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Academic Regulations
Enrollment
Students are required to register for a minimum of twelve credit hours and as may register for as many as sixteen credit hours by the stated deadline each term. These credit hours may be comprised of a combination of courses and Non-Topical Research. Students must register for at least nine graded credits on the standard lettered scale (A through F) in each of the first two terms of study. Audited courses carry a full tuition charge, but do not count toward the twelve-credit requirement. The Graduate School does not offer part-time doctoral programs. Under extraordinary circumstances, the Associate Dean may permit a doctoral student to enroll with a reduced course load. With the endorsement of their director of graduate studies, a master’s student may request permission to enroll part-time.
Changes in a student’s registration record after the final day for dropping a course, including changing grading options, require the approval of the student’s director of graduate studies. Students are expected to enroll continuously through the completion of their degree programs. Students who have completed their graded (A-F) coursework enroll in twelve credits of Non-Topical Research per term to maintain full-time status with access to University facilities while completing the research and writing of theses or dissertations.
Advanced doctoral students who have completed three years of residency may petition to enroll in an off-Grounds status. Off- Grounds enrollment is reserved for students who will be on faculty-approved research travel away from Charlottesville for at least three quarters of the term or located away from the Charlottesville area, Graduate students approved for the off-Grounds status are enrolled full time and expected to make suitable progress towards their degrees. They are charged the advanced research tuition rate and a reduced comprehensive fee. Off-Grounds research-only students may enroll in the University’s student health insurance plan and may access Student Health services. They may also continue to access the University Library’s services and resources remotely or in person. They may not access other services provided to students who pay the full comprehensive fee, including athletics events, recreational facilities, University Transit services, or Safe Ride. While enrolled in the off-Grounds status, students may not enroll in any non-research credits and are ineligible for graduate teaching and research assistantships.
Advanced doctoral students who have been continuously enrolled full-time, have fulfilled all school- and program-level degree requirements with the exception of the dissertation, and are actively completing a dissertation under continued guidance from the faculty may petition for Doctoral Completion status. Eligible students may request this status for up to four consecutive terms. Please see “University Regulations—Academic Regulations—Affiliated Status” for additional information.
Students who have completed all degree requirements after the graduation deadline for a given term or after ceasing full-time enrollment may petition for Degree Conferral in Absentia. Because a student is eligible for this status for one term only, he or she will not be approved for this status until the satisfaction of all degree requirements has been recorded formally by the department. A student may request this status up to 15 days before the graduation deadline for that term, but in such cases may be subject to late enrollment fees. Please see University Regulations—Academic Regulations—Affiliated Status” for additional information.
Grades and GPA
The standing of a graduate student in each course is indicated by one of the following grades: A+, A, A-; B+, B, B-; C+, C, C-; D+, D, D-; F. B- is the lowest satisfactory grade for graduate credit. In courses where the grading option is Satisfactory(S)/Unsatisfactory (U), Unsatisfactory (U) is considered to be a failing grade, as is a grade of No Credit (NC). Students must achieve a minimum grade point average of 3.00 during each academic term and sustain a minimum grade point average of 3.00 cumulatively in order to maintain good academic standing. Unsatisfactory performance during a given semester may be considered sufficient reason for a student to be placed on academic probation or asked to leave a program.
A grade of Incomplete (IN) for a graduate course must be resolved within 200 days from the date on which grades for that term were originally due. The faculty instructor can impose an earlier deadline. In the case of an earlier deadline, the faculty member must notify the student in writing. An unresolved grade of Incomplete will be converted to a failing grade by the University registrar 200 days from the date on which grades for that term were originally due. Courses in which no grade was recorded are assigned a failing grade 30 days from the date on which grades for that term were originally due. Failing grades recorded in this manner have the same effect on a student’s record and standing as failing grades assigned by instructors. Students carrying multiple grades of Incomplete or blank grades at the conclusion of a term are subject to probationary measures for unsatisfactory academic performance.
Students are responsible for confirming the accuracy of their transcripts. A student must identify and seek correction of any errors by the conclusion of the term following the award of the grade in question or prior to degree conferral if they are graduating that term. Upon identifying a possible error, the student should contact the instructor and director of graduate studies immediately. Errors not noted within these time limits will not be revised.
