Graduate Studies

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GRADUATE DEGREES GRANTED

SCHOOL OF ARTS & LETTERS

English – MA
Music – MA

SCHOOL OF BUSINESS

Accountancy – MAc

SCHOOL OF HEALTH SCIENCES & EDUCATION

SCHOOL OF SCIENCES & MATHEMATICS

Biology – MS

 

Each of these programs at Truman State University is highly selective in its admission standards, and provides a high quality graduate educational experience.

Four master’s-level pre-professional programs prepare graduates for leadership positions within a specific career (accountancy, communication disorders, education, and counseling). Three master’s-level programs in liberal arts disciplines (biology, English, and music) provide rigorous preparation for a doctoral degree or entry-level position in the field, such as research, performance, or college teaching.

Truman’s Graduate Program Objectives are:

1. To graduate master’s degree students who possess appropriate depth of knowledge in specific disciplines.
2. To graduate master’s degree students qualified to enter and succeed in doctoral programs at leading universities.
3. To graduate master’s degree students able to perform in appropriate professional and academic positions.
4. To graduate master’s degree students who exhibit the attributes of a liberally educated person.

Graduate admission and academic administration is centralized at Truman’s Graduate Office. The Dean of Graduate Studies coordinates the graduate programs in cooperation with the Academic Deans. Each program has a faculty member who serves as a Graduate Program Director and a faculty representative who serves on the Graduate Council. For more detailed information about administrative structure and responsibilities, see the Graduate Studies Handbook.

Although most information pertaining to graduate students is found in the following information, general information of use to graduate students may also be found in other sections of this catalog (e.g., Student Services, Student Involvement, etc.).

CLASSIFICATION OF APPLICANTS

1. Degree-seeking students are those who intend to pursue a degree, have submitted the required application form and all supporting materials, and have met the scholastic requirements for admission to a program.
2. Non-degree-seeking students are persons who are interested in taking undergraduate or graduate courses but are not interested in pursuing a degree. Non-degree seeking applicants who have a bachelor’s degree should apply through the Graduate Office.
   1. Seniors desiring to take courses for graduate credit may take up to 6 semester hours of graduate courses for graduate credit before receiving their Bachelor’s degree. The students must meet the graduate performance standards demanded in the course and pay graduate tuition, in addition to any undergraduate tuition charged. Eligibility criteria are:
      1. Lack 24 hours or fewer of meeting baccalaureate degree requirements;
      2. Have a cumulative undergraduate GPA of 2.00 at the end of the term preceding the semester in which they wish to take a course for graduate credit;
      3. Have the consent of the instructor of the course.
3. Special graduate students are those who (a) are eligible for admission to the graduate program but do not wish to work on a master’s degree at Truman; e.g., students who wish to take graduate work for professional improvement; (b) have a bachelor’s degree but do not meet the requirements for admission as a degree-seeking student but may be permitted to enroll in undergraduate courses or in workshops or in-service courses (598 or 588) for graduate credit as a non-degree-seeking student. All of these require application and admission through the Graduate Office.
4. Visiting students are those who are enrolled at other colleges or universities and who are interested in taking one or two courses at Truman for transfer credit.

GRADUATE PROGRAM ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS & PROCEDURES

Admission for applicants who have a bachelor’s degree and intend to pursue a master’s degree is based upon acceptance by the respective program admission committee. Preferential acceptance is given to those students who possess a 3.00 undergraduate GPA or above and acceptable test scores. Students who have received less than a 2.75 undergraduate GPA are generally not eligible for admission.

Admission to graduate study at Truman State University is selective and is based on the following criteria:

1. A bachelor’s degree or master’s degree from an accredited college or university.
2. An acceptable score on the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) General Examination or the GRE Subject Examination and/or Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT) as required by the admitting program.
3. Three letters of recommendation.
4. Interview if required by the admitting program.
5. Individual programs may have further requirements for admission. Any requirements specific to the program are listed in the individual program’s description in this catalog.
6. Degree-seeking students admitted to a graduate program must enroll and begin classes at Truman State University during one of the following three terms after receiving official notice of acceptance from the Graduate Office, or re-apply.

