General Requirements for Master's Degrees in Arts & Sciences

To earn a master’s degree at Washington University, a student must complete all courses required by their department; maintain satisfactory academic progress; pass certain examinations; fulfill all academic and residence requirements; and apply to graduate via Workday Student.

The minimum credit requirement for a master’s degree is 30 credits. Individual master’s programs may have additional credit requirements, so please consult individual program pages for more information.

Master’s Research

A master’s degree program can require a master’s thesis, make the thesis optional, or decline to offer a thesis. For students in an approved dual degree program who are pursuing a master’s degree outside of their intended PhD area of study, programs must require that the student complete a master’s thesis.

• Master’s degrees with theses: No more than 12 credits of master’s thesis research may count toward a master's degree with thesis. A master’s thesis must be defended before a committee of no fewer than three faculty members.
• Master’s degrees without theses: For students who are not completing a master’s thesis, no more than 12 credits of research may count toward a master’s degree without thesis. A master’s degree without a thesis must include the completion of a requirement (e.g., an examination outside of a course, a specific course or courses with a specific grade, a final project outside of a course) that confirms competency in the field of study. Degree programs may include additional requirements.
• Master’s degrees along the way to a PhD: No more than 15 units of master’s thesis research may be applied to a master’s degree earned along the way to a PhD.

Registration

Students newly admitted to graduate programs in Arts & Sciences receive information about creating a WashU Key (a university login identity credential) from the university. The WashU Key and password are used to access Workday to register for courses online during open registration periods. All registrations require online approval by the student's faculty advisor and are monitored by the Office of Graduate Studies, Arts & Sciences.

Credit Units

Full-time students register for 9 to 12 units per semester. Master's students who have completed their courses and need additional time to complete other degree requirements will be registered for ASGS 9000 Full-time Graduate Research/Study.

Courses

To count toward a master's degree, courses must be offered at the graduate level, taken for a grade, and approved in advance by the student's advisor and program as eligible to count toward the student's degree. Graduate-level courses are designated by numbers in the 5000s or above. Audited courses may not be counted toward the degree or toward full-time status in a given semester. Courses, with the exception of ASGS courses, taken with the Pass/No Pass grading option may not be counted toward the degree. Students should consult their advisors regarding these options.

Online Courses

Online courses are not applicable to Arts & Sciences degree programs. Therefore, students may not enroll in online courses offered by other schools at Washington University (with the exception of courses required for part-time master's programs) nor attempt to transfer courses, taken at other institutions, that were delivered online.

Grades

Credit-conferring grades for graduate students in Arts & Sciences are as follows:

Grade/Notation/Value

Grade/Notation	Value
A	Outstanding (an A grade may be modified by a plus or minus)
B	Good (a B grade may be modified by a plus or minus)
C	Conditional (a C grade may be modified by a plus or minus)
F	Failing
P	Pass (credit awarded with no finer evaluation of work)
NP	No Pass (credit not awared due to unsatisfactory work)
I	Incomplete (work still pending for assessment of final grade)
W	Withdrawal
R	Repeat
L	Successful audit
Z	Unsuccessful audit
T	Transfer (coursework transferred in)
EC	Exam Credit

In the rare event that an instructor is unable to submit a grade by the grade deadline, an N, signifying that the grade has not yet been submitted, may temporarily appear as a transcript notation on the student's record. Grades that are not posted within 120 days of the last day of the semester for which the N notation was posted will result in these temporary notations being automatically changed to a grade of F (or, in the case of a course taken as Pass/No Pass, to a grade of NP).

Grades cannot be changed after the sealing of a student's transcript, which follows conferral of the student's degree.

The Office of Graduate Studies, Arts & Sciences, uses a 4-point scale for calculating grade point averages:

• A = 4
• B = 3
• C = 2

A plus adds 0.3 to the value of a grade, and a minus subtracts 0.3 from the value of a grade.

Zero-unit ASGS 9000-level courses will have only the Pass/No Pass grade option. 

