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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 their 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 they intend to graduate (for deadlines, see the online registration instructions).
  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. To graduate, all graduate students must have a grade point average of at least a 3.0 (on a 4.0 scale).

Detailed descriptions of each of the above requirements are included in this catalog.

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.

Options for Master’s Degrees

Two options are available for most master’s degree programs. Refer to specific program requirements in Chapter 7, 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 the Graduate School.

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 the Graduate School.

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 their 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 should demonstrate the student’s understanding of the preparation guidelines and it is understood the text is still being modified. The format of the thesis must follow University regulations. The detailed requirements and thesis and dissertation deadlines are available from the Graduate School, www.utsa.edu/graduate.

  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 Graduate School through the Dean of the College for final acceptance, the Graduate School 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 Graduate School 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 Graduate School 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 their expense.

  8. Copies of theses and dissertations are available to the general public through the UTSA Library.

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 7, Graduate Program Requirements and Course Descriptions, approved by the Graduate Program Committee.

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

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.

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, they have 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.

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 the Graduate School.

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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TRANSFER OF CREDIT

Limitations

Quantity

Ordinarily all work for the Master’s degree must be done at UTSA. Transfer credit of usually not more than 6 semester credit hours may be allowed for graduate coursework completed at another accredited institution upon the approval of the appropriate graduate program committee in which the major area is located. Upon petition by the student, recommendation of the appropriate graduate program committee, and approval by the Dean of the Graduate School, a maximum of one-third of the semester credit hours of coursework (exclusive of thesis) required for a degree at UTSA may be accepted as transfer credit for the degree.

Time Limitation

All credit applied to a master’s degree must be earned within the six years immediately preceding the date the degree is awarded. Outdated UTSA credits may be accepted upon approval of the appropriate graduate program committee and the Dean of the Graduate School. An examination may be required as a condition for validating this credit.

Evaluation of Courses

Graduation Coordination in the Office of the Registrar evaluates transcripts and designates which graduate courses are acceptable under the above provisions for transfer toward a master’s degree at UTSA. Whether or not a course is transferable as graduate coursework is determined by the course number assigned by the institution awarding the credit. To be transferable to UTSA, courses must be defined as graduate courses at the institution where credit was earned. Courses that are defined as undergraduate upper-division by their course numbers, but that can be applied to a graduate degree at the institution awarding the credit, are not accepted for transfer toward a master’s degree at UTSA. All work submitted for transfer credit must have been completed with grades of “A” or “B” and must have been completed no more than six years before the degree was awarded.

Transfers within The University of Texas System

It is the policy of The University of Texas System that all academic institutions within the System may accept graduate credit from each other, and the regular requirements for residency are adjusted accordingly. The applicability of specific courses from other University of Texas institutions to a student’s graduate degree program at UTSA, however, must be approved by the appropriate graduate program committee.

Course Types and Acceptability

Accepted on a Limited Basis

UTSA Undergraduate Courses. With the approval of the appropriate graduate program committee, the department chair, and the dean of the college in which the student expects to earn their degree, a candidate for the Master’s degree may apply a maximum of 6 semester credit hours of unduplicated credit for undergraduate upper-division (junior or senior) courses completed at UTSA with the grades of “A” or “B” to a master’s degree; no course below the upper-division level or with other grades may be applied to the degree.

Not Accepted

Correspondence and Extension Courses. Courses completed by correspondence or extension may not be applied to a graduate degree program.

Courses Counted for Another Degree. No courses counted toward another degree may be applied to a graduate degree, either directly or by substitution. The only exception is that candidates holding a Master of Arts degree in Art from another institution seeking admission to the Master of Fine Arts degree program may have up to 24 semester credit hours applied toward the M.F.A. degree exclusive of the thesis and/or degree project, upon recommendation of the department graduate program committee and approval of the Dean of the Graduate School. Work done for the Master’s degree may be included in the work for the Doctoral degree, when it is offered, provided it is acceptable to the candidate’s supervising committee, the appropriate graduate program committee, and the Dean of the Graduate School.

Credit by Examination. Credit by examination at UTSA is intended to enable undergraduate students to receive credit for courses leading to a bachelor’s degree in which they may already have achieved the objectives. Credit cannot be earned by CEEB examination or by UT Challenge Examination for any courses used to meet minimum requirements for a graduate degree or graduate teacher certification program. Graduate degree-seeking students in the College of Business may challenge by examination any UTSA graduate-level “professional” or “background” course that is required in addition to minimum degree requirements. (See the UTSA Credit by Examination brochure.)

GRADUATION

Graduation Dates

Degrees are awarded at the end of each Spring, Summer and Fall Semester. Commencement ceremonies are held in May and December, at the end of the Spring and Fall Semesters. Students who graduate at the end of the Summer Semester may participate in either the May or December ceremony. Information on the procedures to be followed is available in the Office of the Registrar or online at www.utsa.edu/registrar.

Applying for the Degree

It is the student’s responsibility to apply officially for his or her degree and submit an application for graduation online through the Automated Student Access Program (ASAP). See UTSA Information, Chapter 5, General Academic Regulations, for application instructions and deadlines. The application of any student applying for graduation after the established deadlines for that semester will be processed for graduation for the following semester. A student who completed all degree requirements but failed to apply for the degree may obtain a Letter of Completion from the Graduation Coordination Office after the close of the semester in which all degree requirements are met.

Students who apply for the degree in a given semester but do not fulfill all requirements must file a new degree application on or before the appropriate deadline for the next semester in which they intend to graduate.

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