Graduate Student Handbook
II. Academics
The Office of Records/Registration at the Health Center was
established to be the student's liaison with Storrs and to help
expedite their paperwork. Students do not need to travel to
Storrs to submit any paperwork; the ORR will act as a conduit
for the student in all capacities. As noted throughout this
handbook, the Graduate Records Office is the official office at
the Storrs campus where all original paperwork is forwarded via
the ORR.
A. Registration
All graduate students must maintain registration each Fall &
Spring semester until termination of the degree program either
by completion or withdrawal. Students failing to maintain
registration will be administratively dismissed by the
University. Students normally take all of their courses at the
Health Center. It is possible, with permission of the AoC, to
take courses at another branch of the University of Connecticut.
Students attending school at the Health Center, especially
students on GPC assistantships, must register for all courses at
the Health Center regardless of which campus they plan to
attend.
A course registration booklet is published two times per
year, Fall and Spring semesters. This booklet lists all courses
available to students in the Ph.D. in Biomedical Science
program, the Master of Public Health program and the Master of
Dental Science program. The booklet is published on the web
(hard copy is available upon request) for the Fall and Spring
semester. Students register in person, or by mail or fax during
the scheduled registration periods each semester. The student is
responsible for obtaining all required signatures.
Summer registration takes place in May (for all summer
sessions) and June (for second summer session). Students
registering in the summer are enrolled through the Credit
Programs portion of the University and a different fee schedule
applies. Graduate Assistantships do not cover the cost of summer
courses
Students must have their advisor’s signature on the
registration form before registration will be accepted for
either independent studies or laboratory rotations. Some courses
also require permission from the instructor or other authorized
individuals.
It is advisable to make an appointment with your advisor
prior to arrival at the Health Center for registration. Your
advisory committee will direct you to the appropriate courses to
take. Each AoC has certain requirements for courses. Please
consult the Program Director of your AoC if you have any
questions regarding this selection.
Students who have completed all course requirements for
the degree, including the required research credits, have to
maintain continuous registration until the entire program has
been completed. This is done by registering for "Continuous
Registration" (GRAD 398 or 399 for Master's students; GRAD 498
or 499 for Ph.D. students) each semester. Failure to register
will invalidate a program and an administrative withdrawal will
result. Reinstatement is granted only by the Dean of the
Graduate School at Storrs. The reinstatement fee is $65.00 plus
all fees in arrears.
Ph.D. students matriculating in the Fall of 1998 and
later are required to complete a minimum of 15 research credits.
Plan A Masters students matriculating in the Fall of 1998 and
later are required to complete a minimum of 9 research credits.
Students will generally register for these credits after they
have completed all of their required course work. Courses that
are used to fulfill this requirement include GRAD 495, 496 and
497 for Ph.D. students and GRAD 395, 396 and 397 for Plan A
Masters students.
B. Advisory Committee
Degree programs are generally planned by the Area of
Concentration (AoC). Each advisory committee follows the plan
established by the AoC, e.g. regarding course load, preliminary
examinations and thesis work except where the GPC has set rules
regarding assistantship support.
A major advisor must be appointed at the appropriate level by
the Dean of the Graduate School by authorization of the
President of the University to advise in a particular field of
study. Once admitted to a degree program at the Health Center, a
student is assigned a major advisor for the first one to two
years of study. This advisor will assist in outlining the
courses needed to be completed in preparation of the General
Exam. Most students will change major advisors sometime during
the second year of study or just prior to beginning their thesis
work. Appropriate forms must be filed before the official change
can occur. Occasionally, it may be desirable or appropriate for
a student's degree program to be directed by co-major advisors
(not more than two). Each co-major advisor must hold an
appropriate appointment to the graduate faculty in the field of
study and area of concentration, if applicable.
The major advisor is responsible for coordinating the
supervisory work of the advisory committee. Therefore, when the
major advisor is to be on leave or is not in residence at the
Health Center, it is the major advisor's responsibility to
appoint an acting major advisor. The acting major advisor must
be a member of the Graduate School Faculty or fully eligible for
an appointment to this faculty. The acting major advisor shall
assume all duties and responsibilities of the major advisor for
the duration of the appointment. The major advisor shall inform
the Dean of the Graduate School and the Graduate Records Office
of the appointment and shall record with the Dean any
information that may be required concerning the credentials of
the acting major advisor.
