8. Requirements

8.1 M.S. Requirements (Options I and II)

M.S. Supervisory Committee:

This committee must be formed by the student before the end of the first academic year, and must meet at least annually to discuss and evaluate the student’s progress. This deadline to form the Supervisory Committee is set by the Department of Plant Pathology. It is the student’s responsibility to call meetings with their Supervisory Committee. The M.S. Supervisory Committee must have three members and at least one member must be a faculty member in the Department of PlantP athology with graduate faculty status (see Table 1). M.S. students can obtain the M.S. Supervisory Committee form from the Department of Plant Pathology Graduate Coordinator.

Composition of the M.S. Supervisory Committee:

Faculty Advisor who serves as the Chair of the Supervisory Committee
Two other faculty members (at the rank of assistant professor or above)
1. Two members of the M.S. Supervisory Committee must be from the Department of Plant Pathology, but it is recommended that one member of the committee be from outside the department or from one of the other departmental disciplines. For example, if you are in the Department of Plant Pathology, another committee member may be from the Department of Entomology.
2. If the student is pursuing a minor, one faculty member on the committee must be a member of the minor degree home department.
3. All professors on the Supervisory Committee must have Graduate Faculty status, full or associate (see Table 1).

M.S. Memorandum of Courses

Students must submit their Memorandum of Courses (MOC) form by the end of their first academic year. The MOC is a list of all courses that must be completed before the degree is granted. Typically, students discuss their MOC with their Supervisory Committee at their first committee meeting. It is the student’s responsibility to submit this form to Graduate Studies and provide a copy to the Department of Plant Pathology Graduate Coordinator.

M.S. Comprehensive Exam:

M.S. students must complete the written Comprehensive Exam, administered by the Plant Pathology Curriculum Committee, before the beginning of their second year. This exam is to assess the breadth of content knowledge and should be taken only after completion of PLPT 801 and 802. This exam is intended to assess the student’s mastery of the fundamentals in their field and evaluate their potential to conduct Masters level research. The Curriculum Committee will determine whether or not the student passed the exam. The Faculty Advisor will notify the PPGC in writing of the outcome. If a student fails the Comprehensive Exam, a second chance will be offered within six months. A second failure will be grounds for dismissal from the M.S. program.

M.S. Option II Project:

M.S. students pursuing the Option II must complete an Option II project in place of the thesis. Although the word “project” is used here, the creative product developed by the student is not limited to a traditional research project. Students may write an essay or review paper, conduct a research project that is not as in-depth as a thesis, or choose to develop lesson plans, Extension materials, online resources, or other creative works. Ultimately, the final work presented should represent the student’s best professional work. The format and nature of the creative work pursued should be developed with guidance and approval of the student’s Supervisory Committee.

Final Oral Exam

The final oral exam includes both the public exit seminar and the closed-door defense. The thesis/paper and abstract in preliminary form must be approved by the Faculty Advisor prior to applying for the final oral examination. The student will present a public talk describing their thesis/paper. A closed-door oral examination by the Supervisory Committee will follow. The student passes the oral defense if no more than one member of the Supervisory Committee votes to fail the student. The Chair of the Supervisory Committee will notify the PPGC in writing of the outcome. In the rare occasion of a student’s failure to pass the Final Oral Exam, a written description of what the student must do before taking a second oral exam must be filed with the PPGC. Only one additional opportunity will be given to pass the Final Oral Exam and will be available no earlier than the next semester/term. All actions must comply with UNL Graduate Studies guidelines.

8.2 Checklist for M.S. Students

Establish the M.S. Supervisory Committee before completion of the first year. This form can be obtained from and remitted to the Graduate Coordinator.
The Memorandum of Courses for the Master’s Degree form must be received by Graduate Studies before completion of one-half of the program of study, which is typically prior to the beginning of the third semester. A copy of this form must also be filed with the Graduate Coordinator.
Each Spring, complete the Graduate Student Annual Progress Report (described in detail below in Progress and Performance Evaluations) and meet with your Supervisory Committee. A copy of this form must also be filed with the Graduate Coordinator.
Complete the Comprehensive Examination in the final year of the program and no later than the final semester in the program.
Students must file an “Application for Graduation” early in the semester in which they intend to graduate. Application for Graduation may be submitted electronically via MyRED or by contacting the Office of the University Registrar, 107 Canfield Administration Building South. A diploma will not be ordered nor will degree conferral be noted on the transcript unless this form is filed.
A "Final Examination Report" form must be submitted to the Graduate Studies at least four weeks prior to the final examination. Receipt of this form generates the final examination check. A copy of this form must also be filed with the Graduate Coordinator.
For Option I students, copies of the thesis must be submitted to the Chair of the PPGC and a copy emailed to the Master’s Degree Coordinator in Graduate Studies at least two weeks prior to the scheduled final examination.
For Option II students, the Option II paper must be submitted to the advisor at least two weeks prior to the intended graduation date.

