3110 Degree Requirements

Candidates for graduation in a degree program offered by the College of Arts and Sciences must be officially registered for classes the semester of completing all academic requirements, including thesis/ dissertation defense, performance, or gallery show. Departments may determine the extent and type of hours that must be taken by the candidate during the concluding semester. Every candidate for completion must apply at least two semesters in advance of expected graduation with the Graduation Office of Enrollment Services/Registrar's Office. These regulations are explained in the general university-wide section of this catalog. The semester of completion is defined as extending until the last day of the semester on the academic calendar as published by Enrollment Services.

While the provisions set forth in this catalog will ordinarily be applied as stated, Georgia State University and the College of Arts and Sciences have the right to change any provision, including, but not limited to, academic requirements for graduation, without actual notice to individual students. Every effort will be made to advise students of any such changes. It is especially important that each student note that it is the individual student's responsibility to keep apprised of current degree requirements for his or her particular program.

Graduation Requirement

All students must be enrolled in the term in which they complete the requirements for their degree. Normally, this is the term in which they will graduate. However, if the requirements are completed after the deadline for graduation in a term, but before the first day of classes in the subsequent term, then it is not necessary to enroll in the subsequent term. If the continuous enrollment criterion is not met in the term in which degree requirements are completed, then it must be met in the term of graduation.

Doctor of Philosophy

The Doctor of Philosophy degree is awarded in recognition of the attainment of independent and comprehensive scholarship in a selected field. The Ph.D. emphasizes research in conjunction with the mastery of a substantial body of knowledge. Specific degree requirements may be tailored by the faculty to meet the needs of the individual student.

In order to qualify for the Doctor of Philosophy degree, the student must fulfill the following general requirements:

• Residence: Four semesters of residence are required, two of which must be consecutive; during all four semesters the student must register for at least six hours of coursework. A Doctor of Philosophy degree shall be conferred only on that student who holds a distinguished record of academic achievement and has maintained a cumulative grade-point average of at least 3.0 for a minimum period of three academic years of post baccalaureate study. On the recommendation of the major department and with the approval of the appropriate associate dean, up to one-half of the residence requirement may be waived on the basis of competence obtained through coursework completed elsewhere.
• Foreign Language Requirement: Some departments require students to demonstrate proficiency in either one or two foreign languages, in an alternative research skill, or in a combination of the two. For specific departmental requirements, students should consult their departmental director of graduate studies.
• General Examination: Students must pass a departmentally administered general examination. An Examination Committee shall be appointed by the chair of the major department. The committee shall consist of a minimum of three members, at least two of whom shall be on the faculty of the major department. The general examination shall be written or oral, or both. The examination may be repeated once following a minimum interval of six months either with the original committee or a duly constituted new committee. The examination must be passed at least one academic year prior to the conferral of the degree. The student who fails the examination for the second time will be subject to termination.
• Admission to Candidacy: In order to be admitted to candidacy, the student must have met the language or equivalent research skill requirement, if any; must have passed the general examination; and must have a departmentally approved dissertation proposal. Graduate students who have completed these requirements except for their dissertation and related defenses or oral exams may be admitted into ABD (all but dissertation) status. This title will be based on the positive recommendation of the graduate program director and following successful review and certification of other doctoral program requirements by the Office of Graduate Services. This designation does not change any time limits or registration requirements for completion of the degree program.
• Dissertation: A dissertation is required of all candidates for the doctoral degree. A Dissertation Committee, of which the dissertation adviser shall be chair, shall pass on the acceptability of each dissertation. The committee shall be nominated by the student and appointed by the chair of the major department. Two-thirds of the committee must approve the dissertation in order for it to be acceptable as a fulfillment of degree requirements. Currently, dissertations must be microfilmed by ProQuest. The student, with the concurrence of his or her adviser and the chair of the department, may stipulate that microfilming be delayed for a period of two years. A student may choose to have the dissertation copyrighted. The deadlines and procedures for submitting dissertations are available at www.cas.gsu.edu/graduation_requirements.html. Research Hours: Each student must register for a minimum of 20 semester hours of dissertation research.
• Final Examination: There shall be a final oral examination that should be directed primarily to the defense of the dissertation. This examination shall be administered by a committee appointed by the chair of the department.

Master of Arts/Master of Science

The requirements stated below are the minimum requirements established by the College of Arts and Sciences for the awarding of the Master of Arts and the Master of Science degrees. In addition to any other departmental requirements, the student seeking either of these degrees must fulfill the following general requirements.

• Coursework: A minimum of 27 semester hours of graduate coursework with a minimum cumulative grade-point average of 3.0 is required. At least 20 hours of graduate coursework must be completed after admission to Full Graduate Status. In addition, students taking the thesis option must successfully complete at least six semester hours in Course 8999 in the major department. If desired, up to 6 semester hours of the 27-hour requirements may be taken in a related field or fields of study.Foreign Language: Some departments require students to demonstrate a reading proficiency in a foreign language or an approved equivalent research skill.
• General Examination: Some departments require students to pass a departmentally administered general examination.
• Demonstration of Research Competence.
• Thesis: Ordinarily a thesis is required of all candidates for a master's degree. A Thesis Committee, of which the thesis adviser shall be chair, shall pass on the acceptability of the thesis. The committee consisting of at least two members shall be nominated by the student and appointed by the chair of the major department. Two-thirds of the committee must approve the thesis in order for it to be acceptable to the Office of Graduate Services. The deadlines and procedures for submission of a thesis are available on the web at www.cas.gsu.edu//graduation_requirements.html
• Non-thesis: A non-thesis option is available in some departments. In lieu of the thesis, research competence must be demonstrated on the basis of a research paper or a creative project. A committee of at least three members of the faculty, of which the student's adviser will serve as chair, will pass on the acceptability of the paper or project. Two-thirds of the committee must indicate approval. This approval must be submitted in writing to the Office of Graduate Services by the appropriate deadline (www.cas.gsu.edu//graduation_requirements.html).

Master of Fine Arts/Master of Art Education

The Ernest G. Welch School of Art and Design offers graduate degrees in seven studio disciplines and in art education. Applicants to studio disciplines are expected to have an undergraduate art degree or its equivalent and appropriate professional skills. Applicants to art education are expected to have an undergraduate art degree or its equivalent and a bachelor's level teaching certificate. Details for degree requirements and application procedures are listed under the "Art and Design" section of this catalog.

The Department of English offers a Master of Fine Arts degree in creative writing. Applicants should submit strong portfolios of poetry or fiction. Details for degree requirements and application procedures are listed under the "English" section of this catalog and on the department website.

Master of Music

The School of Music offers graduate degrees in several areas of music. Applicants to these programs are expected to have an undergraduate major in music or its equivalent. All students pursuing the Master of Music degree must pass a general examination, which shall include written and/or oral parts, the precise combination of which is to be at the discretion of the major area advisers. See the "Music" section of this catalog or the departmental website for details.

Master of Heritage Preservation

The College of Arts and Sciences offers a Master of Heritage Preservation degree program. This program is interdisciplinary in nature, but currently is housed in the Department of History. For further information, refer to the description in the "Heritage Preservation Program" section of this catalog, the program website at www.gsu.edu/heritagepr, or consult Professor Richard Laub, Director of the program, at 404/413-6365.