The general requirements for graduate degrees are given in this chapter. Specific requirements and course descriptions for each graduate program are given in chapter 4. Detailed information about each degree program is available from the graduate adviser and the graduate coordinator for that program.

Residence

Each student must be enrolled in residence as a full-time student for at least two semesters or the equivalent and must complete the major portion of the degree program at the University of Texas at Austin.

Additional Degrees at the Same or a Lower Level

A student holding a master's degree may work toward a second master's degree in a different field. Those seeking a second master's degree in the same or a closely related field must have the permission of the graduate dean. Holders of the doctorate seeking an additional graduate degree must have the permission of the graduate dean.

Limitation for Faculty

No tenured member of the faculty of the University of Texas at Austin may pursue an advanced degree at this institution.

Grade Point Average

To graduate, all graduate students must have a grade point average of at least 3.00.

The graduate grade point average is calculated by the registrar and appears on the student's official record maintained by the registrar. It includes all courses in which the student earns a letter grade while he or she is enrolled in the Graduate School, with the exception of the following: Undergraduate courses taken through the University's Division of Continuing Education; courses for which the symbol Q, W, X, I, CR, or NC is recorded; thesis, report, dissertation, or treatise courses; graduate or undergraduate courses the student took at the University before enrolling in the Graduate School; credit earned by examination; and courses taken at other institutions. Beginning in the fall semester 1999, the graduate grade point average also excludes grades in all undergraduate courses taken in fall 1999 and in subsequent semesters.

Individual Graduate Studies Committees may set grade point average requirements of 3.00 or higher for all or a portion of their students' coursework.

Additional information about grades and grade point averages is given in General Information.

Graduate Credit

Only the courses that appear on the student's Program of Work are counted toward the degree. The following policies govern the inclusion of courses on the Program of Work.

Courses Taken in Residence

Letter grades. Courses in which the student earned a grade of A, B, or C while registered in the Graduate School may be included in the Program of Work. Limitations on the amount of undergraduate work that may be included are given in the section "Reservation of Work for Graduate Credit" and in chapter 4. Thesis, report, dissertation, and treatise courses are part of the Program of Work, but they are not included in the grade point average.

Credit/no credit. No more than 20 percent of the hours on the Program of Work for a master's degree may be taken on the credit/no credit basis, and no more than a comparable portion of the Program of Work for the doctoral degree.

Incomplete grades. Courses for which the symbol X (incomplete) or I (permanent incomplete) is recorded may not be included on the Program of Work.

Transfer of Credit

Ordinarily, all work for the master's degree must be done at the University of Texas at Austin. Under some circumstances, a maximum of six semester hours of graduate coursework in which the grade is A or B may be transferred to the Program of Work from another institution, but only on the basis of a petition by the Graduate Studies Committee and with the approval of the graduate dean. Students are encouraged to seek approval in advance for coursework they plan to transfer. A student seeking a transfer of credit must provide the Graduate School with an official transcript and an official explanation of the course numbering and grading system at the school at which the credit was earned. Only graduate courses may be transferred. Work counted toward a degree at another institution cannot be transferred. Students should not take courses at another institution the semester they plan to graduate, because the grades may not be received in time to certify the student's Program of Work for graduation. If a transfer of credit is approved, the student must still meet the residence requirement of two full semesters or the equivalent. No coursework listed on the Program of Work may be over six years old.

No formal petition is necessary for coursework from other institutions to be used on the doctoral Program of Work, but use on the Program of Work is subject to the approval of the Graduate Studies Committee.

Coursework transferred as described in this section appears only on the student's Program of Work. It does not appear on the official student record maintained by the registrar. Because it is not part of the official record, such coursework does not appear on the student's transcript and is not included in the graduate grade point average.

Extension Credit

Up to six semester hours of work done in extension classes through the University's Division of Continuing Education may be listed on the Program of Work, with the approval of the Graduate Studies Committee and the graduate dean. The extension credit must be in graduate courses; the courses and instructors must be approved in advance by the Graduate School and by the program in which the student would otherwise take the work on campus; and the student must be admitted to the Graduate School before taking the extension courses.

