MASTER'S DEGREE PROGRAMS

Master’s degree programs are offered in approximately 70 fields of study in the Graduate School. The Master of Arts degree usually is awarded to properly qualified candidates in the humanities, the social sciences, education, and all non-scientific fields except art, business administration, public affairs, and social work. The Master of Science degree is awarded to candidates in the natural, physical, mathematical, pharmaceutical, nutritional, and agricultural sciences, as well as Accounting, Nursing, and Engineering. Other Master’s degrees awarded are the Master of Business Administration, the Master of Dental Science, the Master of Engineering, the Master of Fine Arts, the Master of Music, the Master of Professional Studies, the Master of Public Administration, the Master of Public Health, and the Master of Social Work. A master’s degree program represents the equivalent of at least one year of full-time study beyond the baccalaureate (or its equivalent).

Since the Master’s degree is the only intermediate degree offered by this University, it should be emphasized that the education it provides may prepare students for a variety of goals. The advisory committee should take into consideration the student’s objectives and insist on the student’s giving sufficient time to the program so that they may be fulfilled. Those students who are committed to doctoral study generally need less time to complete a Master’s degree than those for whom the master’s program provides the only opportunity to prepare for various professions. Recognizing the difference between a research degree and a terminal Master’s degree, the committee should determine the student’s goals and potential as early as possible, so as to help the student develop an appropriate predoctoral or terminal plan of study.

In most fields of study, work for the Master’s degree is offered mostly, if not exclusively, on the main campus at Storrs. There are some exceptions. The Master of Business Administration is offered on a part-time basis at the downton Hartford, Stamford, and Waterbury campuses and on a full-time basis at the Storrs campus. The Master of Dental Science program and the Master of Public Health program are offered primarily at the Health Center in Farmington. The Master of Social Work program is offered at the West Hartford campus. Certain courses in education, engineering, geological sciences, and oceanography are offered at locations other than Storrs. With the exception of the programs listed above, at least nine credits at the graduate level must be earned on the Storrs campus.

Time Limits

The student is expected to register for course work with reasonable regularity and to complete all requirements for the degree within a moderate span of time to assure continuity and adequate familiarity with developments in the field of study. (See “Continuous Registration.”) Ordinarily, the Master’s degree should be completed within two years or so. In any event, all work for the Master’s degree must be completed within a maximum period of six years from the beginning of the student’s matriculation in the degree program. Failure to complete the work within this period or failure to maintain continuous registration (see “Continuous Registration”) will require re-evaluation of the student’s entire program and may result in termination.

An extension of a student’s terminal date is considered only when there is substantial evidence that the student has attempted to make regular and consistent progress toward completion of degree requirements. A written recommendation to extend the terminal date must bear the signature of the student’s major advisor , and it must be submitted in a timely manner to the Graduate School. Approval is granted by the Dean. Each subsequent request to extend a student’s terminal date requires greater justification and more extraordinary circumstances. Third requests for extension are rarely, if ever, granted.