Master’s Degree Programs
The University of South Carolina offers the Master of Arts and the Master of Science in many disciplines. The University also offers several professional master’s degrees, such as the Master of Arts in Teaching (M.A.T.), the Master of Fine Arts (M.F.A.), the Interdisciplinary Master of Arts in Art Education (I.M.A.), the Master’s in Library and Information Science (M.L.I.S), the Master’s in Social Work (M.S.W.), the Master’s of Business Administration (M.B.A.), and the Professional Science Master, (P.S.M.).
A complete listing of Master’s degree programs at the University of South Carolina is available at:
Programs A-Z
Programs by College/School
All students enrolled in Master’s degree programs must follow the academic policies of The Graduate School. Academic programs may have additional or exceptional requirements.
Master of Arts and Master of Science
For Master of Arts and Master of Science degrees, the minimum requirement is 30 semester hours of graduate credit, but programs may require additional hours. A thesis or special project is required in most programs. Not more than 9 hours of 799 (thesis preparation) may be used on a master’s program of study. The department may require master’s students to make up deficiencies or may have additional requirements. At least half of the credit hours on the Program of Study, exclusive of thesis preparation (799), must be earned in courses numbered 700 and above. Master’s students must have a completed and approved Master’s Program of Study (M-POS) form on file within 12 months of initial enrollment in the program. Students enrolled in a Master’s degree program have six years from the first term of enrollment in which to complete the degree. Students must be enrolled for at least 1 credit during the term of graduation.
Professional Master’s Degrees
Unless requirements are specifically waived by The Graduate School, the general requirements for the Master of Arts and Master of Science degrees apply to all master’s degrees offered by the University, but programs may have additional or exceptional requirements. A professional Master’s degree program must be at least 30 semester hours of graduate credit and at least half of the credit hours on the Master’s Program of Study, exclusive of thesis preparation (799), must be earned in courses numbered 700 and above. Students enrolled in a professional master’s degree program must have a completed and approved Master’s Program of Study (M-POS) form on file within 12 months of initial enrollment in the program.
A Second Master’s Degree from USC
When a student applies for a second master’s degree from USC, such as Master of Arts following a Master of Science, or a Master of Arts following a Master of Education, the candidate must meet the requirements of the second degree in full. However, with approval of the program and the dean of The Graduate School, up to 9 semester hours from the program of study of a previous USC graduate degree or a master’s degree awarded by another institution may be applied toward the second USC degree. Students are advised to seek approval for the inclusion of hours from the previous degree before applying to a second master’s degree program.
Concurrent Enrollment
Concurrent enrollment is when a student is admitted to and enrolled in two graduate programs at the same time. The University offers several formally approved Graduate Dual Degree Programs . Students wishing to concurrently enroll in two degree programs not formally approved as dual degree programs may do so with special permission of the graduate programs and the dean of The Graduate School.
Course Enrollment Load
A graduate student may enroll for a term load not to exceed 15 graduate hours. Some programs limit their students to a 9 or 12 hour maximum term course load. A student with a term course load of 9 or more hours during a fall or spring term is classified as full-time for academic purposes. The maximum course load in each of the two summer sessions is 6 hours. May session enrollment is part of the 6-hour limit for Summer 1 term.
A student must be enrolled for at least 1 credit hour during any semester in which thesis progress is made and such University resources as the library, computer facilities, or faculty time are used.
Special Enrollment (Z-status or GA-underenrolled)
The dean of The Graduate School, under certain circumstances, may certify that a student’s full time enrollment is less than the normal requirement of 9 hours for graduate students or 6 hours for students serving as graduate assistants. Students seeking exceptions to minimum enrollment requirements should submit written requests to the dean of The Graduate School with acceptable justification from the student’s academic advisor or the graduate director of the academic program. International students must also submit the approved Exemption from Full-time Enrollment form from International Programs for Students.
For a student whose need for under-enrollment results from an internship, practicum, or field experience required by the graduate program, a justification indicating the term requested and the nature of the experience should be submitted to the dean of the Graduate School by the student’s academic advisor or the program’s graduate director.
Students nearing completion of a Master’s degree requiring a thesis may be granted special enrollment status and certified as half-time or full-time if the student has completed course work required for the degree except thesis preparation (799). Eligibility requires verification by the student’s academic advisor or program graduate director that:
- All course work on the program of study has been completed except for thesis preparation (799);
- The student is working on the thesis full- or at list half-time; and
- The student is not employed more than half-time excluding graduate assistantships.
