Introduction

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Degree Requirements - M.S.

M.S. Program

1. Course/Program Requirements:
   • The following comprises the core curriculum in common for all IBS students:

Course Number	Title	Credits
IBS 8011	Integrated Biological Systems	2 cr
IBS 8012	Integrated Evolutionary Processes	2 cr
IBS 8099	The Biological Practitioner	1 cr
Stat 5411	Analysis of Variance	3 cr
IBS 8020	IBS Colloquia (2 semesters X 1cr/sem)	2 cr
IBS 8030	IBS Research Club (1 semester)	1 cr
IBS 8777	Thesis Credits	10
	TOTAL	21 cr

 

• You must designate an area of emphasis during your second semester. The following comprises the additional curriculum according to emphasis:

Course Number	Title	Credits
EOP Emphasis
IBS 8201	Ecological Processes	2
	Related Field/Minor Electives*	7
	TOTAL	9
CMP Emphasis
IBS 5101 or IBS 8102	Biochem Molec Biology or Cell Molec Dev Biol	3
IBS 8103 or BIOL 5603	Comparative Animal Phys. (3 cr) or Plant Physiology Laboratory (2 cr)**	3
	Related Field/Minor Electives*	3
	TOTAL	9

*The three required credits for STAT 5411 Analysis of Variance could count towards a Related Field/Minor Electives in Applied and Computational Mathematics.
**Total emphasis credits must still equal 9; if you take Plant Physiology you'll need to take an extra elective credit to make up the difference.

• Seminar: You must present a seminar before the Integrated Biosciences Graduate Faculty describing your thesis research near the end of your graduate study.
  
  

• Thesis: A thesis of publishable quality describing an original and independent research project is required. Your Advisement Committee must approve your thesis. Further details on the format and preparation of this thesis can be found in the University of Minnesota Graduate School Catalog. An electronic copy must also be sent to the IBS program at ibs@d.umn.edu. Please review the Graduate School policies at: http://www.grad.umn.edu/current_students/masters/submission.html for more details.

• Thesis Reviewers Report Form
  • Must be signed by committee members and returned to 316 Johnston Hall prior to defense
  • Final Examination Report Form will be released upon submission of the TRRF
    
    
• There is no language requirement for the Integrated Biosciences program.

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Sample Programs

Ecology, Organismal and Population Biology (EOP) Emphasis

Courses in italics are the core curriculum common to both the EOP and CMP Emphases. Electives may be chosen from the list or from parallel courses on the Twin Cities campus.

Sample Thesis Titles:
"Age of Invader: Using Herb-chronology to Clarify the Effects of Lythrum salicaria Age on Wetland Vegetation"
"Physiological Basis of Foraging Mechanisms of Age-0 Yellow Perch (Perca flavescans)"
"Changes in Mercury Concentrations in Yellow Perch as a Result of a Decrease in Atmospheric Deposition"

Cell, Molecular and Physiological Biology (CMP) Emphasis

Courses in italics are the core curriculum common to both the EOP and CMP Emphases. Electives may be chosen from the list or from parallel courses on the Twin Cities campus.

Sample Thesis Titles:
"A Transcriptomic Survey of Differentially Expressed Genes in the Heart of a Hibernating Mammal"
"Optic Nerve Regeneration in Sunfish"
"A SAGE Analysis of Choroid Plexus"
"Isolation and Characterization of Mitochondria from Populus Protoplasts"

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Progress in Graduate Work

Deficiencies: The prompt completion of any course deficiencies indicated to you in your acceptance letter.

GPA: A cumulative GPA of 3.0 or better in all graduate level courses listed on your degree program form.

Incompletes: A maximum amount of 3 incomplete credits on your record at any one time.

• If the course in which the incomplete credit occurs is taught annually, you have one year from the end of the course to complete the remaining work.
• If the course is not taught annually, you must present a plan for timely completion of the remaining work that is agreeable to the instructor of that course.

Code of Conduct: Professional standards are discussed in the required Biological Practitioner course (IBS 8099), but include prompt attendance at classes you take and teach; keeping office hours; a willingness to chip in and help with additional and reasonable assignments when called upon (such as helping instructors grade during finals week); and conferring deference and respect on colleagues, faculty, staff, and the public.

