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GENERAL REQUIREMENTS FOR
ALL HIGHER DEGREES
Degrees higher than the baccalaureate are granted at The University of
Mississippi because of special attainments achieved by degree candidates.
Prospective students should understand clearly that a graduate degree
is not awarded upon the basis of a collection of course credits, or the
passing of certain prescribed examinations, or the submission of a thesis
or dissertation. In other words, the student cannot expect to receive
a higher degree because of successfully completing the individual parts
of the degree program. Course schedules, examinations, and other requirements
explained in this catalog are to be regarded as minimal; and any student
may be required to satisfy whatever additional requirements academic advisers
deem appropriate.
To receive a higher degree from The University of Mississippi, the student
must demonstrate to the satisfaction of the graduate faculty of the department,
school, or college of the student and to the faculty of the University
that the student has attained through intelligence, scholarship, industry,
and personal qualities the high level of professional and academic competence
which the faculty of each department expects of a person holding the degree
being sought. The determination of fitness to qualify for the degree rests
solely upon the estimate which the faculty makes of the student's right
to the degree. (See also Operational Procedures
section).
MASTER'S DEGREES
The requirements stated below are basic for all master's degrees. Additional
departmental requirements may be found preceding the lists of courses
offered in the various departments.
Semester Hours
A minimum of 30 semester hours of graduate credit is required. For degree
programs in which the thesis is required or included, 24 semester hours
of course work are required in addition to a minimum of 6 semester hours
thesis credit. Graduate students in a master's degree program must complete
a minimum of 18 hours of formal classroom lecture courses; that is, courses
that require regular attendance, study assignments, final examinations,
and quality grades, and that are not designated or conducted as workshops,
group study, directed study, directed readings, field study, practicum,
internships, etc. No more than 6 hours of Z graded courses may be applied
toward the degree program, and a minimum of 24 hours must be taken in
courses other than internships and practicums.
Courses for Graduate Students Only o A minimum of one-half the candidate's
graduate courses exclusive of the thesis must be in courses to which only
graduate students are admitted.
Final Examination
Except for students enrolled in a program that has a comparable culminating
experience and has received approval of the Graduate Council, every candidate
for a master's degree must pass a final oral examination administered
by a committee appointed by the dean of the Graduate School and recommended
by the chair of the department to which the student was admitted. The
oral examination shall cover the candidate's graduate courses, the general
background of the field of study, and thesis (if the thesis is required).
The oral examination may be taken only after the student has satisfied
the foreign language requirement (if any) and the thesis (when required)
is in final form (that is, ready for submission to the graduate dean except
for corrections required by the oral examining committee at the oral examination).
The dean of the Graduate School will not schedule oral examinations during
the regular University examination periods at the end of enrollment periods
or between semesters. Final oral or written examinations for master's
degrees should be administered no earlier than midterm of the semester
in which the candidate is enrolled in the final courses, excluding thesis
hours, required for the degree. A department or division may require supplementary
oral or written examinations and may require additional course work of
candidates whose oral examinations are unsatisfactory. However, the course
work will not replace the requirement that candidates successfully complete
a final oral or written examination.
Major and Minor Fields
As a rule, requirements at the master's level preclude the designation
of a minor area. In special instances, with the approval of the major
department and the dean of the Graduate School, the candidate may plan
a program that includes 6 to 12 hours in one area or 6 hours in each of
two areas. A concentration of less than 6 hours will not be considered
a minor.
Foreign Language Requirement
The foreign language requirement is determined by each department or school.
Time Limit
All work applying to a master's degree must be completed within a six-year
time period. All students whose work has been interrupted by involuntary
service in the armed forces are allowed six years in addition to the time
spent in the armed services. This exception does not apply to career military
personnel. Grades received for courses taken for master's degrees that
do not fall within the time limit for completion of all degree requirements
will not be used in determining the overall grade-point average.
