Plan of Study

 

 

Requirements Applicable for the Master's Degrees

A departmental or interdepartmental program for a Master's degree as approved by the Graduate Faculty will normally be arranged to conform to one of the following patterns:

Thesis Option
A 30 semester-hour thesis program (including at least six hours of thesis and a minimum of 24 hours of non-thesis course work) as determined by the cognizant Graduate Program Committee.

Non-Thesis Option
A non-thesis program determined by the cognizant Graduate Program Committee. For total hour requirements, refer to program descriptions. For either option, a "B" (3.0 on a 4.0 scale) average must be maintained in all graduate work taken as part of the degree program.


 

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Plan Of Study

At the time of admission to a degree program, an individual plan of study/degree audit will be sent to the student with their official letter of admission from the Dean for Graduate Studies. This individual plan of study/degree audit will list all requirements for the completion of the degree program. These requirements may include deficiency courses and other provisions of admission, as well as specific courses to be completed to graduate and comprehensive examinations if applicable. Any deviations to this plan of study/degree audit must be approved by the student's advisor, graduate program committee chair, and Dean for Graduate Studies by completing the Change in Plan of Study form. Upon approval, a copy will be sent to the student and department/school.

A "B" (3.0 on a scale of 4.0) average must be maintained in all graduate work taken as part of a degree program.

 

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Description of Plan of Study Report

Your plan of study/degree audit report outlines the requirements for you to complete your degree program at UNO. The summary of credit towards graduation, includes any credit completed at UNO as well as any approved transfer credit which applies to requirements for the degree. Section I outlines the course requirements yet to be completed to graduate. This section also will include courses or provisions of your admission to the program. Section II of the report includes a summary of the required courses completed to date. The last section includes courses which do not apply to the plan of study/degree audit. This report is automated and can be checked by your advisor or a member of the Graduate Studies Office Staff or through E-BRUNO. Listed below are important things to keep in mind as you progress with your degree program:

  • Graduate Students should meet regularly with their advisors or with other departmentally/school approved advisors.
    Review this standard degree/certificate plan. Submit to Graduate Studies (EAB 203) any deviations on the Change in Plan of Study form with appropriate signatures.
     Concentrations and Minors : If including a concentration or minor in your degree/certificate program, a Change in Plan of Study form must be submitted indicating this. If your degree/certificate program includes a thesis, non-thesis, or project option, you will need to select which option you are pursuing using this same form.
    Please note that provisions of admission are included in the plan of study report.
    Transfer Credits . Up to one-third of the course work required for the degree/certificate may be accepted from an accredited institution, other than the University of Nebraska. All transfer credit must have a grade of "B" (3.0) or better and be approved by the UNO Graduate Dean on the Change in Plan of Study form.
    Graduate course requirement: At least one-half of the graduate course work required for the degree/certificate program must be restricted to graduate students only (8--0 or 9--0). This is checked through the automated system.
  • If completing a thesis, or thesis-equivalent project, EdS field project, or dissertation: Refer to the Guidelines for Preparing Theses, Thesis-Equivalent Projects, EdS Field Projects, or Dissertations for information pertaining to approval of a supervisory committee, proposal approval, formatting, and deadlines.
  • Grade point average: Students must maintain an overall GPA of "B" (3.0) in all graduate course work taken as a part of their degree/certificate. Grades of less than "C-" result in dismissal from Graduate Studies and may not be used on a graduate plan of study. If you re-register for a course to improve your grade, you must work with the Registrar's Office to note this on your transcript.
  • Time Limit : The degree/certificate program must be completed within ten consecutive years. This is checked through the automated system.

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Quality of Work Standards

A "B" (3.0 on a 4.0 scale) average must be maintained in all graduate work taken as part of the degree or certificate program.