Leave of Absence
A student who wishes to suspend full-time study temporarily may request approval from the director of graduate studies and the senior associate director of academic compliance to undertake a leave of absence and postpone their expected date of graduation. Leaves are approved for a full term or academic year, with a student eligible for up to two years of leave cumulatively. A student on an approved leave retains access to their UVA email account for 180 days but is otherwise ineligible for financial aid and the use of University facilities. A student must affirm their intent to return from leave. A student on leave must file a reinstatement request by April 1 to return in the fall term and by November 1 to return in the spring term.
Leaves of absence involving medical circumstances may be approved at any point before or during a particular term. In the latter case, tuition is charged according to the portion of the term elapsed before the effective date of the leave, and financial support allocated to the student for the remainder of that term is forfeited. Students whose leaves involve medical circumstances are required to obtain clearance from the Department of Student Health in order to resume enrollment.
A student that has been on leave of absence for longer than two consecutive years must reapply to the program as a new student.
Petitions, Appeals and Grievances
Petitions for exceptions to Graduate School policy must be requested by the student through the departmental director of graduate studies to the assistant dean.
The Graduate School does not entertain appeals or grievances of the faculty’s academic evaluation of students.
Students are expected to follow complaint or grievance processes set forth in applicable University policies, including but not limited to those regarding:
A graduate student who wishes to grieve an academic suspension decision affecting them should consult the University policy, and should first attempt to resolve concerns or conflicts by working directly with a faculty member, the departmental director of graduate studies, and/or the departmental chair. Conflicts or concerns that cannot be resolved to a student’s satisfaction within the department should be discussed with the associate dean for graduate education. After this discussion, a student who wishes to file an appeal may do so in writing to the Committee of Associate Deans of Arts and Sciences within ten (10) calendar days of the date on which the decision being contested was communicated to the student. This appeal should be sent to the associate dean for graduate education.
Within five (5) calendar days after receiving the decision of the appeal, the student may appeal in writing to the Senior Associate Dean for Academic Affairs. Dissatisfaction with the outcome of the initial adjudication of the grievance will not be grounds for appeal; however, students may appeal on the grounds that there was a failure to follow procedure.
In a case for which a student believes a program decision has been made based on non-academic grounds, and the action is not addressed by applicable University policies (see immediately above), the graduate student should first attempt to resolve concerns or conflicts by working directly with a faculty member, the departmental director of graduate studies, and/or the departmental chair. Conflicts or concerns that cannot be resolved to a student’s satisfaction within the department should be discussed with the associate dean for graduate education. After this discussion, a student who wishes to file an appeal may do so in writing to the Committee of Associate Deans of Arts and Sciences within ten (10) calendar days of the date on which the decision being contested was communicated to the student. This appeal should be sent to the associate dean for graduate education.
Within five (5) calendar days after receiving the decision of the appeal, the student may appeal in writing to the Senior Associate Dean for Academic Affairs. Dissatisfaction with the outcome of the initial adjudication of the grievance will not be grounds for appeal; however, students may appeal on the grounds that there was a failure to follow procedure.
Readmission and Reinstatement
A student who voluntarily withdraws from the Graduate School or otherwise ceases to enroll for a period of up to two academic years and wishes to resume enrollment must file a reinstatement request by April 1 to return in the fall term and by November 1 to return in the spring term. A student who has been absent for longer than two years must reapply through the standard process to their program of study.
Transfer Credit
With the approval of the supervising department and the senior associate director of academic operations, a student may transfer up to 24 credit hours of course- work earned in another graduate program (and awarded a grade of “B” or higher) toward the 72-hour doctoral requirement. Transfer credits earned prior to matriculation must be requested by the conclusion of the first year of a student’s enrollment in the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences. In any case, at least 18 graded course credits applied toward the degree must have been earned at the University of Virginia. If nine or more transfer credits are awarded, the student’s date of graduation will be accelerated by one term. If 21 or more transfer credits are awarded, the student’s expected date of graduation will be accelerated by two terms. The Graduate School typically requires students to complete all requirements in residence for the degrees of Master of Arts, Master of Science and Master of Fine Arts.
