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Graduate Studies Handbook

You are here, information on master's and doctoral programs, revised august, 2023, table of contents.

• Program Overview
• Master's Degree Requirements
• Course Requirements
• Research and Selection of Advisor
• Qualifying Examination
• Formation of the Guidance Committee and Doctoral Degree Program
• Comprehensive Examination
• Ph.D. Graduation Requirements
• University Procedures: Academic Performance
• Financial Support
• Work Related Policies and Procedures
• Integrity and Safety in Research and Creative Activities
• Student Conduct and Conflict Resolution
• University Resources

Previous Versions

1. program overview.

The Department of Chemical Engineering and Materials Science offers Master of Science and Doctor of Philosophy degree programs in chemical engineering and in materials science and engineering. A wide range of course offerings and research activities allows an individual program to be designed to fit the background, capabilities, and aims of the student. Studies in the department may be supplemented with courses offered by other departments in the College of Engineering and in other colleges.

The graduate programs in chemical engineering and materials science and engineering are designed to develop research expertise needed for the graduate to serve as a principal investigator in industrial or academic research. The coursework is designed to expand the student's knowledge of engineering principles and applications. Each student also conducts an extensive research project that significantly advances fundamental understanding of a chemical engineering or materials science system. Results of the research are documented in a dissertation and research paper(s) for publication in a peer-reviewed journal.

The program descriptions and requirements provided below are intended to be consistent with the Academic Programs content provided by the MSU Registrar. In the case of any discrepancies, the Registrar's content will be given priority.

Chemical Engineering

The chemical engineering program emphasizes a fundamental approach to chemical engineering principles and contemporary applications of chemistry, biosciences, and advanced mathematics. Specialized studies (selected topics) in chemical engineering build upon fundamentals with opportunities for study and research in such areas as nanotechnology, biotechnology, biomedical engineering, bioprocessing, metabolic engineering, process analysis, thermodynamics, chemical reaction engineering, composite materials, polymers, heat transfer, mass transfer, distillation, absorption, extraction, transport phenomena, and diffusion.

Materials Science and Engineering

Special emphasis is placed on the mastery of basic principles and methods. Courses and research opportunities are available in such areas as alternative energy materials, biomaterials, ceramic materials, composite materials, electron microscopy, electronic and photonic materials, impact damage, intermetallic alloys, nanotechnology, polymers and their composites, shape memory alloys, surface modification of ceramics, metals and polymers, structural thin films, and superplasticity of metals.

2. Master's Degree Requirements

Master of science in chemical engineering.

The Plan A (thesis option) master's degree requires a total of 30 credits, including 24 credits of coursework at the 400 level or above, as approved by the faculty advisor. In addition, a minimum of six credits in thesis research must be completed. The Plan A program must include the following:

• CHE 801 Advanced Chemical Engineering Calculations
• CHE 821 Advanced Chemical Engineering Thermodynamics
• CHE 822 Transport Phenomena
• CHE 831 Advanced Chemical Reaction Engineering
• Two (2) credits of CHE 892 Seminar. CHE 892 is limited to three credits per student.
• A minimum of six (6) credits in supporting courses from outside Chemical Engineering. This requirement is waived if the student enters with a degree other than Chemical Engineering.
• A minimum of 20 credits at the 800 level or above.

Courses at the 400 level are acceptable as long as the minimum of 20 credits at the 800 level or above are met. Courses below the 400 level are not acceptable toward a graduate degree.

Students register for thesis research credits under the Departmental course, CHE 899. CHE 899 credits appearing on the Plan A program will change to the grade given at the time of the Master's Oral Examination. Credits taken in excess of those appearing on the Plan A program will remain as DF-Deferred on the transcript.

Students supported by department research assistantships while under a Plan A program are expected to graduate under the Plan A program. Students having a bachelor's degree from a discipline other than chemical engineering must also complete collateral courses as described below.

The Plan B (non-thesis option) master's degree requires a total of 30 credits of coursework at the 400 level or above, as approved by the faculty advisor. The Plan B program must include the following:

• The CHE Core Courses (see Plan A above.)
• A minimum of 18 credits at the 800 level or above.
• Six to nine credits taken in a coordinated technical minor, as approved by the faculty advisor.

Courses at the 400 level are acceptable as long as the minimum of 18 credits at the 800 level or above are met. Courses below the 400 level are not acceptable toward a graduate degree.

Students having a bachelor's degree from a discipline other than chemical engineering must also complete collateral courses as described below.

Master of Science in Materials Science and Engineering

The Plan A (thesis option) master's degree requires a total of 30 credits, including 24 credits of coursework at the 400 level or above, as approved by the faculty advisor. In addition, six credits of thesis research must be completed. The Plan A program must include the following:

• MSE 851 Thermodynamics of Solids;
• MSE 855 Advanced Rate Theory and Diffusion;
• MSE 860 Advanced Theory of Solids;
• MSE 870 Electron Microscopy in Materials Science OR MSE 881 Advanced Spectroscopy and Diffraction Analysis of Materials;
• Two (2) credits of MSE 892 Seminar. MSE 892 is limited to three credits per student.
• One mathematical or statistical course of at least 400-level (for example, MSE 880; CHE 801; or CMSE 801), as approved by the faculty advisor.
• A minimum of 16 credits at the 800 level or above.

Courses at the 400 level are acceptable as long as the minimum of 16 credits at the 800 level or above are met. Courses below the 400 level are not acceptable toward a graduate degree.

Registration for thesis research credits will be under the Departmental course, MSE 899. MSE 899 credits appearing on the Plan A program will change to the grade given at the time of the Master's Oral Examination. Credits taken in excess of those appearing on the Plan A program will remain as DF-Deferred on the transcript.

Students supported by department research assistantships while under a Plan A program are expected to graduate under the Plan A program.

• The MSE Core Courses (see Plan A above.)

General Information for Master's Programs

Enrolling for Courses: All students admitted into the master's program are assigned a temporary faculty advisor who is a member of the Department's Graduate Studies Committee. Plan A Master's students should identify a permanent advisor in their first semester. Plan B Master's students will be assigned an advisor in their first semester. Students must consult with their advisor before enrolling for classes. Once the student and advisor have agreed on the course enrollment, the advisor must approve any additional change(s).

Transfer Credits: The department may accept credits earned at another institution. In such cases, the completed "Credit Evaluation for the Graduate Program" form must be included with the program. As many as nine semester credits of graduate coursework (excluding research and thesis credits) may be transferred into a master's degree program from other accredited institutions provided they are appropriate to a student's program and they were completed within the specified time limits for earning of the degree. Transfer credit will be given only for courses in which a grade of 3.0 or higher was earned. Credits from foreign universities (other than Canada) are not transferable to the program.

Dual Enrollment: A master's student can be enrolled simultaneously in another department's master's or Ph.D. program. A Request for Permission to Complete Two Degrees Concurrently form must be completed and approved by both departments.

Undergraduate-Graduate Dual and Linked Degree Options: Current MSU undergraduate students have three options for pursuing a graduate degree within the MSU College of Engineering:

• Apply for admission to a Linked BS+MS degree program (the BS and MS are completed sequentially.)
• Apply for dual enrollment in a MS or PhD program (the BS and MS or PhD are completed concurrently).
• Apply for regular admission to a MS or PhD program (the BS and MS or PhD are completed sequentially). This is the normal option for most students.

More information on these options is provided by the College of Engineering . Students interested in the Linked BS+MS program should contact the appropriate Graduate Program Director and complete the application form .

Collateral Courses: Students may be required to take additional collateral courses to supplement their academic background. For example, students entering the chemical engineering graduate program with a B.S. in a field other than chemical engineering must take the following collateral courses:

• CHE 804 Foundations of Chemical Engineering I (3 credits)
• CHE 805 Foundations of Chemical Engineering II (3 credits)
• CHE 806 Foundations of Chemical Engineering III (3 credits)

A grade of 3.0 or higher is required in each course. In some cases, students may be granted provisional status in the program until collateral coursework has been satisfactorily completed. Collateral coursework does not count towards fulfillment of degree requirements.

Selection of Research Advisor for Plan A Students: The Research Advisor for Plan A Master's students should be a "Regular", i.e. tenure-stream, MSU faculty and have at least 50% appointment in CHEMS. Advisor assignments not satisfying this requirement must be approved by either the CHEMS Chair or Graduate Studies Committee. Plan A Master's students are encouraged to contact faculty with matching research interests to identify possibly research advisors. MS students do not participate in the formal Ph.D. advisor selection process as outlined below.

Formation of the Guidance Committee for Plan A Students: During the first program semester, Plan A Master's students shall form a Master's guidance committee, with the research advisor serving as chairperson. The committee must consist of three "Regular" MSU faculty, at least two of which must hold at least 50% appointment in CHEMS. Before the end of the first program semester, the student and advisor shall submit the proposed guidance committee for approval. The electronic form for the Doctoral Degree Guidance Committee is located on student.msu.edu in the GradPlan tile. Failure to establish an approved guidance committee by the required date will result in a hold on enrollment, which may affect the student's ability to register for courses.

Formulating a Master's Degree Course Plan: Students' should meet with their faculty advisor to design a course plan that will develop the student's competence in chemical engineering/materials science engineering and related fields. The course plan must include the master's degree course requirements, and it should be submitted for approval upon the completion of six course credits, typically at the end of the first semester. The electronic form for the Master's Degree Course Plan is located on student.msu.edu in the GradPlan tile. Registration beyond the second program semester will not be permitted until this requirement has been met.

Any changes in the program must also be submitted for approval on student.msu.edu . No course may be added or deleted from this program after a grade (including DF) has been received. This includes courses that have been dropped after the middle of the term and in which a grade of N has been received.

Transfer to Ph.D. Program: Students wishing to transfer to the Ph.D. program after completing the master's program must submit a letter of intent to the department chairperson during their last semester in the master's program. The departmental chairperson and the Graduate Studies Committee must approve transfers from the master's program to the doctoral program.

Master's Degree Graduation Requirements

Application for Graduation: The form " Graduation Application " can be obtained from the Registrar either via the web at or in room 150 Administration Building. The form should be submitted in the first week of the semester in which the student plans to graduate. Summer graduates should submit the form by the first week of spring semester.

Thesis Formatting: The Graduate School offers an online Thesis/Dissertation Formatting Guide . A formatted preliminary copy of the Thesis/Dissertation can be taken to the Graduate School (118 Linton Hall) any time during the semester to ensure that proper formatting requirements are met.

Final Master's Oral Examination: The Master's guidance committee will administer a Master's Oral Examination. The exam will consist of a presentation of the thesis research, followed by an oral examination. The exam must be scheduled for a date not earlier than two weeks after the thesis has been submitted to the committee members. A majority vote of the committee constitutes a pass. The student will be given a maximum of two opportunities to pass. The second opportunity, if needed, must take place the following semester. Students must be registered during the semester in which the exam is taken.

Prior to the examination, the student is responsible for preparing the Record of Thesis Defense form . Upon completion of the examination, this form must be signed by the student's committee members and the CHEMS Department Chairperson.

Submission of thesis to The Graduate School: MSU only accepts theses and dissertations submitted electronically, as described by the web page " Thesis and Dissertation Electronic Submissions ". After the final Oral Examination, revisions recommended by the faculty advisor must be made by the student to produce a final unbound thesis manuscript. If the document is satisfactory, the faculty advisor will approve it by signing the Approval Form , obtained from the Graduate School. These materials are then submitted electronically to the Graduate School, whereupon the candidate is required to complete an Exit Survey . Questions about master’s exit surveys may be sent to [email protected] .

The target date for the FINAL APPROVAL of an electronic Thesis or Dissertation to the Graduate School for graduating the semester of that submission is FIVE working days prior to the first day of classes for the next semester. Submission via ProQuest does not mean that the document has been ACCEPTED. The review process is interactive and final approval can take anywhere from a few hours to weeks, depending upon the extent of the necessary revisions and how diligent the author is when making the necessary revisions. Graduation on the semester of the electronic submission is only guaranteed if the document is APPROVED on or before the target date for that semester.

One hardbound copy of the thesis may be delivered to the research advisor upon request. Granting agencies etc. may require additional copies. Students are responsible for all dissertation preparation and expenses. Departmental equipment or materials may not be used for this purpose.

Commencement: Commencement information can be obtained from commencement.msu.edu .

Student Departure: Departing students are required to fill out the Termination-Separation Checklist . The checklist is provided to highlight the range of issues that may need to be addressed when terminating MSU employment or otherwise separating from a department. The research advisor and graduate secretary must sign the checklist.

3. Ph.D. Degree Requirements

The Ph.D. degree has the following requirements: (1) coursework, (2) research and selection of advisor, (3) qualifying examination (4) formation of the guidance committee and doctoral degree program, (5) comprehensive examination, (6) meeting the Ph.D. graduation requirements including completion of a dissertation and final oral examination. Each of these requirements is described in more detail in subsequent sections of this handbook.

(3.1) Course Requirements

The candidate must fulfill the requirements listed in the MSU regulations and procedures. To ensure that the candidate has a comprehensive knowledge of a major field, the guidance committee will prescribe a customized course Course Plan that must include:

• Coursework taken after the bachelor's degree equivalent to core courses required for the Plan A (thesis option) master's degree in the program, plus several (typically about four) additional relevant courses. Course requirements for the master's degrees are listed above under Master's Degree Requirements .
• CHE 802 Research Methods (1 credit)
• Five (5) credits of CHE/MSE 992/892 Seminar. CHE/MSE 992 is limited to five credits per student.
• A minimum of 24 credits and no more than 36 credits of doctoral dissertation research (CHE/MSE 999). The research credits will be assigned a grade of Pass or Fail on the transcript, based on the outcome of the dissertation defense.

For a typical student entering the Ph.D. program with a BS degree in discipline, 34-36 credits of coursework is expected. A typical student with an MS degree in discipline may need 12 course credits plus some core courses.

A grade of 3.0 or greater in collateral courses is required. In some cases, students may be granted provisional status in the graduate program until collateral coursework has been satisfactorily completed.

Course enrollment: Courses taken during a student's degree program will be determined by the student, their advisor, and their Ph.D. committee; with approval of the CHEMS Department Chair and College of Engineering Associate Dean for Research and Graduate Studies. As highlighted below, item #4 of this section, students should meet with their Ph.D. guidance committee to determine their Course Plan in the semester following the semester in which the Ph.D. qualifying exam is satisfactorily completed. First year students will take designated courses as outlined below.

Chemical Engineering Students : First-year chemical engineering graduate students typically take the following courses.

Fall Semester:

• CHE 801 Advanced Chemical Engineering Calculations, 3 credits
• CHE 821 Advanced Chemical Engineering Thermodynamics, 3 credits
• CHE 802 Research Methods, 1 credit, Ph.D. only
• CHE 892/992 Seminar, 1 credit
• CHE 999 Doctoral Dissertation Research, 1 credit

Spring Semester:

• CHE 822 Advanced Transport Phenomena, 3 credits
• CHE 831 Advanced Chemical Reaction Engineering, 3 credits
• CHE 999 Doctoral Dissertation Research, 2 credits

Materials Science and Engineering Students: First-year Materials Science and Engineering graduate students typically take the following courses.

