UW-Green Bay Master of Science Programs - General Information
credits required | grades | time limit | course requirements | progress toward the degree | commencement | application for degree |
Credits Required
A minimum of 30-58 credits, depending upon the chosen program, is required for completion of the UW-Green Bay Master of Science degree.
Grades
All courses and assigned studies are graded on a 4.0 scale. A cumulative grade point average of at least 3.0 is required to earn the M.S. degree. Thesis credits, professional project credits, or internship credits are given an in-progress (PR) grade each semester until the thesis, project or internship is formally accepted as completed at which time the grade will be changed to pass (P) or no credit (NC). A pass (P) grade must be achieved in order to graduate.
Students are expected to maintain a cumulative grade point average of at least 3.0. Students who fail to maintain this average are subject to probation and or suspension as specified in the Graduate Academic Rules and Regulations.
Time Limit
Matriculated graduate students must complete all requirements for the M.S. degree within five years. This time period begins with the first day of the first term of enrollment as a degree-seeking student.
Course Requirements
The student and his or her graduate committee must develop an individual program plan to satisfy requirements of the student's specific program - Applied Leadership for Teaching and Learning, Environmental Science and Policy, Management, and Social Work. An acceptable program plan must include:
- Graduate Core Courses (13 or more credits)
- Area of Emphasis Courses
- Thesis/Professional Project
Each is explained in more detail.
Graduate Core Courses(13 or more credits)
Graduate core courses are usually numbered at the 700 level (700 through 794, excluding 783), although specific undergraduate/graduate courses may be acceptable in some programs. Courses at the 700 level are open only to graduate students.
Area of Emphasis Courses
A typical program plan may also include several different types of specialized courses to gain particular knowledge, skills, and experiences. These may include dual-listed undergraduate/graduate courses, selected upper-level undergraduate courses, independent studies, transfer credits, and internships.
Undergraduate/Graduate Courses (numbered XXX-500 to XXX-595 and XXX-600 to XXX-695)
Graduate students may register for courses specifically cross-listed as undergraduate/graduate (UG/G) without special permission. These courses are identified by course numbers at the 500 and 600 levels and are listed in the graduate section of the Schedule of Classes.
Other undergraduate courses at the 300 and 400 levels may be taken for graduate credit if they contribute to a coherent program of study. An assigned study card must be submitted with registration as XXX-596 or XXX-696 as appropriate.
Academic standards for graduate credit in graduate/undergraduate courses exceed standards for undergraduate credit. Increased standards may be in the form of additional academic work and/or an increase in grading standards. Students should be aware of the requisites required for cross-listed courses.
Experimental Courses (numbered 783X)
From time to time, graduate faculty may offer courses in response to special demand, to address current issues, or to make use of special resources offered by visiting faculty. These are offered once on an experimental basis; they may later become regular course offerings. Courses offered with the 783X number may not be counted as part of the graduate core requirement.
Independent Study (numbered 798)
Independent study may be undertaken in the form of reading and research completed under the supervision of a member of the graduate faculty. This type of study can be undertaken only after an approved program plan is filed including the independent study course as an integral part of the individual program. Under normal circumstances, a maximum of six credits of independent study may be applied toward the degree; however, with strong recommendation and a rationale provided by the major professor, additional independent study credits may be allowed. To arrange for independent study courses, students must prepare a proposal that includes a statement of objectives, a list of readings and/or projects to be completed, and a statement of how the work will be evaluated and graded. The proposal is filed in the Graduate Studies Office and will be included in the student's file.
Internship (numbered 797)
An internship, usually undertaken outside of the University setting, must be an experience that provides a genuine training ground for the application of knowledge and understanding relevant to the student's area of study. Internships are not available to graduate special students.
Internships must be preplanned and incorporate predetermined criteria for grading. A full description of internship activities, including methods of academic evaluation, must be submitted to the student's major professor and the dean of professional and graduate studies. It will be included in the student's file. A member of the graduate faculty must sponsor the internship, although day-to-day administration of the experience may be by a non-faculty supervisor. An internship may be required by some graduate tracks. Experience gained in permanent employment cannot normally be counted as an internship. The amount of credit acquired through an internship is determined by the student's graduate committee, subject to approval by the dean of professional and graduate studies. Normal maximum is six credits. The graduate program does not award credit for prior experience. However valid, an internship undertaken prior to enrollment in the program cannot carry credit toward the M.S. degree.
Special Topics (numbered 795)
From time to time, professors or groups of professors may organize courses, seminars, colloquia, field trips, and so on, around some topic of interest or special need. Such courses are not normally intended to become part of the regular curriculum. Courses offered with the 795 number cannot be counted as part of the graduate core requirement.
Credit From Other Institutions
The specialized study component may also include a maximum of 12 graduate credits earned at other accredited institutions prior to admission to UW-Green Bay. Transfer credit evaluation is the responsibility of the student's graduate faculty committee at the time the student's program plan is approved. These credits are subject to the review of the dean of professional and graduate studies and the registrar.
Any additional courses to be taken at other institutions and to be included as credits toward the degree must receive prior approval from the student's major professor and the dean of professional and graduate studies. (See page 17 for additional information.)
