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Individualized Studies at NMU
The master’s degree program in individualized studies is designed to 1) accommodate students with needs that are not met by existing programs, 2) recognize that current employment opportunities as well as future ones may not be structured around existing departments or degree programs, 3) provide flexibility and innovation, 4) recognize the needs of people who have been out of school for longer periods of time and have special occupational or vocational situations and 5) accommodate students who desire a change in field of study from that of their baccalaureate degree.
Individualized programs must be based in departments which currently offer master’s degree programs.
The general regulations governing graduate education at NMU will apply to this program (e.g., transfer credit policies, time limitation requirements, grade point average for graduation, and credit requirements). Students are admitted to the graduate school as a “non-degree”-seeking student until an approved plan of study is on file in the College of Graduate Studies.
The student must satisfy the prerequisites for all courses in the plan of study.
The plan of study must be approved by the department advisory committee, the department head representing the major discipline and the graduate programs committee supervisory subcommittee before the plan may be initiated. No more than eight semester credit hours, taken before the plan of study has been approved, will be accepted in the program. The quality of the master’s degree in individualized studies rests with the strict observance of College of Graduate Studies policies and the committee structure for overseeing the development and monitoring of the program of study.
Program Requirements
- The proposed master’s degree must equal at least 32 semester hours excluding any deficiency credits.
- The departments must be willing to participate in the proposed degree program.
- One of the designated graduate faculty advisers in a primary department must be named as the program adviser.
- Secondary disciplines (departments/divisions) are defined as those disciplines in which eight semester hours of course work are proposed at the master’s level. Secondary disciplines must approve the course work as part of the program.
- If the graduate faculty advisers determine that a student has any deficiencies in his/her background, the proposal must list the course work necessary to alleviate those deficiencies. Prerequisite deficiency course work must be completed before courses listed in the plan of study.
- The graduate faculty adviser from the “home” department will establish an advisory committee. This committee will consist of a minimum of three faculty members, including the graduate faculty adviser. This committee will oversee the development of the student’s individualized plan of study. The home department head will process the plan of study in the same manner that other graduate plans are processed. The plan of study for MIS degree is available online, under the “For Faculty and Students” link to the Graduate Studies home page.
- The student, in cooperation with his/her advisory committee, must develop a written proposal containing the following:a. A statement of the special need, interest, or employment opportunity that identifies the major reason for pursuing the proposed program of study;
Programs
Bulletin Year: Fall 2007 - Summer 2009 Graduate Bulletin | View the current NMU Catalog.