The University of Northern Iowa is a member of the Council of Graduate
Schools in the United States and continues its endeavors to meet the needs
of higher education and advanced preparation in diverse career fields
with a strong and growing graduate program. Graduate degree programs were
initiated at UNI in 1951 when the university was authorized by the Board
of Regents, State of Iowa to offer a program of graduate work leading
to the Master of Arts in Education (M.A.E.) the program
began with the summer session of 1952. In 1960 the graduate program was
extended with the addition of a sixth-year program leading to the Specialist
in Education degree. The addition of the Doctor of Education
(Ed.D.) program, approved by the Board of Regents, State of Iowa
in 1982, enables UNI to o
ffer a complete course of professional preparation for the educational
practitioner. Four intensive study areas are available through this degree
program: curriculum and instruction; educational leadership; leisure,
youth and human services; and special education.
In recognition of a more general need for advanced study, the university
further expanded the graduate program in 1965 with the addition of the
Master of Arts (M.A.) degree. This program is open to
students who plan to pursue careers in fields other than education and
is available, as well, to students interested in doing advanced work in
teaching fields -- elementary, secondary, and college level. More advanced
study in these areas was made possible under the program leading to the
Specialist degree inaugurated in 1970.
The addition of the Master of Business Administration (M.B.A.)
degree in 1975, the Master of Music (M.M.) degree in
1976, the Master of Public Policy (M.P.P.) in 1991, the
Master of Science (M.S.) in 1993, the Master
of Social Work (M.S.W.) and the Master of Accounting
(MAcc) in Fall 2000 demonstrates the university's continued recognition
of the changing needs of higher education and the institution's desire
to meet those needs. The Master of Business Administration
degree is open to students whose career interests are in the fields of
business - those already working in the general community, as well as
students who have not yet entered their major career field. The Master
of Music is a professional degree designed for the student planning
a career in college or secondary school teaching, for a performance career
as a professional musician or composer, or for further study at the doctoral
level. The Master of Public Policy is an interdisciplinary
professional degree preparing students for careers principally in the
public sector. The program is structured to accommodate both full-time
students and those already in positions in public organizations. The Master
of Science degree is offered in Biology, Chemistry, Computer
Science and Environmental Science/Technology/Health and is designed to
prepare students for positions in those areas. The Master of Social
Work degree is designed to prepare students for the advanced
practice of social work in a variety of public and non-profit settings.
The Master of Accounting degree is designed for Accounting
majors, however, other majors within the College of Business Administration
may be admitted to the program.
The Doctor of Industrial Technology, the university's
first doctoral program, was authorized by the Board of Regents, State
of Iowa to begin with the 1978 fall semester. This doctoral program provides
advanced-level study in industrial technology for a wide variety of professional
fields and includes the study of the technological systems used in industry
and their effect on society and culture.
Graduate majors are available in most departments, and graduate-level
courses are offered by all departments of the university.
Those who wish to continue their professional and cultural growth without
fulfilling the requirements for a graduate degree may do so if they satisfy
the requirements for admission to graduate study.
The Quad-Cities Graduate Study Center
The University of Northern Iowa is one of nine colleges and universities
of Iowa and Illinois which are participating in the Quad-Cities Graduate
Study Center, with offices in Rock Island, Illinois. The cooperating institutions
offer graduate courses, and appropriate courses completed at the center
may be regarded as residence credit by the institution at which the student
is working toward a graduate degree, when such is approved for inclusion
in the student's degree program. An interested student should confer in
advance with the head of her/his major department. Preliminary inquiries
may be directed to the Dean of the Graduate College.
Graduate Credit for Undergraduate Students
Undergraduate seniors who are in their final semester and within eight
semester hours of graduation, or in their final summer session and within
four hours of graduation, may register for graduate credit with the approval
of the head of the department offering the course work. Approval by departments
and the Graduate College must be obtained on a Student Request form if
the cumulative GPA is below 3.00. The student presents the Student Request
form, with appropriate signature(s), when scheduling for class. Their
combined total of course credits, both undergraduate and graduate, may
not exceed fifteen hours in a semester or eight hours in a summer session,
and they must be enrolled in sufficient undergraduate work to complete
the bachelor's degree in the semester or summer session in which application
is made.
