The information in the document, including Web URLs, is complete and accurate as of the publication date. However, as in all growing and dynamic institutions, the details herein are subject to change without notice. The Biology Graduate Committee updates this printed manual every other year and the corresponding Web site more frequently. Graduate Advisors should also consult the Graduate College Advisor Guide located at http://www.gradcollege.txstate.edu/GradAdvisorResourceGuide.htm

Copyright © March 1, 2004, Department of Biology, Texas State University-San Marcos. All rights reserved. No text or images may be reproduced without the copyright owners' express written permission. Electronic version http://www.bio.txstate.edu/grad/GradGuide.html) last updated Sunday, June 12, 2005.

Table of Contents

1. Programs Offered and Organization of Graduate Studies in the Department of Biology
2. Graduate Faculty Requirements and Rank
3. Admission Policies; master's, Ph.D.
4. Course Work Requirements
5. Registration, Course Credit, Residency and Advising
6. Graduate Research Policies in the Department of Biology (IACUC, Permits, Intellectual Property, Academic and Scientific Honesty, Copyright)
7. Research Mentor and Committee Selection | Master's | Ph.D.
8. Advancement to Candidacy (Ph.D. only)
9. The master's Thesis, Defense - Oral Exam | Doctoral Dissertation, Defense
10. Practical Information for Students, Graduate Assistantships, and Financial Aid

Texas State Graduate College and Admission Requirements - see the Graduate College Web site (http://www.gradcollege.txstate.edu/degreeseeking.htm).

See also the Aquatic Resources Catalog Supplement (http://www.bio.txstate.edu/grad/phd/AR_PhD_catalogFall03.html). This Guide contains several new sections not present in the 2003 Catalog Supplement. These new policies, pending approval, will be incorporated into the 2004 Catalog Supplement. Students entering in 2003 can choose to be bound by the 2003 Catalog or newer versions that appear during their tenure as graduate students in the Department of Biology.

Students currently applying to the Graduate Program should see Section 10.0, and include relevant scholarship applications with their application materials.

1. Programs Offered - Organization of Graduate Studies in the Department of Biology.

The Department of Biology offers the following graduate programs:

1.1 Programs leading to the master's Degree:

1.1.1 Thesis-requiring Degrees. These degrees are chosen by students wishing advanced training for technology-related industries or as preparation for professional careers or advanced graduate such as the Ph.D., DVM, or MD.

1. The Master of Science degree requires a minimum of 30 semester hours of course work including the thesis (5399A/B). Biology 5295 and two one-hour seminars (5110) OR three one-hour seminars (5110).
   
2. The Master of Arts degree has the same requirements as the MS, except it permits substitution of non-science course-work for students wishing a graduate minor outside of the College of Science.
3. The Master of Science in Aquatic Biology has the same requirements as the MS, however course-work is selected from Aquatic Biology and related courses.
4. NEW - Master of Science in Population and Conservation Biology. Begins fall 05.
5. The Master of Science in Wildlife Ecology has the same requirements as the MS, however course-work is selected from Wildlife Ecology and related courses and must include two statistics courses.

1.1.2 Non-thesis degrees. This option may be chosen by students preferring broad training in Biology without a formal research experience. This plan is often chosen by secondary teachers wishing to broaden their content training without taking additional education courses.

Non-thesis Master of Science. A minimum of eight graduate courses in biology and four courses in the minor are required. The total number of hours of course work must equal or exceed 45 semester hours, and must include one semester of a special problems course (5390). The 45 hours include the requirement of either Biology 5295 and two one-hour seminars (5110) OR three one-hour seminars (5110).

Master of Education in Biology. Requires the completion of seven graduate courses in biology. The required minor can be in a single discipline or can be split between a first and second minor. The total number of hours taken must equal or exceed 40 semester hours of coursework. Students working toward a Master of Education are also required to complete either Biology 5295 and two one-hour seminars (5110) or three one-hour seminars (5110).

1.2 Programs leading to the Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) Degree - Aquatic Resources.

1.2.1 Hours. Students entering the Ph.D. Program with an earned master's degree in an appropriate field must complete a minimum of 60 hours (45 hours of graduate course work, including 15 or more hours of dissertation research and writing credit). Students entering the Ph.D. Program with an earned bachelor's degree must complete a minimum of 90 hours (75 hours of graduate course work, including 15 or more hours of dissertation and writing credit).

1.2.2 The educational goal of the program is to provide a Ph.D. in Aquatic Resources through which students will be educated in the field of aquatic resources and in the development of new knowledge and skills.  Students also will be educated in the application of this research and knowledge, both independently, and with other specialists, in a multidisciplinary environment to identify and solve complex problems and issues relevant to the sustainable use of aquatic resources for meeting human and ecosystem needs.

1.2.3 The Biology Department intends the Aquatic Resources Doctoral Program to be inclusive. Aquatic Resources is broadly defined to mean studies of water resources and the life within it and supported by it, as well as the geopolitical ramifications of fresh water supplies. Therefore the program can embrace studies that range from cell and molecular biology to landscape ecology, from hydrogeology to oceanography, from desalination technology to bioethics. The Aquatic Resources program supports a broad range of faculty interests and is not restricted to a narrow interpretation of freshwater resources.

1.3 Administrative Organization of the Department of Biology Graduate Program

1.3.1. All graduate programs, and all graduate students, reside within the Graduate College at Texas State University-San Marcos. The Departmental Chair represents the Graduate College within the Biology Department.

1.3.2 The Departmental Graduate Committee oversees and coordinates all the Department of Biology graduate programs. Each of these programs has a faculty person assigned as graduate program advisor. The Graduate Committee is chaired by the Biology Associate Chair for Graduate Programs, and includes the advisors of each of the graduate programs, the current chair of the Departmental Personnel Committee, and other faculty selected by the Departmental Chair. The current list of programs and advisors, and the membership of the Graduate Committee is posted at http://www.bio.txstate.edu/graduate.html.

1.3.3 This program advisor or coordinator is not the same as a student's thesis or dissertation advisor, although it could be under certain circumstances. In the Catalog entries, several different terms are used for this person ("graduate advisor," Ph.D. program director," and others). In this document "program advisor" will be the preferred term.

1.3.4 The program advisor is responsible for degree outlines and monitoring special circumstances, such as conditional admission, and other administrative matters. Each graduate student will also acquire a thesis (master's) or dissertation (doctoral) advisor, who will become the student's mentor and advise the student on a day to day basis. The thesis/dissertation advisor is also expected to guide the student, in a timely manner, through the various thesis/dissertation proposals, examinations, etc., all of which require forms to be completed (see http://147.26.168.11/grad/gradstudentforms/forms.nclk).

2.0 Graduate Faculty

Faculty must be appointed as Graduate Faculty by the Graduate College in order to teach graduate level courses (5000+), chair a student's thesis/dissertation committee, or serve on such a committee.

• 2.1 Graduate Faculty Privileges and Criteria. The categories and criteria are as follows:

2.2 Application procedure for Graduate Faculty.

• To join the graduate faculty or apply for a change in status, or to renew a current appointment, go to the Biology Graduate Studies (http://www.bio.txstate.edu/grad/index.html) Web page and click on the link indicated in "Faculty - Click here to apply for or change Graduate Faculty Status." This link is on the lower left side of the page, and clicking on the link will bring up a Web form. There is no paper-based process.
• Submitting the form causes it to be electronically mailed to the Graduate Committee members who must approve the request. Upon approval, the request is sent forward to the Biology Chair, College of Science Dean, and then to the Graduate College for final approval. Current and pending status for all Biology Graduate Faculty is available from the Biology Graduate Studies Web page by clicking on "Grad faculty rank" near the center of the page. Initial appointments are for 2.5 years, with subsequent 5 year renewals.

3.0 Admission Policies

3.0.1 See "Degree Seeking Students Information" on the Graduate College Web site. See also the Aquatic Resources section of the Graduate College Catalog.

3.0.2 The requirements below are the minimum requirements for admission to the Graduate College at the master's or doctoral level. Meeting these requirements does not necessarily ensure acceptance into the respective programs. Applicants also must receive departmental recommendation for admission after the application files are completed in the office of the Graduate College. Final admission approval is granted by the Dean of the Graduate College. The University reserves the right to deny admission to any prospective or former students with a criminal record, including any conviction of a felony, offenses involving moral turpitude, or other offenses of a serious nature.

3.1 Admission Criteria (Table 3.1.1)

4.0 Course Work Requirements for Graduate Degrees

4.0.1. Upon admission into the Biology graduate program, students are expected to pursue his or her course work and research activities in an efficient and timely manner. Every student's progress will be evaluated each spring by the respective Graduate Program Advisor. If it is determined that a student is not making adequate progress toward completion of the doctoral degree requirements, consultation will be undertaken between the student, his or her research advisor, the Program Advisor and, if necessary, the Department Graduate Committee, to identify and propose measures for remedying any problems that may exist. This may include revising a student's study or research program. Reconciliation of any unresolved issues, which can include termination of the student's enrollment in the doctoral program, will be at the discretion of the Graduate Committee.