Expiration of Credits
Credits used to fulfill degree requirements must be earned within 10 years of the semester of the degree conferral. Courses taken at UVA to fulfill the degree requirements expire 10 years after the completion of the course. Courses taken outside UVA that have not been approved for transfer within 10 years after completion of the course are considered expired and not eligible for transfer.
Expired credits cannot be counted toward degree requirements without revalidation. Expired credits may be revalidated if the current instructor of the course reviews the syllabus of the expired course and affirms that the content is still relevant, and must be approved by the student’s advisor, the director of graduate studies, and the associate director of academic operations to count toward the student’s degree requirements.
Enforced Withdrawal
A student may be required to withdraw at any point during the term from the Graduate School if the academic advisor, departmental faculty and the Associate Dean determine that the student is making unsatisfactory progress toward a degree or fails to comply with all applicable University, School, and departmental policies, including but not limited to those governing student conduct, academics, and the Code of Honor. Tuition is charged according to the portion of the term elapsed before the effective date of the enforced withdrawal, and financial support allocated to the student for the remainder of that term is forfeited.
Voluntary Withdrawal
A student who wishes to withdraw voluntarily from the Graduate School must discuss the circum- stances with their director of graduate studies and submit a formal notice of withdrawal to the senior associate director of academic operations. Forms for this purpose may be obtained from the Graduate School. Students withdrawing during an academic term must do so at least one week prior to the examination period in order to receive notations of “W” on the transcript. Tuition is charged according to the portion of the term elapsed before the effective date of the leave, and financial support allocated to the student for the remainder of that term is forfeited. For more detail, see “University Regulations—Academic Regulations—Voluntary Withdrawal.”
Degree Conferral
A graduate student who wishes to receive their degree must file a degree application with the Graduate School. Deadlines for degree applications are October 1st for conferral in December, February 1st for conferral in May, and July 1st for conferral in August (or the next business day in the event that a deadline falls on a weekend). A transcript of the applicant’s previous academic record confirming the substance and award date of his or her baccalaureate degree must also be on file in the event that a candidate does not complete the degree requirements in the term for which their degree application was approved, the candidate must notify the Graduate School of the revised expected date for graduation. The candidate must then submit a new application at the beginning of a subsequent term in which candidacy for the degree is again proposed. A candidate who requests degree conferral during the summer must register for the summer term.
A degree will not be conferred to a candidate who has a notation of “Incomplete” or a blank grade for any courses on their transcript.
Admission
Policies
Application for admission must be made online by the stated deadlines, which vary by program. A non-refundable application fee is payable at the time of application. Official decisions regarding the application for admission are communicated directly by the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences.
Applicants may apply to only one program in the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences during a given admissions cycle. Applicants who hold a Ph.D. or its international equivalent are not eligible for admission to the Graduate School in the field in which they have already earned that degree. With the approval of the assistant dean, applicants who hold master’s degrees are eligible for admission to a terminal master’s degree program in the same field in cases where the faculty recognizes a significant curricular distinction between the previous and proposed programs of study.
Requirements
An applicant must hold a bachelor’s degree from among the arts and sciences issued by a collegiate institution of recognized rank. Other baccalaureate degrees from such institutions may be acceptable upon approval of the program’s admission committee.
An applicant should have achieved, at minimum, a B average in their undergraduate program or the equivalent as estimated by the program’s admission committee.
Academic credits, undergraduate or graduate, earned more than ten years before the date of application for admission will normally not be considered as a valid basis for admission to the Graduate School. At the discretion of the faculty in the proposed program of study, such credits may be validated by an examination or examinations given at the University of Virginia.
Official results of the Graduate Record Examination general test (as well as subject tests when required by the department) and two letters of recommendation from faculty (preferably those who have taught in the field of the major subject) are required in support of the application. Upon acceptance to the graduate program, the applicant must provide official transcripts of their baccalaureate record and any graduate-level work. Additional materials may be required by some departments.
