SECTION 7. DEGREE REQUIREMENTS

7.10 General

Section 7 states the minimum degree requirements acceptable to the Graduate School. All exceptions to the minimum requirements require the approval of the Dean of the Graduate School. However, individual graduate plans may add additional requirements beyond those listed here.

7.11. The successful completion of an approved program of studies at the University is the primary requirement for each advanced degree. The program of studies is developed around a specified number of graduate level courses selected according to the student's goals and background, but also includes other scholarly activities appropriate to the individual and to the area or discipline in which the student is working. The program of studies is planned by the student in consultation with and subject to the approval of a major professor or of a plan committee according to policies developed by the Graduate School and defined in this manual.

7.12. In addition to formal courses at the graduate level, an approved program of studies usually includes independent study or other creative activity, research, and preparation of a thesis. For certain professional degrees, M.B.A., for example, the required plan is quite specific; in other plans, the courses are selected and other requirements planned according to the needs of the individual student. Plan credit will not include: preparation for language examinations, the teaching of courses, courses audited, courses failed, courses at the 300 level or below or courses needed to remedy deficiencies.

7.13. For information concerning the transfer of credits, time limits, and language requirements, see 7.20, 7.40, 7.50, in the following sections. It should be clearly understood and carefully noted that the requirements listed here for various advanced degrees are minimum requirements and that any department can require additional hours of work in formal courses or in other activities to remedy deficiencies or to achieve proficiency in a required area before a degree will be granted.

7.14. Each department that offers an advanced degree shall publish a policy statement covering specific departmental requirements, plan requirements and departmental options in the Graduate School Bulletin. A copy of detailed departmental procedures will be filled with the Dean of the Graduate School and will be given to each new student when they are admitted. Each student will be expected to comply with the procedures stated, but normally changes will not be retroactive.

7.15. Even though responsibility for a graduate student's plan, including filing the program of studies (see 7.43 and 7.52, 8.30) rests with the student and the major professor or doctoral committee, this does not preclude the establishment of general core requirements by a departmental or interdepartmental faculty committee. However, such core requirements should be held to a minimum, because the strength of a graduate student's plan lies in its adaptation to the individual's needs.

7.20 Transfer Credits

7.21. Transfer credits refer to credits earned for work taken at other accredited institutions of higher learning that the student wishes to apply toward satisfying URI degree requirements. Under usual circumstances, transfer credits may not exceed one-fifth of the total credits required in the plan. The following cases apply:

a. In a master's degree plan the total of transfer credits, advanced standing credits (see section 3.33), and credits by examination or equivalent (see section 7.30) may not exceed two-fifths of the program's total credits. Under unusual circumstances, Master's degree candidates may exceed the one-fifth rule on transfer credits; however, the total of advanced standing, transfer and credit by examination must still not exceed this two-fifths maximum.

b.Ph.D. candidates admitted to the plan without a master's degree in the same or a closely related area may transfer credits up to one-fifth of the total credits required in the plan. As noted in section 3.33, such students may also separately include advanced standing credits and credits by examination or equivalent up to an additional one-fifth of the total program.

c. Ph.D. candidates with a Master's degree in the same or a closely related area from another accredited institution may increase their request for transfer credit beyond the one-fifth maximum up to 30 credits, but only from this Master's degree. In this case, advanced standing (see section 3.33) is limited to 6 credits. With special permission of the Dean of the Graduate School, these 6 credits may include a combination of advanced standing and transfer credits.

d. Ph.D. candidates with a Master's degree in the same or a closely related area from the University of Rhode Island may apply up to 30 credits from the Master's degree toward the Ph.D. plan. In addition, a total of up to 9 credits combining transfer and advanced standing are allowed.

In all cases, transfer credit is granted only when the request is recommended by the student's major professor and the Graduate Plan Director and approved by the Dean of the Graduate School.

7.22. Only courses which are offered primarily for graduates students and are from accredited schools are eligible for transfer credit. Further, the student must have earned a grade that will satisfy the graduate degree requirements for graduate level coursework at that institution. Transfer from all international institutions, other than those specifically authorized by the Graduate Council, is limited to earned degrees equivalent to US master's degrees or better.

