Division of Global Affairs

 

Master of Science in Global Affairs

Forty-credit M.S.

• Specialization (nine credits)
  Core Curriculum (twenty-one credits)
  Colloquia (four credits)
  Elective (six credits) and/or three-six credit internship
  Demonstrated reading knowledge of a modern language other than English
  Three years granted to complete degree studies (with the exception of a leave of absence)
  
  

To fulfill the language requirement, M.S. Students must demonstrate reading knowledge of a modern language other than English. Reading knowledge requires comprehension of global affairs issues and can be demonstrated in one of the following ways:

 

• Completion of four semesters of language study at an accredited academic institution.
  Passing grade of reading comprehension exam administered by the DGA or other accredited academic institution.
  Native speaker of language other than English.
  

Language courses do not count toward the M.S. Degree.

Click here to download the print-friendly Pdf M.S. Program Guide

 

Specialization (nine credits)

Students are given the latitude to design their specialization program of study in the following ways:

• Courses that explicitly concentrate on themes/issues related to the specialization;
  Applicable core courses;
  Independent Study;
  6-credit, 2-semester Master’s Thesis
  

 

Graduate level courses that do not explicitly concentrate on specialization-related themes/issues can apply if the following conditions are met:

• Student advisor approval
  A course paper that is relevant to course material, the specialization and the field of global affairs
  Course grade no less than B
  Course work taken toward the Specialization may also fulfill core requirements.
  
  

Specialization Areas:

 

• Comparative Policy and Public Administration
  Environment
  Global Business and Economics
  Global Media
  Global Political Economy
  Human Rights
  Identities: Gender, Ethnicity, Race and Class
  Information Technology
  International Law
  Political Violence
  Terrorism and Global Security
  
  

Core Requirements (twenty-one credits)

Students must take one course in six of eight topic areas and one methodology course:

1. Forms of Global Governance
26:790:521. Theories of Global Politics
26:478:537. Global Governance

2. International Law
26:478:584. Introduction to International Law

3. Environmental Issues in a Global Perspective
26:790:530. Environmental Politics and Policy
26:478:538. Global Environmental Issues
EvSc 615. Global Environmental Problems (NJIT)
EPS 622. Sustainable Development (NJIT)

4. Global Business
26:553:601. Theory of International Business
26:553:602. History of International Business

5. Global Political Economy
26:478:541. Global Political Economy
26:790:541. International Political Economy

6. The Global System in a Historical Perspective
26:478:572. Evolution of the Global System

7. Culture and Identity in a Global Context
26:478:573. Culture, Globalization, and Political Violence
26:478:573. Culture and Globalization
26:478:585. Social Movements and Globalization
26:790:543. Cross-National Perspectives on Race and Ethnicity in Politics
26:790:544. Comparative Social Movements

8. International Economics
26:220:518. International Economics I
26:220:519. International Economics II

Students must complete all 6 core courses with a minimum grade of B (3.0) in each topic area in order to remain in the program.

Methodology Course Offerings:

26:220:506. Statistical Analysis
26:220:507. Econometrics I
26:478:533. Research Methods in Political Science
26:510:571. Introduction to Historical Method
26:510:571. Philosophy of History
26:620:557. Social Science Research Methods
26:620:660. Qualitative Research Methods
26:620:685. Econometrics for the Social Sciences
26:630:685 Event Data in the Social Sciences
26:630:660 Qualitative Research Methods
26:834:561 Analytical Methods
26:834:607 Quantitative Methods
26:834:609 Qualitative Methods in Public Administration
26:988:570 Feminist Research and Methods
27:202:641 Advanced Statistical Methods
27:202:648 Qualitative Research Methods

Colloquia

26:478:570, 571,573, 574. Students are required to complete two semesters of the Colloquium Series for a total of four credits. Each semester, DGA offers a selection of two thematically distinct speaker series on current issues that may include a geographical focus. Each series consists of topical presentations by five distinguished experts.