The procedures to apply to a graduate program are as follows:

1. The student must file a complete application including a personal statement, 3 letters of recommendation, and pay a $40.00 application fee. The application may be obtained online on the Graduate Studies website.
2. The student must submit official transcripts for all undergraduate and graduate credit. Only official transcripts, signed by the Registrar and stamped with the seal of the college or university, will be accepted. The transcripts should be sent to the Graduate Office at Truman State University.
3. The student must submit official GRE/GMAT test scores to the Graduate Office.
4. The application materials will be forwarded to the appropriate department.
5. The admission committee Department Chair will evaluate the application materials and will notify the Graduate Office of the recommendation and of any additional requirements for admission.
6. The Dean of Graduate Studies will consider the recommendations and make the final decision. The Graduate Office will notify the student in writing of his or her admission status.

Deadlines for receipt of graduate application materials by the Graduate Office for all programs are as follows:

1. For the spring semester: November 1.
2. For the summer term: April 1.
3. For the fall semester: June 1* (except for MAE applicants, for whom this deadline is April 1).

*Students who wish to apply for a GTRA position should submit all application materials by February 15. Most programs will begin reviewing GTRA applications on that date. Please see the information about Graduate Teaching/Research Assistantships in the Financial Aid part of this section of the catalog for more details.

APPLYING FOR A SECOND MASTER’S DEGREE

Anyone who has already been admitted to one graduate program and wants to pursue an additional graduate degree must complete a full application to the second graduate program and be admitted according to the second program’s criteria. Although some graduate credits and degree requirements may overlap, the student must meet requirements of both programs to receive both degrees.

ADMISSION OF STUDENTS WITH DIAGNOSED LEARNING DISABILITIES

Students with diagnosed learning disabilities apply and are considered for admission to the University in the same manner as any other applicant and must meet the same admission standards. Applicants may submit scores from a non-standard (e.g., extended time) administration of the Graduate Record Exam (GRE) or Graduate Management Admissions Test (GMAT) to be used in evaluating credentials for admission.

Upon acceptance, students with diagnosed learning disabilities may gain access to support programs by providing the following documentation of their disability to the Disability Services Office:

• A comprehensive psycho-educational evaluation conducted within the past three years by a licensed psychologist; or,
• Verification that the student was diagnosed by a licensed psychologist or credentialed special education professional using commonly recognized protocols, and received services within the past three years as a learning disabled student; and
• Any relevant educational, medical, or diagnostic records which would provide additional information.

If these criteria cannot be satisfied, students may present the results of a current evaluation performed at their own expense by a licensed psychologist to the Disability Services Office for verification of a learning disability.

Students already enrolled at Truman State University who suspect that they have a specific learning disability should seek assistance from the Disability Services Office, where they can be referred to a licensed psychologist. The results of the evaluation will be submitted to the Disability Services Office for verification of learning disability status.

INTERNATIONAL GRADUATE STUDENT ADMISSION

An international student is defined as any applicant who is not a citizen or lawful permanent resident of the United States, or who has two years or less experience with the American educational system, regardless of immigration status. All international graduate student applicants must comply with the guidelines and policies listed below.

Under University policy, Truman State University may not enroll a student who is unlawfully present in the United States. All students must provide proof of lawful presence in the United States prior to enrollment.

Graduate School Incentive for Truman International Graduates

International students who have earned an undergraduate degree at Truman State University qualify for a waiver of the out-of-state portion of tuition for graduate studies at Truman. Applications for this waiver may be submitted to the Registrar’s Office after the undergraduate degree is awarded. The waiver applies to “future” tuition and fees only and may not be approved retroactively.

Minimum application requirements for international students include:

1. Official TOEFL score of 79 or above on the Internet-based TOEFL (550 or above on the paper-based TOEFL) or the equivalent as deemed appropriate by the University on the SAT, ACT, IELTS or other standard measure of English and academic ability.
2. The International Student Application for Admission.
3. Official results or transcripts, in English, for all secondary school coursework, pre-college preparation coursework and college or university-level coursework.
4. Official copies of diplomas and degrees.
5. Application for the specific graduate program if required.
6. Official GRE or GMAT scores as required by the specific program.
7. The Certificate of Financial Support with supporting bank documents.
8. A two-page personal statement outlining the student’s academic and professional goals and motivation for pursuing the program.

