Special Credits Policy

A graduate program offered by a department constitutes a rationally structured and well-defined body of information and techniques deemed appropriate to the discipline. Consequently, the number of special credits that each master’s and doctoral candidate may count toward a degree is restricted.

Special credits are defined as those earned through Independent Study, Individualized Instruction, Special Topics courses, workshops, or any combination therein.

A master’s degree candidate may submit for credit toward the degree no more than six (6) semester hours of special credits approved by the department offering the degree. Doctoral candidates may submit (a further) six semester hours of special credits beyond the master’s or its equivalent if approved by the department offering the degree.

Note: Should a special credit offering later become a catalog-listed course that is part of the degree program, while the student is still working towards the degree, the student may request from the department a retroactive reclassification of credits so earned. In such cases, the student may again submit up to six semester hours of special credits.