Time Limits

Master's Degree

There are limits placed on your time here at New Mexico Tech. The master’s degree represents at least 30 credit hours (for master of science, this includes research) of approved courses beyond the bachelor's degree. A master's degree is traditionally regarded as a two-year degree, but your degree program might take longer. After your initial graduate enrollment, you have three years to complete your master's degree.

Doctorate

The doctoral program represents the equivalent of at least three years of full-time study and research. This normally requires from 48 to 66 credit hours of courses beyond the bachelor's degree and a minimum of 24 hours of dissertation credit. Typically, earning a doctorate degree takes significantly longer than this minimum. If you enter the doctoral program with a master's degree, you have up to five years to complete your degree; if you have not yet earned your master's degree, you have seven years.

Extension of Degree Time Limits

Extensions of these time limits can be made in special cases, but only with approval by your academic advisor, your department chair, and the Dean of Graduate Studies. Time limits and extensions for part-time students are considered on a case-by-case basis. To be considered for any extension, a student must be making satisfactory research progress and demonstrate a plan for completion including a reasonable timeline. To request an extension, write a memo addressing your reason for taking longer, your plan, and your timeline, have the memo endorsed by your academic advisor and department chair, and deliver it to the Dean of Graduate Studies for consideration.

Fellowship and Assistantship Support

Fellowships and assistantships have separate time limits. Admission to a Master's program comes with two years of eligibility for financial support, after which one must receive a master's degree before being eligible for additional support. Once you receive your master's degree or equivalent, your eligibility for an assistantship or fellowship may be extended another three years while you pursue your doctorate.

Doctoral students are eligible for four years of support. A petition for extension of support must endorsed by the department chair for it to be approved by the Dean of Graduate Studies.

Offers of support at the time of admission will be for the default level unless documented otherwise. Students may expect such support only if they continue to make satisfactory academic and research progress.