• The IBS Program expects you to act in accordance with the University Code of Conduct. Serious and repeated breaches of professional standards will be brought to the attention of the DGS, Department Heads, and/or Dean of the Graduate School. One or more of these individuals will then meet with you and your advisor to discuss appropriate measures to rectify the situation. In extreme cases, dismissal may be an option.
• Also consult the following:

• Standards of Student Conduct Enforceable by University Agencies
• Professional Ethics and Responsible Research Conduct

All graduate requirements must be completed within 7 years from the date you first register.

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Selection of an Advisement Committee

Procedure:

Select a potential major advisor from the list of Graduate Faculty whose indicated interest most closely matches your own in your area of emphasis under the advisement of your area's co-DGS. Talk to the potential major advisor to determine the feasibility of acting as your major advisor. In consultation with this tentative major advisor, you should then select as least 2 and not more than 3 additional individuals to comprise your Advisement Committee.

Select 2 to 3 additional members, including

• A faculty member holding a graduate appointment in IBS who is designated for your major area of concentration.
• One or two individuals from your related field(s) or minor(s). These individuals do not need to have a graduate appointment in IBS, but must have approval by the Graduate School to serve on Advisement Committees. A list of all individuals who have such approval, as well as the major/minor fields for which they are approved, is available through the search function on the Graduate Faculty Roster web page on the Graduate School (UMTC) web site. If you have a minor, there must be an approved member representing that field on your Advisement Committee.

Complete a Degree Program Transmittal Form to present to the Integrated Biosciences DGS and submit to the Graduate School (this must be done by the end of your second semester).

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Filing of a Graduate Program/Degree Program Transmittal Form

Provide all committee members with a copy of your proposed program of coursework, undergraduate and graduate unofficial transcripts

Submit to your Advisement Committee a detailed outline of your intended research, including objectives and methodology. Your Advisement Committee may ask that you provide them with periodic progress reports, either oral or written, concerning your thesis project.

Call a meeting of your committee, at which all committee members must be present to approve your proposed plan.

Fill out a Degree Program Form which includes a Degree Program Transmittal page and a Degree Program for (see example for Degree Program below) within the first two semesters of your graduate study. This form must be signed by your advisor and submitted, with a current transcript, to the DGS, who will forward it to the Graduate School Office.

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Final Oral Examination

Provide all members of your Advisement Committee with a clear and complete copy of your thesis at least 2 weeks prior to the date on which your oral examination is to be given

Notify the Graduate School Office of the date of your oral examination at least one week prior to your oral examination (see Deadlines). This will ensure that they send the Master's Thesis (plan A) Reviewers' Report form and Examination Report form to the chairman of your committee before your oral examination

Return the signed Master's Thesis (plan A) Reviewers' Report form and Examination Report form to the Graduate School Office by the last day of the month in which you take your oral examination

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Seminars

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Grading Policy

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Financial Support

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General Duties and Responsibilities of Teaching Assistants

Scheduling: GTAs must turn in their schedules in mid-August and mid-December so that teaching assignments for the following semester can be assigned; therefore, they must register for classes before the semester begins. GTAs will be assigned to teach lab sections of undergraduate classes. The Biology Department makes every effort to match the GTAs with courses that utilize their expertise and interests

Supervision: A specific faculty member (or members) will be the direct supervisor(s) of the GTAs. They may

• ask that the GTA assist with lectures
• ask that the GTA help in the preparation of laboratory materials
• ask that the GTA help in the and proctoring of examinations
• discuss the material to be taught
• offer suggestions as to its presentation

Attendance: All teaching assistants must be on campus the week before classes begin each semester (to meet with instructors and help set up laboratories, classes, etc.) until the end of finals week (to assist grading final exams, etc.)

Evaluation: All faculty under whom you assist may submit an evaluation of your work to the Department Head. This will likely include responses to student evaluations distributed at the end of every semester.

Continuation: If GTAs are interested in subsequent years of support, they should notify the Department Head early in Spring Semester. The Department Head will consider the evaluations and academic performance in determining GTA extensions.

Grievances: If at any time you feel that unreasonable demands are being made of you relative to the percent-time of your appointment, you should first discuss this with the supervising faculty member. If this does not prove satisfactory, discuss the situation with the Department Head.

