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Appointment of the Student’s Program of Study (POS) Committee
Faculty in a major field have the responsibility for establishing specific course requirements and research requirements appropriate to the master’s programs in the major. These requirements may place additional responsibilities on the student, the major professor, or the student’s POS committee beyond those listed in this bulletin or the Graduate College Handbook as deemed appropriate to the goals of the major program.
New graduate students at ISU may be assigned a temporary academic adviser by the major program inthe first semester of the student’s residence. This faculty member guides the student in selection of a field of study and in development of a graduate program of study until the major professor and POS committee are selected. After the POS committee has been selected, it guides and evaluates the student during the remainder of graduate study.
A master’s POS committee consists of at least three members of the graduate faculty. For a complete listing of graduate faculty and associated majors, see the Graduate College’s web site at www.grad-college.iastate.edu. It must include two members, including the major professor, from inside the major or program. The committee must include members from different majors or different departments so as to ensure diversity of perspectives. A term member of the graduate faculty may participate in the direction of a student’s master’s research as a co-major professor if a member of the graduate faculty serves as a co-major professor and jointly accepts responsibility for the direction of a program of study.
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Program of Study
The student and major professor develop the program of study with the consultation and approval of the POS committee. This agreement between the student and the Graduate College should be submitted as early as possible for approval. It is recommended that the committee be formed and the POS form submitted as early as the second semester of graduate study. In no case can the commitee be formed later than the term before the final oral examination.
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Residence
There is no on-campus residence requirement for the master’s degree.
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Credits
Unless otherwise noted, at least 30 credits of acceptable graduate work must be completed in all master’s programs. At least 22 graduate credits must be earned from Iowa State University unless noted in the descriptions under “Specific Master’s Degree” in this bulletin.
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Transfer Credits
At the discretion of the POS committee, and with the approval of the program and the Graduate College, graduate credits earned as a graduate student at another institution or through a distance education program offered by another institution may be transferred if the grade was B or better. Such courses must have been acceptable toward an advanced degree at that institution and must have been taught by individuals having graduate faculty status at the institution. If a student wishes to transfer credits from graduate courses taken at another university as an undergraduate student, it is the student’s responsibility to provide verification by letter from that institution that these graduate courses were not taken to satisfy undergraduate requirements for a degree.
A transcript must accompany the POS in order to transfer credits. The POS committee may ask for other materials, such as a course outline or accreditation of the institution, to evaluate the course. Transfer courses not completed when the POS is submitted must be completed before the term in which the student graduates. A transcript must then be submitted for review and final approval.
Research credits earned at another institution are generally not transferred. In rare circumstances, the transfer of S or P marks may be accepted for research credits only. It is the responsibility of the POS committee to obtain a letter from the responsible faculty member at the other institution stating that research credits recommended for transfer with S or P marks are considered to be worthy of a B grade or better.
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Major
A major is an approved area of study leading to a graduate degree. The exact number of credits in a major is not prescribed.
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Minor
Students may request a minor in any program approved to grant a graduate degree and in programs approved to offer only a minor. Requirements for declared minors are determined by the minor program and the faculty member representing the minor field on the student’s POS committee. The minor subject area must be tested at the final oral examination and cannot be placed on the transcript after graduation unless it was approved on the program of study, listed on all examination reports, and recorded on the “Application for Graduation” form (diploma slip).
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Department/Program Change
To change from one program to another, a graduate student must obtain the written permission of the directors of graduate education (DOGEs) and the approval of the Dean of the Graduate College. A “Request to Transfer From One Program to Another” form must be completed. This form is available from the department, the Graduate College office, or on its web site at
www.grad-college.iastate.edu/forms/forms. html.
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Time Limits
It is expected that work for the master’s degree shall be completed within five years. In special circumstances the student’s POS committee may recommend that the Dean of the Graduate College extend these degree time limits. Cases in which the student leaves Iowa State during his or her graduate career and later returns are dealt with individually by the student’s POS committee and the Graduate College. The inclusion in the student’s program of study of course work that is beyond the time limits (“over-age” courses) must be justified by the POS committee in a statement accompanying the submission of the program of study.
