Master's & Specialist Final Assessment & Committee

Master’s and Specialist Degree Final Assessment and Committee Requirements

(Consolidation of GP 1.4, GP 1.5, GP 1.6)

Applies to:	Original Policy Date:	Date of Last Review:	Approved by:
Master’s and Specialist Degree Students		May 2025	Dr. John Z. Kiss, Provost and Senior VP for Academic Affairs

Policy Owner: Office of Graduate Programs

Policy Purpose

This policy establishes comprehensive guidelines for final assessments and committee requirements for master's and specialist degree programs. It ensures consistent standards across academic units while maintaining academic rigor and educational excellence in graduate education.

Policy Scope

This policy applies to all master’s and specialist degree programs at Florida Tech and students enrolled in these programs, regardless of location or modality.

Policy Statement

The Florida Institute of Technology (Florida Tech) requires all master's and specialist degree candidates to successfully complete a culminating experience as part of degree requirements, representing work achieved outside of specific course requirements and final assessment of the program. The culminating experience may take various forms depending on the program requirements determined by the respective academic program as articulated in the University Catalog and must align with the program's learning outcomes and meet the Master’s and Specialist Degree Academic Standards.

Definitions

Cumulative Graduate GPA: Cumulative grade point average based on all graduate-numbered courses taken at Florida Tech while enrolled as a graduate student.

Program GPA: Grade point average based on all graduate and non-deficiency undergraduate coursework approved to be included in the program of study.

Final Program Examination: A broad assessment of the student's knowledge in core areas of their field of study.

Culminating Experience: A final academic project that demonstrates integration of program learning outcomes.

Graduate Faculty Status: Faculty designation indicating qualification to teach graduate courses and serve on graduate committees.

Professional Practice Project: An applied project demonstrating practical application of program concepts.

Procedures/Guidelines

A. Master’s Degree Programs with Thesis Option

Academic Program Requirements
Master’s programs with thesis option require:
- Minimum of 30 credit hours, including minimum of 6 credits of thesis research, as described in the University Catalog,
- Completion of original research under faculty supervision,
- A written thesis following university formatting guidelines,
- A successful oral defense of the thesis research before the thesis committee, and
- Electronic submission of the final approved thesis to the university repository.
Thesis Committee Requirements
A thesis committee must be formed a minimum of four calendar weeks prior to the anticipated thesis defense date. The thesis committee will consist of a minimum of three graduate faculty members, including:
- Committee Chair: A full-time graduate faculty member from the student’s home academic unit who serves as the committee chair, selected by the student with the concurrence of the faculty member and the academic unit head. Typically, the Thesis Advisor serves as the committee chair.
- Academic Unit Member: A full-time graduate faculty member from the student's home academic unit. This member may not also serve as the thesis advisor. In the event that the Thesis Advisor is not within the home academic unit the committee must include a second Academic Unit Member.
- Outside Member: A full-time graduate faculty member outside the student’s home academic unit. The Outside Member:
  - Ensures uniformity of academic standards and fairness to the student, as well as serves as a representative of the Office of Graduate Programs,
  - Need not have specific expertise in the subject area being examined, although preferred to possess a broad understanding of the general topic, and
  - Cannot be:
    - A relative or spouse of the student, advisor, or committee chair
    - A dean of the college in which the student is enrolled
    - A director of the Off-Campus Instructional Site attended by the student (exceptions require approval from the student’s academic unit head, college dean, and the Office of Graduate Programs).
The inclusion of additional committee members on thesis committees is strongly encouraged if their expertise aligns with the subject of the thesis. These additional members may be full-time or part-time members of the graduate faculty or external (non-Florida Tech) experts. External members must be recommended by the student’s major advisor and approved by the academic unit head, the college dean, and the Office of Graduate Programs.

Any changes to the established thesis committee at any stage requires the approval of the Office of Graduate Programs. The respective academic unit head must submit a formal request along with relevant justification to the Office of Graduate Programs through the college dean and the committee member(s) stepping out of the committee. If approved, a new “Master’s Thesis Committee Establishment” form must be submitted for approval.
Thesis Registration and Grading Requirements
Students must maintain a minimum program GPA of 3.0 and a cumulative graduate GPA of 3.0 to register for thesis credits. Any exception to this requirement necessitates approval from the thesis advisor, the academic unit head, and the college dean.

