Catalog Navigator : Specialty Master's Degree Requirements

Specialty Master's Degree Requirements

Degree requirements are provided here for specialty master's students.

M.B.A. students should consult their program administrator for details or check the website.

The specialty master's degree programs require a minimum of 30-45 credits depending on which program students select. The professional accounting M.B.A. program requires 66 credits. Completion of the prescribed program of courses is a necessary, but not sufficient, condition for the award of a degree. Consult the Degree Programs chapter in this catalog for specific course requirements.

Residency Requirement and Length of the Program
Students in an RBS specialty master's program following 30-36-credit minimum degree have 4.5 years to complete the degree.

For example, a student admitted for fall 2021 trimester will have a completion deadline of spring 2026. Some students choose to take additional courses once they have completed the minimum degree requirement.

There are some restrictions on choices of courses taken in excess of degree requirements. Students should check with the program director before registering. Students must complete the degree within the 4.5-year requirement. A student is allowed to petition for an exemption from this policy within six months of the completion of the 4.5 years provided they have extenuating circumstances.

Students are not permitted to take more than 15 credits of overload in excess of the degree requirements for their program.

Incomplete Coursework

If, for legitimate reasons, a student is unable to complete all the required coursework or examinations, a faculty member may choose to submit a grade of INC (incomplete). If the coursework is not completed, the INC is automatically changed to an F on February 1 for the summer trimester, June 1 for the fall trimester, and September 1 for the spring trimester. Justified reasons for the submission of the grade of INC might include illness requiring medical attention, personal emergency obligations claimed by the student and recognized as valid, recognized religious holiday(s), and severe inclement weather causing dangerous travel conditions.

Students incurring more than two INC grades in the same trimester may be contacted by the Scholastic Standing Committee. The committee reserves the right to place on probation any student who consistently fails to complete coursework on time, in which case that student will be permitted no future INC grades.
Scholastic Standing
Students must maintain an academic average of no less than 2.5. The student's average is computed on the basis of all courses taken for credit. Each grade received in a course that has been failed and then repeated is included in the calculation. Grades received in courses not given at a graduate department of Rutgers University or New Jersey Institute of Technology are not included in the computation.

Grades are rounded to the third decimal place; a 2.499 is not equivalent to a 2.5. The program directors and program coordinators review each student's academic record at the end of each trimester. Students will be placed on probation and receive a letter from the program director the first time his or her semester grade-point average falls below 2.5. If the student's grade-point average falls below 2.5 a second time any time in the future, he or she will be dismissed from their program. The student will be notified by the program director of the dismissal due to failure to uphold academic standards. Appeals of these actions may be submitted in writing to the program director for review by the Special Programs Committee. Students should email or drop off such appeals to the program coordinator or administrative assistant. Students on academic probation may be required to follow a program of study prescribed by their program director during an appeal. The successful completion of such a program is a condition of the student's continued enrollment at Rutgers Business School: Graduate Programs-Newark and New Brunswick. All graduate candidates must complete the program with a grade-point average of 2.500 or better.
Grade Deficiency
A student may repeat a failed credit or not-for-credit course only once. Both grades will be used in computing the grade-point average. A second failure in that course will be grounds for the dismissal of the student from the program.

Conflict with Faculty
Sometimes students want to appeal a faculty member's decision. Matters such as review of a specific grade given by a faculty member should first be discussed with the faculty member and then referred to the department chair. However, if unresolved, the university policy allows students to appeal to the following persons in the exact order listed:
professor
department chair
program director
vice dean for academic programs
dean
chancellor, Rutgers University-Newark
university president
Each appeal to these individuals must be made in writing with a copy to the school for the student's file. Each person in turn will respond in writing with a copy for the student's file. If a student appeals to all of the above persons without gaining satisfaction, he or she may then engage independent legal counsel. Transfer Credits
For specialty master's students in programs requiring 30-36 credits for graduation

Students may receive up to a maximum of 6 credits of graduate coursework completed with a grade of B or better if they received such credit as a master's degree candidate at an AACSB-accredited institution in the United States. For students that completed transferable credits overseas please note that the AACSB accreditation is preferred but not required. A comparable accreditation may be needed and a course syllabi/any related materials must be sent to the program director for approval.

Please note: No credit can be awarded for any course taken more than eight (8) years before the time of initial enrollment in the Rutgers specialty master's program. Some exceptions may be applied by the program director. Please refer to the program policy. RBS will not allow undergraduate credit to substitute for core and foundation course requirements.

For specialty master's students in programs requiring 45-65 credits for graduation
Students may receive up to a maximum of 12 credits of graduate coursework completed with a grade of B or better if they received such credit as a master's degree candidate at an AACSB-accredited institution in the United States. For students that completed transferrable credits overseas please note that the AACSB accreditation is preferred but not required. A comparable accreditation may be needed and a course syllabi/any related materials must be sent to the program director for approval.
Please note: No credit can be awarded for any course taken more than eight (8) years before the time of initial enrollment in the Rutgers specialty master's program. Some exclusions may be applied by the program director. Please refer to the program policy. RBS will not allow undergraduate credit to substitute for course requirements (some exclusions will apply).
NOTE: M.B.A. professional accounting program is excluded from this policy and has been approved for accepting undergraduate credits.

Readmission to the Program

Students who do not register for three consecutive trimesters must request readmission by writing to the program director. The school retains student files for a period of one year; thus, depending upon the length of time out of the program, the applicant for readmission may be required to resubmit all admissions credentials and pay the application fee. If the program requires an admission test such as GMAT or GRE for original entry to the program, RBS must have on file a score no older than five years prior to the date of readmission. It is the responsibility of each applicant to check with the program director as to the exact credentials needed. All readmitted students must fulfill the current curriculum requirements. The application of a student with a cumulative average below 2.5 or a student who has attempted more credits required for graduation is referred to the Scholastic Standing Committee for review and possible action.

Readmission to the program is based upon the availability of space for the specific trimester of reentry; thus, students are advised to make their applications well in advance. Readmitted students are also advised that any courses, examinations, advanced standing credits, or waivers taken or given prior to eight years before the date of graduation are not counted toward the degree.
Course Evaluations
Each trimester, students are asked to evaluate their classes using online survey forms. The process is conducted under strict standards of confidentiality. After final grades for courses have been submitted, comments and evaluation data are provided to the instructor as well as to the dean's office and to the department chairs.
Starting and closing dates for each semester, scheduled holidays, and other important scheduling information can be found in the academic calendar. Class periods are generally 180 minutes in length, meeting once a week, unless otherwise specified. There will be 14 weeks of instructional activity for each course. The Thanksgiving week schedule is rearranged to allow all classes to meet 14 sessions during the semester.