University Requirements for all Master's Degrees

Candidates must satisfy all applicable university degree requirements and all requirements established by the master’s program faculty. Programs may impose more stringent requirements than those listed here.

  • Admission. Candidates must have been officially admitted into degree status.
  • Credit Hours. Candidates must earn a minimum of 30 graduate credits.
  • Credit Level. Only graduate courses may apply toward the degree.
  • Institutional Credit. The majority of the credits applied to the degree must be earned at Mason or, in the case of programs offered through joint, cooperative, or consortial arrangements, at the participating institutions.
  • Residency. A minimum of 18 credits must be taken in degree status, after admission to the degree program.
  • Thesis/Project Limits. A maximum of 6 credits of master’s thesis research (799) or master’s project may be applied to the degree.
  • Quality. Candidates must have a minimum GPA of 3.00 in course work presented on the degree application, which may include no more than 6 credits of C. (Grades of C+, C-, or D do not apply to graduate courses. The GPA calculation excludes all transfer courses and Mason nondegree studies credits not formally approved for the degree.)

See the Academic Policies chapter of the University Catalog for all other university requirements and policies, including those involving time limits and master’s theses.

This information is from the Academic Policies chapter of the University Catalog 2013-2014. The catalog is the official statement of all university policies.