The Colloquium is graded on a pass/fail basis by the professor organizing the Colloquium Series. Students are encouraged to attend as many colloquia as possible. Students are required to register for the colloquia they wish to earn credit for.

Non-Core Course Offerings, Electives (six credits)

Non-core offerings may be applied toward fulfilling specialization credit hours and elective credit hours. DGA students may select from non-core offerings in the following disciplines:

• Law
  Biology
  Economics
  English
  Global Affairs
  History
  Business
  Liberal Studies
  Nursing
  Political Science
  Psychology
  Public Affairs and Administration
  Women’s Studies
  Criminal Justice
  
  

Access the print-friendly PDF M.S. Program Guide to view the non-core offerings, which include a selection of more than ten courses at the New Jersey Institute of Technology (NJIT).

Please bear in mind that courses are subject to change and therefore may not be offered every year as new courses are developed annually.

Internship (three-six credits)

26:478:601, 602. Internship or Research Seminar

Students may complete an internship for three credits or for six credits, with an international organization, NGO, government agency, transnational corporation, media organization, or other institution active in some aspect of global affairs.

Three-credit internships require a commitment of eight hours per week for the duration of the semester. Internships that require at least sixteen hours per week, whether pursued during the academic year or the summer, count for six credits.

Students may be paid by the sponsoring agency for their work. Internships must be approved by the student’s advisor and the DGA Director. Students must produce a fifteen-page research paper or report—on a topic covered by their Internship—and submit it, together with a letter from their supervisor at the place of internship, to their DGA faculty advisor for a pass/fail grade.

Internship Application Forms are available at the DGA.

Transfer credits acquired for significant and relevant professional experience may be applied toward an internship.

Students are encouraged to seek out internships of particular interest to them and/or to consult with the Career Development Center, Rutgers University, Hill Hall 309-B, Newark, NJ 07102-1801 (973 353-5312).

 

Seventy-three Credit Ph.D.

Core Courses (twelve credits)

Students must take at least one course from any four of the eight topic listed below. Students must complete all four Core Courses with a grade of B (3.0) or higher in each in order to remain in the program. Students who do not receive a grade of B or higher in some Core Course must either retake it or take another Core Course from within one of the eight topic areas.

All core requirements must be completed at the DGA. Transfer credits may not be used in fulfillment of core requirements.

Click here to download the print-friendly PDF Ph.D. Program Guide

 

1) Forms of Global Governance

26:790:521. Theories of Global Politics
26:478:537. Global Governance

2) International Law

26:478:584. Introduction to International Law

3) Environmental Issues in Global Perspective

26:790:530. Environmental Politics and Policy
26:478:538. Global Environmental Issues
EvSc 615. Global Environmental Problems (NJIT)
EPS 622. Sustainable Development (NJIT)

4) Global Business

26:553:601. Theory of International Business
26:553:602. History of International Business

5) Global Political Economy

26:478:541. Global Political Economy
26:790:541. International Political Economy
6) The Global System in Historical Perspective
26:478:572. Evolution of the Global System

7) Culture and Identity in a Global Context

26:478:573. Culture, Globalization, and Political Violence
26:478:573. Culture and Globalization
26:478:585. Social Movements and Globalization
26:790:543. Cross-National Perspectives on Race and Ethnicity in Politics
26:790:544. Comparative Social Movements

8) International Economics

26:220:518. International Economics I
26:220:519. International Economics II

Colloquium on Global Change and Governance (4 credits)

Students must complete two semesters of the Colloquium. Each two-credit sequence (26:478:570, 571, 573, 574) consists of a series of seminars on a topic or geographical area of current significance. The Colloquium is graded on a Pass/Fail basis. Grades are provided by the professor organizing the Colloquium. Students are encouraged to attend—on a non-credit, non-registered basis—as many Colloquia on Global Change and Governance as possible, but only four credits may be counted toward the Ph.D. degree.

