Master’s Degree Programs

Graduate Council

Graduate Faculty

Master of Arts Degree

Master’s Degrees in School Areas

Graduate Studies

Application Information: 541-552-6411

Each graduate program at SOU is administrated by its respective school. Students seeking information about specific programs should contact the graduate coordinator of the school regarding the graduate degree or licensing program. For information about policies, procedures, and a general program overview, consult the school dean’s office.

Individuals who wish to pursue a specific master’s degree or licensing program must apply to the Office of Admissions, in addition to the desired program, to become regularly admitted graduate students. Those who would like to take graduate or postbaccalaureate courses without pursuing a master’s degree or licensing program may also need to apply to the Office of Admissions (see Postbaccalaureate Admission, page 8, or Enrollment as a Nonadmitted Student, page 9).

Master’s Degree Programs

The graduate curriculum allows considerable flexibility. Each student develops a program of study in consultation with designated advisors, subject to the major school and graduate study requirements.

The following master’s degrees are currently available. However, since they change periodically, contact specific departments for current information.

Admission to a Master’s Degree Program

Application deadlines vary across programs. Consult the specific program sections (listed above) for admission dates. All application materials—including a signed application form, admission fee, official transcripts from all institutions attended, and official TOEFL score if applicable (see item #5 below) must be on file by the designated admission deadline.

To apply to graduate studies, students must complete the following steps:

1. Students must submit the Application for New Student Graduate Admission to the Admissions Office, along with the nonrefundable application fee. Applications are not accepted without the fee.
   
2. Students must hold a bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university, as defined by the American Association of Collegiate Registrars and Admissions Officers, or an advanced degree from an accredited college or university. (Copies of accreditation booklets may be reviewed in the Admissions Office.) Students who received a baccalaureate degree from a nonaccredited institution may consult the school dean regarding the policy on special admission of graduate students with baccalaureate degrees from nonaccredited institutions.
   
3. Students must have sufficient prerequisite coursework to pursue graduate work in the proposed academic area.
   
4. All students must have a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher in the last 90 quarter credits (60 semester credits) of undergraduate coursework.
   
5. Most programs require students to complete a preliminary entrance examination. Have the official score report sent to the Admissions Office (the institutional code is R4702). The entrance examination for most master’s programs is the Graduate Record Exam (GRE). Information bulletins and application forms for the GRE may be obtained from the Admissions Office. Students whose native language is not English must achieve a TOEFL score of 540 or higher before enrolling in graduate courses (see Admission of Foreign Students, page 7).
   

Alternate Admission Procedure

Students who do not meet all requirements for graduate admission may apply for postbaccalaureate admission (See Admissions, page 8).

General Information

See the introductory section of the catalog for information on accreditation, fees and deposits, housing, financial aid, and student services.

Student Handbooks

Detailed information on policies and procedures is available in the student handbooks. Contact the program coordinator or the dean’s office for information and handbooks.

General Regulations

Student Responsibility

Graduate students are expected to know the requirements for the programs they undertake. While the University assists each student as much as possible, the responsibility for any error in enrollment or misinterpretation of rules rests with the student.

Student Conduct

Students are expected to conduct themselves in a mature, professional, and civil manner and must abide by the Proscribed Conduct guidelines listed under Student Responsibilities on the SOU Web site.

Program Regulations and Procedures

Academic Load

The maximum load for graduate students is 16 credits during a regular term and 15 credits during an eight-week summer session. Overload petitions must be approved by the student’s advisor and the school graduate coordinator. The form is filed with the school graduate coordinator and the Registrar’s Office. There is a surcharge for each credit taken in excess of academic load regulations.

Course-Related Requirements

Only 500-level courses count toward a master’s degree.

The master’s degree programs in elementary education and secondary education require students to earn at least 24 credits in courses restricted to graduate students.

Residency Requirements

Students must earn at least 30 quarter credits toward a master’s degree in residence. The last 9 credits of the program must be in residence unless a waiver is approved by the graduate coordinator and the school dean. These policies do not apply to persons completing the master’s degree portion of the Teacher Education Fifth Year Licensure program.

Graduate credit for a course taught by an instructor in Continuing Education who has been approved in advance by the school dean or director is accepted as residence credit. Refer to Course Exclusions below for further information.

Course Exclusions

Workshop Credit and Practicum

A maximum of 9 hours of workshop or practicum credit may be included in a graduate program with advisor consent.

Extension Credit and Other Forms of Nontraditional Coursework

Extension credit and other forms of nontraditional coursework (e.g., online courses and two-way television) may be included in a graduate program only with advisor consent.

Correspondence Courses

Correspondence study may not be used in a master’s degree program.

Credit by Examination, In-Service, Professional Growth Courses, and Continuing Professional Education

Graduate credit by examination, in-service, professional growth courses, and continuing professional education courses are not acceptable in school area programs.

