Master’s Degree Policies and Guidelines

The following are the guidelines governing master’s degrees within the School of Graduate Studies and Research (SGSR). Additional requirements established by specific departments and programs may be found in this catalog under the special headings of these units. Before deciding to enter a particular graduate degree program, the student is urged to communicate directly with the department to determine the most current program requirements. The student is responsible for seeking academic advising in the department or program of the specialization chosen. The department can assist in many of the details necessary to completing program requirements, especially early in the student’s program.

Please note that each graduate department is headed by a chair, director or coordinator responsible for working with graduate students in developing individual courses of study, establishing graduate committees, and advising graduate students. Graduate students are expected to work with the head of the program. In all matters relating to university guidelines, the dean of the SGSR is the final arbiter, though they consult with program heads in carrying out these duties.

Graduate-Level Credit
Graduate-level credit is given for all courses at CWU numbered at the 501 level and above. However, courses which are specifically numbered 500 are reserved for professional development courses and cannot be counted toward a master’s degree.

Graduate courses numbered 501 and above are typically restricted to students who have earned a bachelor’s degree and who have formally been admitted to a graduate program of the university. Some courses may also require competitive admission to a specific departmental graduate program.

Undergraduate-Level Credit
Courses at the 100, 200, and 300 level are not applicable to a master’s degree at CWU. Courses at the 400 level may be accepted for credit toward a graduate degree at CWU provided that they are taken after the student has been admitted to the master’s degree program and are approved as part of the student’s official course of study. In such cases, graduate students are expected to perform at a high level, while completing requirements additional to those expected of undergraduates enrolled in the course.

Transferring Credit to CWU Graduate Degree Programs
Courses taken prior to formal admission to a CWU graduate degree program may be considered for transfer to a CWU graduate degree program provided that the criteria below are met. The university reserves the right to determine the acceptability of transfer credit from any institution. All transfer credits must come from accredited institutions.

A total of 15 graduate quarter credits may be applied to a CWU master’s degree, of which no more than 9 quarter credits (6 semester credits) may be from accredited institutions offering graduate degrees other than CWU. A total of 20 quarter credits (13.33 semester credits) may be applied to a CWU educational specialist degree. Additional transfer credits may be applied toward degree for those programs of study arising from formal degree articulation agreements between CWU and other institutions of higher learning. For graduate certificates, no more than 6 quarter credits (4 semester credits) can be applied from either CWU or other institutions.

Credits accepted in transfer are those that are part of an accredited institution’s regular graduate degree programs. In cases where courses sought for transfer generate both undergraduate and graduate credit, students receiving transfer credit are expected to have elected the course(s) at the graduate level and thus have completed more qualitatively and quantitatively than those who have taken the course(s) for undergraduate credit. Credit sought for transfer must be graded “B” or higher and must have been completed no more than six years before the date of the student’s master’s degree program completion. Credit hours only, not grades, may be transferred. The cumulative grade point average is computed for grades earned as a master’s student at CWU.

All credits intended for transfer must be recommended for approval by the departmental/program head as a part of the official course of study filed with the SGSR. Before transfer credit can be considered part of a graduate student’s program, an official transcript from the registrar of the institution from which the credit is to be transferred must be received by the SGSR.

Credits used to fulfill requirements for another master’s degree, either at CWU or elsewhere, will not be transferred towards a CWU master’s degree. Credit for short courses, attendance at conferences, brokered courses, workshops, and pass-fail courses are normally not accepted in transfer. Credit from any non-accredited institution or accredited institution not approved for graduate study will not be accepted for transfer. Credit obtained within the state of Washington from an accredited institution whose main campus is outside of the state will be considered for transfer only by special petition to the dean of the School of Graduate Studies and Research. The university reserves the right to determine the acceptability of transfer credit from any institution.

Course Challenge (Credit by Examination)
Under certain circumstances, the university may award credit or waive requirements based on course challenges or prior learning experience. Graduate students who have been admitted to a graduate program must obtain permission from the dean of the SGSR, their advisor, and the course instructor to challenge a course.

Credit/No Credit
Graduate students may take advantage of the credit/no credit option as a way to explore academic areas in which they are interested. Credit/no credit courses will not be counted toward master’s degrees, nor will they be computed in the graduate grade point average. Students are allowed to select one class per quarter for a credit/-no-credit grade. A student electing this option must designate a class as credit/no credit during registration or during change of schedule period. The credit/no credit option is distinct from courses graded on a satisfactory/unsatisfactory (S or U) basis (see S or U grading).

