Degree Requirements

Maintaining Active Student Status

Graduate students are required to register in the Graduate School every fall and spring semester to maintain active status while pursuing their master’s degree. Failure to register continuously will automatically deactivate the student; once deactivated, the student is required to reapply to the program (this includes an application fee). Students should be aware that any changes to the degree will be required upon re-admission. See the Graduate School website for the readmission process: https://www.grad.umn.edu/admissions/readmission

Students who plan to withdraw for a semester or more must notify the Director of Graduate Studies (DGS). Deactivated students will not have any access to CDes resources.

Grading

The School of Architecture uses the two grading systems of the Graduate School: A, B, C, D, F (with pluses and minuses) and S/N, or Satisfactory and Not Satisfactory. All A–F registrations in the Graduate School, regardless of course level, will be calculated in the cumulative GPA. Changes in grading option are not allowed after the second week of the term. 5xxx and 8xxx courses with grades of A, B, C and S may be applied to a Graduate School degree program. All required courses listed on a master’s degree program form must be taken A–F, except as noted. Students may petition to deviate from this policy.

Use of Transfer Credits

Students who have earned graduate credit at other universities may request to apply some of those credits toward their degree program at the University of Minnesota. Decisions about transfer credits will be made by the degree program Director in consultation with the DGS, and taking into account the University’s detailed criteria for the transfer of credits for the Master’s degree. In general, official transcripts of the graded work must be submitted, the coursework must be at the graduate level, and the graduate credit earned after you received your undergraduate degree.

Students who have already taken any of the foundation courses before entering a particular Master’s program will not be required to take those courses again. They may be exempted from one course. However, the student will be required to take substitute, graduate-level course(s) to replace any additional credits, as the minimum number of 30 credits is required to complete the degree.

For the M.Arch degree, undergraduate courses taken at NAAB-accredited programs are evaluated for the equivalent Minnesota-appropriate course. Any Minnesota course that is exempted from the candidate's Graduate Degree Program form at the time of admission reduces the total credits to complete the Master's degree. These courses entered on the Degree Program form must be on an official transcript from an accredited NAAB architecture program.

Course Levels

Graduate students must take 5000 level or higher courses to earn graduate credit. The Director of Graduate Studies may allow 4000, 6000, and 7000 courses as graduate credit only if they are taught by members of the graduate faculty and have prior written approval.

Degree Completion Deadlines

M.Arch degree candidates have seven years from the first semester course enrollment as a graduate student in which to complete the program requirements and submit the Plan C document (see the Graduate School policy). All other master’s degree candidates have five years from the first semester course enrollment as a graduate student in which to complete program requirements. All students must remain registered each semester (fall and spring) to maintain their graduate student status (see Maintaining Active Student Status). Additionally, all students must complete required coursework before pursuing their master’s final examination (Plan A, B, or C).

Master’s Plan A

1. Complete Graduate Degree Plan: submit at least one semester prior to anticipated graduation.

2. Assign members to master’s final exam committee: complete at least one semester prior to exam.

3. Download Graduation Packet: the packet will include the Graduate Application for Degree form, Master’s Final Examination Report form, and Reviewers’ Report form.

4. Submit Application for Degree: apply by the first day of anticipated month of graduation. Application instructions: https://onestop.umn.edu/academics/apply-graduate

5. Submit Final Examination Report: must be submitted no later than the last business day of anticipated month of graduation.

6. Submit Thesis: submit by the last business day of anticipated month of graduation. Consult your Graduation Packet for formatting guidelines.

Master’s Plan B and C

1. Complete Graduate Degree Plan: submit at least one semester prior to anticipated graduation.

2. For Plan B only, assign members to master’s final exam committee: if applicable, complete at least one semester prior to exam.

3. Download Graduation Packet: the packet will include the Graduate Application for Degree form, Master’s Final Examination Report form, and Reviewers’ Report form.

4. Submit Application for Degree: apply by the first day of anticipated month of graduation. Application instructions: https://onestop.umn.edu/academics/apply-graduate

5. Submit Final Examination Report/Final Report: submit by the last business day of anticipated month of graduation.

Extensions

Students who are unable to complete the degree within the seven-year limit must petition the Graduate School for an extension of up to one additional year. Extensions beyond one year are considered only in the most extraordinary circumstances. To ensure timely consideration, petitions should be filed early in the term in which the time limit expires.

If a petition is approved, the student is notified of the expectations for progress and completion of the degree by the DGS. If the petition is denied by the DGS, the student will be terminated from the graduate program. Students who have been terminated under such circumstances may apply for readmission to the Graduate School; however, readmission under these circumstances is not assured.

Readmission

Students may be readmitted only to resume work toward the master’s degree, register for all remaining courses, and meet all new degree or other requirements within one year. If the student is readmitted to complete just the Plan A, B, or C document, the student may register for GRAD 999, which is 0 credits, and no fee is required to complete the written document within one semester.

For more information about the master's degree time limit and petitioning procedure, visit: https://onestop.umn.edu/forms