EARNING A MASTER'S DEGREE AT THE UNIVERSITY OF OREGON

Master's degree candidates must fulfill the requirements of the Graduate School and the additional requirements set by the school or department.

The following outline lists minimum Graduate School requirements for master's degrees. Specific departmental requirements must also be met before the student is awarded a master's degree. Credit requirements listed below must be met with graduate credits.

SUMMARY OF GRADUATE SCHOOL REQUIREMENTS FOR A MASTER'S DEGREE

• Total credit minimum..................................................45 credits
• Minimum credits in major............................................30 credits
• Minimum credits in residence.......................................30 credits
• Minimum graded credits taken in residence...................24 credits
• Minimum 600-level credits in residence..........................9 credits
• Minimum thesis credits.................................................9 credits
• Minimum GPA..............................................................3.00
• Language requirement.................................................M.A. only
• Time limit for program completion.................................7 years
• Registration and continuous enrollment..........................3 credits per term
• Plus additional requirements as specified by school or department

Total Credit Minimum

To earn a master's degree, students must complete an integrated program of study through either a departmental discipline or a program of interdisciplinary studies totaling no fewer than 45 graduate credits.

Some departments require more than 45 credits. The credits must be taken after admission to the master's degree program (conditional or unconditional) or approved by petition (See Transfer Credit below).

Minimum Credits in Major

A minimum of 30 credits in the major are required for a master's degree with a departmental major. Students pursuing interdisciplinary master's degrees may have different requirements.

Minimum Credits in Residence

For a master's degree, the Graduate School requires that a minimum of 30 credits (applicable to degree requirements) be taken on the Eugene campus during at least two terms of study. Individual schools or departments may have additional residence requirements.

Minimum Graded Credits Taken in Residence

Twenty-four of the total credits required must be University of Oregon graded credits.

Minimum 600-Level Credits in Residence

At least 9 credits in courses numbered 600-699 must be taken in residence.

Minimum Thesis Credits

The school or department specifies whether a thesis is mandatory or optional. For the thesis option, a minimum of 36 credits of course work and a minimum of 9 credits of Thesis (503) is required. Credit for thesis is given pass/no pass.

Minimum GPA

Graduate students must maintain at least a 3.00 grade point average (GPA) in all graduate courses taken with graded option. See Policies and Procedures. Departments may require a higher minimum GPA.

Language Requirement: Distinction Between M.A. and M.S. Degrees

The M.A. degree requires second year level of proficiency in a second language as required for the B.A. degree (see B.A. requirements in UO Catalog for details). Competency may be demonstrated by either a standardized test or with adequate undergraduate course work. Language competence must be demonstrated within the overall seven-year limit for completion of a master's degree. The student's major department may establish a higher level of proficiency or a different method of determining that level. There is no language requirement for the M.S. and professional advanced degrees unless the department so specifies.

Time Limit for Program Completion

All requirements for the master's degree must be completed within a seven-year time period. The seven-year time will begin with the term of admission to the master's program. For example: a master's student admitted in Fall 2002 will have a completion deadline of Summer 2009.

The beginning date of the seven-year time period will be adjusted to an earlier date to include any graduate credits, approved for transfer into the program, that were taken before the date of admission. For example: a master's student admitted for Fall 2002 who has approved transfer credits taken at a previous university in Fall 2000 will have a completion deadline of Summer 2007.

The language requirement for the Master of Arts, whether you choose a course or an exam, must be completed within the seven-year time limit.

Registration and Continuous Enrollment

Master's students are expected to maintain continuous enrollment for a minimum of 3 credits each term until all degree requirements have been completed, unless on-leave status has been approved. For more information see Procedures and Policies.

Some departments may require full time enrollment. Students are expected to become familiar with departmental policies regarding enrollment and satisfactory progress.

TRANSFER OF CREDIT

Master's students may request to transfer a maximum of 15 graduate credits into their master's degree program. A Request for Transfer of Graduate Credit form must be submitted no later than the end of the term prior to completion of the degree. In addition, the following conditions must be met:

• The grade(s) earned must be A+, A, A-, B+, B, or P;
• The course(s) must be relevant to the degree program as a whole; and
• The student's home department and the Graduate School must approve the transfer.