If a change of a major advisor becomes necessary for any
reason, including a change of the Program Director, a form must
be filed by the student with the Office of Records/Registration
bearing the signature of the new advisor. The signature of the
former advisor is requested for informational purposes only but
is not required. It does not, in any way, signify permission or
consent on the part of the former advisor. If a major advisor
decides that it is not possible to continue as a student's major
advisor and wishes to resign, the Office of Records and
Registration must be notified in writing at the earliest
possible moment. The student is provided with a reasonable
opportunity to arrange for a new advisor. If a new major advisor
is not identified within six weeks of the resignation of the
former major advisor, the student's graduate degree program
status is terminated. A student whose status has been terminated
may request a hearing before the Associate Dean by filing a
written request within 30 days of receipt of the letter of
termination.
Student's advisory committees are responsible directly to the
Associate Dean of the Graduate School. Any changes in the
membership of an advisory committee that has been duly
established must be made in writing by the major advisor to the
Office of Records and Registration.
The advisory committee of a master's degree program
student is formed after consultation between the major advisor
and the student and shall include at least two associate
advisors, at least one of whom must hold a current appointment
to the faculty or professional staff of the University of
Connecticut, with suitable academic or scientific credentials.
This committee should be formed before the student has completed
twelve credits of degree program course work and shall then
supervise the remainder of the student's degree program.
The advisory committee of a doctoral degree program
student is formed after consultation between the student and the
major advisor and shall include at least two associate advisors
with suitable academic or scientific credentials. The major
advisor and at least one associate advisor shall be members of
the graduate faculty appointed to advise doctoral students in
the student's field of study and area of concentration, if
applicable. In addition to the three or more members chosen in
the usual way, another member, ordinarily a member of the
graduate faculty outside the student's field of study but in a
related field, may be appointed by the Dean of the Graduate
School.
If deemed appropriate or necessary, a master's or a
doctoral student's major advisor may request that a suitably
qualified external associate advisor be appointed to the
student's advisory committee as a full and voting member by
writing to the Office of Records and Registration. The request
should be accompanied by a curriculum vita for the individual
being recommended for appointment. Such appointments are made on
the basis of advanced training and significant experience in the
field of study. An appointment as external associate advisor is
limited to an individual student's advisory committee and does
not imply in any way membership on the Graduate Faculty of the
University. Ordinarily, not more than one external associate
advisor is appointed to any master's or doctoral student's
advisory committee. External associate advisors must attend the
defense. (The Graduate School is not in a position to reimburse
an external associate advisor for related expenses.) The major
advisor and at least one associate advisor on any doctoral or
master's committee must be members of The University of
Connecticut Graduate Faculty.
Outside readers are experts external to UConn who
participate in some way in the research and /or the preparation
of the dissertation but are not required to attend the defense,
do not judge the dissertation or the defense in any way, but DO
sign the Approval Page of the dissertation as an Outside Reader
as evidence of their participation in the process.
C. The Doctor of Philosophy Degree
The Ph.D. is the highest degree offered by the University.
The program leading to its attainment is intended to give
persons of outstanding ability the opportunity to become
creative contributors in a scholarly field. Award of the degree
testifies to broad mastery of an established subject area,
acquisition of acceptable research skills, and a concentration
of knowledge in a specific field.
While certain minimum requirements are set by the Graduate
School, it is important for students to realize that work toward
this degree is not merely a matter of accumulating course
credits or of satisfying other requirements. The degree will be
conferred after the advisory committee and the Graduate Faculty
are convinced that the student has developed independence of
judgment and mature scholarship in the chosen field. An
individual may not earn more than one Ph.D. in a single field of
study at this institution.
This book will describe in detail each step for completing
the Program. Students who are awarded GPC assistantships must
complete these requirements in a timely manner in order to be
eligible for support each year. Students not supported by the
GPC should also use these criteria as guidelines
The schedule below is a brief outline establishing a time
frame for courses and thesis requirements. Ph.D. students
generally complete 44-48 credits for the degree. For students
matriculating in Fall of 1998 or later 15 of the credits must be
Graduate Research credits. A student already holding a Master's
degree must complete 24 credits.
a. Summer Before Year #1
Students have the option of entering the first year of
graduate school during the summer of the year they plan to
matriculate. Although this is not a requirement, students
may enter and complete a laboratory rotation at that time.
Summer lab rotations are included on the Fall registration
for the student.
b. First Year
1. Register for courses as prescribed by the assigned
Advisory Committee for student in the open admissions
program, or the Program Director of the AoC for students
admitted to a specific Area. Note, each AoC has specific
course requirements.
c. Summer (Year 1)
1. Complete Laboratory Rotation or Independent Study.
Summer work is added to the Fall registration for the
student.
2. File a Plan of Study (should be filed after taking 12
credits)
d. Second Year
1. Complete didactic course work.
2. General Examination is usually taken during the second
semester of the second year.