4.02 - (Table) Graduate Course Hours Requirements

4.1 Degree Outline

4.1.1 Entering graduate students are issued a degree outline by the Graduate College, listing the courses required for completion of master's or Ph.D. course work, including leveling and prerequisite courses if appropriate.

4.1.2 During the registration period immediately prior to the first semester in residence, each incoming graduate student should meet with the respective Program Advisor. During the meeting, the student and the Program Advisor will discuss the student's background, research interests and goals, and identify those courses the student would most likely take in pursuit of his or her graduate degree.

4.1.3 If the student already has formed a mentoring relationship (acquired a thesis or dissertation advisor) with a faculty member, this person should advise the student prior to the student's meeting with the Program Advisor.

4.1.4 On the basis of these previous discussions, any needed leveling or prerequisite courses will be identified. The Program Advisor will then submit a proposed degree outline specific to the student to the Graduate College. The Graduate College then issues a formal degree outline to the student.

4.1.5 With the approval of the student and the student's research advisor and thesis/dissertation committee, the Program Advisor may initiate changes in the degree outline by petition to the Dean of the Graduate College.

4.3 Core Courses

4.3.1 Master's degree. See above Table 4.01. Master's courses may be chosen from any of the 5000-level courses listed in the Biology section of the Graduate College catalog (http://www.gradcollege.txstate.edu/03-05GCatalog/deptbiology.html#Degree_Programs) with the exception of those whose course description specifically says that the course cannot be counted as credit towards a degree. In addition, courses offered by other departments may be chosen from the list below (Table 4.4.6).

4.3.2 Ph.D. All master's degree-holding students entering the Aquatic Resources Ph.D. Program must normally complete 20 hours of core courses. For bachelor's degree-holding students entering the program, the core course requirement is 27 hours. The core courses include the following:

1. BIO 7102 Seminar in Aquatic Resources
2. BIO 7302 Problems in Aquatic Resources
3. BIO 7303 Research in Aquatic Resources
4. BIO 7305 Statistics and Experimental Design for Aquatic Resources I
5. BIO 7306 Statistics and Experimental Design for Aquatic Resources II
6. BIO 7310 Global Aquatic Resources
7. BIO 7312 Government Policy Impacts on Aquatic Resources
8. BIO 7322 Scientific Method and Aquatic Resources
9. BIO 7362 Environmental Impact Analysis
10. BIO 7401 Assessment Techniques for Aquatic Resources
11. BIO 7402 Molecular Techniques for Aquatic Resources
12. PHIL 7323 Environmental Ethics and Sustainable Aquatic Resources

4.4 Elective Courses

4.4.2 Elective doctoral-level courses may be chosen from any 7000+ level course offered by the Department of Biology (see the AR Ph.D. catalog supplement at http://www.bio.txstate.edu/grad/phd/AR_PhD_catalogFall03.html)

4.4.2 Elective courses offered in other Departments. A current list of elective graduate courses for graduate students offered by Departments other than the Department of Biology is listed below (Table 4.4.6).

4.4.3 Some elective courses have prerequisites. Students who have not completed prerequisites for these courses will be required either to complete them before enrolling in the course, or secure the permission of the instructor to enroll in the course.

4.4.4 Doctoral Students with a master's degree must complete a total of 25 semester hours of elective courses, and students with a bachelor's degree must complete a total of 48 semester hours of elective courses.

4.4.5 Selected courses offered other departments have been approved for credit at both the master's and Ph.D. level. Program. Additional courses may be considered, subject to the approval of the Graduate Committee.

4.4.6 (Table) Approved Electives in Other Departments.

4.5 Thesis/Dissertation Courses

4.5.1 Master's Thesis Credit: 5399A and 5399B. Texas State policy requires master's students to sign up for thesis credit EACH semester that they are doing research (5399A the first semester, and 5399B in all subsequent semesters). Students must be enrolled in 5399B the semester in which they submit their thesis to the Graduate College and graduate. Each semester that a student is in progress toward her/his degree, a grade of "PR" (progress) is awarded. The student should receive a grade of "CR" (credit) for the final semester. The Graduate College office will then award a total of six hours of thesis credit.

4.5.2 Doctoral Dissertation 7399 or 7699. All doctoral students must complete a minimum of 15 hours of dissertation research courses. While conducting dissertation research and writing, students must be continuously enrolled EACH long semester for at least 3 dissertation hours.

4.5.3 Thesis and dissertation courses are repeatable for credit. Each semester that a student is in progress toward her/his degree, a grade of "PR" (progress) is awarded. The student should receive a grade of "CR" (credit) for the final semester. The Graduate College office will then award a total of 15 hours of dissertation credit.

5.0 Registration, Course Credit, Residency, and Advising

5.1 Course Load. Full-time graduate students supported by Assistantships (see Section 10) are required to enroll in a minimum of nine hours of course work per long semester. These nine hours must normally appear on the degree outline as counting toward the degree requirements, and may include leveling or prerequisite courses as long as they appear on the degree outline.

5.2 Repeating Courses. The following applies to courses repeated because of the grade earned, and not to courses intended to be repeatable for credit, such as special topics courses, seminar courses, thesis, and dissertation. Repeatable-for-credit courses are so indicated in the catalog course descriptions.

5.2.1 A graduate student may repeat a course, but cannot receive credit for the course more than once unless the course description in the catalog specifically provides that the course may be repeated for credit.

5.2.2 When a course is repeated once, the last grade earned ("W" and "I" grades excluded) is the only grade included in computing the student's cumulative record of hours attempted and grade points earned.

5.2.3 When a course is repeated more than once, the second grade and all subsequent grades are included in computing the student's cumulative record of hours attempted and grade-points earned.

5.2.4 If the last grade in a repeated course is lower than an earlier grade, the last grade is used to determine whether the course fulfills university requirements.

5.3 Transfer Credit

5.3.1 Transfer Credit Master's Degree Programs. A maximum of six semester hours of credit earned at another institution may be accepted as transfer credit and applied toward the master's degree provided that:

1. The credit was earned in graduate courses completed in residence at an accredited institution.
2. The courses are appropriate to the student's degree program at Texas State.
3. Courses have not been, and will not be, used for credit toward another degree.
4. If the credits were earned prior to the student's admission to his or her program of study within the Texas State Graduate College and the credits were earned while the student was enrolled in a graduate degree program at the prior institution, the student must provide the Office of the Graduate College with written verification of his or her status at that university. Additionally, the student must have his or her departmental Graduate Advisor submit a written request to the Dean of the Graduate College asking for acceptance of the transfer work toward the student's Texas State degree.
5. If the credits are to be earned after the student is admitted to the Texas State Graduate College, the student must obtain prior written approval from the Dean of Graduate College who will then send a letter of good standing to the other institution before the student enrolls in the course(s) to be transferred. The student must initiate a request for a letter of good standing well in advance of the time of anticipated enrollment if the student plans to take courses at another university to complete a part of his or her Texas State graduate program. Transfer credit cannot be permitted unless a letter of good standing has been issued prior to the student's enrollment in the course(s) to be transferred. If a student is currently working toward a master's degree at Texas State and wishes to take a course at another accredited university to apply toward his or her degree at Texas State, the student will need to:
   1. Receive permission from his/her departmental Graduate Advisor to take a course elsewhere.
   2. Have the Graduate Advisor submit a written request to the Dean of the Graduate College so that the Dean can issue an official letter of good standing. The request from the advisor should identify the course(s) by name and number and should state what semester(s) and where the student will be taking the work. If the Dean of the Graduate College approves the request, a letter of good standing will be sent by the Dean of the Graduate College to the university where the student will enroll.
   3. Have an official transcript of the work forwarded to the Texas State Office of the Graduate College as soon as the student completes the course work.
6. Transfer work will be accepted only if it bears a letter grade of "B" or higher, or a numerical equivalent. A grade of "Credit," "Pass," "Satisfactory, " etc., is unacceptable. Transfer work will not be accepted for graduate degree credit from another institution if such courses are designated as non-degree, background, preparatory, etc. No credit will be awarded until an official transcript showing the course work to be transferred is on file in the Office of the Graduate College. The student may also be requested to provide a catalog from his or her prior school that gives course descriptions for any transfer work requested. Students admitted on "Conditional Admission" or students on "Probation/Suspension" will not receive credit for transfer work taken under the aforementioned status. Undergraduate courses taken to fulfill background requirements will be accepted only if such courses are of the same level as those specified on the official degree outline.

