Master’s Requirements – Graduate School

Accelerated Master’s Degrees

Academic Catalog Requirements

Academic requirements for accelerated master’s degrees are found in the Academic Catalog.

Accelerated Master’s Credit Evaluation Form

All accelerated master’s degree students must submit an Accelerated Master’s Credit Evaluation Form in the first semester of their graduate career, even if they have no credits to transfer.

The Graduate School will evaluate graduate-level work to transfer from the undergraduate portion of the accelerated master’s degree or verify that you have no credits to transfer. The maximum number graduate-level credits to transfer is determined by the program’s accelerated master’s degree policy, but must not exceed 20% of the total number of credits required for master’s graduation. To qualify, the work must meet the following criteria:

Graduate-level and listed in the program’s accelerated master’s degree policy. For a U/G course, students must have completed the G section.
Taken within five years of admission to the master’s program.
Only used to meet undergraduate degree requirements as defined in the program’s accelerated master’s degree policy.
Grade of B or better (B- is not acceptable).
Approved by the accelerated master’s degree graduate program unit.

If you are looking for the Graduate Transfer Credit Evaluation Form or the Certificate Double-Counted Credit Evaluation Form, visit the Forms and Downloads page.

Transcripts are not required for UWM coursework. Approved graduate credit from the undergraduate portion of the accelerated master’s degree will be posted on your official record after you have completed one semester in graduate student status. UWM coursework is calculated into your GPA.

Cooperative & Special Degree Programs

Multidisciplinary Committee-Directed PhD

The multidisciplinary committee-directed PhD program is designed to meet the needs of select, highly qualified doctoral students with unique needs and interests that cannot be met by a single existing program. The program crosses traditional disciplinary boundaries and opens new areas of instruction and research.

If you are considering this option, understand that although you must comply with all general Graduate School requirements for the PhD, your specific program of coursework, independent study, and research will be highly individualistic. Throughout the degree program, you must work very closely with your entire supervisory committee. This committee helps you select courses and activities designed to meet your goals, examines your progress at various phases (e.g., preliminary examination, dissertation proposal hearing), and assumes all the responsibilities of a department or program faculty in a conventional program. For more information, contact the Doctoral Specialist at gs-doctoralservices@uwm.edu.

Exchange Programs

Exchange Program Registration

If you are considering taking courses under the Marquette or MCW exchange agreement, please be aware that their registration calendars are different from UWM’s, so it is a good idea to begin the process early.

Marquette

If you need to apply as an non-degree student at Marquette, please do so as soon as possible. For information and a link to the application form, please visit the Marquette Graduate School Website or the Marquette Graduate School of Management website. More details about Marquette registration will be available soon.

MCW

The Medical College calendar in particular is much shorter than UWM’s, and there is a significant fee for late registration. Spring registration begins November 1st and ends November 30th. If you need to apply for non-degree status at MCW to take a course, please do so as soon as possible.

Visit the MCW Admission Website for a link to the online application form. If you need assistance with the process, please contact Angela Gord in the Registrar’s office at agord@mcw.edu.

UWM/Medical College of Wisconsin Joint Graduate Studies Program

The UWM Graduate School and the Medical College of Wisconsin each have accredited MS and PhD programs. Both institutions have entered into an agreement permitting students to take courses and use the library and laboratory facilities at both schools. This formal affiliation affords unique opportunities to the institutions’ faculties and students. Little duplication exists between the graduate degree programs of the two schools. Using the resources of both institutions results in programs that strengthen the educational missions of the two schools.

Approval must be granted by both institutions before you may participate in this program. For more information about the procedures for participation, contact Chris Parks in Graduate Student Services at 414-229-6332 or ccp2@uwm.edu.

Marquette University/UWM Cooperative Graduate Student Exchange Program

This exchange program enables graduate degree students in good standing to take courses that are not offered at their home institution without transferring and without any increase in tuition. Both institutions seek to help graduate students obtain appropriate coursework.

Minnesota/Wisconsin Reciprocity Agreement

If you’re a Minnesota resident, the tuition reciprocity agreement allows you to avoid non-resident tuition at UWM. Under the program, graduate students pay whichever state’s resident tuition rate is higher.

Applicants are asked to apply electronically. You can also contact the Minnesota Office of Higher Education at 800-657-3866 or write to Reciprocity, Office of Higher Education, 1450 Energy Park Drive, Suite 350, St. Paul, MN 55108.

You may also contact the UWM Office of the Registrar at (414) 229-3796. A certification year runs from July 1 through June 30.

If you are not certified by the date fees are due, you must pay non-resident tuition and fees; the appropriate amount will be refunded upon certification by the Minnesota Office of Higher Education.

Final Evaluation

In order to receive a master’s degree, you must show the ability to integrate your knowledge of your discipline through one or more of the following means, as determined by your graduate program unit:

An oral and/or written comprehensive examination.
Defense of a thesis.
A comprehensive final project, paper, exhibition, or integrative course.

Graduate Transfer Credit

The maximum number of transfer credits into a master’s degree is the higher of (a) 12 semester credits or (b) 40% of the total number of credits required for graduation. To qualify, the work must meet the following criteria:

Graduate level, from an accredited institution.
Taken within five years of admission to your UWM degree program.
Not have been used to meet previous degree requirements.
Grade of B or better (B- is not acceptable).
Approved by your graduate program unit.

