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 at least two professors in 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 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 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.
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 of the
Major Subject will be incorporated in the body of the diploma conferring 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 advisory professor.
(3) A dissertation exhibiting independent research in the candidate's Major
Subject, to be submitted in complete form to the Special Departmental Committee
of which the candidate's advisory professor is chairman, not later than May
1 of the final year of candidacy. Three typewritten copies must be sent to the
Dean's office, before the conferring of the degree. Two of these copies will be
deposited in the General Library; one copy will, upon request, be turned over to
the department or school in which the dissertation was prepared. The dissertation
shall be typewritten upon paper of good quality, 8½ by 11 inches, and substantially
bound in stiff covers; pasteboard covers are not acceptable. The cover
shall bear the title of the dissertation with the author's full 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. The candidate is expected to arrange, at
the earliest possible date, for the publication of the dissertation, either as a whole
or in part, as the department or school concerned shall direct. Fifty-two copies
of the printed dissertation shall be deposited in the University Library.
Each dissertation, when finally submitted, must be accompanied by an
abstract of from five hundred to a thousand words, to be approved by the department
or school. This abstract, or summary, will be published in a bulletin for
distribution among other universities. No dissertation will be accepted without
this attached abstract. A fee of $25 toward the editing and publication of this
annual bulletin of summaries must be paid by the candidate for the Ph.D. degree
before the conferring of the degree.
(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. It is recommended indeed that
the doctoral examination be given before the entire professorial staff of the
School concerned. 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 long 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. At least 12 session-hours, or 24 semester-hours,
of graduate courses 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 long 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 long 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 must complete the courses of
study for 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 long session. Candidates for degrees at the
Summer Quarter Convocation must notify the Graduate office of their intentions
at the beginning of the Summer Quarter. Each candidate must submit for departmental
approval to the chairman of the department concerned the subject of
his thesis.
Fellowships.—A list of Fellowships available for graduate students will be
found on page 172.
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.