Transfer of Credit
See Transfer of Graduate Credit From
Another Institution
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THESIS
Requirement
Except for the nonthesis option programs in art, classics, communicative
disorders, economics, education, engineering science, history, journalism,
mathematics, modern languages, philosophy, physics, sociology, and Southern
studies, a thesis is required for all candidates for the degree of Master
of Arts and Master of Science. In programs requiring a thesis, candidates
must register for 6 semester hours of thesis. A student who has obtained
6 semester hours of thesis credit without completing the thesis, and who
has completed all course work, must enroll for 3 semester hours of thesis
or course work each subsequent semester in order to obtain library and
parking permits, student housing, etc. For summer graduates, enrollment
may be in either first or second summer term, but an enrollment during
the intersession will not fulfill this requirement. If the degree is not
awarded at the end of the semester or summer term, as anticipated, another
registration for 3 semester hours is required in the semester in which
the degree is granted.
Procedure
Regulations governing the style, format, paper, abstract and other matters
may be found in A Manual of Theses and Dissertations available in the
Graduate School Office. After the oral examination has been accepted,
the student must present to the Graduate School two unbound copies of
the thesis. The copies may be prepared photographically; however, the
copies must be clear, legible, on the proper type paper, and must meet
the standards required for microfilming. A copy of the abstract and the
thesis binding fee receipt must accompany the copies of the thesis.
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DESIGNATED MASTER'S
DEGREES
The programs for the degrees listed below are stated in this catalog on
the pages indicated except for the Master of Fine Arts and the Master
of Social Sciences, which are detailed on the following pages.
MASTER OF ACCOUNTANCY
MASTER OF BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION
MASTER OF MUSIC
MASTER OF TAXATION
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MASTER OF FINE ARTS
Requirements
The Master of Fine Arts degree is offered in the areas of art and theatre.
The minimum requirements for the M.F.A. are (a) two academic years of
residency, (b) 54 semester hours in the subject matter field, and (c)
a thesis project of 6 semester hours. Up to 30 hours beyond the bachelor's
degree may be waived by the department on the basis of previous graduate
work completed in the subject field. Specific requirements for the degree
in each area are given by departments in the "Programs and Courses
of Instruction" chapter in this catalog. The last 30 hours of this
degree must meet the time limit requirement (page 37) for the completion
of master's degrees.
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MASTER OF SOCIAL SCIENCE
Purpose
The M.S.S. degree is offered in sociology and is intended for students
who are primarily interested in interdisciplinary study. The thesis is
not required.
Prerequisite o Required for admission to the M.S.S. program is a minimum
of 30 semester hours of undergraduate work in the social sciences, of
which 18 hours must be in sociology.
Requirements
The M.S.S. program requires a minimum of 36 semester hours of graduate
courses divided as follows: 24 semester hours in sociology and 12 semester
hours in a minor (anthropology, classical civilization, economics, history,
journalism, philosophy, political science, social work, or Southern studies).
Upon the approval of the graduate adviser in sociology, the minor field
may be divided between two of the other departments listed above. The
student's adviser will be the graduate adviser in sociology.
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SPECIALIST DEGREES
Requirements
Requirements for the specialist degree will be found in the Programs
and Courses of Instruction chapter of this catalog. Candidates for
the Specialist degree must pass a final oral examination. Specialist degrees
are offered in curriculum and instruction (elementary education, secondary
education, and special education), educational leadership, and educational
psychology.
Time Limit
Applicable to all Specialist degree programs, however, is the requirement
that graduate students pursuing Specialist degrees which require 36 hours
or less of course work must complete the degree within six years. The
time limit is to be computed from the date of enrollment in the first
course that is counted towards fulfillment of the requirements of the
degree.
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DOCTORAL PROGRAMS
DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY. The Ph.D. degree is offered in the following fields:
DOCTOR OF ARTS. The D.A. degree is offered in chemistry and music.
DOCTOR OF EDUCATION. The Ed.D. degree is offered in education.
Requirements for the Doctorate
Applicants for admission to the graduate programs leading to the doctorate
are advised to read carefully the statements under the paragraph General
Requirements for all Higher Degrees, at the beginning of this chapter.
