Introduction

University Services and Resources

Admissions Policies and Procedures

Academic Information

Financial Information

Programs of Study

Departments

College of Graduate Studies Home Page

 

Degree Candidacy

Admission to Candidacy
       Master’s Degree
      Specialist's Degree
      Doctoral Degree
Degree Requirements
      Graduate Certificate
      Master's Degree
      Specialist's Degree
      Doctoral Degree

Master’s Degree
Admission to Candidacy for students in the Master of Fine Arts Program is described in the Art Department's section of this bulletin. Admission to Candidacy is not required in progress toward any other master’s degree.
Top of Page

Specialist's Degree
Admission to graduate study does not imply Admission to Candidacy for any specialist's degree. Admission to Candidacy is granted only after the applicant has:

1. Fulfilled all the prerequisites for admission to the degree program;
    
2. Fulfilled all special requirements, such as admissions tests, letters of recommendation, and qualifying examinations specified by the department which has jurisdiction over the curriculum;
    
3. Submitted an Authorization of Graduate Degree Program approved and signed by the advisor;
    
4. Completed at least ten hours of graded graduate course work on the chosen program at CMU with a cumulative point average of 3.0 or higher in all of this work;
    
5. Filed a Petition for Admission to Candidacy approved by the advisor and the Dean of the College of Graduate Studies.
   Top of Page

Doctoral Degree
Admission to graduate study does not imply Admission to Candidacy for a doctoral degree. Admission to Candidacy is granted only after the applicant has:

1. Fulfilled all the prerequisites for admission to the degree program;
    
2. Fulfilled all special requirements, such as admissions tests, letters of recommendation, and additional student background information specified by the department;
    
3. Completed most of the prescribed course work for the degree with a grade point average of 3.0 or higher, satisfied any research or professional tool requirements established by the department, and passed a comprehensive examination conducted and evaluated by the student’s examination committee;
    
4. Filed a Petition for Admission to Candidacy approved by the advisor and the Dean of the College of Graduate Studies.
   Top of Page

Degree Requirements
Students may elect to graduate under the curricular requirements and regulations in any Graduate Bulletin in effect between the date of the original admission on a graduate degree or certificate program and the date that degree or certificate was received with such modifications and substitutions as may be necessitated by changes and developments in the university’s programs.
Top of Page

Graduate Certificate
You are eligible to receive a graduate certificate* after you have:

1. Received Regular Admission to the graduate program and filed an "Authorization of Graduate Degree or Certificate Program," approved and signed by an advisor;
    
2. Completed fifteen to eighteen hours of graduate work approved by the advisor. Courses used on previous graduate degrees or certificates may not be counted towards the certificate. If a student has not had adequate preparatory course work for the curriculum chosen and has to take additional course work to make up any deficiencies, these course are not included in the fifteen to eighteen hour requirement. These courses will, however, be stated on the "Authorization of Graduate Degree or Certificate Program." Any course in which the student earns a grade below C is not acceptable in fulfillment of a graduate certificate requirement. 
    
3. Fulfilled all of the requirements of the curriculum on which the student is enrolled and all other university regulations pertaining to the program;
    
4. Obtained a cumulative grade point average of 3.0 (B) or higher in graded graduate course work at CMU and a cumulative grade point average of 3.0 (B) in all course work on the student’s authorized degree program;
    
5. Completed all requirements for the graduate certificate within four years after matriculation in the program. Courses completed more than four years prior to graduation cannot be used to meet graduation requirements without the written approval of the advisor, the chairperson of the department offering the graduate certificate, and the Dean of the College of Graduate Studies. The request for such approval must be accompanied by a statement giving an explicit reason why content of the out-of-date course is still a viable part of the student's graduate program, and how the student has kept up-to-date with current content in those courses. Extension of time to complete graduate certificate requirements will be granted rarely and only if steady progress toward the graduate certificate is evident or if there are clearly extenuating circumstances. Forms requesting an extension are available in the graduate studies office. Transfer credit which falls outside the time limit at the time of graduation will not count toward graduation;
    
