m.s. in environmental science graduate program handbook · dr. jennifer boyd dr. john tucker...

M.S.inEnvironmentalScienceGraduateProgramHandbook

DepartmentofBiology,Geology,andEnvironmentalScience

Welcome

WelcometotheMasterofScienceinEnvironmentalScience(M.S.ESC)programofferedbytheDepartmentofBiology,Geology,andEnvironmentalScience(BGES)attheUniversityofTennesseeatChattanooga(UTC).Ourprogramisdesignedtopreparescholarsandprofessionalstomeettheneedsofacademia,business,government,andthenon-profitsectorinthefieldofenvironmentalscience.Towardthisgoal,weemphasizesoundscientificandtechnicaltrainingcoupledwithanunderstandingofcontemporarysocioeconomic,politicalandlegalrealities.OurStudents

• Havetheopportunitytocontributetothedevelopmentofknowledgeinthefieldofenvironmentalsciencethroughscholarlyresearchand/orexperience.

• Prepareforcareerswithdiverseemployersincludingconservationorganizations,consultingfirms,governmentagencies,andschools,andforadmissionintodoctoralandprofessionaldegreeprograms.

OurFaculty

• Offercoursesthatemphasizethedevelopmentofadvancedcriticalthinkingandeffectiveadvocacyandcommunicationskillsusefultoaddressingenvironmentalissuesinaholisticandreal-worldcontext.

• Engagestudentsinresearchinawiderangeofsubdisciplinesincludingbiodiversityandsystematics,conservationandrestoration,ecology,environmentalandhumanhealth,environmentalpolicyandlaw,evolutionandbehavior,geospatialscience,andmolecularbiology,cellularbiologyandphysiology.

OurDepartment

• Supportsstudentexperientiallearningwithaccesstostate-of-the-artresearchandteachingfacilitiesandresourcesbothonandoffcampus.

• ConnectswithitscommunitythroughrelationswithlocalorganizationsandagenciessuchastheChattanoogaZoo,CityofChattanooga,ErlangerHealthSystems,NorthChickamaugaCreekConservancy,TennesseeAquarium,TennesseeRiverGorgeTrust,andTennesseeValleyAuthority.

ForMoreInformation Dr.JenniferBoyd Dr.JohnTucker

GraduateProgramCoordinator DepartmentChairjennifer-boyd@utc.edu john-tucker@utc.edutel:423-425-5638 tel:423-425-434

TableofContents

Welcome&ContactInformation preface1.Admissions 1 1.1AcademicRequirements 1 1.2IdentifyingaGraduateAdvisor 1 1.3ApplyingtotheProgram 12.ProgramofStudy 3 2.1CoreCourses 3 2.2Electives 3 2.3CapstoneExperience 43.Policies&Procedures 7 3.1ProgramofStudyDeclaration 7 3.2Advisement 7 3.3CourseEnrollment 9 3.4ThesisRequirements 11 3.5InternshipRequirements 14 3.6LearningDiscourseRequirements 19 3.7AcademicPerformance 22 3.8CapstoneExperienceProgress 23 3.9Graduation 234.FinancialAssistance 26 4.1GraduateTeachingAssistantships 26 4.2GraduateResearchAssistantships 27 4.3OtherInstitutionalSupport 28 4.4.GraduateStudentLoans 295.CampusResources 30

5.1GraduateStudentAssociation 30 5.2Library 305.3Technology 305.4ResearchCompliance 305.5Counseling 315.6Accommodation 31

ListofESCGraduateFaculty AppendixA2016–2017ImportantDates&Deadlines AppendixBStudentChecklists AppendixC

1.Admissions

PriortoapplyingtotheM.S.ESCprogramatUTC,youshouldensurethatyoumeetassociatedacademicrequirementsandidentifyafacultymemberwhowillserveasyourgraduateadvisor.Itisimportanttonotethattherequirementslistedhereareminimumsforconsiderationanddonotguaranteeacceptanceintotheprogram.Ultimately,admissionsdecisionsarebasedonevaluationsofquantitativeandqualitativeinformation,includingthecompatibilityofyourenvironmentalscienceinterestswiththatofourfaculty.

1.1AcademicRequirementsAsanapplicanttotheM.S.ESCprogram,youshouldmeetthefollowingacademicrequirements:

• Abaccalaureatedegreefromaregionallyaccreditedinstitutionofhighereducationorforeignequivalent

• AnoverallGPAof2.75oraGPAof3.0forthelast60credithours• SatisfactoryscoresonthegeneralGraduateRecordExamination(GRE),generally

definedasscoresabovethe25thpercentilefortheverbalandquantitativesections• Backgroundknowledgeofenvironmentalscienceconceptsequivalenttoatwo-

semesterundergraduateintroductoryenvironmentalsciencesequenceand/oranundergraduateorgraduateecologycourse

Thefollowingadditionalacademicpreparationisrecommended:• Atleastfourupper-levelundergraduatesciencecourseswithlabcomponents• Onecourseeachinenvironmentalethicsandenvironmentallaw• Onecourseeachincollegecalculus,introductorystatistics,andcomputerscience

1.2IdentifyingaGraduateAdvisorBecauseacloseadvisoryrelationshipbetweeneverygraduatestudentandagraduatefacultymemberisahallmarkoftheprogram,youmustidentifyafacultymemberwillingtoserveasyourgraduateadvisoraspartoftheadmissionprocess.Toinitiatethisprocess,wesuggestthatyouemailoneormoregraduatefacultymemberswhoshareyourinterestsinenvironmentalscienceatleastonefullsemesterbeforeyouanticipatestartingtheprogramtoallowtimeforconsiderationoftheirbackgroundandinterests.ProvidingaCVorrésuméand/orotherrelevantinformationwithyouremailwillfacilitatethiscommunication.AlistofprogramfacultyandresearchinterestsisprovidedinsidethebackcoverofthisHandbook.

1.3ApplyingtotheProgramAllapplicationsforadmissiontotheprogramareinitiallyhandledbytheGraduateSchoolatUTCandthenforwardedtotheDepartmentofBiology,Geology,andEnvironmentalScience(BGES)forreviewbyitsgraduatefaculty.Applicationinstructionsandlinkstotheonlineapplicationprocessareavailableathttps://www.utc.edu/apply/.Tobeconsideredcomplete,yourapplicationtotheM.S.ESCprogrammustincludethefollowingmaterials:

• Officialtranscriptsfromeveryinstitutionofhighereducationthatyouattended• AnofficialreportofyourGREscores• Acoverletterthatservesasastatementofpurposebydetailingyourrelevant

experiences,reasonsforpursuingthedegree,andgeneralplansforthegraduateprogramofstudy,includingidentificationofagraduateadvisorwhohasagreedtoserveinthiscapacity

• ACVorrésumé• Lettersofrecommendationfromatleastthreeindividualsfamiliarwithyouracademic

abilityand/orrelevantexperience

Inaddition,youmaysubmitoptionalsupplementarymaterialsevidencinganyrelevantandsubstantialpreparationand/orexperience,suchasacopyofawrittenundergraduatecapstoneprojectorpublication

CompleteapplicationsareforwardedfromtheGraduateSchooltotheESCGraduateProgramCoordinatorandthendistributedtomembersoftheprogramfacultyforreview.Admissiontotheprogramisrolling.However,wesuggestthatyousubmityourapplicationmaterialsbymid-Marchforfallsemesterenrollmentorbyearly-Octoberforspringsemesterenrollmenttoallowsufficienttimeforapplicationreview.Ifyousubmityourapplicationafterthesesuggestedsubmissiontimes,itmaynotbereviewedintimeforadmissionforthefollowingsemester.

2.ProgramofStudy

ToearntheM.S.ESCdegreeatUTC,youmustcompleteaprogramofstudyconsistingof36totalsemesterhours(i.e.,credits)ofcoursework.Thesehoursincludeacademiccreditassociatedwithcorecourses,electives,andagraduatecapstoneexperience.Descriptionsoftheserequirementsfollow.

2.1CoreCourses

AllESCgraduatestudentsmustcomplete15semesterhoursofrequiredcorecourses.Thesecoursearelistedinthetablebelow:

CoreCoursesoftheM.S.ESCProgram

CourseNumber Title CreditHours

ESC5020 MechanismsintheEnvironment 3

ESC5050 BiodiversityandNaturalResourcesConservation 3

ESC5120 AppliedStatisticsforEnvironmentalScientists 4

ESC5140 EnvironmentalLawandRegulations 3

ESC5700 SeminarI 1

ESC5710 SeminarII 1

2.2Electives

EveryESCgraduatestudentalsomustcompleteeither15or18semesterhoursofunrestrictedgraduateelectives.Yourrequirednumberofelectivehoursisdeterminedbythecapstoneexperiencethatyouchoosetopursueinpartialfulfillmentofthedegree.Specifically,studentsconductingathesisorinternshipforthecapstoneexperiencemustcomplete15hoursofelectives,whilestudentsconductingalearneddiscoursemustcomplete18hoursofelectives.Yourelectivehoursmaybecomprisedofgraduate-levelelectivecoursesofferedbytheDepartmentofBiology,Geology,andEnvironmentalScience(BGES)orgraduate-levelcoursesofferedbyotherdepartmentsthatarerelevanttothestudyofenvironmentalscienceandyourspecificdegreeprogramobjectivesasapprovedbyyourgraduateadvisor.Questionsabouttherelevanceofspecificcoursestoyourdegreeprogram(especiallythoseofferedoutsideofBGES)shouldbedirectedtoyouradvisorandtotheESCGraduateProgramCoordinator.

2.3CapstoneExperience

EachESCgraduatestudentmustchooseoneofthreecapstoneexperiencesfortheprogramofstudy–thesis,internship,orlearneddiscourse.Youshouldconsultwithyourgraduateadvisortodeviseaformalplanforthisexperienceappropriateforyouracademicobjectives,researchinterests,andcareergoals.Ideally,youinitiatedthisconversationwithyourprospectiveadvisorwhenyouwereapplyingtotheprogram.Thesis

Thethesisoptioninvolvesindependentoriginalresearchfocusedonaspecificissuethatisrelevanttoenvironmentalscience.Thisresearchwilldemonstratebroadknowledgeofthetopic,identifyagapintheknowledgebase,andattempttofillthatgapthroughappropriatestudy.Initiationofathesisrequiresacceptancebyyourgraduateadvisorycommitteeofaproposalthatdescribesyourthesisobjectives,providesapreliminaryreviewofpertinentliterature,outlinesthemethodologiesthatyouwilluse,anddetailstherelevanceofyourthesistothefield.Youthenwillworkcloselywithyourgraduateadvisortowardmeetingyourthesisobjectives.Athesisisanappropriatechoiceforyourcapstoneexperienceifyouwanttogainbroadlyapplicableresearchexperience.Itisespeciallyrecommendedifyouareconsideringfuturedoctoralstudiesoracareerinvolvingresearchactivitiesoroversight.

Athesiscapstoneexperienceculminateswithyoursubmissionofasuccessfulwrittenthesisandyoursuccessfulpublicoraldefenseofthisthesisasassessedbyyourgraduateadvisorycommittee.Asuccessfulwrittenthesiswillincludeaclearandfocusedstatementofpurpose,comprehensivereviewofrelevantliterature,explanationofstudydesignandmethodologies,appropriateanalysesandinterpretationofdata,anddescriptionofthesignificanceoffindings.Asuccessfuldefensewillinvolveclearpresentationofyourthesisandinformedandthoughtfulanswerstoquestionsfromyourgraduatecommitteeandtheaudienceaboutitssubstanceandsignificance.OnceapprovedbytheGraduateSchool,yourwrittenthesisbecomespartofthepermanentbodyofscientificknowledgeandisconsideredareflectionofyou,youradvisor,BGES,andtheUTCasawhole.