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Thesis Research Expenses

Certain expenses will be incurred when you conduct of your thesis research for the purchase of chemicals, supplies, services, certain pieces of equipment, etc. As these needs arise, you should notify the faculty member supervising your research or project, usually your major advisor. If that faculty member has outside grant support, those funds may be used to meet your needs. If no outside funds are available, your advisor may forward your requests to the Department Head or DGS. Within reasonable limits, the Department or IBS program may attempt to provide some measure of support for your research. In the past, certain graduate students have applied on their own for outside funding for their research. Although this approach will entail considerable work on your part and only limited resources exist, it does provide excellent experience in the art of "grantsmanship," a trait that might come in handy subsequently in your professional career.

The Graduate School occasionally offers workshops in grant writing. It is the student's responsibility to pay all expenses incurred in the production and copying of all versions of the thesis, as well as any binding of the final version.

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Research Involving Animal and Human Subjects

Research involving human subjects

Research involving animal subjects

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M.S. Deadlines

The following list assumes completion of an M.S. in two years. Several of the deadlines can be pushed back if it takes more than two years to complete the program, as indicated. All graduate students must be registered every semester (see Registration After Completion of Formal Course Work for details).

Most Graduate School Forms are available online:
http://www.grad.umn.edu/current_students/degree_completion/index.html

IBS Handbook Information:

http://www.d.umn.edu/ibs/IBS/Handbook.htm

Before registering, consult with Advisor and Director of Graduate Studies (DGS) regarding appropriate coursework.

Register before second week of each semester.  Failure will result in placement on inactive status, resulting in the loss of Graduate Teaching/Research Assistantship (RA).  No exceptions.

Begin thesis research.

Decide on an emphasis (CMP or EOP) if not declared prior to admission, and inform the DGS and the appropriate CMP or EOP Associate DGS. 

Spring Semester Year 1

Consult with Advisor, DGS, and appropriate CMP/EOP Associate DGS, on the selection of Examining Committee members (your Advisor will serves as the Chair).  Members should consist of faculty involved with your work, course instructors, or those who have a familiarity with the IBS Program.  The Examining Committee must consist of at least 3 members: two representatives from the major field and one from the minor or related field.

Contact proposed Examining Committee members to discuss their interest and availability to serve on your committee.  At this meeting, provide a written description of your project plans and discuss your intended coursework.

Your primary advisor should council you on the selection of committee members.  If you need further assistance, please contact your emphasis coordinator, or the DGS.

Meet with Advisor and complete the Graduate School Degree Program Form listing all intended coursework and final Examining Committee selection (ideally after 10-14 credits completed).

Meet with EOP or CMP Associate DGS to review Degree Program Form for compliance with IBS Program and Graduate School requirements.

Arrange a meeting with your Examining Committee.  This meeting should take place sometime in mid-semester.  At this meeting, provide a written proposal of your thesis plans and discuss your intended coursework prior to future registration.  If there are any changes to your Degree Program Form, you must consult with EOP or CMP Associate DGS.  Once approved, the program must be followed to meet graduation requirements. Alterations in the program, including committee changes, must be requested in advance by means of a Graduate School petition form.

Return Degree Program Form to IBS Program Secretary, 162 SMed, for submission to DGS for final approval and submission (an approved copy must be on file with Graduate School no later than one term prior to degree completion).

If you wish to be considered for an Assistantship for the following academic year, you must have your advisor submit an assessment of your progress toward the degree to the IBS Director of Graduate Studies no later than March 15.

Fall Semester Year 2 

Project status: Give your Examining Committee periodic written updates with any changes in your project from the initial research description.  Regular communication with Examining Committee is required.

Consult with your Examining Committee about scheduling your seminar the following semester so that they can arrange to attend.

Contact IBS Program Secretary for final seminar arrangements and presentation.

Continue thesis research.

Unless stated otherwise, you should submit all forms through the IBS Program Secretary (Room 162 Smed) for DGS review and submission.

Spring Semester Year 2 

If you are planning to participate in the UMD Spring Graduation/Commencement Ceremony, you must file an Application for Degree by March 1 (or the first working day of March).
All others – wait until one month prior to anticipated graduation.

Review Degree Program Form against unofficial transcript for any discrepancies.  If you have questions, check with the CMP or EOP Associate DGS.

Ensure availability and satisfaction of final Examining Committee.  Committee members can only be changed prior to final oral defense.

Prepare final thesis for review by Examining Committee.

Give your seminar (inform your committee and ensure that they are available to attend)

Notify Examining Committee at least two weeks in advance of when the thesis will be delivered. All members must have at least two weeks (preferably three) to read the thesis upon receipt.  The entire committee must be unanimous in certifying that the thesis is ready for defense, by signing the Thesis Reviewers Report form (included in Graduation Packet).

