Environmental Science Graduate Handbook: How to ...

Environmental Science Graduate Handbook:

How to Successfully Complete

the Master of Science

Degree

Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi Fall 2015

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Page

I. Introduction

1

II. What's the Purpose of Graduate Work?

1

III. Application and Acceptance to the Degree Program

2

IV. Thesis and Professional Options

3

Thesis Option

3

Professional Option

4

V. Financial Support

4

Science Teaching Assistantships

4

Other Teaching Assistantships

4

Research Assistantships

4

Exemption from Higher Out-of-State or Foreign

Tuition Rates

5

Loans and Scholarships

5

Agency Internships

5

Outside Employment

5

VI. Graduate Advisor, Graduate Committee, and Degree Plan

5

How to Select a Graduate Advisor

5

Role of the Graduate Committee

6

Preparing a Degree Plan

7

Emphasis Area or Track

8

Advancement to Degree Candidacy

9

VII. Course of Study

9

Degree Requirements (Thesis, Professional Options)

9

Suggested Schedule of Study

10

(Thesis Students) Enrolling in Thesis I/II/III

11

(Professional Students) Enrolling in Directed Research

12

Time to Obtain the Degree

13

VIII. Interact with Other Graduate Students

13

IX. Academic Requirements

13

Transfer of Credit

13

Minimum/Maximum Course Loads

14

Minimum Grade Point Average and Academic Probation

15

i

Page

Time Limit (Statute of Limitations)

15

X. Choosing a Thesis Topic (Thesis Students)

16

XI. Thesis Proposal (Thesis Students)

15

Thesis Proposal Style and Format

16

Approval of Thesis Proposal

17

XII. Thesis Research (Thesis Students)

18

XIII. Assembling the Thesis Manuscript (Thesis Students)

18

Style and Format

18

Submitting the Manuscript

19

Reproducing Manuscript Copies

20

Final Deposition of the Manuscript

20

Manuscript Rejection

21

XIV. Assembling the Professional Paper (Professional Students)

21

XV. Publishing the Thesis/Professional Paper (All Students)

22

XVI. The Graduate Seminar (All Students)

22

XVII. Final Oral Examination (All Students)

23

Purpose of Oral Examination

23

Review Method

23

Format and Scope of Exam

23

XVIII. Program Deadlines

24

Thesis Proposal Deadline

24

Thesis Manuscript Deadline

24

XIX. Get Connected! Listserv for Environmental Science Program News

25

XX. Important Contacts

25

Appendix I - Guidelines for Preparation of the Thesis Proposal and Thesis Manuscript

Appendix II ? Preparation of the Professional Paper

Appendix III - Announcement of the Graduate Seminar

Appendix IV ? Faculty of the Environmental Science Program

Page

A-1 A-8 A-9 A-10

I. Introduction

This handbook gives general guidance to students enrolled in the Master of Science in Environmental Science degree program at A&M-CC. It contains information about acceptance into the degree program, selecting your advisor and graduate committee, thesis vs. professional options, course of study, and final oral exam. For thesis students, it also has practical information about writing the thesis proposal, conducting research, preparing the thesis document, and defending the thesis. In addition to this Handbook, graduate students are urged to utilize the online TAMUCC Graduate catalog as a resource for policy, procedures, and requirements.

II. What's the Purpose of Graduate Work?

The purpose of graduate education is to provide advanced and specialized training beyond the baccalaureate program. Graduate study should strengthen your academic and professional competence, develop your capacity for independent study, familiarize you with the techniques of past and current research, and enable you to relate your research to the investigations of other scholars and derive significant implications from that relation.

The mission of the graduate program in Environmental Science at Texas A&M University Corpus Christi is to provide a rich and rewarding setting in which students and faculty can develop and communicate innovative and practical solutions to present and future environmental challenges, with a focus on urban and coastal issues.

The goals of the program are to: Develop graduates who are fully prepared to face current and future cultural, political, economic and scientific environmental challenges; Foster an environment that nurtures research and scholarly activity through interdisciplinary approaches; Foster an environment that promotes education and services from the regional to international level.

As a graduate student you must assume greater responsibility and exercise more individual initiative than you probably did as an undergraduate. Graduate students must do more intensive and extensive reading. The graduate

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