6. Made application for the graduate certificate by the date specified in the section titled Deadlines on the inside front cover of this Bulletin, filed a Graduation Application in the College of Graduate Studies, and paid a graduation fee of $35. (See Graduation Procedures) 

NOTE: Graduate Certificates as described in this section are not related to earning a teaching certificate. Go to Standards Leading to Teacher Certification for more information.
Top of Page

Master's Degree
You are eligible to receive a master’s degree after you have:

1. Received Regular Admission to the degree program and filed an Authorization of Graduate Degree Program, approved and signed by the advisor;
    
2. Completed a minimum of thirty hours of graduate work approved by the advisor. Courses in which you earn a grade below C are not acceptable in fulfillment of this degree requirement. If you have not had adequate preparatory course work for the curriculum chosen, you must take additional course work to make up the deficiencies either in the field of specialization, in cognate areas, or both, as determined by your advisor. If you must earn more than thirty hours to receive the degree, the additional hours and their nature will be stated in the Authorization of Graduate Degree Program;
    
3. Fulfilled all of the requirements of the curriculum on which you are enrolled and all other university regulations pertaining to the program;
    
4. Obtained a cumulative grade point average of 3.0 (B) or higher in graded graduate course work at CMU and a cumulative grade point average of 3.0 (B) in all course work on the student’s authorized degree program;
    
5. Earned at least fifteen of the hours presented for the degree in courses at or above the 600 level;
    
6. Fulfilled all other university regulations pertaining to your program;
    
7. Submitted evidence of scholarship and/or creative or artistic ability beyond the completion of course work. Two plans, differing to some extent in the various departments, are in general use. Subject to the approval of the major advisor, you may choose either plan.
   
   Plan A consists of course work, a thesis (6 credits), and an oral defense of the thesis.
   
   Plan B consists primarily of course work, requires no thesis, but must include additional significant evidence of scholarship, such as research, independent studies, internships, or practica and/or creative or artistic ability which the department of the field of specialization may wish to prescribe.
   
   A comprehensive examination over the field of specialization may be required under either Plan A or Plan B. It shall be the responsibility of the department chairperson or program coordinator to notify the graduate studies office of the student’s fulfillment of the Plan A or Plan B requirements;
    
8. Made application for the degree and diploma by the date specified in the section titled Deadlines on the inside front cover of this Bulletin;
    
9. Completed all requirements for the degree within seven years after matriculation in the program. Courses completed more than seven years prior to the date of graduation cannot be used to meet the graduation requirements without the written approval of the advisor, the chairperson of the department offering the degree, and Dean of the College of Graduate Studies. The request for such approval must be accompanied by a statement giving an explicit reason why the content of the out-of-date courses is still a viable part of the student’s graduate program, and how the student has kept up-to-date with current content in those courses. Extension of the time to complete degree requirements will be granted rarely and only if steady progress toward the degree is evident or if there are clearly extenuating circumstances. Forms requesting an extension of time are available in the graduate studies office. Transfer credit that is more than seven years old at the time of graduation will not count toward graduation;
    
10. Filed a Graduation Application in the College of Graduate Studies and paid a graduation fee of $35. (See Graduation Procedures.)
    Top of Page

Specialist's Degree
You are eligible to receive the Specialist's in Psychological Services degree or Specialist's in Education degree after you have:

1. Received the master’s degree, if this is a prerequisite on your curriculum;
    
2. Been admitted to candidacy for the appropriate specialist's degree;
    
3. Completed a minimum of sixty semester hours (thirty hours beyond the master’s degree if the master’s is required or was earned elsewhere) of graduate work approved by your advisor. Courses in which you earn a grade below C are not acceptable in fulfillment of this degree requirement;
    
4. Fulfilled all of the requirements of the curriculum program in which you are enrolled and all other university regulations pertaining to your program;
    
5. Obtained a cumulative grade point average of 3.0 (B) or higher in graded course work at CMU and a cumulative grade point average of 3.0 (B) in all course work on the student’s authorized degree program;
    
