Requirements for Graduate Degrees

REQUIREMENTS FOR GRADUATE DEGREES

The general requirements for the Master’s and Doctor of Philosophy degrees conferred upon the recommendation of the Graduate College are discussed on the pages immediately following. Students must also become familiar with whatever additional requirements their specialty requires. These are set forth in this Bulletin under the departmental course listings and in departmental program descriptions which may be provided to students at the time of their admission.

Requirements for the Master's Degree

Residence and Time Requirements

Not less than 50 percent of the course work required must be completed on the campuses of the University of Nebraska after the student has been formally admitted and registered in the Graduate College. Appropriate courses may be taken with departments located on other campuses of the University of Nebraska.

The work required for a Master’s degree must be completed within five consecutive calendar years. Upon the recommendation of the program Graduate Committee concerned, a graduate student may apply to the Dean for Graduate Studies for permission to take a special examination, or the current session final examination, in courses for which graduate credit has been recorded and is obsolete. A report of the results of the examination, which shall be prepared, given, and graded by the department, shall be filed in the Graduate Studies Office. Unless a grade of B is obtained on the examination, the student shall be required to take additional work, the amount and nature of which will be recommended by the program Graduate Committee for approval by the Dean for Graduate Studies.

Graduate Committees

Each graduate program has a Graduate Committee of three or more members formally appointed by the Dean for Graduate Studies but selected or elected by the program Graduate Faculty. Each new graduate student should consult the chair of his/her Graduate Committee for assignment to an adviser. The Graduate Committees supervise the work of candidates for the Master’s degree. They may give such tests as are necessary to determine whether the applicants are adequately prepared for graduate study. The Graduate Committees may select from the Graduate Faculty a three-member Advisory Committee to supervise a Master’s student. At least one of the Advisory Committee must be a Graduate Faculty Fellow. These Advisory Committees will act on behalf of and report to their respective Graduate Committees.

Admission to Candidacy

Admission to the Graduate College does not necessarily imply admission to candidacy. A student may be admitted to candidacy for a Master’s degree on recommendation of the appropriate Graduate Committee and after approval by the Dean for Graduate Studies. A student must be admitted to candidacy prior to the start of the semester in which the student plans to graduate.

Options for the Master’s Degree

The Graduate College, except in programs where such a choice is not given, offers the degree of Master of Science or Master of Science in Nursing under two options. In choosing an option the student should be guided by the type of training that is appropriate for the student’s academic, professional and career goals. A student may not change options for the Master’s degree after having been admitted to candidacy except under unusual circumstances and only with permission of the Dean for Graduate Studies after recommendation by the Graduate Committee.

Course requirements for the Master’s degree under either option may be met (1) with approved courses selected from those offered in any department which has been approved to offer a program leading to the Master’s degree, or (2) by approved courses selected from those offered in some field of study within a specific department or group of departments which has been approved by the Graduate Council. If a graduate program has an established core curriculum, students admitted to that program must meet only the course requirements for that program. Graduate students admitted to a graduate program that does not have an established core curriculum must meet the minimum course requirements outlined in the following paragraphs.

UNMC offers a program on matters of Responsible Conduct in Research. Master’s students are encouraged to attend this program.

Option 1:

Option One should be chosen by those who are preparing for careers in research and scholarly work. Under this option, a candidate must complete at least six graduate courses, three of which may be "introductory" courses (800 level with 600 level or lower counterparts). A Master’s thesis must be completed in the candidate’s research area. Candidates are encouraged to submit data contained in the thesis for publication before completion of the degree requirements.

Regular participation in the seminar program of the major area of study is a requirement for all students. The Graduate Committee or the student’s Advisory Committee may also require the student to complete various techniques courses, language courses, research courses, special topics, etc., as necessary, but none of these courses may be used to meet the requirements for the six graduate courses.

The subject of the thesis must be approved by the Graduate Committee. The thesis work should reveal a capacity to carry on independent study or research and should demonstrate the student’s ability to use the techniques employed in the field of investigation. The thesis must conform to the style accepted at UNMC. Specimens may be examined in the McGoogan Library of Medicine.

