A. Admissions

Admission to the University of Montana Graduate School allows students to pursue advanced degrees and certificates. While the Graduate School sets minimum admission requirements, individual departments may have additional criteria. The goal is to admit applicants who show strong potential to succeed in and contribute to UM’s graduate programs.

A1.000 - Overview

Before applying to the University of Montana (UM), applicants should contact the relevant department for program-specific requirements and deadlines. A complete list of graduate programs is available on the Graduate School's Explore Programs website. 

Applicants with a bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited institution may apply through the Graduate School's online portal, paying a non-refundable application fee of $70 for the first application and $25 for additional applications within the same year. This excludes applications for undergraduate, post-baccalaureate, Law School, and Pharmacy programs. Graduates pursuing another degree or certificate must submit a new application and fee, which cannot be waived or refunded. As part of the application process, applicants may choose to provide a Social Security number to help differentiate between individuals with similar names. Declining to provide this number will not impact the application. However, federal law requires applicants to submit their Social Security number if applying for financial aid, graduate assistantships, fellowships, or tuition waivers for identification purposes. 

The application fee remains valid for one year from the initial application term. Those not admitted may reapply to the same program within this period with the reduced fee ($25) by submitting a new application. After one year, a new $70 fee is required. 

Falsifying, omitting, or suppressing information in the application may result in denial or dismissal from UM. 

A1.100 - Academic programs conduct the initial review of applications and must submit recommendations for full, provisional, or denied admission to the Graduate School. Before issuing an official admission letter, the Graduate School reviews applicants recommended for admission to ensure that Graduate School admission requirements are met. The Graduate School is the only authority that may officially offer admission.

A1.200 - Admission is competitive. The faculty and the Graduate School weigh several factors in making admission decisions: undergraduate grades, test scores, the appropriateness of previous academic training, and the availability of space, facilities, faculty, and other resources.

A1.300 - Admission requirements vary by academic program. To be considered for admission, applicants must submit all materials required by the specific program. At minimum, the Graduate School requires an official transcript verifying a completed bachelor's degree.

Applicants to master's and doctoral programs must also provide letters of recommendation and a resume/CV, letter of intent, or equivalent.

A1.400 - All credentials become the property of the University of Montana and will not be returned.

A1.500 - Participation in or completion of a master's program does not guarantee eventual admission to a doctoral program.

A1.600 - Incomplete applications may be carried forward for up to 12 months if no admission decision has been made. Once an official admission decision has been made on a complete application, the decision is final and the application cannot be modified. This also applies to incomplete applications that have been officially inactivated. Incomplete applications are officially inactivated after the 15th instructional day of the semester. To be considered, all requests to carry applications forward must be submitted before that deadline.

A1.700 - With departmental approval, newly admitted students may defer their admission for up to 12 months. 

A2.000 - Full Admission

An academic program may recommend an applicant for full admission when the student meets both program and Graduate School requirements and has demonstrated strong potential for success in graduate study.

A2.100 - The Graduate School requires a minimum cumulative undergraduate GPA of 3.0 for full admission. Applicants with a GPA below 3.0 may be considered for provisional admission upon recommendation by the academic program. Applicants with an undergraduate GPA below 3.0 who have completed a post-baccalaureate degree (e.g., master’s degree) with a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher may qualify for full admission.

A3.000 - Provisional Admission

The Graduate School may grant a student provisional admission for up to 12 months from the beginning of the term for which the student is admitted. Provisional admission is given when the student might not be competitive in one or more admission criteria, but nevertheless shows promise. The provisional status provides a trial period wherein the student can demonstrate they can perform in the graduate program.

A3.100 - The academic program may determine whether there are certain deficiencies or prerequisite courses that the student must take during the provisional period. Applicants with a cumulative GPA below 3.0 may be offered provisional admission. Such applicants must remain in provisional status until they meet the specific conditions set by the admitting program and approved by the Graduate School.

A3.200 - The provisional status must be removed by the Graduate School on the recommendation of the academic program any time within the 12-month provisional period.

A3.300 - Except for the assignment of teaching assistantships by some departments, provisional admission carries no restrictions regarding financial aid, credit loads, course selection, or other special limitations.

A3.400 - International students can be admitted provisionally to a degree program if their English language skills do not meet full admission standards. This provision does not apply to international students admitted exclusively to online delivered programs who are not seeking a student visa. Students admitted this way must be enrolled in the English Language Institute (ELI) until they are able to raise their English proficiency to meet full admission standards. Due to the intensity of ELI, students are not able to take classes within their major while enrolled in ELI. An international student's visa will be designated for ELI until they can demonstrate that their English proficiency meets full admission standards, at which point their visa will be updated to their admitted program. 

A4.000 - Denied Admission

Applicants may be denied admission based on factors such as academic performance, test scores, prior academic preparation, or the availability of space, faculty, and other resources. Denied applicants cannot be reconsidered for the same program and term.

A5.000 - Equal Opportunity

The University of Montana is committed to a program of equal opportunity for education, employment and participation in university activities without regard to race, color, sex, age, religious creed, political ideas, marital or family status, physical or mental disability, national origin or ancestry, or sexual orientation.

A6.000 - Students with Disabilities

The University is committed to providing accommodations that allow qualified individuals with disabilities the opportunity to study, work, and participate in its programs and activities. Applicants and students with disabilities will be provided with reasonable accommodations. Applicants and students who seek reasonable accommodations should begin the process by connecting with the Office of Disability Equity (ODE). University policy as well as federal and state law prohibits retaliation against anybody for exercising their right to request a reasonable accommodation.

