B. Complete a Committee-Approved Plan of Study (minimum of 26 additional credits) that Includes:
1. Theory coursework (at least 3 credits)
2. Methods/analysis coursework (at least 3 credits)
3. Thesis research (Plan A) or a paper/project (Plan B)
ENVS 6970 - Thesis Research (6 credits for Plan A or 2-3 credits for Plan B)
4. Elective courses (14 credits Plan A or 17-18 credits Plan B)
C. Complete the Following Graduation Requirements:
1. Responsible Conduct of Research training (ideally by end of first semester)
2. Approved supervisory committee
3. Approved plan of study
4. Presentation at the Department’s Pre-Project Graduate Research Symposium
5. Approved proposal for the thesis (Plan A) or project/paper (Plan B)
6. Successful thesis (Plan A) or project/paper (Plan B) defense
7. Submission of the thesis (Plan A) or project/paper (Plan B)
8. GPA of 3. 0 or higher
D. School of Graduate Studies General Graduation Guidelines
A bachelor’s degree from an accredited U. S. college or university or a similarly recognized international university is required for admission to and completion of a graduate program.
- Overall Graduate GPA at least 3. 0 and no grades of C- or lower;
Graduate students are required to maintain at least a 3.0 GPA for degree-program courses. Grades of C- or lower will not be accepted for a graduate degree.
- Course Number Acceptability
The Program of Study for a master’s degree must include at least 15 semester credits at the level of 6000 or above.
Credits in the following areas are not acceptable in a degree program: foreign languages (unless included in an approved Program of Study), continuing graduate advisement, individual home study, military science, and courses numbered below 3000.
- Matriculation Start Semester
A master’s degree must be completed within six years of entering the degree program. Additional time may be requested by the student’s committee and submitted to the Vice Provost of Graduate Studies for review.
Coursework over eight years old at the time of degree completion may not be used for a graduate degree unless it is revalidated.
- USU Residency Requirement
At least 24-semester credits for a master’s degree must be from a committee-approved and a School of Graduate Studies-approved Program of Study from Utah State University.
- Thesis Research Credits 6970
The Plan A option for a master’s degree requires the preparation and defense of a thesis. Students are required to complete a minimum of 6 semester credits of thesis research (6970) with a maximum of 15 thesis credits applied toward a Program of Study.
A Plan B option requires the production and defense of a paper or project. A minimum of two credits of thesis research (6970) are required, but no more than three thesis research credits can be included in an approved Program of Study.
- Successful defense and submission of the thesis or dissertation to the library.
- Approval of academic forms required for master’s students by the School of Graduate Studies:
- Supervisory Committee
- Program of Study
- Thesis/Project Approval
- Appointment for Examination
- Record of Examination
- SGS and library review and approval
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