Graduation Requirements

Candidacy

Graduate students admitted unconditionally shall apply for candidacy to the selected degree program upon completion of twelve credit hours. Students admitted conditionally cannot apply for candidacy until all conditions assigned at the time of admission to graduate study have been removed. Failure to apply for candidacy will result in a hold being placed upon the student’s records. A petition to remove a hold must be addressed to the Dean of Graduate Studies.

Application for Graduation

In addition to satisfying all degree requirements, a candidate for a degree must file an "Application for Graduation" at the Registrar's Office. THIS MUST BE DONE THE FIST WEEK OF THE SEMESTER/TERM IN WHICH THE DEGREE WORK IS EXPECTED TO BE COMPLETED. If a student applies for graduation but fails to satisfy graduation requirements, the student must reapply and pay an additional diploma fee.

Commencement

The University confers degrees at commencement, which is held in May and December of each year. No degree is conferred except at these times. The candidate is expected to be present at commencement for the conferral of the degree unless written authorization to graduate in absentia is granted by the Dean of Graduate Studies.

Absentia Graduation

Requests to graduate in absentia must be in writing and should be forwarded to the Dean of Graduate Studies at least two weeks prior to the scheduled graduation date. Graduate students who have been approved to graduate in absentia will receive their diplomas by mail after the actual conferral of the degrees.

Candidates who prepare a thesis in partial fulfillment of the requirement for a master's degree must exhibit the capabilities of gathering, organizing, evaluating, and reporting data which are pertinent to the topic of investigation.

All theses must be written in accordance with the guidelines set forth in the thesis writing guide "Instructions for the Preparation of the Master's Thesis." This guide may be obtained at the Office of Graduate Studies or the candidate's major department.

The candidate's thesis committee will be appointed by the program director in consultation with the student's department head. Once the general area of research is determined through conference with the advisor(s), the student begins the process necessary for preparation of the thesis. Under the direction of the committee, the student prepares and submits a thesis plan for approval to the Dean of Graduate Studies via the program director.

The thesis may be completed at any time after the student has been admitted to candidacy for the degree. However, the thesis committee must receive the thesis at least six weeks before the degree is to be conferred. The final copies of the thesis and abstract, in acceptable form, along with a report of the oral examination, must be filed with the Dean of Graduate Studies no later than the close of the work day which precedes the date of graduation by two weeks.

Two copies of the thesis are required. The first copy is for the library; the second copy is for the major department. Additionally, a third copy may be submitted if the student would like a bound copy for personal retention. The cost of thesis binding will be borne by the student. Authentic signatures (not photocopies) by each member of the student's advisory committee are required on each approval sheet submitted with the thesis.

Each candidate shall prepare a thesis abstract of not more than 350 words. Three copies of the abstract will be submitted with the two copies of the thesis. If three copies of the thesis are submitted, an additional copy of the abstract will be needed.

An oral defense of the thesis is required. It will be conducted by the thesis committee. The Dean of Graduate Studies will be notified by the committee, in writing, when the student has passed the oral defense. The oral defense of the thesis must be passed at least three weeks before the degree is conferred.

1. Obtain from the University an official statement of admittance to graduate study. 

2. Develop a planned program of studies (including determined prerequisites) under supervision of designated faculty advisor, with any subsequent modifications approved by advisor and department head.

3. Apply for admission to candidacy after completion of 12 hours.

4. Complete course work for the degree.

5. Successfully complete a thesis, portfolio, comprehensive exam, or research project as set forth in this catalog.

6. Submit an "Application for Graduation" form accompanied by the payment of graduation fee. This must be done during the first week of the semester or term in which the degree work is to be completed.

7. Complete the degree within six years from the time of unconditional or conditional admission to the program was granted.

   See specific degree programs for special requirements.