Graduate Degrees Offered
Graduate degrees are offered in more than 60 departments and programs. The degrees for which students may apply are listed on the Graduate Programs section. Some departments admit students who are interested only in a master’s program; others award master’s degrees only to students enrolled in other degree programs. Most departments admit students for doctoral study directly from a bachelor’s program, although some require completion of a master’s degree before approval for doctoral work.
For each Stanford advanced degree, there is an approved course of study that meets University and department requirements. Department requirements are described in the “Graduate Programs” section of department listings in the Stanford Bulletin. University degree requirements are described in full in the Stanford Bulletin. Departments also have information about their programs and requirements on the web. A brief summary of the unit requirements for each degree is presented below.
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Master of Arts (M.A.)
Master of Science (M.S.)
Master of Fine Arts (M.F.A.)
The University minimum unit requirement is 45 units earned at Stanford as a graduate student. Some departments have a higher unit requirement. At the discretion of the department, work done at another university as a graduate student, after conferral of the bachelor’s degree, may be used to meet department requirements. Prior work may meet a particular program requirement though no transfer units are awarded.
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The Engineer Degree requires 90 units and a thesis. A maximum of 45 units of transfer credit may be awarded.
Candidates for the doctoral degree must demonstrate substantial scholarship, high attainment in a particular field of knowledge, and the ability to do independent investigation and present the results of such research in a dissertation. The doctoral degree requires a minimum three-year program of study that includes 135 units of graduate course work and research done at Stanford. 45 units of transfer credit may be awarded.
Doctoral students are expected to be admitted to candidacy by the end of the second year in the program. Candidacy is valid for five years unless terminated for unsatisfactory progress. Departments specify requirements for course work, qualifying procedures, teaching, language study, and other program components. Ph.D. students must pass a University oral examination and submit a dissertation that has been approved by three readers. The dissertation is expected to be an original contribution to scholarship or scientific knowledge and to exemplify the highest standards in the discipline. D.M.A. students present a lecture/demonstration and submit a final project.
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Students are admitted for study in a specific degree program. Students may petition to change degree programs after at least one term of enrollment, either to pursue a new degree in the same department or in a different department. Additional application materials may be required. Acceptance may depend on available space in the new degree program.
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In addition to established interdisciplinary programs, limited opportunities are available to enrolled students for individually designed programs. At the master’s level, students in the School of Engineering who are admitted to a department may pursue a Master of Engineering degree; department affiliation is required.
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