Graduate Academic & University Policies

The Graduate School normally allows six years to complete requirements for a master’s degree. Periods spent on leave or out of status are included. UW Graduate Non-matriculated credits used toward the total credits are also counted in the six years.

The Graduate School normally allows ten years to complete all work for the doctoral degree. This includes quarter spent on leave or out of status as well as applicable work from the master's degree from the UW or a master's degree from another institution, if applied toward one year of resident study.

Graduate courses numbered in the 500s through 800s are intended for and ordinarily restricted to either students enrolled in the Graduate School or graduate non-matriculated students who meet the requirements of Policy 3.3.

Graduate courses should be presented at a level that assumes enrolled students bring to the class a background at least equivalent to a bachelor’s degree in the field or a related interdisciplinary field. Graduate courses must not be used to correct deficiencies in the student’s undergraduate work; courses normally expected to be part of undergraduate preparation for graduate study must be identified by undergraduate course numbers.

Some courses at the 300 and 400 levels are open to graduate students; see Policy 1.1 for using these courses for graduate degree requirements. 

In addition to the requirements listed under Policy 1.1.1 that apply to all graduate degree programs:

• Master’s degree requirements must include a minimum of 36 credits. A master’s program may require more than this minimum.
• A student must complete all work for the master’s degree within six years from the time of first enrollment. Periods spent on leave or out of status are included in these limits. Exceptions to time to degree will be made at the program level.
• A master’s program generally should require a final culminating or integrated experience, with the exception of applied professional programs where a coursework-only program can be thoroughly justified in the program proposal (e.g., a coursework-only program is the standard in the field).

1.1.2.1     Coursework that may be applied towards master’s degree requirements

A maximum of 6 quarter credits of graduate-level coursework taken at another recognized academic institution may be transferred and apply to UW master’s degree requirements, when acceptable to the graduate program and the Graduate School.

No more than 12 credits derived from any combination of GNM credits and transfer credits may be applied towards the total degree requirements.

1.1.2.2     Thesis Programs

The master’s thesis provides evidence of the graduate student’s ability to carry out independent investigation and to present the results in clear and systemic form.

A thesis program must include a minimum of 9 thesis credits (700).

Thesis credits (700) will not apply to requirements for a non-thesis master’s degree.

See Policy 4.2.1 for any thesis that will include human or animal subjects.

1.1.2.3     Final Examination

If a master’s program requires a final examination, it may be either oral or written. A majority of the supervisory committee must approve for satisfactory completion, and all members of the supervisory committee must certify examination results. If the examination is not satisfactory, the committee may recommend to the Dean of the Graduate School that the student be allowed to take another examination after a period of further study.

The Graduate School defines minimum degree requirements for all University of Washington graduate programs. Individual graduate programs may have degree requirements that exceed the Graduate School minimum requirements.

The Graduate Faculty with oversight of a graduate program have primary responsibility for assuring that students recommended for graduation have satisfactorily fulfilled the degree requirements for the program in which they are enrolled.

A student must satisfy the requirements for the degree that are in force at the time the degree is to be awarded. Exceptions may be made for programs that have undergone changes to degree requirements.

Learn more about the Graduate School’s Graduate Degree Requirements and Policy 1.1

Master’s Degree Request Schedule

The academic department may require an earlier request submission date; students should consult with their department.

For all quarters, the deadline to file a Master’s request is the last day of the academic quarter (the last day of finals week).

Completing the Master’s Degree Request

• When completing the master’s degree request, the program will automatically run a degree audit to inform the students of any unsatisfied Graduate School requirements.
• Students will receive an email confirming receipt of their master’s degree request and the program will be notified through the MyGrad Program that a request has been submitted.
• Authorized departmental users enter department contingencies into MyGrad Program and can elect to send an email to the students to notify them of the departmental contingencies. Authorized departmental users will print the master’s degree warrants and the warrants will be routed to the students’ master’s committees in a manner determined by the department.
• By signing the master’s degree warrants, the students’ committees certify that the students have met all departmental requirements for the degree (except the thesis if one is required) and the warrants must be placed in the students’ department file.
• Once the warrants have been signed, the authorized departmental users will recommend whether or not the students are to graduate that quarter and these recommendations are conveyed to the Graduate School through MyGrad Program following the end of the quarter. Emails are sent to the students notifying them that their departments have made a recommendation on their request.
• Once the Graduate School receives the degree request recommendation, a final transcript audit and a review to determine if all Graduate School and department contingencies are met, will be completed by Graduate School staff.
• The Graduate School enters the final graduation decision into MyGrad Program, email notifications are sent to the students informing them of their graduation status, and authorized department users can view their quarter graduation list in MyGrad Program.

