Program Approval
The requirements for completion of a program of study (GF-1) are indicated
on page xxx.
Graduation Requirements
The student shall complete the general requirements for the Specialist
in Education
Degree and shall meet the requirements as specified by the departmental
committee using a combination of graduate courses taken for the master's
degree and beyond.
Hours of credit
A student must earn a minimum of 30 semester hours of graduate credit
beyond the master's degree. Credit earned in excess of that required for
the master's degree may be applied toward the 30-hour requirement if that
credit is earned during the final semester. Certain limitations on the
amount and kinds of credit must be observed:
200-level credit
A student must earn at least 24 semester hours of credit in courses
numbered 200 or above, counting both the master's and the post-master's
work but not counting any Research credit.
- Research credit. For the thesis option, not more
than 6 hours of research credit (xxx:299) can be included in the 30
(or more) hours of post-master's credit. For the non-thesis option,
not more than 3 hours of research credit (xxx:299) can be included in
the 30 (or more) hours of post-master's credit.
- Recency of credit. Courses taken more than seven
years prior to the granting of the degree cannot be used to meet degree
requirements.
- Transfer credit. In addition to the transfer credit
permitted on the master's degree, 8 semester hours of transfer credit
for post-master's work may be applied toward the degree
of Specialist in Education.
- Correspondence credit. Correspondence (specified
as "Guided Independent Study" at UNI) courses may not ordinarily
be applied toward a graduate degree program. In unusual circumstances
a student may request that a maximum of 3 semester hours of 100g-level
correspondence/UNI "Guided Independent Study" credit may be
applied to a graduate degree program. The request must be submitted
to the Dean of the Graduate College prior to registering
for the course.
- Workshop credit. No more than 6 hours of credit
earned in workshop courses, at the University of Northern Iowa or another
institution, will be applied toward a graduate degree.
Scholarship
A cumulative grade index of 3.00 (B average) must be earned as a graduate
student in all courses attempted in the program of study. No credit toward
graduation is allowed for a course in which a grade below C
(C-, C, C+) is earned.
On-Campus Residence
A student must have completed at least 18 hours in residence credit
on campus, including one semester or two summer sessions of full-time
enrollment in residence after the master's degree.
Examinations
- A student must pass a comprehensive oral examination, including a
defense of the thesis, if required.
- A student may be required by the departmental committee to pass a
written comprehensive examination. If required, it should precede the
oral examination.
Thesis
A student who did not complete a thesis for the master's degree must
complete one for the specialist's degree. A department may require a student
who has written a master's thesis to write a thesis for the specialist's
degree also. The thesis must be presented in the style and form prescribed
for the master's thesis. It must have the approval of the thesis committee
and the Dean of the Graduate College.
The work on a thesis will involve 6 hours of research
credit (xxx:299). To earn this credit, a student registers for research
and usually not in one block. The instructor may assign a grade for a
semester's registration in research based upon the progress made, or may
assign a Research Continued (RC) if the instructor feels
the work has not reached the place where it can be evaluated. Registration
for the last segment of research credit (for work on a thesis) should
not be made until the thesis is near completion. The Registrar may authorize
an extension of time for the completion of Research Continued
(RC) in research up to one additional calendar year with the
consent of the instructor. If at the end of that time the work has not
been completed, the grade of RC will be changed to an F (Failure).
Completion of the thesis project occurs when the thesis has been approved
by the thesis committee and the Dean of the Graduate College.
The Dean of the Graduate College approves the appointment of three members
of the Graduate Faculty as an advisory committee to guide the student
in selecting and completing an appropriate thesis project.
Filing of Thesis
The student must present two copies of the thesis in final form,
either originals or photocopies, to the Graduate College no later than
six weeks before graduation. Failure to meet this deadline will result
in a delay in graduation. The requirements for the preparation
and filing of the thesis are set forth in the Thesis and Dissertation
Manual. Copies of the manual may be obtained through the Graduate
College office and should be consulted prior to beginning the thesis.
Final copies submitted to the Graduate College must be on white, acid
free, 24-pound, 25 percent or 100 percent cotton paper. The student may
purchase the approved paper at the print centers in the Rod Library or
the Physical Plant. The Rod Library Print Center is equipped to photocopy
theses. The final copy must be clean and suitable for microfilming, with
uniform darkness, and a sharp imprint.
When the thesis is submitted to the Graduate College, the student will
present a receipt of payment for the cost of the thesis binding. This
fee is paid at the Office of Business Operations. The student will also
indicate to the Office of the Graduate College the name and edition of
the style manual used in preparing the thesis. Consult the Thesis and
Dissertation Manual for the list of approved style manuals.
Filing of Abstract of Thesis
An abstract or summary of the thesis is required of all students following
the thesis plan toward the specialist's degree. The abstract will be approximately
350 words in length and is submitted with the thesis. Three copies
of the abstract must be filed in the Office of the Graduate College.
Licensure
In some cases, appropriate teaching endorsement will be recommended
for those who meet the standards set by the university in conjunction
with the appropriate licensure agency. Receipt of the degree is not a
necessary prerequisite to recommendation for the appropriate endorsement(s)
unless state standards require such. A program graduate grade
point average of 3.00 or better will be required prior to recommendation
for endorsement(s).
Application for Graduation
The same regulations apply as for the master's degree. A candidate
for the Specialist or Specialist in Education degree must make application
for graduation not later than the end of the ninth week of the semester
or the fourth week of the summer session in which s(he) plans to receive
the degree. The application form may be secured in the Office
of the Registrar or the departmental offices. |
