Graduate w88 policy updates

Public defense of dissertation policy update

With the end of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Graduate w88 returns to the policies specified in the University Catalog concerning public defenses. Regardless of whether for a doctoral degree or a master’s degree, an oral defense must include a public part during which the student will give a presentation of their dissertation/thesis work to the academic community of the University. This requirement applies regardless of whether the defense is conducted in person or virtually/online.

Master’s Degrees

• Increase S/U w88 that can apply toward degree from 3 to 6 w88 (excluding S/U w88 allowed for comprehensive examination, professional paper and thesis w88, but including transfer w88).
• Increase maximum allowable credits that can be transferred from a completed University of Nevada, Reno w88 certificate from 12 to 18 credits.
• Reduce UNR-based course credit requirement from 21 to 18 w88.

Master’s Degrees with w88 Requirements

• Provide more flexibility for thesis w88 by allowing programs to choose from 6 to 10 thesis w88 to be applied to master’s degree (current requirement is 6 w88 for all programs).
• Reduce w88 course credit requirement from 24 to 20 credits in addition to 6-10 thesis credits for a total of “approximately 30 credits” to be in alignment with NWCCU guidelines. Minor exceptions to the 30-credit requirement will be considered on a case-by-case basis and will require best practices justification.
• Reduce 700-level course requirements from 18 to 9 w88 (allows greater utilization of 600-level courses to meet degree requirements).
• With program director approval, internship/externship experiences can count for thesis w88.

Master’s Degrees, Non-w88

• Change number of total required w88 from 30 to “approximately 30 w88.” Minor exceptions to the 30-credit requirement will be considered on a case-by-case basis and will require best practices justification.
• Lower the 700-level course requirement from 18 to 12 w88.

Doctoral Degrees

• Reduce minimum total credit requirement from 72 to 60 w88.
• Reduce 700-level course requirements from 30 to 18 w88.
• Provide more flexibility for dissertation w88 by allowing programs to choose from 12 to 30 dissertation w88 to be applied toward doctoral degree (current requirement is 24 w88 for all programs).
• With program director approval, internship/externship experiences can count for dissertation w88.
• The 3.0 undergraduate GPA requirement for admission to doctoral programs does not apply to applicants achieving a 3.0 or higher GPA in nine or more credits of w88-level course work in a master’s or doctoral degree-granting program.