A7.000 - Mandatory New Student Requirements

Once a student is admitted, holds are placed on their account to prevent registration until the required materials listed below are submitted. 

A7.100 - Upon admission, all students must provide an official transcript showing a conferred bachelor’s degree to register for classes. Transcripts must be sent directly from the awarding institution or via an approved vendor (e.g., Parchment or National Student Clearinghouse), or, for international transcripts, through an approved evaluation service (see A8.500).

A7.101 - If a bachelor’s degree was awarded by UM, no transcript is necessary unless requested by the program, as the information is accessible internally.  

A7.102 - Transcripts showing in-progress coursework without a conferred degree do not meet requirements and will not lift the registration hold. Non-bachelor's degree transcripts are only required if requested by the department or for transfer credits. 

A7.200 - A self-report medical history, sent upon admission, must be submitted to the Curry Health Center before the 15^th instructional day of the first semester of attendance. Students born after December 31, 1956 must submit a certificate of immunization against Rubella and measles (Rubeola). This requirement does not apply to online-only students.

A8.000 - Admission for International Students

International students must be prepared to submit a completed application with a minimum of 120 days prior to the start of the intended term. This provision does not apply to international students admitted exclusively to online delivered programs who are not seeking a student visa. Many departments request more time for the application review, particularly if the department indicates a priority deadline pertaining to funding. UM typically needs a minimum of 60 days from the time an offer is made to the start of the term to allow for the issuance of an I-20. 

A8.100 - Applicants whose native language is not English must submit an acceptable English language proficiency test score. The acceptable tests for admission, including provisional admission, are listed below.

• Applicants whose test scores meet the minimum may be fully admitted to a university graduate program, provided they meet that program's application standards.
  • Applicants should consult with individual programs to see if there are higher standards for English proficiency in their chosen program. 
• Applicants with lower scores may be considered for provisional admission, provided they are academically eligible, and their score meets the minimum listed below.
  • Graduate students provisionally admitted to the university must enroll in the English Language Institute (ELI) and then score sufficiently high on an English proficiency exam to gain full admission to the university.
• Acceptable tests and scores for graduate admission are at the discretion of the Graduate School and can be found on the Graduate School website.

A8.200 - Applicants who graduated from English-speaking universities are not required to take the TOEFL, IELTS, MET, or DET. However, if the English-speaking university is located outside of the United States or a country listed as exempt in A8.300, an official verification must be provided by the degree-awarding institution. This verification must confirm that the primary language of instruction for the degree was English. 

A8.300 - If you have received a high school, bachelor's, master's, or doctorate degree from an institution in the United States or a country listed below, an English proficiency examination is not required; however, proof of the program’s language of instruction may be requested.

• Countries Exempt from Providing Proof of English Proficiency:
  • Anguilla
  • Antigua & Barbuda
  • Australia
  • Bahamas
  • Barbados
  • Belize
  • British Virgin Islands
  • Canada (except Quebec)
  • Cayman Islands
  • Dominica
  • Falkland Islands
  • Ghana
  • Gibraltar
  • Grenada
  • Guernsey
  • Guyana
  • Ireland
  • Isle of Man
  • Jamaica
  • Jersey
  • Liberia
  • Montserrat
  • New Zealand
  • Nigeria
  • St. Kitts & Nevis
  • St. Lucia
  • St. Vincent & the Grenadines
  • Trinidad & Tobago
  • Turks & Caicos Islands
  • United Kingdom
  • United States Territories

A8.400 - Before issuing a visa form, the Graduate School must receive a certified financial statement from a bank or sponsoring agency.

A8.500 - International transcripts must be evaluated to U.S. standards. The Graduate School requires an official credential evaluation report to be submitted to UM through an active member of the National Association of Credential Evaluation Services (NACES). Evaluations must at a minimum include Credentials, US Equivalency, Grade Average (GPA), and English Translation. If any courses will be transferred in for graduate credit, a course-by-course evaluation must be selected. Applicants to designated online post-professional programs are not required to obtain a GPA evaluation.

A9.000 - Enrollment in Graduate Courses for Senior and Post-Baccalaureate Undergraduate Students

Post-baccalaureate undergraduate students and seniors holding a 3.0 (or greater) grade point average may, with consent of instructor, enroll in 500-level courses for undergraduate credit. Variance from these requirements cannot be petitioned, except in the cases of approved Accelerated Master’s Degrees (see Policy C4.000).

A10.000 - Early Admission

Undergraduates of the University of Montana requiring six (6) or fewer credits to complete the bachelor's degree may be admitted provisionally to the Graduate School, completing the bachelor's degree within one semester. Undergraduate credits taken in this status will be charged at the graduate rate. This policy does not apply to those students in one of the approved programs listed in C4.000.

During the semester as an early admitted graduate student, the student will not be eligible for financial aid. 

A11.000 - Graduate Non-Degree Status

If a student is not seeking a graduate degree or has not been accepted to the Graduate School, they may enroll as a Graduate Non-degree (GND) student on a space-available basis.

A11.100 - To apply, see instructions on the Admissions section of the Graduate School website.

A11.200 - Up to a total of nine (9) semester graduate non-degree credits may apply toward a subsequent graduate degree program, with the approval of the student’s program director and the Graduate School.

A11.300 - Acceptance as a Graduate Non-degree student does not imply future admission to a degree program.

A11.400 - Students do not earn graduate credit in a post-baccalaureate status.

