2026-2027 UMass Dartmouth Graduate Catalog

• Purpose of this Catalog
• Accreditation
• Compliance

Purpose of this Catalog

This catalog is the official source of information about the university’s graduate academic programs, its approved courses and associated policies and procedures. The catalog’s purpose is to guide students in planning a course of study and in meeting program, department and university requirements; and to provide information about the university to students, employees, applicants, parents, teachers, counselors and the general public. See the table of contents and index for an outline of the information provided. 

This catalog emphasizes the university’s graduate programs. For centrality of reference, however, it lists some undergraduate courses. Please consult the Undergraduate Catalog for detailed undergraduate program information.

The information in this catalog should be current for the time of publication, although some changes may have occurred between the time of publishing and the opening of the academic year. The university reserves the right to change at any time the degrees, programs, and services offered, as well as the requirements and the courses. Corrections of errors may also be made. All official changes and corrections will be filed with the Office of Academic Affairs/Graduate Studies and the Registrar.

Such charges as tuition and fees, the policies associated with such charges, and academic or general university policies are subject to change without notice. There will be no refund of tuition, fees, charges or any other payments made to the university in the event that operation of the university is suspended at any time as a result of any act of God, strike, riot or disruption, or for any other reasons beyond the control of the university.

The information in this publication is provided solely for the convenience of the reader, and the university expressly disclaims any liability which may otherwise be incurred. This publication is neither a contract nor an offer to make a contract.

Accreditation

University of Massachusetts Dartmouth is accredited by the New England Commission of Higher Education (NECHE) https://www.neche.org/. The Commission is recognized by the U.S. Secretary of Education as a reliable authority on the quality of education for the institutions it accredits. Membership in the association indicates that the institution has been carefully evaluated and found to meet standards agreed upon by qualified educators.

Educational and Professional Accreditations

• UMass Dartmouth is an accredited institutional member of the National Association of Schools of Art and Design (NASAD), the national accrediting body for the visual arts.
• The Interior Design program leading to the Bachelor of Science in Interior Architecture and Design is accredited by the Council for Interior Design Accreditation (CIDA).
• The Bachelor program in Chemistry is accredited by the American Chemical Society. (ACS).
• The Engineering and Computer Science Bachelor’s degree programs are accredited by the Accreditation Commission for Engineering and Technology (ABET).  ABET is recognized by the Council on Higher Education Accreditation and accredits degree programs, not institutions.
• UMass Law is approved by the Council of the Section of Legal Education and Admissions to the Bar of the American Bar Association (ABA).
• UMass Dartmouth’s Charlton College of Business is an Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB International) accredited institution, a distinction given only to the most prestigious business schools. This includes all graduate, undergraduate and online programs.
• The Medical Laboratory Science – Clinical program is accredited by the National Accrediting Agency for Clinical Laboratory Sciences (NAACLS), which makes our students eligible for national certification from the American Society for Clinical Pathology. 
• The Nursing Baccalaureate, Master’s, Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) and Post-Graduate APRN certificates are nationally recognized, competitive programs that are accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE) and is recommended by the American Nurses Association.
• The Bachelor of Art Education and Bachelor of Arts in Music Education programs are approved by the Office of Educator Licensure, by Commonwealth of Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (ESE), and lead to a Massachusetts Initial License to teach.
• The Master of Art Education and Master of Art in Teaching are Commonwealth of Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education-approved programs for those who already have an initial license and are seeking Professional Licensure.

Compliance

The University of Massachusetts Dartmouth complies with both the intent and spirit of appropriate federal and state anti-discrimination laws including Title VII of the Civil Rights Act, Title IX of the Educational Amendments of 1972, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, and the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990. For more information, visit the Office of Civil Rights Website and review official University policies. The University of Massachusetts Dartmouth is committed to Clery compliance and sharing necessary information promptly to ensure optimal safety. For more information, please visit the University Police website.