Minimum Requirements for Master's Degrees
Minimum Requirements for Doctoral Degrees

Graduate Academic Programs

Graduate students are expected to be aware of and to comply with the general requirements for the degrees they are pursuing as outlined in the Graduate School Bulletin. In addition to the general requirements, students are expected to conform to any additional requirements set by the student's college or academic unit. The Fogelman College of Business and Economics, the College of Education, Health and Human Sciences, and the Herff College of Engineering have additional college degree requirements. Please see Degree Programs and Courses for individual program requirements.

A wide variety of graduate programs of study are offered in The Graduate School at The University of Memphis. Candidates for a degree must design a plan in consultation with their major advisor and then obtain the appropriate approvals.

The University of Memphis offers Master's degrees, Education Specialist degree, Doctoral degrees and graduate certificates.

Master's programs offered are: Master of Arts (MA), Master of Arts in Liberal Studies (MALS), Master of Arts in Teaching (MAT), Master of Architecture (MArch), Master of Business Administration (MBA), International Masters of Business Administration (IMBA), Master of City and Regional Planning (MCRP), RODP Master of Education (MED), Master of Fine Arts (MFA), Master of Health Administration (MHA), Master of Music (MMu), Master of Science in Nursing (MSN), Master of Public Administration (MPA), Master of Public Health (MPH), and Master of Science (MS).

The post-master's degrees of Education Specialist (EdS), Doctor of Audiology (AuD), Doctor of Education (EdD), and Doctor of Musical Arts (DMA) are also offered. The Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) is awarded in audiology and speech pathology, biology, business administration, chemistry, communication, computer science, counseling psychology, educational psychology and research, earth sciences, engineering, English, history, mathematical sciences, music, philosophy, and psychology.

Graduate Certificates are offered in African American Literature, Applied Lean Leadership, Artist Diploma in Music, College Teaching, Community College Teaching and Leadership, Geographic Information Systems, Information Assurance, Instructional Computing Applications, Local Government Management, Museum Studies, Nursing Administration, Nursing Education, Nursing Informatics, Software Testing, Teaching English as a Second Language, Urban Education, Women's and Gender Studies, and a post-Master's Family Nurse Practitioner certificate.

Graduate Certificate in African American Literature: This 15-hour program provides official recognition of preparation to help students qualify for jobs teaching African American Literature both within and outside the United States. Contact the Department of English for details.

Graduate Certificate in Applied Lean Leadership: This 12-hour program provides students with competitive knowledge and skills for jobs in which Lean is practiced, and a cost-effective way to upgrade technical skills in Lean techniques.
Contact the Department of Engineering Technology for details.

Graduate Certificate in Artist Diploma in Music: The four semester, 22-hour program provides concentrated post-baccalaureate training for prospective professional musicians. Students already in a graduate degree program may not transfer into this certificate program. Contact the Scheidt School of Music for details.

Graduate Certificate in College Teaching: This program provides specific training in college teaching for graduate teaching assistants. The 12-hour program equips TAs with knowledge and skill in effective college teaching methods. Only fully admitted graduate students who are graduate teaching assistants are eligible to enroll in the program. Contact the Graduate School for details.

Graduate Certificate in Community College Teaching and Leadership: This 18-hour program offers a certificate for individuals interested in either a teaching or an administrative position in a community college. Contact the Department of Leadership for details.

Graduate Certificate in Geographic Information Systems: The GIS Certificate gives students an interdisciplinary perspective that allows them to integrate GIS skills into knowledge acquired in other disciplines, and competitive skills and training for jobs in which GIS skills are essential. Contact the Department of Earth Sciences for details about this 18-hour program.

Graduate Certificate in Information Assurance: This 12-hour program highlights important aspects of information security and assurance technologies. The University of Memphis is designated by DHS and NSA as a National Center of Academic Excellence in Information Assurance, and its IA courses are accredited by the Committee for National Security Systems for Computer Security standards 4011, 4012, and 4013. These security standards specify the minimum knowledge, skills, and abilities required to fulfill the duties, respectively, of an Information Systems Security Professional, Senior System Manager, and System Administrator. Contact the Department of Computer Science for details.

Graduate Certificate in Instructional Computing Applications: This certificate program is designed for educators who want to integrate the use of computers in the classroom. The certificate requires the completion of 12 hours from a designated core of courses. The focus of these courses is to develop the technological competencies needed for the development, utilization, and integration of instructional computing technology in the classroom. Contact the Department of Instruction and Curriculum for details.

Graduate Certificate in Local Government Management: This 15-hour program will allow local government professionals and other individuals who may not have the time and financial resources that are required for completion of the Master’s of Public Administration degree to obtain valuable knowledge and insight concerning the complex legal and political environment that today’s municipalities operate within. Contact the Division of Public and Nonprofit Administration for details.

Interdisciplinary Graduate Certificate in Museum Studies: This 18-hour certificate program is jointly administered by the departments of Anthropology and Art. The program includes two three-hour internships and provides training in all aspects of museum administration. Contact the Director of the Art Museum or the Associate Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences for details.

Graduate Certificate in Nursing Education: The Nursing Education Certificate program provides a formal program of study for masters prepared nurses interested in obtaining a credential allowing them to teach in School of Nursing. The program provides them with content necessary to teach nursing students in a specific area of nursing. Once students complete the certificate, they would be eligible to sit for the national certification exam in this area. Contact the Loewenberg School of Nursing for details.

Graduate Certificate in Software Testing: This 12-hour program prepares students to both manage and participate in testing at all stages of the software development process. The topics and techniques are applicable to testing all types of software. Contact the Department of Management Information Systems for details.

Graduate Certificate in Teaching English as a Second/Foreign Language: This 15-hour program provides training to those interested in teaching English as a Second/ Foreign Language both within and outside the United States to post-secondary students and adults. Contact the Department of English for details.

Graduate Certificate in Urban Education: This 12-hour program can be combined with a master's or doctoral degree program. It integrates coursework with innovative learning experiences such as engaged scholarship, virtual learning experiences, problems-solving strategizing with local leaders, and education advocacy and activism. Contact the Department of Instruction and Curriculum Leadership for details.

Graduate Certificate in Women's Studies: This 12-hour certificate program is administered by the Women's Studies program in the College of Arts and Sciences and is open to any MA or PhD student in the university.

Post-Masters Family Nurse Practitioner Certificate: This 21-hour program provides a formal program of study for students who already have the Master of Science in Nursing degree and are interested in taking the national certification exam to practice as a Family Nurse Practitioner without requiring them to complete a second masters degree. Contact the Loewenberg School of Nursing for details.