Graduate
Degree Requirements
M.S.
Degree Requirements
Master's
degree students are required to complete a minimum of
24 credit hours of courses and thesis research while maintaining
a grade point average of at least 3.0. Nine of the 24
credits may be for thesis research while the remaining
15 credits are chosen in consultation with the student's
advisory committee. The student must pass an oral preliminary
exam on the proposed research in his or her area, write
a thesis on research conducted under the direction of
an advisor and committee, and pass a defense of the thesis.
Ph.D.
Degree Requirements
Doctoral
degree students are required to complete a minimum of
54 credit hours of courses and dissertation research while
maintaining a grade point average of at least 3.0. This
is composed of at least 24 hours of course work and the
remainder as dissertation research. The student must pass
comprehensive examinations consisting of both an oral
and a written examination, write and officially have approved
a dissertation on research conducted under the direction
of an advisor and committee, and pass a defense of the
dissertation. Students in the doctoral program must also
fulfill a one-year teaching requirement that usually involves
assisting in the instruction of undergraduate or graduate
laboratory courses. This requirement may be automatically
fulfilled if the student has a graduate assistantship
for financial aid.