To obtain and maintain course registration for the semester, the international student must complete the following requirements:

1. Complete the Truman English Placement Test(s) immediately upon arrival on campus.
2. Enroll in the English support course(s) indicated by the outcome of the Truman English Placement Test(s).
   1. Please note that English support courses must be taken “for credit”. The courses are not offered “Pass/Fail” and may not be changed to “Credit/No Credit”.
3. Pay tuition and fees IN FULL the first week of each semester.
4. Purchase the University approved health insurance plan.
5. Make any deposits or prepayments required by the University and the International Student Affairs Office.
6. Know that all students are responsible for maintaining their legal immigration status.
7. Undergo the required TB testing upon arrival on campus.

ADMISSION FOR NON-DEGREE SEEKING STUDENTS

Students falling in the category “non-degree seeking” as described under Classification of Applicants (see above) must apply through the Graduate Office.

GRADUATE TEACHING/RESEARCH ASSISTANTSHIPS

The University offers a number of Graduate Teaching/Research Assistantships (GTRAs) in the master’s degree programs in accountancy, biology, education, English, and music. The recipient of an assistantship is awarded a cash stipend (amount varies) and a fee waiver for up to nine credit hours per academic semester. All books, supplies, and special course fees are the responsibility of the student. The appointee is contracted to work on a quarter-time basis. Graduate Assistants are not eligible for other university employment during the GTRA contract period.

Requirements:

1. Minimum undergraduate grade point average of 3.0;
2. Satisfactory score(s) on the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) General and/or Subject tests or Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT) as determined by each program;
3. Degree-seeking graduate student status.

Application Process

GTRA applicants must complete an admission application before they will be considered for the assistantship. Intent to pursue the assistantship must be indicated on the application form, or submitted in writing if the student has already been admitted. Renewal of the GTRA may be recommended by program faculty.

As with any admission application, once all materials for an assistantship are complete, they will be forwarded to the Department Chair of the discipline in which the student’s program is located. The Department Chair will return the materials to the Graduate Office as either recommended or denied. The Dean of Graduate Studies will review recommended application materials and, if in agreement with the recommendation to award the assistantship, will forward the materials to the Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs, who will take similar action and forward it to the President of the University. The President will review the materials and, if in agreement, will approve the appointment. The Graduate Office will then notify the student and issue the contract.

Special Rules for GTRAS

Graduate Teaching/Research Assistants with academic year appointments are required to carry a combined total of 15 hours of graduate courses per academic year (a minimum of 9 hours in the fall semester and 6 hours in the spring), and to maintain a 3.00 graduate grade point average.

All GTRAs with teaching duties are subject to the same faculty responsibilities, practices and policies as regular faculty members. Teaching assistants should refer to the University’s Faculty Handbook for current practices, policies and procedures, and to their Academic Dean for any questions about Department-specific practices, policies and procedures. GTRAs are not eligible for other University employment during the contract period.

In compliance with section 170.012 of the Missouri statutes, graduate students who have not received both primary and secondary education in a nation or territory in which English is the primary language, cannot teach during their first semester. In order to teach after that time, the student must pass an English Proficiency exam.

FELLOWSHIPS, SCHOLARSHIPS, LOANS, AND STUDENT EMPLOYMENT

Midwest Student Exchange Program

Truman State University participates in the Midwest Student Exchange Program (MSEP). Accepted first-time freshmen, undergraduate transfer students and newly matriculating graduate students who are residents of Indiana, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Nebraska, North Dakota, and Wisconsin are eligible for the MSEP tuition reduction. Recipients receive a reduced out-of-state tuition rate, currently 150% of in-state tuition.

MSEP applicants must be accepted for admission to the University through the same process as other candidates. Some programs have additional admission criteria, and admission to the University does not guarantee admission to a particular program. Graduate students must be accepted to a graduate degree program.