6. Completed a thesis or field study as part of your master's or your specialist's degree;
    
7. Earned at least twenty of the last thirty hours of course work at or above the 600 level;
    
8. Applied for the degree and diploma by the date specified in the Deadline section on the inside front cover of this Bulletin;
    
9. Completed the requirements for the degree within seven years after matriculation in the program. Courses completed more than seven years prior to the date of graduation cannot be used to meet the graduation requirements without the written approval of the advisor, chairperson of the department offering the degree, and Dean of the College of Graduate Studies. The request for such approval must be accompanied by a statement giving an explicit reason why the content of the out-of-date course is still a viable part of the student’s graduate program, and how the student has kept up-to-date with current content in those courses. Extension of the time to complete degree requirements will be granted rarely and only if steady progress toward the degree is evident or if there are clearly extenuating circumstances. Forms requesting an extension of time are available in the graduate studies office. Courses transferred into the program from the master’s degree are not governed by the seven year time limit;
    
10. Filed a Graduation Application in the College of Graduate Studies and paid a graduation fee of $35. (See Graduation Procedures.)
    Top of Page

Doctoral Degree
Students are eligible to receive a doctoral degree as approved and implemented by the university after having:

1. 1. Received a master’s or specialist's degree, if this is a prerequisite on the curriculum;
    
2. Acquired the research skills of the discipline as required by the department;
    
3. Passed a comprehensive examination evaluated by more than one member of the graduate faculty;
    
4. Been admitted to candidacy for the doctoral degree;
    
5. Completed a minimum of ninety semester hours of graduate work beyond the bachelor’s degree with a grade point average of 3.0 or better and a cumulative grade point average of 3.0 (B) in all course work on the student’s authorized degree program. Course work will be selected in consultation with the student's academic advisor or advising committee;
    
6. Maintained at least a 3.0 grade point overall. Courses in which the student earns or has earned a grade below C do not count toward meeting any degree requirements. A student may not be awarded a doctoral degree with more than two grades below B-. Course work that is not part of the student's doctoral program of study is excluded from this policy. Particular programs may have more stringent grade requirements;
    
7. Fulfilled all the requirements on the authorized doctoral program as developed by the student and the student's advisor or advising committee. The advisor or advising committee will supervise the program until the degree is completed or until it has been determined that the student should discontinue doctoral study;
    
8. Earned at least fifteen hours in courses at the 700 level or above (excluding dissertation, doctoral project and internship credits) and fifty of the total hours at the 600 level or above;
    
9. Prepared a doctoral dissertation, or in the case of some applied programs, a doctoral project. A doctoral project must be conducted under an advisor who meets the requirements for regular graduate faculty status as defined by the Academic Senate's Graduate Education Policy. All other policies and procedures for the doctoral project are to be determined by the academic program and will be presented in the section of the Bulletin pertaining to the academic program.  For the dissertation, you may receive a minimum of twelve hours of credit and a maximum of thirty-six hours of credit as specified on the authorized doctoral program under the guidelines of the specific department. The research for the doctoral dissertation will be conducted under the guidance of a dissertation supervisor and must be approved by a doctoral committee consisting of at least three graduate faculty members. The student must pass an oral defense of the completed dissertation. The committee members are the examining committee and determine whether the student passes the defense. The dissertation must be prepared according to the regulations prescribed in the College of Graduate Studies’ most recent edition of the Preparation Guide for Doctoral Dissertations and Theses and must be submitted to Dissertation Abstracts International.
    
10. Completed the requirements for the doctoral degree within eight years prior to the award of the doctoral degree with prior relevant graduate degree and ten years if the student began doctoral study without prior relevant graduate degree. Courses completed outside these time frames may not be used to meet the graduation requirements without the written approval of the advisor, the chairperson of the department, and the Dean of the College of Graduate Studies. The request for such approval must be accompanied by a statement giving an explicit reason why the content of the out-of-date courses is still a viable part of the graduate program;
     
11. Filed a Graduation Application in the College of Graduate Studies and paid the $35 graduation fee. (See Graduation Procedures.)

NOTE: Particular doctoral programs may have more specific or more stringent program requirements.
Top of Page