Degree Programs
Degree Programs By Schools and Departments
African, African-American, and Diaspora Studies –
Africana Studies – M.A., Ph.D.
American Studies –
American Studies – M.A., Ph.D.
Folklore – M.A.
Applied Physical Sciences –
Materials Science – M.S., Ph.D.
Applied Professional Studies – M.A.P.S.
Art and Art History –
Art History – M.A., Ph.D.
Studio Art – M.F.A.
Asian and Middle Eastern Studies – M.A.
Biochemistry and Biophysics – M.S., Ph.D.
Bioinformatics and Computational Biology – M.S., Ph.D.
Biology – M.A., M.S., Ph.D.
Biomedical Engineering – M.S., Ph.D. (joint with North Carolina State University)
Business Administration – M.S. (Business Research), Ph.D.
Cell Biology and Physiology – M.S., Ph.D.
Chemistry – M.A., M.S., Ph.D.
City and Regional Planning – M.C.R.P., Ph.D.
Classics – M.A., Ph.D.
Clinical Rehabilitation and Mental Health Counseling –
Clinical Mental Health Counseling – M.S.
Clinical Rehabilitation Counseling – M.S.
Communication –
Communication Studies - M.A., Ph.D.
Computer Science – M.S., Ph.D.
Data Science and Society –
Applied Data Science - M.A.D.S.
Dentistry –
Dental Hygiene Education – M.S.
Endodontics – M.S.
Operative Dentistry and Biomaterials – M.S.
Oral and Craniofacial Biomedicine – M.S., Ph.D.
Oral and Maxillofacial Pathology – M.S.
Oral and Maxillofacial Radiology – M.S.
Orthodontics – M.S.
Pediatric Dentistry – M.S.
Periodontology – M.S.
Prosthodontics – M.S.
Dramatic Art – M.F.A.
Earth, Marine, and Environmental Sciences – M.S., Ph.D.
Economics – M.S., Ph.D.
Education –
Curriculum and Instruction – Ed.D.
Educational Innovation, Technology, and Entrepreneurship – M.A.
Educational Leadership – Ed.D. (residential and distance)
Master's/Doctorate in Education – M.A., Ph.D.
Master of Arts in Teaching – M.A.T.
School Counseling – M.Ed.
School Psychology – M.A., M.Ed., Ph.D.
English and Comparative Literature – M.A., Ph.D.
Environment, Ecology and Energy –
Ecology – M.A., M.S., Ph.D.
Exercise and Sport Science – M.A.
Genetics and Molecular Biology – M.S., Ph.D.
Geography and Environment – M.A., Ph.D.
Germanic and Slavic Languages and Literature -
German Studies – M.A., Ph.D. (joint with Duke University)
Global Studies – M.A.
Government – M.P.A. (residential and distance)
Health Informatics –
Health Informatics – Ph.D.
Biomedical and Health Informatics – M.P.S. (Residential), M.P.S. (Distance)
History – M.A., Ph.D.
Human Movement Science – M.S., Ph.D.
Information and Library Science –
Information and Library Science – Ph.D.
Information Science – M.S.I.S.
Library Science – M.S.L.S.
Digital Curation and Management (distance) – M.P.S.
Journalism and Media –
Media and Communication – M.A., Ph.D.
Digital Communication (distance) – M.A.
Linguistics – M.A.
Mathematics – M.A., M.S., Ph.D.
Microbiology and Immunology – M.S., Ph.D.
Musicology – M.A., Ph.D.
Neuroscience – M.S., Ph.D.
Nursing – D.N.P., M.S.N., Ph.D.
Occupational Science – M.S., Ph.D.
Occupational Therapy – M.S.
Pharmacy –
Pharmaceutical Sciences – M.S., Ph.D.
Regulatory Science – M.P.S.
Pharmacology – M.S., Ph.D.
Philosophy – M.A., Ph.D.
Physics and Astronomy – M.S., Ph.D.
Political Science – M.A., Ph.D.
Distance – M.A. (Trans-Atlantic Masters)
Psychology and Neuroscience –
Public Health – Master of Public Health (M.P.H.), MPH@UNC (distance)
Biostatistics – Dr.P.H., M.S., M.S.P.H., Ph.D.
Environmental Sciences and Engineering – M.S., M.S.E.E., M.S.P.H., Ph.D.