Methodology Requirement (six credits)

Students must complete two three-credit methodology courses—either by taking a relevant graduate-level course at Rutgers-Newark or by transferring graduatelevel credits from another graduate-level institution. The following courses offered at Rutgers-Newark are recommended:

26:220:506. Statistical Analysis
26:220:507. Econometrics I
26:478:533. Research Methods in Political Science
26:510:571. Introduction to Historical Method
26:510:571. Philosophy of History
26:620:557. Social Science Research Methods
26:620:660. Qualitative Research Methods
26:620:685. Econometrics for the Social Sciences
26:630:685. Event Data in the Social Sciences
26:630:660. Qualitative Research Methods
26:834:561. Analytical Methods
26:834:607. Quantitative Methods
26:834:609. Qualitative Methods in Public Administration
26:988:570. Feminist Research and Methods
27:202:641. Advanced Statistical Methods
27:202:648. Qualitative Research Methods

Concentration (eighteen credits)

Students must complete at least six graduate-level courses, for a total of eighteen credits, in any one of the following disciplines represented by graduate programs at Rutgers-Newark: Business, Criminal Justice, Global Affairs, History, Law, Political Science, or Public Affairs and Administration.

Dissertations must be written within the discipline of the Concentration.

Internships may not be counted toward the Concentration.

Courses that fulfill the Concentration requirement may be taken at any Rutgers University campus or at NJIT, or transferred as part of a student’s Transfer Credits. Advanced undergraduate courses completed at Rutgers or NJIT and taken for graduate credit may not be counted toward the Concentration requirement.

Distribution (twelve credits)

Students must complete at least four graduate-level courses, for a total of twelve credits, in any discipline or disciplines other than the Concentration. These courses should have a substantial global affairs component. One three-credit Internship may be counted toward the Distribution.

Courses that fulfill the Distribution requirement may be taken at any Rutgers University campus or at NJIT, or transferred as part of a student’s Transfer Credits. Advanced undergraduate courses completed at Rutgers or NJIT and taken for graduate credit may be counted toward the Distribution requirement.

Dissertation Research (twenty-one credits)

After passing the Comprehensive Examination (see below), students must complete twenty-one credits of Dissertation Research (26:478:701, 702), either on a full- or part-time basis. Students may register for any number (one or more) of Dissertation Research credits per semester. Students who register for Dissertation Research may be on or away from campus.

Dissertation advisors provide grades of S (Satisfactory) or U (Unsatisfactory) for Dissertation Research.

Language Requirement

Students must demonstrate, at any time during their course of study at Rutgers-Newark, speaking, reading, and writing proficiency in one modern language other than English, or reading knowledge of two modern languages other than English. Both proficiency and reading knowledge involve comprehension of global affairs issues. Students writing dissertations on historical topics may demonstrate proficiency in nonmodern languages.

Students can demonstrate proficiency:

by completing at least one advanced-level course of a language at Rutgers University or other accredited institutions;
by passing proficiency examinations at Rutgers University or other accredited institutions; or
by demonstrating that they are native speakers of the language concerned. Students can demonstrate reading knowledge:

by completing four semesters of a language at Rutgers University or other accredited institutions;

by passing reading-knowledge examinations at Rutgers University (administered by the DGA) or other accredited institutions; or

by demonstrating that they are native speakers of the languages concerned. Language courses do not count toward the credits necessary for a Ph.D. degree.

Fifty-two Credit Review

After completing Fifty-two credits in the program—i.e. the four required Core Courses, two Colloquia on Global Change and Governance, two methodology courses, and the courses satisfying the Concentration and Distribution requirements—all Ph.D. students undergo a review of their academic record by the DGA Graduate Program Director. Students must complete a Fifty-two Credit Review Form available at the DGA. Only students who have a grade point average of 3.50 or higher in all non-language courses taken at Rutgers University and who successfully pass the review will be permitted to continue with their doctoral studies at Rutgers-Newark. Students with an insufficiently high grade point average may submit an appeal to the DGA Director.

