The master’s degree demonstrates advanced ability, usually in both course work and research. The master's student must comply with the degree requirements on this page, and submit any necessary forms for their degree option to document their progress with the Graduate School. Individual programs may have higher standards. Students are expected to know their program’s requirements.
Master’s Path Program—See additional details about program requirements.
Residency Requirements
- A minimum of two-thirds of the required non-research course-work credits required for the degree must be taken through Michigan Tech. PhD students must take at least 20 credits beyond the masters or 50 credits beyond the bachelors through Michigan Tech.
- Research credits used to satisfy degree requirements must be taken through Michigan Tech and must be supervised by a member of Michigan Tech graduate faculty.
- Some graduate degree programs may have other specific requirements.
Courses which meet the "at Michigan Tech" requirement are defined as courses listed in the course catalog and taught by Michigan Tech faculty either on campus, at field locations, or through distance learning.
Graduate School Credit Requirements
Individual programs may have additional requirements.
Minimum requirements
- Thirty credits beyond the bachelor’s degree for a master’s degree.
- Thirty credits beyond the master’s degree are required for a PhD.
- Programs determine the distribution of credits, and may require more than the minimum.
Unallowed credits
- Courses numbered below 3000
- Audited courses
- Continuous enrollment courses (ex: UN5951, UN5953)
- Non-research pass/fail courses
- Credits used to earn another degree (see exceptions below)
Exceptions
- Maximum of 12 credits at the 3000 and 4000 level may be used with program approval.
- Peace Corps Master’s International students may use 2 credits of language courses below the 3000 level.
- Research credits are the only non-graded classes that may be counted toward a degree.
- One-third of the non-research credits may be transferred as long as they were not used to earn another degree.
- One-third of the graduate credits earned at Michigan Tech may be reused to earn an additional master's degree in accordance with Graduate School policy.
GPA Requirements
Students must be in good standing to earn a graduate degree.
Time Limits
All work for the master’s degree must be completed within five calendar years of the first enrollment in the degree program or earliest course listed on the degree schedule, whichever is earliest. All work for the PhD must be completed within eight calendar years of the first enrollment in the degree program or earliest course listed on the degree schedule, whichever is earliest. Requests for extension must be made by the advisor to the Graduate School.
Advisor
Initially the advisor may be the graduate program director, but as soon as possible, and no later than the end of the second semester in residence, a permanent advisor should be chosen. This Michigan Tech graduate faculty member advises the student on course selection and, if applicable, supervises the research experience. The primary advisor, or a co-advisor must hold a regular or adjunct appointment in the student's administrative home department or school.
- While one co-advisor may be from outside the student's administrative home department, it is recommended but not required that this co-advisor not fill the role of sole external member on the student's committee.
- Before recommending a sole advisor who holds an adjunct appointment in the student's administrative home department or school, the appropriate graduate program director should ensure that this person is sufficiently familiar with the department/school standards for research and with applicable university policies/procedures and that this person can maintain adequate contact with the student.
The advisor is an important factor in the graduate student’s timely and successful completion of the program of study. All graduate students must have an advisor.
Options
Each student must submit any necessary forms for their degree option to document their progress with the Graduate School. Individual option requirements are as follows.
Oral Examination
Examination by and approval of a faculty committee is required for awarding a master’s degree for students enrolled in the thesis or report options. This committee will examine the general professional knowledge, course work, and the written documents of each master’s candidate. The public defense is scheduled and the committee nominated via the Pre-defense form, which must be in the Graduate School two weeks prior to the defense date. The committee’s written evaluation must be filed on the Report on oral examination form (M6). The student must be enrolled to defend.
Examination Committee—The examination committee will be appointed by the dean of the Graduate School in consultation with the department chair. The committee will consist of at least three members of the graduate faculty. At least one of these will be from outside the student's administrative home department or school. The primary advisor, or a co-advisor must hold a regular or adjunct appointment in the student's administrative home department or school. While one co-advisor may be from outside the student's administrative home department, it is recommended but not required that this co-advisor not fill the role of sole external member on the student's committee.