| |  | | Master’s Degree
The master's degree is awarded in recognition of academic accomplishment as demonstrated by a coherent program of coursework, passing of the required examinations, and preparation of a thesis or project(s).
Plans for the Master's Degree—The Graduate School offers the master's degree under three different plans: Plan A, requiring a thesis; and Plan B, which substitutes additional coursework and special projects for the thesis; and the Coursework Master's, which provides an alternative structure for degree completion, such as a culminating experience in the form of a capstone course and/or paper. Minimum Graduate School requirements, including the 30-credit minimum, time limit for degree completion, double counting of credits, transfer coursework, and GPA apply to all plans. Individual major fields have the option of setting higher/more stringent requirements; students should be familiar with any special requirements in their major field. For plans offered in each major, see Degree Programs and Faculty in this catalog.
Registration Requirement for the Master's Degree—Master's degree students are required by the Graduate School to complete at least 60 percent of the coursework for their official degree programs (excluding thesis credits) as registered University of Minnesota Graduate School students; individual major fields may require a higher percentage. With approval of the adviser, director of graduate studies in the major (and director of graduate studies in the minor, if the courses are for a designated minor), and the Graduate School, transfer coursework may make up the remaining 40 percent (maximum) of the degree coursework (see Transfer of Credits for the Master’s Degree below).
Master's Plan A students must enroll for a minimum of 10 thesis credits (8777) before receiving the degree.
Double Counting—Students may have a maximum of 8 credits in common between two master's-level degrees.
Transfer of Credits for the Master’s Degree—Unless otherwise specified under a student's major in Degree Programs and Faculty, the following rules apply to transfer of credits.
Master's degree students are required by the Graduate School to complete at least 60 percent of the coursework for their official degree programs (excluding thesis credits) as registered University of Minnesota Graduate School students. With approval of the adviser, director of graduate studies in the major (and director of graduate studies in the minor, if the courses are for a designated minor), and the Graduate School, the transfer of up to 40 percent of the degree program coursework from any combination of the following is permitted.
- Other recognized graduate
schools;
- Registration for graduate
credit by non-admitted students—students
may be able to register for graduate
credit when not admitted to the
Graduate School. Non-admitted
students interested in taking
graduate-level courses must work
with the respective departments
(generally the director of graduate
studies or his/her designee) to
gain admission to non-degree status.
For information about registering
for graduate credit as a non-admitted
student, refer to the University
Web site.
- Registrations through other
University of Minnesota units (e.g.,
College of Education and Human Development,
Law School) in pursuit of graduate-level
degrees;
- Adult special, summer session,
and College of Continuing Education
registrations at the University
of Minnesota taken before
spring semester 2001. Any registrations
in these categories taken spring
semester 2001 or later will not
be accepted towards any Graduate
School degree requirement.
In all cases, official transcripts of the work must be attached to the degree program form, unless they have already been included in the student's Graduate School file. Individual graduate programs have the option of specifying a lower percentage of coursework for transfer.
Work to be transferred must be
graduate level (postbaccalaureate)
and have been taught by faculty
authorized to teach graduate courses.
It is the student's responsibility
to provide appropriate course documentation
(e.g., course syllabi, faculty
status information) supporting
proposed transfer credits to the
program.
In the case of a transfer from a non-U.S. institution, the credits must have been earned in a program judged by the Graduate School to be comparable to a graduate degree program in a graduate school of a regionally accredited institution in the United States.
Regarding the transfer of coursework from either a U.S. or non-U.S. institution, if conditions are placed on a student's admission to exclude certain coursework from transfer to a Graduate School degree program, that coursework may not be transferred regardless of the level of the coursework or the status of the school or college in which it was earned.
Credits are transferred by including the courses in the proposed degree program. Credits not accepted as part of a student's degree program cannot be transferred to the graduate transcript.
Courses taken before the awarding of a baccalaureate degree cannot be transferred.
Time Limit for Earning
the Master's Degree—All requirements for the master's degree must be completed and the degree awarded within seven years. The seven-year period begins with the earliest coursework included on the official degree program form, including any transfer work. The graduate faculty in a specific program may set more stringent time requirements.