Graduate work completed on the early admission basis will be counted
as graduate credit only if the student actually earns the bachelor's degree
at the end of the semester or summer session in which the work is taken.
Such credits may or may not be counted toward graduate degree programs
at the discretion of the graduate department.
Program Certificates
The University of Northern Iowa makes available, in addition to traditional
programs, the opportunity for students to earn program certificates. Program
certificates provide an alternative to programs leading to a degree, a
major, or a minor; they certify that an individual has completed a certificate
program approved by the university. For further information concerning
requirements for these certificates see pages xxx-xxx, or consult with
the department listed or the Office of the Registrar.
Licensure and Endorsements
Licensure. For approval in some graduate programs, a student must have
earned or be eligible for teacher licensure or its equivalent endorsed
in an area appropriate to the graduate major. For information on licensure,
consult the Office of the Registrar.
Teaching Licensure and Endorsements
Students interested in securing licenses to teach in another state should
secure information directly from the State Department of Education in
that state.
Addresses of different state departments may be obtained from The Career
Center or the Office of the Registrar.
Post-Baccalaureate, Undergraduate Study
A student who has received a bachelor's degree may choose to apply for
further study at the University of Northern Iowa as an undergraduate rather
than a graduate student. Inquiries should be made to the Office of the
Registrar. Undergraduate status will be accorded students who seek:
- a second baccalaureate degree (designation as senior) or
- teacher licensure (designation as senior) -- a student who does not
hold a teaching certificate and expects to be recommended by this university
for an original certificate must also file an official transcript, or
- courses for undergraduate credit (designation as unclassified)
Students with baccalaureate degrees do not earn graduate credit
while remaining in this undergraduate classification. They must
be admitted either to graduate Degree or Non-Degree Status before they
can receive graduate credit for their course work (courses numbered 100[g]
or 200).
Admission to Graduate Study
(This section applies to all students taking graduate courses at
the University of Northern Iowa after receiving the bachelor's degree.)
The admission procedures of the Graduate College are administered separately
from those of the university's undergraduate program. Prospective students
may apply for graduate admission under one of two categories: Degree Status
or Non-Degree Status. Each category carries specific regulations. Applications
for U.S. residents can be obtained and completed online at www.grad.uni.edu/admission/.
The completed Application for Admission to Graduate Study should be mailed
to the Office of the Registrar, Gilchrist 243, Cedar Falls, IA 50614-0006.
International students should contact the Office of Admissions at www.uni.edu/admissions/
or by phone 319-273-2281 or by fax 319-273-2885.
Admission to graduate study does not guarantee admission to an advanced
degree program. Responsibility for determining eligibility for admission
to graduate degree programs rests primarily with the academic departments.
The academic departments are responsible for receiving degree status admission
applications and for determination of admissibility. (See pages xxx-xxx
for further details.)
A graduate of a college or university accredited by the North Central
Association of Colleges and Secondary Schools or a corresponding regional
agency will be granted admission to graduate study if her/his application
for admission has been approved. See page xxx for regulations governing
admission to graduate study.
A graduate of a college or university that is not accredited may be
granted provisional admission at the discretion of the Dean of the Graduate
College.
Note: Students with a recognized baccalaureate
degree who are seeking a second baccalaureate degree, teaching endorsements
or approvals through UNI recommendation, and/or miscellaneous undergraduate
course work may be admitted through the undergraduate Office of Admissions.
These students pay undergraduate fees and may not apply credit earned
toward a graduate program.
Application Dates
Applications for Degree-Status admission and all credentials required
for admission should be on file in the Office of the Registrar at least
one month before departmental review. Students must contact the academic
department regarding application review deadlines.
International students should note the special application deadlines
required by the International Services Office.
Applicants for Non-Degree Status will be accepted up to five days before
registration.
