Exploring Graduate Programs at the University of North Carolina

The University of North Carolina (UNC) system offers a wide array of graduate programs across its various campuses. These programs cater to diverse academic and professional interests, providing students with opportunities for advanced study and research. This article provides an overview of graduate programs within the UNC system, highlighting key aspects such as program offerings, requirements, and resources.

Comprehensive Program Offerings

The UNC system boasts a multitude of graduate programs, spanning numerous disciplines. The Graduate Catalog provides basic information about more than 60 doctoral and over 100 master’s programs currently active in The Graduate School. It describes admission standards and requirements, tuition and other costs, and sources of financial aid (including fellowships). Links to research institutes and centers also are given. In addition to brief descriptions of programs and a comprehensive listing of all graduate courses, this catalog includes, under each program description, a current roster of graduate faculty members specializing in that area together with their specific research interests.

Examples of specific programs include:

Biomedical Engineering: Offered as both a Master of Science (M.S.) and Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.).
Business Administration: Master of Science (M.S.).
Educational Leadership: Doctor of Education (Ed.D.).
German Studies: Offered as both a Master of Arts (M.A.) and Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.).
Biomedical and Health Informatics: Master of Professional Studies (M.P.S.) available in both residential and distance formats.
Public Health: Includes options like Master of Arts (M.A.) Distance, Doctor of Public Health (Dr.P.H.) in Public Health Executive Leadership (together with PHLP), Master of Health Administration (M.H.A.), and Master of Science in Dental Medicine (M.S.D.M.).

UNC Greensboro (UNCG) offers hundreds of degree programs and certificates on our beautiful campus and via our award-winning online programs. UNCG was recently ranked #1 in North Carolina among Newsweek’s Top Online Colleges list. Our world-class faculty and fully-accredited online curriculum gives students the flexibility they need to achieve career goals, with all of the same support as our on-campus students.

Program Requirements and Milestones

Graduate programs within the UNC system have specific requirements that students must fulfill to earn their degrees. These requirements vary depending on the program and degree level (master's or doctoral).

Master's Degree Requirements

Generally, master's students must meet the following requirements:

Committee Approval: Members of the student's master's examining committee have been approved.
Examinations: Successful completion of a required oral examination or approved exam substitute, and successful completion of a written exam or approved exam substitute. Some programs may require a second (or specialty) written exam.
Thesis/Substitute: Completion of an approved Master's Thesis Substitute, if applicable.
Thesis Defense: Completion of the oral defense of the thesis or approved thesis substitute.
Thesis Submission: Submission of the approved master's thesis, including revisions following its defense.
Residency: Completion of the minimum program residence credit of two semesters either by full-time registration or by part-time registration over several semesters.
Language Requirements: Completion of language requirement(s) if required by the program.
Exit Survey: Provision of feedback on graduate education quality and experiences by completing the graduating student exit survey.
Professional Experience: Participation in field-related practicum, internship, or professional work experience for the number of hours as defined by program requirements.
Research Skills: Review reflects the mastery of one or multiple research skills that are generally determined by the student and master's committee.
Program Meetings: Internal program meeting with student to ensure student is on track with completion of program requirements and is receiving adequate departmental support.
Research Presentation: Student presents their research as required by the program.

Doctoral Degree Requirements

Doctoral programs have more extensive requirements, including:

Committee Approval: Members of the student's doctoral committee, including a faculty research advisor and chair, have been approved by the academic program and The Graduate School.
Comprehensive Exams: Successful completion of a comprehensive oral exam, a first (or core) written exam (typically a comprehensive exam taken after completing coursework), and a second (or specialty) comprehensive written exam.
Prospectus Defense: Completion of an oral exam of their prospectus; their committee has judged the dissertation project proposal to be feasible and research may begin.
Language Requirements: Satisfaction of language requirement(s) if required by the program.
Candidacy: Passing both the doctoral oral and written comprehensive examinations, completing all coursework required by the programs of the major and minor(s), and meeting any foreign language requirements. Transcripts for students admitted to candidacy will contain the statement "Advanced to Candidacy for Doctorate" at the end of the term in which posted.
Dissertation Defense: Completion of the oral defense of the dissertation.
Dissertation Submission: Submission of their approved dissertation, including revisions following its defense.
Residency: Completion of the minimum program residence credit of four semesters either by full-time registration or by part-time registration over several semesters.
Exit Survey: Provision of feedback on graduate education quality and experiences by completing the graduating student exit survey.
Professional Experience: Participation in field-related practicum, internship, or professional work experience for the number of hours as defined by program requirements. Following a doctoral professional work experience or practicum, a separate practicum reflection paper is required.
Leadership Paper: Students are required to write a reflection paper.
Teaching Experience: Student participates in teaching a course as an assistant or instructor of record.
Publication: Student is required to submit an article for publication.
Research Activities: Student participates in field-related, sustained research activities for the number of hours as defined by program requirements.
Program Meetings: Internal program meeting with student to ensure student is on track with completion of program requirements and is receiving adequate departmental support. The program may use this meeting to cover competencies and/or research skills (e.g., scientific writing, statistical computing).
IRB Training: Student completes IRB training and verifies compliance with program requirements.
Committee Meetings: Meeting of student’s committee with student in preparation for milestones such as final dissertation defense or comprehensive exam (Comprehensive Exam Memo); may include goals such as presentation of research and progress to receive consultation prior to completing the research process or a document that reflects preparation for the comprehensive exam.
Research Skills: Review reflects the mastery of one or multiple research skills that are generally determined by the student and dissertation committee.
Research Presentation: Student presents their research as required by the program.