5.3.2 Transfer Credit earned prior to application, Doctoral Program. With the approval of the Doctoral Program Advisor and the Dean of the Graduate College, students can:

1. Transfer up to six semester hours of course work that are directly applicable to the Aquatic Resources Ph.D. Program at Texas State from another doctoral program, provided the credit was completed in residence at an accredited institution.
2. Transferred course work must be at the doctoral level. The Graduate College must be provided with written verification of the student's status at the university from which the course(s) are transferred.
3. The Doctoral Program Advisor must provide a written request to the Dean of the Graduate College, asking for acceptance of the transfer credit as part of the course work requirements for the Ph.D. degree.

5.3.3 Transfer Credit earned after entry into the Doctoral Program. Students wishing to take a course(s) at another accredited university to apply toward the doctoral degree at Texas State must:

1. Receive permission beforehand from the Doctoral Program Advisor and provide an acceptable reason for taking the course(s) elsewhere.
2. The student also must request the Doctoral Program Advisor to submit a written request to the Dean of the Graduate College so that the Dean can issue an official letter of good standing.
3. The request should identify the university, course(s) by name and number, and semester the course(s) will be taken. If the Dean of the Graduate College approves the request, the Dean will send a letter of good standing to the university in which the student plans to enroll.
4. After the course work is completed, an official transcript of the work must be forwarded to the Graduate College at Texas State.
5. Transfer work will be accepted only if it bears a letter grade of "B" or higher, or a numerical equivalent. A grade of Credit, Pass, Satisfactory, etc., is unacceptable and will not be counted for credit toward doctoral degree requirements. Transfer work designated as non-degree, background, preparatory, etc., will not be accepted for doctoral degree credit from another institution. No credit will be awarded until an official transcript showing the course work is on file in the Graduate College. Students on probation or suspension will not receive credit for transfer work.

5.4 Withdrawal from the University

5.4.1 Withdrawing from the university is an official action whereby a student informs the University Registrar, who in turn informs the instructor(s) of record that the student has withdrawn from all classes in which he or she is enrolled.

5.4.2 The student must contact the University Registrar in person to officially withdraw from the University. The Registrar may accept withdrawal by letter or fax in certain cases.

5.4.3 Graduate students working under the supervision of a research mentor (master's and doctoral) MUST discuss this decision and inform the mentor in advance of their intention to leave the mentor's research program. All lab notebooks, research materials, computer files and software, keys, and any other related materials must be returned and/or copies left behind. See also 6.1.4, Intellectual Property Rights. Students failing to properly "check-out" will have holds placed on transcripts and future paychecks.

5.5 Dropping a Class. Dropping a class is an official action whereby a student drops a course(s), yet remains enrolled in at least one other course. The deadline for dropping classes or withdrawing from the University is typically two weeks preceding the beginning of final examinations during the fall and spring semesters (one week preceding final examinations during summer sessions). When a student drops one or more classes or withdraws from the University, either a "W" or an "F" grade will be assigned for each course as follows:

5.5.1 A "W" grade will be assigned automatically by the Registrar if a student officially withdraws from the University, or officially drops one or more classes during the first 14 days of the fall or spring semester (or the first week of a summer session). This period shall be designated as the "automatic W" Drop/Withdrawal period.

5.5.2 After the automatic "W" period, the faculty assigns grades to students who officially drop classes or withdraw from the University. The faculty will assign a "W" grade only to those students who have a passing average at the time the drop/withdraw action is officially completed. Otherwise, the faculty will assign an "F" grade for the course(s).

5.6 Probation and Suspension

5.6.1 Graduate students are required to maintain a 3.0 cumulative GPA for all master's and/or doctoral-level courses listed on his or her degree outline.

5.6.2 Cumulative GPAs are computed at the end of the fall semester, spring semester, and second summer sessions (both summer sessions combined are treated as equivalent to one semester in determining a student's satisfactory academic progress). If the cumulative GPA drops below 3.0 during any semester of enrollment at Texas State, the student is placed on academic probation.

5.6.3 The student has one semester to raise his or her cumulative GPA above the 3.0 standard. If a student fails to do so, the student will be suspended from the Graduate College for a period of no less than six months.

5.6.4 A student on suspension can be reinstated after six months or more by petitioning the Program Advisor to request reinstatement by the Dean of the Graduate College. In requesting reinstatement, the student on suspension must give compelling reasons why his or her academic performance is likely to improve if reinstated.

5.6.5 The Program Advisor will not initiate reinstatement requests without agreement by the student's research advisor and the Graduate Committee.

5.7 Residency Requirement. Full-time students must satisfy a one-year residency requirement. This is defined as 18 graduate credit hours, as part of the required hours of course work, taken during consecutive fall, spring, or summer semesters. Part-time doctoral students may satisfy the residency requirement by enrolling in 18 consecutive doctoral credit hours in consecutive semesters at Texas State.

6.0 Graduate Research Policies in the Department of Biology

6.1 The Texas State Animal Care and Use Committee (see http://www.bio.txstate.edu/~IACUC/iacuc.htm). If a graduate research project involves the use of vertebrate animals, the thesis/dissertation advisor must submit a Texas State-IACUC animal use protocol form and have an approval code BEFORE research can begin. This applies to all vertebrates no matter where they are or how obtained, including animals in their natural setting. Studies involving observation of animals that does not disturb or change their behavior (e.g., surveys) are exempt from the IACUC approval requirement. If in doubt, check the above Web site.

6.2 Research involving human subjects (see http://www.txstate.edu/osp/policies/humans_index.html). If a graduate research project involves human subjects, approval of the Texas State IRB (Institutional Review Board) is required before the research can begin. A web-based Human Subjects Protection training module must be completed by all Texas State faculty members submitting IRB applications (or who are supervising students submitting IRB applications) and all STUDENTS participating in IRB applications. After completion of  the training, applicants will receive an e-mail containing their Human Subjects Protection certification number, which must be referenced on all IRB applications.

6.3 Other permits and permissions. If a student's research will involve use or collection of wild vertebrate animals, animals and/or plants on any protected species list, or any access requiring permission from governmental or private agencies (including written landowner permission), the appropriate regulations must be understood by the advisor and student, and the necessary permits and documentation secured before the research can begin. The student will be expected to provide appropriate references and permit numbers in the thesis/dissertation proposal and thesis/dissertation. It is the thesis/dissertation advisor's responsibility to educate the student in these matters and to jointly secure the necessary permits. These permits, etc., do not replace the IACUC approval; they are required in addition and usually before IACUC approval is provided.

6.4 Intellectual Property Rights. Intellectual property is information to which one can claim ownership. In science, this concept usually refers to results of research that are publishable and/or subject to copyright or patent. The Texas State University "Regents Rules" basically say that any such discoveries are the property of the University in which they were made. This does not apply to discoveries made on one's own time, as long as one was not assisted in any way by the University. However, the University considers employment as faculty or enrollment as a student to be assistance, regardless if relative to the discovery. In general, such considerations are not important except when money is involved. Then the issue of who gets what is negotiated among the student, advisor, and University.

However, these rules do impact graduate students in relation to their research and thesis/dissertation project. In spite of the fact that graduate students do most of the work of discovery, what these rules mean to the student is that the student does not own the exclusive rights to use of her/his research results as s/he sees fit. The student may not publish or otherwise distribute information s/he discovered or helped discover without the advice, participation and consent of the thesis/dissertation advisor. This rule applies during the student's tenure in the Graduate Program and forever after.

In practice, thesis/dissertation advisors should explain their publication and authorship policies to students at the beginning of their mentoring relationship, and different advisors may have different policies. Graduate faculty strongly encourage student authorship of publications, but students must remember that this is a privilege and not a right. The advisor owns all original data, lab notebooks, field notes, or other data sources and retains the final right of publication.

6.5 Academic and Scientific Dishonesty.

6.5.1 Academic Dishonesty is defined as follows (see also http://www.txstate.edu/effective/upps/upps-07-10-01.html)

1. "Academic work" means the preparation of an essay, thesis, report, problem, assignment or other project submitted for purposes of grade determination.
2. "Violation of Academic Honesty" includes, but is not limited to, cheating on an examination or other academic work, plagiarism, collusion and the abuse of resource materials.
3. "Cheating" means engaging in any of the following activities.
   1. Copying from another student's test paper, laboratory report, other report, or computer files, data listings, and/or programs.
   2. Using, during a test, materials not authorized by the person giving the test.
   3. Collaborating, without authorization, with another person during an examination or in preparing academic work.
   4. Knowingly, and without authorization, using, buying, selling, stealing, transporting, soliciting, copying or possessing, in whole or in part, the contents of an unadministered test.
   5. Substituting for another student or permitting another person to substitute for oneself in taking an examination or preparing academic work.
   6. Bribing another person to obtain an unadministered test or obtain information about an unadministered test.
4. "Plagiarism" means the appropriation of another's work and the unacknowledged incorporation of that work in one's own written work offered for credit.
5. "Collusion" means the unauthorized collaboration with another person in preparing written work offered for credit.
6. "Abuse of resource materials" means the mutilation, destruction, concealment, theft or alteration of materials provided to assist students in the mastery of course materials.