Students who request exemption from full-time enrollment for financial aid purposes must submit the Special Academic Enrollment Release form (F 6.2) from the Office of Financial Aid.
Right to an Advisor
Every graduate student admitted to a degree program is entitled to an advisor. The academic program graduate director is the default academic advisor for graduate students until another academic advisor is assigned or an advisory committee is formed. Students are urged to consult with an advisor prior to enrollment.
Master’s Program of Study
Every degree student must file a Master’s program of study (M-POS) in The Graduate School for approval by the dean of The Graduate School. A program of study is a list of courses that satisfy degree requirements, and it must be approved by the student’s advisor, the graduate director, and the dean of The Graduate School. This formal agreement serves a number of purposes that benefit both the student and the University. It allows the student and the advisor to engage in early planning of course work, explore research interests, and discuss requirements for progress toward degree; facilitates subsequent advisement; and protects the student in the event of unexpected curriculum or faculty changes. The student must file a completed Master’s Program of Study form (M-POS) within the first 12 months of course work. If necessary, an approved program of study can be modified with a Program Adjustment form.
Concurrent and Dual Enrollment Programs of Study
For dual degree and concurrent degree enrollment, students are required to submit an individual program of study for each degree program. With approval of the program and the dean of The Graduate School, students concurrently enrolled may use no more than 9 credit hours that are common to all programs of study. Programs may permit fewer than 9 shared hours.
Transfer Credit
Course work not part of a completed certificate program or graduate degree from USC or another institution may be transferred for credit toward a Master’s degree. Course work transferred from another institution must be relevant to the program and have course content and a level of instruction equivalent to that offered by the University’s own graduate programs. Approval for acceptance of transfer credit to a student’s program of study must be approved and justified by the student’s academic program and submitted to the dean of The Graduate School for final approval on the Request for Transfer of Academic Credit (G-RTC) form.
No more than 12 semester hours of graduate credit may be transferred into a master’s program that requires 30-36 hours; no more than 15 semester hours of graduate credit may be transferred into a master’s program that requires 37-45 hours; and no more than 18 semester hours of graduate credit may be transferred into a master’s program that requires 46 or more semester hours. Only credits with grades of B or better may be transferred from another institution into a Master’s degree program. Course work transferred for credit toward a Master’s degree must be from an accredited institution and must be no more than six years old at the time of graduation. Transfer credit is not posted to the student’s official academic transcript until the term of graduation.
Note: A maximum of 9 semester hours of graduate credit that are part of a completed graduate degree or certificate program at USC or elsewhere may be applied to a second USC master’s degree program.
Transient Enrollment Privilege
A USC graduate student in a Master’s program seeking transient enrollment privilege at another institution should complete and submit the Special Enrollment Request (AS-30) form available on the Office of the University Registrar’s website to dean of The Graduate School for approval. Before enrolling in graduate courses at another institution, contact the graduate director of the Master’s program for permission to enroll and to ensure that the credits from the other institution will be approved for inclusion in the student’s USC Master’s program of study.
Revalidation of Out-of-Date Courses
Students enrolled in a Master’s program at the University of South Carolina may, with permission of the academic program, request revalidation of USC graduate courses over six years old for inclusion on the Master’s program of study. Each academic unit will determine whether a course is appropriate for revalidation. The Permit for Revalidation Examination (PRE) form must be completed and submitted to the dean of the Graduate School for approval prior to revalidation. Proof of payment of required fees must be submitted with the Permit for Revalidation Examination form. Complete revalidation instructions available: http://gradschool.sc.edu/DocLibrary/documents/pre.pdf.
Note: Coursework taken at other institutions may not be revalidated.
Independent Study
The purpose of an independent study is to allow the student to pursue an area of academic interest not adequately covered by the regular course structure. Therefore, an independent study course cannot be used to fulfill a core requirement.
Prior to enrolling in a graduate independent study course, a student must complete a graduate Independent Study Contract form (G-ISC). The approval of the instructor, advisor, and the graduate director of the program is required. Students send an approved copy of the G-ISC to the Office of the University Registrar before registering for the course.
Note: Not more than 6 hours of independent study may be used on a master’s program of study.
Professional Development Course Work
Professional development course work is designated on the academic record by a professional development designator. A maximum of 6 hours of professional development graduate course work may be included on a Master’s program of study. The academic program and the dean of The Graduate School must approve the inclusion of professional development graduate course work on a program of study.