Comprehensive Examination

After passing the Fifty-two Credit Review, students must take an electronically distributed take-home Comprehensive Examination testing their knowledge of, and ability to think creatively and analytically about, the global affairs issues covered in the Core Course topic areas. Students wishing to take a Comprehensive Examination must inform the DGA Graduate Program Director of their desire to do so in writing by September 30 of the Fall semester or by February 15 of the Spring semester. Students have two chances to pass the examination. Failure to pass the Comprehensive Examination on the second try will result in the student’s withdrawal from the Ph.D. program.

Students must take the Comprehensive Examination within six months of passing the Fifty-two Credit Review— and no later than four years after entering the Ph.D. program (regardless of whether students are part-time or full-time and regardless of whether they enter the DGA with or without transfer credits). Students who fail to take the Comprehensive Examination within this time may, after appropriate deliberations between the DGA core faculty and students’ faculty or dissertation advisors, be asked to withdraw from the Ph.D. program. (See Termination of Studies.) Students may submit a written request for an extension to the DGA Director. Comprehensive Examinations are scheduled twice a year—normally for the weekend preceding the Thanksgiving holiday and for the weekend following the Spring Recess. The examination is distributed by email to students at 9:00am on a Friday; their answers must be returned by e-mail to the Graduate Program Director by 5:00pm on the following Monday. Students must complete the Application for Admission to Candidacy for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy (p. 1 and part I, Qualifying Examination Committee Report) immediately after passing the Comprehensive Examination. Applications are available in the Office of the Dean of the Graduate School-Newark, Hill Hall, Rm. 401.

Study Plans

Students who successfully pass the Comprehensive Examination must submit annual Study Plans to their dissertation advisors and the Graduate Program Director by November 30 of every academic year. Study Plans should be one page in length; they should provide a 24 detailed schedule of the student’s dissertation-related research and writing. Students whose Study Plans are not approved by their dissertation advisors or who fail to produce annual Study Plans on a timely basis may, after appropriate deliberations between the DGA core faculty and students’ dissertation advisors, be asked to withdraw from the Ph.D. program. (See Termination of Studies.) Students may submit a written request for an extension to the DGA Director.

Dissertation Proposals

Dissertation proposals are developed in consultation with the student’s dissertation advisor following the student’s successful completion of the Comprehensive Examination. Dissertation proposals must be approved by the student’s dissertation advisor and a second reader from the DGA core faculty. A final version of the proposal—signed and dated by the student’s dissertation advisor and the second reader on the cover page—must be submitted to the DGA Graduate Program Director. Dissertation proposals must be approved within one year of a student’s completion of the Comprehensive Examination. Students who do not receive approval for dissertation proposals in this time may, after appropriate deliberations between the DGA core faculty and students’ faculty or dissertation advisors, be asked to withdraw from the Ph.D. program. (See Termination of Studies.) Students may submit a written request for an extension to the DGA Director.

Proposals should consist of no more than twenty pages of double-spaced text presenting, clearly and concisely, a two-hundred word abstract of the dissertation, a preliminary chapter outline, a thorough review of the relevant theoretical and other literature, an elaboration of the argument, a discussion of the methodology, a discussion of the empirical material, and a preliminary bibliography. Footnotes, not endnotes, should be employed.

Proposals must be written in standard English, adhere to proper academic form, and be free of typographical errors. The cover page should provide the title of the proposed dissertation, the full name of the student, the student’s Social Security number, the date on which the proposal was submitted, and two lines for the signatures of the professors approving the proposal.

Dissertations

Dissertations must address some dimension of global affairs—a multidisciplinary field concerned with theoretically informed, problem-oriented approaches to transnational issues and their interaction with local issues. Country case studies, single-issue studies, or comparative studies divorced from global affairs as defined above do not qualify as dissertation topics. Dissertations must be written within the discipline of the Concentration. They must situate their empirical findings within and address the theoretical debates of that discipline.

