Graduate Studies
 Information: 541-552-6411

SOU CATALOG HOME : GRADUATE STUDIES

Each graduate program at Southern Oregon University is administrated by its respective school. Students seeking information about specific programs should contact the graduate coordinator of the school providing the graduate degree or licensing program. For information about policies, procedures, and general program overview, consult the school dean's office.

Students who want to pursue a specific master's degree or licensing program must apply to the Office of Admissions and to the program to become regularly admitted graduate students. Individuals who want to take graduate or post baccalaureate courses without pursuing a master's degree or licensing program may also need to apply to the Office of Admissions (see Post Baccalaureate Admission, page 9, or Enrollment as a Non Admitted Student, page 9).

Master's Degree Programs

The graduate curriculum allows considerable flexibility. Each student develops a program of study in consultation with designated advisors, subject to the major school and Graduate Studies requirements.

The following master's degrees are currently available. However, since they change periodically, contact specific departments for current information.

Master of Arts and Master of Science in elementary education and in secondary education (see Education section, page 124)

Master of Arts in Teaching (see Education section, page 123)

Master of Arts and Master of Science in environmental education (see Sciences section, page 76)

Master of Arts and Master of Science in school areas (see Master's Degrees in School Areas section, page 157)

Master in Management (see Master in Management Program, page 97)

Admission to a Master's Degree Program

Application deadlines for the school area master's degree programs are: January 15 (spring term), April 15 (summer term), July 15 (fall term), October 15 (winter term), with the exception of Psychology Department programs and the Education Department's Master of Arts in Teaching program (contact Education Department for application deadline). All application materials (including signed application form, admission fee, official transcripts from all institutions attended, official passing GRE score and official TOEFL score if applicablesee item #5 below, three letters of reference, and letter of intent or goal statement) must be on file by the designated admission deadline. Application deadlines for Psychology Department majors
are October 15 and April 15 for Program I and April 15 only for Program II (PCPP).

To apply to Graduate Studies the following steps must be taken:

1. Students who have never been admitted to Southern Oregon University must submit the Application for New Student Graduate Admission to the Office of Admissions with a non refundable application fee. Applications are not accepted without the fee.

2. Students must hold a baccalaureate degree from an accredited college or university, as defined by the American Association of Collegiate Registrars and Admissions Officers, or hold an advanced degree from an accredited college or university. (Copies of accreditation booklets may be reviewed in the Admissions Office.) Students who received a baccalaureate degree from a non accredited institution may consult the school dean regarding the policy on Special Admission for Graduate Students with Baccalaureate Degrees from Non Accredited Institutions.

Send official copies of transcripts from all undergraduate and graduate accredited institutions attended directly from the school of origin to the Office of Admissions at Southern Oregon University.

3. Students must have sufficient prerequisite coursework to pursue graduate work in the proposed academic area.

4. All students must have a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher in the last 90 quarter credits (60 semester credits) of undergraduate coursework.

5. Complete a preliminary entrance examination with a satisfactory score. Have the official score report sent to the Admissions Office (institutional code is R4702). The entrance examination for most master's programs is the Graduate Record Exam (GRE). Teaching programs use other entrance examinations. Information bulletins and application forms for the GRE may be obtained from the Office of Admissions. Students whose native language is not English must achieve a TOEFL score of 540 or higher before enrolling in graduate courses (see Admission of Foreign Students, page 8).

6. Submit at least three letters of recommendation.

7. Submit a goal statement or letter of intent describing your motivations for undertaking the proposed graduate program.

Several programs have additional or different requirements for admission. See the following sections of this catalog and the respective graduate coordinators for further information:

Teacher Education Programs (Education, page 122).

Psychology Program I and Program II (Psychology, page 112).

Environmental Education (Sciences, page 76).

American Band College (Music, page 60).

Alternate Admission Procedure

Students who do not meet all the requirements for graduate admission may apply for post baccalaureate admission (See Admissions page 7).

General Information

See the introductory section of the catalog for information on accreditation, fees and deposits, housing, financial aid, and student services.

General Regulations

Student Responsibility

Graduate students are expected to know the requirements for the programs they undertake. While the University assists each student as much as possible, the responsibility for any error in enrollment or misinterpretation of rules rests with the student.

Student Conduct

Students are expected to conduct themselves in a mature, professional, and civil manner and must abide by the "Proscribed Conduct" guidelines listed under "Student Responsibilities" in the Student Handbook.