• MSE 851 Thermodynamics of Solids, 3 credits
• MSE 8XX Graduate Elective: Dislocation Theory or Electron Microscopy or Mat. Surf. Interfaces or Eng. Ceramics, etc, 3 credits
• MSE 802 Research Methods, 1 credit, Ph.D. only
• MSE 892/992 Seminar, 1 credit
• MSE 999 Doctoral Dissertation Research, 1 credit
• MSE 855 Advanced Rate Theory and Diffusion, 3 credits
• MSE 860 Advanced Theory of Solids, 3 credits
• MTH/STT/CMSE Advanced Math/Statistics 400 level or above, 3 credits OR MSE 881: Advanced Spectroscopy and Diffraction Analysis of Materials, 3 credits

Course Changes: Once enrolled, classes may be dropped or added as outlined by the Office of the Registrar . The period allowed for adding and dropping generally runs from the time the first billing is sent out until about the second week of the semester. After that period, the department that offers the course makes schedule changes.

To change a schedule after the drop and add period, students must complete a Drop/Add form (obtained from the departmental secretary) and have it signed by the instructor. The departmental secretary will update enrollment status online.

Paying for Classes: Students will receive a registration bill after enrolling for classes. The bill is sent according to the schedule on the fee payment page of the Quick Guide to Enrollment and Registration booklet. This bill will reflect tuition that is paid (or reduced) through assistantship appointments or fellowships.

(3.2) Research and Selection of Advisor

Carrying out novel, creative research is a key activity in becoming a Ph.D. This research will be carried out in association with a faculty research advisor. Research advisor selection takes place in September and October of the student's first year in the graduate program. Faculty members will present a description of their available research projects to the students. From these presentations, graduate students identify five projects that interest them and arrange a meeting with the faculty members who direct those projects. Students are also encouraged to meet with the graduate students currently working on the projects of interest. About two weeks after the presentations, students submit their five top project choices to the departmental secretary on the Research Project Selection Form . A selection committee then matches students to advisors based on students' preferences and availability of research funding.

Once the advisor has been assigned, both the student and advisor have responsibilities to ensure a productive relationship. The responsibilities of the research advisor, as described in MSU Guidelines for Graduate Student Mentoring & Advising , include:

• Ensuring that graduate students receive information about requirements and policies of the graduate program (e.g., advising graduate students on developing a Course Plan, including appropriate course work, research or creative activity, and on available resources)
• Providing training and oversight in creative activities, research rigor, theoretical and technical aspects of the thesis or dissertation research, and in professional integrity and research ethics
• Providing regular feedback on the progress of graduate students toward degree completion (e.g., providing feedback on research or creative activities, course work, and teaching, and constructive criticism if the progress does not meet expectations, completion of annual written evaluations)
• Helping graduate students develop into successful professionals and colleagues (e.g., encouraging students to participate and disseminate results of research or creative activities in the appropriate scholarly or public forums, writing letters of reference for appropriate fellowship, scholarship, award, and job opportunities)
• Facilitating career development and exploration, including advising graduate students on appropriate job and career options, as well as on the preparation of application materials for appropriate fellowship, scholarship, and other relevant opportunities
• Providing for supervision and advising of graduate students when the faculty advisor is on leave or extended absence
• Assisting the graduate student in navigating disagreements among the guidance committee

Change of Advisor: A doctoral candidate in good standing that desires to change advisors may consult with the Graduate Coordinator of the relevant program and/or the Department Chair. If an agreement is reached that a change of advisors is justified, all efforts will be made to by the department to assist in making this change. However, it is the student's responsibility to arrange for a new advisor. Once a new advisor is identified, any modifications to the Guidance Committee and Doctoral Degree Program must be approved as described below.

(3.3) Qualifying Examination

Students must pass the Ph.D. Qualifying Exam before being admitted to Ph.D. candidacy. The purpose of this exam is to determine if the student is qualified to proceed in the doctoral program and to identify any weaknesses that may exist in the student's background knowledge or skills needed to succeed in independent research. The Qualifying Exam is usually taken near the end of the spring semester during student's first year of enrollment in the Ph.D. program. For those students who enter the PhD program in the spring semester, upon consultation with the student's research advisor, students may request a delay to take the Qualifying Exam near the end of the second spring semester as ChE/MSE 802 is only offered in the fall semester.

Exam Format: A qualifying exam committee (QEC) will be appointed by the Graduate Studies Committee to administer the exam. The QEC will consist of the student's research advisor and two other departmental faculty members, at least one of who is knowledgeable in the student's academic discipline. In the case when student's research advisor has less than 50% appointment from the department, one additional departmental faculty member will be assigned to the QEC. The examination will include a written and an oral component.

The written component should be given to the graduate secretary two weeks prior to the scheduled start date of the qualifying exams. The document must include a critical literature review on a research topic agreed upon by the student and advisor. The length should be no more than 15 pages including figures, tables, and equations, excluding the bibliography. It should be double-spaced, with 12-point font. Formatting of tables, figures, references, etc. should be consistent with the Thesis & Dissertation Formatting Guide .

The document should include the following sections:

• Abstract: The abstract should briefly (less than 300 words) summarize the contents of the paper.
• Introduction and Background: This section should introduce the topic and summarize the state of current knowledge of the topic, as indicated by the relevant technical literature.
• Definition of a Significant Research Problem: This section should clearly define an important research problem (or hypothesis) suggested by the literature review and should identify the underlying fundamental principles that govern the system's behavior.

The oral component of the exam will consist of a 30-minute presentation summarizing the literature review and its implications for research, followed by an oral examination by the QEC. This examination will test the depth of the student's knowledge of the research topic, as well as his/her general understanding of the foundations of the student's discipline. The oral examination will be open to all CHEMS faculty. However, only QEC members will participate in the questioning and the grading.

Requirement for Original Work: Although the topic of the proposal may be related to ongoing research in the advisor's research group, the student should contribute a significant amount of original content and should write the literature review in his/her own words. The student should not receive assistance or feedback from anyone on the written presentation, with the exception of the Abstract. The advisor may provide feedback on the Abstract to ensure that the research topic selected is satisfactory. The document's cover page will include a signed certification statement that the student did not receive assistance writing or editing the document, other than the Abstract.

Students may practice their oral presentations and receive feedback prior to the qualifying exam. However, students are required to prepare their own presentation slides.

Evaluation of Student's Performance: Primary criteria considered in the evaluation are

• Depth of understanding of the research topic and its significance,
• Breadth of understanding of principles across the student's discipline,
• Ability to integrate fundamental principles in the analysis of a complex problem,
• Effectiveness of oral and written communication.

The QEC will use CHEMS Grading Rubrics Worksheets to evaluate both the oral and written presentations. In addition to facilitating consistent and objective evaluations, the rubrics will also help identify areas of relative student strength and weakness. Grades will be assigned based on a benchmark of first-year graduate students who have gone on to complete the program's Ph.D. degree. Such students would be expected to score at least weakly positive, on average, in the areas evaluated. Thus, grades of weakly positive and strongly positive indicate that the student's performance meets or exceeds minimum expectations at the Ph.D. level. Grades of strongly negative and weakly negative indicate that the candidate's performance falls below expectations of a successful Ph.D. student.

The grades for the oral and written presentations will be converted into numerical scores on a scale of 1.0 (strongly negative) to 4.0 (strongly positive). The numerical scores within each category (organization, content, and presentation) will be averaged to give an average score for that category. The following formula will then be used to calculate a composite score for the presentation.

Composite score = 0.6 × (average content score) + 0.2 × (average organization score) + 0.2 × (average presentation score)

For each QEC member, there will be one composite score for the oral presentation and one for the written presentation. These two composites scores will be averaged to give the overall score for the Qualifying Exam. If the overall score is 3.0 or higher, that QEC member will assign a passing grade. For a student to pass the Qualifying Exam, two of the three QEC members must assign a passing grade. In borderline cases, a discussion of the student's performance may be warranted to help clarify whether the student should pass.

Feedback Provided to Students: Individual worksheets will not be released to the student. However, the faculty advisor will provide the student with a written summary of the QEC's evaluations.

Policy on Repeat Exams: Normally only one opportunity will be given to pass the Qualifying Exam. However, a second opportunity may be offered with the approval of the QEC, Graduate Studies Committee, and departmental chair. The repeat exam should be scheduled at the earliest convenient time (e.g., in the summer semester of the first year).

In the event that a student fails the Ph.D. qualifying exam, at the discretion of their Ph.D. qualifying exam committee, the student may take the examination at most a second time. Upon failing the qualifying exam the second time, the student will be removed from the Ph.D. program. The student may continue to work towards an M.S. degree, either thesis or non-thesis.

(3.4) Formation of the Guidance Committee and Doctoral Degree Program

Doctoral Guidance Committee: Within two months (not counting summers) of passing the Qualifying Exam, the student shall form a doctoral guidance committee, with the research advisor serving as chairperson. The committee must consist of:

• at least four regular MSU faculty members (see University definition of Regular Faculty members),
• at least two members must have at least 50% appointment from the major department, and
• at least one member must be from another department.

Students wishing to request an exception to these committee membership rules should contact the graduate secretary for assistance in making the request.

Within two months (not counting summers) of passing the Qualifying Exam, the student and advisor shall submit the proposed guidance committee for approval. The electronic form for the Doctoral Degree Guidance Committee is located on student.msu.edu in the GradPlan tile. Failure to establish an approved guidance committee by the required date will result in a hold on enrollment, which may affect the student's future pay and ability to register for courses. The composition of the guidance committee may be changed with the permission of the research advisor, the CHEMS Department Chairperson and the College of Engineering Associate Dean for Research and Graduate Studies. Although rare, it is possible for a graduate student to change research advisors, upon the approval of the CHEMS Department Chairperson and the College of Engineering Associate Dean for Research and Graduate Studies.

The committee will meet at least once each year to review the student's academic and research progress. This meeting will be recorded on the CHEMS Department Ph.D. Guidance Committee Annual Meeting Form, which is available from the CHEMS graduate secretary. The completed form will be added to the student's permanent file in the CHEMS Department.

The responsibilities of the guidance committee, as described in MSU Guidelines for Graduate Student Mentoring & Advising , include:

• Advising graduate students on course work, research, or creative activities
• Providing regular and timely feedback and guidance concerning progress towards the degree
• Administering exams in a fair and professional manner
• Reviewing and providing feedback on research proposals and the thesis or dissertation in a timely, constructive and critical manner
• Providing guidance to help the student achieve their career goals

Doctoral Course Plan: The guidance committee must meet with the student for the purpose of formulating and approving a course Course Plan designed to develop the student's competence in chemical engineering/materials science engineering and related fields. The electronic form for the Doctoral Degree Course Plan is located on student.msu.edu in the GradPlan tile. This program must be submitted for approval of the guidance committee, the CHEMS Department Chairperson and the College of Engineering Associate Dean for Research and Graduate Studies by the end of the fall semester of the second year. Registration beyond the spring semester of the second year will not be permitted until this requirement has been met. Any changes in the program must likewise be submitted for approval to the guidance committee, the CHEMS Department Chairperson and the College of Engineering Associate Dean for Research and Graduate Studies. No course may be added or deleted from this program after a grade (including DF) has been received. This includes courses that have been dropped after the middle of the term and in which a grade of N has been received.

(3.5) Comprehensive Examination

The Doctoral Comprehensive Examination must be taken by the end of the 5th semester of enrollment in the Ph.D. program (excluding summer semesters). At the end of the fifth semester in the Ph.D. program, if the student has not taken the comprehensive exam, the Graduate Secretary will send a message to both the student and the advisor stating that if the exam is not taken by the end of the second month of the following semester, the Graduate Secretary will put a hold on the student's account. This hold will prevent the student from being paid in the subsequent semester. The examination may be taken no more than two times, no more than once per semester, and must be passed by the end of the 6th semester of enrollment in the Ph.D. program (excluding summer semesters).

The student's Final Oral Examination (Ph.D. Dissertation Defense) must take place a minimum of six months after the Comprehensive Examination has been passed.

The comprehensive examination is in the form of a research proposal defense and contains two parts:

• Written Proposal: The written document is limited to a maximum of 30 double spaced pages with 1 inch margins, with a minimum of 12 point font size. Figures and tables are included in the 30-page limit. However, the bibliography is not included in the 30-page limit.
• Oral Examination: The oral examination must be scheduled at least two weeks after the written proposal has been submitted to the guidance committee. The oral defense will be administered by the student's guidance committee and will cover advanced technical topics related to the student's Ph.D. thesis topic as well as the broader scope of the student's field of study.

The guidance committee will evaluate the proposal for:

• Tentative dissertation title;
• Statement of the problem and its significance;
• Background, including a comprehensive review of the literature;
• Scope of proposed work (completed, in progress, and to be accomplished);
• Expected outcomes and engineering significance.

Prior to the examination, the student is responsible for preparing the Record of Comprehensive Examinations form . Upon completion of the examination, this form must be signed by the student's committee members and the CHEMS Department Chairperson.

Passing the comprehensive examination requires satisfactory performance on both the written proposal and the oral defense of the written proposal, as determined by a unanimous vote of the guidance committee.

Should the degree requirements not be completed within the eight-year limitation, the Comprehensive Exam must be retaken. The student must be registered for the semester which the examination is taken. For students who enroll in the spring and take their comprehensive exams during the immediately following summer semester, the department can request a waiver of the requirement that the student be enrolled for at least one credit the semester of the comprehensive exam. These requests are to be directed to the Graduate School and must be endorsed by the student's department and college.

After passing the Comprehensive Exam, a student may maintain full-time status by enrolling for a minimum of 1 credit each semester.

(3.6) Ph.D. Graduation Requirements

Application for Graduation: The form " Graduation Application " can be obtained from the registrar either via the web at or in room 150 Administration Building. The form should be submitted in the first week of the semester in which the student plans to graduate. Summer graduates should submit the form by the first week of spring semester.

Dissertation Formatting: The Graduate School offers an online Thesis/Dissertation Formatting Guide and a formatting tutorial on its website. A formatted preliminary copy of the Thesis/Dissertation can be taken to the Graduate School (118 Linton Hall) any time during the semester to ensure proper formatting requirements are met.

Submit copy of dissertation to guidance committee: The candidate must submit a dissertation in accordance with the University regulations for graduate programs. Essentially error free, readable copies of the document in temporary bindings must be distributed to all members of the guidance committee at least two weeks before the final Doctoral Oral Examination.

Doctoral Candidate Information Form: To publicize doctoral defenses, the College of Engineering requires doctoral candidates to complete the web form at least two weeks before the actual date of the thesis defense. The form collects information about student's academic background, accomplishments, publications, and the PhD dissertation itself.

Final Doctoral Oral Examination: A final Doctoral Oral Examination in defense of the dissertation must be administered by the guidance committee to satisfy the requirements of the Graduate School. Students must be enrolled the semester they defend. All students defending their dissertations in the summer must register for at least one credit during that summer, regardless of their enrollment status during the preceding spring semester. The Doctoral Oral Examination must be scheduled for a date not earlier than two weeks after the dissertation and abstract have been submitted to the guidance committee members. After scheduling an examination date, the candidate should request a room from the graduate secretary and provide the secretary with the exam date, dissertation title, and abstract.

Prior to the examination, the student is responsible for preparing the Record of Dissertation and Oral Examination form . Upon completion of the examination, this form must be signed by the student's committee members and the CHEMS Department Chairperson.

