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 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.

(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 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 July 20th 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.

(3) A final comprehensive examination, oral or written, 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 conditions. Graduate students
are advised to continue their residence, if possible, during one or more terms of
the regular session.

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 twelve 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.

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.