Major Steps

The following steps must be completed to achieve a master's degree:

1. Admission to a master's degree program.

2. Approval of proposed program.

3. Midprogram evaluation (unless program is exempt).

4. Application for graduation.

5. Final examination or oral defense and degree completion.

A more detailed description of these steps follows. To help students, each graduate coordinator has prepared a checklist of steps, procedures, and program requirements.

Approval of Proposed Program

With the help of the school graduate coordinator, each student should obtain one or more advisors at the beginning of graduate coursework. With the help of the advisors, the student should immediately develop a proposed program of study to be outlined on the Degree Program Form. These forms must be approved by the student's advisors, the school graduate coordinator, and the school dean. This form must be done early in the student's course of study. The form is available from the school graduate coordinator. Any time a student's program changes, the student must submit an approved Program Change Form.

Midprogram Evaluation

Most programs require a midprogram evaluation. Students should have a midprogram evaluation meeting as soon as possible after completing 12 credits and no later than the completion of 30 credits to guarantee that all credits count toward their program. Appropriate forms and additional information are available from the school graduate coordinators.

The following programs are exempt from the midprogram evaluation: Psychology Program II, American Band College, Education ­ Comprehensive Exam option.

Application for Graduation

The student must submit Application for Completion of Master's Degree forms to the school graduate coordinator no later than the first week of the quarter in which the student plans to complete all requirements for the degree, including comprehensive exams. The exams cannot be taken prior to the quarter during which coursework is completed. The school graduate coordinator evaluates the student's degree status and planned program of coursework. The student is then notified by mail of any deficiencies that need to be corrected and the procedures for setting up the comprehensive examination.

Comprehensive Examination and Degree Completion

Each student must pass a final comprehensive examination covering the required work for the master's degree. The type of examination differs depending on the program and the major; it may be written, oral, or a combination of both. Students approaching the completion of their graduate studies should check with their advisor regarding the particular comprehensive exam requirements of the program. The examination is normally taken during the quarter the student is completing coursework for the degree. However, in special instances, other arrangements may be made with permission from the school graduate coordinator and school dean. Students completing a thesis or project option have an oral defense.

If a student fails all or part of the comprehensive examination, the examining committee specifies the conditions under which it may be retaken and notifies the graduate coordinator and school dean of these conditions. Ordinarily, the exam may not be retaken until there has been sufficient time for additional study, reading, or mastery of subjects. A student may take the final examination a maximum of three times. Each time the examination is to be retaken, the graduate coordinator must be notified so preparations can be made and forms completed.

Special degree completion requirements apply to students completing a thesis or project. These students should check with their school graduate coordinator for details.

Program Regulations and Procedures

Academic Load

The maximum load for graduate students is 16 credits during a regular term and 15 credits during an eight-week summer session. Overload petitions must be approved by the students' advisor and the school graduate coordinator. The form is filed with the school graduate coordinator and the Office of the Registrar. A surcharge per credit hour is made for all credits in excess of academic load regulations.

Course Related Requirements

To count toward a master's degree, Southern Oregon University classes must have a 500-level number.

The master's degree programs in elementary education and secondary education require at least 24 credits be earned in classes open only to graduate students.

Residency Requirements

At least 30 quarter credits toward a master's degree must be earned in residence. The last 9 credits of the program must be in residence unless a waiver is approved by the graduate coordinator and the school dean. These policies do not apply to persons completing the master's degree portion of the Teacher Education Fifth Year Licensure program.

Graduate credit for a course taught by an instructor in Continuing Education, who has been approved in advance by the school dean or director, is accepted as residence credit. Refer to Course Exclusions below for further information.

Course Exclusions

Graduate Practicum Credit

A maximum of 9 practicum credits is allowed. This applies to all graduate practicum experiences, except for students enrolled in the Social Science Psychology Program II where the practicum requirements are a minimum of 20 credits.

Workshop Credit

A maximum of 9 credits of workshop credit is allowed. Workshop credit may not be used in Social Science Psychology Programs I or II.

Extension Class Credit

Extension credit is acceptable toward an advanced degree only when taken through a program offered by an Oregon University System institution.

Correspondence Study

Graduate credit is not given for courses taken through correspondence study.

In-Service Education

A maximum of 6 credits of in-service education (Ed 500 Professional Development) may be applied to the following programs only: Education Standard Certification and Elementary or Secondary Education Master's.

Graduate Credit by Examination

Graduate credit by examination is not accepted toward an advanced degree program.