IfyouopttoconductathesisinpartialfulfillmentoftheM.S.ESCdegree,youmustenrollinatleast6semesterhoursofESC5999(Thesis)whileactivelyengagedinyourthesisresearch,writing,and/ordefensepreparation,withatleasttwoofthesecredithourscompletedduringthesemesterofyourgraduation.Onceyouinitiateyourthesis,youmustregisterforthesishourscontinuously(i.e.,everysemester)untilyougraduate.Fordeterminingcontinuousthesisregistration,thesummertermisnotconsidered.Assuch,youdonotneedtoregisterforESC5999duringsummersessionswhileconductingyourthesisresearch;however,youmayopttodosoifthisissuggestedandapprovedbyyourgraduateadvisor.YoushouldconsultwithyourgraduateadvisortodeterminethenumberofESC5999hoursforwhichyoushouldregistereachsemester,dependingontheworkthatyouplantodotowardcompletingyourthesis.Internship

Theinternshipoptionisdesignedtoprovideyouwithanopportunitytoacquirespecializedtechnical/professionalknowledgebyworkingonanenvironmentalprojectwithanappropriate

sponsoringorganizationorbusiness.Asaformofexperientiallearning,aninternshipwillintegrateyouracademicknowledgeinenvironmentalsciencewithitspracticalapplicationinaworkplacesetting.InitiationofaninternshipinpartialfulfillmentoftheM.S.ESCdegreerequiresthatyouidentifyasuitableinternshipopportunityandthatyourgraduateadvisorycommitteeandaworkplacesupervisorapproveaproposalthatdescribesyourinternshipobjectives,providesapreliminaryreviewofpertinentliterature,detailsworktobecompleted,anddiscussestherelevanceoftheinternshiptotheworkplaceandyourcareergoals.Yourinternshipmaybepaidorunpaid.Duringtheinternship,youwillworkcloselywithyourworkplacesupervisorwithoversightfromyourgraduateadvisortowardmeetingyourinternshipobjectives.Youandyourworkplacesupervisorwillberequiredtodocumentyourexperienceviaaseriesofformalperiodicreportstoyourgraduateadvisor.Aninternshipisanappropriatechoiceforyourcapstoneexperienceifyouwishtodevelopskillsspecializedforaparticulartypeofenvironmentalwork.Itisespeciallyrecommendedifyouhaveveryspecificcareergoals(e.g.,naturalresourcemanagement,environmentalconsulting)thatdonotrequirefurthergraduatestudies.

Aninternshipcapstoneexperienceculminateswithyoursubmissionofasuccessfulwritteninternshipreportanditssuccessfulpublicoraldefenseasassessedbyyourgraduateadvisorycommittee.Asuccessfulwritteninternshipreportwillincludeaclearandfocusedstatementofgoals,comprehensivereviewofrelevantliterature,descriptionofspecificactivitiesperformed,andexplanationofthesignificanceofthoseactivitiestomeetingtheinternshipobjectives.Asuccessfuldefensewillinvolveclearpresentationofyourinternshipandinformedandthoughtfulanswerstoquestionsfromthegraduateadvisorycommitteeandaudienceaboutthesubstanceandsignificanceofyourexperience.

IfyouopttoconductaninternshipinpartialfulfillmentoftheM.S.ESCdegree,youmustcomplete600hoursofenvironmentallyfocusedworkasasupervisedinternwithanexternalemployerorotheragency.Thisobligationamountsto15weeksoffull-time(i.e.,40hours/week)or30weeksofpart-time(i.e.,20hours/week)work.Whileactivelyengagedinyourinternshipwork,reportwriting,and/ordefensepreparation,youmustenrollinatleast6semesterhoursofESC5996(Internship);atleasttwoofthesehoursmustbeduringthesemesterofyoursuccessfuldefense.LearnedDiscourse

Thelearneddiscourseoptionallowsyoutoexploredeeplyaspecifictopicrelevanttoenvironmentalsciencethroughindependentandoriginalreviewofrelevantavailableliterature.Initiationofalearneddiscourserequiresacceptancebyyourgraduateadvisorycommitteeofaproposalthatdescribesyourlearneddiscourseobjectives,providesapreliminaryreviewofpertinentliterature,outlinesacomprehensiveliteraturereview,anddiscussestherelevanceofyourlearneddiscoursetothefield.Youthenwillworkcloselywithyourgraduateadvisortowardmeetingyourlearneddiscourseobjectives.Alearneddiscourseisanappropriatechoiceforyourcapstoneexperienceifyouwanttofurtheryourknowledgebaseinanenvironmentalsciencetopicwithoutfocusondevelopmentofappliedresearchorspecializedworkplaceskills.Thelearneddiscourseoptionisespeciallyrecommendedifyouwanttoadvanceinanalreadyestablishedcareer.

Alearneddiscourseprogramofstudyculminateswithyoursubmissionofasuccessfulwrittendiscourseanditssuccessfulpublicoraldefenseasassessedbyyourgraduateadvisorycommittee.Asuccessfulwrittendiscoursewillincludeaclearandfocusedstatementofpurpose,comprehensivereviewofrelevantliterature,synthesisoffindings,anddescriptionoftheirsignificancetothefield.Asuccessfuldefensewillinvolveclearpresentationofyourlearneddiscourseandinformedandthoughtfulanswerstoquestionsfromyourgraduatecommitteeandaudienceaboutitssubstanceandsignificance.

IfyouopttoconductalearneddiscourseinpartialfulfillmentoftheM.S.ESCdegree,youmustcompleteatleast3semesterhoursofassociatedESC5998(Research)whileactivelyengagedinyourlearneddiscourseresearchand/orwriting.Youmaycompletethese3hourspriortothesemesterofyourdefense;however,yourprogramofstudywillnotbecompleteuntilyousuccessfullydefendyourlearneddiscourse.YoushouldconsultwithyourgraduateadvisortodeterminethenumberofESC5998hoursforwhichyoushouldregistereachsemester,dependingontheworkthatyouplantodotowardcompletingyourthesis.

3.Policies&Procedures

StudentspursingtheM.S.ESCdegreeatUTCaregovernedbytheoverallpoliciesandproceduresimplementedbytheGraduateSchoolatUTCandrelatedprogram-specificrequirementssetforthbytheUTCDepartmentofBiology,Geology,andEnvironmentalScience.Assuch,youshouldfamiliarizeyourselfwithboththepoliciesandproceduresdescribedinthisHandbookandthoseoutlinedinUTC’sGraduateStudentCatalog,whichislinkedontheGraduateSchoolwebsite.QuestionsaboutpoliciesandproceduresshouldbedirectedtotheESCGraduateProgramCoordinator.

3.1ProgramofStudyDeclaration

PriortoadmissionorveryearlyinyourfirstsemesterofenrollmentintheM.S.ESCprogram,youshouldhaveconversationswithyourgraduateadvisorthatfocusonthedetailsofyourprogramofstudy.YoumustofficiallydeclareyourprogramofstudybyfilingaProgramofStudyformwiththeGraduateSchoolbytheendofyourfirstsemesterofenrollment.

Ontheform,youshoulddeclare‘ESC’asyourmajor,and‘Thesis’,‘Internship’,or‘LearnedDiscourse’asyourconcentration.Whendescribingyourprogramofstudycoursework,youneedonlytolistthecorecoursesfortheM.S.ESCdegreeprogram,aswellasanycoursestakenpriortoenrollmentforwhichyouarerequestingTransferCredit(seeHandbooksection3.3).Youarepermittedalsotoincludeplannedelectivecoursesontheform,butyouwouldthenneedtodocumentformallyanysubsequentchangestotheseplannedcoursespriortoprogramcompletion.Forthisreason,youareencouragedtoincludeonlythecorecoursesofthedegreeprogramonthisform.PriortoitssubmissiontotheGraduateSchool,you,yourgraduateadvisor,andtheESCGraduateProgramCoordinatormustsignyourProgramofStudyform.Itispreferredthatyousubmitallformselectronically.ProgramofStudyChanges

Ifyoudecidetochangeyourprogramofstudy(e.g.,fromthesistointernship),youmustofficiallydocumentthischangewiththeGraduateSchoolpriortograduation.YoushouldwaittomakethisformalnotificationuntilyounearprogramcompletionandapplyforaGraduationAudit(seeHandbooksection3.9);donotsubmitasecondProgramofStudyformtotheGraduateSchool.However,youshouldinformtheESCGraduateProgramCoordinatorofyourprogramofstudychangebyemailbeforetheendofthecurrentsemesterorthebeginningofanewsemesterifthechangeismadeduringsummerorwinterbreaksothatdepartmentalrecordscanbekeptcurrent.

3.2Advisement

AdvisoryRoles

Theroleofyourgraduateadvisoristosuperviseyourentireprogramofstudy,includingtheselectionofappropriatecourseworkandyourthesis,internship,orlearneddiscourseprogress.Earlyconsultationsbetweenyouandyourgraduateadvisorshouldincludediscussionofatleasttwoadditionalpeoplewithgraduatefacultystatusandexpertiseinthestudyareatoserveon

yourgraduateadvisorycommittee.Theroleofthecommitteemembersistoprovideyouwithsupplementaryadvisementandadditionalevaluationofyourthesis,internship,orlearneddiscourse.(Intheeventthatacommitteemember’sroleisexpectedtoextendbeyondsuchsupplementaladvisement,youmayidentifythatcommitteememberasaco-advisor.)Youshouldmeetwithyourgraduateadvisorregularlyandwithyourentiregraduateadvisorycommitteeasneeded(asdeterminedwiththehelpofyouradvisor).

AcurrentlistoffacultyintheDepartmentofBiology,Geology,andEnvironmentalSciencewithgraduatefacultystatusisprovidedinsidethebackcoverofthisHandbook.AnupdatedandmorecomprehensivelistofapprovedGraduateFacultyMembersatUTCismaintainedbytheGraduateSchoolonitswebsite.Otherqualifiedpersonsmaybeappointedtothegraduatefacultyifyourgraduateadvisorsuggeststhattheywillprovidespecialacademicexpertiseorprofessionalexperiencetoyourgraduateadvisorycommittee.Ifyouareinterestedinseekingcommitteeappointmentforaqualifiedexternalindividual,talkwiththeESCGraduateProgramCoordinatorformoreinformationaboutthisprocess.GraduateCommitteeAppointment

BeforetheendofyourfirstsemesterofenrollmentintheM.S.ESCprogram,youmustofficiallyidentifyyourgraduateadvisorandgraduateadvisorycommitteemembers.Theprocessfordoingthisvariesaccordingtothecapstoneexperiencethatyouchoosetopursue.Ifyouareplanningtoconductathesis,youmustidentifyyourgraduateadvisorandcommitteemembersbyfilinganofficialGraduateCommitteeAppointmentformwiththeGraduateSchool.You,yourgraduateadvisor,allofyourgraduateadvisorycommitteemembers,andtheDepartmentChairmustsignthisformpriortoitssubmission.

Ifyouareplanningtoconductaninternshiporlearneddiscourse,youmustidentifyyourgraduateadvisorandcommitteemembersbyfilinganInternship/LearnedDiscourseCommitteeAppointmentformwiththeESCGraduateProgramCoordinator.You,youradvisor,andallofyourgraduatecommitteemembersmustsignthisform.GraduateCommitteeChanges

Ifyoudecidetochangeyourgraduateadvisorand/oranyofyourgraduatecommitteemembers,youmustofficiallydocumentsuchchanges.Todoso,youshouldsubmitanewGraduateCommitteeAppointmentform(thesisstudentsonly)orInternship/LearnedDiscourseCommitteeAppointmentformbeforetheendofthesemesterinwhichthechangeismadeorbythebeginningofthenextsemesterifthechangeismadeduringsummerorwinterbreak.Student&FacultyResponsibilities

BothESCgraduatestudentsandfacultyareresponsibleforfollowingthepoliciesandproceduresoftheGraduateSchoolandtheM.S.ESCprogramassetforthbytheDepartmentofBiology,Geology,andEnvironmentalScience.Thisresponsibilityincludesfullunderstandingofprogramofstudyrequirementsandexpectationsforacademicperformanceandthesis,internship,orlearneddiscourseprogress.

Asastudent,youareprimarilyresponsibleforfulfillingtherequirementsandmeetingtheexpectationsoftheGraduateSchoolandtheprogram.Thisincludesmeetingexpectationsforperformanceandprogress,aswellascorrectandtimelysubmissionofallrequireddocuments(i.e.,forms,proposals,reports,finaldocuments)associatedwithyourprogramofstudy.Yourgraduateadvisorwillplayasignificantroleinyoureducationandtrainingasagraduatestudent.Assuch,yourgraduateadvisorassumesresponsibilityforhelpingyoutoselectcourseworkappropriatetoyourprogramofstudyandbeingawareofyouracademicprogressandstatus.Yourgraduateadvisoralsoisresponsibleforguidingandfacilitatingyourthesis,internship,andlearneddiscourseobjectivesandactivitiestowardthepromotionofyourenvironmentalscienceknowledge,experientiallearning,andprofessionalskilldevelopment.