Requirements for Admission to Degree Status
The admission process for Degree Status begins when the application
for admission and all supporting documents and fees have been received
in the Office of the Registrar. U.S. and international students
who are seeking financial assistance and wish to receive the fullest consideration
must submit a completed application (please see following requirements)
by February 1. Many graduate departments have earlier deadlines, which
are indicated in their department materials. All departmental materials
should be reviewed carefully for information about early deadlines.
U.S. students must submit a completed application to the Office of the
Registrar. International students must submit a completed application
to the Office of Admissions. Requests for Degree Status are reviewed and
acted upon by the appropriate academic departments, the Office of the
Registrar, and the Graduate College.
An applicant who has a bachelor's degree from a college or university
accredited by the North Central Association of Colleges and Secondary
Schools or a corresponding regional agency will be granted admission to
graduate study if her/his application for admission has been approved.
See pages xxx-xxx for regulations governing admission for graduate study.
The Office of the Registrar determines that the applicant has an accredited
bachelor's degree or will complete the bachelor's degree before commencing
graduate study. A graduate of a college or university that is not accredited
may be granted provisional admission at the discretion of the Dean of
the Graduate College.
A student who expects to earn a graduate degree at this university must
file an official transcript from the college or university granting the
baccalaureate degree if other than the University of Northern Iowa. Degree
Status applicants who have attended other colleges or universities after
earning the bachelor's degree must file an official transcript of each
record. Only transcripts sent directly from the issuing institution
to the UNI Office of the Registrar are considered official.
The applicant should check with the department offering the major of
her/his choice, to determine whether/which Graduate Record Examination
(GRE) tests are required prior to admission. If required, the applicant
must request that the scores be sent directly from the testing
agency to the Office of the Registrar.
Students applying for admission to a graduate degree program in the
College of Business Administration are required to submit their scores
from the Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT). They need not take
the Graduate Record Examination (GRE). The student must request that the
testing agencies forward her/his test results directly to the
Office of the Registrar.
All applicants who are not native speakers of English are required to
take the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL). International
students should contact the Office of Admissions, University of Northern
Iowa, for explanation of requirements. The minimum TOEFL score required
for admission to graduate status is 500 (paper-based)/173 (computer-based).
Individual departments may require a higher score.
Additional admission requirements (e.g., departmental application, letters
of reference, goal statement, etc.) may be established by departments.
Students should contact the department for this information.
Students will be admitted to Degree Status
on one of two bases:
- Unconditional Status The minimum undergraduate grade
point average, or prior graduate degree grade point average, required
for unconditional admission is 3.00 ("B" ' 3.00) or its equivalent.
Individual academic departments may require a higher grade point average
for admission. Degree status is accorded students who meet the minimum
GPA requirement, have submitted all official transcripts, and are deemed
qualified by academic departments which can culminate in the earning
of a graduate degree. Applicants are to specify their choice of degree
program in their admission application.
- Provisional Status At the discretion of the academic
department concerned, an applicant (with an undergraduate and prior
graduate GPA of less than 3.00) may be admitted as a Provisional
Degree Student. A Provisional Degree Student is admitted to
a graduate program, subject to certain reservations/requirements. The
department must notify the student in writing upon admission of its
reservations and requirements that must be satisfied before a student
may be removed from provisional status.
A Provisional Degree Student who completes eight (8) or more graded
hours of a degree program with a 3.00 grade point average, or better,
is generally eligible for reclassification to Degree Status. The responsibility
for such reclassification rests with the academic department concerned.
Reclassification review should take place the semester after the student
has completed eight (8) semester hours in their graduate program. The
department has responsibility for notifying the Dean of the Graduate
College about the reclassification decision. No student may receive
a UNI graduate degree while on provisional status. The department admitting
a student to its graduate degree program will draft a letter of acceptance
to be sent to the student; this letter will describe the requirements
necessary for completion of the degree program in question.
Status Acceptance and Waivers
Any waivers of degree requirements as established by a department must
be furnished to the applicant by the department in the letter of acceptance
(for waiver procedures see page xxx).
