Graduation Central
Master's/CAGS Spring Ceremony

Spring Commencement
Wednesday, May 9, 2012 - 7:30PM

Graduation Requirements

Master's and CAGS programs

In order for a student to graduate from a Masters or CAGS program, he/she must satisfactorily complete all credit requirements, and, in most programs, pass a comprehensive examination or thesis requirement. Candidates must obtain a degree audit prior to meeting with an advisor to ensure that all transfer credit has been accepted, grades have been entered and all classes required have been satisfied. Those students who have not filed a Petition for Acceptance of Transfer Credit may do so at this meeting. Please see Transfer Credit Policy in the handbook.

Comprehensive Examination

In most programs, graduate students must take a comprehensive examination and/or submit and defend a thesis or project. The following programs are exempt from a comprehensive examination: Master of Business Administration, Master of Science in Accountancy, Master of Social Work, and Master of Arts in Teaching Physical Sciences.

Comprehensive examinations reflect the full range of the course work undertaken by the graduate student. It is based upon the student's major area(s) of study, as well as related areas, and may include work done on a thesis. Students must give evidence that they can integrate information and ideas from the various areas in which they have studied. Examinations, which may be written and/or oral are designed by the individual academic department. Those students in a CAGS program will have a comprehensive examination that requires them to defend a research project.

In order to be eligible for a comprehensive examination, the student should have completed all of the necessary course work specified by the major department. A student intending to take the examination needs to complete and submit the Comprehensive Examination, Thesis Defense, and Project Defense Request Form with the College of Graduate Studies. A nonrefundable examination fee of $60.00 is required for master's degree candidates and $75.00 for CAGS candidates. Students will be billed for these fees.

Deadlines to File for Comprehensive Examinations

    November Examination – October 1
    March or April Examination – February 1

Thesis

Students intending to defend a thesis must complete the Comprehensive Examination, Thesis Defense, and Project Defense Request Form.

Additionally, graduate students who are writing a thesis as part of their degree requirements must submit to the College of Graduate Studies four approved copies of the final thesis before graduation. Approval takes the form of a signature page with original signatures of the chairperson and members of the thesis committee.

Project

Students intending to defend a project must complete the Comprehensive Examination, Thesis Defense, and Project Defense Request Form.

For full details, please refer to the Bridgewater State College Catalog at http://www.bridgew.edu/catalog/.

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