The thesis must be presented in final form to the Graduate Committee or the student’s Advisory Committee at least two weeks before the date for the candidate’s final oral examination (defense of thesis). A candidate shall not be eligible for the defense until the thesis is completed and approved by the major adviser.

When the thesis defense has been completed successfully, one copy of the thesis must be supplied to the major department and two copies must be deposited in the McGoogan Library of Medicine. To meet requirements for completion of the degree in a given semester, the approved thesis and evidence of the successful defense must be in the Graduate Studies Office one week before the end of the semester.

Option 2:

Option Two is offered in certain departments upon the advice and with the approval of the major adviser and the program Graduate Committee. This option permits more intensive work in formal courses and does not require a thesis. Students who have earned the Master’s degree under Option Two and later elect to continue in graduate work for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy must give evidence of ability to conduct independent research, which may require them to spend somewhat more than the minimum time in completing the requirements for the doctoral degree.

Under Option Two, a candidate must complete eleven graduate courses, four of which may be "introductory" courses (800 level with 600 level or lower counterparts). Since Option Two is not a research degree, no more than two of the 11 courses may be Research Other Than Thesis. Participation in a seminar in the student’s major field also is required.

Examinations

A written and/or oral comprehensive examination is required to cover the student’s approved program of study, as specified by the student’s Graduate Committee. The comprehensive examination must be taken no sooner than ten months prior to the completion of degree requirements. The Graduate Studies Office must be notified of the date of the comprehensive examination and the names of the examining committee members not later than two weeks prior to the examination.

The report of the outcome of the examination must be filed on the appropriate form in the Graduate Studies Office within seven days following the examination. The comprehensive examination must be passed at least one week prior to the time the final oral examination is scheduled.

For the defense of thesis (final oral examination), the examining committee, appointed by the Dean for Graduate Studies upon recommendation of the Graduate Committee, shall consist of at least three members and may be the student's Advisory Committee. One member of the examining committee must be a Fellow of the Graduate Faculty. A report of the outcome of the final oral examination must be filed in the Graduate Studies Office within seven days following the examination.

If more than one member of the examining committee recommends failure in a comprehensive examination or defense of thesis (final oral examination), the student shall be considered to have failed the examination. In the event of failure, the examining committee shall within seven days recommend to the Dean for Graduate Studies whether the student should be given the option of retaking the examination and, if so, the committee shall identify general areas of weakness which require special attention and any remedial actions which the student should complete prior to re-examination.

No student shall be permitted to take either the comprehensive examination or defense of thesis (final oral examination) more than twice, and the student must wait a minimum of three months before retaking the examination. The same committee shall give the re-examination unless the Graduate Committee responsible for the student’s program recommends and the Dean for Graduate Studies approves a substitution.

Summary of Procedure for the Master's Degree

This summary of procedure should be studied carefully in connection with the Graduate Studies calendar.

Admission to the Graduate College.
Registration by consultation with the chair of the Graduate Committee and/or the major adviser and with the approval of the Dean for Graduate Studies.
Removal of admission deficiencies.
Filing of an application for the diploma at the Office of Academic Records and payment of the $25 graduation fee by the appropriate deadline. This application is effective during the current term only. It must be renewed at the appropriate time if requirements for graduation are not completed until a later term.
Admission to candidacy before the start of the semester in which the student plans to graduate, upon recommendation of the Graduate Committee and approval of the Dean for Graduate Studies.
The Application for Completion of Requirements for Master’s Degree must be received in the Graduate Studies Office at least four weeks before the final oral examination, if required, but in no case later than four weeks before the calendar date for filing the final report for degree. The application will be accepted after the typewritten thesis has been approved by the adviser under whose direction the work was done and after any outstanding grades of "Incomplete" have been removed.
Under Option One the thesis in final form must be presented to the Graduate Committee or the student’s Advisory Committee not later than two weeks prior to the date of the final oral examination.
Passing of the comprehensive examination at least one week prior to the time the final oral examination is to be taken. The Request for Scheduling Comprehensive Examination form must be received in the Graduate Studies Office two weeks before the proposed date of the examination. The Examination Report Form must be received in the Graduate Studies Office within seven days following the examination.
Passing of a final oral examination, if required, as scheduled before the examining committee. A report of the outcome of the examination must be filed in the Graduate Studies Office within seven days following the examination.
Presentation of two copies of the thesis to the Graduate Studies Office before deposition of the copies of the thesis in proper form with the Director of the McGoogan Library of Medicine. Delivery to the Graduate Studies Office of the Application for Completion of Requirements for Master’s Degree signed by the examining committee and the Director of the McGoogan Library of Medicine at least one week before the end of the term. In addition, one bound copy of the thesis is to be deposited with the student’s major department.

