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Graduate Student Handbook

II. Academics

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.

1. Time Limits

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.

2. Plan of Study (Plan A and Plan B)

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.

3. Transfer of Non-Degree Credits to the Plan of Study

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.)

4. Transfer Credits from Other Universities

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.

5. Joint Degrees

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.

6. Candidacy and Plan of Study

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.

7. The Master's Thesis

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.

8. Final Examination

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:

Summer Registration:
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.

Fall and Spring Registration:
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.

Continuous Registration - GRAD 398 vs. GRAD 399:
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.

Applying for CT Residency:

After one year in CT, out-of-state students who are U.S. citizens or permanent residents may apply for CT residency. If granted, in-state tuition rates will apply for subsequent semesters. Applications and guidelines are available in the ORR.

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