  • Automatic Dismissal
    Graduate students are expected to do work of high caliber. Failure to do so will result in dismissal. In particular, the following will result in automatic dismissal from the degree or certificate program:

    • Receiving a grade of "C-" (1.67 on a 4.0 scale) or below in any course taken in the student's major field of study or in any course included in the plan of study or program of study;

    • Departments/Schools may have additional and more stringent criteria for evaluating a student's performance and progress and may demand a higher level of performance than that demanded by the Graduate College. A department/school or program unit may, under some circumstances, recommend dismissal of a student from a graduate program even though quality of work standards have been maintained. Grounds for dismissal could include, but are not limited to:
      • failure to be accepted by an appropriate thesis or dissertation adviser within stipulated time limitations;
      • failure to make timely progress toward the degree or certificate; and
      • failure to perform in course work, qualifying examination or research at an acceptable level in the respective department/school or program unit.
  • Probation or Dismissal
    A department/school will recommend that the Dean for Graduate Studies either dismiss, or place on probation with conditions for reinstatement as a student in good standing, in the following cases:
    • A Grade of "C+" (2.33 on a 4.0 scale) or below in any course involved in the first 12 hours of graduate study for provisionally admitted students;

    • Receiving at least nine hours of graduate credit with the grade of "C+" (2.33 on a 4.0 scale) or below in any courses taken in the student's major field of study or in any courses included in the plan of study for master's or specialist's degrees or graduate certificates, regardless of the average;

    • Receiving at least six hours of graduate credit with the grade of "C+" (2.33 on a 4.0 scale) or below in any courses taken in the student's major field of study or in any courses included in the program of study for doctoral degrees, regardless of the average;

    • Failure to maintain a "B" (3.0 on a 4.0 scale) average in all graduate work taken as part of the degree or certificate program.
  • Unclassified and Non-degree Students
    • For students with unclassified or non-degree admission, the above quality of work standards apply to course work taken, just as if all such courses were included in a graduate plan of study.
    • A student will be automatically dismissed from all graduate standing or placed on probation should any of the above conditions occur.
  • Additional Requirements
    Some departments/schools apply additional criteria of satisfactory performance beyond the requirements of the Graduate College. A copy of the department's/school's policy should be on file in the Graduate Studies Office and a copy distributed to every graduate student enrolled in the program.

  • Monitoring
    • The Graduate Program Committees or the Supervisory Committees in their respective departments/schools shall be responsible for monitoring quality of work in degree, certificate and unclassified programs and for recommending action.
      • The Graduate Studies Office will send a report to each department/school at the start of each semester with the names of students who have received at least nine hours of graduate credit with a grade of "C+" (2.33 on a 4.0 scale) or below as of the end of the previous semester.
      • The Graduate Studies Office will send a report to each department/school at the start of each semester with the names of doctoral students who have received at least six hours of graduate credit with a grade of "C+" (2.33 on a 4.0 scale) or below as of the end of the previous semester.
    • The Graduate Studies Office shall be responsible for monitoring quality of work in non-degree programs.
    • The Dean for Graduate Studies will make the final decision and notify graduate students of their status.

  • Student Responsibilities

    • Students must be aware of the Quality of Work Standards of the Graduate College, as well as additional criteria of satisfactory performance in their respective department/school programs.
    • It is the student's responsibility to know when his or her previous course work has failed to meet those standards.
    • Students who are attending classes are still subject to dismissal if their department/school recommends that action based on its review of their previous performance.

Automatic Dismissal for a Grade of "U" (Unsatisfactory) or "Fail"
A grade of "U" or "Fail" in any course taken by a graduate student shall be treated the same as for a grade of "C-" or below and shall result in automatic dismissal from the graduate program.

The Plan of Study and Grades Which Result in Automatic Dismissal
Grades which result in automatic dismissal from a program (e.g., grade of "C-" or below, "U" , "Fail") may not be applied towards a graduate plan of study.

Students Dismissed from a Graduate Program Who then Re-apply as Non-degree Students
Students will be placed on stop enrollment for the department/school from which they were dismissed unless they request and receive permission in accordance with departmental/school graduate program policy to enroll as a non-degree student in that program.

Policy on Petitioning for Reinstatement into a Graduate Program
The process for petitioning and evaluating petitions for reinstatement into a gradute program is the responsibility of each deparartment/school Graduate Program Committee. For a current copy of procedures, please contact your department/school Graduate Program Committee Chair.

