Graduate Degree Requirements: College of Natural Sciences and Mathematics

Master of Art Degree

 

Degree Requirements

The M.A. degree is designed for the professional scientist who wishes to focus on excellence in training rather than excellence in research.

This 33 hour program requires:

  • 15 hours in a discipline with at least 9 hours at the 5000 or above level; and

  • a minimum of 15 hours in approved areas with at least 9 hours at the 5000 or above level; and

  • a minimum of three hours in a special problem or tutorial.

While not all NSM Departments currently offer the M.A. option, interested applicants are encouraged to contact individual departments for further information.

The M.A. programs are viewed as terminal degree programs.

 

Master of Science Degree

 

Degree Requirements

The Master of Science (M.S.) degree will be awarded after students have successfully completed requirements specified in one of the two following plans:

Plan I: Thesis Option

Students may satisfy degree requirements by completing a minimum of 30 approved semester hours, no more than nine of which, with specific departmental approval, may be at the advanced undergraduate level, and no more than six of which may be undergraduate hours in the major department. At least three semester hours of thesis courses and a thesis acceptable to the department must be completed. At the option of the department, a qualifying and/or final comprehensive examination may be required.

Students who complete a thesis as part of their degree requirements must specify a thesis committee and have the names on file in the Office of the Dean at least one semester prior to their graduation. The committee must consist of a minimum of two faculty members from within the major department and one approved member external to the major department from industry and/or academia who is acceptable to the department and the college. After these minimum requirements for committee members are satisfied, additional committee members may be approved from industry and academia.

Plan II: Non-thesis Option

In some departments, students may satisfy degree requirements by completing a minimum of 36 approved semester hours, no more than nine of which, with specific departmental approval, may be at the advanced undergraduate level and no more than six of which may be special problems courses. At the option of the department, a qualifying examination and/or final comprehensive examination may be required.

Doctor of Philosophy Degree

 

Degree Requirements

Award of the Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) degree signifies that the recipient has acquired a broad knowledge of the discipline and has demonstrated, by successful completion of an acceptable dissertation, research competence meeting the discipline's national standards. The Ph.D. program requires a minimum of one academic year of full-time residence; enrollment in at least three semester hours of dissertation courses; and successful completion of examinations in the discipline, at the discretion of the department.

Doctoral students' dissertation committees must be comprised of a minimum of four members to include three faculty members from the major department and one approved member external to the major department from industry and/or academia who is acceptable to the department and the college. Candidates must specify a dissertation committee and have the names on file in the Office of the Dean at least one semester prior to their graduation. After these minimum requirements for committee members are satisfied, additional committee members may be approved from industry and/or academia.

Catalog Publish Date: January 14, 2013
This Page Last Updated: December 21, 2012