Applicants whose native language is not English must complete the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL), which is administered by ETS, or the International English Language Testing System (IELTS). This requirement is typically waived for applicants who will have received a baccalaureate degree or its international equivalent from a college or university in which English is the primary language of instruction.
Application requirements are waived for an enrolled undergraduate at the University whom the faculty wish to admit to a master’s program. The candidate will send a written request for admission to the director of graduate studies specifying the first term of planned enrollment. Upon favorable review, the director of graduate studies will forward the candidate’s request to the assistant dean indicating that the candidate has been evaluated and approved by the faculty for admission. Such candidates must meet the Graduate School’s minimum academic thresholds for admission stated above.
Degree Requirements
Doctor of Philosophy
The degree of Doctor of Philosophy will be conferred upon the holder of an approved baccalaureate degree who has fulfilled within the designated time limit all requirements as set forth below and any discipline-specific requirements stated by the department or program.
Academic Requirements
Students must complete a minimum of 72 hours of graduate credit. A minimum of 24 out of the 72 credit hours must be graded coursework, and no more than 48 of the 72 credit hours can be constituted by Non-Topical Research. Only graduate courses taught by members of one of the graduate faculties of the University, offered during the fall or spring term and graded on the standard A through F scale may be counted toward the graded coursework requirement unless otherwise specified in a program’s degree requirements.
General Examination
A candidate must achieve satisfactory standing in a general examination (oral, written or both).
Candidacy Deadline
Each program has articulated a standard term of study in the program by which a doctoral candidate must have completed all requirements for the Ph.D. degree except for the dissertation in order to remain in good academic standing. For a student enrolled in a master’s program in the Graduate School who is subsequently admitted to the doctoral program in the same field, the terms of enrollment in the master’s program will count towards candidacy deadline unless otherwise stated in the letter of admission. A certificate of candidacy may be awarded by certain departments to students who have completed these requirements. The Graduate School of Arts and Sciences does not award such certificates.
Residency Requirement
The minimum length of study for the Ph.D. is three years. In exceptional circumstances, students may petition the assistant dean to waive the third year of graduate work. No degree candidacy will be approved unless the student has spent at least two consecutive semesters during the academic year in a Ph.D. program in full-time residential study at the University of Virginia.
Time Limitation
All requirements for the Ph.D. must be completed within seven years from the first term of enrollment in the Ph.D. Program, excluding periods of approved leave and military service. For a student enrolled in a master’s program in the Graduate School who is subsequently admitted to the doctoral program in the same field, the terms of enrollment in the master’s program will count towards the seven-year limit for the doctoral degree unless otherwise stated in the letter of admission.
Dissertation
The successful defense of a dissertation exhibiting independent research in the candidate’s major subject is required. A primary advisor who is a tenured or tenure-track member of the faculty of the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences will periodically evaluate the student’s progress on the dissertation. Written exceptions to this policy must be sought from the assistant dean in GSAS.
If the student’s progress is judged to be unsatisfactory, the advisor may recommend that the student develop a new topic or that the faculty consider whether the student should be allowed to continue to enroll. The title of the dissertation must be approved by the primary advisor. The student should consult the advisor and director of graduate studies regarding departmental requirements relating to the dissertation. Students are responsible for obtaining permission from prospective publishers to submit published content as part of a dissertation that will be accessible to the University community and may ultimately reside within an open-access environment. Students should consult with their advisors and committee members when selecting venues for published work and determining how such work will be included in their dissertations.
To fulfill the requirements for the doctoral degree, students must submit the completed dissertation to the department for examination by an approved dissertation committee. This committee, chaired by the primary advisor, will consist of a minimum of four tenured or tenure-track members of the faculty with at least three faculty from the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences. Emeritus faculty can serve on committees, including as primary advisor, up to two years following the start of their emeritus status.
One member of the committee will serve as an external representative on the committee to ensure that the student has been evaluated fairly and with appropriate academic rigor. This external representative must be approved by the student’s director of graduate studies and must hold a primary appointment outside of the student’s department. With approval of the director of graduate studies, this external committee member may be drawn from the tenured or tenure-track faculty of other graduate schools at the University, but must hold a Ph.D. The start date of the external committee member’s appointment should be determined according to departmental standards.