7.23. For credit towards master's degree requirements, the work must have been taken not more than five years prior to the date of first registration as a degree candidate ; for credit towards doctoral degree requirements, the work must have been taken not more than ten years prior to the date. In special circumstances, a waiver of these time limits may be approved by the Dean of the Graduate School if recommended by the student's major professor, plan committee, Graduate Plan Director, and U.R.I. faculty with expertise in the area.

7.24. The work must have clear and unquestioned relevance to the student's Program of Study.

7.25. A student enrolled at the University of Rhode Island may receive transfer credit for work subsequently taken at another institution under the provisions cited above only if approval is obtained in writing from the Dean of the Graduate School before the student enrolls for the course.

7.26. Any credit transferred from another institution of higher learning will be so indicated on the student's University of Rhode Island transcript. However, the grade earned at that institution will not be recorded or used in computing the student ' s scholastic average.

7.27. See also the section on credits earned by Non-Matriculating students ( 3.33) for non- matriculating students and the section on Credit By Examination or Equivalent (7.30) which relate to this matter.

7.28. A student who is simultaneously a degree candidate in two different Master's plans may request that credit for some graduate work in one plan be counted toward degree requirements in the other plan. The number of credits from one plan that may be counted toward a second may not exceed one-fifth of the credits required in the second plan. For example, consider simultaneous enrollment in two plans of 30 and 45 credits, respectively. The 30 credit plan could include 6 credits from the second plan; the 45 credit plan could include 9 credits from the first. The total savings for the student would thus be 15 credits.

A student who is simultaneously a degree candidate in two different plans, one a Master's and one a Ph.D. level, may petition that up to one-fifth of the Master's program credits be counted toward degree requirements in the Ph.D. plan.

Transfer credit, advanced standing, and credits by examination (for a master's degree plan) may be counted toward both plans as long as they satisfy the one-fifth rule above and meet all of the requirements of sections 7.20-7.27 and 3.33. Credit is granted to both plans only when the request is recommended by the student's major professor and the Graduate Plan Directors for each plan and approved by the Dean of the Graduate School.

7.30 Credit by Examination or Equivalent

7.31. In Master's plans and Ph.D. plans in which the student does not have a master's degree, a maximum of six credits may be allowed for competency based on experience outside the traditional academic setting and demonstrated by examination or equivalent. This maximum of six credits must fit within an overall maximum allowed for advanced standing and transfer credit if any. (See sections 3.33 and 7.21-7.28 of this Manual). The competency for which credit is allowed must be demonstrated by: (1) passing with a grade of B (3.00) or better, a written proficiency examination (which may be the final examination of an existing course) prepared by the instructor of an existing course most analogous or relevant to the experience, as determined by the chairperson of the department in which it is offered in consultation with the instructor. This course must be at the 500 or 600 level, or (2) where no graduate level course offered by URI is analogous to the experience, submitting a well researched paper, project or other evidence (but not just an oral examination, though an oral examination may form part of the procedure) which is certified by the chairperson of the department most closely related to the subject matter as representing the equivalent of at least B (3.00) quality work in a 500 or 600 level course. The advanced approval of the Dean of the Graduate School is required for arrangements under this plan. Such arrangements must be made during the first semester after the student has been admitted to graduate study by the department chairperson submitting a brief memorandum outlining the proposed procedure for the approval of the Dean. Department chairpersons may ask any member(s) of their departments to assist them in this certification process, which may include an oral pre-screening where they consider it appropriate. Where the relevancy of the particular course or department area to the experience of the student is in doubt, the question will be resolved by the Dean of the Graduate School.

7.32. After the proposal is approved, the student will pay the required special examination fee to the Bursar and obtain a receipt which will be submitted to the Dean of the Graduate School along with the department chairperson's written report of the results. Where the student has succeeded, the Dean of the Graduate School will request the Registrar to enter the appropriate number of credits on the student's transcript under the Department's Special Problems course number with a brief indication of the subject matter and the designation, "credit by examination or equivalent."