To transfer credit, you must submit a Graduate Transfer Credit Evaluation Form to the Graduate School. This form must also be completed by students in the UW-Green Bay/UWM and UW-Parkside/UWM cooperative programs.

If you are looking for the Accelerated Master’s Credit Evaluation Form or the Certificate Double-Counted Credit Evaluation Form, visit the Forms and Downloads page.

An official transcript of the coursework listed on the form must be sent directly from the transfer institution to the Graduate School. Unofficial transcripts are unacceptable. UWM coursework does not require a transcript.

To take coursework at another institution as part of your master’s program, you must obtain permission from your advisor and from the Graduate School. Taking coursework at another institution during the semester you intend to graduate is not recommended and does not satisfy the minimum registration requirement at UWM for your final semester of studies.

Transfer credit will be posted on your official record after you have completed one semester in your degree program. Transfer work is not calculated into the UWM GPA; only UWM coursework is calculated into the GPA.

Graduation

Application

Please see the Graduation Procedures page for more information.

Minimum Credit Registration

Master’s students must be registered for at least 1 UWM graduate credit (audit not allowed) during the semester when they complete or defend a final project or thesis, even if this is after the completion of all other coursework and research credits. If they have met all academic requirements and do not need to take another course, or if they have reached their thesis credit limit, they may enroll in course 888, “Candidate for Degree,” if their program offers it. This course does not add to the credit total, count toward to the degree, or affect the GPA. Students are assessed the equivalent of one graduate credit in fees and receive a grade of S.

If master’s students have completed all coursework and research credits prior to the semester in which they will graduate, except for courses with grades of “Incomplete” or “Permanent Incomplete,” they may submit a Request for Exception to the 1 credit enrollment requirement. These will be routinely granted by the Graduate School.

Master’s students who have completed all coursework and research credits prior to the semester in which they will graduate, but who have other outstanding requirements for non-credit-bearing internships, clinical placements, other kinds of off-campus fieldwork, or examinations external to UWM may submit a Request for Exception to the 1 credit enrollment requirement. If programs are supportive, these will be routinely granted by the Graduate School. However, programs may not support the Request for Exception, if they conclude that the student is still making use of institutional and faculty resources.

Students who are not required to enroll in the semester they graduate may choose to enroll in at least one credit in order to maintain access to resources such as the library and Norris Health Center.

International students should contact ISSS for registration requirements.

Some students may be eligible for a waiver of the graduation enrollment requirement for Summer 2022.

Review and Approval

The Graduate School reviews your record to ensure that you will have fulfilled degree requirements at the end of the current semester. Graduate faculty minimum graduation GPA requirement is a cumulative 3.0 (4.0 basis).

Your graduation application is then forwarded to your graduate program unit for its recommendation and approval. When your graduate program unit has reviewed and approved your application, it is returned to the Graduate School.

You cannot graduate with Incomplete, Not Reported, or Progress notations remaining on your record. Transcripts and diplomas will not be released until Hold notations are cleared. The Graduate School has the final authorization to grant the degree.

Commencement Ceremony

Graduation ceremonies are held in May and December. August graduates attend the December graduation ceremony. Attendance at the commencement ceremonies is optional.

About one month before graduation, all eligible master’s candidates will receive a letter from the Secretary of the University’s office containing the date, location, and time of the ceremony, as well as information on ordering caps and gowns. Any questions about the commencement ceremony should be directed to the Secretary of the University.

If you want your name to appear in the commencement bulletin, be sure that your directory information with the University is not restricted. If you restricted the release of your address, phone number, and other limited information, contact the Registrar’s Office Information Center, Mellencamp 274. This should be done by the second week of the semester in which you expect to graduate to ensure that your name will appear in the bulletin.

Removal of the restriction will allow your directory information to be released for all publicity purposes, as well as the commencement booklet.

Major Professor as Advisor

You must have a major professor from your chosen graduate program unit.

The major professor advises you on courses and graduate faculty requirements and supervises your research.

Minimum Credit Requirement

Each graduate program unit sets its own credit requirements. Contact your program representative.

Research Subject To Institutional Approval

All students, faculty, and staff who engage in research activity must be aware of the following requirements.

If your research involves human subjects, you must have prior approval from the Institutional Review Board for the Protection of Human Subjects in Research (IRB).

If your research involves radioactive materials, biohazards, or vertebrate animals, it must be completed under the protocol or authorization of a principal investigator and/or faculty member. University Safety and Assurances coordinates research compliance for these activities.

You must certify the receipt of any required approvals when you submit your thesis. The Graduate School will not accept a thesis containing research data collected without required approvals.

Thesis

If your master’s program requires a thesis, it must comply with the Graduate School’s Thesis and Dissertation guidelines, as well as any requirements specified by your graduate program unit. The thesis is approved by your major professor and/or thesis committee.

Time Limit

If your master’s program requires 30 credits or fewer, you must complete all degree requirements within five years of your first enrollment in the program. If your program requires over 30 credits, you must complete all requirements within seven years. Some graduate program units have shorter time limits.