3. Choose an advisory committee for thesis work
e. Third Year
1. Begin thesis work. Register for one of the required
research courses (GRAD 495, 496, 497) or Continuous
Registration. Students must register each semester until the
program of study has been completed.
2. Many students also register for Journal Club during this
time.
f. Fourth Year
1. Continue thesis work. Register for Dissertation
Research credits.
g. Beyond the Fourth Year
1. Continue thesis work. Register for Dissertation
Research credits
2. Completion of Program
If you have any questions regarding requirements for your
Area of Concentration, please contact your Program Director.
If you have any questions regarding the Graduate School in
general, please contact the Office of Records/Registration.
The equivalent of at least three years of full-time study
beyond the baccalaureate or two years beyond the master's degree
(in the same or closely-related field) is required. All work
must be completed within eight years of the beginning of
doctoral study, or, if the student entered with a master's
degree in the same or a closely related field, the doctorate
must be completed in seven years. The beginning of doctoral
study is defined as the beginning date of the earliest course,
wherever taken, listed on the approved doctoral plan of study.
Failure to complete the work within the periods specified or
failure to maintain continuous registration (See "Continuous
Registration") shall necessitate reevaluation of the entire
program and may result in a notice of termination. In addition,
students receiving assistantships must follow the Timely
Completion requirements in order to continue receiving support.
(See Timely Completion requirements above.)
The graduate student can fulfill the special demands of a
doctoral program only by devoting a continuous period of time to
concentrated study and research with a minimum of outside
distraction or employment. During the second or subsequent years
of graduate work in the field, at least two consecutive
semesters or, with the consent of the advisory committee and the
student, one semester together with a contiguous summer period
consisting of Summer Session I and Summer Session II of full
time study (six credits or the equivalent in each session) must
be completed in residence. This residence period must be
completed at the Health Center in Farmington.
In any fall or spring semester which is to be part of the
student's residence period, registration for courses must be
processed through the University Registrar via the Health
Center's Office of Records/Registration. Payment of semester
fees must also be submitted via the Health Center's Office of
Records/Registration.
The essential criterion for full-time study as required for
fulfillment of the doctoral residence requirement is whether the
student is in fact devoting essentially full-time effort to
studies, without undue distracting causes by outside employment.
It is left to the advisory committee to determine whether a
student's outside employment is a distraction that prevents the
student from devoting essentially full-time effort to the
planned program. The advisory committee shall record this
determination on the plan of study together with a description
of the nature, extent, and period(s) of employment in all cases
of approved outside employment during the residence period.
Students receiving Graduate Programs Committee Assitantship
should not be engaged in outside employment.
The Plan of Study must be prepared in triplicate, signed
by the student and the members of the advisory committee, and
submitted to the Office of Records/Registration prior to
taking the General Exam. The Executive Committee of the
Graduate Faculty Council reviews the plan for approval. The
student may not take the General Examination before the Plan of
Study has been fully approved. In addition, students on GPC
assistantship funding must have an approved Plan of Study on
file to be eligible to receive support for the second year.
a. Course Credit Requirements
Courses elected shall be consistent with the student's
objectives and related to the field in which the degree will
be taken. While there are no specific course requirements
for the doctorate, except those in place by the Areas of
Concentration at the Health Center and the required 15
research credits for students matriculating in the Fall of
1998 and later, the Executive Committee ordinarily expects
the Plan to include about twenty to twenty-four credits of
course work beyond the master's degree or its equivalent in
the same or a similar field. The course work presented for
the Ph.D. degree, including the required research credits,
should generally equate to 44 to 48 credits beyond the
baccalaureate or its equivalent.
The Plan shall designate any courses comprising a related
or supporting area. Course credit by examination is not
allowed as a means of accumulating credits to meet the
requirements for advanced degrees at this institution. If an
examination is permitted to be used to fulfill a
related-or-supporting-area requirement for the Ph.D. degree,
course credit is not given.
b. Research Credit Requirement
Ph.D. students matriculating in the Fall of 1998 and
later are required to complete a minimum of 15 research
credits. Students will generally register for these credits
after they have completed all of their required course work.
