MS with Thesis

M.S. with Thesis Program Timeline – Including Program Requirements and Suggested Goals

Disclaimer:  This MS Program Timeline does not replace the “Procedures for Graduate Students in Biology”

 

Year

Semester

Requirements*

Suggested Goals

Suggested credit # distribution

1

1

·       Graduate Core I

·       Form Committee

·       By the end of your first semester you must have formed and met with your committee to plan your program of study

·       One research credit

·       Start your personal Endnote (or equivalent) library and start delving into primary literature to inform development of your thesis research

9

 

2

·       Graduate Core II

·       Proposal Defense

·       Proposal Defense SACS forms submitted to GAAC Director

·       Advance to Candidacy

·       One research credit

·       By the end of your first year aim to complete 2 research credits and 16 course credits

9

2

3

·       Statistics

·       Meet with committee at least once in Year 2

·       One research credit

·       Attend a local conference during 2ndyear

 

5

 

4

 

·       One research credit

·       By the end of the 2nd year have completed ALL 24 required course work credits (including the statistics requirement)

5

3

5

·       Meet with committee to plan thesis defense

·       One research credit

·       Present research at professional meeting in Year 3

1

 

6

·       Thesis Defense

·       Thesis Defense SACS forms submitted to GAAC Director

·       One research credit

·       Preparation and submission thesis work for publication

1

 

 

 

TOTAL CREDITS

30

* All M.S. with thesis students are also required to: (1) present at least one talk at the Annual Department of Biology Graduate Student Symposium.

M.S. with Thesis Program Timeline Notes:

  1. The timeline for the suggested goals will vary some across labs and disciplines. The important things to capture from the list of suggested goals are (1) the importance of publishing, and (2) the importance of building your professional network by attending and presenting your work at meetings. Use the suggested timeline to facilitate setting your professional goals and discussing your goals with your advisor and members of your committee.
  2. Meeting with your committee once each semesteris strongly encouraged.Meeting with your committee once each year is a program requirement.
  3. TOTAL CREDITS must equal at least 30 at time of graduation.
  4. One credit of an 800-level course qualifies as full-time enrollment.
  5. Proposal and thesis defenses must be advertised and scheduled at a time that does not conflict with departmental eventsincluding seminars, workshops and faculty meetings. Absolutely no defense should be scheduled to conflict with Monday Seminars (12:20-1:30), Wednesday Faculty Meetings (12:20-1:30), or to conflict with Friday Seminars (12:20-1:30; please note that scheduling defenses for presentation as part of the Friday Seminar Series is encouraged).  Defenses must be scheduled during regular term times, consult your program requirements for details.

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