It’s easy to forget some administrative requirements before degree completion. To help you, we’ve compiled the answers to a few frequently asked questions.
How many hours may I transfer from another university?
Master’s students may transfer up to one-half of the program (normally 15 to 18 hours), provided the courses are being transferred from an accredited institution, are graduate level with satisfactory grades, and have not been used for any other degree. Professional courses may not be transferred toward a graduate degree. The academic department must approve all transfer credits.
Doctoral students may use graduate credit hours from an institution other than UNL to fulfill up to half of the total credit hours on the program of studies required by the supervisory committee to meet the degree requirements. The minimum number of credits required to obtain a doctorate at UNL is 90. These courses are reviewed by the supervisory committee at the time the Program of Studies is approved. All credits must be from graduate-level, non-professional courses.
How long do I have to complete my degree?
Master’s students have five years to complete their degree. All courses listed on the memorandum of courses must be no more than ten years old at the time of completion of the degree.
Doctoral students have eight years from the end of the semester in which their program of studies is approved by the Graduate Studies Office. All coursework, including any required research/language tools, must be completed, comprehensive exams taken, and the dissertation written, defended and deposited within that time frame.
When do I need to file my memorandum of courses or program of studies?
Master’s students need to submit the memorandum of courses prior to completion of more than one-half of the program, typically 15 to 18 credit hours (incompletes and no reports count toward this number). This is typically by the end of the second semester of coursework at UNL.
Doctoral and specialist students need to submit the program of studies with 45 hours remaining to be taken at the time of filing and must be filed within the same semester as the approval of the Appointment of the Supervisory Committee. The Appointment of Supervisory Committee form should be filed for approval before the program of studies is submitted.
How can I change my memorandum of courses or program of studies?
Your adviser should send an email to Terri Eastin at teastin1@unl.edu (master’s) or graduatedocuments@unl.edu (doctoral) stating the original course(s) listed and the name/number of the replacement course(s).
Am I eligible to use the full-time status form?
Masters thesis option (Option A) students are eligible to use the Request for Full-time certification for one year from first use. They must be registered for less than 9 credits at the time the request is filed.
Doctoral students granted candidacy are eligible to submit the Certification of Full-Time Graduate Status form for two years from first use. They must be registered for less than 9 credits at the time the request is filed.
A full-time status form indicates that a student is full-time while carrying less than 9 hours. The form is located on the Graduate Studies website and must be completed each term the status is desired within the time frame allowed.
Who can be my outside representative on the doctoral supervisory committee?
Supervisory committees for doctoral students must consist of four University of Nebraska graduate faculty members. The outside representative must be a faculty member who holds graduate faculty status outside the student’s program/department but within the University of Nebraska system on any of the campuses. Special members are ineligible to serve as outside representatives.
What are the deadlines for the next graduation?
The Graduate Studies Website here provides important information about degree completion, including the necessary forms and relevant deadlines. Select your graduate term for appropriate deadlines: Master’s, Doctoral, or Specialist.
If you have additional questions, please contact Eva Bachman, Director of Graduate Student Support, at ebachman1@unl.edu or graduatedocuments@unl.edu, or Terri Eastin, Masters Programs Coordinator, at teastin1@unl.edu.