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 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.

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.