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MINIMUM DEGREE REQUIREMENTS
Minimum Requirements for Master's Degrees
Minimum Requirements for Doctoral Degrees
Graduate Academic Programs
Graduate students are expected to be aware of and to comply with the general requirements for the degrees they are pursuing as outlined in the Graduate School Bulletin. In addition to the general requirements, students are expected to conform to any additional requirements set by the student's college or academic unit. The Fogelman College of Business and Economics , the College of Education , and the Herff College of Engineering have additional college degree requirements. Please see Degree Programs and Courses for individual program requirements.
A wide variety of graduate programs of study are offered in The Graduate School at The University of Memphis. Candidates for a degree must design a plan in consultation with their major advisor and then obtain the appropriate approvals.
The University of Memphis offers Master's degrees, Education Specialist degree, Doctoral degrees and graduate certificates.
The master's programs are: Master of Arts (MA), Master of Arts in Liberal Studies (MALS), Master of Arts in Teaching (MAT), Master of Architecture (MArch), Master of Business Administration (MBA), International Masters of Business Administration (IMBA), Master of City and Regional Planning (MCRP), RODP Master of Education (MED), Master of Fine Arts (MFA), Master of Health Administration (MHA), Master of Music (MMu), Master of Science in Nursing (MSN), Master of Public Administration (MPA), Master of Public Health (MPH), Master of Science (MS).
The post-master's degrees of Education Specialist (EdS), Doctor of Audiology (AuD), Doctor of Education (EdD), and Doctor of Musical Arts (DMA) are also offered. The Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) is awarded in audiology and speech pathology, biology, business administration, chemistry, communication, computer science, counseling psychology, educational psychology and research, earth sciences, engineering, English, history, mathematics, music, philosophy, and psychology.
Graduate Certificates are offered in African American Literature, College Teaching, Community College Teaching and Leadership, Geographic Information Systems, Information Assurance, Instructional Computing Applications, Local Government Management, Museum Studies, Teaching English as a Second Language, Women's Studies, and a post-Master's Family Nurse Practitioner certificate.
Graduate Certificate in African American Literature: This 15-hour program provides official recognition of preparation to help students qualify for jobs teaching African American Literature both within and outside the United States. Contact the Department of English for details.
Graduate Certificate in College Teaching: This program provides specific training in college teaching for graduate teaching assistants. The 12-hour program equips TAs with knowledge and skill in effective college teaching methods. Only fully admitted graduate students who are graduate teaching assistants are eligible to enroll in the program. Contact the Graduate School for details.
Graduate Certificate in Community College Teaching and Leadership: This 18-hour program offers a certificate for individuals interested in either a teaching or an administrative position in a community college. Contact the Department of Leadership for details.
Graduate Certificate in Geographic Information Systems: The GIS Certificate gives students an interdisciplinary perspective that allows them to integrate GIS skills into knowledge acquired in other disciplines, and competitive skills and training for jobs in which GIS skills are essential. Contact the Department of Earth Sciences for details about this 18-hour program.
Graduate Certificate in Information Assurance: This 12-hour program highlights important aspects of information security and assurance technologies. The University of Memphis is designated by DHS and NSA as a National Center of Academic Excellence in Information Assurance, and its IA courses are accredited by the Committee for National Security Systems for Computer Security standards 4011, 4012, and 4013. These security standards specify the minimum knowledge, skills, and abilities required to fulfill the duties, respectively, of an Information Systems Security Professional, Senior System Manager, and System Administrator. Contact the Department of Computer Science for details.
Graduate Certificate in Instructional Computing Applications : This certificate program is designed for educators who want to integrate the use of computers in the classroom. The certificate requires the completion of 12 hours from a designated core of courses. The focus of these courses is to develop the technological competencies needed for the development, utilization, and integration of instructional computing technology in the classroom. Contact the College of Education for details.
Graduate Certificate in Local Government Management: This 15-hour program will allow local government professionals and other individuals who may not have the time and financial resources that are required for completion of the Master’s of Public Administration degree to obtain valuable knowledge and insight concerning the complex legal and political environment that today’s municipalities operate within. Contact the Division of Public and Nonprofit Administration for details.
Interdisciplinary Graduate Certificate in Museum Studies: This 18-hour certificate program is jointly administered by the departments of Anthropology and Art. The program includes two three-hour internships and provides training in all aspects of museum administration. Contact the Director of the Art Museum or the Associate Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences for details.