Reduced Tuition Course Work
Course work taken with reduced tuition, usually a contract course, is designated on the academic record by a reduced tuition designation. A maximum of 6 hours of reduced tuition rate course work may be included on a graduate program of study. The academic program and the dean of The Graduate School must approve the inclusion of reduced tuition rate graduate course work on the program of study.
Foreign Language and/or Research Methods
Language and research methods requirements for the Master’s degree vary from program to program and must be approved by the academic program’s graduate director and the dean of The Graduate School. Programs which directly involve language study may have additional language requirements. Satisfying the requirement may entail one or more of the following: successful completion of an intensive reading course in a language approved by The Graduate School (e.g., SPAN 615), successful completion of a course at the intermediate level of language proficiency within six years previous of the award of the degree, or a passing grade on a language reading proficiency examination administered by the USC Department of Languages, Literatures, and Cultures (DLLC). Students should contact DLLC for language course and testing information. Programs which directly involve language study may have additional language requirements.
Students have three opportunities to pass the language course or satisfy the reading proficiency examination. The Graduate School must be notified by the academic program of a student’s successful completion of the language requirement.
In some programs a student is allowed to substitute competency in computer science, statistics, or another research method or competency for a reading knowledge of a foreign language. The requirement may be satisfied by the appropriate course work or examination. Permission for substitution must be approved by the dean of The Graduate School. As with successful completion of the language requirement, The Graduate School must also be notified of a student’s successful completion of a substitution for the language requirement.
With approval of the program and the dean of The Graduate School, English may be accepted as a foreign language for students whose native language is not English and such students should submit the Certification of English as a Foreign Language (G-CIE) form. In cases where it is relevant to a student’s research, American Sign Language may be used to satisfy the language requirement.
The student should make arrangements to complete the foreign language and/or research methods requirements at the earliest opportunity. Certification of foreign language and/or research methods competency for master’s students remains valid for six years, after which it must be revalidated.
Comprehensive Examination
A comprehensive examination in the major field of study is required for all candidates for a Master’s degree. The format of the comprehensive exam for the Master’s degree is determined by the academic program. The exam remains valid for two years after which it must be retaken. The Graduate School must be notified by the graduate director of the student’s academic program of successful completion of the comprehensive examination.
Thesis or Research Project
A thesis or research project is a requirement of most Master of Arts or Master of Science degree programs and some professional Master’s programs. The thesis is the ultimate requirement of the Master’s program and becomes a permanent record of the student’s independent research or creative effort. The best academic tradition and professional practice require The Graduate School to preserve and share graduate student work with other scholars. To do that successfully means maintaining high standards concerning the form and appearance of the thesis. Thesis formatting and organization guidelines are available on the website of The Graduate School.
All students enrolled in a Master’s program requiring a thesis must successfully complete a minimum of 3 hours of thesis preparation (799). Some programs may require additional hours, but no more than 9 hours of thesis preparation (799) may be included on the Master’s program of study. Completion or satisfactory progress in thesis preparation will be indicated by the grade of T; unsatisfactory progress in thesis preparation will be indicated by the grade of U, but thesis preparation grades are not calculated into the graduate cumulative grade point average. Programs may establish policies regarding eligibility for continued enrollment. Any student who uses University facilities or confers with faculty on thesis work in any semester must be officially enrolled for at least one hour of thesis preparation (799) credit.
Note: With approval of the Graduate Council and dean of The Graduate School, some programs elect to have students complete a project in lieu of a thesis or offer a nonthesis option which requires additional course work instead of a thesis.
Thesis Committee
The Thesis Committee is a program faculty committee approved by the department or school. The Thesis Committee should be composed only of faculty from the Columbia campus. Regular graduate faculty of any rank who hold the doctorate or the discipline’s terminal degree and tenured faculty at the rank of full professor who do not hold the terminal degree may serve on or chair thesis committees. Research, clinical, and adjunct faculty at any rank who hold the terminal degree may serve on and chair a thesis committee with approval of the program and the dean of The Graduate School. Instructors and lecturers who do not hold the terminal degree may serve as members of thesis committees with justification from the program and approval of the dean of The Graduate School. Emeritus or emeriti faculty may continue to chair the thesis committee of a student under their direction at retirement and may be appointed as a member or a thesis committee with the approval of the program and the dean of The Graduate School.
