General Graduate Program Requirements

Graduate School policies and standards can be found on the Graduate School Policies page. 

The minimum GPA for any graduate program is 3.0. Individual programs may require more than a 3.0 to remain in good standing. 

The minimum grade for a course to be accepted toward any requirement is C. Individual programs may require higher grades for specific courses.

MASTER OF ARTS - INTERDISCIPLINARY STUDIES

The Interdisciplinary Master of Arts program has a unique application process, which prospective students are encouraged to read closely.

The M.A./M.S. program website lays out the application process, the structure of the coursework, and the committee membership that each candidate proposes as part of their application process. Each applicant must submit a plan of study, created in consultation with prospective committee members.

Students must choose from the following options:

30 Credit Thesis Option

• Students must complete 30 credits of graduate-level coursework chosen in consultation with their advisor; students must do the graduate increment of any 400-level classes.
• Students will complete a thesis proposal (format to be determined by the student’s graduate committee) approximately one year after beginning the program.
• Students must satisfactorily complete an oral defense of the thesis.

36 Credit Non-Thesis Option

• Students must complete 36 credits  of graduate-level coursework chosen in consultation with their advisor; students must do the graduate increment of any 400-level classes..
• Students must satisfactorily complete:

1. A comprehensive exam, format to be determined by the student’s graduate committee; and
2. One of three options:
   1. A professional paper – a publishable quality paper, which shall consists of an article-length, monographic study based substantially on primary sources.
   2. Three short critical papers or products that show creative work – merit to be judged by your graduate committee.
   3. A paper submitted to a nationally recognized journal.