Graduate School: Minimum Graduate Degree Credit Requirement

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Policy Number:
UW-1245
Responsible Office:
Graduate School

University Policy

Rationale/​Purpose:

The Graduate School’s minimum credit hour requirements for a degree, instituted by the Graduate Faculty Executive Committee, ensures that graduate degrees meet accreditation standards.

Definitions:
Credit Hour
Defined in UW-1011, The Credit Hour
Dissertator
A graduate student pursuing a PhD who has completed all requirements for a doctoral degree except for the dissertation. The Graduate School automatically places a graduate student who passes the preliminary examination into dissertation fee status which restricts enrollment to exactly 3 graded research credits per term. A student may opt out if they wish to enroll in other than 3 graded research credits. Dissertator status is not a requirement to graduate with a doctoral degree.
Scope:

Graduate students pursuing Master's or PhD degrees in academic programs under the purview of the Graduate School.

Policy:

The Graduate School requires students successfully complete the following minimum number of graduate credits to earn a degree:

    1. Master’s degree (excluding MFA): 30 credits
    2. MFA/Specialist certificate: 42 credits
    3. Doctoral degree: 51 credits

The doctoral degree minimum graduate degree credit requirement may be achieved with credits earned at UW-Madison before or after dissertator status. The credits earned at UW-Madison and applied towards a master’s degree, a doctoral minor, or taken as a dissertator will count towards the related doctoral graduate degree credit requirement.

Some programs may require more rigorous credit requirements than the Graduate School’s minimum requirements as indicated in the Graduate Guide.

Related UW-Madison Policies:
Related UW–Madison Documents, Web Pages, or Other Resources:
External References:

Policy Administration

Approval Authority:
Dean of the Graduate School
Policy Manager:
Director, Academic Services, Graduate School
Contact:
Director, Academic Services, Graduate School -- Kipp Cox, ervin.cox@wisc.edu, (608) 262-2433
Revised Dates:

04-26-2023, 12-26-2023

Retrieved:
06-19-2025 12:01:50