Frequentcommunicationbetweenyouandyourgraduateadvisorisimperativetoyoursuccessintheprogram.Thiscorrespondencewillfacilitateearlyidentificationofconcernsorissuesthatcouldimpedeyourperformanceand/orprogresssothatthoseconcernsorissuescanbeaddressed.Assuch,werecommendthatyoudeviseascheduleforregularcommunicationwithyourgraduateadvisorthroughoutenrollmentintheprogram.

3.3CourseEnrollment

Registration

Youmustconsultwithyourgraduateadvisortodiscussappropriatecoursesinwhichtoenrolleachsemester.WerecommendinitiatingthisdiscussionjustpriortothecourseregistrationperiodsdesignatedbytheUTCRecordsOffice(aroundearlyNovemberforspringcoursesandearlyAprilforfallcourses).Aftertheconsultation,youradvisorwillprovideyouwithasix-digitPINthatwillenableyoutoregisterforclassesviatheonlineUTCregistrationsystemlocatedinMyMocsNetunderthe‘Academics’tab.Forcompletedetails,includingyoureligibilityandappointmenttimes,seetheImportantInformationforRegistrationatUTCpostedbytheRecordsOfficeonitswebsite.CourseLoads

IfyouarenotreceivingaGraduateAssistantshipprovidedbyUTC(seeHandbooksection4),youtechnicallymayregisterforupto15semesterhoursduringthefallandspringsemester.However,thiscourseloadisnottypicalorrecommendedbyourfacultygiventheintensivenatureofgraduatecourses.IfyouarefundedbyaGraduateAssistantship(seeHandbooksection4),youmayregisterforupto12semesterhoursduringthefallandspringsemesters.Werecommendthatyouconsultwithyouradvisortodeterminesemestercourseloadsthatareappropriateforyougivenyourtimeexpectationtocompletetheprogramandothermajorobligations(suchasoutsideemployment).Agoodruleofthumbtoconsideristhatgraduatecoursestypicallyrequireabout4-5hoursofstudytimeperweekoutsideofclassforeachhourspentinclass.So,atypical3-creditgraduatecoursecouldinvolvea12-15-hourtotaltimecommitmenteachweekwithmostofthistimeoccurringoutsideofclass.

IfyouarenotreceivingaGraduateAssistantshipprovidedbyUTCduringthesummer,youmayregisterforupto12totalsemesterhoursduringthesummeracademicterms.Ifyouarefunded

byaGraduateAssistantshipduringthesummer,youmayregisterforupto6semesterhours.However,graduatecoursesaretypicallyextremelylimitedinsummer.Giventhis,graduatestudentsoftenusethesummerasanopportunitytofocusintensivelyontheirthesis,internship,orlearneddiscourse.Duringthistime,youmayregisterforESC5999(Thesis),ESC5996(Internship),orESC5998(Research;forlearneddiscourses)hoursifappropriatesectionsareavailableandthisregistrationisapprovedbyyourgraduateadvisor.EnrollmentStatus

TheUniversitywillconsideryoutohavefull-timestatusasagraduatestudentifyouareenrolledin9ormoresemesterhoursforgraduatecreditandhalf-timestatusifyouareenrolledin6-8semesterhoursforgraduatecreditduringthefallandspringsemesters.Inaddition,youwillbereportedasfull-timeequivalentforexternalfinancialaidpurposesifyouareenrolledinlessthan6hoursofESC5999(Thesis)towardtheendofyourprogramofstudyregardlessofthetotalnumberofsemesterhoursforwhichyouareregistered.IfyouaresupportedbyaGraduateAssistantshipprovidedbyUTC(seeHandbooksection4),areapproachinggraduation,anddonotneedtoregisterforfull-timehourstocompleteyourprogramofstudy,youmayrequestpriorauthorizationfromtheDeanoftheGraduateSchooltoenrollinlessthanfull-timehoursbysubmittingaGANineHourWaiverform.Ifyouhavespecificconcernsabouthowyourenrollmentstatuswillinfluenceyourfinancialaid,youshoulddiscusstheseconcernswiththeESCGraduateProgramCoordinator.TransferCredit

Youmustcompleteatleast24ofthe36semesterhoursrequiredtoearntheM.S.ESCdegreeforgraduatecreditatUTC.Youmayrequestthatupto12semesterhoursofotherqualifiedcoursesthatcarrygraduatecreditfromaregionallyaccreditedinstitutionofhighereducationcountascredittowardtheM.S.ESCdegree.QualifiedcoursesmustbeassociatedwithagradeofBorbetter,fitwithinthetimelimitoftheM.S.ESCprogramofstudy(seeHandbooksection3.9),andnothavecountedtowardapreviousundergraduateorgraduatedegree.

IfyouwanttorequestthatcreditfromaqualifiedcoursebeincludedinyourM.S.ESCprogramofstudy,youshouldtalkwiththeESCGraduateProgramCoordinatoraboutyourrequestandprovidehimorherwithacopyofthecoursesyllabus.TheCoordinatorthenwillreviewthesyllabuswithconsultationfromappropriatemembersofthegraduatefacultygiventhescopeofthecourse.Ifyourrequestfortransfercreditisapprovedattheprogramlevel,thecoursemaybelistedeitherwhenyoudeclareyourprogramofstudy(seeHandbooksection3.1)orlistedwhenyouapplyforagraduationaudit(seeHandbooksection3.9).AllprogramapprovalsoftransfercreditsaresubjecttofinalapprovalbytheDeanoftheGraduateSchool.ContinuousEnrollment

AsanESCgraduatestudent,youshouldworkcontinuouslytowardthecompletionofyourprogramofstudy.Ifyouareconductingathesis,thisalsomeansthatyoumustregisterforsemesterhourseveryfallandspringsemesteruntilyourprogramofstudyiscomplete(i.e.,untilyougraduate),asthiscontinuousenrollmentrequirementispartofthethesisprogramof

study.Registrationduringsummersessionsisnotrequiredaspartofacontinuousprogramofstudy.Ifyouareconductinganinternshiporlearneddiscourse,continuousenrollmentalsoisexpected,butnotmandated.However,allbreaksinenrollmentwillrequirereadmissiontotheM.S.ESCprogram.QuestionsaboutthesepoliciesshouldbedirectedtotheESCGraduateProgramCoordinator.LeavesofAbsence&StopOuts

AllbreaksincontinuousenrollmentintheM.S.ESCprogramwillrequirethatyouapplyforreadmissiontotheprogram.InformingtheGraduateSchoolofaneedtobreakyourcontinuousenrollmentinM.S.ESCprogramwillfacilitateyoursubsequentreadmissionintotheprogram.IfyouareexperiencingcircumstancesthatprecludeyourcontinuedenrollmentintheM.S.ESCprogram,youshouldconsultwithyourgraduateadvisorandtheESCGraduateProgramCoordinatortodiscussfilingapossibleleaveofabsencerequestwiththeGraduateSchool.

IfextenuatingcircumstancesprecludeyourcontinuousenrollmentinESC5999(Thesis),youmayuseaRequestforStopOutformtorequestaone-time‘stopout’ofyourthesisprogressforuptofourcontinuoussemesters.Thisrequestmustbemadeevenifyouwillcontinuetoenrollinother(i.e.,non-thesis)coursework.Yourstopoutrequestmustbemadenolaterthantheendoftheenrollmentperiodofthesemesterprecedingthestartofyourrequestedstopoutandmustincluderationalandjustificationforyourrequest.Forthepurposesofstopoutrequests,theentiresummeriscountedasasemester.Yourstopoutrequestmustbeapprovedbyyourgraduateadvisor,theESCGraduateProgramCoordinator,andtheDeanoftheGraduateSchool.

3.4ThesisRequirements

InitiationofathesisforpartialfulfillmentoftheM.S.ESCdegreeinvolvesthedevelopmentofanapprovedproposalforyourthesisresearch.Yourthesiswillculminatewiththesubmissionofanapprovedwrittenthesisanditssuccessfulpublicdefense.ThesisProposalDevelopment

Ifyouopttocompleteathesis,youshouldbegintoprepareathesisproposaloutliningallaspectsofyourplannedthesisresearchwithguidancefromyourgraduateadvisorduringyourfirstsemesterintheprogram.Astandardthesisproposalwilldescribeyourthesisobjectives,provideapreliminaryreviewofpertinentliterature,outlinethemethodologiesthatyouwilluse,anddetailtherelevanceofyourthesistothefield.Yourgraduateadvisormayhaveadditionalspecificideasandrequestsforthecontentofyourproposal.Yourproposalshouldbesufficientlydetailedtoprovideyouwithaplantofollowtoconductyourresearch,includingatimelineforsignificantaccomplishments.

Afinaldraftofyourthesisproposalshouldbeapprovedbyyourgraduateadvisorpriortoitsdistributiontoyourothergraduateadvisorycommitteemembersfortheirreview.Asacourtesy,youshouldaskyourcommitteemembersoftheirpreferencesforelectronicorhardcopiesofyourproposal.Onceallofyourcommitteemembershavehadadequatetimeto

reviewtheproposal(atleasttwoweeksisrecommended),youshouldorganizeafullcommitteemeetingtodiscussyourproposalandacquireconstructivefeedback.

Asevidenceoftimelyprogress,yourthesisproposalshouldbeapprovedbyyourgraduateadvisorycommitteebytheendofyoursecondsemesterofenrollmentintheprogram.However,youareencouragedtocompleteyourproposalbytheendofthefirstsemesterofenrollmentsothatyoucaninitiateyourthesisworkasearlyaspossible.ESC5999Registration&Grading

Afteryourthesishasbeenapprovedbyyourgraduateadvisorycommittee,youmayregisterforESC5999(Thesis)semesterhours.Intotal,youmustregisterfor6semesterhoursofESC5999whileengagedinyourthesisresearch,writingyourthesis,and/orpreparingforitsdefense.Youmustregisterforatleast2ofthesesemesterhoursofESC5999duringthesemesterofyourgraduation.Youshouldconsultwithyourgraduateadvisortodetermineanappropriateplanforregistrationandcompletingyour6totalESC5999semesterhours.

ForallsemestersthatyouregisterforESC5999hourspriortothesemesterofyourgraduation,youwillearnagradeofSP(SatisfactoryProgress)orNP(Non-satisfactoryProgress)asdeterminedbyyourgraduateadvisor.Thesegradesarenotfactoredintoyourgradepointaverage.However,ifyouearnanNPgradeforESC5999fortwosemesters,thedepartmentalGraduateFacultyCommitteewillreviewyourthesisproposalandprogresstodetermineanappropriatecourseofaction.Ifyouarefoundtoberesponsibleforthelackoftimelyprogresstowardcompletingyourthesis,suchactionscouldinvolveformalprobationordismissalfromtheprogram.

TocompeteyourESC5999hours,youmustprepareawrittenthesisthatisapprovedbyyourgraduateadvisorycommitteeandsuccessfullydefendit.YoualsomuchsubmitafinalversionofyourthesistotheGraduateSchoolforreview.(ThesetasksaredetailedlaterinthissectionoftheHandbook).Ifapproved,youwillbeassignedagradeofS(Satisfactory)foryourfinalESC5999semester,indicatingcompletionofyourthesis.Thisgradeisnotfactoredintoyourgradepointaverage.WrittenThesisPreparation

Asaculminationofyourdegreeprogram,youmustprepareandsuccessfullydefendanapprovedwrittenthesisthatincludesaclearandfocusedstatementofpurpose,comprehensivereviewofrelevantliterature,explanationofstudydesignandmethodologies,appropriateanalysesandinterpretationofdata,anddescriptionofthesignificanceoffindings.Yourgraduateadvisormayhaveadditionalspecificideasandrequestsforthecontentandorganizationofyourwrittenthesisdependingonthenatureofyourproject.

Whencomplete,thefinaldraftofyourthesisshouldbeapprovedbyyourgraduateadvisorpriortoitsdistributiontoyourothergraduatecommitteemembersfortheirreview.Thisdistributionmustoccuratleasttwoweeksprioryourplanneddefensedatetoallowadequatetimeforthoroughreview.Asacourtesy,youshouldaskyourcommitteemembersoftheirpreferencesforelectronicorhardcopiesofyourthesis.