In general, dissertations consist of the following parts:

 

• Statement of the problem or issue being addressed and explanation of its importance;
  A thorough review of the relevant theoretical and other literature;
  An elaboration of the argument or thesis;
  A discussion of the methodology;
  A detailed presentation of the empirical findings;
  A conclusion; and
  A bibliography

 

Dissertations (text and notes, minus the bibliography and ancillary quantitative material, if any) must be two-hundred to two-hundred-fifty pages in length, double-spaced. In mathematically oriented disciplines such as economics, dissertations may be shorter. Dissertations must be written in standard English, adhere to proper academic form, and be free of typographical errors. Dissertations that do not meet these criteria will not be admitted to a defense. The final draft of the dissertation must be prepared in strict accordance with the instructions given in the pamphlet Thesis and Dissertation Form, available at the Office of the Dean of the Graduate School-Newark, Hill Hall, Rm. 401.

Students must defend their dissertations within eight years of admission into the Ph.D. program—regardless of whether students are part-time or full-time and regardless of whether they entered the DGA with or without transfer credits. Students who fail to meet this deadline will have to withdraw from the Ph.D. program. Students may not submit a written request for an extension to the DGA Director.

Human Subject Research

Students who conduct research involving “human subjects” must consult with the Institutional Review Board for the Protection of Human Subjects in Research (IRB), the body at Rutgers charged with the protection of individuals who volunteer to participate in research conducted by University personnel. All research protocols that involve human subjects must be reviewed and approved by the IRB prior to initiation of study procedures. The IRB is an autonomous body. Decisions of the Board may not be influenced by any individual, department, office, or other University entity. For details and procedures, click here .

Dissertation Defense

A four-member faculty committee, formed by the student and the dissertation advisor and consisting of the student’s dissertation advisor and three other professors, examines the completed dissertation at an oral defense. Dissertation committees are chaired by the student’s dissertation advisor who, together with the student, determines its composition. The members of the dissertation committee are usually drawn from the DGA core or associate faculty. It is recommended, though not imperative, that one member of the committee be from an institution other than Rutgers-Newark.

At the time of the defense, it is the responsibility of the student to obtain from the Office of the Dean of the Graduate School-Newark, Hill Hall, Rm. 401, the Application for Admission to Candidacy for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy (on Part II of which the Final Examination Committee Report is recorded) for completion by the committee at the defense. The committee members must also sign the title page of the dissertation, signifying their acceptance of it. Once the Graduate Program Director certifies that all program requirements have been completed, the student must return the candidacy application to the Office of the Dean of the Graduate School-Newark, Hill Hall, Rm. 401.

Deposition of the Dissertation

Upon returning the candidacy application to the Office of the Dean, students should also submit one original copy of the dissertation in accordance with the guidelines set forth in the dissertation style guide. The dissertation must be printed on one-hundred percent cotton-content bond paper. In addition doctoral candidates should submit one copy of the title page and abstract (not exceeding three-hundred-fifty words), the receipted payment form for microfilming, the microfilming agreement form, and additional survey forms as required.

 

All these materials must be submitted to the Office of the Dean of the Graduate School-Newark, Hill Hall, Rm. 401, no later than the announced deadlines for completion of degree requirements. (Diploma application deadlines are October 2, January 2, and April 2 for conferral of degrees in, respectively, October, January, and May/June.) For more information, see the Graduate School-Newark Catalog.

 

Rutgers University Schedule of Classes

 

Students have the option of registering for classes online or in person at the Office of the Registrar. DGA students may also take courses relevant to the study of global affairs offered by other departments. Complete course offerings are available here.

 

