Master's Degree Requirements

Three Degree Plans

• The Master's degree is offered under three options, though not all programs offer all three:

1. Plan A includes an eight credit thesis
2. Plan B includes an essay or project of at least two credits
3. Plan C includes coursework only, with no thesis or essay/project required.

• The student's Plan of Work should indicate which of these options the student will follow as well as all degree requirements the student must complete.

Thesis Option

• The thesis option (Plan A) requires registration for the department's Thesis Direction course (usually, 8999).
   
• Requirements for thesis formatting, submission and publishing parallel those for the dissertation. Formatting guidelines are available from the master’s section of the Graduate School website.

Essay Option. The essay/project option (Plan B) requires registration for the department's Essay/Project course (usually, 7999).

Directed Study

• Independent study may be authorized for advanced students, provided it is in an area relevant to the student's degree program and the area of study is not available through existing courses.
   
• A Petition and Authorization for Directed Study form should be completed, describing the nature, scope and significance of the study; the work to be submitted for evaluation; and the credit hours to be earned.
   
• The Petition must identify the graduate faculty member who will direct the study and be approved by the advisor and the college/school Graduate Officer. It should be retained in the student’s file.
   
• When the study has been authorized, a departmental representative will provide an override to the student so s/he can register.

Transfer of Credit

Graduate credit may be transferred from another accredited graduate institution provided that the student earns at least 24 credits in residence at Wayne State. Some departments further limit the transfer of credit.

Advisor approval. The student’s advisor must approve the credit as appropriate to the student’s Plan of Work.

Eligibility for transfer

• The credit must be certified as graduate-level.
   
• The grade must be at least a B (3.00).
   
• The course cannot have provided credit toward a previous degree.
   
• The credit must have been earned within the six year time limit allowed for the master's degree.
   
• Credit earned in quarter hours should be converted to its semester hour equivalent.