m.s. in environmental science graduate program handbook · dr. jennifer boyd dr. john tucker...
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M.S.inEnvironmentalScienceGraduateProgramHandbook
DepartmentofBiology,Geology,andEnvironmentalScience
Welcome
WelcometotheMasterofScienceinEnvironmentalScience(M.S.ESC)programofferedbytheDepartmentofBiology,Geology,andEnvironmentalScience(BGES)attheUniversityofTennesseeatChattanooga(UTC).Ourprogramisdesignedtopreparescholarsandprofessionalstomeettheneedsofacademia,business,government,andthenon-profitsectorinthefieldofenvironmentalscience.Towardthisgoal,weemphasizesoundscientificandtechnicaltrainingcoupledwithanunderstandingofcontemporarysocioeconomic,politicalandlegalrealities.OurStudents
• Havetheopportunitytocontributetothedevelopmentofknowledgeinthefieldofenvironmentalsciencethroughscholarlyresearchand/orexperience.
• Prepareforcareerswithdiverseemployersincludingconservationorganizations,consultingfirms,governmentagencies,andschools,andforadmissionintodoctoralandprofessionaldegreeprograms.
OurFaculty
• Offercoursesthatemphasizethedevelopmentofadvancedcriticalthinkingandeffectiveadvocacyandcommunicationskillsusefultoaddressingenvironmentalissuesinaholisticandreal-worldcontext.
• Engagestudentsinresearchinawiderangeofsubdisciplinesincludingbiodiversityandsystematics,conservationandrestoration,ecology,environmentalandhumanhealth,environmentalpolicyandlaw,evolutionandbehavior,geospatialscience,andmolecularbiology,cellularbiologyandphysiology.
OurDepartment
• Supportsstudentexperientiallearningwithaccesstostate-of-the-artresearchandteachingfacilitiesandresourcesbothonandoffcampus.
• ConnectswithitscommunitythroughrelationswithlocalorganizationsandagenciessuchastheChattanoogaZoo,CityofChattanooga,ErlangerHealthSystems,NorthChickamaugaCreekConservancy,TennesseeAquarium,TennesseeRiverGorgeTrust,andTennesseeValleyAuthority.
ForMoreInformation Dr.JenniferBoyd Dr.JohnTucker
GraduateProgramCoordinator DepartmentChairjennifer-boyd@utc.edu john-tucker@utc.edutel:423-425-5638 tel:423-425-434
TableofContents
Welcome&ContactInformation preface1.Admissions 1 1.1AcademicRequirements 1 1.2IdentifyingaGraduateAdvisor 1 1.3ApplyingtotheProgram 12.ProgramofStudy 3 2.1CoreCourses 3 2.2Electives 3 2.3CapstoneExperience 43.Policies&Procedures 7 3.1ProgramofStudyDeclaration 7 3.2Advisement 7 3.3CourseEnrollment 9 3.4ThesisRequirements 11 3.5InternshipRequirements 14 3.6LearningDiscourseRequirements 19 3.7AcademicPerformance 22 3.8CapstoneExperienceProgress 23 3.9Graduation 234.FinancialAssistance 26 4.1GraduateTeachingAssistantships 26 4.2GraduateResearchAssistantships 27 4.3OtherInstitutionalSupport 28 4.4.GraduateStudentLoans 295.CampusResources 30
5.1GraduateStudentAssociation 30 5.2Library 305.3Technology 305.4ResearchCompliance 305.5Counseling 315.6Accommodation 31
ListofESCGraduateFaculty AppendixA2016–2017ImportantDates&Deadlines AppendixBStudentChecklists AppendixC
1.Admissions
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PriortoapplyingtotheM.S.ESCprogramatUTC,youshouldensurethatyoumeetassociatedacademicrequirementsandidentifyafacultymemberwhowillserveasyourgraduateadvisor.Itisimportanttonotethattherequirementslistedhereareminimumsforconsiderationanddonotguaranteeacceptanceintotheprogram.Ultimately,admissionsdecisionsarebasedonevaluationsofquantitativeandqualitativeinformation,includingthecompatibilityofyourenvironmentalscienceinterestswiththatofourfaculty.
1.1AcademicRequirementsAsanapplicanttotheM.S.ESCprogram,youshouldmeetthefollowingacademicrequirements:
• Abaccalaureatedegreefromaregionallyaccreditedinstitutionofhighereducationorforeignequivalent
• AnoverallGPAof2.75oraGPAof3.0forthelast60credithours• SatisfactoryscoresonthegeneralGraduateRecordExamination(GRE),generally
definedasscoresabovethe25thpercentilefortheverbalandquantitativesections• Backgroundknowledgeofenvironmentalscienceconceptsequivalenttoatwo-
semesterundergraduateintroductoryenvironmentalsciencesequenceand/oranundergraduateorgraduateecologycourse
Thefollowingadditionalacademicpreparationisrecommended:• Atleastfourupper-levelundergraduatesciencecourseswithlabcomponents• Onecourseeachinenvironmentalethicsandenvironmentallaw• Onecourseeachincollegecalculus,introductorystatistics,andcomputerscience
1.2IdentifyingaGraduateAdvisorBecauseacloseadvisoryrelationshipbetweeneverygraduatestudentandagraduatefacultymemberisahallmarkoftheprogram,youmustidentifyafacultymemberwillingtoserveasyourgraduateadvisoraspartoftheadmissionprocess.Toinitiatethisprocess,wesuggestthatyouemailoneormoregraduatefacultymemberswhoshareyourinterestsinenvironmentalscienceatleastonefullsemesterbeforeyouanticipatestartingtheprogramtoallowtimeforconsiderationoftheirbackgroundandinterests.ProvidingaCVorrésuméand/orotherrelevantinformationwithyouremailwillfacilitatethiscommunication.AlistofprogramfacultyandresearchinterestsisprovidedinsidethebackcoverofthisHandbook.
1.3ApplyingtotheProgramAllapplicationsforadmissiontotheprogramareinitiallyhandledbytheGraduateSchoolatUTCandthenforwardedtotheDepartmentofBiology,Geology,andEnvironmentalScience(BGES)forreviewbyitsgraduatefaculty.Applicationinstructionsandlinkstotheonlineapplicationprocessareavailableathttps://www.utc.edu/apply/.Tobeconsideredcomplete,yourapplicationtotheM.S.ESCprogrammustincludethefollowingmaterials:
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• Officialtranscriptsfromeveryinstitutionofhighereducationthatyouattended• AnofficialreportofyourGREscores• Acoverletterthatservesasastatementofpurposebydetailingyourrelevant
experiences,reasonsforpursuingthedegree,andgeneralplansforthegraduateprogramofstudy,includingidentificationofagraduateadvisorwhohasagreedtoserveinthiscapacity
• ACVorrésumé• Lettersofrecommendationfromatleastthreeindividualsfamiliarwithyouracademic
abilityand/orrelevantexperience
Inaddition,youmaysubmitoptionalsupplementarymaterialsevidencinganyrelevantandsubstantialpreparationand/orexperience,suchasacopyofawrittenundergraduatecapstoneprojectorpublication
CompleteapplicationsareforwardedfromtheGraduateSchooltotheESCGraduateProgramCoordinatorandthendistributedtomembersoftheprogramfacultyforreview.Admissiontotheprogramisrolling.However,wesuggestthatyousubmityourapplicationmaterialsbymid-Marchforfallsemesterenrollmentorbyearly-Octoberforspringsemesterenrollmenttoallowsufficienttimeforapplicationreview.Ifyousubmityourapplicationafterthesesuggestedsubmissiontimes,itmaynotbereviewedintimeforadmissionforthefollowingsemester.
2.ProgramofStudy
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ToearntheM.S.ESCdegreeatUTC,youmustcompleteaprogramofstudyconsistingof36totalsemesterhours(i.e.,credits)ofcoursework.Thesehoursincludeacademiccreditassociatedwithcorecourses,electives,andagraduatecapstoneexperience.Descriptionsoftheserequirementsfollow.
2.1CoreCourses
AllESCgraduatestudentsmustcomplete15semesterhoursofrequiredcorecourses.Thesecoursearelistedinthetablebelow:
CoreCoursesoftheM.S.ESCProgram
CourseNumber Title CreditHours
ESC5020 MechanismsintheEnvironment 3
ESC5050 BiodiversityandNaturalResourcesConservation 3
ESC5120 AppliedStatisticsforEnvironmentalScientists 4
ESC5140 EnvironmentalLawandRegulations 3
ESC5700 SeminarI 1
ESC5710 SeminarII 1
2.2Electives
EveryESCgraduatestudentalsomustcompleteeither15or18semesterhoursofunrestrictedgraduateelectives.Yourrequirednumberofelectivehoursisdeterminedbythecapstoneexperiencethatyouchoosetopursueinpartialfulfillmentofthedegree.Specifically,studentsconductingathesisorinternshipforthecapstoneexperiencemustcomplete15hoursofelectives,whilestudentsconductingalearneddiscoursemustcomplete18hoursofelectives.Yourelectivehoursmaybecomprisedofgraduate-levelelectivecoursesofferedbytheDepartmentofBiology,Geology,andEnvironmentalScience(BGES)orgraduate-levelcoursesofferedbyotherdepartmentsthatarerelevanttothestudyofenvironmentalscienceandyourspecificdegreeprogramobjectivesasapprovedbyyourgraduateadvisor.Questionsabouttherelevanceofspecificcoursestoyourdegreeprogram(especiallythoseofferedoutsideofBGES)shouldbedirectedtoyouradvisorandtotheESCGraduateProgramCoordinator.
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2.3CapstoneExperience
EachESCgraduatestudentmustchooseoneofthreecapstoneexperiencesfortheprogramofstudy–thesis,internship,orlearneddiscourse.Youshouldconsultwithyourgraduateadvisortodeviseaformalplanforthisexperienceappropriateforyouracademicobjectives,researchinterests,andcareergoals.Ideally,youinitiatedthisconversationwithyourprospectiveadvisorwhenyouwereapplyingtotheprogram.Thesis
Thethesisoptioninvolvesindependentoriginalresearchfocusedonaspecificissuethatisrelevanttoenvironmentalscience.Thisresearchwilldemonstratebroadknowledgeofthetopic,identifyagapintheknowledgebase,andattempttofillthatgapthroughappropriatestudy.Initiationofathesisrequiresacceptancebyyourgraduateadvisorycommitteeofaproposalthatdescribesyourthesisobjectives,providesapreliminaryreviewofpertinentliterature,outlinesthemethodologiesthatyouwilluse,anddetailstherelevanceofyourthesistothefield.Youthenwillworkcloselywithyourgraduateadvisortowardmeetingyourthesisobjectives.Athesisisanappropriatechoiceforyourcapstoneexperienceifyouwanttogainbroadlyapplicableresearchexperience.Itisespeciallyrecommendedifyouareconsideringfuturedoctoralstudiesoracareerinvolvingresearchactivitiesoroversight.
Athesiscapstoneexperienceculminateswithyoursubmissionofasuccessfulwrittenthesisandyoursuccessfulpublicoraldefenseofthisthesisasassessedbyyourgraduateadvisorycommittee.Asuccessfulwrittenthesiswillincludeaclearandfocusedstatementofpurpose,comprehensivereviewofrelevantliterature,explanationofstudydesignandmethodologies,appropriateanalysesandinterpretationofdata,anddescriptionofthesignificanceoffindings.Asuccessfuldefensewillinvolveclearpresentationofyourthesisandinformedandthoughtfulanswerstoquestionsfromyourgraduatecommitteeandtheaudienceaboutitssubstanceandsignificance.OnceapprovedbytheGraduateSchool,yourwrittenthesisbecomespartofthepermanentbodyofscientificknowledgeandisconsideredareflectionofyou,youradvisor,BGES,andtheUTCasawhole.
