 | The University of Virginia record March 15, 1931 |  |
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 early in the
session 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. Ordinarily, courses aggregating 12 session-hours, or 24 semester-hours,
are required of candidates for a Master's degree.
(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 good quality, 8½ by 11 inches, and bound
in stiff board or cloth covers, must be deposited in the office of the Dean of the
Department of Graduates 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 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, 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.
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) 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 examinations in those languages set by the candidate's major
professor, or by some one in his School designated by him. Examination
papers shall be read and marked by professors in the Schools of French and
German. The language examinations of candidates for the Ph.D. degree
should be held by October 1 of the session preceding the final academic year
of candidacy for the degree. Credit in this University for not less than 3 session-hours
in B courses in either language may, on the approval of the School of
the candidate's Major Subject, be accepted as satisfying the requirement in that
language. Upon recommendation of the professor of the Major Subject, and at
the discretion of the Graduate Committee, some other foreign language may be
substituted for either French or German.
(2) The successful completion, in not less than three full years of graduate
work, of the program of studies approved for the candidate by the Graduate
Committee as embodied in his formal application. The application for advancement
to candidacy should be submitted to the Dean not later than October 15
of the session preceding the final year of candidacy for the degree, and must be
submitted by October 15 of his final year. The program of studies must include
a Major Subject, pursued for at least three years, and a Minor Subject, pursued
for at least one year. The Minor Subject 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
the degree. At least one year of advanced graduate study, preferably the last,
must be spent in residence. By special permission of the Graduate Committee the
student may be allowed to complete his dissertation in absentia under the direction
of his major professor.
(3) A Dissertation exhibiting independent research in some branch of the
candidate's Major Subject, submitted in complete form to the Special Departmental
Committee, of which the candidate's major professor is chairman, not
later than May 1 of the last year of candidacy. The two copies submitted shall
be typewritten upon paper of good quality, 8½ by 11 inches, and substantially
bound. The cover shall bear the title of the dissertation and the name of the
writer; the title page shall also carry the subject of the dissertation, with the
author's name and academic degree or degrees, and in addition the following
words: A Dissertation presented to the Graduate Faculty of the University of
Virginia in candidacy for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy. Upon approval
of the dissertation the candidate shall arrange for the publication, at the earliest
practicable date, of the whole or such portions of the dissertation as the Departmental
Committee shall direct. With the consent of the department concerned,
the dissertation may be lithoprinted. If publication prior to the conferring of
the degree be impracticable, the candidate must deposit with the Bursar the
sum of One Hundred Dollars as a guarantee that 52 copies will be deposited in
the University Library when printed. This sum will be returned to the author
by the Bursar upon notification by the Librarian that this requirement has been
complied with.
(4) A final examination, oral, written, or both, in addition to all examinations
in course, upon such phases of the Major Subject and of allied subjects,
as the Special Committee (described below) shall prescribe. Ordinarily no
candidate may be admitted to the final examination until his dissertation has
been accepted. Preliminary examinations may, in addition, be required by individual
Schools, as stated under the announcements of these Schools.
Upon approval of the dissertation, the Dean will appoint, upon nomination
of the School concerned, 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 Graduate Committee. This Special Committee
may, through its chairman, invite other members of the departmental faculty
to take part in the examination of the candidate. The result of the examination
should be promptly reported to the Registrar.
Grade.—A graduate student's standing in a course is indicated by one of
the following symbols: A, B+, B, C. A, B+, and B are passing grades: 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.
Only graduate courses 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
special permission of the Dean and the Committee concerned. At least 12 session-hours
of graduate work are required for the Master's degree.
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. Candidates for degrees at the Summer
Quarter Convocation must hand in their theses by August 1 and take their final
comprehensive examinations as soon as their theses have been approved.
Graduate Students in the Summer Quarter are required to make their
Masters' degrees within five summers after admission to full candidacy. Graduate
students are strongly advised to continue their residence during one
or more terms of the regular session. Candidates for degrees at the Summer
Quarter Convocation must notify the Graduate office of their intentions at the
beginning of the Summer Quarter.
Fellowships.—A list of Fellowships available for graduate students will be
found on page 167.
A special Bulletin of the Department of Graduate Studies is issued each year.
This contains detailed information as to courses and regulations of the Department,
and should be consulted by persons interested. This Bulletin and further
information will be supplied by the Dean of the Department of Graduate Studies.
| The University of Virginia record March 15, 1931 | |