Upon initiating thesis registration, students must enroll in a minimum of 3-credit hours of thesis each semester until they successfully complete their thesis defense and submit both the signed Signature Page and archival copy of their thesis to the Office of Graduate Programs. This requirement ensures continuous progress toward degree completion and appropriate use of university resources.

The academic unit head and thesis advisor may grant a written waiver of continuous registration only when students will not utilize university facilities or personnel. The Office of Graduate Programs must verify compliance with this policy exception through the submission of the “Request to Waive Dissertation or Thesis Registration” form.

For summer terms, students may enroll in ASC 0001 Graduate Research Summer Enrollment to maintain their active student status and conduct thesis research. This course will not be counted toward degree requirements and carries no tuition charge. Registration to ASC 0001 Graduate Research Summer Enrollment will be restricted to currently enrolled thesis students who will be returning for the following fall semester. Thesis advisor approval is required prior to enrollment.

All Master’s thesis registrations of three or more credit hours must use the course designation 5999, preceded by the appropriate three-letter program code. In the final semester of graduation, students may register for fewer than three thesis credit hours through “Final Semester Thesis” with the approval of the major advisor, academic unit head, and the Office of Graduate Programs (see policy on Thesis/Design Project/Doctoral Research Project and Dissertation Registration in the Semester of Graduation).

The thesis grading system employs three distinct grade categories that reflect student progress:
- Semester Progress Grades: Each thesis course registration receives one of three interim grades, including Satisfactory Progress (S), Unsatisfactory Progress (U), or Incomplete (I). These grades carry zero semester hours of credit. For the initial thesis course registration, students must submit and receive approval for their thesis topic from their thesis advisor before the end of the semester to earn a grade of S.
- Final Completion Grades: Upon successful thesis completion, submission of the signed Signature Page, and acceptance of the archival copy of the thesis by the Office of Graduate Programs, all accumulated Satisfactory (S) grades included in the student’s program plan are converted to Pass (P) grades for the required thesis semester credit hours.
- Grade Impact and Permanence: Unsatisfactory (U) grades remain permanent on the academic record and cannot be replaced or removed. They represent zero earned credit hours. Both Satisfactory (S) and Unsatisfactory (U) grades appear on the transcript for their respective semesters of registration but do not affect grade point averages or attempted credit hours. Pass (P) grades, while not impacting grade point averages, count toward passed credit hours. However, they are excluded from quality points and attempted credit hour calculations. In cases where a student fails the thesis defense, all previously assigned Satisfactory (S) and Unsatisfactory (U) grades remain unchanged on the transcript, maintaining their zero-credit status.
Thesis Manuscript and Defense Requirements
Thesis manuscript must be:
- written following university formatting guidelines, and
- submitted to the Thesis Committee for review at least two calendar weeks prior to the proposed date of the thesis defense.
Oral defense of the thesis is scheduled during the student's final term of registration and must be scheduled for at least two hours. The thesis defense may consist of both open and closed components. The open portion, if included, is accessible to all and is optional, whereas the closed portion is mandatory and restricted to the thesis committee members and full-time Graduate Faculty members approved by the academic unit head to be present in the closed portion of the examination when deemed appropriate. If an academic unit mandates that a candidate's defense includes an open component, this requirement must be explicitly stated in the university catalog as part of the degree requirements for that specific master's degree program. The decision to pass the student resides entirely with the thesis committee, although visiting graduate faculty members may be invited to take part in the closed deliberations of the committee, in a non-voting capacity, at the discretion of the committee chair.

Questions during the thesis defense may be asked that pertain to related subject matter as well as directly to the thesis itself. Questions requiring a written response may be directed to the candidate in advance of the scheduled oral defense.

Following approval by the student’s thesis committee, an archival copy of the approved thesis must be submitted to the Scholarship Repository and requires review by the Office of Graduate Programs for a final approval and open access publication or embargo decision, as described in policy on Open Access Theses and Dissertations.
Reporting Thesis Defense Outcome
All members of the thesis committee must be present during the thesis defense. Following the conclusion of the thesis defense, regardless of outcome, the thesis committee chair must submit a fully executed thesis defense form to the Office of Graduate Programs for final approval. This form serves as the official record of the defense proceedings and outcome.

