The University

The Catholic University of America is located in the northeast quadrant of Washington D.C., approximately three miles from the Capital. Founded in 1889 as a research?oriented institution, Catholic University is comprised of twelve schools and currently has an enrollment of about seven thousand students, more than half of which are graduate students. CUA is among the founding schools of the Association of American Universities and is one of the original sponsors of Oak Ridge Associated Universities, a nonprofit research management corporation of forty?nine universities fostering research in energy, health, and the environment.

The office of the Dean of Graduate Studies is located in McMahon Hall, room 116.

There are twelve schools at CUA, all of which offer graduate degrees:

The School of Architecture and Planning offers graduate programs that lead to the degrees Master of Architecture (professional degree, one-and-one-half to two years), Master of Architecture (professional degree, three years), Master of Architectural Studies (post-professional degree) Master of City and Regional Planning (post professional degree, two years) and Master of Science in Sustainable Design (post-professional degree, one year).

The School of Arts and Sciences offers graduate programs that lead to the degrees Master of Arts, Master of Fine Arts, Master of Science and Doctor of Philosophy. The departments of the school offering graduate degrees are anthropology, biology, business and economics (international political economics), chemistry (chemical education), drama, education, English, Greek and Latin, history, modern languages and literatures (Spanish), physics, politics, psychology, Semitic and Egyptian Languages and Literatures, and sociology. Interdisciplinary programs are available in Irish studies and medieval and Byzantine studies.

The School of Canon Law offers graduate programs that lead to the pontifical degrees of Licentiate in Canon Law and Doctor of Canon Law. A dual degree program is also conducted in conjunction with the Columbus School of Law.

The School of Engineering offers graduate programs that lead to the degrees Master of Biomedical Engineering, Master of Civil Engineering, Master of Electrical Engineering, Master of Mechanical Engineering, Master of Science in Computer Science, Master of Science in Engineering, Doctor of Engineering and Doctor of Philosophy.

The Columbus School of Law offers the LL.M. and the Juris Doctor degree, with a broad curriculum that prepares graduates for a range of professional career opportunities. The school also has joint degree programs with the schools of arts and sciences, library and information science, philosophy, social service, and canon law. Concentrated certificate programs are available in communications law, securities law, law and public policy, and international law. Through a number of clinical programs, students gain professional service and skills experience.

The School of Library and Information Science offers programs that lead to the degree Master of Science in Library Science and to a post-master's Certificate of Advanced Study. Concentrations include archives and records management, biomedical information, book arts, information resources management, information systems, law librarianship, library and information services, music librarianship, school media services, special collections and services for children and young adults. Joint degree programs are available with the schools of Law, Music, Religious Studies, and Arts and Sciences.

The Benjamin T. Rome School of Music offers graduate programs leading to the degree Master of Music, Master of Music in Sacred Music, Master of Arts, Doctor of Philosophy, Doctor of Musical Arts in Sacred Music and Doctor of Musical Arts. A joint degree program in music librarianship (Master of Arts in Musicology and the Master of Science in Library Science) is also available, as is a concentration in Latin American music within most graduate degree programs.

The School of Nursing offers graduate programs that lead to the degrees Master of Science in Nursing, Doctor of Philosophy and Doctor of Nursing Practice degrees. The program leading to the Master of Science degree offers students the opportunity to acquire knowledge and skills in advanced practice roles with concentrations in adult/geriatric, family, pediatric, school nurse practitioners, education, administration, community/public health, and advanced practice psychiatric-mental health. Doctoral study in nursing enables the student to integrate clinical acumen with research knowledge and skills.

The School of Philosophy offers graduate programs leading to the degree Master of Arts, Doctor of Philosophy and to the pontifical degrees of Bachelor, Licentiate and Doctor of Philosophy.

The National Catholic School of Social Service offers programs that lead to the degrees Master of Social Work and Doctor of Philosophy. The Master of Social Work Program prepares students for advanced entry into the social work profession with theoretical knowledge, practice skills, research utilization and professional values. M.S.W. candidates concentrate in clinical social work with individual adults; with children and adolescents; in family practice; or in social policy, planning and administration. The program leading to the Doctor of Philosophy degree prepares candidates for research and theory development roles in clinical practice, policy development and social justice, or teaching.

The School of Theology and Religious Studies offers graduate academic and ministerial programs that lead to the degrees Master of Arts, Master of Divinity, Master of Religious Education, Doctor of Ministry and Doctor of Philosophy and to the pontifical degrees of Bachelor, Licentiate, and Doctor of Sacred Theology. Academic areas of study include Biblical Studies, Church History, Hispanic/Latino Studies, Historical Theology, Liturgical Studies/Sacramental Theology, Moral Theology/Ethics, Pastoral Studies, Religion and Culture, Religious Education/Catechetics, Spirituality, and Systematic Theology. Joint degree programs are available in Catholic education leadership, history of religions and religious studies and library science. Theological College, under the direction of the Sulpician Fathers, provides for diocesan seminarians the spiritual formation and the opportunity for personal integration that are necessary for ordination to the priesthood in the Roman Catholic Church.

