APPLICATION AND ADMISSION TO CANDIDACY

Doctor of Philosophy

See detailed statements in the requirement sections of the individual department listings.

Master of Arts

The degree of master of arts will be conferred on those who hold a baccalaureate degree when they satisfactorily complete a program of advanced study, pursued in residence for a period of not less than one year.

In order to be accepted into full-time graduate academic good standing, an entering student will be expected to have maintained a rating of not lower than 80 percent (B-) in the work of his or her senior undergraduate year taken as a whole.

APPLICATION

Early in the year preceding his or her entrance, and in accordance with individual departmental application deadlines, the prospective student should file an application for graduate study with the chair of the department concerned (see departmental listings for specific application deadlines). Letters of recommendation, official undergraduate transcripts, and other supporting documents as requested by the department should be submitted directly to the departments.

Transcripts of previous study: Prospective candidates who hold baccalaureate degrees from colleges other than Wesleyan must submit official transcripts of their undergraduate record to the departments. Transcripts of any studies pursued at the graduate level, if in the same field the student wishes to enter at Wesleyan, should also be submitted at the time of application.

Test scores: Some departments require the submission of Graduate Record Examination scores as part of the application process. Detailed information regarding this requirement is available through the individual graduate departments.

Foreign languages: Specific language preparation is usually required as either part of the application or as part of the program of study. Departmental statements regarding mastery of a second language may be found in the section on courses of instruction.

Notification of acceptance: Students will be notified in writing by the chair of the department to which they have applied of preliminary acceptance into the departmental graduate program. Final acceptance is subject to the student’s satisfactory completion of work for the baccalaureate degree and meeting the health requirements as set by the college physician and the state of Connecticut.

Required medical certificate: See chapter on University Health Services

International students: Students whose native language is not English will be expected to demonstrate a proficiency in English sufficient to undertake graduate study. This includes the ability to read, write, and speak the language. International graduate students should submit test results from the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) exam administered by the College Entrance Examination Board, Educational Testing Service, Princeton, New Jersey. On arrival, international students must report to the foreign student advisor located in the Office of Graduate Student Services. Under current U.S. federal tax regulations, teaching and/or research assistantship stipends may be subject to U.S. federal income taxes. You should consult the international tax advisor on campus regarding your particular situation.

PROGRAM OF STUDY

Prior to initial registration, students will arrange a program of study with the department in which they are accepted. The program may be confined to a single field, or it may include work in more than one field if recommended by the academic advisor in the department in which the degree is to be awarded.

At least one-fifth of a student’s program will be devoted to the preparation of a thesis. Programs generally include at least one year of research leading to the thesis with the student registering in courses 591 and 592 in their field of study. At least two-thirds of the course work contributing to the degree program must be carried on under the direction of members of the faculty of Wesleyan University.

CANDIDACY

The term “candidate for the degree of master of arts” is applied to a student who has been notified in writing that, by virtue of meeting the entrance and qualifying requirements, the student has been accepted as a candidate for the degree of master of arts in a specific field. Such notification is normally made during the second semester of study.

Probationary candidacy: An entering graduate student who has made application for candidacy but who has failed at the time of entrance to meet fully the University’s requirements for candidacy is designated a qualifying student. Approval of the person’s candidacy is withheld for a period of at least one semester, during which he or she will be required to demonstrate ability to do graduate work of the quality expected of candidates. Notification of status as a qualifying student is made during the first semester and the question of candidacy is decided during the second semester of study.

TEST OF PROFICIENCY

Evidence of the candidate’s proficiency in the approved program of study shall be determined by 1) an examination, oral or written, or both, and 2) a thesis or, when appropriate, the submission of original creative work, as in the field of music.

In addition to the minimum requirements, departments may, at their discretion, set oral or written examinations, or other prescribed work, exercises, or requirements at any point in the program.

1. Each candidate for the master’s degree must pass an oral examination. The oral examination will be given during the final examination period of the second semester. All examinations are conducted at the University.

2. The candidate is required to present two complete final copies of the thesis (or project of creative work) to the OGSS before the beginning of the final examination period in the spring semester. The thesis (or project) must have the approval, in writing, of not less than two instructors from the appropriate department.