 

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Transfer of Graduate Credit

Approval of transfer of graduate credit for course work taken at another accredited university (including extension credit but not including correspondence courses) is made at the time a Change in Plan of Study form is submitted to the Office of Graduate Studies. Grades received in courses for transfer of credit must be the equivalent of "B" (3.0 on a scale of 4.0) or higher. Transfer of graduate credits from a course taken with a pass/fail option must be recommended by the cognizant Graduate Program Committee, supported by a written evaluation from the instructor and approved by the Dean for Graduate Studies. All work accepted for transfer of credit must have been taken within the prescribed time limits for graduate degrees and is subject to restriction if previously used to satisfy requirements for another graduate degree.

The only course work from other institutions posted on the UNO transcript will be those used on the approved plan of study.

 

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Transfer of Credits Taken Outside the University of Nebraska

Up to one-third of the course work required for a graduate degree program may be accepted from an accredited institution other than a unit of the University of Nebraska when the transfer is supported by the student's adviser and the appropriate Graduate Program Committee. Final approval will be made by the UNO Dean for Graduate Studies. All other policies regarding graduate programs will apply. An official transcript must be forwarded to the Office of Graduate Studies documenting the course(s) were taken for graduate credit.

 

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Transfer of Credits Taken at the University of Nebraska

There are no a priori limits on the transfer and applicability of credits earned in one program of the University of Nebraska toward meeting degree requirements in another such program, except as they are used to earn distinct degrees. However, such credits must be individually evaluated and approved by the appropriate Graduate Program Committee and campus Dean for Graduate Studies before they can actually be transferred. UNO students who wish to take courses at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, the University of Nebraska Medical Center, or the University of Nebraska at Kearney for transfer of credit should complete the intercampus application process available at https://intercampus.nebraska.edu/pre_inter_campus.aspx .

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Second Master's Degree

Use of graduate credit earned for the first degree will be treated in the same manner as transfer credit from another institution if applied to the requirements for the second degree. Up to one-third of the course work required for the second master's degree may consist of courses from a previous graduate degree. All other policies regarding graduate programs apply.

 

Masters Degree with a Double Major

The professional/scholastic goals of some masters students may be enhanced substantially by acquiring more knowledge of a second field than is currently provided by the option of earning a minor, yet they may not need a dual degree (i.e., two masters degrees in separate majors, typically 60+ credit hours). The UNO Graduate Council has approved the concept of providing masters degree students with the option of attaining a double major within the same degree (e.g., master of arts in two different majors). For instance, a student may be permitted, with proper approvals, to pursue a master of arts degree in the majors of history and geography because these majors lead to the master of arts degree. One could not attain a double major in history and biology because these majors lead only to the master of arts and the master of science degrees, respectively.


Applicants choosing the double major will submit one application and fee and clearly specify they are seeking a double major. In addition, the applicant must specify which department/school is to consider the application first and whether or not she/he is applying for support from one or both departments/schools. The graduate committee of the first department/school will pass the application to the second graduate committee with the results of its decisions (recommendation for acceptance with support, recommendation for acceptance without support, refusal of admission). The prospective student should be aware that a decision to recommend admission by one of the graduate committees does not affect the decision of the other. The criteria for acceptance may differ between programs; admission to one or both of the department's/school's programs does not guarantee acceptance for a double major masters degree. Final approval of all applicants rests with the Dean for Graduate Studies. If one major is approved and one denied, the student must submit another application with an additional $45 application fee to apply to another major.

Students accepted into a double-major must meet, at least, the minimum requirements for each of the majors. This includes course work of no less than 18 credit hours in each of the two disciplines. Courses cross-listed in both majors may only be counted once. The precise number of credits may vary depending on the total required hours for a particular major. For each of the two majors, students must take at least nine credits in courses open only to graduate students (9000 level or 8000 level), excluding thesis hours.

The student is required to successfully satisfy the thesis/comprehensive examination or equivalent requirements for each major. In the event that both programs have a thesis requirement, either a) two thesis may be written or b) the content of the thesis may reflect the content of both majors. If a joint thesis is elected, the thesis committee shall then consist of two graduate faculty members from each of the major departments/schools and shall be co-chaired by a faculty member from each of the major departments/schools.

