Ph.D.  IN  PLANT SCIENCES

Credit Requirements:  90 semester credits (minimum including 30 from earned                                    M.S. degree)
           60 credits         600-700 level courses including 3 credits of PLSC 724                                   or equivalent and 2 credits of PLSC 790
           30 credits         798-799 Thesis-Dissertation

The Ph.D. degree should be completed by a full-time student within approximately three years beyond the M.S. degree (option for B.S.-to-Ph.D. program available). If not completed, including approved dissertation after three to four 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 the degree as scheduled. Part-time graduate students must make steady progress and normally complete the degree within the time limitation of the Graduate School (ten 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. Graduate credit for any course work, not included in the master's degree, which is more than ten calendar years old at the time of the final examination may not be used to satisfy degree requirements.

Only 30 (semester) credits (20 coursework and 10 thesis) earned for a M.S. degree from another institution will be accepted by the Graduate School toward the Ph.D. degree at NDSU. All graduate credits earned at NDSU for a M.S. degree apply toward the Ph.D. Sixty credits must be earned from NDSU of which only 20 may be PLSC 799. Refer to the NDSU Graduate Bulletin for additional information concerning the general requirements for obtaining a Ph.D. 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 dissertation 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.

PLAN OF STUDY

A Plan of Study, which lists the courses to be taken by the student during her or his graduate studies, will be prepared by the student with guidance from her or his 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 dissertation 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. Dissertation 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 graduate 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.

GRADUATE COMMITTEE SELECTION

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 dissertation 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 dissertation research topic; this will help avoid problems later.

PLANT SCIENCES COURSES OFFERED

The following is a list of courses offered by the Plant Sciences Department. 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

Graduate students in the Ph.D. program must present two PLSC 790 seminars (total of two credits). The final seminar for Ph.D. candidates is part of the required 799 credits, discusses the dissertation research, and is presented after completion of the final exam. Graduate students are required to attend and evaluate all seminars, whether registered or not. The graduate student also is welcome to attend and participate in PLSC 498, 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.

TEACHING

Two semesters of teaching experience are required for Ph.D. candidates who are U.S. citizens. International students whose native language is English or who have a TOEFL of 600 or more are encouraged to take advantage of the teaching opportunity. The student will register for 1 credit of PLSC 794 in each semester of teaching and will receive a letter grade. Students should assist in two different courses. We provide teaching opportunities for several graduate students each semester. Participation in Cooperative Extension programs with a PLSC specialist can substitute for teaching experience. Proposals for substitutions must be approved in advance by the PLSC Graduate Studies Committee. Students with prior University teaching experience can petition for a waiver.

GRADUATE RESEARCH REQUIREMENTS

Ten credits of Master's Thesis (PLSC 798) are required for an M.S. and an additional 20 credits of Doctoral Dissertation (PLSC 799) are required for a Ph.D. The initial credits for 799 should deal with dissertation planning, related literature review, preparation of the research proposal, and plan of study. Later credits should deal with dissertation research progress and dissertation writing and completion. An incomplete or unsatisfactory grade may be given if satisfactory progress is not made and deadlines are not met.

DISSERTATION 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 dissertation proposal is due the 2nd semester of a Ph.D. 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 dissertation or other factors. Graduate students not on a GRA also are expected to participate extensively in project activities unrelated to their dissertation.

ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE

Academic Standards in Plant Sciences

1. The Graduate School requires each student to maintain a 3.0 (A=4) accumulated grade point average to remain in good standing. PLSC has the same standards.
2. If the academic average of the graduate student falls below 3.0, they are placed on academic WARNING and the major advisor and the student's advisory committee should evaluate the situation and make suggestions or take appropriate action. The student should improve the GPA to 3.0 or better in the next semester of course work or they are placed on academic PROBATION. A student on academic PROBATION is not eligible for a graduate assistantship or tuition waiver. A third semester of academic deficiency will result in termination of graduate candidacy.

The assistantship or fellowship may be terminated earlier than the graduate candidacy. Assistantships may be terminated for lack of adequate progress in dissertation and research, or non-participation in project activities.

PRELIMINARY EXAMINATION FOR THE PH.D. DEGREE

A preliminary examination consisting of a written exam and an oral exam is required. The preliminary examination should be completed six months prior to the final examination.

