University of Virginia Library

REQUIREMENTS FOR DEGREES

Master of Arts.—The degree of Master of Arts will be conferred upon the
holder of a degree of Bachelor of Arts who has fulfilled the following requirements.

(1) The successful completion, in not less than one full year of resident
graduate work, of the program of studies approved for the candidate by the
Committee on Rules and Courses, as embodied in his formal application for
advancement to candidacy. This application must be submitted not later than
one week after registration, in the year in which it is expected that the degree
will be conferred. The program must form a consistent plan of work, to be
pursued with some definite aim, and grouped around some one subject to be
known as the candidate's Major Subject, the name of which will be incorporated
in the body of each diploma conferring the degree. The program should be
arranged in consultation with the professors concerned, and must be approved
in writing by a professor of the candidate's Major Subject, who shall be designated
by the Dean of the Department of Graduate Studies, after consultation with the
candidate.

(2) The preparation and submission of a thesis, to be accepted as satisfactory
by the professor of the candidate's Major Subject. Two copies of the thesis,
typewritten on paper of prescribed quality and size, and substantially bound,
must be deposited in the office of the Dean of the Department of Graduate Studies
not later than May 15 of the year in which it is expected that the degree will
be conferred. The back of the cover must bear the title of the thesis and the
writer's name, and the title page must bear the words: A thesis presented to the
Academic Faculty of the University of Virginia in candidacy for the degree
of Master of Arts.

Master of Science.—The degree of Master of Science will be conferred
upon the holder of a degree of Bachelor of Science who fulfills requirements
corresponding to those stated above for the degree of Master of Arts.

Doctor of Philosophy.—The degree of Doctor of Philosophy will be conferred
upon the holder of a baccalaureate degree who has fulfilled the following
requirements:

(1) The successful completion, in not less than three full years of graduate
work, of the program of studies approved for the candidate by the Committee
on Rules and Courses, as embodied in the student's formal application for advancement

to candidacy. This application must be submitted not later than
October 1 of the session preceding the final year of candidacy for the degree.
The program of studies must include a Major Subject, pursued for at least three
years, and may include one, or two, Minor Subjects, pursued for at least one
year. The Minor Subject, or Subjects, if any, must be closely related to the
Major Subject, and the program as a whole must contribute to the mastery of
some definite field of knowledge as an object of study and research. The name
of the Major Subject will be incorporated in the body of the diploma conferring
the degree. At least one full year of graduate study, which must be the last
year of the student's candidacy, must be spent in residence; but by special permission
of the Committee on Rules and Courses the student may be allowed to
complete his dissertation in absentia.

Upon advancement to candidacy the Dean will appoint a special committee
of not less than three Professors, under the Chairmanship of the Professor of
the candidate's Major Subject, and including a representative of the Committee
on Rules and Courses. This committee will conduct the candidate's final
examinations, and pass upon his dissertation.

(2) A reading knowledge of French and German sufficient to enable the
student to use these languages for purposes of research. This knowledge shall
be attested by passing examinations in French and German, set by the professors
of these languages, in consultation with the Professor of the Major Subject,
not later than Oct. 1 of the session preceding the final year of candidacy for the
degree. Upon recommendation of the professor of the Major Subject, and at the
discretion of the Committee on Rules and Courses, some other language may
be substituted for either French or German.

(3) A final examination, written, oral, or both, in addition to all examinations
in course, upon such phases of the Major Subject and of allied subjects, as the
special committee shall prescribe. No candidate can be admitted to the final
examnation until his dissertation has been accepted. Preliminary examinations
may in addition be required by individual schools, as stated under the announcements
of these Schools.

(4) A Dissertation exhibiting independent research in some branch of the
candidate's Major Subject, submitted to the Special Committee not later than
April 15 of the last year of candidacy. The copy submitted shall be typewritten
upon paper of prescribed quality and size, and shall be substantially bound.
The cover shall bear the title of the dissertation and the name of the writer,
and the title page shall bear the words: A Dissertation presented to the Academic
Faculty of the University of Virginia in candidacy for the degree of Doctor
of Philosophy. Upon approval of the dissertation the candidate must arrange
for the publication, at the earliest practicable date, of the whole or such portions
of the dissertation as the special committee shall direct. If publication prior
to the conferring of the degree be impracticable, the candidate must deposit with
the Bursar a sum of money sufficient to cover the cost of 50 copies, which shall
be the property of the University Library. Two copies, in addition, must be
placed in the office of the Dean of the Graduate Department.

Grade.—A Graduate Student's standing in a course is indicated not by a
numerical grade, but by one of the following terms: Distinguished, Satisfactory,
Unsatisfactory.

Only those courses marked C and D may be counted toward a graduate degree.

Summer Session.—The Master's degree may be won by properly qualified
persons in three full Summer Quarters. In no case will this degree be conferred
without resident graduate study during three quarters, the equivalent in time of
the regular session. Not more than two graduate courses each term of the
Summer Quarter will be credited toward the degree except by special permission
of the Dean and the Committee concerned.

A candidate for the Master's degree in the Summer Quarter must register
with the Dean of the Graduate Department and submit a program of studies in
accordance with the regulations prescribed for admission to candidacy for that
degree in the regular session. In addition to the preparation of a thesis, a final
examination, written or oral, upon the program of study and acceptable to the
Professor of the candidate's major subject in the regular session of the University,
will be required.