Requirements for Admission to
Non-Degree Status
Non-Degree Status has been established for the post-baccalaureate student
who:
A. wishes to take courses for self-enlightenment unrelated to any graduate
degree program.
B. plans to demonstrate competence in graduate studies in support of
consideration for admission to a degree program at a later time.
The admission process for Non-Degree Status applicants
begins when the application for admission and all supporting documents
have been received in the Office of the Registrar. Requests for Non-Degree
Status are reviewed and acted upon within the Office of the Registrar.
An applicant must have a bachelor's degree from an accredited college
or university. All students wishing to receive graduate credit must file
an official transcript from each college or university
from which they have received a degree, unless the degree was obtained
from the University of Northern Iowa. Only transcripts sent directly
from the issuing institution to the UNI Office of the Registrar are considered
official.
All applicants who are not native speakers of English are required to
take the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL). International
students should contact the Office of Admissions, University of Northern
Iowa, for explanation of requirements. The minimum TOEFL score required
for admission to graduate status is 500 (paper-based)/173 (computer-based).
NOTE: Academic departments are not obliged to count
toward their degree programs any credit for course work undertaken
in a Non-Degree Status. If a department decides to accept such
credit, no more than 12 semester hours may be counted
toward a degree program.
Classification of Residents and Nonresidents for Admission, Tuition,
and Fee Purposes
See pages xxx-xxx for further details.
Academic Regulations
Academic Discipline
Graduate students on degree programs are expected to maintain high academic
standards. At the end of each term and when incomplete grades revert to
F (Failure) graduate student records are reviewed. Students with unsatisfactory
performances are placed on probation or suspended from graduate degree
programs and any graduate enrollment at UNI.
A student who has registered for nine (9) semester hours in a program
of study and attained a cumulative GPA less than 3.00 in that program
will be placed on probation. If the student registers for eight (8) hours
while on probation without qualifying as a degree candidate (GPA of 3.00),
the student is reviewed at the end of the term for suspension from graduate
degree programs. A student who has registered for eighteen (18) semester
hours in a program of study and attained a cumulative GPA less than 3.00
in that program will be suspended. Students placed on academic suspension
cannot enroll in non-degree graduate status or take courses in the student's
program of study during the year of academic suspension. Reinstatement:
After one full calendar year, students who wish to enroll in classes must
re-apply to their degree program and receive approvals from their departments
and the Graduate College for reinstatement.
When a student is suspended, at least one calendar year must elapse
before reapplication for admission to a graduate degree program may be
made. Applications for Readmission to Graduate Study must be approved
by the department and the Graduate College before a student will be removed
from academic suspension. Such applications must be submitted to the Dean
of the Graduate College.
A student reinstated after suspension who fails to attain a cumulative
GPA of 3.00 in the program of study for the first enrollment period will
be permanently suspended from the graduate program.
In determining a graduate student's grade index, all graded course work
attempted at this university within the student's program of study will
be used as a basis of computation. If the student has not yet
filed a program of study, all graduate courses will be used as a basis
of computation. If a graduate student repeats a course, both
grades will be used in computing the index.
No more than six (6) semester hours of C credit (C+, C, C-) earned within
the program of study may be applied toward credit for graduation. When
C-range grades in the program of study exceed the six hour limit, one
or more of such courses must be repeated. The original grade for any repeated
course will be included in computation for the cumulative GPA in the program
of study, as well as in the overall GPA. A course taken to satisfy degree
requirements in which a student receives a D or F grade will not be considered
satisfactory and must be repeated. The original grade for any repeated
graduate course (100g, 200, and 300) will be included in the computation
for the cumulative GPA in the program of study, as well as in the overall
GPA. Individual departments may identify specific courses within the program
of study for which a minimum grade of B is required.
Nonacademic Discipline
Departmental Nonacademic Probation and Dismissal
Policy Procedures*
In addition to the university-wide requirements for academic standing,
academic departments may establish additional requirements (e.g.,
ethical/professional standards), violation of which might determine an
individual graduate student's standing with regard to probation and dismissal
from a graduate program.
To this end, departments with such requirements must put these in writing
and place them on file in the departmental office and the Graduate College.
