Degree Candidacy and Requirements

Admission to Candidacy

Admission to graduate study does not imply automatic admission to candidacy for the master’s degree. Graduate degree students must apply for admission to candidacy as soon as possible after earning twelve (12) credit hours and before earning more than twenty-one (21) credit hours. No more than twenty-one (21) hours of credit earned before acceptance to candidacy will apply toward the degree unless the Program Coordinator and the Dean of Graduate Studies grant special permission. The Program Coordinator forwards Advancement to Candidacy applications with the Plan of Study for approval by the Dean of Graduate Studies and the Graduate Council. Students must be enrolled at the University and in good academic standing.

Additional Requirements for Degree in Education

All graduate students who are certified teachers and are seeking an additional area of certification through the approved program approach must meet the following requirements:

1. Students must take and pass the appropriate PRAXIS II prior to enrolling in the required practicum course(s). Only the supervised practicum courses that are equivalent to student teaching are covered by this regulation.
2. Students are encouraged to enroll in the undergraduate course EDUC 273–Enhancing Test Performance.

Continuous Enrollment

Students are not permitted to apply for a degree, graduate, advance to candidacy, or take the comprehensive examination during any semester in which they are not officially enrolled. Students who have completed all course work may register for the program appropriate one (1) credit course, i.e., CRJU 602, EDUC 602 , HSAD 602 , NURS 602, PSYC 602 – Seminar in Graduate Studies, while completing the degree requirements. This gives students the right to confer with advisors and faculty, use the library and other facilities of the University, take the comprehensive examination, and apply for graduation.

Degree Requirements

The following are requirements for the completion of the graduate program at Coppin State University:

1. Acceptance as a full admit degree-seeking student in a specified program of study.
2. Completion of all graduate courses work with a 3.0 cGPA or higher.
3. Advancement to degree candidacy at the completion of no more than twenty-one (21) credit hours.
4. Successful completion of a research option unless otherwise indicated by the program of study.
5. For Research Options II and III, successful oral defense of research (thesis) or doctoral project.
6. Completion of at least twenty (21) credit hours at Coppin State University.
7. Completion of the degree program within five (5) years from the date of their first enrollment as degree-status students, unless this requirement is waived.
8. Submission of an Application for Graduation with the appropriate fees to the Registrar’s Office. Deadlines are noted in the calendar and on the web site.
9. Students must review with their assigned advisor the completed Program of Study Status Sheet. This form should be submitted to the Dean’s Office with the application for graduation.