Maintenance of Active Status in Master’s Degree Programs
Master's students who are not officially enrolled in any course but will be taking their comprehensive exams may apply for active student status.
In order to apply for active status, the student must have completed all the requirements of the master's degree, except the comprehensive exams. They must pay a fee set by the administration to remain linked to the Institution. This option does not apply if the student must comply with another degree option, such as Thesis, Integrative Seminar, Research Project or Creative Work. In these cases, the student must enroll in the corresponding course. Active status may be granted for a maximum of two consecutive academic terms, within the statutory seven-year period for master's degree students.
Institutional Graduation Requirements for Master’s Programs
The University establishes as an academic policy that all students demonstrate the capacity to integrate the developed competencies and to apply them to their specialization area as a
requirement to obtain the master’s degree. The University recognizes different ways through which students can demonstrate the mastery of the competencies of their discipline as part of the graduation requirements: thesis, comprehensive examination, integration seminar, research project, creative work and graduation average.
For this reason, all master's degree candidates must pass one of the following five (5) exit options, as determined by their academic program:
1. Thesis
The thesis will be the option available for those programs whose nature requires this type of work. The student will demonstrate his ability to carry out original research in his field of study.
The student will have a maximum of four semesters, or the equivalent of two academic years, to complete the thesis. The student will receive a final grade of Pass (P) or Fail (NP).
2. Comprehensive Examination
The comprehensive examination will be the option available for those academic programs whose accrediting agencies requires this modality. If this is not the case, the academic program will determine if this option will be available for its students.
The comprehensive examination consists of two parts, when applicable. One part will include general material related to the field of studies and the other will examine specific material related to the specialization or program areas. All master’s level students must be evaluated by the Director of the Graduate Program to determine their eligibility to take the comprehensive examination. The specific number of credits as well as the courses students must have passed will be established according to the requirements of each graduate program. Students will take the entire examination on the first occasion. The minimum passing grade will be established by the Graduated Program and will not be less than 75. A student that passes only one of the parts must repeat the part that was failed.
3. Integration Seminar
Three-credit interdisciplinary Integration Seminar (SEMI 697_), in the program specialization, in which general and specific material required for the degree will be presented proportionally to their composition of the totality of credits required for the degree. If the academic program has an equivalent Integration Seminar, it may be used instead of SEMI 697_. Students will receive a final grade of Pass (P) or Not Pass (NP).
4. Research Project
Students will take a three-credit (3) course where they will carry out a Research Project. Throughout this Project, students will demonstrate their capability to interpret and integrate theoretical concepts for the practical solution of problems related to their field of studies. Students will have up to one consecutive academic year to complete their Project. The student will receive a final grade of Pass (P) or Not Pass (NP) or Project in Progress (PP).
5. Creative work
Students will take a three-credit (3) course where they will have to carry out a creative work that demonstrates their mastery of the competencies developed in their specialization area. They will receive a final grade of Pass (A) or Not Pass (NP).
Each Program will define which or which will be the options available to obtain the master's degree.
General Provisions to Meet Graduation Requirements for Master's Programs
- All students who request eligibility to meet the requirement for the granting of a master's degree must be evaluated before undergoing the modality required by the program. The number of credits approved as a requirement to be eligible will be established for each particular specialty.
- For the Comprehensive Exam, Integrative Seminar, Research Project and Creative Work options, if the first attempt to pass this requirement fails, the student will have two (2) additional opportunities to repeat the same modality or take advantage of another of those available. Any student interested in more than one specialty within a degree program and who wants them to appear certified on their transcript, must take this requirement to obtain the degree in all the areas of specialization for which they want certification.
- For the Thesis option, the student will have a maximum of four semesters, or the equivalent of two academic years to complete it. In exceptional meritorious cases, in which the student is about to meet this requirement, an extension of time of up to one additional year may be granted with the authorization of the Dean of Academic Affairs or a designated person. Extraordinary situations that modify the period included to complete it, may be raised to the Chief Executive of the unit, for evaluation and determination.
- The different options will be offered in accordance with the regulations in force for the academic program. In those cases, for which the rules of the academic program do not specify the option or options available, the academic units will determine which one or which will be offered according to their needs.
- Any request to take advantage of one of the modalities described must be made within the deadline stipulated by the academic program to which the student belongs.
- The general average to complete the master's degree will be established in the norms of the student's academic program. If the program does not specify it, the average will be the minimum established by the University, that is, 3.00.
- All students must complete their degree within the period of time established by each academic program. In case the program does not specify it, the maximum time will be the one established by the University.
- If the student does not pass the modality selected according to their study program in the time established for each one, including the extension of time when applicable, they will not be able to continue in the program.
Graduation Requirements for Master’s Programs and Professional Certificates
Students will graduate under the program and the norms established in the Graduate Catalog of the University under which they were admitted or in any subsequent Graduate Catalog at the student’s request, but never in a combination of catalogs. Re-admitted students will graduate under the rules of the program in the Graduate Catalog in effect at the time of their readmission or under any subsequent Graduate Catalog.
Graduation Requirements for the Master’s Degree and Professional Certificates
In order to satisfy the Graduation Requirements of the master’s degree at Inter American University, students must:
- Be regular students.
- Have approved the program required courses established in the study program as established in the Graduate Catalog.
- Obtain a general academic index of 3.00 or more.
- Obtain an academic index of 3.00 or more in the courses required for their degree.
Expiration Norm for Master’s Level and Professional Certificate Courses
All work with academic credits will be valid for a period of ten (10) years. The courses to which the expiration rule is applied will appear in the student's academic record, but will not be considered for their general academic index.
The director of the graduate program and the dean of academic affairs may refer to the corresponding faculty the evaluation of the courses that have expired to authorize their inclusion in compliance with the study program and in the general index, in accordance with the Procedure for applying exceptions to the expiration rule for master's degree courses, professional certificates and doctorates.