The thesis defense form requires signatures in the following sequence:
- All committee members must sign immediately upon conclusion of the thesis defense,
- The academic unit head must sign the form, whether or not they attended the defense, and
- The committee chair must ensure prompt submission of the completed form to the Office of Graduate Programs for final approval.
Under exceptional circumstances, the thesis defense may be temporarily recessed rather than concluded with a pass or fail outcome. This provision applies when the thesis committee identifies specific issues during the defense that:
- Prevent an immediate passing decision,
- Do not warrant a failing grade, and
- Can be adequately addressed within a reasonable timeframe prior to the end of the current semester.
The committee chair must document the recess decision and submit it to the academic unit head, including:
- The specific reasons for the recess,
- Required remedial actions including additional thesis credits need to be completed,
- Timeline for completion, and
- Scheduled date for defense resumption.
The thesis examination form should not be submitted until the defense formally concludes following the recess period. This ensures accurate documentation of the complete defense process and final outcome.

This documentation process maintains the integrity of the thesis defense and provides clear evidence of completion for degree certification purposes.
Failed Thesis Defense Procedures
When a student fails a thesis defense, the committee chair must submit thesis defense form clearly marked “FAILED” to the Office of Graduate Programs. This documentation requirement applies to each unsuccessful defense attempt, ensuring accurate academic records.

Second Defense Attempt: Following an initial failed defense, students retain the right to a second defense attempt. The following conditions apply:
- The original thesis committee must conduct the second defense unless a formal change in committee membership is approved by the Office of Graduate Programs, and
- The committee will establish a mandatory waiting period (minimum of one-month) between attempts, providing sufficient time for the student to address identified deficiencies.
Third Defense Attempt: A student who fails the second defense may petition for a final attempt. This process requires:
- A formal written petition from the student,
- Explicit approval from the thesis committee, and
- A mandatory interval of at least one month between the second and third attempts as approved by the thesis committee.
The committee may recommend additional work or preparation during this interval, regardless of whether such work directly relates to the thesis.

Final Failure and Academic Record: If a student fails the thesis defense three times, or fails the thesis defense two times and the thesis committee does not approve a request for a third attempt, the following actions occur:
- The student may not continue registration in the same major,
- The student may not attempt additional thesis defenses in the same major, and
- The Office of Graduate Programs will direct the Registrar to add the following permanent notation to the student's transcript:
  “Master’s Thesis Defense Failed [date of third failure or second failure if third attempt is not given].”
This process ensures appropriate documentation of academic performance while providing reasonable opportunities for degree completion through multiple supervised attempts.

B. Non-Thesis Programs with Final Program Examination

Academic Program Requirements
Master’s and Specialist Degree Programs with final program examinations require successful completion of:
- A minimum of 30 credit hours of coursework as described in the University Catalog, and
- Written or oral examinations, or both, covering the major field of study.
Academic units maintain authority over examination format and modality selection and specific timing within these parameters, allowing programs to align assessment methods with their educational objectives while adhering to university-wide standards for academic progression.
Final Program Examination Scheduling Requirements
The timing of the final program examination must align with specific academic progress requirements to ensure adequate preparation and near-completion of degree requirements. The final program examination must be scheduled during a student's final full semester (not including summer) of enrollment.

Students must maintain active enrollment during the term in which they take or retake a final program examination. Students may request an exception to this requirement by paying a designated examination fee and enrolling in the appropriate zero-credit Final Examination Course (XXX 0002).

To qualify for the final program examination, students must
- maintain a minimum of 3.0 program GPA and a minimum of 3.0 cumulative graduate GPA,
- have successfully completed a minimum of 70 percent of their required graduation credits before the examination semester begins, and
- be positioned to complete all remaining coursework, with no more than nine credits outstanding, by the conclusion of the examination semester.
To qualify for early examination consideration, students must
- demonstrate substantial academic progress and readiness, i.e., have successfully completed more than 50 percent of their required graduation credits,
- have either completed all courses that will be included in their final program examination, and
- have completed a minimum of two academic terms, not including summer sessions, to ensure adequate exposure to program content.
The academic unit head holds authority for approving early examination requests, maintaining academic standards while providing flexibility for students who demonstrate readiness for final program assessment. The academic unit head's review considers the student's academic performance, progress toward degree completion, and rationale for early examination.

