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, or three Summer Quarters, of the program of studies
approved for the candidate by the Committee on Rules and Courses, as embodied


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in his formal application for advancement to candidacy. This application
must be submitted not later than one week after registration. 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.

Ordinarily, courses aggregating 12 session-hours or 24 semester-hours
are required of candidates for Master's degree.

(2) The preparation and submission of a thesis, and an examination
written or oral, upon the program of study, to be accepted as satisfactory
by the professor of the candidate's Major Subject in the regular session of
the University. A candidate who expects to obtain the Master's degree in
three Summer Quarters shall select his subject for a thesis not later than the
beginning of his second summer of residence.
This subject should be approved
by October 15th following. Two copies of the thesis, typewritten on
paper of good quality, 8½ by 11 inches, and bound in stiff board or cloth cover
must be deposited in the office of the Dean of the Department of Graduate
Studies not later than July 20th of the year in which it is expected that the
degree will be conferred. The back of the cover must also carry the author's
name, degree, and the subject of the thesis, followed by the words: A thesis
presented to the Graduate Faculty of the University of Virginia in candidacy
for the degree of Master of Arts.

(3) A final comprehensive examination, oral or written, or both, after
the acceptance of the candidate's thesis, conducted by the candidate's major
professor and one or more of his departmental colleagues.

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. The
degree of Master of Science, like that of Master of Arts, is regarded as a
cultural rather than a professional degree and the prerequisites for candidacy,
including a reading knowledge of foreign languages, are estimated accordingly.

No extension or correspondence courses will be credited toward a Master's
degree.

Graduate Work in Education.—Graduate work in Education leading to
the degree of Master of Arts and Master of Science may be pursued in the
Summer Quarter.

Residence.—As stated above, the Master's degree may be won by
properly qualified persons in three full Summer Quarters of two terms each.
In no case will a degree be conferred without resident graduate study during
three Quarters, the equivalent in time of the regular session. Graduate students
in the Summer Quarter are required to make their Master's degree in
three out of five summers, after being accepted for graduate courses without


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conditions. Graduate students are advised to continue their residence, if possible,
during one or more terms of the regular session.

Candidates for degrees at the Summer Quarter Final Exercises must
notify the Graduate Office of their intention at the beginning of the Summer
Quarter.

Courses, Session-hours, and Grade.—Only those courses marked C in this
catalogue may be counted toward the Master's degree. 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 on
Graduate Studies.

At least 12 session-hours of resident work, constituting a definite program
of study and distributed over three Quarters, or six Summer terms, are
required for the Master's degree. Terms devoted entirely to undergraduate
study will not be counted in residence for the Master's degree.

Grade.—A graduate student's standing in a course is indicated by one
of the following symbols: A, B+, B, C. A is distinguished, B+ is very
good, B is satisfactory, C is unsatisfactory. Failure to attain the grade of
B on any one term will invalidate candidacy for the degree in the current
session.