Graduate Certificate in Teaching English as a Second/Foreign Language: This 15-hour program provides training to those interested in teaching English as a Second/ Foreign Language both within and outside the United States to post-secondary students and adults. Contact the Department of English for details.
Graduate Certificate in Women's Studies: This 12-hour certificate program is administered by the Women's Studies program in the College of Arts and Sciences and is open to any MA or PhD student in the university.
Post-Masters Family Nurse Practitioner Certificate: This 21-hour program provides a formal program of study for students who already have the Master of Science in Nursing degree and are interested in taking the national certification exam to practice as a Family Nurse Practitioner without requiring them to complete a second masters degree. Contact the Loewenberg School of Nursing for details.
Foreign Language Proficiency
A reading knowledge of at least one foreign language is required in several graduate programs. This requirement
may be met in one of the following three ways. (1) The student achieves a score on the Graduate School Foreign
Language Test (GSFLT) acceptable to the academic unit granting the degree. (2) The student earns a grade of "B"
(3.0) or better in designated courses. (3) The student demonstrates a reading knowledge of a foreign language at a
level acceptable to the Coordinator of Graduate Studies and the chair of the Department of Foreign Languages and Literatures.
For additional information consult the academic unit directly.
MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS FOR MASTER'S DEGREES
Course Requirements
The master's degree program shall generally include 30-36 semester hours of course work, although some programs require substantially more. Refer to the appropriate program description for specific requirements. The student's program must be approved by the major academic unit. A student may be required to take courses beyond the minimum to ensure balance and depth in the discipline.
A minimum of 70% of the total required hours must be provided by 7000 level courses. No more than 12 hours of workshop courses and independent study courses may be applied to a master's degree. Individual academic units may allow fewer workshop or independent study hours in their programs.
Additional Program Requirements
Each graduate program listed in this Bulletin has minimum degree requirements. In consultation with the faculty, the coordinator of each graduate program may specify any additional requirements, such as prerequisites, a reading knowledge of a foreign language, a working knowledge of statistics, or specific courses related to graduate or teaching assistantships.
Time Limitation
All requirements for the degree must be completed in six years, or eight years in programs that require 36 hours or more. Courses older than these limits will not be allowed as credit toward the master's degree, although the grades will be calculated in the cumulative GPA.
There are no exceptions to program time limits. However, students may request the option of validating old courses as described in the Academic Regulations section of this Bulletin.
Grades earned in courses that are older than program time limits will be shown on the transcript and will be calculated in the cumulative GPA, but will not be accepted for graduation purposes.
Comprehensive Examination
Before being recommended for graduation, every candidate for the master's degree who does not write a thesis is required to pass a final comprehensive examination. Many programs also require a comprehensive examination for those students writing a thesis. Some professional programs require a culminating experience instead of a comprehensive examination. Please see specific program requirements.
Some programs give the comprehensive examination within a short time period during or near the last semester of coursework or after all coursework is completed. In some professional programs the comprehensive examination is given during the calendar year in which the student expects to graduate. Other programs give a series of exams over several semesters. In all cases, comprehensive exams should be completed late enough in the student's program to ensure full coverage of content areas represented by required coursework.
In programs that do not require comprehensive examination for thesis writers, the thesis defense will include broad questions covering the breadth of coursework as well as the thesis content.
Comprehensive examinations are administered only to students in good standing and may be oral, written, or both. The result of the exam (positive or negative) must be communicated to the Graduate School on the Comprehensive Results Form within the same semester the exam was taken or by the specified deadline in the Graduate Bulletin.
Protocols and procedures for administration of comprehensive examinations can be obtained at the departmental level.
It is the student's responsibility to confer with the appropriate academic department regarding the time and place of the examination.
A student who does not perform satisfactorily on the first comprehensive examination will be given an opportunity to take a second examination at the next regularly scheduled examination period. For serial examinations, given over several semesters, see the specific program repeat policies. The academic unit may recommend appropriate coursework, which the student will take in preparation for retaking the exam.
Results of comprehensive examinations are not graded in the way that courses are and so can not be appealed, nor can they be changed after the form has been filed with the Graduate School . A second failure results in termination, which can be appealed. The retention appeals process is formalized and must be followed in all cases. See the section on "Retention Appeals."