Submission of dissertation to The Graduate School: MSU only accepts theses and dissertations submitted electronically, as described by the web page " Thesis and Dissertation Electronic Submissions ". After the final Doctoral Oral Examination, revisions and corrections recommended by the faculty advisor must be made by the student to produce a final unbound thesis manuscript. If the document is satisfactory, the faculty advisor will approve it by signing the Approval Form , obtained from the Graduate School. These materials are then submitted electronically to the graduate school, whereupon the candidate is required to complete exit surveys . Questions about doctoral exit surveys may be sent to [email protected] .

Candidates must also show evidence that a manuscript based on their Ph.D. research has been submitted to an appropriate journal for publication. Students are responsible for all dissertation preparation and expenses. Departmental equipment or materials may not be used for this purpose.

University Policy on Dissemination of Graduate Research: In keeping with MSU’s public mission, the University requires that theses, dissertations and abstracts will become public after the conferral of the degree; embargoes can only be pursued for a limited period (see [1] below). Results that are subject to restrictions for dissemination by funding agencies (see [2] below) cannot be part of any document submitted as a thesis or dissertation to the Graduate School.

[1] Hold/embargo on publication of documents submitted to ProQuest: Students submitting a thesis/dissertation to ProQuest can request a hold/embargo of publication by ProQuest by contacting the Graduate School at [email protected] . In response to the request, the Graduate School will send the student a form that needs to be completed and turned to the Graduate School prior to submission of the document to ProQuest. The form needs to be signed by the student’s major professor and by the Associate Dean of the student’s college. The request for the hold/embargo may be for six months, one year or two years. Requests for a period longer than six months must include a written justification for the length of the hold/embargo.

[2] Graduate student participation in a University Research Organization (URO) : Graduate students involved in a URO project will receive both written documentation and a verbal explanation of any limitations or implications to their current or future academic progress prior to participating on the project. Students engaging in work for a URO project undergo a 2-step approval process before hiring: 1. consultation with a representative of the URO’s office to explain the restrictions on the project, and 2. an interview with the Graduate School Dean or Dean’s designee to discuss the relationship, if any, between their work as graduate students and their participation in the project.

Students must be informed that results that are subject to dissemination restrictions cannot be part of any document submitted as a thesis or dissertation. As part of their degree program, all graduate students must have research options to ensure the generation of appropriate results to fulfill the degree requirements, and to have data for professional development activities that are integral to their graduate education (e.g., presentations at conferences and research seminars).

Additional University Ph.D. Degree Guidelines

Seminars: Graduate students are required to attend departmental seminars, even if they are not registered for a seminar course. Seminars are scheduled on Thursdays at 9:10 a.m. A schedule with specific dates will be listed on the departmental web page and distributed via e- mail.

Residency Requirement: In order to establish residency, MSU requires that the Ph.D. student complete 6 credits at MSU in each of two consecutive semesters (total of 12 credits). Both coursework and research credits count toward fulfilling the requirement.

Commencement: Commencement information can be obtained from commencement.msu.edu.

Time Limitation: All work in the master's program including those courses for which credits were transferred must be completed in five (5) years; all work in the Ph.D. program including transfer credits must be completed in eight (8) calendar years of the student's first enrollment in the doctoral program. Exceeding this time limit will result in dismissal from the graduate program. Applications for extension of these time limits may be submitted by a student to the respective graduate program for approval by the Dean of Engineering and the Dean of the Graduate School.

4. University Procedures: Academic Performance

Students should refer to the most recent edition of the Academic Programs Catalog for a complete discussion of academic standards pertaining to the graduate program. The following is a summary of current policy on academic performance.

In order to be considered full-time, students must carry the minimum number of credits per semester as defined below:

• Master's level: 9 credits
• Doctoral level: 6 credits
• Graduate-Professional level: 12 credits

Full time status for doctoral students is defined as a minimum of 1 credit for those students who:

• Have successfully completed all comprehensive examinations and are actively engaged in dissertation research OR
• Are doing department-approved off-campus fieldwork related to preparation of their dissertation.

Annual Progress Report: As described in " Graduate Student Rights and Responsibilities , " Section 2.4.8, graduate students have a right to periodic evaluations to assess their academic progress, performance, and professional potential. To this end, students are required to complete an Annual Report, including a self-evaluation using the Graduate Reporting System . The faculty advisor will then prepare a written evaluation in consultation with the student. January/February is the time frame for these evaluations, and the report must be complete by March 1. Failure to meet the March 1 deadline for completing and verifying the annual report will result in a hold being placed on students' accounts. More information on Annual Reports is available here .

Grade Point Average Calculations: The grade point average (GPA) will be based on all programmed work, except for collateral work or transfer credits. If a grade of less than 2.0 is received, the course may be repeated; if a grade of 2.0 or 2.5 is received, the course may be repeated only with the permission of the College of Engineering Associate Dean of Research and Graduate Studies. For repeated courses, only the second grade will be used in the GPA calculation.

Minimum GPA and Probational Status: Grades of 2.0 or higher are acceptable toward the graduate degree. However, a minimum GPA of 3.0 is required for graduation. A candidate having a GPA below 3.0 will be placed on probational status. In such status, the candidate will not be allowed to carry more than nine credit hours per semester or take any non-competitive, special problems courses as part of the program.

Retention in Program: Should a Master's candidate's cumulative grade-point average fall below 3.0 after 16 or more credits of programmed work (not including collateral courses) have been accumulated, one semester on probational status will be allowed. Failure to remove the deficiency during this semester will result in dismissal of the candidate from the program.

Should a Ph.D. candidate's cumulative grade-point average fall below 3.0 after having completed half of the courses in the approved guidance committee report, OR should the student accumulate more than 3 deferred grades (identified by the DF-Deferred marker), the student may be enrolled in probational status in the doctoral degree program for one additional semester. If at the end of the additional semester the student's cumulative grade- point average is 3.0 or higher AND the student has no more than 3 deferred grades, the student may continue to enroll in the doctoral degree program. Otherwise, the student will be dismissed from the program.

Credit-Non-Credit Registration: All courses are open for Credit/Non-Credit registration. However, at least 22 credits on the master's program or equivalent must be taken on the basis of the established numerical grading system. (These 22 credits may include thesis credit, but not collateral course credit.) Collateral courses taken to fill deficiencies in the student's undergraduate background should be taken using a numerical grading system.

DF-Deferred grades: The required work must be completed and a grade reported within 6 months with the option of a single six-month extension. If the required work is not completed within the time limit, the DF will become U-Unfinished and will be changed to DF/U under the numerical and Pass-No Grade (P-N) grading systems, and to DF/NC under the Credit-No Credit (CR-NC) system. This rule does not apply to graduate thesis or dissertation work.

Course Registration: Students enroll using online enrollment . The student's PID and PAN are required for the enrollment process.

5. Financial Support

The CHEMS Department strives to provide financial support to all Ph.D. students and Plan A master's students. Several types of financial support are available, including fellowships, research assistantships and teaching assistantships. Continued financial support is contingent upon the student's making satisfactory progress toward completion of the degree. The department's criteria for satisfactory progress includes courses completed, the nature of the courses, grades received, passing the Ph.D. qualifying examination, and progress in completing master's thesis or Ph.D. dissertation research. Funding is also dependent on the total number of semesters the student has been supported, availability of funds, and the needs of the department for particular services.

Fellowships: Fellowships provide financial support that is not associated with specific tasks other than making satisfactory progress toward completion of the degree. Fellowships are assigned based on availability of funds and the student's qualifications and performance.

Receipt of externally funded fellowships by students who have written their own grant applications and worth at least $24,000 (direct costs) makes the student eligible for in-state tuition rate. The in-state tuition rate applies only to the semesters during which the student is supported by the fellowship. This policy applies only to grants funded through a competitive process by a US or international institution/agency/foundation. Funds obtained through non-competitive processes (e.g., need-based fellowships) do not qualify the student for in-state tuition rates. For more information, consult the Graduate School Funding Page .

Research Assistantships: Research assistantships are assigned by the research advisor based on criteria including the availability of research funds and the student's qualifications, interests, and past performance. Students on research assistantships perform work needed to complete a funded research project. Often, but not always, the work is related to the student's thesis/dissertation topic. Renewal of research assistantships is based on satisfactory performance and availability of funds.

Teaching Assistantships: Teaching Assistantships (TA) are assigned by the chairperson based on criteria including prior commitment to provide support, availability of other forms of support, number of semesters of previous support, and the student's knowledge of the course material, teaching ability, and interest in teaching as a career option.

Candidates for TA appointments who were either (a) required to demonstrate English proficiency as a condition for regular graduate admission or (b) received a waiver of the TOEFL or other accepted tests of English proficiency for admission, must also demonstrate that they meet a minimum standard of proficiency in spoken English before they can be assigned teaching work that involves oral communication with undergraduate students.

Those international teaching assistants (ITAs) may meet this requirement in one of the following ways:

• Presenting a TOEFL iBT speaking section score of 27 or higher.
• Receiving a score of 50 or higher on the MSU Speaking Test .
• Taking an ITA language support course (AAE 451 or AAE 452) and receiving a score of 50 or higher on the ITA Oral Interaction Test (ITAOI) .

Individual exceptions from these requirements (on a case-by-case basis in rare circumstances) will be considered by the Graduate School in consultation with the ELC upon the request of the department and with the endorsement of the Associate Dean of the College.

Tuition Waiver, Fees, and Health Insurance: Research assistantships and teaching assistantships include a tuition waiver (nine credits for fall and spring semesters and five for summer semester) matriculation and energy fees, and health insurance.

Duration of Financial Support: Ph.D. students should expect no more than 5 years of assistantship or fellowship support after admission to the Ph.D. program.

6. Work Related Policies and Procedures

The Department of Chemical Engineering and Materials Science strives to provide an excellent learning and working environment for all of its graduate assistants. It is important that graduate assistants comply with University and Department policies concerning work schedule, health and safety, and appearance of office space to help maintain this environment.

Responsibilities of the Graduate Student: The responsibilities of the graduate student, as described in MSU Guidelines for Graduate Student Mentoring & Advising , include:

• Learning and adhering to University and academic unit rules, procedures, and policies applicable to graduate study and research or creative activities, including those outlined in Academic Programs , Graduate Student Rights and Responsibilities or Medical Student Rights and Responsibilities, and Academic Freedom for Students at MSU
• Meeting University and academic unit requirements for degree completion
• Forming a guidance committee that meets University requirements, as well as requirements that are outlined in the Graduate Handbook of the academic unit
• Seeking regulatory approval for research in the early stages of thesis or dissertation work where applicable
• Keeping the faculty advisor and guidance committee apprised on a regular basis of the progress toward completion of the thesis or dissertation

Rights and Responsibilities of Graduate Teaching Assistants: Students' rights and responsibilities as a graduate teaching assistant are found in the Graduate Employees Union (GEU) Collective Bargaining Agreement . This contract also outlines MSU's rights and responsibilities as an employer. The graduate secretary can provide a copy of the contract.

Training and Professional Development: The Department and supervising faculty members are responsible for establishing orientation and in-service training programs for all employees (TA's). Such programs will provide training in the teaching of subject matter, an introduction to course goals, grading criteria and practices, and classroom procedures, as well as periodic classroom visitations. The department will hold teaching assistant orientation and training fall semester as part of the Department's graduate student orientation. Supervising faculty will ensure that teaching assistants are qualified in the subject matter and are trained in the course goals, grading criteria and practices, and classroom procedures. The supervising faculty will also carry out periodic classroom visitations. Employees (TA's) shall, as part of their regular duties, participate in the orientation and training.

Appointment Levels: Three levels are established for graduate students appointments. The departmental standard for promotion is as follows:

• Level 1: First year Ph.D. students and all M.S. students
• Level 2: Ph.D. students who have passed the Qualifying Examination
• Level 3: Students who have served as Teaching Assistant for six or more semesters.

Annual Evaluation: For each candidate, an evaluation of both academic progress and professional potential will be made by March 15 of each year. The Associate Dean of Engineering for Research and Graduate Studies may dismiss a student whose performance does not meet the program's acceptable standards of quality.

Work Calendar: Graduate assistants are paid for the period of August 16 to December 31 for fall semester, January 1 to May 15 for spring semester, and May 16 to August 15 for summer semester. As departmental employees, graduate assistants are expected to perform assigned duties on campus unless they have explicit permission from their supervisor to be away. This applies particularly during the final exam week and the subsequent grading period.

Vacation: University holidays include Labor Day, Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year's Day. In Summer (mid-May to mid-August) supported students are paid for 10-20 hours per week. Generally, however, Summer is a time to focus on research and make significant progress towards degree requirements. That requires a investment of personal time that goes beyond paid time. Students should aim to take about a day a week off during Summer, possibly in a 10-12 day block. Research advisors should approve vacation time well in advance.

Payroll Processing: Students should complete an I-9 form within three business days of date of hire, August 16, and present an original document(s) that establish identity and employment eligibility. Students may choose which identification document(s) ( e.g. , social- security card) to present from the list on the back of the I-9 form.

Provide copy of Social Security Card: Graduate assistants who do not have a social security card or whose card is lost, stolen or destroyed are required to apply for a card from the Social Security Administration. The local Social Security office is located at 5210 Perry Robinson Circle, Lansing, MI 48910. The phone number is 517-393-3876, and the operating hours are 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., Mon. - Fri. About eight to twelve weeks are required for processing the new card.

Enrollment Required: Paychecks will be held for graduate assistants who are not enrolled (i.e., fees paid) by the payday.

Location of Paychecks: Michigan State University now requires that all employees enroll in Direct Deposit or elect to have a PayCard. Students may enroll in direct deposit or chose to receive a Pay Card through Enterprise Business System under the employee self-service tab. More information is available from the Office of the Controller .

Direct Deposit Personal Entry: Students may have paychecks automatically deposited to a bank account through the Enterprise Business System under the employee self-service tab.

W-4 Form: Tax withholdings (W-4 form) should be submitted through the Enterprise Business System under the employee self-service tab. (Exception: some international students and scholars may be limited in their access capabilities. For example, some individuals are required by federal regulations to file their paperwork and related documents in person at the MSU Payroll Office .)

Parking: Graduate students with assistantships or fellowships are eligible for on-campus parking permits. Students may apply for a parking permit online with MSU Police or in person at the Public Safety Office, 870 Red Cedar Road. Car registration and insurance must be presented when applying for a parking permit at the office. Students living in Owen Hall must show proof of residency. Students living in University Apartments must show a leasing agreement.

Office Space: Graduate assistants are assigned office space, typically during the first week of the semester.

Keys: Graduate assistants are issued office and desk keys. Lab keys are issued at the request of the faculty advisor. Keys are issued in the CHEMS department office, 2100 Engineering Building.

Office Upkeep: Students are expected to maintain a clean and orderly office space. Trash should be disposed of at recycling stations located throughout the hallways. All offices are smoke-free areas.

Labs: No drinks or food are allowed in labs. Students are expected to maintain a clean and orderly lab space.

Ergonomics: Health problems can result from continuous and prolonged use of computer keyboards. Proper posture and periodic breaks are recommended.