Courses that are used to fulfill this requirement include
GRAD 495, 496 and 497.
c. Non-Degree Courses Included on the Plan of Study
Advanced course work taken on a non-degree basis at The
University of Connecticut may be included on a Ph.D. Plan of
Study provided the following conditions are met: (1) the
grades earned in such course work are B (not B-) or higher;
(2) such course work is within the seven or eight year limit
(whichever applies) for completion of Ph.D. degree
requirements; and (3) such credits have not been applied
toward any other degree here or elsewhere, awarded or to be
awarded. In any event, inclusion on the Plan of Study of
non-degree course work requires the consent of the advisory
committee and is subject to the approval of the Executive
Committee.
d. Change of Plan of Study
After approval of the Plan by the Executive Committee,
any request for change must be submitted to the Office of
Records/Registration on an official form bearing the
signatures of the members of the advisory committee and the
student, for approval by the Executive Committee. The
successful completion of all work indicated on the approved
Plan of Study is a fundamental prerequisite to the
conferring of the degree.
Transfer of credit for course work completed at other
institutions is approved only after the student has demonstrated
the ability to do acceptable graduate work at The University of
Connecticut. Such ability must be demonstrated by successful
completion of graduate-level University of Connecticut course
work. The equivalent of two years of graduate work completed at
accredited institutions may be accepted at accredited
institutions, provided it is of at least B (not B-) quality,
contributes to the objectives of the proposed doctoral program.
Such graduate work may be approved for transfer provided that
the general examination is to be passed and all degree
requirements are to be completed within the prescribed
periods-respectively, four or five years and seven to eight
years-from the beginning date of the earliest course, wherever
taken, listed on the approved doctoral plan of study. (See "Time
Limits.") Transfer credit is not granted for individual courses
used toward a degree elsewhere awarded. Instead, consideration
is given to that degree program as an entity when the doctoral
Plan of Study is being prepared. The number of transfer credits
accepted to a plan is contingent upon the AoC and will be
reviewed on an individual basis.
The advisory committee shall evaluate on a regular basis
the student's performance. Any graduate student whose scholastic
record does not meet the minimum requirements of the Graduate
School may be subject to dismissal. However, the committee may
insist on more than the minimum scholastic requirements and may
take other factors into consideration in deciding whether or not
to or not to recommend to the Dean that the student be permitted
to continue in the degree program.
The General Examination, also known as the Preliminary
Exam, is usually taken in year 2 except in the case of
Immunology students who take it in the fall of year 3. An
approved Plan of Study must be on file before a student can
receive credit for taking the General Examination.
This examination shall be under the jurisdiction of the
student's advisory committee. Each AoC has designated a specific
way of conducting the General Exam. Please check your AoC for
details regarding this Exam. The examination may be written,
oral, or both. All members of the advisory committee must be
present during any oral examination. Students shall be examined
in the several facets of their field of study, not merely in
their area of concentration. However, advisory or examining
committees may give a cumulative series of examinations to be
taken at intervals over the student's period of study. For
practical purposes, the final part of such a series shall be
regarded as "the general examination," and its scope may be
limited as the advisory or examining committee may judge
appropriate.
The examiners shall include at least one faculty member
representing each of the major areas included in the
examination. Not fewer than five faculty members, including
all members of the student's advisory committee shall
participate in the examination. All examiners shall be
invited to submit questions and to evaluate answers, but the
final decision as to whether or not the student has passed the
examination shall rest solely with the advisory committee unless
the members of the Graduate Faculty in a student's field of
study have voted to assign this authority to an examining
committee.
After the examination, the major advisor shall communicate
the results to the candidate as soon as a final decision can be
made and immediately send the official report on the examination
bearing the signature of each member of the advisory committee
to the Office of Records/Registration. Should the committee
permit the student to take the examination in several sections,
only the final result should be reported. Forms are available in
the ORR.
Before preparation of the dissertation is well underway,
the student shall file a prospectus of the proposed research,
using the form obtainable at the Office of Records/Registration
and following guidelines included thereon. If human or animal
subjects are involved in the proposed research, the major
advisor certifies by signing the above-mentioned special form
that all required institutional and external approvals have
already been obtained and that documentary evidence of these
approvals can be produced by the major advisor upon request. The
prospectus must be submitted to the chair of the area review
committee for approval before it is submitted to the Graduate
Records Office (via the Office of Records/Registration). The
Chair of the Graduate Programs Committee serves as the Chair of
the Area Review Committee. The approved Prospectus must be
filed in the Graduate Records Office at least six months prior
to completion of the degree program. It then must be approved by
the Executive Committee of the Graduate Faculty Council not
later than three months prior to the completion of the degree
program.
The Graduate Programs Committee has stated in the
assistantship criteria that within 12 months of passing the
General Examination, the Dissertation Prospectus must be
complete and approved by the Area Review Committee.
