SIMON FRASER UNIVERSITY 

.

To: Senate 

?

From: L.M. Srivastava, Chairman 

Senate Committee on Graduate 

Studies 

Subject: Second Master's and Second Doctoral Degrees 

The enclosed paper has been approved by the Executive 

Committee of the Senate Committee on Graduate Studies 

and by mail referendum by the entire Senate Committee 

on Graduate Studies. This problem needs urgent solution 

because we have some students who wish to take a second 

Master's degree. The paper is being presented to Senate 

for approval. Only the second page entitled 'Calendar 

Entry' need be voted upon by Senate. 

With reference to Item 4, an alternate recommendation - 4(a) 

is presented to Senate: 

Alternate recommendation - 

4(a) There will be no waiving of course credit requirements 

for the Second Master's or Doctoral degree. 

0

Paper ECS.106 

.

o..

SECOND MASTER'S AND SECOND DOCTORATE DECREES 

The Problem, 

Students with Masters degrees from this or other Universities 

have applied to do a second IRisters degree in a different subject or in 

different aspects of the same subject at this University. 

Ques 

tions 

1)

Can we permit students to have two, or more, Masters 

degrees? 

2)

Why doesn't the student do a Ph.D. instead? 

3)

Can the second degree be in the same subject area. as 

the first? 

4)

Can there be a transfer of credit and residence from 

the first to the second degree? 

5)

May the research project of the second degree be a 

continuation of that of the first? 

6)

what is the purpose of a degree? 

7)

Can we permit students to have two, or more Doctorate'. 

degrees? 

Appraisal 

This University is a centre of learning where individuals who 

meet the admission requirements may undertake a program of study in one 

of many disciplines culminating in the award of 

a

degree. Providing 

that the student has not already been awarded an equivalent degree in 

the same subject matter and provided the department is prepared to 

accept him and recommend him to undertake a degree program at this 

University the student should be permitted to do a degree of the same 

type. It is recognized that the content of the courses and research is 

different and so, ipso facto, in order for the student to derive full 

benefit from the degree. program (course material, facilities and faculty) 

he cannot be allowed extensive transfer of course credit or residence 

credit from his first degree. 

This second Masters degree is commendable for a student who 

wishes 'to widen his/her competence in a new field of study or who wishes 

to.bo].ster his/her genera), knowledge of an area by some specialist 

stud±s. However, highly motivated students who wish to extend the 

knowledge they gained from the first degree would do better to proceed 

to a Ph.D. degree. 

?

' ? . 

çicndr entry - for Senate action 

SECOND MASTER'S AND SECOND DOCTORAL DECREES 

Persons who have already obtained a graduate degree at this or 

t another University may wish, under special circumstances, to do 

second Master's or a second Doctoral degree. It is recognized 

hat the content of the program for the second degree must be different 

rom that of the first. Providing that a Department is prepared to 

ccept a student in these circumstances and, in order for the student 

o derive full benefit from the second degree program, the following 

egulations will apply: 

Applicants into the graduate studies program who satisfy the 

minimum admission requirements and wish to do a second Master's 

or a second Doctoral degree should consult the Department in 

which they wish to do the major study. Admission will be under 

the regulations for a Master's (or 'Doctoral' , as the case may 

be) degree program. 

• 2. If that Department approves, it must send a favourable recommenda- 

tion, including a statement that there will be no content overlap 

of the two degrees, to the Senate Committee on Graduate Admissions 

for their approval. This Committee will inform the Department and 

the Registrar of the result. 

There will be no waiver of the normal residence requirement for 

the Master's and Doctoral degrees respectively. 

There will be no waiving of course credit requirements for the 

second Master's or Doctoral degree. However, if a student has 

taken courses in excess of the first graduate degree requirements 

which are pertinent to the second degree program and not previously 

counted towards a degree, a Department may recommend to the Senate 

Committee on Graduate Admissions at the time of application for 

admission that those courses be counted towards the second degree. 

Not more than 50% of the total course credits required for the 

degree can be so transferred. 

?

5. ? 

Before recommending the candidate for a second Master's or 

Doctoral degree, the Examining Committee must ensure that the 

content of the courses, dissertation, extended essay and/or 

.

?

research project (if any) in the second degree does not overlap 

that of the student's first degree. 