A. Graduate Committee

B. Program of Study

C. Oral Communication

D. Teaching Exprience

E. Thesis

F. Evaluation of Progress

Graduate Student Handbook

Academic Program

A. Graduate Committee

1. A major professor will be selected in the student's area of interest. A Ph.D. student has one year to choose a major professor, whereas an M.S. student must have a major professor before completing 18 quarter credits. If the student has accepted an assistantship, it will in most cases determine who the major professor will be. Students without assistantship commitments can make direct contact with any faculty member. When necessary, a student may change major professors after consultation with the department head, the original major professor and the proposed new major professor. A student may have a co-major professor from another department, but they must be on the crop or soil science graduate faculty (see CSS website for a list). If a potential co-major professor is not on a crop or soil science graduate faculty, your major professor can make arrangements for this individual to have a courtesy graduate appointment.

2. The student and major professor will select other members of the student's graduate committee according to Graduate School regulations. Membership in graduate committees will typically be:

Degree	Major	Minor	Grad. faculty at large	Grad. Rep.
M.Agr.a	1	1	1	0
M.S. (non-thesis)	2	1	0	0
M.S. (thesis with a minor)	2	1	0	1
M.S. (thesis without a minor)	2	0	1	1
Ph.D. (with a minor)	2	1	1	1
Ph.D. (without a minor)	3	0	1	1

^a The student’s committee will consist of a representative from the major and each minor concentration

Additional faculty may be included on the graduate committee. For Ph.D. students, your committee must be formed before you submit your program of study (see below for more information on program of study). M.S. students only need to select major and minor professors before submitting the program of study. However, it is recommended that M.S. students form their graduate committee as soon as possible (ideally before completing two quarters) and schedule a preliminary meeting of their committee, which includes the graduate representative.

3. The major professor and the other department member(s) of the student’s committee have primary responsibility for advising and mentoring the student.

4. M.S. thesis and Ph.D. students are required to have a graduate representative on their graduate committee. This person represents the graduate school and it is their job to monitor the oral and thesis defense to ensure that a thorough examination occurred and that the student was fairly treated in graduate examinations. To obtain a graduate representative you must ask the graduate school for a list of potential graduate representatives. They generate a random list of professors from across the University. You should consult with your major professor before deciding which professor to ask. Those on the list are not obliged to be on your committee and may decline to participate due to other time commitments. You also are not obligated to accept any graduate representative on the list and can apply to the Graduate School for another list. The graduate representative is not required to read your thesis or participate in questioning the candidate. However, many graduate representatives do read the thesis and ask questions during the defense examination.

B. Program of Study

1. The course program should develop competence in Crop or Soil Science and serve the interests and needs of the student.

2. A student initially registers for courses according to a tentative program worked out in consultation with the major professor or temporary advisor.

3. Before the end of the second term for an M.S. student or before one year for a Ph.D. student, a program of study document is circulated to Crop and Soil Science graduate faculty for review and comment (this is an informal document that is used only among the CSS faculty). The statement should include the following information:

1. One page description of previous academic training and employment, and a graduate paragraph describing your research project and career objectives.
2. Outline of relevant prior course work under major subheadings (e.g. chemistry, math, biology) with course title, institution, and grade.
3. Proposed course work program—prepared in consultation with major professor.

4. A minor is no longer required for the Ph.D. or M.S. degree but may be declared if the student desires. If you are declaring a specific departmental minor it is important to contact that department to determine their requirements for a minor. Most programs will include courses from other departments.

5. The student should then fill out the Graduate School Program of Study Form (obtained from the Graduate School or downloaded off the Graduate School website). M.S. students need the signature of the major and minor professors before submitting the form. Ph.D. students need to call a meeting of their complete graduate committee. Ph.D. students must bring the Doctoral Program Meeting Checklist to this meeting, which can be downloaded from the Graduate School website in the Graduate Student Guide to Success section. After the committee has reviewed the program of study, all committee members must sign the Program of Study Form which is then submitted to the Graduate School. The Graduate Representative signs the Checklist document and returns this to the Graduate School. It is no longer necessary to notify the Graduate School of the Program of Study meeting.

6. Both Ph.D. and M.S. students must present seminars as part of the CSS 507/607 series. See Section C on Oral Communication for specific requirements. In addition, students are encouraged to participate in the Departmental Professional Development Seminar (CSS 599/699). These 1-credit classes (taken pass/no pass) provide opportunities for professional development with informal oral presentations, proposal development, and presentations by working professionals. These seminars are offered on a semi-regular basis. They are recommended but not required in a Program of Study.

7. Although not required by the Graduate School, M.S. students should schedule an initial program of study meeting of the complete graduate committee. At this meeting the student can provide information about their background, their career goals and an outline of their proposed thesis research. This provides the graduate committee members an opportunity for early input into the student’s course work and research that can greatly enhance the student graduate experience and productivity, and preempt problems that otherwise might only arise at a student's defense.

C. Oral Communication

An important part of graduate education is the development of oral communication skills. A variety of opportunities are provided by the department with regards to oral communication.

1. Graduate students and faculty in Crop and Soil Science are expected to attend seminar (CSS 507) unless there is a course schedule conflict. The student is expected to contribute to discussions and to make presentations as determined by the Seminar Committee and in consultation with the major professor. The major professor should evaluate, with the student, the strengths and weakness of each seminar presentation by the student.