All grades in graduate courses taken through the Division of Continuing Education are included in the graduate grade point average.

Correspondence Credit

Courses taken by correspondence may not be counted toward graduate degrees.

Credit by Examination

Credit by examination may not be counted toward graduate degrees.

Enrollment of Undergraduates in Graduate Courses

Graduate Work for Undergraduate Credit

An undergraduate may enroll in a graduate course under the following conditions:

1. He or she must be an upper-division student and must fulfill the prerequisite for the course (except graduate standing).
2. He or she must have a University grade point average of at least 3.00.
3. He or she must receive the consent of the instructor of the course and of the graduate adviser for the department in which the course is offered. Some colleges and schools may also require the approval of the dean's office. Individual divisions may impose additional requirements or bar undergraduates from enrolling in graduate courses.
4. Students in most colleges must have their dean's approval before they register for a graduate course.

Undergraduate students may not enroll in graduate courses that have fewer than five graduate students enrolled.

A graduate course taken by an undergraduate is counted toward the student's bachelor's degree in the same way that upper-division courses are counted, unless the course is reserved for graduate credit as described in the next section. Courses reserved for graduate credit may not also be used to fulfill the requirements of an undergraduate degree.

An undergraduate student enrolled in a graduate course is subject to all University regulations affecting undergraduates.

Reservation of Work for Graduate Credit

Under the following conditions, an undergraduate in his or her final semester or summer session may enroll in a graduate course and reserve that course for credit toward a graduate degree.

1. The student must lack no more than twelve semester hours of coursework (or six semester hours in a summer session) to complete all requirements for the first bachelor's degree.
2. The student must complete these twelve hours or fewer in the same semester or summer session in which he or she takes the graduate courses.
3. The student may not register for more than fifteen semester hours in the final semester or for more than twelve semester hours in the final summer session.
4. All courses reserved for graduate credit must be approved by the twelfth class day of the semester or the fourth class day of the summer session by the graduate adviser in the student's proposed graduate major area, the dean of the student's undergraduate college, and the graduate dean. A form for this purpose is available in the Office of Graduate Studies.
5. The student must graduate at the end of that semester or summer session.

A course reserved for credit may be listed on the student's Program of Work for the master's or doctoral degree. Because it was taken before the student entered the Graduate School, it is not included in the graduate grade point average.

An undergraduate student enrolled in a graduate course is subject to all University regulations affecting undergraduates.

Credit for Teaching

A student may earn three to six semester hours of credit toward the doctoral degree by completing two semesters of teaching in the major area at the University under the close supervision of a regular faculty member. With the graduate dean's permission, the teaching may be in a supporting or minor area. To obtain this credit, the student must receive a passing grade in the college teaching methodology course in his or her area, numbered 398T. A doctoral degree candidate may list this course in the Program of Work.

With permission of the appropriate Graduate Studies Committee, the candidate for a master's degree may receive credit for no more than three hours of course 398T.

Courses Counted toward Another Degree

No course counted toward another degree may be counted toward a master's degree, either directly or by substitution.

Work done for the master's degree may be included in the work for the doctoral degree, provided it is acceptable to the Graduate Studies Committee, the supervising committee, and the graduate dean and provided it has not already been used toward another doctoral degree.

Students in a joint degree program must meet the course requirements for both degrees.

Continuous Registration

All graduate students are expected to enroll and pay tuition and fees by the twelfth class day of the fall semester and the spring semester of each academic year until graduation. If the student has been admitted to candidacy for the doctoral degree, registration in the dissertation course or the equivalent is required. The only alternative to continuous registration is a leave of absence, discussed below.

If a student who is not on approved leave fails to register by the twelfth class day, he or she may not return to the University without applying for readmission. The student must apply for readmission both to the University and to the graduate program and must pay the general application fee. The application is reviewed by the Graduate Studies Committee, which may choose to readmit the student or to deny readmission.