BecauseyourfinalapprovedandsuccessfullydefendedwrittenthesiswillbesubmittedtotheGraduateSchool,itmustconformtotheUTCThesisandDissertationStandardsdetailedontheGraduateSchoolwebsite.Westronglyrecommendthatyoufamiliarizeyourselfwiththeseformattingguidelinesearlyintheprocessofwritingyourthesisandincorporatethemintoyourearlydrafts.Thestandardsaredetailedandextensive.Assuch,planningtoformatyourthesisasalast-minuteexerciseisnotagoodstrategyformeetingsubmissiondeadlines.SchedulingtheThesisDefense

Youmustpresentyourapprovedthesisduringathesisdefenseand‘pass’thisdefenseaspartoftheM.S.ESCdegreeprogram.Asuccessfuldefensewillinvolveclearpresentationofyourthesisandinformedandthoughtfulanswerstoquestionsfromyourgraduateadvisorycommitteeandtheaudienceaboutitssubstanceandsignificance.Aswithyourwrittenthesis,youshouldconsultwithyourgraduateadvisorwhilepreparingyourdefense.YourthesisdefensemustoccurnolaterthantherelevantdatepostedontheGraduateSchoolCalendartoqualifyforgraduationduringthatsemester.

Youshouldhaveapprovalfromyourgraduateadvisorandgraduateadvisorycommitteememberspriortoschedulingyourthesisdefense.Afterreceivingthisapproval,youshoulddiscussmultiplepossibledatesandtimeswithyourcommitteeandtheninformtheESCGraduateProgramCoordinatorofseveralpossibledatesandtimesduringwhichallofyourcommitteemembersareavailable.EithertheProgramCoordinatororDepartmentChairalsomustbeavailabletoattendyourdefense,soyourdefensedateandtimealsowillneedtoconsidertheiravailability.Onceanagreeabledateandtimearedetermined,theProgramCoordinatorwillscheduleyourdefenseandinformyouandyourgraduateadvisorycommitteeofitsdate,time,andlocation.

Onceyourdefenseisscheduled,youmustemailaNoticeofScheduledDefensetoAmy-Campbell@utc.eduatleasttwoweekspriortoyourscheduleddefensedatesothatapublicannouncementmaybemade.ThesisDefenseFormat

AthesisdefenseintheM.S.ESCprograminvolvesapublicpresentationandaprivateexamination.Yourgraduateadvisorandgraduateadvisorycommitteememberswillattendbothpartsofyourdefense.TheUTCcommunitywillbeinvitedformallytothepublicpresentationpartofyourdefensebytheGraduateSchool.Outsidepersonsalsomayattendthepresentation,andyouareencouragedtoinviteyourfamilyandfriendstothispartofyourthesisdefense.Onlyyourgraduateadvisorandcommitteememberstypicallyattendtheprivateexaminationthatfollowsthepublicpresentation.TheESCGraduateProgramCoordinatororDepartmentChairalsomayattendtheexaminationasanobserverifinvitedbyyouoramemberofyourgraduateadvisorycommittee.

Duringthepublicpartofyourdefense,youshouldgiveaprofessionalpresentationthatdescribesandjustifiesallaspectsofyourthesis.Typically,thisisachievedwithaPowerPointpresentationthatisabout30-45minutesinlength.Afteryourpresentation,youshouldsolicitandfieldquestionsfromtheaudienceabouttheinformationthatyoupresented.

Duringtheprivateexaminationthatimmediatelyfollows,youwillbeexpectedtofieldquestionsfromyourgraduateadvisorandgraduateadvisorycommitteemembers.Thesequestionscanrangefromonesspecifictoyourpresentationtoquestionsaboutyourbroaderresearchtopicandrelatedareasofenvironmentalscience.Questionsalsomayfocusonmaterialcoveredinyourrelevantgraduatecoursework.Thispartofyourthesisdefenseisintendedtoenableyourgraduateadvisorandcommitteememberstoassessyourunderstandingofyourthesistopic,comprehensionofitsrelevancetothebroaderfield,competencyandprofessionalismasanenvironmentalexpert,andcommunicationskills.

Followingtheexamination,youradvisorandcommitteememberswillrequestthatyouleavetheroomsothattheycandiscussinprivateyourwrittenthesisanditsdefense.Ultimately,yourcommitteewillprovideacollective‘pass’or‘fail’assessmentofyourdefensethatalsoconveysgeneralacceptanceorrejectionofyourwrittenthesisandinformyouoftheirassessment.Evenifyoupassyourdefense,youmayberequiredtomakeminorconditionalchangestoyourwrittenthesispriortoitsfinalapprovalforsubmissiontotheGraduateSchool.Thecommitteealsomayrequesttoreviewyourrevisedwrittenthesistoevaluaterequestedchanges.Ifyoufailyourdefense,youmaybepermittedtorepeatthedefenseafteranintervaltoallowforimprovementatthediscretionofyourcommittee.ThesisDefenseResults

YourfinalthesisdefenseresultswillberecordedbyyourgraduateadvisoronaGraduateDegreeExaminationResultsform.Thisformwillbesignedbyyouradvisorandothergraduateadvisorycommitteemembers.YoumustsubsequentlyobtainthesignaturesoftheESCGraduateProgramCoordinatorandtheDeanoftheCollegeofArtsandSciencespriortohavingtheESCGraduateProgramCoordinatorsubmitthisformtotheGraduateSchoolonyourbehalf.Youmaynotsubmitthisformyourself.ThecompletedformmustbesubmittednolaterthantherelevantdatepostedonlinkedfromtheGraduateSchoolwebsitetoqualifyforgraduationduringthesemesterofthedefense.

ThesisSubmission

YoumustsubmityourapprovedfinalwrittenthesiselectronicallyviaUTCScholartotheGraduateSchoolnolaterthantherelevantdatespecifiedontheGraduateSchoolCalendarlinkedfromtheGraduateSchoolwebsitetoqualifyforgraduationduringthesamesemesterasthedefense.Oncesubmitted,yourthesiswillbecheckedbytheGraduateSchoolfordeterminationofitsadherencetotheUTCThesisandDissertationStandards.Ifyoursubmittedthesisisnotapproved,youwillberequiredtomakenecessarychangestothedocumentinUTCScholar.Failuretomaketimelyrequestedrevisionstoyourthesismayresultindelayedgraduation.

3.5InternshipRequirements

InitiationofaninternshipforpartialfulfillmentoftheM.S.ESCdegreeinvolvesthedevelopmentofanapprovedproposalforyourinternshipexperience.Yourinternshipwill

culminatewiththesubmissionofanapprovedwritteninternshipreportanditssuccessfulpublicdefense.InternshipProposalDevelopment

Ifyouopttocompleteaninternship,youshouldbegintoprepareaninternshipproposaloutliningallaspectsofyourplannedinternshipexperiencewithguidancefromyourgraduateadvisorandaproposedworkplacesupervisorduringyourfirstsemesterintheM.S.ESCprogram.Astandardinternshipproposalwilldescribeyourinternshipobjectives,provideapreliminaryreviewofpertinentliterature,detailtheworktobecompleted,anddiscusstherelevanceoftheplannedinternshiptotheworkplaceandyourcareergoals.Yourgraduateadvisorand/orworkplacesupervisormayhaveadditionalspecificideasandrequestsforthecontentofyourproposal.Yourproposalshouldbesufficientlydetailedtoprovideyouwithaplantofollowduringyourinternship,includingatimelineforsignificantaccomplishments.Youshouldspecifyhowyouwillspendthe600hoursofinternshipexperiencerequiredforpartialfulfillmentoftheM.S.ESCdegree.

Afinaldraftofyourinternshipproposalshouldbeapprovedbyyourgraduateadvisorpriortoitsdistributiontoyourothergraduateadvisorycommitteemembersfortheirreview.Asacourtesy,youshouldaskyourcommitteemembersoftheirpreferencesforelectronicorhardcopiesofyourproposal.Onceallcommitteemembershavehadadequatetimetoreviewyourproposal(atleasttwoweeksisrecommended),youshouldorganizeafullcommitteemeetingtodiscussyourproposalandacquireconstructivefeedback.Simultaneoustothereviewofyourinternshipproposalbyyourcommittee,youshouldseektheapprovalofyourplannedworkplacesupervisorfortheworkthatyouareproposing.

Asevidenceoftimelyprogress,yourinternshipproposalshouldbeapprovedbyyourgraduateadvisorycommitteebytheendofyoursecondsemesterofenrollmentintheprogram.However,youarerequiredtocompletethesetasksearlierifyouplantobeginyourinternshippriortotheendofyoursecondsemesterintheprogram.ESC5996Registration&Grading

Afteryourinternshipproposalhasbeenapprovedbyyourgraduateadvisorycommittee,youmayregisterforESC5996(Internship)semesterhours.Intotal,youmustregisterfor6semesterhoursofESC5996whileengagedinyourinternshipexperience,draftingyourinternshipreport,and/orpreparingforitsdefense.Youmustregisterforatleast2ofthesesemesterhoursofESC5996duringthesemesterofyoursuccessfuldefense.YoushouldconsultwithyourgraduateadvisortodetermineanappropriateplanforregistrationandcompletingyourESC5996semesterhourrequirements.

ForallsemestersthatyouregisterforESC5996hourspriortothesemesterofyourdefense,youwillearnagradeofSP(SatisfactoryProgress)orNP(Non-satisfactoryProgress)asdeterminedbyyourgraduateadvisor.Thesegradesarenotfactoredintoyourgradepointaverage.However,ifyouearnanNPgradeforESC5996fortwosemesters,thedepartmentalGraduateFacultyCommitteewillreviewyourinternshipproposalandprogresstodetermineanappropriatecourseofaction.Ifyouarefoundtoberesponsibleforthelackoftimelyprogress

towardcompletingyourinternship,suchactionscouldinvolveformalprobationordismissalfromtheprogram.

TocompleteyourESC5996hours,youmustprepareafinalinternshipreportthatisapprovedbyyourgraduateadvisorycommitteeandsuccessfullydefendit.(ThesetasksaredetailedlaterinthissectionoftheHandbook.)Ifapproved,youwillbeassignedagradeofS(Satisfactory)foryourfinalESC5996semester,indicatingcompletionofyourinternship.Thisgradeisnotfactoredintoyourgradepointaverage.InternshipProgress&EvaluationReportsInternshipsgenerallyoccuroff-campuswithoutdirectsupervisionbyagraduateadvisor.Assuch,ifyouarecompletinganinternshipinpartialfulfillmentoftheM.S.ESCdegree,youmusttakeresponsibilityforthecompletionandfilingoftwosetsofinternship-specificreportswhileyourinternshipisunderway.

Asastudent,youmustsubmitasetofthreeStudentInternProgressReportstoyourgraduateadvisoratspecifiedregularintervalsduringyourinternship(i.e.,beginning,middle,andend).Inthesereports,youwilldescribetheactivitiesthatyouareconductingasaninternandtheirrelevancetothesponsoringorganizationorbusiness.Thethirdandfinalreportalsowillincludeyourassessmentoftheoverallinternshipexperience.Thesereportsalsoprovideamechanismforyoutodescribetheworkplaceenvironmentandanyresourcedeficienciesthatmayexisttherein.

Inaddition,youmustensurethatasetofthreeStudentInternEvaluationReportsaresubmittedbyyourworkplacesupervisortoyourgraduateadvisoratspecifiedregularintervalswhileyourinternshipisunderway(concurrentwiththeprogressreportssubmittedbyyoutotheadvisor).Thesereportswillsolicityoursupervisor’sratingofyouasaninternforqualitieslikeinitiative,attentiontodetail,andmasteryofcriticalskills.Thethirdandfinalreportalsowillincludeanoverallevaluationofyouasanintern.Collectively,theseinternshipreportswillhelpyourgraduateadvisortoassessyourprogress.InternshipReportPreparation

Asaculminationofyourdegreeprogram,youmustprepareandsuccessfullydefendanapprovedinternshipreportthatincludesaclearandfocusedstatementofgoals,comprehensivereviewofrelevantliterature,descriptionofspecificactivitiesperformed,andexplanationofthesignificanceofthoseactivitiestomeetingyourinternshipobjectives.Yourgraduateadvisormayhaveadditionalspecificideasandrequestsforthecontentandorganizationofyourinternshipreportdependingonthenatureofyourexperience.

Whencomplete,thefinaldraftofyourinternshipreportshouldbeapprovedbyyourgraduateadvisorpriortoitsdistributiontoyourothergraduatecommitteemembersfortheirreview.Thisdistributionmustoccuratleasttwoweeksprioryourplanneddefensedatetoallowadequatetimeforthoroughreview.Asacourtesy,youshouldaskyourcommitteemembersoftheirpreferencesforelectronicorhardcopiesofyourreport.