• Note: the Thesis Reviewers' Report is retained by the committee until they are satisfied with thesis.

Submit the signed Thesis Reviewers Report form.  The Final Examination Report Form will be issued at that time.  You must have the Final Exam form before you report to the exam.

Submit the Application for Degree by the first working day of the intended month of graduation (included in Graduation Packet).

Notify the Graduate School of the date of your oral examination at least two weeks prior to it.  This will ensure that they get the Thesis Reviewers' Report form and the Examination Report form to the Chair of your committee before the date of your oral examination

Take your Final Oral Examination (also referred to as Thesis Defense)

• Return Final Oral Examination form to the IBS Program Secretary for submission to Graduate School. 

Schedule a Graduate Student Exit Evaluation with the IBS Directory of Graduate Studies.  You will not graduate if this has not been done.

 Twin Cities Graduate School Primary Degree Contacts:

Marci Freundschuh, Assistant to the Dean (612) 625-0068 – gsadean@umn.edu

            Masters Advanced Status Applications, Time Extension Petitions, Registration Holds

Prior to filing Application for Degree:

      Renae Faunce, Coordinator, Graduate Student Services (612) 625-5833 – gscmte@umn.edu

            Committee Substitutions, Degree Programs, Thesis Proposal Approval

After Filing Application for Degree:
Amber Knapp, Coordinator, Master’s Degree Services Specialist (612) 625-4019 - gsmast@umn.edu
Degree Completion Procedures, Degree Clearance, Registration Exception Requests

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Registration After Completion of Formal Course Work

Regardless of whether you have taken all the courses and thesis credits that you need, the Graduate School requires registration every semester. To continue to receive a TA or RA, you must be registered as a full-time student.

You may register for 6 credits of IBS 8777 (Thesis Credits: Masters) and devote all of your efforts to your Plan A thesis.

If you have completed all coursework and thesis credits required by the program, you may apply for Advanced Master's Status, which would allow you to register for only one credit of IBS 8777 and still be considered a full-time student. You must apply for this; it is not automatically given. Deadlines for application are usually in October for Spring Semester, in April for Summer, and July for Fall. These deadlines will not be extended. See the DGS for specific deadlines for each year.

If you no longer have or need a GTA or RA

You may register for Grad 0999, a no-credit, no-tuition, no-curriculum course the Graduate School has created specifically for those students who have taken a job or no longer need to be registered as a full-time student. This option for continuing registration should be used as a last resort only. It is best to consult the DGS on this option before making a final decision.

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Office and Laboratory Space

If you are a GTA in the Biology Department, we will assign you office space including desk and filing facilities at the beginning of the year. Because office space is not extensive, you will share a room with at least one other person. Most GTAs retain the same desk and office for the entire year, but in some instances it is necessary to shift office assignments from semester to semester. Generally, offices assigned during the academic year will be available for your use during the summer.

If you are a GTA in the Pharmacy or Chemistry departments, you will be assigned office space according to their policies and availability.

Laboratory space will be provided you once you have selected your thesis advisor.

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Keys

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Graduate Student Representatives

Department/Graduate Faculty Meetings

Responsibilities include

Providing input

Providing information to fellow students concerning any changes in policy made by the Graduate Faculty

Voting rights EXCEPT on

• matters pertaining to student acceptance
• awarding of financial support
• evaluation of a student's academic progress
• decisions regarding adding or deleting members to or from the Graduate Faculty

Other Committees:
At various other times there may be additional committees on which Graduate students should be represented.

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Library Facilities

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Copying Facilities

Guidelines for copying Biology GTA-related items

When making less than 25 copies for use in teaching, use the code number assigned to you for that purpose.

If you are making more than 25 copies submit them to the Office Assistant to run them on the Rizograph. Please provide at least 24 hours lead time.

If making copies for research, you must obtain your advisor's research copy code.

If you are making personal copies, use your personal copy code. You will be billed for any copies you make under this code.

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Secretarial Services

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Mail Facilities

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Email

The Integrated Biosciences graduate program maintains an alias of Integrated Biosciences Graduate Students.

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IBS Letterhead

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Departmental Stockroom

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Telephone and Fax Use

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Computer and Typewriter Use

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Elective Courses

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