When approved, early examinations must occur no earlier than the tenth week of the semester. The academic unit will coordinate the examination scheduling and administration according to standard departmental procedures while adhering to the specified timing restrictions.
Final Program Examination Committee Requirements
Final program examination committee must be formed a minimum of four calendar weeks prior to the planned examination date. The final program examination committee will consist of a minimum of three graduate faculty members, including:
- Committee Chair: Academic unit head or a full-time graduate faculty member from the student’s home academic unit designated by the academic unit head.
- Academic Unit Member: A full-time graduate faculty member from the student's home academic unit. This member may not also serve as the committee chair.
- Outside Member: A full-time graduate faculty member outside the student’s home academic unit. The Outside Member:
  - Ensures uniformity of academic standards and fairness to the student, as well as serves as a representative of the Office of Graduate Programs,
  - Need not have specific expertise in the subject area being examined, although preferred to possess a broad understanding of the general topic, and
  - Cannot be:
    - A relative or spouse of the student or committee chair
    - A dean of the college in which the student is enrolled
    - A director of the Off-Campus Instructional Site attended by the student (exceptions require approval from the student’s academic unit head, college dean, and the Office of Graduate Programs).
Additional members may be added to the final program examination based on program requirements.
Final Program Examination Format
Oral Examinations
- Each oral examination requires a minimum scheduled duration of two hours.
- All examination committee members must attend and remain present throughout the entire examination period to ensure thorough and fair evaluation.
- Only members of the graduate faculty may attend these examinations.
- While the committee chair may invite visiting graduate faculty members to observe the closed deliberations in a non-voting capacity when deemed appropriate, the final determination of examination outcome remains exclusively with the appointed committee members.
Written Examinations
- Students seeking to complete a written examination must submit their application to the academic unit no less than one month before their desired examination date.
- Academic units may announce common examination dates at the beginning of each term to facilitate proper planning and preparation.
- The examination committee maintains responsibility for examination preparation and evaluation. While committee members need not be physically present during the examination administration, they retain full authority over content development and assessment of student performance.
Reporting Final Program Examination Outcome
The committee chair bears responsibility for formally documenting all final program examinations, regardless of format or outcome. This documentation process ensures consistent record-keeping and proper certification of examination completion.

Written Examination Documentation

Following the grading of a written examination, the committee chair must submit a completed examination form that reflects comprehensive evaluation of all examination components. This form requires:
- A final pass/fail determination based on complete examination results,
- Signatures from all committee members involved in the evaluation,
- The academic unit head's signature, and
- Prompt submission to the Office of Graduate Programs following grade determination and final approval.
Oral Examination Documentation

For oral examinations, the documentation process follows a specific sequence:
- The committee members must sign the examination form immediately upon examination conclusion,
- The academic unit head must then provide their signature, and
- The committee chair must ensure prompt submission of the examination form to the Office of Graduate Programs.
Under exceptional circumstances, an oral examination may be temporarily recessed rather than concluded. This provision applies when the committee identifies issues that:
- Prevent an immediate passing decision,
- Do not warrant examination failure, and
- Can be adequately addressed within a reasonable timeframe prior to the end of the current semester.
In such cases, the committee chair must document the recess decision and and submit it to the academic unit head, including:
- The specific reasons for the recess,
- Timeline for completion,
- Scheduled date for final program examination resumption.
The examination form should not be submitted until the examination formally concludes following the recess period.

The Office of Graduate Programs maintains the examination records as official documentation of degree requirement completion. This documentation serves as essential verification for degree certification and academic records.
Failed Final Program Examination Procedures
When a student fails a final program examination, the committee chair must submit an examination form clearly marked "FAILED" to the Office of Graduate Programs. This documentation requirement applies to each unsuccessful attempt, ensuring accurate academic records.

Second Examination Procedures: Students are permitted to retake a failed program examination once. The second examination must:
- Be administered by the same committee as the first examination unless a formal change in committee membership is approved by the Office of Graduate Programs, and
- Allow sufficient time (minimum of one-month) between attempts, as specified by the committee.
After a written examination failure, the committee chair must provide the student written notification specifying:
- The areas that were failed,
- Whether the second examination will cover only failed areas or all original areas,
- Whether the subsequent examination will be oral or written, and
- Confirmation that, at minimum, all failed areas from the first attempt must be covered.
After an oral examination failure, the second oral examination should:
- Maintain similar content and format as the first examination,
- Adjust subject matter emphasis based on weaknesses identified in the first attempt.
Third Examination Procedures: A third examination attempt may be permitted if:
- The student submits a written petition,
- The examining committee approves the request, and
- The same committee that administered the previous examinations conducts the third attempt.
When approving a third attempt, the committee should:
- Recommend additional coursework before the examination if needed, and
- Specify a minimum waiting period (minimum of one month) between the second and third attempts, regardless of whether additional courses are recommended to be taken.
For the denied third examination request, students may appeal to the college dean for the denial decision.