A11.500 - A student may not be admitted to both non-degree and degree status within a single semester. Students enrolled in a non-degree status at the time of acceptance into a degree program will be admitted to the degree program for the following semester.

A12.000 - Visiting Graduate Student

Visiting Graduate Student status is offered for one year to students admitted to graduate study elsewhere. A statement of graduate status from the Graduate School is required. Credits earned under visiting status are considered graduate non-degree credits.

A13.000 - Council of Graduate Schools Resolution Regarding Scholars, Fellows, Trainees, and Assistants

Students are under no obligation to respond to offers of financial support prior to April 15. In those instances in which a student accepts an offer before April 15, and subsequently desires to withdraw that acceptance, the student may submit in writing a resignation of the appointment at any time through April 15. However, an acceptance given or left in force after April 15 commits the student not to accept another offer without first obtaining a written release from the institution to which a commitment has been made. Similarly, an offer by an institution after April 15 is conditional on presentation by the student of the written release from any previously accepted offer.

A14.000 - Western Region Graduate Program (WRGP)

Select graduate programs can apply for participation in WRGP, which allows programs to recruit non-resident students from WICHE states to attend at a reduced tuition rate. If a student is awarded WRGP, they will pay 150% of resident tuition.  

B. Degree Standards

B1.000 - Defining Degree Standards

The University of Montana bestows substantial freedom on departments and colleges to define their own degree structures; current information about particular programs may best be obtained by contacting the chair or dean of the program directly. University regulations, curricula, and fee schedules are subject to change without notice, and students in degree programs are responsible for meeting degree requirements and procedural deadlines.

Full-Time Graduate Student Defined

• Full Time¹: 6+ credits
• 1/2 Time: 3-5 credits
• <1/2 Time: 1-2 credits¹
• Not enrolled: 0 enrolled credits (withdrawn/graduated, etc.)

¹One credit of PSYX 638 per semester is equivalent to full-time enrollment for students in the Clinical Psychology Ph.D. Program. One credit of PSYX 588 (equivalent to PSYX 638) per semester is equivalent to full-time enrollment for students in the School Psychology PhD Program.

B2.000 - Grades

Students must maintain a B average in courses taken for graduate credit at the University of Montana; no grade below C will be accepted toward any degree requirement. The student is automatically on academic probation if the cumulative grade point average falls below 3.0. 

The Graduate School may place limits on the time for the student to remediate the academic problem before being suspended (see policy B8.000 for details). 

In addition, a program may set a higher GPA minimum, passing grade thresholds (e.g., B-), and/or specify other academic performance measures for students to remain in good standing. Examples might include successful completion of specific core courses, demonstration of professional competencies, assembling a committee, or successfully being admitted to a research lab. Programs will communicate these standards clearly in their program handbooks. Failure to meet those standards may result in dismissal (see Policy B8.000).

B2.100 - Credit (CR) grades are not included in grade point calculations, but may apply toward degree requirements when earned in courses offered only on a Credit/No Credit basis.

B2.200 - Only N (Continuation/In Progress), NCR (No Credit Received) and CR (Credit) grades are awarded for research, thesis/professional paper and dissertation work. The grades of CR and NCR are not defined in terms of their relationship to traditional grades for graduate courses, but rather whether the student completed the required work. Grades of I (Incomplete) not removed within one year of grade assignment revert to the alternate grade, usually F, or a grade assigned by the instructor when the incomplete is submitted. All I (Incomplete), N (Continuation/In Progress), and MG (Missing Grade) grades must be resolved and replaced with a final grade no later than the term in which the student intends to graduate.

B2.300 - Courses at the 400-level listed in the UM Catalog may not be challenged for graduate credit. At the time of their creation, 400-level courses are designated as either undergraduate-only or eligible for both undergraduate and graduate credit.

B2.400 - In undergraduate or graduate designated 400-level courses, graduate students will be evaluated in a manner different from that of undergraduate students and will complete an additional increment of graduate-level work as assigned by the instructor. 300-level courses and below may not be applied toward a graduate certificate, master's, or doctoral degree.

B3.000 - Transfer Credit

All transfer courses must have been taken for graduate credit. This information is verified by the Graduate School when the student submits an official transcript of the transfer coursework after a semester in residence. 

B3.100 - Graduate transfer credits are added to a student's record only if the student is in a graduate degree program and if the credit is applicable to the degree being sought. The following credits cannot be transferred to UM:  

• Credits on an undergraduate transcript (undergraduate status) or post-baccalaureate status. 
• Courses with a grade below a B.  
• Courses with a grade of pass, credit/no credit, or satisfactory (non-traditional grades).
• Credits in thesis or research.
• Credits awarded by academic institutions for life experience. 
• Credits awarded by academic institutions for non-credit courses, workshops, and seminars as part of continuing education or professional development programs.  
• Extension credits outside the Montana University System. 
• Credits that have already been applied toward the completion of a graduate degree may not be reused to fulfill the requirements of an equivalent degree, except as specifically permitted under the provisions outlined in section C4.000. 

B3.200 - Master’s students may transfer up to nine (9) graduate/graduate non-degree semester credits after a semester of satisfactory coursework at UM.  

B3.201 - Up to 30 semester graduate or graduate non-degree credits may be transferred to the MFA degree in Fine Arts, and up to 16 semester graduate or graduate non-degree credits to the MFA degree in Creative Writing. 

B3.202 - Up to 30 graduate-level social work semester credits from a CSWE-accredited school of social work may be transferred toward the MSW degree, subject to program approval and alignment with degree requirements. 

