Transfer Credit
No more than 20% of the minimum number of units required for a Master’s degree can be transferred from other accredited institutions (e.g., if a Master’s degree requires 30 units, then no more than 6 units can be transferred from another university). Such transfer credit can be applied to an advanced degree only upon satisfactory completion of deficiencies as prescribed by the head of the major department in which the student seeks a degree. Transfer of credit toward an advanced degree will not be made unless the grade earned was A or B, and unless it was awarded graduate credit at the institution where the work was completed. Grades of transfer work will not be used in computing the student's grade point average. Credit for correspondence courses or extension work from other institutions will not be accepted for graduate credit.

M.A./J.D. Continuous Enrollment Policy
A student admitted to a Master’s or Educational Specialist degree program must register each Fall and Spring semester for a minimum of 3 graduate units from original matriculation until all degree requirements are met. If the degree program requirements are to be completed in the Summer, the student must register for a minimum of 1 unit of graduate credit in either Summer I or Summer II. If not graduating in the Summer term, Master’s and Educational Specialist candidates do not have to register for graduate units during Summer sessions unless they plan to make use of faculty time. If they do plan to use faculty time, they must enroll for a minimum of 1 unit of graduate credit in the term(s) in which they are using faculty time. Summer-Only students are required to enroll continuously for a minimum of 3 units during consecutive summers until all degree requirements are met.

Master’s Plan of Study
In conjunction with the student’s major professor, each student is responsible for developing a Plan of Study as early as possible during the first few months in residence, to be submitted to the Graduate College no later than the second semester in residence.

The Plan of Study identifies (1) courses the student intends to transfer from other institutions; (2) courses already completed at The University of Arizona which the student intends to apply toward the graduate degree; and (3) additional course work to be completed to fulfill degree requirements. The Student must complete the Master’s Plan of Study form (in GradPath). . There is a Plan of Study fee.

Master’s Paper
In addition to fulfilling the Course Requirements, all M.A./J.D. students must complete and defend a Master’s Paper. This paper (max. 40pp, exclusive of bibliography) should contain significant scholarly research, demonstrate rigorous theoretical analysis, and display fluency with the chosen methodology. It should be well written and logically organized. In the interest of time, we recommend that students build on an existing piece of writing, rather than start from scratch.

Master’s Paper Committee
The student shall organize a Master’s Paper Committee (and select a Committee Chair), which will oversee and advise in the writing of the Master’s Paper. The committee should be composed of at least one core GWS faculty member. The other two members may be any tenured or tenure-track UA faculty members. Should a student want more than three committee members, those members may be tenured or tenure-track UA faculty or special members approved by the GWS Department and the Graduate College. Students will need to declare their M.A. Paper Committee by filling out the GWS Master’s Paper Committee Membership Form and the Master's/Specialist Committee Appointment Form (in GradPath).

The MA Defense Meeting
Before the defense is scheduled, the M.A. Paper must be complete, carefully proofread, and appropriately formatted. It is customary for the Master’s Paper Committee to receive the M.A. Paper two weeks in advance of the meeting. At the meeting, the student will give a brief initial presentation (5 minutes) and then respond to questions posed by committee members. The committee will then (without the student present) deliberate and determine the student’s eligibility to receive the MA. The meeting (including the committee deliberation) should be no less than one hour, no more than two hours. The Committee Chair will report results to the student, the DGS and Academic Coordinator.

The Final Master’s Paper
The student must submit a copy of the final M.A. Paper to the GWS Graduate Coordinator. The student must also present a version of their M.A. Paper at a GWS Graduate Student Colloquium.

Completion of Master’s Requirements
For dates by which requirements must be met to graduate in a particular semester, refer to the Deadline Sheets, available in departments, in the Graduate Degree Certification Office, and online at the Graduate College website. All outstanding fees must be cleared before the final completion date. Any financial encumbrances will delay mailing of the diploma and transcripts. Contact the Bursar's office, Room 208, Administration Building or 621-3232. All grades must be submitted for Incompletes and current semester coursework must be received before the degree is considered completed. A student must be in good academic standing at the time of completing degree requirements.

GWSMA - Gender & Women's Studies

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Overview

Program Requirements