Master’s Examination

An application for the master's degree must be submitted to the dean of the Graduate School-Newark at least two months before the student takes the final examination. If a student expects to take the final examination at the end of Summer Session or at the beginning of the fall semester, the application must be filed before Summer Session begins. Forms for this purpose are available at the Office of the Dean. The responsibility for completing and submitting the application lies with the student.

The final comprehensive examination may be written, oral, or a combination. The chair records the result of the final examination on the master's degree form available on the graduate school website: https://www.gsn.newark.rutgers.edu/masters. It is the responsibility of the candidate to return the form, properly signed by his or her committee, to the Office of the Dean. It should be returned soon after the examination, and in no case later than the announced deadlines.

Qualifying Examination for the Doctorate Used for the Master's Degree

In place of the final master's examination, a student who plans to pursue a Ph.D. degree may elect to take the qualifying examination for the doctorate instead. In this case, the following stipulations apply:

1. All other requirements for the master's degree, except the final examination, must be satisfied.

2. Approval must be obtained from the program faculty.

3. Both master's examination and diploma application forms must be filed in accordance with the directions given above.

After passing the qualifying examination, the student may be recommended for the appropriate master's degree. This use of the qualifying examination does not invalidate the status of a student as a candidate for the doctoral degree.