B3.300 - Doctoral students may transfer up to half (50%) of the total required semester credits for their doctoral program from prior graduate courses, subject to approval by the student’s academic department and the Graduate School.

B4.000 - Continuous Registration

Continuous enrollment ensures that graduate students remain actively engaged in their degree programs while receiving faculty supervision, academic support, and access to university resources necessary for timely degree completion.

B4.100 - To maintain active graduate student status and access to University services, graduate students must register for a minimum of three (3) credits each fall and spring semester. This continuous enrollment requirement applies during the semester in which a student completes comprehensive examinations, defends a thesis or dissertation, and graduates.

At the department's request, post-defense periods may be allowed an exception. During this time, the student is permitted to complete final edits and revisions to their professional paper, thesis, or dissertation, provided all other requirements have been met. No registration is required for one semester. After one semester of no registration, one-credit registration is required for one semester; beyond one semester, three-credits of continuous registration is required.  

Application for exception to the three (3) credits of mandatory continuous registration policy should occur using the following procedures. Exception request memoranda need not be lengthy but should include the specific request including the student's name and student identification number, the reason for the request, and any supporting documentation.

• All requests for exceptions should be submitted to the Graduate School before the first day of classes for the semester for which an exception is requested.
• Exceptions will be considered on a case by case basis, except for approved programmatic exceptions (ICD program in Resource Conservation, predoctoral internships for clinical and school psychology Ph.D. students (PSYX 588 or PSYX 638), Principal and Superintendent Leadership certificate, Nonprofit Administration certificate, Wilderness Management certificate, Museum Studies certificate, Creative Pulse, and online post-professional programs).

B4.101 - The following conditions may qualify for reduced to 1-credit enrollment status: 

• International assignment with a non-governmental organization, (Peace Corps, etc.) as a program requirement (program registration documentation). A memorandum from the major professor (advisor) or the department should be submitted to the Graduate School.
• Parental or major illness and extended family leave exception requests should be in the form of a memorandum from the major professor (advisor) to the Graduate School, and suitable documentation (from physician, psychologist, other medical professional, etc.) should be included as an attachment.
• Significant off-campus field assignment (domestic or foreign) exception requests for each student should be in the form of a memorandum to the Graduate School from the major professor (advisor) and endorsed by the department chair. 

B5.000 - Leave of Absence

The Graduate School allows up to a one-year leave of absence with no penalty subject to approval of the Graduate School (e.g., for parental, major illness, or personal need). The form for requesting a leave-of-absence is available on the Graduate School web site. Because a leave-of-absence presumes the student is off-campus and not engaged in university activities, no university resources (except those available to the general public) are available during the leave-of-absence.

B6.000 - Unapproved Leave of Absence

Graduate students who discontinue their studies without prior approval from both their academic program and the Graduate School, and who fail to maintain continuous enrollment, will be inactivated and removed from their program. To return, they must submit a petition for readmission to their program and the Graduate School.

B7.000 - Readmission

The request for readmission will require approval from the department. Readmission of students is not guaranteed and is subject to the department's discretion. The decision to approve a student's return is made on a case-by-case basis. Students intending to return from an absence are expected to submit their request to the Graduate School prior to the start of the semester in which they plan to re-enroll. However, the request will be accepted no later than the 15th instructional day of the semester. Requests submitted after this deadline will not be considered, and the student’s return must be delayed to a subsequent term.

B8.000 - Academic Probation, Suspension, and Dismissal

Definitions

Academic Probation: A temporary status that allows a student to correct identified academic, professional, or ethical deficiencies within specified conditions and deadlines.

Academic Suspension: A temporary separation from a graduate program. Return following suspension requires approval from the graduate program and the Graduate School.

Academic Dismissal: Termination of a student’s participation in a graduate program. A dismissed student has no automatic right to return or be readmitted.

B8.100 - Academic Probation

A student may be placed on academic probation for:

• Failure to maintain an overall graduate GPA of at least 3.00. Probation is automatic unless the graduate program appeals to the Graduate School on the student’s behalf based on mitigating circumstances; or
• Failure to make satisfactory academic progress or comply with professional or ethical standards established by the graduate program or University policy.

For GPA-based probation, the Graduate School will notify the student and the graduate program in writing. For all other probation, the graduate program will notify the student and the Graduate School in writing.

The notice must state:

• The reasons for probation;
• The conditions the student must satisfy to return to good academic standing;
• The deadline for satisfying those conditions; and
• The consequences of failing to do so.

The graduate program must notify the student and the Graduate School when the student returns to good academic standing or when suspension or dismissal is recommended.

B8.200 - Academic Suspension and Dismissal

A student may be suspended or dismissed from a graduate program for any one or more of the following:

• Failure to satisfy provisional admission requirements;
• Failure to raise or maintain the student’s graduate or program GPA at or above 3.00 after being placed on probation;
• Failure to satisfy the conditions of probation;
• Failure to make satisfactory academic progress; or
• Failure to comply with professional or ethical standards established by the graduate program or University policy.

When a graduate program recommends suspension or dismissal, it must provide the student and the Graduate School with written notice stating the action, its effective date, the reasons and supporting evidence, and the appeal procedures and deadlines.

A GPA-based suspension or dismissal may be appealed only with the written support of the graduate program.

