Graduate Catalog Information
Thank you for your interest in graduate programs offered by the University of Wisconsin-River Falls, an accredited institution of higher learning.
Please note that this site reflects the most up-to-date information approved for the Web. Program modifications may have occurred that are not reflected in this online document.
For admissions requirements and instructions, go to "How to Apply."
Course descriptions and schedules may be found in Class Schedule Lookup.
Program requirements are reviewed and updated annually. You are also encouraged to consult with your academic adviser regarding any changes in your academic plan.
The general requirements for a master's degree are:
- A minimum of 30 graduate credits must be completed. Requirements may vary slightly, depending on program.
- At least 1/2 of the credits required for the degree must be earned in courses at the 700 level.
- A maximum of nine 500-level credits may be applied to the degree.
- All requirements for the degree must be completed within a seven-year period.
- The standard of work at the graduate level requires that the candidate earn at least a “B” average on all work taken for the degree and on all credits within the area of specialization.
- Completion of either a written or an oral comprehensive examination, administered during the final semester or session of the student's program, must be satisfactory.
To graduate, you must have met all the minimum requirements for the master's degree.
You must have earned all credits accepted toward the degree, including transfer credit (see Transferring Graduate Credits),
within the preceding seven years. The Graduate Council may approve a single extension in the case of unusual health conditions,
fulfillment of military obligations or similar extenuating circumstances.
You must apply for graduation at least six weeks before the date of graduation on a form supplied by the Graduate Office.
If you plan to write a thesis or you are enrolled in a program that requires a committee for a final comprehensive examination,
the Office of Graduate Studies will appoint your graduate committee when the tentative degree plan is accepted.
Your adviser will chair the committee, which will include another graduate faculty member from your area of specialization
and one member from outside your area of specialization. Your committee will evaluate your thesis, conduct your oral comprehensive,
or evaluate your examination papers when an open-ended written comprehensive is used.
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In consultation with your advisor, you may choose one of the following plans for graduate study:
- Thesis Plan (Plan A) - A minimum of 30 semester credits of graduate course work, including a master's thesis for which you may receive no more than 4 graduate credits in the area of specialization, with an oral or written comprehensive examination. (See Thesis)
- Research Paper Plan (Plan B) - A minimum of 30 semester credits of graduate course work, including a research paper approved and filed as part of the graduate program, with an oral or written comprehensive examination. (See Final Paper.)
- Examination Plan (Plan C) - A minimum of 34 semester credits of graduate course work, with an oral or written comprehensive examination administered by the department. (see Comprehensive Exam.)
Thesis
As many as four credits assigned to a thesis will be counted in the area of specialization.
You must receive permission to earn thesis credit from your advisor.
Because each member of your graduate committee must approve your completed thesis, you must inform all three members of the committee about the development of the problem,
research progress, and results, as well as the writing of the thesis. You will defend your thesis in an oral examination.
Three copies of the thesis must be filed for binding. Following approval by your graduate committee, you will pay a $10 per copy binding fee.
When you present your receipt to the Graduate Studies Office, the Director of Graduate Studies will sign the title page of the thesis.
The three copies will then be sent out for binding. It is your responsibility to check the manuscripts for proper pagination and deliver them to the Graduate Studies Office.
See examination requirements below.
Final Paper
You will defend your master's paper in an oral examination by the three members of your graduate committee.
Master's papers will be signed by the advisor and sent to the Graduate Studies Office.
The paper will not be bound. A copy will be filed in the Archives, as well as in the department.
See examination requirements below.
Comprehensive Exam
During the final enrollment period of your graduate program leading to the Master's degree, you must successfully complete a written and/or oral comprehensive examination prepared and administered by your graduate committee.
The purposes of this examination are:
- To provide an additional basis for determining your qualifications for the degree;
- To help you synthesize the graduate experience;
- To aid you to make plans for the future; and
- To discover problem areas in the graduate program that need further study and improvement.
