Master's Degrees

Credits

All master's degree programs require a minimum of 30 credits. Some master's degree programs may require more. Additional work may be stipulated in individual cases to meet particular objectives or need for additional background. Courses used toward an undergraduate degree, professional development courses or courses on a professional development transcript are not available to be used toward a graduate degree.

No more than three credits of workshop or workshop equivalent courses and no more than nine credits of directed study (499/502) may be used toward the graduate degree.

Credit in course 500 (Master's Research and Thesis) or 600 (Dissertation) cannot be counted toward a non-thesis master's degree. Although no limit is imposed on the number of credits that may be earned in course 500 for degrees with thesis, only a maximum of 10 credits in course 500 in the major of the degree can be used to fulfill master's degree requirements (a lower limit may be set by the program). Up to six credits of course 599 (Non-thesis Research) are allowed to count towards a non-thesis master's degree; however, if a thesis option exists for the program, no more credits of course 599 are allowed toward the non-thesis master's degree than half the number of credits allowed for course 500 toward the program's master's degree.

Transfer, Correspondence Study, Non-degree Credit, and Over-aged Credit Limitation

The combined total of transfer credits, correspondence credits, non-degree credits, credits moved from an undergraduate transcript that were not used toward an undergraduate degree, and approved credits more than eight years old at the time the degree is awarded shall not exceed 12 credits for master's programs designated as requiring 36 or fewer credits, and shall not exceed one-third of the total credits in designated programs requiring more than 36 credits. The student's program may set a lower limitation. Credits can be transferred to UI, with the consent of the student's committee and the dean of the College of Graduate Studies, only if the institution from which the course credits are being transferred has a graduate program in the course's discipline or, should there be no graduate program in the course's discipline, if an exception has been granted by the Dean of the College of Graduate Studies. All credits used toward graduate degrees must be from regionally accredited American institutions or from non-US institutions recognized by the appropriate authorities in their respective countries. Transfer credits are subject to all other Graduate College rules and regulations. See additional information on accreditation: www.uidaho.edu/registrar/transfer/evaluation/accreditation.

Second Master's Degrees

A student who has conferred a master's degree or is working on a master's degree may obtain a second master's degree only in a different major and subject to the approval of the dean of the College of Graduate Studies upon applying or adding the curriculum for the second. Up to six credits of course work used to satisfy the requirements for the first degree may be applied to the second; all other catalog and credit requirements in UI courses must be fulfilled.

With department approval, a student in the M.F.A. Theater Arts program may use up to 20 credits from a M.A. Theater Arts program toward the M.F.A. degree. A student who is enrolled in a doctoral program or who has a doctorate may obtain a master's degree in a different field and use up to 6 common credits, or more, if approved by Graduate Council. A student who has a doctorate may not subsequently obtain a master's degree in the same field.

Concurrent Graduate/Law Degrees

UI law courses used toward an approved UI concurrent graduate degree must be approved by the College of Graduate Studies and included on the graduate student’s approved study plan. Courses with grades and credits earned in these approved law courses will be posted to the student’s graduate academic transcript as a pass (P) upon receipt of the Course Level Adjustment form in the UI Registrar’s Office. See the Accounting, Environmental Science and Water Resources sections in the individual department section for additional information on concurrent degrees.

Awarding M.F.A. Degrees to Members of the Faculty

A UI faculty member with rank of senior instructor or above may not be awarded an M.F.A. degree through the department or corresponding program in which they are employed, unless that faculty member had been admitted to that degree program before attaining such academic rank.

Master of Accountancy

The M.Acct. degree is 30 credits. At least 18 must be in courses at the 500 level and the remainder may include one 400 level course in the major and 300 and 400 level courses in supporting areas, to be approved by the major professor. A non-thesis requirement must be met. Students enrolled in the concurrent M.Acct./J.D. may use 15 credits of law courses toward the M.Acct. degree only if the law degree is completed.

Master of Architecture

The M.Arch. degree requires a design project. Refer to the Art and Architecture section of this catalog for a definition of specific admission and degree requirements. Of the minimum 45 credits required for the degree, 24 must be at the 500 level; the remainder may include 400 level courses in the major and 300 or 400 level courses in supporting areas. All credits toward the degree must be earned in residence at UI or during internship and study abroad. A final design project must be accepted.

Master of Arts

In some fields, all candidates for the M.A. degree are required to present a thesis; in others the thesis is optional or not required. Consult the departmental section for specific descriptions. Of the minimum 30 credits required for the degree, at least 18 credits must be at the 500 level; the remainder may include 400 level courses in the major and 300 or 400 level courses in supporting areas. For the thesis student, a thesis is required. For the non-thesis student, a non-thesis requirement must be met.