8.3 Ph.D. Requirements

Ph.D. Supervisory Committee:

This committee must be formed by the student by the end of the first academic year, and must meet at least annually to discuss and evaluate the student’s progress. It is the student’s responsibility to call meetings with their Supervisory Committee. Guidelines for the committee are provided above.

Composition of the Ph.D. Supervisory Committee

Faculty Advisor who serves as the Chair of the Supervisory Committee
The Supervisory Committee must consist of at least four resident Graduate Faculty members (full or associate); three faculty members at the rank of assistant professor or above (see Table 1).
1. At least one member of the Ph.D. committee must be from an academic unit other than the student’s major field.
2. If the student is pursuing a minor, one member of the committee must be from the minor department.
3. Ph.D. students are encouraged, when appropriate, to seek a fifth member in the field of specialization from outside the university to serve on their dissertation committee, called a Special Member. Students will need to have this person fill out a form to be added as a Special Member to the committee.

Ph.D. Program of Studies

Students must submit their Program of Studies form by the end of their first academic year. The Program of Studies lists all courses that must be completed before the degree is granted, as well as any Research Tool (e.g. computer language or statistical expertise) required by the Supervisory Committee. Typically, students discuss their Program of Studies at the first meeting of their Supervisory Committee.

Ph.D. Qualifying Exam

Ph.D. students must complete the Qualifying Exam, administered by the Plant Pathology Curriculum Committee, no later than the end of their third semester. This evaluation is intended to assess the student’s mastery of the fundamentals in their field and to evaluate their potential to conduct doctoral level research. This exam should be taken only after completion of PLPT 801 and 802, or equivalents. The Curriculum Committee composes the qualifying exam for each graduate student and administers the exam. It is recommended that the student notify the Curriculum Committee of their intent to take the Ph.D. Qualifying Exam before the semester in which they plan to take the exam. The Curriculum Committee will determine if the student’s performance is Satisfactory or Unsatisfactory, and the Chair of the Curriculum Committee will notify the Faculty Advisor in writing of the outcome. If a student fails the exam, the student will be given an opportunity to take the exam a second time within six months following the first decision. A second failed exam will be grounds for dismissal from the Ph.D. program.

Ph.D. Comprehensive Exam

Ph.D. students must take their Comprehensive Exam by the end of their sixth semester (end of their third year), and they are encouraged to take this exam by the beginning of their third year; the student should take the Comprehensive Exam one year before they plan to graduate and no later than the semester in which they plan to graduate. The exam is administered by the student’s Supervisory Committee and examines the student’s breadth of knowledge and understanding as it pertains to their general research area. The exam consists of a written and oral portion. The type and format of the examination will be determined by the student's Faculty Advisor and Supervisory Committee, following the guidelines for each portion below. Immediately following the oral portion of the exam, each member of the Supervisory Committee will vote to pass or fail the student. A majority vote is required for the student to pass. The Faculty Advisor will notify the PPGC in writing of the outcome. If the student fails the examination, a second chance may not be given within the same semester as the original attempt. A second failure will be grounds for dismissal from the Ph.D. program.

Written Portion: The student will write a proposal using a NIFA or NSF grant proposal format. The student will propose a research topic that must be pre-approved by their Supervisory Committee. The written proposal will be provided to the Supervisory Committee no later than two weeks prior to the scheduled oral component of the exam.

Oral Portion: The oral exam will cover focal areas identified in advance by the members of the Supervisory Committee and more specific questions relating to the written portion of the exam. Upon request, each member of the Supervisory Committee will provide focal areas of questioning and/or reading materials for the oral exam no later than four weeks prior to the exam.

Admission to Candidacy

Once the student completes their Research Tool (if any) and passes their Comprehensive Exam, they are eligible to advance to candidacy by completing the Candidacy Form; this form is typically filled out at successful completion of the oral portion of the Comprehensive Exam. Students should be aware that once they have become a Doctoral Candidate, and thus reach ABD (“all but doctorate”) status, they are eligible to reduce their minimum credit hour enrollment for full-time status. For Doctoral Candidates, the minimum credit hour enrollment to maintain full-time status is 1 credit hour in the Fall semester and 1 credit hour in the Spring semester, which reduces the cost of fees associated with enrollment. Prior to each semester, the student is required to submit an online “Request for Full-time Status” in order to obtain full-time status at a reduced registration rate for the semester. If the form is not filed out, the student is not considered to be at full-time credit load with just 1 credit hour.

Ph.D. Final Oral Examination

The student presents a public talk describing their dissertation research, also sometimes called the “exit seminar”. A closed door examination by the Supervisory Committee follows. The student passes the Final Oral Exam if all but one member of the Supervisory Committee votes to pass the student. The Faculty Advisor will notify the PPGC in writing of the outcome. If the student fails the examination, a written description of what the student must do before taking a second oral exam must be filed with the PPGC (see Graduate Studies website for more details).