If you are unsuccessful in the comprehensive examination, you may, upon approval of the Graduate Council, reschedule the examination after a delay of six months.
If you receive an incomplete on the comprehensive examination, you must make up the deficiencies identified by the chair of the committee.
The comprehensive examination is usually oral, unless the program faculty has made arrangements with the Graduate Studies office 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, and you are responsible for making these arrangements with the committee.
You must make all such arrangements and report them 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 in which you plan to be granted the degree.
If you plan to take your oral comprehensive exam during the summer session, you will need to schedule the exam with your committee members before the final day of the spring term prior. Since some faculty are not be available during summer term, it is the student's responsibility to contact all members of their graduate committee — including any substitutes assigned by the department chair — and reach agreement on a date and time. Documentation of this agreement from all committee members, and the location for the exam, must be sent in writing to the Graduate Studies office.
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, if required by the department concerned.
All Plan B (paper) or Plan C (exam) 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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The normal load for fulltime students is 8 or more credits during a semester and 4-9 during summer session (but no more than one credit per week without the Director's permission).
You may exceed these maximums once during your graduate program if you:
- Are not on academic probation;
- Have successfully completed at least 16 graduate credits; and
- Have filed written approval from your advisor with the Graduate Studies Office.
If you take undergraduate courses, each three undergraduate credits will count as two graduate credits in calculating your load.
Graduate assistants must take at least eight credits and no more than twelve credits.
The unit of credit is the semester hour, which is given for the satisfactory completion of a subject pursued for one semester and having one class period or two laboratory periods per week.
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The following grades are used:
- A - Excellent
- B - Good
- C - Acceptable
- F - Unsatisfactory
- S - Satisfactory
- SP - Satisfactory Progress
- I - Incomplete
- Pass/Fail
The grade of "SP" (satisfactory progress) may be used in field-based or research-oriented classes where the nature of the work involved requires more calendar time
than is available during the term for which the student is registered for the course. Upon completion of the project, this special grade will be changed to an appropriate letter grade.
A Pass/Fail grading option may be used in practicum courses.
An "I" (incomplete) is given when students fail to complete a course through no fault of their own.
You must maintain a "B" (3.0) average in your area of specialization, as well as on an overall basis. In determining this average, transfer credit will not be included. If you do not maintain a "B" (3.0) average, you will be placed on probation for the next enrollment period.
If you are placed on probation, you must earn a "B" average in the next enrollment period for full-time students and in the next 12 credits earned for part-time students. If you do not succeed in doing so, you will not be allowed to register for further courses.
A course in which a student receives a grade of "F" may be repeated once. Where this happens, the second grade will replace the first.
Appealing a Grade
If you believe that your course grade does not reflect your performance, you may appeal through the following procedure:
- First, discuss the grade with the course instructor and try to resolve any differences informally.
- If, after discussing the grade with the instructor, you still believe that the grade is inappropriate, you may appeal in writing to the department chairperson. You must do this before the end of the semester (excluding summer) following the assignment of the grade.
The chairperson will submit your written claim to the instructor, who will prepare a written response.
A copy of the instructor's response will be furnished to you within three weeks after the chairperson receives your request.
- If, after you receive the instructor's response, you are still dissatisfied,
you must notify the chairperson and Director of Graduate Studies of this in writing within two weeks of receiving the response.
The Director will convene a meeting with you, the instructor, and the chairperson and try to resolve the grading conflict.
Both you and the instructor shall provide copies of any course work which is in your possession.
The burden of the proof is on you to demonstrate evidence of misgrading. The Director will inform you in writing of the outcome of this meeting.
If the grade you appeal was assigned by the chairperson, the Director will receive your initial appeal and request a faculty member to replace the chairperson or program director in the appeal proceedings.
If the issue is not resolved in your meeting with the Director, the instructor and the chairperson, you may appeal to the Vice Chancellor, whose decision is final.
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