General Degree Requirements

The candidate must earn 30 or more hours of graduate credit, depending upon the requirements for the degree sought. Specific graduate degree requirements are stated in the approved degree plan and can be based on either the Graduate Catalog currently in force at the time the student first matriculates or subsequent catalog under which the student enrolled.

Consult subsequent sections of this publication for the specific course requirements for each master’s degree.

Level of Work Required

All of the course work to be credited toward the master’s degree plan must be numbered 5000 or higher. Deficiencies or background courses are completed in addition to coursework to be credited toward the master’s degree plan regardless of course number. A maximum of 12 semester hours earned in non-degree or certification status prior to admission to a degree program may be counted toward degree requirements.

Quality of Coursework Required

The graduate student must maintain a 3.0 average on all courses that receive graduate credit, whether or not the courses are to be applied toward a graduate degree. Grades received in all courses numbered 5000 or higher are included in the computation of the graduate student’s grade point average. Exception to this policy is for students approved for Graduate Restart or students dismissed from one graduate program but accepted to another.

The student whose graduate GPA earned at another institution is below a 3.0 average will be required to make up the deficiency either at the other institution or at UNT Dallas. This regulation applies not only to graduate work attempted elsewhere before the student was first admitted to graduate studies at UNT Dallas, but also to graduate work attempted elsewhere after the student’s admission at UNT Dallas.

Students must make satisfactory progress toward completion of degree requirements to remain in good standing within a specific degree program. Students whose progress is unsatisfactory may be removed from the program by the dean on recommendation of the major department or school. Courses in which the grade is D cannot be used toward completion of graduate degree requirements.

A grade of C or better must be earned in each undergraduate or graduate course assigned as a deficiency by the student’s major department. Departments that wish to do so may establish more stringent requirements.

Graduate credit will not be granted for knowledge acquired through prior work or performance experience regardless of whether these experiences were of a paid or voluntary nature.

Time Limitations

All course work and other requirements to be credited toward the master’s degree must be completed within the following time periods, depending on the number of semester hours required for the degree.

• 42 or fewer hours: 6 years

• 43 to 49 hours: 7 years

• 50 or more hours: 8 years

As individual courses exceed these time limits, they lose all value for degree purposes. Credits more than six years old at the time of first registration for graduate work are not transferable from other institutions.

Time limits are strictly enforced. Students exceeding the time limit may be required to repeat the comprehensive exam, replace out-of-date credits with up-to-date work, and/or show other evidence of being up-to-date in their major and minor fields. Students anticipating they will exceed the time limit should apply for an extension two semesters before the normal time period to complete the degree expires. Holding a full-time job is not considered sufficient grounds for granting an extension. For time extension procedure/forms, contact the Graduate School.

Time spent in active service in the U.S. armed forces will not be used in computing the time limit. However, career members of the armed forces should consult the graduate admissions office concerning the credit given to work completed before or during active military service.

Leave of Absence

Leave of absence applies to students admitted to the master’s degree who wish to discontinue work toward the degree for a specified period of time due to exigent circumstances. Leave of absence may be granted by the academic program, which then notifies the Graduate School. Degree requirements and graduation must be completed within the appropriate time limit for completion of the degree.

Use of Transfer Credit

Subject to the approval of the department, program or school, a student who has been admitted to graduate study at UNT Dallas may apply toward a master’s degree the following number of graduate credits completed at other universities:

1. Up to 6 semester hours in a 30- to 35-hour program,

2. Up to 9 semester hours in a 36- to 41-hour program,

3. Up to 12 semester hours in a program of 42 hours or more.

It is the student’s responsibility to make sure official transcripts of courses completed elsewhere are furnished to the Office of Graduate Admissions, and that graduate credit has been assigned by the other institution(s) to whatever courses are being requested as credit toward the UNT Dallas degree. If transfer credits do not show a grade of B or better in each course, the student is required to make up the deficiency either at the institution where the credit was earned or at UNT Dallas.  Any additional conditions under which credit transfers may be made are determined by the departments/programs.

In accordance with the rules of the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board, at least one-third of the semester hours required for any graduate degree must be completed in course work on the campus of UNT Dallas.  The graduate program committee is responsible for compliance with program accreditation requirements.  For any transfer credit to count toward a degree, the courses transferred must have been taken within the time limit established by the Graduate School.  

Note: The number of hours accepted by transfer from an institution within the UNT System or an accredited university is determined by a student’s department and/or program.

Use of Semester Credit Hours from Conferred degrees

Students in any graduate program may request to use a limited number of credits from a conferred degree toward the requirements of a second degree.  Students pursuing a second degree have the option to use credits where the courses meet specific requirements in a degree. In all cases the program faculty must review the courses and make a decision about the appropriateness to their program.

