Requirements for Master's Degrees and Certificates

Research Requirement

All students pursuing a graduate degree must complete a minimum of three credit hours in an approved research course. Approved research courses are designated at the graduate program level.

Completion Time Limit

Graduate coursework must be completed no more than six years before the application for graduation. Courses exceeding this time frame will not be applied toward degree requirements.

Students who are unable to maintain continuous enrollment may request an extension on a case-by-case basis. Military personnel deployed during their studies may be granted an extension of up to 12 months, provided the extension does not exceed the duration of deployment as documented in official orders. For additional information, contact the Graduate School.

Application for Degree Conferral

Graduate degree candidates must submit an Application for Graduation online through Warrior Web by the deadline published in the university calendar. Late applications will be accepted with a $20 late fee; however, students submitting after the late deadline will be eligible for degree conferral only.

A non-refundable $50 graduation application processing fee is required at the time of submission. Students who do not meet graduation requirements in the semester for which they applied must submit a new application and pay the processing fee again.

Application for a Graduate Certificate

Candidates seeking an approved graduate level certificate must submit both an Application for Graduate Certificate form and an Application for Certificate Conferral form by the specified deadline to formally receive the certificate online through Warrior Web. A nonrefundable $30 processing fee is required when submitting the Application for Certificate Conferral form.

Students who do not fulfill certificate requirements in the intended semester must reapply and pay the processing fee again.

Financial Obligation for Graduating Students

In accordance with Texas Education Code § 54.007(d), all financial obligations to the university must be settled by the end of the semester. Failure to do so will result in the withholding of the student’s diploma and a registration hold, which will prevent future enrollment and may prevent access to official transcripts.

Additionally, Texas Education Code § 54.007(c) states, “a student who fails to make payment prior to the end of the semester may be denied credit for the work done that semester.”