1997-98 UAF Catalog

Graduate


How to Earn a Degree

Graduation

Responsibility -- You are responsible for meeting all requirements for graduation.

Application for Graduation -- You must be registered for at least three graduate credits in the semester in which you receive your degree. An application for graduation and nonrefundable fee must be filed with the Office of the Registrar at the beginning of the semester in which you plan to graduate. Applications for graduation filed after the deadline date will be processed for graduation the following semester. You need not have all requirements met before you apply for graduation; this is an indication that you are planning to finish during that semester.

Diplomas and Commencement -- UAF issues diplomas to graduates three times each year: in September following the summer session, in January at the close of the fall semester, and in May at the end of the spring semester. All students who complete degree requirements during the academic year are invited to participate in the annual May commencement ceremony. You are responsible for ordering your cap and gown through the UAF Bookstore in early spring. Master's students also must order hoods; the color of the hood is determined by your school or college. Doctoral students who attend the commencement ceremony will receive a doctoral hood on stage during the ceremony.

Degree Requirements

Master's Degrees

The University of Alaska Fairbanks offers research-oriented (thesis or project) and practice-oriented (non-thesis) master's degrees. The objective of research-oriented programs is to prepare graduate students for scholarly or research activity directed mainly toward the acquisition of new knowledge, while that of practice-oriented graduate programs is to prepare graduate students for professional practice directed mainly toward application or transmission of existing knowledge. All degree requirements must be completed within a seven-year time period. The minimum requirements for a master's degree at the University of Alaska Fairbanks are as follows (departments may have additional requirements):

Requirements

  1. Formulate a unified degree program, in cooperation with your graduate advisory committee. Degree programs must be composed of courses in the discipline or clearly related to and/or supportive of that discipline. All courses to be applied toward the degree must be approved by the advisory committee and follow the requirements set forth by the department that sponsors the degree.
  2. Specific requirements for the master's degree are:
    1. Submit a Graduate Study Plan (GSP), Appointment of Committee form, and annual Report of Committee form to the Graduate School. It is suggested that the GSP and Appointment of Committee forms be submitted by the end of the first year of study.
    2. Be registered for at least 6 credits per year (fall, spring, summer) or have an approved leave of absence on file.
    3. Pass a comprehensive examination, written and/or oral. This examination may be combined with the thesis or project defense. The MBA program is the only program that does not require a comprehensive examination.
    4. Submit an Advancement to Candidacy form to the Graduate School.
    5. If a thesis or project is required, pass an oral defense of the thesis/project.
    6. Submit an application for graduation and be registered for at least 3 graduate credits in the semester in which the degree is to be awarded.
    7. Complete all degree requirements within the seven-year time limit allowed.

Credit Requirements

  1. To earn a master's degree, you must satisfactorily complete a minimum of 30 semester credits.
  2. At least 24 semester credits, including those earned for thesis and research/project, must be at the 600-level. The rest may be made up of 300-400 level credits.
  3. No 100-, 200- or 500-level credits may be applied toward master's degree requirements.
  4. A minimum of 6 and a maximum of 12 semester credits of thesis (699) and/or research (698) may be applied toward degree requirements. You may enroll in more than 12 thesis and/or research credits, but only 12 may be applied toward your degree. When a thesis is required, it must carry 6 or more credits. In non-thesis programs, a maximum of 6 credits may be devoted to research.

Master of Arts in Teaching

The Master of Arts in Teaching program is designed to serve baccalaureate graduates who qualify for the Alaska secondary school certificate, who intend to make secondary school classroom teaching their career and who wish to take additional work in their teaching major and/or minor as well as in professional education courses. A bachelor's degree and teaching credentials are required for admission to an M.A.T. program. A student enrolls in the department in which the approved M.A.T. program is located. The M.A.T. degree has been approved for the following subject areas: biology, English, geosciences, mathematics, and physics.

  1. Complete general university and master's degree requirements.
  2. Complete 36 credits, of which at least 24 credits, including research, must be at the 600 level.
  3. Pass a written comprehensive exam given by the student's advisory committee. There is no thesis requirement for the M.A.T. degree.

Educational Specialist Degree

The Educational Specialist degree program is designed for teachers and other educators who wish (1) to undertake graduate study beyond the master's degree, (2) to qualify for an intermediate degree between the master's and the doctorate, and (3) to develop further competence in the area of cross-cultural education. Minimum requirements for the Ed.S. degree are completion of 36 credits after receiving a master's degree and completion of general university requirements and master's degree requirements.

Engineer of Mines Degree

The Engineer of Mines degree is a professional degree that is awarded to engineering graduates who have a minimum of five years of responsible engineering experience and who compose and submit an acceptable thesis. For specific degree requirements contact the School of Mineral Engineering.

Doctor of Philosophy Degree

The Doctor of Philosophy Degree is granted in recognition of scholarly attainment and proven ability. University of Alaska Fairbanks staff holding rank of assistant professor (or equivalent) or above are not eligible to become candidates for the Ph.D. at the University of Alaska Fairbanks.

Requirements

  1. The Ph.D. degree requires at least three full years of study beyond the baccalaureate degree, including up to 9 credits of applicable and acceptable work transferred from other institutions.
  2. A minimum of one and one-half years (three semesters) must be spent in residence at UAF.
  3. In addition to satisfactory completion of a plan of study developed in accordance with requirements listed above, the Ph.D. candidate must complete the following:
    1. Submit a Graduate Study Plan (GSP), Appointment of Committee form, and annual Report of Committee form to the Graduate School. It is suggested that the GSP and Appointment of Committee forms be submitted by the end of the first year of study.
    2. Maintain enrollment of at least 6 graduate credits per year (fall, spring, summer) or have an approved leave of absence on file.
    3. Pass a written comprehensive examination.
    4. Complete a minimum of 18 thesis credits and satisfactorily complete a thesis that is a substantial contribution to the body of knowledge in the area.
    5. Pass an oral defense of thesis examination.
    6. Apply for graduation and be registered for at least 3 graduate credits in the semester in which the degree is awarded.
    7. Complete all degree requirements within the 10-year time limit allowed.