6.5.2 Scientific Dishonesty (Fraud). (Texas State currently does not have specific policy with respect to scientific dishonesty. The Texas State Department of Biology has adopted the following policy statement from Texas Women's University Office of Research and Sponsored Programs - http://www.twu.edu/o-rg/dishonesty.html., used with permission).

1. Misconduct in Research undermines the scientific enterprise and erodes the public trust in the University community to conduct research and communicate results using the highest standards and ethical practices. The institution is responsible both for promoting academic practices that prevent misconduct and for developing policies and procedures for dealing with allegations of fraud or misconduct. All members of the institution's community (students, staff, faculty, and administrators) share responsibility for developing and maintaining standards to ensure ethical conduct of research as well as detection and appropriate handling of abuse of these standards. This responsibility must be assumed while sustaining the openness and creativity vital to the research enterprise. The policies and procedures outlined below apply to faculty, staff, and graduate students. They are not intended to address a broad range of ethical issues in academic research.
2. DEFINITION OF SCIENTIFIC DISHONESTY. Scientific dishonesty involves some form of fraudulent behavior that entails an act of deception whereby one's work or the work of others is misrepresented. Fraud is distinguished from honest error and from ambiguities of interpretation that are inherent in the scientific process. Further, fraud or serious misconduct involves significant breaches of research integrity that may take numerous forms such as (but not limited to) those outlined below.
   1. Falsification of Data - This ranges from fabrication to deceptive reporting of findings and omissions of conflicting data.
   2. Improprieties of Authorship - Plagiarism and other improper assignment of credit, such as: excluding others or claiming the work of another as one's own; presentation of the same material as original in more than one publication; including individuals as authors who have not made a definite contribution to the work published; and submission of multi-authored publications without the concurrence of all authors.
   3. Misappropriation of Others' Ideas - Improper use of information or influence gained by privileged access such as service on peer review panels, editorial boards, and policy boards of research funding organizations.
   4. Violation of Generally Accepted Research Practices - Improper manipulation of an experiment to obtain biased results; intentional improper statistical or analytical manipulations.
   5. Violation of Federal, State, or Institutional Rules Governing Research - Including (but not limited to) those regarding use of funds, care of animals, human subjects, investigational drugs, DNA, new devices, and radioactive, biological or chemical materials.
   6. Inappropriate Behavior in Relation to Misconduct - Includes inappropriate accusation of misconduct; failure to report known or suspected misconduct; withholding or destruction of information relevant to a claim of misconduct; and retaliation against persons involved in the allegation or investigation of misconduct.
3. Evidence of Academic and/or Scientific dishonesty renders a student subject to disciplinary and/or legal action including expulsion from the University.

6.6 Use of Copyrighted Materials

Copyrighted materials (except for brief quotations and paraphrases) may not be reproduced without written permission from the copyright holder. This includes most Web page material whether explicitly stated or not. For a current overview of copyright issues, see the Stanford University Fair Use center (http://fairuse.stanford.edu/).

See http://www.txstate.edu/effective/upps/upps-01-04-21.html for the Texas State Library policy.

7.0 Research Mentor (advisor) and Committee Selection

7.1 The Master's Degree

7.1.1 Advisor Selection - Thesis vs. non-Thesis. Regardless of whether a student chooses the thesis or non-thesis route, he/she must secure an advisor before the end of his/her first long semester. This person is the "thesis advisor" if the thesis route is chosen, or the "graduate advisor" if the non-thesis route. Non-thesis students must also find an advisor and select a committee. Non-thesis students may be required to do an independent study project supervised by the advisor and committee. In addition, a non-thesis student is required to pass an oral exam administered by his/her committee.

7.2.1 Each doctoral student must identify a supervising research advisor. The research advisor must hold Ph.D. Doctoral faculty status in the Aquatic Resources Ph.D. Program. Information on faculty members and their research activities and interests can be found on the Aquatic Resources web site (http://www.aquaticresources.bio.txstate.edu/index.html) or the Biology Graduate Studies Web site (http://www.bio.txstate.edu/grad/index.html). Students are strongly advised to contact and/or meet with individual faculty members to discuss the possibility of their being a research advisor prior to submitting a formal application. Students applying from non-North American Institutions are required to do this (see above, Admissions, Section 3.0)

1. Incoming students with master's degrees should declare their research advisors no later than the end of the first long semester in residence.
2. Incoming students with bachelors degree may schedule research rotations (Bio 7303) with up to three different faculty, to determine an area of interest and, on the basis of the mentoring experience, decide on a research advisor (this, of course, is a mutual decision).
3. , the student formally requests the faculty member to serve as the research advisor. If the faculty member agrees to serve as the research advisor, the student then obtains and completes the Ph.D. Research Advisor Agreement Form (from http://147.26.168.11/grad/gradstudentforms/forms.nclk) or from the Doctoral Program Advisor's office). This form must be signed by the student, the research advisor, the Doctoral Program Advisor and the Department Chair, and be submitted to the Graduate College.

7.2.2 Changing the Research Advisor

1. Occasionally, a student may need to change the research advisor. A change in the research advisor may be the result of one of the following circumstances:
   1. A mutual decision by the student and the student's research advisor;
   2. A unilateral decision by the student, or the student's research advisor, that the student's academic and professional interests would be better served with a different research advisor;
   3. Death, retirement, incapacity, or resignation from the University of the research advisor;
   4. Loss of status as Ph.D. Doctoral Faculty member on the part of the research advisor.
2. If a change of research advisor is necessitated, the student must obtain a Change of Advisor form from the relevant Program Advisor. This form must be signed by the student, the original research advisor (unless the original research advisor is unavailable), the new research advisor, the Program Advisor, and the Department Chair. The change in research advisor is then submitted to the Graduate College.
3. If either the student or research advisor believes that changing the advisor is a mistake, the student and research advisor should request, through the Program Advisor, a meeting with the Graduate Committee to attempt to resolve any disagreements. Decisions of the Graduate Committee are final and not subject to appeal. If a change of advisor is approved, then the student may approach a new research advisor in accordance with the requirements outlined above. For doctoral students, a Ph.D. Change of Advisor/Committee Member Form must be obtained (see http://147.26.168.11/grad/gradstudentforms/forms.nclk), signed by the student, the original and new research advisors, the Program Advisor, and the Department Chair, and then submitted to the Graduate College.
4. In the event that a student and/or the research advisor have issues that they are unable to, or prefer not to, resolve between themselves, the party seeking resolution should bring the matter to the Graduate Advisor who will then convene a meeting of the Graduate Committee to consider the issues and determine possible resolutions. The Graduate Committee can, among other things, request interviews with both parties, and will attempt to mediate a constructive solution. Neither the student or the research advisor will be bound by the suggested resolution, and the student will have the normal appeal avenues available

7.3 Dissertation Committee

7.3.1 The dissertation committee will consist of five or more members including and chaired by the student's research advisor (also referred to as the "dissertation committee chair").

1. The research advisor must be classified as "Biology doctoral faculty" by the Graduate College. The other members of the dissertation committee also must be listed as doctoral or associate doctoral faculty by the Graduate College.
2. One dissertation committee member must be chosen from outside the Department of Biology, and may be from outside Texas State. See http://147.26.168.11/grad/BioGradFaculty.nclk for the current graduate faculty status for the Biology Department.
3. Exceptions to the dissertation committee membership will be considered on a case-by-case basis by the Doctoral Program Advisor in consultation with the Graduate Committee.
4. A proposed dissertation committee member from a department other than Biology at Texas State must hold the Ph.D. degree, must be a member of the University's Graduate Faculty and, as a minimum, hold professional credentials equivalent to those expected of Ph.D. Associate faculty in the Department of Biology.
5. A proposed dissertation committee member who is not a member of the faculty at Texas State must hold the Ph.D. or other terminal degree. The proposed member also must hold (Adjunct) Associate Doctoral Faculty status in the Department of Biology.

7.3.2 Potential committee members who are not members of the Graduate College should apply by going to http://147.26.168.11/grad/biogradfaculty/bgform.html and completing the form found there.

7.3.3 Before asking individuals to serve on a student's dissertation committee, the student and research advisor must consult with the Doctoral Program Advisor and the Department Chair concerning the suitability of the appointments. If necessary, the Doctoral Program Advisor and Department Chair may seek the advice of the Graduate Committee in judging whether or not the appointments are suitable.

7.3.4 Once the Doctoral Program Advisor and the Department Chair indicate support for the appointments, the student will submit a Ph.D. Committee Member Agreement (see http://147.26.168.11/grad/gradstudentforms/forms.nclk) form to the Dean of the Graduate College for approval. Identification of resources to cover travel and other expenses incurred by external committee members in serving on committees is the responsibility of the dissertation committee chair.