7.40 Master's Degree Requirements

7.41. The University offers plans for the master's degree with and without a thesis. For specific requirements and options, a student should consult the current University Bulletin, the department chairperson, and the major professor.

7.42. Time Limit. The requirements listed here shall be met within five calendar years after the date when the candidate is first enrolled as a graduate student at the University. With the submission of a written request for an extension and a schedule for completion, endorsed by the major professor and the Graduate Plan Director, a specific, time limited extension may be approved by the Dean of The Graduate School.

7.43. Program of Study. Each student enrolled in a master's degree plan shall submit four signed copies of a program of study to the Dean of the Graduate School for approval by the end of the first semester. (See Section 9.10 for course distribution requirements.) Signatures required include those of the student, major professor, and the Graduate Plan Director. The program includes the courses that are to be taken without plan credit to remedy deficiencies, or for the student's personal satisfaction. The courses that are to be taken without plan credit must be so designated before they are taken if failing grades are not to be included in the calculation of the student's overall grade point average, except as provided in Section 9. After a program has been approved, changes can be made by a petition for approval to the Dean of the Graduate School signed by the major professor, the student and the Graduate Plan Director. Forms to be used for submitting the program of study are available in the Graduate School Office.

7.44. Plans with Thesis.

7.44.1. Minimum Credit Requirements: Accepted programs of study for master's degrees vary. The number of credits required for any individual student depends on previous training and the objectives of the plan. Each candidate shall successfully complete an approved program of studies with a minimum of 30 credits. At least 18 of these will be formal course credits exclusive of thesis, special problems, and directed studies; additional courses may be required either with or without plan credit according to the needs of the student and the judgment of the major professor. The minimum required number of thesis credits allowed in the plan is six, the maximum is nine. Under special circumstances, twelve thesis credits can be taken for plan credit if approved in advance by the Graduate Council for that particular degree plan and if a written justification for the 12 thesis credits is initiated by the major professor and endorsed by the student's thesis committee and the Graduate Plan Director. The justification should clearly indicate why the thesis is sufficiently different from a regular 6-9 credit thesis to be "worth" 12 credits. Final approval of the justification will be made by the Graduate School. Moreover, graduate plans will be composed of not more than 12 credits of thesis (599 courses), special problems (e.g. 591, 592, 691, or 692 courses) and directed studies. Additional thesis credits may be taken without plan credit. For the course requirements and grade averages that must be maintained, see Sections 9 and 10.

7.44.2. Written Master's Examination(s)(Optional): In those departments that require it, each candidate for a master's degree shall pass a written examination when the formal coursework is nearly completed. The preparation and administration of the examination are the responsibilities of the department chairperson in conjunction with a departmental committee designated for this purpose or with the major professor. In either case members of a student's thesis committee from other departments should be consulted concerning preparation and grading of the examination. The time required for the examination will depend on the subject matter and the kind of examination chosen, but it should be scheduled for a minimum of four hours. The examination will be planned to explore the candidate's insight into the subject matter and ability to use this information. Both the student and the Dean of the Graduate School will be notified promptly of the results of the examination in accordance with the procedure described in 7.70. A candidate who fails the examination may be permitted one reexamination in the part or parts failed if re-examination is recommended by the examining committee and approved by the Dean of the Graduate School. The second examination may be taken only after an interval of ten weeks. (See 7.74 and 7.75.)

7.44.3. Thesis (Required): Each candidate shall prepare a thesis that will demonstrate ability to perform and report independent research in an acceptable scholarly fashion. See Section 11 for preparation of a thesis.

7.44.4. Oral Defense of Thesis (Required): The candidate shall successfully defend the thesis in an oral examination at least one and one-half hours long before a thesis defense committee. The thesis defense committee is selected and the examination is conducted according to procedures outlined in 8.40. A candidate who fails may be permitted one re-examination in the part or parts failed if recommended by the committee and approved by the Dean of the Graduate School. The second examination may be taken only after an interval of ten weeks. (See 7.74 and 7.75.)

