Graduate
-> Degree Requirements->Masters Students
The Entomology Graduate Program at Maryland is designed to accommodate the
individual needs and interests of each student. Therefore, there are few
course requirements and the design of each program is strongly influenced by
the student and their study committee.
The Study Committee | Degree Requirements | Student Progress Report | Research Proposal | Preparation of Thesis | Publishing Before the Defense | Master's Thesis Defense
| The Colloquium | Time Limitations
The Study Committee
One of the first things a new graduate student should do is discuss the
formation of a Study Committee with his or her advisor. The Study Committee
serves to guide students in their degree program, evaluates the students'
progress, and administers the thesis defense or final examination of M.S.
students.
The Study Committee is formed by the student and their major advisor during the
student's first year of residency. Faculty composition of a Study Committee is
primarily dictated by the nature of the thesis problem and focus area. The
Study Committee for an M.S. student is composed of a minimum of three members. Students meet with their Study Committee annually to discuss progress made
toward completion of their degree. The Graduate School regulations governing
Study Committees are described in more detail in the Graduate Catalog. The
student is responsible for determining that these requirements are met.
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Degree Requirements
Each Masters student must:
- Fulfill all requirements and meet all deadlines set forth by the Graduate School, including 6 research credits and at least 12 credits at the
graduate level (600 or above).
- Take 30 credits of coursework, including:
- 6 research credits (799)
- 1 core course. Regardless of focus area, all graduate students in the M.S. program must demonstrate a basic command of core areas of entomology by taking and obtain a B or better (or satisfy by oral examination) the following core courses:
- BSCI
481 Insect Diversity and Classification (4 credits)
Incoming students that have taken equivalent courses (and made a
grade of B or better) at other institutions may petition the Graduate Affairs
Committee to take an oral examination to demonstrate proficiency in one or more
of the core courses. The examination will be administered by the instructor
with one member of the Graduate Affairs Committee present. Students joining the
Department should come to campus prepared to take the exam before the semester
begins. A student will be allowed to take each proficiency exam only once. If
the student passes, then the student does not have to take that particular core
course.
- Three topics seminars.
- Attend each Entomology Colloquium session and
register for ENTM 788 Special Topics: Colloquium each semester (does not fulfill topics seminar requirements)
- Prepare a thesis representing a report of independent research. The thesis research topic is selected by the
student and the Study Committee.
- Defend the Thesis. After completion of the research, a student
must defend the thesis before the Study Committee and answer questions
concerning related areas of emphasis.
Access the Graduate Requirements Worksheet
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Student Progress Report
The Student Progress Report is an internal form designed to help the faculty
advisor and Graduate Director track progress of each student through their
degree program. It is sent annually to each student in early January and must
be filled out and returned to the Graduate Director. The report is reviewed by
the Graduate Affairs Committee to determine if students are meeting deadlines
and making satisfactory progress in their degree program. A student's failure
to meet one of the following graduate program requirements indicates
unsatisfactory progress:
- Study Committee is not formed within the first year
of residence
- Study Committee meetings are not held annually
- research
proposal is not prepared, filed, and defended within the required time period
- failure to submit annual progress reports
- failure to take the Qualifying
Exam within the six semester time limit
- failure to meet satisfactory
attendance in the Department Colloquium.
Unsatisfactory progress is subject to special review by the Graduate Affairs
Committee. Upon review, the student may be put on probation for one semester.
After probation, departmental support may be terminated if the student does not
complete the
requirements. For students without departmental support, failure to make
satisfactory progress and meet deadlines may result in a registration block
being placed on enrollment in the subsequent semester. Additional time may be
granted by the Graduate Director if there are extenuating circumstances of a
sufficient nature to warrant such action but only after reasonable notification
and review of justification by the Graduate Affairs Committee.
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Research Proposal
For the student's Study Committee to evaluate the thesis topic,
the student must prepare a research proposal. The format should correspond to
that required for submitting proposals to the National Science Foundation or
National Institutes of Health. The proposal should contain statements of:
- problem in question
- background information in the form of a review of the
pertinent literature
- specific question(s) being investigated
- methods or
approach
- reasoning or logic behind the methods of approach
- manner of
data collection and statistical procedures utilized
- way in which data
will be interpreted and presented
In addition, preliminary data if available
should be presented. The research proposal must be reviewed by Study Committee
prior to initiation of the thesis research. Top of Page
Preparation of Thesis
Thesis should follow the editorial style of the journal in
which publication of research is anticipated. The selected journal format
should be determined in consultation with the major advisor. Preparation of the
thesis in journal format allows the student to expedite
publication of research results. Many students prefer to prepare separate
scientific articles as chapters in the thesis with introductory
and concluding sections. For theses not prepared in journal format, the
Graduate School's Thesis and Dissertation Manual describes the format and general requirements for preparation of a thesis.
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Publishing Before the Defense
If a student finds it advantageous to publish material included in the thesis
prior to defense, written approval must be obtained from the
Graduate Dean. This request must be signed by a student's Faculty Advisor.
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Master's Thesis Defense
All students must defend their theses during an oral examination administered
by the Study Committee. A student must give each member of the Study Committee
a copy of the thesis 10 days before the defense. Furthermore, the student must
notify all Entomology Faculty of the time and place of defense 10 days before
the examination.
In addition to questions on the thesis, knowledge in major and related focus
areas will be tested. In addition to the Study Committee,
interested members of the graduate faculty may attend and question the student.
However, only the Study Committee may vote. One or more negative votes
constitutes a failure. Students have two chances to defend their thesis.
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The Colloquium
The Entomology Colloquium, proceeding every fall and spring semester, offers a
series of seminars of interest to both faculty and students. Invited speakers
represent a broad range of academic expertise. New Ph.D. students, coming from
other institutions or departments, are encouraged to present a Colloquium
seminar based on their master's degree research during the first semester of
residence. In addition, all finishing students (both M.S. and Ph.D.) are
required to present their thesis or dissertation research before they graduate.
All graduate students are expected to attend each Colloquium session and
register for ENTM 788 Special Topics: Colloquium each semester. The faculty
member in charge of the Colloquium will monitor attendance. Unsatisfactory
attendance is subject to special review by the Graduate Affairs Committee.
Extenuating circumstances (such as off-campus employment or scheduling
conflicts with courses or assistantship duties) may qualify students to be
excused from regular attendance. However, the Department's Graduate Director
must approve the excuse for the absence.
View the Colloquium Schedule
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Time Limitations
All requirements for the master's degree must be completed within a five year
period. Details of time limitations are described in the Graduate Catalog. Extensions of time are granted only under the most unusual circumstances. The
student's advisor may request a first time extension from the Graduate School.
However, subsequent extensions must be evaluated by the Graduate Affairs
Committee before requests are sent to the Graduate School.
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