8.0 Advancement to Candidacy (doctoral program only).

8.0.1 Application for Advancement to Candidacy

1. The student must indicate her or his intent to be advanced to Ph.D. candidacy prior to the semester in which the student wishes to take the candidacy exam.
2. The student should obtain the Dissertation Packet, which contains the application for Advancement to Candidacy, from the Program Advisor. The student must complete and return the form to the Doctoral Program Advisor, who will submit it to the Graduate College. This form, and the other forms found in the Dissertation Packet are also available from the Biology Graduate Studies Forms page (http://147.26.168.11/grad/gradstudentforms/forms.nclk).
3. Any incomplete grades must be cleared through the Office of the Graduate College at least 10 days before approval of the student to take the Advancement to Candidacy exam.

8.0.2 A helpful summary diagram and check list are available - visit the Forms page (http://147.26.168.11/grad/gradstudentforms/forms.nclk) and download the Ph.D. Checklist and the Ph.D. Illustrated Time Line.

8.0.3 Over the course of a student's doctoral program, the student must pass two major examinations. The first is the candidacy exam whereby a student is formally admitted to doctoral-seeking status. It includes a written and oral component in one of two formats. The second major examination is the dissertation defense, an oral examination taken at the conclusion of a doctoral student's dissertation research. Successful completion of both examinations is required to secure the Ph.D. degree in Aquatic Resources. Both the candidacy exam and the dissertation defense will be conducted by the student's dissertation committee.

8.0.4 Whether the student chooses the option of taking a comprehensive written examination or preparing a detailed research proposal (see 8.1 below), the committee's judgment will be communicated to the student orally and in writing by the Doctoral Program Advisor. The Doctoral Program Advisor also will report the results to the student's research advisor, Department Chair and Dean of the Graduate College. The results will be kept on file by the Doctoral Program Advisor, and will be considered confidential until reported to the student.

8.0.5 The Candidacy exam cannot be taken until the student has completed all the core courses prescribed in his or her degree outline, along with any required leveling and prerequisite courses.

8.1 Written Component of Candidacy exam

8.1.1 Option 1. The written component may be satisfied by a general knowledge examination.

1. For students choosing this option, the exam questions will be submitted by the dissertation committee members. They are reviewed by the Doctoral Program Advisor prior to the examination, who may edit the questions for clarity and/or duplication. The complete list of questions is approved by the dissertation committee before being submitted to the student. The written examination is administered by the Doctoral Program Advisor over a period not to exceed five working days.
2. Answers to the written examination questions may not exceed 20 pages per question (line spacing 1.5, 12 point font minimum, one side of each page).
3. Upon receiving the complete set of answers, the Program Advisor will give each member of the dissertation committee the answer to the question(s) that committee member authored for grading. The results are reported to the Program Advisor within five working days.
4. Grading is "pass" or "fail" on each section. A "fail" requires written justification, which will be made available to the student.
5. If the student fails one or more sections of the written examination, a retest on the failed material may be scheduled at the student's request. Only one retest is allowed.
6. A student must pass all sections of the written examination before proceeding to the oral presentation of his or her dissertation proposal. Failing the written portion of the Advancement to Candidacy exam results in the dismissal of the student from the Aquatic Resources Ph.D. Program. Appeal of failure in the written portion of the Advancement to Candidacy exam can be made to the Biology Graduate Committee.
7. Prior to the retest, the student should interview with the committee member(s) that found him/her failing, to identify the deficiencies. Remedies may be required by the Program Advisor, and can include
   1. retaking the appropriate written exam sections after several months (not to exceed six),
   2. taking appropriate remedial course work,
   3. or some combination thereof.
8. Upon passing the written portion, the oral presentation of the dissertation proposal will be scheduled no later than one month subsequent to the successful completion of the written portion. See section 8.2 below with respect to format and grading of the oral exam.

8.1.2 Option 2. The written component may be satisfied by preparation of a detailed research proposal in a recognized, appropriate grant proposal format (see below). The topic of the proposal must be different from the main area of the students dissertation research as judged by the student's dissertation committee (who should be consulted by the student prior to his/her embarking on the proposal preparation).

The proposal should follow the format, and contain components similar to those, of research proposals submitted to the National Science Foundation, the Environmental Protection Agency or other major funding organizations. The specific format and components, and well as other elements unique to the individual student's proposal, must be acceptable to all members of the student's dissertation committee.

The elements of the proposal should include the Abstract, Significance/Introduction, Specific Aims/Objectives, Materials and Methods, Expected Results, Budget, Budget Justification, and Reference List. The proposal should be for a minimum of three years or support with a budget of at least $300,000.

The proposal developed is subject to the University's Intellectual Property policy, as explained above (6.1.3).

To be judged "passing" on the written portion of the candidacy exam, the dissertation committee must unanimously approve all the major sections of the proposal.

If any dissertation committee member deems the proposal or portions thereof to be unacceptable, the member will prepare written comments for the student on the deficiencies of the proposal. The student will be given an opportunity to address the deficiencies and resubmit the portions of the proposal deemed unacceptable during the first exam, within 6 months from the date of the first submission. Only one re-evaluation is allowed.

Failing the written portion of the Advancement to Candidacy exam results in the dismissal of the student from the Aquatic Resources Ph.D. Program. Appeal of failure on the written portion of the Advancement to Candidacy exam can be made to the Biology Graduate Committee.

8.2 Oral Component of the Candidacy Exam - The Dissertation Proposal

8.2.1 Successful completion of the written portion of the Advancement to Candidacy exam is followed within 30 days by the presentation of the dissertation proposal in an oral public seminar. See 8.1 above.

8.2.2 The public presentation will be immediately followed by a closed defense of the proposal attended only by the student and his or her dissertation committee.

This portion of the Advancement to Candidacy exam will be chaired by the student's research advisor and will normally last no more than three hours. The oral defense may also include questions related to the written portion of the exam and/or general knowledge questions. The student will then be excused while the dissertation committee deliberates the results of the exam.

If a majority of the committee, including the research advisor, judges the student as having successfully presented and defended the dissertation proposal ("pass" - see below), the student will be eligible for formal advancement to doctoral candidacy.

The Doctoral Program Advisor or the research advisor will notify the student of the committee's decision.

8.2.3 Both parts of the oral exam (public seminar presentation and closed defense) must occur on the same day.

8.2.4 The following outcomes are recognized: Pass, Conditional Pass, Fail.

1. Pass. See 8.2.5 below.
2. Conditional Pass. If reservations about the quality of the presentation or the proposal itself are expressed at this time by dissertation committee members, the committee may:
   1. Require the student to present (to the dissertation committee only) and defend the proposal again if it finds serious but not fatal flaws in the initial presentation. The date of the re-presentation is at the discretion of the dissertation committee.
   2. Report to the student in writing the flaws that must be rectified to make the proposal acceptable. Upon completion of these proposed changes by the student, the oral presentation is repeated (to the dissertation committee only), subject to the same standards as the initial examination. The second attempt must be made no more than three months after the date of the original examination.
   3. Only one re-examination is possible.
3. Fail. If the dissertation committee finds the proposal is irretrievably flawed, or discovers evidence of plagiarism or other academic dishonesty, the student may be failed and dismissed from the Department of Biology Graduate Program without opportunity of a second attempt.
4. Irresolvable differences among the dissertation committee members may be mediated by the Graduate Committee. In order to pass, a student must receive votes of confidence from his/her advisor and a majority of committee members (including the advisor). However, a student can be conditionally passed or failed over the advisor's positive vote if the majority of the committee votes not to pass.

8.2.5 After the dissertation committee is satisfied that the dissertation proposal is complete and has been presented successfully, the research advisor will work with the Doctoral Program Advisor to submit the proposal to the Graduate College.

The proposal must be signed by the research advisor, Doctoral Program Advisor, and Departmental Chair.

One copy of the proposal form with original signatures must be submitted, along with the Ph.D. Dissertation Proposal Form, to the Dean of the Graduate College.

Upon approval of the dissertation proposal by the Dean of the Graduate College, the student is officially advanced to doctoral candidacy.

8.3 Schedule and Time Limit for Advancement to Candidacy

1. A student is advanced to Ph.D. candidacy upon completion of the following steps, in sequence:
   1. Completion of all core courses prescribed in the student's degree outline, along with any required leveling and prerequisite courses;
   2. A minimum grade point average (GPA) of 3.0. No grade earned below "B" on any doctoral-level course may be applied toward the doctoral degree;
   3. Successful passage of the candidacy exam, including the written examination and oral defense of the dissertation proposal.
2. For full-time students with a master's degree, the student is expected to be advanced to candidacy within two years after his or her enrollment in the Ph.D. Program.
3. Full-time students with a bachelor's degree is expected to be advanced to candidacy within three years after enrollment in the Program.
4. The candidacy exam may not be taken before the end of the first year of the student's program.
5. No credit will normally be applied toward the doctoral degree for course work completed more than four years before the date of Advancement to Candidacy. This time limit applies to credit earned at Texas State, as well as credit transferred to Texas State from other accredited institutions.
6. The schedule for part-time students will be considered on a case-by-case basis by the Graduate Committee. All students, however, will be expected to defend their completed dissertation by the end of the 10th year after their enrollment in the Ph.D. Program.

