Checklist for Master's Degrees

Degree Eligibility Form Deadlines

Master’s Degree Eligibility Form must be completed and submitted to the academic department two weeks prior to the Graduate School deadline to allow for departmental review. The graduate program director and department head/chair must sign the Eligibility Form.

  • May 16, 2025 degree: April 1, 2025 (March 18, 2025 to department).  All other materials due to the Graduate School by May 15.
  • September 1, 2025 degree: August 29, 2025 (August 15, 2025 to department)
  • February 1, 2026 degree: January 30, 2026 (January 16, 2026 to department)

Requirements for all master's candidates

  • Enrolled as an active student.
  • Course work completed. Grades for courses being taken in the current semester will be reported at the end of the Final Examination Period.
  • Minimum total number of credits: credits listed on the Eligibility Form must be at least the minimum for the program
  • Minimum required credits in the major field: 21 credits
  • Minimum grade-point average: 3.0 or above for courses listed on the Eligibility Form
  • Minimum one-half of total required credits must be on a letter-graded basis.
  • Minimum required 600-800 level courses: 12 credits for non-thesis students; minimum of 6 credits in 600-800 level courses for thesis students (in addition to thesis [699] credits)
  • Transfer credits listed on the Eligibility Form must be approved by the Graduate School
  • Update Diploma Name, Diploma Address, and Non-UMass Email Address in SPIRE (Academics Tile > Graduation >Diploma preferences).  Diplomas are sent to the student's Diploma Address.
  • Bursar fees paid: any outstanding Bursar fees must be paid directly to the Bursar; no holds on record
  • Department or program contacted regarding any further programmatic requirements

Other requirements which may or may not apply

  • Language requirement satisfied
  • Thesis committee appointed by the Graduate Dean
  • Thesis outline submitted to department
  • There has been 4 months between submission of prospectus/outline and thesis defense date
  • Registered for the appropriate number of thesis (699) credits
  • Maximum of 6 credits in Independent Study and Special Problem (596, 696, 796) courses if a thesis is submitted
  • General examination/thesis defense passed: memo stating that the exam/defense was passed and the date on which it was passed must be signed by the Graduate Program Director and filed with the Graduate Student Service Center.  The exam must be scheduled and passed prior to the degree date of record.

Thesis submission requirements

Questions?

Graduate Student Service Center
520 Goodell Hall
140 Hicks Way (5th flooor)
Amherst, MA 01003
Phone: (413) 545-0722
Email: degreq [at] grad [dot] umass [dot] edu (subject: Graduation%20requirement%20question) (degreq[at]grad[dot]umass[dot]edu)