The Graduate School of Arts and Sciences is the academic unit responsible for all postbaccalaureate degree programs offered through the School of Arts and Sciences. The advanced degrees offered are the master of arts, master of science, master of fine arts, master of arts in teaching, master of public policy, certificate of advanced graduate study, doctor of occupational therapy, and doctor of philosophy.
Through its doctoral programs, the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences aims to advance knowledge and to develop intellectual leaders in selected areas of the natural sciences, social sciences, and the humanities. In order to encourage the close association of doctoral candidates and faculty, the number of programs offered is relatively small and the number of students admitted to each is limited. Through its wider variety of master's level programs, the school provides students with a focused education and specific skills to further their professional careers. The programs leading to these degrees are described in this bulletin. Inquiries should be addressed to the Office of Graduate and Professional Studies, Ballou Hall, first floor, Tufts University, Medford, Massachusetts 02155.
The Office of Graduate and Professional Studies also administers the Graduate Career Advancement Program, and the nonacademic aspects of graduate programs in arts, sciences, and engineering, such as admissions, registration, and degree certification as described in the following pages.
Admission
Booklets providing program descriptions and application forms are
available from the graduate office. This information is also
on the Web at
http://ase.tufts.edu/gradstudy. The application must be accompanied by a
nonrefundable application fee ($65 check or postal
order) in United States currency. The fee is waived if the applicant is a
current Tufts undergraduate, graduate, or certificate student. Departments can
also supply information about their graduate programs.
The deadlines for admission vary by program. The application deadline for fall admission for international students is
December 30; applications for spring admission must be completed by September 15. In addition, the
graduate office must receive notification by May 1 of students' intention to accept
Tufts'
admission offer for fall matriculation and by December 1 for spring matriculation.
Registration
All graduate students must be registered, or on an approved leave of absence, each
academic year term. If all required courses--including any thesis courses--have been
completed, master's candidates register for courses 401 (part time) or 402 (full
time) in
their departments and doctoral candidates register for courses 501 (part time) or 502
(full time) in their departments.
A full-time student may arrange with an instructor to audit a course, but this course will not appear on the student's academic record. A course for which a student has been formally registered remains on the record unless a formal petition to remove it has been approved by the dean within the first four weeks of the term.
Prior to their initial registration, all graduate students, including newly
matriculating international graduate students, must complete a health examination
report, available from the Health Service. Registration will not be allowed for
those with missing or incomplete health questionnaires and examination forms.
Cross-Registration - Graduate School Consortium
Full-time students in the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences and graduate
students in the School of Engineering may enroll in any semester
for one graduate course in the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences at Boston College,
Boston University, or Brandeis University. The catalogs and schedules of the host
institutions are available at the registrar's office of each university. Students who wish
to cross-register should consult the instructor in the particular course and should expect
to satisfy the prerequisites and requirements normally required for admission to that
course. Cross-registration is not permitted in any summer school. Courses satisfactorily
completed (B- or better) at one of the three consortium schools automatically appear on
the student's Tufts transcript and may be counted toward degree requirements.
A student at Tufts University who wishes to enroll in a graduate course at one of the host institutions should obtain a registration permit from the student services center in Dowling Hall and present it to the graduate registrar of the host institution. The host institution reserves the right to terminate the student's participation at that institution at any time. A full-time graduate student at Tufts University may also enroll for two graduate courses during any semester at the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy or the Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy. Cross-registration forms are available at Student Services in Dowling Hall.
Graduate Career Advancement Program
The Office of Graduate and Professional Studies administers the Graduate Career
Advancement Program (GCAP) that allows someone with a baccalaureate degree to take courses for credit or
audit during the academic year without being matriculated into a degree program. In
addition to taking courses for personal enrichment, GCAP students enroll to
become familiar with a graduate or professional degree program, to strengthen their
academic record, or to advance their careers. Admission to any course is at the discretion of the instructor and is subject
to the availability of space. For students who later matriculate as
graduate students at Tufts, a maximum of two relevant courses are transferable to a master's degree.