Students are notified of their eligibility for the MSEP tuition rate through the scholarship notification process. A separate application for MSEP consideration is not required. The Midwest Student Exchange Program discount may be combined with most other Truman State University scholarships, the total of which cannot exceed the combination of the MSEP tuition rate plus on-campus room and board. Status in the Midwest Student Exchange Program is renewed automatically for students who maintain good standing and continuous (fall and spring) full-time enrollment. Participation for each individual is limited to four years for undergraduate students and two years for graduate students.

To be eligible for MSEP, a student must meet the following criteria:

1. Be a legal resident of Indiana, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Nebraska, North Dakota, or Wisconsin.
2. Be a newly admitted first-time freshman, undergraduate transfer or newly matriculating graduate student.
3. Undergraduates should contact the Admission Office for further information regarding MSEP eligibility at Truman State University. Graduate students can obtain further information about MSEP eligibility through the Graduate Office.

Fellowships/Scholarships

A limited number of fellowships/scholarships are available in communication disorders and counseling. Information and applications are available on request from Graduate Program Directors, or the appropriate Department Office.

Foundation Scholarships

Advancement Office

Gifts made to Truman State University Foundation provide for over 350 annual and endowed scholarships. These scholarships are available to full-time students, including graduate students, in varying amounts and are based on a wide variety of criteria. Scholarships are awarded during the spring semester to be used the following academic year. Current students can apply online on the Truman website (www.truman.edu) by clicking on Student Life, Money, Foundation Scholarships. The application deadline is usually early March. For more information, contact the Advancement Office at 1-800-452-6678.

Loss of Scholarships for Disciplinary Reasons

Recipients of scholarships are expected to display good citizenship and to observe the rules established by the University to guide student conduct. Serious misconduct in violation of such rules shall be grounds for the suspension, revocation, or non-renewal of any or all scholarships held by a student. The Financial Aid Director is authorized to suspend or revoke a scholarship, or to refuse the renewal of such a scholarship, upon notice to the student of his or her alleged misconduct and after affording the student an opportunity to be heard. The action of the Financial Aid Director may be taken in conjunction with, or independent of, an investigation and adjudication by the Dean of Student Affairs for the purpose of disciplinary action against the student.

Loans and Student Employment

The basic purpose of the federal and state government aid programs at Truman State University is to provide encouragement through financial assistance to those students who might not otherwise be able to attend college. Every effort is made to consider the individual needs of each applicant. Sufficient assistance is not always available through one source, but often a combination or “package” may be possible.

Government aid applications take time to process, and funds are in limited supply. It is important to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) as early as possible: www.fafsa.ed.gov. Early application and accuracy in completing the forms will ensure consideration for all campus aid programs.

Graduate students receiving financial aid for full-time attendance must be enrolled in at least 9 hours per semester. To receive aid as a part-time student, the Financial Aid Office must be notified. To continue receiving aid, normal academic progress must be shown so that the degree goals can be reached in the usual allotted time. Information about the academic progress policy will be given to aid recipients at the time of their aid-award notice. Other students interested in applying for student financial aid in the future may obtain a copy of the policy at the Financial Aid Office or online at http://financialaid.truman.edu. All must meet these criteria to receive consideration.

The Financial Aid Office website is http://financialaid.truman.edu and can be referred to for specific financial aid information. Information on federal student financial aid programs can be found at http://FederalStudentAid.ed.gov. State of Missouri financial aid information can be found at http://www.dhe.mo.gov.

International students who have earned an undergraduate degree or completed an exchange program at Truman State University qualify for a waiver of the out-of-state portion of tuition for graduate studies at Truman. Applications for this waiver may be submitted to the Graduate Office after the undergraduate degree is awarded or the exchange program is completed. The waiver applies to “future” tuition and fees only and may not be approved retroactively. Contact gradstudies@truman.edu for a copy of this application.

More complete information on fees is outlined in the Fees and Financial Aid section of this catalog.

PAYMENT METHOD

Fees are subject to revision by the Board of Governors. Payment may be made by MasterCard, Discover, American Express, cash, or check. Checks should be made payable to Truman State University.

GRADUATION FEES

The fees below do not include the cost of the cap, gown, and tassel which are sold at the Truman Bookstore located in the Student Union Building. Fees are to be paid during the last semester in residence before the degree is conferred.

