As a liberal arts college in a city, Trinity College offers a distinctive experience in graduate study. Each graduate program’s curriculum is designed broadly to build core knowledge in a field and to advance essential cross-cutting skills, culminating in a capstone project or thesis. In positioning graduate students for success, we emphasize the reinforcing power of close advising and professional development. Degree programs are offered in the following disciplines:
American Studies
Trinity’s longstanding master’s program in American Studies provides students with an advanced interdisciplinary understanding of the field and its research methods, engaging students in hands-on research and internships in Hartford.
The M.A. in American Studies consists of 9 course credits:
1 Foundational Course
course. Approaches to American Studies
1 Course in each of the Four Approaches:
Archival - Sampling of courses available
AMST 812. Popular Narratives of US History*
course. Black Women Writers in the 20th and 21st Centuries*
AMST 850. Race & Incarceration
Spatial - Sampling of courses available
AMST 803. American Ruins*
course. Meds, Eds, Slots and Stadiums: Culture Industries and the New Urban Economy*
AMST 809. The Digital Image of the City*
Public Humanities - Sampling of courses available
course. History & Memory of Slavery on Campus*
AMST 825. Museums, Visual Culture & Critical Theory*
AMST 876. The U.S. Civil War and Its Afterimage*
Transnational - Sampling of courses available
AMST 810. Through a Queer Lens: Migrant Critiques of the U.S.
AMST 818. Change of Clothes: Global Networks and North American Clothing
course. Rise and Fall of American Slavery
2-3 General Electives
Any additional AMST courses, including any undergraduate courses with the permission of the instructors and approval of the Graduate Program Director.
Capstone
2-credit thesis, or
1-credit practicum
*Two courses must be designated as meeting the Professional Development requirement.
The B.A./M.A. in American Studies at Trinity College is a distinctive opportunity for superior undergraduate students in American Studies or History to receive a B.A. in American Studies or History and a M.A. in American Studies. Admission to the 5-year program is possible at two junctures in an undergraduate’s career. Truly exceptional candidates may be recruited and admitted as first-year students at Trinity College. Other outstanding students may apply for admission at the end of their second year of undergraduate study Note that this is a highly selective program, so space is limited. For further details, contact the Faculty Director of the American Studies graduate program.
The American Studies graduate program offers a graduate certificate in Museums and Communities. Students may earn a certificate independent of, or as part of, the Master’s degree program.
Requirements for American Studies Graduate Certificate – 4 credits, as follows:
course. Approaches to American Studies.
AMST 825. Museums, Visual Culture & Critical Theory.
One internship: AMST 894, Museums and Communities Internship.
One elective course.
English
Trinity’s advanced master’s program in English offers a rich variety of courses in literature, film, and media arts, deepening students’ understanding of the field and culminating in either a research thesis or a pedagogical project.
The M.A. in English consists of 10 course credits.
1 Foundational Course
ENGL 800. Introduction to Graduate Study in English (1 credit)
1-2 Core Courses
2 Specialized Electives
1 Course in British literature
1 Course in American literature
4 General Electives
Any four additional ENGL courses
Capstone
2-credit thesis; or
1-credit pedagogical project
Public Policy
The master’s program in Public Policy at Trinity College prepares students broadly for analyzing policy issues, with the option of pursuing a focus in health care. Core courses provide a foundation in empirical and normative analysis, while electives and a capstone project focus on applied specialization.
The M.A. in Public Policy consists of 10 course credits.
5 Courses in Analysis and Management (choose 5 of the following 7)
1 Course in Law & Ethics (choose 1 of the following 3)
3 Policy Electives (Sample of recent electives)
1 Capstone Course
course. Policy Practicum
The Public Policy graduate program offers a Graduate Certificate in Urban Planning, cross-listed with Urban Studies. Students may earn a certificate independent of, or as part of, the Master’s degree program.
Requirements for Graduate Certificate in Urban Planning – 4 credits, as follows:
Core Courses - 2
Electives - 2
Urban Planning
Trinity’s master’s program in Urban Planning provides students with professional training and expertise in urban planning. The curriculum will meet the American Planning Association’s Planning Accreditation Board (PAB) standard to teach “students the essential knowledge, skills, and values central to the planning profession”.
The M.A. in Urban Planning consists of 12 course credits. Students are required to take four core courses, four required courses, three courses towards a concentration, and a thesis or final project.
Core Courses:
Required Courses:
Courses in a Concentration: Students complete a three-course sequence or concentration in either: Housing and Community Development Planning, or Transportation and Environmental Planning.
