Graduate Degree Requirements

Op3.19-1 Graduate Program Completion Requirements

To earn a graduate certificate, a candidate must:

1. Complete the minimum number of credit hours required for the graduate program. Keep in mind that courses taken for undergraduate credit may not be used for a graduate certificate.
2. Attain a grade point average of at least 3.0 on all graduate work utilized in the program that includes Missouri State University and transfer courses.
3. For course grades earned during the Fall 2023 semester or any subsequent semester, grades applied toward the certificate must be C- or higher. For course grades earned prior to the Fall 2023 semester, grades applied toward the certificate must be C or higher.
4. Meet all additional program-specific certificate requirements; and
5. Complete all requirements within an eight-year period (exclusive of time spent in the U.S. Armed Forces).

To complete a master’s or specialist degree, a candidate must:

1. Complete the minimum number of credit hours required for the graduate program. Keep in mind that courses taken for undergraduate credit may not be used for a master’s or specialist degree.
2. Complete at least one-half of the minimum semester hours in courses numbered 700 or higher, which signifies that the courses have no associated undergraduate parallel. Graduate courses provide a graduate-level experience and differ from undergraduate courses in the expectations/requirements.
3. Fulfill no more than 49% of the required semester hours by combining senior permission (up to 12 hours), courses taken prior to admission to the program (up to 30%), transfer (up to 30%), and assessment of prior learning.
4. Attain a grade point average of at least 3.0 on all graduate work utilized in the degree program.
5. For course grades earned during the Fall 2023 semester or any subsequent semester, grades applied toward the degree must be C- or higher. For course grades earned prior to the Fall 2023 semester, grades applied toward the degree must be C or higher.
6. Satisfy a research requirement, such as a thesis (reflected by enrollment in a course numbered 799), seminar/degree paper, capstone project or internship.
   1. A maximum of 6 hours of thesis or internship credit can be applied to the degree.
   2. Theses must be supervised by an advisory committee consisting of at least three persons who hold MSU graduate faculty status. The chair must hold graduate research faculty statusComplete a culminating assessment of student learning, such as a comprehensive examination or professional presentation.
7. Meet all additional program-specific degree requirements; and
8. Complete all requirements within an eight-year period (exclusive of time spent in the U.S. Armed Forces).

To earn a doctoral degree, a candidate must:

1. All students must complete the stated courses and minimum number of required credit hours for the program. Keep in mind that courses taken for undergraduate credit may not be used for a doctoral degree.
2. Complete at least one-half of the minimum semester hours in courses numbered 700 or higher, which signifies that the courses have no associated undergraduate parallel.
3. Fulfill no more than 49% of the required semester hours may be by combining senior permission (up to 12 hours), courses taken prior to admission to the program (up to 30%), transfer (up to 30%), and assessment of prior learning;
4. Attain a grade point average of at least 3.0 on all graduate work utilized in the degree program.
5. For course grades earned during the Fall 2023 semester or any subsequent semester, grades applied toward the degree must be C- or higher. For course grades earned prior to the Fall 2023 semester, grades applied toward the degree must be C or higher.
6. Complete a doctoral research project, capstone, or a doctoral thesis.
   1. A doctoral research project must be overseen by a committee that consists of at least three (3) members. The Director must be a faculty member from the discipline and hold Graduate status (may be Research or Professional), and the other members must have expertise in the area of project focus.
   2. A doctoral thesis must be overseen by a committee that consists of four (4) members. The Chair (Director) of the doctoral thesis committee must hold Graduate Research Faculty Status. Two members of the committee must hold Graduate faculty status (may be Research or Professional). The fourth committee member must come from outside the academic unit and have expertise in the area of research focus.
7. Presentation of the research results (thesis or project) at a forum approved by the academic unit.
8. Complete a culminating assessment of student learning, such as a comprehensive examination or professional presentation;
9. Meet all additional program-specific degree requirements.
10. Complete all degree requirements within an eight-year period (excluding time spent in the United States Armed Forces).