Requirements for the Doctor of Philosophy Degree

The Graduate College has established a residency requirement for the purpose of ensuring that the doctoral program should be reasonably compact, continuous, coherent, and that a substantial portion be done at the University of Nebraska or under supervision of the faculty of the University of Nebraska. For any student beginning a doctoral program at the University of Nebraska Medical Center, the residency requirement for the Ph.D. is that at least one-half of the course requirements (other than dissertation) be completed within a consecutive eighteen-month period, with the further provision that the courses be taken after receipt of the Master’s degree or its equivalent. Attendance at seminars also is required.

In exceptional circumstances, when it is clear that the purpose of residency will be fulfilled although the above formal conditions are not met, the student's Supervisory Committee may, with the approval of the Dean for Graduate Studies, recommend alternative procedures for satisfying the residency requirements. The plan for satisfying residency requirements shall be a part of the student's approved program.

A minimum of four full years of graduate study is normally required to complete a program for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy for a student who enters the program with the Bachelor’s Degree. Neither the courses completed nor the time spent in study determines completion of requirements for the Ph.D. degree. It is earned primarily through the pursuit of excellence in some special field of scholarship which involves the demonstrated ability to conduct independent research.

The Ph.D. degree must be completed within seven years from the date of initial registration as a Ph.D.-objective student.

To complete the Ph.D. degree, certain minimal course requirements must be met. For most programs this is accomplished by taking a core of courses defined by each of the programs. Students admitted to a graduate program that does not offer a core curriculum must meet the following minimum course requirements.

The student must complete at least nine graduate level courses, only three of which may be "introductory" courses (800 level with 600 level or lower counterparts). Although the student’s Supervisory Committee may require non-dissertation research work, special topics or techniques courses, foreign language courses, etc., none of these may be used to meet these basic course requirements. It is the responsibility of the Supervisory Committee in conjunction with the Graduate Committee to ensure adequate didactic preparation of the student. UNMC offers a program on matters of Responsible Conduct in Research. All Ph.D. graduate students must attend this program at least once.

All students are required to participate in the seminar program within their major area. A dissertation of publishable quality must be completed and successfully defended (see below). In addition, evidence must be presented that the dissertation material has been submitted for publication in a peer review journal.

Qualifying Procedure

Certain programs may require specific qualifying procedures and/or examinations which must be completed during the early phases of study. Departmental or program qualifying requirements are designated in sections of this bulletin which describe each program or in guidelines provided by the individual programs. If a qualifying examination is required, the majority vote of the examining committee is required to pass the examination.

The Request for Scheduling the Qualifying Examination must be received by the Graduate Studies Office two weeks prior to the examination, and the report of the outcome of the examination must be filed on the appropriate form in the Graduate Studies Office, within seven days following the examination.

Supervisory Committee and Program of Studies

Upon recommendation of the program Graduate Committee, the Dean for Graduate Studies shall appoint for each student a Supervisory Committee of at least four members, all must be Graduate Faculty. It is urged that one or more members of the Supervisory Committee be from a field or fields of study different from the major area of interest, whenever such representation will contribute to the student's program and/or the overall effectiveness of the graduate program.

