UH Mānoa confers the degrees of master of architecture, master of arts, master of Asian international affairs, master of education, master of education in teaching, master of environmental management, master of fine arts, master of landscape architecture, master of library and information science, master of music, master of public administration, master of public health, master of science, master of social work, and master of urban and regional planning.
Faculty may not be awarded a master’s degree by UH Mānoa in the graduate program administered by the department in which they are employed. Should any APT employee wish to apply to a graduate program in the unit in which they are employed, they should work with the graduate program chair to contact Graduate Division for further guidance to identify and mitigate any conflicts of interest that may exist. Graduate Division and OVPAE must approve all conflict of interest management plans prior to admission into a program.
The Graduate Programs A-Z section has the most current listing of masters programs.
Requirements and Procedures for Master’s Degrees
The rules and requirements listed below are those of Graduate Division and must be observed by all students pursuing a master’s degree. Note that some graduate programs have special requirements.
Residence
The minimum residence requirement is two semesters of full-time work or four six-week summer sessions or the equivalent in credit hours applicable to the student’s degree program.
Language Requirements
At the discretion of the graduate program, candidates may be required to take an examination to demonstrate comprehension of one or more second languages. Please refer to the graduate program’s website for additional information on such requirements.
Time Allowed
Masters students are expected to complete all requirements within seven years after admission into the master’s program. Candidates who fail to complete all requirements within seven years of admission will be placed on probation and are subject to dismissal at any point after, but automatically after 10 years. Extensions of time are allowed only upon petition by the graduate chair explaining why more time might be justified.
Types of Master’s Degree Programs
In general, there are three types of programs that students may follow to earn a master’s degree; thesis (Plan A), non-thesis Plan B, and examination (Plan C). Not all plans are available in all programs.
Graduate Student Services uses progress forms to track thesis and dissertation students. These forms are available on the website.
Thesis (Plan A)
Credit Hour Requirements
A minimum of 30 credit hours is required including 18 credit hours of approved course work, excluding 699s and Thesis 700, at least 12 of which must be in courses numbered 600-798; at least one graduate seminar in the major or related field; and at least 6 credit hours of Thesis 700. The thesis research credit requirements are set uniformly for each graduate program by the faculty in that program.
Candidates must be registered in the thesis research course (700) each semester during which the thesis is being written. Candidates who accumulate the maximum number of thesis research credit hours, but fail to complete the thesis must register for a minimum of 1 credit hour of thesis research at the beginning of the term in which all requirements for the degree will be completed.
Thesis Requirement
When a thesis proposal has been approved by the student’s committee, the chair of the graduate program submits a Master’s Plan A Form 2: Advance to Candidacy. The student may then enroll in the thesis research course (700) at the beginning of the next term. Students must register for Thesis 700 during the announced registration period. Failure to make satisfactory progress on a thesis does not entitle a student to a refund of tuition.
Upon request by the thesis committee, relevant work done by the student in directed reading/research (course 699) may be utilized as part of the thesis research. In such instances, the total credit hours for such directed reading/research (course 699) and thesis research (700) to be applied toward the minimum requirement for the degree shall not exceed the maximum total credit hours specified for thesis research in the graduate program.
The thesis committee is made up of three members of the graduate faculty.
The chair of the thesis committee is primarily responsible for directing and guiding the candidate’s research and writing activities. It is the student’s responsibility to keep all members of the committee informed of the scope, plan, and progress of both the research and the thesis. The committee members approve via Progress Form II and Progress Form IV (signature page). Guidelines for thesis preparation are available on the Graduate Division website.
The electronic submission of the thesis is required. Submit a pdf file online via ProQuest ETD. Theses must be submitted by the specified deadline (see the “Calendar”).
General Examination
At the option of the faculty of the graduate program, a general examination may be required before a student is advanced to candidacy for a master’s degree. All students within a particular graduate program must take the examination if it is required. The examination is usually given during the first semester of residence. It is designed to reveal the quality of the student’s preparation for advanced work in the program and the ability of the student to pursue graduate work at the master’s level. The examination also enables the student’s committee or advisor to assist in planning a program that will overcome any deficiencies in the student’s background.
A student who passes the examination may be recommended for advancement to candidacy for the master’s degree. A student who fails the general examination may repeat it once upon approval by the graduate program. However, students failing the general examination a second time are dropped from the program.
In graduate programs not requiring a general examination, the student may be advanced to candidacy upon the recommendation of the advisor and/or the graduate faculty of the program concerned. It is assumed that in these cases the recommendation for advancement to candidacy will be based on some evaluation of the student’s potential performance other than a general examination. Students who are denied advancement to candidacy are dropped from the program and lose their status as classified graduate students.
Final Examination
A final examination in addition to the thesis defense may be required by individual graduate programs. All Master’s Plan A students within a particular graduate program must take this final oral examination if it is required. It should be held prior to the specified deadline before the end of the term during which the degree is conferred. It is conducted by the thesis committee and is open to all graduate faculty members. As an alternative, the committee chair may have the candidate present results of the thesis at a departmental graduate seminar, but all members of the thesis committee must be present.
Students failing the final examination may repeat it only once upon petition approved by the graduate program. Notification should be sent to the Graduate Student Services Office via the Form II of a second attempt. Students who fail the final examination a second time are dropped from the program and lose their status as classified graduate students. If the graduate program does not require a final examination, the chair of the graduate faculty concerned reports the completion of all degree requirements on Master’s Plan A Form III - Thesis Examination Evaluation.
Candidates must be enrolled during the term in which they complete the requirements for the degree; regular course work and/or the appropriate Master’s Plan A Thesis 700. The 700 course is offered as a variable-credit course with a mandatory grading of S/NG but does not carry credit toward meeting degree requirements.
