Regulations and Procedures for Non-Thesis Master's Graduate Degrees

University Graduation Requirements for Non-Thesis Master's Degrees

Students also may pursue a non-thesis master's degree in certain departments. This degree would be based on alternative departmental requirements and would include, but not be limited to, the following:

• A minimum of 30 graduate semester credit hours of coursework taken at the 500-level or above.
• A minimum of 24 graduate semester credit hours must be taken at Rice University.
• A minimum of 24 graduate semester credit hours must be taken in standard or traditional courses (with a course type of lecture, seminar, laboratory, lecture/laboratory).*
• A minimum overall GPA of 2.67 or higher in all Rice coursework.
• A minimum GPA of 2.67 or higher in all Rice coursework that satisfies requirements for the non-thesis master’s degree.**
• A minimum residency enrollment of one fall or spring semester of part-time graduate study at Rice University. Some graduate programs may require full-time residency or additional semesters of residency.
• All courses taken must be in the relevant field.

Notes:

*Credit hours from courses classified as independent study, research, directed reading, teaching experience, internships, practica and similar may not count toward this minimum requirement.

**Departments or programs may identify and define in their program's General Announcements Requirements tab stricter minimum requirements to satisfy their academic program requirements.  With approval from the dean of graduate and postdoctoral studies, graduate programs may substitute but not waive these degree requirements.

Time to Degree

All master’s students are required to complete their program within five years of initial enrollment. This time boundary includes any period in which the student was not enrolled or enrolled part time, for whatever reason. Failure to meet any university time to degree deadline may result in the student not being able to continue in their degree program.

Applicable Academic Graduation Requirements 

Non-thesis master's students must meet the minimum university requirement for the academic credential, in addition to any program specific requirements. The official certifier of the graduate program may petition the dean of graduate and postdoctoral studies, or the dean's designee to allow substitutions (but not waivers) to the degree requirements when academically appropriate. Graduate programs may not independently allow substitutions or waivers to program specific degree requirements.