Date Effective: March 31, 2005

POLICY AND PROCEDURE MEMORANDUM ACADEMIC PROGRAMS - 18

SUBJECT:  Master of Science Program for Doctoral Degree Candidates

INTRODUCTION

The purpose of this special type of Master of Science Degree program offered by the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health is to provide students who are candidates for doctoral-level degrees in one department the opportunity to obtain a Master of Science degree in a second department during the course of doctoral studies.

It is perceived that an organized program of study in one discipline or program area could provide a valuable base of knowledge and skills, as well as a useful credential, to students who are moving toward doctoral degrees in another discipline or program area.

The following material details the minimum requirements for certain generic aspects of these dual programs. Prescription of details of a given program is the responsibility of the academic department offering the degree. An academic department may prescribe additional requirements beyond those in this Policy and Procedure Memorandum.

Policy

The minimum requirements for admission to a Master of Science Degree program shall include the following:

1.      admission into a doctoral-level degree program in another academic department in the School of Public Health; and

2.      demonstration that concentrated study in the department offering the Master of Science Degree program is relevant to the field of doctoral study and will not impede progress in that study.

Procedure

1.      Primary responsibility for selection of applicants to be admitted to a Master of Science Degree program in association with doctoral study in another department rests with the academic department offering the Master of Science Degree program.

2.      Approval of the department chairman and student advisor in the department of doctoral studies must be granted for study in a concurrent Master of Science Degree program in another department.

Policy

1.      The minimum duration of a Master of Science Degree program offered in association with doctoral studies in another department is to be four academic terms (64 academic credit units).

Procedure

1.      The department offering the Master of Science Degree program in association with doctoral studies shall determine the duration of the degree program should it extend beyond the minimum requirement of 64 academic credit units, and will include this information in the formal description of the program.

Policy

1.      Each Master of Science Degree program in association with doctoral studies shall have a definite set of educational objectives and a clearly defined course of study relevant to the objectives of the program and to the needs of the students.

Procedure

1.      The department offering the master’s degree program shall have the responsibility to formulate the educational objectives, to identify those offerings of the School which shall be required of the student, and to develop additional offerings relevant to its program.

Policy

1.      There shall be methods to monitor, evaluate, and record the progress of students in fulfilling the requirements of the Master of Science Degree program in which they are enrolled and to assure that the academic standards of the School of Public Health are maintained.

Procedure

1.      In those instances in which doctoral studies are not completed (and the doctoral degree not awarded), the award of the Master of Science degree will depend upon the student meeting all the requirements of Policy and Procedure Memorandum Academic Programs #10 – Master of Science Degree.

2.      The department offering the Master of Science Degree program in association with doctoral studies shall have the responsibility of documenting the requirements of the Master of Science degree program it offers. The department chairman will attest to fulfillment of these requirements for each enrolled student and in writing to the Office of the Registrar, where official student records are maintained. The Office of Records and Registration will then forward this to the Committee on Academic Standards for award of the degree.  These steps will occur concurrently with the credentialing to award the PhD degree.

3.      Responsibility for approving such recommendations and for determining that the requirements have been met for award of the Master of Science Degree rests with the Departments, Committee on Academic Standards, and ultimately the Advisory Board.

Policy

1.      The School of Public Health shall assure that new and existing Master of Science Degree programs in association with doctoral studies in a second department are consonant with the goals and objectives of the School of Public Health and that the quality of the academic programs and graduates of these programs are consistent with the standards of the School.

Procedure

1.      An academic department wishing to offer a new Master of Science Degree program in association with doctoral studies in another academic department shall prepare a description of this program, including the educational objectives, the program content, and the methods of evaluating enrolled students and submit this description to the Committee on Academic Standards for review. Final approval for the introduction of a new degree program rests with the Advisory Board.

2.      Existing Master of Science Degree programs in association with doctoral studies in a second department are reviewed on a regular basis with other degree programs offered by a department at the time of the formal departmental review in the accreditation cycle.