Students who are unable to complete the degree within the seven-year limit may petition the Graduate School for an extension of up to one additional year. Extensions beyond one year are considered only in the most extraordinary circumstances. To ensure timely consideration, petitions should be filed early in the term in which the time limit expires.
If a petition is approved, the student is notified of the expectations for progress and completion of the degree. If the petition is denied, the student is terminated from the graduate program.
Students who have been terminated under such circumstances may apply for readmission to the Graduate School; however, readmission under these circumstances is not assured. The faculty in the major field and the Graduate School set any readmission conditions on the student's resumption of work toward the degree, such as registering for additional coursework, retaking written examinations, completing the degree within a specified time period, or other appropriate terms.
For more information about the
master's degree time limit and
petitioning procedure, visit www.grad.umn.edu/current_students/forms/masters.html.
Official Program for the
Degree—At the time
of the publication of this catalog,
degree program forms are being
filed in paper format. Filing
and tracking of degree program
forms
will, however, be changing to an
electronic system. Updated information
about the filing and tracking of
these forms will be made available
by the Graduate School, 316 Johnston
Hall, and on the Graduate
School Web site.
The Graduate School expects master's students to file an official program for the degree by the time they have completed 10 credits; however, individual graduate programs may establish their own deadlines for submission of the degree program to the Graduate School. Graduate School approval of the degree program form is required prior to obtaining the master's graduation packet, taking the master's final examination, and/or degree clearance. Students are strongly encouraged to plan ahead to avoid unexpected delays.
Students list all coursework, completed and proposed, that will be offered in fulfillment of degree requirements, including transfer work (see Transfer of Credits for the Master's Degree). If a foreign language is required for the degree, it also is specified on the degree program. The members of a student's final examining committee (who are the thesis reviewers for Plan A) are appointed by the dean of the Graduate School on recommendation of the faculty in the major field at the time the student's official degree program is approved.
The minimum credit requirements for the program are specified under the Plan A and Plan B sections below.
A degree program approved by the Graduate School must be on file before reviewers report, examination, or graduation forms can be released to the student.
Changes in Approved Program—Once
approved, the degree program must
be fulfilled in every detail to
meet graduation requirements. Program
changes should be requested by
completing a Graduate School petition
form. The petition form is available
from the Graduate School, 316 Johnston
Hall, or online.
Minimum Grade Requirements—The Graduate School requires a minimum GPA of 2.80 (on a 4.00 scale) for courses included on any official master's degree program form. Courses with grades of A, B, C (including C-), and S may be included in the official degree program, but grades of S are not calculated in the GPA. Students pursuing a Plan A master's degree are required to register for thesis credits (8777); these registrations are not graded and therefore cannot be used to meet course credit requirements. At least two-thirds of the course credits included on any degree program form must be taken A-F.
Individual major fields have the option of setting higher grade requirements and specifying more stringent requirements regarding the application of S-N courses to a degree program; students should be familiar with any special requirements in their major field.
Language Requirement—See
Degree Programs and Faculty to
determine the language requirement,
if any, for a specific major field.
The Graduate School monitors the
fulfillment of language study when
a major field requires a language.
Information on how to demonstrate
proficiency, and on conditions
under which proficiency is recorded
on the official transcript, is
available from the Graduate School,
316 Johnston Hall, or online.
More Information—Students
who have questions about the master's
degree after reading this entire
section (including the following
on Plan A and Plan B) may review
online
information or contact the Graduate School
by e-mail (gsmast@umn.edu). Note: Some commonly used forms are available
on the Graduate
School Web site.
Plan A: Master’s Degree With Thesis
Minimum
Credit Requirements—Students must complete an approved program of coursework consisting of a minimum of 14 credits in the major field and a minimum of 6 credits in one or more related fields outside the major. All credits included on the official degree program form must be in graduate-level courses. Courses included on the official degree program form cannot be used to meet both major and outside credit requirements. A 2.80 minimum GPA must be maintained for all courses on the program form. Students must also register for a minimum of 10 master's thesis credits (8777); these registrations are not graded and therefore cannot be used to meet course credit requirements.