A director of graduate studies may petition the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences to allow a reader from outside the University who holds a Ph.D. to serve as one of the four core members of the committee. This outside reader may not serve as the external representative.
Once these minimum requirements have been met, additional committee members from within the University or other institutions may be added. Through its chair, the dissertation committee may invite other members of the departmental faculty to take part in the examination; the doctoral examination may be given before the entire faculty of the department if appropriate.
If a student and primary advisor identify a faculty member that they feel would be appropriate for committee participation, but who does not fulfill one or more of the standard requirements for being a committee member, the student should request approval of that committee member from the chairperson of their department. Once the chairperson of the department has given written approval, the director of graduate studies should petition the Graduate school on behalf of the department and student. To do so, the director of graduate studies should submit by email to the Senior Associate Director for Academic Operations, GSAS the Chair’s approval, the faculty member’s CV, and a statement regarding that faculty member’s particular suitability for the committee. The request will be considered by the Associate Dean for Graduate Education and the Senior Associate Director for Academic Operations, GSAS with input from the appropriate Divisional Associate Dean. This committee member may not serve as the external committee representative. There is a limit of one committee member that does not meet standard criteria.
A dissertation that has been successfully defended must be deposited with the University’s digital repository, LIBRA, by the respective graduation deadline cited above. At the time of deposit, students may elect to make the full content publicly available online or limit access to the contents of the dissertation for up to five years to UVA users who possess valid network access and any member of the public accessing the UVA network on Grounds. Students may also petition the Graduate School for an embargo of the dissertation for up to five years, during which time its contents will not be visible to any audience.
A student who seeks an embargo must submit a statement to the advisor at least six weeks in advance of the LIBRA submission deadline for the semester in which the degree will be conferred. The statement must provide a substantive rationale for the embargo and the desired end date within five years after which the dissertation will become publicly accessible. The advisor and department chair will review the petition and forward it to the Graduate School with their comments. The Arts & Sciences dean’s office will review the petition and notify the student and department of the outcome of the petition and alert the University Library to any approved embargo period. At the conclusion of an embargo period or after five years of limited access, former students may utilize the petition process described above to request an extension of the embargo or limited access period.
En Route Master’s Degree
A doctoral student in a program that offers a master’s degree may petition for that degree upon completion of the master’s degree requirements.
A doctoral student who wishes to receive a master’s degree en route to the Ph.D. in a program other than the one to which the student was admitted must submit a proposal to the assistant dean that is endorsed by the DGS from each of the participating programs. The en route master’s degree should be co-curricular with the doctoral degree. As such, the proposal will outline prospective coursework to fulfill the requirements of the master’s degree, noting to what extent this coursework will also satisfy course requirements for the doctoral degree. The proposal will establish a schedule for the completion of master’s requirements and doctoral candidacy requirements that neither extends the standard length of the doctoral program nor requires additional financial support to complete both degrees. Up to six credits of coursework in the proposed master’s discipline may be completed before the proposal is approved.
Combination Degrees (formerly termed “Dual” Degrees)
GSAS, in conjunction with other Schools at the University of Virginia, offers several combination (formerly termed “dual”) degrees at the master’s level and one at the doctoral level. Students in a combination degree program must meet the minimum stated academic and residency requirements of GSAS as well as the individual requirements of the participating Arts and Sciences degree program.
Business
GSAS and the Darden School of Business offer the MBA/MA in Government or Foreign Affairs. This program requires one term of full-time enrollment in GSAS (typically upon completion of the M.B.A. requirements). With the approval of the Department of Politics, up to six credits of coursework completed at the School of Business may count toward the master’s degree.
Law
The School of Law and the Graduate School of Arts & Sciences (GSAS) offer J.D./M.A. dual degree programs in the fields of English, Environmental Sciences, Foreign Affairs, Government, History and Philosophy that are designed to accommodate the interests of students who desire to complement their training in law with theoretical, historical, empirical and interpretive methods derived from respective disciplines in the arts and sciences.