Upon passing the General Examination, completing any
remaining courses on the Plan of Study and any related or
supporting-area requirements, fulfilling the residence and any
internship requirements, and having had the Dissertation
Prospectus accepted by the Executive Committee, the student
becomes a candidate for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy. A
letter of candidacy is sent from the Graduate Records Office at
Storrs to all students successfully completing all requirements
for the degree except the dissertation and its oral defense.
A dissertation representing a significant contribution to
the candidate's field is a primary requirement. The dissertation
shall be under the immediate and continuous supervision of the
advisory committee and shall meet all standards prescribed by
the committee and by the Graduate School. It must be acceptable
in literary style and organization. The dissertation may not
include any data or research results that cannot be made public
at the time of the oral defense or that are subject to any other
restriction.
Prior to writing the dissertation, the student is advised to
obtain a copy of the University of Connecticut's
specifications for preparation and submission of the
dissertation. This booklet is available from the Office of
Records/Registration. It is the student's responsibility to be
certain that the dissertation conforms exactly to the
specifications prescribed by the Graduate School. The
dissertation is to be dated as of the calendar year in which all
requirements for the degree are met.
When a student, in consultation with the advisory committee,
sets a date for the defense, written notification of this date
must be made at least four weeks prior to the actual
defense. Setting a date for the oral final exam implies that the
student’s committee has read and approved the thesis pending
only minor changes. A dissertation packet of forms necessary for
completion are available in the Office of Records/Registration.
At least seven days prior to the actual defense date, a complete
preliminary or "working" copy of the dissertation must be
received by the Office of Records/Registration. This copy
incorporates changes suggested by their committee and should be
the final completed document. This copy is reviewed by the ORR
and then sent to the Graduate Records Office for format
verification. A tentative approval form signed by all members of
the advisory committee must be submitted along with the working
copy.
Following the oral defense, the student must deposit at the
Office of Records/Registration, three final,
fully-revised original dissertations, all bearing original
signatures. Two of the final copies of the dissertation will be
submitted to the Graduate Records Office. One is bound and held
in the reference section of the Homer Babbidge Library at
Storrs. The other is sent to the microfiche company. The third
copy is bound and held in the Lyman Maynard Stowe Library at the
Health Center. These final copies must be printed on at least 25
percent rag-content bond paper of at least 20-pound weight.
In some cases, revision of the dissertation is required by
the advisory committee as a result of the final examination.
Final approval of the dissertation following the examination
shall be indicated by the original signatures of all members of
the advisory committee on final-approval pages, which must be
submitted to the Office of Records/Registration immediately
after the student has been examined if revisions are necessary.
In any case, three final approval pages, with original
signatures, and the dissertation copies must be received at the
Office by the conferral period deadline in August, December, or
May.
If departments or programs require an extra copy of the
student's dissertation, it is the student's responsibility to
supply one directly to the department or program. Additional
copies of the dissertation can be bound for personal use. The
Office of Records/Registration has specific recommendations for
binding these copies at a nominal charge.
At the time the three final copies of the dissertation
are submitted to the Office of Records/Registration, five typed
copies of the abstract, not to exceed 350 words in length, shall
also be submitted. The abstract is published in Dissertation
Abstracts International.
The microfilming by University Microfilms International of
all doctoral dissertation is required. Agreement forms for
microfilming must be completed by doctoral candidates when
submitting the dissertation to the Office of
Records/Registration. This form also may be used to arrange for
optional copyrighting of the dissertation.
Completion fees are charged for the binding and microfilming
of the dissertation. If the dissertation is lengthy, the
Babbidge Library may require that it be bound as more than one
volume. Arrangements for fee payment are made at the Office of
Records/Registration. There is also a fee for copyrighting, if
desired.
All doctoral students must complete the "Survey of Earned
Doctorates," form available at the Office of
Records/Registration.
Dissertations handled by ProQuest Information and Learning (PQIL)
are copyrighted in the name of the author. PQIL registers the
copyright for the author (graduate student) with the
U.S. Copyright Office.
Accordingly, student authors own their dissertations and can
publish the contents of these works when or where they choose.
In cases where a dissertation contains all or part of a
previously published work, PQIL requests a permission letter
from the publisher (e.g., American Cancer Society) who usually
approves, often with the proviso that the dissertation can only
be distributed in paper and microfilm formats, not digitally.
The proviso is acceptable to PQIL.
The final examination shall be oral and under the
jurisdiction of the advisory committee. It shall deal mainly
with the subject matter of the dissertation. The examination
shall be held not earlier than seven days after a working copy
of the complete dissertation and tentative advisory committee
approval have been submitted to the Office of
Records/Registration but no later than the conferral period
deadline in August, December, or May. Invitation to participate
in the examination is issued by the advisory committee, although
members of the faculty may attend. Not fewer than five
members of the faculty, including all members of the candidate’s
advisory committee, shall participate in the final examination
unless written approval for a lesser number has been secured in
advance from the Dean of the Graduate School.