Epidemiology – M.S.C.R., M.S.P.H., Ph.D.
Health Behavior – Dr.P.H., M.S.P.H., Ph.D.
Health Policy and Management –
Residential – M.H.A., M.S.P.H., Ph.D.
Distance – Dr.P.H. in Public Health Executive Leadership (together with PHLP), M.H.A., M.S.D.M. (not active)
Maternal and Child Health –
Residential – Ph.D.
Nutrition – Dr.P.H., M.S., Ph.D.
Public Health Leadership and Practice – Dr.P.H. (together with HPM)
Public Policy – M.A., M.P.P., Ph.D.
Religious Studies – M.A., Ph.D.
Romance Studies -
Romance Languages and Literatures – M.A., Ph.D.
Social Work –
Distance and Site-based – M.S.W.
Sociology – M.A., Ph.D.
Speech and Hearing Sciences – M.S., Ph.D.
Statistics and Operations Research –
Statistics, Analytics, and Data Science – M.S.
Statistics and Operations Research – Ph.D.
Toxicology – M.P.S., M.S., Ph.D.
Degree Programs By Name
Asian and Middle Eastern Studies
Biochemistry and Biophysics (BBSP)
Bioinformatics and Computational Biology (BBSP)
Biomedical and Health Informatics
Cell Biology and Physiology (BBSP)
Clinical Mental Health Counseling
Clinical Rehabilitation Counseling
Digital Curation and Management
Earth, Marine, and Environmental Sciences
Educational Innovation, Technology, and Entrepreneurship
English and Comparative Literature
Environmental Sciences and Engineering
Genetics and Molecular Biology (BBSP)
Information and Library Science
Microbiology and Immunology (BBSP)
Operative Dentistry and Biomaterials
Oral and Craniofacial Biomedicine
Oral and Maxillofacial Pathology
Oral and Maxillofacial Radiology
Public Health Leadership and Practice
Romance Languages and Literatures
Master's Degree
Additional details can be found on the Graduate Handbook’s Master’s Degree Requirements page.
Please consult the program’s website to see which milestones apply.
Graduate School Milestones
| Master's Committee | Members of the student's master's examining committee have been approved. See Thesis or Approved Substitute Requirements section. |
| Master's Oral Exam/Approved Exam Substitute | Student has successfully completed a required oral examination or approved exam substitute. See Examinations section. |
| Master's Written Exam/Approved Exam Substitute | Student has successfully passed a written exam or approved exam substitute. See Examinations section. |
| Master's Written Exam 2 | Student has successfully completed a second (or specialty) written exam. See Examinations section. |
| Thesis Substitute | Student has completed an approved Master's Thesis Substitute. See Thesis or Approved Substitute Requirements section. |
| Thesis/Substitute Defense | Student has completed the oral defense of the thesis or approved thesis substitute. See Thesis or Approved Substitute Requirements section. |
| Approved Master's Thesis | Student has submitted their approved master's thesis, including revisions following its defense. See Thesis or Approved Substitute Requirements section. |
| Residence Credit | Student has completed the minimum program residence credit of two semesters either by full-time registration or by part-time registration over several semesters. See Credit and Residence Requirements section. |
| Foreign Language | Student has completed language requirement(s) if required by the program. See Foreign Language or Research Requirement section. |
| Master's Exit Survey | Student has provided feedback on graduate education quality and experiences by completing the graduating student exit survey. See Graduating Student Exit Survey page https://gradschool.unc.edu/about/data/exit/. |
Program Milestones
| Master's Professional Work Experience | Professional Work Experience, Practicum, Internship; student participates in field-related practicum, internship, or professional work experience for the number of hours as defined by program requirements. |
| Master's Prospectus Meeting | Meeting between student and director of graduate studies to propose capstone project and set master’s committee prior to any exams. |
| Master's IRB Compliance | Student completes IRB training and verifies compliance with program requirements |
| Master's Competency Review | Review reflects the mastery of one or multiple research skills that are generally determined by the student and master's committee. Program details may differ; please consult your program handbook for more information. |
| Master's Intradepartmental Review | Internal program meeting with student to ensure student is on track with completion of program requirements and is receiving adequate departmental support. The program may use this meeting to cover competencies and/or research skills (e.g., scientific writing, statistical computing). |
| Master's Research Presentation | Student presents their research as required by the program. Program details may differ; please consult your program handbook for more information. |
| Master's Research Experience | Student participates in field-related, sustained research activities for the number of hours as defined by program requirements. |
Doctoral Degree
Additional details can be found on the Graduate Handbook’s Doctoral Degree Requirements page. Please consult the program’s website to see which milestones apply.