B8.300 - Appeal of Suspension or Dismissal

A degree-seeking student may appeal as follows:

1. Notice of Intent. Within five (5) business days after receiving the suspension or dismissal notice, the student must notify the Dean of the Graduate School in writing at grad.school@umontana.edu of the intent to appeal.
2. Appeal Materials. Within ten (10) additional business days, the student must submit a written appeal and all supporting documentation. The appeal must identify the grounds for appeal and provide evidence, context, or mitigating circumstances addressing the standards the student did not meet.
3. Review and Decision. The Dean or designee will decide the appeal based on the written record and may affirm, reverse, modify, or remand the program’s decision. Late materials will not be considered unless an extension is granted for good cause. A written decision will ordinarily be issued within ten (10) business days after all required materials are received. An appeal is granted only upon the approval of the Dean or designee; absent such approval, the appeal is denied. 
4. Plan of Action. If the student is permitted to continue or return subject to conditions, the graduate program must submit an approved Plan of Action identifying the requirements and deadlines for returning to good academic standing.

If the student does not meet the appeal deadlines, or if the suspension or dismissal is upheld, the decision becomes final and the student’s graduate record will be designated “Inactive.”

B8.400 - Return Following Suspension

A suspended student may return only with the approval of the graduate program and the Graduate School and after satisfying all applicable readmission requirements. The graduate program may decline to approve the student’s return.

B8.500 - Final Decision and Further Appeal

The decision of the Graduate School is considered the final administrative act of the University. 

Pursuant to BOR Policy 203.5.2, this decision is appealable to OCHE.

B9.000 - Submission and Publication of Final Thesis, Professional Paper, or Dissertation

Publication of master’s theses, professional papers, and doctoral dissertations is a requirement common to all degree-granting institutions. Publication increases the availability of research and creative efforts to the academic community and the public, enhancing the visibility of graduate research and facilitating future academic and professional opportunities for students. As a tax-funded public university, the University of Montana (UM) is committed to distributing scholarship produced under the auspices of the UM Graduate School through an open access model.  

B9.100 - All professional papers, theses, or dissertations must be submitted to the Mansfield Library in accordance with the Final Degree Requirements established by the Graduate School. These works will be cataloged and made publicly available in an electronic format, unless otherwise specified in accordance with the restrictions outlined in this policy. 

B9.200 - The University of Montana claims no copyrights to any professional paper, thesis, or dissertation, or the research or creative scholarship contained therein.

B9.300 - The University recognizes that some professional papers, theses, or dissertations may contain sensitive content, such as research data or culturally restricted information, or personal information, proprietary information, or content that could impact on the author's future opportunities for publication or commercialization. 

B9.301 - Students may request one of the following mechanisms to limit immediate access to their work: 

• Delayed Publication (Embargo): Students may request a delay in the publication of their professional paper, thesis, or dissertation for up to five (5) years. Exceptions to the five (5) year limitation may be made in exceptional circumstances. During the embargo period, the full text will not be accessible, but the work’s metadata (title, author, abstract, and keywords) will be listed in ScholarWorks and in the Mansfield Library catalog. Embargoes may be appropriate when a student plans to submit a manuscript based on their thesis or dissertation to a publisher or has received research funding from a commercial entity that has specifically requested an embargo on the release of the work in ScholarWorks or ProQuest. Embargoes may also be appropriate when a student is pursuing a patent on something derived from their thesis or dissertation research, or for other reasons. 
• Campus Access Restriction: In addition to delayed publication (embargo), or alternatively, students may request that their work be made available only to individuals who can access the campus network via NetID (an authenticated connection). As with embargoes, citation and abstract information is visible to everyone. A campus access restriction is indefinite unless or until the student author requests removal of the restriction. This may be appropriate to protect sensitive information from being publicly accessible. 
• Suppression of Publication: In exceptional cases, students may request an indefinite delay in publication of their thesis or dissertation. The thesis or dissertation must still be submitted in accordance with the Final Degree Requirements. The full text document will not be made publicly available in ScholarWorks although it will be retained by the Mansfield Library via ScholarWorks. As with embargoes and campus access restrictions, and consistent with the MUS Record Retention Schedule, citation and abstract information will remain visible to everyone. Such a request must be justified and approved by the Graduate School and the Mansfield Library and will only be permissible in cases involving highly sensitive or proprietary information. Concerns that can be adequately managed with an embargo and/or a campus-access restriction will not be considered sufficient justification for suppression. 

B9.400 - The Graduate School shall review all requests for embargoes, restrictions, or suppression. The Graduate School shall consider the student’s provided justification for requesting a limitation on publication in view of concerns for privacy or confidentiality and shall consider such elements as potential risks to the health or safety of the student as well as the potential for future publication, commercialization, or patent protection. Requests must be made pursuant to the procedure laid out by the Graduate School.  

B9.500 - If the Graduate School denies a student’s request for limitation, the student may appeal the decision to the Vice President for Research. Students must submit an appeal, in writing, to the Office of Research within thirty (30) days. Appeals must include all relevant information and documentation. 

B9.600 - For all limitations on publication, once the limitation period ends, the professional paper, thesis, or dissertation shall be immediately published in accordance with the Graduate School’s publication procedure.

C. Master's Degree

C1.000 - Credit Requirements

Each program defines its own credit requirements and its own standards of quality and achievement. At least two years of graduate study are normally necessary for the master's degree. The following statements describe the Graduate School's minimum quantitative requirements for the master's degree.

C1.100 - At least 30 semester graduate credits will be presented for the thesis or professional paper option, or at least 36 semester graduate credits for the nonthesis option.

C1.200 - At least 20 semester credits, including those earned for the thesis or professional paper, will be in the major discipline.