2. Each M.S. student is required to present at least one seminar outside of their thesis defense seminar and must sign up to take CSS 507 the term they present. This can be accomplished in two ways. The student can give a seminar in the regular Crop and Soil Science seminar series held each year or they can have a special seminar that is widely advertised (in either case they must be enrolled in CSS 507). In addition, a student will give an advertised seminar in conjunction with their thesis defense.

3. Each Ph.D. student is to present at least two seminars during their study period and sign up for CSS 507 when doing so. A Ph.D. student must present one seminar that is not a report on thesis research work and one seminar that is related to thesis research. The student can give a seminar in the regular Crop and Soil Science seminar series held each year or they can have a special seminar that is widely advertised (in either case they must be enrolled in CSS 507). A Ph.D. student may present an oral or poster presentation at a national meeting to substitute for one of the seminars. However, a student must be enrolled in CSS 507 during the quarter they present at the national meeting and obtain permission from their major professor prior to the meeting to qualify as a seminar requirement. For Ph.D. students the final seminar should be given at least six months before thesis defense. In addition, a Ph.D. student will also give an advertised seminar in conjunction with their thesis defense.

4. Guidelines for Seminar Development and Presentation

1. The student should begin development of the seminar many weeks in advance of the presentation. Speakers will be expected to prepare their presentation well, deliver it in a professional manner, and be knowledgeable about the subject. Considerable background study on the topic is required.
   
2. The student should work closely with the major professor in developing the seminar. Several practice presentations to other students and the major professor several days before the seminar are recommended.
   
3. Visual aids should be prepared well before the seminar presentation so that revisions can be made, readability of charts can be tested, etc. Costs involved in preparation of visual aids should be approved by the major professor.
   
4. A brief written biographical sketch should be provided by the speaker to the Seminar Committee chair on the Friday preceding the regularly scheduled Monday afternoon presentation.
   
5. The seminar presentation should be 30-45 minutes. The development of an awareness of timing is important and finishing on time is expected.
   
6. The speaker should be prepared to respond to comments and questions raised during the discussion period but should feel free to involve members of the audience in the discussion as necessary.

D. Teaching Experience

Serving as a teaching assistant (TA), or in a similar role, for a term has been an on-going requirement for all Soils students and is now a requirement for all CSS thesis-degree graduate students as of September 1, 2006. Students will work with their major professor to arrange for an appropriate teaching experience. Major professors will work with their associate department head to identify class needs. CSS 205 (Soils: Sustainable Ecosystems) or 305 (Introductory Soil Science) are departmental classes for which laboratory teaching assistants are required and highest priority will be given to identifying departmental graduate students to assist with these classes each term they are taught. Either Crop or Soil Science students may teach these classes if they have the required knowledge. Other classes in which students are also routinely needed are CSS 199 (Special Studies: Issues in Sustainable Agriculture), CSS 330 (World Food Crops), CSS 335 (Introduction to Water Science and Policy), CSS 430/530 (Plant Genetics) CSS 536 (Vadose Zone Hydrology Laboratory), CSS 440/540 (Weed Management), CSS 546 (Soil Geochemistry Laboratory), CSS 466/566 (Soil Morphology and Classification), and CSS 468/568 (Soil Landscape Analysis).

While only a single term of teaching is required for graduation, PhD. students are encouraged to be a TA a second time. Additional terms as a TA will be as agreed upon by the student and their major professor. Students who assist with a second class may be eligible for a 0.20 FTE graduate teaching stipend to compensate for time taken away from their graduate research responsibilities.

Serving as a TA generally requires 8 to 10 hours per week, including preparation time, time in the classroom and counseling with students. Participation in teaching is under the supervision of the instructor for the course. The graduate student provides ideas and develops a program within assigned responsibilities.

Students may complete the teaching requirement while registered for CSS 509 Practicum in Teaching (3 cr). Students receiving credit (CSS 509) for teaching will not receive a stipend for that portion of their teaching assignment.

Previous teaching experience will be evaluated by the student’s graduate committee.

Students with language or communication difficulties may complete special teaching experience programs upon approval of the graduate faculty.

E. Thesis

1. Thesis credits (CSS 503) of 6 to 12 hours are allowed for an M.S.; a minimum of 36 thesis credit hours (CSS 603) are required for a Ph.D. thesis.

For details of thesis preparation, please refer to Thesis Guide, available on the Graduate School website. This publication contains details on thesis format including the manuscript option and samples of thesis pages.

2. Thesis submission

Beginning July 1, 2006, all doctoral students will be required to submit one hard copy on of their thesis as well as one electronic copy (PDF format) to the Graduate School. Beginning January 1, 2007, this requirement will apply to both doctoral dissertations and master’s theses. Please visit the Graduate School web site for more details. Graduate students are also expected to finance one thesis copy for the department, one copy for the advisor, and one personal copy. When additional thesis copies are required for distribution, the costs will be paid by the major professor from funds for the research project. The department will pay for binding three thesis copies.

F. Evaluation of Progress

During Spring term the student will be evaluated by their major professor. This will be done by following the Crop and Soil Science Graduate Student Evaluation Form. It is the responsibility of the major professor to make an appointment with the student and have the form filled out by the major professor. Both the major professor and the student sign the form after the meeting and this is turned in to the Crop and Soil Science administrative assistant who will forward these to the Department Head for review and place a copy in the student's file. The evaluation process and record should point out strengths, successes, and areas of improvement (see Checklists and Timetables section for the form).