If a student is already pursuing a major in a degree program, then decides he or she would like to obtain a second major, a new application and admission fee is required. The new application must be approved by the original graduate committee prior to review by the second graduate committee. However, once the masters degree is conferred, a second major cannot be attained. Students then would be required to apply for admission to a second masters degree program, and upon acceptance, complete all requirements of a full independent program.

 

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Graduate-only Level Course Requirements

  • At least one-half the hours of course work on a plan of study should be in courses which are normally restricted to graduate students only (8--0 or 9---).

  • No more than two 3--0/8--5 courses are allowed on a plan of study.

  • BSAD courses 8110, 8120, 8130, 8170, and 8180 may not be used on any plan of study.

  • ISQA 8010, 8020, 8040, and 8050 may not be used on any plan of study.
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Time Limit for Graduate Degrees


The degree program (as defined in the plan of study, and comprehensive exams, if required) for master's and Ed.S. degrees must be completed within ten consecutive calendar years. Course work which would be over 10 years old (30 consecutive terms) at the completion of the degree program (as defined in the plan of study) cannot be used for a master's or Ed.S. degree. The first day of class of the earliest course which appears on the student's plan of study is the beginning of the student's graduate education.

 

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Minor Field

A student is not required by the graduate faculty to have a minor. However, a student may elect a minor with permission of the major department/school and the minor department/school.

The minor must consist of no fewer than nine graduate hours. The courses must be included on the Change in Plan of Study form and the minor department must sign off on this form. The minor will be reflected on the student's transcript at the time of graduation.

Students who elect to complete a minor may be required to take a comprehensive examination over the minor field. This requirement will be at the discretion of the minor adviser. If such an examination is given, it should be given at a date arranged at the convenience of both the student and the minor adviser, but falling within the limits established for all comprehensive examinations.

The following are available minors:

  • Art History
  • Aviation
  • Black Studies
  • Business Administration
  • Chemistry
  • Economics
  • English
  • French
  • Geography
  • German
  • Gerontology
  • History
  • Management Information Systems
  • Mathematics
  • Music
  • Native American Studies
  • Philosophy
  • Physics
  • Political Science
  • Religious Studies
  • Spanish
  • Women's Studies
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Concentrations

A department/school may offer specialized areas of concentration of at least nine hours to graduate students pursuing degrees in the department/school. The area of concentration must appear on the approved plan of study. The Registrar will identify this area of concentration on the student's transcript.

 

Final Comprehensive Examinations


A final comprehensive examination is required of all candidates for the master's degree. There are exceptions to this rule where an alternative measure of mastery has been approved: the Master of Business Administration; Masters of Accounting; the M.A. or M.S. with a major in psychology, school psychology or industrial/organizational psychology; Master of Public Administration; the Master of Public Health, and the M.A. or M.S. with a major in Speech-Language Pathology.

The comprehensive examinations should be taken near the conclusion of the students' programs and should measure the students' knowledge and ability to synthesize that knowledge in the analysis of questions involving more than one concept. For those candidates not writing a thesis, the examination is a written one. For those candidates writing a thesis, the final comprehensive examination may be either written or oral at the option of the cognizant department/school. If the comprehensive is to be written, it will be arranged by the department/school Graduate Program Committee. If the comprehensive is to be oral, it should be arranged at the time of the oral examination over the thesis, at which time one-half of the examination may be devoted to the courses taken by the candidate and one-half to the thesis.

If the student has a defined minor, the minor advisor may require that the student take a comprehensive examination over the minor field. If such an examination is given, it should be given at a date arranged at the convenience of both the student and the minor adviser but falling within the limits established for all comprehensive examinations.

Most graduate departments/schools require students to register for the comprehensive examinations at the time of their final enrollment; however, students should check with their advisors early in their programs to determine departmental/school policy concerning the administration of the final comprehensive examinations.