Master of Arts in Teaching (M.A.T.) Mathematics

The M.A.T. in Mathematics is primarily for certified teachers who wish to strengthen their subject-matter preparation. Enrollment in this program of study requires the consent of the chair of the Mathematics and Statistical Science Department. The major professor is from the Mathematics and Statistical Science Department; the co-advisor is from the Department of Curriculum and Instruction. The general requirements of the College of Graduation Studies apply except that, of the minimum 30 credits required, only six must be in courses at the 500 level, at least six must be in courses offered by the College of Education at the 400/500 level, excluding workshops, and at least 20 must be in courses in the subject field. These courses may be at the 300 or 400 level, including 300 level courses in the major field if they are a part of the logical sequence of study. A non-thesis requirement in the subject field must be met.

Master of Arts in Teaching (M.A.T.) in Secondary Education

The M.A.T. in Secondary Education is a non-thesis degree designed for students who have a bachelor’s degree in a subject matter area approved for an Idaho teaching credential and wish to seek a graduate degree in education and receive recommendation for initial Idaho teaching certification. The MAT degree requires 32 credits in graduate coursework including a 10 credit internship (student teaching) experience. Students must complete a non-thesis requirement and may be required to take additional coursework at the undergraduate level if their bachelor’s degree does not meet the content requirements in the subject area. Additionally, candidates for an Idaho teaching credential must pass a state-mandated content competency assessment in order to receive a recommendation for certification. Completion of the M.A.T. degree may not qualify students for teaching certification in states outside of Idaho.

Master of Business Administration

The M.B.A. is a professional fee program that is delivered in an executive format in northern Idaho. This non-thesis program consists of 36 credits at the 500-level. Consult the College of Business for specific details.

Master of Education

To complete the M.Ed., a non-thesis degree program, the student must fulfill the program’s non-thesis requirement. Of the minimum 30 credits required, at least 18 must be in courses at the 500 level; the remainder may include 400 level courses in the major and 300 or 400 level courses in supporting areas.

Master of Engineering

The M.Engr. is a non-thesis degree. A minimum of 30 credits is required; at least 18 must be in courses at the 500 level and the remainder may include 400 level courses in the major and 300 or 400 level courses in supporting areas. A non-thesis requirement must be met. Majors are offered in agricultural, chemical, civil, computer, electrical, mechanical, and (at the University of Idaho Center, Idaho Falls only) nuclear engineering. The prospective student should consult the specific department for special entrance requirements.

Master of Fine Arts

The M.F.A. is the professionally recognized terminal degree in fine arts including art, creative writing, and theatre arts. See the specific department for credit requirements.

Master of Music

The M.Mus. degree, depending on the concentration selected, requires a thesis, public graduate recitals, or a final project. No credit is granted for the final project in a non-thesis degree plan and the project is subject to approval of the supervisory committee. Both written and oral non-thesis requirements must be met in all degree options. Of the minimum 30 credits required for the degree, at least 18 must be in courses in the School of Music at the 500 level; the remainder may include 400 level courses in the School of Music and 300 or 400 level courses in other areas.

Master of Natural Resources

The M.N.R. program provides broad-based, advanced training in natural resource management and administration. The M.N.R. degree requires 30 semester credits beyond the bachelor's degree. Only courses at the 400 or 500 level counts toward the degree. At least 18 of the 30 credits must be at the 500 level. A comprehensive non-thesis requirement must be met.

Master of Public Administration

The M.P.A. program includes thesis and non-thesis options. Of the minimum 36 credits required for the degree, at least 18 must be in courses selected from prescribed core areas and 12 in designated optional areas of emphasis as described in the Department of Political Science section of this catalog; at least 18 of the 36 credits must be in courses at the 500 level. A public service internship is required of students with no appropriate work experience. For the thesis student, a thesis is required. For the non-thesis student, a non-thesis requirement must be met.

Master of Science

In some fields, all candidates for the M.S. degree are required to present a thesis; in others the thesis is optional or not required. Consult the departmental section for specific descriptions. Of the minimum 30 credits required for the degree, at least 18 credits must be at the 500 level; the remainder may include 400 level courses in the major, and 300 or 400 level courses in supporting areas. For the thesis student, a thesis is required. For the non-thesis student, a non-thesis requirement must be met.

Master of Science in Athletic Training

The M.S.A.T. is a non-thesis degree with a minimum of 88 credits at the 500-level required. Students may be admitted to the program through two methods: either by admission after completion of a bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited institution or by early admission after the completion of the junior year in the UI Athletic Training track in Exercise Science and Health (B.S.P.E.) or by completion of the junior year in an approved program at an institution with an articulated agreement with UI. Students offered early admission to the graduate program must meet all admissions and prerequisite course work requirements for the Master of Science in Athletic Training degree, as well as all undergraduate requirements excluding the first 30 credits of the graduate program. Upon successful completion of the first 30 graduate credits, students may use these credits in transfer towards their undergraduate degree requirements. There is a professional fee for the M.S.A.T. program; consult the program coordinator for details.

Professional Science Master

Contact the Director of the Program in Environmental Science for information regarding this degree. Of the minimum 35 credits required for the degree, at least 26 credits must be at the 500 level; the remainder may include 400 level courses. This is a non-thesis program.