The ‘en route’ Masters at Clemson University: Various Considerations
J. Bruce Rafert, Dean
Frankie Felder, Senior Associate Dean
Graduate School, Clemson University
March 20, 2009
Abstract
This paper represents our thoughts after reviewing the master’s en route to PhD (or EdD) process, initiated formally by the Graduate School as an option for all students in 2005-06. The policy and process was partially developed in response to the University’s goal to “double doctoral enrollment.” The anticipated byproduct of the policy was to create a mechanism that encouraged more direct admits into doctoral programs, but at the same time, responded to the “strong desire” of some programs that students earn a master’s degree from Clemson prior to earning a doctorate.
This paper reviews five scenarios that summarize the most prevalent issues we have seen across all colleges. Written in the format of “FAQ’s,” which are typically generated by the faculty member as a result of a request from the student, we provide our collective thoughts in concert with the Graduate School’s objective to continue this unprecedented success in producing doctoral students.
Introduction
Often doctoral program degree-granting institutions desire to offer students enrolled in certain doctoral programs a master’s degree as part of their doctoral training, or as an alternative degree in the event that progress towards the doctoral degree stalls for a number of reasons. This paper covers both of these situations at Clemson.
It should be noted that students who are enrolled in master’s programs—who will naturally and logically receive master’s degrees, fall under a different prescript than those students who matriculate to Clemson in a doctoral program. Likewise, some programs may require the receipt of a masters degree at Clemson before enrollment in a doctoral program can be achieved. Either of these two scenarios —students who are enrolled in a master’s program, and students who must receive a master degree before enrolling in a doctoral program fall under the purview of this short paper nor under the ‘en route’ rubric.
A final point before proceeding: no department or program is either required or encouraged to offer a master’s degree to a student enrolled in a doctoral program unless it is the desire of that program’s faculty to do so and the student has satisfied all of the university’s and program’s normal requirements for the master’s degree.
Policy and Proper Uses
Clemson has adopted a process by which a doctoral student may be granted a master’s degree in his/her same discipline while progressing towards a doctoral degree. This process is called the ‘en route’ masters to distinguish it from the ‘normal’ master’s degree for students who matriculated into master’s degree programs. The ‘en route’ process is neither automatic nor mandatory; however there should be no difference in requirements for either the master’s or an ‘en route’ master’s degree.
Formally, faculty submit a Graduate School Form (GS2-14) to document 1) the fulfillment of requirements for an ‘en route’ masters degree, and 2) the faculty’s recommendation to award the ‘en route’ masters degree. Normal university deadlines apply in all cases. It is entirely up to the program faculty to determine whether or not they wish to offer doctoral students an ‘en route’ master’s degree after certain milestones in their doctoral program are achieved. Some programs may determine that it is disadvantageous to do so, or that it is not a customary practice in their specific discipline. However, it must be understood that the precedent is set at the program and not the individual student level: either the program will allow any student who has achieved a certain level of accomplishment to receive an en route masters, or they will allow none to do so. The decision cannot be made on a student -by -student basis for students who exceed the necessary threshold of accomplishment, usually measured by GPA, number of credit hours, and/or passage of the comprehensive examination.
What the en route masters is not is an avenue for students who seek only a master’s degree and who do not plan to pursue the doctoral degree, but who may wish to receive higher compensation as a doctoral student if that is the practice in their department or program.
FAQ’s
1. Good Academic Standing/Yet to Take Comps/Master’s Threshold Achieved. “I have a doctoral student who has enough credit hours to receive a master’s degree and has satisfied all the requirements for the master’s degree, and who has a >3.0 GPA. He/she has yet to take the comps. Can we award a master’s degree ‘en route’ if the program faculty agree to do so?”
Maybe. If approved, use GS2-14. The questions to consider here are whether you are fully aware of the reason the student is requesting to earn the master’s degree and would this student continue on in your program? Our preference is that you proceed with caution and consider precedents you may set by your approval of such requests. We would suggest using the case scenario below instead.
