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PLANT
SCIENCES OR HORTICULTURE
THESIS OPTION Credit Requirements: 30 semester credits
(minimum) The M.S. degree should be completed by a full-time student within approximately two years after first registration. If not completed, including approved thesis after two years, the student and major advisor will provide the Department Chair a realistic and attainable date for completion. The assistantship appointment and stipend may be terminated if the student does not complete as scheduled. Part-time graduate students must make steady progress and normally complete the degree within the time limitation of the Graduate School (seven consecutive years). If a student needs to leave Graduate School for an extended period of time, they must write a letter to the Dean of the Graduate School to formally withdraw. This will allow them to be reinstated without the consecutive enrollment requirement. Although minors are not recognized in graduate programs, courses from more than one department may be included in the major. Graduate credit for any course taken more than seven calendar years before the final examination may not be used to satisfy degree requirements. Refer to the NDSU Graduate Bulletin for additional information concerning the general requirements for obtaining a M.S. degree.
COMPREHENSIVE STUDY OPTION This program is intended for students who desire the advanced education of an M.S. program but do not expect to pursue a Ph.D. degree nor to conduct research as a significant component of their career. Credit
Requirements: 30 semester credits (minimum)
At least 21 of the 30 credits must be in courses approved for graduate credit numbered 601-689 and 700-789 (referred to as didactic courses). The PLSC 790 Seminar must be developed on a topic not closely associated with the topic of the PLSC 797 Master's Paper. The Master's Paper credits include a seminar presentation of the paper after completing the final comprehensive oral examination. The Master's Paper must include one of the following three options: a) conduct an experiment that is analyzed statistically and written to include materials and methods and results and discussion, b) a proposal for a research project, with all the components for submission to a fund granting agency, or c) a comprehensive literature review of an approved subject area. Please refer to the NDSU Graduate Bulletin for additional information concerning the general requirements for obtaining this M.S. degree.
SELECTION OF MAJOR ADVISOR Following the student's acceptance by the Dean of the Graduate School, the graduate student and the Department Chair will select a major advisor who will be responsible for directing the student's program of study and thesis research. Selection of the major advisor will be made on the basis of the student's interest, the availability of faculty members, and a common desire of the student and advisor to work together on a program which will enable the student to attain the desired degree. If a GRA is assigned to a specific research project, the project leader will be the major advisor of the GRA. The student and major advisor will select related fields to study. Selection will be on the basis of the student's interest, availability of faculty members, and compatibility of the desired major and related programs.
A Plan of Study, which lists the courses to be taken by the student during his or her graduate studies, will be prepared by the student with guidance from his or her advisor and graduate committee. The Plan of Study must be submitted to the Department Chair prior to the end of the second semester of residence. The Plan of Study is a listing of planned and/or required academic courses, credits, grades attained in courses already completed, and credits for thesis and research. Forms are available from the department office or the Graduate School. A student requesting and obtaining significant statistical consultation from a PLSC faculty member should register for 1-2 credits of PLSC 793 with the consultant, as recommended by the consultant and major advisor. The Plan of Study form contains provision for transfer of graduate credits earned at another institution. Quarter credits are converted (x 0.67) to semester credits. Thesis credits will be evaluated carefully. See the NDSU Graduate Bulletin for limited credit for special topics. After the Plan of Study is prepared by you and your advisor, submit one copy to the Department Chair for approval. After the Chair and the Plant Sciences Graduate Studies Committee accept your plan of study and selection of committee members, obtain the necessary signatures of your committee members and return it to the Department Chair. The Department Chair forwards the plan of study to the Graduate School Dean via the Academic Dean. If both Deans approve and sign, your program of study is completed. Signed copies are sent to the student, major advisor, and the Department Chair. The Graduate School Dean appoints the final member to your thesis committee. A particular professor may be suggested as the Graduate Appointee by you via the Department Chair. If you should need to change your Plan of Study for any reason, a Request for Change must be submitted to the Graduate School.
CREDIT LIMITATION GRAs should not register for more than 10 credits/semester (including 798-799) without permission of the Academic Dean. This restriction may be interpreted as not more than 20 credits in a 2 semester period because of a need to take courses in sequence, offering of some courses in alternate years only, etc.
After preparing a tentative plan of study with your major advisor, discuss the selection of members to serve on your graduate committee. Your committee will help and assist you with the completion of your degree. Take your Plan of Study and thesis proposal to each of your committee members for discussion and approval. Periodic meetings with your graduate committee will help keep your committee aware of progress and changes in your plan of study and thesis/dissertation research topic; this will help avoid problems later.
The following is a list of courses offered by the
Department of Plant Sciences. Many related courses offered by other
departments may be taken toward your degree. Your final program of study will
be determined by you, your advisor, and your committee. Obtain a course
catalog to determine the year and specific semester courses are offered.