Global Affairs Spring 2010 Schedule of Classes

		Section still HAS OPENINGS
		Section IS CLOSED

Sch	Supp	Subj	Crs/Index	Sec	Open	Note	Title / Hours / Bldg-Rm / Campus				Cred/Instr	Exam Code	Prereq?	Synopsis?
26		478	532				TOPICS				3
			OPEN TO SCH:20 22 23 25 26 27
			70108	01			*US SECURITY INTERESTS IN
							SUB-SAHARAN AFRICA*
							CROSS LISTED WITH 26:790:521:01
							W	6:00-8:40 PM	CON-348	Nwk	O'MEARA	A
26	RK	478	532				TOPICS				3
			OPEN TO SCH: 20 22 23 25 26 27
			70764	02			*TERRORISM: TOOLS, TACTICS &
							TARGETS*
							Th	5:00-7:40 PM	HIL-106	Nwk	COLE	A
26		478	537				GLOBAL GOVERNANCE				3
			OPEN TO SCH: 20 22 23 25 26 27
			68511	01			*POLICY ANALYSIS FOR GLOBAL
							ISSUES*
							CROSS LISTED WITH 26:790:510:01
							T	5:00-7:40 PM	CON-455	Nwk	FISCHER	A
26		478	538				GLOBAL ENV ISSUES				3
			OPEN TO SCH: 20 22 23 25 26 27
			68512	01			M	5:00-7:40 PM	CLJ-392	Nwk	KUTTING	A
26		478	541				GLOBAL POLI ECONOMY				3
			OPEN TO SCH: 22 23 25 26 27
			68509	01			CROSS LISTED WITH 26:790:541:01
							M	5:30-8:10 PM	SMT-246	Nwk	CERNY	A
26		478	570				COLLOQ GLOBAL CH&GOV				PN2
			OPEN TO SCH: 20 22 23 25 26 27
			66330	01			*1/23 12-2PM CLJ-502;1/30 12-2PM
							CLJ-502;2/6 12-2PM CLJ-502;
							2/13 12-2PM MANHATTAN
							2/18 12-2PM CLJ-502*
								Hrs By Arr		Nwk	WEISS	A
26		478	571				COLLOQ GLOBAL CH&GOV				2
			OPEN TO SCH: 20 22 23 25 26 27
			72060	01			*ECONOMIC IMPACT OF MIGRATION*
							M	5:00-7:00 PM	HIL-203	Nwk	SPATAREANU	A
26		478	572				EVOL OF THE GLOBAL				3
			OPEN TO SCH: 20 22 23 25 26 27
			67330	01			T	6:00-8:40 PM	CON-445	Nwk	CARRUTHERS	A
26		478	573				TOPICS				3
			OPEN TO SCH: 20 22 23 25 26 27
			68616	01			*STRATEGIC NONVIOLENT CONFLICT*
							CROSS LISTED WITH 26:790:542:01
							Th	6:00-8:40 PM	CON-342	Nwk	SCHOCK	A
26		478	587				TOPICS				3
			OPEN TO SCH: 20 22 23 25 26 27
			69221	01			*FUNDAMENTALS OF ECONOMICS
							FOR GLOBAL AFFAIRS*
							DGA CORE COURSE
							W	6:00-8:40 PM	CON-452	Nwk	ANDERSON	A
26		478	588				TOPICS				3
			OPEN TO SCH: 20 22 23 25 26 27
							AVAILABLE FOR NM STUDENTS
			72375	01			*US FOREIGN POLICY AND GLOBAL
							ISSUES*
							(G CREDIT REQUIRED FOR DGA
							STUDENTS)
							T	5:45-7:40 PM	CON-345	Nwk	FISCHER	A
26		478	592				TOPICS				3
			OPEN TO SCH: 20 22 23 25 26 27
			68510	01			*THE ANTHROPOLOGY OF WAR*
							M	1:00-3:50 PM	CON-351	Nwk	FERGUSON, B.	A
26		478	596				THEORY INTERNAT BUS				3
			OPEN TO SCH: 20 22 23 25 26 27
			72748	01			*NATIONAL INNOVATION POLICIES &
							INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS*
							CROSS LISTED WITH 26:553:605:01
							T	1:00-3:50 PM	ENG-203	Nwk	CANTWELL	A
26		478	601				INTENSHIP RES SEM				PN BA
			OPEN TO SCH: 22 23 25 26 27
			66331	01				Hrs By Arr		Nwk		A
26		478	602				INTERNSHIP RES SEM				PN BA
			OPEN TO SCH: 22 23 25 26 27
			67532	01				Hrs By Arr		Nwk		A
26		478	698				IND STDY GLOBAL AFF				BA
			OPEN TO SCH: 22 23 25 26 27
			65939	01				Hrs By Arr		Nwk		A
26	RK	478	698				IND STDY GLOBAL AFF				BA
			OPEN TO SCH: 22 23 25 26 27
			69482	01				Hrs By Arr		Nwk	STAFF	A
26		478	701				DISS RES GLOBAL AFFA				BA
			OPEN TO SCH: 22 23 25 26 27
			65940	01				Hrs By Arr		Nwk		A
26		478	704				MASTER'S THESIS				PN BA
			66332	01				Hrs By Arr		Nwk		A
26		478	800				MATRICULATION CONTD				E1
			OPEN TO SCH: 22 23 25 26 27
			65941	01				Hrs By Arr		Nwk		A
26		478	866				GRAD ASSISTANTSHIP				E BA
			OPEN TO SCH: 22 23 25 26 27
			65942	01				Hrs By Arr		Nwk		A
26		478	877				TCHNG ASSISTANTSHIP				E BA
			OPEN TO SCH: 22 23 25 26 27
			65943	01				Hrs By Arr		Nwk		A

