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Updated on November 3, 2025. Effective beginning Fall 2025.
Unit requirements vary by program, although 30 units of graduate credit is the minimum for a master’s degree. Refer to the specific academic program section for individual unit requirements. A student whose program includes a thesis or critique may, on faculty recommendation, receive a maximum of six units of credit for thesis research. Four units of credit may be awarded for writing a critique.
Not all of the requirements on this page may apply to every student’s specific program. Students should consult the degree requirements for their individual program. Joint program students should be aware of additional requirements because of their joint program status.
Milestones for the master’s degree may include one or more Research Tools, a Qualifying Examination, and/or a Thesis or Critique. Students should consult the specific academic program section of the Bulletin for details.
A demonstrated proficiency in a skill or subject—such as a foreign language, statistics, mathematics, computer programming, or other approved areas—required by certain academic programs to support advanced research. Proficiency must be verified through an approved examination, successful completion of a qualified course with a grade of B or higher, or another documented method accepted by the institution.
Transcript notation will be added only if the research tool is completed as a non-course requirement. To record successful completion of the Research Tool on the student’s transcript, department staff will submit a completed Research Tool Approval Form to the Registrar’s Office by the last day of the semester in which the tool was completed.
Tools Completed Outside CGU
Students who have completed a research tool at another institution may petition their faculty to receive credit toward the CGU degree. An official transcript is required to substantiate that completion of applicable coursework occurred within the last three years. All transfer credit policies apply. Students who wish to transfer tools to their CGU degree program are encouraged to petition their department as early as possible after beginning studies at CGU to meet the three-year requirement. Requests are submitted by following the steps below:
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Attach an official transcript that documents completion of the tool. If this information was included in the transcript provided upon admission, a new transcript does not need to be obtained. The student should indicate on the petition that the official transcript is already on file. The student’s academic department will make and attach a copy of that transcript to their petition.
The faculty of a particular field may require a written qualifying examination in addition to or in place of the thesis or critique.
These documents provide evidence of the student’s ability to analyze and evaluate materials, as well as to write clearly. A thesis involves the careful design and execution of a research problem. A critique may involve a research problem, present a critical analysis and evaluation of the literature on a particular subject, or describe and evaluate a project. A thesis or critique may be prepared either in conjunction with one or more courses, or independently under the guidance of the student’s advisor. Theses or critiques must be read and approved per specific program requirements. Completed and approved theses must be submitted for publication by deadline published in the Academic Calendar. See the Thesis Publication section below for details.
To receive credit for these scholarly products, students may register in the Thesis Research (399) course. Using Independent Coursework Contract, students may register for a maximum of 6 units of credit for thesis research and 4 units of credit for the critique with faculty approval. Enrollment contracts must document information about the area or focus of research for the thesis or critique. A grade is not assigned until the thesis or critique is completed.
Students submitting a thesis or critique may be required to defend their manuscripts in an oral examination. This examination may also include questions on the candidate’s general field of concentration. The committee conducting the examination normally includes the candidate’s advisor and one or more CGU faculty members with whom the candidate has taken graduate work. In certain fields, a thesis examiner who is not a member of the University faculty may be invited to participate in the examination.
Master’s theses should be submitted to ProQuest Electronic Theses and Dissertations (ETD) Administrator after academic department approval and by the deadline published in the Academic Calendar. Student must adhere to the Thesis (master’s) Formatting and Filing Requirements. Documents submitted to the ETD are not eligible for publication until approved by CGU.
Udated on November 3, 2025. Effective beginning Fall 2025.
Students pursuing a doctoral (PhD) degree or a professional doctorate may qualify for a master’s degree under the following conditions:
- The student is pursuing a PhD or a professional doctorate in the same field as the master’s degree.
- The student has completed all requirements for the master’s degree, as described in the Bulletin for the specific program.
- Units earned in the doctoral degree, to be applied to the master’s degrees are not used for another CGU degree or certificate.
- The student submits an Intent to Receive a Degree form for the master’s degree.
Students pursuing an Interfield doctoral degree may receive a master’s degree in one but not both fields.
Once a master’s degree is earned in the same field the student is pursuing a doctoral degree, none of the double counted units may be applied to or counted toward a third/subsequent CGU degree.
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