Degree and Graduation Requirements

Students graduate according to requirements published in the catalog at the time of their matriculation at Concordia, or any one subsequent catalog published during their enrollment. Students who are readmitted two years or more after their last enrollment must satisfy requirements published in the catalog in effect at the time of readmission, or any one subsequent catalog published during their enrollment. Completion or graduation rates for the general student body are available from the Office of the Registrar.

Graduate students are expected to read and adhere to the values and responsibilities of the academic integrity code as identified on Page 23 of the catalog.

Graduate students are expected to comply with the general academic policies of Concordia as stated on Page 39 of the catalog.

Generalal Degree Requirements
Master of Education Degree

A minimum of 30 credit hours of graduate level coursework is required. The graduate program shall indicate the type of culminating or capstone experience that shall be required as a condition of progressing to candidacy for the master’s degree. Examples may include a thesis, a written or oral comprehensive exam, performance or exhibition, consulting engagement, successful completion of a capstone course, evaluation of a portfolio, or a combination of these, as determined by the program requirements.

Examining Committee
A thesis advisor is selected to supervise the completion of the thesis. The student works with the thesis advisor who supervises the development of the thesis, comprehensive study or project paper. The thesis advisor has background, expertise or interest in the topic and/or methodology that the student wishes to pursue. The thesis advisor serves as the chair of the examining committee. The student is required to meet with the examining committee as soon as a draft of the thesis has been prepared. The committee will provide input on the subject area, literature review, and methodology. All committee members, except for an expert from the field, must hold graduate faculty status.

The examining committee will have a minimum of three members. The members consist of: 

1. The thesis advisor, who is selected for the student with the approval of the provost or his or her designee. The thesis advisor-student relationship must be a mutually acceptable one. The thesis advisor will act as chair of the student’s committee and will be in charge of the Plan of Study. The student and thesis advisor will submit a proposed list of remaining members for approval to the provost or his or her designee. 

2. A second member, who must be a full or associate member of the Concordia graduate faculty within the department or a related discipline.

3. A third member, who must be a full or associate member of the graduate faculty from a different discipline, different department or program, or a different institution. 

4. A fourth member, who could be either a faculty member or a qualified off- campus expert in the field, may be selected.

Note: If a potential committee member does not have Concordia graduate faculty status, temporary status must be obtained. Talk to your advisor for information.

Students will register for 699 during the semester in which the master’s project or thesis is initiated.

Research Involving Human Subjects
If the proposed research involves human subjects, the research plan or project will be reviewed by an approved university procedure to assure the protection and rights of those subjects and the procedure established for obtaining informed consent. No research of this type will be initiated until an examining committee and the Institutional Review Board (IRB) has approved it. Forms are available in the Office of Graduate and Continuing Studies or can be found at www.cord. edu/Academics/Dean/Committees/irb.php. Allow at least four weeks during the academic year for IRB approval. All thesis proposals for the Master of Education in world language instruction, including those that fall under the exempt status category, must be sent to the Institutional Review Board for approval.

Degree Complpletion Procedures
Refer to deadlines for specific programs for submission of forms.

Proposed Plan of Study: Form 1
Students are assigned an academic advisor upon admission to a degree program. It is the student’s responsibility to meet with the advisor to develop their Plan of Study to meet degree requirements. The Plan of Study should be recorded on Form 1, along with the signatures of advisor, department chairperson, and provost or his or her designee, and submitted to the Office of Graduate and Continuing Studies for final approval and placement in the student’s official file.

Examining Committee, Topic Approval and Human Research: Form 2
The student determines a topic for the thesis/project in cooperation with the examining committee. The examining committee will assure that appropriate action by the Institutional Review Board has been taken. The student then submits Form 2 to the department chair and to the provost, or his or her designee, who give their formal approval of the members of the examining committee and the topic.

Human Subjects Review: If human subjects are involved in the research, it is incumbent upon the student to submit appropriate forms to the Institutional Review Board and to have written approval before the research may be undertaken.

Announcement of Oral Examination: Form 3

When students are prepared to take oral examinations following the completion of their thesis/project, they set the time, place and date in consultation with their examining committee. The oral exam shall take place by Nov. 15 or April 1 of the semester in which the student intends to complete the degree.

The request for Announcement of Oral Examination (Form 3) must be submitted at least two weeks in advance of the time of the examination and signed by each member of the committee. Attached to this form should be an Abstract of the final research or other work prepared for the final oral examination.

Students who fail the final oral examination cannot receive a passing grade on their thesis/project and will not receive the degree. Students may appeal through the appropriate department and the provost or his or her designee to repeat the oral examination during a subsequent term.

Continuing Registration Requirement: Students must be registered for at least one semester hour credit in the term in which the oral examination is scheduled. The registration may be in 699 – Master’s Thesis or 698 – Continuing Registration.

Final Form for Thesis or Project Paper
Standards for the preparation of a research paper must conform to the manual of style required by the discipline in which the degree is taken. Students must work closely with their major advisors and examining committees in the preparation of the thesis/project.

The paper on which the thesis/project is printed must be at least 20 pound, 25 percent rag-content, white bond paper, printed on one side only. A minimum left-hand margin of 1 and one-half inches and a right, top and bottom margin of 1 inch are required (including appendices). Tables placed lengthwise on the paper should be placed so that the top of the table is at the left margin.

Neither the thesis nor the project paper should be bound in any permanent form prior to the oral examination. Upon final approval of the thesis/project, the examining committee will sign the signature page. Students should submit four unbound copies of the complete thesis/project to the Office of Graduate and Continuing Studies. The library staff will bind the thesis/project. Consult the individual program for information regarding additional requirements for electronic submission.

Application for Graduate Degree: Form 4
Students may bring the Application for a Graduate Degree (Form 4) to their oral examination. When the examining committee approves the thesis/project, they will sign Form 4 to officially declare that the student has completed all of the requirements for graduation. Students are responsible for submitting Form 4, with required signatures, to the Office of Graduate and Continuing Studies no later than one week prior to the date of Commencement.

Commencement
The college holds a commencement ceremony each year following the completion of the spring semester. Graduate students will be invited to participate in the commencement ceremony directly following successful defense of their theses. The date of graduation will be the next available college graduation date after successful completion of all requirements (including all coursework and submission of the final thesis) regardless of your participation in the commencement ceremony. Students should notify the Office of the Registrar and the Office of Graduate and Continuing Studies of intent to graduate as soon as possible but no later than eight weeks prior to the end of the semester.

Academic garb should be ordered from the Bookstore no less than eight weeks prior to Commencement.

Information For:

current students
faculty and staff		 parents
alumni		 high school students
admitted students