Grade Appeals

If a student receives a grade they believe to be unjustified, whether for a single assignment or for the course grade as a whole, they have the right to discuss any grade(s) with their instructor and to appeal the grade(s). (Students considering appealing their grades are welcome to consult with their advisor or the Office of Graduate Studies Student Affairs team; contact artscigrads@wustl.edu to connect with the Office of Graduate Studies Student Affairs team. Neither the advisor nor the Office of Graduate Student Affairs team may make any decisions with regard to the appeal, but they can inform students about possible options for approaching the appeal.)

Grounds for Appeal

Sufficient grounds for appeal include clerical or mathematical errors in calculating the grade; inequitable use of the syllabus’s grading rubric or policies; and grading impacted by issues beyond the course content.

Students should be aware that an appeal may include a complete review of the student’s work in the course as a whole, which may result in a grade being either raised or lowered.

Students may not appeal to raise their grade by completing additional assignments (i.e., “extra credit”) or by submitting late work except in the case of an official Incomplete.

If a student believes that the grade is the result of identity-based discrimination, they should make a report to the Office of Institutional Equity rather than file a grade appeal through this process. In addition, grades that are a result of sanctions for a violation of Academic Integrity (as determined by the Academic Integrity Board) are not eligible for appeal through this process.

Timing of Appeals

Grade appeals must be initiated within 30 days of the grade being posted and must be addressed by the instructor in a timely manner. Grade appeals in the semester prior to the student’s graduation must be raised immediately and addressed on an expedited timeline so that the appeal may be resolved prior to the conferral of a degree and the sealing of the student’s transcript. A grade appeal submitted after a student graduates will not be reviewed as grade changes cannot be made following degree conferral.

Appeals Process

• The student must first appeal the grade with the instructor. The appeal must be in writing, reference this grade appeal policy, and outline the reasons for the appeal. The instructor must reply to the student in writing within two weeks of the student’s request, providing detailed justification for retaining the assigned grade or confirming that the grade will be changed in light of the student’s appeal.
• If the student’s written concerns have not been met by the instructor’s justification, they may raise the grade appeal to the director of graduate studies (DGS) in the appropriate department or program (based on the department or program that owns the course and not on the student’s program of enrollment) within one week of the instructor’s response. The subsequent appeal must be submitted in writing, and it must reference this grade appeal policy, respond to the instructor’s detailed justification, and explain why the student believes there remains cause for appeal. Disagreement with the instructor’s professional judgement is insufficient grounds for further appeal, and appeals to the DGS that merely reiterate a student’s initial concerns will not be considered. The DGS will review the appeal and provide a written response to the student within three weeks.
• In the rare instance that the student believes further appeal to be necessary, the student may direct a final appeal to the Vice Dean of Graduate Education. If a student wants to pursue a grade appeal at this level, the appeal must be in writing and be submitted within one week of the written response from the DGS. The student’s statement should acknowledge both the instructor’s and the DGS’s responses and explain why the student believes there remains cause for appeal. Disagreement with the instructor’s or DGS’s professional judgement is insufficient grounds for further appeal. The Vice Dean of Graduate Education must respond in writing within four weeks of the student’s appeal. The decision of the Vice Dean is final.

Incomplete Grades

Students who are not making satisfactory progress in a course should withdraw from the course prior to the published withdrawal deadline. However, should a student experience medical or acute personal challenges after the withdrawal deadline that make the satisfactory completion of course work difficult or unlikely, they may be eligible for a grade of Incomplete. In extreme circumstances, students may want to discuss a Medical Leave of Absence with their advisor.

To request a grade of Incomplete (I) from one or more instructors, students must take the following steps with each instructor:

1. The student should meet with the instructor before the final examination or due date for the final paper/project to request the Incomplete. 
2. If the instructor grants the Incomplete, the student and instructor should agree on the scope of the work remaining to complete the course and a date when it will be submitted. This date should be within 120 days of the last day of the semester in which the course is being taken. The instructor should confirm with the student, in writing, the details of the work with respective deadlines.