Op3.19-3 Advisement

Graduate students are assigned an advisor at the time of admission. In some cases, the graduate advisor may be changed once a student is fully matriculated into the program. The role of the graduate advisor is to:

• Assist the student in the selection of course work for his/her graduate program;
• Evaluate transfer credits as acceptable for meeting requirements;
• Recommend acceptance or rejection of all graduate course work toward the program of study as shown in the student's degree audit; and
• Advise and assist the student in completion of all Missouri State University and departmental requirements for degree.

It is extremely important that students have early contact with their advisor and gain advisor approval before registering for classes. The advisor is a key person in helping individuals plan their graduate program, ensuring that classes fit the program, planning an appropriate class sequence, and providing other input that ensures a student is successful in their graduate program. All degree-seeking students must have the advisor complete an electronic release prior to registering.

Op3.19-6 Comprehensive Examination

1. The Comprehensive Exam
All graduate degree programs are required to conduct a culminating assessment of student learning. Some graduate programs do this in the context of a capstone course, and others require that students pass a comprehensive examination in order to be awarded a degree. Comprehensive examinations vary in format and structure, as well as the times they are administered. In order to facilitate successful performance on their comprehensive examination, graduate programs must:

1. provide adequate information regarding format and content of the examination and the time(s) it will be offered in order to promote optimal preparation;
2. validate evaluation or scoring procedures;
3. provide detailed feedback if the examination is not initially passed, including specific examples of unacceptable performance and offer additional support in an effort to assist the student in meeting expected levels of performance;
4. give at least one opportunity to re-attempt the examination if not initially passed within a reasonable timeline and specify the maximum number of repeat attempts allowed before recommending dismissal.

The department must forward results of the comprehensive examination to the Graduate College no later than the last day of class in a semester. These results will be entered into the University system (Banner) and will be reflected in the student’s degree audit.

2. Program Dismissal Due to Failed Comprehensive Examination
If a student does not pass the program’s comprehensive examination after all re-attempts have been exhausted the Academic Unit Leader will schedule a meeting with the student to provide written notice to the student that the student will be dismissed from the program at the end of the current semester due to a failure to pass the comprehensive examination.

3. Limited Grounds for Appeal of Program Dismissal Due to Failed Comprehensive Examination
The student may appeal this program dismissal when it is clearly established by the student that one or more of the following has occurred:

1. The comprehensive examination was conducted in a way that represented a departure from the Program’s previously communicated standards, and such departure was substantial, unreasonable, and unannounced.
2. There was a clerical or administrative error in the calculation of the comprehensive examination.
3. The graduate program failed to satisfy the requirements set forth in Section 1.

Generally, once the student has begun the appeal process they will not be allowed to modify the grounds selected justifying such appeal or to submit additional information in support of their appeal. However, if the student becomes aware of information that was not available at the time they submitted the written notification required in this Policy, they may supplement/add grounds to reflect this new information. If, at any point in the appeal process, the student modifies the grounds for their appeal, or provides additional information that was not previously available, the faculty member(s) of record will be notified and will be given five (5) business days to review the additional information submitted by the student and to provide a written response to same.

4. Procedure for Disputing Program Dismissal for Failed Comprehensive Examination

In order dispute program dismissal under this Policy, the student must follow the following procedures:

1. Appeal to the Academic College Dean. Following notification of the student’s dismissal from the program, the student must prepare a written notification of the student’s intent to appeal the dismissal from the program. The notification must i) clearly identify which of the categories in Section 3 serves as the basis for the dismissal dispute, ii) include sufficient detail to convey the factual circumstances that support the category for appeal, and iii) include the student’s proposed remediation strategy. The student must provide notification to the Academic College Dean within five (5) business days of receiving notification from the Academic Unit Leader of dismissal from the program. The Dean will consider the student’s written notification as well as the Academic Unit Leader’s written notice to the student, and may confer with both and/or request any supplemental information from either the student and/or faculty they deem necessary. The Dean will inform both parties of their recommendation in writing within five (5) business days of receiving the notification by the student. If the Dean agrees with the student’s written notification and remediation, the Dean will notify the student and Academic Unit Leader, and the student will not be dismissed from the program, but instead proceed with the remediation as identified in the student’s submission. If the Dean agrees that program dismissal is appropriate, or fails to response within the five (5) business day period, the student must proceed with the appeal to the Provost as outlined in Section 4.C.
2. Appeal to the Dean of the Graduate College. If the student is unsuccessful in resolving the program dismissal following submission of written notification to the Academic College Dean (or if the Academic College Dean has not responded within five (5) business days of submitting written notification to Academic College Dean), the student should submit written notification to the Graduate College Dean. The Graduate College Dean will consider the entire written record produced through the appeal process. The Graduate College Dean will inform all parties its determination, in writing, within five (5) business days of receiving the appeal by the student.
3. Appeal to the Provost. If the student is unsuccessful in resolving the program dismissal following submission of written notification to the Graduate College Dean (or if the Graduate College Dean has not responded within five (5) business days of submitting written notification to Graduate College Dean), the student should submit written notification to the University Provost. The University Provost, or designee, will consider the entire written record produced through the appeal process. Additionally, the Provost (or Provost’s designee) will consult with the Office of General Counsel to ensure compliance with University policy and that adequate due process has been provided. The Provost (or Provost’s designee) will inform all parties its determination, in writing, within five (5) business days of receiving the appeal by the student. The decision of the Provost (or Provost’s designee), is final.

5. Exceptions to Dispute ProceduresNothing in this policy is intended to circumvent the University’s Discrimination Complaint and Investigation Procedures. Students who dispute their course grade due to allegations of discrimination based on a protected classification should direct their complaint to the be addressed to the Office for Institutional Equity and Compliance, Carrington Hall, 205, Springfield, Missouri, 65897; Equity@MissouriState.edu; 417-836-4252; TTY: 417-836-6974. Such complaints will be handled through the Discrimination Complaint and Investigation Procedures.

Op3.19-7 Graduate Transfer Credit

On a case-by-case basis, Missouri State may accept graduate credit earned at other regionally accredited institutions or well-established international institutions. Acceptance of transfer credits on a graduate program occurs through recommendation of the student's advisor and approval of the Graduate College. Transfer hours may count for up to 30% of the required hours for a degree. This policy applies whether the credit is being applied to an original graduate degree or to a second degree earned simultaneously or subsequently. As with all credits applied toward a graduate degree, transfer credits must have been earned within the eight-year time limit for a degree program. Grades on transfer courses accepted in the degree program are included in the overall graduate grade point average. 

Collaborative Agreements 

The limitation on transfer credit may be superseded when the university develops a collaborative agreement with another institution for delivery of an academic program. In cases where Missouri State University shares program responsibility with another institution, both institutions may teach courses that might be applied to a degree program.  

Op3.19-9 Graduate Program Persistence Requirements

A graduate student becomes ineligible to continue in the current graduate program if more than 9 semester hours of "C+" or lower are earned in graduate courses taken in the degree program, or if the student does not meet any additional specific degree retention requirements imposed by an academic unit or program.

Op3.19-10 Graduation

The deadline for the Application for Graduation is the first week of the semester in which the student plans to graduate. A student is advised, however, to apply in advance of the semester that they intend to graduate.

1. Complete the online Graduate Application to Graduate located through My Missouri State.
2. Students should work closely with the advisor to ensure that all of the degree requirements are met.
3. Students who have completed all course work and are only working on their research component may sign up for GEN 798 (Active in Research). This zero credit course offered at a reduced fee ($75) allows the following:
   • access to the library, including online services such as interlibrary loans, MOBIUS, and restricted access databases;
   • opportunity to purchase a parking permit; and
   • access to computer services and campus email.

GEN 798 is graded as "P" (pass) or "N" (if the student discontinues participation and is dropped from the course).