Effective Catalog

The material contained herein is subject to change from time to time and this publication cannot be considered an agreement or contract between individual students and the School. The School of Science and Engineering reserves the right to alter or amend the terms, conditions, and requirements, and to eliminate programs or courses as necessary. Once enrolled students should consult on a regular basis with their Faculty Mentor and Student Success Coach for specific information regarding academic policies pertaining to their respective program.

QPA

Students must maintain a quality point average (QPA) of 2.00 or better to remain enrolled in the School. For students wishing to transfer into the School, a minimum QPA of 2.50 is required.

Academic Load

Students normally carry 15-18 credits in one semester, although a 12-credit schedule in a regular semester is considered full-time study. A request for a schedule of more than 18 credits in a semester must be accompanied by a recommendation from the Student Success Coach and must be approved by the Dean. The Student Standing Committee stipulates the number of credits for which students may enroll who are on academic probation. Students who wish to carry more than 12 credits of courses in the summer sessions must consult with their Faculty Mentor and Student Success Coach.

Residence Requirement

The last 30 credits must be taken in residence at Duquesne University.

Majors

A major may be declared at the time of a student’s admission into SOSE, and must be declared at the end of the student’s freshman year. Transfer students must declare a major when applying to the School of Science and Engineering.

Minors

Students may, at their discretion, declare a minor. An overall minimum cumulative quality point average of 2.0 is required in the minor for graduation. Refer to the Departmental listing for specific minor requirements.

Sequential Seminars

Sequential courses must be taken in proper sequence. Credit will not be given for a prerequisite course if courses for which it is a prerequisite already have been taken.

Course Repeat Policy

An undergraduate student is allowed to retake a SOSE course up to two times if they obtain a D or an F. This may result in taking the course for a total of three times. Students who obtain a C or higher in a course may not repeat it, in alignment with the University policy. Withdrawals are not included towards this count. Students can request an exception to this policy by speaking to their student success coach, who will coordinate a written request with the Department Chair and Dean to request approvals.

SOSE Transfer Policy

No course taken by students in the SOSE as a Temporary Transfer at another institution may count toward the degree unless approved by the Student Success Coach and/or department.

  • Science classes – The SOSE will accept science courses taken at an accredited college/university outside Duquesne University upon the approval of the course by the department in which the course is offered.
  • Non-science classes – The SOSE will continue to accept courses that are not science courses taken at an accredited college/university outside of Duquesne University. The course description should be approved by the student's Success Coach prior to taking the course.

CLEP and Advanced Placement

Refer to the Admissions section of the catalog.

University-Level Courses Taken In High School

University-level courses taken by entering freshmen students while in high school will be evaluated for credit if the following criteria have been met:

  • The courses are recorded on an official transcript from an accredited institution of higher learning.
  • The grades are “C” or better.

School of Science and Engineering
Academic Integrity Policy

Report of Incidence of Plagiarism, Cheating, or Other Violations of Academic Integrity

Effective Spring 2025

All students taking classes or participating in faculty-led academic activities in the School of Science and Engineering (SOSE) are subject to the University Academic Integrity Policy, as well as specific actions and procedures put forth in the School of Science and Engineering Academic Integrity Policy.  All faculty, instructors, and students must familiarize themselves with the University and School of Science and Engineering Academic Integrity Policies.  Faculty and instructors need to pay particular attention to the sections in each policy related to sanctions, before setting in motion the process that can lead to a sanction for an academic integrity violation.  Specific aspects of the School of Science and Engineering Policy are presented below, and are followed by a copy of the University’s most recent Academic Integrity Policy and Procedures, the School of Science and Engineering’s Academic Integrity Reporting Form, and the confidentiality form related to students serving on the School of Science and Engineering Academic Integrity Violation Appeals Committee (the committee).