Certificate Programs
For those interested in earning
professional credentials in a concentrated format, graduate-level certificate programs are
available in bioengineering, biotechnology and biotechnology engineering, community environmental studies,
computer science, environmental management, epidemiology,
human-computer interaction, management of community organizations, manufacturing
engineering, microwave and wireless engineering, museum studies, program evaluation, and advanced professional study in
occupational therapy. The postbaccalaureate minor program in computer science is
available for students with a bachelor's degree and one college-level computer
programming course.
Tufts certificate students may transfer up to four relevant courses to a master's degree.
For more information, write to or call the Office of Graduate and Professional Studies,
Ballou Hall (first floor), Medford, Massachusetts 02155, 617-627-3395, or visit http://ase.tufts.edu/gradstudy.
Reserving Graduate-Level Courses While an Undergraduate
Tufts undergraduate students may reserve graduate-level courses taken prior to completion
of their baccalaureate degree that are not needed for completion of those degree
requirements. Through arrangement with the registrar, these courses are designated on the
transcript and may be applied toward a master's degree at Tufts or elsewhere.
Combined Bachelor's/Master's Degrees Program
This program, which is offered on a limited department-by-department basis, is conducted
jointly by the undergraduate colleges and the graduate school. Exceptional students may
undertake studies combining undergraduate and graduate courses, and are simultaneously
enrolled in bachelor's and master's degree programs. However, courses counted toward the
completion of one degree may not be used for the other. Combined-degrees students must pay
four years of undergraduate tuition and the entire tuition for the master's degree.
Transfer of Credit
After matriculating in the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences or the School of
Engineering, eligible students may
apply for transfer credit for graduate-level courses taken at Tufts or at other
institutions. A maximum of two graduate-level courses (one for M.F.A. candidates) taken
either as a nondegree student at Tufts or at another institution may be transferred and used
to fulfill requirements for a master's degree subject to the following conditions. Credits
transferred must carry the grade of B- or better; have been taken following completion of
the baccalaureate degree; and not have been counted toward another degree. Tufts
certificate students may request to transfer two additional courses from the College of
Special Studies. In all cases, courses to be transferred must be approved by the
department and the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences or the School of
Engineering. Transfer of credit request forms are available online at http://ase.tufts.edu/gradstudy/studentservices.htm.
Master's Degree
Residence and Course Requirements
The minimum residence requirement for the master's degree is two terms of graduate
study. The degree requires a program of advanced study of at
least eight courses or the equivalent. The specific requirements of the various
departments are given in this bulletin. Additional courses beyond the first eight are
required in many programs. Courses counted for credit for one degree may not be used for
another. A student seeking two separate master's degrees must meet the stated
requirements for each degree. Tuition will be charged for both degrees.
Thesis
In some departments, a thesis is required for the master's degree; in others, the
thesis is optional or is not required. A thesis should show the student's competence in
independent investigation and should demonstrate critical power as well as ability in
expression. Three bound copies of the thesis are required. The original (the archival
copy) is deposited in Tisch Library and may not be removed from the building. The second
copy (the circulating copy) is also deposited in Tisch Library and is used for
interlibrary loans. The third copy becomes the property of the department in which the
thesis was prepared. Students are charged for the costs of binding theses.
Foreign Language
Some departments require demonstration of proficiency in an approved foreign
language. The schedule for proficiency exams is available from the graduate office.
Comprehensive Examination
Candidates for a master's degree may be required to pass a comprehensive
examination conducted by a committee of the graduate faculty. The character of the
examination is determined by each department, and may be either oral or written or both.
Recommendation for the Degree
Candidates for the master's degree must complete a recommendation-for-degree (degree
sheet) and the graduate exit survey. Degree sheets and the exit survey are available online at http://ase.tufts.edu/gradstudy/studentservices.htm.
The
candidate cannot be recommended to the faculty for a degree unless the degree
sheet is completed,
endorsed by the department, and submitted to the graduate office near the beginning of the
semester in which the degree is to be granted. Deadlines are listed in the Graduate
Student Handbook.
Time Limit
All credits to be counted toward a master's degree must be earned within
five calendar years just prior to the granting of the degree. Candidates for the M.F.A.
must complete all degree requirements in three years. Petitions for extension of time
require the approval of the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences or the School
of Engineering.
