Plan A: Master's Degree With Thesis
Major and Related Field(s) or Minor -
Students must complete an approved program of coursework consisting of at least 14 semester credits in the major field, at least 6 semester credits in one or more related fields outside the major, and at least 10 thesis credits (8777).
Students who wish to complete a designated minor (certified on the transcript; related fields option is not) must complete at least 6 semester credits in a single field. A designated minor must be approved by the director of graduate studies in the minor field.
In cases where the student takes coursework beyond the minimum requirements, both the adviser and the Graduate School may demand comparable standards of performance for all work taken.
Admission to the Graduate School requires the specification of a major field. Any proposal for a subsequent change in major necessitates a formal request to the Graduate School.
Official Program for the Degree - After completing 10 credits and ordinarily not later than the second semester of registration (the second year for longer programs), students must file the Degree Program with the Graduate School. This requirement may vary with the program. Students list all coursework, completed and proposed, that will be offered to fulfill degree requirements, including transfer work. If a foreign language is required, it is specified. The members of a student’s final examining committee (who are the thesis reviewers for Plan A) are appointed by the graduate school dean on recommendation of the faculty in the major field at the time the student’s official degree program is approved. A degree program approved by the Graduate School must be on file before the reviewers’ report, examination report, or graduation forms can be released to the student.
Changes in the Program - Once approved, the program must be followed to meet graduation requirements. Alterations in the program, including committee changes, must be requested in
advance by means of a Graduate School Petition.
Language Requirement - See the appropriate major field under Program Statements in the following stages to determine the language requirement, if any, for that field. The Graduate School monitors the fulfillment of the language requirement when a major field specifies one. Information about how the student must demonstrate proficiency and the conditions under which proficiency will be recorded on the official transcript is available from the UMD Graduate School
Master's Thesis - The thesis title is submitted for approval as part of the information provided on the student's official Degree Program Transmittal. The thesis title must be approved by the adviser. The thesis must be on a topic related to the major, be written in acceptable English, demonstrate the student's ability to work independently, and display the student's power of independent thought both in perceiving problems and in making satisfactory progress toward their solution. Familiarity with the bibliography of the special field and correct citation of authorities are expected. Master's Plan A thesis report writing guidelines and submission options are available at http://www.grad.umn.edu/current_students/masters/submission.html
If the thesis is accepted, the candidate should immediately begin to have it prepared in its final form and should submit the Application for Degree before the first working day of the month the candidate plans to graduate. Application for Degree forms must be obtained from the UMD Graduate School office, 431 Darland Administration Building.
Final Examinations - Candidates for the master's degree, Plan A, must pass a final oral examination; a final written examination may also be required at the discretion of the graduate faculty in the major field. If both a written and an oral examination are specified, the written examination must precede the oral examination.
The final examination covers the major and minor or related fields and may include other related work. This examination is coordinated by the chair of the student's examining committee. A majority vote of the committee, all members present and voting, is required for a pass. Results are reported to the Graduate School on a Final Examination Report, which is issued to the chair when the oral exam is scheduled. In case of failure, unanimous consent of the examining committee is required to retake the examination, providing the reexamination is conducted by the original committee.
Reports - Forms are provided for signed reports concertning the thesis and the final written or oral examinations. All reports must be filed in the UMD Graduate School office by the published deadline.