Whether or not to grant an Incomplete is at the instructor’s discretion. When determining whether to do so, the instructor should consider whether the student has consistently attended and engaged with the course (for example, whether the student has submitted all assignments except the final assignments/assessments) and made satisfactory progress in the course. Incompletes should not be granted unless the student has completed at least two thirds of the assignments/assessments for the course.

If sufficient work has not been completed, the grade of Incomplete will not be feasible. In such situations, the instructor will submit whatever final grade the student has earned. The student may repeat the course at a later time if they choose. (For information about repeating a course, see below.)

If an Incomplete is granted, the work should be completed in the time frame agreed upon with the instructor. However, this time frame should not extend more than 120 days from the last day of the semester in which the Incomplete is granted/the course for which the Incomplete is granted is taken.

Failure to submit completed work and for the earned grade to be posted within 120 days of the last day of the semester in which the Incomplete was granted will result in the grade of Incomplete being automatically changed to a grade of F (or, in the case of a course being taken as Pass/No Pass, to a grade of NP).

Further, students cannot have a grade of Incomplete on their transcripts when their degrees are conferred. Thus, students who are expecting to graduate at the end of the semester in which the course being considered for an Incomplete was taken should not request or be granted a grade of Incomplete.

Any student who does have an Incomplete on their transcript at the time of certification and degree conferral will have the Incomplete changed to a grade of F (or, in the case of a course being taken as Pass/No Pass, to a grade of NP).

Grades cannot be changed after the conferral of a student's degree.

Note: If an Incomplete is granted, students cannot be added to the Canvas shell of a subsequent offering of the course in order to complete the previous enrollment. Instead, at the instructor’s request, the student can be given access to the original course shell, and the instructor can reopen assignments within that course shell. All work for an Incomplete should occur within the original course’s Canvas course shell or outside of Canvas entirely.

Retaking a Course

Graduate students may be allowed to retake a course in which they have earned a B or lower (grades of P for Pass, A, B+, and Incomplete are not eligible for retakes; audits — whether successful or unsuccessful — are also not eligible for retakes) once with prior permission from their department or program. The department may refuse the student’s request. If permission to retake a course is granted, both registrations will show on the transcript; however, only the grade and units of the enrollment with the highest grade will be used to calculate the student’s GPA. The other attempt will have the letter R (denoting the retake) placed next to the grade. A student who retakes a course without prior permission might not receive permission retroactively. Please note that courses that are transferred in to Washington University as equivalents to a previously completed course will also be included in course attempts.

Transferred Credits

Students who have completed graduate-level course work or a graduate degree at an institution prior to joining Washington University may request to transfer a portion of that credit toward the course work in their Washington University degree program.

Graduate-Level Courses Completed Prior to Joining Washington University

A student may transfer graduate-level course credits amounting to a maximum of up to 35% of the course work requirement in the Washington University PhD program and a maximum of up to 10% of the course work requirement in the Washington University master's degree program. For example, in a PhD program that requires twelve 3-credit courses, a student could transfer, at most, four 3-credit courses toward their Washington University degree. Individual departments may choose to allow the transfer of fewer credits than the maximum percentage allowed by the Office of Graduate Studies. Individual departments retain the autonomy to decide which specific courses can transfer from a previous institution and which courses will need to be completed at Washington University.

Please note that the Master of Arts in Education (MAEd) is an exception. It allows the maximum transfer of 15 credit units from institutions that have entered into special cooperative agreements with Washington University for this purpose.

Credit for previous graduate-level courses will be transferred to a student's Washington University record only to fulfill departmental course requirements. Students may not transfer credit for other program requirements (e.g., qualifying exams, mentored experiences, prospectus defense). In addition, graduate-level course work that has been applied toward an undergraduate degree may not be transferred for credit in a Washington University PhD or master's degree program.

Transfer requests will be reviewed by the Office of Graduate Studies and the Washington University department offering the student's degree program. The total number of credits transferred may impact the duration of funding the student receives from the university as well as the expected time to degree completion; these details are determined by the department of the student's program of study and the Office of Graduate Studies.

