SECOND MASTER'S DEGREES
(Proposal 1-09)
Senate Policy 410.1
Background
There is growing interest among graduate students in obtaining a second master’s degree
or a master’s degree in
addition to a PhD from Michigan Tech. For example, graduate students may be interested
in obtaining both a
master’s in engineering and an MBA because both degrees will assist them in their
future careers. Similarly,
students who have earned a PhD in one field (e.g., Geology) may also be interested
in pursuing a master’s degree
in a cognate field, such as Applied Science Education, because the combination of
the two degrees will be
beneficial to them.
Currently, students are not allowed to reuse any credits in pursuit of multiple graduate
degrees. This means that
students who wish to complete two 30-credit master’s programs, for example, must complete
a total of 60 credits,
even if there is redundancy or overlap in the requirements for the two programs.
The proposed policy will allow students to apply credits earned at Michigan Tech to
satisfy the requirements of both a primary graduate degree and an additional Michigan
Tech master’s degree. A maximum of 1/3 of the non research/non-practicum credits required
for the additional master’s degree can be applied toward both degrees. Research/practicum
credits can not be applied toward more than one degree. Credits earned at other institutions
or applied toward a previous graduate degree at another institution cannot be reused.
Graduate students who wish to double count or reuse credits will be encouraged by
primary advisors to prepare a
preliminary degree schedule with their planned additional master’s program advisor
or director to ensure that they
will successfully meet all of the requirements for the additional master’s degree
in a timely fashion. The graduate
school will consult on a one-on-one basis with graduate students or faculty members
who have questions regarding
additional master’s degrees.
Graduate students who consider working on an additional master’s degree at the same
time they are working on
their primary degree will also be counseled to discuss issues related to workload
and funding with their advisors (or
potential advisors) and/or graduate program directors for both degree programs. Students
who attempt to
concurrently pursue an additional degree program may find it difficult to make good
progress toward their primary
degree and lack of progress can have serious consequences, including loss of financial
support and dismissal.
Policy on Multiple Graduate Degrees
Michigan Tech graduate students who are pursuing or who have previously completed
a Michigan Tech graduate
degree may seek an additional master’s degree. Such students may reuse credits earned
for their primary or prior
degree to satisfy up to 1/3 of the required non-research/non-practicum credits required
for the additional master’s
degree. Students must complete all requirements for their primary degree and must
obtain permission of their
advisor and the graduate program director of their additional master’s program before
being allowed to double
count credits. Research or practicum credits cannot be applied toward more than one
degree. The double-counted
credits applied to the additional master’s degree must have been earned at Michigan
Tech. Such reuse of credits is
allowed only when the student’s additional master’s program advisor or director determines
that double counting of
credits will not have a negative impact on the graduate student's education.
Any courses and credits that are to be double-counted must be clearly identified on
the graduate student's additional master’s degree schedule using the wording "also
used for (MS or PhD) in (Primary Program Name)". The advisor and department for a
graduate student's additional master’s program will indicate approval of the use of
double-counted credits by signing the degree schedule for the additional master’s
program.
An example of a case in which this policy would apply is when a graduate student desires
to obtain both a master’s in
engineering and an MBA because both degrees will assist them in their future careers.
Similarly, students who have earned a PhD in one field (e.g., Geology) may also be
interested in pursuing a master’s degree in a cognate field, such as Applied Science
Education, because the combination of the two degrees will be beneficial to them.
Admission to the additional graduate degree program is not automatic; graduate students
are accepted at the discretion of the programs to which the applications are made.
Introduced to Senate: 15 October 2008
Editorial changes made: 29 October 2008
Adopted by Senate: 29 October 2008
Additional Editorial Changes made: 9 March 2009
Approved by Administration: 10 March 2009