students may enroll in up to 16 credits per semester. To register for more than 16 credits, you must submit a Course Overload Application.

Graduate Assistants should refer to their contract for their enrollment requirement.

Speak with your Graduate Program Contact before changing your course enrollment. Contact Red Hawk Central about financial aid or billing effects, and the Office of Global Engagement about immigration requirements.

Review your program requirements and Degree Works audit, then speak with your Graduate Program Contact.

Your program contact can help you:

• Plan the order of your courses
• Account for prerequisites
• Help you determine whether a course permit is needed and how to request one
• Confirm which requirements remain
• Make sure you’re progressing toward your degree

Check before registering for a course that is not listed in your program plan. A course may not count toward your degree without prior approval.

Complete the conditions listed in your admission letter, then submit a Reclassification Petition.

Your program and the Graduate Center will review your academic record and supporting materials before your status is changed.

It depends on when the course is taken.

Courses completed before enrolling at Montclair: Contact Graduate Admissions to discuss whether previously earned graduate credits may be eligible for transfer. Credits must meet University and program requirements, and approval is not automatic.

Courses taken while enrolled at Montclair: Speak with your Graduate Program Contact to discuss if taking a course at another institution will support your academic progress. You must receive approval before registering for a graduate course at another institution. Submit the Transfer Credit Approval Application and confirm that the course will apply to your program.

Start by speaking with your Graduate Program Contact. They can explain how the change may affect your degree requirements, course plan, and expected graduation date.

Most program or concentration changes require academic approval before they can be processed. Use the Graduate Policies & Forms page to find the correct request and submission instructions.

Start by checking NEST for:

• Account holds
• Missing prerequisites
• Time conflicts
• Registration dates
• Course restrictions
• Other registration messages

Contact your Graduate Program Contact or academic department when the issue involves course approval, a closed or restricted course, a missing prerequisite, a registration permit or a program requirement.

Contact Red Hawk Central when the issue involves your registration record, account, billing, financial aid or a hold.

Contact the IT Service Desk if you can't sign in to your account or are experiencing another technical issue.

A hold means that an office has placed a restriction on your student record. Depending on the type of hold, it may prevent you from registering, receiving a transcript, accessing your diploma or completing another University process. Visit Red Hawk Central to learn more about holds and how to resolve them.

Review the add, drop and withdrawal deadlines for your course and term. Dropping and withdrawing are different actions and may have different academic and financial implications.

Before changing your enrollment, keep in mind that dropping a course, reducing your credits or taking time away may affect:

• Financial aid
• Assistantship eligibility
• Immigration status
• Health insurance
• Housing
• Loan eligibility
• Your expected graduation date

Speak with your Graduate Program Contact before changing your course enrollment. Contact Red Hawk Central about financial aid or billing effects, and the Office of Global Engagement about immigration requirements.

The correct process depends on your plans and your remaining degree requirements. Speak with your Graduate Program Contact before submitting a request.

Taking a temporary break ➜ Leave of Absence

A Leave of Absence Request is usually the first option for students who need time away from their program.

• Available for up to two semesters
• No fee
• Requires a separate application for each semester
• Does not automatically remove you from registered courses

Pregnancy and military leaves are not subject to the standard semester limit or semester-by-semester application requirement.

A leave may affect your academic timeline, financial aid, assistantship, immigration status, housing, insurance or graduation plans.

Need more time after a leave ➜ Continuous Matriculation

The Extension of Matriculation Request allows eligible students to remain active without taking courses after using their available leave.

• Available for up to three semesters
• Costs $50 per semester
• Requires a separate application and fee each semester
• Does not count toward your degree

Students completing a thesis, dissertation, comprehensive examination or another final requirement may need a specific course or extension instead.

Leaving your program permanently ➜ Program Withdrawal

Submit the a Withdrawal Form when you have decided not to continue in your program.

Please note: program withdrawal does not automatically drop your registered courses and may have financial or academic implications. Separate course withdrawal steps may be required.

The time limit depends on your program and begins on your date of matriculation:

• Doctoral degree: 7 years if you entered with a master’s degree in a relevant field, or 10 years if you entered with a bachelor’s degree
• Master’s degree: 6 years
• Certification program: 5 years
• Certificate program: 3 years

An approved postponement or leave of absence does not count toward the time limit.

Some programs may have additional requirements. Confirm your deadline with your Graduate Program Contact. If you are approaching the limit, contact them early. You may need to submit an Extension of Matriculation Request, which is reviewed and is not automatically approved.

An incomplete may be arranged with your instructor when approved coursework cannot be finished by the end of the term.

Confirm:

• What work remains
• When the work is due
• How the final grade will be submitted

Do not assume that an incomplete will remain on your record indefinitely. Contact your instructor if you’re unsure about the agreement or deadline.

Graduate students need special permission to repeat most courses, and there are limits on how many times a course may be attempted.

Speak with your Graduate Program Contact and submit Permission to Repeat a Course Request before attempting to register again. If you are denied, you may also submit an Appeal of a Denial to Repeat a Course.

Keep in mind, repeating a course may affect your GPA, financial aid progress and program timeline.

