{"id":4538,"date":"2026-08-10T12:37:24","date_gmt":"2026-08-10T16:37:24","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/home.hamptonu.edu\/graduates\/?page_id=4538"},"modified":"2026-08-20T16:10:43","modified_gmt":"2026-08-20T20:10:43","slug":"on-track-to-the-masters-degree","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/home.hamptonu.edu\/gradcoll\/current-students\/handbook\/on-track-to-the-masters-degree\/","title":{"rendered":"On Track to the Master\u2019s Degree"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-28f84493 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\" style=\"flex-basis:33.33%\">\t\t<div data-elementor-type=\"section\" data-elementor-id=\"4484\" class=\"elementor elementor-4484\" data-elementor-post-type=\"elementor_library\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-a9ed3f3 e-con-full e-flex e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"a9ed3f3\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\" data-settings=\"{&quot;background_background&quot;:&quot;classic&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-1e0f2ed elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"1e0f2ed\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Graduate College Handbook<\/p>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-787f349 elementor-nav-menu__text-align-aside elementor-widget elementor-widget-nav-menu\" data-id=\"787f349\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-settings=\"{&quot;layout&quot;:&quot;dropdown&quot;,&quot;submenu_icon&quot;:{&quot;value&quot;:&quot;&lt;i class=\\&quot;fas fa-plus\\&quot; aria-hidden=\\&quot;true\\&quot;&gt;&lt;\\\/i&gt;&quot;,&quot;library&quot;:&quot;fa-solid&quot;}}\" data-widget_type=\"nav-menu.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<nav class=\"elementor-nav-menu--dropdown elementor-nav-menu__container\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\n\t\t\t\t<ul id=\"menu-2-787f349\" class=\"elementor-nav-menu\"><li class=\"menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page menu-item-4455\"><a href=\"https:\/\/home.hamptonu.edu\/gradcoll\/current-students\/handbook\/\" class=\"elementor-item menu-link\" tabindex=\"-1\">Overview<\/a><\/li>\n<li class=\"menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page menu-item-4585\"><a href=\"https:\/\/home.hamptonu.edu\/gradcoll\/current-students\/handbook\/mission-statement\/\" class=\"elementor-item menu-link\" tabindex=\"-1\">Mission Statement<\/a><\/li>\n<li class=\"menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page menu-item-4590\"><a href=\"https:\/\/home.hamptonu.edu\/gradcoll\/current-students\/handbook\/quality-enhancement-plan\/\" class=\"elementor-item menu-link\" tabindex=\"-1\">Quality Enhancement Plan<\/a><\/li>\n<li class=\"menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page menu-item-4584\"><a href=\"https:\/\/home.hamptonu.edu\/gradcoll\/current-students\/handbook\/hampton-unviersity-a-brief-history\/\" class=\"elementor-item menu-link\" tabindex=\"-1\">Hampton Unviersity: A Brief History<\/a><\/li>\n<li class=\"menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page menu-item-4576\"><a href=\"https:\/\/home.hamptonu.edu\/gradcoll\/current-students\/handbook\/foreword-to-graduate-faculty\/\" class=\"elementor-item menu-link\" tabindex=\"-1\">Foreword to Graduate Faculty<\/a><\/li>\n<li class=\"menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page menu-item-4577\"><a href=\"https:\/\/home.hamptonu.edu\/gradcoll\/current-students\/handbook\/foreword-to-graduate-students\/\" class=\"elementor-item menu-link\" tabindex=\"-1\">Foreword to Graduate Students<\/a><\/li>\n<li class=\"menu-item menu-item-type-custom menu-item-object-custom menu-item-has-children menu-item-4593\"><a aria-expanded=\"false\" class=\"elementor-item menu-link\" tabindex=\"-1\">Graduate College Governance<span class=\"sub-arrow\"><i class=\"fas fa-plus\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/i><\/span><\/a>\n<ul class=\"sub-menu elementor-nav-menu--dropdown\">\n\t<li class=\"menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page menu-item-4581\"><a href=\"https:\/\/home.hamptonu.edu\/gradcoll\/current-students\/handbook\/graduate-college-governance-and-operations-structure\/\" class=\"elementor-sub-item menu-link\" tabindex=\"-1\">Organizational Chart<\/a><\/li>\n\t<li class=\"menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page menu-item-4571\"><a href=\"https:\/\/home.hamptonu.edu\/gradcoll\/current-students\/handbook\/bylaws-of-the-graduate-college\/\" class=\"elementor-sub-item menu-link\" tabindex=\"-1\">Bylaws of the Graduate College<\/a><\/li>\n\t<li class=\"menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page menu-item-4588\"><a href=\"https:\/\/home.hamptonu.edu\/gradcoll\/current-students\/handbook\/organization-of-graduate-students\/\" class=\"elementor-sub-item menu-link\" tabindex=\"-1\">Organization of Graduate Students<\/a><\/li>\n\t<li class=\"menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page menu-item-4572\"><a href=\"https:\/\/home.hamptonu.edu\/gradcoll\/current-students\/handbook\/civility\/\" class=\"elementor-sub-item