9.0 The Thesis or Dissertation

9.0.1 Final Semester Fee Reduction. Texas residents who are master's or doctoral degree candidates for graduation may be eligible for a one-time fee reduction under V.T.C.A., Education Code, Section 54.51, if the student is registered only for dissertation credit, and provided such credit is the final credit-hour requirement for the master's or doctoral degree. The Graduate Catalog explains the procedure to register for this final semester fee reduction (see http://www.gradcollege.txstate.edu/03-05GCatalog/feesinfo.html#Fee_Reduction).

9.1. The Master's Thesis/Oral Exam (not applicable to non-thesis master's degrees)

9.1.0 Thesis Enrollment Requirements. A student must take a minimum of 6 hours of thesis credit (5399). After the thesis proposal is accepted (see above, 6.2.3), the student must be continuously enrolled for at least three thesis hours during each long semester. The student also must be enrolled for thesis hours during the semester in which the degree is conferred. Students enrolled for thesis credit but who have not completed the dissertation receive grades of "PR."

9.1.1 The penultimate (second-to-last) semester. The semester before the student's last semester in a master's program is almost as important as the last semester, because of the planning required to bring everything to a close at the same time. The student must:

1. Finish all coursework and make sure the degree plan has been completed - or will be at the end of the next semester,
2. Meet with the thesis committee and determine that the research is complete enough to begin writing the thesis,
3. Make sure all requirements related to conditional admission and/or probation have been satisfied, and
4. Make sure, by the end of the next semester, that all parking tickets, fines, etc. have been paid.

9.1.2 Preregistration for the final semester. When a master's student registers for his/her last semester, s/he should indicate that s/he plans to graduate. The student will then be listed as a "candidate" for graduation on any course rosters, including thesis (5399).

9.1.3 The last (final) semester. (Note - a graduate student must be currently enrolled to submit a thesis and/or to graduate.)

Filing for graduation (see also CATS, http://www1.txstate.edu/catsweb/catsstud.htm under Academic Records). The student should go to the Graduate College and fill out an application form for a diploma. While there, the student should pick up a schedule of the various deadlines for that semester, and be sure to share this information with his/her advisor.

The Graduate College will then check the student's transcript against the Degree Outline, and notify the student by mail of any missing requirements, and, if so, what must be done to complete the task. This will normally consist of the following two items. The Graduate College is not flexible regarding these deadlines.

*9.1.4 The Thesis Requirement. To write the thesis and get it accepted, the student should do the following steps in the order given here:

Obtain the permission of the thesis committee to begin writing. This may have already happened the previous semester. Before preparing a formatted draft -

The student should obtain a copy of thesis written by another student supervised by the same thesis advisor. An electronic copy is most useful, so that the student can most easily replicate the formatting. In the absence of an electronic copy, the paper copy can serve as a template.

During the process of writing the thesis, the student should consult with the thesis advisor frequently to avoid extensive rewrites. The student should plan on this process taking at least twice as long as expected.

Most advisors want a draft they have approved ready to submit to the committee one month before the final thesis deadline published by the Graduate College. This is necessary to allow committee members sufficient time to thoughtfully criticize the thesis.

Important note: if the thesis research involves use or collection of vertebrate animals, animals and/or plants on any protected species list, or any access requiring permission from governmental or private agencies (including written permission from landowners), the appropriate regulations must be referenced and permit numbers must be presented in the thesis; in either or both of the acknowledgements and methods sections. See above, section 6.1. It is the thesis advisor's responsibility to secure the necessary permits, etc., for the student and to assure that this information is present in the thesis.

After the advisor has approved the first draft, the student submits this to each committee member. Two weeks is a reasonable time to allow for review. After reading, committee members should go over the draft with the student, indicating major and minor problems and the necessary revisions required to make the thesis acceptable.

The student should then meet with his/her advisor to reconcile the various comments. If there is disagreement among the committee, they must reach a consensus as to what is acceptable before the student can write the final draft. Creating this consensus is the advisor's responsibility, not the students.

After this reconciliation process, the student prepares a penultimate draft which include the Biology MS Thesis Approval Page. The official Biology Department thesis approval page should be used, which may be obtained from the Biology Graduate Studies Forms server (http://147.26.168.11/grad/gradstudentforms/forms.nclk).

The student should make one copy of the thesis (including the approval page) for each committee member and deliver it to them in time (at least 48 hours prior) for use at the final oral exam. Note that it is Biology Departmental Policy that the thesis should not be submitted to the Graduate College prior to the student's successful completion of the final oral examination (see 9.1.5, below).

After successfully defending the thesis, the student secures the committee's signatures and makes any final changes requested by the committee, prepares a final draft on the paper recommended by the Graduate College, and delivers the final draft with at least two signed signature pages to the Graduate College on or before the thesis deadline. Some Committee members will expect to receive bound copies of the thesis containing signature pages with original (not copied) signatures; enough signature pages should be prepared to meet this expectation.

The Graduate College will call the student within several days to let him/her know if they find the thesis acceptable. They evaluate it on style and format, not on content. If revisions are required, the student must make these and then re-submit the thesis to the Graduate College for evaluation.

After the Graduate College has accepted the thesis (see also the next step), the student must prepare one additional copy for the Library (they will want the original plus one copy) and should prepare any additional copies s/he wishes bound for personal use. Personal use copies may be bound anywhere the student wants, but usually the Library is least expensive. It is customary for the student to present each member of the thesis committee an official (Library) bound copy.

When the Graduate College informs the student that the thesis is acceptable, the student must return to the Graduate College and retrieve it. At that time, the student will be given a card to take to the Library instructing the Library to accept the thesis for binding.

The students takes at least two good copies (plus any additional copies to be bound by the Library) to the Library main desk. The Library personnel will stamp thesis card indicating the thesis has been received for binding. The student must then return the stamped card to the Graduate College. Only when the Graduate College has the stamped card in their possession has the student completed the thesis requirement.

9.1.5 The Oral Exam/Thesis Defense.

1. All graduate students, thesis or non-thesis, are required to take a final comprehensive examination. In the Biology Department this exam is administered by the student's committee. Students on academic probation or conditional status will not be allowed to complete the final examination.
2. Grading of the final exam is "pass" or "fail". In order to pass, a student must receive votes of confidence from his/her advisor and a majority of committee members (including the advisor). However, a student can be failed over the advisor's positive vote if the majority of the committee votes not to pass. Such outcomes may be appealed to the Graduate Committee, whose decision is final.
3. Non-thesis students may take an oral or written final exam at the discretion of their graduate advisor.
   1. This exam should be administered in the final semester after almost all course work is complete (the student should be signed up for two or fewer courses in the final semester).
   2. The exam results are determined by the committee as "pass" or "fail." In the event a student fails this exam, the committee
      1. may allow a re-examination if time permits before the end of the semester;
      2. may recommend additional course work and re-examination after the course work is successfully completed;
      3. may recommend the student be removed from the Biology Graduate Program.
      4. Only one re-examination is permitted.
   3. The results of this exam should be reported on the "Comprehensive Examination Report for Master's Degree" form (see http://147.26.168.11/grad/gradstudentforms/forms.nclk to obtain this form). The results of the exam must be filed in the Graduate College at least 10 days prior to the date of expected graduation.
4. If the student wrote a thesis, the final exam is oral, and is scheduled after the thesis is complete and may take the form of a thesis defense. Students should discuss the exam with their committee members beforehand to know their expectations and how best to prepare.
   1. Some programs may require a separate final oral exam from the thesis defense (e.g., Wildlife Ecology).
   2. The time and place of the exam should be announced to the Biology Department and the general public 2 weeks before the actual event. Use the form "master's Thesis defense/Oral Exam Announcement Form" available from the Biology Grad Studies Forms page (http://147.26.168.11/grad/gradstudentforms/forms.nclk). It is the student's responsibility to schedule this exam after receiving permission from his or her advisor to proceed.
   3. Also from the Biology Grad Studies Forms page (see above), the student should download the Comprehensive Exam Report Form. After completing the student's part of the form with a word processor, the student should print three copies and bring them to his/her exam. At the end of the exam, these forms are completed and signed by the committee. Shortly after the exam, the student should obtain the signature of the Departmental chair, and then deliver the forms to the Graduate College before the deadline scheduled for that semester
   4. The exam is in two stages, an open public presentation followed by a closed examination by the committee. Students will typically give a 20 to 40 minute presentation of their thesis. After the presentation, questions from the audience will be encouraged, but the actual examination phase should not start until after the general audience has left and the committee remains.
   5. The examination by committee is a closed affair. Committee members may invite guests for the examination phase, but only the committee members vote on the grade. If the oral examination is a thesis defense, then:
   6. "Pass" means that the thesis requires no or only minor revisions. Under such circumstances, the thesis committee signs the examination report and entrusts overseeing any needed revisions to the research advisor. When these changes have been completed, the student will present the final copy of the thesis to the Graduate College in accordance with the given above (9.1.4).
   7. If a majority does not vote to pass (see above, 9.1.5, item B), the thesis committee may recommend:
      1. revisions to the thesis and upon completion, a new defense/oral exam, or
      2. it may require the student to undertake a new thesis under the supervision of the same, or a different, thesis committee, or
      3. it may recommend the student be dismissed from the Biology Graduate Program.
   8. The results of the exam must be filed in the Graduate College at least 10 days prior to the date of expected graduation. It is normal for some sort of celebration to occur upon successful completion of this exercise.

