College of Arts & Sciences

Graduate Degrees Requirements

See Academic Regulations - Graduate Degrees for specific TAMIU regulations.

  • Major/Minor Requirements: Twenty-four to thirty-three hours in a major subject and six to twelve hours in a minor. Minors not currently included as options for the degree will require department and dean approval.
  • Concentrations: 15-18 hours in each of two areas of concentration, where applicable.
  • Admission: No student seeking a graduate degree will be permitted to register for a graduate class until such time that he or she has been admitted to the University. Individuals wishing to take courses for personal growth, etc. may register for up to twelve hours as non-degree seeking. These courses may not be applicable to a degree program.
  • Applicants seeking admission to the Master of Arts in Counseling Psychology, must complete additional admission requirements before April 30 for Fall Semester.
  • Students wishing to change degrees must re-apply to the University and be accepted for admission by the new degree program.  
  • Prerequisites (Stemwork): The department retains the right to examine the applicant’s prerequisites and to accept certain equivalent hours or to require additional work.
  • The maximum load for a graduate student for a long semester is twelve (12) hours. The maximum load for summer school is six (6) hours per session. The maximum load for a sub-term (7-week) is six (6) hours. Any SCH load in excess of the maximum must be approved by the Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences.
  • Thesis: This is defined as a professional paper in the major field. Students are required to complete 18 SCH of course work before Thesis I is started. Thesis must be successfully defended before the faculty advisory committee for completion of graduate degree program. Students in master’s degree programs in the COAS requiring a thesis who have completed all course work on their degree are required to register each subsequent fall and spring semester until the thesis receives final approval. Students who do not comply with this requirement will have their registration blocked.
  • Leave of Absence: Under unusual circumstances, a student may petition for a leave of absence. A petition for leave of absence is initiated by the student by submitting a Leave of Absence Request form. The Department/Advisory Committee Chair and College Dean must approve the petition and route it to the Graduate School. If the Graduate School Dean approves the petition, the registration requirement will be set aside during the period of leave. Leave will be granted only under conditions that require the suspension of all activities associated with pursuing the degree. For certain types of approved leave, such as medical, the time period for the completion of the degree will stop with the leave and begin when the student returns to the program. Other types of leave may not stop the time limit for the degree. A student should refer to the sections on Time Limits for master’s and doctoral programs. A leave of absence is granted for one year. In a case of extenuating circumstances, the leave of absence can be extended by the student’s Department/Advisory Committee Chair and the Graduate School Dean. A student who returns to the University after an approved leave of absence will not be required to submit an application for readmission to the Graduate School. An international student should visit with an Office of International Engagement advisor to find out how a leave of absence may impact the student’s stay in or re-entry into the U.S.
  • Written Comprehensive Examination: Non-Thesis degrees in COAS require a comprehensive examination to complete the requirements of the degree. Students should check with their respective program coordinators for further information. This exam is taken in the last semester of coursework and is VALID FOR ONE YEAR. Exams will be given each long semester. A student who fails to pass one or more questions of the exam will be allowed one opportunity to repeat and pass the exam. All requirements for a master’s degree that include the comprehensive exam must be completed within a period of five years.
  • Oral Comprehensive Examination: For degree programs requiring an oral comprehensive examination, oral exams must be completed by mid-November or mid-April.
  • Additional Master's Degree Policy: Students shall not be permitted to apply the same course credit to more than one master’s degree except in the Master of Public Administration (9 hours of electives) and the Master of Arts in Counseling Psychology (limited number of psychology courses). A Request to Transfer Graduate Level Courses must be submitted if transfer courses were taken in another institution or a Course Substitution for courses taken at TAMIU. The Graduate School's time limitation policy also applies to transfer credit courses.  

GRADUATE DEGREES

Doctor of Philosophy

CERTIFICATE