Faculty from outside the University of Nebraska may serve as members of the Supervisory Committee. As with other members of the Committee, these individuals are appointed by the Dean for Graduate Studies upon recommendation of the program Graduate Committee. Within four weeks of its appointment the committee shall meet to designate and subsequently to file in the Graduate Studies Office a proposed program of studies, including designation of all required courses and the general area of research for the dissertation. Any subsequent change in the program or in the dissertation topic shall be approved by the Supervisory Committee and the action reported to the Graduate Studies Office. The Supervisory Committee should convene approximately every six months, or at a minimum, once a year. Minutes of each Supervisory Committee meeting should be recorded and a copy provided to the Graduate Studies Office.

Comprehensive Examination and Admission to Candidacy

When a student has substantially completed his/her didactic studies, he/she must pass a comprehensive examination which may consist of several parts. The comprehensive examination is not a repetition of course examinations but is an investigation of the student’s breadth of understanding of the field of knowledge of which his/her special subject is a part.

At the discretion of the Supervisory Committee or as a program requirement, the student may be required to pass either an oral or written comprehensive examination, or both.

The Supervisory Committee or program Graduate Committee arranges for the written and/or oral comprehensive examination. The Request for Scheduling the Comprehensive Examination form must be received by the Graduate Studies Office not later than two weeks prior to the examination. The report of the outcome of the examination must be filed on the appropriate form in the Graduate Studies Office within seven days following the examination. If more than one member of the Supervisory Committee recommends failure, the student shall be considered to have failed the examination.

In the event of failure the Supervisory Committee shall recommend to the Dean for Graduate Studies whether the student should be given the option of retaking the examination and, if so, the Committee shall identify general areas of weakness which require special attention and any remedial actions which the student should complete prior to re-examination. No student shall be permitted to take either the written or oral portion of the comprehensive examination more than twice.

When the student has passed the comprehensive examination and satisfied the requirements of his/her approved program, as well as other requirements of the Supervisory Committee, the committee will recommend to the Graduate Studies Office the student’s admission to candidacy for the Ph.D. degree. Such a report must be filed at least seven months prior to the final oral examination (defense of dissertation).

A student is formally recognized as a candidate as of the date of completing the comprehensive examination. If the term of candidacy is extended beyond three years, the candidate must pass another comprehensive examination. Following admission to candidacy the student must be continuously registered in the Graduate College until receipt of the Ph.D. degree. Students not in residence may register for a minimum of one semester hour credit in dissertation. Failure to maintain continuous registration will result in the termination of candidacy.

Dissertation

The dissertation is not of fixed length. It should treat a subject from the candidate’s field as approved by the Supervisory Committee. It should show the student’s technical mastery of the field and should advance or modify former knowledge; i.e., it should treat new material, or find new results, or draw new conclusions, or it should interpret old material with new insights. Each candidate for the degree shall submit with the dissertation an abstract, not exceeding 350 words in length including the title. Before completion of the degree there must be evidence that the dissertation material has been submitted for publication in a peer review journal.

The dissertation and abstract are to be presented to the members of the Supervisory Committee at least four weeks before the final oral examination (defense of dissertation). It is the student's responsibility to ensure that, at that time, the dissertation has been properly formatted and has been thoroughly checked for errors in terminology, grammar and spelling. During the ensuing period of at least two weeks, the members of the Supervisory Committee will have the opportunity to review the dissertation to determine whether it is in a fit condition, based on formatting, writing quality and preliminary scientific criteria, for the defense. Upon receiving such approval (or if no serious objections are raised), the Application for the Final Oral Examination (Defense of Dissertation), signed by the student and the major advisor, should be submitted to the Graduate Studies Office. The defense will then be scheduled no sooner than two weeks after receipt of that form.

Following the successful completion of the defense (see below), two copies of the dissertation and three copies of the abstract must be presented to the Graduate Studies Office before being deposited by the student in the McGoogan Library of Medicine. The first page of one copy of the dissertation shall bear the signatures of all members of the Supervisory Committee who approve the dissertation. The first page of the second copy shall indicate the names (typed) of all members of the Supervisory Committee who signed the original title sheet. This typed title sheet will be microfilmed with the dissertation.

