An interdisciplinary Master of Science degree is a degree granted for a curriculum of graduate study on a coherent and definable field of science and/or engineering. Such fields of study may exist at Tulane at the doctoral level, exist at the MS-level at other major universities, or reflect an emerging discipline (Example: Computer Science).
The M.S. is NOT awarded simply for an accumulation of credits, but for a distinct and definable program of study.
An interdisciplinary Master of Science degree is a degree granted for a curriculum of graduate study on a coherent and definable field of science and/or engineering. Such fields of study may exist at Tulane at the doctoral level, exist at the MS-level at other major universities, or reflect an emerging discipline. Examples include Bioinnovation, Computer Science, Biology, Zoology, and Environmental Biology & Chemistry.
The M.S. is NOT awarded simply for an accumulation of credits, but for a distinct and definable program of study.
Requirements
1. Plan of study including:
- A 25-50 word description of the coherent discipline, which may cite similar programs of study at other universities.
- List of intended courses.
- Endorsement from two regular Tulane SSE faculty members who together represent the interdisciplinary expertise from different departments/programs; for students already enrolled in a PhD program, the dissertation research advisor must approve the plan. One department must agree to monitor the student's progress.
2. A minimum of 30 credit hours of graduate-level course work.
- At least 24 credit hours must be earned in the Tulane School of Science and Engineering (SSE).
- With prior approval, up to 6 relevant graduate credit hours from other Schools of Tulane University may be applied toward the M.S. degree.
- With prior approval, no more than 6 graduate credit hours may be transferred from another university; such credits cannot have been applied to another Masters-level degree.
- With prior approval, students may complete an empirical master's thesis in the defined discipline under the direction of an SSE faculty member. Students who successfully complete a master's thesis may elect to complete only 24 credit hours of graduate-level course work (i.e., the master's thesis substitutes for 6 of the 30 credit hours for the M.S.). In most cases, an interdisciplinary thesis committee will comprise faculty from at least 2 departments or programs.