IfyouopttoconductathesisinpartialfulfillmentoftheM.S.ESCdegree,youmustenrollinatleast6semesterhoursofESC5999(Thesis)whileactivelyengagedinyourthesisresearch,writing,and/ordefensepreparation,withatleasttwoofthesecredithourscompletedduringthesemesterofyourgraduation.Onceyouinitiateyourthesis,youmustregisterforthesishourscontinuously(i.e.,everysemester)untilyougraduate.Fordeterminingcontinuousthesisregistration,thesummertermisnotconsidered.Assuch,youdonotneedtoregisterforESC5999duringsummersessionswhileconductingyourthesisresearch;however,youmayopttodosoifthisissuggestedandapprovedbyyourgraduateadvisor.YoushouldconsultwithyourgraduateadvisortodeterminethenumberofESC5999hoursforwhichyoushouldregistereachsemester,dependingontheworkthatyouplantodotowardcompletingyourthesis.Internship
Theinternshipoptionisdesignedtoprovideyouwithanopportunitytoacquirespecializedtechnical/professionalknowledgebyworkingonanenvironmentalprojectwithanappropriate
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sponsoringorganizationorbusiness.Asaformofexperientiallearning,aninternshipwillintegrateyouracademicknowledgeinenvironmentalsciencewithitspracticalapplicationinaworkplacesetting.InitiationofaninternshipinpartialfulfillmentoftheM.S.ESCdegreerequiresthatyouidentifyasuitableinternshipopportunityandthatyourgraduateadvisorycommitteeandaworkplacesupervisorapproveaproposalthatdescribesyourinternshipobjectives,providesapreliminaryreviewofpertinentliterature,detailsworktobecompleted,anddiscussestherelevanceoftheinternshiptotheworkplaceandyourcareergoals.Yourinternshipmaybepaidorunpaid.Duringtheinternship,youwillworkcloselywithyourworkplacesupervisorwithoversightfromyourgraduateadvisortowardmeetingyourinternshipobjectives.Youandyourworkplacesupervisorwillberequiredtodocumentyourexperienceviaaseriesofformalperiodicreportstoyourgraduateadvisor.Aninternshipisanappropriatechoiceforyourcapstoneexperienceifyouwishtodevelopskillsspecializedforaparticulartypeofenvironmentalwork.Itisespeciallyrecommendedifyouhaveveryspecificcareergoals(e.g.,naturalresourcemanagement,environmentalconsulting)thatdonotrequirefurthergraduatestudies.
Aninternshipcapstoneexperienceculminateswithyoursubmissionofasuccessfulwritteninternshipreportanditssuccessfulpublicoraldefenseasassessedbyyourgraduateadvisorycommittee.Asuccessfulwritteninternshipreportwillincludeaclearandfocusedstatementofgoals,comprehensivereviewofrelevantliterature,descriptionofspecificactivitiesperformed,andexplanationofthesignificanceofthoseactivitiestomeetingtheinternshipobjectives.Asuccessfuldefensewillinvolveclearpresentationofyourinternshipandinformedandthoughtfulanswerstoquestionsfromthegraduateadvisorycommitteeandaudienceaboutthesubstanceandsignificanceofyourexperience.
IfyouopttoconductaninternshipinpartialfulfillmentoftheM.S.ESCdegree,youmustcomplete600hoursofenvironmentallyfocusedworkasasupervisedinternwithanexternalemployerorotheragency.Thisobligationamountsto15weeksoffull-time(i.e.,40hours/week)or30weeksofpart-time(i.e.,20hours/week)work.Whileactivelyengagedinyourinternshipwork,reportwriting,and/ordefensepreparation,youmustenrollinatleast6semesterhoursofESC5996(Internship);atleasttwoofthesehoursmustbeduringthesemesterofyoursuccessfuldefense.LearnedDiscourse
Thelearneddiscourseoptionallowsyoutoexploredeeplyaspecifictopicrelevanttoenvironmentalsciencethroughindependentandoriginalreviewofrelevantavailableliterature.Initiationofalearneddiscourserequiresacceptancebyyourgraduateadvisorycommitteeofaproposalthatdescribesyourlearneddiscourseobjectives,providesapreliminaryreviewofpertinentliterature,outlinesacomprehensiveliteraturereview,anddiscussestherelevanceofyourlearneddiscoursetothefield.Youthenwillworkcloselywithyourgraduateadvisortowardmeetingyourlearneddiscourseobjectives.Alearneddiscourseisanappropriatechoiceforyourcapstoneexperienceifyouwanttofurtheryourknowledgebaseinanenvironmentalsciencetopicwithoutfocusondevelopmentofappliedresearchorspecializedworkplaceskills.Thelearneddiscourseoptionisespeciallyrecommendedifyouwanttoadvanceinanalreadyestablishedcareer.
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Alearneddiscourseprogramofstudyculminateswithyoursubmissionofasuccessfulwrittendiscourseanditssuccessfulpublicoraldefenseasassessedbyyourgraduateadvisorycommittee.Asuccessfulwrittendiscoursewillincludeaclearandfocusedstatementofpurpose,comprehensivereviewofrelevantliterature,synthesisoffindings,anddescriptionoftheirsignificancetothefield.Asuccessfuldefensewillinvolveclearpresentationofyourlearneddiscourseandinformedandthoughtfulanswerstoquestionsfromyourgraduatecommitteeandaudienceaboutitssubstanceandsignificance.
IfyouopttoconductalearneddiscourseinpartialfulfillmentoftheM.S.ESCdegree,youmustcompleteatleast3semesterhoursofassociatedESC5998(Research)whileactivelyengagedinyourlearneddiscourseresearchand/orwriting.Youmaycompletethese3hourspriortothesemesterofyourdefense;however,yourprogramofstudywillnotbecompleteuntilyousuccessfullydefendyourlearneddiscourse.YoushouldconsultwithyourgraduateadvisortodeterminethenumberofESC5998hoursforwhichyoushouldregistereachsemester,dependingontheworkthatyouplantodotowardcompletingyourthesis.
3.Policies&Procedures
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StudentspursingtheM.S.ESCdegreeatUTCaregovernedbytheoverallpoliciesandproceduresimplementedbytheGraduateSchoolatUTCandrelatedprogram-specificrequirementssetforthbytheUTCDepartmentofBiology,Geology,andEnvironmentalScience.Assuch,youshouldfamiliarizeyourselfwithboththepoliciesandproceduresdescribedinthisHandbookandthoseoutlinedinUTC’sGraduateStudentCatalog,whichislinkedontheGraduateSchoolwebsite.QuestionsaboutpoliciesandproceduresshouldbedirectedtotheESCGraduateProgramCoordinator.
3.1ProgramofStudyDeclaration
PriortoadmissionorveryearlyinyourfirstsemesterofenrollmentintheM.S.ESCprogram,youshouldhaveconversationswithyourgraduateadvisorthatfocusonthedetailsofyourprogramofstudy.YoumustofficiallydeclareyourprogramofstudybyfilingaProgramofStudyformwiththeGraduateSchoolbytheendofyourfirstsemesterofenrollment.
Ontheform,youshoulddeclare‘ESC’asyourmajor,and‘Thesis’,‘Internship’,or‘LearnedDiscourse’asyourconcentration.Whendescribingyourprogramofstudycoursework,youneedonlytolistthecorecoursesfortheM.S.ESCdegreeprogram,aswellasanycoursestakenpriortoenrollmentforwhichyouarerequestingTransferCredit(seeHandbooksection3.3).Youarepermittedalsotoincludeplannedelectivecoursesontheform,butyouwouldthenneedtodocumentformallyanysubsequentchangestotheseplannedcoursespriortoprogramcompletion.Forthisreason,youareencouragedtoincludeonlythecorecoursesofthedegreeprogramonthisform.PriortoitssubmissiontotheGraduateSchool,you,yourgraduateadvisor,andtheESCGraduateProgramCoordinatormustsignyourProgramofStudyform.Itispreferredthatyousubmitallformselectronically.ProgramofStudyChanges
Ifyoudecidetochangeyourprogramofstudy(e.g.,fromthesistointernship),youmustofficiallydocumentthischangewiththeGraduateSchoolpriortograduation.YoushouldwaittomakethisformalnotificationuntilyounearprogramcompletionandapplyforaGraduationAudit(seeHandbooksection3.9);donotsubmitasecondProgramofStudyformtotheGraduateSchool.However,youshouldinformtheESCGraduateProgramCoordinatorofyourprogramofstudychangebyemailbeforetheendofthecurrentsemesterorthebeginningofanewsemesterifthechangeismadeduringsummerorwinterbreaksothatdepartmentalrecordscanbekeptcurrent.
3.2Advisement
AdvisoryRoles
Theroleofyourgraduateadvisoristosuperviseyourentireprogramofstudy,includingtheselectionofappropriatecourseworkandyourthesis,internship,orlearneddiscourseprogress.Earlyconsultationsbetweenyouandyourgraduateadvisorshouldincludediscussionofatleasttwoadditionalpeoplewithgraduatefacultystatusandexpertiseinthestudyareatoserveon
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yourgraduateadvisorycommittee.Theroleofthecommitteemembersistoprovideyouwithsupplementaryadvisementandadditionalevaluationofyourthesis,internship,orlearneddiscourse.(Intheeventthatacommitteemember’sroleisexpectedtoextendbeyondsuchsupplementaladvisement,youmayidentifythatcommitteememberasaco-advisor.)Youshouldmeetwithyourgraduateadvisorregularlyandwithyourentiregraduateadvisorycommitteeasneeded(asdeterminedwiththehelpofyouradvisor).
AcurrentlistoffacultyintheDepartmentofBiology,Geology,andEnvironmentalSciencewithgraduatefacultystatusisprovidedinsidethebackcoverofthisHandbook.AnupdatedandmorecomprehensivelistofapprovedGraduateFacultyMembersatUTCismaintainedbytheGraduateSchoolonitswebsite.Otherqualifiedpersonsmaybeappointedtothegraduatefacultyifyourgraduateadvisorsuggeststhattheywillprovidespecialacademicexpertiseorprofessionalexperiencetoyourgraduateadvisorycommittee.Ifyouareinterestedinseekingcommitteeappointmentforaqualifiedexternalindividual,talkwiththeESCGraduateProgramCoordinatorformoreinformationaboutthisprocess.GraduateCommitteeAppointment
BeforetheendofyourfirstsemesterofenrollmentintheM.S.ESCprogram,youmustofficiallyidentifyyourgraduateadvisorandgraduateadvisorycommitteemembers.Theprocessfordoingthisvariesaccordingtothecapstoneexperiencethatyouchoosetopursue.Ifyouareplanningtoconductathesis,youmustidentifyyourgraduateadvisorandcommitteemembersbyfilinganofficialGraduateCommitteeAppointmentformwiththeGraduateSchool.You,yourgraduateadvisor,allofyourgraduateadvisorycommitteemembers,andtheDepartmentChairmustsignthisformpriortoitssubmission.
Ifyouareplanningtoconductaninternshiporlearneddiscourse,youmustidentifyyourgraduateadvisorandcommitteemembersbyfilinganInternship/LearnedDiscourseCommitteeAppointmentformwiththeESCGraduateProgramCoordinator.You,youradvisor,andallofyourgraduatecommitteemembersmustsignthisform.GraduateCommitteeChanges
Ifyoudecidetochangeyourgraduateadvisorand/oranyofyourgraduatecommitteemembers,youmustofficiallydocumentsuchchanges.Todoso,youshouldsubmitanewGraduateCommitteeAppointmentform(thesisstudentsonly)orInternship/LearnedDiscourseCommitteeAppointmentformbeforetheendofthesemesterinwhichthechangeismadeorbythebeginningofthenextsemesterifthechangeismadeduringsummerorwinterbreak.Student&FacultyResponsibilities
BothESCgraduatestudentsandfacultyareresponsibleforfollowingthepoliciesandproceduresoftheGraduateSchoolandtheM.S.ESCprogramassetforthbytheDepartmentofBiology,Geology,andEnvironmentalScience.Thisresponsibilityincludesfullunderstandingofprogramofstudyrequirementsandexpectationsforacademicperformanceandthesis,internship,orlearneddiscourseprogress.
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Asastudent,youareprimarilyresponsibleforfulfillingtherequirementsandmeetingtheexpectationsoftheGraduateSchoolandtheprogram.Thisincludesmeetingexpectationsforperformanceandprogress,aswellascorrectandtimelysubmissionofallrequireddocuments(i.e.,forms,proposals,reports,finaldocuments)associatedwithyourprogramofstudy.Yourgraduateadvisorwillplayasignificantroleinyoureducationandtrainingasagraduatestudent.Assuch,yourgraduateadvisorassumesresponsibilityforhelpingyoutoselectcourseworkappropriatetoyourprogramofstudyandbeingawareofyouracademicprogressandstatus.Yourgraduateadvisoralsoisresponsibleforguidingandfacilitatingyourthesis,internship,andlearneddiscourseobjectivesandactivitiestowardthepromotionofyourenvironmentalscienceknowledge,experientiallearning,andprofessionalskilldevelopment.