Thesis/Professional Project
(thesis is 6 credits registered as 799 in Applied Leadership for Teaching and Learning, and Environmental Science and Policy programs)
Students must register for a minimum of one credit of thesis during the semester in which the thesis defense is to occur. A student may earn more than six credits for thesis, but only six credits may be applied toward degree requirements.
Students in the Management Program must complete MANAGMNT 794 Professional Project I and MANAGMNT 796 Professional Project II.
Social Work students must complete SOC WORK 731 Advanced Research Applications in Social Work Practice and SOC WORK 732 Field Research Project.
Progress Toward the Degree
Following is a guide to the steps required to earn the M.S. degree in Applied Leadership for Teaching and Learning; Environmental Science and Policy; Management; or Social Work from admission to completion of the program.
Steps Toward the M.S. Degree
- Applicant is admitted to the graduate program.
- Student submits individual program plan (form GR-1) to the Graduate Studies Office no later than the end of the semester in which the first six graduate credits are completed. If possible, he or she selects a major professor or project adviser.
- After at least 8 credits (Applied Leadership) or 15 credits (Environmental Science and Policy), student develops thesis proposal. Proposal is reviewed and approved by the thesis committee. After at least 24 credits, Management student registers for MANAGMNT 794 Professional Project I and completes a professional project proposal. Proposal is reviewed and approved by the course instructor. Social Work student registers for SOC WORK 731 and develops a professional project proposal. Proposal is reviewed and approved by the course instructor. Proposals are submitted, along with form GR-2, to Graduate Studies Office for approval by dean.
- Student may register for thesis (ENV S&P 799 or TCH LRNG 799) or professional project credits (MANAGMNT 796 or SOC WORK 732) and continue work on project.
- Student files Application for Graduation with the Registrar's Office.
- Student schedules thesis defense or professional project presentation by filing form GR-3 when the project or thesis document is nearly complete.
- Open thesis defense meeting or professional project presentation. Filing form GR-4 with the Graduate Studies Office indicates satisfactory completion of thesis and defense or the professional project and presentation.
- The dean checks the final format of thesis or professional project report.
- Student submits to Graduate Studies Office the required number of thesis or report copies for final approval and deposition in University library.
- Graduate receives diploma.
The following narrative explains the process in detail.
Graduate Committee
It is important for Applied Leadership and Environmental Science and Policy students to select a thesis committee early. The chair of or an adviser for the student's degree program normally assists in this process. A thesis committee is comprised of at least three faculty members (two in Applied Leadership) approved by the appropriate program chair. One member is requested by the student to act as the major professor or chair of the committee. That person must be a graduate faculty member of the student's degree program. Students are encouraged to ask a person from outside the University to join their committees, in addition to the faculty members.
The thesis committee or program adviser is responsible for supervising the student's program of study and should:
- guide the student in appropriate selection of graduate courses and specialization studies to ensure that the student is aware of all relevant materials necessary to completely understand the chosen field of study;
- determine whether the student has accumulated and demonstrated sufficient ability to engage in analytic processes of problem solving;
- make certain that the student's project is consistent with the degree, confronts the interdisciplinary relationships of the subject area, and focuses on problem solving methods.
If during the student's course of study, he or she wishes to change committee members or adviser, the student must explain why the change is necessary or desirable. If the change is acceptable to both outgoing and incoming professors, the student must notify the Graduate Studies Office in writing.
Graduate Student Program Plan
The primary responsibility for ensuring that each student's program plan meets the requirements and regulations of the M.S. program rests with the student. The student develops the program plan with his or her thesis committee chair or program adviser. If the student has not selected a major professor or adviser, the graduate program chair can approve the program plan as the student's adviser.
All program plans are subject to final approval by the graduate program chair and the dean of professional and graduate studies. They may suggest changes to ensure that the plan conforms to the overall philosophy and requirements of the M.S. program. The Graduate Studies Office will contact the major professor or program adviser and the student if changes are necessary.
A program plan must be submitted to the Graduate Studies Office in the semester in which the student completes the first six credits of graduate-level course work. It must be approved before a student can register for additional courses. Subsequent changes may be made, but these are subject to further review by the dean of professional and graduate studies. All changes must be submitted to the Graduate Studies Office on an Academic Plan Change Form so that the student's file remains current.
Documents substantiating certain course work should accompany the program plan to the dean of professional and graduate studies, if appropriate. These may include:
- Documents of transfer credits accepted by the student's committee.
- Petitions for changes in graduate program requirements.
In preparing the program plan the student should use the Guidelines for Completing the Graduate Program Plan that is mailed with the admission letter.
Thesis/Professional Project
The project and the formal paper that documents it are distinctive to the UW-Green Bay graduate program. All students complete a thesis project working with their major professor and committee or a professional project supervised by an adviser. The project provides an opportunity for graduate students to focus and apply their course work and make a public contribution to knowledge. Successful completion of a thesis or professional project is a clear indication of a student's ability to define, investigate, and solve problems.