THE WRITTEN EXAMINATION
Exams will be given approximately April 15-16 and October 15-16.  If either of the two test days fall on a weekend, the chair will designate new dates.  These dates are firm for all students irregardless if students are using the new or old system.  Since April 15, 2005 falls on a Friday, the next set of written preliminary exams will be April 14-15.

With the exception of examination dates, I will allow those of you that are currently in school and have not taken your written prelims to chose the current or the new option in taking your exam.  See the Graduate Student Handbook for procedures under the older system.  Students who apply and are accepted after October 15th will adhere to the new requirements.  The new requirements are as follows:

1.  A Ph.D. student cannot take his/her prelim exam until 1/3 of Ph.D. didactic course credits (excluding Master's degree credits) are completed but must take the exam by the test offering following the semester that 2/3 of Ph.D. didactic course credits are completed.

2.  A student will be given five questions at 8:00 a.m. the first day.  These would be collected at 5:00 p.m. the end of the first day.  A student will be given five questions at 8:00 a.m. the second day.  These will be collected at 5:00 p.m. the second day.

3.  Students must answer all ten questions.  A grade of 75% overall is required.  A student who fails three or more questions over the two days has failed the exam.  If a student fails a prelim exam, the student must wait two months to retake the exam.  The entire exam must be retaken.  If the student fails the prelim exam the second time using the same guidelines, he/she will be dismissed.

THE ORAL EXAMINATION is scheduled soon after you have completed a satisfactory written examination. The oral examination also covers course work taken at NDSU and elsewhere, as well as basic principles of plant sciences. The examination is scheduled for approximately three hours. The examining committee consists of the candidate's Advisory Committee, but the Dean of Agriculture, the Chair of Crop and Weed Sciences, and any member of the Graduate faculty may be in attendance. You must prepare a list of courses taken, with instructor and grade received, to distribute to the Advisory Committee prior to the examination. If you fail the oral examination, a second one may not be rescheduled for at least one month. The Department Chair often participates in second oral examinations. If the second oral examination is failed, the student is dismissed from graduate school.

DISSERTATION PREPARATION

Candidates for the Ph.D. degree will prepare a dissertation approved by the major advisor and Department Chair, and acceptable to the oral examining committee. You may want to construct your dissertation as previous Ph.D. candidates have. A recent dissertation 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 dissertation, which is available at the Varsity Mart. To avoid problems with style and general dissertation format, make sure all Graduate School requirements are met. A dissertation is a document including the results of research or advanced scholarship which is submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the masters and doctoral degrees, respectively. The dissertation copy submitted to the candidate's advisory committee is subject to changes required by the advisory committee. After the required changes are made, the dissertation 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 dissertation approved by the Graduate School may be time consuming. You are encouraged to present a dissertation 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. 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 PH.D.

A final examination is required. The final exam is oral and lasts approximately three hours. 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 head secretary in the 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. An example of this form is in Appendix 3. If you plan to go through spring commencement, you must complete the final examination prior to graduation. All course work must be completed. The dissertation must be in the hands of the Advisory Committee at least seven days before the final examination. Below is a list of suggestions which may help you prepare for the examinations.

• Questions are not always clear, so be sure you understand the question and its intent. Request restatement or clarification if in doubt. The student may consult the person asking the question.

• If you know the answer, think a moment to formulate a good beginning, then answer as briefly and accurately as possible.
• Indicate that you cannot answer a question if you cannot, but of course "I don't know" cannot be your answer to many questions!
• Know the plants with which you worked, including something of their morphology, taxonomy and close relatives, life history, etc.
• Know basic procedures.
• Know the chemicals used in your research and how they reacted.
• Know the design of your experiment and a few others.
• Know about the calculation and interpretation of your data, and the aspects of any conflicting data.
• Know something about agriculture in North Dakota, the United States, the world.
• Know equipment and instruments you need -- and possible substitutes.
• Know hormones, enzymes, the tropisms, etc.
• Think about and know some applications of results of your dissertation and other research.
• Be broader than just your special interest -- at least topics discussed in PLSC 790 Seminar. You may get questions on seminar presentations.
• In your answers, do not use words or concepts you do not understand, or could not discuss in some detail.
• Avoid adding uncertain or incorrect statements to an already correct answer to a question.
• If you are sure of a correct answer or viewpoint, defend it calmly and logically.
• Knowledge of both details and principles is important -- know as much of each as possible.

EXIT INTERVIEW

After the final Ph.D. exam, each student is requested to schedule a meeting with the department chair to discuss their graduate experiences.