Students who wish to complete a designated minor (which is certified on the transcript—unlike the related fields option, which is not) must complete 6 or more credits in a single field. A designated minor must be approved by the director of graduate studies in the minor field. Minors generally are declared when the degree program form is filed, but must be declared prior to the final examination.
For majors in clinical branches, the minor or related fields must be in nonclinical fields that will serve as a basis for the proposed clinical specialization. This fundamental work should be taken early in the program. Familiarity with those phases of the nonclinical disciplines essential to proficiency in the major specialty is required.
Thesis Credits—Students must enroll for a minimum of 10 master's thesis credits (8777) before receiving the degree. Students cannot include thesis credits in the total program credits when determining maximum transfer allowed (see Transfer of Credits for the Master's Degree). They also cannot transfer thesis credits from other graduate institutions, double-count thesis credits between two master's degrees, or use thesis credits to meet the minimum major and related field coursework requirements for the degree.
Master’s Thesis
Students must demonstrate familiarity with the tools of research or scholarship in their major field, the ability to work independently, and the ability to present the results of their investigation effectively, by completing a master's thesis.
Language
of the
Thesis—Theses must normally be written in English or in the language of instruction. If a thesis is to be written in a foreign language, including a language of instruction other than English, a letter should be attached to the degree program when it is submitted to the Graduate School. This letter should confirm that the recommended thesis reviewers (including the outside reviewer) are qualified to read, comprehend, and criticize a thesis in the foreign language.
Published
Work Included
in or in
Lieu of
the Thesis—The thesis may include materials that students have published while University of Minnesota graduate students, provided the research was carried out under the direction of the graduate faculty and approved by the adviser for incorporation into the thesis. Such publication is welcomed as the best demonstration of quality in a student's research, and the Graduate School encourages the practice. The adviser should notify the Graduate School in writing of the intention to publish part of the thesis material, but the Graduate School's approval is not required.
In cases where the thesis research is to be presented to the examining committee in the form of one or more articles that have been published, or are in a form suitable for publication, the student should contact the Graduate School, 316 Johnston Hall, for information on accommodating such a presentation to the required thesis format.
Thesis
Reviewers—The thesis is read by the entire examining committee, which is appointed by the dean of the Graduate School on recommendation of the faculty in the major field at the time the student's official degree program is approved. This examining committee consists of at least three members: two representatives from the major field and one from the minor or a related field. Committee members cannot represent more than one field simultaneously.
To permit faculty to allocate sufficient time to read the thesis and decide whether it is ready for defense, students must notify their adviser and other members of the final oral committee at least two weeks in advance that the thesis will be delivered on a particular date. All members of the examining committee must then have at least two weeks to read the thesis after it has been delivered. These are minimum standards; individual programs may establish other standards for their students.
The entire
committee
must be
unanimous
in certifying
that the
thesis
is ready
for defense,
as indicated
by their
signatures
on the
thesis
reviewers
report
form. The
thesis
reviewers
report
form, part
of the
graduation
packet,
is requested
online.
This form
will be
released
only if
the student
has a degree
program
form approved
by the
Graduate
School
and has
maintained
active
status
(see Registration
Requirements
under Registration).
When the
signed
thesis
reviewers
report
form is
returned
to the
Graduate
School,
316 Johnston
Hall, the
student
is provided
with the
final examination
report
form.
Final
Examinations—Candidates for the master's degree, Plan A, must pass a final oral examination; a final written examination may also be required at the discretion of the graduate faculty in the major field. If both a written and an oral examination are specified, the written examination must precede the oral examination. The final examinations cover the major field and the minor or related fields, and may include any work fundamental to these fields. The final oral for the master's degree is conducted as a closed examination, attended by only the student and the examining committee.
Final examinations are coordinated by the chair of the student's examining committee. All committee members must be present at the examination; the absence of any member results in an invalid examination. The results of the examinations are reported to the Graduate School on the final examination report form. A majority vote of the committee, all members present and voting, is required to pass the examination. A student who fails the examination may be terminated from the graduate program or may be allowed, on unanimous recommendation of the examining committee, to retake the examination, providing the reexamination is conducted by the original examining committee.