Additional departmental requirements may be found in the Programs
and Courses of Instruction chapter of this catalog.
Course Requirements
The aim of the doctoral program is to afford instruction and guidance
leading to the mastery of a major field. Specific course requirements
as deemed necessary are stipulated by the student's advisory committee.
In certain instances, a student may be required to take courses in a minor
field. For students required to take a minor, a specific program will
be formulated.
Degree Credit Requirement
To fulfill the degree credit requirement, the student must (a) have completed
three years (54 hours) of study beyond the bachelor's degree; (b) have
completed a minimum of two years (36 hours) of graduate study at The University
of Mississippi; and (c) have completed a minimum of one year (18 hours)
of graduate work in continuous residence.
Where course work (excluding dissertation hours) is required for the degree,
at least one-half, up to 30 hours, must be completed at The University
of Mississippi.
Certain nontraditional graduate programs have been approved for delivery
at off-campus sites, including centers at Tupelo and Jackson. Course work
taken at these sites can fulfill the above requirements.
Preliminary Examination
At or near the beginning of the student's work beyond the master's degree,
the department or school may require a preliminary examination to determine
the student's qualifications to undertake a program leading to the doctorate
and to assist the student's adviser in planning the student's program.
Time Limit
The total duration of study for a doctoral degree may not exceed seven
years. It is expected that students will have been admitted to candidacy,
i.e., passed all parts of their comprehensive examinations, within four
years.
Students who have not defended a dissertation prospectus within seven
years will forfeit all credit earned toward the doctorate. However, students
who do not complete all requirements for the degree within seven years
may appeal to re-defend their prospectus in oral examination. The prospectus
committee may be the same or may be different than the previous committee.
The prospectus topic may be the same or different than that presented
earlier. If it is the same, the student must review work published in
the last five years that impact the proposed dissertation. The faculty
may question the student to assess competency to perform the proposed
work. As a result of this questioning, the department may require the
student to take another written comprehensive examination, take specific
courses, or other remedies deemed appropriate by the faculty. Successful
presentation and adoption of the prospectus, as determined by a unanimous
vote of the committee, and the completion of any other requirements, will
extend up to two years the student's eligibility to graduate.
Transfer Credit
See Transfer of Graduate Credit From
Another Institution
Admission to Candidacy for the Doctorate
Upon notification to the Graduate School that a doctoral student has successfully
completed all portions of a comprehensive examination, the student will
be admitted to candidacy.
Continuous Enrollment
After admission to candidacy, enrollment must be continuous. Continuous
enrollment is defined as enrollment for at least 3 semester hours credit
during two of the three terms of the calendar year: fall, spring, summer.
Minimum enrollment for any summer term would be 1 hour if this enrollment
were not to satisfy the Continuous Enrollment Policy.
Penalty Clause
The penalty for failure to maintain continuous enrollment is a fee equal
to 6 hours of tuition for each semester of suspended enrollment.
Foreign Language Requirement
The foreign language requirement is determined by each department or school.
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DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY
Comprehensive Examinations
There must be at least one intervening semester between the semester in
which the comprehensive examination is completed and the semester in which
the final oral examination is given. The entire summer session (both terms)
is considered to be the equivalent of one semester. The comprehensive
examination may not be taken until after the student has been admitted
in full standing to the degree program, has satisfied any foreign language
requirement, and has completed all or nearly all of the program of course
work. Students in programs offering cumulative examinations may not undertake
the last two examinations until they have met the above requirements.
Students with outstanding I grades or a grade-point average of less than
3.0 are not eligible to take comprehensive examinations. The comprehensive
examination will be a written examination; however, departments may require
that part of the examination be oral. The examination will require the
student to demonstrate full competence in all phases of the degree program.
Extradepartmental areas of concentration of more than 12 hours that are
required in the degree program must be examined by the department offering
those courses. In any situation in which a student wishes to appeal the
results received on his or her comprehensive examinations, he or she should
contact the dean of the Graduate School for a copy of the Graduate School
Appeal Process, which shall apply in this case.
