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.
To view Course Descriptions, please go to: http://webcenter.studentservices.tufts.edu/courses/main.asp.