Academic Senate

Requirements for the Degree of Master of Arts or Master of Science, and Master of Administration (Am 12 Jun 73)

Plans. A graduate student must pursue one of the following plans for fulfillment of the requirements for the Master's Degree at the option of the department or graduate group of his/her field. With the approval of the Graduate Council, a department or graduate group may adopt one or the other or both of the plans. Under either plan all requirements for the degree must normally be satisfied within a calendar year from the time of completion of the course requirements.

Plan I: Thesis Plan. A minimum of 36 quarter units of graduate and upper division undergraduate courses in or related to the major subject area are required. At least 24 of the 36 units must be in graduate courses taken at this University; of these a maximum of 12 may be in the graduate research for the thesis. The preparation and presentation of an acceptable thesis is required for every candidate for the degree. Provided that these general requirements are met, the student is subject to his/her major department's or group's guidance in the distribution of his/her work among the departments. In addition, the major department or group may require any examination which it deems necessary to test the candidate's knowledge of his/her field.

Plan II: Comprehensive Examination Plan. A minimum of 36 quarter units of graduate and upper division undergraduate courses in or related to the major subject area are required. At least 18 units must be in graduate courses taken at this University, of which none may be in graduate research for the thesis or dissertation. Provided that these general requirements are met, the student is subject to his/her major department's or group's guidance in the distribution of his/her work among the departments. A comprehensive final examination, to be of such nature and to be conducted in such manner as determined by the department or group concerned, is required of every candidate for the degree.

Residence Requirements. The minimum required period of residence in the University is one academic year (3 quarters) of which two quarters must normally be spent at the University of California, Riverside. It is not always possible, however, to complete subject requirements within the minimum period of residence. A candidate for a higher degree is regarded as a student in residence in a regular term only if he/she is actually attending authorized University exercises amounting to at least one upper division or graduate course of four units or more; or four units of upper division and/or graduate work; or, in a six-week summer session, to at least two units of similar work for half a term's residence. In addition, up to 8 quarter units (or two courses if less than 8 units) of credit may be allowed for work taken elsewhere in graduate status in an institution of high standing, but these units cannot be used to reduce the minimum residence requirement or minimum requirement in graduate courses taken at this University. (Am 24 Jan 74)

Foreign Language Requirement. Each department or graduate group shall determine whether or not a reading knowledge of one or more foreign languages shall form an integral part of the student's preparation for the Master's Degree. Satisfaction of a foreign language requirement shall be demonstrated, subject to approval of the department or graduate group, under one of the following options: (a) written examination administered by the department or graduate group; (b) Educational Testing Service Graduate School Foreign Language Test; (c) satisfactory completion of a course at a specified level. Evidence of satisfaction of the requirement will be provided to the Dean of the Graduate Division for each student where appropriate.

Scholarship Requirements. Only courses in which the student is assigned grades A, B, C, or S are counted in satisfaction of the requirements for the Master's Degree. Furthermore, the student must maintain an average of at least three grade points per unit in all upper division undergraduate and graduate courses related to his/her Master's program and elected during his/her residence as a graduate student. In the case of a student who has made a distinguished record during the final year of residence, this requirement may be waived by the Graduate Council. (Am 23 Jan 75)

Advancement to Candidacy. Applications for advancement to candidacy must be made through the Dean of the Graduate Division with the recommendation of the department or group concerned and must contain a statement of the studies upon which the application is based. Application for advancement to candidacy shall be made at the beginning of the term in which it is expected that the course requirements for the degree will be completed.

Thesis Requirements

The thesis under Plan I is a report of an original investigation of a defined problem. The subject of the thesis must be approved by a committee of three members nominated by the department or graduate group of the student's major subject and appointed by the Graduate Council to advise on the program or research for the thesis and to pass finally upon its merits. One member of this committee shall preferably be chosen from a department or graduate group other than that of the major subject. The Chair of the committee is the director of the candidate's research.

The thesis for the Master's Degree must be prepared and presented in the form and manner prescribed by the Graduate Council.