Degrees and Certificates

Minimum requirements for a master's degree are listed below:

1. All master's degree programs at Southern require the successful completion of one or more of the following individual capstone experiences: a thesis, a comprehensive examination, or a special project. The capstone experience is the culminating academic event for students enrolled in a master 's degree graduate program. It requires students to demonstrate their ability to organize and synthesize knowledge and apply skills developed throughout their academic program. The student, with the approval of the graduate program adviser, may change from one option to another until the thesis or special project proposal has been submitted for a final grade or until the first comprehensive examination is taken. The determination of the capstone experience is made by the faculty of the academic department.
2. No master’s degree program may include fewer than 30 graduate (500-level or above) credits.
3. All courses completed for credit toward program requirements must be passed with a minimum grade of "C" (2.0). Some graduate programs require minimum grades of "B" or higher. Courses completed with a grade of less than "C" will not be counted toward the program course requirements, and if taken outside of the Grade Replacement Policy, the grade will be calculated in the program and overall graduate grade point average.
4. Satisfactory completion of all program requirements for graduation as defined in the catalog.
5. A minimum cumulative graduate grade point average (GPA) of 3.0 is required to be eligible to graduate from a graduate program.
6. Courses applied towards a previously earned degree may not be applied to a subsequent degree. Courses applied towards a previously earned certificate may be applied to a degree or certificate.

Graduate certificate programs are fewer than 30 credits at the 500-level or above.  Requirements three through six above, which govern the master’s degrees, also apply to the graduate certificate.  Students must enroll in the graduate certificate program prior to completing the last required course to be eligible for the certificate; certificates are not retroactively awarded to students who were not enrolled prior to completion.

Post-master’s certificate programs are fewer than 30 credits of advanced graduate work beyond the master’s level.  The post-master’s program requires a minimum of 50% of the total credits at the 700-level.  Requirements three through six above, which govern the master’s degrees, also apply to the post-master's certificate.

Programs leading to the sixth-year certificate provide opportunities for experienced and qualified candidates to pursue a program of advanced graduate work beyond the master 's degree and to develop additional competency in an area of specialization. The sixth-year certificate requires at least 30 graduate credits with a minimum of 15 credits in 700-level courses. Requirements two through six above, which govern the master's degrees, also apply to the sixth-year certificate. Capstone experiences may be included in a sixth-year certificate program as approved by the department.

Normally, doctoral degrees represent a minimum of 64 credits beyond the bachelor’s degree.  Requirements vary by field, with some areas having requirements of specialized or professional accreditors.  Students in some doctoral programs progress by examination, dissertation defense, and/or field or clinical work in addition to credit requirement.  Requirements three through six above, which govern the master's degrees, also apply to the doctoral program.