Final Failure and Academic Record: If a student fails the final program examination three times, or a request for a third attempt is denied, the following actions occur:
This process ensures appropriate documentation of academic performance while providing reasonable opportunities for degree completion through multiple supervised attempts.

C. Professional Practice-Oriented or Structured Curriculum Programs

Professional Practice-Oriented or Structured Curriculum Master’s and Specialist Degree Programs are non-thesis programs that require successful completion of minimum of 30 credit hours of coursework, in which individual student mastery is documented within an approved capstone course, portfolio, or a culminating presentation as determined by the academic, replacing successful completion of a thesis and final program examination. Students must maintain a minimum of 3.0 program GPA and a minimum cumulative graduate GPA of 3.0 at the time of degree conferral.

These programs often follow a sequentially-structured or integrated curriculum model, where the successful completion of advanced courses demonstrates mastery of earlier material and validates the program’s overall learning outcomes. In this format, successful completion of culminating coursework may serve as the comprehensive assessment of the student’s mastery of program competencies. In this case, the program does not have a mandatory final assessment, and the successful completion of the required coursework and attaining a minimum of 3.0 program GPA and a minimum of cumulative graduate GPA of 3.0 are sufficient to earn the degree.
Some programs may include 3-credit hours of a graduate capstone course as part of the program curriculum requirements.
- The graduate capstone represents the culminating academic experience in the program, where students demonstrate comprehensive mastery of their field through independent scholarship. Students undertake a significant project that synthesizes and applies the knowledge and competencies developed throughout their coursework, evaluated by the course instructor.
- This formal, credit-bearing course requires students to produce a substantial deliverable that serves as evidence of their learning outcomes and professional readiness. The capstone project allows students to showcase their ability to integrate theoretical concepts with practical applications while demonstrating advanced expertise in their chosen discipline.
- Assessment in the graduate capstone course follows standard academic grading protocols (A through F), reflecting the rigor expected of graduate-level work. The evaluation process specifically measures the depth of disciplinary knowledge and validates the student's achievement of program-wide learning objectives.
- The course structure emphasizes independent work and project execution while maintaining the academic framework of a traditional classroom environment. This combination ensures both scholarly accountability and the freedom to pursue specialized areas of interest within the discipline.
Some programs incorporate mandatory internships or equivalent hands-on learning experiences as integral components of their curriculum. These experiential requirements serve multiple pedagogical purposes and can be structured in different ways to maximize educational value.
- Internships/experiential learning experiences are typically scheduled after students have completed substantial coursework, enabling them to apply their theoretical knowledge in real-world settings and to leverage their academic foundation while gaining practical experience.
- The successful completion of an internship/experiential learning experience involves formal evaluation by faculty members who assess the student's performance and learning outcomes.
- The internship/experiential learning experience, when combined with the other academic program requirements, may fulfill the final assessment requirement.

For the Professional Practice-Oriented or Structured Curriculum programs, the respective academic unit head or a full-time graduate faculty member from the student’s academic unit designated by the academic unit head may serve as the designated academic advisor (with the role of a graduate committee chair) for students in the program, ensuring consistent oversight of student progress and achievement and serving as the liaison between the student and the Office of Graduate Programs.

Compliance Reference

SACSCOC Standards

Standard 9.1: Educational Programs
Standard 9.2: Program Length
Standard 9.6: Post-baccalaureate rigor and curriculum
Standard 9.7: Program requirements

Responsibilities

The Office of Graduate Programs implements the policy based on the standards established by recommendation from the Graduate Council and approved by the Provost. The Office of Graduate Programs monitors effectiveness and compliance, reviews the policy at least annually, and recommends updates or revisions as needed. The Office of Graduate Programs is responsible for communication, compliance, and enforcement of this policy. In collaboration with the Office of the Registrar, the Office of Graduate Programs maintains graduate student records.

Academic units ensure consistent oversight of student progress and achievement, follow requirements for scheduling and conducting final program assessments, and submit appropriate paperwork to the Office of Graduate Programs.

Students are responsible to know their degree requirements and applicable minimum academic standards, consult with their academic/major advisor to prior to registration deadlines, follow their program plan, and complete the final program assessment requirements as described in this policy and the University Catalog.