Summary of Procedures for Master's Degrees

The following outline summarizes the Portland State University procedural requirements for master's degrees. Additional requirements may be imposed by specific programs. Additional information can be found in the Graduate Studies section of the Portland State University Bulletin 2006-07 pages 61-74. See the Graduate Candidates' Deadlines available in the Office of Graduate Studies.

Steps marked with *** are required for every master's degree.

  1. Apply for admission about six months prior to the beginning of the term for which admission is requested. Check with the specific department about the deadlines. Note that you must apply to both the university and department separately.
  2. Prior to registration, become familiar with general regulations and procedures for the master's degree as described in the Bulletin.
  3. Prior to first term registration, meet with faculty adviser assigned by program director and plan a preliminary program of study.
  4. If graduate courses taken while an undergraduate at PSU and not used in the bachelor's degree are to be considered for use in the graduate program, the Reservation of Graduate Credit form (GO-10) must be filed in the Office of Graduate Studies no later than the term following admission to a graduate degree program; we encourage students to file this form before graduation with the baccalaureate degree. (Valid only for courses completed at PSU, limited to 12 credits maximum.) Reserved credits are also subject to all pre-admission limits and requirements.
  5. If pre-admission credit (courses taken at any institution before the term of formal admission to the PSU graduate degree program) OR transfer credit (courses taken at any time from another accredited institution) is to be included in the master's program of study, the Proposed for Master's Pre-admission and/or Transfer Credit form (GO-21) must be filed in the Office of Graduate Studies for approval. It is strongly suggested that this form be submitted early in the student's program; it must be approved before the GO-12 can be approved.
  6. If admitted to conditional or qualified status, remove all deficiencies and/or conditions. Department must submit a Request for Change of Status form (GO-7) to remove department conditions; most university conditional admission will automatically be changed to regular status after completion of the first 9 letter-graded graduate hours with a 3.00 or better GPA.
  7. If a foreign language is required, pass the foreign language exam. This requirement must be met before the GO-12 or oral exam committee can be approved and before any final exam may be taken. (See "Options for Meeting the Graduate Foreign Language Requirement for MA and MAT students," page 70 in the Bulletin.)
  8. *** Submit a final Graduate Degree Program form (GO-12), planned with and approved by the faculty adviser and signed by the department chair or department graduate committee chair, to the Office of Graduate Studies no later than the first week of the term of graduation. Deadlines are available in the Office of Graduate Studies.
  9. *** Student must file Application for Awarding of Master's or Doctoral Degree form in the Office of Graduate Studies no later than the first week of the term of graduation. Deadlines are available in the Office of Graduate Studies.
  10. A minimum enrollment of one credit is required during the term in which oral or written exams are taken. A thesis student must be registered for at least one credit in every term in which the student is working on any phase of thesis, including data development or collection, writing, revision, defense, and finalization through acceptance by the Office of Graduate Studies.
  11. If thesis is to be submitted:
    1. Thesis proposal, Human Subjects Research Review Committee approval, and appointment of departmental thesis committee must be completed before submission of the GO-12 (see #8 above).
    2. Adviser submits the Appointment of Final Oral Examination Committee form (GO-16M) for appointment of the Representative of the Office of Graduate Studies two weeks before the end of the term preceding the term of defense (earlier in summer term). The chair of the examination committee and the Graduate Office representative must be regular, full-time PSU faculty, tenured or tenure-track, assistant professor or higher in rank; the other committee members may included adjunct faculty. If it is necessary to go off-campus for one committee member with specific expertise not available among PSU faulty, a CV for the proposed member must be submitted with the GO-16M; that member must be in addition to the required three PSU faculty members. All committee members must have master's degrees. No defense shall be valid without a thesis committee approved by the Office of Graduate Studies.
    3. The oral examination (thesis defense) must take place at least five weeks prior to the end of the term and all members, including the Graduate Office Representative, must receive a complete copy of the thesis at least two weeks prior to the examination date. For summer term graduation, deadlines apply to the regular eight-week Summer Session dates; later completion will result in fall term graduation.
    4. Student must check with faculty adviser and thesis committee chair to assure completion of requirements prior to final examinations.
    5. Three copies of the unbound thesis and four copies of the abstract, in final approved form, must be submitted to the Office of Graduate Studies at least three weeks prior to close of the term in which the degree will be granted. Deadlines for each term are available in the Office of Graduate Studies. Required changes must be made before graduation.
  12. In the case of a non-thesis final oral examinations, the committee shall consist of at least two members of the student's department, including the student's adviser. At the discretion of the department, a faculty member from another department may be added; that member would be selected by the adviser, the department chair, or the departmental graduate committee chair, according to department policy. For MAT and MST students, one member of the committee is required to be added from the School of Education. See the Bulletin (p. 71) for additional information about non-thesis committees. The oral examination must be scheduled no less than two weeks before the end of the term.
  13. If there are any changes in a GO-12 which has been approved by the Office of Graduate Studies, a Change in Graduate Degree Program form (GO-13) must be filed.
  14. Schedule and pass final master's examinations, if required, at least two weeks before date of graduation.
  15. An Incomplete or In-Progress grade in any course, excluding thesis (see #17 below), which is on the approved program (GO-12) must be removed no later than two weeks before graduation.
  16. All M (Missing) grades in PSU graduate courses that could potentially be letter graded must be removed no later than two weeks before graduation, even if the courses are not listed on the student's approved GO-12.
  17. *** Adviser is responsible for the completion of the form Recommendation for the Degree (GO-17M), which is due in the Office of Graduate Studies the last day of the term of graduation. In-Progress grades for required thesis credits are changed on the form, eliminating the need for the Supplemental Grade Report for these courses. Outstanding grades for all other required courses must be submitted by the instructor directly to the Office of Admissions, Registration, and Records.
  18. The Dean of Graduate Studies certifies that all requirements for the degree have been met and recommends the awarding of the degree.
  19. The degree is awarded in the Student Information System by the Registrar's Office, which causes a diploma to be produced. Diplomas are available in the Office of Degree Requirements (104 Neuberger Hall) approximately one full term after the degree is awarded. (Please note that commencement is not the same as graduation.)

For specific deadlines for each term, see the Graduate Candidates' Deadlines available on the web and in departmental offices and in the Office of Graduate Studies, Unitus Building, 6th floor.