Applying for a Dual Degree

1. Talk to the Committee Chair or Graduate Coordinator - Students who are interested in pursuing a concurrent second degree should contact the graduate studies committee chair and/or the graduate coordinator in the proposed second degree program to gain a clear understanding of the graduate program’s application process and deadlines.

2. Plan an Integrated Course of Study - The student and advisor(s) in each graduate degree program must plan an integrated course of study to satisfy the requirements of both degree programs. The Dual Degree Program Plan form must be completed and submitted via GRADFORMS to the Graduate School within one semester of planning the integrated course of study with both advisors.

3. Dual Degree Program Plan Form - In some cases, the proposed graduate program will accept application materials originally submitted to the student's original graduate program, which the student may request to be sent to the proposed second graduate program. In other cases, new materials may be required. An approved Dual Degree Program Plan form is then submitted to the Graduate School as a notice of final admission. Do not submit a Request of Transfer of Graduate Program form when submitting a Dual Degree Program Plan form.

Dual Master’s Degree Program (Section 8.2)

Students must satisfy the credit hour requirements for each master's degree program. A minimum of 50 percent of the hours counted toward the credit hour requirement for each degree must be unique to that degree and cannot be used for dual credit. The graduate studies committee may establish a minimum higher than 50 percent.

Students typically complete a separate master’s examination for each degree program. 

However, if the following conditions are satisfied, a student pursuing two thesis option master’s degree programs may be required to complete only one master’s examination and one thesis. The graduate studies committee in each graduate program must approve. 

• The graduate studies committee in each graduate program must approve.
• The master's examination committee must be composed of a minimum of four graduate faculty members, with at least two from each graduate program.
• A faculty member from each graduate program must serve as a co-advisor of the thesis.
• The result of the master's examination must be unanimously affirmative in order for the student to earn each degree.
• In the event of the student's failure, the master's examination committee will decide if a second examination for two degrees with one thesis is possible.
• If the committee decides against allowing a second examination for two degrees with one thesis, then one of the graduate studies committees may allow a second examination in order for the student to earn one master's degree.

Dual Master's/PhD Degree Program 

Students pursuing a master’s degree in one graduate program and a PhD in a separate program must submit a Dual Degree Program Plan form to pursue the two degrees concurrently and to be recorded in SIS as a dual degree student. 

Students must satisfy the credit hour requirements for each degree program. A minimum of 50 percent of the hours counted toward the credit hour requirement for each degree must be unique to that degree and cannot be used for dual credit. The graduate studies committee may establish a minimum higher than 50 percent.

Students with a previous master’s degree that is being counted for 30 hours toward the PhD cannot utilize any dual credits between another master’s and the PhD. In this case the dual degree program plan form will be submitted by the student to reflect the appropriate number of credits needed for the completion of each degree, but there can be no overlap of credits between the two programs. The dual credit section of the dual degree program plan form will be blank.

All other respective degree requirements must be completed independently. 

An individual thesis or dissertation cannot be used toward degree requirements for both degrees.

Dual Master's/Professional Doctorate Degree Program

Students pursuing a master's degree and a professional doctorate must submit a dual degree program plan form to pursue the two degrees concurrently and to be listed in SIS as a dual degree student.

Students must satisfy the credit hour requirements for each degree program. A minimum of 50 percent of the hours counted toward the credit hour requirement for each degree must be unique to that degree and cannot be used for dual credit. The graduate studies committee may establish a minimum higher than 50 percent. 

A thesis or final document (professional doctorate) cannot be used toward degree requirements for both degrees.

Dual PhD/Professional Doctorate Degree Program

Students pursuing a PhD and a professional doctorate degree must submit a Dual Degree Program Plan form on GRADFORMS to pursue the two degrees concurrently and to be listed in SIS as a dual degree student. 

Students must satisfy the credit hour requirements for each degree program. A minimum of 50 percent of the hours counted toward the credit hour requirement for each degree must be unique to that degree and cannot be used for dual credit. The graduate studies committee may establish a minimum higher than 50 percent. 

All other respective degree requirements must be completed independently. An individual dissertation or final document (professional doctorate) cannot be used toward degree requirements for both degrees.

Find the Approval Form on GRADFORMS