Administration of the Program-Combination Degrees
The Program will be administered by a program committee (“Program Committee”) composed of faculty from the School of Law and faculty from the College and Graduate School of Arts & Sciences, as designated by the respective deans.
Admission to the Program-Combination Degrees
The student is obligated to secure separate admission to both the School of Law and the Graduate School of Arts & Sciences. Application to the Graduate School of Arts & Sciences may be made prior to entrance or while the applicant is a first-year student at the School of Law. In either case, applicants to the Program will be held to the same standards as other applicants to each school. Applicants’ status as a candidate for the Program will not be considered in the admission process. Once admitted independently to each school, the student may make application to the Program Committee for admission to the Program. Admission to the Program will be judged according to criteria developed by the Program Committee and will not be guaranteed by virtue of acceptance at both schools.
Curriculum-Combination Degrees
With the exception of the J.D./M.A. program in History, which is completed during six terms in residence solely in the School of Law, the Program will take a minimum of seven regular semesters to complete (summer semesters do not count) and may not be accelerated. In brief, the Program consists of the complete first-year curriculum in the School of Law (two semesters) followed by semesters of courses taken from the curricula of the two schools and, in appropriate cases, from other graduate offerings at the University.
Students must comply with all of the policies and meet all of the requirements set by both schools for the award of both the J.D. and the M.A., including the required curriculum and minimum academic standards. The student must complete a minimum of 86 credits in the School of Law and a minimum of 30 credits in the Graduate School of Arts & Sciences.
With the approval of the School of Law representative on the Program Committee, students may earn one residency semester and receive up to 12 of the 86 credits required for the J.D. degree in appropriate graduate-level work in the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences or other departments at the University. Students must receive approval from the School of Law representative on the Program Committee prior to enrolling in any courses outside the School of Law. Similarly, with the approval of the Graduate School of Arts & Sciences representative on the Program Committee, a student may receive up to six credits toward the M.A. degree through the successful completion of coursework from an approved list of courses that are taught at the School of Law. Students should consult with the College and Graduate School of Arts & Sciences representative on the Program Committee prior to enrollment to identify these approved courses. NOTE: In accordance with ABA standards, J.D. degree candidates may not receive credit toward the J.D. degree for more than 17 credits total in any given semester. In addition, credit towards the J.D. degree cannot be granted for course work completed prior to matriculation at the School of Law.
Change of Status-Combination Degrees
At any point in the Program, students may terminate plans for a dual degree and continue toward a single degree at either school. The student then must satisfy the normal requirements of the selected program, which may include credits completed in the other school, as determined by the appropriate officials in the selected program. Students put on probation or suspended for academic reasons from one program will be evaluated by the other program to verify their good standing for continued enrollment. Students must remain active in both programs to be awarded dual degrees.
Tuition and Fees-Combination Degrees
With the exception of students enrolled in the J.D./M.A. program in History, the student will pay tuition to the School of Law according to its tuition schedule during the first five semesters of the Program and to the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences according to its tuition schedule during the final two semesters of the Program. Students enrolled in the J.D./M.A. program in History will enroll in and pay tuition to the School of Law according to its tuition schedule in all six semesters that comprise the Program.
Financial Aid-Combination Degrees
Financial aid (including loans and scholarships) will be provided by the school to which the student is paying tuition in a given semester. Financial aid is not guaranteed and is subject to individual school and University regulations and availability. Students must meet the satisfactory academic progress standards of the school providing the financial aid in a given semester.
Extracurricular Activities
Students are eligible to participate in the extracurricular activities of both schools to the extent that time permits. Because of the possibility of over commitment, however, counsel of the Program Committee is recommended.
Grading Standards-Combination Degrees
The student is required to meet the grading standards of both schools independently to remain in good academic standing. Each school retains the right to drop students from its degree programs following its usual academic standards and procedures. Problems that arise in translation of different grading scales resulting from the dual program will be dealt with by the Program Committee. Grades for each course will be recorded on students’ transcripts under the system in effect at the school in which the course is taken.