Transferring Graduate Credit from the University of Oregon

A maximum of 15 graduate credits earned at the University of Oregon while classified as a postbaccalaureate graduate student, Pre-Master, or Post-Master, or taken through CEP or Summer Session may be considered for transfer, dependent upon school or department endorsement and Graduate School approval. This falls within the 15 credit maximum transfer. Transfer credit from the University of Oregon will be counted toward the requirement of 24 credits in UO graded graduate courses.

Transferring Graduate Credit from Another Institution

Graduate credit earned while enrolled in another accredited graduate school may be counted toward the master's degree, provided the courses meet the above described conditions and were not used to satisfy the requirements for an awarded degree. This falls within the 15 credit maximum transfer. Transfer credit from another institution WILL NOT count toward the requirement of 24 credits in UO graded graduate courses, nor will they be used in calculating the cumulative grade point average.

Transfer of Reserved Graduate Credit

Undergraduates who completed graduate level courses under the Reservation of Graduate Credit petition process and who reserved the courses by choosing Option 2 on the petition form may apply up to 12 credits toward the master's degree. These fall within the 15-credit maximum transfer. The student must submit the above-mentioned Request for Transfer of Graduate Credit to the Graduate School within two terms of acceptance to the master's degree program and within two years of earning the bachelor's degree. These course credits will count toward the requirement of 24 credits in UO graded graduate courses.

MASTER'S ADVISORY COMMITTEE

The master's candidate's advisory committee, appointed by the department, determines the work to be completed in light of the student's academic background and objectives. The adviser shall be from the regular faculty, tenured or tenure-track. The number of committee members is determined by the department. The members of the advisory committee, other than the adviser, may come from any sector of the university at the discretion of the department.

The student's major school or department may require qualifying, comprehensive, or final examinations or any combination of these. The exams may be written or oral. The content and methods of conducting such examinations are the responsibility of the school or department.

RESEARCH ETHICS

THESIS, TERMINAL PROJECTS AND OTHER FINAL DEGREE REQUIREMENTS

The final requirements for completing the master's degree are determined by the major department. In some fields, master's degree candidates must submit a thesis as the final requirement for the master's degree; in others, the thesis is optional. Instead of a thesis the final requirements may include exams, a Terminal or Final Project, Policy Paper, Master's Paper, Synthesis Paper or a Capstone Project. It is the department's responsibility to provide written information regarding the departmental requirements and procedures for completion of the degree. It is the student's responsibility to become familiar with these departmental requirements and procedures.

THESIS

A thesis is a substantial paper presenting independent research that makes a contribution to the current body of knowledge in a scholarly field. The author may conduct an original investigation or develop an original interpretation of existing research and/or literature. A thesis adheres to a standard format, generally including five basic chapters or divisions: an introduction and statement of the problem, a review of the literature pertinent to the problem, an explanation of the materials and methods used to solve the problem, a discussion of results, and a conclusion. A formal bibliography of references cited in the thesis is also required. A thesis must be formatted to conform to the University of Oregon Style and Policy Manual of Theses and Dissertations. The thesis is presented to the Graduate School, acknowledged on the student's transcript, and submitted to the Knight Library.

There are both departmental and Graduate School requirements for successfully completing a thesis. The student is responsible for requesting information from the major school or department about the various steps involved and the standards expected by the department.

GRADUATE SCHOOL REQUIREMENTS FOR THESIS

Students writing a thesis are responsible for familiarizing themselves with the Graduate School requirements for the thesis option.

For a short list of general Graduate School expectations and Common Problems in the thesis submission process, please see the Guidelines for Manuscript Review of Theses and Dissertations.

Registration Requirements:

Master's students pursuing the thesis option must include a minimum of 9 credits of 503 Thesis in their program plan. Once a student commences work on the thesis, the Graduate School expects registration in 503 Thesis each term. The thesis is the final requirement for the master's degree and is submitted to the Graduate School in the term the degree is to be awarded. Students must be enrolled for a minimum of 3 credits of 503 Thesis in the term of completion. Only students pursuing the thesis option may register for 503 Thesis credits. The 503 Thesis grading option is Pass/No Pass only. Students making satisfactory progress toward the completion of the thesis will receive a grade of Incomplete for 503 Thesis each term; the Incompletes are replaced by a grade of Pass only after the Graduate School has accepted the thesis and awarded the master's degree.