menu-link\" tabindex=\"-1\">Civility<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"menu-item menu-item-type-custom menu-item-object-custom menu-item-has-children menu-item-4594\"><a aria-expanded=\"false\" class=\"elementor-item menu-link\" tabindex=\"-1\">Graduate Faculty<span class=\"sub-arrow\"><i class=\"fas fa-plus\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/i><\/span><\/a>\n<ul class=\"sub-menu elementor-nav-menu--dropdown\">\n\t<li class=\"menu-item menu-item-type-custom menu-item-object-custom menu-item-4595\"><a class=\"elementor-sub-item menu-link\" tabindex=\"-1\">Criteria for Graduate Faculty Membership<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"menu-item menu-item-type-custom menu-item-object-custom menu-item-has-children menu-item-4596\"><a aria-expanded=\"false\" class=\"elementor-item menu-link\" tabindex=\"-1\">Student Affairs<span class=\"sub-arrow\"><i class=\"fas fa-plus\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/i><\/span><\/a>\n<ul class=\"sub-menu elementor-nav-menu--dropdown\">\n\t<li class=\"menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page menu-item-4586\"><a href=\"https:\/\/home.hamptonu.edu\/gradcoll\/current-students\/handbook\/notice-of-non-discrimination\/\" class=\"elementor-sub-item menu-link\" tabindex=\"-1\">Notice of Non-Discrimination<\/a><\/li>\n\t<li class=\"menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page menu-item-4575\"><a href=\"https:\/\/home.hamptonu.edu\/gradcoll\/current-students\/handbook\/discrimination-complaint-procedures\/\" class=\"elementor-sub-item menu-link\" tabindex=\"-1\">Discrimination Complaint Procedures<\/a><\/li>\n\t<li class=\"menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page menu-item-4573\"><a href=\"https:\/\/home.hamptonu.edu\/gradcoll\/current-students\/handbook\/complaint-procedures\/\" class=\"elementor-sub-item menu-link\" tabindex=\"-1\">Complaint Procedures<\/a><\/li>\n\t<li class=\"menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page menu-item-4598\"><a href=\"https:\/\/home.hamptonu.edu\/gradcoll\/current-students\/handbook\/student-rights-at-hampton-university\/\" class=\"elementor-sub-item menu-link\" tabindex=\"-1\">Student Rights at Hampton University<\/a><\/li>\n\t<li class=\"menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page menu-item-4599\"><a href=\"https:\/\/home.hamptonu.edu\/gradcoll\/current-students\/handbook\/the-code-of-conduct\/\" class=\"elementor-sub-item menu-link\" tabindex=\"-1\">The Code of Conduct<\/a><\/li>\n\t<li class=\"menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page menu-item-4600\"><a href=\"https:\/\/home.hamptonu.edu\/gradcoll\/current-students\/handbook\/the-dress-code\/\" class=\"elementor-sub-item menu-link\" tabindex=\"-1\">The Dress Code<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"menu-item menu-item-type-custom menu-item-object-custom menu-item-has-children menu-item-4601\"><a aria-expanded=\"false\" class=\"elementor-item menu-link\" tabindex=\"-1\">Admissions and Other Academic Matters<span class=\"sub-arrow\"><i class=\"fas fa-plus\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/i><\/span><\/a>\n<ul class=\"sub-menu elementor-nav-menu--dropdown\">\n\t<li class=\"menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page menu-item-4568\"><a href=\"https:\/\/home.hamptonu.edu\/gradcoll\/current-students\/handbook\/admissions\/\" class=\"elementor-sub-item menu-link\" tabindex=\"-1\">Admissions<\/a><\/li>\n\t<li class=\"menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page menu-item-4569\"><a href=\"https:\/\/home.hamptonu.edu\/gradcoll\/current-students\/handbook\/admissions-international-applicants\/\" class=\"elementor-sub-item menu-link\" tabindex=\"-1\">Admissions \u2013 International Applicants<\/a><\/li>\n\t<li class=\"menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page menu-item-4570\"><a href=\"https:\/\/home.hamptonu.edu\/gradcoll\/current-students\/handbook\/applicant-classifications\/\" class=\"elementor-sub-item menu-link\" tabindex=\"-1\">Applicant Classifications<\/a><\/li>\n\t<li class=\"menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page menu-item-4587\"><a href=\"https:\/\/home.hamptonu.edu\/gradcoll\/current-students\/handbook\/on-track-to-the-masters-degree\/\" class=\"elementor-sub-item menu-link\" tabindex=\"-1\">On Track to the Master\u2019s Degree<\/a><\/li>\n\t<li class=\"menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page menu-item-4589\"><a href=\"https:\/\/home.hamptonu.edu\/gradcoll\/current-students\/handbook\/policies-on-separation-from-and-re-entry-into-the-university\/\" class=\"elementor-sub-item menu-link\" tabindex=\"-1\">Policies on Separation from and Re-entry into the University<\/a><\/li>\n\t<li class=\"menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page menu-item-4583\"><a href=\"https:\/\/home.hamptonu.edu\/gradcoll\/current-students\/handbook\/guidelines-for-awarding-assistantships\/\" class=\"elementor-sub-item menu-link\" tabindex=\"-1\">Guidelines for Awarding Assistantships<\/a><\/li>\n\t<li