For any transfer credit to count toward a degree, the courses transferred must have been taken within the time limit established by the Graduate School. The number of credits from a conferred degree counted will have to be determined on a program-by-program basis dependent upon the number of credits in the program. Departments and programs may limit the counting of previously conferred semester credit hours below the maximum but may not allow counting above the limit. Some programs may not allow counting of previously conferred degree credit hours.

Use of Semester Credit Hours from Concurrent Degrees

Subject to the approval of the Graduate School and the department, program, or school concerned, a graduate student may be allowed to apply up to 12 semester credit hours earned toward another degree pursued simultaneously toward a concurrent master’s degree, providing the 12 hours are in a related field of study.

A student simultaneously pursuing two master’s degrees must complete the requirements for one degree in full before any final decision is made concerning application of any of the work on that degree toward the second degree.

This provision is subject to the Texas Higher Coordinating Board rule requiring at least one-third of the semester credit hours to be completed at UNT Dallas.

Graduate academic certificates transfer credit:

Subject to the approval of the department, program, or school, a student who is enrolled in a graduate academic certificate and who has been admitted to the Graduate School at UNT Dallas may apply to a graduate degree.

Credits from graduate certificates leading to a master’s degree must have been taken within the time limit established by the Graduate School.

At the discretion of the department/program stackable certificates may be applied towards a master’s degree. Students are encouraged to apply for and be admitted to a master’s program as early as possible.

Degree Plan: Admission to Candidacy

The student who desires to become a candidate for the master’s degree should, before or at the time of registration, confer with the major department concerning the selection of a major professor. The major professor, and the chair of the major department or a representative designated by the chair will constitute the student’s advisory committee. The major professor will act as chair of the committee. 

The student’s program is planned under the direction of the major professor immediately after the completion of the first term/semester of graduate study. The degree plan is submitted to the Graduate School when all admission provisions are complete. When the degree plan is approved by the Graduate School, the student will then be admitted to candidacy for the master’s degree.

Certain degree programs require successful completion of a specific course for admission to candidacy. Consult the appropriate section of this catalog for the specific course requirement. Immediately after the student has completed the admission course, the proposed degree plan will be sent to the Graduate School for final approval. When the degree plan is approved, the student is admitted to candidacy for the master’s degree.

All changes in the degree plan must be approved by the major professor and the department chair or department graduate advisor and must be submitted in writing to the Graduate School.

Courses listed on the degree plan must carry letter grades, with the exception of those courses in which the student is engaged in individual research and is not attending an organized class. These courses, with the approval of the department, may be assigned pass/no pass grades.

No student whose academic or personal record is unsatisfactory will be admitted to candidacy for the master’s degree.

Applicants will be notified by the Graduate School of their admission to candidacy for a graduate degree program.

Major field

The candidate for the master’s degree ordinarily is required to select a major and a minor field. To major in any field, the candidate must have completed a minimum of 24 semester hours of undergraduate courses in the field, including at least 12 hours of advanced courses prior to beginning graduate course work. Certain graduate majors require more extensive undergraduate preparation. Consult the section of this catalog describing the particular major desired for information concerning undergraduate preparation requirements.

Concentrations

A graduate concentration is a coherent set of courses which gives a student more breadth or depth in their major and allows a student to complete the degree with a demonstrated proficiency in an area of focus within the major. Students who select and successfully complete the requirements of an approved concentration will have this documented on their transcript. Because a concentration is intended to be within the major area of study, the hours required to fulfill the concentration should likewise apply toward completion of the degree. However, that is not to say that completion of a concentration within a degree couldn’t require more hours than the degree itself, in that the student is earning an additional credential. Concentrations are only available to students enrolled in the home major.

A graduate concentration must be a minimum 12 graduate hours of coursework at the 5000-level or above and should be developed by experts in the field of the concentration. In order to be approved and noted on the student’s transcript, a graduate concentration requires approval by the disciplinary school, the Graduate School, and the University Academic Council. 

The department or sponsoring unit may set additional prerequisites for eligibility for the concentration that may or may not lie within the standards of their accrediting organizations.

A student’s intent to pursue a graduate concentration must be approved by the student’s advisor/program coordinator as well as the unit offering the concentration. If any credit hours taken toward a concentration will not also count toward the major, that condition must be documented when the student adds the concentration so that it can be taken into account at the time of degree certification. It will be up to the sponsoring department or unit to certify the successful completion of the concentration and its requirements. A student who seeks to add, drop or change a graduate concentration must submit a written request to their advisor/program coordinator as changes in a concentration may alter the requirements needed for graduation. Students may pursue a maximum of two concentrations while active in the major program. Concentration(s) will not be added retroactively to a student record after the major degree is conferred.