Changes
in the
Examining
Committee—Substitutions on the examining committee may be necessitated by such circumstances as a faculty member's temporary absence on leave from the University. The adviser or the director of graduate studies must request the Graduate School's approval of such substitutions well in advance of the examination. Substitutions for an oral examination that are necessitated by emergency situations must also be approved in advance. In such cases, the adviser should consult with the Graduate School staff before the start of the examination.
Preparation
and Submission
of the
Thesis—Two
unbound
copies
of the
thesis
must be
submitted
to the
Graduate
School.
The student's
adviser(s)
must sign
both copies
of the
thesis
to confirm
that they
are complete
and satisfactory
in all
respects
and that
all revisions
required
by the
final examining
committee
have been
made. Instructions
for the
preparation
of the
thesis,
including
format
specifications
and adviser's
signature
requirements,
should
be obtained
from the
Graduate
School,
316 Johnston
Hall, or
online.
Plan B: Master’s Degree Without Thesis
Minimum
Credit
Requirements—Students must complete an approved program of coursework consisting of a minimum of 14 credits in the major field and a minimum of 6 credits in one or more related fields outside the major. The balance of credits to be completed to meet the 30-credit minimum requirement for the degree is chosen by agreement between the adviser and the student, subject to whatever restrictions the graduate faculty in the major field may place on that choice. Courses included on the official degree program cannot be used to meet both major and outside credit requirements. All credits included in the official degree program must be in graduate-level courses. A 2.80 minimum GPA must be maintained for all courses included in the program.
Students who wish to complete a designated minor (which is certified on the transcript—unlike the related fields option, which is not) must complete 6 or more credits in a single field. A designated minor must be approved by the director of graduate studies in the minor field.
Plan
B Project(s)—Students must demonstrate familiarity with the tools of research or scholarship in their major field, the ability to work independently, and the ability to present the results of their investigation effectively, by completing at least one Plan B project. The graduate faculty in each major field may require as many as three such projects.
The Plan B project(s) should involve a combined total of approximately 120 hours (the equivalent of three full-time weeks) of work. The graduate faculty in each major field specifies both the nature and extent of the options available to satisfy this requirement, and whether the requirement is to be satisfied in conjunction with or independent of the courses in the student's program.
Final
Examinations—The Graduate School requires a final examination for Plan B candidates; this may be written, oral, or both, at the discretion of the graduate faculty in the major field. The final examinations cover the major field and the minor or related fields, and may include any work fundamental to these fields. Students should make the Plan B project(s) available to the examining committee for its review well in advance of the final examination. If a final oral examination is held, it is conducted as a closed examination, attended by only the student and the examining committee. All committee members must be present at the oral examination; the absence of any member results in an invalid examination.
A
committee of at least three
examiners is appointed by
the dean of the Graduate
School upon recommendation
of the faculty in the major
field at the time the official
degree program is approved.
This committee consists
of two representatives from
the major field and one
from
the minor or a related field.
Committee members cannot
represent more than one
filed simultaneously. The
examination
is coordinated by the chair
of the student's examining
committee. The results of
the examination
are reported on a form
the student must
obtain from the Graduate
School, 316 Johnston Hall,
or by requesting a graduation
packet online before the
examination is
held. This form is released
only if the student has
a degree program form approved
by the Graduate School
and
has maintained active status
(see Registration Requirements
under Registration). A
majority
vote of the committee,
all
members present and voting,
is required to pass the
examination.
A student who fails the
examination may be terminated
from
the graduate program or
may be
allowed, on unanimous
recommendation of the examining
committee,
one retake of the examination,
providing the reexamination
is conducted by the original
examining committee.
Changes
in the Examining Committee—Substitutions on the examining committee may be necessitated by such circumstances as a faculty member's temporary absence on leave from the University. The adviser or the director of graduate studies must request the Graduate School's approval of such substitutions well in advance of the examination. Substitutions for an oral examination that are necessitated by emergency situations must also be approved in advance. In such cases, the adviser should consult with the Graduate School staff before the start of the examination.
More
Information—Students
who have questions about
the master's degree may
review online information
at www.grad.umn.edu/current_students or
contact the Graduate School
by e-mail at gsmast@umn.edu.
Note: Some
commonly used
forms are available on
the Graduate
School Web
site. |
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