Enrollment Requirements
Master’s students must be admitted and enroll at UWF for a minimum of one semester as degree-seeking in the degree program for which a degree is awarded. For example, a student must be admitted and enrolled for a minimum of one semester as a master’s degree student for a master’s degree to be awarded.

In addition, master’s students must enroll as a degree-seeking student for a minimum of one semester at UWF within the last five years of the date the degree is to be awarded. Students should contact their major department to determine the minimum of hours and courses in which to enroll. Students who need to be readmitted will be required to meet the degree requirements of the current Catalog.

Academic Requirements
The following are the general minimum requirements for completion of graduate programs. The colleges and departments may have graduation requirements which exceed these minima. Consult the individual program descriptions in this Catalog. Completion of the program should require one to two years of full-time study or its equivalent beyond the bachelor’s degree.

All master’s programs require a minimum of 30 semester hours of approved course work. Students whose master’s program consists of 30 to 36 semester hours may have a maximum of six semester hours or two courses (whichever is greater in credit) of graduate work at another university accepted toward their program requirements at UWF. The department chairperson’s permission is required. Students whose master’s program consists of more than 36 semester hours may have a maximum of 10 semester hours of graduate work from another university accepted toward their program requirements at UWF. Graduate credit may be transferred from other institutions when a grade of “B” or higher was earned.

At least 15 semester hours must be in courses at the 6000 level or above.

A graduate program may include a maximum of six semester hours or two courses (whichever is greater in credit) of undergraduate level course work, and a maximum of six semester hours or two courses (whichever is greater) of directed studies.

Undergraduate courses must be upper division (3000-4000) level and meet one of the following criteria:

1. upper-division undergraduate courses not annotated for graduate credit (included in graduate program without additional work for graduate credit);
    
2. upper-division undergraduate courses annotated for graduate credit (included in graduate program and student does additional work to receive graduate credit.)

Directed studies must be at the graduate level.

Advancement to Candidacy
Advancement to candidacy may be required by some departments. This is a separate step from admission to graduate studies. Students are responsible for determining the requirements in each area of study by consulting with the department chairperson.

Comprehensive or General Examination
Most departments require a written and/or oral general examination. The examination may be an initial diagnostic or a final comprehensive examination over the student’s fields of study. Students must pass any examination required by the department to be recommended for a graduate degree.

Credit by Proficiency Examination
At the request of a department and with the approval of the college dean, a student may be permitted to take six semester hours or two courses (whichever is greater in credit) of graduate-level credit by examination. Additional requirements are the same as those for undergraduates.

GPA Requirements
A student must satisfy the UWF GPA requirement of 3.0 based upon grades for all courses included in the initial and approved degree plan and grades for all courses included in subsequent revisions. No grade for a course taken as part of an approved graduate degree program may be deleted from the GPA. Individual programs may set more stringent GPA requirements.

The UWF academic transcript, the student academic record, and grade report do not reflect the degree program GPA. These records indicate a GPA of all UWF graduate level courses with the exception of those included in a UWF baccalaureate degree.

Non-Degree Student Status
Graduate students who wish to change to non-degree status will complete the appropriate form in the Office of the Registrar for approval by the advisor and department chairperson.

Recency of Credit
Currency of knowledge must be demonstrated to the satisfaction of departmental faculty for any course work required for the degree if the course was taken more than five years before graduation. Individual departments may set more stringent requirements or may adjust to a specific program.

Requirements for Second UWF Master’s Degree
Requirements listed below are applicable for students who already hold a master’s degree from UWF or who are pursuing two masters’ degrees simultaneously. Students who have earned a master’s degree from another institution must meet the requirements listed under Master’s Degree Requirements.

1. Graduate students may be candidates for two master’s degrees at UWF.
    
2. Candidacy in two separate master’s programs may be held in overlapping time periods.
    
3. Candidates must meet the conditions of graduate status stipulated by both departments.
    
4. Since a master’s degree represents a level of attainment, some (or all) courses included in one graduate program may be used by another department to satisfy the formal requirements for a second graduate degree. A minimum of 18 semester hours of study must be taken for the second graduate degree which were not a part of the program of study for the first graduate degree.
    
5. Masters students must be admitted and enroll at UWF for a minimum of one semester as degree-seeking in the degree program for which a degree is awarded.
    
6. Masters students must enroll as a degree-seeking student for a minimum of one semester at UWF within the last five years of the date the degree is to be awarded. Students who need to be readmitted will be required to meet the degree requirements of the current Catalog.

These stipulations do not apply to specializations within a specific degree program.

Residency Requirement
UWF residency requirements must be satisfied; however, the department offering the program may require additional residency.

Thesis Requirement
Students should consult the current Catalog for the special requirements of the individual program to determine whether a thesis or alternative is required. A maximum of 6 semester hours of credit may be applied toward a master’s or specialist degree for successful completion of a thesis. Upon completion of 6 semester hours of thesis credit, graduate students who continue thesis work must register for at least one semester hour of credit each semester thereafter until the thesis is submitted and accepted.

Theses are to be prepared in accordance with the specifications given in the “Thesis Guide” prepared by and available in the Office of Graduate Studies. Theses must be submitted to the college dean not later than four weeks before the last day of classes of the semester in which the degree is to be awarded (see Academic Calendar for deadlines).

Students must provide a copy of the thesis to the University Library. A thesis grade of “G” (deferred) will be given until the thesis has been approved.

Tool of Research Requirement
Although the University has no general research tool requirement, some departments expect demonstrated competence in a research tool, such as statistics or a foreign language. Students should refer to the appropriate department to ascertain whether a research tool is required.