class=\"menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page menu-item-4580\"><a href=\"https:\/\/home.hamptonu.edu\/gradcoll\/current-students\/handbook\/graduate-assistants\/\" class=\"elementor-sub-item menu-link\" tabindex=\"-1\">Graduate Assistants<\/a><\/li>\n\t<li class=\"menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page menu-item-4591\"><a href=\"https:\/\/home.hamptonu.edu\/gradcoll\/current-students\/handbook\/research-assistants\/\" class=\"elementor-sub-item menu-link\" tabindex=\"-1\">Research Assistants<\/a><\/li>\n\t<li class=\"menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page menu-item-4602\"><a href=\"https:\/\/home.hamptonu.edu\/gradcoll\/current-students\/handbook\/teaching-assistants\/\" class=\"elementor-sub-item menu-link\" tabindex=\"-1\">Teaching Assistants<\/a><\/li>\n\t<li class=\"menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page menu-item-4592\"><a href=\"https:\/\/home.hamptonu.edu\/gradcoll\/current-students\/handbook\/resources-for-the-preparation-of-theses-and-dissertations\/\" class=\"elementor-sub-item menu-link\" tabindex=\"-1\">Resources for the Preparation of Theses and Dissertations<\/a><\/li>\n\t<li class=\"menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page menu-item-4566\"><a href=\"https:\/\/home.hamptonu.edu\/gradcoll\/current-students\/handbook\/additional-forms\/\" class=\"elementor-sub-item menu-link\" tabindex=\"-1\">Additional Forms<\/a><\/li>\n\t<li class=\"menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page menu-item-4603\"><a href=\"https:\/\/home.hamptonu.edu\/gradcoll\/current-students\/handbook\/steps-to-submitting-a-thesis-or-dissertation\/\" class=\"elementor-sub-item menu-link\" tabindex=\"-1\">Steps to Submitting a Thesis or Dissertation<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"menu-item menu-item-type-custom menu-item-object-custom menu-item-has-children menu-item-4604\"><a aria-expanded=\"false\" class=\"elementor-item menu-link\" tabindex=\"-1\">Position Descriptions in the Graduate College<span class=\"sub-arrow\"><i class=\"fas fa-plus\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/i><\/span><\/a>\n<ul class=\"sub-menu elementor-nav-menu--dropdown\">\n\t<li class=\"menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page menu-item-4574\"><a href=\"https:\/\/home.hamptonu.edu\/gradcoll\/current-students\/handbook\/dean\/\" class=\"elementor-sub-item menu-link\" tabindex=\"-1\">Dean<\/a><\/li>\n\t<li class=\"menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page menu-item-4582\"><a href=\"https:\/\/home.hamptonu.edu\/gradcoll\/current-students\/handbook\/graduate-counselor\/\" class=\"elementor-sub-item menu-link\" tabindex=\"-1\">Counselor<\/a><\/li>\n\t<li class=\"menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page menu-item-4578\"><a href=\"https:\/\/home.hamptonu.edu\/gradcoll\/current-students\/handbook\/graduate-admissions-coordinator\/\" class=\"elementor-sub-item menu-link\" tabindex=\"-1\">Graduate Admissions Coordinator<\/a><\/li>\n\t<li class=\"menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page menu-item-4579\"><a href=\"https:\/\/home.hamptonu.edu\/gradcoll\/current-students\/handbook\/graduate-admissions-counselor\/\" class=\"elementor-sub-item menu-link\" tabindex=\"-1\">Graduate Admissions Counselor<\/a><\/li>\n\t<li class=\"menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page menu-item-4567\"><a href=\"https:\/\/home.hamptonu.edu\/gradcoll\/current-students\/handbook\/administrative-assistant\/\" class=\"elementor-sub-item menu-link\" tabindex=\"-1\">Administrative Assistant<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\t\t\t<\/nav>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-805c12c elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"805c12c\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><a href=\"https:\/\/home.hamptonu.edu\/graduates\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/169\/2026\/07\/hamptonu_Graduate_College_Student_Handbook_7.20.26.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Download the Graduate College Handbook (PDF)<\/a><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\" style=\"flex-basis:66.66%\">\n<p>Admission to the Graduate College does not entail acceptance to candidacy for the master\u2019s degree. To be admitted to candidacy, the student must have:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ol class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Attained \u201cregular admission\u201d status.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Completed at least nine (9) semester hours of graduate course work with an overall GPA of not less than 3.0.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Removed all \u201cIncomplete\u201d grades.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Demonstrated proficiency in English by either satisfactory test scores if applicable or successfully completing an English Composition course.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Filed a completed degree plan:<br>Plan A: Thesis<br>Plan B: Comprehensive Examination<br>Plan C: 36 hours of course work or whichever is applicable in the chosen program.