Admission to Candidacy
Before an applicant will be officially admitted to candidacy for a master's degree, the student must have satisfied the following requirements:
It is the responsibility of each graduate student to notify the Graduate School Academic Advisor at mstout@memphis.edu of any changes in name or address. Students who are graduating will receive a postcard from the Commencement Office regarding graduation ceremony requirements 6 to 8 weeks prior to graduation.
Enrollment Requirements
Students must be enrolled during the semester in which they defend the thesis as well as the semester in which they intend to graduate, regardless of when the comprehensive exam was taken or the culminating experience was finished and approved. Individual colleges and departments may require enrollment during the semester in which comprehensive exams are taken; check with your program for details.
Thesis Requirements
Most academic units provide students both a thesis and a non-thesis option (see department descriptions). A thesis of 3 to 6 semester hours may be presented as partial completion of degree requirements. Students must enroll for thesis credit each academic semester until the thesis is completed, regardless of how many hours the program will accept.
Students electing to write a thesis should familiarize themselves with the Thesis/Dissertation Preparation Guide at http://academics.memphis.edu/gradschool/tdinfo.html before starting to write. An approved Thesis/Dissertation Proposal Form must be filed with any necessary human or animal subjects approvals before any research is undertaken. See the section on "Regulatory Issues" for more information.
Thesis Committee
The student will select a thesis committee (minimum of three members) made up of graduate faculty approved by the head of the academic unit and/or the college director. The chair of the thesis committee must hold full or associate graduate faculty status. Only one affiliate or adjunct graduate faculty member may serve as a voting member of a thesis committee. If the thesis committee differs from the advisory committee, a new committee form must be filed with the Graduate School.
Defense of the Thesis
Upon completion of the thesis, the student must successfully complete an oral defense administered by the student's advisory committee and the results reported to the Graduate School. All committee members must be present at the examination and the results are determined by a unanimous vote of the committee. Only one adjunct or affiliate graduate faculty member may serve as a voting member on a master's committee. Students must be enrolled in the semester during which they defend the thesis.
If the oral exam encompasses both the comprehensive and the defense, the results should be reported separately on the forms provided. In this case, the thesis defense will include broad questions covering the extent of coursework as well as the thesis content.
The final draft of the thesis must be approved by all members of the student's committee and the Vice Provost for Graduate Studies for final acceptance. A copy of that final draft along with an original committee approval page, with signatures in black ink, must be submitted to the Graduate School after the successful defense.
The Graduate School requires three copies of the master's thesis. The thesis must be accompanied by an abstract of not more than 150 words. The student should consult with the unit head and/or thesis advisor as to the number of additional copies required.
Continuous Enrollment
The continuous enrollment policy applies to thesis, capstone projects, and all other culminating experiences. Most programs require at least one culminating experience course; see specific program requirements for details. A student must be enrolled for at least 1 hour each Fall and Spring semester until the thesis or project is complete. A student must be enrolled in the Summer semester if the thesis will be completed then. Failure to so register will result in the student being charged tuition for each semester he or she did not enroll.
The only exception to this policy is if the student's major professor is on leave or otherwise unavailable. In such cases the approval of the appropriate college director and the Vice Provost for Graduate Studies is required. In case of serious medical circumstances, students may request a leave of absence, subject to the approval of the program graduate coordinator, the college director of graduate studies, and the Vice Provost for Graduate Studies. Retroactive approval will not be granted. A leave of absence does not extend time limit to degree.
Thesis Credit
Credit will be posted upon completion and acceptance of the thesis. No more than six (6) hours will be allowed for a master's thesis, even though the student may have been required to register for additional hours in order to maintain continuous enrollment. If a student elects not to complete the thesis, a retroactive drop (or withdrawal) must be processed for the last term of enrollment in thesis credit to reflect the change of program on the student's transcript.
Second Master's Degree
Students who hold a master's degree from The University of Memphis may pursue a second master's degree with a different major or degree if the academic unit accepts them. No more than six (6) semester hours of the first degree may be applied toward the second degree (see exceptions in the MFA in Creative Writing, MFA in Art, MFA in Theatre, and the MCRP).The second academic unit will determine whether any credit from the former degree will be accepted toward the second degree. Any credit accepted toward the second degree must be within the regular time limit requirements for the second master's degree. Two degrees may be pursued simultaneously or sequentially.