Joining a Graduate Program Through Faculty Recruitment

Faculty members recruited to Washington University may have students at their prior institution who would like to join the faculty member at Washington University. Those situations will be addressed through a separate process. Please contact the Office of Graduate Studies Admissions for further information.

Shared Credits With the PhD 

The doctorate-granting department determines which courses will count toward the doctoral degree. These and related details are shared on their program pages in this Bulletin. 

Satisfactory Academic Progress

Satisfactory academic progress for students in Arts & Sciences master's programs is monitored by the Office of Graduate Studies, Arts & Sciences, as well as by the degree program. Failure to maintain satisfactory academic progress may result in immediate dismissal or in placement on academic probation for a minimum of three months. Most financial awards and all federally funded awards are contingent on the maintenance of satisfactory academic progress. Moreover, satisfactory academic progress is a prerequisite for service on any committee authorized by the Office of Graduate Studies, Arts & Sciences. The following are minimal standards of satisfactory academic progress for master's students; degree programs may set stricter standards but must not relax these standards.

1. Students are expected to proceed at a pace appropriate to enable them to finish within the time limits customary in their degree program. At most, students enrolled in full-time master's degree programs have four calendar years, dated from their first registration in a graduate degree program at Washington University, to complete degree requirements.
2. Students are expected to maintain a cumulative grade point average of at least 3.0 on a 4.0 scale in courses that count toward their credit units. Note that plus and minus marks alter the numerical value of a letter grade.
3. Students are expected not to carry, at one time, any more than 9 credit units for which an I (incomplete) or N (grade not yet submitted) is recorded. The Office of Graduate Studies, Arts & Sciences, may deny a student with more than 9 unfinished credits permission to register.

Residence Requirement

The residence requirement for full-time master's degree students is that each student must spend at least one academic year registered for full-time credits (9 to 12 credits in the fall followed by 9 to 12 credits in the spring) at Washington University. Any exceptions to this requirement must be approved by the Office of Graduate Studies, Arts & Sciences. All programs, with the exception of the Master of Arts in Biology and the Master of Liberal Arts, require that students remain full-time and in residence throughout their work toward the degree.

Thesis

The thesis topic is subject to approval by the master's student's faculty advisor and by the chair of the degree program. As soon as the thesis topic has been approved (but no later than six months before the thesis defense is likely to occur), students should submit the Title, Scope and Procedure form to the Office of Graduate Studies, Arts & Sciences. It must be signed by the three-member committee before whom the student will defend the thesis as well as by the chair of the degree program. At least three members of the thesis committee must be Washington University faculty; at least two of them must be appointed in the master's student's degree program; and at least two of them (not necessarily the same two) must be tenured or tenure-track, including the committee chair or co-chair. Exceptions must be approved by the Office of Graduate Studies, Arts & Sciences, or their designee.

A Master's Thesis Guide and a template that provide instructions regarding the format of the thesis are available on the website of the Office of Graduate Studies, Arts & Sciences. Both should be read carefully at every stage of thesis preparation.

The Office of Graduate Studies, Arts & Sciences, requires each student to make the full text of the thesis available to the committee members for their review at least one week before the defense. Most degree programs require two or more weeks for the review period; students should check with their faculty.

After the defense, the student must submit an electronic copy of the thesis online to the Office of Graduate Studies, Arts & Sciences, via BePress at the university library. The degree program is responsible for delivering the Master's Thesis Approval form (PDF), signed by the committee members at the defense and then by the program chair, to the Office of Graduate Studies, Arts & Sciences. Students who defend their theses successfully have not yet completed their master's requirements; they finish earning the degree only when their thesis submission has been accepted by the Office of Graduate Studies, Arts & Sciences.

Graduation Information

Students are responsible for applying to graduate via Workday in order to have their earned master's degree conferred. Deadlines for applying to graduate are listed on the website of the Office of Graduate Studies, Arts & Sciences. No degree will be awarded if the Workday has not been completed. Students who do not complete their degree requirements by their intended graduation date must reapply for the next graduation date.

