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Handbook: Master's DegreeRefer to the degree completion information on the Graduate School webpage. The M.S. degree is offered under both Plan A, which requires a thesis, and Plan B, which substitutes additional coursework and research problems for a thesis. All students in the M.S. program are particularly urged to become thoroughly familiar with the details presented in the Graduate School Catalog and the regular Graduate School announcements for many aspects of the program relating to registration, special forms, deadlines, and graduate procedures. Minimum Credit RequirementsM.S. students must take a minimum of 14 semester credits in the major field and a minimum of 6 semester credits in one or more related fields outside the major or in a single field for a declared minor.
Filing Masters Degree ProgramMS students are required to submit degree program forms, outlining their proposed coursework and committee, during their second semester of enrollment or when they have completed 10 credits of coursework. Degree program forms are available from the Assistant to DGS, 105 Green Hall, or on the web (.pdf). You will also need to submit our internal form (.pdf) which requires a statement of your goals and your adviser’s evaluation of your degree program. If degree program forms are not submitted on time, a registration hold may be placed on the student’s record. Students must contact proposed committee members to obtain permission to include them on their committee prior to submission of the degree program. Students who include a declared minor on their program must receive the approval of the DGS for the minor field prior to submitting the degree program forms. The degree program forms must be signed by the adviser and then submitted to the Graduate Studies Assistant, 105 Green Hall. The forms are reviewed by the Graduate Study Committee and DGS and, if approved, submitted to the Graduate School. Please note that, once the approved forms have been submitted to the Graduate School, it may take up to 6 weeks for final approval. Final Oral ExamThe final examination for the M.S. degree is an oral examination. This examination is a closed exam, and all committee members must be present. A public seminar presentation sometime prior to the exam is encouraged. Graduation PacketStudents must request a “graduation packet” from the Graduate School website. This packet will be issued to the student as long the student is active in the Graduate School, has an approved degree program on file, has a GPA of 3.0 or greater, all grades are C- or better, and the student is within the 7-year time frame. Once the Graduate School has verified the student has met all requirements, the packet will be issued. Graduation Packet consists of the following forms and information:Plan A students:
The Examination Report Master’s Degree and Certificate of Specialist in Education form (also referred to as the Final Exam Form) will be issued directly to the student when the Reviewer Report is submitted to 316 Johnston Hall. Plan B students:
Students need to schedule the exam with the Graduate School and check with them for graduation requirement deadlines. Send copies of all forms to the program office in 105 Green Hall before submitting originals to 316 Johnston Hall. The Final Exam form must be submitted to the Graduate School before the last day of the month of the intended month of graduation. Commencement Attendance EligibilityStudents should have all courses completed except the last semester and should certify that completion is likely by the end of that semester. The Plan B paper or Plan A thesis should be in sufficient form as signed off by the advisor. A Commencement Attendance Approval form, signed by the advisor and the DGS, should be submitted to the Graduate School to allow attendance at the commencement exercises. Forms must be received in the Graduate School by March 1 for spring commencement and October 1 for fall commencement. Degree ClearanceGraduate degrees are awarded monthly. The Graduate School Student Services Office clears students for graduation. All coursework on the degree program must be complete. All required materials must be submitted to 316 Johnston by the last working day of the month of intended graduation. (Students must submit the signed Final Examination report form.) Students completing the Plan A thesis must also submit two unbound copies of the thesis, signed by the adviser. It is a CFANS requirement that one final unbound copy of the Plan B paper be submitted to the either the Forestry or Fisheries/Wildlife Library. Exit InterviewStudents must meet with the DGS or Graduate Studies assistant for an exit interview. The Peace Corps Master's International ProgramTo complete a degree for the Peace Corps Master's International program, students must meet the requirements for the MS degree and requirements established by the Peace Corps. The first year involves taking coursework that is applicable to the master's degree. The second and third years are spent in the Peace Corps, during which time components of the student's experience can be applied toward research credits (e.g., Plan B paper for 2 to 6 credits or Plan A thesis for 10 credits). After completing the Peace Corps assignment, students return to the University for 1 to 2 semesters to complete their requirements for the M.S. degree. Typical Yearly Academic Work and Associated Forms
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