Courses and Credit Hours

Credit Hours

A student entering a doctoral program who possesses a master's degree must earn a minimum of 64 semester hours of graduate credit beyond the master's degree. This includes a minimum of 48 semester hours of graduate level discipline content courses and 16 semester hours of research credit.

A student who possesses only a baccalaureate degree must earn a minimum of 94 semester hours of graduate credit beyond the baccalaureate degree. This includes a minimum of 78 semester hours of graduate level discipline content courses and 16 semester hours of research credit.

A student who possesses a master's degree but who is attempting to obtain a second master's degree enroute to a doctoral degree must meet the same credit hour requirements as the baccalaureate only student.

A student who possesses a specialist degree may count a maximum of 21 semester hours of specialist work in the doctoral program with the approval of the Graduate School, the program advisor, and all members of the doctoral committee. Schools may have requirements that exceed the minimums established by the university.

Transfer Credit

Doctoral students must complete a minimum of 40 semester hours through UNC of the 64 minimum required for a doctoral degree. If the program requirements exceed the 64 credit minimum, students are allowed to transfer additional credits, as determined by their advisor, from another accredited institution that grants doctoral degrees. Doctoral students without a master's degree must complete 64 of the 94 required credits at UNC for a doctoral degree. The plan of study will indicate transfer credits to be included in a student's program. Students are encouraged to check school policies regarding transfer of credit.

These policies allow programs that exceed the 64 credit minimum for a doctoral degree to establish school transfer limits and guidelines that exceed minimums. As long as the minimum number of credits through UNC are observed, transfer credit allowances to students will be determined by program faculty and can vary on a case by case basis. The Graduate School will not approve students for graduation with fewer than the required UNC credits.