Specific Circumstances

Changes in Program of Study

Students are usually admitted to graduate programs in Arts & Sciences to study toward specific degrees. Therefore, a change in the degree objective (e.g., from MA to PhD) is subject to the approval of both the student's program and the Office of Graduate Studies, Arts & Sciences. A request for a change in the subject of study (e.g., from economics to history) requires the approval of both programs concerned as well as that of the Office of Graduate Studies, Arts & Sciences. Students may be required to fill out a new application for admission before making such changes, but they will not be charged a second application fee.

Student Grievances: Guidelines and Procedures  

Students may encounter experiences in which they have legitimate complaints regarding academic matters or an interaction with a faculty member, staff member, or fellow student. It is important that students and faculty have a common understanding of how such complaints may be expressed and resolved.

Students with complaints regarding academic matters or interactions with a faculty member, staff member, or fellow student should initially seek resolution from their faculty advisor, then from their director of graduate studies, and finally from the chair of their degree program. Complaints that remain unresolved may be addressed to the Vice Dean of Graduate Education in the Office of Graduate Studies (OGS) in Arts & Sciences. The Vice Dean may follow up with the complainant, with faculty in the student’s degree program, or with other stakeholders on campus to review and investigate the grievance and to work toward a resolution. Faculty involved in the process of receiving or reviewing a complaint should treat the information and relevant conversations as highly confidential.

Students with complaints regarding nonacademic matters (including but not limited to unprofessional behavior, a hostile learning environment, and abusive or offensive language and/or behavior) — whether by faculty, staff, or fellow students — are first encouraged, depending on the severity of the alleged behavior, to seek resolution with the alleged offender(s). If a complainant is not comfortable with doing so or if the problem persists after they have done so, they should seek resolution from their faculty advisor, then from their director of graduate studies, and finally from the chair of their degree program. Complaints that remain unresolved may be addressed in several ways:

• By the Ombuds: The Offices of the Ombuds serve as confidential, independent, and impartial resources that offer assistance in the informal resolution of university-related conflicts and advocate for fair treatment and process.
• By the OGS: The OGS does not adjudicate matters of nonacademic student grievance. However, it can and should be used as a source of support, mediation, and advising for such matters.
• By the Office of University Compliance: Students with such complaints have the option of reporting suspected violations of the University Code of Conduct using the online form on the Office of University Compliance webpage.​

All complaints regarding academic integrity should be first addressed to the respective department head(s). The department, with the counsel of the OGS, can submit a report of academic integrity through the appropriate mechanism (i.e., the Provost's Academic Integrity Officer for master’s student concerns and the Vice Provost for Graduate Education Academic Integrity Officer for PhD concerns).  ​

Washington University policies state that members of the university community can expect to be free from discrimination and harassment. Students, faculty, staff, and outside organizations working on campus are required to abide by specific policies prohibiting harassment. ​An allegation of discrimination or harassment may be appealed to the Vice Chancellor for Human Resources, who will determine whether to convene the Title IX Grievance Committee to hear the case. Allegations of bias, prejudice, or discrimination should be reported using the Bias Report and Support System. Visit the Discrimination and Harassment page on the Human Resources site for more information.​

Leaves of Absence

Students who wish to suspend their graduate study should apply for a leave of absence. A student's application for a leave of absence must be endorsed by the degree program and then approved by the Office of Graduate Studies, Arts & Sciences.

Such a leave may be personal or medical. In the case of a medical leave, the student must present authorization from the Student Health Center at both the beginning and again at the end of the leave. At the end of a leave of absence, a student is reinstated into the School of Arts & Sciences under the conditions prevailing at the time the leave was granted. Being on leave suspends student status and any financial support from the university. Taking a leave may, therefore, adversely affect loan deferment, visa status, the right to rent university-owned housing, and so on. Most visa types would prevent international students from remaining in the United States while taking a leave of absence; international students should consult the Office for International Students and Scholars as well as their faculty advisor, their program's director of graduate studies, and the Office of Graduate Studies, Arts & Sciences, before taking a leave of absence.

