Policies Governing Graduate Students

There are various policies that govern the way graduate students move through the various stages of their degree.
On this page you will find information about some of those.
 

• Formal Concurrent Degree Programs

  Concurrent programs are defined as a pair of programs that may be taken at the UW by a post baccalaureate student resulting in the satisfaction of the requirements for either two graduate degrees or a graduate and a professional degree.  Rather than sequentially completing first one degree and then the other, the student's time and the University's resources may sometimes be conserved by providing arrangements that permit the student to proceed in a coordinated way toward completion of the degree objectives.
  These specific programs have been formally approved and students are coded with the concurrent codes.
  To earn two master's degrees, a student must complete two separate sets of minimum Graduate School degree requirements of 36 credits each for a total of 72 credits.  If a program requires more than 36 credits for the master's degree, a graduate student, with prior approval of both graduate programs, may apply a maximum of 12 credits beyond 36 earned in one program toward the master's degree in the second program.  Thus, the minimum number of additional credits for the second degree, with these 12 approved credits, is 24.  Up to 12 credits earned toward a Ph.D. degree may be counted toward a master's degree in another program with the approval of both degree-granting units.

   

•  Informal Concurrent Degree Programs

  Students in these programs pursue two degrees from different departments simultaneously.  These programs have not been approved as formal concurrent programs, but students complete the same requirements as in the formal concurrent programs.
  
  To earn two master's degrees, a student must complete the equivalent of two Graduate School degree requirements of 36 credits each for a minimum of 72 credits. If one or both of the participating programs require more than the minimum of 36 credits, those additional credits may be "shared", and applied to both degrees. However, the total number of credits completed must total at least 72 and both programs must approve the credits counted toward both degrees.  Up to 12 credits earned toward a Ph.D. degree may be counted toward a Master's degree in another program with the approval of both degree offering units.

  It is the responsibility of the student to submit a written list of courses which apply toward each respective degree at the time he or she files an application for the Master's degree or schedules the general examination. This list must be approved by both programs.

  Students choosing the option must complete an Informal Concurrent Degree Application.  It is available on-line or from the Graduate Student Services Office, G1 Communications.

  Graduate School Memorandum No. 35:  Concurrent Degree Programs contains additional information.

   
•  Language Competence Requirements and Examinations

  Competence in one or more languages in addition to English is desirable for all fields of advanced study and is often required, especially in the scholarly and research-oriented programs leading to the degrees of Master of Arts, Master of Science, and Doctor of Philosophy.

  Requirements for foreign-language competence are established by the Graduate Faculty in the unit offering the graduate program. Language competence in certain languages other than English (i.e., languages that may have special significance to the field) may be specified as helpful or desirable or may be required. Students should consult the Graduate Program Coordinator for information and advice about desirable or required competence in foreign languages.

  When appropriate, students are urged to establish foreign-language competence as undergraduates before entering the Graduate School or as early as possible in their graduate careers. The University's language competence requirements in French, German, and Spanish may be satisfied by successful completion of the standardized examinations given by the Educational Testing Service. These examinations and other foreign language exams are also given at the Office of Educational Assessment at the University of Washington.

  It is assumed that students from English-speaking countries who are admitted to the Graduate School are competent in the English language; students from non-English-speaking countries must demonstrate a satisfactory command of English, both for admission and for appointment as teaching assistants.  Refer to Graduate School Memorandum #8 entitled, English Language Competence for Admission to the Graduate School.

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