Frequentcommunicationbetweenyouandyourgraduateadvisorisimperativetoyoursuccessintheprogram.Thiscorrespondencewillfacilitateearlyidentificationofconcernsorissuesthatcouldimpedeyourperformanceand/orprogresssothatthoseconcernsorissuescanbeaddressed.Assuch,werecommendthatyoudeviseascheduleforregularcommunicationwithyourgraduateadvisorthroughoutenrollmentintheprogram.
3.3CourseEnrollment
Registration
Youmustconsultwithyourgraduateadvisortodiscussappropriatecoursesinwhichtoenrolleachsemester.WerecommendinitiatingthisdiscussionjustpriortothecourseregistrationperiodsdesignatedbytheUTCRecordsOffice(aroundearlyNovemberforspringcoursesandearlyAprilforfallcourses).Aftertheconsultation,youradvisorwillprovideyouwithasix-digitPINthatwillenableyoutoregisterforclassesviatheonlineUTCregistrationsystemlocatedinMyMocsNetunderthe‘Academics’tab.Forcompletedetails,includingyoureligibilityandappointmenttimes,seetheImportantInformationforRegistrationatUTCpostedbytheRecordsOfficeonitswebsite.CourseLoads
IfyouarenotreceivingaGraduateAssistantshipprovidedbyUTC(seeHandbooksection4),youtechnicallymayregisterforupto15semesterhoursduringthefallandspringsemester.However,thiscourseloadisnottypicalorrecommendedbyourfacultygiventheintensivenatureofgraduatecourses.IfyouarefundedbyaGraduateAssistantship(seeHandbooksection4),youmayregisterforupto12semesterhoursduringthefallandspringsemesters.Werecommendthatyouconsultwithyouradvisortodeterminesemestercourseloadsthatareappropriateforyougivenyourtimeexpectationtocompletetheprogramandothermajorobligations(suchasoutsideemployment).Agoodruleofthumbtoconsideristhatgraduatecoursestypicallyrequireabout4-5hoursofstudytimeperweekoutsideofclassforeachhourspentinclass.So,atypical3-creditgraduatecoursecouldinvolvea12-15-hourtotaltimecommitmenteachweekwithmostofthistimeoccurringoutsideofclass.
IfyouarenotreceivingaGraduateAssistantshipprovidedbyUTCduringthesummer,youmayregisterforupto12totalsemesterhoursduringthesummeracademicterms.Ifyouarefunded
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byaGraduateAssistantshipduringthesummer,youmayregisterforupto6semesterhours.However,graduatecoursesaretypicallyextremelylimitedinsummer.Giventhis,graduatestudentsoftenusethesummerasanopportunitytofocusintensivelyontheirthesis,internship,orlearneddiscourse.Duringthistime,youmayregisterforESC5999(Thesis),ESC5996(Internship),orESC5998(Research;forlearneddiscourses)hoursifappropriatesectionsareavailableandthisregistrationisapprovedbyyourgraduateadvisor.EnrollmentStatus
TheUniversitywillconsideryoutohavefull-timestatusasagraduatestudentifyouareenrolledin9ormoresemesterhoursforgraduatecreditandhalf-timestatusifyouareenrolledin6-8semesterhoursforgraduatecreditduringthefallandspringsemesters.Inaddition,youwillbereportedasfull-timeequivalentforexternalfinancialaidpurposesifyouareenrolledinlessthan6hoursofESC5999(Thesis)towardtheendofyourprogramofstudyregardlessofthetotalnumberofsemesterhoursforwhichyouareregistered.IfyouaresupportedbyaGraduateAssistantshipprovidedbyUTC(seeHandbooksection4),areapproachinggraduation,anddonotneedtoregisterforfull-timehourstocompleteyourprogramofstudy,youmayrequestpriorauthorizationfromtheDeanoftheGraduateSchooltoenrollinlessthanfull-timehoursbysubmittingaGANineHourWaiverform.Ifyouhavespecificconcernsabouthowyourenrollmentstatuswillinfluenceyourfinancialaid,youshoulddiscusstheseconcernswiththeESCGraduateProgramCoordinator.TransferCredit
Youmustcompleteatleast24ofthe36semesterhoursrequiredtoearntheM.S.ESCdegreeforgraduatecreditatUTC.Youmayrequestthatupto12semesterhoursofotherqualifiedcoursesthatcarrygraduatecreditfromaregionallyaccreditedinstitutionofhighereducationcountascredittowardtheM.S.ESCdegree.QualifiedcoursesmustbeassociatedwithagradeofBorbetter,fitwithinthetimelimitoftheM.S.ESCprogramofstudy(seeHandbooksection3.9),andnothavecountedtowardapreviousundergraduateorgraduatedegree.
IfyouwanttorequestthatcreditfromaqualifiedcoursebeincludedinyourM.S.ESCprogramofstudy,youshouldtalkwiththeESCGraduateProgramCoordinatoraboutyourrequestandprovidehimorherwithacopyofthecoursesyllabus.TheCoordinatorthenwillreviewthesyllabuswithconsultationfromappropriatemembersofthegraduatefacultygiventhescopeofthecourse.Ifyourrequestfortransfercreditisapprovedattheprogramlevel,thecoursemaybelistedeitherwhenyoudeclareyourprogramofstudy(seeHandbooksection3.1)orlistedwhenyouapplyforagraduationaudit(seeHandbooksection3.9).AllprogramapprovalsoftransfercreditsaresubjecttofinalapprovalbytheDeanoftheGraduateSchool.ContinuousEnrollment
AsanESCgraduatestudent,youshouldworkcontinuouslytowardthecompletionofyourprogramofstudy.Ifyouareconductingathesis,thisalsomeansthatyoumustregisterforsemesterhourseveryfallandspringsemesteruntilyourprogramofstudyiscomplete(i.e.,untilyougraduate),asthiscontinuousenrollmentrequirementispartofthethesisprogramof
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study.Registrationduringsummersessionsisnotrequiredaspartofacontinuousprogramofstudy.Ifyouareconductinganinternshiporlearneddiscourse,continuousenrollmentalsoisexpected,butnotmandated.However,allbreaksinenrollmentwillrequirereadmissiontotheM.S.ESCprogram.QuestionsaboutthesepoliciesshouldbedirectedtotheESCGraduateProgramCoordinator.LeavesofAbsence&StopOuts
AllbreaksincontinuousenrollmentintheM.S.ESCprogramwillrequirethatyouapplyforreadmissiontotheprogram.InformingtheGraduateSchoolofaneedtobreakyourcontinuousenrollmentinM.S.ESCprogramwillfacilitateyoursubsequentreadmissionintotheprogram.IfyouareexperiencingcircumstancesthatprecludeyourcontinuedenrollmentintheM.S.ESCprogram,youshouldconsultwithyourgraduateadvisorandtheESCGraduateProgramCoordinatortodiscussfilingapossibleleaveofabsencerequestwiththeGraduateSchool.
IfextenuatingcircumstancesprecludeyourcontinuousenrollmentinESC5999(Thesis),youmayuseaRequestforStopOutformtorequestaone-time‘stopout’ofyourthesisprogressforuptofourcontinuoussemesters.Thisrequestmustbemadeevenifyouwillcontinuetoenrollinother(i.e.,non-thesis)coursework.Yourstopoutrequestmustbemadenolaterthantheendoftheenrollmentperiodofthesemesterprecedingthestartofyourrequestedstopoutandmustincluderationalandjustificationforyourrequest.Forthepurposesofstopoutrequests,theentiresummeriscountedasasemester.Yourstopoutrequestmustbeapprovedbyyourgraduateadvisor,theESCGraduateProgramCoordinator,andtheDeanoftheGraduateSchool.
3.4ThesisRequirements
InitiationofathesisforpartialfulfillmentoftheM.S.ESCdegreeinvolvesthedevelopmentofanapprovedproposalforyourthesisresearch.Yourthesiswillculminatewiththesubmissionofanapprovedwrittenthesisanditssuccessfulpublicdefense.ThesisProposalDevelopment
Ifyouopttocompleteathesis,youshouldbegintoprepareathesisproposaloutliningallaspectsofyourplannedthesisresearchwithguidancefromyourgraduateadvisorduringyourfirstsemesterintheprogram.Astandardthesisproposalwilldescribeyourthesisobjectives,provideapreliminaryreviewofpertinentliterature,outlinethemethodologiesthatyouwilluse,anddetailtherelevanceofyourthesistothefield.Yourgraduateadvisormayhaveadditionalspecificideasandrequestsforthecontentofyourproposal.Yourproposalshouldbesufficientlydetailedtoprovideyouwithaplantofollowtoconductyourresearch,includingatimelineforsignificantaccomplishments.
Afinaldraftofyourthesisproposalshouldbeapprovedbyyourgraduateadvisorpriortoitsdistributiontoyourothergraduateadvisorycommitteemembersfortheirreview.Asacourtesy,youshouldaskyourcommitteemembersoftheirpreferencesforelectronicorhardcopiesofyourproposal.Onceallofyourcommitteemembershavehadadequatetimeto
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reviewtheproposal(atleasttwoweeksisrecommended),youshouldorganizeafullcommitteemeetingtodiscussyourproposalandacquireconstructivefeedback.
Asevidenceoftimelyprogress,yourthesisproposalshouldbeapprovedbyyourgraduateadvisorycommitteebytheendofyoursecondsemesterofenrollmentintheprogram.However,youareencouragedtocompleteyourproposalbytheendofthefirstsemesterofenrollmentsothatyoucaninitiateyourthesisworkasearlyaspossible.ESC5999Registration&Grading
Afteryourthesishasbeenapprovedbyyourgraduateadvisorycommittee,youmayregisterforESC5999(Thesis)semesterhours.Intotal,youmustregisterfor6semesterhoursofESC5999whileengagedinyourthesisresearch,writingyourthesis,and/orpreparingforitsdefense.Youmustregisterforatleast2ofthesesemesterhoursofESC5999duringthesemesterofyourgraduation.Youshouldconsultwithyourgraduateadvisortodetermineanappropriateplanforregistrationandcompletingyour6totalESC5999semesterhours.
ForallsemestersthatyouregisterforESC5999hourspriortothesemesterofyourgraduation,youwillearnagradeofSP(SatisfactoryProgress)orNP(Non-satisfactoryProgress)asdeterminedbyyourgraduateadvisor.Thesegradesarenotfactoredintoyourgradepointaverage.However,ifyouearnanNPgradeforESC5999fortwosemesters,thedepartmentalGraduateFacultyCommitteewillreviewyourthesisproposalandprogresstodetermineanappropriatecourseofaction.Ifyouarefoundtoberesponsibleforthelackoftimelyprogresstowardcompletingyourthesis,suchactionscouldinvolveformalprobationordismissalfromtheprogram.
TocompeteyourESC5999hours,youmustprepareawrittenthesisthatisapprovedbyyourgraduateadvisorycommitteeandsuccessfullydefendit.YoualsomuchsubmitafinalversionofyourthesistotheGraduateSchoolforreview.(ThesetasksaredetailedlaterinthissectionoftheHandbook).Ifapproved,youwillbeassignedagradeofS(Satisfactory)foryourfinalESC5999semester,indicatingcompletionofyourthesis.Thisgradeisnotfactoredintoyourgradepointaverage.WrittenThesisPreparation
Asaculminationofyourdegreeprogram,youmustprepareandsuccessfullydefendanapprovedwrittenthesisthatincludesaclearandfocusedstatementofpurpose,comprehensivereviewofrelevantliterature,explanationofstudydesignandmethodologies,appropriateanalysesandinterpretationofdata,anddescriptionofthesignificanceoffindings.Yourgraduateadvisormayhaveadditionalspecificideasandrequestsforthecontentandorganizationofyourwrittenthesisdependingonthenatureofyourproject.
Whencomplete,thefinaldraftofyourthesisshouldbeapprovedbyyourgraduateadvisorpriortoitsdistributiontoyourothergraduatecommitteemembersfortheirreview.Thisdistributionmustoccuratleasttwoweeksprioryourplanneddefensedatetoallowadequatetimeforthoroughreview.Asacourtesy,youshouldaskyourcommitteemembersoftheirpreferencesforelectronicorhardcopiesofyourthesis.