Credits from Extension, Workshops and Correspondence Activity
No more than a combined maximum of 8 credits of workshop courses (591) may be applied toward a master’s degree. Courses numbered 491 are not applicable to master’s degree credit. Credits earned in correspondence courses are not applicable to any master’s degree.

Scholastic Standards
Any graduate student in a master’s program whose cumulative grade point average falls below 3.0 at the end of any quarter will be placed on academic probation for the next academic quarter. While on probation, a student may not hold a graduate assistantship or a nonresident tuition waiver fellowship. If, after one quarter of probation, the student fails to raise their cumulative grade point average to 3.0 or above, the student will be withdrawn from the university. Students may not receive a master’s degree from Central if their cumulative grade point average is below 3.0.

The cumulative grade point average is calculated using all courses taken after admission into a graduate program, whether part of the approved course of study or not. Grades for all courses included on the course of study must average at least 3.0 (B). Credit will not be accepted for courses on the course of study in which a grade lower than “C” is earned.

Maximum Time Limit to Degree Completion
All courses used toward degree completion in the student’s course of study, including courses transferred in from other institutions must have been completed within six years of the date of graduate degree conferral. Exceptions must have the approval of the Program Coordinator and the SGSR dean. If a degree program is not completed during the six-year period from the quarter for which a student was admitted, the student must reapply to the university. If readmitted, only those credits graded B or higher and completed no more than six years from the date of the student’s program completion may be counted toward the degree.

Master’s degree students are expected to complete all requirements for the master’s degree within six years from the date of first enrollment. Students seeking to interrupt their studies may do so with the approval of the chair or graduate coordinator of the home department but must pay a non-refundable fee for registration as an on-leave student. This fee covers four successive academic quarters beginning with fall quarter. While on leave, graduate students retain library privileges. If a degree program is not completed during the six-year period from the quarter for which a student was admitted or from the quarter of their first transfer credit, the student must reapply to the university. If readmitted, only those credits graded B or higher and completed no more than six years from the date of the student’s program completion may be counted toward the degree.

Continuous Registration
All master’s degree students, including students in attendance only during summer quarter, must satisfy the continuous registration requirement each fall quarter or summer to maintain active status. Students whose master’s program runs throughout the academic year will be assessed this fee every fall quarter. Students whose program meets primarily in the summer months will be assessed the on-leave fee at the beginning of summer quarter. A master’s degree student may register as a full-time, part-time, or as an on-leave student to satisfy the requirement. Students desiring on-leave status are required to pay a $40 fee each fall quarter. Failure to maintain continuous registration will be taken by the university to signify the student’s resignation from the program. Students who resign and later wish to resume study toward a degree must reapply for admission and complete all steps outlined for master’s admission. Readmission cannot be guaranteed.

Graduate Committee
Every master’s degree candidate must have a graduate committee of at least three members. Interdisciplinary membership is strongly recommended. In some departments, a student may choose their committee in consultation with an advisor; in others, the chair or graduate coordinator assigns graduate committees. In either case, the graduate student is expected to work with the department chair or graduate coordinator in forming their committee. The student must submit a Graduate Committee and Option Approval Form to the graduate office. If approved, the committee becomes the student’s official advisory committee. The thesis or non-thesis option advisor is the student’s graduate committee chair and generally is a faculty member in the department of specialization.

The Graduate Faculty
The graduate faculty are professors, teachers and mentors, as well as active researchers and artists. They blend instructional and research activities and in so doing afford our graduate students the benefit of state-of-the-art research and creative experience with personalized instruction.

Only a regular member of the graduate faculty may serve as chair of a graduate committee. Under unusual circumstances, and with the written recommendation of a graduate student’s home department or program and the approval of the dean of the SGSR, an associate member of the graduate faculty may serve as co-chair of a student’s graduate committee. The associate member will serve as co-chair along with a regular member of the graduate faculty. The minimum number of members needed for a graduate committee will remain at three. Please check with faculty members concerning their graduate faculty status before forming your committee.