Individuals who seek or receive credit for intellectual work that is not their own violate academic integrity, as do individuals who falsify or ignore data, or who destroy or contaminate data or intellectual property. Specific violations of academic integrity may include, but are not limited to, the following:

·       Cheating

·       Plagiarism

·       Deceit in academic matters

·       Misuse of documents

·       Assistance in the violation of academic integrity

·       Violation of course Artificial Intelligence policy

See the University Academic Integrity Policy and Procedures, which is linked above and also follows this School of Science and Engineering Policy, for the specific descriptions of these violations of academic integrity.  

Academic sanctions include, but are not limited to:

  • Course level sanctions: lowered grade or failure on an assignment, lowered course grade, course failure.
  • Sanctions beyond the course level: suspension or dismissal from the School or from the University, revocation of degree.

Procedures:

The procedures for applying sanctions in cases of violations of academic integrity in the School of Science and Engineering are initiated by the instructor. As described below, whether the procedures extend beyond the instructor level depends on two factors: the severity of the sanction and/or the filing of an appeal by the student.

The Procedures used in the School of Science and Engineering are as Follows:

  1. In cases that result in sanctions including, or greater than, a failing grade for the assignment on which the violation allegedly occurred, the instructor must discuss this violation with his or her department chair or program director within 5 university days (days the university offices are open) of the date of the alleged violation.
  2. The instructor must complete the School of Science and Engineering’s Academic Integrity Reporting Form and meet with the student, with the department chair/program director or their designee present, within 10 (ten) university days of the date of the alleged violation.
  3. At this meeting the violation and sanction to be imposed are discussed, and the student is made aware that it is his or her right to appeal the instructor's finding of a violation, and/or imposition of a sanction, to the School of Science and Engineering’s Academic Integrity Violation Appeals Committee.
  4. At this meeting the student will sign the Academic Integrity Reporting Form. By signing the form, the student is acknowledging the information on the form, including any sanction that has been imposed. As outlined in item #5 below, the student can appeal the sanction via the Academic Integrity Violation Appeals process.
  5. The student should initiate any appeal by notifying the Dean via email within 10 university days after the instructor has communicated with her or him the violation and sanction, via the Academic Integrity Reporting Form. As part of the email to the Dean, the student can request a review of documents by the committee (from which they will make their recommendation to the Dean), or a hearing, wherein the committee will not only review the afore mentioned documents, but in addition, the student and the faculty member/instructor will meet separately with the committee.
  6. After the meeting described in item #3, the instructor solicits the Dean’s signature on the Academic Integrity Reporting Form, and the original copy of the form and any supporting documentation/evidence of the violation that were provided by the instructor are retained in the student’s file in the Dean’s Office, and copies are sent to the department chair/program director for inclusion in the student’s departmental file.
  7. The student is provided a copy of the completed and signed Academic Integrity Reporting Form via email by the Dean’s Office.
  8. If the recommended sanction is as severe as (or more severe than) a failing grade on an assignment, copies of the Academic Integrity Reporting Form and any supporting documentation provided by the instructor must be scanned and forwarded as an email attachment to the Associate Provost for Academic Affairs, and the Dean of the School in which the student is enrolled (if they are not a School of Science and Engineering Student).

Procedure for Student Appeals:

Student responsibilities. In order to appeal a sanction, students must submit the following via email to the Dean of the School of Science and Engineering within 10 (ten) university days from the date they informed the Dean of their intent to appeal the sanction (as described above in items #4 and #5).

  1. A formal letter stating the case for the appeal
  2. Documentation supporting the appeal

Dean’s responsibilities.  The Dean must notify the course instructor immediately of the student appeal and give the instructor the opportunity to provide additional documentation within five university days.  As part of the implementation of this policy, the Dean forms the School of Science and Engineering Academic Integrity Violation Appeals Committee, which is composed of five fulltime faculty members. Tenure-track and non-tenure track faculty are eligible to serve. The members will rotate between all departments and programs in the School. .  The chairs of the departments, or program (Forensic Science and Law), will appoint a faculty member from their department or program to serve a three-year term on this committee.  This is a standing committee.

Committee members can serve multiple terms if reappointed.  If a committee member leaves the committee during his or her three-year term, that committee member is replaced by a faculty member, provided by the department chair or program director, from that same department or program.  The assistant to the Dean will keep track of the rotation of the committee members and their departments.

