UIS Graduate and Undergraduate Catalog
Academic Year 2005 - 2006

General Information for Master's Degree Students

Statement of Purpose
A graduate student should develop intellectual autonomy within a chosen field and demonstrate the ability to analyze, synthesize, and evaluate relevant knowledge. The graduate student, furthermore, assumes some responsibility for increasing knowledge within the chosen field.

Graduate education assumes the acquisition of specific content knowledge, including recognition of the significant terminology, facts, theories, issues, findings, and generalizations within the field of study. Graduate study also encompasses comprehension of the intellectual history, methods of inquiry, and standards of judgment used in a given field. Students should also grasp the ethical meanings of research in a discipline or a profession.

A student receiving a master’s degree will be able to:

1. Analyze ideas in a logical manner by breaking down material into constituent parts, organizing ideas and relationships between ideas, expressing these relationships, recognizing unstated assumptions, distinguishing facts from hypotheses, and distinguishing statements of cause from statements of effect;

2. Synthesize diverse ideas to form an integrated whole relevant to a field of study by arranging and combining elements and parts into patterns or structures. The parts to be integrated may, to the extent necessary, come from a variety of disciplines;

3. Make judgments about the value of relevant material, including the appropriateness and adequacy of any qualitative and quantitative methods used in its compilation, by employing a standard of internal or external appraisal. In evaluating the accuracy of a communication, a student will use an integration of theories, works of recognized excellence, facts and generalizations germane to a field; and

4. Convey ideas, feelings, and experiences through scholarly writing and discussion with others. The student will be able to develop a proposal or plan of work that includes ways of testing hypotheses, analyzing the factors involved, modifying the hypotheses based on new factors or considerations, and then making generalizations based on findings. The student will then have the ability to communicate both this process and subsequent findings to others.

Graduate Admission – Master’s
Students who have earned a bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited college or university are eligible to apply for admission to master’s-level study at UIS. Full admission to master’s studies may be granted to those who earned a baccalaureate degree with an undergraduate grade-point average of at least 2.50 on a 4.00 scale. Applicants must also have met all entrance requirements specific to the chosen UIS program; some programs require higher grade-point averages and/or prerequisites. Refer to the individual programs for information on specific requirements.

Conditional admission may be granted to students with lesser GPAs. Conditionally admitted students must complete a certain number of semester hours at UIS (exclusive of prerequisites) with a grade-point average of no less than 3.00. The program will specify which courses must be completed.

All college/university transcripts, including verification of the bachelor’s degree and transcripts of all graduate work taken beyond the bachelor’s degree must be submitted.

To receive maximum consideration for graduate admission, applications should arrive at least three months before the beginning of the term in which the student plans to start course work. Some academic programs have earlier deadlines.

Write to the Office of Admissions and Records, University of Illinois at Springfield, One University Plaza, MS UHB 1080, Springfield, IL 62703-5407 to request an application form, or apply online. Call (217) 206-4847 or toll free number (888) 977-4847.

Admission to a Specific Master’s Program
Admission to graduate study is granted by the academic program. Each program has established admission requirements that comply with campus policy; these requirements may exceed the general minimum requirements for admission. Some graduate programs require scores from the Graduate Record Exam or the Graduate Management Admission Test. Applications are processed by both the degree program and UIS. Students are encouraged to check graduate program application requirements at www.uis.edu/graduatestudies.

Admission for International Students seeking Master’s Degrees
To be admitted to graduate study, international students must have completed the equivalent of a bachelor’s degree earned in the United States; bachelor’s degrees earned abroad may or may not meet this requirement. Full admission to graduate study requires a minimum undergraduate grade-point average equivalent to a U.S. GPA of 2.50 on a 4.00 scale. Applicants must also have met all entrance requirements specified by their chosen UIS degree program. An I-20 AB or DS 2019 (formerly called IAP 66) certificate of eligibility cannot be issued until the student has been accepted by a degree program and all required documents have been received.

International students seeking admission to the University of Illinois at Springfield are encouraged to apply as early as possible. The deadline for application to the Graduate Assistantship and Graduate Public Service Internship programs is March 15. In order to be considered for a graduate assistant or graduate public service internship, students must already be admitted to a UIS graduate program.

Non-degree Admission
Students who hold a bachelor’s degree may enroll for courses at UIS as a non-degree seeking graduate student. These students will be asked to define their educational goals before exceeding 12 semester hours. Non-degree students who choose to become degree candidates must complete regular admissions procedures, including acceptance into the chosen degree program.

When formal admission is granted, the course work completed as a non-degree seeking student is evaluated by the intended academic program and may or may not apply toward that program’s graduation requirements. UIS accepts a maximum of 12 semester hours of such credit toward a graduate degree. A non-degree declaration form must be on file for continued enrollment as a non-degree student beyond 12 hours. Non-degree students typically are not eligible for financial assistance.

Financial Assistance for Master’s Degree Students
The UIS Office of Financial Assistance coordinates federal, state, institutional, and private financial aid programs for all students. Assistance is available in the form of grants, tuition waivers, assistantships, scholarships, loans, part-time employment, and veterans' benefits.

