Graduate Committee

Program of Study

Foreign Language Requirement

Oral Communication

Teaching Experience

Thesis

Evaluation of Progress

Expected Completion Times

Soil Science Thesis Option Graduate Program

Oregon State University

III. 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 chair of the graduate faculty, 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 soil science graduate faculty. If a potential co-major professor is not on the soil science graduate committee, your soil science major professor can make arrangements for this individual to have a courtesy soil science 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 be:
   
   

   Degree	Soil Science	Minor	Graduate Rep.
   M.Agr.	2	1	0
   M.S. (non-thesis)	2	1	0
   M.S. (thesis)	2	1	1
   Ph.D.	2	2	1

   Additional faculty may be included on the graduate committee. For Ph.D. students your committee must be formed before you submit your program 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 grad rep.
   
   

3. The major professor and the other department member(s) of the student's committee have primary responsibility for counseling the student.
   
   
4. M.S. thesis and Ph.D. students are required to have a grad rep or 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 exam occurred and that the student was fairly treated in graduate exams. To obtain a grad rep you must ask the graduate school for a list of potential grad reps. They randomly generate a 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 are also not obligated to accept any grad rep on the list and can apply to the Grad School for another list. The grad rep is not required to read your thesis or participate in questioning the candidate. However, many grad reps do read the thesis and ask questions during the defense exam.

B. Program of Study

1. The course program should develop competence in 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 of an M.S. student or before one year for a Ph.D. student, a program of study document is circulated to Soil Science graduate faculty for review and comment (this is an informal document that is only used within the soil science faculty). The statement should include the following information:
   1. One page description of previous academic training and employment, and 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 and your graduate committee members.
      
      
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. Ph.D. students are not required to have a minor.
   
   
5. The student should then fill out the Graduate School Program Study Form (obtained from the Graduate School or downloaded off the OSU 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 at the Graduate School website in the Graduate School Survival Guide 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 enroll Fall quarter of their first year in the Soil
   Science Professional Development Seminar (CSS 507). This 1-credit class (taken pass/no pass) provides opportunity for professional development with informal oral presentations, proposal development, and presentations by working professionals.
   
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.