Departments must make all reasonable efforts to inform graduate students
of the existence of such policies/standards and disseminate them to students
upon their admission to graduate study in the program/area.
Subsequent changes in policies/standards must be communicated by the
department to each student in the program and to the Dean of the Graduate
College. The new regulations will not apply retroactively to the disadvantage
of students already in the program.
Departments must provide information to students which outlines: required
courses applicable to the various departmental programs of study, examination
procedures and other formal evaluations, departmental policies with regard
to awarding and renewing assistantships, time limits on programs of study
(if less than seven years), registration policies, grade point requirements,
requirements for changing from one degree program to another within the
department, and other matters as are appropriate. The nature of the departmental
advisory system should also be explained to incoming students.
I. Departmental Nonacademic Probation:
If a student is failing to meet departmental nonacademic standards and
probation or suspension is being considered, the department must:
- warn the student of this in writing and specify in what way(s) the
student is failing to meet the departmental standard(s);
- advise the student (in writing) of the consequence(s) of failure
to address the problem(s) cited, satisfactorily.,
- provide the student with a reasonable amount of time (e.g., a minimum
of ten school days) within which to respond to the notification (e.g.,
the right to review) and indicate to the person(s) to whom a response
should be made;
- provide the student with a reasonable amount of time to meet the
standards or remediate prior to being placed on departmental probation
and suspension.
If a student is to be placed on departmental probation, the department
must:
- provide, at the time of its imposition, a written explanation of
this status, and its time limits;
- indicate the impact of departmental probation on the pursuit of future
graduate course work in the program of study;
- give the student a reasonable amount of time within which to respond
to the notification of probation (e.g., right to review) and indicate
to whom a response should be made;
- provide an explanation of the departmental reinstatement procedure(s);
- establish departmental procedures for handling reviews.
The department should also notify the Dean of the Graduate College and
the Registrar in writing and indicate the impact of the student's nonacademic
probationary status on the pursuit of future graduate course work in the
program of study. The Dean of the Graduate College and the Registrar should
be notified when the student has been removed from probation.
II. Departmental Dismissal:
A student may be dismissed for her/his failure to meet: the conditions
of admission, conditions of departmental probation, pre-announced departmental
grade point requirements or other standards. If a student is dismissed
from a graduate program, the department must:
- notify the student of this in writing, specify what the student has
done to merit departmental dismissal and its time limits;
- indicate the impact of departmental dismissal on the pursuit of future
course work in the program of study;
- give student a reasonable amount of time (e.g., a minimum of ten
school days) to respond to the notification of dismissal (e.g., right
to review) and indicate to the person(s) to whom a response should be
made;
- provide an explanation of departmental reinstatement procedures (as
appropriate).
The department should notify the Dean of the Graduate College and the
Registrar in writing and indicate the impact of the student's nonacademic
dismissal on the pursuit of graduate course work in the program of study.
The Dean and the Registrar should be notified when the student's dismissal
has been removed.
Departmental policies/procedures for nonacademic probation and dismissal
must be approved by the Graduate Dean and offered a fair and expeditious
review.
III. Graduate College Review of Departmental Dismissal:
In addition to departmental sanctions, the Graduate College will issue
a warning to non-degree students with more than 7 credit
hours attempted and 1 or 2 grade points deficient of a 3.00 GPA. Students
who have attempted over 7 credit hours with 3 or more grade points deficient
of a 3.00 GPA will automatically be suspended (see page xxx for reinstatement
procedures). If, however, the student feels there has been unfairness
or some procedural irregularity concerning probation or dismissal, the
student may request a review by the Graduate College. This review may
be conducted by the Dean of the Graduate College (or his designee).
*This policy does not preclude enforcement of any other university policies
(e.g., policies regarding the academic standing of graduate students,
academic ethics policies, grievance procedures for graduate students and
graduate assistants).
Enrollment and Registration Procedures
See page xxx.