Combined-Degrees Programs
The Graduate School of Arts and Sciences and the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy
administer a combined-degrees (M.A./M.A.L.D.) program in international
environmental policy. Students must be accepted simultaneously by both the Fletcher School
of Law and Diplomacy and the Department of Urban and Environmental Policy and
Planning within the
Graduate School of Arts and Sciences and must complete the two degrees within five years.
The program consists of twenty-three course credits taken over three years, resulting in a
jointly advised thesis.
The Graduate School of Arts and Sciences and the Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy administer a combined-degrees (M.A./M.S.) program for students interested in urban and environmental policy and agriculture, food, and environment. Students must be accepted simultaneously by both the Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy and the Department of Urban and Environmental Policy and Planning within the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences, and must complete the two degrees within five years. The program consists of twenty-three course credits that include a two-credit thesis.
The Graduate School of Arts and Sciences and the School of Engineering administer a combined-degrees (M.A./M.S.) program in urban and environmental policy and planning and civil and environmental engineering. The program requires five semesters of full-time study and consists of nineteen course credits that include a two-credit thesis.
Doctor of Philosophy Degree
The doctor of philosophy degree is conferred by the university only to advanced students
who demonstrate exceptional achievement in original scholarship. This degree prepares
students to become scholars, to make original contributions to their field, and to
communicate and disseminate this information to others. Doctoral candidates will develop
their ability to evaluate critically and synthesize information from many sources and
apply it to specific problems. Students must practice their work ethically, as appropriate
to that field. During the dissertation, the student is apprenticed to a faculty adviser who
is an expert in the field of inquiry.
Opportunity for doctoral study and research is limited, and admissions are contingent on the recommendation of the department concerned. A student planning to follow such a program should, if possible, arrange an interview with the chair or graduate adviser of the department in which he or she wishes to study.
When a student enrolls in a doctoral program with a master's degree in the relevant subject area from an accredited college or university, the number and identity of the courses and other requirements needed to satisfy the predoctoral dissertation obligations are negotiable with the department. A letter detailing the results of these negotiations must be on file with the graduate office.
Tufts will not award the doctoral degree to students whose dissertation research or writing was performed at another institution, unless they were under the direct supervision of a Tufts-based faculty member. (See also residence requirement restrictions below.)
Credit for work at another institution taken concurrently with studies in the graduate school, including courses taken elsewhere during the summer, must receive approval from the student's department prior to registration for such courses. The Graduate School of Arts and Sciences and the School of Engineering approve all final transfers of credit. Students who formally cross-register in regular semesters with Boston College, Boston University, and/or Brandeis University through the consortium do not need prior approval. Also, the number of courses taken through the consortium is not subject to the limits on transferred credits as stated above.
Residence Requirement
The minimum requirement is three academic years of study and research completed with
distinction, of which at least one year of full-time study must be spent in residence at
Tufts. All work must be completed within seven years. Employees of Tufts University are not eligible for doctoral-level tuition remission
and would normally be unable to satisfy the full-time study requirement. Petitions for extension of time require
approval of the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences and the School of
Engineering. Graduate-level
courses taken elsewhere prior to matriculation may be counted to a maximum of one year of
credit toward the residence requirements. One year of the residence requirement is
automatically satisfied by a master's degree obtained from an accredited college or
university.
Foreign Language
Many departments require demonstration of proficiency in one or two approved foreign
languages. Consult departmental program descriptions for specific requirements. The
schedule for proficiency exams is available from the graduate office.
Qualifying Examinations
A student who has completed the major part of his or her systematic study and has met
the language requirement (if any) will, subject to the approval of the department or
committee supervising the program, take a qualifying examination. This examination, which
may be written, oral, or both, is described in the statement of each department's program
in this bulletin.
Dissertation
A major portion of work toward a doctoral degree consists of the preparation of a
dissertation chosen with the approval of the department concerned and written under its
supervision. The dissertation must demonstrate high attainment in a special branch of
knowledge, the original development of an appropriate subject, and independent research.
The dissertation must be accepted by a faculty committee. This committee should consist of
three members of the candidate's department or of an allied department, and one member
from outside Tufts. This committee then examines the student on the dissertation and its
background. Dissertations are deposited in the Library of Congress through the University
Microfilms, Inc. system. The original and one copy of the dissertation must be supplied to
the graduate office.