Unliketheses,internshipreportsarenottobesubmittedtotheGraduateSchool.Instead,youmustsubmityourfinalapprovedandsuccessfullydefendedinternshipreporttotheESCGraduateProgramCoordinatoronbehalfoftheDepartment.Forconsistency,werecommendthatyourreportbeformattedprofessionallyinaccordancewiththeUTCThesisandDissertationStandardsasdetailedontheGraduateSchoolwebsite.SchedulingtheInternshipDefense

Youmustpresentyourapprovedinternshipreportduringadefenseand‘pass’thisdefensetoadvancetowardtheM.S.ESCdegree.Asuccessfuldefensewillinvolveclearpresentationofyourinternshipandinformedandthoughtfulanswerstoquestionsfromyourgraduateadvisorycommitteeandtheaudienceaboutitssubstanceandsignificance.Aswithyourwritteninternshipreport,youshouldconsultwithyourgraduateadvisorwhilepreparingyourdefense.

TheGraduateSchooldoesnotspecifyadeadlineforinternshipdefenseseachsemester.However,asaDepartment,werequirethatyourinternshipdefenseoccurnolaterthantherelevantdatepostedforthesisdefensespostedontheGraduateSchoolCalendarlinkedfromtheGraduateSchoolwebsitetoqualifyforgraduationduringthatsemester.

Youshouldhaveapprovalfromyourgraduateadvisorandgraduateadvisorycommitteememberspriortoschedulingyourinternshipdefense.Afterreceivingthisapproval,youshoulddiscussmultiplepossibledatesandtimeswithyourcommitteeandtheninformtheESCGraduateProgramCoordinatorofseveralpossibledatesandtimesduringwhichallofyourcommitteemembersareavailable.EithertheProgramCoordinatororDepartmentChairalsomustbeavailabletoattendyourdefense,soyourdefensedateandtimealsowillneedtoconsidertheiravailability.Onceamutuallyagreeabledateandtimearedetermined,theProgramCoordinatorwillscheduleyourdefenseandinformyouandyourgraduateadvisorycommitteeofthedate,time,andlocation.

Onceyourinternshipdefenseisscheduled,yourreporttitle,namesofyourgraduateadvisorandcommitteemembers,andabstractshouldbeemailedtotheESCGraduateProgramCoordinatoratleasttwoweekspriortothedefensedatesothatapublicannouncementmaybemade.Theemailsubjectlineshouldread‘NoticeofScheduledInternshipDefense’.InternshipDefenseFormat

AninternshipdefenseintheM.S.ESCprograminvolvesapublicpresentationandaprivateexamination.Yourgraduateadvisorandgraduateadvisorycommitteememberswillattendbothpartsofyourdefense.TheUTCcommunityisinvitedformallytothepublicpresentationpartofyourdefense.Outsidepersonsalsomayalsoattendthepresentation,andyouareencouragedtoinviteyourfamilyandfriendstothispartofyourthesisdefense.Onlyyourgraduateadvisorandcommitteememberstypicallyattendtheexaminationthatfollowsthepublicpresentation.TheESCGraduateProgramCoordinatororDepartmentChairalsomayattendtheexaminationasanobserverifinvitedbyyouoramemberofyourgraduateadvisorycommittee.

Duringthepublicpresentation,youshouldgiveaprofessionalpresentationthatdescribesandjustifiesallaspectsofyourInternship.Typically,thisisachievedwithaPowerPointpresentationthatisabout30-45minutesinlength.Afteryourpresentation,youshouldsolicitandfieldquestionsfromtheaudienceabouttheinformationthatyoupresented.

Duringtheprivateexaminationthatimmediatelyfollows,youwillbeexpectedtofieldquestionsfromyourgraduateadvisorandcommitteemembers.Thesequestionscanrangefromonesspecifictoyourpresentationtoquestionsaboutthebroaderfieldofyourinternshipandrelatedareasofenvironmentalscience.Questionsalsomayfocusonmaterialcoveredinyourrelevantgraduatecoursework.Thispartofyourinternshipdefenseisintendedtoenableyourgraduateadvisorandcommitteememberstoassessyourunderstandingofyourinternshiparea,comprehensionofitsrelevancetothebroaderfield,competencyandprofessionalismasanenvironmentalexpert,andcommunicationskills.

Followingtheexamination,youradvisorandcommitteememberswillrequestthatyouleavetheroomsothattheycandiscussinprivateyourinternshipreportanditsdefense.Ultimately,yourcommitteewillprovideacollective‘pass’or‘fail’assessmentofyourdefensethatalsoconveysgeneralacceptanceorrejectionofyourreportandinformyouoftheirassessment.Ifyoupassyourdefense,youmayberequiredtomakeminorconditionalchangestoyourinternshipreportpriortoitsfinalapprovalforsubmissiontotheESCGraduateProgramCoordinator.Thecommitteealsomayrequesttoreviewyourfinalreporttoevaluaterequestedchanges.Ifyoufailyourdefense,youmaybepermittedtorepeatthedefenseafteranintervaltoallowforimprovementatthediscretionofyourcommittee.InternshipDefenseResults

YourfinalinternshipdefenseresultswillberecordedbyyourgraduateadvisoronaGraduateDegreeExaminationResultsform.Thisformwillbesignedbyyouradvisorandothergraduateadvisorycommitteemembers.YoumustsubsequentlyobtainthesignaturesoftheESCGraduateProgramCoordinatorandtheDeanoftheCollegeofArtsandSciencespriortohavingtheESCGraduateProgramCoordinatorsubmitthisformtotheGraduateSchoolonyourbehalf.ThecompletedformmustbesubmittednolaterthantherelevantdatepostedonlinkedfromtheGraduateSchoolwebsitetoqualifyforgraduationduringthesemesterofthedefense.

InternshipReportSubmission

Followingasuccessfuldefenseandfinalcommitteeapproval,youmustsubmitanelectroniccopyofyourinternshipreportasasingleprofessionallyformattedPDFfiletotheESCGraduateProgramCoordinatoronbehalfoftheDepartment.YoushouldsubmityourreportbythesamedatethatapprovedfinalwrittenthesesaredueelectronicallytotheGraduateSchoolaspostedontheGraduateSchoolCalendarlinkedfromtheGraduateSchoolwebsite.

3.6LearnedDiscourseRequirements

InitiationofalearneddiscourseforpartialfulfillmentoftheM.S.ESCdegreeinvolvesthedevelopmentofanapprovedproposalforyourproject.Alearneddiscourseculminateswiththesubmissionofanapprovedwrittendiscourseanditssuccessfulpublicdefense.LearnedDiscourseProposalDevelopment

Ifyouopttocompletealearneddiscourse,youshouldbegintoprepareanassociatedproposalwithguidancefromyourgraduateadvisoroutliningallaspectsofyourplannedproject.Astandardlearneddiscourseproposalwilldescribeyourobjectives,provideapreliminaryreviewofpertinentliterature,outlineacomprehensiveliteraturereview,anddiscusstherelevanceofyourlearneddiscoursetothefield.Yourgraduateadvisormayhaveadditionalspecificideasandrequestsforthecontentofyourproposal.Yourproposalshouldbesufficientlydetailedtoprovideyouwithaplantofollow,includingatimelineforsignificantaccomplishments.

Afinaldraftofyourlearneddiscourseproposalshouldbeapprovedbyyourgraduateadvisorpriortoitsdistributiontoyourothercommitteemembersfortheirreview.Asacourtesy,youshouldaskyourcommitteemembersoftheirpreferencesforelectronicorhardcopiesofyourproposal.Onceallofyourcommitteemembershavehadadequatetimetoreviewyourproposal(atleasttwoweeksisrecommended),youshouldorganizeafullcommitteemeetingtodiscussyourproposalandacquireconstructivefeedback.

Asevidenceoftimelyprogress,yourlearneddiscourseproposalshouldbeapprovedbyyourgraduateadvisorycommitteebytheendofyoursecondsemesterofenrollmentintheprogram.However,youareencouragedtocompleteyourproposalbytheendofthefirstsemesterofenrollmentsothatyoucaninitiateyourlearneddiscourseworkasearlyaspossible.ESC5997Registration&Grading

Afteryourlearneddiscourseproposalhasbeenapprovedbyyourgraduateadvisorycommittee,youmayregisterforESC5998(Research)semesterhoursspecifictoyourproposedlearneddiscoursework.

Intotal,youmustregisterfor3semesterhoursofESC5998whileengagedinyourlearneddiscourseproject,writingyourlearneddiscourse,and/orpreparingforitsdefense.Asalearneddiscoursestudent,youarenotrequiredtoregisterforanysemesterhours(ofESC5998orothercourses)duringthesemesterofyourdefense.YoushouldconsultwithyourgraduateadvisortodetermineanappropriateplanforregistrationandcompletingyourESC5998semesterhourrequirements.

ForallsemestersthatyouregisterforESC5998hourspriortothesemesterofyourdefense,youwillearnagradeofI(Incomplete)asassignedbyyourgraduateadvisor.Incompletegradesarenotfactoredintoyourgradepointaverage.However,theRecordsOfficeautomaticallywillconvertanIgradetoanFifthecourseinstructor(inthiscase,yourgraduateadvisor)doesnotindicatethatthecoursewascompletedsuccessfullybythreeweeksbeforethelastdayofclassesinthenextsemester.Ifyouaremakingsatisfactoryprogresstowardcompletingyour

learneddiscoursebutwillrequireadditionaltimetocompleteanddefendit,yourgraduateadvisormaysubmitawrittenrequestforanextensiontothisnext-semestertimeframeonyourbehalftotheDeanoftheGraduateSchool.ExtensionrequestsmustbemadebytwoweekspriortotheIgradechangedeadlinedescribedabove.Ideally,suchrequestswouldbemadeearlierthanthisdeadline.

TocompleteyourESC5998hours,youmustprepareafinalwrittendiscoursethatisapprovedbyyourgraduateadvisorycommitteeandsuccessfullydefendit.(ThesetasksaredetailedlaterinthissectionoftheHandbook.)YouthenwillearnanappropriatelettergradeforESC5998asdeterminedbyyourcommittee.ToformallyassignthisgradetoyourESC5998semesterhours,yourgraduateadvisormustsubmitanelectronicGradeChangeRequesttoconverteachIgradeassignedforESC5998tothelettergrade.ThismayinvolvechangestomultiplesemestersofESC5998registrations.AsanESCgraduatestudent,itisyourresponsibilitytobeawareofanyIgradesearnedinyourcourseworkandtoensurethatthosegradesareconvertedtoappropriatelettergradesbytheregularUniversitydeadlineorthedeadlineassociatedwithanextensionrequestiffiled.BecausenocoursewithagradebelowCcanbecountedtowardtheM.S.ESCdegree,conversationofanIgradeforESC5998toanFwouldpreventyoufromearningthedegree.WrittenLearnedDiscoursePreparation

Asaculminationofyourdegreeprogram,youmustprepareandsuccessfullydefendanapprovedwrittendiscoursethatincludesaclearandfocusedstatementofpurpose,comprehensivereviewofrelevantliterature,synthesisoffindings,anddescriptionoftheirsignificancetothefield.Asuccessfuldefensewillinvolveclearpresentationofyourlearneddiscourseandinformedandthoughtfulanswerstoquestionsfromyourgraduatecommitteeandaudienceaboutitssubstanceandsignificance.

Whencomplete,thefinaldraftofyourwrittendiscourseshouldbeapprovedbyyourgraduateadvisorpriortoitsdistributiontoyourothergraduatecommitteemembersfortheirreview.Thisdistributionmustoccuratleasttwoweeksprioryourplanneddefensedatetoallowadequatetimeforthoroughreview.Asacourtesy,youshouldaskyourcommitteemembersoftheirpreferencesforelectronicorhardcopiesofyourlearneddiscourse.

Unliketheses,writtendiscoursesarenottobesubmittedtotheGraduateSchool.Instead,yourfinalapprovedandsuccessfullydefendedwrittenlearneddiscoursewillbesubmittedtotheESCGraduateProgramCoordinatoronbehalfoftheDepartment.Forconsistency,werecommendthatyourwrittendiscoursebeformattedprofessionallyinaccordancewiththeUTCThesisandDissertationStandardsasdetailedontheGraduateSchoolwebsite.SchedulingtheLearnedDiscourseDefense

Youmustpresentyourapprovedlearneddiscourseduringadefenseand‘pass’thisdefensetoadvancetowardtheM.S.ESCdegree.Asuccessfuldefensewillinvolveclearpresentationofyourlearneddiscourseandinformedandthoughtfulanswerstoquestionsfromyourgraduatecommitteeandaudienceaboutitssubstanceandsignificance.Aswithyourwrittendiscourse,youshouldconsultwithyourgraduateadvisorwhilepreparingyourdefense.