Graduation fee		$30.00
Hood purchase		$80.00
Hood rental		$25.00

THESIS BINDING FEES

A receipt from the Business Office showing payment for the binding of the three required copies must be presented at the time the thesis is submitted to the Graduate Office.

Charge for binding the first three copies	$30
Charge per thesis for binding additional copies	$27

More complete information on academic policies and procedures is outlined in some of the other opening pages of this catalog.

ACADEMIC CALENDAR

The University academic year is divided into fall and spring semesters, a summer term, and December, May, and August Interims. The summer term classes are generally of five or eight weeks in length. Interim session offerings are three weeks in length. Admission to Truman may be effected at the beginning of any semester or term.

ACADEMIC ADVISING

Upon acceptance, the student will be assigned a graduate faculty member as his or her advisor by the appropriate Department.

GRADUATE COURSE NUMBERS

The 500G-699G classification indicates that a graduate performance level is demanded in the course. Five hundred-level courses may be taken for undergraduate or graduate credit. Six hundred-level courses are for graduate credit only.

GRADUATE COURSE LOAD CREDITS AND THE SEMESTER HOUR

The unit of academic credit at Truman State University is the semester hour. A semester hour is based on 15 hours of lecture and/or recitation. A graduate student commonly completes 18 to 24 semester hours in an academic year. A typical class carries 3 semester hours credit. The terms semester hour and credit hour are synonymous.

LOAD POLICY FOR GRADUATE STUDENTS

For graduate students a normal graduate course load (for fall and spring semesters) is 9-12 credit hours. Nine credit hours must be taken to be considered a full-time student for financial aid and other purposes, including veteran benefits. Six credit hours must be taken to be considered half-time.

The maximum standard graduate class load (for fall and spring semesters) is 14 hours. Graduate students must obtain permission from the Dean of Graduate Studies to enroll in 15 graduate hours or more. An overload fee is charged for 16 hours or more.

For any combination of five-week or eight-week summer sessions, the minimum number of hours required for full-time status is six credit hours. The maximum course load for a single five-week session is six hours, and the maximum course load for an eight-week session is fourteen hours.

For graduate students enrolled under Public Law 89-358 (Veteran’s Educational Assistance), 9 graduate semester hours (for fall and spring semesters and eight-week summer sessions) or 3 graduate semester hours (for five-week sessions) are required for maximum benefits.

Graduate Teaching/Research Assistants are required to carry a minimum of 9 hours in the fall and a minimum of 6 hours in the spring semester when they are under contract. Any deviation from this rule, regardless of the circumstances, must be approved by the Dean of Graduate Studies.

GRADUATE SUBSTITUTION/INCLUSION FORM

The Graduate Substitution/Inclusion Form is required for the following:

1. undergraduate prerequisites and/or other deficiencies noted at admission (MAE students use “Individual Plan of Study”),
2. graduate hours completed before admission to be included in the major (a maximum of 6 hours or two courses totaling no more than 8 hours), and/or
3. substitutions (from Truman or from another university) for courses explicitly required on the Graduate Program Worksheet.

If any of these items apply, the graduate student must submit the Graduate Substitution/Inclusion Form to the Dean of Graduate Studies before applying for graduation. If approval for the above items is not on file, the graduation application will be denied.

TRANSFER CREDIT

Graduate students may include up to 6 hours (or up to 8 hours for 2 courses) of transfer credit in the master’s degree.

All graduate transfer credit must be completed, with a final official transcript submitted to the Graduate Office, at least one semester before the degree is to be conferred. Approval for transfer courses to be included in the master’s degree must be obtained via the Graduate Substitution/Inclusion form.

CHANGE OF MAJOR

A graduate student who wishes to change his/her graduate major after admission to a graduate program as a degree-seeking student should make formal application to the Graduate Office. The application will be forwarded to the admissions committee of the new graduate program for action in accordance with the procedures for admission of new students.

REPEAT COURSES

A graduate student is allowed to repeat one course (of 4 semester hours or less) in which a “D” or an “F” was received. Approval to repeat the course must be obtained using the “Request to Repeat Course” form. Both grades will remain on the record, and Truman State University will use both grades in determining the grade point average.