Final Oral Exam

The final oral exam includes both the public exit seminar and the closed-door defense. The thesis/dissertation and abstract in preliminary form must be approved by the advisor prior to applying for the final oral examination. The student will present a public talk describing their thesis/dissertation research. A closed-door oral examination by the Supervisory Committee will follow, yet need not be completed on the same day as the exit seminar. The student passes the oral defense if all but one member of the Supervisory Committee votes to pass the student. The Chair of the Supervisory Committee will notify the PPGC in writing of the outcome. On the rare occasion of a student’s failure to pass the Final Oral Exam, a written description of what the student must do before taking a second oral exam must be filed with the PPGC. Only one additional opportunity will be given to pass the Final Oral Exam and will be available no earlier than the next semester/term. All actions must comply with UNL Graduate Studies guidelines.

8.4 Checklist for Ph.D. Students

The "Appointment of the Supervisory Committee" form must be filed with Graduate Studies at least three weeks prior to the initial committee meeting, and must be completed within the first year. A copy of this form must also be filed with the Graduate Coordinator.
A "Program of Studies for the Doctoral Degree" form must be submitted to Graduate Studies before the student has completed 45 credit hours (including M.S. or transfer credits) and in the same semester as the Appointment of the Supervisory Committee. A copy of this form must also be filed with the Graduate Coordinator.
Each Spring, complete the Graduate Student Annual Progress Report form and meet with your Supervisory Committee. A copy of this form must also be filed with the Graduate Coordinator.
The written Qualifying Exam must be taken in the semester following completing PLPT 801/802 or equivalents.
The written Comprehensive Exam must be taken prior to completion of 25 credit hours (including research credits) beyond the M.S. degree (35 credits if the student has a M.S. in a field other than Plant Pathology).
The Comprehensive Examination includes a written and oral defense, which must be accomplished within eight months of the initial written examination.
The "Application for Admission to Candidacy” must be filed after the student has successfully completed both phases of the Comprehensive Examination. This report must be filed with Graduate Studies at least seven months prior to the final examination. A copy of this form must also be filed with the Graduate Coordinator.
Students must file an “Application for Graduation” early in the semester in which they intend to graduate. This form may be submitted electronically via MyRED or by contacting the Office of the University Registrar, 107 Canfield Administration Building South. A diploma will not be ordered nor will degree conferral be noted on the transcript unless this form is filed. A copy of this form must also be filed with the Graduate Coordinator.
Copies of the dissertation must be presented to the Reading Committee for review and comments at least two weeks prior to submission of the “Application for Final Oral Exam” to Graduate Studies and to the Supervisory Committee.
An "Application for Final Oral Examination" along with a copy of the dissertation and abstract approved by the Reading Committee. This form must be submitted to Graduate Studies at least two weeks prior to the date of the final oral examination. A copy of this form must also be filed with the Graduate Coordinator.
After approval by the Reading Committee, a copy of the dissertation should be distributed to the Supervisory Committee at least three weeks before the scheduled date of the final examination.

8.5 Thesis/Dissertation Requirements

The student’s Supervisory Committee will determine if they wish the student to present them with bound or digital copies of the thesis/dissertation. Graduate Studies requires all graduating Option I masters to upload their thesis to UNL Digital Commons to complete their graduation requirements. All doctoral students are required to upload an electronic copy of their dissertation to ProQuest and, if making public, also to UNL Digital Commons in order to complete their graduation requirements. Refer to the graduate program milestones on the Graduate Studies website for the most up-to-date information.

8.6 Change in Degree

Students wishing to change their degree program within Plant Pathology must complete a Change of Degree form. The general procedure in making such changes is to first get approval of the Faculty Advisor, the Supervisory Committee, and then the Chair of the PPGC.

Ph.D. to M.S.

Students wishing to change from the Ph.D. to the M.S. program are required to obtain approval of their Ph.D. Supervisory Committee and the PPGC. Note that Graduate Studies guidelines are that a student cannot defend their M.S. thesis in the same semester in which they switched from the Ph.D. to the M.S. program.

M.S. to Ph.D.

Masters students may request a change to the Ph.D. program no earlier than their third semester. A student may defend their M.S. thesis and obtain a M.S. degree en route to the Ph.D., or move directly into the Ph.D. program without completing an M.S. In order to request transfer from a M.S. to a Ph.D. program, the student must first have approval of their Faculty Advisor. Evidence supporting the student’s ability to successfully pursue a Ph.D. degree is to be submitted to the PPGC for review and final approval. Materials submitted to the PPGC in support of the student's application or petition to bypass the M.S. degree should include:

A letter of intent from the student describing the proposed research (4 page limit);
Academic transcripts;
A letter of support from the Faculty Advisor;
Candidate’s current CV;
Delivery of a proposal seminar advertised in the Department of Plant Pathology.

8.7 Time Limits to Obtain Degrees

Master’s students have ten years from the first year of courses listed on the memorandum of courses to complete the degree. Courses exceeding the ten-year limit may not be used toward a master’s degree. Doctoral students have eight years from the end of the semester in which their program of studies is approved by Graduate Studies. All coursework, including any required research/language tools, must be completed, comprehensive exams taken and the dissertation written, defended, and deposited within that time frame.

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