TheGraduateSchooldoesnotspecifyadeadlineforlearneddiscoursedefenseseachsemester.However,asaDepartment,werequirethatyourlearneddiscoursedefenseoccurnolaterthantherelevantdateforthesisdefensespostedontheGraduateSchoolCalendarlinkedfromtheGraduateSchoolwebsitetoqualifyforgraduationduringthatsemester.

Youshouldhaveapprovalfromyourgraduateadvisorandcommitteememberspriortoschedulingyourlearneddiscoursedefense.Afterreceivingthisapproval,youshoulddiscussmultiplepossibledatesandtimeswithyourcommitteeandtheninformtheESCGraduateProgramCoordinatorofseveralpossibledatesandtimesduringwhichallofyourcommitteemembersareavailable.EithertheProgramCoordinatororDepartmentChairalsomustbeavailabletoattendyourdefense,soyourdefensedateandtimealsowillneedtoconsidertheiravailability.Onceamutuallyagreeabledateandtimearedetermined,theProgramCoordinatorwillscheduleyourdefenseandinformyouandyourgraduateadvisorycommitteeofthedate,time,andlocation.

Onceyourlearneddiscoursedefenseisscheduled,yourprojecttitle,namesofyourgraduateadvisorandcommitteemembers,andabstractshouldbeemailedtotheESCGraduateProgramCoordinatoratleasttwoweekspriortothedefensedatesothatapublicannouncementmaybemade.Theemailsubjectlineshouldread‘NoticeofScheduledLearnedDiscourseDefense’.LearnedDiscourseDefenseFormat

AlearneddiscoursedefenseintheM.S.ESCprograminvolvesapublicpresentationandaprivateexamination.Yourgraduateadvisorandgraduateadvisorycommitteememberswillattendbothpartsofyourdefense.TheUTCcommunityisinvitedformallytothepublicpresentationpartofyourdefense.Outsidepersonsalsomayalsoattendthepresentation,andyouareencouragedtoinviteyourfamilyandfriendstothispartofyourthesisdefense.Onlyyourgraduateadvisorandcommitteememberstypicallyattendtheexaminationthatfollowsthepublicpresentation.TheESCGraduateProgramCoordinatororDepartmentChairalsomayattendtheexaminationasanobserverifinvitedbyyouoramemberofyourgraduateadvisorycommittee.

Duringthepublicpresentation,youshouldgiveaprofessionalpresentationthatdescribesandjustifiesallaspectsofyourInternship.Typically,thisisachievedwithashortPowerPointpresentationthatisabout30-45minutesinlength.Afteryourpresentation,youshouldsolicitandfieldquestionsfromtheaudienceabouttheinformationthatyoupresented.

Duringtheprivateexaminationthatimmediatelyfollows,youwillbeexpectedtofieldquestionsfromyourgraduateadvisorandgraduateadvisorycommitteemembers.Thesequestionscanrangefromonesspecifictoyourpresentationtoquestionsaboutthebroaderfieldofyourlearneddiscourseandrelatedareasofenvironmentalscience.Questionsalsomayfocusonmaterialcoveredinyourrelevantgraduatecoursework.Thispartofyourdefenseisintendedtoenableyourgraduateadvisorandcommitteememberstoassessyourunderstandingofyourlearneddiscoursetopic,comprehensionofitsrelevancetothebroaderfield,competencyandprofessionalismasanenvironmentalexpert,andcommunicationskills.

Followingtheexamination,youradvisorandcommitteememberswillrequestthatyouleavetheroomsothattheycandiscussinprivateyourlearneddiscourseanditsdefense.Ultimately,yourcommitteewillprovideacollective‘pass’or‘fail’assessmentofyourdefensethatalsoconveysgeneralacceptanceorrejectionofyourwrittendiscourseandinformyouoftheirassessment.Ifyoupassyourdefense,youmayberequiredtomakeminorconditionalchangestoyourwrittenworkpriortoitsfinalapprovalforsubmissiontotheDepartment.Thecommitteealsomayrequesttoreviewyourfinalreporttoevaluaterequestedchanges.Ifyoufailyourdefense,youmaybepermittedtorepeatthedefenseafteranintervaltoallowforimprovementatthediscretionofyourcommittee.LearnedDiscourseReportSubmission

Followingasuccessfuldefenseandfinalcommitteeapproval,youmustsubmitanelectroniccopyofyourwrittenlearneddiscourseasasingleprofessionallyformattedPDFfiletotheESCGraduateProgramCoordinatoronbehalfoftheDepartment.YoushouldsubmityourreportbysamedatethatapprovedfinalwrittenthesesaredueelectronicallytotheGraduateSchoolaspostedontheGraduateSchoolCalendarlinkedfromtheGraduateSchoolwebsite.

3.7AcademicPerformance

TheGraduateSchoolsetscontinuationstandardsforUTCgraduatestudentsbasedontheirperformanceingraduatecourses.GradeRequirements

AsanESCgraduatestudent,youareexpectedtoearnhighgradesforallofyourcoursework.Assuch,creditinfulfillmentoftheM.S.ESCdegreewillnotbeassignedforcoursesinwhichyouearnagradebelowaC.Youmayrepeatacoursewithapprovalfromyourgraduateadvisor.However,alllettergradesearnedwhileyouareagraduatestudentatUTCwillbecomputedintoyourcumulativegradepointaverage(GPA),includingallgradesearnedinrepeatedcourses.Incontrast,onlythefinalgradeearnedforarepeatedcoursewillbeusedtocalculateyourM.S.ESCprogramGPA.ContinuationStandards

Youmustmaintaina3.0cumulativegradepointaverageforallcoursestakenforgraduatecredit.Ifyoufailtomeetthisstandard,youwillbeplacedon‘academicprobation’forthenextsemesterortwosemestersifthecumulativeGPAremainsbelow3.0.IfyouearnasemesterGPAbelow3.0whileonacademicprobation,youwillbedismissedfromtheprogram.ProgramdismissalalsowilloccurifyoufailtoraiseyourcumulativeGPAto3.0orhigherbytheendofthenexttwosemesterswhileonacademicprobation.Forthepurposesofevaluatingcontinuationstandards,theentiresummertermwouldbecountedasasemester.YoualsomaybedismissedfromtheprogramifyouearnagradeofNC,D,orFinanycourse;earnmorethantwogradeslowerthanaB;orreceiveunsatisfactoryassessmentofyourcompletedthesis,internship,orlearneddiscourse.DecisionsregardingcontinuationaremadebytheDeanoftheGraduateSchool.

3.8CapstoneExperienceProgress

AttheDepartmentallevel,weconsideryourthesis,internship,orlearneddiscourseprogressalongwithyouracademicperformancetobereflectiveofyouroverallsuccessintheM.S.ESCprogram.Toassessyourthesis,internship,orlearneddiscourseprogress,youandyourgraduateadvisorarerequiredtodefineassociatedgoalsforeachsemester.Youradvisorthenwillevaluateyourprogresstowardthosegoalsattheendofeachsemester.Ifyouareaninternshipstudent,youandyourworkplacesupervisorwillberequiredtofileadditionalprogressreportswhileyourinternshipisinprogresstoinformyouradvisorofprogressnotunderhisorherdirectsupervision(seesection3.5ofthisHandbook).SemesterGoals&Reports

VeryearlyduringthefirstsemesterofyourenrollmentintheESCgraduateprogram,youshouldmeetwithyourgraduateadvisortosetfirst-semesterprogressgoalsforyourthesis,internship,orlearneddiscourse.Youshouldhavesimilarmeetingsattheendofeachsemester(includingthefirstsemester)tosetyourprogressgoalsforthenextsemester.YouareencouragedtodescribethesegoalsandaplanformeetingthemonaCapstoneProgressGoalsformeachsemesterandobtainyouradvisor’ssignatureonthisform.ThisformmaybefiledwiththeESCGraduateProgramCoordinator,whowillretainitasanofficialrecord,oritmayberetainedbyyouoryouradvisor.

Attheendofeachsemester,youalsoshouldmeetwithyourgraduateadvisortodiscussyourprogresstowardachievingyourgoalsforthatsemester.Thisisgoodopportunitytoreferbacktoyourcapstoneprogressgoalsforthesemestertodetermineifyoumetexpectationsanddiscussaplanforimprovementifnecessary.Intheeventthatyoudonotmeetexpectationsfortwoconsecutivesemesters,yourgraduateadvisormayrequestthatthedepartmentalGraduateFacultyCommitteemembersreviewyourprogresstodetermineanappropriatecourseofaction.Ifyouarefoundtoberesponsibleforthelackoftimelyprogress,suchactionscouldinvolveformalprobationordismissalfromtheprogram.

Thepurposeofsettinggoalsassociatedwithyourcapstoneexperienceeachsemesterandreportingonprogresstowardmeetingthosegoalsistohelpyoutomanageyourtimeintheprogrameffectivelyandstayontrack,toensureyouradvisorhasclearlyarticulatedexpectationstoyou,andtoensureyouareawareofandagreewiththeexpectationsofyouradvisor.Additionally,thisprocessshouldhelpbothyouandyouradvisortoquicklyrecognizeifthereisanareaofconcernregardingyourresearchprogressandallowyouandyouradvisortocomeupwithaplanofactiontoaddressissuesoftimelyprogress.

3.9Graduation

ToearntheM.S.ESCdegree,youmustsuccessfullycompleteyourprogramofstudy(i.e.,corecourses,electives,andcapstoneexperience)withinthespecifiedtimelimit,beadmittedtocandidacyforthedegreeasdeterminedbyyouracademicrecord,applyforgraduation,andmeetallothergraduationeligibilitycriteriaspecifiedbytheGraduateSchool.

TimeLimit

AllcreditappliedtowardtheM.S.ESCdegreemustbeearnedwithinsixyearsofregistrationfortheearliestcoursecountedtowardthedegree.Thistimelimitincludesanytransfercoursesbeingcountedtowardyourdegreeandthesemesterofyourthesis,internship,orlearneddiscoursesubmission.YoumayrequestinwritinganextensionofthistimelimitofuptooneyearbyfilingaGraduateStudentPetitionwiththeGraduateSchool.YourextensionrequestmustbesignedbyyourgraduateadvisorandtheESCGraduateProgramCoordinatorpriortosubmissiontotheDeanoftheGraduateSchoolforapproval.RequestingaGraduationAudit&ApplyingforGraduation

Byformallyrequestingagraduationaudit,youcuespecializedacademicadvisorsaffiliatedwiththeGraduateSchooltoreviewyourfileforexpectedcompliancewiththespecificgraduationrequirementsofyourprogram.ApplyingforGraduationsimilarlycuestheRecordsOfficetoreviewyourstatus.RequestingagraduationauditandapplyingforgraduationarerequiredtoearntheM.S.ESCdegree.Youshouldbothrequestagraduationauditandapplyforgraduationinthesemesterpriortoyouranticipatedsemesterofgraduation.

TorequestagraduationAudit,youmustsubmitaGraduationAuditformtotheGraduateSchool.You,yourgraduateadvisor,andtheESCGraduateProgramCoordinatormustsignthisformpriortoitssubmission.YourrequestforanauditshouldlistanyadditionstothecoursesthatyoulistedontheProgramofStudyformthatyousubmittedduringyourfirstsemesterofenrollment.Theseadditionsshouldincludeanyelectivecoursesthatyouhavecompleted,aswellascredithourscompletedthatareassociatedwiththecapstoneexperience(i.e.,ESC5996,5998,or5999).Ifyouhavechangedyourcapstoneexperience(e.g.,thesistointernship,internshiptolearneddiscourse,etc.)and/orhaveanyotherspecialcourse-basedcircumstancesofwhichtheGraduateSchoolshouldbeaware,youshouldattachanotetotheformdescribingthosecircumstances.TheduedatesforrequestingagraduationauditforgraduationduringspecificacademicsemestersarepostedontheGraduateSchoolCalendarlinkedfromtheGraduateSchoolwebsite.

