Graduate Program Requirements

Upon acceptance into a graduate program, a degree plan will be prepared by the program director for review by the student. In some instances, prerequisite requirements may be waived based on previous coursework, or additional courses may be required based on deficiencies. Courses cannot be waived for credit earned through correspondence, CLEP, or life and work experience. Master's degree students cannot receive credit for cross-listed courses already completed at the undergraduate level and doctoral students cannot receive credit for cross-listed courses already completed at the master’s level. In situations where repeated courses are required, substitutions will be allowed by the appropriate academic or program director and dean. The academic or program director will file an official degree plan with the Registrar’s Office. Refer to specific degree programs for detailed information on course waivers. In no case will waivers reduce the 36-hour minimum doctoral level residency requirement.

Completing Multiple Master's Degrees through DBU

Students desiring to qualify for more than one master's degree through DBU (either concurrently or consecutively) must complete all requirements for the individual degrees as stated in the catalog, including fulfillment of a separate residency requirement for each degree. Residency requirements must be completed at DBU and may not be shared between individual degrees. Additionally, in all cases, two master's degrees completed at DBU must total a minimum of 60 hours, with each successive master's degree requiring an additional 30 hours (e.g., three master's degrees must total at least 90 hours). The student is required to complete and submit to the Registrar a declaration form with approval from the appropriate Dean(s) and Program Director(s) stating the intention to pursue more than one degree. Note: International students are not allowed to pursue two degrees concurrently.

Doctoral students changing degree programs may transfer only 12 hours of applicable doctoral courses to DBU’s Ph.D. or Ed.D. programs.

Although academic advisors, program directors, and coordinators strive to advise students as accurately as possible, the student bears ultimate responsibility for fulfilling all requirements for graduation, certification, and/or licensure.