Section 9. Distribution of Courses
9.10 Master’s Programs
9.20 Doctoral Programs
9.30 Approval of Programs
9.10 Master’s Programs
9.11. All courses taken for program credit must be at the graduate level. After accounting for research credits, no more than half of the remaining credits in the Program of Study can be at the 400 level, and the remainder must be at the 500 or 600 level. As an example, in a Program of Study with a total of 30 credits, 6 of which are for master’s research credits, only 12 credits or fewer of 400-level coursework can be included. (Amended November 6, 2023)
9.12. Courses taken by graduate students at or below the 300 level are automatically considered as taken for no program credit. Where such courses are considered as entrance or background deficiencies, they may be required of graduate students and listed on the Program of Study under “No Program Credit”. They cannot under any circumstances be included in that section of the Program of Study which is to satisfy degree requirements, nor can they be included in calculating the cumulative average required for graduation. Required “No Program Credit” courses must be replaced or repeated unless a grade of C or better is received for 500- and 600-level courses, or B- or higher is received for 400-level courses. Courses at or below the 300 level may also be freely elected by graduate students without inclusion in the Program of Study and without affecting their cumulative average.
9.20 Doctoral Programs
9.21. For students who have received the master’s degree in the same field of study or in a closely related field, all coursework beyond the master’s degree towards the doctorate must be at the 500 or 600 level. For students without a master’s degree who enroll in a doctoral program, but who complete a master’s degree along the way to the doctorate, 400-level courses may be applied only to the master’s degree Program of Study. For doctoral students who do not have a master’s degree, and who do not earn a master’s degree along the way to the doctorate, up to 12 credits of 400-level courses may be applied to the doctoral Program of Study.
9.22. Doctoral Programs of Study may include additional required courses at the 400 level or below in the section of “No Program Credit”. Such courses cannot be included in calculating the cumulative average required for graduation, although the course must be repeated or replaced unless a grade of B- or higher is received.
9.30 Approval of Programs
9.31. Programs of Study for all thesis- and dissertation-based graduate programs must be approved by the student, the major professor, the program committee, the department Chair or Graduate Program Director, and the Dean of the Graduate School. Programs of Study for all non-thesis master’s degree programs must be approved by the student, the major professor or advisor, the department Chair or Graduate Program Director, and the Dean of the Graduate School. Programs of Study not consistent with the policies outlined earlier in Section 9 will be considered only after submission of a written justification and evaluation of each individual case.