Programs specifically available for master’s degree students include General Graduate Assistantships, the Illinois Legislative Staff Intern Program, the Graduate Public Service Internship Program, the Whitney M. Young Fellowship Program, and Public Affairs Reporting Scholarships (for PAR students only). For detailed information, see the “Financial Aid” section of this catalog.

Master’s Degree General Information

Master’s Degree Programs and Areas of Study
UIS offers the following master’s degree programs.
Accountancy (M.A.)
Biology (M.S.)
Business Administration (M.B.A.)
Communication (M.A.)
Computer Science (M.S.)
Educational Leadership (M.A.)
English (M.A.)
Environmental Sciences (M.S.)
Environmental Studies (M.A.)
History (M.A.)
Human Development Counseling (M.A.)
Human Services (M.A.)
Individual Option (M.A.)
Legal Studies (M.A.)
Management Information Systems (M.S.)
Political Studies (M.A.)
Public Administration (M.P.A.)
Public Affairs Reporting (M.A.)
Public Health (M.P.H.)
Teacher Leadership (M.A.)

The Individual Option Program is based on broad topics or problems that reflect particular student needs and interests. Students work with an advising committee of faculty and peers in preparing personal degree programs. Students interested in pursuing master’s degrees in areas such as African-American studies, women’s studies, energy studies, or international studies will find the individual option program well suited to their needs.

Graduate Certificates, Post-master's Certificates, and Professional Development Sequences represent courses of study that constitutes less than a full graduate degree and provides specialized knowledge and skills for the professional. UIS currently offers certificates in public sector labor relations, environmental risk assessment, management of nonprofit organizations, educational leadership advanced certificate, career specialist studies, and alcohol and substance abuse. A related curricular option for those seeking to enhance professional skills at the graduate level is the professional development sequence in gerontology.

Students admitted to certificate and professional sequence study must have a bachelor’s degree (in any major) and complete an application process. It is also possible to pursue a certificate as a post-master’s option. Admission, advising, and certification of completion are provided by the faculty members who supervise the certificates.

Course prerequisites may be waived if the student can present evidence of advanced career experience. Proficiency examination, transfer, and credit for prior learning experience may not be permitted because of the limited number of courses required and the need for course content to logically integrate.

General Requirements: Master’s Degree
To earn a master’s degree from the University of Illinois at Springfield, you must:

• Earn the amount of graduate credit required by the chosen academic program, all but 12 semester hours of which must be earned at UIS.

• When applicable, earn a minimum of four semester hours credit in public affairs colloquia (see individual program information).

• Complete course work with a cumulative UIS grade-point average of at least 3.00.

• Complete the program closure requirements.

• Complete the graduation contract.

• Pay a graduation fee of $25 (subject to change).

Closure Requirement
Master’s degree candidates are required to complete a closure exercise demonstrating mastery of some area within their major field of study. The exact nature and format of these exercises – including theses, projects, and capstone courses – are determined by individual programs, but all of them must have an identifiable academic focus and must include a written component.

UIS has a continuing enrollment policy which states that once the student begins a closure exercise, he or she must continue to enroll for at least one semester hour of closure exercise credit each fall and spring semester until the exercise is complete, including semesters in which the student “stops out” of other courses. If the degree program grants a leave of absence, the student will be exempt from this requirement on a semester-by-semester basis.

Graduate Internships and Experiential Learning
Experiential learning is an integral part of graduate education at UIS. Internships are offered through the Graduate Public Service Internship Program as well as many academic programs. Additional information may be obtained from program faculty. UIS also provides a variety of paid internship opportunities in Illinois government agencies and on campus.

Research at the University of Illinois at Springfield
Conventional research opportunities are available to students in most academic programs. In addition, UIS offers unique opportunities for applied research through its public affairs centers where emphasis is on coordinated, interdisciplinary approaches to problem solving, training, and communication.

UIS cooperates with neighboring universities in meeting their doctoral students’ needs for research and residency in the Springfield area.

Time Limitation
All graduate credit earned at UIS to be applied toward the completion of a master’s degree must be taken within six consecutive years of the first graduate course taken at UIS in pursuit of that degree. This does not include transfer credit earned before the first term of graduate enrollment, credit granted for prior learning, and prerequisites; however, it does include closure requirements. Exceptions may be granted by degree programs on a case-by-case basis, and programs may also grant leaves of absence.

Transfer Credit at the Master’s Level
Residency Requirement  UIS may accept up to 12 semester hours of graduate-level work completed at other accredited institutions. However, only hours earned with a grade of B or better and accepted by the program will also be accepted by UIS. Request to transfer credit for courses bearing a grade such as P (pass) or CR (credit) must be supported by certification from the institution or instructor that the work was of at least B quality.

Time Limit on Transfer Credit  All transfer credit to be applied to a master’s degree must have been earned within five years of the first graduate course taken at UIS in pursuit of that degree. Exceptions may be granted by programs on a case-by-case basis.