In addition, no student will receive a master’s degree who has attempted more than two 3-hour or 4-hour courses, or a total of 6 hours for any other combination in courses for the degree, in which a grade of “C” or below was earned. This includes grades for any graduate course that has been repeated.

Individual graduate programs may have additional policies on student achievement. Please refer to the graduation requirements section for each graduate program in the Academic Programs section of this catalog.

IN PROGRESS

The grade of “IP” (in Progress) is assigned only in cases such as graduate readings or thesis courses when it is expected that more than one semester will be required for completion. All “in Progress” must be resolved prior to graduation.

GRADUATE TRANSCRIPT CORRECTIONS

Student requests for transcript corrections, e.g. grade, grade type, course number, level (undergraduate to graduate), etc., will not be considered more than two years after the issue of the grade(s), unless the grade appeal process has been activated but not yet resolved for the course(s) in question.

GRADUATE ACADEMIC WAIVER REQUEST

The graduate academic policies and procedures set forth by the faculty governing bodies and the Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs are intended to communicate the high standards and expectations for the degree and to provide direction as the student progresses in the degree program. In certain cases, the student may wish to request a waiver of a specific academic policy or procedure. An academic waiver request will not be recognized by the Graduate Office without the approval signatures of 1) the graduate advisor, 2) the appropriate Academic Dean, and 3) the Dean of Graduate Studies. Any graduate student considering a waiver request should consult with his/her advisor before submitting any written request.

OFF-CAMPUS GRADUATE PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT

The Professional Development Center works with clients both on and off campus to develop and disseminate educational programs for credit or non-credit.

Acceptance into Professional Development classes does not constitute acceptance into on-campus degree programs. A student may not take Professional Development classes which will result in an overload (more than 14 semester hours for graduate students) without approval from the Dean of Graduate Studies.

Non-credit Professional Development courses make a significant contribution to the individual in achieving personal and career goals, and to organizations as well, through increased productivity outside the traditional credit format. These courses enable the student to learn in an informal, non-competitive environment. Acceptance into non-credit courses does not constitute acceptance into degree programs and non-credit courses cannot be applied to a degree program.

Continuing Education Units (CEUs) are awarded to individuals for successful completion of qualified non-credit programs. The CEU is a recognized unit of measurement of a non-credit continuing education experience even though such an educational effort is not applicable toward a formal degree.

Both credit and non-credit Professional Development courses provide the student the opportunity for the broadening of knowledge and the refinement of skills. Interested parties may obtain additional information from the Professional Development Center located in Violette Hall, Room 2200.

DATE OF CATALOG FOR CHECKING CREDITS

The date of the General/Graduate Catalog by which credits are checked may not be more than five years earlier than the date of the issuance of the degree. A student may not be checked by a catalog dated earlier than the time of his/her entrance. If a student’s work is interrupted by required service in the armed forces, an extension of time will be allowed equal to the period of interruption.

THESIS

The thesis may be of a research, expository, or critical nature. It must show evidence of a thorough knowledge of original sources. The selection of the topic is to be made with the agreement of the student and the advisor and/or program committee or determined by the discipline and must be approved by the Dean of Graduate Studies.

The respective disciplines will inform students about acceptable style manuals and other procedures for the thesis. The student must work closely with the thesis advisor and must adhere to the procedures outlined in the “Master’s Thesis Guidelines” (available online).

THESIS COMMITTEE APPROVAL FORM

A Thesis Committee Approval Form must be submitted to the Graduate Office at least one semester prior to the expected completion date.

THESIS DEFENSE/WRITTEN COMPREHENSIVE EXAM

For those students who submit a thesis, the comprehensive examination shall include an oral defense of the thesis. Programs may also require a written comprehensive examination. The examining committee should include the student’s advisor and not fewer than two other graduate faculty members.

THESIS COMMITTEE

The thesis examination committee is chaired by the student’s thesis advisor and includes at least one other graduate faculty member from the discipline in which the thesis was written and one graduate faculty member from another discipline approved by the Dean of Graduate Studies. The student is responsible for submitting the names of the departmental and external thesis committee members to the Dean of Graduate Studies for approval, and the chair may assist in notifying the committee members of the time and place of the examination. The thesis committee chair is responsible for reporting the committee’s approval of the finished thesis to the Dean of Graduate Studies via the “Report of the Examining Committee” form.