*Note - Graduate College procedures change from year to year. See the Graduate College "Guide to Preparation of Theses and Dissertations" (http://www.gradcollege.txstate.edu/Thesis&DissertationGuide/index.html) in addition to the above. Questions about conflicting information should be addressed to your graduate program advisor (not your research mentor/committee chair).

9.2 The Doctoral Dissertation. All students in the Aquatic Resources doctoral program are required to complete a dissertation to receive the Ph.D. degree. The dissertation must be an original contribution to scholarship and the result of independent investigation. As deemed appropriate by the dissertation committee, the preparation of the dissertation should follow the guidelines in the current edition of the CBE (Council of Biology Editors) Style Manual or be consistent with those in an appropriate professional journal in the designated field.

9.2.1 Dissertation Enrollment Requirements

1. A student must take a minimum of 15 hours of dissertation credit. After Advancement to Candidacy, the student must be continuously enrolled for at least three dissertation hours during each long semester. The student also must be enrolled for dissertation hours during the semester in which the degree is conferred.
2. Students enrolled for dissertation credit but who have not completed the dissertation receive grades of "PR." Students on financial aid should consult with the Doctoral Program Advisor to ascertain that their financial aid standing is not affected by more than one PR grade.

9.2.2 Dissertation Time Limit. Full-time doctoral students are expected to complete the dissertation within three years of Advancement to Candidacy. The maximum period for obtaining the Ph.D. degree in Aquatic Resources is ten years after the student's initial enrollment in the program. Any exceptions to this schedule will be considered on a case-by-case basis by the Graduate Committee.

9.2.3 Style, Organization, and Mechanics for the Dissertation Preparation

1. The dissertation must be written in the English language. Neither the fact that many materials used by the student in preparing the dissertation are in another language, nor an insufficient command of English, are acceptable justification for exceptions to this requirement. Students who are not native speakers of the English language may obtain the services of professional editors to assist in preparation of the dissertation in English of acceptable quality.
2. Preparation of the dissertation should follow the guidelines in the current edition of the CBE (Council of Biology Editors) Style Manual, or in an appropriate professional journal in the designated field, as deemed acceptable by the dissertation committee.

9.2.4 Preparation and Submission of the Dissertation

1. During the student's tenure in the Graduate Program, s/he should have committee meetings at least twice each year. In the semester prior to the semester in which the student intends to finish, the student should seek approval from his/her committee to begin preparation of the dissertation. If such approval is given, the research advisor should alert the Program Advisor of the student's intent and that the Program Advisor should schedule a dissertation defense appropriately in the following semester.
2. The dissertation defense may not be attempted until all other academic and program requirements have been completed.
3. A completed draft of the dissertation must reach the members of the dissertation committee, for committee review and recommendations, at least 60 days before the date of commencement during the semester the student intends to graduate. After the committee members have reviewed the draft with the student and recommended changes, the student and research advisor should reconcile the recommended changes into a second draft. Committee members may review this draft prior to the dissertation defense. When each committee member is satisfied the draft dissertation is defendable, the student will communicate this to the Doctoral Program Advisor.
4. A student intending to graduate must apply for graduation in the Graduate College during the semester the doctoral degree is to be awarded. The deadline dates are published each semester and can be obtained from the Graduate College. This process also can be done online (CATS, http://www1.txstate.edu/catsweb/catsstud.htm under Academic Records).
5. The student will then proceed with the scheduling of the Dissertation Defense. The defense must be scheduled at least two weeks in advance, and a notice of the time and place of the defense must be posted within the University and within the major department.

*9.3 The Dissertation Defense and Submission of the Dissertation to the Graduate College

9.3.1 The Program Advisor schedules the dissertation defense to comply with the deadlines posted by the Graduate College. The Program Advisor may be present during all phases of the dissertation defense.

9.3.2 The dissertation defense is oral and chaired by the student's research advisor. As with the Candidacy exam, the dissertation defense is open to the public. All the members of the dissertation committee must be present.

9.3.3 Upon completion of the oral presentation, the audience may ask questions pertaining to the dissertation research, and to the implications of the results for future research in the dissertation field.

The audience will then be excused and a closed defense of the dissertation by the student before his or her dissertation committee will follow. Both parts of the oral dissertation defense (public seminar and closed defense) must occur on the same day.

*Note - Graduate College procedures change from year to year. See the Graduate College "Guide to Preparation of Theses and Dissertations" (http://www.gradcollege.txstate.edu/Thesis&DissertationGuide/index.html) in addition to the above. Questions about conflicting information should be addressed to your graduate program advisor (not your research mentor/committee chair).

9.4 Approval of the Dissertation

9.4.1 Upon completion of the closed defense of the Doctoral Dissertation, the dissertation committee will deliberate the results of the dissertation. The committee will consider three alternatives: Pass, Provisional Pass, or Fail. Each alternative must be favored by a majority of the committee, including the research advisor. The decision must be communicated in writing, along with the report in the event of a "Provisional Pass" or "Fail," to the student within a week after the dissertation defense. A student who fails the dissertation defense twice will be dismissed from the Aquatic Resources Ph.D. Program.

9.4.2 Grading of the final exam. In order to pass, a student must receive votes of confidence from his/her dissertation advisor and a majority of committee members (including the dissertation advisor). However, a student can be failed over the advisor's positive vote if the majority of the committee votes not to pass. Such outcomes may be appealed to the Graduate Committee, whose decision is final.

"Pass" means that the dissertation requires no changes, or requires only minor revisions. Under such circumstances, the dissertation committee signs the examination report and entrusts overseeing any needed revisions to the dissertation to the research advisor. When these changes have been completed, the student will present the final copy of the dissertation to the Graduate College in accordance with the procedures below. Passing the dissertation defense qualifies the student to be recommended to the Dean of the Graduate College to receive the Ph.D. degree. The committee's decision is communicated orally to the student as soon as possible after the decision has been made.

A "Provisional Pass" recommendation means that the dissertation committee judges that more extensive revision of the dissertation is required for it to be deemed acceptable. Under these circumstances, the committee members will examine the revised dissertation before it is presented to the Graduate College. Another oral dissertation defense is not required in this case.

When the dissertation committee elects "Provisional Pass," the research advisor will prepare a report, outlining the nature of the needed revisions and a time limit within which the student must complete them to the satisfaction of the dissertation committee.

The report must be signed by the dissertation committee and the student, with copies given to the Doctoral Program Advisor, Department Chair, and Dean of the Graduate College. When the revisions have been made to the satisfaction of the research advisor and the dissertation committee, the committee members will sign a statement indicating a "Pass" recommendation.

This recommendation will be sent to the Dean of the Graduate College for approval. If the student fails to complete the necessary revisions within the appropriate time limit, the student must repeat the dissertation defense.

A "Fail" recommendation by the dissertation committee means that the dissertation defense was unsatisfactory, and that the student will not be awarded the degree until he or she undertakes another dissertation defense. The dissertation committee may:

recommend revisions to the dissertation draft, or

may require the student to undertake a new dissertation under the supervision of the same, or a different, dissertation committee, or

may recommend that the student be dismissed from the doctoral program.

A recommendation of "Fail" must be accompanied by a report prepared by the research advisor and signed by the dissertation committee, identifying the reasons the dissertation is not acceptable, and offering judgment as to whether the student will be permitted to revise the existing dissertation draft or must attempt a new dissertation. A strict time line will be established by which revisions and new defenses are due. A second failure results in removal of the student from the doctoral program. Copies of the report are given to the Doctoral Program Advisor, the Department Chair, and the Dean of the Graduate College.

The student has the right to appeal the decision of the dissertation committee. Appeals are heard by the Biology Graduate Committee. The decision of the Graduate Committee is referred to the Department Chair for concurrence (or not), and then to the Dean of the Graduate College for final resolution.

9.4.3 Following the successful defense of the dissertation, two copies incorporating any required revisions must reach the Dean of the Graduate College no later than 21 days before commencement in the semester in which the student wishes to graduate.