Format Requirements:

Format requirements are detailed in the University of Oregon Style and Policy Manual for Theses and Dissertations, which is available on the Graduate School's website. Only theses that meet the standards of this manual are accepted.

Thesis Submission Procedures and Requirements:

The thesis is the final requirement for a master's degree. It is submitted to the Graduate School during the term the student plans to graduate.

To ensure the awarding of the degree, students writing theses need to be aware of the three steps listed below. Each step has deadlines. Note: The dates for these deadlines vary from one academic year to the next. For the exact dates, see Deadlines for Completion of Degree Requirements.

1. Early in the term in which the degree is to be awarded:
   • Complete the Application for Advanced Degree with Thesis Option indicated
   • Establish login name/password: this can be used to access Certificate of Submission and to review the Application for Advanced Degree
   • Print out the Certificate of Submission for use as described in item two.
2. Mid-term or always prior to submission of the thesis:
   • Submit three copies of the thesis abstract (150-word maximum) to the Graduate School along with the Certificate of Submission. Each copy of the abstract must be on non-recycled 25% cotton bond paper and have original signatures of the adviser. For abstract formatting requirements, see the Policy Manual. If students did not print out the Certificate of Submission at the time they applied for their degree they can go back to the Application for Advanced Degree site, enter their login name/password and scroll through to their Certificate of Submission and print it.
3. Last week of classes, prior to finals week:
   • Submit the thesis to the Graduate School by the submission deadline for the term the degree will be awarded.

For most departments the student must submit two copies of the thesis. See the number of copies of thesis required to verify this information.

The thesis must be printed on 20-lb non-recycled 25% cotton bond paper.

There must be an original signature of the adviser on the approval pages and the abstract pages.

The thesis is submitted to the Graduate School accompanied by a completed and signed Check List for Writers of Master's Theses and, if appropriate, the ProQuest form and fee. See Proquest--UMI Master's Abstracts.

Students should expect the turn-in process at the Graduate School to take at least 15 minutes. The two copies of the thesis must be unbound and packaged in separate manila clasp envelopes or 8 1/2 x 11-inch paper boxes with a copy of the title page firmly attached to the outside of each envelope or box.

If the thesis is being submitted by proxy or by mail, the author is responsible for making sure that the thesis is delivered on time and undamaged and that everything is enclosed (signed approval pages, completed Check List for Writers of Master's Theses and the ProQuest form and fee, if necessary). If the thesis is not in compliance with submission requirements or is not received on time, it will not be accepted.

After the thesis has been submitted to the Graduate School, the Editor will review it for acceptable format. A list of required format corrections will be sent to the student. The student should expect a turn-around time of one to two weeks for the correction list. The student must submit the corrected pages one week after receipt of the list. Only requested pages will be accepted. The degree cannot be awarded until the thesis corrections have been approved.

Master's students can choose to send their master's thesis to ProQuest, a dissertation/thesis service responsible for keeping the scholarly record of doctoral and master's recipients worldwide. The master's candidate must obtain the ProQuest Agreement Form from the Graduate School before submitting the thesis. To find out about the costs for submitting the thesis to ProQuest, please call the Graduate School at 541-346-5129. For more information about their services, visit www.umi.com

TERMINAL PROJECT

A terminal project is a presentation embodying the knowledge and skills acquired from course work completed for the master's degree. There is no set format for a terminal project; the appropriate format is determined by the student in consultation with the adviser. The terminal project is presented to the department. It is not acknowledged on the student's transcript or submitted to the Knight Library. Check with the department for appropriate registration requirements for this option and for submission procedures and deadlines.

OTHER DEGREE REQUIREMENTS

Departments may have additional final requirements (i.e., policy paper, synthesis paper or capstone project). The content and procedures for completion of these requirements are determined by the department.

Required Clearance for Master's Thesis, Project or Doctoral Dissertation

All graduate students conducting research for a thesis, project or dissertation must submit the Required Clearance for Master's Thesis, Project or Doctoral Dissertation form verifying compliance with university and federal Research Compliance guidelines.

APPLYING FOR GRADUATION

Students are required to apply for their advanced degree no later than the 2nd week of the term the degree is to be awarded. See Application for Advanced Degree.