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BecauseyourfinalapprovedandsuccessfullydefendedwrittenthesiswillbesubmittedtotheGraduateSchool,itmustconformtotheUTCThesisandDissertationStandardsdetailedontheGraduateSchoolwebsite.Westronglyrecommendthatyoufamiliarizeyourselfwiththeseformattingguidelinesearlyintheprocessofwritingyourthesisandincorporatethemintoyourearlydrafts.Thestandardsaredetailedandextensive.Assuch,planningtoformatyourthesisasalast-minuteexerciseisnotagoodstrategyformeetingsubmissiondeadlines.SchedulingtheThesisDefense
Youmustpresentyourapprovedthesisduringathesisdefenseand‘pass’thisdefenseaspartoftheM.S.ESCdegreeprogram.Asuccessfuldefensewillinvolveclearpresentationofyourthesisandinformedandthoughtfulanswerstoquestionsfromyourgraduateadvisorycommitteeandtheaudienceaboutitssubstanceandsignificance.Aswithyourwrittenthesis,youshouldconsultwithyourgraduateadvisorwhilepreparingyourdefense.YourthesisdefensemustoccurnolaterthantherelevantdatepostedontheGraduateSchoolCalendartoqualifyforgraduationduringthatsemester.
Youshouldhaveapprovalfromyourgraduateadvisorandgraduateadvisorycommitteememberspriortoschedulingyourthesisdefense.Afterreceivingthisapproval,youshoulddiscussmultiplepossibledatesandtimeswithyourcommitteeandtheninformtheESCGraduateProgramCoordinatorofseveralpossibledatesandtimesduringwhichallofyourcommitteemembersareavailable.EithertheProgramCoordinatororDepartmentChairalsomustbeavailabletoattendyourdefense,soyourdefensedateandtimealsowillneedtoconsidertheiravailability.Onceanagreeabledateandtimearedetermined,theProgramCoordinatorwillscheduleyourdefenseandinformyouandyourgraduateadvisorycommitteeofitsdate,time,andlocation.
Onceyourdefenseisscheduled,youmustemailaNoticeofScheduledDefensetoAmy-Campbell@utc.eduatleasttwoweekspriortoyourscheduleddefensedatesothatapublicannouncementmaybemade.ThesisDefenseFormat
AthesisdefenseintheM.S.ESCprograminvolvesapublicpresentationandaprivateexamination.Yourgraduateadvisorandgraduateadvisorycommitteememberswillattendbothpartsofyourdefense.TheUTCcommunitywillbeinvitedformallytothepublicpresentationpartofyourdefensebytheGraduateSchool.Outsidepersonsalsomayattendthepresentation,andyouareencouragedtoinviteyourfamilyandfriendstothispartofyourthesisdefense.Onlyyourgraduateadvisorandcommitteememberstypicallyattendtheprivateexaminationthatfollowsthepublicpresentation.TheESCGraduateProgramCoordinatororDepartmentChairalsomayattendtheexaminationasanobserverifinvitedbyyouoramemberofyourgraduateadvisorycommittee.
Duringthepublicpartofyourdefense,youshouldgiveaprofessionalpresentationthatdescribesandjustifiesallaspectsofyourthesis.Typically,thisisachievedwithaPowerPointpresentationthatisabout30-45minutesinlength.Afteryourpresentation,youshouldsolicitandfieldquestionsfromtheaudienceabouttheinformationthatyoupresented.
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Duringtheprivateexaminationthatimmediatelyfollows,youwillbeexpectedtofieldquestionsfromyourgraduateadvisorandgraduateadvisorycommitteemembers.Thesequestionscanrangefromonesspecifictoyourpresentationtoquestionsaboutyourbroaderresearchtopicandrelatedareasofenvironmentalscience.Questionsalsomayfocusonmaterialcoveredinyourrelevantgraduatecoursework.Thispartofyourthesisdefenseisintendedtoenableyourgraduateadvisorandcommitteememberstoassessyourunderstandingofyourthesistopic,comprehensionofitsrelevancetothebroaderfield,competencyandprofessionalismasanenvironmentalexpert,andcommunicationskills.
Followingtheexamination,youradvisorandcommitteememberswillrequestthatyouleavetheroomsothattheycandiscussinprivateyourwrittenthesisanditsdefense.Ultimately,yourcommitteewillprovideacollective‘pass’or‘fail’assessmentofyourdefensethatalsoconveysgeneralacceptanceorrejectionofyourwrittenthesisandinformyouoftheirassessment.Evenifyoupassyourdefense,youmayberequiredtomakeminorconditionalchangestoyourwrittenthesispriortoitsfinalapprovalforsubmissiontotheGraduateSchool.Thecommitteealsomayrequesttoreviewyourrevisedwrittenthesistoevaluaterequestedchanges.Ifyoufailyourdefense,youmaybepermittedtorepeatthedefenseafteranintervaltoallowforimprovementatthediscretionofyourcommittee.ThesisDefenseResults
YourfinalthesisdefenseresultswillberecordedbyyourgraduateadvisoronaGraduateDegreeExaminationResultsform.Thisformwillbesignedbyyouradvisorandothergraduateadvisorycommitteemembers.YoumustsubsequentlyobtainthesignaturesoftheESCGraduateProgramCoordinatorandtheDeanoftheCollegeofArtsandSciencespriortohavingtheESCGraduateProgramCoordinatorsubmitthisformtotheGraduateSchoolonyourbehalf.Youmaynotsubmitthisformyourself.ThecompletedformmustbesubmittednolaterthantherelevantdatepostedonlinkedfromtheGraduateSchoolwebsitetoqualifyforgraduationduringthesemesterofthedefense.
ThesisSubmission
YoumustsubmityourapprovedfinalwrittenthesiselectronicallyviaUTCScholartotheGraduateSchoolnolaterthantherelevantdatespecifiedontheGraduateSchoolCalendarlinkedfromtheGraduateSchoolwebsitetoqualifyforgraduationduringthesamesemesterasthedefense.Oncesubmitted,yourthesiswillbecheckedbytheGraduateSchoolfordeterminationofitsadherencetotheUTCThesisandDissertationStandards.Ifyoursubmittedthesisisnotapproved,youwillberequiredtomakenecessarychangestothedocumentinUTCScholar.Failuretomaketimelyrequestedrevisionstoyourthesismayresultindelayedgraduation.
3.5InternshipRequirements
InitiationofaninternshipforpartialfulfillmentoftheM.S.ESCdegreeinvolvesthedevelopmentofanapprovedproposalforyourinternshipexperience.Yourinternshipwill
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culminatewiththesubmissionofanapprovedwritteninternshipreportanditssuccessfulpublicdefense.InternshipProposalDevelopment
Ifyouopttocompleteaninternship,youshouldbegintoprepareaninternshipproposaloutliningallaspectsofyourplannedinternshipexperiencewithguidancefromyourgraduateadvisorandaproposedworkplacesupervisorduringyourfirstsemesterintheM.S.ESCprogram.Astandardinternshipproposalwilldescribeyourinternshipobjectives,provideapreliminaryreviewofpertinentliterature,detailtheworktobecompleted,anddiscusstherelevanceoftheplannedinternshiptotheworkplaceandyourcareergoals.Yourgraduateadvisorand/orworkplacesupervisormayhaveadditionalspecificideasandrequestsforthecontentofyourproposal.Yourproposalshouldbesufficientlydetailedtoprovideyouwithaplantofollowduringyourinternship,includingatimelineforsignificantaccomplishments.Youshouldspecifyhowyouwillspendthe600hoursofinternshipexperiencerequiredforpartialfulfillmentoftheM.S.ESCdegree.
Afinaldraftofyourinternshipproposalshouldbeapprovedbyyourgraduateadvisorpriortoitsdistributiontoyourothergraduateadvisorycommitteemembersfortheirreview.Asacourtesy,youshouldaskyourcommitteemembersoftheirpreferencesforelectronicorhardcopiesofyourproposal.Onceallcommitteemembershavehadadequatetimetoreviewyourproposal(atleasttwoweeksisrecommended),youshouldorganizeafullcommitteemeetingtodiscussyourproposalandacquireconstructivefeedback.Simultaneoustothereviewofyourinternshipproposalbyyourcommittee,youshouldseektheapprovalofyourplannedworkplacesupervisorfortheworkthatyouareproposing.
Asevidenceoftimelyprogress,yourinternshipproposalshouldbeapprovedbyyourgraduateadvisorycommitteebytheendofyoursecondsemesterofenrollmentintheprogram.However,youarerequiredtocompletethesetasksearlierifyouplantobeginyourinternshippriortotheendofyoursecondsemesterintheprogram.ESC5996Registration&Grading
Afteryourinternshipproposalhasbeenapprovedbyyourgraduateadvisorycommittee,youmayregisterforESC5996(Internship)semesterhours.Intotal,youmustregisterfor6semesterhoursofESC5996whileengagedinyourinternshipexperience,draftingyourinternshipreport,and/orpreparingforitsdefense.Youmustregisterforatleast2ofthesesemesterhoursofESC5996duringthesemesterofyoursuccessfuldefense.YoushouldconsultwithyourgraduateadvisortodetermineanappropriateplanforregistrationandcompletingyourESC5996semesterhourrequirements.
ForallsemestersthatyouregisterforESC5996hourspriortothesemesterofyourdefense,youwillearnagradeofSP(SatisfactoryProgress)orNP(Non-satisfactoryProgress)asdeterminedbyyourgraduateadvisor.Thesegradesarenotfactoredintoyourgradepointaverage.However,ifyouearnanNPgradeforESC5996fortwosemesters,thedepartmentalGraduateFacultyCommitteewillreviewyourinternshipproposalandprogresstodetermineanappropriatecourseofaction.Ifyouarefoundtoberesponsibleforthelackoftimelyprogress
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towardcompletingyourinternship,suchactionscouldinvolveformalprobationordismissalfromtheprogram.
TocompleteyourESC5996hours,youmustprepareafinalinternshipreportthatisapprovedbyyourgraduateadvisorycommitteeandsuccessfullydefendit.(ThesetasksaredetailedlaterinthissectionoftheHandbook.)Ifapproved,youwillbeassignedagradeofS(Satisfactory)foryourfinalESC5996semester,indicatingcompletionofyourinternship.Thisgradeisnotfactoredintoyourgradepointaverage.InternshipProgress&EvaluationReportsInternshipsgenerallyoccuroff-campuswithoutdirectsupervisionbyagraduateadvisor.Assuch,ifyouarecompletinganinternshipinpartialfulfillmentoftheM.S.ESCdegree,youmusttakeresponsibilityforthecompletionandfilingoftwosetsofinternship-specificreportswhileyourinternshipisunderway.
Asastudent,youmustsubmitasetofthreeStudentInternProgressReportstoyourgraduateadvisoratspecifiedregularintervalsduringyourinternship(i.e.,beginning,middle,andend).Inthesereports,youwilldescribetheactivitiesthatyouareconductingasaninternandtheirrelevancetothesponsoringorganizationorbusiness.Thethirdandfinalreportalsowillincludeyourassessmentoftheoverallinternshipexperience.Thesereportsalsoprovideamechanismforyoutodescribetheworkplaceenvironmentandanyresourcedeficienciesthatmayexisttherein.
Inaddition,youmustensurethatasetofthreeStudentInternEvaluationReportsaresubmittedbyyourworkplacesupervisortoyourgraduateadvisoratspecifiedregularintervalswhileyourinternshipisunderway(concurrentwiththeprogressreportssubmittedbyyoutotheadvisor).Thesereportswillsolicityoursupervisor’sratingofyouasaninternforqualitieslikeinitiative,attentiontodetail,andmasteryofcriticalskills.Thethirdandfinalreportalsowillincludeanoverallevaluationofyouasanintern.Collectively,theseinternshipreportswillhelpyourgraduateadvisortoassessyourprogress.InternshipReportPreparation
Asaculminationofyourdegreeprogram,youmustprepareandsuccessfullydefendanapprovedinternshipreportthatincludesaclearandfocusedstatementofgoals,comprehensivereviewofrelevantliterature,descriptionofspecificactivitiesperformed,andexplanationofthesignificanceofthoseactivitiestomeetingyourinternshipobjectives.Yourgraduateadvisormayhaveadditionalspecificideasandrequestsforthecontentandorganizationofyourinternshipreportdependingonthenatureofyourexperience.
Whencomplete,thefinaldraftofyourinternshipreportshouldbeapprovedbyyourgraduateadvisorpriortoitsdistributiontoyourothergraduatecommitteemembersfortheirreview.Thisdistributionmustoccuratleasttwoweeksprioryourplanneddefensedatetoallowadequatetimeforthoroughreview.Asacourtesy,youshouldaskyourcommitteemembersoftheirpreferencesforelectronicorhardcopiesofyourreport.
