Graduate Catalog

2008-09 Academic Year

The Toulouse School of Graduate Studies

Eagle statue in front of the Hurley Administration Building

Main Office
Eagle Student Services Center, Room 354
Mailing address:
1155 Union Circle #305459
Denton, TX 76203-5017
940-565-2383

E-mail: graduateschool@unt.edu

Web site: www.gradschool.unt.edu

Michael Monticino, Dean

Joseph R. Oppong, Interim Associate Dean

All students seeking to pursue any UNT graduate degree, teacher certification, graduate academic certificate, a second bachelor’s degree, or who simply wish to register for courses as a non-degree student, must first apply for admission to the Toulouse School of Graduate Studies. A student who meets the basic standards for admission specified by the School of Graduate Studies is eligible for admission consideration by one of the degree programs offered at UNT. Please consult the Admission section of this catalog for information about the Toulouse School of Graduate Studies and for general admission standards and procedures.

In addition to general admission to the Toulouse School of Graduate Studies, each department requires additional information specific to their degree programs. For degree-specific information on admission standards and procedures, please consult the department regarding degree program admission.

Center for Interdisciplinary Graduate Studies

The Toulouse School of Graduate Studies administers the Center for Interdisciplinary Graduate Studies, which is responsible for the following degree programs:

The center also is involved in the sponsorship of universitywide efforts to bring together faculty with interests and concerns in specific interdisciplinary topic areas. As these interest groups are formed, information about each will appear in this catalog.

The Faculty of Women’s Studies

Faculty members from diverse academic departments regularly teach courses examining women’s roles, activities and experiences throughout history and across cultures. These courses expand understanding of gender differences, cultural diversity and social change, while strengthening critical thinking and communication skills. Teaching areas of the faculty currently include anthropology; applied gerontology; communication studies; criminal justice; economics; English; foreign languages and literatures; history; journalism; philosophy; political science; psychology; radio, television and film; religion studies; and sociology. The faculty of women’s studies regularly present colloquia and lectures concerning their research and current issues in women’s studies.

For further information about women’s studies at UNT, please contact the Director of Women’s Studies, General Academic Building, Room 302, 1155 Union Circle #305189, Denton, TX 76203-5017; 940-565-2098.

Master’s Degrees in Interdisciplinary Studies

Toulouse School of Graduate Studies
Eagle Student Services Center, Room 354
Mailing address:
1155 Union Circle #305459
Denton, TX 76203-5017
940-565-2383

Interdisciplinary Studies

UNT offers a Master of Arts and a Master of Science with majors in interdisciplinary studies. A minimum of 36 semester hours of graduate courses is required for this degree. However, the program offers the student a high degree of flexibility in the selection of course work.

The master’s degree with a major in interdisciplinary studies is coordinated by the Toulouse School of Graduate Studies. Prospective applicants for this program should discuss their plans with the Graduate School.

Admission Requirements

Applicants for admission to the master’s degree programs in interdisciplinary studies must submit the following:

1. A completed School of Graduate Studies application form.

2. Complete transcripts from all colleges attended.

3. A current resume.

4. Three letters of recommendation.

5. A written statement of purpose outlining the unifying theme of the applicant’s interdisciplinary program that includes the following:

a. clear goals for the program of study;

b. specific learning outcomes (i.e., what the student expects to have learned by the end of the program); and

c. defined assessment methods for the learning outcomes. (The methods that will be used to measure the outcomes must be designed in consultation with a faculty advisor or the entire advisory committee.)

Please contact the School of Graduate Studies for further information regarding the statement of purpose.

6. A degree plan worksheet with signatures.

7. Scores on the verbal, quantitative or analytical writing sections of the Graduate Record Examination (GRE).

All of the above materials and scores must be submitted prior to any enrollment for courses leading to the degree.

Degree Requirements

For both the Master of Science and Master of Arts with a major in interdisciplinary studies, the degree program must include no fewer than three separate fields of study with at least 6 hours in each field. For all sequences no more than 18 hours (including thesis and special problems) may be taken under any one course prefix or subject field. A degree plan committee, composed of a representative of each of the several disciplines of the student’s program, will be formed to help the student develop the degree plan and supervise the student’s progress.

Students may choose the non-thesis option and complete at least 36 semester hours for a Master of Arts or Master of Science. The thesis option requires 30 semester hours plus 6 hours of thesis, for a total of 36 hours. Students must meet the foreign language requirement for the Master of Arts.

For either degree, a comprehensive final examination, oral and/or written, must be completed, ordinarily during the final term/semester of enrollment. The examination is prepared, administered and evaluated by the members of the student’s degree plan committee.

Two possible approaches can be taken to designing an acceptable interdisciplinary studies degree program for either the Master of Arts or Master of Science.

Under the first approach, the candidate may plan a program designed to serve a particular hybrid intellectual interest not met by any specific degree program available through the traditional disciplines. A primary area is chosen along with two complementary contributory areas, making use of existing courses from any appropriate graduate area of the university.

Under the second approach, students pursue women’s studies as the primary interdisciplinary theme. Women’s studies as a theme provides a specialized focus while maintaining the interdisciplinary nature of the program.

Each theme generally requires a common core of courses closely related to the area of interest, with provision to include in the program a number of electives drawn from several suitable disciplines. In developing programs under a theme, students still must meet the general requirements for interdisciplinary studies as outlined above. Prospective students should note that in all cases the degree awarded upon completion of the program is a Master of Arts or Science with a major in interdisciplinary studies. This approach is not the same as pursuing a degree with a major in a specific discipline.

University Courses (UCRS)

University courses are interdisciplinary in nature and are available to students working toward the master’s degree with the interdisciplinary major.

Courses of Instruction

All Courses of Instruction are located in one section at the back of this catalog.

Course and Subject Guide

The “Course and Subject Guide,” found in the Courses of Instruction section of this book, serves as a table of contents and provides quick access to subject areas and prefixes.

Graduate Admissions

(888) UNT-GRAD
(868-4723) (toll-free)
graduateschool@unt.edu

UNT Switchboard

(940) 565-2000