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This page is intended to serve as a source for important information affecting current graduate students in Biological Sciences. We have also included links to many of the forms you may need throughout your time in the program as well as other helpful links. This page is a *work in progress* and we welcome your suggestions. Please send suggestions or questions that you have to the Graduate Coordinator.
General Links • Financial Aid • Degree Requirements
• Forms • Frequently
Asked Questions • Checklist For Graduation
All forms should be submitted to the Graduate Secretary unless noted.
- • Tentative Degree Program (TDP)--MS & PhD
- This form should be completed by the end of your first semester for MS students and no later than the end of the first year for PhD students.
- • Topic Approval--MS & PhD
- MS students should complete this form for their proposal meeting, usually scheduled at the end of the first year. PhD students need to complete this form
during their proposal meeting, which must be no later than 6 months after successfully completing the Prelim Exam.
- • Prelim Exam Application and Submission Form--PhD only
- The top half of this form should be completed by PhD students at least 6 weeks before they wish to take their Preliminary Exam. The bottom half of this form will be completed during the Orals portion of the Prelim Exam to
designate a grade on the exam.
- • Thesis/Dissertation Defense Form (ETD Form)--MS & PhD
- This form is completed for the Thesis or Dissertation defense. The top half indicates the evaluation of the oral portion of the defense and the bottom half indicates the
evaluation of the thesis/dissertation document.
- • Tentative Degree Program Addendum--MS & PhD
- Use this form to update your TDP to reflect any changes. Complete before you apply for graduation.
- • Exit Interview Form--MS & PhD
- This form should be completed by all graduating students in their last semester.
Please turn in a copy of the form (or email it) along with a copy of your current CV.
- (1) How do I find an advisor and how soon do I need one?
- You will need to identify a faculty member to serve as your advisor for your graduate program. A good place to start is the Biology Web Site to find the research interests of
the faculty. Contact a faculty member to find out if they are taking additional graduate students in their laboratory. Do not assume a particular faculty member will be your advisor until you
have spoken with them first. You may also want to talk to other graduate students and faculty to gather information about the types of projects that are ongoing. You will want to have a conversation
with any prospective advisor about what their expectations will be for graduate students in their laboratory.
MS students must have advisers by first month of second semester.
PhD students must have adviser by end of second semester.
- (2) What is the TDP and when does it have to be completed?
- The Tentative Degree Program (TDP) lists the courses that you plan to take for
your graduate degree. This includes all of the courses that you
are required to take (e.g. BIOL 601. Biological Documentation
Techniques) and those that you identify with your advisor that
are important for your degree.
This form should be
completed by the end of your first semester for MS students
and no later than the
end of the first year
for PhD students. - (3)
What happens if I don't pass my prelims?
- A failing grade will require you to take a second preliminary examination no
later than the following semester. Your committee will decide what is required
for the second examination based on your performance on the first exam. For example,
if a student only fails a portion of the first exam they may only be asked to
repeat that portion. A second failure will result in dismissal from the program.
(4) What's involved in the final defense?
- Upon completion of your
dissertation and the other requirements of the program, you
shall be subject to a Final Examination, which shall consist
of a defense of the dissertation. Copies of the completed dissertation,
approved by the advisor, should be submitted to the Doctoral
or Masters Committee at least two weeks prior to the defense.
The thesis will be judged in relation to published scholarly
work in the field, and students are encouraged to begin publishing
their results before defending. Doctoral students are required
to have a publication in preparation, submitted, in press or
accepted before they complete their degree. Defenses usually
consist of a public presentation of the thesis/dissertation
with questions, followed by a closed door meeting with your
committee. Committee members must sign on the ETD form (Thesis/Dissertation
Defense Form) both for the acceptance of the defense and acceptance
of the manuscript.
(5) What if I want to
switch labs or advisors?
- Notify the grad coordinator and both your current advisor and potential new advisor about your reasons for wanting a change
(i.e., divergent research interests) and discuss possible future directions. Due to limits on the amount of funding available to students and thus, time, a student may change
labs only twice.
If a faculty member
leaves the university
and their students
subsequently need
to find new advisors
this is not counted
as a lab switch.
1. Apply for graduation — check dates here
2. Successfully complete and
defend your dissertation
3. Complete thesis/dissertation—submit
error-free copy by deadline
4. Complete the ETD form—signatures
by all committee members
and grad coordinator
for both the defense
and the manuscript
5. Submit TDP addendum—if
there are changes in the
courses taken that differ
from what was listed on the TDP
6. Complete of the Exit
Interview Form and submit
CV to the Graduate Coordinator
7. Turn in keys and leave
forwarding address with
Graduate Secretary
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