7.45 Plans Without Thesis. 7.45.1. Minimum Credit Requirements: The number of credits required both with and without plan credit will depend on the plan and the student's previous training. The candidate shall successfully complete an approved program of studies with a minimum of 30 credits in coursework and including at least one course that requires a substantial paper involving significant independent study. (If that study involves human subjects, the policy and procedures of the Institutional Review Board must be followed - see Appendix D. If the study involves live animals, the policy and procedures of the Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee must be followed - see Appendix E.) Additional courses above the minimum may be required with or without plan credit. The courses that are acceptable for graduate credit and the grade average that must be maintained are described in Sections 9 and 10.

7.45.2. Written Master's Examination(s) (RequiredA student in a plan that does not require a thesis shall pass written master's examinations when the formal coursework is nearly completed. The preparation and administration of the examination(s) are responsibilities of the Graduate Plan Director in conjunction with a departmental committee designated for this purpose or with the major professor. The time required for the examination(s) will depend on the nature of the subject matter involved but it will be scheduled for a minimum of four hours. The examination(s) will be planned to explore the candidate's insight into the subject matter and ability to use this information. Both the student and the Dean of the Graduate School will be informed promptly of the results of the examination(s) in accordance with the procedure described in 7.70. A candidate who fails the examination may be permitted one re-examination in the part or parts failed if re-examination is recommended by the committee and approved by the Dean of the Graduate School. The second examination may be taken only after an interval of ten weeks. (See 7.74 and 7.75.)

7.45.3. Oral Master's Examination(s) (Optional): In some departments, each student may be required to pass a final oral examination in addition to the written examination. The examination is usually not more than one and one-half hours long. The nature of the examination and the examining committee are entirely the responsibility of the department. The results shall be reported promptly to the student and to the Dean of the Graduate School as specified in 7.70. In case of failure, a second examination may be allowed. (See 7.74 and 7.75.)

7.50 Doctoral Degree Requirements

7.50.1. Definition of a Doctoral Degree. When a doctoral degree is conferred upon a student at the University of Rhode Island, it signifies that an intensive period of study and investigation in an established field of learning has been completed with high distinction. This period of investigation has been characterized by a mastery of the materials and methods of the chosen field of advanced study that is proven through a dissertation that adds to the sum total of human knowledge. Neither the accumulation of facts, however great in amount, nor the completion of advanced courses, however numerous, can substitute for the power of independent research and the proof of its possession that culminates in the dissertation, the quintessence of the doctoral degree. Doctoral degrees that do not strictly adhere to this definition may be granted through exceptions approved by the Graduate Council.

7.51. Time Limit. Candidates for a doctor's; degree shall fulfill all requirements for the degree as described in the following sections of the manual within seven years of the date when the student is first enrolled as a candidate. (See Section 5 for residence requirements.)

7.52. Program of Study. Each candidate for a doctor's degree shall submit a program of study (tentative or final) to the Dean of the Graduate School for approval at the end of the first semester as a doctoral candidate. A student who has earned a master's degree in the same or closely related field shall submit at least six copies (three copies plus one copy for each member of the Ph.D. committee) of the final program signed by all members of the doctoral committee (see 8.43.2), the student, and the Graduate Plan Director. A student who enrolls as a doctoral candidate directly from a bachelor's degree without a master's degree shall submit at least six copies (three copies plus one copy for each member of the Ph.D. committee) of a tentative program of study signed by the adviser or major professor, the student, and the Graduate Plan Director. A student who originally submitted a tentative program of study must submit six copies of the final program signed by all members of the doctoral committee, the student and the Graduate Plan Director after 24- 30 credits have been completed and the qualifying examination has been passed. Both programs should specify the courses that are to be taken for plan credit (see Section 9.20 for course distribution requirements) and those that are to be taken without plan credit, to remedy deficiencies, or for the student's satisfaction. Any course that is to be taken without plan credit must be so designated before it is taken if a failing grade is not to be included in the calculation of the student's overall grade point average. After a program has been approved, changes can be made by a petition for approval to the Dean of the Graduate School, signed by all members of the doctoral committee, the student and the Graduate Plan Director. Forms to be used for reporting the program of study are available in the Graduate School Office.

