PRINT DISCLAIMER: Official version of this document is accessible in the online policy library at https://policyoffice.ku.edu/. Printed copies may not reflect the most recent updates.
DOCUMENT TYPE:
Policy
PURPOSE:
To provide the general and common requirements for all master's degrees offered by the Lawrence and Edwards campuses.
APPLIES TO:
All Lawrence/Edwards campuses graduate students.
CAMPUS:
Edwards, Lawrence
POLICY STATEMENT:
The following requirements and expectations apply to all master’s degrees offered by the University of Kansas Lawrence and Edwards campuses. These are in addition to any requirements established by the Kansas Board of Regents, degree program, school, or College.
Compliance
All master’s programs must adhere to the Higher Learning Commission's (HLC's) requirements concerning master's degree program administration. All master's programs must be comprised of at least 50% coursework designed for graduate credit and offered at the 700-level or above.
Coursework
A master’s degree requires at least one (1) year of graduate work or its equivalent. The minimum credit hours required for a master’s degree is 30, though some degrees may require more. With permission of the department and the school or College graduate division, it is sometimes possible to complete a 30-hour master’s degree with as few as 24 hours if the student enters the program especially well-prepared and maintains a superior grade-point average (Please see Exclusions or Special Circumstances below). In the case of joint degree programs, the coordinating program committee would review requests for a reduced credit-hour degree.
All master’s programs must entail a coherent program of study leading to competency in the field. Work for a master’s degree is concentrated in the major area with only minimal coursework (usually no more than six [6] hours) permitted outside the major department or program. In the case of interdisciplinary programs, work may be concentrated in more than one (1) major area.
Master’s degree requirements may include one (1) or more culminating efforts representing work achieved outside of specific course requirements. These include master’s final examinations (oral and/or written), theses, projects, performances, or a combination of these. If required by the degree program, any such culminating efforts must comply with the Master’s Final Exams policy. Other master’s degrees may be comprised of coursework alone.
Degree Completion
Graduate students enrolled in master’s degree programs must be enrolled for the semester in which they complete the master’s degree requirements unless they meet the early graduation deadline. To meet the early graduation deadline, master’s students must have been enrolled the preceding semester and complete all degree requirements before the deadline established by the Office of Graduate Studies. In such cases, the student is not required to enroll for that semester and the degree will be conferred at the end of that semester.
Students earning a master’s thesis degree must have completed at least one (1) hour of thesis or thesis equivalent enrollment before the master’s degree may be awarded.
Completion of degree requirements must be accomplished in accordance with the published Master’s Degree Program Time Constraints.
EXCLUSIONS OR SPECIAL CIRCUMSTANCES:
Students who enter their programs of study especially well-prepared may be eligible for a reduced credit hour master’s degree. This exception is only applicable to master’s students who would be reducing credit hours below the 30-hour required minimum for master’s programs outlined in this policy. This exception is not necessary, for example, for students in a master’s program that requires 42 credit hours who will be reducing to 36 credit hours.
CONTACT:
Graduate Studies
785-864-8040
graduate@ku.edu
APPROVED BY:
Provost and Executive Vice Chancellor
APPROVED ON:
2009-06-12
EFFECTIVE ON:
2009-06-12
REVIEW CYCLE:
Annual (As Needed)
RELATED STATUTES, REGULATIONS, AND/OR POLICIES:
Master’s Degree Program Time Constraints
Master's Final Exams
CHANGE HISTORY:
04/02/2025: Migration to TeamDynamix from Drupal.
10/31/2024: Added clarifying language to Exclusions and Special Circumstances.
07/25/2023: Updated links, policy formatting.
07/21/2022: Consolidation of policies and further defining of expectations for coursework and culminating projects.
02/22/2019: Technical edit - KU adheres to HLC rules.
02/09/2015: Graduate Studies updated hyperlinks and added required policy sections.