Credit Requirements

The range of approved graduate credits required for a master’s degree is 45-92 quarter hours. A minimum of 34 hours of graduate credit must be earned at the University of Denver but vary by unit depending on the number of transferred credits allowed per the transfer of credit policy. 

Advanced degrees are not awarded automatically upon completion of the required number of courses or hours of credit.

Students enrolled in a graduate program should not take courses towards another degree program unless they have been accepted into the second program, and no more than three courses may be earned at the University of Denver and applied towards a degree program before acceptance into that degree program.  Graduate coursework and credit hours already applied toward a degree received from the University of Denver cannot be applied towards another graduate degree of the same level or less.

Residency Requirements

Enrollment as a graduate student at the University of Denver for at least three quarters (two semesters) is required for graduation.

Advising

Responsibility for securing approval of a proposed program of study rests with the student. Consultation with the advisor at regular intervals is essential to satisfactory planning and progress toward a degree. The requirements outlined in the college, school, or departmental summaries serve as a guide to program planning and are subject to specific determination in consultation with program advisors, and the student must assume full responsibility for meeting basic requirements and deadlines, as well as the specific requirements outlined by the program advisor.

Tool Requirements

Candidates may be required to demonstrate proficiency in the required tools for research and advanced study.

Where required, tool requirements are determined by the candidate’s advisor and program and may include one or more languages, statistical methods, laboratory or other research skills. Consult the college, school or department for requirement details.

Final Examination

The requirement of a final examination for the master’s degree is in accordance with the requirements of the candidate’s college, school or department. Where required, the examination may be oral, written, or both. The examination may focus on overall course content or it may be the final step in the defense of a thesis.

Additional Master's Degree Requirements

In addition to coursework, most master’s degree programs require a creative project, internship or practicum, oral comprehensive examination and/or major paper or thesis. Typically such projects are managed within the unit or program.