C1.300 - At least half the credits required for the degree (excluding a combined total of 10 semester credits for thesis and research) will be at the 500 or 600 level. To apply this rule to the course of study, subtract the number of thesis and research credits completed (up to 10 semester credits only) from the minimum number of credits required for the degree.  All courses used to meet graduation requirements must be at the graduate level.

C1.400 - As of Fall Semester 2011, 300 UG (Undergraduate/Graduate) courses will not count toward graduate degrees.

C2.000 - Time Limits

All degree requirements for the master's degree, including the use of transfer and non-degree credits, must be completed within five (5) years; six (6) years for students in the College of Education. Courses that fall outside this time limit must be recertified for currency of knowledge. Students participating in the Western Regional Graduate Program (WRGP) must complete degree requirements within these time limits to maintain WRGP tuition eligibility; failure to do so may result in loss of WRGP status.

C3.000 - Second Master's Degree

For the purposes of this policy, dual and joint degrees are defined as follows:

• A joint degree is a combined degree that allows students to obtain a single degree with a specialization in two related fields. A joint degree requires OCHE/BOR approval, and students that complete a joint degree will have this single joint degree listed on their transcript rather than two separate degrees. Note that this pathway should only be pursued if the joint degree is nationally recognized with a corresponding Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP) code.
• A dual degree allows students to follow specified pathways in two different fields and concurrently receive two separate degrees. A dual degree requires that students complete the standards specified for each program separately, and students that complete a dual degree will have both degrees listed on their transcript. On the recommendation of both graduate programs, students working towards a dual master's may apply up to nine (9) credits to both degrees. Programs should apply professional, curricular, and accreditation standards when granting transfer credits so as to guarantee the integrity of their programs.

Formal program modification is required for exceptions to this policy. Such program modification requests should include clear rationales for how shared credits maintain each program’s curricular and degree standards as well as adherence to accreditation standards, where applicable.

Current exceptions are listed here:

• For the MFA in Fine Arts, 24 semester credits from an MA in Fine Arts may be applied.
• For the MS in Pharmaceutical Sciences and Drug Design program, 14 credits of coursework in the PharmD program can be transferred if the student took the credits in graduate status to fulfill PharmD requirements.  

C4.000 - Accelerated Master's Degrees

Select programs can apply to the Graduate Council for designation as an Accelerated Master’s Degree, which provides their students an exemption from the rule prohibiting undergraduate credits to transfer to a Master’s degree. 

The following programs are approved for this exemption:

• Master of Athletic Training
• Master of Arts in Environmental Science and Natural Resource Journalism
• Master of Arts in Linguistics
• Master of Science Neuroscience
• Master of Arts in Environmental Philosophy
• Master of Arts in Political Science
• Master of Science in Chemistry
• Master of Science in Computer Science
• Master of Science in Pharmaceutical Sciences and Drug Design with PharmD
• Master of Public Administration with Wildlife Biology
• Master of Public Health
• Master of Public Health; Community Health and Prevention Science Concentration

After approval by the Graduate Council, Faculty Senate, and the Board of Regents, these programs are authorized to admit select students into graduate-level coursework in their fourth year or when they have completed a minimum of 105 undergraduate credits and demonstrated their capacity to pursue graduate-level coursework successfully. 

These programs must ask for a specific maximum of allowable credits (no more than 9 except in specific circumstances) to transfer from the undergraduate to the graduate degree. All credits transferred are subject to the policy on transfer credits, with particular attention to the importance of students completing the “graduate increment” in 400-level courses designated UG, taken to fulfill a requirement for a master’s degree.

Students in these programs will not be formally admitted to the Graduate School until their undergraduate degree is complete, at which time the restricted credits will be transferred and the students will change officially to “Graduate Status.”

C5.000 - Thesis/Professional Paper Examining Committee

Each master's degree program must include a specific component of research or creative work and a comprehensive evaluation over the content of the discipline. In programs requiring a thesis or professional paper, these requirements are typically combined and overseen by the thesis/professional paper examining committee.

C5.100 - Examining Committee Composition

The thesis/professional paper examining committee shall be comprised of a minimum of three (3) voting members as follows:

1. A qualified UM faculty member or adjunct from the program or unit granting the degree who shall serve as chair;
2. A second (2^nd) qualified UM faculty member, adjunct, or staff from the program or unit granting the degree, in the case of interdisciplinary degree programs the second member may be from a cooperating program or unit;
3. A third (3^rd) qualified UM faculty member, adjunct, or staff from a program or unit other than the one granting the degree, who shall serve as the Fair Practices Representative. The primary responsibility of the Fair Practices Representative is to ensure that the student is held to reasonable academic standards, is treated fairly by all committee members, and that the student's academic progress is not unduly delayed by a failure of committee members to act in a timely manner.

Upon the recommendation of the unit, one additional voting member who is a faculty affiliate, a faculty member of another institution, a staff member, or a non-academic expert may be appointed by the Graduate School, if the individual is uniquely qualified by training, experience, and/or degrees held to guide and evaluate the thesis or professional paper.

Nota Bene: the Graduate School does not consider a non-UM employee to be an adequate substitute for member 3. Many non-UM faculty members serve as optional 4^th members, but academic units need to select member 3 from faculty who are from a different tenure home than the graduate committee chair (member 1).

C5.200 - Appointment of Examining Committee Members

Prospective committee members shall be chosen by the student in consultation with the student's academic advisor, and the program director or department chair shall forward the nominations to the Graduate School for approval. Changes to the committee may be made at the request of the academic unit. However, changes should not be made solely to address short-term scheduling conflicts.

