The Doctor of Arts (D.A.) degree program is designed to prepare teachers for four-year and two-year colleges in subject matter fields. The recipient of this degree must have demonstrated a command of knowledge in the broad field of the degree and an ability to teach the subject at the post-secondary level. This degree does not require the preparation of a dissertation but does require the student to obtain some experience in independent research and write a formal report thereon.

The D.A. degree is available only in the department of History. Only those persons holding a master’s degree in history or a closely related field are eligible for admission to a program leading to the D.A. degree.

Students should refer to the section of this catalog titled “Departmental Programs” for additional admission, degree, examination, and course requirements unique to each department.

Admission Requirements:

1. An overall GPA of at least 3.50 for all graduate work.
   
   
2. A master’s degree.
   
   
3. Scores on the general and advanced tests of the Graduate Record Examination if appropriate.
   
   
4. Recommendation for doctoral work by the department.

In History, a master’s degree with thesis is preferred, and the master’s program must have a minimum of fifteen semester hours of history at the graduate level. Acceptance of a student for doctoral work, on the basis of the above criteria, does not imply or guarantee advancement of the student to candidacy for the degree.

Program Requirements. The D.A. degree requires the completion of a program of 90 semester credits beyond the baccalaureate degree, including acceptable master’s work. The program of study for the degree, prepared with the assistance of the Faculty Advisory Committee, and approved by the Dean, will include:

1. A minimum of 60 credits of work in the discipline (the major) of which no more than 20 credits will be designated as an area of concentration. Included in the area of concentration will be a minimum of 5 credits of independent research.
   
2. A minimum of 10 credits in areas cognate to the major.
   
   
3. A minimum of 15 credits in college teaching. The majority of this work will be in a supervised teaching internship in the discipline and in work in the major department preparatory to the internship (seminars in college teaching, etc.).

With the approval of the student’s Committee and the Dean, up to one-half of the work beyond the master’s degree may be transferred from another institution.

Residence Requirement. At least two regular consecutive semesters of residence are required on the University of North Dakota campus.

Internship. A teaching internship during which the student is required to teach college-level courses under supervision is a necessary part of each student’s program. This teaching may be done at the University of North Dakota or at a cooperating institution. If done at a cooperating institution, the student will be under the joint supervision of a resident professor and the chairperson of the student’s Advisory Committee.

Research Project. All D.A. students must complete a research project and register for at least five semester credits. The project will be conducted under the direction of a member of the Faculty Advisory Committee, usually the chairperson, who is responsible for assigning a final grade. The proposed project must be approved by the Faculty Advisory Committee and the director of doctoral study of the department (if appropriate), and the Dean of the Graduate School. A copy will be filed with the department and the Graduate School.

A copy of the final DA research paper must be submitted to the Graduate School by the deadline published in the Academic Calendar (usually two weeks prior to graduation). The paper will be published by University Microfilms International and bound and deposited in the Chester Fritz Library. The paper must conform to the format guidelines of the Graduate School as published in the Style and Policy Manual for Theses and Dissertations.

Comprehensive Examination.A written comprehensive examination is required before advancement to candidacy for the D.A. degree. This examination must cover the broad field of the major and be prepared and evaluated by the Graduate Faculty of the student’s major department.

Students must apply for permission to take the comprehensive examination on a form available at the Graduate School. After checking the record to ensure that the student is eligible for the examination (most of the work completed, in Approved Status, Program of Study approved), the Graduate School will certify eligibility and will forward an examination report form to the chairperson of the student’s Faculty Advisory Committee. The student may not take the examination until such certification has been provided. Comprehensive examinations which are failed may be repeated only with the prior approval of the Advisory Committee, the department, and the Dean, but in no event earlier than at the next regularly scheduled offering.

Candidacy for the Degree. Candidates for the D.A. degree will not be allowed to graduate in the same semester or summer session in which they become candidates.

Students in Approved Status may be advanced to candidacy when the following requirements have been fulfilled:

1. A three- or five-member Faculty Advisory Committee has been appointed. Committee members are appointed by the dean upon the written recommendation of the chairperson of the student’s major department. On five-member committees, the fifth member is appointed by the dean. Until the appointment of the committee, the department chairperson, or designate, acts as the student’s temporary advisor. The chairperson of the committee, who serves as the student’s major advisor, must be a Full member of the Graduate Faculty. The director of the student’s research project normally will be the chairperson of the committee.
   
   
2. A Program of Study, outlining the requirements for the degree as developed by the student and the committee, has been approved by the student, the committee, and the dean of the Graduate School. The program, executed on a form available from the Graduate School, should be developed no later than the beginning of the second semester of work.
   
   
3. Departmental examination requirements have been completed.
   
   
4. A substantial portion of the coursework for the degree has been completed with a GPA of no less than 3.0 for all work attempted.
   
   
5. The comprehensive examination has been successfully completed.
   
   
6. A Research Project has been approved as evidenced by filing an approved Research Proposal on a form available from the department.
   
   
7. The Advancement to Candidacy has been recommended by the student’s Faculty Advisory Committee.

The student and the advisor will be notified in writing of advancement to candidacy.

Final Examination. . The final examination for the D.A. degree is conducted by the candidate’s full Faculty Advisory Committee. The examination will be oral and will be based on the area of concentration and the research project. Final examinations which are failed may be repeated only with the prior approval of the Advisory Committee and the dean.

Examinations are to be scheduled in advance by the Committee through the Graduate School. The results must be certified by the Committee on the Final Report form by the deadline specified in the Academic Calendar.

D.A. candidates will be required to complete a National Research Council demographic survey form and an agreement with University Microfilms, International, prior to graduation.