Non-Thesis (Plan B)
Credit Hour Requirements
A minimum of 30 credit hours is required. A minimum of 18 credit hours must be earned in courses numbered 600-798 (excluding Thesis 700) including at least one graduate seminar in the major program or in a related program. Not more than 9 credit hours in directed reading/research (course 699) may be applied to meet degree requirements. This degree plan typically includes a final project, practicum, or similar culminating experience.
When the student is advanced to candidacy, the chair of the graduate program appoints a program advisor or a program committee made up of members of the graduate faculty. The program advisor/committee advises the candidate and approves a coherent program of courses for the candidate.
Candidates must be enrolled during the term in which they complete the requirements for the degree; regular course work or the appropriate Master’s Plan B course or 699 may be used to meet this requirement.
General Examination
At the option of the faculty of the graduate program, a general examination may be required before a student is advanced to candidacy for a master’s degree. All students within a particular graduate program must take the examination if it is required at all. The examination is usually given during the first semester of residence. It is designed to reveal the quality of the student’s preparation for advanced work in the program and the ability of the student to pursue graduate work at the master’s level. The examination also enables the student’s committee or advisor to assist in planning a program that will overcome any deficiencies in the student’s background.
A student who passes the examination may be recommended for advancement to candidacy for the master’s degree. A student who fails the general examination may repeat it once upon approval by the graduate program. However, students failing the general examination a second time are dropped from the program.
In graduate programs not requiring a general examination, the student may be advanced to candidacy upon the recommendation of the advisor and/or the graduate faculty of the graduate program concerned. It is assumed that in these cases, the recommendation for advancement to candidacy will be based on some evaluation of the student’s potential performance other than performance in the general examination. Students who are denied advancement to candidacy are dropped from the program and lose their status as classified graduate students.
Final Examination
At the option of the faculty of the graduate program, a final examination may be required of Plan B candidates for the master’s degree. If required, it is designed to determine the candidate’s achievement in the graduate program at the master’s level. This examination has several possible forms. It may be a seminar appearance, a written comprehensive examination, an oral examination, some equivalent, or a combination of these. If a final examination is required by the graduate program, it must be given prior to the established deadline before the end of the term during which the degree is conferred.
Students failing the final examination may be permitted to repeat it only once upon approval by the graduate program. Notification should be sent to the Graduate Student Services Office via the Form II of a second attempt. Students failing the examination a second time are dropped from the program and lose their status as classified graduate students.
Examination (Plan C)
A minimum of 30 credits is required. Of the 30 minimum credits, at least 18 credits is required to be courses numbered 600 or above (excluding 699 and 700). Credits taken under the Credit/No-Credit option (except 699) while under Plan C are not applicable toward degree requirements for Plan C. Except as noted, courses taken under the Credit/No-Credit option will not be applied toward the requirements for the master’s degree. The student must demonstrate competence by examination and must meet the minimum residence requirement (two semesters of full-time work). Students must be registered in appropriate course work during the term in which the degree is awarded. A preliminary conference will be held to discuss the student’s objectives and how to meet them and to determine the general program the student will follow to prepare for the required examinations. The conference will be conducted by the chair of the graduate program or by a designated member of the graduate faculty. The plan of study developed at this conference may include course work and/or independent study and research. Plan C is available in second language studies, linguistics, mathematics, natural resources and environmental management, physics, and tropical plant and soil sciences. Each graduate program specifies its own requirements in addition to the following: Candidates must be enrolled during the term in which they complete the requirements for the degree; regular course work or the appropriate Master’s Plan C course may be used to meet this requirement.
General Examination
A general exploratory examination (oral and/or written) will be given to determine if the intended candidate should be admitted to candidacy for the master’s degree under Plan C and to ascertain weaknesses in the student’s academic preparation. This examination is designed to reveal the quality of the student’s preparation for advanced work in the program and the ability of the student to pursue graduate work at the master’s level. The examination will be conducted by the student’s interim advisor and the graduate faculty of the program or a committee thereof consisting of at least three members of the faculty. It is given during the first semester of residence and is from one to two hours in length. A student who fails the general examination may repeat it upon approval by the graduate program. Notification should be sent to the Graduate Student Services Office via the Master’s Plan A Form I - Pre-Candidacy Progress of a second attempt. A student who fails the general examination a second time is dropped from the program and loses classified graduate student status.
Final Examination
A final examination or series of examinations, written and oral, will be given to determine the candidate’s comprehension of the graduate program at the master’s level. Since there are no course requirements for this plan, the final examinations will be designed to give the student opportunity to demonstrate a level of achievement consonant with the level of achievement required by Plans A and B. It is assumed that many students will prepare themselves for the examinations by taking courses recommended by advisors.
Specifications for the number of written examinations required, what they cover, and the amount of time required for each (two or more hours for written examinations and one or more for the oral portion) are set forth in the statement of requirements in each graduate program. The written examinations may be given by the candidate’s committee or by an examination committee of graduate faculty members constituted for that purpose.
The oral portion of the final examination follows the written portions and must be held prior to the specified deadline before the end of the term during which the degree is conferred. It is conducted by the candidate’s committee and is open to all members of the faculty. It may be scheduled on any working day during normal working hours. Arrangements for the final examination must be made at least three weeks prior to the date of examination for fall and spring semesters, and four weeks prior to the date of the examination for the summer.
Candidates failing the final examination may be allowed to repeat it upon approval by the graduate faculty concerned. Notification should be sent to the Graduate Student Services Office via the Form II of a second attempt. Students failing the final examination a second time are dropped from the program and lose their status as classified graduate students.
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