Program Changes

Changing Majors

If a graduate student desires to change majors that are not housed in the same department, the student should submit a completed admission application form to the Office of Graduate and Professional Education and follow the same procedures for admission as any other applicant.

Changing Status After Earning A Master’s Degree

The master’s degree is considered terminal unless the student plans to continue in a doctoral program. Students receiving their master’s degree at the University of Delaware are not eligible to remain classified as graduate students and are automatically reclassified CEND (Continuing Education Nondegree) in any subsequent semester that they register following degree clearance, unless the department, with the approval of the Office of Graduate and Professional Education, has already admitted them to a doctoral program. The procedures for changing status after earning a master’s degree are as follows:

1. Continuing toward a doctoral degree. If a master’s degree candidate is continuing toward a doctoral degree in the same major as the master’s degree, the student should request that the department submit a Change of Classification Form at the same time or before the student submits an application for the master’s degree. If the department is unable to determine the student’s eligibility to pursue a doctoral degree until after the master’s degree is awarded, the department should notify the Office of Graduate and Professional Education by writing such a statement on the student’s master’s degree application. A student’s classification changes from regular status in a master’s degree program to precandidacy when admitted to a doctoral program. If a master’s degree candidate desires to continue toward a doctoral degree in a different major than the master’s degree, the student should submit a completed admission application form to the Office of Graduate and Professional Education and follow the same procedure for admission as any other applicant.
2. Continuing in a second master’s degree program. In the semester preceding the completion of the requirements for the first master’s degree, the student should submit a completed admission application form to the Office of Graduate and Professional Education and follow the same procedures for admission as any other applicant.
3. Changing to nondegree status. Students who wish to continue to earn graduate credit following the conferral of the terminal master’s degree should consult the department for approval to continue as nondegree graduate students. The department will indicate approval by sending the Change of Classification form to the Office of Graduate and Professional Education for approval prior to the completion of the requirements for the master’s degree. This option is primarily available for students needing to pursue a specialized certificate.