It is required that notification of the time and place of the
examination be sent, on special form, simultaneously to the to
Graduate Records Office and to the UConn Advance Office in time
to appear in the Advance not later than seven days prior
to the examination. The special form is available only from the
Graduate Records Office (or the Office of Records/Registration
at the Health Center). Consult the specifications for the
preparation and submission of the dissertation (which may be
obtained at the Graduate Records Office) for Advance
publications schedule and deadline. When the Advance is
not being published (between semesters) or published irregularly
(during the summer), the notice nevertheless must be submitted,
for publication retroactively, and meanwhile the examination
should be advertised widely through the University mail and/or
through other means at least seven days prior to the
examination.
The decision as to whether a candidate has passed,
conditionally passed, or failed the examination rests solely
with the advisory committee, which shall take into account the
opinions of other participating faculty members and other
experts. The vote of the advisory committee must be unanimous.
Immediately following the examination, the major advisor shall
communicate the results to the student and send the official
report on the examination to the Graduate Records Office.
Students are required to file for graduation using the
PeopleSoft website. If filing is not timely, conferral is
delayed to the next conferral period, even though all other
degree requirements may have been completed on time.
Commencement is held once a year, at the end of the
Spring semester. Individuals who have had degrees conferred at
the end of the previous summer, during the previous fall
semester or candidates for degrees who complete degree
requirements by the end of the Spring semester may participate
in the annual commencement ceremony and are urged to do so.
Academic regalia appropriate for the University of Connecticut
degree being conferred is strictly required. This regalia can be
purchased from the UConn Co-Op on the Storrs campus.
Commencement instruction, announcements, and tickets are
available during the last full week of classes. Storrs will send
tickets to all students who have designated participation in the
ceremony. Extra tickets may be available to students and faculty
by request.
The Ph.D. and Master degrees are officially conferred by
Storrs in May, August, and December and awarded at the Storrs
commencement ceremony in May of each year. However, graduate
students who have spent their time at the Health Center and
who have completed all degree requirements are invited to
participate in the Health Center's commencement ceremony.
Graduate students participate in the processional and are
individually called to walk across the stage to be recognized by
the Associate Dean of the Graduate School. Diplomas are not
awarded at the Heath Center ceremony. Academic regalia is
required and can be rented for a nominal price.
D. The Master's Degree
The Master's Degrees offered at the Health Center are in the
fields of Public Health and Dental Science. This is a general
description of the Master's degree requirements. Each program
has additional specific requirements which can be obtained from
the program director.
Note: the Master of Science degree may be awarded to a
student who matriculates into the Ph.D. program but leaves
before the completion of that program. The student must have
filed a plan of study and passed the general examination in
order to be eligible for the M.S. degree. Currently the area of
concentration of Molecular and Cellular Pharmacology does not
offer this degree.
The student is expected to register for course work
and to complete all requirements for the degree within a
moderate span of time in order to assure continual and
adequate familiarity with developments in the field of
study. Ordinarily the degree should be completed within two
years on a full time basis. In any event, all work for the
master's degree must be complete within a maximum period of
six years from the beginning of the earliest course,
wherever taken, listed "below the line" on the approved Plan
of Study. Failure to complete the work within this period or
failure to maintain Continuous Registration (see
Registration section) shall necessitate re-evaluation of the
entire program and may result in termination.
Master's degrees may be earned under either of two
plans as determined by the advisory committee. The first
plan emphasizes research, the second requires comprehensive
understanding of a more general character. Master of Dental
Science students must do Plan A.
Plan A requires at least fifteen credits of
advanced course work and nine research course credits
for a total of 24 credits and the writing of a thesis. Plan
B requires at least twenty-four credits of advanced
course work and a final examination, but no thesis. In
either case, advisory committees may require more than the
minimum amount of credits. The Master of Public Health
program requires that a student complete 48 credits.
A maximum of credits of advanced course work taken on
a non-degree basis at The University of Connecticut may be
included (below the line) on a master's Plan of Study
provided the following are met: (1) the grades earned in
such course work are B (not B-) or higher; (2) such course
work in within the six-year limit for completion of masters
degree requirements; and (3) such credits have not been
applied toward any other degree here or elsewhere, awarded
or to be awarded. In any event, inclusion on the Plan of
Study of non-degree course work requires the consent of the
advisory committee and is subject to the approval of the
Executive Committee. (Master of Dental Science matriculating
in July 1998 are not eligible to transfer 6 credit from
their certificate program.)