Department Website, Email, and Mail: Notices regarding events of general interest are posted on the CHEMS Department homepage. Email is widely used to communicate with students. Hard-copy mail for graduate assistants is distributed in mailboxes assigned to graduate students in the CHEMS Office, Room 2100 Engineering Building. Graduate assistants should check the CHEMS Department home page and their assigned mailbox at least twice a week; E- mail should be checked at least daily.

Emergencies: MSU buildings have evacuation alarms that are activated by the red pull handles found in the hallways. However, these handles only activate the alarm; they do not notify the fire or public safety departments. Thus, in case of an emergency that may require evacuation, such as a fire or dangerous chemical spill, students should both activate the alarm and also contact the Department of Public Safety (DPS) by dialing 911 on any phone. A phone for emergency use only is located in 3350 Engineering Building. No money is needed to dial 911 on pay phones. Pay phones are located in the lobby area of the Engineering Building, near 1345 EB and 1405 EB.

Non-emergency Assistance: To summon non-emergency assistance, students should notify the CHEMS Department office, 2100 Engineering Building, phone 355-5135 during business hours. If immediate attention is needed outside of business hours, notify the MSU telephone operator by dialing 0 on a MSU phone. Each lab has emergency phone numbers on its outside door.

Telephone: Personal long distance telephone calls should not be placed on departmental phones. Pay phones are located on the first floor of the Engineering Building. Business-related long distance calls may be made in the departmental office with your advisor's approval.

Purchases: Graduate assistants engaged in research may purchase apparatus, chemicals, and other supplies (transparencies, tape, etc.) for research purposes with the approval of their research advisor. These items should be purchased on campus through General Stores, Biochemistry Stores, or Chemistry Stores and charged to a research account. The research advisor can provide the account number to use.

Below are some of the common funding sources, along with the corresponding record keeper:

Research advisors can provide the record-keeper with contact information for particular accounts. A number of different types of purchase transactions can be carried out.

Open Orders Companies: It may be possible to purchase items not sold on campus through an "open order" company. Open order companies have special purchasing agreements with MSU. Purchases made through open orders companies do not require departmental approval if they do not exceed $1000. A list of open order vendors is available online through University Stores .

Spartan Marketplace: Open orders can be placed online via Spartan Marketplace . Spartan Marketplace can be accessed through EBS. The graduate assistant must set up a profile before they can place an order via Spartan Marketplace.

Credit Card Orders: If any item is not available via Spartan Marketplace, a credit card order may be placed. Credit card order forms may be obtained from the department secretary. Credit card orders have a limit of $2500. Any order over $2500 will require a quote and a purchase order to be completed by the department secretary.

Shop Orders: The College of Engineering maintains a machine shop and an electronics shop. The research advisor and departmental chairperson must approve requests for shop labor. Shop work order forms are located in the CHEMS departmental office.

Copy machine: The CHEMS copy machine must be used for department-related tasks only. Teaching assistants will be assigned a copier account number, which must be used only for the assigned course. When copying research-related material, the student's research advisor will authorize a research account number. The department copier cannot be used for thesis/dissertation copying, because of the large number of pages involved. On campus copy centers are available that have copiers better suited for high-volume jobs.

Travel: A Travel Authorization form must be completed and approved on Concur , and the departmental secretary must be notified at least two days before traveling on MSU-related business, so that MSU can provide travel insurance.

Travel Abroad:

• Check with the MSU Travel Clinic . They will let you know of any health risks or immunizations.
• Check the Travel Smart website. The department or research grant supporting TAs or RAs research are required to pay for all needed vaccinations and or medications, as determined by the MSU Travel Clinic. These costs may be included in applications for funds from the Research Enhancement or Travel Grant programs administered by the Graduate School.
• Apply for assistance with travel funding via the Graduate School . If the Graduate School provides funding, they will also provide a MEDEX emergency card.
• Check the International Studies and Programs website for issues related to safety around the world.

CHEMS Office Hours: The CHEMS office is open from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Monday - Friday. The phone number is 517-355-5135. The e-mail addresses for office staff members are available on the department website .

7. Integrity and Safety in Research and Creative Activities

Safety training.

The MSU Office of Environmental Health & Safety (EHS) coordinates safety training. Graduate assistants are required to complete the following safety training:

• Chemical Hygiene and Hazardous Waste
• Lab-specific training (consult with advisor)
• Annual Departmental Safety Seminar
• Annual Hazardous Waste Refresher

Additional information on training modules is available on the EHS web site . Additional information specific to Safety in the CHEMS department can be found on the CHEMS web site .

Responsible Conduct of Research (RCR)

Guidelines on ethics and research integrity are described during Responsible Conduct of Research (RCR) training, required for all CHEMS graduate students. In addition, each graduate student should review the document, " Guidelines for Integrity in Research and Creative Activities ," and discuss its content with their research advisor.

Michigan State University considers the responsible conduct of research (RCR) as essential to all research activities associated with the University. Integrity in research and creative activities embodies a range of practices listed below:

• Honesty in proposing, performing, and reporting research
• Recognition of prior work
• Confidentiality in peer review
• Disclosure of potential conflicts of interest
• Compliance with institutional and sponsor requirements
• Protection of human subjects and humane care of animals in the conduct of research
• Collegiality in scholarly interactions and sharing of resources
• Adherence to fair and open relationships between senior scholars and their coworkers

Honesty in Proposing, Performing, and Reporting Research: The foundation underlying all research is uncompromising honesty in presenting one's own ideas in research proposals, in performing one's research, and in reporting one's data. Detailed and accurate records of primary data must be kept as unalterable documentation of one's research and must be available for scrutiny and critique. It is expected that researchers will always be truthful and explicit in disclosing what was done, how it was done, and what results were obtained. To this end, research aims, methods, and outcomes must be described in sufficient detail such that others can judge the quality of what is reported and can reproduce the data. Results from valid observations and tests that run counter to expectations must be reported along with supportive data.

Recognition of Prior Work: Research proposals, original research, and creative endeavors often build on one's own work and also on the work of others. Both published and unpublished work must always be properly credited. Reporting the work of others as if it were one's own is plagiarism. Research advisors and members of guidance committees have a unique role in guiding the independent research and creative activities of students. Information learned through private discussions or committee meetings should be respected as proprietary and accorded the same protection granted to information obtained in any peer-review process. Unintentional plagiarism can be prevented using programs such as "Ithenticate," anti-plagiarism software available on the Ithenticate Site as part of the 'Turn-It-In" package. More information is available from MSU Technology .

Confidentiality in Peer Review: Critical and impartial review by respected disciplinary peers is the foundation for important decisions in the evaluation of internal and external funding requests, allocation of resources, publication of research results, granting of awards, and in other scholarly decisions. The peer-review process involves the sharing of information for scholarly assessment on behalf of the larger disciplinary community. The integrity of this process depends on confidentiality until the information is released to the public. Therefore, the contents of research proposals, of manuscripts submitted for publication, and of other scholarly documents under review should be considered privileged information not to be shared with others, including students and staff, without explicit permission by the authority requesting the review. Ideas and results learned through the peer-review process should not be made use of prior to their presentation in a public forum or their release through publication.

Disclosure of Potential Conflicts of Interest: There is real or perceived conflict of interest when a researcher has material or personal interest that could compromise the integrity of the scholarship. It is, therefore, imperative that potential conflicts of interest be considered and acted upon appropriately by the researcher. Some federal sponsors require the University to implement formal conflict of interest policies. It is the responsibility of all researchers to be aware of and comply with such requirements.

Compliance with Institutional and Sponsor Requirements: Investigators are granted broad freedoms in making decisions concerning their research. These decisions are, however, still guided, and in some cases limited, by the laws, regulations, and procedures that have been established by the University and sponsors of research to protect the integrity of the research process and the uses of the information developed for the common good. Although the legal agreement underlying the funding of a sponsored project is a matter between the sponsor and the University, the primary responsibility for management of a sponsored project rests with the principal investigator and his or her academic unit.

Protection of Human Subjects and Humane Care of Animals in the Conduct of Research: Research techniques should not violate established professional ethics or federal and state requirements pertaining to the health, safety, privacy, and protection of human beings, or to the welfare of animal subjects. Whereas it is the responsibility of faculty to assist students and staff in complying with such requirements, it is the responsibility of all researchers to be aware of and to comply with such requirements.

Collegiality in Scholarly Interactions and Sharing of Resources: Collegiality in scholarly interactions, including open communications and sharing of resources, facilitates progress in research and creative activities for the good of the community. At the same time, it has to be understood that scholars who first report important findings are both recognized for their discovery and afforded intellectual property rights that permit discretion in the use and sharing of their discoveries and inventions. Balancing openness and protecting the intellectual property rights of individuals and the institution will always be a challenge for the community. Once the results of research or creative activities have been published or otherwise communicated to the public, scholars are expected to share materials and information on methodologies with their colleagues according to the tradition of their discipline. Research advisors have a particular responsibility to respect and protect the intellectual property rights of their advisees. A clear understanding must be reached during the course of the project on who will be entitled to continue what part of the overall research program after the advisee leaves for an independent position. Advisors should also strive to protect junior scholars from abuses by others who have gained knowledge of the junior scholar's results during the mentoring process, for example, as members of guidance committees.

Adherence to Fair and Open Relationships Between Senior Scholars and Their Coworkers: The relationship between senior scholars and their coworkers should be based on mutual respect, trust, honesty, fairness in the assignment of effort and credit, open communications, and accountability. The principles that will be used to establish authorship and ordering of authors on presentations of results must be communicated early and clearly to all coworkers. These principles should be determined objectively according to the standards of the discipline, with the understanding that such standards may not be the same as those used to assign credit for contributions to intellectual property. It is the responsibility of the faculty to protect the freedom to publish results of research and creative activities. The University has affirmed the right of its scholars for first publication except for "exigencies of national defense".

It is also the responsibility of the faculty to recognize and balance their dual roles as investigators and research advisors in interacting with graduate students of their group, especially when a student's efforts do not contribute directly to the completion of his or her degree requirements. Additional materials are available through MSU's Research & Scholarly Integrity website.

Misconduct in Research Scholarly Activities: Federal and University policies define misconduct to include fabrication (making up data and recording or reporting them), falsification (manipulating research materials, equipment or processes, or changing or omitting data such that the research is not accurately represented in the record), and plagiarism (appropriation of another person's ideas, processes, results, or words without giving appropriate credit). Serious or continuing non-compliance with government regulations pertaining to research may constitute misconduct as well. University policy also defines retaliation against whistle blowers as misconduct. Misconduct does not include honest errors or honest differences of opinion in the interpretation or judgment of data.

The University views misconduct to be the most egregious violation of standards of integrity and as grounds for disciplinary action, including the termination of employment of faculty and staff, dismissal of students, and revocation of degrees. It is the responsibility of faculty, staff and students alike to understand the University's policy on misconduct in research and creative activities , to report perceived acts of misconduct of which they have direct knowledge to the University Research Integrity Office, and to protect the rights and privacy of individuals making such reports in good faith.

RCR Training

The National Science Foundation (NSF) has established requirements for RCR training of all undergraduate students, graduate students, and post-doctoral personnel engaged in the conduct of research. In keeping with these requirements, MSU requires the following training components for graduate students, depending on program:

• First Year (All graduate students) Four online training modules from CITI Program : (1) Introduction to RCR; (2) Authorship; (3) Plagiarism; (4) Research Misconduct. The modules must be completed by Dec. 31 of the first year of the graduate program.
• Discussion (All graduate students) A minimum of six hours of interpersonal discussion (one-on-one or in groups) must be completed prior to graduation. These can include Graduate School RCR Workshops , College of Engineering RCR Seminars , Departmental Courses, and Individual or Group conversations with research advisor(s). Discussion hours must be approved by research advisor(s).
• Second Year (M.S. Plan A, Ph.D.) Three online modules from either CITI Program or MSU Regulatory Training (M) : • Collaborative Research (C) • Conflicts of Interest (C) • Data Management (C) • Financial Responsibility (C) • Mentoring (C) • Peer Review (C) • IACUC Tutorial for Animal Care Training (M) • Human Research Protection/IRB Certification (M) • Rigor and Reproducibility (M, in development). The modules must be completed by Dec. 31 of the second year of the graduate program.
• Refresher (Ph.D.) Starting third year, 3 hrs/year of Online or discussion-based training. Discussion based training may double-count with the six-hour minimum described above. Online modules must be beyond the 7 completed in years 1-2. Refresher training must be completed between Jan 1 and Dec 31 of each year .

All researchers are responsible for logging their RCR training on the Research Training Tracking System (RTTS) provided by the College of Engineering. RCR training records must be included in the students annual report.

8. Student Conduct and Conflict Resolution

Student Conduct: The University expects student conduct and behavior to reflect qualities of good citizenship, both in and out of the classroom. Details are given in the " Spartan Life " handbook and resource guide.

Conflict Resolution and Grievances: Conflicts involving graduate students may be handled informally or formally, depending on the preference of the involved parties. Students' rights and responsibilities, including formal grievance procedures, are described in " Student Rights and Responsibilities at Michigan State University ". Procedures specific to graduate students are described in " Graduate Student Rights and Responsibilities ." The CHEMS Department's Hearing Board follows specific procedures to deal with such issues, which can be found here . The College of Engineering's Hearing Board procedures can be found here . The Office of the Ombudsperson is a resource for additional information.

9. University Resources

The following is a list of URLs for University Resources covered in this document:

• Academic Programs Catalog: www.reg.msu.edu/AcademicPrograms/
• Annual Progress Report: www.egr.msu.edu/graduate/graduate-student-annual-reporting-requirements
• CHEMS Department: chems.msu.edu
• Collaborative Institutional Training Initiative: ora.msu.edu/train/programs/citi.html
• Commencement: commencement.msu.edu
• MS Defense Form: www.chems.msu.edu/sites/default/files/content/grad/MS_defense_form.pdf
• PHD Comprehensive Form: www.chems.msu.edu/sites/default/files/content/grad/PHD_comprehensive_form.pdf
• PHD Defense Form: www.chems.msu.edu/sites/default/files/content/grad/PHD_defense_form.pdf
• Doctoral Candidate Information: www.egr.msu.edu/graduate/doctoral- candidate-information-intro
• English Language Center elc.msu.edu
• Enterprise Business System: www.ebs.msu.edu
• Environmental Health & Safety: www.ehs.msu.edu
• Exit/Destination Survey (Doctoral): www.egr.msu.edu/doctoral/survey/
• Exit/Destination Survey (Master's): www.egr.msu.edu/Master's/survey/
• GradPlan: student.msu.edu ; GradPlan tile
• Graduate Employees Union (GEU) Collective Bargaining Agreement: hr.msu.edu/contracts/documents/geu-2019-2023.pdf
• Graduate School Funding: grad.msu.edu/funding/
• Graduate School: grad.msu.edu/
• Graduate Student Rights and Responsibilities: splife.studentlife.msu.edu/graduate-student-rights-and-responsibilities
• Student Information System (SIS): student.msu.edu
• Graduation Application: www.reg.msu.edu/StuForms/GradApp/GradApp.asp
• MSU Guidelines for Graduate Student Mentoring & Advising: https://grad.msu.edu/msu-guidelines-graduate-student-mentoring-advising
• International Studies and Programs: www.isp.msu.edu/information-resources/international-travel/
• Office of the Registrar: reg.msu.edu
• Ombudsperson's Office: ombud.msu.edu/
• Online Enrollment: www.reg.msu.edu/ROInfo/Enrollment.asp
• Payroll Office: ctlr.msu.edu/COPayroll/default.aspx
• Police: dpps.msu.edu
• Procedures Concerning Allegations of Misconduct In Research and Creative Activities: rio.msu.edu/sites/rio.msu.edu/files/2018-12/June_2009_Procedures.pdf
• Registrar Graduate Education: www.reg.msu.edu/AcademicPrograms/Text.asp?Section=111#s394
• Research Integrity Office: rio.msu.edu
• Research Training Tracking System: www.egr.msu.edu/secureresearchcourses/
• Responsibly Conduct of Research (RCR): www.egr.msu.edu/graduate/rcr
• Student Rights and Responsibilities: splife.studentlife.msu.edu/student-rights-and-responsibilities-at-michigan-state-university
• Termination-Separation Checklist: www.hr.msu.edu/ua/leaving-msu/documents/TerminationChecklist.pdf
• Electronic Theses and Dissertation Submissions grad.msu.edu/etd
• Travel Clinic: travelclinic.msu.edu
• Travel Smart: grad.msu.edu/travel/
• University Stores: usd.msu.edu/university-stores/

The following are other resources not referenced in this document:

• College of Engineering: www.egr.msu.edu
• Council of Graduate Students: cogs.msu.edu/
• Office for International Students and Scholars: oiss.isp.msu.edu
• Graduate student professional development: grad.msu.edu/professional-development
• Spartan Life: splife.studentlife.msu.edu
• Vice President for Research: www.msu.edu/unit/vprgs/
• CHEMS Graduate Handbook 2022
• CHEMS Graduate Handbook 2021
• CHEMS Graduate Handbook 2020
• CHEMS Graduate Handbook 2019
• CHEMS Graduate Handbook 2018
• CHEMS Graduate Handbook 2017
• CHEMS Graduate Handbook 2016
• CHEMS Graduate Handbook 2015

Accessibility Tools

Highlight links, change contrast, increase text size, increase letter spacing, readability bar, dyslexia friendly font, increase cursor size, dissertation completion.