Commencement

Formal commencement exercises are conducted at the close of spring quarter. Academic programs also hold separate hooding ceremonies for their master’s and doctorate degree graduates in early June. Information on participation in these ceremonies is posted on the UW Tacoma Commencement website at tacoma.uw.edu/commencement.

Diploma Distribution

Diplomas are produced approximately three to four months after the end of the quarter in which they are earned and are mailed to the student's address on file with the University.

For Master’s and Educational Specialist degrees:

• A maximum of 6 quarter credits of graduate-level coursework taken at another recognized academic institution may be transferred and apply to UW degree requirements, when acceptable to the graduate program and the Graduate School.
• No more than 12 credits derived from any combination of GNM credits and transfer credits may be applied towards the total degree requirements.

For Doctoral degree other than Practice Doctorate:

• With the approval of the graduate program and the Graduate School, a master’s degree in a relevant field of study from an accredited institution may substitute for up to 30 of the required 90 credits. No other transfer credits are allowed for doctoral programs.
• With the approval of the graduate program, any number of credits applied to a UW master’s degree in the same program may be counted towards doctoral degree requirements.

For Practice Doctoral degrees:

• With the approval of the graduate program and the Graduate School, a Ph.D. or a master’s degree in a relevant field of study from an accredited institution may substitute for up to 30 of the required 90 credits.
• With the approval of the graduate program, any number of credits applied to a UW master’s degree in the same program may be counted towards doctoral degree requirements.
• A maximum of 10 quarter credits of graduate-level coursework taken at another recognized academic institution may be transferred and apply to UW practice doctorate degree requirements, when acceptable to the graduate program and the Graduate School.
• No more than 12 credits derived from any combination of GNM credits and transfer credits may be applied towards the total degree requirements.
• No more than 30 credits derived from any combination of GNM, transfer, and substituted credits may be applied towards the total degree requirements.

More information may be found in the Graduate School’s Policy 1.1.5.1

University of Washington students who are within six credits of completing their undergraduate work and who have met the requirements for admission to the Graduate School may register the quarter immediately preceding admission to the Graduate School for up to six credits in 500-level courses in addition to the last six credits they require of undergraduate work. For example, a student admitted for autumn quarter may take graduate credits during the preceding spring quarter.

This registration and these arrangements must be approved by the graduate program that the student will enter. However, students so enrolling are not reclassified as graduate students until the baccalaureate degree has been granted and after their official admission. At that point, it is necessary to petition to permit the six credits to apply toward the master’s degree. Only under these circumstances may graduate work taken as an undergraduate be applied toward an advanced degree. Further registration for graduate work is contingent upon completion of the requirements for the bachelor’s degree.

A Graduate Non-matriculated student is a post-baccalaureate student who wishes access to a limited number of graduate courses, but who has not been admitted by the Graduate School to a degree program. These Graduate Non-matriculated students must not be enrolled in any courses where they would displace admitted degree-seeking graduate students. This status is not appropriate for international students on F-1 visas.

Applicants for GNM status must meet Graduate School minimum admission requirements and must be evaluated for acceptance by the academic unit according to the typical criteria for admitting students to the unit’s graduate programs.

Tuition and fees charged GNM students for graduate level courses cannot be less and may be more than those charged to graduate students.

Acceptance as a GNM student confers no guarantee or priority for later admission to a graduate degree program.

More information may be found in the Graduate School’s Policy 3.3

Visiting Graduate Student status allows certain students to take University of Washington coursework without being admitted to a University of Washington graduate degree program.

All applications for Visiting Graduate Student status are processed by the Graduate School’s Graduate Enrollment Management Services (GEMS) office. All documentation submitted by the applicant must be in English or official translations into English accompanied by the original foreign language document.

If a student with Visiting Graduate Student status later applies for admission to the Graduate School in order to pursue a graduate degree, the student must formally apply and submit complete credentials as outlined in Policy 3.1.

Not all graduate programs accept visiting graduates, so please contact the program before you apply.  You may find contact information in the graduate program listing.