C5.300 - Timeline for Examining Committee Composition

The committee composition must be submitted to the Graduate School by the end of the student’s second (2^nd) term of graduate attendance. 

C5.400 - Qualifications of Faculty Advisor and Committee Members

A graduate student’s advisor must hold a degree equal to or higher than the degree the student is working toward.

C5.401 - All members of a master’s thesis or professional paper committee are generally expected to hold a graduate degree in a relevant field. The committee chair must hold a master’s or doctoral degree, as appropriate to the program. Other members without a graduate degree may serve if they demonstrate relevant expertise and receive approval by the Graduate School.

C5.402 - UM faculty members must be involved in ongoing scholarship, creative works, or professional activities relating to their discipline and must continue to receive normal salary increases. At the conclusion of the faculty evaluation process, the Provost’s Office will notify the Graduate School of any faculty member receiving a less-than-normal salary increase due to deficiencies in scholarship, creative works, or professional activities. Such faculty members will not be permitted to serve on any new graduate student committees. Additionally, if the faculty member is currently serving as a chair on an existing graduate committee, a co-chair must be appointed. Eligibility to serve on graduate committees will be reinstated only after a subsequent faculty evaluation results in a normal or better than normal salary increase.

C6.000 - Thesis/Professional Paper Defense

The thesis is a monographic or creative exercise representing an original scholarly contribution to a discipline. While conventions vary among disciplines, the professional paper is generally associated with the application of scholarly knowledge to specific professional settings. Both thesis and professional papers exhibit such substance and quality as to warrant eventual publication or exhibition.

C6.100 - The student must complete one or more examinations (written, oral or both) relating to both the thesis (or professional paper) and the content of the discipline.

C6.200 - The defense will normally occur well in advance of the end of the academic semester so the proper paperwork may be completed for the degree award process; the defense must be held by the last day in the academic semester.

C6.300 - Oral examinations are open to the public and guests may ask questions on recognition by the chair.

C6.400 - For the student to pass, all committee members, voting privately, must judge the student's performance as satisfactory. In case of failure, one repeat examination is permitted.

For guidance in preparing your thesis or professional papers, please consult the Graduate School's Formatting Final Paper page.

C7.000 - Comprehensive Evaluation Over Content of Discipline

All master's degree students must pass a comprehensive evaluation. Examples of the comprehensive evaluation include but are not limited to a comprehensive oral or written exam, thesis/professional paper defense, portfolio assessment, or integrated project evaluation.

D. Doctoral Degree

D1.000 - General Requirements

Completion of a doctoral degree requires fulfillment of advanced coursework, examinations, and original research  in the form of a dissertation, or completion of a capstone project in the case of online post-professional programs. This section outlines the formal requirements and procedures governing the conferral of the degree.

D2.000 - Credit Requirements

Doctoral degree coursework is designed to provide students with advanced knowledge, research skills, and scholarly depth in their chosen field of study. 

D2.100 - At least 60 semester credits are required for the doctorate; some programs require more. Online post-professional programs may have alternative minimum credit requirements.

D2.101 - At least half (50%) the credits required for the degree will be at the 500 or 600 level. All courses used to meet graduation requirements must be at the graduate level.

D2.102 - As of Fall Semester 2011, 300-level UG (Undergraduate/Graduate) courses will not count toward graduate degrees. 

D3.000 - Time Limits

All degree requirements for the doctoral degree, including the use of transfer and non-degree credits, must be completed within seven (7) years; ten (10) years for Educational Leadership and Teaching & Learning programs. Courses that fall outside this time limit must be recertified for currency of knowledge. Students participating in the Western Regional Graduate Program (WRGP) must complete degree requirements within these time limits to maintain WRGP tuition eligibility; failure to do so may result in loss of WRGP status.

D4.000 - Comprehensive Examinations

The student will complete examinations (written, oral, or both) covering the major discipline. 

D4.100 - The examining committee, formed by the program in consultation with the student, may be the same as the student's dissertation committee.

D4.200 - Any interested faculty may attend the examination, as appropriate, and ask questions on recognition by the chair.

D4.300 - The committee, voting privately, may pass the student with one negative vote.

D4.400 - In case of failure, one repeat examination before the same committee is permitted.

D5.000 - The Dissertation

The dissertation is an original contribution to knowledge of such substance and literary quality as to warrant publication.

D5.100 - Dissertation Committee Composition

The dissertation committee shall be comprised of a minimum of four (4) voting members as follows:

1. A qualified UM faculty member or adjunct from the program or unit granting the degree who shall serve as chair;
2. A second (2^nd) qualified UM faculty member, adjunct, or staff from the program or unit granting the degree;
3. A third (3^rd) qualified UM faculty member, adjunct, or staff from a program or unit other than the one granting the degree, who shall serve as the Fair Practices Representative. The primary responsibility of the Fair Practices Representative is to ensure that the student is held to reasonable academic standards, is treated fairly by all committee members, and that the student's academic progress is not unduly delayed by a failure of committee members to act in a timely manner.
4. A fourth (4^th) member who may be either a UM faculty member, adjunct, or staff from the program or unit granting the degree (or cooperating program or unit in the case of interdisciplinary degree programs), or a faculty affiliate, non-academic expert, or faculty of another institution of higher learning who has been certified by the Graduate School as uniquely qualified by training, experience, and/or degree held to guide and evaluate the dissertation.

Nota Bene: the Graduate School does not consider a non-UM employee to be an adequate substitute for member three (3) on a PhD committee. Many non-UM faculty members serve as an optional 5^th member, but academic units need to select member three (3) from faculty who are from a different tenure home than the graduate committee chair (member 1).