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading has-medium-font-size\">Thesis and Dissertation Committees<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>The committee selection process shall include consultation between the student and appropriate faculty members, including the designated academic advisor. The majority of the membership of the Thesis and Dissertation committees must be comprised of Hampton University faculty from the academic discipline concerned. The members must be recommended to and approved by the Dean of the Graduate College.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading has-medium-font-size\">Grades and Grading<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>For a more detailed discussion of the grading policies at Hampton University, the reader should refer to the Graduate College Catalog and the University Student Handbook. However, these points are stressed:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ol class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>No undergraduate courses (100-400 level) will be used in calculating the GPA.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>A minimum GPA of 3.0\/4.1 is required.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Any student whose cumulative GPA falls below 3.0 at the end of any term will be placed on academic probation. This probationary status must be removed by the time he\/she completes nine (9) additional hours. If the GPA has not reached 3.0 on the 4.1 scale or higher by that time, the student is subject to academic dismissal.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>All \u201cI\u201d grades must be removed before the close of the next semester following the semester in which the grade was earned.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The grade \u201cIP\u201d\u2014\u201cIn Progress\u201d\u2014will be assigned in such courses as thesis, research, internship, and practicum when they are not completed at the end of the term.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading has-medium-font-size\">Change of Major\/Program<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Students wishing to change to a graduate program outside their present general area must submit an application to the new program along with all the credentials required of new applicants. A student must submit to the Graduate College a \u201cPetition for Change of Major Form\u201d to change major and\/or concentration within the same general field. Whenever a program change is affected, the cumulative graduate grade-point average remains intact.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading has-medium-font-size\">Course-Load Limitations<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Full-time students in good academic standing may enroll for nine (9) credit hours. Permission to exceed this limit must be secured from the chairperson. Non-degree students must obtain permission from the Dean of the Graduate College to exceed nine (9) hour limit. Students on academic probation should consider reducing their credit hour load until such status is removed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading has-medium-font-size\">Regulations for Probation and Academic Dismissal of Graduate Students<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>The minimum standard for graduate work leading to a master\u2019s degree is a 3.0 grade point average. A student whose overall grade point average falls below 3.0 at the end of any term will be placed on academic probation and must raise this average to 3.0 by the time he or she completes nine (9) additional hours. A student who fails to comply with this requirement will be subject to dismissal from the degree program or from the Graduate College by the Graduate Council based on the recommendation of the department chair or the Dean of the Graduate College.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Grades below \u201cC\u201d carry no credit. However, such grades will be used in computing the overall grade point average. An earned grade below \u201cC\u201d in any course requires that the course be repeated.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>An accumulation of no more than eight (8) hours of grades below \u201cB\u201d may be counted toward degree requirements.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The University reserves the right to terminate the registration of any student whose record falls below the standard acceptable to Hampton University. The department, with the concurrence of the Graduate Dean, can recommend to the Graduate Council that a student be withdrawn from the degree program for unsatisfactory performance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading has-medium-font-size\">Readmission Procedures<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>The student may appeal the dismissal decision to the Graduate Council by submitting such in writing through the department chair and the Graduate Dean. If the student has engaged in graduate study at another post-secondary\/baccalaureate institution since dismissal, official transcripts should accompany the appeal. If health conditions contributed to the academic decline, a statement from the attending physician should accompany the appeal.