Steps to Graduation: MA, MEd

1) Faculty Advisor and Master’s Program Plan

Upon admission to EDHI, each student is assigned a faculty advisor. This assignment is made based on the students stated interests and the research interest of the faculty member. A faculty advisor will assist in developing an initial program of study using the Master’s Program Plan, http://www.education.umd.edu/EDHI/forms/forms.html .  

The Master’s Program Plan is an agreement about how the student will fulfill the course requirements for the master’s program. It protects students from future changes in requirements and identifies any previous graduate course work that will be accepted for credit in the program. When the Master’s Program Plan form is completed, it is signed by the student and the program advisor.

This program is then forwarded to the EDHI Department where it is reviewed for compliance with Department and College requirements. Once approved, signed copies will be returned to your program advisor and a copy will be maintained in the department files. For specific requirements for your area of specialization please refer to the Master’s Handbook pages 18 through 23, http://www.education.umd.edu/EDHI/forms/forms.html .

2) Comprehensive Examination
After completing a Master’s Program Plan, a written comprehensive examination is required of all Master’s students in the Department.  It is usually taken in the final semester of course work. Students should plan to discuss the development of his or her comprehensive examination with his or her advisor no later than the semester prior to the one in which the student plans to take the examination.
Once a student passes his or her comprehensive examination, a letter of confirmation will be sent to the student and to Student Services for their records.

3) Master’s Thesis and Seminar Paper
All master’s students in EDHI who do not write a master’s thesis must write a seminar paper. A seminar paper may build on research or policy analysis papers written in courses taken during the Master’s program in EDHI.  However, the seminar paper must pursue topics that go beyond those addressed in these courses or examine issues addressed in previous work more fully.  Students should write the seminar paper near the end of the program in order to draw upon previous studies in the program.

  • Students should plan to discuss the development of his or her master’s seminar paper with his or her advisor no later than the semester prior to the one in which the student plans to take the comprehensive examination.
  • Students must be registered in the semester of graduation, including one of the summer sessions if graduating in August.
  • If you are a graduating international student, and are on an F-1 Visa, you must comply with Sevis Regulations, monitored by the International Education Services Office on campus. As part of the regulations, you must file the F-1 Exit Plan Form before you complete your program requirements. This form will require your advisor's signature.

Please be aware the outline above for the Degree Completion Process for Master’s Degree at the University of Maryland, College Park is a basic overview for the graduate degree experience. Please check with your academic advisor and refer to the EDHI Master’s Handbook for specific area requirements and/or go to the following link for more graduate information http://www.education.umd.edu/studentinfo/graduate_info/gradtnstepsmnt.html .

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