Section 3 - Comprehensive Standards - Educational Programs: Graduate

3.6.1: Academic Content

The institution's post-baccalaureate professional degree programs, and its master's and doctoral degree programs, are progressively more advanced in academic content than undergraduate programs.

Compliance

Partial Compliance

Non-compliance

NARRATIVE:

The University of South Florida St. Petersburg's master's degree programs are progressively more advanced in academic content than undergraduate programs; USF St. Petersburg does not currently award other post-baccalaureate degrees.

Students are admitted to graduate study only upon submission of an undergraduate transcript documenting completion of a baccalaureate degree.

USF St. Petersburg policy provides that, of the minimum of 30 hours required for a master’s degree, at least 16 hours must be at the 6000 level. At least 20 hours must be in formal, regularly scheduled course work, 10 of which must be at the 6000 level. While master’s students may take up to 6 hours of 4000-level courses as part of a planned degree program, the intent is that more than half the course work for any USF St. Petersburg master’s degree will be in courses clearly differentiated as graduate level [1].

Monitoring the academic content and level of academic programs is the responsibility of the faculty. There are separate and clearly differentiated processes for undergraduate and graduate programs. The USF St. Petersburg Graduate Council [2] reviews all proposals for new master’s degree programs. The Council is also responsible for approving all new graduate courses, as well as course and program changes.

SUPPORTING DOCUMENTATION AND EVIDENCE:

Adobe Acrobat Reader may be required to view these documents.

1. Master's Degree Requirements: USF Graduate Catalog

2. USF St. Petersburg Graduate Council

< 3.5.2 Awarding of Degrees (Undergraduate)    Home     3.6.2 Independent Learning >