SCHEDULING THE EXAMINATION

The examination shall not be earlier than seven days after the members of the committee receive copies of the thesis and not later than three weeks prior to the commencement at which the student expects to receive the degree. Results of the examination are forwarded by the thesis advisor to the Graduate Office at least one week prior to commencement.

SUBMISSION OF THE THESIS

All corrections or changes required by the committee and the Academic Dean must be made before the thesis can be accepted by the Graduate Office.

When submitting the final thesis, the student must present the following items to the Graduate Office.

1. A minimum of three complete copies of the thesis. Each copy must be submitted in a separate envelope.
2. A signed, original approval sheet included with each copy of the thesis. An approval sheet must also be included in any personal copy.
3. A receipt showing payment of binding fees (for the three required and any personal copies) paid to the Business Office. The receipt may be a copy of the original.
4. A completed agreement form.
5. One additional copy of the title page.
6. One additional copy of the abstract page.

The thesis will only be accepted if all the above items are submitted. Students who wish to apply for registration of a claim of a U.S. Copyright should submit a check or money order in the amount indicated on the Microfilm Agreement Form.

After the degree has been granted, all copies of the thesis will be bound. Three copies will be retained by the University and personal copies will be mailed to the student.

GRADUATION APPLICATION AND PROCEDURES

Application for Graduation must be filed in the Graduate Office at least one semester prior to the expected date of graduation. A Graduate Program Worksheet, detailing the student’s course history, must accompany the Application for Graduation. A Graduate Substitution/Inclusion Form indicating approval for all exceptions to the Graduate Program Worksheet must be on file in the Graduate Office before the Application for Graduation will be accepted. Approval of the Application for Graduation is based upon:

1. Admission to a graduate program.
2. Successful completion of all graduate coursework and all other requirements for the specific graduate program.
3. Approval of all:
   1. coursework taken to satisfy undergraduate prerequisites and/or other deficiencies noted at admission,
   2. graduate hours earned before admission to be included in the major, and/or
   3. substitutions (from Truman or from another university) for courses explicitly required on the Graduate Program Worksheet. Approval for these items may be requested using a Graduate Substitution/Inclusion Form.
4. The following additional requirements:
   1. Residence Credit Requirement
      The period for graduate study must include a period of residence work. Residence for graduate students is defined as: 1) completion of a minimum load of 9 semester hours of graduate credit during one semester; 2) being available during that period for conferences with instructors, work in the library or laboratory and similar out-of-class experiences. Any waiver of this requirement must be approved by the advisor, Academic Dean, and Dean of Graduate Studies.
   2. Transfer
      A maximum of 6 hours or two courses totaling no more than 8 hours of transfer credit may be applied toward the master’s degree with the approval of the student’s graduate advisor and the Dean of Graduate Studies. Formal approval is obtained with the Graduate Substitution/Inclusion Form. The transfer credit must be from an accredited institution offering graduate degrees. An official transcript for the transfer credit must be submitted to the Graduate Office by the Application for Graduation deadline. When the transcript and Graduate Substitution/Inclusion Form are received in the Graduate Office, the request will be considered by the Dean of Graduate Studies. The Application for Graduation will not be approved until all transfer credit has been approved. The Graduate Program Worksheet must indicate all approved graduate credit to be applied toward the degree program.
   3. Workshop/In-Service
      No in-service or workshop courses may be applied toward a master’s degree.
   4. Correspondence Credit
      No correspondence credit is allowed as part of a master’s degree.
   5. Course Number Requirements
      At least 50 percent of the semester hours must be taken in academic work at the level of 600 or above.
   6. Credits and Time Limitation
      Credit for courses which were completed more than six years prior to the granting of the degree will not be allowed as credit toward the degree. An additional year may be taken for completion of the thesis. The minimum number of credit hours for graduate programs ranges from 30 to 42 hours.
   7. Incomplete/In Progress Grades
      For graduate students, “Incomplete” or “In Progress” grades are allowed to remain on the transcript after graduation only if they are not required for the degree to be conferred (for example, they may remain for an additional graduate degree which is not yet complete.) However, if the course(s) is/are not completed within 7 years, the grade(s) will be changed to “F”.
   8. Grade Point Average
      A graduate GPA of 3.0 is required 1) for approval of the Application for Graduation, 2) for permission to sit for the comprehensive exam, and 3) at the time the degree is granted.
   9. Grades Below Average
      No student will receive a master’s degree who has attempted more than two 3-hour or 4-hour courses, or a total of 6 hours for any other combination in courses for the degree, in which a grade of “C” or below was earned.
   10. Repeat Courses
       A graduate student may repeat one course (of 4 semester hours or less) in which a “D” or an “F” was received. When a course is repeated, both grades will remain on the record and both grades will be used by Truman State University in determining the grade point average. The initial “D” or “F” will continue to be counted by Truman State University toward the “Grades Below Average” policy which states that: No student will receive a master’s degree who has attempted more than two 3-hour or 4-hour courses, or a total of 6 hours for any other combination in courses for the degree, in which a grade of “C” or below was earned.
   11. Pass/Fail
       No courses in which the grade was pass/fail can be applied toward a degree except the MAE Internship and the MAE Research requirement.
   12. Credit/No Credit
       The Credit/No Credit grading option applies only to undergraduate credit. Pre-MAE students should be advised that courses used to meet state certification requirements cannot be taken Credit/No Credit.
   13. Culminating Experience and Examinations
       All approved candidates shall successfully complete a comprehensive examination, thesis examination, research project, or case study. The comprehensive examination may be written and/or oral. The type of examination is determined by department policy. The comprehensive examination is usually taken during the last semester of study. Permission to sit for the exam is granted by the department. Students must have attained a 3.0 graduate GPA before taking the exam. The results of each examination will be reported in writing to the Dean of Graduate Studies, and to the examinee, on or before the designated deadline (one week before the degree is to be conferred).