9.5. Dissertation Submission Procedure

9.5.1 Dissertation abstracts should be published in Dissertation Abstracts International. See http://www.il.proquest.com/products/pt-product-disabsint.shtml for more information.

9.5.2 The dissertation proposal must be signed by the dissertation committee, Doctoral Program Advisor, Department Chair, and Dean of the Graduate College.

9.5.3 The dissertation must be signed by the dissertation committee and the Dean of the Graduate College. It must reach the dissertation committee 60 days before commencement, and the Graduate College 21 days before commencement, during the semester in which the student graduates.

9.5.4 The report of successful defense of the dissertation must be signed by the dissertation committee and Department Chair. It must reach the Graduate College 21 days before commencement during the semester in which the student graduates.

9.5.5 The Graduate College will give the student a Dissertation Card, stamped with the signature of the University Librarian. It must be returned to the Graduate College by noon of the Monday preceding commencement during the semester in which the student graduates.

10.0. Practical Information, Graduate Assistantships, and Financial Aid

10.1Stipends and Assistantships

10.1.1 Assistantships. Assistantships come mainly in three forms - the IA (Instructional Assistant), the RA (Research Assistant), and the TA (Teaching Assistant)

1. Non-degree seeking graduate students are not eligible for assistantships unless requested in writing to the chair of the department indicating what the "unusual circumstances" (UPPS 07.07.03, http://www.txstate.edu/effective/upps/upps-07-07-03.html) are. The request has to be approved by the Chair of the Department and the Dean of the Graduate College presented as a "Request for Policy Waiver."
2. Students under "conditional" or "probational" status are not eligible for assistance.
3. The salary for graduate students is variable depending upon the student's status (doctoral stipend, master's IA, RA, etc.), and teaching load. A student receiving assistance is required to enroll for at least 9 hours of graduate credit during each long semester. Appointments are (normally) for 4.5 months at 50% time.

10.1.2 An Instructional Assistant is a student who leads a laboratory section and determines students' grades for this section, but reports these grades to the faculty member who conducts the lectures for the course associated with the laboratory. In the case where many faculty teach the same course, such as the freshman majors and non-majors courses, the IA will report to a faculty lab coordinator. In either case, the faculty member is the "instructor of record." This means the faculty member is ultimately responsible for the grade awarded.

1. A large number of IA positions are awarded each semester on an "as-needed" basis. Hires are recommended by the lab coordinators for the various biology courses from a pool of applicants (and approved by the Biology Chairperson).
2. The Biology Department hires only Biology Students as laboratory instructors. Only under exceptional circumstances will this be waived.
3. If a student's appointment is 50% time for at least 4.5 months, the student qualifies for insurance benefits. Not all IA appointments will qualify. Note: a thesis student who fails to file a thesis proposal by the end of their second long semester will become ineligible to serve as an IA.
4. Because IAs cannot be employed more that 50% time, the terminology about IA employment can be confusing. Thus "full-time" in the subsequent paragraphs is equivalent to 50% time as described in the preceding paragraph.
5. The fraction of full-time is determined by which course-lab it is and how many of them taught. Credit for one lab varies from 1/4-time to 1/2-time, with most counting as 1/3-time. These details are determined by the Chairperson, who will try to give the student the best deal that the budget will sustain.
6. Instructional Assistants are required to pay tuition, however out-of-state rates will be waived upon a student's notification of IA appointment to the Registrar's Office. The student has to do this - it is not automatic.

10.1.3 Teaching Assistantships (TAs) are graduate students who do the same thing as an IA, but are the instructor of record and have no supervising faculty member over them except the Chairperson of their department. The Biology Department does not award such assistantships at the master's level.

10.1.4 Research Assistantships. Research support is generally provided by a student's research advisor. A student also may seek additional support on a competitive basis from outside agencies (e.g., see the web site http://www.indiana.edu/~gradgrnt/sponsors.html). Such resources are available to all master's and doctoral students, and a student's research advisor may require graduate students to write grant applications to outside agencies as part of their dissertation projects. See also the Texas State Graduate College Listing at http://www.gradcollege.txstate.edu/scholarships.html.

1. The RA positions are offered by individual faculty members, and are paid out of their research grants. The availability of RA positions, therefore, will vary at any given time, depending on the research interests and activities of individual faculty members. An RA is not obligated to teach. However, some research advisors may wish to mix RA and IA positions half-and-half when possible, as a means of furthering the educational possibilities for individual students. The pay rate for RAs and IAs is set by the University. A student with a dual RA-IA appointment may have as high as a 75% work load.
2. If a graduate student's research advisor has grant funds and needs a technician in his or her project, the research advisor may hire a doctoral student as a "grant assistant." This is considered a University staff position, and carries additional fringe benefits. However, a grant assistant cannot be simultaneously enrolled as a full-time student.

10.1.5 Stipends.

1. Full-time students accepted into the Ph.D. Program in Aquatic Resources are typically offered a 12 month stipend. The amount of the stipend may vary, and may be supplemented by scholarships (see 10.4 below), internships, or research assistantships provided by the student's research advisor. Contact the Program Advisor for current information.
2. Full-time students are required to take a minimum of nine hours of doctoral-level or equivalent course work during each long semester, and a minimum of three hours during the summer. Students on stipend support taking more than twelve semester hours of course work must have approval from the Dean of the Graduate College. All students receiving stipend or assistantship support are required to maintain a minimum GPA of 3.0.
3. Students on stipend support may be required to serve as Instructional Assistants or Teaching Assistants (see above under 10.2.2) or serve in other capacities at the Biology Departments discretion (in consultation with the student, student's research advisor, Program Advisor, and Departmental Chair).

10.1.6 Research Assistantships for Doctoral Students. See above, 10.2.4.

10.2 Financial Aid. Texas State also offers financial aid packages for graduate students. Graduate students interested in this funding avenue should directly contact the Office of Student Financial Aid (telephone: 512-245-2315) or visit the Office's Web site (http://www.finaid.txstate.edu/).

10.3 Scholarships, Fellowships and Internships

10.3.1 The Graduate College offers a number of competitive scholarships. See http://www.gradcollege.txstate.edu/scholarships.html for information, forms, and application deadlines. These scholarships are typically worth between $1,000 and $2,000 per semester and do not replace the normal graduate stipend or assistantship (they can be added to it).

10.3.2 The Graduate College is developing a tuition rebate program for graduate students.

10.3.3 The Biology Department is in the process of developing internship programs with industry partners. These programs will supplement or replace the doctoral stipend in return for dissertation research applied towards solving industry problems. As these programs come "on-line" specific information will be including in this location and announced on the Biology Graduate Studies Web page (http://www.bio.txstate.edu/grad/index.html).

10.4 Practical Information for Grad Students

10.4.1 Parking at Texas State is in short supply for students, and graduate students are considered students - no special privileges even if they teach. Students must purchase the appropriate parking sticker when they register. Any student or faculty vehicle will be ticketed anywhere on campus if the proper sticker is not displayed, or if one parks in the wrong place with a sticker. See also http://www.parking.txstate.edu/ for more complete information.

10.4.2 Health Care - also see http://www.healthcenter.txstate.edu/. All registered students with a valid Texas State student ID are eligible to use the Student Health Center. The Medical Service Fee is included in the student's tuition and fees. Questions about student eligibility should be directed to the Student Health Center at (512) 245-2161.

1. All eligible students can see a physician or nurse for unlimited visits at no charge. Lab tests, X-rays, prescription medications, allergy injections, and other services are available at reasonable prices. Payment is expected at the time of service. The Student Health Center accepts cash, checks, MasterCard, Visa or the Texas State's optional student insurance plan. Students with urgent medical conditions who cannot pay will not be refused necessary treatment.
2. Students who are no longer enrolled may use the Student Health Center for one full semester after the semester in which they were previously enrolled. These students may see a physician for $28 per visit or nurse for $8 per visit. The Student Health Center is open between semesters. Students enrolled in the previous semester can receive care during these periods without an additional fee for seeing a physician or nurse.
3. Texas State sponsored camp, program, or workshop participants are eligible for Student Health Center services. Call the Student Health Center at (512) 245-2161 about costs for services. Spouses, children, and friends of Texas State students are NOT eligible for Student Health Center services.
4. In addition, graduate students who are employed at least four and one-half months at 50% time or more are eligible for regular health insurance which is paid for by the State of Texas (this is not the optional student insurance described above that the student pays for). However, coverage is not automatic - the student must go to the personnel office and fill out the appropriate forms.

10.4.3 Recreational Sports - Texas State offers a complete spectrum of recreational sports and activities to its students. These include indoor and outdoor facilities available at no cost or low cost for special events. See http://www.campusrecreation.txstate.edu/ for complete information. For outdoors activities (and biology), University Camp is outstanding. See http://www.campusrecreation.txstate.edu/Outdoor/ot_ucamp.htm for more information.

Last updated Sunday, June 12, 2005 All rights reserved.