Prior and Transfer Credit Limitations

A student may include only 15 quarter credits of approved graduate coursework taken prior to regular admission to a master’s degree program at the University. This limitation applies to coursework taken at Southern Oregon University and coursework transferred from other institutions. Such courses must be appropriate for the master’s degree program to which the student is admitted and must be approved by the major advisor, the school graduate coordinator, and the school dean. No more than 6 quarter credits of prior or transfer credit may be from a previous master’s program. All transfer credit must be supported by official transcripts sent directly from the school of origin to the Office of Admissions.

Acceptance of any transfer credit is the prerogative of the degree-granting institution.

Time Limitation

All courses included in the SOU program for a master’s degree must be seven years old or less at the time the degree is completed. However, with the approval of the Office of Graduate Studies, up to 12 credits of courses over seven years old but less than ten years old at degree completion may be included if they have been updated and validated by the academic department and approved by the school dean. Upon program completion, courses taken ten years ago or longer must be replaced even if they have previously been updated. Forms for course updates are available from the graduate coordinator or school dean’s office.

Graduate Council

The policies and procedures of the graduate programs are established by the Faculty Senate on recommendation of the Graduate Council, which comprises faculty, students, and administrators.

Graduate Faculty

All full-time faculty with the academic rank of professor, associate professor, assistant professor, or instructor who have a terminal degree or equivalent in their discipline and have demonstrated a continuing commitment to scholarship and professional growth are eligible for nomination to the graduate faculty by the department chair, with final approval by the school dean. The president, provost, associate provost, and school deans are members of the graduate faculty. A graduate faculty member may serve as either a chair or committee member of a thesis or other graduate committee.

Part-time faculty and regular faculty who are not appointed as graduate faculty may be approved as associate graduate faculty. They may teach specific graduate classes and serve as members, but they may not chair a thesis or graduate committee.

Professionals who are not members of the faculty may serve as a thesis or graduate committee member with special approval of the school dean.

Open-Numbered Graduate Courses

No more than 21 credits of open-numbered courses may be included in a 45-credit program. Open-numbered courses do not have a catalog description; they include the following: 501, 504, 505, 506, 507, 508, 509, and 510 Special Topics. Thesis (503) is not considered an open-numbered course.

Master of Arts Degree

The master of arts and master of science degrees differ only in the foreign language requirement. To receive an MA degree, students must demonstrate fluency in a second language. U.S. students who have completed two years of study in one foreign language at an accredited college or university automatically meet the second language requirement for the MA degree.

Professional Ethics

Graduate students are expected to honor standards of ethical practice appropriate to academic life.

Candidacy for the graduate degree may be denied, suspended, or revoked should it be established that an individual has become a discredit to his or her peers by dishonoring the profession through any flagrant violation of the ethics of scholarship and higher learning.

The Graduate Council considers the following to be examples of flagrant violations: cheating, plagiarism, forgery, physical abuse or threat of physical abuse against University personnel, theft of University property, and unauthorized entry into or use of SOU-controlled property.

Students may exercise their right of appeal for charges of violations through procedures outlined in the Student Rights and Responsibilities Handbook.

The professional degree programs may have additional ethical guidelines. It is the student’s responsibility to be familiar with and abide by such guidelines. When a department’s faculty decide a student has failed to meet professional standards, they are responsible for identifying, remediating, or dismissing the student. Each department has an established procedure for handling such issues. In the case of a professional breach of ethics, an appeal is handled within the department according to established procedures.

Graduate Assistantships

Graduate assistantships are available in some academic departments and administrative units.

To hold a graduate assistantship, students must gain regular admission to a master’s degree program. They must also have an approved master’s degree program on file no later than the first week of the initial term of appointment as a graduate assistant and must successfully pursue the program at a rate defined in the General Regulations for Appointment of Graduate Assistants.

Commencement

In mid-April, the Office of the Registrar sends commencement information to students who have completed their degrees during the previous summer, fall, and winter quarters and to those who have been cleared by the dean’s office to complete requirements during spring quarter. Students scheduled to complete a degree during the post-commencement summer or fall terms may participate in the commencement ceremony if they have written verification of completion date from their advisor and graduate program coordinator.

Master’s Degrees in School Areas

School area graduate degree programs leading to the MA or MS are for individuals interested in the fields of arts and letters, science, and social science. The program combines strong subject matter preparation in a major area with related coursework at the graduate level. The specific objectives of this program are to provide students with opportunities to:

1. gain strong subject matter preparation in a major area that is to be combined with related coursework; and
   
2. enjoy broad educational and cultural experiences at the graduate level, in recognition of the demands for a broader knowledge base and civic responsibility in professional life.
   

The following departments currently participate as major or support areas:

1. Biology
   
2. Computer Science
   
3. Health and Physical Education
   
4. Interdisciplinary Science (Environmental Science)
   
5. Music: American Band College only (see American Band College on page 64)
   

The following departments participate as support areas only:

1. Art
   
2. Business
   
3. Chemistry
   
4. Communication
   
5. Economics
   
6. Education
   
7. Foreign Languages and Literatures
   
8. Geography
   
9. Geology
   
10. Mathematics
    
11. Physics
    
12. Political Science
    
13. Women’s Studies
    

These lists change periodically. Please contact the department of interest to confirm participation.