2. Good Academic Standing/Taken and Passed Comps/ Master’s Threshold Achieved. “I have a doctoral student who has enough credit hours to receive a master’s degree and has satisfied all the requirements for the master’s degree, and who has a >3.0 GPA. We wish to require that he/she pass the comprehensive examination before we award the ‘en route’ masters so that the student will be more deeply invested in our doctoral program and less likely to leave to the job market if awarded a master’s degree ‘en route’. Is this acceptable?
Yes. This is the preferred model and intent of the ‘en route’ to master’s process. The decision will need to be formally made and codified in the departmental bylaws whether or not the department/program is using situation 1 or 2.
3. Good Academic Standing/Yet to Take Comps/ Master’s Threshold Not Achieved. “I have a doctoral student who has almost enough credit hours to receive a master’s degree and has satisfied some of the requirements for the master’s degree, and who has a >3.0 GPA. He/she has a genuine personal situation that is forcing abandonment of the dream of pursuing a doctoral degree at this time, but can complete the requirements for a master’s degree in a short period of time. The student has yet to take the comps. Can he/she change majors?
Yes. As long as you certify implicitly, via submission of the change of major form, the genuine nature of the situation this student may be awarded a master’s. In no case, however, should a change of major be submitted if the student has a GPA lower than 3.0 in his/her current program, nor should this student re-enroll in the doctoral program without making formal application for re-entrance.
4. Failure to Have Good Academic Standing/ Comps Failed/ Master’s Threshold Achieved/en route Masters. “I have a doctoral student who has enough credit hours to receive a master’s degree and has satisfied all the requirements for the master’s degree, and who has a >3.0 GPA, but who has failed the doctoral comprehensive examination twice and will be dismissed via policy. Can I give them a master’s degree ‘en route’?”
No. The student is a doctoral student, pursuing the doctoral degree, has failed the comprehensive examination twice, and will be dismissed. He/she is not eligible for the ‘en route’ masters. The student is no longer ‘en route’ to the doctoral degree. Do not use GS2-14. Note: the same logic applies if the student has only failed their comps once; however, see scenario #5 below.
5. Failure to Have Good Academic Standing/ Comps Failed/ Master’s Threshold Achieved/Change of Major. “I have a doctoral student who has enough credit hours to receive a master’s degree and has satisfied all the requirements for the master’s degree, and who has a >3.0 GPA, but who has failed the doctoral comprehensive examination twice and will be dismissed from our doctoral program via university policy. Can I submit a change of major to a master’s program and then award a master’s degree?”
Technically, yes. This case requires that you carefully examine the standard you and your program faculty wish to apply. Did they fail their comps by just a small amount, or did they fail spectacularly? Did they study diligently, or did they not study at all? This is a decision that is best made by the department and program faculty and not by the major advisor, although appropriate weight should be given to the opinion of the (former) major advisor. Again we note—the department and program faculty are not required to approve a change of major for a failed doctoral student unless they choose to do so. We would strongly recommend that this path not be utilized for students who fail two or more sections of their comps on the second try.
6. Good Academic Standing/Yet to Take Comps/ Master’s Threshold Not Achieved. “I have a doctoral student who does NOT have enough credit hours to receive a master’s degree and, and who has a >3.0 GPA, and who has yet to take the comprehensive examination (and has not failed to take a scheduled examination for his/her cohort). Can I approve a change of major to a master’s program and award a master’s degree after completion of all necessary requirements for the master’s degree?”
Yes. Same as #3 above. This student should not re-enroll in the doctoral program without making formal application for re-entrance.
The Future of the ‘en route’ masters at Clemson University
The master’s ‘en route’ program is a subject of constant discussion and review by the Graduate Advisory Committee. We feel that confusion surrounding the proper use of this program may be reduced as a result of this paper, which will be revised periodically in response to future discussions. Faculty and Graduate Program Coordinator feedback is requested.
At the present time we feel that the ‘en route’ masters fills a legitimate programmatic niche for those departments and programs that use it carefully and thoughtfully. Concern that some departments and programs may be artificially using matriculation into a doctoral program (for students who are really only interested in seeking a masters degree) to give the appearance of larger doctoral programs than would otherwise exist is not substantiated by any objective evidence at this time, and there exists a substantial number of PhD students who are exiting their PhD programs. We will continue to monitor this activity.