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Unliketheses,internshipreportsarenottobesubmittedtotheGraduateSchool.Instead,youmustsubmityourfinalapprovedandsuccessfullydefendedinternshipreporttotheESCGraduateProgramCoordinatoronbehalfoftheDepartment.Forconsistency,werecommendthatyourreportbeformattedprofessionallyinaccordancewiththeUTCThesisandDissertationStandardsasdetailedontheGraduateSchoolwebsite.SchedulingtheInternshipDefense
Youmustpresentyourapprovedinternshipreportduringadefenseand‘pass’thisdefensetoadvancetowardtheM.S.ESCdegree.Asuccessfuldefensewillinvolveclearpresentationofyourinternshipandinformedandthoughtfulanswerstoquestionsfromyourgraduateadvisorycommitteeandtheaudienceaboutitssubstanceandsignificance.Aswithyourwritteninternshipreport,youshouldconsultwithyourgraduateadvisorwhilepreparingyourdefense.
TheGraduateSchooldoesnotspecifyadeadlineforinternshipdefenseseachsemester.However,asaDepartment,werequirethatyourinternshipdefenseoccurnolaterthantherelevantdatepostedforthesisdefensespostedontheGraduateSchoolCalendarlinkedfromtheGraduateSchoolwebsitetoqualifyforgraduationduringthatsemester.
Youshouldhaveapprovalfromyourgraduateadvisorandgraduateadvisorycommitteememberspriortoschedulingyourinternshipdefense.Afterreceivingthisapproval,youshoulddiscussmultiplepossibledatesandtimeswithyourcommitteeandtheninformtheESCGraduateProgramCoordinatorofseveralpossibledatesandtimesduringwhichallofyourcommitteemembersareavailable.EithertheProgramCoordinatororDepartmentChairalsomustbeavailabletoattendyourdefense,soyourdefensedateandtimealsowillneedtoconsidertheiravailability.Onceamutuallyagreeabledateandtimearedetermined,theProgramCoordinatorwillscheduleyourdefenseandinformyouandyourgraduateadvisorycommitteeofthedate,time,andlocation.
Onceyourinternshipdefenseisscheduled,yourreporttitle,namesofyourgraduateadvisorandcommitteemembers,andabstractshouldbeemailedtotheESCGraduateProgramCoordinatoratleasttwoweekspriortothedefensedatesothatapublicannouncementmaybemade.Theemailsubjectlineshouldread‘NoticeofScheduledInternshipDefense’.InternshipDefenseFormat
AninternshipdefenseintheM.S.ESCprograminvolvesapublicpresentationandaprivateexamination.Yourgraduateadvisorandgraduateadvisorycommitteememberswillattendbothpartsofyourdefense.TheUTCcommunityisinvitedformallytothepublicpresentationpartofyourdefense.Outsidepersonsalsomayalsoattendthepresentation,andyouareencouragedtoinviteyourfamilyandfriendstothispartofyourthesisdefense.Onlyyourgraduateadvisorandcommitteememberstypicallyattendtheexaminationthatfollowsthepublicpresentation.TheESCGraduateProgramCoordinatororDepartmentChairalsomayattendtheexaminationasanobserverifinvitedbyyouoramemberofyourgraduateadvisorycommittee.
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Duringthepublicpresentation,youshouldgiveaprofessionalpresentationthatdescribesandjustifiesallaspectsofyourInternship.Typically,thisisachievedwithaPowerPointpresentationthatisabout30-45minutesinlength.Afteryourpresentation,youshouldsolicitandfieldquestionsfromtheaudienceabouttheinformationthatyoupresented.
Duringtheprivateexaminationthatimmediatelyfollows,youwillbeexpectedtofieldquestionsfromyourgraduateadvisorandcommitteemembers.Thesequestionscanrangefromonesspecifictoyourpresentationtoquestionsaboutthebroaderfieldofyourinternshipandrelatedareasofenvironmentalscience.Questionsalsomayfocusonmaterialcoveredinyourrelevantgraduatecoursework.Thispartofyourinternshipdefenseisintendedtoenableyourgraduateadvisorandcommitteememberstoassessyourunderstandingofyourinternshiparea,comprehensionofitsrelevancetothebroaderfield,competencyandprofessionalismasanenvironmentalexpert,andcommunicationskills.
Followingtheexamination,youradvisorandcommitteememberswillrequestthatyouleavetheroomsothattheycandiscussinprivateyourinternshipreportanditsdefense.Ultimately,yourcommitteewillprovideacollective‘pass’or‘fail’assessmentofyourdefensethatalsoconveysgeneralacceptanceorrejectionofyourreportandinformyouoftheirassessment.Ifyoupassyourdefense,youmayberequiredtomakeminorconditionalchangestoyourinternshipreportpriortoitsfinalapprovalforsubmissiontotheESCGraduateProgramCoordinator.Thecommitteealsomayrequesttoreviewyourfinalreporttoevaluaterequestedchanges.Ifyoufailyourdefense,youmaybepermittedtorepeatthedefenseafteranintervaltoallowforimprovementatthediscretionofyourcommittee.InternshipDefenseResults
YourfinalinternshipdefenseresultswillberecordedbyyourgraduateadvisoronaGraduateDegreeExaminationResultsform.Thisformwillbesignedbyyouradvisorandothergraduateadvisorycommitteemembers.YoumustsubsequentlyobtainthesignaturesoftheESCGraduateProgramCoordinatorandtheDeanoftheCollegeofArtsandSciencespriortohavingtheESCGraduateProgramCoordinatorsubmitthisformtotheGraduateSchoolonyourbehalf.ThecompletedformmustbesubmittednolaterthantherelevantdatepostedonlinkedfromtheGraduateSchoolwebsitetoqualifyforgraduationduringthesemesterofthedefense.
InternshipReportSubmission
Followingasuccessfuldefenseandfinalcommitteeapproval,youmustsubmitanelectroniccopyofyourinternshipreportasasingleprofessionallyformattedPDFfiletotheESCGraduateProgramCoordinatoronbehalfoftheDepartment.YoushouldsubmityourreportbythesamedatethatapprovedfinalwrittenthesesaredueelectronicallytotheGraduateSchoolaspostedontheGraduateSchoolCalendarlinkedfromtheGraduateSchoolwebsite.
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3.6LearnedDiscourseRequirements
InitiationofalearneddiscourseforpartialfulfillmentoftheM.S.ESCdegreeinvolvesthedevelopmentofanapprovedproposalforyourproject.Alearneddiscourseculminateswiththesubmissionofanapprovedwrittendiscourseanditssuccessfulpublicdefense.LearnedDiscourseProposalDevelopment
Ifyouopttocompletealearneddiscourse,youshouldbegintoprepareanassociatedproposalwithguidancefromyourgraduateadvisoroutliningallaspectsofyourplannedproject.Astandardlearneddiscourseproposalwilldescribeyourobjectives,provideapreliminaryreviewofpertinentliterature,outlineacomprehensiveliteraturereview,anddiscusstherelevanceofyourlearneddiscoursetothefield.Yourgraduateadvisormayhaveadditionalspecificideasandrequestsforthecontentofyourproposal.Yourproposalshouldbesufficientlydetailedtoprovideyouwithaplantofollow,includingatimelineforsignificantaccomplishments.
Afinaldraftofyourlearneddiscourseproposalshouldbeapprovedbyyourgraduateadvisorpriortoitsdistributiontoyourothercommitteemembersfortheirreview.Asacourtesy,youshouldaskyourcommitteemembersoftheirpreferencesforelectronicorhardcopiesofyourproposal.Onceallofyourcommitteemembershavehadadequatetimetoreviewyourproposal(atleasttwoweeksisrecommended),youshouldorganizeafullcommitteemeetingtodiscussyourproposalandacquireconstructivefeedback.
Asevidenceoftimelyprogress,yourlearneddiscourseproposalshouldbeapprovedbyyourgraduateadvisorycommitteebytheendofyoursecondsemesterofenrollmentintheprogram.However,youareencouragedtocompleteyourproposalbytheendofthefirstsemesterofenrollmentsothatyoucaninitiateyourlearneddiscourseworkasearlyaspossible.ESC5997Registration&Grading
Afteryourlearneddiscourseproposalhasbeenapprovedbyyourgraduateadvisorycommittee,youmayregisterforESC5998(Research)semesterhoursspecifictoyourproposedlearneddiscoursework.
Intotal,youmustregisterfor3semesterhoursofESC5998whileengagedinyourlearneddiscourseproject,writingyourlearneddiscourse,and/orpreparingforitsdefense.Asalearneddiscoursestudent,youarenotrequiredtoregisterforanysemesterhours(ofESC5998orothercourses)duringthesemesterofyourdefense.YoushouldconsultwithyourgraduateadvisortodetermineanappropriateplanforregistrationandcompletingyourESC5998semesterhourrequirements.
ForallsemestersthatyouregisterforESC5998hourspriortothesemesterofyourdefense,youwillearnagradeofI(Incomplete)asassignedbyyourgraduateadvisor.Incompletegradesarenotfactoredintoyourgradepointaverage.However,theRecordsOfficeautomaticallywillconvertanIgradetoanFifthecourseinstructor(inthiscase,yourgraduateadvisor)doesnotindicatethatthecoursewascompletedsuccessfullybythreeweeksbeforethelastdayofclassesinthenextsemester.Ifyouaremakingsatisfactoryprogresstowardcompletingyour
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learneddiscoursebutwillrequireadditionaltimetocompleteanddefendit,yourgraduateadvisormaysubmitawrittenrequestforanextensiontothisnext-semestertimeframeonyourbehalftotheDeanoftheGraduateSchool.ExtensionrequestsmustbemadebytwoweekspriortotheIgradechangedeadlinedescribedabove.Ideally,suchrequestswouldbemadeearlierthanthisdeadline.
TocompleteyourESC5998hours,youmustprepareafinalwrittendiscoursethatisapprovedbyyourgraduateadvisorycommitteeandsuccessfullydefendit.(ThesetasksaredetailedlaterinthissectionoftheHandbook.)YouthenwillearnanappropriatelettergradeforESC5998asdeterminedbyyourcommittee.ToformallyassignthisgradetoyourESC5998semesterhours,yourgraduateadvisormustsubmitanelectronicGradeChangeRequesttoconverteachIgradeassignedforESC5998tothelettergrade.ThismayinvolvechangestomultiplesemestersofESC5998registrations.AsanESCgraduatestudent,itisyourresponsibilitytobeawareofanyIgradesearnedinyourcourseworkandtoensurethatthosegradesareconvertedtoappropriatelettergradesbytheregularUniversitydeadlineorthedeadlineassociatedwithanextensionrequestiffiled.BecausenocoursewithagradebelowCcanbecountedtowardtheM.S.ESCdegree,conversationofanIgradeforESC5998toanFwouldpreventyoufromearningthedegree.WrittenLearnedDiscoursePreparation
Asaculminationofyourdegreeprogram,youmustprepareandsuccessfullydefendanapprovedwrittendiscoursethatincludesaclearandfocusedstatementofpurpose,comprehensivereviewofrelevantliterature,synthesisoffindings,anddescriptionoftheirsignificancetothefield.Asuccessfuldefensewillinvolveclearpresentationofyourlearneddiscourseandinformedandthoughtfulanswerstoquestionsfromyourgraduatecommitteeandaudienceaboutitssubstanceandsignificance.
Whencomplete,thefinaldraftofyourwrittendiscourseshouldbeapprovedbyyourgraduateadvisorpriortoitsdistributiontoyourothergraduatecommitteemembersfortheirreview.Thisdistributionmustoccuratleasttwoweeksprioryourplanneddefensedatetoallowadequatetimeforthoroughreview.Asacourtesy,youshouldaskyourcommitteemembersoftheirpreferencesforelectronicorhardcopiesofyourlearneddiscourse.
Unliketheses,writtendiscoursesarenottobesubmittedtotheGraduateSchool.Instead,yourfinalapprovedandsuccessfullydefendedwrittenlearneddiscoursewillbesubmittedtotheESCGraduateProgramCoordinatoronbehalfoftheDepartment.Forconsistency,werecommendthatyourwrittendiscoursebeformattedprofessionallyinaccordancewiththeUTCThesisandDissertationStandardsasdetailedontheGraduateSchoolwebsite.SchedulingtheLearnedDiscourseDefense
Youmustpresentyourapprovedlearneddiscourseduringadefenseand‘pass’thisdefensetoadvancetowardtheM.S.ESCdegree.Asuccessfuldefensewillinvolveclearpresentationofyourlearneddiscourseandinformedandthoughtfulanswerstoquestionsfromyourgraduatecommitteeandaudienceaboutitssubstanceandsignificance.Aswithyourwrittendiscourse,youshouldconsultwithyourgraduateadvisorwhilepreparingyourdefense.
