Overview of Graduate Degree Requirements
To receive a graduate degree from The University of North Carolina at Pembroke, students must successfully complete the prescribed program of study with a cumulative grade point average of at least a 3.0 on a 4.0 grading scale. The prescribed program of study may include comprehensive examinations; culminating projects; or other assignments outlined in the catalog.
The responsibility for submitting a graduation application to the UNCP Graduate School lies with the student, and completed applications, approved by the relevant Program Director, must be submitted by the following deadlines:
| Summer Graduation |
Fall Graduation |
Spring Graduation |
| March 1 |
March 1 |
October 1 |
The graduation application fee is $100.00. A late graduation application fee of $25.00 applies after the deadlines stated above.
Programs of Study
The program of study prescribed for each graduate degree program or certificate is detailed in the separate sections of this catalog that follow. Based on their undergraduate records or professional experience, additional course work may be specified for individuals at the time of their admission. When such course work is required, it becomes part of a student’s prescribed program of study and must be completed for the degree to be awarded. When such courses are undergraduate prerequisites, the grade earned is recorded on the student’s undergraduate transcript.
Advisement
Each student admitted to full or conditional standing in the program is assigned an advisor. Initially, graduate students are expected to meet with their advisor to plan their programs of study. Thereafter, they are expected to periodically meet with their advisors for further guidance. Advisement sessions are scheduled each semester in conjunction with pre-registration. The registration process is completed on BraveWeb and requires a PIN, which must be obtained from the assigned advisor.
Level of Course Work
All course work applied toward the master’s degree must be earned in courses designated for graduate students (numbered 5000 and above). No undergraduate level (4000‑level or lower at UNCP) coursework may be applied to a graduate degree.
Students enrolled in The Graduate School at UNCP may choose to study abroad or at another university. Graduate students may participate in short-term (2-6 weeks) or long-term (semester) options that fit their academic program. They will need prior written approval from The Graduate School Dean to assure the transfer of course credit back to UNCP and/or course substitution credit for their program and should work with the Office of Global Engagement. Off-campus study options available for students earning a master’s degree have included study in Bermuda, France or Costa Rica, for example. For additional information on graduate options for study abroad, please contact your Program Director and the Office of Global Engagement at 910-775-4095.
Time Limits
All course work applied toward the graduate degree must have been completed within five years (six years for the Clinical Mental Health Counseling, Professional School Counseling, and Social Work programs) of formal admission to the program. The time requirement is based upon the calendar. For example, if a student enrolls for a fall semester graduate course, then this student is one year into his/her time limit at the start of the next fall semester.
Written Comprehensive Examinations
Candidates for some graduate degrees must pass written comprehensive examinations. The comprehensive examinations are administered by the programs that require them. The programs set the policies for the comprehensive exams, including the schedule, the registration process, the examination format, and retake procedures, if applicable. Information concerning comprehensive examinations is available from the Program Directors for the individual graduate degrees.
Research Requirement
Research projects are an integral part of graduate programs. If research for the project involves human subjects, the appropriate Institutional Review Board approval is required prior to collecting any data from or interacting with human subjects. Important information is available at the Institutional Review Board’s website (www.uncp.edu/irb/).
Thesis
Certain graduate programs mandate the completion of a thesis as an integral component of the curriculum, while in other instances, the thesis is optional. Student opting for a thesis track are paired with a Thesis Advisor. The thesis project necessitates approval from both the Thesis Advisor and the Thesis Committee. Should the research for the thesis involve human subjects, clearance from the Institutional Review Board is mandatory.
The candidate and their thesis advisor must adhere to the guidelines in the Graduate Thesis Preparation manual, available online. Four requisite forms, along with the final thesis, must be submitted in accordance with the instructions provided. Upon a successful defense and completion of all necessary corrections to the thesis, it becomes the responsibility of the student to furnish the Dean of The Graduate School with an electronic copy of the work for approval, no later than two weeks before the conclusion of the semester in which the student anticipates fulfilling degree requirements. The ultimate approval of the thesis rests with the Dean of The Graduate School.
The candidate is required to submit a finalized version of the approved thesis electronically in PDF format adhering to specific formatting requirements. The candidate must also complete the requisite forms to ensure inclusion in the University’s digital archives or Institutional Repository. Comprehensive instructions and necessary forms pertaining to thesis submission can be accessed via The Graduate School website.
Licensure by the N.C. State Board of Education
Students completing programs leading to graduate (M level) licensure by the North Carolina State Board of Education must submit a licensure application available from the NCDPI Online Licensure System. UNCP does not grant licensure; therefore, graduating from a program does not guarantee licensure.
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