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Readmission to the Graduate College after separation for whatever reason requires the submission of a current formal application for admission and any other documents in the term of planned re-entry.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading has-medium-font-size\">The Appeals Process<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ol class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Student appeals should take the form of a letter addressed to the Graduate Council.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>All letters should be typed and follow the conventions of formal correspondence.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n<p>Procedures for Appeals<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ol class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Appeal letters should be made on the basis of evidence.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Appeal letters must be initiated at the level of graduate faculty member and\/or advisor.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The graduate faculty member\/advisor reviews the appeal letter and submits a summary and recommendation for action to the program coordinator and chair of the department in which the student is enrolled. The recommended action may be to accept the appeal or deny the appeal. The graduate faculty member\/advisor must provide evidence to justify the recommended action.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The program coordinator or chair reviews the student\u2019s appeal and the graduate faculty member\/advisor\u2019s summary and recommendation and submits a recommendation for action to the school dean.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The school dean reviews the appeal letter, summary, and recommendations and provides a final recommendation to the Graduate Council for consideration and action.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The Graduate Council shall inform, in writing, the school dean, department chair, program coordinator, and student of action taken by the Graduate Council.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading has-medium-font-size\">Academic Integrity<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Academic Integrity is the component of students, faculty members, staff, administrators, and officials adhering to the principle of honesty in all activities which involve or influence teaching, learning, research, and decision-making within the University community.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Personal, professional, and academic integrity are paramount to the survival and potential of the Hampton family. Therefore, individuals found in violation of the University\u2019s policies against lying, cheating, and plagiarism, or stealing are subject to disciplinary action which could possibly include dismissal from the University.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading has-medium-font-size\">Medical Clearance<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Hampton University requires every graduate student to meet medical clearance requirements prior to coming to campus. Specific requirements are listed in the Student Health Center section of this catalog and on that unit\u2019s website: <a href=\"https:\/\/home.hamptonu.edu\/healthcenter\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">https:\/\/home.hamptonu.edu\/healthcenter<\/a>. A student who fails to comply with these stipulations may be prohibited from registering for or attending classes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading has-medium-font-size\">Office of Access and Learning<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Hampton University is committed to a policy of ensuring that no otherwise qualified individual with a disability is excluded from participation in, denied the benefits of, or subjected to discrimination in University programs or activities due to his or her disability. The University is fully committed to complying with all requirements of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA) and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (Section 504) and to providing equal educational opportunities to otherwise qualified students and employees with disabilities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The Office of Access and Learning provides and coordinates accommodations, support services and auxiliary aids for qualified students with disabilities and qualified employees with disabilities. Any member of the campus community in need of disability services should contact the Director of<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Access and Learning, located in the Student Success Center and can be reached at 757-727-5493 or via email: <a href=\"mailto:disabilityservices@hamptonu.edu\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">disabilityservices@hamptonu.edu<\/a>. Students should refer to the Official Student Handbook and the <a href=\"https:\/\/home.hamptonu.edu\/student-affairs\/office-of-access-and-learning\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">website of the Office of Access and Learning<\/a> for more detailed information regarding disability services and forms used for requesting accommodations. Employees should also refer to the website.