Course of Study
All candidates must complete at least 45 credits (some programs require more credits) as outlined in an official online catalog, endorsed by the department chair or graduate coordinator and the committee chair, and filed with and approved by the SGSR. The course of study should be filed before a graduate student has completed 25 quarter credits leading to the master’s degree; however, it may be required prior to that for financial aid purposes. An approved course of study must be on file with the SGSR before the graduate committee and an Option Approval form will be considered for approval.

The official course of study reflects the credit required to meet requirements for the master’s degree. Unless revisions are approved by the department chair or graduate coordinator and the dean of the SGSR, the student must complete satisfactorily or be currently enrolled for all credit specified before advancement to candidacy or before the degree award will be processed. Each graduate student, as part of degree requirements must complete a thesis, project and/or comprehensive examination (see below for information about culminating experiences).

The student’s graduate advisor or committee chair, in consultation with the department chair and/or graduate coordinator, works with the student in designing a program of study. Once agreed upon, the student prepares an official course of study form obtained from the graduate school Canvas courses, which is then endorsed by the department chair or graduate coordinator, along with the student’s committee chair. Upon receipt in the SGSR, each course of study is reviewed to ensure that it meets the minimum requirements of the institution.

The credit on the course of study must be separate and distinct from credit applied toward any other degree. No more than 15 quarter credits completed at CWU before the quarter of formal admission will be accepted on the official course of study for the master’s degree, although the department and the graduate office reserve the right to limit the use of such credit, or not count it at all. Graduate students are urged to discuss the counting of such credit as soon after being admitted as possible.

Course of study forms are available on the Graduate School’s Canvas courses.

Certificate Course of Study
A student who is enrolled in a graduate certificate program is required to submit a proposed course of study form for a graduate certificate to the SGSR. This form lists the courses proposed by the student to fulfill the total credit requirement for a certificate. The student is responsible for completing and signing the form and obtaining the necessary program and departmental signatures. The form is then submitted by the student to the SGSR for final review and approval. A student should submit the form to the SGSR shortly after admission to the certificate program (for certificates that can be completed in less than three quarters) or in the quarter when at least half of the total credit requirement for the certificate is expected to be met.

The program of study leading to a graduate certificate must satisfy the following conditions:

1. The following courses cannot be applied to a certificate: 500, 595, 598, 689, and 700.
2. Any course applied to a previously earned degree of any type at any institution cannot be applied to meet the credit requirements of a graduate certificate program.
3. At least two thirds of the total credit requirement must be earned at Central Washington University.
4. Only one 400 level course can be included in the certificate program. The student must earn a B or above in this course in order for it to count towards the student’s course of study.
5. A student may be co-enrolled in two certificate programs if approved by the Program Coordinator(s) and department Chair(s).
6. If approved by the Program Coordinator, department Chair, and Dean of SGSR, all credits earned with a grade of B or above in a CWU graduate certificate program may be used towards a master’s degree program.
7. All requirements for a graduate certificate (including courses completed at another college or university) must be started and completed within three years. If the student continues on to a master’s program, students are expected to complete all requirements for the master’s degree within six years from the date of first enrollment.
8. Any divergence by the certificate curriculum from these requirements must be approved by the dean of SGSR.

Credits Required
A graduate student must complete at least 45 quarter credits (some programs require more credits) in the 400, 500, and above credit level groups. At least 25 of the total required credits for the degree must be numbered 501 or above.

Some academic departments restrict the number of credits below the 500 level and the number of layered courses. Graduate students must take layered courses at the 500 level or higher. Please consult the departmental listings in this catalog for specific additional credit level requirements.

At least 30 credits appearing on the course of study for the master’s degree must be on a graded scale (not S or U). Credit/no credit courses will not be counted toward a master’s degree at CWU.

Credit must be separate and distinct from credit applied toward any other degree. No more than 15 undergraduate quarter credits completed at CWU before the quarter of formal admission will be accepted on the official course of study for the master’s degree, although the academic department and the SGSR reserve the right to limit the use of such credit or the acceptance of such credit.

Credits from Extension, Workshops, and Correspondence Activity
No more than a combined maximum of 8 credits of workshop courses (591) may be applied toward a graduate degree. Courses numbered 491 are not applicable to graduate degree credit. Credits earned in correspondence courses are not applicable to any graduate degree.

Professional Development Graduate Credit
Professional development courses (CWU 500 courses) and continuing education courses cannot be counted toward a graduate degree.

