Graduate Program
Masters of Science Degree Program
Plant Cellular and Molecular Biology (PCMB) offers the
Master of Science (M.Sc.) degree under both Graduate School thesis and
non-thesis options. A student will be admitted into the non-thesis option
only under extraordinary cases. The PCMB GSC will review such cases carefully
and make the decision accordingly. For both options, a student bears full
responsibility to establish an Advisory Committee consisting of faculty
members during the first quarter to guide his/her studies.
Thesis Option - Plan A
Course Requirements:
In addition to fulfilling the requirements of the Graduate School, candidates for the M.Sc. degree shall have completed, with a grade of B- or higher and prior to taking the Master's examination, at least 12 credits in PCMB courses.
These
requirements cannot be met by auditing. All graduate students must take
a minimum of 23 quarter-hours (excluding 693 and 999 and seminars) of
graduate credit courses while in residence in the OSU Graduate School.
All students must register for a minimum of three (3) quarters of Plant
Biology 999 before the M.Sc. degree will be granted.
During the autumn, winter and spring quarters each year when they are enrolled, all students are required to attend the PCMB departmental seminar s (PB 800). Each student should enroll for 1 hour of credit for PB 800 under the direction of the GSC Chair. Attendance will be taken. Attendance at less than 70% of the seminars in a quarter will result in an unsatisfactory grade (“U”). If a student anticipates missing the seminars due to time conflict with other academic activities such as performing GTA duties, the student must obtain approval from the GSC prior to the beginning of each quarter. Once the quarter begins, the GSC will not honor any excuses from a student for missing seminars, except for under extraordinary situations such as medical emergencies.
In addition to having 12 credits in courses within the Department, a student shall have had at least one (non-audit) course each in physics, calculus, and genetics. If these courses are not a part of a student's undergraduate training, they must be taken for credit during the first year of residency.
Teaching Requirement:
All Plan A M.Sc. students are required to teach one quarter at the introductory level (100-200 level courses).
Foreign Language not required.
Transfer Credits:
Refer to the Graduate School Handbook for rules on transfer credit. Students may transfer up to ten hours towards the M.S. degree from an accredited University.
Time Limit:
Graduate students are eligible for PCMB departmental financial support for up to eight (8) quarters of work toward an M. Sc. degree at OSU. Requests for additional quarters of support must be made by the advisor to the GSC with justifications. The GSC strongly recommends that the M. Sc. degree be completed within no more than 3 years.
Advisory Committee:
Each student should establish an Advisory Committee consisting of at least three Graduate faculty members (including the research advisor), at least two of which must be members of the PCMB Graduate Program. Normally the Advisory Committee also conducts the Master's Examination and evaluates the Master's thesis. The membership of the Advisory Committee must be approved by the GSC.
The Advisory Committee should meet during the first year of the student's studies to discuss the student's course program and research project. The Committee may meet at other times during the student's program as necessary.
Advisory Committee:
Each student should establish an Advisory Committee consisting of at least three Graduate faculty members (including the research advisor), at least two of which must be members of the PCMB Graduate Program. Normally the Advisory Committee also conducts the Master's Examination and evaluates the Master's thesis. The membership of the Advisory Committee must be approved by the GSC.
The Advisory Committee should meet during the first year of the student's studies to discuss the student's course program and research project. The Committee may meet at other times during the student's program as necessary.
Thesis:
The draft of the Master's Thesis should be provided to the members of the Advisory Committee at least two weeks before the date of the Master’s Examination. The student should provide the advisor with a revised copy of the thesis at least three days before the Examination. See the Graduate School Handbook and instructions concerning the typing and form of the Master's Thesis (available from the Office of the Graduate School.)
The draft of the thesis must be unanimously approved by the Committee before the student can proceed with the Master's Examination. In the event of a dissenting vote on the thesis approval, the student must first work with the dissenting Committee member to correct any perceived deficiencies in the thesis. If the matter cannot be resolved in this manner, the student’s Advisory Committee should work out a solution. If the matter still cannot be resolved by this second step, it will be referred to the GSC for a final solution.
Master's Examination:
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All candidates for the M. Sc. degree are required to take an oral examination after the submission and approval of the draft of the thesis by the Master's Advisory Committee.
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The candidate should distribute to the members of the Committee written credentials of previous training at least two days before the examination.
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The Committee administers an oral examination of 2 hours duration, which addresses the candidate's field of specialization (thesis defense), the student's proficiency in basic plant biology and related subjects, the ability to integrate information, and the ability to solve problems.On the basis of this examination, the Committee determines whether the candidate is qualified to receive a M. Sc. degree in PCMB. Approval must be unanimous. Final approval of the thesis occurs after the examination is satisfactorily completed. If the M. Sc. degree is non-terminal for the student, the Committee will also determine whether the student is qualified to continue studies towards a Ph.D. degree. A recommendation on whether or not the student should be allowed to continue toward Ph.D. studies should be forwarded to the GSC for final approval.
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Students who fail this examination may request a second examination. The second examination must be administered by the same examining committee. Students failing this second examination will not receive a M. Sc. The second examination must be completed by the end of the next consecutive quarter.
Bound Thesis Copy:
In addition to submitting the electronic version of the thesis as required by the Graduate School, each student shall present to the Department a clean, final copy of the same document which will be bound at departmental expenses and deposited in the departmental archives.
Thesis Option (Plan B)
A non-Thesis Master's degree is not intended for students continuing on to a Ph.D.Two tracks are available for non-thesis Master's.
Track 1 :
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A minimum of 55 quarter hours of graduate course work (excluding 693, 999, and seminars).
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A minimum of 35 hours in the Department of PCMB. Grades must be B- or higher in all courses counted toward the 35 hours.
Track 2 :
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A minimum of 50 quarter hours of courses (excluding 999)
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A minimum of 35 hours in the Department of PCMB (excluding 999 but including 693, 694 credit).
- A written paper based on library research for 5 hours of 693 credit. The paper must be approved by the Master's Advisory Committee.
During the autumn, winter and spring quarters each year when they are enrolled, all students are required to attend the PCMB departmental seminar s (PB 800). Each student should enroll for 1 hour of credit for PB 800 under the direction of the GSC Chair. Attendance will be taken. Attendance at less than 70% of the seminars in a quarter will result in an unsatisfactory grade (“U”). If a student anticipates missing the seminars due to time conflict with other academic activities such as performing GTA duties, the student must obtain approval from the GSC prior to the beginning of each quarter. Once the quarter begins, the GSC will not honor any excuses from a student for missing seminars, except for under extraordinary situations such as medical emergencies.
Advisory Committee and Examination:
A Master's Advisory Committee must be established and meet as indicated under Plan A (Thesis Option).
The format of the Non-thesis Master's Examination is identical for both tracks 1 and 2. It includes a four-hour written portion required by the Graduate School. The content and scope of this portion will be determined by the Advisory Committee.
A two-hour oral examination is also required and is administered by the Advisory Committee. The oral examination determines the student's proficiency in basic plant biology and related subjects, their ability to integrate information and to solve scientific problems.
On the basis of this examination, the Committee decides whether the candidate
is qualified to receive a M. Sc. degree in PCMB. The approval requires
a unanimous vote.