Recommendation for the Degree
Candidates for the doctoral degree must complete a recommendation-for-degree form
(degree sheet) and the graduate exit survey. Degree sheets and exit surveys are available online at http://ase.tufts.edu/gradstudy/studentservices.htm.
The candidate cannot be recommended to the
faculty for a degree unless the degree sheet is completed, endorsed by the department, and
submitted to the graduate office at the beginning of the semester in which the degree is
to be granted.
Interdisciplinary Doctorate
The Interdisciplinary Doctorate (ID) was established to accommodate students interested in
pursuing doctoral-level studies in areas that cannot be accommodated in one of the
fourteen other doctoral programs within the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences
and the School of Engineering. The admissions committee encourages applications from those who are familiar with the Tufts
graduate-level offerings and with its faculty, and whose research area is truly
interdisciplinary and carefully matched to the university's human, intellectual, and
physical resources. The application process places the burden of acquiring this
information on the applicant. A standing committee of the graduate school, the
Interdisciplinary Doctorate Overseers Committee (IDOC), serves as the admissions committee
and will monitor the progress of all students matriculated into the program.
Admission to ID will be highly selective, and perhaps only two to three of the most qualified applicants will be admitted per academic year. Students must demonstrate the ability to do independent research/scholarship. Normally, this will be accomplished by having completed a master's degree with a thesis requirement at an accredited graduate school, or in some cases by published research. Creative works of art, musical composition and performance, and performance direction, though laudable, are not acceptable as the sole criteria for admission into a scholarly doctoral program of study.
In addition to the standard application material, ID applicants must submit a proposal for interdisciplinary doctorate study, as well as documents pertaining to the student's advisory committee. These will all be examined by IDOC at one of its twice yearly admissions meetings, and possible followup with the candidate and his/her advisory committee may be required.
At least twice annually, each advisory committee will meet to review the student's progress and will report their findings to the departments concerned and, when appropriate, to IDOC. On the panel that hears the dissertation defense, one committee member should, if appropriate, be from outside Tufts.
For complete information about the admissions and program requirements for the
Interdisciplinary Doctorate, write to Graduate and Professional Studies, Ballou Hall
(first floor), Tufts University, Medford, Massachusetts 02155 or call 617-627-3395 and
ask for the guidelines for applicants. The guidelines are
also available on the Web at
http://ase.tufts.edu/gradstudy/programInterDisGuidelines.htm.
Leave of Absence
A leave of absence, which stops the clock toward time to degree completion, is usually
allowed for reasons of ill health or other personal contingencies. To be granted a leave
of absence, a student must complete a leave of absence request form and submit
it to the graduate office. The student's adviser must provide
written support for the request. Leave of absence request forms are available online at http://ase.tufts.edu/gradstudy/studentservices.htm.
A leave of absence will not be granted for more
than one year. See the Graduate Student Handbook for details.
Extension of Degree Time
If a student expects to take more than the allowed amount of time to complete the degree
requirements--five years for the master's degree (three for the M.F.A.) and seven years
for a Ph.D.--the student must complete a request for an extension of time
form and submit it to the graduate office. Request for extension of time forms
are available online at http://ase.tufts.edu/gradstudy/studentservices.htm.
A note from the student's
adviser supporting the request must also be included on the form. See
Graduate Student Handbook for details.
Grades
Grades of scholarship are expressed by one of the following letters:
A Superior work
B Meritorious work
C Not acceptable for graduate credit
D Not acceptable for graduate credit
F Failure
P Not acceptable for graduate credit
S, U Grades of S (Satisfactory) and U (Unsatisfactory) may be given by the
instructor in special topics courses, courses in supervised teaching, research courses,
certain graduate colloquia, and thesis and dissertation courses.
The following symbols are also used:
I Incomplete: an indication that more time will be allowed to
complete the work, specifically within six weeks of the first day of classes in the
subsequent semester (fall or spring only; summer terms excluded).
W Withdrawn: an indication that a student has been permitted to withdraw from a
course after the fourth week of a semester, but no later than the last day of classes.
