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Briefly, a minimum of 30 semester credits of graduate courses (4000, 5000, and 8000-level) is required
for a Master's degree. At least six of these must be in related fields outside the EEB major (for example,
courses in statistics). Alternatively, if you choose to specialize in a minor field outside of EEB, at least
six semester credits in that field are required. Note that at least two-thirds of the course credits included on
your degree program must be taken A-F and at least 60% of the coursework must be taken while registered
as a University of Minnesota graduate student, transfer coursework may make up the remaining 40%.
Once approved by the Graduate School, you must fulfill the degree program in every detail.
Changes to the degree program can be made at any time with approval of your advisor, your
advisory committee, and the DGS. Changes need to be petitioned to the Graduate School by submitting
a petition form to the Graduate School,
available online.
When you file your Master's degree program with the Graduate School your final examining committee will be
appointed. This ordinarily will consist of your degree advisor, one of the other members of your advisory
committee, and a third faculty member from your minor or related fields as specified on your degree program.
Consult with your advisor to decide on the members of the examining committee, and consult with the potential
members beforehand to gain their consent and to acquaint them with your program and research plans. The members
of your examining committee now serve as your advisory committee until you have completed your degree.
Submit the completed program with recommendations for the examining committee (see the back of the program form
for detailed instructions) to the DGS, together with a current transcript. If you are taking a minor, the DGS of
the minor field must also approve the program. The DGS of EEB will check to be sure you are meeting all requirements
of the program. Then, forward your program to the Graduate School.
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2. Master's Plan A
The Plan A Master's degree program includes the writing of a research thesis. At least 14 credits of courses in
your major and 6 credits of courses in a supporting field or minor must be included in the 30-credit minimum; 10
thesis credits (EEB 8777) compose the remainder of the 30-credit minimum. Courses with substantial EEB content
offered in other departments may be used with the approval of your advisory committee and the DGS to satisfy course
requirements in your major.
Students submitting a Master's degree program under Plan A must present a public pre-thesis seminar to the faculty
and graduate students of the program. The pre-thesis seminar is intended to inform others of your research interests
and to elicit constructive suggestions and advice that may help you carry out the research for the Master's thesis.
You must present this seminar no later than the end of your second semester so that you can incorporate worthwhile
suggestions into your research plan. The seminar must be presented on campus during normal working hours. In
particular, the members of your advisory committee must attend. It is your responsibility to find a time satisfactory
to your advisory committee. Please give an announcement of title, time, and place to the department office one week in
advance for distribution to faculty and students. Your presentation should be planned for no more than one-half hour
to allow time for discussion and questions. After successful completion of the pre-thesis seminar, submit the
pre-thesis seminar form (available from the EEB Graduate Program Secretary or go to Appendix 7) to the DGS.
Consult Master's
Degree at the Graduate School Catalog for information about preparing the thesis, having it reviewed and
approved by your examining committee, and scheduling your final oral examination.
Students in the EEB Program are expected to present the results of their thesis
in a public seminar of not more than 45 minutes. Ordinarily the public presentation
is followed immediately by the oral examination, in private with your examining
committee. Please inform the department office of the time, place, and title
of your presentation one week in advance.
Once the degree program has been approved by the Graduate School and the thesis
is ready to go to the reviewers, you can request a Graduation Packet from the Graduate School or in person at 316 Johnston Hall). Submit
the Application for Degree Form (included in the Graduation Packet) to the Registrar s
office by the first working day of the intended month of graduation. You will
receive a Thesis Reviewer s Report Form that needs to be signed and submitted
prior to the final examination. This form generates the Final Examination Report
Form (sent to your committee chair by the Graduate School after the Graduate
School received the signed Thesis Reviewer s Report form). Remember to leave
your committee enough time to read your thesis (at least two weeks). After your
thesis defense and the final oral examination, submit the signed Final Examination
Report form and two unbound copies of your thesis to the Graduate School (they
must be submitted no later than by the last working day of the intended month
of graduation).
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3. Master's Plan B
The Plan B Master's degree program requires at least 14 credits of courses in your major in the 30-credit minimum,
plus the minimum six credits of related fields for a minor. The remainder of the 30 credits is chosen by agreement
between the student, the advisor, and the other members of the advisory committee.
Students submitting a Master's degree program under Plan B must complete one to three written reports of projects
involving together about 120 hours of independent work. You should discuss your choice of projects with your advisory
committee and obtain their approval at the time you file your Master's degree program, and at any later time when you
may wish to change. A project may be a short field or laboratory research problem or review of primary literature. A
project may have been part of the requirements of a course in your degree program or it may be independent of any
course. The written reports must meet accepted standards for scientific publication. You must present the report or
reports to your Master's examining committee for their review at least two weeks before your final oral examination.
Once the degree program is approved by the Graduate School, you can obtain
the Final
Examination Report form and the Graduation
Packet from the Graduate School (online or in person at 316 Johnston
Hall). Submit the Application for Degree Form (included in the Graduation Packet)
to the Registrar s office by the first working day of the intended month of
graduation. After the final oral examination, submit the signed Final Examination
Report Form to the Graduate School (due by the last working day of the intended
month of graduation). The final oral examination is based primarily on the courses
on your degree program and on your Plan B projects. Consult Masters
Degree for details about arranging the final oral examination.
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4. Suggested Schedule for Master's Students
The following schedule is presented as a general guideline for progress in the EEB Program. It is not an absolute
schedule that you must follow precisely, but deviations will be cause for concern about your progress. Students who
have not filed their official degree program by the end of their third semester, or who have not completed the
requirements for the degree by the end of their third year, will be considered to be making inadequate progress under
normal circumstances. (See also Appendix 3 for a list of milestones.)
Year 1
- Before Fall term: Meet with temporary advisor and DGS to plan courses for first term and to check prerequisites.
- Fall term:
- EEB Retreat
- Meet with temporary advisor and advisory committee, finalize list of prerequisite courses and plan course
work.
- Take courses and try some directed study or seminars or research problems.
- Begin planning research (Plan A) and projects (Plan B).
- Spring term:
- Choose a degree advisor and advisory committee.
- Meet with your advisory committee and file your degree program.
- Take courses and try some directed study or seminars or research problems.
- If you are a Plan A Master s candidate, give your pre-thesis seminar, which presents your research ideas and
plans.
- Summer term
- Perform research to test ideas and techniques (Plan A) or work on projects (Plan B).
- Think about attending one or both sessions at the Itasca Field Station (Plan B).
Year 2
- Fall term
- Call a meeting of your advisory committee to discuss your progress.
- Complete course work for your Master's program.
- Spring term (and possibly Fall term of Year 3)
- Register for the one-credit option if you have completed your course work (Plan A and B) and thesis credits
(Plan A only).
- Complete your thesis (Plan A) or projects (Plan B).
- Schedule your final oral examination.
- Check the GSC for deadlines (examination, submission of thesis, forms, and fees).
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5. Graduation
Pick up a graduation packet from the Graduate School any time after the degree program is approved by the Graduate
School. If you wish to attend a commencement ceremony, you must submit
a Commencement Attendance
Approval form, signed by the DGS, well in advance.
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