• Apply for graduation  the first week of your last semester
• Fill out the graduate student exit survey
• Prepare dissertation following the Graduate School's formatting guidelines and deadlines
• Submit dissertation to committee at least 2 weeks before oral defense date
• After oral defense, edit dissertation as required by your committee
• Submit approval form and AUF documentation to the Graduate School via email:  [email protected]
• Full text of the dissertation in PDF format. This must be one file. If your manuscript is in a Word or RTF format, you can convert the PDF using a PDF Conversion tool. You also must embed fonts in the PDF. After you have created your account and arrive at this section, you will find a Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) page for the conversion tool and embedding fonts.
• 'Optional' Supplementary files. Michigan State University does allow supplemental files (audio, video, etc.). Please note that only those files approved by the major professor/committee, as denoted on the Graduate School approval form, are allowed.
• Advisor and other Committee Members' Names
• Subject Category: from ProQuest's list of subject categories
• Degree Granting Unit/Program: Neuroscience - Doctor of Philosophy. Located on Title Page, form in #3, and electronic submission)
• Type of Degree Awarded: Doctor of Philosophy
• Complete the Survey of Earned Doctorates

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HALE Happenings

Graduate school workshop: electronic thesis and dissertation formatting.

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Formatting Workshop Friday, February 21, 2020 – 2:30pm to 3:30pm Chittenden Hall (Rm. 110)

This one-hour workshop is designed for Plan A Master’s students and all Doctoral students who intend to graduate within the next two semesters. During this workshop students will receive information on how to format and submit their thesis or dissertation correctly. Read more and register  here .

School of Planning, Design and Construction

2022 spdc graduate school policies, guidelines, and resources.

It is not expected that all answers will be found in this text. Unforeseen questions will arise, and answers will be needed. Students should begin addressing their questions to the Graduate Secretary or assigned Major Professor. In most cases, the student’s Major Professor, Program Director or the Graduate Secretary will be able to provide the required information. Complex issues may require further advice or action from the School of Planning, Design and Construction (SPDC) faculty. Students have the option of following degree requirements set forth by the School of Planning, Design and Construction which are in effect during their first semester of enrollment or degree requirements which are published subsequent to their enrollment.

Updates and corrections to this handbook will be posted within this digital document on the School of Planning, Design and Construction website . (This information is important in reading this document.)

General Graduate Program Requirements

Introduction to SPDC

The School of Planning, Design and Construction (SPDC), jointly administered by the College of Agriculture and Natural Resources and the College of Social Science, is composed of four major disciplines:  

• Construction Management
• Interior Design
• Landscape Architecture
• Urban & Regional Planning

SPDC offers seven graduate programs between two colleges.  

Through the College of Agriculture and Natural Resources, we offer

• Master of Science in Construction Management (MCM)
• Master of Art in Environmental Design (MED)
• Environmental Design
• Graduate Certificate in Real Estate Development and Construction (REDC)
• Graduate Certificate in Urban Resilient Redevelopment (URR)

Through the College of Social Science, we offer

• Master of Urban and Regional Planning (MURP)
• Master of International Planning Studies (MIPS)

The graduate student population of the School is characterized by diversity. There is a substantial representation of domestic and international students from a variety of countries in Asia, Europe, Africa, and the Americas. Many students, both domestic and international, have completed Undergraduate Degrees in Construction Management, Interior Design, Landscape Architecture, and Urban Planning or degrees in related disciplines such as Architecture, Engineering, Social Science, Business, and Environmental Design fields.   Students from Natural Science Degrees, along with Professional Degrees in Law, Medicine, and other fields are also encouraged to apply.  

Graduates of the School of Planning, Design and Construction are sought by employers domestically and internationally. Graduates with Advanced Degrees are more likely to select Education, Research, or Management positions than those with bachelor’s degrees, and less likely to be placed in entry-level positions.  

Facilities for advanced study and research are located on the top three floors of the Human Ecology Building, which is immediately east of the MSU Student Union. These facilities include multiple studio and computer laboratories, state of the art lecture halls, faculty offices, workrooms, and dedicated graduate student research and office space. Galleries for temporary displays and critique-presentations are located on two floors of the building.

Master Degree Components and Options

All graduate students engage in a combination of formal coursework as well as independent efforts that result in a Thesis, Plan B Report, or Exam. SPDC graduate degree programs are structured around the following components:

• Core courses
• Elective courses
• Research component, Plan A (Thesis) or Plan B (Non-Thesis).

Plan A – Thesis Option  

Students will be required to prepare a thesis. The thesis, based on original research, is designed to demonstrate the student's familiarity with the tools of research and scholarship in the field, the ability to work independently, and the ability to orally defend the results of a significant research effort. The Thesis must be accepted and approved by the student’s Guidance Committee in addition to passing an oral Thesis defense. The quality of the Thesis is expected to be comparable to Journal Publications within the student’s area of study.

Plan B – Report Option  

Complete a Plan B Report designed to demonstrate the student's familiarity with the tools of research and scholarship in the field, and the ability to orally present the results of a minor scholarly effort. The Plan B Report must be accepted and approved by the student’s Plan B Guidance Committee in addition to passing an oral presentation. The quality of the report is expected to be comparable to Conference Presentations within the student’s area of study.  

Plan B – Coursework Option  

Take a set of approved courses in addition to successfully completing a final exam administered by the School of Planning, Design and Construction.  

Options for Plan B differ by program, not every program offers both options.

Specific degree requirements for each major are defined in the program overview area of this handbook.  

Orientation

All on-campus graduate students are expected to attend the School of Planning, Design and Construction’s new graduate orientation held at the beginning of your first fall semester. The orientation will include an overview of the graduate degrees as well as school policies and procedures. Most importantly we want to familiarize students with the school and provide an opportunity for them to meet their fellow graduate students. During orientation students will also be introduced to the graduate faculty within SPDC. The faculty will give an overview of their research interests and activities, as well as any special research opportunities that currently exist. The orientation session should help students develop a plan for their program and identify potential members for their Guidance Committee.  

GradPlan  

Students in a Graduate Career will see the GradPlan tile on their home page after logging into https://student.msu.edu .   This system is where students will manage their Guidance Committee, Course Plan, annual activities, and submit annual reviews.   GradPlan will also record Responsible Conduct of Research training, and student milestones such as comprehensive exams and final defenses.   The Graduate School has created a Job Aid to help in completing the GradPlan requirements.   Please utilize this resource when completing the below requirements.

Guidance Committee

A Guidance Committee is selected by the student with advice from the Major Professor. Members of the committee act as mentors, advisors, and evaluators for the student’s program and research. They approve the students’ academic program of study, Plan A Thesis, or Plan B Final Report, as applicable. All committee members are regular faculty of MSU or specialists that have been approved by the Graduate School to serve on Guidance Committees.  

Master’s students following a Plan A Thesis option should have a committee comprised of at least three members.   The Committee Chair and at least one committee member must be faculty within the program.   The third committee member must be faculty member from outside the program.   Masters students following a Plan B Report option should have a committee comprised of at least two members.   The Committee Chair must be a faculty member within the program.   Masters students following a Plan B Exam will have a committee comprised solely of their Major Professor, which must be a faculty member within the program.  

Once designated, the guidance committee has the responsibility to meet periodically to oversee the graduate student’s progress as long as the graduate student continues in good standing. (GSRR. 2.4.2)

Selection of Major Professor

Students should refer to the handbook specific to their degree for information on assignment and selection of a Major Professor.  

Changes to Guidance Committee or Major Professor

In the rare case when the student needs to make a change to his or her Guidance Committee or Major Professor, a written request must be addressed to the Program Director explaining the reason for the change.   The Program Director will evaluate the request and determine the proper course of action.   If the Program Director is one of the committee members to be changed, then the request should be made to the Director and the Director will evaluate.

Request for Non-Regular Faculty to serve on Guidance Committee

In general, no more than one non-regular faculty member may serve on a graduate committee.   The number of non-regular faculty may not exceed the number of regular MSU faculty on the committee.

To request a waiver to include a non-regular faculty on the graduate committee.   The Graduate School procedure must be followed.   Contact the graduate secretary for assistance with this process.

Course Plan

All students are required to submit a formal plan of the graduate degree called the Course Plan.   This plan indicates all the courses the student will complete during their Master’s program.   Within the first academic year graduate students must submit their Course Plan via GradPlan and route it for approvals.  

Note: Plan A Thesis and Plan B project students must first submit their guidance committee in GradPlan before submitting their Course Plan.  

Changes to Course Plan

Once submitted, changes to the course plan should be submitted via Manage Course Plan.

For all degree programs it is strongly suggested that graduate students map out their coursework and requirements early as many courses are taught only one semester per year and others may require prerequisites.  

Research Overview

Every Fall, graduate students will be assigned an activity guide where they will answer a series of questions about their student rights, responsibilities, and research needs.   This is to be completed or re-certified every year for the duration of the graduate program.

Annual Review – Academic Performance

Every Spring semester, graduate students will meet with their advisor to conduct an evaluation of their academic progress, performance, and professional potential. The Evaluation Form should be completed when the Major Professor meets with the graduate student to review the student’s progress in regards to his or her coursework, research or creative activity, as well as plans for work in the coming year (GSRR 2.4.8). This evaluation will assist students to define their strengths and weaknesses, allowing the student to improve the weaker performance areas.   The annual review is also an opportunity for the graduate student to reflect on their experiences in the program and offer their assessment and critiques.   A letter or written report on the results of this review will be signed by the student and Major Professor.   A copy of this report will be uploaded to GradPlan either by the student or by the Graduate Secretary.    

The following outline should be used by the Major Professor when preparing their portion of the annual review.

• Individual grades and grade-point average
• Progress on special problem topics, Thesis/Dissertation.
• Student’s initiative in the choice of a research topic
• Student’s initiative in the analysis of a research topic
• Student’s performance in the execution of research.
• Student’s ability in oral communication
• Student’s ability in written communication.  

Guidelines for students under Plan A – Thesis Option

Plan A – Thesis Proposal  

The student must present to their major professor and guidance committee a proposal for their thesis research. Once the proposed research topic has been approved, the student will conduct research and begin writing the thesis. The thesis should be finalized in the layout specified by the Graduate School of MSU. Students should consult the “Thesis and Dissertation Formatting Guide” from the Graduate School for details on the layout and other requirements. Students should also refer to the MSU Graduate School’s “Guidelines for Integrity in Research and Creative Activities.”  

Plan A – Thesis Oral Defense  

Plan A students are required to pass an oral defense given to their Major Professor and Guidance Committee that covers their thesis topic. To pass, the student must receive positive votes from the majority of their committee. The following items constrain the thesis oral defense:  

• The student must be registered during the semester in which the examination or evaluation is administered (see Maximum and Minimum Credits ). This requirement may be waived if the examination is administered during the summer session immediately following a spring semester during which the student was registered and/or prior to a fall semester in which the student will be registered.
• The student MUST provide their major professor and guidance committee a copy of the thesis at least two weeks prior to the defense.
• Once student has confirmed a date/time, they’ll contact the graduate secretary to reserve a conference room. At this time the student will provide the title of his or her thesis so the appropriate announcements can be sent out. This MUST be done at least two weeks prior to the defense, no exceptions.  

Plan A – Thesis Submission  

After successful completion of the oral defense and upon the Guidance Committee’s approval, a copy of the Thesis (with all corrections made) must be submitted to the Graduate School for approval via the Grad School Process . The Plan A – Thesis must be formatted according to the standards established in the Thesis and Dissertation Formatting Guide published at the Graduate School.  

Students submitting a thesis/dissertation to ProQuest now can request a hold/embargo of publication by ProQuest by contacting the Graduate School at [email protected] or calling 517 353 3220. In response to the request, the Graduate School will send directly to the student a form that needs to be completed and turned to the Graduate School prior to the document submission to ProQuest. The form needs to be signed by the student’s major professor and by the Associate Dean of the student’s college. The request for the hold/embargo may be for six months, one year or two years. Requests for a period longer than six months must include a brief justification for the length of the requested hold/embargo.

The Graduate School now permits the submission of supplementary materials to ProQuest. These supplemental materials will not be reviewed by the Graduate School for formatting requirements, but they must be acceptable by ProQuest and comply with ProQuest’s criteria and storage limits. All supplementary materials need written approval of the Thesis Committee Chair.  

The MSU Library may accept supplementary materials approved by the Thesis Committee Chair per their collection criteria. The Graduate School does not review these materials for formatting requirements. Questions about submission of these materials to the MSU Library should be directed to the assistant director for digital information, currently Shawn Nicholson. He can be reached via email at [email protected] .

At the time of submission to ProQuest, authors have the opportunity to create an ORCID (Open Researcher and Contributor ID) that provides researchers with a unique identifier for linking their research outputs and activities. An ORCID:

• Improves recognition of research contributions
• Reduces form-filling (enter data once, re-use it often)
• Works with many institutions, funders, and publishers
• Is a requirement of many journal manuscript submission systems and grant application forms.

To learn more about ORCID go to: https://vimeo.com/237730655  

Guidelines for students under Plan B Report or Exam Option  

Plan B Report Proposal

The student must present to their Major Professor and Guidance Committee a proposal for their report. After the proposed research topic has been approved, the student will conduct research and begin writing their report. The report should be finalized in the layout specified by the Graduate School of MSU. Plan B Report students should still obtain a copy of the “Thesis/Dissertation Formatting Guide” from the Graduate School for details on the layout and other requirements. Students should also refer to the MSU Graduate Schools “Guidelines for Integrity in Research and Creative Activities.”  