Y Work not scheduled for evaluation during the current term
Policy on Incompletes
An incomplete may be awarded only if the student has done substantial work in the
course, the instructor judges the reasons for granting incomplete status to be valid, and
the instructor determines that the work can be completed in the time specified on the
incomplete form. The instructor is responsible for specifying on the incomplete form the
reason for the incomplete grade and the conditions that must be satisfied for the awarding
of a grade. A copy of this form must be submitted to the registrar at the time final
grades are reported. It is the responsibility of the student to request an incomplete
before the date of the required work.
If an incomplete is granted, all work in the course must be completed on or before the
date six weeks after the first day of classes in the subsequent semester (fall or spring
only; summer terms excluded). If the student has completed the work within the stated
time, it will be evaluated without prejudice. Completed work must be submitted in person
or by registered mail to the instructor. Upon the student's completion of work in the
course, the instructor must submit a final grade to the registrar within eight weeks after
the first day of classes of the subsequent semester. If a course is not completed by the
designated time, the student will receive the default grade specified on the
incomplete form. Under exceptional circumstances, a student may request an extension of the
six-week deadline. Such an extension may be granted at the discretion of the instructor.
Any such agreement between the student and faculty member must be submitted in writing to
the dean for transmission to the registrar.
Academic Standing
To remain eligible to continue in a degree program and/or to receive various types of
financial assistance including federal aid, a graduate student must maintain good academic
standing and be making adequate progress toward the degree. The following are
the minimum requirements; departments have the right to impose additional criteria for good academic
standing.
1) It is expected that a student will complete all courses taken for degree credit with the grade of B- or better (see Grades). Courses with grades of less than B- may be retaken only once. The original grade earned remains in the student's record. If a student receives any two grades less than B-, the department will recommend to the graduate dean that the student be administratively withdrawn.
2) All comprehensive and/or qualifying examinations and language examinations must be passed within the time limits established by the various departments.
3) Deadlines established by departments for submission of thesis outlines and dissertation proposals, for the completion of internships or other field experience, and for regular, systematic evaluations of research progress must be met.
4) It is expected that incomplete grades will be completed in the specified six-week time frame (unless an extension of this deadline has been given). Excessive numbers of incompletes or incompletes existing for more than one year may be grounds for dismissal.
5) The completion of all degree requirements must take place within the time limits established for the various programs by the graduate schools.
Deviation from any of the items above constitutes evidence that the student is making
inadequate degree progress, is no longer in good academic standing, and will be
administratively withdrawn, unless an exception is granted by the graduate
school based on recommendation from the appropriate department or departmental
committee. Only the Deans of the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences and the
School of Engineering may administratively
withdraw an enrolled graduate student.
Office of the Dean of Students
Graduate students' primary academic relationships are with their department. However, the
personnel of the Office of the Dean of Students in Dowling Hall are available for concerns
outside academic life.
Graduate students should refer to the student handbook (the Pachyderm) to become
familiar with university rules. Breaches of rules will be referred to the Office of the
Dean of Students for investigation and, when appropriate, disciplinary action. Students
writing theses or dissertations should be particularly sensitive to standards of
acceptable research and presentation.
Expenses
Tuition
For a master's degree requiring eight to twelve courses, one full year's tuition is
charged. For programs requiring additional course work, the tuition charge is higher. For
a doctoral degree, full tuition is charged for three years unless the student enters the
degree program with an appropriate master's degree, in which case tuition is charged for two years. Students who wish to take
courses over and above the degree requirements will be charged half the tuition cost per
course.
For a student permitted to follow a degree program part time, tuition is charged on a
per-course basis. All students will be charged a continuation fee each semester after
their expected degree completion period, described
in the Graduate Student Handbook. The Trustees of Tufts University reserve the right to
change the tuition fee or to establish additional fees or charges for special features or
services whenever in their opinion such action is deemed advisable. The earliest possible
notification of changes in tuition and other fees is given.
Student Activity Fee
All graduate students pay an annual $40 student activity fee. The monies are used by
the Graduate Student Council to support the interests of graduate students.