Admission to School Area Master’s Programs

Application deadlines for the School Area Master’s Degree Programs are as follows: April 15 (fall term), October 15 (winter term), and January 15 (spring and summer terms). All application materials (including a signed application form, admission fee, official transcripts from all institutions attended, official GRE score, three required letters of reference from professors, and a letter of intent or goal statement) must be on file by the designated admission deadline.

Curriculum

The curriculum for the MA or MS degree in a school area (arts and letters, science, or social science) comprises two major divisions. The major area requires 18–36 approved graduate credits from a single participating department; the support area allows 9–27 credits of approved graduate credits from a department or departments other than the major department. At least 23 of the program credits must be from the school area of the major, and coursework from any single department in the support area may not exceed the total number of credits in the major area. At least 45 credits are required for the degree. The actual courses required for each student are selected under the guidance of an advisor from the major field, with the approval of the school dean.

Only courses taken at the 500 level may be used for graduate credit.

A midprogram evaluation meeting must be completed by all school area degree students except those in the American Band College.

Major Steps

The following steps must be completed to achieve a master’s degree:

1. Admission to a master’s degree program.
   
2. Approval of the proposed program.
   
3. Midprogram evaluation (unless the program is exempt).
   
4. Application for graduation.
   
5. Final examination or oral defense and degree completion.
   

Approval of Proposed Program

With the help of the school graduate coordinator, each student should obtain one or more advisors at the beginning of graduate coursework. With the help of these advisors, the student should immediately develop a proposed program of study to be outlined on the degree program form. These forms are available from the school graduate coordinator and must be approved by the student’s advisors, the school graduate coordinator, and the school dean. Students must submit this form before completing 18 credits. Any time a student’s program changes, he or she must submit an approved program change form.

Midprogram Evaluation

Most of the SOU graduate programs require a midprogram evaluation. Students should have a midprogram evaluation meeting as soon as possible after completing 18 credits (and no later than after completing 24 credits) to guarantee that all credits count toward their program. Appropriate forms and additional information are available from the school graduate coordinators.

The following programs are exempt from the midprogram evaluation: the Master in Applied Psychology, Master in Management, American Band College, and Education Comprehensive Exam option.

Application for Graduation

Students must submit the application for completion of a master’s degree form to the school graduate coordinator no later than the first week of the quarter in which students plan to complete all requirements for the degree, including comprehensive exams. The exams may not be taken prior to the quarter during which coursework is completed. The school graduate coordinator evaluates each student’s degree status and planned program of coursework. Students are then notified by mail of any deficiencies that need to be corrected and the procedures for setting up a comprehensive examination.

Comprehensive Examination and Degree Completion

Students must pass a final comprehensive examination covering the required work for the master’s degree. The type of examination differs depending on the program and major; it may be written, oral, or a combination of both. Students approaching the completion of their graduate studies should check with their advisor regarding the particular comprehensive exam requirements of the program. The student typically takes the exam during the final quarter of coursework for the degree. However, in special instances, other arrangements may be made with permission from the school graduate coordinator and school dean. Students completing a thesis or project option must perform an oral defense.

If a student fails all or part of the comprehensive examination, the examining committee specifies the conditions under which it may be retaken and notifies the graduate coordinator and school dean of these conditions. Ordinarily, the exam may not be retaken until there has been sufficient time for additional study, reading, or mastery of subjects. A student may take the final examination a maximum of three times. Each time the examination is retaken, the graduate coordinator is notified so preparations can be made and forms completed.

Special degree completion requirements apply to students completing a thesis or project. These students should check with their school graduate coordinator for details.

Satisfactory Progress

School area and formerly admitted general studies and interdisciplinary program students who have not enrolled in the current academic year are notified during spring term by the school dean that they must file an application for graduate study leave by the end of the term. Failure to file requires that the student reapply for graduate admission and master’s status to continue degree studies and maintain financial aid. Students readmitted into the same program are not limited to the 15-credit maximum requirement for newly admitted students.

This policy does not apply to graduate students in the education or American Band College programs.

Right of Appeal

If the student elects to make an appeal, the Appeals Committee shall include the following individuals: the student’s advisor; the department chair, school dean, or school graduate coordinator; and the Graduate Council chair.

Thesis or Project

In many master’s degree programs, students may elect to complete a thesis or project option. Any student who wishes to explore a thesis or project option should check with the school graduate coordinator at the beginning of the program for information about the special procedures and regulations governing such an option.

The student’s thesis or project committee must meet and approve the project proposal. This approved proposal must be on file in the school dean’s office before the irregular registration forms for thesis or project coursework are approved.

Students may use 6 to 9 credits, with a maximum of 3 credits from the support area, for the thesis or project. Those exercising this option must follow the format outlined in the Style Manual for Theses and Projects, available from the University Bookstore. Students defend the thesis or project in an oral examination.