A student must maintain continuous registration until all requirements of the degree are fulfilled. If such registration should be impossible, the student must secure a leave of absence. The university requires that dissertations be reviewed by an outside reader and be defended by the student. It is assumed that students will develop critical thinking and professional performance, that they will gain an understanding of educational research methods appropriate to their professional responsibilities, and that they will improve their ability to work effectively with other personnel in professional settings. A minimum of 32 credit hours beyond the baccalaureate degree is required.
Some programs have additional credit hour requirements.
At least 16 of these hours must be taken within the Graduate School of Education. Undergraduate courses cannot be included in a master's degree program. A maximum of six hours of transfer credit may be included in a program if approved by the student's advisor. Official transcripts of this credit must be filed with the department office. Once admitted to GSE, a graduate student is required to maintain continuous registration.