The student must also present to the library a signed agreement for the publication of the abstract and microfilming of the dissertation. To meet requirements for completion of the degree in a given semester, the approved dissertation and evidence of the successful defense must be in the Graduate Studies Office one week before the end of the semester.

Before the degree is granted, each candidate will pay a fee to cover the cost of microfilming the entire dissertation and of publication of the abstract in Microfilm Abstracts published by Xerox University Microfilms of Ann Arbor, Michigan.

Defense of Dissertation

This final examination is oral and public. It is given by the Supervisory Committee after all other requirements have been met. The Committee also determines the character and length of the defense. The examination may be devoted to the special field of the dissertation or to related matters, or it may be designed to test the candidate’s judgment and critical powers.

The defense of dissertation will not be scheduled unless the Chair of the Supervisory Committee and at least two other members of the committee are available for the examination. Exceptions may be made only by permission of the Dean for Graduate Studies.

A report of the outcome of the defense of dissertation must be filed in the Graduate Studies Office within seven days following the examination. If more than one member of the Supervisory Committee recommends failure, the student shall be considered to have failed the examination. In the event of failure, the Supervisory Committee shall recommend to the Dean for Graduate Studies whether the student should be given the option of retaking the examination and, if so, the Committee shall identify general areas of weakness which require special attention, and any remedial actions which the student should complete prior to re-examination. No student shall be permitted to take the final oral examination more than twice and the student must wait a minimum of three months before retaking the examination.

Summary of Procedure for the Doctor of Philosophy Degree

This summary of procedure should be studied carefully in connection with the Graduate Studies calendar.

Admission to the Graduate College.
Registration after consultation with the advisor and with the approval of the Dean for Graduate Studies.
Satisfactory completion of any qualifying requirements.
Appointment by the Dean for Graduate Studies of a Supervisory Committee on the recommendation of the departmental or area Graduate Committee.
Submission to the Graduate Studies Office of a program approved by the Supervisory Committee setting forth the proposed plan of study for the degree. Prior to completion of more than half of the total requirements
Satisfactory completion of any foreign language or research tool requirements set forth in the approved program. Passing of the comprehensive examination when the student's program of courses is substantially completed. The Request for Scheduling Comprehensive Examination form must be received in the Studies Office two weeks before the proposed date of the examination. The Examination Report Form must be received in the Graduate Studies Office within seven days following the examination.
Admission to candidacy for the Ph.D. degree by filing a report in the Graduate Studies Office of the passing of the Comprehensive Examination (at least seven months before the final oral examination). The term of candidacy is limited to three years.
Filing of an application for the diploma at the Office of Academic Records and payment of the $25 graduation fee by the appropriate deadline. This application is effective during one term only. It must be renewed at the appropriate time if requirements for graduation are not completed until a later term.
Presentation to the Graduate Studies Office of evidence of submission of dissertation material to a peer review journal.
Presentation of the dissertation and the abstract to the Supervisory Committee at least four weeks prior to the final oral examination.
Presentation to the Graduate Studies Office of the application for the final oral examination at least two weeks prior to the date of that examination.
Passing of final oral examination and submission of a report of the outcome of the examination to the Graduate Studies Office within seven days following the examination.
Two copies of the dissertation in proper form, and three copies of the abstract, presented to the Graduate Studies Office. These same two copies of the dissertation, one copy of the abstract, and the signed agreement for microfilming the dissertation and publication of the abstract must be deposited with the Director of the McGoogan Library of Medicine. Payment of the abstract fee and optional copyright fee. Delivery of the Report on Doctoral
Degree, signed by members of the Supervisory Committee, the Director of the McGoogan Library of Medicine, and the Cashier, to the Graduate Studies Office. In addition, one bound copy of the dissertation is to be deposited with the student's major department.