Office of the Registrar - Newark
University Heights - Blumenthal Hall 3rd floor
249 University Avenue - Newark, NJ 07102
Ph:(973).353.5324 - Fax: (973).353.1357

 

All incoming students will be assigned to an advisor to consult with on course selection, degree concentration and fulfilling requirements for the M.S. and Ph.D. programs. Student advisors are DGA core faculty members. Student Advisors aid students in managing their DGA education by administering the following:

• Provide intellectual and academic guidance,
  Approve internships and provide grades for internships,
  Provide grades for the Master's Thesis,
  Approve Independent Study courses.
  
  

A change of advisor may be granted to students only with the permission and receipt official approval from the DGA Deputy Director.

Dissertation Advisors (Ph.D. Students):

After receiving a passing grade for the Comprehensive Examination, Ph.D. students are required to choose a dissertation advisor typically from the DGA Core Faculty in place of their student advisor.

Dissertation advisors work with Ph.D. students to help them identify a dissertation topic and formulate the dissertation proposal.

Dissertation advisors provide approval for the dissertation proposal. Students work in conjunction with their advisors to form the dissertation committee. Dissertation advisors also chair dissertation committees, provide grades for dissertation research, and monitor Ph.D. students' progress by approving their annual study plans.

All Ph.D. students must, by the time they pass their Comprehensive Examination, have a formal dissertation advisor. As a rule, students request that members of the DGA core faculty who share their research interests serve as their dissertation advisors. Faculty members from Rutgers-New Brunswick or Rutgers-Camden may, with the approval of the DGA Graduate Program Director, also serve as dissertation advisors. In rare circumstances, dissertation advisors may, with the approval of the DGA Graduate Program Director, be faculty members unaffiliated with Rutgers University. Once a faculty member has agreed to serve as dissertation advisor, students must inform the DGA Graduate Program Director of that fact in writing. Faculty advisors are not automatically dissertation advisors, but they may be asked to serve in that capacity.

 

In addition to completing all the requirements for either the M.S. or Ph.D., students must attain a minimal grade point average in all non-language courses taken at Rutgers University: 3.0 for M.S. students and 3.50 for Ph.D. students.

 

If a student's academic performance falls below the expected standard, the Graduate School-Newark may refuse the student the right of future registration and terminate studies. Students with an insufficiently high grade point average may submit an appeal to the DGA Director.

Graduating students must complete an Application for Admission to Candidacy for the Master's Degree or an Application for Admission to Candidacy for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy as well as a Graduate Diploma Application for Newark Students (all forms are also available at the Office of the Dean of the Graduate School-Newark, Hill Hall, Rm. 401).

 

Diploma Application Deadlines

Diplomas are awarded only once a year during the University commencement in May. A candidate who completes all degree requirements by October or January will receive a diploma the following May, dated October or January. If a temporary certificate of degree is required, one should be requested by writing to the dean of the Graduate School.