Compliance Status

Louisiana State University and A&M College is in compliance with this principle.

Narrative

Louisiana State University and A&M College (LSU) has post-baccalaureate degree programs that are progressively more advanced than its respective undergraduate program. Post-baccalaureate degree programs at LSU are administered by the Dean of the Graduate School, who reports to the Vice Chancellor for Research and Economic Development.  The university’s graduate faculty, represented by the Graduate Council, advise the dean on policy, courses, curricula, awards, and honors. 

General Characteristics of LSU Degree Program Levels

As noted in the LSU General Catalog, progression from the baccalaureate to the post-baccalaureate degree programs requires that the LSU student achieve a more advanced and sophisticated understanding of the subject area [1]. Each of these degree program levels has general characteristics that reflect this evolution. As noted in the compliance certificate for Comprehensive Standard 3.3.1.1, each degree program annually assesses the data related to student learning outcomes in each program and makes appropriate modifications.

Baccalaureate Degrees

Recognizing that the fundamental characteristics for effective participation in the marketplace and the community necessarily involve multidisciplinary study, the LSU faculty requires each student to design a unique curriculum based on a major field of study, with most degrees requiring a total of 120 hours of course work, including 39 hours of general education courses across six areas of focus: English composition, analytical reasoning, arts, humanities, natural sciences, and social sciences [2].

In general education courses, students begin the development of the University Competencies, which are refined and focused in disciplinary courses taken during the junior and senior years, with the intention that all graduates, regardless of major, will develop a set of intellectual abilities, a degree of sophistication, and a civic-minded perspective that correspond to the high level of functionality represented in the competencies taken as a whole. Beyond general education, each major program of study illustrates good practices in terms of systematic progression of required courses, options for elective courses, opportunities for research and writing specific to the discipline, and exploration of emerging academic disciplines. Many programs have capstone courses during the final year that require students to integrate the knowledge gained to solve problems appropriate for the discipline [1].

Master’s Degrees

The minimum requirement for the master’s degree is 30 semester hours of graduate work, 24 hours of which must be in course work and six hours in thesis research [3]. In programs not requiring a thesis, the minimum requirement is normally 36 semester hours.  A student’s efforts will be concentrated in one major field.

In most departments, the preparation of a thesis is an important element in the program leading to the master’s degree. The master’s thesis should demonstrate capacity for research, originality of thought, and facility in organizing materials. The thesis must be acceptable in subject matter and exhibit creditable literary workmanship.

Candidates for master’s degrees in most programs are required to pass a comprehensive final examination. This examination may be oral, written, or both oral and written, depending on the requirements of the department concerned. In non-thesis programs, greater weight is ordinarily given to this examination, and it will probably be broader in scope than the examination given to a student who completes a thesis.

Doctoral Degrees

The program of work prescribed by a department ordinarily provides for a substantial amount of course work, equivalent to three years of full-time study (54 hours) beyond the requirements for the baccalaureate degree [3]. Some departments require considerably more course work.

The Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) is the highest earned degree offered by universities. It is conferred only for work of distinction in which the student displays decided powers of original scholarship and only in recognition of marked ability and achievement.

The following basic requirements pertain: (1) students must exhibit unmistakable evidence of mastery of a broad major field; such evidence is ordinarily provided by passing a general examination; and (2) students must prove ability to complete a significant program of original research by preparing a dissertation embodying creative scholarship and by passing a rigorous final examination. The dissertation must add to the sum of existing knowledge and give evidence of considerable literary workmanship. 

Master’s and Doctoral Degree Programs

Graduate programs at LSU offer a number of levels of advanced academic content that build on the foundation of LSU undergraduate programs.  Currently LSU offers 47 doctoral degree and 76 master’s degree programs (Table 1).  The elevated rigor of these post-baccalaureate programs is reflected in the admission standards used. Admission to these programs includes a careful review of credentials by the Graduate School and relevant departmental faculty.  A baccalaureate degree from an accredited university is required.  Regular admission requires a “B” average for either the full undergraduate curriculum or for the final half of this curriculum.  Most programs require scores on either the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) or on the Graduate Management Admissions Test (GMAT), letters of recommendation, and examples of writing [4].

Once a student is admitted to LSU, the Graduate School requires the student to submit a listing of courses that will lead to completion of the advanced degree.  The majority (>50%) of these courses must be rigorous graduate-only courses. Master’s degree programs must include at least thirty hours of graduate course work [5]. At least twenty-four of these hours must be exclusive of credit received for thesis research or writing, and at least twelve must be courses restricted to graduate students [3]. Doctoral degree programs must include at least three years of full-time course work (54 credit hours) beyond the baccalaureate degree [6]. LSU graduate programs also require comprehensive examinations at the doctoral level [3]. Examples of the steps/paperwork involved in obtaining a master’s or a doctoral degree are attached [7] [8]. Additional information on credit hours (program length) required for graduate-level degree programs is given in the compliance certificate for Core Requirement 2.7.1.

NOTE: The narrative continues in "3.6.1 (Continued)."