GRADUATION PROCEDURES SUMMARY

1. Application for Graduation is filed in the Graduate Office at least one semester before the degree is to be conferred. A Graduate Program Worksheet accompanies the application, detailing the student’s course history. In the event a student’s application for the degree is not approved, the student must correct any deficiencies to re-activate the application. An application may be re-activated during the first four weeks of the graduation semester. After that time, the student will be considered for the following semester’s commencement.
2. Thesis writers must submit a completed Thesis Committee Approval Form to accompany the Application for Graduation and Graduate Program Worksheet. If the thesis is to be completed before the graduation semester, the Thesis Committee Approval Form must be submitted at least one semester prior to thesis completion. The Master’s Thesis Guidelines booklet must be used for correct formatting of the thesis (available online).
3. A Graduation Clearance packet is mailed to each candidate approved for graduation approximately 3-4 weeks prior to the expected date of graduation by the Graduate Office. The degree candidate must complete papers to be filed (or update existing papers on file) in various administrative offices, and the candidate must pay the graduation fee to the Business Office.
4. All required materials for thesis processing must be submitted to the Graduate Office by the specified deadline (2 weeks before commencement). For a list of the required materials, see the Thesis section above.
5. The comprehensive/thesis exam will be given on the date set by the advisor and student. (For guidelines regarding the scheduling of thesis exams, see the Thesis section above.)
6. Master’s degrees are conferred in May, August, and December.

COMMENCEMENT CEREMONIES

Commencement exercises are held at the end of the fall and spring semesters. To participate in the commencement ceremony, students must have an approved graduation application on file in the Graduate Office, and must have been cleared to graduate pending the satisfactory completion of final degree requirements.

May and December degree candidates should be present for commencement except under unusual circumstances, and should usually participate in commencement at the end of the semester during which they complete their degree. May and December degree candidates may petition to participate in a later commencement ceremony by filing a petition through the Dean of Graduate Studies. May and December degree candidates may not participate in the commencement ceremony in a semester earlier than their semester of graduation.

August degree candidates can participate in the May commencement ceremony immediately prior to their August graduation if a graduation application is received by the Graduate Office prior to April 15, or in the December commencement ceremony following their August graduation. August degree candidates must notify the Graduate Office of the commencement ceremony in which they wish to participate.