Regulations Affecting Registration
Each student admitted to Degree Status or Non-Degree Status is assigned
an advisor. The advisor will assist the student in the registration process
involving the selection of courses and other matters such as:
- Maximum academic load. The maximum graduate student
load during each semester of the academic year is 15 hours. The maximum
graduate student load during the eight-week summer session is 9 semester
hours -- a maximum of 6 semester hours during one four-week period and
3 semester hours during the other four-week period; or three, 3-semester-hour
courses during an eight-week period. The maximum load during a two-week
post-session is 2 semester hours. Exceptions to these load regulations
must be submitted in writing on a Student Request form, receive departmental
approval, and may be granted only by the Dean of the Graduate College.
- Level of courses. Graduate
students normally take courses in the 100(g) series and 200 series.
A graduate student may take courses in the 100 series (without "g")
or below for undergraduate credit, but such courses do not carry graduate
credit. However, all courses graduate or undergraduate, taken as a graduate
student, count in determining the cumulative grade point average, except
approved non-graded graduate course work.
- Credit from other institutions. Graduate credit
from other accredited institutions may be accepted to a maximum of one-third
of the number of hours required by a particular UNI thesis or non-thesis
master's degree program. Students pursuing a graduate degree program
should discuss their plans to transfer credits with their program advisors
as soon as possible. Credits earned from other institutions
will not satisfy the minimum 200-level course requirement.
(See regulations related to transfer credits on pages xxx, xxx, and
xxx.)
- Continuous registration. Graduate students who have
completed all of their program but not all of their graduation requirements,
e.g. comprehensive exams, thesis, paper/project, recitals, etc., must
be continuously registered until the degree is completed. Students reaching
this stage will be automatically registered in the course 010:001, section
32, "Continuous Graduate Student", and assessed a $50 fee.
Continuous enrollment insures that students can access their university
email accounts and utilize the library and its services through graduation.
Schedule of Fees
See page xxx.
Waiver of Regulations
Exceptions to Graduate College regulations may be granted by the Dean
of the Graduate College. Requests for exceptions must be submitted in
writing on a Student Request form, and receive departmental approval before
submission to the Dean of the Graduate College for final decision.
Health
Graduate applicants for admission to UNI are not required to file a
report of a physical examination or medical history. However, the university
does require documentation of measles (rubeola) immunization by all students.
Documentation of additional tests are required for international students
(contact International Programs). Instructions for complying with this
requirement will be sent to each student upon admission. In the interest
of providing optimum health care, University Health Services recommends
that incoming students who have physical disabilities or health concerns
provide the Health Clinic with information concerning their situation.
(See pages xxx-xxx for services available through University Health Services.)
Veterans
The university cooperates with the Veterans Administration in providing
for the education of veterans under the provision of federal laws. Dependents
of veterans or of those persons who may be classified as prisoners of
war or missing in action may also receive financial assistance from the
Veterans Administration. The VA Clerk in the Office of the Registrar will
assist students eligible under any of these laws and provide the required
reports. Subsistence will depend upon the number of course hours for which
the student enrolls. Questions should be referred to the VA Clerk in the
Office of the Registrar.
Financial Aid Office
Qualified degree-seeking students may secure loans from either Perkins
(formerly National Direct Student Loan or NDSL), or William D. Ford Federal
Direct Loan. Loans are available to students enrolled at least half-time
(5 semester hours in the fall or spring semesters or 4 semester hours
in the summer).
A limited number of opportunities for part-time employment are available
on the campus for students attending University of Northern Iowa at least
half-time. On-campus positions pay a minimum of $5.65 per hour.
Graduate students who wish further information about financial assistance
may contact the Financial Aid Office, 255 Gilchrist Hall, University of
Northern Iowa, Cedar Falls, IA 50614-0024. See pages xxx-xxx.
Student Life
See pages xxx-xxx.
University Facilities and Educational Services
See pages xxx-xxx.
Fine and Performing Arts at UNI
See pages xxx-xxx.
Graduate Assistantships
Graduate assistantships are available to qualified students who are
working toward a graduate degree at the University of Northern Iowa. They
may only be held by full-time students who are in residence during the
time of the assistantship appointment. The associated work assignment
is of an academic nature and designed to contribute to the student's graduate
education. Service-related assignments termed intern assistantships are
also available.