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TheGraduateSchooldoesnotspecifyadeadlineforlearneddiscoursedefenseseachsemester.However,asaDepartment,werequirethatyourlearneddiscoursedefenseoccurnolaterthantherelevantdateforthesisdefensespostedontheGraduateSchoolCalendarlinkedfromtheGraduateSchoolwebsitetoqualifyforgraduationduringthatsemester.
Youshouldhaveapprovalfromyourgraduateadvisorandcommitteememberspriortoschedulingyourlearneddiscoursedefense.Afterreceivingthisapproval,youshoulddiscussmultiplepossibledatesandtimeswithyourcommitteeandtheninformtheESCGraduateProgramCoordinatorofseveralpossibledatesandtimesduringwhichallofyourcommitteemembersareavailable.EithertheProgramCoordinatororDepartmentChairalsomustbeavailabletoattendyourdefense,soyourdefensedateandtimealsowillneedtoconsidertheiravailability.Onceamutuallyagreeabledateandtimearedetermined,theProgramCoordinatorwillscheduleyourdefenseandinformyouandyourgraduateadvisorycommitteeofthedate,time,andlocation.
Onceyourlearneddiscoursedefenseisscheduled,yourprojecttitle,namesofyourgraduateadvisorandcommitteemembers,andabstractshouldbeemailedtotheESCGraduateProgramCoordinatoratleasttwoweekspriortothedefensedatesothatapublicannouncementmaybemade.Theemailsubjectlineshouldread‘NoticeofScheduledLearnedDiscourseDefense’.LearnedDiscourseDefenseFormat
AlearneddiscoursedefenseintheM.S.ESCprograminvolvesapublicpresentationandaprivateexamination.Yourgraduateadvisorandgraduateadvisorycommitteememberswillattendbothpartsofyourdefense.TheUTCcommunityisinvitedformallytothepublicpresentationpartofyourdefense.Outsidepersonsalsomayalsoattendthepresentation,andyouareencouragedtoinviteyourfamilyandfriendstothispartofyourthesisdefense.Onlyyourgraduateadvisorandcommitteememberstypicallyattendtheexaminationthatfollowsthepublicpresentation.TheESCGraduateProgramCoordinatororDepartmentChairalsomayattendtheexaminationasanobserverifinvitedbyyouoramemberofyourgraduateadvisorycommittee.
Duringthepublicpresentation,youshouldgiveaprofessionalpresentationthatdescribesandjustifiesallaspectsofyourInternship.Typically,thisisachievedwithashortPowerPointpresentationthatisabout30-45minutesinlength.Afteryourpresentation,youshouldsolicitandfieldquestionsfromtheaudienceabouttheinformationthatyoupresented.
Duringtheprivateexaminationthatimmediatelyfollows,youwillbeexpectedtofieldquestionsfromyourgraduateadvisorandgraduateadvisorycommitteemembers.Thesequestionscanrangefromonesspecifictoyourpresentationtoquestionsaboutthebroaderfieldofyourlearneddiscourseandrelatedareasofenvironmentalscience.Questionsalsomayfocusonmaterialcoveredinyourrelevantgraduatecoursework.Thispartofyourdefenseisintendedtoenableyourgraduateadvisorandcommitteememberstoassessyourunderstandingofyourlearneddiscoursetopic,comprehensionofitsrelevancetothebroaderfield,competencyandprofessionalismasanenvironmentalexpert,andcommunicationskills.
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Followingtheexamination,youradvisorandcommitteememberswillrequestthatyouleavetheroomsothattheycandiscussinprivateyourlearneddiscourseanditsdefense.Ultimately,yourcommitteewillprovideacollective‘pass’or‘fail’assessmentofyourdefensethatalsoconveysgeneralacceptanceorrejectionofyourwrittendiscourseandinformyouoftheirassessment.Ifyoupassyourdefense,youmayberequiredtomakeminorconditionalchangestoyourwrittenworkpriortoitsfinalapprovalforsubmissiontotheDepartment.Thecommitteealsomayrequesttoreviewyourfinalreporttoevaluaterequestedchanges.Ifyoufailyourdefense,youmaybepermittedtorepeatthedefenseafteranintervaltoallowforimprovementatthediscretionofyourcommittee.LearnedDiscourseReportSubmission
Followingasuccessfuldefenseandfinalcommitteeapproval,youmustsubmitanelectroniccopyofyourwrittenlearneddiscourseasasingleprofessionallyformattedPDFfiletotheESCGraduateProgramCoordinatoronbehalfoftheDepartment.YoushouldsubmityourreportbysamedatethatapprovedfinalwrittenthesesaredueelectronicallytotheGraduateSchoolaspostedontheGraduateSchoolCalendarlinkedfromtheGraduateSchoolwebsite.
3.7AcademicPerformance
TheGraduateSchoolsetscontinuationstandardsforUTCgraduatestudentsbasedontheirperformanceingraduatecourses.GradeRequirements
AsanESCgraduatestudent,youareexpectedtoearnhighgradesforallofyourcoursework.Assuch,creditinfulfillmentoftheM.S.ESCdegreewillnotbeassignedforcoursesinwhichyouearnagradebelowaC.Youmayrepeatacoursewithapprovalfromyourgraduateadvisor.However,alllettergradesearnedwhileyouareagraduatestudentatUTCwillbecomputedintoyourcumulativegradepointaverage(GPA),includingallgradesearnedinrepeatedcourses.Incontrast,onlythefinalgradeearnedforarepeatedcoursewillbeusedtocalculateyourM.S.ESCprogramGPA.ContinuationStandards
Youmustmaintaina3.0cumulativegradepointaverageforallcoursestakenforgraduatecredit.Ifyoufailtomeetthisstandard,youwillbeplacedon‘academicprobation’forthenextsemesterortwosemestersifthecumulativeGPAremainsbelow3.0.IfyouearnasemesterGPAbelow3.0whileonacademicprobation,youwillbedismissedfromtheprogram.ProgramdismissalalsowilloccurifyoufailtoraiseyourcumulativeGPAto3.0orhigherbytheendofthenexttwosemesterswhileonacademicprobation.Forthepurposesofevaluatingcontinuationstandards,theentiresummertermwouldbecountedasasemester.YoualsomaybedismissedfromtheprogramifyouearnagradeofNC,D,orFinanycourse;earnmorethantwogradeslowerthanaB;orreceiveunsatisfactoryassessmentofyourcompletedthesis,internship,orlearneddiscourse.DecisionsregardingcontinuationaremadebytheDeanoftheGraduateSchool.
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3.8CapstoneExperienceProgress
AttheDepartmentallevel,weconsideryourthesis,internship,orlearneddiscourseprogressalongwithyouracademicperformancetobereflectiveofyouroverallsuccessintheM.S.ESCprogram.Toassessyourthesis,internship,orlearneddiscourseprogress,youandyourgraduateadvisorarerequiredtodefineassociatedgoalsforeachsemester.Youradvisorthenwillevaluateyourprogresstowardthosegoalsattheendofeachsemester.Ifyouareaninternshipstudent,youandyourworkplacesupervisorwillberequiredtofileadditionalprogressreportswhileyourinternshipisinprogresstoinformyouradvisorofprogressnotunderhisorherdirectsupervision(seesection3.5ofthisHandbook).SemesterGoals&Reports
VeryearlyduringthefirstsemesterofyourenrollmentintheESCgraduateprogram,youshouldmeetwithyourgraduateadvisortosetfirst-semesterprogressgoalsforyourthesis,internship,orlearneddiscourse.Youshouldhavesimilarmeetingsattheendofeachsemester(includingthefirstsemester)tosetyourprogressgoalsforthenextsemester.YouareencouragedtodescribethesegoalsandaplanformeetingthemonaCapstoneProgressGoalsformeachsemesterandobtainyouradvisor’ssignatureonthisform.ThisformmaybefiledwiththeESCGraduateProgramCoordinator,whowillretainitasanofficialrecord,oritmayberetainedbyyouoryouradvisor.
Attheendofeachsemester,youalsoshouldmeetwithyourgraduateadvisortodiscussyourprogresstowardachievingyourgoalsforthatsemester.Thisisgoodopportunitytoreferbacktoyourcapstoneprogressgoalsforthesemestertodetermineifyoumetexpectationsanddiscussaplanforimprovementifnecessary.Intheeventthatyoudonotmeetexpectationsfortwoconsecutivesemesters,yourgraduateadvisormayrequestthatthedepartmentalGraduateFacultyCommitteemembersreviewyourprogresstodetermineanappropriatecourseofaction.Ifyouarefoundtoberesponsibleforthelackoftimelyprogress,suchactionscouldinvolveformalprobationordismissalfromtheprogram.
Thepurposeofsettinggoalsassociatedwithyourcapstoneexperienceeachsemesterandreportingonprogresstowardmeetingthosegoalsistohelpyoutomanageyourtimeintheprogrameffectivelyandstayontrack,toensureyouradvisorhasclearlyarticulatedexpectationstoyou,andtoensureyouareawareofandagreewiththeexpectationsofyouradvisor.Additionally,thisprocessshouldhelpbothyouandyouradvisortoquicklyrecognizeifthereisanareaofconcernregardingyourresearchprogressandallowyouandyouradvisortocomeupwithaplanofactiontoaddressissuesoftimelyprogress.
3.9Graduation
ToearntheM.S.ESCdegree,youmustsuccessfullycompleteyourprogramofstudy(i.e.,corecourses,electives,andcapstoneexperience)withinthespecifiedtimelimit,beadmittedtocandidacyforthedegreeasdeterminedbyyouracademicrecord,applyforgraduation,andmeetallothergraduationeligibilitycriteriaspecifiedbytheGraduateSchool.
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TimeLimit
AllcreditappliedtowardtheM.S.ESCdegreemustbeearnedwithinsixyearsofregistrationfortheearliestcoursecountedtowardthedegree.Thistimelimitincludesanytransfercoursesbeingcountedtowardyourdegreeandthesemesterofyourthesis,internship,orlearneddiscoursesubmission.YoumayrequestinwritinganextensionofthistimelimitofuptooneyearbyfilingaGraduateStudentPetitionwiththeGraduateSchool.YourextensionrequestmustbesignedbyyourgraduateadvisorandtheESCGraduateProgramCoordinatorpriortosubmissiontotheDeanoftheGraduateSchoolforapproval.RequestingaGraduationAudit&ApplyingforGraduation
Byformallyrequestingagraduationaudit,youcuespecializedacademicadvisorsaffiliatedwiththeGraduateSchooltoreviewyourfileforexpectedcompliancewiththespecificgraduationrequirementsofyourprogram.ApplyingforGraduationsimilarlycuestheRecordsOfficetoreviewyourstatus.RequestingagraduationauditandapplyingforgraduationarerequiredtoearntheM.S.ESCdegree.Youshouldbothrequestagraduationauditandapplyforgraduationinthesemesterpriortoyouranticipatedsemesterofgraduation.
TorequestagraduationAudit,youmustsubmitaGraduationAuditformtotheGraduateSchool.You,yourgraduateadvisor,andtheESCGraduateProgramCoordinatormustsignthisformpriortoitssubmission.YourrequestforanauditshouldlistanyadditionstothecoursesthatyoulistedontheProgramofStudyformthatyousubmittedduringyourfirstsemesterofenrollment.Theseadditionsshouldincludeanyelectivecoursesthatyouhavecompleted,aswellascredithourscompletedthatareassociatedwiththecapstoneexperience(i.e.,ESC5996,5998,or5999).Ifyouhavechangedyourcapstoneexperience(e.g.,thesistointernship,internshiptolearneddiscourse,etc.)and/orhaveanyotherspecialcourse-basedcircumstancesofwhichtheGraduateSchoolshouldbeaware,youshouldattachanotetotheformdescribingthosecircumstances.TheduedatesforrequestingagraduationauditforgraduationduringspecificacademicsemestersarepostedontheGraduateSchoolCalendarlinkedfromtheGraduateSchoolwebsite.