Master’s Degree without Thesis Requirement

In programs leading to the master’s degree that do not require the preparation of a thesis or problem in lieu of thesis, required or elective courses are substituted for the thesis requirement. The graduate curricula at UNT Dallas foster research and/or independent learning including research experiences, mentoring between graduate faculty and graduate students, and practical training that allows for contributions to the field of study, the development of new knowledge and practical experience. These programs are identified and described in subsequent sections of this catalog.

The candidate for the master’s degree under the non-thesis option is required to pass a comprehensive final examination, scheduled in accordance with the rules governing the comprehensive examination. The structure and form of the comprehensive final examination is determined by the student’s major department or school and can take a variety of different forms including, but not limited to, a capstone experience, written exam, or internship. Information concerning this requirement is available from the student’s major department or school.

Master’s Degree with Thesis Requirement

The master’s thesis should integrate relevant scholarship and demonstrate research competence, including the potential to add to knowledge in the student's field with respect to either its intellectual substance or professional practice.

Students who select to pursue the thesis option must complete the Thesis Selection form and submit it to both the Program Coordinator and the Graduate School within the student’s first semester of enrollment. Exceptions to this time limit may only be made at the discretion of the program coordinator. Students may withdraw from this option consistent with the university course withdrawal/drop policy. Students should discuss track options with the Program Coordinator before they select the thesis option.

Before work on the thesis can begin, students must select a thesis chair and advisory committee, as defined by the department. The thesis must be initiated, executed, and reported by the candidate under the supervision of the committee chair. The total number of semester hour credits recorded for the thesis may not exceed 6, regardless of the number of enrollments in the thesis seminar. No credit will be recorded until the thesis has been approved by the student’s advisory committee. Following approval, the final thesis must be submitted to the University Library. The student should check with the department for further information or requirements.

Thesis Committee

Membership of thesis committees must be comprised of three or five committee members, one of whom must be the student’s thesis chair from the program. The thesis committee chair is the student’s mentor and guide through this process of independent scholarship. Therefore, the chair of the thesis committee is selected by the student in consultation with the appropriate graduate faculty and graduate coordinator in the student’s discipline. The thesis chair must hold Full Graduate Faculty Membership.

At least two-thirds (2/3) of the committee must include faculty of the student’s field. Additional member(s) may include faculty from outside the program who have been approved for Associate Graduate School Faculty Membership. A person who is not a member of the University of North Texas at Dallas graduate faculty may receive a temporary graduate faculty appointment from the Dean of the Graduate School to serve on a committee. For these appointments, the thesis committee chair should submit an associate membership nomination form, justification, and a vita of the prospective committee member. Associate members may not chair the thesis committee.

Research Compliance

Research activities involving live animals, biohazards, or human subjects must be reviewed and approved by the appropriate UNTD channels (e.g., IRB) before the activity can commence. This requirement applies to activities conducted at UNTD and non-UNTD facilities. In both cases, students are responsible for working with the relevant UNTD research compliance program to ensure and document that all compliance obligations are met before the study begins. Students are encouraged to reach out to the appropriate compliance office early.

Thesis Format

For guidance on formatting, refer to the thesis manual.

Thesis Defense

Students must be in good academic standing with the Graduate School to be eligible to defend. A candidate must be enrolled for at least three (3) semester credit hours of graduate coursework during the semester in which the oral examination is held. Formal arrangements, such as time and place for the thesis defense, are made by the appropriate committee or administrator of that program in consultation with the candidate and the Thesis Committee and with the approval of the Dean of the Graduate School. The student must register their thesis defense and submit the completed copy to the Graduate School and the Thesis Committee fourteen (14) calendar days before the scheduled defense date. The Graduate School will send out a public announcement at least seven (7) days in advance of the defense. 

The thesis committee administers the oral examination for the student’s thesis defense and has final approval/disapproval authority and responsibility for the written thesis. The examination of the defense will be conducted by the Chair of the Thesis Committee in a manner appropriate to the material presented. The thesis defense may be held either in person or remotely. 

The student must make a formal public presentation of the research, which is open to the public, and members of the audience may ask questions. The Thesis Chair will moderate the questioning process. Following the public presentation, the Thesis Committee will conduct the oral examination. This part of the examination is not open to the public. Other faculty members may also attend that part of the examination if allowed by the Thesis Chair. The Thesis Chair will preside over this portion of the examination. Video and/or audio recording is prohibited during this phase of the oral examination, whether conducted in person or remotely.