7.54. Minimum Credit Requirements. The number of credits required depends on the program of studies and the preparation of the individual student. Each candidate shall complete an approved program of studies with a minimum of 72 credit hours beyond the baccalaureate degree, and at least 42 of these credits shall be taken at the University of Rhode Island. For students with a master's degree in the same or closely related area, up to 30 credits may be transferred from another accredited institution. Students who have graduate level credits from another institution but who did not have a master' s degree may be allowed to transfer 20% of the required courses if they are pertinent to the field and discipline in which the degree is to be taken. Courses taken more than ten years before registration as a doctoral candidate cannot be transferred.

7.55 Qualifying ExaminationXE "Examinations::Qualifying (Doctoral)"

7.55.1. A student without a master's degree who is accepted as a doctoral candidate is expected to take a qualifying examination usually after 24-30 credits have been completed. This examination is intended to assess a student's potential to perform satisfactorily at the doctoral level, and shall not consist of courses taken unless specific approval has been granted by the Graduate Council. If granted, the courses shall be listed in the URI Bulletin. The type of examination to be used, whether it is to be written or oral, or both, and the preparation and administration of the examination(s) are the responsibilities of the Graduate Plan Director in consultation with a departmental committee designed for this purpose or with the major professor. The procedure used for giving qualifying examinations shall be incorporated in the departmental procedure given to each new student and filed with the Dean of the Graduate School. Written qualifying examinations should in general be scheduled for a minimum of four hours and oral examinations a minimum of two hours. Both the student and the Dean of the Graduate School will be informed promptly of the results of the examination(s) in accordance with the procedure described in 7.70. A candidate who fails the examination may be permitted one re-examination in the part or parts failed if re-examination is recommended by the examiners and approved by the Dean of the Graduate School. The second examination may be taken only after an interval of ten weeks. (See 7.74 and 7.75.)

7.55.2. Exemption From Qualifying Examination: A student who has earned a master's degree in the same or a closely related field before being admitted as a doctoral candidate does not usually take a qualifying examination, but may be required to do so if the department recommends it. The decision whether or not to require a qualifying examination shall be made by the department at the same time that the application for admission is processed. Both recommendations shall be transmitted simultaneously to the Dean of the Graduate School by the chairperson of the department. When a qualifying examination is required, it will be stipulated at the time of admission.

7.57. Comprehensive Examinations (Required)

7.57.1: Each doctoral candidate shall take comprehensive examinations at or near, but not later than twelve months after, completion of the formal courses stipulated in the program of study. Comprehensive examinations should be designed to assess a student's intellectual capacity and the adequacy of training or scholarly research. The comprehensive examinations that each candidate must pass shall consist of two parts as follows:

7.57.1.1. Part I Written: This is a written examination of at least eight hours duration. When the candidate has met all prior requirements, the major professor will request permission from the Dean of the Graduate School to schedule the examination on particular date(s). When the candidate's eligibility has been verified by the Graduate Office, the Dean will authorize the candidate's major professor in consultation with members of the doctoral committee including those from other departments, to have the examination prepared, administered, and evaluated. The major professor will arrange the time and the place the examination is to be given in consultation with the candidate and will notify the Graduate School Office. The doctoral committee shall review the results and shall make the final decision as to whether or not the student has passed. Unanimous approval by all members of the doctoral committee is required for passing. Both the student and the Dean of the Graduate School will be informed promptly of the results of the examination(s) in accordance with the procedure described in 7.70. Forms to be used for reporting the results of this examination are available in the Graduate School Office. After the examination has been graded, the results will be accepted in partial fulfillment for the degree for which the student is registered for up to five years from the time the examination is taken. A student who fails this examination may be allowed one re- examination in the part or parts failed if recommended by the doctoral committee and approved by the Dean of the Graduate School. The second examination may be taken only after an interval of ten weeks. (See 7.74 and 7.75.)