Toapplyforgraduation,youmustusetheonlinegraduationapplicationlocatedinyourMyMocsNetaccountunderthe‘Academics’tab.TheduedateforapplyingforgraduationisOctober15thforanticipatedspringgraduation,March15thforanticipatedsummerdegreeconferral,andJune15thforanticipatedfallgraduation.LategraduationapplicationsmaybesubmittedonpapertotheUTCRecordsOfficebyNovember1stforfallgraduation,July5thforsummerdegreeconferral,andApril1stforspringgraduation.YoushouldobtainlategraduationapplicationformsfromtheRecordsOffice.Lateapplicationsrequireanapplicationfee.GraduationEligibility
Tobeeligiblefordegreeconferral,youmusthavecompletedallcourseworklistedinyourapplicationforcandidacywithnogradesbelowCforcoursespresentedforthedegreeandaminimumgradepointaverageof3.0orbetteron:1)allcourseworkthatyoutookforgraduatecreditatUTC,2)allcourseworkthatyoutransferredtoUTCforgraduatecredit,and3)all
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courseworkthatyoucompletedtofulfilltheprogramasapprovedinyourapplicationforcandidacy.
4.FinancialAssistance
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FinancialassistanceindirectsupportofthepursuitoftheM.S.ESCdegreemaybeavailabletoyouinvariousforms.Otherfinancialassistancecanhelptosupportyourresearchactivities,associatedtravel,andparticipationinprofessionalmeetingsandconferencesrelevanttoyourenvironmentalscienceinterestsandcapstoneexperience.
4.1GraduateTeachingAssistantships
TheDepartmentofBiology,Geology,andEnvironmentalSciencecanofferalimitednumberofGraduateTeachingAssistant(GTA)positionstoqualifiedgraduatestudentseachyear.ThesepositionsarefundedbytheUTCCollegeofArtsandSciencesandtypicallyareawardedforoneacademicyearwithpossiblerenewalforasecondacademicyearifaGTAremainseligibleandperformswellinhisorherassignedduties.
AtypicalGTAappointmentinvolvesteachinglaboratorysectionsoftheintroductoryenvironmentalscienceorbiologycoursesofferedbytheDepartment.GTAsalsohelptoorganizeandpreparelabclassroomsforweeklylabactivities.Assuch,GTAsareexpectedtodevotetimetolabpreparation,instruction,grading,andofficehours.GTAsaresupervisedbyaLabCoordinatorintheDepartment.
GTAsintheESCgraduateprogramareconsideredtobefull-timeassistants;assuch,GTAsshouldexpecttowork20hours/weekperformingassociatedduties.Collectively,theresponsibilitiesofaGTAandgraduatecourseworkrepresentasignificantworkload.Assuch,GTAsintheESCgraduateprogrammaynotbeotherwiseemployed(i.e.,outsidethedepartmentoroff-campus)formorethananadditional10hours/week.Part-timeGTAsmaynotbeotherwiseemployedformorethananadditional20hours/week.
Currently,full-timeGTAsaresupportedbyamaintenancefee(i.e.,tuition)waiveranda$3,500stipendpersemester.GTAsarerequiredtoassumethecostsofallotherfees(e.g.,studentactivityfee,greenfee,technologyfee,labfees)requiredbytheUniversity.Allfull-timeGTAsmustmaintainafull-timecourseloadofatleast9semesterhoursduringeachsemesteroftheGTAappointment.GTAsmayregisterforupto12semestershourduringeachsemester;themaintenancefeewaiverwillcoverthecostofsemesterhoursinexcessof9hours.AllGTAsmustdemonstratesatisfactoryprogressintheirprogramofstudytoretaintheirappointments.ApplyingforaGTAAppointment
GTAawardsaretypicallymadelateinthespringsemesterforthefollowingacademicyear.AfewGTApositionsmaybeawardedatothertimesiftheybecomeavailable.IfyouareacurrentgraduatestudentingoodstandingoranenteringgraduatestudentwithacumulativeundergraduateGPAof3.25orhigher,youareeligibletoapplyforaGTAposition.AllGTAawardsarecompetitiveandarebasedonconsiderationofthequalificationsofallapplicants.
ToapplyforaGTAposition,youshouldrequestandfileaGraduateAssistantshipApplicationwiththeESCGraduateProgramCoordinator.PriorityconsiderationofGTAapplicationswillbegiventothosereceivedbyFebruary15th.Westronglyrecommendthatyouincludeacover
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letterwithyouapplicationexpressingyourinterestsinandsummarizingyourqualificationsforaGTAappointment.
IfyouareselectedasaGTA,youwillreceiveaGTAAppointmentLetterfromtheESCGraduateCoordinatorpriortothefirstsemesterofyourassistantship.Theletterwilloutlinethetermsanddutiesassociatedwithyouraward.YouwillneedtosignthisletterindicatingyouragreementwiththetermsoftheassistantshipandreturnittotheDepartment.ContinuingaGTAAppointment
Departmentalneeds,yourevaluationsfromthesupervisoryLabCoordinator,feedbackfromintroductorylabstudentsduringyourend-of-semestercourseevaluations,youracademicperformance,andyourcapstoneexperienceprogresswillbeusedtodeterminethecontinuationofyourGTAappointment.
IfyouareacceptinganewGTAappointmentorplanningtocontinueyourGTAdutiesintoanewsemester,youshouldsubmitacopyofyourclassscheduleforthatsemestertoyoursupervisoryLabCoordinatorassoonaspossibletofacilitatescheduling.
IfyouareinterestedincontinuinganexistingGTAappointmentbeyondthetermofyouroriginalappointment,youmustnotifytheESCGraduateProgramCoordinatorviaemailofyourintenttocontinuepriortothelastdayofclassesduringthefinaltermoftheoriginalappointment.
4.2.GraduateResearchAssistantships
Studentsmaybeawardedgraduateresearchassistant(GRA)positionsfundedbytheresearchgrantsandcontractsoftheirgraduateadvisors.GRAsplayafundamentalroleinthefundedresearch,andmayparticipateinrelatedliteraturereviews,lab-orfield-basedresearchtasks,and/orpreparationandpresentationofresearchresults.GraduateadvisorsserveasthesupervisorsofGRAssupportedbytheirresearchfunding.
GRAappointmentscanrequirefull-time(20hours/week)orpart-time(10/hoursweek)performanceofassociatedduties.Collectively,theresponsibilitiesofaGRAandgraduatecourseworkrepresentasignificantworkload.Assuch,full-timeGRAsintheESCgraduateprogrammaynotbeotherwiseemployed(i.e.,outsidethedepartmentoroff-campus)formorethananadditional10hours/week.Part-timeGRAsmaynotbeotherwiseemployedformorethananadditional20hours/week.
Currently,allGRAsaresupportedbyamaintenancefee(i.e.,tuition)waiverandaminimumstipendof$3500/semesterforfull-timeappointmentsand$1750/semesterforpart-timeappointments.GRAsupportalsomayincludecoverageofadditionalstudentfees(e.g.,studentactivityfee,greenfee,technologyfee,labfees)chargedbytheUniversity.AllGRAsmustmaintaineitherfull-time(9semesterhours)orpart-time(6semesterhours)enrollmentstatusinaccordancewiththeirGRAaward.Toretaintheirappointments,GRAsmustdemonstratesatisfactoryprogressintheirprogramofstudy.
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ApplyingforaGRAAppointment
ThetimingofGRAawardsisdependentlargelyonthecyclesofexternalfundingcompetitions.Assuch,GRApositionscanbeawardedatanytimethattheybecomeavailable.Ifyouareacurrentgraduatestudentingoodstandingoranenteringgraduatestudent,youareeligibleforaGRAawards.GRAawardsareofferedatthediscretionofthesupervisorygraduateadvisorwithapprovalfromtheGraduateSchool.Typically,studentswhoareofferedGRApositionsarealreadyinvolvedintheiradvisor’sresearchasreturningstudentsorhavecommunicatedextensivelywiththeadvisorabouttheirinterestsandqualificationsasincomingstudents.
YoumayapplyforGRApositionsbycorrespondingdirectlywiththesupervisorygraduateadvisorandfilingaGraduateAssistantshipApplicationwiththeESCGraduateProgramCoordinator.
4.3OtherInstitutionalSupport
Historically,GRAandGTAappointmentshavebeenthemostcommonandsubstantialtypesofinstitutionalsupportforESCgraduatestudents.However,UTCalsoprovidesinternalfundingtosupportgraduatestudentsandtheiractivitiesintheformofothertypesofassistantships,institutionalemployment,andgraduatestudentawards.OtherAssistantships
Onoccasion,theUniversitymaymakeadditionalgraduateassistantshipsavailableforstudentstoassistwithUniversityneedsasGraduateProfessionalServiceAssistantsorGraduateAdministrativeAssistants.CurrentorincomingstudentscancheckwiththeGraduateSchoolandESCGraduateProgramCoordinatorforinformationaboutanyavailablepositions.
Inaddition,theOfficeofEquityandDiversityatUTCsponsorsOpportunityGraduateAssistantshippositionsforfirst-generationgraduatestudentsindegreeprogramswhowillpromotethebenefitsofadiversegraduatestudentbody.MoreinformationabouttheOGAprogramcanbefoundbyreferringtotheOpportunityAssistantshipApplication.GraduateScholarships
TheGraduateSchooloffersalimitednumberofscholarshipstograduatestudentswithacumulativeinstitutionalGPAof3.0orhigher.Eachscholarshiphasitsownspecificadditionaleligibilitycriteria.AcompletelistofGraduateScholarshipsislinkedfromtheGraduateSchoolwebsite.Toapplyforagraduatescholarship,youshouldcompletetheApplicationforGraduateScholarships.TheprioritydeadlineforapplicationsisFebruary15th.GraduateStudentAwards
Graduatestudentsareencouragedtoapplyforcompetitiveinternalawardstosupportactivitiesassociatedwiththeircapstoneexperiences.Ifyouareafull-timeM.S.ESCstudentsengagedinresearch,youareeligibletoapplytotheProvostStudentResearchAward(PSRA)programforupto$1000offundingtosupportoriginalresearchwithfacultymembers.
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InformationandapplicationmaterialscanbefoundontheOfficeofResearchandSponsoredProgramswebsite.
Inaddition,theGraduateStudentAssociation(GSA)offersGraduateStudentTravelAwardstodefraythecostofengaginginprofessionaldevelopmentactivities,suchasattendingaconferenceorgatheringdataforresearch.AllESCgraduatestudentsareeligibletoapply.InformationandapplicationmaterialsarelocatedontheGSAwebsite.InstitutionalEmployment
EmploymentopportunitiesforgraduatestudentstoperformspecificdutiesonbehalfoftheDepartmentoritsfacultymembersmaybecomeavailableattimes.Thesedutiescouldincludeassistancewithfacultyresearch,courses,and/ordepartmentalneeds.Suchemploymentwouldinvolveanappropriatehourlypayrateforaspecifiedamountofworkeachweek.Typically,studentslearnoftheseopportunitiesdirectlyfromtheDepartmentorinvolvedfaculty.
4.4GraduateStudentLoans
GraduatestudentspursingtheM.S.ESCdegreewhoareenrolledatleasthalftimemaybeeligibleforlow-interestunsubsidizedfederalloans.Graduatestudentsalsomaybeeligibleforprivateeducationloans;eligibilityrequirementsvarybyprivateloanlender.FormoreinformationaboutGraduateStudentFinancialAid,pleasevisittheUTCOfficeofFinancialAidwebsite.
5.CampusResources
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5.1GraduateStudentAssociation
TheGraduateStudentAssociation(GSA)representsgraduateandprofessionalstudentsatUTCinanofficialcapacity.GSAmembersadvocateforgraduateandprofessionalstudentsthroughregularcommunicationswithcampusadministratorsandrepresentationontheUTCGraduateCouncil.GSAalsoorganizesandsponsorssocialnetworkingeventsthatbringtogethergraduateandprofessionalstudentsfromacrosscampus.AsanESCgraduatestudent,youareencouragedtobecomeinvolvedwithGSA.MoreinformationisavailableontheGSAwebsite.
5.2Library
TheUTCLibraryprovidesallstudentswithvaluableresourcesandspace,includingprintandelectronicscholarlymaterials,WindowsandMaccomputers,groupstudyroomsforreservation,privatestudycarrels,24-hourstudyspace,andpracticepresentationrooms.TheLibraryalsohousesaGraduateStudentLoungeonthe1stfloorexclusivelyforusebygraduatestudents.Formoreinformationaboutthelibraryortoreserveastudyroom,pleasevisittheUTCLibrarywebsite.
5.3Technology
InformationTechnology(IT)managesaccesstoUTC’sonlineservices(MyMocsNet,UTCLearn)andemailaccounts(MocsMail+)andprovidestechnologicalsupportforbothstudentsandfaculty.StudentsshouldbecomefamiliarwithhowtoaccessanduseUTC’sonlineservicesastheyprovidegeneralandup-to-datecampusinformation,resourcesspecifictoindividualstudents,andcoursecontent.AsaUTCstudent,youshouldexpecttouseyourUTCemailaccountforofficialUniversitybusiness,includingcorrespondencewithfacultyandbeingnotifiedofimportantannouncementsbytheGraduateSchool,theDepartment,andtheESCGraduateProgramCoordinator.Forthisreason,evenifyouprimarilyuseadifferentexistingemailaccount,youshouldcheckyourUTCemailaccountfrequently.