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Admission to the Graduate College does not entail acceptance to candidacy for the master\u2019s degree. To be admitted to candidacy, the student must have: Thesis and Dissertation Committees The committee selection process shall include consultation between the student and appropriate faculty members, including the designated academic advisor. The majority of the membership of the Thesis [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":232,"featured_media":4811,"parent":4441,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"inline_featured_image":false,"site-sidebar-layout":"default","site-content-layout":"","ast-site-content-layout":"default","site-content-style":"default","site-sidebar-style":"default","ast-global-header-display":"","ast-banner-title-visibility":"","ast-main-header-display":"","ast-hfb-above-header-display":"","ast-hfb-below-header-display":"","ast-hfb-mobile-header-display":"","site-post-title":"","ast-breadcrumbs-content":"","ast-featured-img":"","footer-sml-layout":"","ast-disable-related-posts":"","theme-transparent-header-meta":"","adv-header-id-meta":"","stick-header-meta":"","header-above-stick-meta":"","header-main-stick-meta":"","header-below-stick-meta":"","astra-migrate-meta-layouts":"set","ast-page-background-enabled":"default","ast-page-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"ast-content-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"footnotes":"","_links_to":"","_links_to_target":""},"class_list":["post-4538","page","type-page","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v28.4 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>On Track to the Master\u2019s Degree - Graduate College<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/home.hamptonu.edu\/gradcoll\/current-students\/handbook\/on-track-to-the-masters-degree\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"On Track to the Master\u2019s Degree - Graduate College\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Admission to the Graduate College does not entail acceptance to candidacy for the master\u2019s degree. To be admitted to candidacy, the student must have: Thesis and Dissertation Committees The committee selection process shall include consultation between the student and appropriate faculty members, including the designated academic advisor. The majority of the membership of the Thesis [&hellip;]\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/home.hamptonu.edu\/gradcoll\/current-students\/handbook\/on-track-to-the-masters-degree\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"Graduate College\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2026-08-20T20:10:43+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/home.hamptonu.edu\/gradcoll\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/169\/2026\/08\/campus_aerial_1920x1080.jpg\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"1920\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"1080\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/jpeg\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"6 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\\\/\\\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/home.hamptonu.edu\\\/gradcoll\\\/current-students\\\/handbook\\\/on-track-to-the-masters-degree\\\/\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/home.hamptonu.edu\\\/gradcoll\\\/current-students\\\/handbook\\\/on-track-to-the-masters-degree\\\/\",\"name\":\"On Track to the Master\u2019s Degree - Graduate College\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/home.hamptonu.edu\\\/gradcoll\\\/#website\"},\"primaryImageOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/home.hamptonu.edu\\\/gradcoll\\\/current-students\\\/handbook\\\/on-track-to-the-masters-degree\\\/#primaryimage\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/home.hamptonu.edu\\\/gradcoll\\\/current-students\\\/handbook\\\/on-track-to-the-masters-degree\\\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/home.hamptonu.edu\\\/gradcoll\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/sites\\\/169\\\/2026\\\/08\\\/campus_aerial_1920x1080.jpg\",\"datePublished\":\"2026-08-10T16:37:24+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2026-08-20T20:10:43+00:00\",\"breadcrumb\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/home.hamptonu.edu\\\/gradcoll\\\/current-students\\\/handbook\\\/on-track-to-the-masters-degree\\\/#breadcrumb\"},\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"ReadAction\",\"target\":[\"https:\\\/\\\/home.hamptonu.edu\\\/gradcoll\\\/current-students\\\/handbook\\\/on-track-to-the-masters-degree\\\/\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/home.hamptonu.edu\\\/gradcoll\\\/current-students\\\/handbook\\\/on-track-to-the-masters-degree\\\/#primaryimage\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/home.hamptonu.edu\\\/gradcoll\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/sites\\\/169\\\/2026\\\/08\\\/campus_aerial_1920x1080.jpg\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/home.hamptonu.edu\\\/gradcoll\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/sites\\\/169\\\/2026\\\/08\\\/campus_aerial_1920x1080.jpg\",\"width\":1920,\"height\":1080,\"caption\":\"A