Culminating Experiences

Culminating Experience Types
The student’s graduate committee will approve the culminating experience type before work begins and the Graduate Committee and Culminating Experience Option Approval Form is filed with the SGSR. All students pursuing a graduate degree must demonstrate scholarly proficiency by satisfactorily completing one or more of the following culminating experience(s):

a. a thesis;

b. a written report of a field study, an applied research project, or an internship;

c. a creative or studio project;

d. a portfolio review;

e. a comprehensive written examination; and/or

f. an oral exam.

Thesis Option
A thesis is the written product of the systematic study of a significant problem. It clearly identifies the problem, states the major assumptions, explains the significance of the undertaking, sets forth the sources for and methods of gathering information, analyzes the data, and offers a conclusion or recommendation. The graduate student is expected to work closely with the thesis committee chair and committee in the conception, design, and execution of the thesis. Normally, an oral defense of thesis will be required.

Theses must conform to standards described in the thesis regulations that are available on the SGSR’s Canvas courses. All thesis are required to be uploaded into the Graduate Student Thesis Canvas Site for an originality report review, revisions and final posting. All thesis will be uploaded to ScholarWorks at the CWU library once approved by the SGSR unless an exception is requested by the student and committee chair.

Thesis Final Examinations
If applicable, the permit for scheduling a thesis final examination, approved by the committee, must be filed in the SGSR at least three weeks in advance of the examination. The final examination must be scheduled during normal working hours, Monday through Friday, when the university is in session (not between quarters). Final examinations are conducted by the candidate’s committee and are open to the faculty and the general public. The committee alone shall decide upon the merit of the candidate’s performance. Final assessment of the examination will be reported on a satisfactory/unsatisfactory basis. The candidate shall pass the examination if two-thirds of the official graduate faculty committee members so indicate. In the event of an unsatisfactory final examination, a second examination may be scheduled upon the endorsement of the major department chair and with the approval of the dean of SGSR for the subsequent quarter with at least two months intervening.

All degree requirements must be completed within the same or next quarter from the exam date. Failure to complete remaining requirements by the end of the next quarter will result in requiring the final examination to be retaken.

Non-thesis Options:  Applied Project, Creative project, Studio Project and/or Portfolio Review
A project or portfolio review is a significant undertaking of a pursuit appropriate to the fine arts, applied arts or to professional fields. It must be original and show independent thinking; appropriate form and organization; and a rationale. A project reflects applied field research or creative effort, often suited to the student’s individual and/or professional goals and allows application of technical skills and knowledge with a practical emphasis.

Students completing this culminating experience still require a graduate committee and may require a written product and/or a formal oral defense, at the discretion of the academic program.

Individual programs may have specific requirements for project/portfolio review guidelines and information. Programs must have their current guidelines on file with the SGSR.

Comprehensive Exam
A comprehensive examination is an assessment of the student’s ability to integrate the knowledge of the area, show critical and independent thinking and demonstrate mastery of the subject matter. The results of the examination evidence independent thinking, appropriate organization, critical analysis, and accuracy of documentation.  An oral defense of the exam may be required.

Students completing this culminating experience still require a graduate committee.

Individual programs may have specific requirements. Programs must have their current guidelines on file with the SGSR.

Graduate Committee and Culminating Experience Option Approval
Every student must have a graduate committee. Graduate committees for thesis will consist of at least three graduate faculty members as defined within CWUP 5-130-050 Graduate Faculty. All other culminating experiences must have at least two graduate faculty members. Interdisciplinary membership is strongly recommended. In some departments, a student may choose their committee in consultation with an advisor; in others, the chair or graduate coordinator assigns graduate committees. The student must submit a Graduate Committee and Culminating Experience Option Approval Form to the School of Graduate Studies and Research once a graduate committee has been chosen and before the culminating experience has started. If approved, the committee becomes the student’s official advisory committee, and the graduate committee chair is generally the student’s advisor.

Research with Human Subjects

Institutional Review Board Approval
Central is concerned that no research conducted at this institution by its faculty, or its students expose people who participate as subjects to unreasonable risk to their health, general well-being, or privacy. Therefore, all CWU-affiliated research, including student research projects which involve human subjects, must be reviewed by the university’s Human Subjects Review Committee (HSRC), CWU’s institutional review board for the protection of human subjects. Students apply for HSRC review by filling out an application form, which can be obtained online at https://www.cwu.edu/academics/research/human-subjects-review-program/index.php or from the HSRC office. Early contact with the human protections’ administrator is recommended. Please email mason.low@cwu.edu or hsrc@cwu.edu

No research can be initiated prior to formal approval.

