Master’s Plan A or Master’s Plan B routes

Master’s plan A degrees require a thesis and 6-15 thesis credits.

Your plan A thesis should contribute to your field by presenting your original research or a new perspective of existing knowledge. You’ll choose the problem or subject to focus on with your major professor by the end of your second semester of graduate study. You should perform thesis research during the semester(s) you are registered for thesis credit and when faculty support is available. Theses must follow USU publication formatting standards.

Master’s plan B degrees require a final paper/project and 2-3 thesis credits.

The plan B paper is usually a literature review based on inquiry, systematic research and analytic critique of your findings. Your conclusions should enhance knowledge in your discipline. Although perhaps less intensive or original than a master’s thesis, a plan B paper must follow the standard USU thesis/dissertation format and reflect equivalent scholarship standards. You will defend your plan B paper, but it will not be reviewed by your assistant dean or signed by the Vice Provost for graduate studies. Like a thesis, your plan B paper will be submitted to the Merrill-Cazier Library for internal publication.

Department Requirements

Completion of required trainings, including Responsible Conduct of Research training
Present at the department Graduate Research Symposium
Thesis/paper/project defense
Submission of thesis/paper to the School of Graduate Studies and library for review and approval

School of Graduate Studies (SGS) Requirements

Completion of SGS-specific Forms:

Supervisory Committee Approval
Program of Study
Master’s Thesis Proposal/Project Approval
Appointment for Examination
Record of Examination
Format & Style Form
Authorship & Copyright Form
Title Page Form
Application for Graduation

Degree Verification: 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. An official transcript must be sent directly to the School of Graduate Studies.

Overall Graduate GPA (≥ 3.0) and No Grades of C- or Lower: Graduate students must maintain at least a 3.0 GPA for degree-program courses. Grades of C- or lower cannot be applied toward a graduate degree.

Course Number Acceptability: A master’s Program of Study may include no more than 12 semester credits of coursework below 6000-level. The following types of credits are not acceptable toward the degree: foreign language courses (unless included in an approved Program of Study), continuing graduate advisement, individual home study, military science, and any courses numbered below 5000.

Matriculation Start Semester: Master’s degrees must be completed within six years of entering the program. Additional time may be requested by the advisor and submitted to the Vice Provost of Graduate Studies.

Coursework Validity: Coursework older than eight years at the time of degree completion may not be used unless it is formally revalidated.

Watershed Science - MS

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Program Overview

Program Requirements

Program Learning Outcomes

Program Learning Outcomes