Plan B Report Presentation

Under this option students are required to give an oral presentation of their report to their Major Professor and Guidance Committee. In order to pass, the student must receive positive votes from the majority of their committee. The following items constrain the report presentation:  

• The student MUST provide their Major Professor and Guidance Committee a copy of the report at least two weeks prior to the presentation.
• Once student has confirmed a date/time, they’ll contact the Graduate Secretary to reserve a conference room. At this time the student will provide the title of his or her report so the appropriate announcements can be sent out. This MUST be done at least two weeks prior to the defense, no exceptions.  

Plan B Final Exam

Under this option students must successfully complete a final exam as determined by their Major Professor.   Successful completion is defined as a minimum of 80% score as determined by examining faculty or passing the AIC exam (for Construction Management Plan B students).

Graduation Guidelines

Graduation Eligibility

Student.msu.edu determines when a student is eligible to apply for graduation.   Once eligible, after clicking on the Academic Progress tile, you will see al ink to Apply for Graduation in the left-hand navigation under the Graduation heading.   If the student does not graduate during the intended semester, the application for graduation must be moved to a new semester by the Graduate Secretary.

Commencement Ceremony  

The Graduate Advanced Degree ceremonies will be held on the Friday of finals week in the Breslin Center.   The Masters ceremony begin at 9:00 am, while the Doctoral ceremonies begin at 3:30pm.   Graduates and faculty should arrive one hour in advance, allowing time to put gowns on and be properly ordered for the procession. Students may choose which semester they participate in commencement.   Typically students who will graduate in fall semester will participate in the December ceremony, while students who will graduate in spring or summer semesters will participate in the ceremony held at the end of spring semester. The university does not hold summer commencement ceremonies.   To be listed in the ceremony program, students should apply for graduation early in the semester they intend to graduate.

Student Responsibilities and Expectations

It is the responsibility of ALL graduate students to:  

• Learn and adhere to university and academic unit rules, procedures and policies, including those outlined in this graduate handbook. The academic programs, Graduate Student Rights and Responsibilities, and The Academic Freedom for students at MSU are all available at the Graduate School Website .
• Select a Major Professor and form a Guidance Committee that meets University and school requirements. These committee members should remain informed of the students’ academic progress throughout the length of their program.
• After consultation with the Major Professor a completed academic progress report/annual evaluation should be submitted to the Graduate Secretary at the end of each spring semester. This form is available at Graduate School Website .
• Follow disciplinary and scholarly codes of ethics in course work, research, and professional activities found online at MSU Student Rights and Responsibilities .
• Follow high ethical standards in accordance with university and federal guidelines in collecting and maintaining data, including seeking regulatory approval for research before any research project begins
• Provide the school with copies of research-related documents (such as permits, approvals, grant proposals, research proposals) within the prescribed deadlines.

Academic Standards

Academic Records

Each student will have an academic file on record containing application materials, grade reports, academic program of study materials, and copies of official letters from the school and faculty. Students have the right to challenge the accuracy of academic files. This challenge, correction or inaccuracy is addressed by the student writing a letter that is to be placed in his or her academic file. Students may examine their file by making an appointment with the Graduate Secretary. If a student is an employee of MSU, a separate employment file will be maintained by the employing office/program/department.

Time Limit to Complete Degree

It is vital that students make adequate progress in their graduate programs. Lack of satisfactory progress towards their degree may jeopardize their funding status, graduate student benefits, or it may lead to dismissal of the program. The Major Professor conducts an annual review and informs the student of his or her level of progress.  

The time limit for completion of the requirements for the master’s degree set by the University is:

• Five years for students in degrees administered by the College of Agriculture and Natural Resources.
• Six years for students in degrees administered by the College of Social Science.
• Applications for extension periods toward the degree must be submitted by the School for approval by the Dean of the College and the Dean of the Graduate School.

Completion is from the enrollment date of the student’s first course of the master’s degree program. (This information is important in reading this document.)  

The student must earn a grade of 2.0 or higher for each course on the approved academic program of study. Any course on the approved academic program of study for which the grade earned falls below the 2.0 requirement will need to be repeated.  

College of Social Science guidelines state that the accumulation of grades below 2.0 in more than two semester courses of 3 or more credits each removes the student from candidacy for the degree. It is imperative that a student contact the Program Director if a grade less than 2.0 is earned for a course.   A student in danger of falling below the overall GPA of 3.0 may be removed from degree candidacy.

Cumulative Grade-Point Average

The student must maintain a cumulative grade-point average of at least 3.0 in all courses counting towards the master’s degree, as approved on the academic program of study.   This policy does not apply to courses taken below the 400-level unless the courses are required by the student’s program.  

Probation Status

A student is placed on probation status if their cumulative grade-point average for the courses on the approved Academic Program of Study fall below the 3.0 requirement. Once placed on probation students should meet with their chair to determine a feasible plan of action and review the mathematical probability of achieving a 3.0 after once semester of probation.   Should a student’s cumulative grade-point average fall below this requirement after completing half of the courses on the approved academic program of study, the student will be placed on probationary status for one additional semester. If at the end of the additional semester the student’s cumulative grade-point average is 3.0 or higher, the student may continue to enroll in the master’s degree program. If at the end of the probationary semester, the student’s cumulative grade-point average is still below 3.0, the student will be dismissed from the program.

  All students must meet the academic criteria set by the School of Planning, Design and Construction. In addition to meeting the grade criteria requirement, an annual evaluation for each graduate student is prepared during each spring semester. The Major Professor is responsible for the preparation of the evaluation along with the communication to the student using the following outline.  

• Progress on special problem topics, Thesis/Dissertation
• Student’s performance in the execution of research

When the student’s performance or progress does not meet the School requirements, he or she shall be notified by the Associate Director. When the deficiencies affect the student’s academic status, he or she shall be promptly informed. A student is placed on probation if their cumulative grade-point average for the courses on the approved academic program of study fall below 3.0.

Retention in and Dismissal from the Program

Should a student’s cumulative grade-point average fall below 3.0 after completion of 16 or more credits of courses on the approved academic program of study, the student will be placed on probationary status for one additional semester. If at the end of the additional semester the student’s cumulative grade-point average is 3.0 or higher, the student may continue to enroll in the master’s degree program. If at the end of the additional semester the student’s cumulative grade-point average is still below 3.0, the student will be dismissed from the program. In addition, students in degree programs administered by the College of Social Science shall not have more than two 3-credit courses with grades below 3.0 (including N grades in the P–N grading system).

  Failure of meeting this requirement will result in the student being dismissed from the program; this policy does not apply to courses below the 400 level unless the courses are required for the student's program.

Grief Absence Policy

For Master’s Plan A and Plan B that include research responsibilities, it is the responsibility of the student to:

• Contact their Major Professor and faculty of the course(s) in which they’re currently enrolled, requesting the need for a grief absence in a timely manner, but no later than one week from the student’s initial knowledge of the situation.
• Provide appropriate verification for the grief absence as specified by the Major Professor and faculty.
• Complete all missed work as determined in consultation with the Major Professor and faculty.

It is the responsibility of the Major Professor to:  

• Determine with the student the allowable periods of absence – it is expected that some bereavement processes may be more extensive than others depending on the individual circumstances.
• Receive verification of the authenticity of a grief absence request upon the students return.
• Make reasonable accommodations so that the student is not penalized due to a verified grief.

If employed as a Graduate Research or Teaching Assistant, the student must also notify their employer. Both employer and student will swiftly communicate to determine how the student’s responsibilities will be covered during their absence. Graduate Teaching Assistants (TAs) should refer to the bereavement policy in the MSU GEU CBU Article 18. Students who believe their rights under this policy have been violated should contact the University Ombudsperson.  

Course Waiver

Students requesting course waivers must compile suitable documentation for how the proposed course is comparable. Suitable documentation may include but is not limited to: course syllabi, examinations, term papers, bibliographies, textbooks, reading lists, and lecture notes. Lack of suitable documentation may result in a denied request. Once documentation is compiled, students will request written permissions from their Guidance Committee and the instructor of the course to be waived. After completing the preceding steps, students must submit all materials to their Major Professor.

Transfer Courses

Students may transfer no more than 9 approved semester credits of course work, excluding research and Thesis credits.   Credits transferred are established through the Program of Study as agreed upon by the student’s committee.   Credits must be verified through official transcripts.   Transferred credits must have been earned at a 3.0 or above, or equivalent as determined by chair (if not on a 4.0 scale), to be included.

Credit Sharing Policy

If your program includes more than 30 credits, then you may share up to 30% of the total credits with another Master’s Program.

Independent Study

At Michigan State University an independent study is a planned study that is highly individualized and not addressable through any other course format. In essence, a student must design a full course for his or her program with the help of a faculty member. Students electing to undertake an independent study must select a faculty member who agrees to supervise the project.  

The student must complete and submit an Application for Independent Study to the Major Professor for approval. The application should then be submitted to the Graduate Secretary to obtain the Associate Director’s approval. Once this has been completed, an override will be issued, and the student may register for the course and the number of credits agreed upon.

The Independent Study must:

• Consist of work not described in the MSU description of courses book in any other format.
• Relate to a subject for which the student has adequate preparation.
• Be directed by a faculty member with whom they have periodic contact with throughout the study.
• Not exceed a maximum of 4 credits of independent study per semester or 8 credits in a single academic year, subject to the School, College and Graduate School restrictions.
• Be applied for on the application for independent study form.
• Be approved by the Major Professor and the department offering the course before the student may enroll.
• Enroll during the regular enrollment period.

Ideally a student should begin designing the independent study course with the prospective faculty member one semester prior to beginning the application process.  

Study Abroad/Travel Abroad

Study Abroad Programs are designed to be of benefit to students of all disciplines. In some SPDC programs students can fulfill certain course requirements with Study Abroad credits; this fosters completion of the degree program while gaining valuable, overseas experience. SPDC offers a variety of Study Abroad options. For additional information visit the Study Abroad Website .

Polices Regarding Integrity and Safety in Research

Integrity in Research and Creative Activities

The conduct of research and creative activities by faculty, staff, and students is central to the mission of Michigan State University “ Mission Statement ” approved by the Board of Trustees on April 18, 2008 and is an institutional priority. Faculty, staff, and students work in a rich and competitive environment for the common purpose of learning, creating new knowledge, and disseminating information and ideas for the benefit of their peers and the general public. The stature and reputation of MSU as a research University are based upon the commitment of its faculty, staff, and students to excel in scholarly and creative activities at the highest standards of professional integrity.  

As a partner in scholarly endeavors, MSU is committed to creating an environment that promotes ethical conduct and integrity in research and creative activities. Innovative ideas and advances in research and creative activities have the potential to generate professional and public recognition, and in some instances, commercial interest and financial gain. In rare cases, such benefits may become motivating factors to violate professional ethics. Pressures to publish, to obtain research grants, or to complete academic requirements also may lead to an erosion of professional integrity.  

Breaches in professional ethics range from questionable research practices to misconduct (MSU Faculty handbook, chapter VI, “Research and Creative Endeavor—Procedures Concerning Allegations of Misconduct in Research and Creative Activities”). The primary responsibility for adhering to professional standards lies with the individual scholar. It is, however, also the responsibility of advisors and of the disciplinary community at large. Passive acceptance of improper practices lowers inhibitions to violate professional ethics.  

Students should also refer to MSU Graduate School’s “Guidelines for Integrity in Research and Creative Activities.” Integrity in research and creative activities are based not only on sound disciplinary practice but also on a commitment to basic personal values such as fairness, equity, honesty, and respect. These guidelines are intended to promote high professional standards by everyone—faculty, staff, and students alike.

Key Principles

Integrity in research and creative activities embodies a range of practices that include:  

• Honesty in proposing, performing, and reporting research
• Recognition of prior work
• Confidentiality in peer review
• Disclosure of potential conflicts of interest
• Compliance with institutional and sponsor requirements
• Protection of human subjects and humane care of animals in the conduct of research
• Collegiality in scholarly interactions and sharing of resources
• Adherence to fair and open relationships between senior scholars and their coworkers

Students are encouraged to read the complete text of “ Integrity in Research and Creative Activities ,” which is available from The Graduate School.  

Environmental Health & Safety (EHS)

The use of hazardous materials in research, teaching, or outreach activities are subject to State and Federal Laws and guidelines. The Vice President for research and graduate studies has been assigned responsibility to see that appropriate practices are followed where hazardous materials are involved, to maintain a safe environment for campus personnel, to protect the surrounding community, and to assure that MSU meets its obligations under Law. Oversight of activities involving hazardous substances is provided by the EHS. EHS is assisted by faculty committees in the area of radiation safety, chemical safety, and biological safety. The radiation safety committee has responsibility and authority under Federal Law for specific actions.

The EHS provides live and on-line training classes throughout the year to educate the employees and students of Michigan State University on safe work practices. Completion of these courses by MSU personnel ensures that the University is fulfilling Local, State and Federal regulations in radiation, chemical, biological, hazardous waste, and environmental safety. For more information about courses available, contact the EHS at (517) 355-0153.

Human Subjects Research

A student whose research involves human subjects must receive approval for their project from the Human Research Protection Program (HRPP) prior to initiating data collection for their Master’s Thesis, Pre-Dissertation Research, or Doctoral Dissertation. HRPP is an Institutional Review Board (IRB) and Federal and University regulations require that all research projects involving human subjects be reviewed and approved by an IRB before initiation.  

Under the regulations, research is defined as a formal investigation designed to develop or contribute to general knowledge. A human subject of research is an individual (1) from whom an investigator obtains data by interaction or intervention or (2) about whom the researcher obtains confidential information.  

Depending upon the level of risk to subjects in the protocol, HRPP assigns the student’s application to one of three review categories (exempt from full review, expedited review, and full review) and sends it to one, two or five reviewers, respectively. If the reviewer(s) is satisfied that the rights and welfare of the human subjects are adequately protected, he or she approves it. However, if the reviewer has concerns, the reviewer returns written comments to the HRPP office for transmission to the investigator. The investigator must then send a response to each comment, in writing, to HRPP which will forward it to the reviewer(s). If the proposal is either an exempt or expedited proposal, an approval letter can be issued as soon as the reviewer(s) approves.  

When a proposal receives full (five-member sub-committee) review, an approval letter is issued after the proposal is discussed and approved by vote of the full committee at its monthly meeting. More information can be found online at the Human Research Protection Program . Copies of the HRPP application form and the official notification of HRPP approval must be kept in the student’s academic file maintained by the school’s Graduate Secretary and in the files maintained by the student’s Major Professor. The student also should keep copies in his or her own personal files. Failure to satisfy the University standards and HRPP regulations is considered grounds for dismissal from the program. A copy of the approval must be included as an appendix in the Thesis/Dissertation.