Prior and Transfer Credit Limitations

A student may include only 15 quarter credits of approved graduate coursework taken prior to regular admission to a master's degree program at the University. This limitation applies to coursework taken at Southern Oregon University and coursework transferred from other institutions. Such courses must be appropriate for the master's degree program to which the student is admitted and must be approved by the major advisor, the school graduate coordinator, and the school dean. No more than six quarter credits of prior or transfer credit may be from a previous master's program. All transfer credit must be supported by official transcripts sent directly from the school of origin to the Office of Admissions and Records.

Acceptance of any transfer credit is the prerogative of the degree granting institution.

Time Limitation

All courses included in the program for a master's degree at Southern Oregon University must be seven years old or less at the time the degree is completed. However, with the approval of the Graduate Studies Office, up to 12 credits of courses over seven years old but less than ten years old at degree completion may be included if they have been updated and validated by the academic department and approved by the school dean. Forms for course updates are available from the graduate coordinator or school dean's office.

Open Numbered Graduate Courses

Open numbered graduate courses do not have a specific subject matter description and include: 501, 504, 505, 507, 508, 509, 510.

Limitation: Each master's degree program must have at least 24 credits of courses that are not open numbered. Open numbered courses that become regularly numbered before the student completes the master's degree are not counted as part of the open numbered course limitation.

Irregular Registration: Open numbered courses not listed in the regular schedule of classes may only be taken by completing an irregular registration form available from the Office of the Registrar. This requires the approval of the instructor, the department chair, and the school dean and must be filed with registration materials in the Registrar's Office.

Satisfactory Progress

School area and formerly admitted General Studies and Interdisciplinary Program students who have not enrolled in the current academic year are notified no later than May 1 by the school dean that they must file an application for graduate study leave by the end of the spring term. Failure to file requires that the student reapply for graduate admission and master's status to continue degree studies and to maintain financial aid. Students readmitted into the same program are not limited to the 15 credit maximum requirement for newly admitted students.

This policy does not apply to graduate students in the Education or American Band College programs.

Right of Appeal

If the student elects to make an appeal, the Appeals Committee shall include: (1) the student's advisor, (2) the department chair or school dean or school graduate coordinator, (3) the chair of the graduate council.

Thesis or Project

Students in many master's degree programs may elect to complete a thesis or project option. Students in the education program, Psychology Program II, or a school area program in which business is a component do not have the thesis or project option. Instead, they take comprehensive examinations. Any student who wishes to explore a thesis or project option should check with the school graduate coordinator at the beginning of the program for information about the special procedures and regulations governing such an option.

The student's thesis or project committee must meet and approve the project proposal. This approved proposal must be on file in the school dean's office before the irregular registration forms for thesis or project coursework are approved.

Students may use 6 to 9 credits, with a maximum of 3 credits from the support area, for the thesis or project. Students exercising this option must follow the format outlined in the Style Manual for Theses and Projects, which is available from the dean of sciences. Students defend the thesis or project during an oral examination.

Master of Arts Degree

The Master of Arts degree and Master of Science degree differ only in the foreign language requirement. To receive the MA degree, a student must demonstrate fluency in a second language. U.S. students who have completed two years of study in one foreign language at an accredited college or university automatically meet the second language requirement for the MA degree.

Academic Standards

Grading

Letter grades are required for all courses in a master's degree or teacher licensing program (including transfer credits). Courses assigned a grade lower than C are not acceptable.

Academic Probation

Graduate students must maintain at least a 3.0 cumulative GPA overall in the master's degree program and in each of the major areas of the program. These programs and their major areas are:

Business Administration: business core; required electives.

Education: education core; selected option.

School Programs: major area; support area.

Environmental Education: required core; elective credits in biology.

Any time a student's GPA fails to meet these standards, the student is placed on academic probation and notified by the school dean. A student placed on academic probation must petition the school dean, with the support of the major professors and school graduate coordinator, for permission to continue work toward the degree. If permission is granted, the student must correct the deficiency within the next 12 credits of graduate coursework or be dropped from the program.

Grievance Procedure

A student who has a grievance arising from a graduate regulation should consult the school dean for advice. If the grievance cannot be resolved at this point, the student may undertake formal grievance procedures as outlined in the Student Rights and Responsibilities Handbook.

Professional Ethics

Graduate students are expected to honor standards of ethical practice appropriate to academic life.

Candidacy for the graduate degree may be denied, suspended, or revoked should it be established that an individual is a discredit to his or her peers by dishonoring the profession through any flagrant violation of the ethics of scholarship and higher learning.