Community Development Strategies (example given)
URST 819 Affordable Housing Policies
Or
Land Use and Environmental Planning (example given)
URST 831 Reshaping Global Urbanization
Thesis Credit or Qualifying Exam Credit
Neuroscience
This accelerated B.S./M.A. program is intended for superior students who have demonstrated academic excellence, already inaugurated an approved research project, and intend to continue their graduate or professional education.
Students who complete this program will acquire highly valuable research skills and strengthen their future graduate school applications.
Students are expected to complete both the B.S. and M.A. degrees within 5 years. Since courses are co-listed for graduate and undergraduate credit, students will need to take at least 4 courses for graduate credit while enrolled as undergraduate students.
This program is restricted to Trinity College students.
Before applying, students are expected to:
Be an undergraduate at Trinity College in good standing who has declared their major field of study to be neuroscience;
Have completed or about to complete at least 4 terms of study at Trinity College, with a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher in all subjects and in neuroscience;
Have completed NESC 201 Principles of Neuroscience with a grade of B- or better;
Have completed either NESC 201 lab or course with a grade of B- or better;
Have completed sufficient research under the supervision of a Trinity College neuroscience faculty member who can comment on the student’s abilities;
Propose a specific research project for the thesis, approved by the same faculty member under whose supervision they have conducted research.
Required courses (five total)
Two of the following core courses:
Three Electives, one from each of the following groups:
One from the following:
PSYC 334/NESC 834. Current Issues in Cognition; or
PSYC 391/NESC 891. Psychology of Language
One from the following:
PSYC 302/NESC 302. Behavioral Neuroscience; or
NESC 362/862. Neuroethology
One from the following:
PSYC 365/NESC 365. Cognitive and Social Neuroscience; or
PSYC 392/NESC 392. Human Neuropsychology
Master’s degree requirements
General requirements for master’s degrees are as follows:
Applicants for admission to a graduate degree at Trinity College must have earned a bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution with a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0. Successful applicants will demonstrate evidence of academic purpose and promise, including readiness for graduate-level courses.
All candidates must successfully complete a minimum of 10 course credits (one Trinity course credit = 3.5 credit hours at other institutions) with a cumulative grade point average of 2.667 or higher
Up to two credits (or courses) can be transferred from other accredited graduate programs. You should obtain approval in advance for transferring credit both from the academic adviser and the dean overseeing Graduate Studies.
No more than one C grade will be credited toward a master’s degree.
Specific requirements for each program and track, the official graduate studies course schedule, application and other forms, and information about available resources for graduate students are available on the website or from the Graduate Studies Office.
Honors in Graduate Scholarship
To be eligible for Honors in Graduate Scholarship at Trinity College, a master’s candidate must have earned a cumulative GPA of 3.75 or higher. In addition, the master’s thesis or final project must earn a grade of A- or higher. For students with mixed transcripts, honors will be decided on an ad hoc basis with a view toward weighting the calculation according to the grading scale by which a student has earned the majority of grades.
Academic standing
Satisfactory academic progress in graduate studies is defined as follows:
Maintain a minimum GPA of 2.667
Complete a minimum of 3 credits per calendar year
Attempt a maximum of 15 credits total; and
Successfully complete 80% of credits attempted
Withdrawing from a Course
Students who wish to withdraw from a course must notify the Office of Graduate Studies in writing. Students who withdraw from a course after the second class meeting and the last day of classes will receive a grade of W on their transcript. Fees associated with withdrawing from a course are listed on the Graduate Studies website. Failure to attend class or merely notifying the instructor does not constitute official withdrawal from a course and will result in a grade of F.
Tuition and fees
Graduate tuition and fees for 2023-2024 are as follows:
Tuition per course credit - $3300
Registration fee - $65 (nonrefundable, per term enrolling in a course)
Other Fees
Tuition for auditing a course: $925
Thesis/Final project extension fee: $200 (payable each semester beyond the specified 1-2 terms required to complete a thesis or final project)
Late registration fee: $100
Parking permit: $110/year or $55/semester
Returned check fee: $40
Information about payment options and plans, including financial aid, can be found on the graduate studies website.
Auditors
Those interested in taking a course without receiving academic credit may audit the course. The fee for auditing each course is $925, in addition to the registration fee of $65. Auditing a course is subject to space availability and the permission of the instructor. No grades are given, and an audited course cannot later count toward a degree program. Alumni interested in auditing a course should contact Julie Cloutier(860- 297-2403) in Alumni Relations.
Undergraduate enrollment in graduate classes
Trinity undergraduates who are rising juniors or seniors with an outstanding academic record may enroll in a graduate-only level course for undergraduate credit. Undergraduates admitted to graduate courses are expected to complete the same requirements as graduate students. Both the academic adviser and instructor of the graduate course must provide written approval to the Registrar’s Office. Undergraduate tuition applies. Please direct additional questions to the Registrar’s Office.