Education Specialist
The Education Specialist degree is designed for the educator-practitioner who desires post-master's training but
who does not wish to earn a doctorate. For additional information, please refer to the College of Education section
of this Bulletin.
MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS FOR DOCTORAL DEGREES
Course Requirements
Doctoral degrees require at least 72 credit hours beyond the bachelor's degree; many programs require more. Specific requirements for the doctoral degree vary with the academic unit; see the appropriate section in this Bulletin. The student's program must be approved by the major academic unit. A student may be required to take courses beyond the minimum to ensure balance and depth in the discipline. The last thirty hours of credit must be earned at the University of Memphis. Of the final 30 hours, no more than the maximum allowed by the program may be dissertation hours. No more than 15 post-baccalaureate hours of 6000 level courses may be applied to a doctoral degree. Individual units may have more restrictive requirements.
Additional Program Requirements
Each graduate program listed in this Bulletin has minimum degree requirements. In consultation with the faculty, the coordinator of each graduate program may specify any additional requirements, such as prerequisites, a reading knowledge of a foreign language, a working knowledge of statistics, or specific courses related to graduate or teaching assistantships.
Time Limitation
Doctoral degrees must be earned within twelve (12) consecutive years. All course work must be completed within ten (10) years of the student's original admission to a doctoral program. The student may take a further two years of dissertation credit. However, individual academic units may have more stringent time limitations.
There are no exceptions to program time limitations. However, students may request the option of validating old courses taken at The University of Memphis as described in the "Academic Regulations" section of this Bulletin.
Grades earned in courses at The University of Memphis older than program time limits will be shown on the transcript and calculated in the cumulative GPA, but will not be accepted for graduation purposes.
Residency Requirement
The student must commit to full-time study for a minimum of two successive semesters after admission to the degree program to fulfill the residency requirement. Some academic units do not count the summer term towards residency. The College of Education has an alternative residency program; refer to the appropriate section of this Bulletin or contact the College for additional information.
Advisory Committee
After admission to the doctoral program, the student will be assigned a major advisor, who must be a full member of the Graduate Faculty, to chair the student's Advisory Committee. This committee will work closely with the student to formulate an approved program of study. The program head, following consultation with the student and major advisor, will approve the appointment of a minimum of three members to the Advisory Committee. Only one adjunct or affiliate graduate faculty member may serve as a voting member on an advisory committee. These appointments will be forwarded to the Vice Provost for Graduate Studies. The advisory committee is not necessarily, but may be, the same as the dissertation committee (see below).
Qualifying Examination
Individuals seeking a doctoral degree may be required to take a qualifying examination administered by the academic unit in which the student wishes to major. The examination may cover specialized and general knowledge of the major area as well as writing skill. The results of the qualifying exam should be used, in part, to plan the academic program. To be eligible to take this qualifying examination, the student must be fully admitted to the Graduate School. Academic units may hold additional requirements.
Comprehensive Examination
When a student in good standing has completed all basic required coursework for the doctoral degree or is enrolled in the last semester of coursework (exclusive of dissertation hours), he/she must pass a comprehensive examination. This examination must contain both written and oral components, covering the major and collateral fields of study. Performance must be acceptable to the Advisory Committee (not more than one dissenting vote is allowed). The result of the exam (positive or negative) must be communicated to the Graduate School on the Comprehensive Results Form within the same semester the exam was taken or by the specified deadline in the Graduate Bulletin. Protocols and procedures for administration of comprehensive examinations can be obtained at the departmental level.
The comprehensive examination is not a course; therefore the results of the examination can not be appealed, nor can they be changed after the form has been filed with the Graduate School . Students may take the examination a second time, however. A second failure results in termination, which can be appealed. The retention appeals process is formalized and must be followed in all cases. See the section on Retention Appeals.
A student may register for dissertation hours only after passing the comprehensive examination, submitting the results to the Graduate School, and submitting an approved "Application for Admission to Doctoral Candidacy" to the Graduate School.
Dissertation Committee
The student will select a dissertation committee (minimum of four members) made up of graduate faculty approved by the head of the academic unit and/or the college director. The chair of the dissertation committee must hold full graduate faculty status. It is strongly recommended that one member be outside the discipline. Only one affiliate or adjunct graduate faculty member may serve as a voting member of a dissertation committee. If the dissertation committee differs from the advisory committee, a new committee form must be filed with the Graduate School.