photo of an aerial shot of the Hampton University Campus.\"},{\"@type\":\"BreadcrumbList\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/home.hamptonu.edu\\\/gradcoll\\\/current-students\\\/handbook\\\/on-track-to-the-masters-degree\\\/#breadcrumb\",\"itemListElement\":[{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":1,\"name\":\"Home\",\"item\":\"https:\\\/\\\/home.hamptonu.edu\\\/gradcoll\\\/\"},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":2,\"name\":\"Current Students (Intentionally Blank)\",\"item\":\"https:\\\/\\\/home.hamptonu.edu\\\/gradcoll\\\/current-students\\\/\"},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":3,\"name\":\"Graduate College Handbook &amp; Operating Procedures\",\"item\":\"https:\\\/\\\/home.hamptonu.edu\\\/gradcoll\\\/current-students\\\/handbook\\\/\"},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":4,\"name\":\"On Track to the Master\u2019s Degree\"}]},{\"@type\":\"WebSite\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/home.hamptonu.edu\\\/gradcoll\\\/#website\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/home.hamptonu.edu\\\/gradcoll\\\/\",\"name\":\"Graduate College\",\"description\":\"Anchor your Journey in Excellence\u200b\",\"publisher\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/home.hamptonu.edu\\\/gradcoll\\\/#organization\"},\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"SearchAction\",\"target\":{\"@type\":\"EntryPoint\",\"urlTemplate\":\"https:\\\/\\\/home.hamptonu.edu\\\/gradcoll\\\/?s={search_term_string}\"},\"query-input\":{\"@type\":\"PropertyValueSpecification\",\"valueRequired\":true,\"valueName\":\"search_term_string\"}}],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},{\"@type\":\"Organization\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/home.hamptonu.edu\\\/gradcoll\\\/#organization\",\"name\":\"Graduate College\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/home.hamptonu.edu\\\/gradcoll\\\/\",\"logo\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/home.hamptonu.edu\\\/gradcoll\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/logo\\\/image\\\/\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/home.hamptonu.edu\\\/gradcoll\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/sites\\\/169\\\/2026\\\/07\\\/graduate_college_logo_white_311x71.png\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/home.hamptonu.edu\\\/gradcoll\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/sites\\\/169\\\/2026\\\/07\\\/graduate_college_logo_white_311x71.png\",\"width\":311,\"height\":71,\"caption\":\"Graduate College\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/home.hamptonu.edu\\\/gradcoll\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/logo\\\/image\\\/\"}}]}<\/script>\n<!-- \/ Yoast SEO plugin. -->","yoast_head_json":{"title":"On Track to the Master\u2019s Degree - Graduate College","robots":{"index":"index","follow":"follow","max-snippet":"max-snippet:-1","max-image-preview":"max-image-preview:large","max-video-preview":"max-video-preview:-1"},"canonical":"https:\/\/home.hamptonu.edu\/gradcoll\/current-students\/handbook\/on-track-to-the-masters-degree\/","og_locale":"en_US","og_type":"article","og_title":"On Track to the Master\u2019s Degree - Graduate College","og_description":"Admission to the Graduate College does not entail acceptance to candidacy for the master\u2019s degree. To be admitted to candidacy, the student must have: Thesis and Dissertation Committees The committee selection process shall include consultation between the student and appropriate faculty members, including the designated academic advisor. The majority of the membership of the Thesis [&hellip;]","og_url":"https:\/\/home.hamptonu.edu\/gradcoll\/current-students\/handbook\/on-track-to-the-masters-degree\/","og_site_name":"Graduate College","article_modified_time":"2026-08-20T20:10:43+00:00","og_image":[{"width":1920,"height":1080,"url":"https:\/\/home.hamptonu.edu\/gradcoll\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/169\/2026\/08\/campus_aerial_1920x1080.jpg","type":"image\/jpeg"}],"twitter_card":"summary_large_image","twitter_misc":{"Est. reading time":"6 minutes"},"schema":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https:\/\/home.hamptonu.edu\/gradcoll\/current-students\/handbook\/on-track-to-the-masters-degree\/","url":"https:\/\/home.hamptonu.edu\/gradcoll\/current-students\/handbook\/on-track-to-the-masters-degree\/","name":"On