Completing your graduate degree or certificate is a tremendous achievement. While some programs have additional expectations, here are the general requirements you will need to meet to complete your graduate program at UW-River Falls.

Summary of Graduation Requirements

1. Complete a minimum of 30 credits
2. Finish in Seven Years
3. Earn a “B” Average
4. Pass Your Exams
5. Request Graduation
   

Completion of Course Requirements

General course requirements for your program of study are describe in the Catalog web pages for your program. However, your individual degree plan that you create with your adviser will also be an important tool to track your progress in completion your degree. Your degree plan is on file in the Graduate Studies office.

See also UWRF Grading System and Credits Applied to Your Plan.

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Conducting Your Research

If your degree plan includes a thesis (Plan A) or research paper (Plan B), you should plan to meet with your adviser to review your topic and research plan. 

Before beginning your research, you should review the following university policies to determine if your research protocol requires review.

• Policies and Procedures for Research Involving Human Subjects
  Administered by the Institutional Review Board for the Protection of Human Subjects (IRB)

• Policy on Animal Care and Use
  Administered by Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC) 

Forms used to submit your research protocol for review are available at the appropriate web site.

Students should also be familiar with the university's policy on use of copyrighted materials and make a good faith effort to obtain permission from the copyright owner. More information on copyright is available through the Library web site.

Plan A theses and Plan B research papers must adhere to guidelines for mandatory submission to MINDS.

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Scheduling Your Graduate Committee Review

A graduate committee will evaluate your thesis or paper, conduct your oral comprehensive exam, or evaluate your written exam. The committee includes your adviser and two faculty, one of whom will be from your program area. The Director of Graduate Studies will appoint your committee members.

The comprehensive exam is usually oral, unless the program faculty has made arrangements with the School of Graduate Studies for a written examination. 

In the case of an oral examination, you will receive a form for reporting the time (a block of two hours) and location to the Graduate Studies Office at least two weeks before the examination and not later than four weeks before the end of the term or session or the commencement ceremony that you plan to be granted the degree.  For an oral exam to be held in the summer, you must make arrangements during the spring semester.

If you are in a program requiring written comprehensive examinations, you must make arrangements with your department to take the exams.

All Plan A (thesis) candidates will take an oral examination about the thesis.  This may be in addition to a written comprehensive examination, if required by the department concerned.  All Plan B or Plan C candidates will take a written and/or oral examination based on specified program requirements.  You are responsible for meeting with all members of your graduate committee before the examination to discuss how to prepare for the written and/or oral examination.

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Your Oral and Written Examinations

Near the end of your program, you will take  a written and/or oral comprehensive examination prepared and administered by your Graduate Committee. The comprehensive exam is usually oral, unless the program faculty has made arrangements with the Graduate Studies Director for a written examination. This examination is intended to assist the faculty in determining your qualifications for the degree and help you synthesize the graduate experience and plan for the future. 

All Plan A (thesis) candidates will take an oral examination about their thesis. This may be in addition to a written comprehensive examination, if required by the department. 

All Plan B or Plan C candidates will take a written and/or oral examination based on specified program requirements. You are responsible for meeting with all members of your graduate committee before the examination to discuss how to prepare for the written and/or oral examination. See Scheduling Your Graduate Committee Review.  

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Additional Requirements for Teaching Licensure

If your graduate program of study includes either an initial teaching licensure or additional teaching certifications, you will have additional requirements to complete your program. The following links to the College of Education and Professional Studies will provide additional information on these requirements. 

For more information, see:

Student Teaching

Teacher Certification Portfolio

Teacher Education Department

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Apply For Graduation

For instructions on when and how to apply for graduation, see Applying for Graduation on the Graduate Procedures page.