MSU Responsible Conduct of Research Training (RCR)

Training in the Responsible Conduct of Research is essential in the preparation of future scholars and professionals. An understanding of the issues concerning the conduct of research in an increasingly complex world has become critical in successfully navigating the research landscape. To help prepare Michigan State University graduate students for their future scholarly work, a plan for providing the foundation of responsible conduct has been developed in coordination with the Graduate School, the Vice President for Research and Graduate Studies Office, and college associate deans for graduate education. The plan is predicated on the principles that a basic understanding of issues is necessary through didactic training and a periodic reinforcement of the principles through discussion. It is the belief that this plan will provide a foundation for all graduate students as well as others pursuing a career in research and will offer the basic information to meet most, if not all, federal agency granting requirements.  

The plan below represents the minimum university-level and School requirements  

The Graduate School RCR Workshop series may be used to help fulfill both the annual refresher and discussion-based training requirements.  

*Students who are supported by NSF, NIH, or USDA grants may be required to complete additional specific training; they must meet the timeline and content requirements of training for that grant.  

*Students engaged in research involving human subjects or animal use must complete the Michigan State University training modules for those subjects before submitting IRB or IACUC approvals. These modules may be completed as part of the training requirements below, or in addition to them, depending on the department/program or college plan.  

Requirements

All Graduate Professional, Master’s and Doctoral Students  

1) Year 1  

All new graduate students will complete 4 CITI online modules within the first year of enrollment in their program: Completion of this requirement will be tracked in Ability and included in the annual student progress review submitted to the School.

• Introduction to the Responsible Conduct of Research  
• Authorship  
• Research Misconduct  

2) Discussion-Based Training  

All graduate students must complete a minimum of 6 hours of discussion-based training prior to receiving their degrees.   This is through completion of the required course:  

IDES 892 for Environmental Design Masters

CMP 893 for Construction Management Masters

URP 814 for Urban and Regional Planning Masters  

PDC 901 for Planning, Design & Construction PhD

Master’s Plan A and Doctoral Students  

In addition to 1 and 2 above, master’s plan A and doctoral students will complete:  

Year 2  

Within the first 2 years of enrollment in their program, master’s plan A and doctoral students will complete 3 additional MSU online training modules, to be selected from the following list as determined by the major professor.   Completion of this requirement will be tracked in Ability and included in the annual student progress review submitted to the School.  

• CITI Collaborative Research  
• CITI Conflicts of Interest  
• CITI Data Management  
• CITI Financial Responsibility  
• CITI Mentoring  
• CITI Peer Review  

Doctoral Students

In addition to 1, 2 and 3 above, doctoral students will complete:  

Annual Refresher Training  

Starting in year 3, all doctoral students must complete 3 hours of annual refresher training; this can include discussion-based training, CITI refresher training and online courses beyond those required in basic training. Selection is in consultation with the Major Advisor.   Completion of this requirement will be tracked in Ability and included in the annual student progress review submitted to the School.  

* Doctoral students who have completed an MSU Master’s degree which included the basic RCR training requirements:   The required PDC 901 and PDC 992 RCR activities will meet the annual refresher training in the first two years of academic study.  

Record-Keeping and Accountability

Written documentation of completion of RCR requirements should be included in the annual evaluation conducted between a student and their Major Professor, and once signed, submitted to the Graduate Secretary to be filed in the student’s academic folder.

Links & Resources

SABA: https://train.ora.msu.edu/Saba/Web/Main  

Office of Regulatory Affairs links to SABA and CITI: http://ora.msu.edu/train  

RCR information through Office of Regulatory Affairs: http://ora.msu.edu/responsible-conduct-research  

RCR information through Grad School: https://grad.msu.edu/researchintegrity  

CITI Training: http://ora.msu.edu/citiprogramorg  

Michigan State University Guidelines on Authorship

Adopted by the University Research Council on January 15, 1998, available online at Research Council Guidelines .

A person claiming authorship of a scholarly publication must have met the following criteria:  

• Substantial participation in conception and design of the study, or in analysis and interpretation of data
• Substantial participation in the drafting of the manuscript or in the substantive editing of the manuscript
• Final approval of the version of the manuscript to be published
• Ability to explain and defend the study in public or scholarly settings

Note: This criteria follows closely with those recommended by several Professional Associations. See especially the International Committee of Medical Journal Editors, Annals of Internal Medicine 1988; 108: 258-65. (This information is important in reading this document.)

Acknowledgment

Contributions that do not justify authorship should be acknowledged separately in the notes to the manuscript. These may include general supervision of a research group, assistance in obtaining funding, or technical support.  

“Honorary Authorship”

A claim of authorship by, or assignment of authorship to, persons who may have been associated in some way with a study but do not meet the four criteria in item 1 may constitute an unethical research practice.  

Graduate Student Authorship

"Faculty should be especially aware of their responsibility to safeguard the rights of graduate students to publish the results of their research." (MSU Research Handbook, 1985, p. 16, section 4.3.1.)  

Senior Author and Order of Authorship

The senior author is generally defined as the person who leads a study and makes a major contribution to the work. All the authors at the outset of a project should establish senior authorship, preferably in a written memorandum of understanding. This memorandum of understanding should reference the authors’ agreement to abide by their departments’ policy on authorship or the University default policy on authorship. At the outset of the study the senior author should discuss the outline of work and a tentative order of authorship with the study participants. As projects proceed, agreements regarding authorship may need to be changed. It is the responsibility of the senior author to assure that the contributions of study participants are properly recognized.  

Disputes over Authorship

Disagreements over authorship, e.g., who has a right to be an author or the order of authorship, should be resolved by the senior author in collegial consultation with the other authors. When this process cannot reach resolution, the senior author should arrange with his or her chairperson for arbitration by a knowledgeable and disinterested third party acceptable to all the authors. If the authors cannot agree on a mutually acceptable arbitrator, then the Vice President for research and graduate studies shall appoint an arbitrator. During the arbitration process all the authors are expected to refrain from unilateral actions that may damage the authorship interests and rights of the other authors.  

Accountability

Every author listed on a publication is presumed to have approved the final version of the manuscript. Each author is responsible for the integrity of the research being reported.  

The word plagiarism is derived from the Latin plagiarist , an abductor, and plagiary , to steal. The expropriation of another author’s text, and the presentation of it as one’s own, constitutes plagiarism. Plagiarism, in turn, constitutes misconduct in scholarship under university policies and procedures. Plagiarism in scholarly projects should be reported to one’s Chairperson, Dean, or the University Intellectual Integrity Officer (American Historical Association, Statements on Standards, 1993, p. 13).  

Student Conduct and Conflict Resolution

Student Conduct

The University expects student conduct and behavior to reflect qualities of good citizenship. The out-of-classroom activities of Michigan State University students should reflect favorably upon the institution and should indicate the personal integrity of the individual. See the Department of Student Life Handbook for specific policies, ordinances and regulations that define some of the relevant University expectations.  

Conflict Resolution

Conflicts involving a graduate student may be managed informally, or at the request of a party or parties, formally. Student’s rights and responsibilities, including grievance procedures, are detailed in the document Student Conduct and Conflict Resolution .  

Procedures more specifically designed for Graduate students are to be found in the Publication Graduate Student Rights and Responsibilities .  

Grievance procedures outlined in these documents shall be followed and the College Advisory Council shall be responsible for the interpretation and execution of these procedures in the College. Students also have access to the University Ombudsman for help with conflict resolution. A template and additional information on grievance procedures and resources available to students may be found online at the MSU Office of the University Ombudsperson .  

Graduate Student Advising and Mentoring

The School of Planning, Design, and Construction advising and mentoring policies are consistent with the Guidelines for Graduate Student Advising and Mentoring Relationships accessed at Guidelines for Graduate Student Mentoring and Advising .

The Program will pay particular attention to the following:

• Enable graduate students to make timely progress in their degree programs by ensuring that required courses and examinations are scheduled in a timely manner
• Create opportunities for networking and expanding career and professional development (e.g., organizing speaker series, colloquia, and other formal and informal events)
• Create opportunities for graduate students to become familiar with the various forms of scholarship in the field whether it be with their disciplinary research, teaching or outreach.
• Share responsibility with guidance committees and faculty advisors for fostering the professional and career development of graduate students (e.g., providing venues for honing professional writing and presentation skills, grants writing, publishing)
• Ensure that regular progress checks are provided for students (including annual written evaluations)
• Provide education in research ethics and integrity
• Recognize and reward excellence in mentoring, and identifying opportunities for professional development so that faculty can improve their mentoring skills and abilities
• Connect faculty to a broader community of support by sharing information about MSU and Graduate School resources that can support them in mentoring graduate students

Graduate Assistantships

Selection of Graduate Research and Teaching Assistants

Graduate Research and Teaching Assistants are appointed on a quarter-time, half-time, or three-quarter-time basis for 18-19 weeks each (depending on number of university holidays) for fall and spring semesters and 12-13 weeks (depending on number of university holidays) for summer semester. Graduate Assistantships may be offered by individual faculty members to assist with sponsored research.   Graduate assistants are responsible for knowing the specific policies and procedures that govern their particular assistantship and academic program.   Please contact the faculty member to learn about specific duties, assignments and expectations.  

Graduate Research and Teaching Assistantships

Graduate Research and Teaching Assistantship support for students is determined on an individual basis depending upon recommendations, availability of funds, fellowship and scholarship support, and academic record. Assistantships are reviewed annually by the Director of the school and may be renewed if satisfactory progress is being made and funds are available.   Graduate Assistants are required to maintain a 3.0 GPA, and satisfactorily perform all duties and responsibilities.   All GAships are contingent upon continued adequate funding. The faculty member may or may not have funding to support all or part of the position offered and reserves the right to solely determine the extent of available funding and, if necessary, withdraw or adjust the terms of the assistantship.  

The University has no obligation to provide reappointment or extension beyond the ending date.   GAs may be dismissed prior to the expiration of the period set forth for cause, including but not limited to, incompetence, serious personal or professional misconduct, failure to carry out assigned duties, theft or misuse of University property, acts of moral turpitude, insubordination, intellectual dishonesty, use of professional authority to exploit others, or violation of law and/or University rules and regulations.

Graduate Assistants are covered under other MSU policies, including those regarding campus safety, Drug and Alcohol-Free Workplace, policy on Religious Observance, Procedures for Handling Allegations of Misconduct in Scholarship, MSU Anti-discrimination Policy, and the policies on Sexual Harassment and Conflict of Interest in Educational Responsibilities Resulting from Consensual Amorous or Sexual Relationships.   Additional information can be accessed at https://grad.msu.edu/assistantships .

If you have an assistantship, you are required to enroll for a minimum of 6 credits at the master’s level and 3 credits at the Ph.D. level during fall and spring semesters and 3 credits in summer semester for both Master’s and Ph.D. degrees. At the Ph.D. level, once you complete your comprehensive exams, the following semesters you need to only be enrolled for a minimum of 1 credit. (This information is important in reading this document.)

Expectations

Graduate Teaching Assistants (TAs) play a vital role in the educational mission of MSU. Disciplinary knowledge and instructional skills are key requisites for being a successful teacher, but TAs are also expected to conform to ethical and professional standards described in the MSU code of teaching responsibility. TAs must treat students with respect, deal with conflict fairly and promote a classroom atmosphere that encourages free and meaningful exchange of ideas.  

Graduate Research Assistants (RAs) at Michigan State University play a vital role in the research and outreach missions of MSU. Disciplinary knowledge and research/laboratory skills are key requisites for conducting research, but RAs are also expected to conform to ethical and professional standards described in the MSU faculty handbook section IV: Research and Creative Endeavors. This section includes information on working with animal and human subjects, radiation, chemical, and biological safety, and adherence to federal guidelines on data generation, management and control. Sections of the academic freedom report for MSU students and the graduate student Rights and Responsibilities document also contain valuable information.  

Normal workload, averaged over the entire period of the appointment is:

• 10 hours per week for a quarter-time stipend
• 20 hours per week for a half-time stipend
• 30 hours per week for a three-quarter-time stipend.

English Language Proficiency for Teaching Assistants  

MSU candidates for TA appointments who were required to demonstrate English proficiency as a condition for regular admission to Michigan State University must also demonstrate that they meet a minimum standard of proficiency in spoken English before they can be assigned teaching work that involves oral communication with undergraduate students. 

Those international teaching assistants (ITAs) may meet this requirement in one of the following ways:

• Presenting a TOEFL iBT speaking section score of 27 or higher.
• Receiving a score of 50 or higher on the  MSU Speaking Test
• Taking  AAE 451 or AAE 452  (ITA language support courses) and receiving a score of 50 or higher on the  ITA Oral Interaction Test (ITAOI) .

Those ITAs who received a waiver of the TOEFL or of other accepted tests of English proficiency for admission, must also meet the requirement of proficiency in spoken English before they are assigned to teaching work that involves oral communication with undergraduate students. To meet this requirement, those ITAs may use any of three options listed above. Individual exceptions from these requirements (on a case-by-case basis in rare circumstances) will be considered by the Graduate School in consultation with the ELC upon the request of the department and with the endorsement of the Associate Dean of the College.

Responsibilities

Graduate Research and Teaching Assistants are responsible for understanding the weekly workload expectations during the entire period of their appointments. This includes work assigned and the time frame within which the work must be completed, essential duties and responsibilities, work conditions and vacation opportunities, if any.  

Appointed Levels

Students with less than one year of experience as a Graduate Research and Teaching Assistant or a full support fellow. They conduct research, perform administrative tasks or other supervised duties such as reading and grading papers.  

Students with a master’s degree or equivalent and/or one year of experience as a Graduate Research and Teaching Assistant in the School of Planning, Design and Construction or in a department/unit considered relevant by the Director of the school. They conduct research, grade papers, or perform administrative tasks with moderate supervision. Advancement from Level I to Level II is usually routine. The advancement is accompanied by an increase in stipend at least to the minimum of the Level II range established by the University.

Successful completion of doctoral comprehensive exams, as defined by the School of Planning, Design and Construction in which the student is enrolled, and six semesters of experience as a Graduate Research and Teaching Assistant or a full support fellow in the School of Planning, Design and Construction or in a department/unit considered relevant by the Director of the school. The definition of equivalent experience is left to the discretion of the school Director, but it is expected that only experience in research-oriented or teaching-oriented assignments will count toward the six semesters of experience as a Graduate Research and Teaching Assistant or full support fellow. (Consistent with current practice, ¼ time and ¾ time appointments count the same as ½ time appointments, and summer semesters count the same as fall and spring semesters.)  

Mandatory Training on Relationship Violence and Sexual Misconduct

All graduate students must complete the on-line training about the Relationship Violence and Sexual Misconduct Policy. To access the training, login to the Office of Research Regulatory Support .   Click the Ability Login above and visit the My Requirements tile.  

Failure to complete this mandatory training may result in holds preventing you from access to your unofficial transcript.   If you need assistance, contact the Helpdesk at [email protected] or call (517) 884-4600.

Evaluation  

Graduate Teaching Assistants (TAs) are evaluated at the end of each semester by the faculty on record for the course to which the TA has been assigned. Graduate Research Assistants (RAs) are evaluated by the faculty member who hires the graduate student. Graduate Research and Teaching Assistants are given specific assignments by their faculty supervisor for the semester for which the student is being funded. The faculty supervisor evaluates the student’s performance based on assignments given at the beginning of the semester.

Termination

Graduate Research and Teaching Assistants can be terminated if:

• The student does not maintain an overall 3.0 GPA (or higher if set by Department).
• The student is not making satisfactory progress toward his or her degree.
• Work performance is determined to be inferior.
• Funding is no longer available.