When the written thesis is completed, most programs require a thesis defense. Please consult the graduate director of the academic program for departmental, school, or college specific approval processes and submission deadlines. Completion of the thesis must be approved by the Thesis Committee and the signatures of the committee members must be obtained on the Thesis Signature Approval (G-TSF) form. The electronic submission of the thesis will not have title page signatures; this is to prevent theft and unauthorized use of signatures that otherwise might occur. The graduate director of the academic program will also be asked to sign the G-TSF form to affirm that your thesis follows The Chicago Manual of Style or another style manual endorsed by your program.
The G-TSF with signatures must be delivered to The Graduate School program coordinator who oversees the degree program. The G-TSF is to be submitted to the coordinator in an envelope marked “Confidential.” Student may hand-deliver the form to The Graduate School program coordinator or may send it through the mail. The G-TSF must be received by the final-submission deadline in order for the student to be cleared for graduation.
Thesis Submission
The thesis is submitted to The Graduate School through the electronic thesis and dissertation (ETD) submission process. The preliminary thesis document will need to be submitted electronically to The Graduate School for a format check not later than five weeks before graduation through the ProQuest /UMI ETD portal in PDF format. Submission instructions are available: http://gradschool.sc.edu/thesisdissertation/thesis-checklist.htm . The Graduate School program coordinator for the academic program will respond with any needed corrections.
At least 20 days prior to graduation, the candidate must complete the final submission of the thesis through the ETD process. Students will receive notification of receipt of the final thesis submission from The Graduate School program coordinator.
Application for Graduation and Degree Audit
All students enrolled in a Master’s degree program must file the application for degree/graduation available on the website of the Office of the University Registrar with The Graduate School within the first 15 class days of the fall or spring semester in which the degree is to be awarded, or within the first 10 class days of Summer Session I if the degree is to be awarded at the end of the summer (even if the student does not plan to take courses until the second summer session). Although some departments do not require students to provide the academic program with copies of the application for graduation, The Graduate School recommends that students do provide a copy to the academic program to facilitate assessment of degree requirements. Applicants are encouraged to consult with the academic program to confirm that all requirements for graduation have been met.
Applications for graduation submitted after the announced filing deadline will be accepted if supported by a letter from the graduate director of the student’s program and accompanied by a late fee of $25, which increases by $25 every 30 days after the deadline. Deadlines are posted for each term on the official academic calendar of the University found on the website of the Office of the University Registrar. Any late application that lacks the supporting letter or late fee will be processed for the following term.
The Graduate School forwards the application for degree/graduation form to the Office of the University Registrar to start the degree audit process. In VIP, students should view their Graduation Degree Application to confirm the accuracy of the information submitted and to correct any errors so the diploma is printed correctly. It is also important to inspect the VIP graduation degree application information to determine if there are any holds that will prevent issue of an official transcript or mailing of the diploma. At the end of the semester, the degree program and The Graduate School both assess for degree audit whether all requirements have been completed, and then forward a recommendation to the Registrar to approve or disapprove award of the degree.
At the time of graduation, the student’s cumulative gradepoint average (GPA) must be at least 3.00. Additionally, the student’s average on all grades recorded on the program of study for courses numbered 700 or above must be at least 3.00 and all courses listed on the program of study must be at least 3.00.
Degree Conferral
Upon confirmation of a clear degree audit, the degree will be posted by the Office of the University Registrar to the student’s official academic record. The degree award is posted to the student’s transcript within 6 weeks after the commencement ceremony. Degree candidates may wish to check periodically the Academics tab of VIP, Record of Academic Work for Advisement Only section, to see if the degree is posted. Diplomas will be mailed to the address recorded on the application for graduation via first class mail to U.S. addresses and via registered airmail to international addresses. Graduates may expect to receive the diploma within three months after the commencement exercises.
Note: Degrees cannot be awarded retroactively.
To pursue further graduate study after completion of a graduate degree, a student must submit a new application to The Graduate School.
Academic Regalia
Attendance at graduation ceremonies is optional. Academic regalia worn for graduation is sold by the University Bookstore in the Russell House located on Greene Street in Columbia. To place an order for academic regalia to wear for graduation, please telephone the University Bookstore at 803-777-4160 or visit the website at http://sc.bkstore.com. You may also order academic regalia from the Bookstore via a downloadable form available; http://sc.bncollege.com/wcsstore/sc/images/ContentPhotos/Grad_gear_fax_form.pdf. The completed the form may be hand-delivered or faxed to the University Bookstore at 803-777-4018. |