Master's Programs
graduate school of arts and sciences
The Graduate School of Arts and Sciences currently offers 27 M.A. and M.S. degree options.
Acceptance
Candidates for the Master's degree must be graduates of an accredited college with generally at least 18 semester hours of upper-division work in the proposed area of study. In case of deficiencies prerequisites may be earned in the Graduate School by achieving a minimum grade of B in courses approved for this purpose. Where there is some doubt about a scholastic record, acceptance may be conditional. The candidate will then be evaluated by the department and recommended to the dean for approval after the first semester of course work or after earning a minimum of six credits.
Course Credits
The number of graduate credits required for the degree varies by department. No formal minor is required, but, with the approval of his or her major department, a student may take a limited number of credits in a closely related area.
The 2013-2014 rate per credit hour is $1,344.
No more than six graduate credits will be accepted in transfer toward fulfillment of course requirements, as described more fully under "Transfer of Credit" under Academic Regulations.
Foreign Language Requirement
Please check with the department as this requirement varies. Many of the humanity departments have some type of language requirement.
Master's Comprehensive Examination
Student eligibility for taking the master's comprehensive exam is determined by the department. Students should consult with their department about the nature of this exam and time of administration. Departments use the following grading scale: pass with distinction (PwD), pass (P), and fail (F); one of these three grades will be recorded on the student’s transcript. Generally, within two weeks, the department will send the results, in writing, to the Office of Student Services and to the individual student. A student who fails the master's comprehensive exam may take it once again but not sooner than the following semester and at a time designated by the department. In case of a second failure no further attempt is allowed.
Thesis
Some programs require or allow the option of a thesis. A maximum of six credit hours, attained by registering for Thesis Seminar xx 801.xx, is required for the thesis. Students who have completed the Thesis Seminar, but not their thesis, must register for Interim Study xx 888.01, a non-credit course, each semester until their thesis is completed.
Time Limit
A student is permitted five consecutive years from the date of acceptance into the program for completion of all requirements for the master's degree. Extensions are permitted only with approval of the department concerned and of the dean.
Fifth Year B.A/M.A and B.S/M.S
In cooperation with the College of Arts and Sciences, the Graduate School offers a five-year B.A./M.A. program in some departments. Application to the program normally takes place early in the second semester of the junior year. Students in the two-year M.A. program cannot be retroactively considered for the five-year B.A./M.A. program. That is, students who begin the two-year M.A. program cannot switch to the B.A./M.A. program.
The applicant must complete an application to the Master's degree program in the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences. Application requirements may differ slightly from the traditional Master's program. Please check with the department to determine required materials.
Admission to the B.A./M.A. program normally requires an overall GPA of 3.333 and a GPA of 3.5 in the major. Although specific B.A./M.A. program requirements will vary across departments, the program limits the number of courses to two credited towards the Master's degree that may also be counted towards the undergraduate degree. The undergraduate degree will be conferred upon completion of undergraduate requirements. The Master's degree will be conferred upon completion of degree requirements specified by the department.
Note: Current BC students are not required to submit an application fee.
Additional requirements may be established within the individual academic departments.