7.57.1.2. Part II Oral: The oral comprehensive examination shall be given only upon successful completion of, and normally within four weeks after, the written part of the examination. This examination, usually two hours long, is conducted by the oral comprehensive examination committee which consists of the doctoral committee with two additional Graduate Faculty members appointed by the Dean of the Graduate School. One of the additional members will be from the same department or area while the other member will be usually from an outside area. The major professor is responsible for arranging the time and place of the examination in consultation with the candidate and all potential members of the oral examination committee and shall act as chairperson. The full oral examination committee must be present for the duration of the oral exam, including the discussion of the results and final vote. At the discretion of the Chair of the examining committee, an oral exam may be open to other faculty members as non-voting observers. Faculty observers can ask questions if recognized by this Chair. At any time during the exam, however, this Chair can clear the room of all faculty observers. Non-faculty may not attend an oral exam. At least 10 working days in advance, permission to conduct the examination shall be requested from the Dean of the Graduate School, who will be responsible for formally scheduling the examination and notifying the candidate and all members of the committee. The student will be notified orally of the results of the examination as soon as the committee has completed its deliberations. The major professor is responsible for notifying the Dean of the Graduate School of the results of the examination promptly on the form provided for this purpose, signed by all members of the oral examination committee and acknowledged by the Graduate Plan Director. Unanimous approval by all members of the oral examination committee is required for passing. A candidate who fails the examination may be permitted one re-examination if re- examination is recommend by the committee and approved by the Dean of the Graduate School. The second examination may be taken only after an interval of 10 weeks. (See 7.74 and 7.75.)

7.58. Thesis. The candidate shall submit a thesis embodying the results of original investigation and comprehensive study of a clearly defined problem and making a contribution to the literature of the field. See Section 11 for details of thesis.

7.58.1. Oral Defense of Thesis. The candidate shall successfully defend the thesis in an oral examination that is usually two hours long before the thesis defense committee. This is composed of the doctoral committee and two additional members appointed by the Dean of the Graduate School. See 8.43.4 and Section 11 on the committee and procedures. The full oral examination committee must be present for the duration of the oral defense of the thesis, including the discussion of the results and final vote. In general, the oral defense of the thesis is open to the university community and other interested observers. Observers may ask questions, if recognized by the Chair of the examining committee. At the discretion of this Chair, some or all of the observers may be asked to leave the examination room, if in the opinion of the Chair, the presence of the observers is detracting from the ability of the candidate to answer questions from the examination committee. A candidate who fails the examination may be permitted one re-examination if recommended by the committee and approved by the Dean of the (Graduate School. The second examination may be taken only after an interval of ten weeks. (See 7.74 and 7.75.) Passing the oral defense of the thesis does not automatically imply that the thesis is acceptable as defended. The thesis will be approved only after all the corrections stipulated by the thesis defense committee are incorporated in the thesis in final form. The chair of the thesis examining committee is responsible for certifying that all corrections have been made.

7.60 Scheduling of Examinations

7.61. Scheduling of oral and written examinations, including qualifying, comprehensive, and defense of theses will be done only at the convenience of the faculty members involved, and will be scheduled depending upon the availability of the candidate's plan committee and additional qualified examiners. Faculty cannot be required to participate in examinations during the summer months if they are not under contract. Candidates must be registered for any semester or summer term in which they take an examination.

7.70 Reporting the Results of Examinations

7.71. Results of each examination shall be reported promptly to the Dean of the Graduate School on appropriate forms. Responsibility for submitting the results of a particular examination rests with the chairperson of the examining committee, but all reports must be acknowledged by the department chairperson.

7.72. The student will normally be notified of the results of a written examination within two weeks (exclusive of vacation periods) after completing the examination. With oral examinations, the student shall be notified as soon as the examining committee completes deliberations.

7.73. Should a student fail part or all of an examination, the examining committee may recommend that one re-examination be allowed, but the final decision whether or not to permit a second examination rests with the Dean of the Graduate School. Any special conditions that the candidate will be expected to fulfill prior to the second examination must accompany the recommendations.

7.74. The second examination will be given no sooner than ten weeks but no later than- one year later the first examination. However, if the second examination is not taken within a year, no additional opportunity will be given to take it.

7.75. The results of each examination shall be reported promptly to the Dean of the Graduate School. These results will be accepted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree for which the student is registered for five years from the time the examination is taken.