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. 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 to be accepted as satisfactory
by at least two professors in 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 15 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 August 1 of the summer at the end of 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
two 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.

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.