ITalsoprovidesfreesoftwareforcurrentUTCstudentstoinstallontheircomputers.ThissoftwareincludesthepopularstatisticspackagesSPSSandSAS,whichoftenareusedbyESCgraduatestudentsconductingempiricalresearch.ThebibliographymanagementprogramEndnotealsoisavailabletocurrentUTCstudentsatnocost.EndnoteispopularamongESCgraduatestudentswritingthesesbecauseUTCthesisstandardsrequirethatbibliographymanagementsoftwarebeused.InformationtechnologyalsoprovidesfreeaccesstotheonlinesurveyplatformQualtrics,whichcanbeusefultoESCgraduatestudentswantingtosurveypeopleaspartoftheircapstoneexperience.AcompletelistofSoftwareAvailabletoStudentsisavailableontheITwebsite.
5.4ResearchCompliance
IfyouareplanningtouseanimalsubjectsorhumanparticipantsinyourresearchasanESCgraduatestudent,youmusthaveyourplansapprovedbyUTC’sInstitutionalAnimalCareand
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UseCommittee(IACUC)orInstitutionalReviewBoard(IRB),respectively.SuchresearchmaynotbeinitiatedwithoutIACUCorIRBapproval.InformationabouttheIACUCprocessandIRBprocessisavailableonline.
5.5Counseling
TheCounselingandPersonalDevelopmentCenteratUTCprovidescounselingatnochargetostudentsstrugglingwithstress,feelingdepressedoranxious,havingtimemanagementdifficulties,orexperiencingotherissuesthatareadverselyimpactingtheiracademicprogressandsuccess.Formoreinformation,youareencouragedtovisittheCenter’swebsite.
5.6Accommodation
TheDisabilityResourceCenter(DRC)atUTCprovidessupporttostudentswithdisabilitiesseenorunseen(e.g.,physical,learning,psychiatric),includingspecialassistanceoraccommodationincourses.Formoreinformation,youareencouragedtovisittheDRCwebsite.
AppendixA–ProgramFaculty
A-1
DavidA.Aborn,Ph.D.UniversityofSouthernMississippiOrnithology,Behavior,ConservationJoséM.F.Barbosa,Ph.D.AuburnUniversityPlantPhysiology,CellBiology,Genetics
DeAnnaBeasley,Ph.D.UniversityofSouthCarolinaInsectEcology,EvolutionaryBiology,UrbanEcology,CitizenScienceJenniferBoyd,Ph.D.ColumbiaUniversityPlantEcology,PhysiologicalEcology,GlobalChangeBiologyEthanCarver,Ph.D.UniversityofTennesseeDevelopmentalBiology,HumanAnatomy,EnvironmentalGeneticsStylianosChatzimanolis,Ph.D.UniversityofKansasEntomology,InvertebrateZoology,Evolution,Systematics,PaleoentomologyHabteGiorgisChurnet,Ph.D.UniversityofTennesseeOrigins,Formations,andDeformationofRocksandEconomicMineralDepositsJ.HillCraddock,D.R.UniversityofTorino,ItalyHorticulture,Dendrology,MycologyTimothyJ.Gaudin,Ph.D.UniversityofChicagoComparativeVertebrateZoology,VertebratePaleontology,MammalogyDavidGiles,Ph.D.EastTennesseeStateUniversityEnvironmentalMicrobiologyLorenHayes,Ph.D.UniversityofMiami,OhioBehavioralPhysiology,SocialBehavior
A-2
AzadHossain,Ph.D.UniversityofMississippiGIS,RemoteSensing,SpatialAnalysis,EnvironmentalGeoscienceHopeKlug,Ph.D.UniversityofFloridaEvolutionaryEcology,BehavioralEcologyMargaretJ.Kovach,Ph.D.ColoradoStateUniversityMammalianGenomics,MolecularBiologySeanM.Richards,Ph.D.TexasTechUniversityEnvironmentalToxicology,EnvironmentalChemistryMarkS.Schorr,Ph.D.MississippiStateUniversityLimnology,Ichthyology,StreamEcologyJoeyShaw,Ph.D.UniversityofTennesseePlantTaxonomy,Biogeography,MolecularPhylogenetics,EvolutionHenryG.Spratt,Jr.,Ph.D.UniversityofGeorgiaMicrobiology,MicrobialEcology,Biogeochemistry,BioremediationJohnC.Tucker,J.D.,LL.M.UniversityofFlorida,Lewis&ClarkCollegeEnvironmentalLaw&PolicyThomasP.Wilson,Ph.D.GeorgeMasonUniversityHerpetology,Ecology,SpatialSciences
AppendixB–ImportantDates&Deadlines
B-1
TheselistsareprovidedtohelpyoumeetrequireddeadlinesofM.S.ESCstudentsduringthe2017-2018academicyear.YoushouldnotethattheydonotsubstituteforthedetailsofrequirementsasdescribedinthefullcontentsoftheGraduateStudentHandbook.
Fall2017Aug18 Fri • GraduateTeachingAssistantWorkshopforGTAstudents
Aug21 Mon • Firstdayofclasses
Sept1 Fri • DeadlineforFall2017GSAtravelawardapplications:GraduateStudentTravelAwardApplication
Sept6 Wed • ThesisFormattingWorkshopOct15 Sun • DeadlinetoapplyonlineforSpring2018graduationOct19 Thurs • LastdayfordefensesforFall2017graduation
Nov6 Mon • Thesisandthesis/internshipdefenseresultsdueforFall2017graduation:UTCScholarGraduateDegreeExaminationResults
• InternshipreportsandlearneddiscoursesdueforFall2017graduation(tobesubmittedtotheESCGraduateProgramCoordinator) • RegistrationforSpring2018begins
Nov17 Fri • DeadlinetoapplyforagraduationauditforSpring2018graduation:GraduationAudit
Nov20 Mon • DeadlineforSpring2018GSAtravelawardapplications:GraduateStudentTravelAwardApplication
LastdayforinternshipdefensesforFall2015graduation
Dec4 Mon • Lastdayofclasses
• ProgramofStudydeclarationsduefromfirst-semesterstudents:ProgramofStudy
• Committeeappointmentsduefromfirst-semesterstudents:GraduateCommitteeAppointment(forthesis)Internship/LearnedDiscourseCommitteeAppointment
Dec6 Wed • FinalexamsbeginDec15 Fri • GraduateStudentCommencement
B-2
Spring2018Jan8 Mon • Firstdayofclasses
Jan19 Fri • ThesisFormattingWorkshopMar8 Thurs • LastdayfordefensesforSpring2018graduation
Mar15 Thurs • DeadlinetoapplyonlineforSummer2018degrees
Mar19 Mon • RegistrationforSummer2018coursesbegins
Mar30 Fri • Thesisandthesis/internshipdefenseresultsdueforSpring2018graduation:UTCScholarGraduateDegreeExaminationResults
• InternshipreportsandlearneddiscoursesdueforSpring2018graduation(tobesubmittedtotheESCGraduateProgramCoordinator)Apr2 Mon • DeadlineforreturningstudentstoapplyforESCgraduateassistantships:
GraduateAssistantApplication
• RegistrationforFall2018begins
Apr16 Mon • DeadlinetoapplyforagraduationauditforSummer2018degrees:GraduationAudit
Apr23 Mon • Lastdayofclasses
• ProgramofStudydeclarationsduefromfirst-semesterstudents:ProgramofStudy
• Committeeappointmentsduefromfirst-semesterstudents:GraduateCommitteeAppointment(forthesis)Internship/LearnedDiscourseCommitteeAppointment • Deadlineforcapstoneexperienceproposalapprovalforsecond-semesterstudentsApr25 Wed • Finalexamsbegin
May4 Fri • GraduateStudentCommencement
B-3
Summer2018June15 Fri • DeadlinetoapplyforagraduationauditforFall2018graduation:
GraduationAudit • DeadlinetoapplyonlineforFall2018graduationJuly Fri • Thesisandthesis/internshipdefenseresultsdueforSummer2018degrees:UTCScholarGraduateDegreeExaminationResults • InternshipreportsandlearneddiscoursesdueforSummer2018degrees(tobesubmittedtotheESCGraduateProgramCoordinator)Aug11 Sat • Summerdegreesawarded(noceremony)
AppendixC–StudentChecklists
C-1
ThesechecklistsareprovidedtohelpyoumaketimelyandsuccessfulprogressthroughM.S.ESCdegreeprogram.Specificchecklistsareprovidedforyourfirstandsecondsemestersofenrollment,thesemesterbeforeyourgraduation,thesemesterofyourgraduation,andallothersemestersinwhichyouareenrolledintheprogram.YoushouldnotethattheydonotsubstituteforthedetailsofrequirementsasdescribedinthefullcontentsoftheGraduateStudentHandbook.
ESCGraduateStudentChecklist-FirstSemester
Early:
c Setupascheduleforregularmeetingswithyouradvisor.
c Definecapstoneprogressgoalsforthesemesterwithyouradvisor.
c SubmitCapstoneProgressGoalstotheGraduateProgramCoordinator.
During:
c Discussthedetailsofyourcapstoneexperienceplanswithyouradvisor.
c Discussappropriategraduatecommitteememberswithyouradvisor.
c Discusscourseofferingsfornextsemesterwithyouradvisorandregister.
c Workonyourthesis,internship,orlearneddiscourseproposal.
BytheEnd:
c DeclareyourProgramofStudytotheGraduateSchool.
c Appointyourgraduatecommitteemembers:
GraduateCommitteeAppointment(thesisstudents)
Internship/LearningDiscourseCommitteeAppointment
c Discussyourprogressforthesemesterwithyouradvisor.
c Definecapstoneprogressgoalsforthenextsemesterwithyouradvisor.
C-2
ESCGraduateStudentChecklist-SecondSemester Early:
c Setupascheduleforregularmeetingswithyouradvisor.
c SubmitCapstoneProgressGoalstotheGraduateProgramCoordinator.
During:
c Discusscourseofferingsfornextsemesterwithyouradvisorandregister.
c Finalizeyourthesis,internship,orlearneddiscourseproposal(ifstillinprogress).
c Beginyourcapstoneexperience(ifproposalhasbeenapproved/submitted).
BytheEnd:
c Discussyourprogressforthesemesterwithyouradvisor.
c Definecapstoneprogressgoalsforthenextsemesterwithyouradvisor.
C-3
ESCGraduateStudentChecklist–SemesterbeforeGraduation Early:
c Setupascheduleforregularmeetingswithyouradvisor.
c AttendaUTCThesisandDissertationFormattingWorkshop (recommendedifnotpreviouslyattended).
c SubmitCapstoneProgressGoalstotheGraduateProgramCoordinator.
During:
c Discusscourseofferingsfornextsemesterwithyouradvisorandregister.
c Preparethefinalwrittendocumentofyourcapstoneexperience.
BytheDueDates:
c SubmityourGraduationAuditrequesttotheGraduateSchool.
c Applyforgraduationonline.
BytheEnd:
c Discussyourprogressforthesemesterwithyouradvisor.
C-4
ESCGraduateStudentChecklist–SemesterofGraduation Early:
c Setupascheduleforregularmeetingswithyouradvisor.
c SubmitCapstoneProgressGoalstotheGraduateProgramCoordinator.
During:
c Finalizethefinalwrittendocumentofyourcapstoneexperience.
c Planandscheduleyourdefense.
BytheDueDates:
c Defendyourthesis,internship,orlearneddiscourse.
c Reporttheresultsofyourdefense(thesisandinternshipstudents)
GraduateDegreeExaminationResults
c SubmityourfinalwrittendocumenttotheGraduateSchoolortheGraduateProgramCoordinator.
C-5
ESCGraduateStudentChecklist–AllOtherSemesters Early:
c Setupascheduleforregularmeetingswithyouradvisor.
c SubmitCapstoneProgressGoalstotheGraduateProgramCoordinator.
During:
c Discusscourseofferingsfornextsemesterwithyouradvisorandregister.
c Workonyourcapstoneexperiencetowardmeetingsemestergoals.
BytheEnd:
c Discussyourprogressforthesemesterwithyouradvisor.
c Definecapstoneprogressgoalsforthenextsemesterwithyouradvisor.
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