Degree Requirements

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—may have additional credit requirements.

The doctor of philosophy degree is a research degree. It is awarded in recognition of demonstrated mastery of subject matter in a chosen field of study and demonstrated competence in the conduct of an individual research investigation that represents a significant contribution to the cumulative knowledge of the field. The program of study and research will be planned and supervised by an advisory committee. Each candidate’s course work and research topic must be approved by the advisory committee as meeting the standards generally associated with the doctoral degree.

The doctoral student must comply with the requirements on this page, the requirements of their program, and complete any necessary forms to document their progress with the Graduate School.

Individual programs may have higher standards, and students are expected to know their program’s requirements.

Master's and PhD 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's graduate faculty.

Courses which meet the "through Michigan Tech" requirement are defined as courses listed in the Michigan Tech course catalog and taught by Michigan Tech faculty.

Credit Requirements

Minimum requirements

Programs may have stricter requirements than listed here and may require more than the minimum numbers of credits listed here.

  • Thirty credits beyond the bachelor’s degree are required for a master’s degree.
  • Thirty credits beyond the master’s degree are required for a PhD.
  • Maximum of 12 credits may be at the 3000 or 4000 level (with program approval).
    • MEng allows a maximum of 14 credits at the 3000 or 4000 level.
  • One-third of the non-research credits may be transfer credits as long as they were not applied toward another degree.
  • Research credits are the only non-graded classes that may be counted toward a degree.
  • All credits must meet the Scholastic Standards of the Graduate School in order to be counted toward the credit requirements.

Unallowable credits

  • Courses numbered below 3000
  • Audited courses
  • Continuous enrollment courses (ex: UN5951, UN5953)
  • Non-research courses taken for a pass/fail courses
  • Credits applied toward another degree (see exceptions below)

Special Exceptions

  • Peace Corps Master’s International students may use 2 credits of language courses below the 3000 level.
  • A portion of the non-research/non-practicum credits earned at Michigan Tech may be reused to earn an additional master's degree in accordance with Graduate School policy
  • Students in an accelerated master’s program may apply up to 6 of the credits earned while an undergraduate toward both their bachelor’s and master’s degrees in accordance with University policy. Each program may set limits on the type and number of credits.

Academic Progress

Students must be in good standing to earn a graduate degree.

Time Limits

All work must be completed within the specified time frame starting from the first enrollment in the degree program or earliest course listed on the degree schedule, whichever is earliest.

  • Master’s degree must be completed within five (5) calendar years.
  • PhD must be completed within eight (8) calendar years.

Requests for extension must be made by the advisor to the Graduate School.

Responsible Conduct for Research Training

The University requires that students complete basic and advanced responsible conduct for research training. Basic training is required for all students.  Advanced training is required for all students who began their degree in spring 2013 or later OR who are funded by external sponsor. See our webpage for details on how to complete the training.

Advisor

Faculty who advise graduate students must be members of the Michigan Tech graduate faculty. These individuals advise students on course selection and supervise the students’ research. All graduate students must have an advisor.

Each student’s advisor must hold a regular or adjunct appointment in the student's administrative home department or school.

  • Students may be co-advised by two faculty members. At least one of the co-advisors must hold a regular or adjunct appointment in the student’s administrative home department or school.
  • In the case that a faculty member has a joint appointment between multiple departments, the faculty member must have greater than 50% appointment in the student’s administrative home department in order to be considered an internal committee member (Senate Policy 37-15).
  • 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.

Students who enter the University may initially be advised by the graduate program director for their degree program.

A permanent advisor should be chosen prior to the end of the second academic-year semester in residence.

Specific for Master's Students

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.

Note: Coursework students in Mathematical Sciences are required to take an exam.

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 via MyMichiganTech, which must be in the Graduate School two weeks prior to the defense date. The committee is appointed using the Advisor and Committee Recommendation Form. The committee’s written evaluation must be filed on the Report on oral examination form. The student must be enrolled to defend.

Examination Committee—The examination committee will be appointed by the Graduate School in consultation with the department chair. The student’s advisory committee will typically serve as the examining committee. The committee will consist of at least three members of the graduate faculty (including advisor/co-advisors). The primary advisor, or a co-advisor (if one is desired), must hold a regular or adjunct appointment in the student's administrative home department or school, with a greater than 50% appointment to that department (per Senate Proposal 37-15). One co-advisor may be from outside the student's administrative home department.

While no external member is required by the Graduate School for Master's committees, departments may require an external member.

Specific for PhD Students

Advisory Committee

The advisory committee consists of at least four members of the graduate faculty including the advisor/co-advisors. The membership of the committee is recommended to the dean of the Graduate School by the advisor and the chair, dean, or graduate program director of the student’s academic home department or school or program using the Advisor and Committee Recommendation form.

In addition to the primary advisor/co-advisor requirements specified in the Advisor section above, at least one member of the committee must be external to the student’s academic home department or school. A faculty member is classified as external if one of the following is true:

  • They have less than a 50% primary appointment in the student's administrative home department, OR
  • They are appointed as an ad-hoc graduate faculty member

An advisor or co-advisor cannot serve as an external member of the committee.

The advisory committee should be appointed prior to the end of the student’s fourth academic-year semester in residence.

Qualifying Examination

A qualifying examination will be given to determine each student’s ability to apply general concepts and methods in their chosen field. This examination must include a written component and may also include an oral component. Typically this exam is given prior to the research proposal examination.

The qualifying examination will be administered by members of the Graduate Faculty who are familiar with the examinee’s chosen field of study. The examining committee may be a standing committee appointed by the academic home department or school or it may consist of a student’s advisory committee. Any member of the graduate faculty may attend the oral component of this examination (if one exists) as an observer.

Satisfactory performance on the qualifying examination is required for students to maintain good progress toward completion of their degree.

The qualifying examination should be administered prior to the end of the fourth academic-year semester in residence at Michigan Tech. It must be given no later than five years after enrollment. It should be given at least two academic-year semesters before the final oral defense.

Research Proposal Examination

The research proposal examination is used to determine each student’s readiness to conduct and complete an independent research project that will contribute to the body of knowledge in their chosen field. This examination must include an oral component and may also include a written component. Typically this examination is given after the qualifying examination.

The research proposal examination will be administered by members of the Graduate Faculty who are familiar with the examinee’s chosen field of study. The examining committee may be a standing committee appointed by the academic home department or school or it may consist of a student’s advisory committee. Any member of the graduate faculty may attend the oral examination as an observer.

Satisfactory performance on the research proposal examination is required for students to maintain good progress toward completion of their degree.

The research proposal examination should be administered prior to the end of the sixth academic-year semester in residence at Michigan Tech. It must be given no later than six years after enrollment. It should be given at least one academic-year semester before the final oral defense.

Candidacy

Students who successfully complete both the qualifying examination and the research proposal examination are considered candidates for the PhD. These students are also eligible for research mode tuition rates. Students in candidacy are permitted to take courses, for which they pay regular tuition.

Dissertation

The research undertaken as part of the doctoral degree program will be presented in the form of a dissertation that will be a permanent acquisition of the library. Any classified or proprietary material that cannot be made available to the public is not acceptable as a dissertation. Completing the dissertation requires preparation of the document according to Graduate School guidelines, and submitting the completed (and successfully defended) dissertation to the Graduate School.

A completed draft of the dissertation must be distributed to the advisory committee chair two weeks prior to the final examination.