Once formed, the Dean appoints the chair of the committee, and thereafter appoints a new chair from the members of the committee, if the sitting chair rotates off the committee.  The committee will also have two student members that are selected to serve on an as needed basis, when the committee meets to consider a student’s appeal.  These students will be selected by the committee, based on department chair and program director recommendations, and the students that serve cannot be from the same department or program as the student initiating the appeal.  Student members of the committee are required to complete and sign a confidentially agreement, and complete Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) training, offered through the Office of the Registrar, prior to participating in any activities associated with their service on the committee.  The selection of these student members, and completion of the confidentiality agreement and the FERPA training should occur as soon as possible after the student indicates to the Dean that they are going to appeal the sanction.  The students that serve on the School of Science and Engineering Academic Integrity Violation Appeals Committee are non-voting members of the committee.

Within 5 (five) university days of receiving the formal letter from the student indicating their desire to and case for appeal, and the documentation supporting the appeal, the Dean will formally charge the committee.  Once the committee is formally charged, the Dean will provide the committee with the Academic Integrity Reporting form (and supporting documents from the instructor) and the formal letter of appeal and documentation received from the student.  The Committee, at its discretion, may wish to go beyond an examination of the written record and hold a hearing at which the student and the faculty member/instructor may separately appear.  The student can also specifically request a hearing as part of their email to the Dean indicating that they wish to appeal the sanction.

Upon the return of the recommendation to the Dean, from the Academic Integrity Violation Appeals Committee (see below), the Dean will proceed as follows:

  • Determine if the student has a record of an existing academic integrity violation(s) on file with the Associate Provost for Academic Affairs. The Dean can request a copy(s) of these documents at his or her discretion.
  • After reviewing the Academic Integrity Reporting form, any supporting documentation submitted by the faculty member/instructor, any materials submitted by the student, the Academic Integrity Appeals Committee recommendation, and any pertinent documents provided by the Associate Provost for Academic Affairs, the Dean will provide, in writing, his or her decision regarding the sanction. A copy of this letter will be sent via email to the student, the faculty member/instructor, the faculty member/instructor’s department chair or program director, and if required, based upon this policy, the Associate Provost for Academic Affairs, and the Dean of the student’s school or college if they are not a School of Science and Engineering student.
  • It is within the purview of the Dean to uphold, commute or modify the sanction (making it more or less severe) put in place by the faculty member/instructor and/or recommended by the Academic Integrity Violation Appeals Committee.
  • If the sanction is changed, the Dean will present the rationale for the change in a separate letter that will become part of the students file in the Dean’s Office, and/or the Associate Provost for Academic Affairs Office if the materials are forwarded to that office. This letter will also be provided to the faculty/instructor’s chair or program director, and will be shared with the instructor imposing the sanction, and added to the student’s department file.
  • If the student is not enrolled in the School of Science and Engineering, all materials related to the sanction and appeal process are provided to the Dean of the student’s primary school, and that Dean, in consultation with the School of Science and Engineering Dean, make the final decision to uphold, commute or modify the sanction. A joint letter from the Deans will communicate the decision to the student, the faculty member/instructor who imposed the initial sanction, and the faculty member/instructor’s chair or program director, and the Associate Provost for Faculty Affairs, if required.
  • All recommendations for suspension or dismissal from the University will be forwarded by the Dean to the Associate Provost for Academic Affairs.

Academic Integrity Violation Appeals Committee:

The Academic Integrity Violation Appeals Committee will consist of five faculty and two student members, as previously outlined.  The responsibility of the Academic Integrity Violation Appeals Committee is to review and evaluate the evidence submitted by the faculty member/instructor and by the student, schedule an appeal hearing based on the guidelines set forth in this policy, and formulate a recommendation to uphold, modify (making it more or less severe) or commute the sanction.  The recommendation should indicate the rationale for the decision and specify the recommended modifications to the sanction, if any. The committee recommendation must be forwarded to the Dean within 10 (ten) university days of being charged by the Dean.  The committee will receive all documents associated with the student’s appeal soon after the committee is charged.  If the recommendation is not unanimous, then a majority opinion and a dissenting opinion may be provided to the Dean.