Yes. Students in doctoral, master’s and certification programs generally must maintain a minimum 3.0 GPA. Students in certificate and non-degree programs generally must maintain a minimum 2.5 GPA.

Some programs have different GPA or grade requirements, which are referenced in the Graduate Academic Standing Policies document. Review your program’s student handbook or contact your Graduate Program Contact to confirm the policy that applies to you.

Connect with your Graduate Program Contact promptly and review any notices sent to your Montclair email.

In most programs, students whose GPA falls below the required minimum are placed on academic probation and must raise it within the next six credits or one semester, whichever is later. Some programs have stricter rules for C or F grades, so review your program’s student handbook carefully.

If you do not meet the requirement within the allowed period, your academic record may be reviewed and you could lose matriculated status or be dismissed from the program. Academic standing and financial aid eligibility are evaluated separately, so you may also need to contact Red Hawk Central.

Begin by speaking with the instructor and asking how the grade was determined. Bring the assignment, rubric or other relevant information so the conversation can focus on the specific concern.

If the issue is not resolved, review your college/school's grade grievance process and contact your Graduate Program Contact for guidance.

Montclair does not have a graduate Dean’s List.

Eligible graduate students may be invited to join Alpha Epsilon Lambda, the national honor society for graduate and professional students.

Thesis and dissertation requirements vary by program. Review your program requirements and speak with your Graduate Program Contact to confirm whether a thesis, dissertation or another culminating activity is required for your degree.

Students cannot register for the thesis or dissertation courses directly in NEST. Please visit our Culminating Activity Guides page for step by step instructions.

Thesis: Speak with your Graduate Program Coordinator to confirm that the thesis option is available or required for your program. To register for thesis 698, complete the Approval for Writing a Master’s Thesis Form and email it with your approved thesis proposal to thesisinquiry@montclair.edu. If approved, The Graduate Center will forward your materials to the Office of the Registrar.

Dissertation: Work with your Doctoral Program Director or advisor to complete the required candidacy and committee approval forms. Once your committee is approved, submit Form G/H: Dissertation Advisement or Extension Application according to Graduate Center instructions. Doctoral students must register for dissertation credits or advisement each term. For assistance, contact docstudy@montclair.edu.

Please visit our Culminating Activity Guides page for step by step instructions.

The completed and approved thesis is generally due three weeks prior to degree conferral. Students should review the Thesis Procedural Manual for formatting requirements, paper requirements and submission instructions.

Students should review the appropriate Dissertation Defense and Submission Deadlines for the academic year in which they plan to graduate.

Several resources are available to support you throughout your thesis or dissertation.

• Graduate Program Contact: Your first point of contact for program-specific requirements, timelines, approvals and next steps.
• Culminating Activity Guides: Review guidance for completing a thesis, dissertation or other final program requirement.
• Graduate Writing Support: Get one-on-one support with planning, drafting, revising and strengthening your writing.
• University Libraries: Connect with your subject liaison librarian for help finding sources, developing a research strategy and using databases.
• Graduate Center Contacts: Contact thesisinquiry@montclair.edu with questions about thesis requirements, formatting or submission. Contact docstudy@montclair.edu with questions related to doctoral study and dissertation processes.
• Additional Writing and Research Resources: Visit our Resources page for more writing, research and academic support available across the University.

Please visit our Graduate Assistantships page for step by step instructions.

Step 1: Confirm your interest and join the applicant pool

• New students: Apply through the “Next Steps” tab in your application portal. Once submitted, your application will be added to the applicant pool for departments that are hiring.
• Continuing students: Email gradstudentservices@montclair.edu to confirm your interest.

Step 2: Reach out to your department for available opportunities

• Reach out to your program contact or department chair to ask about potential assistantship opportunities, as each department handles the interview and selection process directly.
• When reaching out, it can be helpful to include an updated resume, a brief personal statement and a recommendation letter.

Please note: Assistantships are competitive, and availability varies by program, department, and funding.

For fall assistantships, departments typically hire between April and July. For spring assistantships, departments typically hire between October and January.

Hiring may also take place outside of these windows if a department needs to fill a vacancy. We recommend staying in touch with your Graduate Program Contact and academic department for updates about openings.

No. Graduate assistants who receive a stipend are paid automatically on a biweekly schedule. The total stipend is divided evenly across the term of the assistantship, following the University's payroll schedule.

However, your supervisor or department may ask you to track your hours internally. Please follow your supervisor’s instructions for logging or reporting your assistantship hours.

No. Tuition remission does not carry over from one academic year to the next. Students cannot bank unused credits or borrow credits from a future year.

It depends on the number of weekly service hours required by your assistantship and the type of employment. Review the Graduate Assistantships page and Graduate Assistant Policy Manual for more information.

On-Campus Employment

Graduate assistants may not work more than 20 total hours per week in on-campus employment during the academic year. If your assistantship requires 15 or more weekly service hours, you generally may not hold an additional on-campus position.

Off-Campus Employment

Off-campus employment is not included in the 20-hour weekly limit for on-campus employment and does not require approval through your assistantship. However, you should carefully consider whether you can manage the additional work alongside your assistantship responsibilities and academic commitments. International students must also confirm that any off-campus employment is permitted under their immigration status before accepting a position.