GRADUATE SEMINAR REQUIREMENTS M.S. candidates are required to present one seminar (one credit of PLSC 790). Determination of seminar topics for PLSC 790 is made by the faculty member handling the course in the semester in which the student is enrolled. Communication with this person is essential. One additional seminar (part of 798 credits) is a presentation of your thesis research results. Consult with the faculty member currently supervising the seminar to schedule date and time of all seminar presentations including the final seminar of student's research. This final seminar is presented after completion of the final exam with the student's graduate committee. Graduate students are required to attend and evaluate all graduate seminars, whether registered or not. The graduate student also is welcome to attend and participate in PLSC 491, undergraduate seminar. The seminar is the responsibility of the student, but the seminar coordinator and the student's assigned topic advisor will be very helpful. Please refer to the PLSC 790 syllabus and guidelines for the specific requirements and policies.
GRADUATE RESEARCH REQUIREMENTS Ten credits of Master's Thesis (PLSC 798) are required for an M.S. The initial credits for PLSC 798 should deal with thesis planning, related literature review, preparation of the research proposal, and plan of study. Later credits should deal with thesis research progress and thesis writing and completion. An incomplete or unsatisfactory grade may be given if satisfactory progress is not made and deadlines are not met.
THESIS PROPOSAL Each graduate student will be required to prepare a proposal of the research which the graduate student and his/her major advisor have discussed in detail. All students will use the same format for this proposal and that format is presented in PLSC Professional Development I. If you are not required to enroll in this course or if you do not take the course during your first or second semester, please see the instructor for the proposal format. The thesis proposal is due the 2nd semester of an M.S. student's term. After the proposal is prepared by you, your advisor, and your committee members, submit one copy to the Department Chair. After the Chair and the Plant Sciences Graduate Studies Committee accept your proposal, submit a final copy to the Department Chair for filing.
PARTICIPATION IN RESEARCH PROJECT OF MAJOR ADVISOR The GRA on appointment in a one-half time position in Plant Sciences is expected to be on campus every working day except those on approved annual leave, holidays, or weekends. Participation in the project of the major advisor is expected to be full time in June, July, and August. The major advisor and the GRA have responsibility for the project participation time by the student. The participation time may vary among projects, or among students within a project, depending on the size and complexity of thesis or other factors. Graduate students not on a GRA also are expected to participate extensively in project activities unrelated to their thesis.
ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE Academic Standards in Plant Sciences
Candidates for the M.S. degree will prepare a thesis approved by the major advisor and Department Chair, and acceptable to the oral examining committee. You may want to construct your thesis as previous M.S. candidates have. A recent example may be obtained from the library or your major advisor. Style should follow guidelines of appropriate national organization. Students should refer to the NDSU Graduate School's "Guidelines for the Preparation of Disquisitions" prior to preparing their thesis which is available at the Varsity Mart. To avoid problems with style and general format, make sure all Graduate School requirements are met. A thesis is a document including the results of research or advanced scholarship which is submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the masters degree. The thesis submitted to the candidate's supervisory committee is subject to changes required by the supervisory committee. After the required changes are made, the thesis should be signed by the major advisor and Department Chair, and one copy submitted to the Graduate School. Students should be aware that the process of getting the thesis approved by the Graduate School may be time consuming. You are encouraged to present a thesis that is worthy of publication. It will be a plus for the student's career to be able to refer to a publication of his or her own. The student and major advisor usually will be senior and junior author, respectively, on a publication when the results are predominately from the thesis. A paper may be written by the major advisor upon failure of the graduate student to submit a paper. Acknowledgment should be given for major aid or counsel on research or analysis of data, provision of facilities, and financial assistance.
FINAL EXAMINAITON FOR THE M.S. DEGREE A final examination is required. The final exam is oral and lasts approximately two to three hours. Questions are based on course work and your research project. The exam must be scheduled by the Graduate School at least two weeks prior to taking the exam. A "Request to Schedule Examination" form must be completed and submitted to the Graduate School to schedule the exam. Forms can be obtained from the chair's secretary in the PLSC main office. After the proper signatures are obtained, the student must take the form to the Registrar's Office. They will check your Program of Study to make sure all requirements have been met. It is best to make an appointment with the Registrar. If you plan to go through spring commencement, you must complete the final examination prior to graduation. All course work must be completed. The thesis must be in the hands of the Graduate Committee at least seven days before the final examination. Below is a list of suggestions which may help you prepare for the examinations.
EXIT
INTERVIEW After the final M.S exam, each student is requested to schedule a meeting with the department chair to discuss his/her graduate experiences. |
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Prospective students may schedule a visit by calling 1-800-488-NDSU. Published by the Department of the Plant Sciences |