Leave of Absence

Graduate students may apply for a leave of absence of no more than two semesters. If the student has not yet been admitted to candidacy for the doctoral degree, this request must be approved in advance of the leave by the graduate adviser. If the student has been admitted to candidacy, the application must be approved in advance by the graduate adviser and the graduate dean; it will be approved by the graduate dean only in rare and unusual circumstances.

The student on an approved leave of absence must apply for readmission in order to return to the University, but readmission during the approved period is automatic and the application fee is waived.

A student on leave may not use any University facilities; nor is he or she entitled to receive advice from any member of the faculty. A leave of absence does not alter the time limits for degrees or coursework.

Application to Another Graduate Major (Change of Major)

If the student has been away from the University for a semester or longer, he or she must apply for readmission.

Warning Status, Academic Dismissal, and Termination

Registration in the Graduate School beyond the first semester or summer session depends on three factors: (1) satisfactory progress in absolving any admission conditions; (2) maintainence of a grade point average of at least 3.00 in all graduate coursework the student has taken at the University while registered in the Graduate School; and (3) approval of the student's Graduate Studies Committee.

Graduate Studies Committees are responsible for evaluating the students in their programs to ensure that they are making satisfactory progress toward a degree. If the Graduate Studies Committee finds that a student is not making satisfactory progress, it may recommend to the graduate dean that the student's program be terminated.

A graduate student whose graduate grade point average falls below 3.00 at the end of any semester or summer session will be warned by the Office of Graduate Studies that his or her continuance in the Graduate School is in jeopardy. The student must attain an average of at least 3.00 during the next semester or summer session he or she is enrolled or be subject to dismissal; during this period, the student may not drop a course or withdraw from the University without the approval of the graduate adviser and the graduate dean.

A graduate student who has been dismissed may be readmitted for further graduate study only by petition of the Graduate Studies Committee in the student's major area or by the Graduate Studies Committee of another program that will accept the student. The petition must be approved by the graduate dean.

Academic dismissal is reflected on the student's academic record. A change in status caused by the conversion of an incomplete to a letter grade or by a change in grade is reflected only in the student's next grade report.

Additional information about grades and the grade point average is given above.

Time Limits

Master's degree. All requirements for a master's degree must be completed within one six-year period. Work over six years old can be reinstated only with the permission of the graduate dean, upon recommendation of the Graduate Studies Committee.

Doctoral degree. All completed work that is included in a doctoral student's degree program at the time of admission to candidacy must have been taken within the previous six years (exclusive of a maximum of three years of military service). The Graduate Studies Committee will review the program of students who have not completed the degree at the end of three years from admission to candidacy; the committee will review the status of the student's program yearly thereafter. At those times, the committee may recommend additional coursework, further examinations, or termination of candidacy. In addition, the program is subject to review by the graduate dean.

The Master's Degree

The University offers two types of master's degree. The first, the Master of Arts, requires advanced study in the humanities, sciences, or education and the preparation of a thesis or report. This degree frequently serves as preparation for further study. The second type of master's degree provides preparation in a professional field. These degrees are offered in such fields as architecture, business administration, education, engineering, fine arts, library and information science, nursing, pharmacy, public affairs, and social work. A complete list appears in chapter 1. Most of these degree programs require more coursework than the Master of Arts but do not include a thesis or report.

The following general requirements for the master's degree set a minimum standard. With the approval of the graduate dean, specific programs may impose additional requirements.

Prerequisites

Every master's degree program assumes that participants have a general college education through the baccalaureate level. Accordingly, to enter a master's degree program a student must hold a baccalaureate degree from a regionally accredited United States institution or proof of equivalent training outside the United States. He or she must also have taken at least twelve semester hours of upper-division undergraduate coursework in the area of the proposed graduate major or must have the consent of the graduate dean. Some areas may require more undergraduate preparation. Students who lack adequate preparation may be admitted to a graduate program on the condition that they complete additional preparatory coursework designated by the graduate adviser. These courses are in addition to the thirty semester hours or more required for the master's degree itself.