Prior to taking a leave of absence, students should also consider their need for health insurance coverage. The continuation of student health insurance and access to the Student Health Center depends on such factors as the kind of leave (medical or personal), the length of time the student has already been covered during the current insurance year, and the student's location during the leave. Students should consult the Student Health Center website for current policies with regard to leaves of absence; these policies may change annually if insurance carriers change.

Withdrawals

Students wishing to withdraw from their programs must give notice in writing by filling out the withdrawal form available on the Forms page of the Office of Graduate Studies, Arts & Sciences, where it can be found under the "Change to Enrollment Status" heading. This form must include the date upon which the withdrawal should be considered effective. Without such information, there may be serious financial repercussions for the student and/or the university. International students should contact their advisors in the Office for International Students and Scholars before taking this action so that they can understand all potential visa and student status implications. 

Dismissals

A program may wish to dismiss a student for a number of reasons, including willful misrepresentation to gain admission to graduate study, breaches of academic integrity, academic failure, or behavior destructive to the welfare of the academic community. Dismissals are recommended by the degree program and are not final until approved by the Office of Graduate Studies, Arts & Sciences. Any student who believes their dismissal was undeserved may appeal to the Vice Dean of Graduate Education within 14 calendar days. Except for circumstances justifying immediate dismissal, a student may not be dismissed on the basis of academic performance without the opportunity to return to good standing during an identified period of probation.

For details of these or any other policies of the Office of Graduate Studies, Arts & Sciences, please visit the Policies & Procedures page.

Interdisciplinarity

Dual Degree Programs

The university has set up numerous programs that permit students to earn two graduate and/or professional degrees at the same time. Two of these programs include an MA degree:

• Dual Master of Social Work/Master of Arts in Education
• Dual Juris Doctoris/Master of Arts in Women, Gender, and Sexuality Studies

The Office of Graduate Studies, Arts & Sciences, uses the term dual degree to identify instances when two separate programs of study share some common curricular elements and may allow a specified amount of double-counting, which means that certain courses or credits can count toward the requirements for both programs. These programs have been designed and approved by either a cross-departmental or cross-school faculty committee or separately by both schools' committees who have agreed on the common elements.

Interested students must apply to and be admitted by each degree program separately. Ideally, all applications should be made before beginning graduate or professional study. Dual degrees are ordinarily conferred simultaneously after all requirements for both degrees have been met. For details of the programs listed above, students should consult the websites of the two disciplines.

Accelerated BA/Master's Program

The Accelerated BA/Master's program allows qualified Washington University undergraduates to complete a master’s degree in a one-year accelerated program after completing the BA degree. The undergraduate and graduate degrees are awarded sequentially, with admission to the master’s degree, if approved, for the fall semester following completion of the undergraduate degree in the preceding December, May, or August.

Applications must be submitted by March 15, and GRE tests are not required. The program is available only to students currently in their senior year and only for continuous enrollment in the next year. There is no option for deferred admissions. In order to complete a master’s degree in one year, students may apply five courses taken at the 4000 level or above as an undergraduate (with a maximum of 16 units) toward master’s degree programs that require 36 or more units for completion. For master’s programs that require fewer than 36 units, three courses at the 4000 level or above (with a maximum of 12 units) may be applied. Master’s programs requiring more than 36 units may require an additional semester or summer of enrollment. Undergraduate courses must be acceptable to the department or program offering the master’s degree and must be completed with a final grade of B or higher. All admissions are provisional until the successful completion of the BA. 

The actual awarding of each degree is contingent on the successful completion of all requirements for that degree. The application for admission must be made to the department, which forwards the application and the department's recommendation for admission to Arts & Sciences. There is no application fee. Students accepted into the program will retain their student ID numbers and will not need to replace their ID cards. In every other respect, they will be treated as new students in Arts & Sciences and should familiarize themselves with the relevant sections of this Bulletin.

Please consult the department offering the accelerated degree and the Information for Accelerated BA/Master's Degree Program Applicants for more detailed information.

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