Degree Completion


Once admitted, it is anticipated that you will enroll in classes each semester until a degree is awarded. All requirements must be completed within 6 years. Even if you were deactivated due to a two-year lapse in course work and later reactivated, the 6 year time limit is counted from the date your course work began. Academic work, including transfer credit, taken more than six years before the date at which the master's or doctoral degree is awarded may not be used to satisfy the degree requirements. You may submit a petition to extend the deadline if you have extenuating circumstances.

Comprehensive Examinations
Examination Committees
Examination Failure
Comprehensive Exam Continuance
Thesis, Dissertation, or Research Project
Teacher Licensure
Graduation

Finishing Your Degree

Comprehensive Examinations
A formal assessment of mastery, a comprehensive written and/or oral exam, designed to appraise the student's competence is required of each JMU student in order to complete his or her program of graduate study. The format and timing of this assessment is at the discretion of the graduate program, provided it fairly and adequately documents the knowledge and skills the student has acquired. The content of the comprehensive exam should accurately reflect the content of the student's academic program. The exam should require the integration and synthesis of what has been learned by the student. The student must demonstrate a breadth of knowledge in the discipline and depth in specific content areas to be determined by the graduate program faculty.
A comprehensive examination involving a major/minor program cannot be taken until at least six credit hours in the minor program have been completed; approximately a third of the comprehensive examination will be devoted to the minor field. Students will be notified, in writing, of success or failure of the comprehensive examination by their major program or academic unit adviser.

Comprehensive Examination Committees
Each graduate program must have a comprehensive examination committee for the program and/or for the individual student. Individual student comprehensive committees are selected by the student in consultation with the graduate program coordinator and/or program adviser. Each comprehensive exam committee must consist of at least three JMU graduate faculty members with the background and interest necessary to evaluate the mastery of the student. At least two members must be from the student's graduate program.
Non-graduate faculty members of the comprehensive exam committee, which may include persons external to the university, must be approved by the dean of TGS. Such members shall make up no more than one-third of the total committee membership. Graduate instructors may also be appointed to committees with the approval of the dean of TGS, but only when their expertise clearly qualifies them; however, their appointment must be in addition to the required number of graduate faculty members.
Graduate students may not serve on the comprehensive examination committees. Only a graduate faculty member from the student's graduate program may chair a comprehensive examination committee.

Comprehensive Examination Failure
In the event a student fails the comprehensive examination, the student may request a re-examination. Unless there are extenuating circumstances, the re-examination must occur within six months of the date of failure. Only one re-examination will be allowed. Cases involving extenuating circumstances must be raised or supported by the graduate program faculty and presented in writing to the dean of the relevant college for approval. If a student fails the second comprehensive examination, his or her graduate program will be terminated.

Comprehensive Examination Continuance
Students completing all degree requirements except the comprehensive examination are required to enroll each semester until they have passed the comprehensive examination. Students must register for comprehensive continuance credit hours during those semesters in which they are engaged in preparation for the comprehensive examination. NOTE: The continuous enrollment course GRAD 597 cannot be used as a comprehensive continence course. Credit hours for comprehensive continuance do not count toward graduate program requirements.



Thesis, Dissertation, or Research Project

View our Thesis and Dissertation Manual

Please see the Graduate Catalog section entitled"Research and Thesis or Dissertation" for the regulations regarding thesis and dissertation advisory committees, and specifications for the final printed report.

You will be charged at the graduate tuition rate for thesis, dissertation, research project, and directed research work (course #700 or #900). If you fail to complete your work after registering for the maximum hours, you must register for course continuance each semester (including summer) until you receive your degree. Consult your department for the summer course continuance schedule. Continuance credits do not count toward graduate program requirements.

 Teaching Licenses

Some education-related majors require a Collegiate Professional License. The requirements for licensure must be met before the degree is conferred. Consult the section entitled "Teaching Licenses" in the Graduate Catalog or the Office of Teacher Education Services for information.



Course Completion Deadlines

All course work must be completed by the final examination date listed in the Graduate Calendar of your final semester. If you fail to meet this deadline, your name will be removed from the current graduation list and your degree will be dated the following semester.

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Graduation

Application for Graduation
You must be in "good standing" and have a grade point average of at least 3.0 to graduate. If you expect to graduate at the end of a term, please click here for the instructions and here for the application or you may pickup a Graduation Packet from The Graduate School. You must submit your Application for a Graduate Degree form by the dates indicated in the packet. No credit for University work may be given for a diploma, teacher's license, or transfer until all debts to JMU have been paid (excluding student loans).

Commencement
Students are expected to attend graduation exercises. If you are unable to attend, you must notify the Office of Registration and Records at least 21 days before commencement.

Important Dates

Fall  2008

October 3 - Application for a Graduate Degree due to TGS

November 21  - Thesis or Dissertation due to TGS for Fall graduation

December 12  - All coursework must be completed for Fall graduation

December 13  - Fall Commencement 

(Are you on the list of students who have applied to graduate? Link here to find out!)

Spring 2009

January 23 - Application for a Graduate Degree due to TGS

April 22 - Thesis or Dissertation due to TGS for spring graduation

May 8  - All coursework must be completed for spring graduation

May 9 - Spring Commencement