It is important to note that program details may differ; students should consult their program handbook for more information. Additional details can be found on the Graduate Handbook’s Doctoral Degree Requirements page.

Resources and Support for Graduate Students

The Graduate School at UNC is committed to improving and facilitating the integration of graduate and professional students' academic, professional, and personal development. To further these aims, The Graduate School staff, located in Bynum Hall and the Graduate Student Center, is responsible for assisting students in a number of capacities. The offices of the associate dean for student affairs and the associate dean for academics create and implement programs and services that specifically address the needs of graduate and professional students.

Some of these programs include:

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Diversity and Student Success Program: Develops and provides a number of programs and services throughout the year, both academic and social in nature, to assist graduate students of color with a successful transition and experience during their graduate work.
Graduate Student Academic and Professional Development: The director of graduate student academic and professional development oversees workshops, training, and events in the Graduate Student Center focused on broad professional skills and career success.
Counseling and Support: Graduate School staff are available to all graduate and professional students as a source of counsel, information, and referral for questions involving student services, academic procedures, policies, and grievances.

Academic Program Governance and Approval

The UNC Board of Governors has the statutory responsibility to authorize the establishment of new degree programs and the discontinuation of existing degree programs. All degree programs authorized by the Board are listed in a web database, where users can search according to degree type and campus. The UNC Academic Program Inventory (API) is a searchable database known as the Program & Degree Finder. UNC Regulation 400.1.1[R] governs the approval processes for all new baccalaureate, master’s and doctoral degree programs in the UNC System. Effective July 1, 2023 the UNC System has moved to a timeline for academic program approval by the Board of Governors. N.C.G.S. 116-143 requires the Board of Governors to set the tuition and fee rates at the constituent institutions of the UNC System, consistent with the actions of the General Assembly.

A Tradition of Academic Excellence

The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill was the first state university to admit students. It was chartered in 1789 and formally opened in 1795; from early in its history, it has encouraged research and creative activity. As early as 1853-1854 the catalog of the University carried an announcement of graduate coursework. In 1876, after the institution had been closed for the period 1871-1875, the catalog announced the requirements for the master's degree, and the next issue carried an announcement of regulations governing the degrees of master of arts, master of science, and doctor of philosophy. Several graduate degrees were awarded before the turn of the century.

Work toward advanced degrees at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill proceeds under policies and regulations established by the graduate faculty. The immediate direction of The Graduate School is in the charge of the Administrative Board, of which the dean is chair.

Summer School Opportunities

The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill established what was possibly the first summer school in America in 1877. The "Summer Normal School," as it was then called, enrolled 235 students in courses over 10 disciplines. About half the students were teachers; students came from 42 counties across North Carolina and from neighboring states. Summer School was the first school at UNC-Chapel Hill to enroll women, beginning in its first year and continuing thereafter.

Curricula and courses offered during Summer School are comparable to those of the fall and spring semesters. Summer School offers two sessions of five weeks each, a three-week Maymester, and other short courses with various beginning and ending dates. Graduate students who wish to be admitted or readmitted for the summer to a degree program should contact The Graduate School. The requirements for admission to a degree program starting in the summer are the same as those in the regular academic year.

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Visiting Scholars

Persons interested in applying for visiting scholars status should communicate with the appropriate department or school within the University. Further details concerning University privileges for visiting scholars are available from the Human Resources Office, CB# 1045, 104 Airport Drive, Chapel Hill, N.C.

University Calendar

Two semesters of approximately 17 weeks each and a summer school consisting of two sessions (each five and one-half weeks long) constitute the University year. The requirements for admission to graduate programs and for graduate degrees in the summer session are the same as those in the regular academic year.

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