Dual Master's Degree Programs

Standards and Requirements

1. In qualifying for dual master's degrees (DMDP), students will meet all University and school requirements, including completing a minimum of 30 graduate credits for each degree, and other such conditions as a research seminar, thesis, comprehensive examination, other professional experience where required, and residency requirements for each master's degree.
   
2. Total minimum credit-hour requirements for dual master's degrees programs will be 48 credits. Up to 20 percent of the total graduate credits normally required for dual programs may be applied simultaneously to both graduate programs. Although it is permissible for some dual degrees programs to require as few as 48 total credits, faculties responsible for specific dual master's degrees programs may require more than 48 total credits to satisfy the unique characteristics of differing graduate areas.
   
3. Exceptions to the program minimum stated in section 2 may be approved by the Graduate Academic Council.
   
4. All dual master's degrees programs must be approved by the Graduate Academic Council. Programs will be monitored under procedures established by the Graduate Academic Council.
   
5. These programs are not student initiated.

Admissions and Administrative Procedures

1. Students may be admitted to a dual master's degrees program at the beginning of their graduate studies, but no later than after completing 20 graduate credits applicable to a dual master's degrees program. Work done for an awarded master's or doctoral degree may not be used for this program. A minimum GPA of 3.0 and three supportive letters of recommendation from faculty are required. GRE scores may be required also. Faculty from both participating academic units will form the admission committee for each dual master's degrees program.
   
2. A student admitted to a dual master's degrees program may receive a graduate assistantship from either or both of the participating units; the total sum cannot exceed what each unit provides for a graduate assistant for an academic year.
   
3. For purposes of headcount identification, each participating unit will receive a headcount for an admitted dual master's degrees program student.
   
4. Students admitted to a DMDP will receive a single transcript identifying both degrees and programs titles.
   
5. Both participating academic units in a DMDP will receive recognition for one awarded master's degree when a DMDP student has completed her/his full program.
   
6. A student may leave the program before completion of both degrees. If the requirements for one degree have been fulfilled, that degree may be awarded.