Penalty Fees
A penalty fee is charged for late registration and for late payment of any university
charge. Any loss or damage to university property for which the student is responsible,
including breakage of equipment in a laboratory, is charged to the student.
Living Accommodations
The university provides a limited number of residential facilities for use by
first-year graduate
students. Contact the Residential Life office at 617-627-3248 for applications.
Accommodations are available to incoming, full-time students for a maximum stay of one year. Most students live in apartments in the
surrounding community, many of which are within walking distance of the campus.
Information about off-campus housing is available through the
Off-Campus Housing Office; call 617-627-5319 or visit
http://ase.tufts.edu/och.
Dining Facilities
Students and faculty meet casually in the Campus Center and Trios where meals are served
on a cash basis, cafeteria style. Graduate students may take advantage of the meal plans
on
the Medford/Somerville campus.
Financial Assistance
To help students whose records indicate scholarly promise, the university makes available
a variety of awards and work opportunities. Tuition scholarships and fellowships are
normally granted for one academic year; therefore, a registered student who holds a
scholarship or fellowship must apply annually to the department for a renewal. All awards
are granted and accepted with the understanding that they may be revoked or reduced at any
time for inadequate progress toward the degree as defined by departmental standards.
Ordinarily, no student may hold a fellowship, scholarship, or teaching assistantship for
more than two years of study for a master's degree, or for more than four years of study
for the doctoral degree. Priority in making awards is given to full-time students.
Scholarships
A tuition scholarship is an award, on grounds of scholarly ability and need, of
financial credit that may be used exclusively for remission of tuition. A limited number
of full scholarships and a larger number of partial scholarships are available.
Scholarship students are responsible for payment of tuition charges above those covered by
their particular scholarship as well as all fees.
Fellowships
A fellowship is an academic award of honor to outstanding students to help them in
furthering advanced study and research. The amount of the stipend depends on the quality
of the student's record and performance. A fellowship recipient must pay tuition fees
unless there is a separate award of a scholarship in an amount covering tuition. No
services are required of students for fellowship or scholarship awards.
Teaching Assistants
Teaching assistants are resident students in the graduate school who participate
part time in the instructional programs of the university and receive a stipend. The university has
established these awards to enable graduate students to gain teaching experience while
continuing their studies. Teaching assistants are also eligible for scholarships. Teaching
assistants normally have instructional responsibility in the recitation or laboratory
sections of courses to which they are assigned, or their work involves grading papers and
examinations. International students are not usually eligible for appointment as teaching
assistants in their first year of graduate work unless they have demonstrated proficiency
in spoken English or they have had training at another American university.
Appointments to these positions are based on the recommendation of a student's department chair or appropriate departmental graduate committee and are made for periods of one academic year or one semester, but are renewable. All awards of this nature to incoming students normally depend on an interview with the department prior to registration.
The university reserves the right to terminate an appointment at any time for due cause. Inadequate degree progress as defined by departmental or program standards may constitute cause. Also, academic dishonesty may constitute cause, as may incomplete or false information on the application forms to the graduate school. In all instances, however, the student will be notified in writing of the reasons for the termination and may appeal the decision to the graduate dean.
Stipend levels vary by departments. All stipends are taxable by the U.S. Internal Revenue Service. Prorated fractions of these stipends are made based on the actual time commitments of a given assistantship.
Research Assistants
Research assistants are graduate students who are actively participating in the
ongoing research program of a faculty mentor. Stipends are frequently available to pay
such persons for their work in the natural and social sciences and engineering during the summers as well
as the academic year. Less frequently, awards are available in the arts and humanities.
Stipend levels follow those of teaching assistants. Research assistantships are normally
awarded through the department chair or through the research program director.
Resident Proctors
A limited number of positions are available for both married and unmarried men and women
graduate students as proctors in university residence halls. Remuneration includes
rent-free accommodations and stipend. Applications are available at the Residence Life
office. Appointments involve a commitment for a full academic year. Thus, those
considering a midyear severance of their affiliation with the university are not eligible.
Financial Aid
Information on other types of financial assistance, including various loan programs, is
available from Student Financial Services at http://finaid.tufts.edu/gradaid.htm.
Students seeking part-time work on campus should contact Student Employment,
Dowling Hall.