Track to the Master\u2019s Degree - Graduate College","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/home.hamptonu.edu\/gradcoll\/#website"},"primaryImageOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/home.hamptonu.edu\/gradcoll\/current-students\/handbook\/on-track-to-the-masters-degree\/#primaryimage"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/home.hamptonu.edu\/gradcoll\/current-students\/handbook\/on-track-to-the-masters-degree\/#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/home.hamptonu.edu\/gradcoll\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/169\/2026\/08\/campus_aerial_1920x1080.jpg","datePublished":"2026-08-10T16:37:24+00:00","dateModified":"2026-08-20T20:10:43+00:00","breadcrumb":{"@id":"https:\/\/home.hamptonu.edu\/gradcoll\/current-students\/handbook\/on-track-to-the-masters-degree\/#breadcrumb"},"inLanguage":"en-US","potentialAction":[{"@type":"ReadAction","target":["https:\/\/home.hamptonu.edu\/gradcoll\/current-students\/handbook\/on-track-to-the-masters-degree\/"]}]},{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/home.hamptonu.edu\/gradcoll\/current-students\/handbook\/on-track-to-the-masters-degree\/#primaryimage","url":"https:\/\/home.hamptonu.edu\/gradcoll\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/169\/2026\/08\/campus_aerial_1920x1080.jpg","contentUrl":"https:\/\/home.hamptonu.edu\/gradcoll\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/169\/2026\/08\/campus_aerial_1920x1080.jpg","width":1920,"height":1080,"caption":"A photo of an aerial shot of the Hampton University Campus."},{"@type":"BreadcrumbList","@id":"https:\/\/home.hamptonu.edu\/gradcoll\/current-students\/handbook\/on-track-to-the-masters-degree\/#breadcrumb","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Home","item":"https:\/\/home.hamptonu.edu\/gradcoll\/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"Current Students (Intentionally Blank)","item":"https:\/\/home.hamptonu.edu\/gradcoll\/current-students\/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":3,"name":"Graduate College Handbook &amp; Operating Procedures","item":"https:\/\/home.hamptonu.edu\/gradcoll\/current-students\/handbook\/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":4,"name":"On Track to the Master\u2019s Degree"}]},{"@type":"WebSite","@id":"https:\/\/home.hamptonu.edu\/gradcoll\/#website","url":"https:\/\/home.hamptonu.edu\/gradcoll\/","name":"Graduate College","description":"Anchor your Journey in Excellence\u200b","publisher":{"@id":"https:\/\/home.hamptonu.edu\/gradcoll\/#organization"},"potentialAction":[{"@type":"SearchAction","target":{"@type":"EntryPoint","urlTemplate":"https:\/\/home.hamptonu.edu\/gradcoll\/?s={search_term_string}"},"query-input":{"@type":"PropertyValueSpecification","valueRequired":true,"valueName":"search_term_string"}}],"inLanguage":"en-US"},{"@type":"Organization","@id":"https:\/\/home.hamptonu.edu\/gradcoll\/#organization","name":"Graduate College","url":"https:\/\/home.hamptonu.edu\/gradcoll\/","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/home.hamptonu.edu\/gradcoll\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/","url":"https:\/\/home.hamptonu.edu\/gradcoll\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/169\/2026\/07\/graduate_college_logo_white_311x71.png","contentUrl":"https:\/\/home.hamptonu.edu\/gradcoll\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/169\/2026\/07\/graduate_college_logo_white_311x71.png","width":311,"height":71,"caption":"Graduate College"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/home.hamptonu.edu\/gradcoll\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/"}}]}},"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/home.hamptonu.edu\/gradcoll\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/4538","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/home.hamptonu.edu\/gradcoll\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/home.hamptonu.edu\/gradcoll\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/home.hamptonu.edu\/gradcoll\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/232"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/home.hamptonu.edu\/gradcoll\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=4538"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/home.hamptonu.edu\/gradcoll\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/4538\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":4698,"href":"https:\/\/home.hamptonu.edu\/gradcoll\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/4538\/revisions\/4698"}],"up":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/home.hamptonu.edu\/gradcoll\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/4441"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/home.hamptonu.edu\/gradcoll\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/4811"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/home.hamptonu.edu\/gradcoll\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=4538"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}