Supervising Committee

Each master's degree program is developed under the guidance of a supervising committee with two or more members, one of whom is designated as supervisor. The supervisor must be a member of the Graduate Studies Committee in the major area. In general, all committee members must be members of a Graduate Studies Committee. Occasionally, scholars who hold nonfaculty appointments at the University--research scientists, research engineers, or adjunct faculty members--or off-campus scholars are appointed whose expertise would be valuable to the student. The composition of the committee is subject to the approval of the graduate dean. The supervising committee is responsible for the quality, depth, and balance of the student's educational experience.

Options

The Graduate School recognizes three options under which a student may pursue the master's degree: with thesis, with report, and without thesis or report. All three options may not be available in any one field of study; information about the options that are possible is given in chapter 4 or is available from the student's graduate adviser.

At least thirty semester hours of coursework are required for the master's degree with thesis; at least thirty-three hours are required for the degree with report; at least thirty-six hours are required for the degree without thesis or report. No more than nine semester hours of upper-division coursework may be included, of which no more than six hours may be in either the major area or the supporting work. In some fields of study, the number of upper-division hours allowed is lower.

At least eighteen semester hours must be in the major area; the hours in the major must include the thesis or report if written. At least six hours must be in supporting work. Supporting work, often referred to as the minor, is an obligatory part of each degree program. It consists of coursework outside the major area, although the Graduate Studies Committee may permit some or all of it to be taken in other areas within the department.

The exact number of hours in the major area and in supporting work is determined in consultation with the graduate adviser. The Graduate Studies Committee must then review and approve the Program of Work, made up of the proposed courses in the major area and in supporting work. Courses listed on the Program of Work may not be more than six years old. The student may earn no more than 20 percent of the hours of credit listed on the Program of Work on the credit/no credit basis.

Master's degree with thesis. At least thirty semester hours of coursework are required. Each program must include at least twenty-one semester hours of graduate coursework, including the thesis. The thesis is prepared under the direction of a supervisor, who is chairman of the supervising committee. It is subject to the approval of the committee and ultimately to the approval of the graduate dean. Six semester hours of credit are granted for researching and writing the thesis. Course 698A (research project) must precede course 698B (writing period); 698A may not be repeated. Both 698A and 698B must be taken on the letter-grade basis. The student must register for 698B the semester he or she intends to graduate. The thesis cannot be accepted before the semester in which the student applies for graduation.

The thesis is normally written in English. Requests for permission to write in another language pertinent to the research will be granted when there are circumstances warranting an exception. An insufficient command of English is not justification for an exception. The petition from the graduate adviser should include assurance that faculty members competent both in the language and in the field are available and willing to serve on the thesis committee. The request must be approved by the graduate dean when the student is admitted to candidacy. The abstract and a substantial summary and conclusions section in English must be submitted with the thesis.

Master's degree with report. At least thirty-three semester hours of coursework are required. Each program must include at least twenty-four hours of graduate coursework, including the report. The report is prepared under the direction of a supervisor, who is chairman of the supervising committee. Reports typically result from gathering special materials, from an internship or similar experience, or from seminars, conference courses, or supervised research. The report is subject to the approval of the committee and ultimately to the approval of the graduate dean. Three semester hours of credit are granted for preparing the report; the student must register for the report course, usually numbered 398R. The student must take this course on the letter-grade basis and must register for it each semester that he or she files for graduation.

Master's degree without thesis or report. At least thirty-six semester hours of coursework are required. Each program must include at least twenty-seven semester hours of graduate coursework. The master's degree without thesis or report is not available to students seeking the Master of Arts, the Master of Fine Arts, the Master of Science in Applied Physics, the Master of Science in Architectural Studies, the Master of Science in Geological Sciences, or the Master of Science in Statistics. Students must be registered the semester they file to graduate.

Contents |  Chapter 1 |  Chapter 2 |  Chapter 3
Chapter 4 |  Chapter 5 |  Appendix

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