2007-08 Academic Year - Humboldt State University

Graduate Study Deadlines
For fall semester admission, apply after
October 1. For spring semester admission,
apply after August 1. Deadlines for submitting
graduate applications vary by department.
Check with Research and Graduate
Studies, (707) 826-3949, or the individual
department office. While some admission
categories remain open later than others, no
applications will be accepted later than one
month prior to the beginning of the term.
Graduate Financial Aid
Placement in one or another of the postbaccalaureate
admission categories has an
effect on student eligibility for financial aid.
Contact the Financial Aid office, (707) 826-
4321, for clarification of eligibility.
Graduate Study Procedures
1. Apply for and gain admission to Humboldt
State University.
2. Consult with the graduate advisor in your
area of intended study and prepare a
tentative course schedule.
3. After completing 15 units or at least
one semester of graduate work, apply
for advancement to candidacy for the
master’s degree. The graduate office,
129 Siemens Hall, has the necessary
forms. They are also available on the
Web at www.humboldt.edu/~gradst/.
After completing them and obtaining the
approval of your advisor, committee and
graduate coordinator, return the forms
to the graduate office for processing.
Advancement to candidacy requires:
• a suitable amount of appropriate
course work (upper division and graduate)
with a GPA of 3.0 or better.
• satisfactory performance on any
comprehensive or qualifying exam
required by the department;
• approval by departmental committee
of an official program of study
that meets all requirements for the
degree;
• approval of plan to use humans or
animals as subjects for research, if
applicable.
Applications for advancement to candidacy
must be complete and on file in the graduate
office before filing the graduate application
for graduation.
Graduate Degree Requirements
General requirements for the master’s
degree programs follow. Discipline specific
requirements are outlined in the program
description section of this catalog.
1. Complete a specified program of study,
usually requiring approval from the university
department.
2. Complete a minimum of 30 semester
units of approved upper division and
graduate courses within a set time. All
degree requirements must be met within
a maximum of seven years. An extension
beyond this time limit may be granted if
circumstances warrant. This standard
includes:
• no less than 21 semester units at
Humboldt (residency requirement)
unless an exception is made;
• not less than half the units required for
the degree in courses specifically for
graduate students, 500-600 level;
• no more than six units for a thesis or
project;
• a maximum of nine units of independent
study, field work, or thesis /project
courses.
3. Satisfactorily complete a thesis, project,
or comprehensive examination as defined
below. It is the student’s responsibility
to determine from his/her advisor the
departmental policy on theses, projects,
or comprehensive exams.
• A thesis is the written product of a
systematic study of a significant problem.
It identifies the problem, states major
assumptions, explains the significance
of the undertaking, sets forth sources
for and methods of gathering information,
analyzes the data, and offers a conclusion
or recommendation. The finished
product evidences originality, critical
and independent thinking, appropriate
organization and format, and thorough
documentation. Usually it will require an
oral defense.
• A project is a significant undertaking
appropriate to the fine and applied arts
or to professional fields. It evidences
originality and independent thinking, appropriate
form and organization, and a
rationale. A written abstract summarizes
and describes the project’s significance,
objectives, methodology, and conclusions
or recommendations. An oral defense
may be required. Projects are treated
in one of two ways. Some projects are
described thoroughly in a manuscript,
bound, and placed in the Humboldt
State University library. These projects
are referred to as “bound projects”
and must meet the manuscript format
requirements of the thesis. An unbound
project is a project that cannot be bound,
for example, a theatre lighting project.
Unbound projects are governed by regulations
specific to the program in which
they originate. Departments or colleges
are responsible for archiving the projects
and for maintaining permanent record of
the projects.
• A comprehensive examination assesses
a student’s ability to integrate knowledge
of the area, show independent
and critical thinking, and demonstrate
mastery of the subject matter. The results
evidence independent thinking, appropriate
organization, critical analysis,
and accuracy of documentation. Examination
questions and responses are kept
according to the CSU records retention
policy.
4. Maintain a grade-point average of 3.0 (B)
or better in all courses taken to satisfy
degree requirements. Courses in which
no letter grade is assigned are not used
in computing GPA.
5. The California State University, under Executive
Order 665, requires that graduate
students demonstrate competency
in writing. The compliance methods for
the various programs are listed in the
“Handbook for Master’s Students,” see
Graduate Writing Requirement. (www.
humboldt.edu/~gradst/; click on “Currently
Enrolled Students”)
6. To graduate, be in good standing (maintain
a 3.0 overall GPA).
7. File the graduate student application for
graduation at least one semester before
finishing all degree requirements. A current
schedule of classes has appropriate
deadlines.
Continuous Enrollment
Students admitted to master’s degree programs
are required to enroll for a minimum
of one unit per term for at least two terms
per academic year (fall, spring, summer)
until their degree requirements are completed.
Master’s degree students who do not
maintain continuous enrollment (two terms
each academic year), and who have not been
granted a leave of absence are required to
reapply for admission to the university and
to the graduate program. Thus, students will
be subject to any new admission or degree
requirements that have been approved since
52 Planning Your Master’s Degree
2007-2008 Humboldt State University Catalog