 

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Thesis, Thesis Equivalent Projects, and Eds Field Projects

Supervisory Committees


Some graduate programs require the establishment of a supervisory committee for each student. In particular, each student under the Thesis Option must have a supervisory committee. The supervisory committee should be appointed as early in the student's program as possible. The committee shall supervise all aspects of the thesis project and approve the final form of the thesis.

Each committee is appointed by the Dean for Graduate Studies based upon recommendation of the Graduate Program Committee. The committee shall consist of at least two voting Graduate Faculty from the student's graduate department/school and at least one voting Graduate Faculty Member from another department/school. In addition, other qualified persons may be appointed to ex-officio (non-voting) status if it is believed that they can provide needed expertise or that they could gain valuable experience by participating on the committee. If the student is under the Thesis Option, the chairperson of the committee shall be considered the student's thesis advisor. The Supervisory Committee sheet must be on file in the Office of Graduate Studies at least one semester before graduation.

 

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Scope and Nature of Thesis Projects

Thesis projects will vary widely among disciplines as well as within fields of academic inquiry. There is a common set of features, however, that will characterize a thesis. These are basic requirements and departments/schools may have additional requirements. The subject of the thesis will be chosen from the candidate's field of major interest and must be approved by the supervisory committee.

  1. The thesis will reveal a capacity to conduct an independent study or research project, and will demonstrate a student's ability to use the techniques employed in his or her field of investigation.
  2. The student will design the project with the help of a faculty advisory committee, conduct the necessary background literature and other primary sources search, do the research, analyze the results, write the thesis, and communicate the results at an oral thesis defense.
  3. The work will not necessarily be original research, but it may be a new application of ideas.
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Thesis & Field Project Options


A thesis provides an opportunity for the student to obtain first-hand experience in research methods under competent direction. Students in many degree programs may elect a thesis option. In other programs all students are required to write a thesis. The thesis must be assigned a total of at least six hours of graduate credit on the approved plan of study. The field project must be assigned a total of three hours of graduate credit on the approved plan of study.

The thesis should be initiated no later than one semester before the anticipated date of graduation in order to provide sufficient time for research, writing and examination. It is the responsibility of the student to follow all regulations contained in the "Guidelines for Preparing Theses, Thesis-Equivalent Projects, EdS Field Projects or Dissertations" .

The student must have an oral defense of the thesis. At that time, the supervisory committee must sign the acceptance page of the thesis. In the event that all members of the Supervisory Committee are not unanimous regarding the approval of a thesis, the student is to be aproved for the degree if only one member dissents. However, in each case, the dissenting member of the committiee will be expected to file a letter of explanation in the Office of Graduate Studies.

Submitted theses, other than the original, may contain a photocopy of the original acceptance page.

An abstract of no more than 350 words in length and conforming to the thesis or thesis-equivalent project in respect to margins and spacing must be placed in the thesis or thesis-equivalent project following the acceptance page.

The student should then submit two theses and the number of copies required for the department/school and/or adviser to the Office of Graduate Studies at least twelve working days before graduation.

Students are responsible for paying the binding fee for the total number of copies being bound at the Library Circulation Desk. Copy requirements are available at the Office of Graduate Studies.

Once the thesis has been accepted by the Office of Graduate Studies, the "IP" grade is changed to "S" (Satisfactory) by the Graduate Studies Office.

 

Guidelines for Establishing Thesis-Equivalent Projects

Theses-like projects should be of the same caliber of scholarly work as a thesis. The student will research, develop and analyze a topic approved by the Supervisory Committee. Departments/Schools desiring to use the thesis-equivalent category must apply to the Graduate Council for approval. The following guidelines are to insure that these projects are, so far as possible, equivalent to theses in scope, evaluation and process.
  • The work on the project should commence at least one semester prior to the expected date of graduation.
  • The project should be assigned a total of at least six hours of graduate credit on the approved plan of study.
  • The process for development and approval of the project must include all of the following:

-appointment of a supervisory committee;
-a proposal to be approved by the supervisory committee;
-monitoring of the project by the supervisory committee;
-an oral examination over the completed written product conducted by the supervisory committee; and
-final approval by the supervisory committee.

 

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