Graduate School Milestones
| Doctoral Committee | Members of the student's doctoral committee, including a faculty research advisor and chair, have been approved by the academic program and The Graduate School. See Dissertation Requirements section. |
| Doctoral Oral Comprehensive Exam | Student has successfully completed a comprehensive oral exam. See Examination section. |
| Doctoral Written Exam | Student has successfully completed a first (or core) written exam, typically a comprehensive exam taken after completing coursework. See Examination section. |
| Doctoral Written Exam 2 | Student has successfully completed a second (or specialty) comprehensive written exam. See Examination section. |
| Prospectus Oral Exam | Student has completed an oral exam of their prospectus; their committee has judged the dissertation project proposal to be feasible and research may begin. See Dissertation Requirements section. |
| Foreign Language | Student has satisfied language requirement(s) if required by the program. See Foreign Language or Research Requirement section. |
| Advanced to Candidacy | Student has passed both the doctoral oral and written comprehensive examinations, completed all coursework required by the programs of the major and minor(s), and have met any foreign language requirements; the only outstanding requirement for degree completion is the dissertation. Transcripts for students admitted to candidacy will contain the statement "Advanced to Candidacy for Doctorate" at the end of the term in which posted. See Graduate Handbook - Doctoral Degree section. |
| Dissertation Defense | Student has completed the oral defense of the dissertation. See Examination section. |
| Doctoral Dissertation Approved/Format Accepted | Student has submitted their approved dissertation, including revisions following its defense. See Dissertation Requirements section. |
| Residence Credit | Student has completed the minimum program residence credit of four semesters either by full-time registration or by part-time registration over several semesters. See Credit and Residence Requirements section. |
| Doctoral Exit Survey | Student has provided feedback on graduate education quality and experiences by completing the graduating student exit survey. See Graduating Student Exit Survey page https://gradschool.unc.edu/about/data/exit/. |
Program Milestones
| Doctoral Professional Work Experience | Professional Work Experience, Practicum, Internship; Student participates in field-related practicum, internship, or professional work experience for the number of hours as defined by program requirements. Program details may differ; please consult your program handbook for more information. |
| Doctoral Practicum Paper | Following a doctoral professional work experience or practicum, a separate practicum reflection paper is required. |
| Doctoral Reflection Paper | Leadership Paper; Students are required to write a reflection paper. Program details may differ; please consult your program handbook for more information. |
| Doctoral Teaching Experience | Student participates in teaching a course as an assistant or instructor of record. |
| Doctoral Manuscript Submission | Student is required to submit an article for publication. |
| Doctoral Research Experience | Student participates in field-related, sustained research activities for the number of hours as defined by program requirements. |
| Doctoral Intradepartmental Review | Internal program meeting with student to ensure student is on track with completion of program requirements and is receiving adequate departmental support. The program may use this meeting to cover competencies and/or research skills (e.g., scientific writing, statistical computing). |
| Doctoral IRB Compliance | Student completes IRB training and verifies compliance with program requirements. |
| Doctoral Preparatory Committee Review | Meeting of student’s committee with student in preparation for milestones such as final dissertation defense or comprehensive exam (Comprehensive Exam Memo); may include goals such as presentation of research and progress to receive consultation prior to completing the research process or a document that reflects preparation for the comprehensive exam. Program details may differ; please consult your program handbook for more information. |
| Doctoral Competency Review | Review reflects the mastery of one or multiple research skills that are generally determined by the student and dissertation committee. Program details may differ; please consult your program handbook for more information. |
| Doctoral Research Presentation | Student presents their research as required by the program. Program details may differ; please consult your program handbook for more information. |
| Doctoral Advisor Finalization | Student has confirmed advisor with program and advisor. |
| Doctoral Program Finalization | Student has confirmed doctoral program with BBSP advisor and program. |
| Doctoral Ethics Requirement | Student has completed the doctoral ethics requirement. |