Toapplyforgraduation,youmustusetheonlinegraduationapplicationlocatedinyourMyMocsNetaccountunderthe‘Academics’tab.TheduedateforapplyingforgraduationisOctober15thforanticipatedspringgraduation,March15thforanticipatedsummerdegreeconferral,andJune15thforanticipatedfallgraduation.LategraduationapplicationsmaybesubmittedonpapertotheUTCRecordsOfficebyNovember1stforfallgraduation,July5thforsummerdegreeconferral,andApril1stforspringgraduation.YoushouldobtainlategraduationapplicationformsfromtheRecordsOffice.Lateapplicationsrequireanapplicationfee.GraduationEligibility

Tobeeligiblefordegreeconferral,youmusthavecompletedallcourseworklistedinyourapplicationforcandidacywithnogradesbelowCforcoursespresentedforthedegreeandaminimumgradepointaverageof3.0orbetteron:1)allcourseworkthatyoutookforgraduatecreditatUTC,2)allcourseworkthatyoutransferredtoUTCforgraduatecredit,and3)all

courseworkthatyoucompletedtofulfilltheprogramasapprovedinyourapplicationforcandidacy.

4.FinancialAssistance

FinancialassistanceindirectsupportofthepursuitoftheM.S.ESCdegreemaybeavailabletoyouinvariousforms.Otherfinancialassistancecanhelptosupportyourresearchactivities,associatedtravel,andparticipationinprofessionalmeetingsandconferencesrelevanttoyourenvironmentalscienceinterestsandcapstoneexperience.

4.1GraduateTeachingAssistantships

TheDepartmentofBiology,Geology,andEnvironmentalSciencecanofferalimitednumberofGraduateTeachingAssistant(GTA)positionstoqualifiedgraduatestudentseachyear.ThesepositionsarefundedbytheUTCCollegeofArtsandSciencesandtypicallyareawardedforoneacademicyearwithpossiblerenewalforasecondacademicyearifaGTAremainseligibleandperformswellinhisorherassignedduties.

AtypicalGTAappointmentinvolvesteachinglaboratorysectionsoftheintroductoryenvironmentalscienceorbiologycoursesofferedbytheDepartment.GTAsalsohelptoorganizeandpreparelabclassroomsforweeklylabactivities.Assuch,GTAsareexpectedtodevotetimetolabpreparation,instruction,grading,andofficehours.GTAsaresupervisedbyaLabCoordinatorintheDepartment.

GTAsintheESCgraduateprogramareconsideredtobefull-timeassistants;assuch,GTAsshouldexpecttowork20hours/weekperformingassociatedduties.Collectively,theresponsibilitiesofaGTAandgraduatecourseworkrepresentasignificantworkload.Assuch,GTAsintheESCgraduateprogrammaynotbeotherwiseemployed(i.e.,outsidethedepartmentoroff-campus)formorethananadditional10hours/week.Part-timeGTAsmaynotbeotherwiseemployedformorethananadditional20hours/week.

Currently,full-timeGTAsaresupportedbyamaintenancefee(i.e.,tuition)waiveranda$3,500stipendpersemester.GTAsarerequiredtoassumethecostsofallotherfees(e.g.,studentactivityfee,greenfee,technologyfee,labfees)requiredbytheUniversity.Allfull-timeGTAsmustmaintainafull-timecourseloadofatleast9semesterhoursduringeachsemesteroftheGTAappointment.GTAsmayregisterforupto12semestershourduringeachsemester;themaintenancefeewaiverwillcoverthecostofsemesterhoursinexcessof9hours.AllGTAsmustdemonstratesatisfactoryprogressintheirprogramofstudytoretaintheirappointments.ApplyingforaGTAAppointment

GTAawardsaretypicallymadelateinthespringsemesterforthefollowingacademicyear.AfewGTApositionsmaybeawardedatothertimesiftheybecomeavailable.IfyouareacurrentgraduatestudentingoodstandingoranenteringgraduatestudentwithacumulativeundergraduateGPAof3.25orhigher,youareeligibletoapplyforaGTAposition.AllGTAawardsarecompetitiveandarebasedonconsiderationofthequalificationsofallapplicants.

ToapplyforaGTAposition,youshouldrequestandfileaGraduateAssistantshipApplicationwiththeESCGraduateProgramCoordinator.PriorityconsiderationofGTAapplicationswillbegiventothosereceivedbyFebruary15th.Westronglyrecommendthatyouincludeacover

letterwithyouapplicationexpressingyourinterestsinandsummarizingyourqualificationsforaGTAappointment.

IfyouareselectedasaGTA,youwillreceiveaGTAAppointmentLetterfromtheESCGraduateCoordinatorpriortothefirstsemesterofyourassistantship.Theletterwilloutlinethetermsanddutiesassociatedwithyouraward.YouwillneedtosignthisletterindicatingyouragreementwiththetermsoftheassistantshipandreturnittotheDepartment.ContinuingaGTAAppointment

Departmentalneeds,yourevaluationsfromthesupervisoryLabCoordinator,feedbackfromintroductorylabstudentsduringyourend-of-semestercourseevaluations,youracademicperformance,andyourcapstoneexperienceprogresswillbeusedtodeterminethecontinuationofyourGTAappointment.

IfyouareacceptinganewGTAappointmentorplanningtocontinueyourGTAdutiesintoanewsemester,youshouldsubmitacopyofyourclassscheduleforthatsemestertoyoursupervisoryLabCoordinatorassoonaspossibletofacilitatescheduling.

IfyouareinterestedincontinuinganexistingGTAappointmentbeyondthetermofyouroriginalappointment,youmustnotifytheESCGraduateProgramCoordinatorviaemailofyourintenttocontinuepriortothelastdayofclassesduringthefinaltermoftheoriginalappointment.

4.2.GraduateResearchAssistantships

Studentsmaybeawardedgraduateresearchassistant(GRA)positionsfundedbytheresearchgrantsandcontractsoftheirgraduateadvisors.GRAsplayafundamentalroleinthefundedresearch,andmayparticipateinrelatedliteraturereviews,lab-orfield-basedresearchtasks,and/orpreparationandpresentationofresearchresults.GraduateadvisorsserveasthesupervisorsofGRAssupportedbytheirresearchfunding.

GRAappointmentscanrequirefull-time(20hours/week)orpart-time(10/hoursweek)performanceofassociatedduties.Collectively,theresponsibilitiesofaGRAandgraduatecourseworkrepresentasignificantworkload.Assuch,full-timeGRAsintheESCgraduateprogrammaynotbeotherwiseemployed(i.e.,outsidethedepartmentoroff-campus)formorethananadditional10hours/week.Part-timeGRAsmaynotbeotherwiseemployedformorethananadditional20hours/week.

Currently,allGRAsaresupportedbyamaintenancefee(i.e.,tuition)waiverandaminimumstipendof$3500/semesterforfull-timeappointmentsand$1750/semesterforpart-timeappointments.GRAsupportalsomayincludecoverageofadditionalstudentfees(e.g.,studentactivityfee,greenfee,technologyfee,labfees)chargedbytheUniversity.AllGRAsmustmaintaineitherfull-time(9semesterhours)orpart-time(6semesterhours)enrollmentstatusinaccordancewiththeirGRAaward.Toretaintheirappointments,GRAsmustdemonstratesatisfactoryprogressintheirprogramofstudy.

ApplyingforaGRAAppointment

ThetimingofGRAawardsisdependentlargelyonthecyclesofexternalfundingcompetitions.Assuch,GRApositionscanbeawardedatanytimethattheybecomeavailable.Ifyouareacurrentgraduatestudentingoodstandingoranenteringgraduatestudent,youareeligibleforaGRAawards.GRAawardsareofferedatthediscretionofthesupervisorygraduateadvisorwithapprovalfromtheGraduateSchool.Typically,studentswhoareofferedGRApositionsarealreadyinvolvedintheiradvisor’sresearchasreturningstudentsorhavecommunicatedextensivelywiththeadvisorabouttheirinterestsandqualificationsasincomingstudents.

YoumayapplyforGRApositionsbycorrespondingdirectlywiththesupervisorygraduateadvisorandfilingaGraduateAssistantshipApplicationwiththeESCGraduateProgramCoordinator.

4.3OtherInstitutionalSupport

Historically,GRAandGTAappointmentshavebeenthemostcommonandsubstantialtypesofinstitutionalsupportforESCgraduatestudents.However,UTCalsoprovidesinternalfundingtosupportgraduatestudentsandtheiractivitiesintheformofothertypesofassistantships,institutionalemployment,andgraduatestudentawards.OtherAssistantships

Onoccasion,theUniversitymaymakeadditionalgraduateassistantshipsavailableforstudentstoassistwithUniversityneedsasGraduateProfessionalServiceAssistantsorGraduateAdministrativeAssistants.CurrentorincomingstudentscancheckwiththeGraduateSchoolandESCGraduateProgramCoordinatorforinformationaboutanyavailablepositions.

Inaddition,theOfficeofEquityandDiversityatUTCsponsorsOpportunityGraduateAssistantshippositionsforfirst-generationgraduatestudentsindegreeprogramswhowillpromotethebenefitsofadiversegraduatestudentbody.MoreinformationabouttheOGAprogramcanbefoundbyreferringtotheOpportunityAssistantshipApplication.GraduateScholarships

TheGraduateSchooloffersalimitednumberofscholarshipstograduatestudentswithacumulativeinstitutionalGPAof3.0orhigher.Eachscholarshiphasitsownspecificadditionaleligibilitycriteria.AcompletelistofGraduateScholarshipsislinkedfromtheGraduateSchoolwebsite.Toapplyforagraduatescholarship,youshouldcompletetheApplicationforGraduateScholarships.TheprioritydeadlineforapplicationsisFebruary15th.GraduateStudentAwards

Graduatestudentsareencouragedtoapplyforcompetitiveinternalawardstosupportactivitiesassociatedwiththeircapstoneexperiences.Ifyouareafull-timeM.S.ESCstudentsengagedinresearch,youareeligibletoapplytotheProvostStudentResearchAward(PSRA)programforupto$1000offundingtosupportoriginalresearchwithfacultymembers.

InformationandapplicationmaterialscanbefoundontheOfficeofResearchandSponsoredProgramswebsite.

Inaddition,theGraduateStudentAssociation(GSA)offersGraduateStudentTravelAwardstodefraythecostofengaginginprofessionaldevelopmentactivities,suchasattendingaconferenceorgatheringdataforresearch.AllESCgraduatestudentsareeligibletoapply.InformationandapplicationmaterialsarelocatedontheGSAwebsite.InstitutionalEmployment

EmploymentopportunitiesforgraduatestudentstoperformspecificdutiesonbehalfoftheDepartmentoritsfacultymembersmaybecomeavailableattimes.Thesedutiescouldincludeassistancewithfacultyresearch,courses,and/ordepartmentalneeds.Suchemploymentwouldinvolveanappropriatehourlypayrateforaspecifiedamountofworkeachweek.Typically,studentslearnoftheseopportunitiesdirectlyfromtheDepartmentorinvolvedfaculty.

4.4GraduateStudentLoans

GraduatestudentspursingtheM.S.ESCdegreewhoareenrolledatleasthalftimemaybeeligibleforlow-interestunsubsidizedfederalloans.Graduatestudentsalsomaybeeligibleforprivateeducationloans;eligibilityrequirementsvarybyprivateloanlender.FormoreinformationaboutGraduateStudentFinancialAid,pleasevisittheUTCOfficeofFinancialAidwebsite.

5.CampusResources

5.1GraduateStudentAssociation

TheGraduateStudentAssociation(GSA)representsgraduateandprofessionalstudentsatUTCinanofficialcapacity.GSAmembersadvocateforgraduateandprofessionalstudentsthroughregularcommunicationswithcampusadministratorsandrepresentationontheUTCGraduateCouncil.GSAalsoorganizesandsponsorssocialnetworkingeventsthatbringtogethergraduateandprofessionalstudentsfromacrosscampus.AsanESCgraduatestudent,youareencouragedtobecomeinvolvedwithGSA.MoreinformationisavailableontheGSAwebsite.

5.2Library

TheUTCLibraryprovidesallstudentswithvaluableresourcesandspace,includingprintandelectronicscholarlymaterials,WindowsandMaccomputers,groupstudyroomsforreservation,privatestudycarrels,24-hourstudyspace,andpracticepresentationrooms.TheLibraryalsohousesaGraduateStudentLoungeonthe1stfloorexclusivelyforusebygraduatestudents.Formoreinformationaboutthelibraryortoreserveastudyroom,pleasevisittheUTCLibrarywebsite.