Research with Animal Subjects

Animal Care and Use Approval
Graduate students whose research involves vertebrate animal subjects may not commence research without first obtaining clearance from the Animal Care and Use Committee. Forms for applying for review may be obtained online at https://www.cwu.edu/academics/colleges/graduate-studies-research/.

Completing Degree Requirements

Final Folder Evaluation
All graduate students must request for a final review of their file no later than the first week of their anticipated final quarter via the Graduate School’s Canvas courses.  This review will evaluate candidacy requirements, grade point average, course of study completion, and culminating experience option form completion. Advancement to candidacy and, if applicable, final thesis defense, oral examination and/or written examination scheduling will not be permitted except during the final quarter.

Final Examination
If necessary for a program’s degree completion requirements, after the student has registered and been cleared to proceed toward completion through a folder check by SGSR, they must pass oral and/or written examinations covering courses, seminars, thesis, or other culminating experiences. A permission form authorizing the final examination will be issued by the SGSR after a final evaluation of the student’s course of study has been completed and once the student has met the final quarter enrollment requirements.

If applicable, the permit for scheduling a final examination, approved by the committee, must be filed in the SGSR at least three weeks in advance of the examination. The final examination must be scheduled between the hours of 7 a.m. and 6 p.m., Monday through Friday, when the university is in session (not between quarters). Final examinations are conducted by the candidate’s committee and are open to the faculty. The committee alone shall decide upon the merit of the candidate’s performance. Final assessment of the examination will be reported on a satisfactory/unsatisfactory basis. The candidate shall pass the examination if two-thirds of the official graduate faculty committee members so indicate. In the event of an unsatisfactory final examination, a second examination may be scheduled upon the endorsement of the major department chair and with the approval of the dean of SGSR for the subsequent quarter with at least two months intervening.

All degree requirements must be completed within the same or next quarter from the exam date. Failure to complete remaining requirements by the end of the next quarter will result in requiring the final examination to be retaken.

Final Quarter Enrollment Requirement
A student admitted to a master’s degree program must be registered for a minimum of two (2) credits at the university during the quarter the master’s degree is conferred. Enrollment for this purpose should be completed during the usual early registration or regular registration periods to ensure degree conferral if requirements are met.

A student who requested a final folder evaluation/application for graduation for a particular quarter but does not complete the requirements for degree conferral by the published deadline will not earn their degree. The student must register for another quarter and request an additional final folder evaluation/application for graduation.

Advancement to Candidacy
A student becomes eligible for advancement to candidacy for a master’s degree upon fulfillment of the following requirements:

1. Completion of the course requirements as set forth in the course of study;
2. Completion of the culminating experience and, if applicable, the passing of an oral and/or written examination deemed necessary by the major department.
3. Attainment of a cumulative grade point average of 3.0 (B) or higher for all courses taken since admission to the graduate program and all work included in the course of study;
4. Completion of additional departmental requirements, e.g., proficiency in a foreign language;
5. Fulfillment of the statute of time limitation (six years) requirement;

Second Master’s Degrees
Students seeking a second master’s degree must be admitted to the second program in accordance with admission regulations and must complete an approved course of study (of at least 45 credits) distinct from the courses offered for the first master’s degree.

Graduation
Application for a master’s degree must be submitted to the School of Graduate Studies and Research by the stated quarterly deadline. The application is generated by the graduate office. The application will not be completed without payment of degree fees. The fee for the master’s degree is $50 and students completing theses will have an additional fee of $25. The application is for a specific quarter of degree conferral. If requirements are not met, the student must reapply and pay the fees for degree conferral in a subsequent quarter.

Commencement
Candidates for the master’s degree are encouraged to participate in the commencement exercises following the completion of degree requirements. Students graduating in winter, spring or summer quarters can participate in spring commencement and/or the separate hooding ceremony. See the Calendars and Priority Registration Dates  for deadline dates. To register for commencement participation and arrange for regalia go to https://www.cwu.edu/commencement/graduate-hooding-ceremony/index.php. Information will also be posted via SGSR canvas sites.