General Requirements for a Master’s Degree

The master’s degree is conferred upon satisfactory completion of a curriculum of a minimum of 30 graduate units (5000-level courses). Graduate degrees may require a thesis, directed research, comprehensive examination, and/or seminar project approved by the advisor. For information regarding specific degree requirements for each degree, please see the applicable section of this catalog.

The minimum residency requirement for a full-time graduate student is one year (generally two semesters and one summer). A graduate student has six years from the date of initial enrollment in which to complete their graduate program.

Degree candidates must maintain a GPA of 3.0 (‘B’) or better in their degree program. A grade of ‘P’ (Pass) is equivalent to a minimum 3.0 (‘B’) or better.

Some upper division undergraduate courses (3000- and 4000-level) may be offered in partial satisfaction of the requirements for a master’s degree. Upper division courses to be accepted will be determined by the Program Director of the student’s department, based on the student’s previous academic program.

Graduate courses taken during a student’s undergraduate study that have not been applied toward their baccalaureate degree may be applied to their master’s degree by petition to the Dean of their school. In “4 + 1” programs (e.g., BA-to-MBA in Business Administration, BS-to-MS in Health Sciences and Occupational Therapy), a limited number of undergraduate units may be counted toward both the undergraduate and graduate degrees. For specific details regarding these units, please see the applicable section for major requirements of this catalog.