The following standards apply to all students seeking a master’s degree at Seattle Pacific University.

• You must satisfactorily complete the approved program of study.
• To earn any SPU master’s degree, you must complete no fewer than 33 credits. The specific number of credits required for any master's degree is listed on the program page in the catalog.
• The last 15 credits toward your degree must be earned at SPU.
• You must complete at least three SPU graduate credits in disciplinary-focused, Christian thought and practice. These credits can be taken together in a single course or can be separated in one- or two-credit classes.
• You must maintain the professional and personal standards expected of graduate students stipulated for each program to which you are admitted. Failure to maintain these standards may result in removal from the program of study and degree status. 
• You must maintain a cumulative SPU grade point average of 3.0 or higher. If your cumulative SPU GPA falls below 3.0, you will be placed on academic probation. (Exception: Students in the Seattle Pacific Seminary must maintain a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.5 or higher to remain in good academic standing.)
• No course for which a grade lower than a C (2.0) is earned may be accepted toward a master’s degree. Higher standards may be required by specific programs.
• Graduate courses may not be taken for a pass/no-credit option, with the exception of your thesis, dissertation, research, practicum, internships, and projects. Any exceptions are determined at the discretion of the graduate programs.
• All graduate internship, thesis, and project courses must be completed within three years of initial enrollment in the course. Students enrolled in such courses will receive a master’s in-progress grade of “G” until the course is completed. After a lapse of three years the “G” becomes permanent.
• All courses applied toward master’s degrees must be taken within the six-year period immediately preceding the granting of the degree. Exceptions to this policy may be sought from the Curriculum Committee through a petition with graduate program support.
• You must make application for any required comprehensive examination at least four weeks before the examination is scheduled and pay the comprehensive examination fee at Student Financial Services (SFS).
• You may work toward two master’s degrees at SPU simultaneously. See Graduate Study in More Than One Field.
• If you have previously earned a graduate degree, you must fulfill the requirements listed under Second Master's Degree.
• Degrees are awarded and posted to your transcript based on the quarter in which you fulfill all degree requirements. Your degree will be posted within one quarter after your last quarter of enrollment.
• You must pay the cost of binding the requested copies of the thesis/project (if applicable) to the appropriate graduate office. 
• See Limitations on Credit in the Academic Policies and Procedures section of this catalog.