A full assistantship carries a stipend paid in equal installments over
a 10-month period. One semester and half-assistantship stipends may also
be awarded. The associated work assignment will not exceed 20 hours per
week assisting designated professors in certain appropriate academic functions,
including teaching and research. Intern assistantships are available in
a few non-academic departments.
A graduate student receiving an assistantship stipend may also receive
other forms of university-based financial aid, tuition awards, fellowships
or scholarships, as long as the latter do not require services performed
by the student, i.e., where such could be considered wages. However, a
student receiving an assistantship stipend cannot be otherwise employed
on campus, except as an hourly student employee outside of the department
or area of the assistantship.
To be eligible, a graduate student should have a minimum 3.00 GPA. Once
the student has begun studies at the University of Northern Iowa, GPA
eligibility will be based upon courses within the program of study. In
absence of a program of study, all graduate courses will be used as a
basis of computation for GPA eligibility. A graduate student receiving
an assistantship stipend must be enrolled full-time (9+ graduate hours
to a maximum of 15 hours per semester) in courses listed on the approved
Program of Study form. The Application for Program Approval (GF1) must
be completed during the student's first semester of attendance as a graduate
degree student and submitted to the Graduate College by November 15 for
the fall semester and April 15 for the spring semester.
Stipend application forms may be obtained from the department in which
the student is applying for an assistantship. Applications should
be filed by February 1 with the department.
Recommendations for awarding assistantship stipends are made by the
department head to the dean of the given college who selects those to
be recommended to the Graduate College. Graduate assistantship stipends
are awarded through the Graduate College.
Graduate Scholarships
Graduate College tuition scholarships are awarded through the Graduate
College upon recommendation of both the department head and college dean.
To be eligible, a graduate student must have Degree Status and should
have a minimum 3.00 GPA. Once the student has begun studies at the University
of Northern Iowa, GPA eligibility will be based upon courses within the
program of study. In absence of a program of study, all graduate courses
will be used as a basis of computation for GPA eligibility. A graduate
student receiving a tuition scholarship must be enrolled full-time (9+
graduate hours to a maximum of 15 hours per semester). The Application
for Program Approval (GF1) must be completed during the student's first
semester of attendance as a graduate degree student and submitted to the
Graduate College by November 15 for the fall semester and April 15 for
the spring semester. Full or half tuition scholarships are available.
Scholarship application forms may be obtained from the department office
in which the student is applying for a scholarship. Applications should
be filed by February 1 with the department.
The Graduate College also administers the campus activities involved
in several scholarship competitions, such as Fulbright, Rhodes, and Marshall,
which support graduate study abroad. Interested students are encouraged
to inquire about these programs of support in their junior or senior year
of college or as early in their graduate programs as possible.
Some university departments offer scholarships for graduate study. Students
should obtain information about these awards from the departments in which
they intend to do graduate work.
Master's Degree Programs
Common Regulations and Requirements
Application for Program Approval
Academic departments have established procedures for advising and monitoring
students. A student must be unconditionally admitted to graduate
degree status prior to the submission of an Application for Program Approval
(GF-1). Student must have a cumulative grade point average of
at least 3.00 for courses taken as a graduate student.
A departmental representative (e.g., advisor), or committee meets with
the student to inform her/him of program requirements and expectations.
Under advisement, the student's program of study will be planned and an
Application for Program Approval (GF-1) completed. This interview is usually
conducted during the first semester in which a student is enrolled in
a degree program.
At the departmental interview, the student's program of study will be
planned and an Application for Program Approval (GF-1) completed. This
form must indicate how all requirements for the master's degree will be
met. The thesis or non-thesis option should be designated.
