Catalog year refers to the rules in effect during the first year a degree-seeking student enrolls in a program; the set of requirements a student must fulfill. If the student takes time off, then the catalog year is the academic year of readmission.

Co-major is a course of study allowing two majors for one Ph.D. degree. Each co-major must be approved by the Graduate Council.

Combination degree programs are specialized pathways that provide academically qualified students the opportunity to enhance their education experience and strengthen their career preparation or readiness for future academic pursuits. A combination degree program, sometimes referred to as a combined degree program, is one where the University of Florida awards more than one degree from an overlapping course of study. Combination degrees often allow a shorter time for completion due to the sharing of some coursework between the degree programs. At the University of Florida, this type of program includes any combination of undergraduate, graduate, and professional degree programs. Students admitted into combination degree programs normally have above-average GPAs and superior scores on the verbal, quantitative, and analytical writing portions of the GRE (if stipulated by their academic unit as an admission requirement for all candidates). Individual academic units determine whether a combination degree program is an appropriate offering, seeking approval through the Graduate Council. Please also refer to the University of Florida Policy for Combination, Joint, and Dual Degrees for the full policy and to the Combination Degree Programs: Principles and Policies document for guidance. Combination degree programs established before January 1, 2003, may have additional requirements.

Concentration is a subprogram in a major. Concentrations offered at UF are approved by the Graduate Council. The concentration, degree, and program may appear on the student transcript.

Concurrent degree program is simultaneous study on an individualized basis that leads to two master’s degrees in two different graduate programs. Such a program is initiated by the student and requires prior approval of each academic unit and the Graduate School. Graduate School approval for participation in a concurrent degree program must be obtained prior to the published midpoint deadline of the term in which the first degree is to be awarded. Retroactive requests will not be considered. Ultimately, it the student’s responsibility to follow up with the academic units to verify that all Graduate School approvals and deadlines have been met. If the student is approved to pursue two master’s degrees, no more than 9 credits of course work from one degree program may be applied toward the second master’s degree. 

The degree is the title conferred by the University on completing the academic program, for example, Doctor of Philosophy. Some degrees include the name of the field of study (Master of Architecture, Master of Education). Others (Master of Arts, Master of Science) do not, while a Program (also referred to as the major) is the student’s primary field of study. Programs offered at UF are approved by the Graduate Council, Faculty Senate, Board of Trustees, and Florida Board of Governors (specialist and doctoral degrees). The degree and program name appear on the student’s transcript. Available programs and participating concentrations are identified under the degree name in the list of graduate degrees and programs on this page of the Graduate Catalog.

Dual degree program (also called a dual academic award) is one whereby students study at the University of Florida and at another institution, and each institution awards a separate program completion credential bearing its own name, seal, and signature.  For more information, please see Dual Ph.D. Degrees: Principles and Policies and International Dual Degree Program Development for guidance.  Refer to the University of Florida Policy for Combination, Joint, and Dual Degrees for the full policy

Graduate certificate is a formal collection of courses that form a coherent program of study offered through an academic unit. They are certified by the college, approved by the Graduate Council, and listed on the transcript.  

Graduate faculty: See Graduate Faculty Appointment Policy.

Joint degree program (or joint academic award) is one whereby students study at the University of Florida and one or more participant institutions and are awarded a single program completion credential bearing the names, seals, and signatures of each of the participant institutions.  Joint programs established before January 1, 2003, may have other requirements.

Lockstep programs are defined as cohorts who move together in the same enrollment sequence with courses taught in a particular order, on a particular schedule. Students have no flexibility in their program or sequence, and may not drop in and out of courses independently.

Minor is a block of course work completed in any academic unit outside the major. The minor must be approved by the student’s academic unit and the academic unit offering the minor. If a minor is chosen, the supervisory committee must include a representative from the minor field. A minor requires at least 6 to 15 credits depending on the degree level. The minor appears on the student’s transcript along with the program name and the degree awarded.

Multi-college program is a degree program offered through more than one college.

Specialization is an informal designation used by academic units to indicate areas of research or scholarly strength, and has no formal significance. Track and emphasis are similar unofficial terms. No tracks, emphases, or specializations appear in official lists in this catalog or on the student transcript.

Supervisory Committee (thesis and dissertation degrees): All graduate degrees must have graduate faculty oversee the student’s program of study and progress. For thesis and dissertation degrees, this oversight authority is accomplished by a formal committee. These committees have slightly different criteria based on the particular degree. Thesis and dissertation committees are monitored by the Graduate School as part of degree certification using information entered into the Graduate Information Management System (GIMS).

Supervisory Committee (non-thesis degrees): For non-thesis degree programs, the oversight is at the academic unit/department/college level only. Non-thesis programs may choose to have a formal committee or an alternate structure as determined by the program’s graduate faculty and consistent with academic unit policies. The oversight authority will be considered as the supervisory committee. Units are able to enter their internal information into GIMS as a convenience. Regardless of degree program, any student with a minor must have the name of the graduate faculty member overseeing the minor entered into GIMS.