Admission to Candidacy
Before an applicant will be officially admitted to candidacy for a doctoral degree and allowed to register for dissertation hours, the student must have satisfied the following requirements:
Dissertation
An acceptable dissertation is a requirement for all doctoral degrees. The dissertation must represent a significant scholarly effort that culminates in an original contribution to the field of inquiry. It should reflect the candidate's ability to conduct independent research and interpret in a logical manner the facts and phenomena revealed by the research.
The dissertation proposal (or prospectus) is developed under the guidance of the dissertation committee. All members of the dissertation committee must approve the proposal (prospectus) and the approved form must be filed with the Graduate School.
If human or animal subjects are involved, the appropriate approval forms must accompany the approved Thesis/Dissertation Proposal form. Approval from the institutional review board must be secured before undertaking any research. See the section on "Regulatory Issues."
The dissertation must meet the specific regulations of the academic unit in which the student is majoring and the Graduate School. Consult the academic unit for the acceptable format. Students should also familiarize themselves with the Thesis/Dissertation Preparation Guide http://academics.memphis.edu/gradschool/tdinfo.html before starting to write.
The final draft must be approved by all members of the dissertation committee and by the Vice Provost for Graduate Studies. This final draft of the dissertation must be submitted to the Graduate School after the defense along with an original committee approval page, with signatures in black ink.
A minimum of three copies of the dissertation must be submitted for binding. The dissertation, which will be microfilmed, must be accompanied by an unnumbered abstract of not more than 350 words. The abstract will be published. Fees to cover the cost of microfilming and publishing are specified in Section 6, under "Miscellaneous Fees," and are to be paid by the student.
Continuous Enrollment
Doctoral candidates must register for dissertation credit each academic semester (fall and spring) until the dissertation is completed. Students must enroll in the summer semester if they plan to complete and defend their dissertation then. See individual academic units for specific requirements. Failure to so register will result in the student being charged tuition for each semester he or she did not enroll.
The only exception to this policy is if the student's major professor is on leave or otherwise unavailable. In such cases the approval of the appropriate college director and the Vice Provost for Graduate Studies is required. In case of serious medical circumstances, students may request a leave of absence, subject to the approval of the program graduate coordinator, the college director of graduate studies, and the Vice Provost for Graduate Studies. Retroactive approval will not be granted. A leave of absence does not extend time limit to the degree.
Defense of Dissertation
After the completion of the dissertation and all other prescribed work for the degree, candidates will be given a final oral examination dealing with the dissertation and its relation to the candidate's major field of study. The student's dissertation advisory committee will conduct this exam. All members must be present at the examination. If the student's performance on this examination is satisfactory as judged unanimously by the committee, all requirements for the degree will have been completed. Students must be enrolled in the semester during which they defend the dissertation.
Dissertation Credit
Credit will be posted upon the completion and acceptance of the dissertation. No more than the maximum number of semester hours for dissertation accepted by the academic unit will be counted towards the degree, even though the student may have registered for additional hours in order to maintain continuous enrollment.
Graduation
To be certified for graduation, the student's entire program, including the dissertation, must be acceptable to the dissertation committee, unit head and/or director of graduate studies in the student's college, and the Vice Provost for Graduate Studies. The following paper work, in addition to Comprehensive Examination Results and Admission to Candidacy forms (filed before enrolling for dissertation hours), must be filed in the Graduate School by the stated deadline:
It is the responsibility of each graduate student to notify the Graduate School Academic Advisor at mstout@memphis.edu of any changes in name or address. Students who are graduating will receive a postcard explaining graduation ceremony requirements 6 to 8 weeks prior to graduation.
Second Doctoral Degree
Students who hold or are pursuing a doctoral degree from the University of Memphis may pursue a second doctoral degree with a different major or degree if the academic unit accepts them. Students pursuing two doctoral degrees must seek prior approval from each major professor and doctoral committee before being considered a doctoral candidate.
No more than 12 semester hours from one doctoral degree may be applied toward the other degree. The second academic unit will determine whether any credit from the former degree will be accepted toward the second degree. Any credit accepted toward the second degree must have been earned within the regular time limit requirements for the doctoral degree. Students must pass separate comprehensive examinations and successfully defend separate dissertations. Two degrees may be pursued simultaneously or sequentially.
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