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, 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.

(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 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 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 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.

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) The successful completion, in not less than three full years of graduate
work, of the program of studies approved for the candidate by the Committee
on Rules and Courses, as embodied in the student's formal application
for advancement to candidacy. This application must be submitted not later
than October 1 of the session preceding the final year of candidacy for the
degree. The program of studies must include a Major Subject, pursued for
at least three years, and one 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 two years of graduate study must be spent in residence. By special
permission of the Committee on Rules and Courses the student may be allowed
to complete his dissertation in absentia under the direction of his major
professor.

Upon advancement to candidacy the Dean will appoint 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
Committee on Rules and Courses. This committee will conduct the candidate's
final examinations, and pass upon his dissertation.

(2) 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
shall be held by October 1 of the session preceding the final academic year
of candidacy for the degree. Upon recommendation of the professor of the
Major Subject, and at the discretion of the Committee on Rules and Courses,
some other language may be substituted for either French or German.

(3) A final examination, written, oral, or both, in addition to all examinations
in course, upon such phases of the Major Subject and of allied subjects,
as the special committee shall prescribe. No candidate can 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.

(4) A Dissertation exhibiting independent research in some branch of
the candidate's Major Subject, submitted in complete form to the Special
Committee not later than April 15 of the last year of candidacy. The copy
submitted shall be typewritten upon paper of prescribed quality and size, and
shall be substantially bound. The cover shall bear the title of the dissertation
and the name of the writer, and the title page shall bear the words: A
Dissertation presented to the Academic Faculty of the University of Virginia
in candidacy for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy. Upon approval of the
dissertation the candidate must arrange for the publication, at the earliest
practicable date, of the whole or such portions of the dissertation as the
Special Committee shall direct. If publication prior to the conferring of the
degree be impracticable, the candidate must deposit with the Bursar a sum
of money sufficient to cover the cost of 50 copies, which shall be the property
of the University Library. Two copies, in addition, must be placed in the
office of the Dean of the Graduate Department.

Grade.—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. Failure to attain the grade of "Satisfactory" on any
one term will invalidate candidacy for the degree in the current session.

Only those courses marked C and D 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
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
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 Summer
Quarter Commencement 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.