D5.200 - Appointment of Dissertation Committee Members

Prospective committee members shall be chosen by the student in consultation with their academic advisor and the program chair shall forward the nominations to the Graduate School for approval. Changes to the committee may be made at the request of the academic unit. However, changes should not be made solely to address short-term scheduling conflicts.

D5.201 - The committee composition must be submitted to the Graduate School by the end of the student’s fourth (4th) term of graduate attendance.      

D5.300 - Qualifications of Faculty Advisor and Committee Members

A graduate student’s advisor must hold a degree equal to or higher than the degree the student is working toward.

D5.301 - All members of a dissertation committee are generally expected to hold a doctoral degree (PhD). The committee chair must hold a PhD. Other members without a PhD may serve if they demonstrate relevant expertise and receive approval by the Graduate School.

D5.302 - UM faculty members must be involved in ongoing scholarship, creative works, or professional activities relating to their discipline and must continue to receive normal salary increases. At the conclusion of the faculty evaluation process, the Provost’s Office will notify the Graduate School of any faculty member receiving a less-than-normal salary increase due to deficiencies in scholarship, creative works, or professional activities. Such faculty members will not be permitted to serve on any new graduate student committees. Additionally, if the faculty member is currently serving as a chair on an existing graduate committee, a co-chair must be appointed. Eligibility to serve on graduate committees will be reinstated only after a subsequent faculty evaluation results in a normal or better than normal salary increase.

D6.000 - Dissertation Defense

A final examination dealing primarily with the dissertation and its relationship to the student's fields of study will be conducted by the dissertation committee.

D6.100 - The defense will normally occur well in advance of the end of the academic semester so the proper paperwork may be completed for the degree award process; the defense must be held by the last day in the academic semester.

D6.200 - At least a week before the examination, the committee will meet briefly to determine if the dissertation is ready for defense.

D6.201 - If there is one negative vote, the student's advisor and the Graduate School may elect to proceed.

D6.202 - If there are two or more negative votes, the defense will be postponed.

D6.300 - The examination is open to the public; anyone may ask questions on recognition by the chair. Only the committee, meeting privately, may vote.

D6.301 - The student will pass if the dissertation is accepted (either as it stands or pending minor revisions) with only one negative vote.

D6.302 - If there are two or more negative votes, the committee may schedule and conduct a second and final examination at least one month after the initial defense. During that time, the student will be asked to make whatever changes are necessary in the dissertation. Failure to pass the second (2^nd) attempt successfully results in termination of graduate study and dismissal from the academic program. Candidates who are dismissed from the program due to failure to pass the defense are ineligible to reapply to the same degree program. 

E. Certificate Programs

Graduate certificate programs are academic, credit-bearing programs that culminate in the award of a certificate rather than a graduate degree. These programs develop specialized or interdisciplinary knowledge and skills and often have a practical or applied focus. Completion of a graduate certificate indicates that the student has completed a Faculty Senate-approved course of study. The following are the Graduate School’s minimum requirements for graduate certificate programs.

E1.000 – Credit Requirements

E1.100 – Each graduate certificate program must require at least 12 semester credits. A graduate certificate may require no more than 29 semester credits without Board of Regents approval.

E1.200 – For certificates requiring 15 or fewer credits, no more than six (6) credits may be earned in 400-level courses. For certificates requiring more than 15 credits, no more than half of the required credits may be earned in 400-level courses. All 400-level courses applied toward a graduate certificate must include the required graduate-level increment.

E1.300 – Each graduate certificate must include a common core of at least six (6) semester credits to ensure internal coherence. Only existing or newly approved courses with clearly defined learning outcomes may be included in the common core. Except in unusual circumstances, the common core should not include X90 Research, X91 Special Topics/Experimental Courses, X92 Independent Study, X95 Field Work/Clinical/Practicum/Student Teaching/Studio, X98 Internship/Externship/Professional Paper, or X99 Capstone/Thesis credits.

E1.400 – In addition to elective courses, certificate programs may require licensure or other professional credentials, internships, work projects, or attendance at professional meetings or symposia. Credit-bearing requirements of this type may comprise no more than three (3) credits in certificates requiring 15 or fewer credits and no more than 25% of the required credits in certificates requiring more than 15 credits.

E1.500 – All courses applied toward a graduate certificate must be completed with a grade of B- or higher. Programs may establish a higher minimum grade requirement.

E2.000 – Transfer Credits and Credits Earned in Nondegree Status

Credits earned at UM while a student is in graduate nondegree status may be applied toward a graduate certificate, subject to the requirements of this policy. Students in graduate nondegree status should apply for admission to a graduate certificate program as soon as they intend to pursue the certificate and no later than after completing nine (9) credits.

At least nine (9) semester credits must be earned through UM courses, including UM-delivered distance courses. No more than three (3) semester credits may be transferred from another institution and applied toward a graduate certificate.

All transferred credits must comply with Policy B3.000 – Transfer Credit.

Because a graduate certificate is not a degree, credits applied toward a certificate may also be applied toward a graduate degree with the approval of the applicable graduate degree program. The graduate degree program determines how many certificate credits may be applied toward its degree requirements.

E3.000 – Time Limits

All graduate certificate requirements, including transferred credits and credits earned in graduate nondegree status, must be completed within five (5) years. Students in the College of Education must complete the requirements within six (6) years. Courses completed outside the applicable time limit must be recertified for currency of knowledge.