The Metropolitan School of Professional Studies offers a Master of Arts degree in Human Resource Management by extending the resources and expertise of the university to the Washington area community. Individual programs are designed with a maximum of flexibility to meet the special needs of adult students, while classes are offered evenings and weekends to accommodate nontraditional schedules. The college also works with business and professional groups to meet the professional updating and certification needs of their members.

The Degrees

The graduate degrees offered by CUA include:

Full-Time Study

Graduate students devoting their entire time to work for an advanced degree, regardless of the number of semester hours for which enrolled, such as working in residence on a dissertation under the guidance of a major professor, are full-time students. See the following definitions of full-time enrollment. Individual schools may require full-time students to register for a greater number of semester hours in order to qualify for fulltime enrollment.

The certification to governmental agencies of all students-citizen and non-citizen-as full-time students of the university is determined by full-time academic activity as attested by the cognizant academic officer.

Master's Students

To be certified as a full-time master's student, one of the following criteria must be met:

1. Enrollment in a minimum of eight semester credit hours.

2. Enrollment in a minimum of six semester credit hours and position as a teaching/research assistant (10 hours per week).

3. Enrollment in a minimum of three semester credit hours and position as a teaching/research assistant (20 hours per week).

4. Enrollment in the M.F.A. program for semester credit and practicum hours totaling at least eight.

5. Following completion of all required coursework:

a. Enrollment for comprehensive examinations (limit one semester);

b. Enrollment for master's thesis guidance (#995, #996, limit two semesters);

c. For the School of Music: enrollment for master's graduate recital and at least one credit of private instruction (limit four semesters).

Doctoral Students

To be certified as a full-time doctoral student, one of the following criteria must be met:

1. Enrollment in a minimum of eight semester credit hours.

2. Enrollment in a minimum of six semester credit hours and position as a teaching/research assistant (10 hours per week).

3. Enrollment in a minimum of three semester credit hours and position as a teaching/research assistant (20 hours per week).

4. Following completion of all required coursework, enrollment for the Doctoral Comprehensive Examination (limit two semesters).

5. Following admission to candidacy, enrollment:

a. For doctoral dissertation guidance (#997, #998);

b. In absentia, with school or department approval;

c. For required internship;

d. For the School of Music: enrollment for doctoral recitals, doctoral compositions, or completion of repertoire list.

Note: There is a time limit for the period of candidacy.

Graduate Students Not Considered Full Time

Graduate students on leave of absence or enrolled for oral defense of dissertation only cannot be certified as full or part time.

Certification

Certification is the responsibility of the university registrar. The school or department must notify the registrar by memorandum or e-mail of teaching or research assistantship.

Part-Time Study

All students who do not satisfy the criteria for fulltime study are part-time students and, except as noted below, must pay tuition in the amount charged per semester hour. Graduate students employed in certain governmental agencies for not more than three days per week may be permitted, upon written agreement with the agency, to enroll as part-time students for not more than 10 semester hours, will be considered to be in three-quarters residence, and will be charged three-fourths of the tuition for full-time study.

A graduate student who is pursuing a program of ministerial studies in any neighboring institution (religious house of studies, theologate, and the like) will not be permitted to register for more than six semester hours of graduate study per semester.

A dean may authorize as many as nine semester hours in a given semester for a graduate student who has been enrolled on a part-time basis for at least the previous two semesters and who is within seven to nine semester hours of completing degree requirements. In this instance, tuition will be charged at the rate for part-time study.

Continuous Enrollment

Continuous enrollment is required of all students enrolled in programs leading to degrees unless an authorized leave of absence has been granted. Failure to maintain continuous enrollment or to obtain an official leave of absence is considered to be evidence that the student has withdrawn from the university. The student must reapply for admission to be reinstated and satisfy current degree requirements.

Leave of Absence

A student in good standing who must interrupt her or his studies for adequate reason, such as prolonged ill health or military service, may be granted a leave of absence for a stated period, usually not to exceed one year. The student should apply in writing, in advance of the semester for which permission is requested, to the chair of the department and the dean of the school, stating the specific reasons for requiring the leave. The period of leave of absence is not counted as part of the time allowed for the completion of residence or other degree requirements. Any incomplete (I) grades that are outstanding must be changed in accordance with the policy on Incomplete Grades by the date published in the Academic Calendar, whether a student is registered for the current semester or not. If the leave of absence extends beyond the period approved by the academic dean, the student will be considered to have withdrawn from the university and must reapply for admission to be reinstated and satisfy current degree requirements.

Residence

The term "residence" denotes enrollment for work leading to a graduate degree that is done under the direction of the faculty of a school. Such residence, as is usually the case in the United States, entails enrollment for specified course hou