Master's Degrees
General Requirements
The nature of the master’s degree varies according to the subject and the discipline in which it is granted. It may be (1) a research degree, representing a step toward the doctorate, (2) a terminal degree meeting professional requirements, or (3) intellectual preparation for personal enrichment and public service. Candidates for the master's degree are expected to assume responsibility for knowing policies governing their program, registration, change of schedule, withdrawal, and other UIW policies and procedures. For information about their curriculum and graduate policies, students may contact their program director or the Director of Graduate Studies. UIW policies and procedures are presented in the Academic Policies and Procedures section. Refer to the respective program for specific degree requirements.
Time Limit for Completion of Master’s Programs
After admission, all requirements for the master’s degree must be completed within seven (7) years. Students whose degrees are taken primarily through part-time study have the option of requesting an extension from the Director of Graduate Studies. Extensions beyond established time limits for such legitimate reasons as illness, injury, or hardship may also be granted by the Director of Graduate Studies. In such situations, the student and academic unit must demonstrate how the student will bring up-to-date the content knowledge from courses taken more than seven (7) years before the projected date of graduation.
Conferral of Degrees and Application for Graduation
All candidates for the master’s degree must complete a formal application for the degree, which must be filed in the Registrar’s Office. To avoid late fees, students must complete an Application for Graduation by the dates stated in the official Academic Calendar published each year by the Registrar. Degrees are conferred in December, May, and August. Commencement ceremonies are held in December and May.
More Information
Select an individual program to view complete requirements for that degree.
To view the general requirements for admission to a master's program, select this link: Graduate Admissions.
To view the academic policies and procedures governing attendance in post-baccalaureate programs, select this link: Academic Policies and Procedures.
To view details of policies regarding final projects that a master's program may require, select this link: Culminating Projects Policies and Procedures.