The GF-1 must be signed by the student and receive departmental approvals
before submission for final approval in the Graduate College. Some departments
require the submission of completed GF-1s electronically. Students should
check with their academic departments for procedures related to the electronic
submission of their GF-1s. No more than 15 semester hours of credit
completed before this interview is conducted can be applied toward the
degree being sought. This includes transfer and correspondence (specified
as A Guided Independent Study at UNI) course work as well as credit earned
as a senior. The Dean of the Graduate College may: approve the
Application For Program Approval form at once (and then notify the student);
delay action until additional data is available; or return it to the department
with comments. The Dean of the Graduate College is in general charge of
each graduate student's program.
Graduate level transfer courses taken prior to degree admission
are eligible for application to degree requirements if official transcripts
were filed at the time of admission to graduate study. Transfer
courses taken after degree admission will not be processed
for inclusion in the program of study until official transcripts are filed
with the Office of the Registrar. Approval of transfer course work assumes
the Office of the Registrar has received an official graduate transcript
indicating that: the course work was graduate level; meets the recency
requirement; and grade(s) received are B- or above. Academic departments
are not obliged to count toward their degree programs any credit for course
work undertaken without specific advice provided by the department, either
through an advisor assigned to the student prior to the formal interview
or in the course of the interview itself. (In addition to departmental
assessment, all transfer courses must satisfy criteria established by
the Graduate Council.)
The Making Up of Incomplete Work.
Work reported as Incomplete (I) in the fall session for graduate
students must be completed by June 1 the next calendar year. Work reported
Incomplete in the spring and summer sessions must be completed by January
1 the next calendar year. The exact length of time to remove
the Incomplete within the above guidelines, is set by
agreement between the instructor and the student. If the work reported
as Incomplete is not made up by the deadline noted above,
it is automatically entered as an F (Failure) on the
student's record.
Any requests for an exception to the above guidelines for graduate students
must be submitted in writing on a Student Request form, signed by the
department head and approved by the Graduate College (see page xxx). Only
under the most unusual circumstances would requests for additional time
be approved.
Some courses continue beyond the normal ending date of the semester
or session. In such cases the initial grade reported will be an RC
which means Research or Course Continued. Once
the extended instructional period is finished the RC
grade will be replaced with the appropriate grade assigned by the instructor.
(See page xxx.)
Thesis Committee
For students following the thesis option, it is recommended that their
committee members be identified upon submission of their GF-1 to the Graduate
College for approval. The committee usually consists of the student's
advisor as chairperson and two additional graduate faculty members. The
committee assists the student in further defining the student's course
work, in supervising her/his research and writing, and eventually accepts
or rejects the thesis.
The nature of the thesis is described on page xxx.
Selection of Thesis Topic
The student following the thesis plan of study is urged to make at least
a tentative selection of a topic by the end of her/his first semester.
The delineation of an exact topic is not necessary before completing an
Application for Program Approval form.
Graduation Requirements
Thesis Plan
- The number of hours of graduate credit required varies with the major.
A minimum of 30 semester hours of graduate credit is required
for all majors. For the Master of Arts (M.A.), the Master of
Arts in Education (M.A.E.), and the Master of Music (M.M.), a minimum
of 24 semester hours must be in course work other than xxx:299 Research
and xxx:29R Directed Research. For the Master of Science (M.S.) degree,
a minimum of 21 semester hours must be in course work other than xxx:299
Research and xxx:29R Directed Research. The remainder of the 30 semester
hours will be xxx:299 thesis research credit. See pages xxx-xxx for
program descriptions.
- 200-level credits: A minimum of 9 semester hours of 200-level credit,
other than xxx:299 Research and xxx:29R Directed Research, taken at
the University of Northern Iowa is required. A minimum of 6 semester
hours of xxx:299 and a maximum of 9 semester hours of xxx:29R taken
at the University of Northern Iowa can be applied to the requirements
for the degree.
- Completion of the course requirements for a specific major and any
additional courses designated by the departmental committee.
- Meet the recency of credit requirement.
- Complete a thesis and meet thesis submission deadlines. Students
receiving the Master of Music (M.M.) degree will be required to complete
a final project as required by the department.
- Residency requirement: At least 20 semester hours must be earned
at the University of Northern Iowa; 6 semester hours must be earned
in a single semester or summer session, after admission to degree
status.
- Core requirements.
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