Dissertation Prospectus
A Dissertation Prospectus Committee will be appointed by the chair of
the department to which the student has been admitted. The chair of this
committee must be a full member of the graduate faculty. A minimum of
two additional members of the department and one member external of the
discipline comprise a committee, all of whom must be members of the graduate
faculty. The dissertation prospectus must be defended in oral examination
and, in its final approved form, submitted to the Graduate School. The
form of the dissertation prospectus will be determined by the committee.
There must be one intervening semester between the defense of the dissertation
prospectus and a defense of the dissertation.
Dissertation
A minimum enrollment of 18 hours of dissertation credit is required of
every Ph.D. student. The dissertation must conform to the regulations
governing style set forth in A Manual of Thesis and Dissertation Preparation,
available in the Graduate School. Two copies of the dissertation must
be presented to the Graduate School after the final examination for the
doctorate has been accepted and before the beginning of the regular examination
period for the semester in which the candidate plans to graduate.
Binding and Microfilming
A fee of $85 for binding and microfilming doctoral dissertations must
be paid at the Office of the Bursar and the receipt presented to the Graduate
School Office. The microfilming fee covers the cost of microfilming the
dissertation, the storage of the negatives by University Microfilms, the
printing of the abstract in Dissertation Abstracts, the cost of one positive
to be placed in the library of the University, and transportation charges.
It is recommended, but not required, that the candidate copyright the
dissertation; copyright fee is $45.
Final Oral Examination
Every candidate for the Ph.D. degree must successfully pass a final oral
examination (defense of dissertation) administered by the student's dissertation
committee and scheduled by the Graduate School. The committee shall direct
the examination primarily to the defense of the dissertation, though it
may include material from the student's major and/or minor fields. Departments
may require in addition a written examination, but the oral examination
must be conducted. The oral examination may be given only after the dissertation
is in final form (that is, ready for submission to the Graduate School
except for corrections required by the examining committee at the oral
examination). The dean of the Graduate School will not schedule oral examinations
during the regular University examination periods at the end of enrollment
periods or when the University is officially closed.
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DOCTOR OF ARTS
The Doctor of Arts degree programs in chemistry and music have been designed
to prepare teachers who possess a comprehensive knowledge of their academic
area of interest and an ability to perform effectively in the classroom.
Unlike the Doctor of Philosophy degree in which the primary emphasis is
placed upon research, the Doctor of Arts degree program places stress
upon the breadth of the candidate's knowledge and the attainment of teaching
skills.
General Requirements
The general requirements for the Doctor of Arts degree include the completion
of the master's degree or its equivalent in the candidate's subject matter
area before admission to the program, the completion of 60 hours of course
work or the equivalent with a grade-point average of 3.0 or above, the
writing of a doctoral essay or thesis, the passing of a comprehensive
examination, and the completion of an internship supervised by members
of the graduate faculty in the area of concentration.
Comprehensive Examination
Departments giving the Doctor of Arts degree have the option of making
comprehensive the final examination for the degree or of requiring the
student to defend a thesis or doctoral essay in an additional final oral
examination. The comprehensive examination may not be taken until after
the student has been formally admitted in full standing to the degree
program, has satisfied the foreign language requirement, and has completed
all or nearly all of the program of course work. Students in programs
offering cumulative examinations may not undertake the last two examinations
until they have met the above requirements. Students with outstanding
I grades or a grade-point average of less than 3.0 are not eligible to
take comprehensive examinations. The comprehensive examination will be
a written examination; however, departments may require that part of the
examination be oral. The examination will require the student to demonstrate
full competence in all phases of the degree program. Extradepartmental
areas of concentration of more than 12 hours that are required in the
degree program must be examined by the department offering those courses.
In any situation in which a student wishes to appeal the results received
on his or her comprehensive examinations, he or she should contact the
dean of the Graduate School for a copy of the Graduate School Appeal Process,
which shall apply in this case.