More information may be found in the Graduate School’s Policy 3.4

Graduate students are required to maintain graduate status during their program of study. Failure to maintain this status requires reinstatement to the University of Washington. Students who desire to take a quarter or quarters off without going through the reinstatement process must apply for on-leave status for each quarter they do not register. Learn more about Policy 3.5: On-Leave Policy to Maintain Graduate Student Status.

On-leave Eligibility

• Must be a graduate student in good standing.
• Must have been registered or on-leave the previous quarter.
• Must satisfy any graduate program policies pertaining to going/remaining on-leave.
• Must have registered for at least one quarter of graduate study at UW and have approval from their graduate program.
• Must request this leave on a quarterly basis.
• Students on F-1 & J-1 visas should review International Student Services’ webpages on Time Off to ensure they understand the enrollment requirements and exceptions related to their visas.
• Pre-registered students must officially withdraw via MyUW or the Registration office prior to the first day of the quarter. Registered students are not eligible for on-leave status.

Procedure for Requesting Leave

Students requesting on-leave status must submit an online Request for On-Leave Status via MyGrad Program. For a given quarter, students can submit the request as early as two weeks prior to the first day of instruction and must submit payment of the non-refundable fee no later than 5 p.m. on the last day of the quarter.

Leave is granted on a quarterly basis, though the following students may request up to four consecutive quarters of leave at one time: Peace Corps Master’s International (PCMI) students, military personnel with deployment orders, and some UW Fulbright grantees (with the exception of military personnel with deployment orders, these students will be required to pay the fee for each quarter of leave requested). All students pay for on-leave, with the exception of military personnel on deployment orders (deploying students must still log onto MyGrad to “Pay” after receiving the departmental approval email, but they will be exempted from payment at the last step).

A matriculated student previously registered in the Graduate School who has failed to maintain graduate student status (on-leave status or registration) but who wishes to resume studies in their previous graduate program must submit a reinstatement request to the Graduate School. Students approved to reinstatement must pay a $250 reinstatement fee to process their reinstatement and return to active student status.

Reinstatement Eligibility

• Must be an inactive matriculated graduate student wishing to return to their previous degree program. Non-matriculated, undergraduate, or active graduate students are not eligible for reinstatement.
• Must have been registered for at least one quarter of graduate study at UW.
• Must have approval from the graduate program to reinstate.
• Must satisfy any additional graduate program policies pertaining to reinstatement.
• International students must have confirmation from the International Student Services office that an I-20 can be issued in time to meet registration deadlines.
• Original admission date was less than six years ago (for master’s students) or ten years ago (for Doctoral students). The Graduate School normally allows six years to complete requirements for a master’s degree and ten years for a doctoral degree. Periods spent on-leave or out of status are included.

Students who do not meet these requirements are not eligible for reinstatement without a petition from their graduate program. Ineligible students should instead submit a new application for admission after consulting with their graduate program. Please note that students who meet reinstatement requirements but instead submit a new application for admission will have their application fee refunded and be assessed the $250 Reinstatement Fee.

For questions regarding on-leave status, please contact your graduate program advisor or Graduate Enrollment Management Services at uwgrad@uw.edu or 206-685-2630

The Doctoral Degree other than Practice Doctorates

• In addition to the requirements listed under Policy 1.1.1 that apply to all graduate degree programs, the following requirements apply to all doctoral degrees other than practice doctorates. For the composition and responsibility of the doctoral supervisory committee, see Policy 4.2.
• Doctoral degree requirements must include a minimum of 90 credits beyond the baccalaureate. A doctoral degree program may require more than this minimum.
• Doctoral programs require a culminating experience, with PhD programs requiring original research reflected in the dissertation.
• All work applied to the doctoral degree must be completed within ten years, including credits counted from a master’s degree at UW. Periods spent on leave or out of status are included in these limits. Exceptions to time to degree will be made at the program level. Additional Doctoral Degree requirements may be found in the Graduate School policy 1.1.4

The Practice Doctoral Degree:

• A practice doctorate is intended as preparation for professional practice at the frontiers of existing knowledge (see Policy 1.7.2).
• In addition to the requirements listed under Policy 1.1.1 that apply to all graduate degree programs:
• • Practice doctoral degree requirements must include a minimum of 90 credits beyond the baccalaureate.
  • The practice doctorate requires successful completion of 12 credits of dissertation, project or capstone credit (801 Practice Doctorate Dissertation/Project/Capstone).
  • There is no formally recognized candidacy status for practice doctoral students. Requiring a general exam or other milestones is at the discretion of the program and is not reported to the Graduate School.