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Graduate Degree Regulations

Degree Program Regulations

  1. To pursue a graduate degree at Wichita State, students must be admitted to the specific program for which they are seeking a degree. Students may not be admitted to more than one graduate program at a time.
  2.  In order to be eligible for degree award, students must achieve a grade point average of at least 3.000 in all courses on the student’s WSU plan of study (excluding transfer work) AND for all graduate work taken at WSU. Grades lower than C, including C-, cannot be used to satisfy degree requirements, but such grades earned may be repeated.
  3. Any course taken as a part of an undergraduate degree may not be repeated for graduate credit except when the course content is substantially different (as indicated by instructors).
  4. All students who wish to earn a degree or certificate are required to file a plan of study. An approved plan of study should be on file as early in the program as is feasible to ensure students are enrolling the correct courses for their degree or certificate program.
  5. All master’s degrees require a minimum of 30 credit hours, with some programs requiring more.
  6. The total credit hours required for a doctoral degree varies with the degree program. At least 60 percent of the doctoral credit hours, beyond the master’s degree, must be 800 level and above. However, in doctoral programs that require only a bachelor’s degree for admission, students must complete 60 percent of the total credit hours at the 700 level or above, and the majority of the total credit hours (50 percent plus one hour) must be 800 level or above.
  7. Transfer hours cannot be used to satisfy the course level requirements stated above unless the transfer hours are of the appropriate level, and from Kansas Board of Regents institutions. Workshop hours may not be used to satisfy the course level requirements.
  8. Specific program requirements are listed in the individual program’s section of the Graduate Catalog. Transfer credit policies are listed in the appropriate section of the Graduate Catalog.
  9. Upon the advice and consent of the major department, a maximum of 6 credit hours of work in one earned master’s degree program may be applied to a second master’s degree.
  10. No more than 6 credit hours of independent study coursework (excluding dissertation, thesis and other independent study activities that are terminal requirements for a degree) can be used in a degree program.
  11. No more than 15 credit hours of work graded S, Cr or Bg (when on an approved plan of study) may be used toward the requirements of a graduate degree (excluding dissertation, thesis and other independent study activities that are terminal requirements for a degree). Refer to individual program areas as they may differ regarding this limit.
  12. Master’s and specialist degree programs may include no more than one-third of the total hours or 12 credit hours whichever is greater of graduate work completed at another institution accredited to offer graduate degree programs (exclusive of hours in a previous master’s degree, from which a maximum of 6 credit hours can be transferred). Departments may require lower limits on transfer credit and, therefore, students should consult individual program descriptions. Doctoral, Master of Fine Arts (MFA) and other more lengthy programs have special transfer credit allowances, as indicated in their program descriptions.
  13. Transfer credit that is accepted must have been in courses started six years or less before the semester in which the degree work is completed, unless the transfer work is from a previously earned graduate degree, graduate certificate, or graduate badge.
  14. Enrollment in Final Semester. Graduate students must be enrolled in appropriate graduate-level coursework during the semester of graduation. Such enrollment recognizes the use of university resources, including faculty and staff, as part of degree completion. The minimum enrollment for thesis students is 1 credit hour of thesis. The minimum enrollment for doctoral students is 2 credit hours of dissertation.
  15. Doctoral students are required to spend at least two continuous semesters (summer excluded) as full-time students.
  16. Faculty members of Wichita State University who hold the rank of assistant professor or higher cannot earn graduate degrees from Wichita State except for unassigned faculty (not attached to a particular college) or faculty members granted specific approval by the Graduate Council. Full-time faculty members may not pursue more than 6 credit hours of graduate credit per semester.
  17. Doctoral students admitted fall 2012 or later and master’s students admitted fall 2013 or later are required to complete Professional and Scholarly Integrity Training (PSIT) as determined by their department. This training should be completed within the first year of enrollment in the program.
  18. All graduate students must file an application for degree or application for graduate certificate by the 20th day of classes (or 10th day of classes in summer) in the semester they will complete all requirements in order for their degree or certificate to be awarded.
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