After the completion of the oral examination, the Thesis Committee will convene to vote on one of the following outcomes, with no more than one dissenting vote. If the committee cannot reach an agreement on one of the options, then the candidate will have failed the thesis defense, and the thesis manuscript will not be accepted.

1. Passed the oral examination and manuscript accepted,

2. Passed the oral examination and manuscript accepted pending specified revisions,

3. A second oral examination is required, but the manuscript is accepted or accepted with specified revisions,

4. Major revisions of the manuscript and a second final oral examination are required*,

5. The second oral examination failed, the manuscript is not accepted, and the committee recommends dismissal from the program. * In no case will a third exam be given.

*Some programs may offer alternative track options if the student fails the first or second oral examination. Students should discuss alternative track options with their Thesis Chair and Program Coordinator.

Following the vote of the Examining Committee, the Thesis Chair shall complete the Thesis Defense Report and forward it to the Dean of the Graduate School within three days.

Thesis Submission

If successful in items 1 and 2 above, students must submit a copy of their approval of candidacy form, signed by the thesis committee signifying successful defense of the thesis, along with a copy of their defended thesis with completed required revisions, to the Graduate School within seven days or date grades are to be reported. Candidacy forms turned in after grade reports are due will receive an Incomplete (I), and graduation date may be deferred until the following semester when all reports are completed and submitted.

Following a successful defense and acceptance by the thesis advisory committee, the student will complete all required revisions and submit the final thesis to the graduate school. The graduate school will then submit the thesis to the University library. It is important to note that the thesis becomes the property of the University of North Texas at Dallas and is archived in the University Library.

Milestones for the Master’s Student

Graduate Academic Certificate

Graduate academic certificates are designed to provide a graduate education past the baccalaureate level and/or to enhance the education of students who have already completed a master’s degree. Students often pursue a graduate academic certificate to meet the requirements for professional competence and to expand access to specialized knowledge, as well as to prepare for potential admission into a graduate degree at UNT Dallas. Students will complete a linked series of course, which may include a capstone experience or project that focuses on their intellectual experience. Certificate applicants must meet UNT Dallas Graduate Admissions requirements and those of the program. A graduate certificate is available to non-degree seeking students or to degree-seeking students who simultaneously pursue a graduate certificate.

A graduate academic certificate must be a minimum of 12 graduate credits in length with at least two-thirds (2/3) of the credit earned at UNT Dallas. Students must apply and be admitted into the graduate academic certificate and complete the required coursework within four years of taking the first course. Time-to-completion begins with the earliest coursework to be applied toward the degree, including any transfer credits. All requirements must be successfully completed for the graduate academic certificate to be awarded.

Student Eligibility and Admission Criteria

Students must apply and be admitted into the graduate academic certificate and complete the required coursework within four years of taking the first course. Time-to-complete begins with the earliest coursework to be applied toward the degree, including any credits transferred from other institutions. All requirements must be successfully completed for the graduate academic certificate to be awarded.

Non-degree-seeking applicants should submit their application by the Admission Deadline posted in the Graduate Catalog. Applications received after the University deadline will be considered on a space-available and time-permitting basis for the next available semester.

Active degree-seeking students should complete and submit their application for admission during or prior to the completion of their first graduate academic certificate course. However, the application must be submitted by the deadline to apply for the semester in which the graduate degree will be conferred to be eligible to share coursework between their graduate degree and the graduate academic certificate. Once the degree is conferred, it is no longer possible to badmitteded to a graduate academic certificate using the graduate courses from the major.

Academic Policies and Requirements

For academic policies and procedures, refer to the Academic Regulations section of the Graduate Catalog. In addition to those policies, graduate academic certificate students must also comply with the following policies specific to graduate academic certificates:

• Graduate credit earned as an undergraduate senior in approved UNT Dallas Masters Accelerated Program (MAP) or from similar programs at other accredited institutions cannot be counted toward certificate programs.

• Only three credit hours with a grade of “C” will count towards a certificate. A maximum of three credit hours of failed coursework may be repeated. Programs may set stricter grade requirements.

• Students may not elect to take courses required for the certificate as credit/no credit.

Transfer Coursework

• Double-Counted Credits Between Two Graduate Certificate Programs: Graduate certificate students may double count one graduate course with another graduate certificate provided that both programs specify the courses as approved, required, or elective. A graduate course that is shared may only be applied to a maximum of two graduate certificates.

• Double-Counted Credits Between Certificate and Degree Programs: All credits taken in completion of certificate requirements may count towards a UNT Dallas graduate degree as long as they do not contribute more than 70% of the total credits needed to obtain the degree.

• A course may count toward no more than one certificate and one degree.

• No course may be applied towards more than two degrees.