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Chapter 4 - Master's Degree Requirements - Degree Requirements

Chapter 4 Master's Degree Requirements

DEGREE REQUIREMENTS

University-wide Requirements

In order to receive a master’s degree from UTSA, the following minimum requirements must be met:

  1. The student must be admitted as a graduate degree-seeking student for the degree sought.
  2. The student must remove all conditions of admission, if any were assigned at the time of admission.
  3. Subject to the six-year time limitation, the student must complete satisfactorily all coursework as specified in his or her discipline’s program of study, and, if Option I is selected, must complete satisfactorily the thesis as outlined in the Options for Master’s Degrees section of this chapter.
  4. The student must formally apply for the degree and pay the required fee in the Office of the Registrar no later than the deadline for the semester in which he or she intends to graduate (deadlines are published in the Schedule of Classes).
  5. The student must complete satisfactorily the comprehensive examination, except as provided by the M.B.A. degree.
  6. The student must meet the grade point average requirement of 3.0 or higher (on a 4.0 scale) in all work counted as part of the degree program.
  7. No courses in which grades of less than "C" (below 2.0 on a 4.0 scale) were earned may be applied to a graduate degree, nor may courses for which the grade of "CR" was earned by examination be applied to minimum degree requirements. Credit for selected internships and practica in which a grade of "CR" was earned may be applied to minimum degree requirements upon approval of the Graduate Program Committee.
  8. The student must be in good standing at the close of the semester in which the degree is to be received. Detailed descriptions of each of the above requirements are included in this catalog.
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Comprehensive Examination

A candidate for a master’s degree (other than candidates for the M.B.A. degree, who are required to complete MGT 5903 with a grade of "B" or better) must, in addition to other requirements, pass a comprehensive examination which may be oral, written, or both. Students must be registered during any semester or term in which they are taking required examinations. Comprehensive examinations are given only to those students who have complied with the following requirements:

  1. completion of all conditions of admission, if any were assigned at the time of admission
  2. completion of all special admission requirements for the degree program, if any
  3. be in good standing
  4. an acceptable program of study in the discipline in which the degree is sought
  5. if a thesis is to be written, selection of supervising professor and thesis committee and acceptance of thesis topic
  6. enrollment in 6961 Comprehensive Examination in the semester the comprehensive examination is taken, if registered for no other courses that semester.
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Options for Master’s Degrees

Two options are available for most master’s degree programs. Refer to specific program requirements in Chapter 6, Graduate Program Requirements and Course Descriptions, to determine whether a program offers both options.

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Thesis Option (Option I)

The candidate for a Master of Arts, Master of Science, Master of Business Administration, or Master of Science in Accounting degree is required to complete the required number of semester credit hours in coursework approved by the appropriate graduate program committee, including 6 semester credit hours for a thesis. The thesis is subject to approval by the student’s program advisor, thesis committee, graduate advisor, and the Dean of Graduate Studies.

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Students receiving advice and assistance from a faculty member in the preparation of a thesis must enroll in the appropriate thesis course (if necessary, for multiple semesters) until final approval of the completed thesis has been given and three copies have been filed with the Dean of Graduate Studies.

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Requirements for Thesis. The following steps for completing a thesis as part of a master’s degree are the responsibility of each degree candidate selecting Option I:

  1. Secure the approval of the supervising professor, who is also Chair of the Thesis Committee. The Thesis Committee consists of the Thesis Chair and two additional members of the graduate faculty appointed by the College Dean. The student is expected to work closely with the Thesis Chair in selecting the thesis topic and in completing other details of his or her study.
  2. Submit a preliminary draft for approval by the Thesis Chair no later than 45 calendar days before final examinations of the semester in which the degree is to be awarded. The first draft copy should be corrected, legible, and typewritten. The format of the thesis must follow University regulations. The detailed requirements are available from the Office of Graduate Studies.
  3. Secure approval of the draft by the Thesis Committee. This step is intended to ensure that the thesis meets the required standards for content, expression, format, spelling, and accuracy. Candidates are responsible for meeting the standards of those reading and approving the thesis.
  4. Submit the approved draft to a typist. The approved draft of the thesis is then to be typed in acceptable form.
  5. Submit the final copy of the thesis to the supervising professor and Thesis Committee no later than 20 calendar days before final examinations of the semester in which the degree is to be awarded. This copy of the thesis must be the original and, if acceptable, must be signed by the Thesis Chair and members of the Thesis Committee. Before submission of the thesis to the Office of Graduate Studies through the Dean of the College for final acceptance, the Office of Graduate Studies must certify that it conforms to the format prescribed in the Guide for the Preparation of a Master’s Thesis and approve the method of duplication.
  6. File three unbound copies, including the original, of the approved thesis with the Office of Graduate Studies at least 10 days before the last day of classes of the semester in which the degree is to be awarded. The copies are transmitted by the Office of Graduate Studies to the library, where they are bound. Two copies will be filed in the Library and one copy will be sent to the student’s program office. The student will be notified by the library when personal copies are available for pickup. (A fee of $10 per copy will be charged for binding the official copies of the thesis.)
  7. It is customary that copies of the thesis be presented to the Thesis Chair and members of the Thesis Committee. Arrangements and expenses for binding of copies are the responsibility of the student. Copyright is optional and may be arranged by the student and will be at his or her expense.
  8. Copies of theses and dissertations are available to the general public through the UTSA Library.
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Nonthesis Option (Option II)

For a master’s degree under Option II, a student can meet requirements without writing a thesis. Instead, the student is required to complete a program of coursework, as indicated by specific program requirements in Chapter 6, Graduate Program Requirements and Course Descriptions, approved by the Graduate Program Committee.

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At the beginning of the student’s master’s degree program, he or she should, in consultation with his or her program advisor, select the option most suitable to his or her needs. Should a student elect to change options, he or she should consult with the program advisor.

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Limitation on Repeating Courses for Credit

Many independent study, thesis, special problems, special topics, directed research, seminar, dissertation, and other similar courses may be repeated for credit; however, limitations exist on the number of semester credit hours that may be applied toward a degree. Refer to the individual course descriptions for specific details on these limitations and consult the appropriate graduate advisor.

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Catalog of Graduation

Graduate students have six years from the semester of original registration to complete a graduate degree program under the catalog in effect at the time of initial registration at UTSA, provided they are continuously enrolled at UTSA. If a student drops out for one or more long (spring or fall) semesters, he or she has the option of reenrolling under a subsequent catalog. These students will have six years to complete degree requirements under the new catalog. In the event that certain required courses are discontinued, substitutions may be authorized or required by the appropriate graduate program committee.

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Additional Master’s Degrees

A student who holds a master’s or higher degree may pursue an additional master’s degree at UTSA only under the following conditions:

  1. The additional master’s degree opens up an additional area, field, or concentration.
  2. The proposed second master’s degree is approved by the appropriate graduate program committee and the Dean of Graduate Studies.
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It should be further understood that

  1. The same courses cannot be applied toward two different degrees.
  2. Credit applied to a previous degree at another institution which duplicates a portion of the program required under the second degree being sought at UTSA does not reduce the number of semester credit hours required for that second degree. (The only exception is the M.F.A. degree. See Courses Counted for Another Degree under Course Types and Acceptability in the Transfer of Credit section of this chapter.) Courses already taken would not be required. Rather, additional coursework would be substituted for previously completed courses.
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