Periods of Employment

Graduate Research and Teaching Assistants Employment are as follows:

• Fall semester: August 16 - December 31
• Spring semester: January 1 - May 15
• Summer session: May 16 - August 15

Stipends are compensation for completion of the entire body of work associated with a TA appointment, which includes through the submission of grades when that date falls outside the employment period.  

Health Coverage

Michigan State University offers Graduate Research and Teaching Assistants health insurance coverage. ‘Student only’ coverage is automatically provided at no cost to the students. Michigan State University will provide a full twelve-month coverage for assistantship appointments of at least nine months. Students may also enroll a legal spouse, or other eligible individual (OEI), and/or children. Questions regarding enrollment, premium payment and coverage should be directed to the Aetna Student Health, (800) 859-8452. Questions or issues that cannot be resolved with Aetna Student Health may be directed to the MSU Benefits office at 1407 South Harrison Road, Room 140 Nisbet Building, (517) 353-4434 extension 170 or extension 144.

Right to Work

The payment of union dues and fees is consistent with the Michigan Rights to Work legislation. Nothing in the application of Michigan Right to Works Laws impact the daily terms and conditions of employment of TA’s. Union membership is voluntary; meeting the definition of a TA under the GEU contract is independent of union membership. One can be a TA covered by the contact and enjoy all the rights and responsibilities of the agreement but not be a member of the union. Union membership is not tied to the employment relationship and is a private matter between the employee and the union.  

Article 18 provides for possible medical disputes where TA’s may not be able to perform their employment responsibilities due to physical or mental conditions. In addition, adoptions and parental leave time provides for pay during the first work week of applicable leave. The language on jury duty has been refined with regard to payment for lost time and reporting back to work after jury duty.  

Additional Opportunities

Internships

The school believes that there is great advantage to our graduate students to seek additional professional opportunities. Internships for academic credit are allowed for students enrolled in one of our graduate programs.   The School of Planning, Design, and Construction does not match students with internships directly.

Career Fairs

Construction Management holds a career fair during fall semesters.   Interior Design and Landscape Architecture hold career fairs during spring semesters.  

Travel All travel by graduate students for academic or research project purposes requires prior approval through submission of a Travel Request in the Concur travel site.  Unapproved travel is not covered by university insurance. Rules regarding travel can be found at the  MSU Travel Office website . Travel Requests can be completed with assistance from Caroline Hart, [email protected] , in room 101 Human Ecology. 

MSU graduate students traveling internationally on University business (non-education abroad) MUST register their trip in the  MSU Global Travel Registry.  Registering your trip in this database is a University requirement.  Your registration in the MSU Global Travel Registry allows the University to share important health and safety information pre-departure, and to provide emergency services if necessary. 

Funding Opportunities

Travel and Research Funding

Reimbursement for research-related travel expenses should be discussed with the student’s major professor before any travel expenses are incurred.  

Students presenting research at a professional conference may apply for a Travel Funding fellowship through the College of Agriculture and Natural Resources.   There is a limit of ~$400-600 approved during duration of a student’s graduate program.   Travel funding requests should be submitted to the Graduate Secretary after obtaining signatures from the student’s chair.   The department will obtain the subsequent approvals from the college and The Graduate school.

Students seeking financial support to assist with their research experience, such as data collection, short courses, or attending a workshop for learning new techniques or ideas, may apply for Research Enhancement funding.   Requests should be submitted to the Graduate Secretary after obtaining signatures from the student’s chair.   The department will obtain the subsequent approvals from the college and The Graduate School

Scholarships and Fellowships

The School of Planning, Design, and Construction offers various competitive scholarships/fellowships for students, which encompass a range of different topics and requirements, including study abroad, financial need, leadership, and underrepresented students in a particular major. Scholarships require a completed application submitted before the due date every spring semester.   Awards are good only for the following school year.   Students are expected to use the SPDC website to find the appropriate application and to watch for deadlines.  

International students are taxed on fellowship funds and other awards that are above and beyond tuition and fees.   More information on fellowships can be found at the Graduate School’s website .

Other Financial Aid Resources

Students are encouraged to be proactive in searching for funding opportunities.   Not all opportunities are presented in this document.

• The Graduate School maintains a website dedicated to funding opportunities for graduate students.  
• The Office of Financial Aid
• The Council of Graduate Students (COGS) offers short-term interest-free loans

Departmental Facilities

Mailboxes, Addresses, and E-Mail

The School of Planning, Design, and Construction maintains a Graduate Student listserv which is used to send notices to graduate students by email.   Official correspondence from MSU will be sent to your MSU email address so it is suggested that you check this email on a regular basis.

All Graduate Students are provided with an on-campus mailbox in room 111 Human Ecology.   These mailboxes are for departmental correspondence.   Personal correspondence and package delivery should be directed to the student’s home address.   It is the student’s responsibility to check their mailbox.

Research and Office Space

The School of Planning, Design, and Construction provides graduate students with a work/lounge space in Human Ecology rooms 405, 401G, and 401D.   It is the students’ responsibility to keep these rooms clean.   Drawers are available for students to store their materials in while not in use.   Drawers must be kept locked while not in use.   Students must provide their own locks.   SPDC is not responsible for any missing possessions from unlocked storage drawers. Students may choose their own drawer from any unassigned/unlocked drawers available.

Doctoral students funded on an assistantship or full fellowship may request access to HE 110.   Desks in 110 are on a first-come first-serve basis and may not be reserved.   Students are expected to keep this room clean and orderly.   Drawers or cabinets may be available for storing materials while not in use.   This space is not monitored so equipment should not be left unmonitored.

Keys to the Grad lounge/office are available from the Director’s Assistant in 101 Human Ecology.   Students will need to fill out a key request and the Director’s Assistant will notify students when their key is available to be picked up.

24/7 Access

Access to the Human Ecology building is available for students involved in studio, design, and research production courses, or employed on a graduate assistantship.   Instructors will provide a list of names of those approved to have 24/7 access due to course enrollment.   To be granted 24/7 access, students must sign a Code of Conduct form and turn it in to the Director’s Assistant in 101 Human Ecology.   You will use your MSU ID card to access the building outside normal building hours (excluding football Saturdays).

Computer Labs

Graduate students can use the computers in HE 105 or HE 106 whenever the rooms are not being used for a class or other scheduled activities.   Students are expected to clean up after themselves and not to cause any damage to the equipment.

Graduate students are not allowed to use the department copy machines.   Graduate Assistants who require use of copy machines for their research activities should obtain a copy code from their supervising professor.

University Resources

The Graduate School

The Graduate School offers many resources for graduate students in a variety of areas including academic, career, funding, and student life.   Some other Graduate School resources have been described in other sections of this document.

• MSU Graduate Student Career and Professional Development
• Graduate Student Rights and Responsibilities

Academic Resources

• Vice President for Student Affairs and Services
• Office for International Students and Scholars (OISS)
• Resource Center for Persons with Disabilities
• MSU Writing Center
• Multiple locations on campus, with the main office located in Bessey Hall.
• Offers writing consultations, workshops, and writing groups related to papers, projects, even theses and dissertations.
• Career Services Network
• MSU Libraries
• There are many branch libraries on campus, as well as a large number of electronic resources.   Students are encouraged to familiarize themselves with the large number of available resources, which include periodicals, journals, computers, copying/scanning/printing, a Passport Acceptance Facility, study rooms, and research guides
• Technology at MSU
• Offers a variety of services including technology support and the MSU Tech Store ,  
• Spartan Bookstore , the on-campus bookstore, located in the International Center.
• Several off-campus bookstores are located in downtown East Lansing, across from campus.

Student Life

• Counseling Center
• Olin Health Center
• Center for Service-Learning and Civic Engagement
• Recreational Sports and Fitness
• MSU Student Food Bank
• MSU Safe Place
• Council of Graduate Students (COGS)
• The State News
• Spartan Student Life Handbook
• Parents Resource Center

Any vehicle parked on campus must be registered with the Parking Division of the MSU Police office .   This policy applies to mopeds and bicycles as well as cars.

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msu-thesis – Class for Michigan State University Master’s and PhD theses

This is a class file for producing dissertations and theses according to the Michigan State University Graduate School Guidelines for Electronic Submission of Master’s Theses and Dissertations. The class should meet all current requirements and is updated whenever the university guidelines change.

The class is based on the memoir document class, and inherits the functionality of that class.

Download the contents of this package in one zip archive (554.5k).

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Finding Dissertations and Theses: Home

Electronic access, open access to united states-published theses and dissertations, open access to internationally published theses and dissertations, print access, finding msu theses and dissertations in the catalog.

• Start at the catalog advanced search page .
• In the search boxes at the top of the page, change the "All fields" dropdown menu to search for author, a subject or a title. Or, you can search by MSU department or college, such as "educational policy" or "chemical engineering."
• Under "Limit to" and "Format," select "Thesis."
• Enter a date range under "Year of Publication" if desired. 
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Interlibrary Loan

If you are an MSU affiliate and cannot locate the full text of a thesis or dissertation either in electronic or print format, you may be able to order it for free from our interlibrary loan department .

Theses and Dissertations About MSU

• Dissertations and Theses about Michigan State University This guide identifies dissertations and theses written by MSU scholars that are about MSU in some way.
• Last Updated: May 25, 2023 11:53 AM
• URL: https://libguides.lib.msu.edu/dissertations

Thesis Forms and Resources

Thesis Forms

• Request for Inclusion of Non-Faculty on Graduate Advisory Committee
• Thesis Approval Page
• Thesis Interview Release Form
• Thesis Leave of Absence Request
• Thesis Information Form
• Thesis Title Page
• Electronic Thesis Publication and Distribution Release Form

Thesis Resources

• Thesis Tips, Expectations, and FAQs
• Thesis Formatting and Submission Guidelines
• Moffett Library Research Tools
• ACM Citation Style and Reference Formats
• CSE Scientific Style and Format
• MLA Style Center
• The Chicago Manual of Style
• Turabian: A Manual for Writers

Style Manuals by Department

• Biology:  CSE Scientific
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• Health Services Administration:  APA
• History:  Chicago or Turabian
• Nursing:  APA
• Psychology:  APA
• Radiologic Sciences:  APA
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Graduate Student Center / Thesis and Dissertation Office

The Graduate Student Center / Thesis and Dissertation Office, located on the first floor of Mitchell Memorial Library, reviews theses and dissertations for formatting compliance based on the standards required by Mississippi State University. Our review process begins after your committee has approved all content within your document.

We offer workshops and consultations, both face-to-face and online, to help alleviate confusion and to make this process more bearable. You can find a list of our workshops below as well as contact information. Feel free to call or email to set up a consultation or to ask questions!

We look forward to helping you in the final stages of your thesis or dissertation process!

Related Links

• Standards for preparing theses and dissertations
• Survival Skills for Graduate Students
• Frequently Asked Questions
• MSU English Department's Writing Center (662-325-1045)
• Office of the Graduate School
• Graduate Faculty
• Office of the Registrar

Upcoming Workshops

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ONLINE: Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Formatting Workshop

This one-hour workshop is designed for Plan A Master’s students and all Doctoral students who intend to graduate within the next two semesters. During this workshop students will receive information regarding the following:

How to format their thesis or dissertation correctly How to successfully submit their thesis or dissertation via ProQuest/UMI How to successfully submit required paperwork, complete their degree requirements, and receive their diploma. Students are encouraged to review the Graduate School's Electronic Thesis and Dissertation website at https://grad.msu.edu/etd/ where current information about formatting and requirements is listed prior to attending the workshop.

This workshop is offered every semester, including Summer Semester.

Registration is required.

Of the students who attended the Summer workshop and submitted in the summer, 50% of those students successfully formatted their documents with only two interactions with the Graduate School. A typical student has four (or more) interactions with the Graduate School before successfully formatting. This workshop is beneficial!

This workshop is offered via Zoom. Join from PC, Mac, iOS or Android:  https://msu.zoom.us/j/968448895

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Thesis and Dissertation Formatting Hybrid Workshop: Regular Session

June 12, 2024 1:00 pm to 2:30 pm, about this event.

This hybrid workshop (registrants can attend in person or online) covers the submission process for format review and demonstrates how to use the automated templates to format MSU theses and dissertations to the requirements set forth in the standards for preparing theses and dissertations: 8th edition. These templates were designed to help an author organize and format their document with minimal effort so that their focus can be on the content of their document. Those who have already started writing or have already defended are welcome to bring their current documents (either on flash drive or email attachment) to start the process of placing their content into the template.

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Florida State University

FSU | The Graduate School

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The graduate school.

• Current Students
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Manuscript Submission Process

Submit manuscript for an initial format review.

Students must create an account in the ProQuest ETD Administrator before they can upload their manuscript for an initial format review. Initial submission and all revised submissions must be completed through the ProQuest ETD Administrator.

Instructions for creating an account can be found here:  Instructions for Submitting your Manuscript

When creating an account on the ProQuest ETD Administrator, a lot of information is required upfront, including access preferences as well as optional paid services like purchasing bound copies of the manuscript and filing for copyright. ProQuest does not complete these instructions using the initial submission. They only publish the final approved manuscript and implement student publishing preferences and any paid services AFTER the manuscript has been approved by the FSU Manuscript Clearance Office and the student's graduation has been confirmed by the Registrar’s Office.

The Graduate School recommends that students submit their completed manuscript for an initial format review at the same time the manuscript is submitted to the committee prior to the defense. However, students must submit their manuscript for an initial format review no later than the relevant initial submission deadline for the semester in which they intend to graduate. Initial reviews are valid for two semesters (the original semester and one semester following). If the defense is delayed further than that, a new initial review must be completed by the appropriate deadline.

While it is understood that content will likely change after the defense, it is expected that manuscripts submitted for the initial format review are at least 90% complete and have been formatted in full accordance with the criteria in the most recent version of the Guidelines and Requirements.

• 90% complete: MUST include the title page, committee page, table of contents, lists (if needed), abstract, chapters, references, biographical sketch and a majority of tables and figures.
• Those manuscripts that do not meet this standard will NOT be reviewed and will NOT count as an initial submission to meet any deadline.

The Manuscript Clearance Office works with 250+ students per semester, so students are always encouraged to submit early.

Students must defend no later than the “last day for submission of final defended, content-approved thesis, dissertation or treatise and required forms” for the semester in which they intend to graduate. The Graduate School allows defenses up to this deadline with the understanding that all content corrections must be completed, approved by the major professor or committee, and submitted to the student's online ETD account no later than 11:59 p.m. on that deadline; however, to allow time for such corrections, the Graduate School recommends defending no later than 1 week prior to the deadline.

Submit Revised Manuscript

Once the student has completed all content changes required and approved by the committee, and incorporated all formatting corrections noted in the initial review, the student submits the revised version through their ETD account using the Revise option. The student should not create a new submission. This must be completed by 11:59 p.m. on the “last day for submission of final defended, content-approved thesis, dissertation or treatise and required forms.”

The revised manuscript will be reviewed by the Manuscript Clearance Advisor. If there are additional formatting corrections, the student will be notified. Manuscripts typically require 2-3 revisions to correct formatting issues that may arise after the content is corrected. A manuscript is not considered cleared until the formatting has been approved, all forms have been received and approved by the Manuscript Clearance Office, and the student has received an email from the Manuscript Clearance Office stating that their manuscript has been cleared.