The Graduate Council considers the following to be examples of flagrant violations: cheating, plagiarism, forgery, physical abuse or threat of physical abuse against University personnel, theft of University property, and unauthorized entry to and/or use of University controlled property.

Students may exercise their right of appeal for charges of violations through procedures outlined in the Student Rights and Responsibilities Handbook.

The professional degree programs may have additional ethical guidelines. It is the student's responsibility to be familiar with and abide by such guidelines. When a department's faculty decides that a student has failed to meet professional standards, they have the responsibility to identify, remediate, or dismiss the student. Each department has an established procedure for handling such issues. An appeal in the case of a professional breach of ethics is handled within the department according to established procedures.

Graduate Assistantships

Graduate assistantships are available in some academic departments and administrative units.

To hold a graduate assistantship, a student must have regular admission to a master's degree program. The student must have an approved master's degree program on file no later than the first week of the initial term of appointment as a graduate assistant and must successfully pursue the program at a rate defined in the General Regulations for Appointment of Graduate Assistants.

Commencement

Formal commencement exercises are held at the end of spring term. Graduate students may not participate in formal commencement exercises prior to the quarter they are scheduled to complete the master's degree.

Programs and Curricula

Master's Degrees in School Areas

School area graduate degree programs are for individuals interested in the fields of social science, arts and letters, science, and mathematical and computer science leading to the MA or MS. The program combines strong subject matter preparation in a major area and related coursework at the graduate level. The specific objectives of this program are:

1. To provide an opportunity for strong subject matter preparation in a major area to be combined with related coursework.

2. To provide opportunities for broad educational and cultural experiences at the graduate level in recognition of the demands for wider horizons of knowledge and civic responsibility in business and professional life.

The following departments currently participate as major or support areas:

The following departments participate as support areas only:

These lists change periodically. Contact your department of interest to confirm participation.

Curriculum

The curriculum for the MA or MS degree in a school area (social science, arts and letters, science, and mathematical and computer science) consists of two major divisions. The major area requires 18­36 approved graduate credits from a single participating department; the support area allows 9­27 credits of approved graduate credits from a department or departments other than the major department. At least 23 credits of the program must be from the school area of the major, and coursework from any single department in the support area cannot exceed the total number of credits in the major area. A minimum of 45 credits is required for the degree. The Social Science Psychology Program II requires a minimum of 72 credits. Guidelines for approved academic credit in psychology and related areas are specified in the Program II outline, available from the Psychology Department. The actual courses required for each student are selected under the guidance of an advisor from the major field with the approval of the school dean.

Only courses taken at the 500 or 400 (G) level may be used for graduate credit. Students who took a 400-level course for graduate credit prior to fall 1990 are responsible for verifying that the work was taken for graduate credit and recorded correctly on their transcripts.

A midprogram evaluation meeting must be completed by all school area degree students except those in the American Band College and Psychology Program II. (See Midprogram Evaluation section for further information.)

Degree Completion Options

Candidates for the degree must meet all general program requirements and must choose to do a thesis or a project or take a comprehensive exam. Business and some other departments do not participate in the thesis or project option. Students should check with school graduate coordinators or department chairs for clarification.

Master in Management

The Master in Management Degree is a new interdisciplinary graduate program designed to help managers in commercial, government, and nonprofit organizations advance in their careers. This 45 credit program includes: 30 credits in a curriculum of core management skills; 9­12 credits in arts administration, business administration, health administration, public administration, or social services; 3 credits in a capstone project; and 3­6 credits in a practicum or internship. The Master in Management is designed so that it can be completed in two years, even by people working full time. See Social Sciences, page 97. Additional information is available at 541-552-8204.

Graduate Council

Policies and procedures of the graduate programs are established by the Faculty Senate on recommendation of the Graduate Council which is comprised of faculty, students, and administrators.

Graduate Faculty

All full-time faculty with the academic rank of professor, associate professor, assistant professor, or instructor, who have the terminal degree or its equivalent for the discipline and have demonstrated a continuing commitment to scholarship and professional growth are eligible for nomination to the graduate faculty by the department chair with final approval by the school dean. The president, provost, associate provost, and school deans are members of the graduate faculty. A graduate faculty member may serve as either a chair or a committee member of a thesis or other graduate committee.

Part-time faculty and regular faculty who are not appointed as graduate faculty may be approved as associate graduate faculty. They may teach specific graduate classes and serve as members other than chair of a thesis or graduate committee.

Professionals who are not members of the faculty may serve as a thesis or graduate committee member with special approval of the school dean.