Thesis/Professional Project Proposal
The proposal is a formal document that provides an overview of the planned study. It must include an explanation of the research problem, issue, or situation to be addressed, its relevance or application, the methods and resources that will be used in completing the project, and a list of references cited.
To prepare the proposal, the student should use either Guidelines for Preparing the Thesis Proposal or the Guidelines for Preparing the Professional Project Proposal as appropriate. A copy of the appropriate guidelines and of form GR-2 will be mailed to students along with notice of their program plan approval.
After a student has completed the minimum number of course work credits required by the degree program, he or she prepares a proposal. The thesis committee or the professional project adviser must approve the proposal at a formal meeting. A copy of the approved thesis proposal and the signed GR-2 form are sent to the dean of professional and graduate studies for final approval and inclusion in the student's official file.
Also at this time or no later than completion of 21 credits, the student files an Application for Graduation with the Registrar's Office listing the earliest possible graduation date.
Thesis/Professional Project Registration
Only students with an approved proposal on file may register for thesis writing or professional project credits. Enrollment for thesis credits may be for one to six credits per term and may be spread over several terms as appropriate. A student must be registered for a minimum of one thesis credit during the term in which a thesis defense is scheduled.
Thesis/Professional Project Report Preparation
The thesis and professional project report are formal documents and must be prepared to conform to UW-Green Bay library requirements and graduate program standards. In preparing the thesis, students should carefully follow the Style and Format Requirements Masters of Science Thesis. To prepare the professional project report, students should carefully follow the Style and Format Requirements Masters of Science Professional Project. Copies of the appropriate guidelines and of the GR-3 form are mailed to students along with notice of proposal approval. It is the student's responsibility to prepare and present the final document in an acceptable format. Several writers' guides and style manuals are commercially available.
Thesis Defense
The thesis defense is an open event attended by the candidate's graduate committee and other interested individuals. The defense permits the committee to ascertain whether the student has adequately understood and seriously attempted to solve a significant problem.
The student must file form GR-3 to schedule the thesis defense with the Graduate Studies Office at least one week in advance of the proposed date. The thesis defense should be scheduled during one of the academic terms unless other specific arrangements are acceptable to all parties.
Prior to the thesis defense, the Graduate Studies Office will provide form GR-4 to the major professor. After a satisfactory defense, the major professor and committee members sign the form and return it to the Graduate Studies Office. A dissenting signature must be accompanied by an explanation from the dissenting member. The dean of professional and graduate studies may withhold approval of the thesis defense pending resolution of any differences. A candidate is considered to have passed his or her thesis defense only after all issues have been resolved and the completed GR-4 is returned to the Graduate Studies Office.
Professional Project Presentation
The professional project presentation is also an open event attended by the candidate's project adviser, other members of the Management faculty and other interested individuals. The presentation permits the faculty to ascertain whether the student has completed the project and is able to communicate the results effectively.
The student must file form GR-3 to schedule the presentation with the Graduate Studies Office at least one week in advance of the proposed date. The presentation must be scheduled during the academic term in which the MANAGMNT 796 course is taken unless other specific arrangements are necessary and acceptable to all parties and approved by the associate dean.
The Graduate Studies Office will provide form GR-4 to the project adviser before the scheduled date of the presentation. Following an acceptable presentation, the project adviser signs the form and returns it to the Graduate Studies Office. If there are any concerns among the program faculty about the project and the presentation, the dean of professional and graduate studies may withhold approval pending resolution of any differences. A candidate is considered to have completed a satisfactory presentation only after all issues have been resolved and the signed GR-4 is returned to the Graduate Studies Office.
Thesis/Professional Project Report Deposition
Upon satisfactory conclusion of the thesis defense or project presentation and an acceptable graduate summary from the Registrar's Office, the candidate is required to supply two copies of his or her thesis or report, including two copies of any audio/visual components and one additional copy of a title page and abstract, to the Graduate Studies Office. After the major professor or project adviser signs the document, the dean of professional and graduate studies reviews and signs it or returns the document for revision. Two copies of the final document are forwarded with a binding fee ($10 per copy at the time of printing of this catalog, but subject to change), collected from the student, to the UW-Green Bay library as a permanent record of the student's scholarly or creative activity. If the candidate wishes, additional copies provided by the student may be bound at the same per copy fee, payable to UW-Green Bay. Diplomas are not awarded until all these requirements have been met.
Commencement
UW-Green Bay holds two commencement ceremonies each year. These are at the end of the fall and spring semesters. For graduation in the fall, a student's defense must be scheduled before December 1 and held before the last day of fall semester classes. For spring, the defense must be scheduled before May 1 and held before the last day of spring semester classes. An Application for Graduation must be completed and submitted to the registrar prior to November 1 and April 1, respectively. Students who will complete their work during the summer may participate in the preceding spring ceremony.
Application for Degree
Students earning their Master's degree must file an application for degree with the Registrar's Office by the following deadline:
| Graduation Term | Deadline for Ceremony Participants | Deadline for Nonparticipants |
| December | October 1 | November 1 |
| May | March 1 | April 1 |
| August | March 1 | July 1 |