Expectations:

All members involved in academic pursuits, are responsible for maintaining a culture that supports academic integrity as presented in the University and School of Science and Engineering Academic Integrity Policies.  Some matters to consider about academic integrity and these policies include:

  • Academic integrity means pursuing truth while maintaining the humility to recognize and accept that our own understanding may be incomplete.
  • Academic integrity means acknowledging the contributions of others, specifically and completely, using the proper method for acknowledging sources that are appropriate to disciplinary traditions in science.
  • Academic integrity means representing others' work accurately and distinguishing clearly our own ideas, insights, and language, from the work (and wording) of others.
  • Academic integrity means seeking or receiving credit (including grades and other measures of accomplishment) only if it is earned as a result of our own intellectual efforts; it means not taking credit for work that is not our own.
  • Academic integrity means representing ideas and opinions with which we may disagree in a clear and fair manner, according the same respect to material we may criticize that we would wish for our own work.
  • Academic integrity means taking examinations and completing assessments honestly, and according to directions, so that results are a true measure of our own attainments.
  • Academic integrity means treating the work of others-in laboratories, collaborative projects, or any learning endeavors-with the respect we would wish for our own work.
  • Academic integrity means, in short, that we at Duquesne, and in the School of Science and Engineering, are dedicated to pursuing our academic and intellectual endeavors with honesty and honor.

Some of the specific expectations of each sector of the SOSE academic community are outlined below.

Students.  Students enrolled in a major or minor in the School of Science and Engineering, and students taking classes in the School of Science and Engineering, are subject to the expectations of the Code of Student Rights, Responsibilities and Conduct (especially Article XIV – Relationship of Student Code of Conduct with Academic Affairs), with the expectation being that students maintain academic integrity in all quizzes, tests, examinations, class assignments and/or class projects. 

Faculty and instructors. Faculty and instructors must make students in the courses they instruct, and under their supervision, aware of the School of Science and Engineering and University Academic Integrity Policies, as well as the Code of Student Rights, Responsibilities and Conduct.  Faculty and instructors should include a link to the School of Science and Engineering Academic Integrity Policy (which includes links to the University policy and the Code of Student Rights, Responsibilities and Conduct) in their course syllabi.  It is further recommended that faculty include a statement, such as “students determined to have violated the School of Science and Engineering and/or University Academic Integrity Policies are subject to sanctions that may include course level sanctions to include lowered grade or failure on an assignment, lowered course grade, course failure, or sanctions beyond the course level to include suspension or dismissal from the School or from the University, revocation of degree.

Department Head.  The Head of the department where the violation occurred must maintain records of violations and keep the paper versions of the Academic Integrity Reporting Form with the original signatures. Department heads play a critical role in promoting a culture of support for the fair implementation of academic integrity measures by the instructors under their supervision.

Dean.  The Dean of the School of Science and Engineering must maintain records of violations in the School and ensure that the academic integrity policy is disseminated widely and is easily accessible to instructors and students. The Dean must ensure that incoming freshmen are informed of the academic integrity policy during freshman orientation. Additionally, the Dean plays a critical role in ensuring a culture of support for the fair administration of academic sanctions by School of Science and Engineering faculty.

Please Note:

A “writable” version of the School of Science and Engineering Report of Incidence of Plagiarism, Cheating, or other Violation of Academic Integrity form is available in the SOSE Academic Integrity folder in the School of Science and Engineering Box site.  All faculty have access to this folder. The confidentiality agreement for students serving on the Academic Integrity Violation Committee is also available in the SOSE Academic Integrity folder in the School of Science and Engineering Box site.  All faculty have access to this folder. The student should initiate any appeal by notifying the Dean via email within 10 university days after the instructor has communicated with her or him the violation or sanction, via the Academic Integrity Reporting Form.