Doctoral Essay
The doctoral essay or thesis for the Doctor of Arts degree must conform
to the regulations governing style set forth in A Manual of Thesis and
Dissertation Preparation, available in the Graduate School. Two copies
must be presented to the Graduate School after the final examination for
the doctorate has been accepted and before the beginning of the regular
examination period for the semester in which the candidate plans to graduate.
Binding and Microfilming o A fee of $7 payable at the Bursar's Office
will be charged for doctoral essays or theses in the Doctor of Arts program;
a receipt for this fee must be presented to the Graduate School.
Final Oral Examination
Unless required by their departments, Doctor of Arts students are exempt
from the requirement of a final examination. If requested to do so, the
dean of the Graduate School will appoint an examining committee for a
final oral examination.
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DOCTOR OF EDUCATION
Comprehensive Examinations
There must be at least one intervening semester between the semester in
which the comprehensive examination is completed and the semester in which
the final oral examination is given. The entire summer session (both terms)
is considered to be the equivalent of one semester. The comprehensive
examination may not be taken until after the student has been admitted
in full standing to the degree program, has satisfied any foreign language
requirement, and has completed all or nearly all of the program of course
work. Students in programs offering cumulative examinations may not undertake
the last two examinations until they have met the above requirements.
Students with outstanding I grades or a grade-point average of less than
3.0 are not eligible to take comprehensive examinations. The comprehensive
examination will be a written examination; however, departments may require
that part of the examination be oral. The examination will require the
student to demonstrate full competence in all phases of the degree program.
Extradepartmental areas of concentration of more than 12 hours that are
required in the degree program must be examined by the department offering
those courses. In any situation in which a student wishes to appeal the
results received on his or her comprehensive examinations, he or she should
contact the dean of the Graduate School for a copy of the Graduate School
Appeal Process, which shall apply in this case.
Dissertation Prospectus
A Dissertation Prospectus Committee will be appointed by the chair of
the department to which the student has been admitted. The chair of this
committee must be a full member of the graduate faculty. A minimum of
two additional members of the department and one member external of the
discipline comprise a committee, all of whom must be members of the graduate
faculty. The dissertation prospectus must be defended in oral examination
and, in its final approved form, submitted to the Graduate School. The
form of the dissertation prospectus will be determined by the committee.
There must be one intervening semester between the defense of the dissertation
prospectus and a defense of the dissertation.
Dissertation
A minimum enrollment of 18 hours of dissertation credit is required of
every Ed.D. student. The dissertation must conform to the regulations
governing style set forth in A Manual of Theses and Dissertations available
in the Graduate School. Two copies of the dissertation must be presented
to the Graduate School after the final examination before the doctorate
has been accepted and before the beginning of the regular examination
period for the semester in which the candidate plans to graduate.
Binding and Microfilming
A fee of $75 for binding and microfilming doctoral dissertations must
be paid at the Office of the Bursar and the receipt presented to the Graduate
School Office. The microfilming fee covers the cost of microfilming the
dissertation, the storage of the negatives by University Microfilms, the
printing of the abstract in Dissertations Abstracts, the cost of one positive
to be placed in the J.D. Williams Library of the University, and transportation
charges. It is recommended, but not required, that the candidate copyright
the dissertation; copyright fee is $20.
Final Oral Examination
Every candidate for the Ed.D. degree must successfully pass a final oral
examination (defense of dissertation) administered by the student's dissertation
committee and scheduled by the Graduate School. The committee shall direct
the examination primarily to the defese of the dissertation, though it
may include material from the student's major and/or minor fields. Departments
may require in addition a written examination, but the oral examination
must be conducted. The oral examination may be given only after the dissertation
is in final form (that is, ready for submission to the Graduate School
except for corrections required by the examining committee at the oral
examination). The dean of the Graduate School will not schedule oral examinations
during the regular University examination periods at the end of enrollment
periods or when the University is officially closed.
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