Courses and Credit Hours
The university requires a minimum of 30 semester hours for a master's degree. This includes at least 24 semester hours of discipline content courses. Chemistry and Biological Sciences master's programs require a minimum of 20 semester hours of discipline content courses. Programs may have requirements that exceed the minimum standards established by the university.
A maximum of three semester credits of 513 (Professional Renewal) may be counted toward the master’s degree.
Transfer Credit
Master's and Specialist Degree Policy. Students must complete a minimum of 24 credits through the University of Northern Colorado as part of their master's degree or post-master's specialist degree. Thus, students can transfer up to six (6) credits from another accredited institution, that offers graduate degrees, into a 30 credit hour master's or specialist degree program. If the program requirements exceed the minimum 30 credits, students are allowed to transfer additional credits as determined by the school or program faculty. Students without a master's degree must complete 48 semester credit hours at UNC of the 60 required credits for a specialist degree. Students are encouraged to check school policies regarding transfer of credit.
These policies allow programs that exceed the 30 credit minimum for a master's/specialist to establish school transfer limits and guidelines that exceed minimum requirements. As long as the minimum number of credits through UNC are observed, transfer credit allowances to students will be determined by program faculty and can vary on a case by case basis. The Graduate School will not approve students for graduation with fewer than the required UNC credits.