Up to six credits of advanced work completed or to be
completed at other institutions may be approved for transfer
to the student's master's degree program at The University
of Connecticut. Such credits are to be listed "below the
line" on the Plan of Study . The following conditions must
be met before final approval of any transfer of credit is
granted: (1) the advisory committee must indicate its
approval of the transfer of credit by signing the plan of
study, (2) the courses must be at a level appropriate for a
graduate degree and offered by an accredited institution,
and (3) the grades earned in any courses to be transferred
must be B (not B-) or higher. Official transcripts of any
course work to be transferred must be on file in the
Graduate Records Office. When the student's Plan of Study
has gained the approval of the Executive Committee and
official transcripts indicating satisfactory completion of
the course work to be transferred are received, the transfer
of credit is noted on the student's permanent academic
record in the Office of the University Registrar. Any
credits transferred to a graduate degree program at the
University of Connecticut must not have been used toward a
degree elsewhere, awarded or to be awarded.
The Master's of Public Health has, in coordination
with the Schools of Medicine, Dental Medicine, Social Work,
Law and Nursing, designed dual degree programs. The joint
degree affords the student the opportunity to pursue
simultaneously the Master's of Public Health and a related
graduate degree. The several duel degree programs are:
Medicine/Public Health; Dental Medicine/Public Health;
Law/Public Health; Social Work/Public Health; and
Nursing/Public Health.
The public health program requires 48 credit hours. To
ensure program identification and sufficient quality and
quantity of public health course work, joint degree students
must complete a minimum of 36 credits in the Graduate
Program in Public Health. Up to an additional 12 credits of
elective credits may be earned in a cooperating graduate
program. Since cooperating programs accept MPH credits
toward their degrees, this results in a significant credit
reduction over pursuing the two degree separately. If
interested, students should consult the Public Health
Program for more information.
To become a candidate for a master's degree, the
student must have on file at the Graduate Records Office an
approved Plan of Study. This Plan must be prepared with the
aid and approval of an advisory committee and approved by
the Executive Committee of the Graduate Faculty Council. To
be eligible for degree conferral, a master's degree student
must have been granted regular status. The student may not
take the final examination for the degree before the Plan of
Study has been fully approved. The Plan of Study must be
prepared in triplicate, signed by the student and the
members of the advisory committee, and submitted to the
Graduate Records Office via the Office of
Records/Registration, for approval by the Executive
Committee when the student has completed no more than twelve
credits if course work to be applied to the degree.
Courses elected shall be consistent with the student's
objectives and related to the field in which the degree will
be taken. Course credit by examination is not allowed as a
means of accumulating credits to meet the requirements for
advanced degrees at this institution.
After approval of the Plan, any request for change must
be submitted to the Graduate Records Office via the ORR on
the official form bearing the signatures of the advisory
committee and the student. All forms are available from the
Office of Records/Registration. All changes on the Plan must
have the approval by the Executive Committee. The successful
completion of all work indicated on the approved Plan of
Study is a fundamental prerequisite to the conferring of the
degree.
The advisory committee must approve the topic and
scope of the thesis required under Plan A and upon its
completion ascertain that it represents independent
investigation of a significant topic and is acceptable in
literary style and organization. The master's thesis may not
include any data or research result that cannot be made
public at the time of the oral defense. Students
matriculating in the Fall of 1998 and later must complete at
least nine research credits while preparing their thesis.
The Graduate School specifications for preparation of the
thesis are obtainable at the Office of Records/Registration.
It is the student's responsibility to be certain that the
thesis conforms exactly to the specifications prescribed by
The Graduate School. A student's program may have
specifications in addition to those set forth by the
Graduate School.
The thesis is to be dated as of the calendar year in
which all requirements for the degree are to be completed.
Three original copies of the thesis containing approval
pages, each bearing original signatures of all members of
the advisory committee, must be deposited in the Office of
Records & Registration by the conferral period deadline in
August, December, or May. An additional copy must also be
given to the Public Heath or Dental Academic Affairs Office.
The Master's thesis must meet all requirements specified in
the guidelines issued by the Graduate School before it will
be accepted for binding. The Homer Babbidge Library will
retain one copy in the reference section and one copy in the
preservation department. The third copy will be retained in
the Stowe Library at the Health Center. he fourth copy will
be retained by the Public Health or Dental Academic Affairs
Office. If a department or program requires an extra copy is
the student's responsibility to supply one directly to the
department or program.
