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Degree Requirements: Masters of Arts and Masters of Science
The Master of Arts and Master of Science degree programs are for the student who has research interests in education. The candidate often enters these programs with the intent of eventually pursuing a doctoral program leading to the Ed.D. or Ph.D. degree. The major difference between these degrees and the Ed.M. is the requirement that a master's thesis be completed and defended as part of the degree.
Program Plan
Upon admission to a Master of Arts or a Master of Science program, each student is assigned an academic adviser in an area of specialization. The student and adviser plan a program of study to meet the student’s individual goals and general degree requirements. Departments may require that a copy of the program plan be kept on file.
Time Limits
Graduate students and advisers should be guided by the Graduate College policy on master’s degree time limits. If a time extension is desired, it may be requested by completing a Graduate Student Petition. These petitions are considered and acted upon by the student’s adviser, the department, and the Graduate College. Each individual who has authority to act on the petition may either approve or deny the petition.
Course Requirements for M.A. and M.S. Candidates
All students admitted to a Master of Arts or a Master of Science degree program must fulfill Graduate College requirements for the master’s degree, departmental requirements, and the following College of Education minimum requirements on the Urbana-Champaign campus or in university extramural courses:
| 2 hours | One course from the psychological foundations of learning area: EPSY 400, 401, or 402. Students in master’s certification programs may also take EPSY 485 to meet this requirement. |
| 2 hours | One course from the psychological foundations of personality and development area: EPSY 404, 405, or 406. Students in master’s certification programs may also take EPSY 430 to meet this requirement. OR Students planning to work with adults may take EPSY 407 for 4 hours to meet both of the above EdPsy foundations requirements. OR Four hours of EPSY 408 meets both foundational requirements for EPSY. |
| 2 hours | One course from the social foundations requirements: EPS 400, 402, 403, 404, 420, 421, 423, 424, and 426. |
| 2 hours | A second course from the philosophical foundations area: EPS 401, 410, 411, 412, 413, and 414 |
| 12 hours | Twelve hours of 500-level courses in education (599 thesis research credit not included) |
| 12 hours | Twelve hours of additional 400- or 500-level courses selected by the student in consultation with an academic adviser (Note: 595 independent study and 599 thesis research credits can be applied up to a maximum amount of 8 hours each. A minimum of 2 hours of thesis credit is required.) |
| 32 hours | TOTAL |
In addition to the specific requirements stated above, individual departments in the College of Education may require additional courses to complete the student’s degree program. A student who passes a proficiency examination in any of the required courses listed above is excused from that course requirement. However, credit toward the degree is not given for courses passed by such an examination.
Human Subjects Approval
For all theses involving the use of human subjects, approval must be obtained from the Office of School-University Research Relations and Human Subjects and verification provided to the department and the Student Academic Affairs Office.
Thesis
The M.A. and M.S. degree candidates must write a master’s thesis and defend it in an oral examination before a committee of at least three faculty members. The student’s adviser must be a member of the Graduate Faculty. In appointing the committee, the adviser nominates members through an Appointment of Master (Oral) Committee form. This form requires the departmental chair/head’s review and approval and should be returned to the Student Academic Affairs Office at least three weeks before the examination.
After the committee is appointed, the oral examination takes place. The student does not have to be registered to take the oral examination. The adviser obtains the Certificate of Result, the Certificate of Committee Approval and a Supplemental Grade Report form from the department before the examination and returns them immediately after the examination. All appointed committee members’ signatures are required on three copies of the Certificate of Committee Approval form (two for the Graduate College and one for the student) and one copy of the Certificate of Result of Master Examination form (College of Education).
The Certificate of Result of Master Examination form may indicate positive or negative actions, but it is also possible to “adjourn” the committee and reconvene at a later date. However, the committee may not be adjourned longer than six months.
Thesis Editorial Style and Format Approval
For M.A. and M.S. candidates, the thesis must be prepared using one of the following commonly accepted editorial styles:
American Psychological Association. (2001). Publication manual of the American Psychological Association (5th ed.). Washington, DC: Author.
Harvard Law Review Association. (1991). A uniform system of citation (15th ed.). Cambridge, MA: Author.
Modern Language Association. (1988). MLA handbook for writers of research papers (3rd ed.). New York: Author.
Turabian, K. L. (1987). A manual for writers of term papers, theses, and dissertations (5th ed.). Chicago: The University of Chicago Press.
University of Chicago. (1993). The Chicago manual of style (14th ed.). Chicago: The University of Chicago.
The student will consult with the adviser and thesis committee members to choose the style to be used. In exceptional circumstances, style manuals not listed above may be used with prior approval of the Associate Dean for Academic Affairs. In addition, the Thesis Handbook issued by the Graduate College must be followed. In the case of explicit differences between the Graduate College instructions and the style manual selected, the Graduate College instructions take precedence. For example, students choosing the APA style manual should follow the Graduate College instructions rather than those included in the APA manual for insertion of tables and figures. Every thesis in final manuscript form must be reviewed and approved by the College of Education Thesis Format Office. It is highly recommended that students turn in a draft for a preliminary format review after the first two or three chapters have been written. The student must specify which editorial style has been selected for use. A submission deadline date for the final format review is set before each graduation date. The student should allow a minimum of three to four weeks for the final format review and approval.
Thesis Deposit
After the examination and format check, two copies of the thesis are deposited in the Graduate College, 204 Coble Hall. Students should note the deadline dates for each degree-granting period. At any time after degree requirements have been satisfied and the thesis has been deposited, the student may request a Verification of Degree.