Degree Programs
Master of Arts, Master of Business Administration, Master of Fine Arts, Master of Music, and Master of Science are advanced degrees implying the acquisition of knowledge and skills beyond those required for a baccalaureate.
- Some of these degrees may be taken en route to a doctoral degree, while others are terminal.
- All master’s degrees imply the recognition of their holders as skilled practitioners of their disciplines.
- In order to be awarded a master’s degree, it is necessary to demonstrate a grasp of advanced knowledge through coursework and the ability to learn independently and to communicate effectively with one’s peers.
- The granting of the master’s degree is based upon the completion of any special program requirements in addition to the items listed below.
Courses and Grade Point Average
A student must achieve a 3.0 overall GPA in all graduate courses taken at Stony Brook to receive a degree. A minimum of 30 to 60 credits of graduate work is required to receive a master’s degree.
Calculation of the grade point average (GPA) includes all courses numbered 500 and above taken at Stony Brook. Temporary grades (I and NR), missing grades and those grades for which no numerical equivalents are defined (P, S, U, and R) are excluded from the computation.
Grading System: See Academic Regulations/Grading System
A graduate student who has changed primary program may request a restart of GPA in considering possible waiver of academic probation. The GPA for the new program will be calculated from the beginning of the semester in which the change of program became effective. A graduate student who has graduated and is readmitted into a new degree or certificate program may request a restart of GPA. Program approval is necessary before any restart request is submitted to the Graduate School. Courses taken before the restart of GPA cannot be used towards a second degree or certificate.
Language Proficiency
Although the Graduate School does not require proficiency in a foreign language for the master’s degree, programs oversee their own foreign language requirements and the evaluation of proficiency. Students must comply with program requirements.
Teaching
All doctoral students at Stony Brook University must complete at least one semester of practicum in teaching under supervision, however some departments also require at least one semester of practicum in teaching under supervision for master’s students. The form this practicum takes may differ by discipline. The experience might include making seminar or class presentations, assisting in laboratories, or leading discussion sessions. Grading experience by itself will not be considered sufficient for satisfaction of this requirement. Faculty are responsible for providing informal feedback and formal evaluation.
Following (or in some cases, concurrent with) proper training through a teaching practicum and after having fulfilled other requirements for teaching (e.g., demonstration of spoken English proficiency for non-native speakers of English), a graduate student may serve as a teaching assistant (TA) in courses at Stony Brook University, where the instructor of record is a faculty member.
Graduate students at G4 level or below cannot be designated as the Instructor of Record for any course offered at Stony Brook University. They will be appointed as Teaching Assistants. In addition, there must be a designated faculty supervisor who serves as the Instructor of Record for the course. In the absence of any other faculty Instructor of Record for a course, this designation shall revert to the department Chair.
To be granted a master’s degree at Stony Brook, a student must have been admitted to and enrolled in the appropriate degree program for at least one semester.
Thesis and Comprehensive Examination
- The requirement for the thesis and comprehensive examination varies from program to program. Some programs require a thesis and others require a comprehensive examination, while some require only a master’s paper.
- For specific requirements, refer to each program’s section of the Graduate Bulletin.
- Masters students should confirm with their program if they are required to file their thesis with the Graduate School.
- If a thesis is to be filed with the Graduate School, it must be prepared according to the Guidelines for the Preparation of Theses and Dissertations available on the Graduate School website and it must be submitted to the Graduate School by the posted deadline.
- Multiple authorship of a thesis is not permissible.
Degree Application
Students must apply for graduation via SOLAR in accordance with published deadlines. Doctoral students who intend to receive a master’s degree during the course of their doctoral career must apply for graduation online at the Graduate School web site. If degree requirements are not met, students must reapply for any subsequent awarding periods using the Change of Graduation Date form found on the Graduate School website.
Registration
Degree candidates must be registered in the semester they intend to graduate. Students who intend to graduate in the spring or fall must register for at least one graduate credit. Students who intend to graduate in the summer or winter can register for zero credits, but it still must be a graduate-level course.
Program Recommendation
When all program requirements are completed, the graduate program director may recommend to the dean of the Graduate School that the master’s degree be granted.
Time Limit
The following guidelines apply to all first-time matriculated students enrolled in the Graduate School.
- Full-time students must complete all degree requirements within three years.
- Part-time and School of Professional Development students must complete all degree requirements within five years.
In exceptional cases where the program cannot be completed within these periods, students may petition for an extension of the time limit. Petitions forms are available on the Graduate School Web site and require the approval of the student’s advisor and graduate program director. Requests for a time-limit extension must be filed before the limit is exceeded and must contain a significant justification. The final decision rests with the dean of the Graduate School, who may impose additional requirements.
The Request for Waiver of Graduate Time Limit form can be found by selecting the forms link from the Graduate School website. These petitions require the approval of the student’s advisor and graduate program director. Requests for a time limit extension must be filed before the limit is exceeded and must contain a significant justification. The final decision rests with the dean of the Graduate School, who may impose additional requirements.
Standards
Appreciation of the ethical questions and adherence to the highest ethical standards of the discipline are required.
|