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Application for Graduation
Students planning to graduate must submit an “Application for Graduation” form (diploma slip) to the Graduate Office by the end of the first week of the semester (fall or spring) in which he/she expects to receive the degree, or by the last day of spring semester when wishing to graduate during summer.
Before submitting this form, a student must have submitted and had approved by the Graduate College a “Recommendation for Committee Appointment” form and a “Program of Study” form. Also the student must have been fully admitted to a program and have met the Graduate English requirement. Graduation may be delayed if the “Application for Graduation” form filing deadline is not met. If it becomes apparent that a student cannot graduate during the indicated term, he/she should call the Graduate College (515-294-4531) and cancel the previously submitted “Application for Graduation” form. The student must then file a new form for the next planned term of graduation.
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Thesis
A master’s thesis is a scholarly composition that demonstrates the ability of the author to do independent and creative work. A thesis is required in all fields in which a master’s degree is awarded, except where specific provision is made for a nonthesis degree program. A minimum of three research credits is required on every program of study for a thesis master’s degree.
Responsibility for writing and editing of the thesis rests with the student, under the supervision of the major professor, and not with the Thesis Office. The Graduate College does not permit joint authorship of theses.
The Graduate College Thesis Manual, available free of charge from the Thesis Office (203 Beardshear Hall, 515-294-2666) or online at www.grad-college.iastate.edu/thesis/thesis. html, outlines the details of Graduate College requirements covering the preparation and submission of theses. An unbound copy of the thesis must be submitted to the Thesis Office for a format review at least two weeks prior to the final oral examination or no later than the First Submission deadline for the term in which the student intends to graduate whichever date falls first. Copies must be submitted to the members of the POS committee at least two weeks before the final oral examination.
After the final oral examination, two unbound, signed copies of the thesis must be submitted to the Thesis Office no later than the Final Submission deadline for the term of graduation. Some colleges, programs, and departments require the submission of additional copies of the thesis either to the Thesis Office or directly to the program (see the Graduate College Thesis Manual for a list of the units requiring submission of an additional copy to the Thesis Office). A thesis processing fee is charged during the term in which the student intends to graduate.
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Creative Component
Every nonthesis student must present substantial evidence of individual accomplishment (e.g., a special report, capstone course, integrated field experience, annotated bibliography, research project, design, or other creative endeavor). A minimum of two credits of such independent work is required on every program of study for a nonthesis master’s degree. Some programs require more credits. (For more information, contact the individual program or consult the Specific Master’s Degrees section in this bulletin.) The element of creative independent study must be explicitly identified on the program of study. The format of the creative component is determined in cooperation with the POS committee. As with a thesis, a creative component should be submitted to members of the POS committee two weeks before the final oral examination. However, no first submission or final submission of a creative component is turned in to the Thesis Office or Graduate College for review and approval.
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Final Oral Examination
All master’s (except M.B.A. students) and Ph.D. degree candidates must pass final oral examinations. The final oral examination must be held by the final examination deadline date for the semester in which the degree is granted. All coursework in the program of study must either be completed or in progress before the final examination can be scheduled. This examination is oral; it may also include a written component if specified by the student’s (POS) committee.
Graduate students must register for the equivalent of two credits, or for the R-credit course GR ST 600 (Examination Only) if no course work is needed, during the semester in which the final examination is taken. Taking only an R-credit course where the fee is not equivalent to the 2-credit minimum charge is not acceptable for the term of the final oral examination. If the examination is taken during the interim between terms (including the first day of classes), registration can be for either the term before or the term after the examination is held. For more information, see the Graduate College Handbook.
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Graduate Student Approval Slip for Graduation
Every candidate for an advanced degree is required to complete a “Graduate Student Approval Slip for Graduation” form. It is sent to the major professor or program to give to the student after the “Request for Final Examination” form is received and approved by the Graduate College. Signatures are required by the major program, the Thesis Office (for those completing a thesis), and the Graduate College. Final clearance of academic requirements will be made when current term grades have been submitted and evaluated by the Graduate College.
All incompletes from previous terms must be completed by the deadline for completion of the Graduate Student Approval Slip. If a conditional pass was recommended at the final oral examination, the major professor and the committee members, if so specified, must notify the Graduate College in writing no later than the due date for the Graduate Student Approval Slip for the term of graduation that the conditions have been met.
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