COMBINED PROGRAMS FOR WESLEYAN STUDENTS

Concurrent BA and MA Program: The Anthropology Department offers a five-year program leading to concurrent BA and MA degrees. Application for the program must be made to the department prior to the end of the junior year.

Candidates for the bachelor’s degree who satisfy the Wesleyan requirements for honors in general scholarship may, in their senior year, be admitted to candidacy for the master’s degree, provided that they have earned at least 32 credits toward the bachelor’s degree by the start of the senior year and are not otherwise deficient in satisfying the requirements for the undergraduate degree. The work of these candidates is under the direction of the Graduate Council. Successful candidates may receive the BA and MA degrees concurrently.

The BA/MA PROGRAM IN THE SCIENCES--A FIVE-YEAR PLAN   

The science programs at Wesleyan offer a variety of excellent research opportunities to undergraduates as well as to graduate students. In fact, the opportunity for undergraduates to carry on significant research is one of the strongest features of science here. Many undergraduates conduct research in their major department in close collaboration with a faculty member, and those who do often report that this has been the most valuable part of their education. However, in recent years, as the opportunities to do high-quality research have multiplied, some students have felt the need for a more intensive involvement in research than is possible in the traditional four-year undergraduate setting. In consultation with their major department, such students have constructed programs through which they have been able to obtain the MA degree after a fifth year of study following their BA This additional year has provided them with the opportunity to devote a great deal of time to completing the research projects they began as undergraduates.

Wesleyan offers the five-year BA/MA as a formal curricular option for those students who feel the need for the intensive research experience that a fifth year of study can afford. The program has a strong research orientation. However, it also includes coursework, seminars, and, in some cases, teaching. Although it is anticipated that most individuals who enroll in this program will go on for further graduate study, the program provides a strong professional background for either further advanced study or employment in industry. Completion of both BA and MA requirements in five years requires careful planning of one’s schedule of courses and research for the last two years of the program. A student hoping to enter this program is expected to declare the intention to do so by the junior year in his/her academic career to permit the design of an acceptable program for the last two years with both the major department and a research advisor within that department.

The MA requires a minimum of eight credits in addition to the 32 necessary for the Wesleyan BA Of these eight credits, two to four must be in advanced coursework; the remaining credits may be earned through research, seminars, and research practica. MA credit will be awarded only for academic exercises in which grades of B- or higher have been earned. Financial support other than tuition remission in the fifth year is not a normal component of this program. However, some students in the fifth year of the program may be able to find support from research grant funds.

For further information on the BA/M.A, MA and Ph.D. programs, visit the graduate Web site: www.wesleyan.edu/grad or contact the specific department.

SPECIAL GRADUATE STUDENT

The University will admit, up to the limit of space available in its classes, special graduate students who attend on a non-matriculated, non-degree, part-time basis. This service is extended to members of the Wesleyan community, local residents, and those in the Middletown area, which consists of the following towns: Cromwell, Durham, East Haddam, East Hampton, Haddam, Killingworth, Middlefield, Middletown, Moodus, Portland, and Rocky Hill. It applies to the courses offered in the two semesters of the academic year only and not to the summer school. There is a $55 application fee that is non-refundable. All persons holding a BA degree or its equivalent will be counted in the category of special graduate students, regardless of the level of instruction (undergraduate or graduate) or the field of study in which they plan to work. Like all graduate students, special students must submit an official transcript of their most recent academic work before their application will be considered. In addition, and prior to registration, the special graduate student will be required to obtain written permission to enter courses from the instructor of the course in which he or she wishes to be enrolled, and permission from the chair of the department under which the course is offered. Forms are available in the OGSS.

OFFICE OF GRADUATE STUDENT SERVICES (OGSS)

Special students are not eligible for financial aid or housing. They are not permitted to utilize the student health center. They are subject to the honor system but not to the graduate activity fee. Regularly matriculated students have prior claim over special students in spaces available in classes. For information concerning enrollment and registration, prospective special graduate students should contact the OGSS.