Near the close of the candidate's period of study
(not later than one year after the completion of course work
or the thesis), the student must pass a final examination
under the jurisdiction of the advisory committee. The
examination must be completed by the published deadlines for
the appropriate conferral period for the degree to have that
conferral date. The student may not take the final before
the Plan of Study has been approved by the Executive
Committee or before Regular status has been granted. The
advisory committee has discretion to determine whether the
examination shall be written, oral, or both. Invitation to
participate in an oral examination is issued by the advisory
committee, although members of the faculty may attend.
The decision as to whether a student has passed or failed
the examination rests solely with the advisory committee,
which shall take into account the opinions of other
participating faculty members. The vote of the advisory
committee must be unanimous. Immediately following the
examination, the major advisor shall communicate the results
to the student and send a report on the official form to the
Graduate Records Office promptly, and any re-examination (if
permitted) must take place within twelve months from the
date of the original examination.
Under Plan A, the examination may center on the
candidates research and its relation to the field of study
as a whole but may have a wider scope. Under Plan B, the
examination shall be comprehensive and designed to assess
the candidate's mastery of the field and ability to
integrate the knowledge acquired. The master's final
examination may used as a qualifying examination for
doctoral study.
Summary of Master of Dental Science Program
The Graduate School administers the Master of Dental Science
program independently of the Dental Certificate program. Master
of Dental Science students are required to complete a minimum of
24 credits for the degree and register every fall and spring
semester with the Office of Records and Registration (ORR)
until the final four copies of the thesis are submitted. In
addition the following paperwork must be submitted to the ORR:
(1) a Plan A Plan of Study, (2) the Report on the Final Exam, 3)
four copies of the thesis. Students may also have to file a
Change of Major Advisor form should the need arise. Students are
required to file for graduation using the PeopleSoft website.
Credit Requirements
The credit requirement for Plan A Master of Dental Science
students is summarized in the following table.
Minimum Total Credits: 24
Minimum Paid Credits: 18
Maximum Certificate Credits Transferred: 6 grade of at least B
Minimum Research Credits: 9 - non transferable
Course Credits
A minimum of 18 course credits are required of which 6 credits
may be transferred from the Certificate program. It is the
student’s responsibility to keep track of the courses and number
of credits that will be used in transfer from the Certificate
program. No refunds or credit will be given to students who
neglect to take advantage of the full six credits allowed in
transfer. Courses in the 300 series and above may be used for
transfer providing the student receives a grade of B or better.
If a student does not earn a grade of B or better, a course that
was intended for transfer cannot later be added to the Master’s
program. Courses used in transfer will be listed on the Plan of
Study, but will not be reflected on the Master of Dental Science
transcript.
Research Credit Requirement
Students matriculating in July 1999 and forward must complete
nine research credits. Students may register in the Fall, Spring
or Summer for these credits.
Courses usually used to fulfill this requirement are GRAD 395
and/or GRAD 396. GRAD 395 is a variable credit course ranging
from 1 to 9 credits. A student may take other courses
concurrently and may hold a graduate assistantship. GRAD 396 is
a three-credit course. No other courses may be taken
concurrently and the student may not hold a graduate
assistantship. Students registering for GRAD 396 are considered
full-time students. Any student holding an assistantship must
maintain full-time status.
Registration Requirements
Although registration for summer is not required, the majority
of Master of Dental Science student begin the program in the
summer session. Registration with the Graduate School in the
Office of Records and Registration (ORR) is required only if a
student is taking a course(s) that will be used for credit
toward the Masters degree and the course is not being used as
part of the 6 credits allowed in transfer from the Dental
Certificate program. All students pay the same rate during the
summer because there is no distinction between in-state and
out-of-state for tuition purposes. Summer courses are generally
a bit less expensive than Fall and Spring courses.
All students must register every Fall and Spring semester
with the Graduate School in the ORR until all degree
requirements are fulfilled, including submission of 4 final
copies of the thesis. Any student holding an assistantship must
maintain full-time status.
If a student is taking only Certificate courses that will
later be transferred into the Graduate School the student must
register for Continuous Registration with the Graduate School.
If all course work and research credits are complete
and the student needs additional time to complete the thesis,
the student must register for Continuous Registration with the
Graduate School in the ORR.
GRAD 398 is used for Continuous Registration when the student
has not yet completed all required course work. GRAD 399 is used
for Continuous Registration when all required course work has
been completed.
After one year in Connecticut, out-of-state students who are
U.S. citizens or permanent residents may apply for Connecticut
residency. If granted, in-state tuition rates will apply for
subsequent semesters. Applications and guidelines are available
in the ORR.
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