Faculty Advisors-Combination Degrees
The Program Committee will oversee the academic advising of students in the Program and approve appointments of individual faculty advisors on behalf of the Dean as needed.
Degree Conferral-Combination Degrees
If applicable, shared credits must appear on the official transcript for both programs to indicate the total number of credits required for each degree.
Master’s Degrees
The degrees of Master of Arts, Master of Science and Master of Fine Arts will be conferred upon the holder of an approved baccalaureate degree who has fulfilled within the designated time limit all requirements set forth below and any discipline-specific requirements stated by the department or program. Successful candidates in departments which offer both the Master of Arts and Master of Science degrees may elect the Master of Science degree at the discretion of the department.
Academic Requirements
Students must complete a minimum of 30 hours of graduate credit. Only graduate courses taught by members of one of the graduate faculties of the University, offered during the fall or spring term and graded on the standard A through F scale may be counted toward the graded coursework requirement unless otherwise specified in a program’s degree requirements. If the degree program includes the completion of a thesis, a maximum of six out of the 30 credits may consist of Non-Topical Research. Courses applied toward a master’s degree in one department may not be used to fulfill requirements for a master’s degree in a second department of the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences. Students who previously enrolled in courses offered through GSAS while completing an undergraduate or graduate degree program at the University of Virginia may count up to six credits of such coursework towards a master’s degree as long as those credits were not used to fulfill requirements for the prior degree.
A student’s particular course of study is arranged in consultation with faculty advisors in the discipline and the director of graduate studies. With the approval of their advisor, students may elect a limited number of appropriate courses offered in other departments. Additional discipline-specific requirements for the master’s degree are noted in the entries for respective graduate departments and programs.
Residency Requirement
Master’s students must be enrolled in a minimum of two semesters of full-time study.
Time Limitation
All requirements for the master’s degree must be completed within five years from the first term of enrollment.
Final Examination
A candidate must achieve satisfactory standing in a final examination (oral, written or both) conducted by two or more graduate faculty members designated by the candidate’s department. The result of the examination and the names of the examiners must be reported by the chair of the examining committee to the Graduate School at least two weeks in advance of final exercises.
Thesis
A department may include a master’s thesis among its degree requirements. In such cases, the submission requirements are the same as those for the Ph.D. dissertation.
Financial Assistance
Assistantships
Teaching assistantships, research assistantships and part-time instructorships are available in most departments to graduate students who are enrolled full-time and in good academic standing. The duties associated with these appointments and the wages, tuition remission, tuition adjustment and health insurance subsidy that accompany them are articulated in a policy maintained by the Office of the Provost.
English Language Requirements for Graduate Teaching Assistants
Teaching assistants other than graders must be fluent in English. Graduate students whose native language is not English are required to achieve a grade of 55 or higher on the UVELPE test or complete a series of classes through the Center for American English Language and Culture. In courses that enroll graduate and undergraduate students, the grading of graduate students should not be performed by a graduate teaching assistant. For information concerning assistantships, students should write directly to their directors of graduate studies.
External Awards
Students are strongly encouraged to seek external funding to support their research and dissertation writing. Such awards confer distinction on the student, often enhance students’ ability to progress their research and scholarship, and augment the funding available to support our graduate programs.
A student who receives an external award is required to report the award to their DGS, who will, in turn, inform the GSAS. The DGS will develop a revised support plan for the student in consultation with the Assistant Dean.
When a student receives an external award, they should confer with their research advisor and DGS to understand possible uses of the award and to consider how the award can be used to optimize the student’s progress toward degree.
Part-Time Employment with the University
Graduate students who are on a full-time assistantship and/or doctoral students who are enrolled full-time are expected to limit their employment, including assistantships and other wage appointments through the University, to twenty hours per week. A student who wishes to work beyond twenty hours per week must petition their director of graduate studies, indicating the type of work to be undertaken, the weekly effort involved, the potential effects of this additional work on the student’s academic progress, and whether or not the student is present at the University on an international visa. If the director of graduate studies endorses the request, he or she will forward it to the assistant dean for review. Rules for employment outside of UVA can be found in Provost policy (PROV-001).
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