5.3Technology

InformationTechnology(IT)managesaccesstoUTC’sonlineservices(MyMocsNet,UTCLearn)andemailaccounts(MocsMail+)andprovidestechnologicalsupportforbothstudentsandfaculty.StudentsshouldbecomefamiliarwithhowtoaccessanduseUTC’sonlineservicesastheyprovidegeneralandup-to-datecampusinformation,resourcesspecifictoindividualstudents,andcoursecontent.AsaUTCstudent,youshouldexpecttouseyourUTCemailaccountforofficialUniversitybusiness,includingcorrespondencewithfacultyandbeingnotifiedofimportantannouncementsbytheGraduateSchool,theDepartment,andtheESCGraduateProgramCoordinator.Forthisreason,evenifyouprimarilyuseadifferentexistingemailaccount,youshouldcheckyourUTCemailaccountfrequently.

ITalsoprovidesfreesoftwareforcurrentUTCstudentstoinstallontheircomputers.ThissoftwareincludesthepopularstatisticspackagesSPSSandSAS,whichoftenareusedbyESCgraduatestudentsconductingempiricalresearch.ThebibliographymanagementprogramEndnotealsoisavailabletocurrentUTCstudentsatnocost.EndnoteispopularamongESCgraduatestudentswritingthesesbecauseUTCthesisstandardsrequirethatbibliographymanagementsoftwarebeused.InformationtechnologyalsoprovidesfreeaccesstotheonlinesurveyplatformQualtrics,whichcanbeusefultoESCgraduatestudentswantingtosurveypeopleaspartoftheircapstoneexperience.AcompletelistofSoftwareAvailabletoStudentsisavailableontheITwebsite.

5.4ResearchCompliance

IfyouareplanningtouseanimalsubjectsorhumanparticipantsinyourresearchasanESCgraduatestudent,youmusthaveyourplansapprovedbyUTC’sInstitutionalAnimalCareand

UseCommittee(IACUC)orInstitutionalReviewBoard(IRB),respectively.SuchresearchmaynotbeinitiatedwithoutIACUCorIRBapproval.InformationabouttheIACUCprocessandIRBprocessisavailableonline.

5.5Counseling

TheCounselingandPersonalDevelopmentCenteratUTCprovidescounselingatnochargetostudentsstrugglingwithstress,feelingdepressedoranxious,havingtimemanagementdifficulties,orexperiencingotherissuesthatareadverselyimpactingtheiracademicprogressandsuccess.Formoreinformation,youareencouragedtovisittheCenter’swebsite.

5.6Accommodation

TheDisabilityResourceCenter(DRC)atUTCprovidessupporttostudentswithdisabilitiesseenorunseen(e.g.,physical,learning,psychiatric),includingspecialassistanceoraccommodationincourses.Formoreinformation,youareencouragedtovisittheDRCwebsite.

AppendixA–ProgramFaculty

DavidA.Aborn,Ph.D.UniversityofSouthernMississippiOrnithology,Behavior,ConservationJoséM.F.Barbosa,Ph.D.AuburnUniversityPlantPhysiology,CellBiology,Genetics

DeAnnaBeasley,Ph.D.UniversityofSouthCarolinaInsectEcology,EvolutionaryBiology,UrbanEcology,CitizenScienceJenniferBoyd,Ph.D.ColumbiaUniversityPlantEcology,PhysiologicalEcology,GlobalChangeBiologyEthanCarver,Ph.D.UniversityofTennesseeDevelopmentalBiology,HumanAnatomy,EnvironmentalGeneticsStylianosChatzimanolis,Ph.D.UniversityofKansasEntomology,InvertebrateZoology,Evolution,Systematics,PaleoentomologyHabteGiorgisChurnet,Ph.D.UniversityofTennesseeOrigins,Formations,andDeformationofRocksandEconomicMineralDepositsJ.HillCraddock,D.R.UniversityofTorino,ItalyHorticulture,Dendrology,MycologyTimothyJ.Gaudin,Ph.D.UniversityofChicagoComparativeVertebrateZoology,VertebratePaleontology,MammalogyDavidGiles,Ph.D.EastTennesseeStateUniversityEnvironmentalMicrobiologyLorenHayes,Ph.D.UniversityofMiami,OhioBehavioralPhysiology,SocialBehavior

AzadHossain,Ph.D.UniversityofMississippiGIS,RemoteSensing,SpatialAnalysis,EnvironmentalGeoscienceHopeKlug,Ph.D.UniversityofFloridaEvolutionaryEcology,BehavioralEcologyMargaretJ.Kovach,Ph.D.ColoradoStateUniversityMammalianGenomics,MolecularBiologySeanM.Richards,Ph.D.TexasTechUniversityEnvironmentalToxicology,EnvironmentalChemistryMarkS.Schorr,Ph.D.MississippiStateUniversityLimnology,Ichthyology,StreamEcologyJoeyShaw,Ph.D.UniversityofTennesseePlantTaxonomy,Biogeography,MolecularPhylogenetics,EvolutionHenryG.Spratt,Jr.,Ph.D.UniversityofGeorgiaMicrobiology,MicrobialEcology,Biogeochemistry,BioremediationJohnC.Tucker,J.D.,LL.M.UniversityofFlorida,Lewis&ClarkCollegeEnvironmentalLaw&PolicyThomasP.Wilson,Ph.D.GeorgeMasonUniversityHerpetology,Ecology,SpatialSciences

AppendixB–ImportantDates&Deadlines

TheselistsareprovidedtohelpyoumeetrequireddeadlinesofM.S.ESCstudentsduringthe2017-2018academicyear.YoushouldnotethattheydonotsubstituteforthedetailsofrequirementsasdescribedinthefullcontentsoftheGraduateStudentHandbook.

Fall2017Aug18 Fri • GraduateTeachingAssistantWorkshopforGTAstudents

Aug21 Mon • Firstdayofclasses

Sept1 Fri • DeadlineforFall2017GSAtravelawardapplications:GraduateStudentTravelAwardApplication

Sept6 Wed • ThesisFormattingWorkshopOct15 Sun • DeadlinetoapplyonlineforSpring2018graduationOct19 Thurs • LastdayfordefensesforFall2017graduation

Nov6 Mon • Thesisandthesis/internshipdefenseresultsdueforFall2017graduation:UTCScholarGraduateDegreeExaminationResults

• InternshipreportsandlearneddiscoursesdueforFall2017graduation(tobesubmittedtotheESCGraduateProgramCoordinator) • RegistrationforSpring2018begins

Nov17 Fri • DeadlinetoapplyforagraduationauditforSpring2018graduation:GraduationAudit

Nov20 Mon • DeadlineforSpring2018GSAtravelawardapplications:GraduateStudentTravelAwardApplication

LastdayforinternshipdefensesforFall2015graduation

Dec4 Mon • Lastdayofclasses

• ProgramofStudydeclarationsduefromfirst-semesterstudents:ProgramofStudy

• Committeeappointmentsduefromfirst-semesterstudents:GraduateCommitteeAppointment(forthesis)Internship/LearnedDiscourseCommitteeAppointment

Dec6 Wed • FinalexamsbeginDec15 Fri • GraduateStudentCommencement

Spring2018Jan8 Mon • Firstdayofclasses

Jan19 Fri • ThesisFormattingWorkshopMar8 Thurs • LastdayfordefensesforSpring2018graduation

Mar15 Thurs • DeadlinetoapplyonlineforSummer2018degrees

Mar19 Mon • RegistrationforSummer2018coursesbegins

Mar30 Fri • Thesisandthesis/internshipdefenseresultsdueforSpring2018graduation:UTCScholarGraduateDegreeExaminationResults

• InternshipreportsandlearneddiscoursesdueforSpring2018graduation(tobesubmittedtotheESCGraduateProgramCoordinator)Apr2 Mon • DeadlineforreturningstudentstoapplyforESCgraduateassistantships:

GraduateAssistantApplication

• RegistrationforFall2018begins

Apr16 Mon • DeadlinetoapplyforagraduationauditforSummer2018degrees:GraduationAudit

Apr23 Mon • Lastdayofclasses

• ProgramofStudydeclarationsduefromfirst-semesterstudents:ProgramofStudy

• Committeeappointmentsduefromfirst-semesterstudents:GraduateCommitteeAppointment(forthesis)Internship/LearnedDiscourseCommitteeAppointment • Deadlineforcapstoneexperienceproposalapprovalforsecond-semesterstudentsApr25 Wed • Finalexamsbegin

May4 Fri • GraduateStudentCommencement

Summer2018June15 Fri • DeadlinetoapplyforagraduationauditforFall2018graduation:

GraduationAudit • DeadlinetoapplyonlineforFall2018graduationJuly Fri • Thesisandthesis/internshipdefenseresultsdueforSummer2018degrees:UTCScholarGraduateDegreeExaminationResults • InternshipreportsandlearneddiscoursesdueforSummer2018degrees(tobesubmittedtotheESCGraduateProgramCoordinator)Aug11 Sat • Summerdegreesawarded(noceremony)

AppendixC–StudentChecklists

ThesechecklistsareprovidedtohelpyoumaketimelyandsuccessfulprogressthroughM.S.ESCdegreeprogram.Specificchecklistsareprovidedforyourfirstandsecondsemestersofenrollment,thesemesterbeforeyourgraduation,thesemesterofyourgraduation,andallothersemestersinwhichyouareenrolledintheprogram.YoushouldnotethattheydonotsubstituteforthedetailsofrequirementsasdescribedinthefullcontentsoftheGraduateStudentHandbook.

ESCGraduateStudentChecklist-FirstSemester

Early:

c Setupascheduleforregularmeetingswithyouradvisor.

c Definecapstoneprogressgoalsforthesemesterwithyouradvisor.

c SubmitCapstoneProgressGoalstotheGraduateProgramCoordinator.

During:

c Discussthedetailsofyourcapstoneexperienceplanswithyouradvisor.

c Discussappropriategraduatecommitteememberswithyouradvisor.

c Discusscourseofferingsfornextsemesterwithyouradvisorandregister.

c Workonyourthesis,internship,orlearneddiscourseproposal.

BytheEnd:

c DeclareyourProgramofStudytotheGraduateSchool.

c Appointyourgraduatecommitteemembers:

GraduateCommitteeAppointment(thesisstudents)

Internship/LearningDiscourseCommitteeAppointment

c Discussyourprogressforthesemesterwithyouradvisor.

c Definecapstoneprogressgoalsforthenextsemesterwithyouradvisor.

ESCGraduateStudentChecklist-SecondSemester Early:

During:

c Finalizeyourthesis,internship,orlearneddiscourseproposal(ifstillinprogress).

c Beginyourcapstoneexperience(ifproposalhasbeenapproved/submitted).

BytheEnd:

ESCGraduateStudentChecklist–SemesterbeforeGraduation Early:

c AttendaUTCThesisandDissertationFormattingWorkshop (recommendedifnotpreviouslyattended).

During:

c Preparethefinalwrittendocumentofyourcapstoneexperience.

BytheDueDates:

c SubmityourGraduationAuditrequesttotheGraduateSchool.

c Applyforgraduationonline.

BytheEnd:

ESCGraduateStudentChecklist–SemesterofGraduation Early:

During:

c Finalizethefinalwrittendocumentofyourcapstoneexperience.

c Planandscheduleyourdefense.

BytheDueDates:

c Defendyourthesis,internship,orlearneddiscourse.

c Reporttheresultsofyourdefense(thesisandinternshipstudents)

GraduateDegreeExaminationResults

c SubmityourfinalwrittendocumenttotheGraduateSchoolortheGraduateProgramCoordinator.

ESCGraduateStudentChecklist–AllOtherSemesters Early:

During:

c Workonyourcapstoneexperiencetowardmeetingsemestergoals.

BytheEnd:

m.s. in environmental science graduate program handbook · dr. jennifer boyd dr. john tucker...

Documents

laurel boyd

tecooy symposium 1 - utc.edu

tucker complaint

tucker county, west virginia - downstream...

the boyd family · 2021. 7. 5. · boyd,. mrs.flora (boyd)...

mockup tucker

josephine s tucker financial disclosure report for tucker ,...

2017-2018 annual review - utc.edu

anna tucker

series 3000 boyd - amazon web services · 800.737.2800 fax...

jason tucker

tucker football

tucker ch5

belle boyd

tucker manual

boyd portfolio

1998 tucker

chris tucker

locksmith tucker

database vault - utc.edu