ACCREDITATIONS & MEMBERSHIPS
Texas State University-San Marcos is accredited by:
AACSB International-The Association to Advance
Collegiate Schools of Business
Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology/Computer
Accreditation Commission
Accrediting Commission on Education for Health
Services Administration
American Association of Family and Consumer Sciences
American Bar Association
American Chemical Society
American Dietetic Association
American Speech-Language-Hearing Association
Association of University Programs in Health
Administration
Commission on Accreditation/Approval for Dietetic
Education of the American Dietetic Association
Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education
Programs
Commission on Accreditation of Physical Therapy
Education
Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related
Educational Programs
Council on Social Work Education
Education in Radiologic Technology
Foundry Education Foundation
Foundation for Interior Design Education and Research
National Academy of Early Childhood Programs
National Accrediting Agency for Clinical Laboratory
Sciences
National Association for the Education of Young
Children
National Association of Boards of Examiners for
Nursing Home Administrators
National Association of School Psychologists
National Association of Schools of Music
National Association of Schools of Public Affairs and
Administration
National Recreation and Park Association
Texas State Board for Educator Certification
Texas State University-San Marcos is a member of
the following (among many others):
Agriculture Consortium of Texas
American Association of Colleges for Teacher Education
American Association of State Colleges and
Universities
American Association of State Colleges of Agriculture
and Renewable Resources
American Association of University Women
American Council on Education
Association of American Colleges and Universities
Association of State Colleges and Universities
Association of Texas Colleges and Universities
Association of Texas Graduate Schools
Coalition of Urban and Metropolitan Universities
College Reading and Learning Association
Council for Higher Education Accreditation
Council for Opportunity in Education
Council of Colleges of Arts and Sciences
Council of Graduate Schools in the United States
Council of Public University Presidents
Great Plains Regional Honors Council
Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities
International Technology Education Association
National Association of Colleges and Teachers of
Agriculture
National Association of Industrial Technology
National Association of State University Land Grant
Colleges
National Collegiate Honors Council
Society of Manufacturing Engineers
Texas Association for Schools in Engineering Technology
Texas Association of Colleges for Teacher Education
Teacher Education Council of State Colleges and
Universities
Texas State is a member of the Texas State
University System
John P. Hageman, Chairman (2003)................................................ Austin,
Texas
James A. Jimmy Hayley, Vice Chairman (2005)....................... Texas City, Texas
Kent M. Adams (2007)............................................................ Beaumont,
Texas
Patricia Diaz Dennis (2005).................................................. San
Antonio, Texas
Alan W. Dreeben (2007).............................................................. Schertz,
Texas
Dionicio Don Flores (2005)...................................................... El
Paso, Texas
Nancy R. Neal,
(2003).............................................................. Lubbock,
Texas
Pollyanna A. Stephens (2007)................................................. San Angelo,
Texas
Dr. James L. Sweatt III, MD (2003)..............................................
Desoto, Texas
Lamar G. Urbanovsky, Chancellor
Denise M. Trauth, PhD...................................................................... President
Michael L. Abbott, PhD.................................... Special
Assistant to the President
Robert D. Gratz, PhD..................................... Vice
President for Academic Affairs
Gerald W. Hill, BS.............................. Vice
President for University Advancement
William A. Nance, BBA................ Vice
President for Finance and Support Services
James D. Studer, PhD....................................... Vice
President for Student Affairs
Carl Van Wyatt, PhD............................ Vice
President for Information Technology
John J. Beck, PhD............................................ Dean
of the College of Education
Ronald C. Brown, PhD......................................... Dean
of the University College
T. Jamie Chahin, PhD................................... Dean
of the College of Applied Arts
T. Richard Cheatham, PhD..... Dean of the College of Fine Arts and Communication
Ann Marie Ellis, PhD..................................... Dean
of the College of Liberal Arts
Stanley C. Israel, PhD........................................... Dean
of the College of Science
Denise Smart, PhD........................ Dean
of the College of Business Administration
Ruth B. Welborn, PhD,.......................... Dean
of the College of Health Professions
J. Michael Willoughby, EdD.................................... Dean of the Graduate
College
Located in San Marcos at the
foot of the Texas Hill Country, where blackland prairies turn into beautiful
hills, Texas State University-San Marcos (Texas State) enjoys a setting that is
unique among Texas universities.
The beauty of the crystal clear San Marcos River and many sprawling
cypress and pecan trees on the campus adds to the charm of this picturesque
locale. Although major metropolitan
centers are not far away, San Marcos has managed to retain the charm of a
smaller community, and Texas State University-San Marcos still has a real
university atmosphere a place where faculty and students take the processes
of teaching and learning seriously.
Texas State University-San Marcos was established in
1899 by the Twenty-Sixth Legislature as Southwest Texas State Normal
School. Opening its doors in 1903
with only 303 students. Texas
State University-San Marcos has expanded from a two-year normal school to a
multipurpose university with an enrollment of over 20,000.
Since its founding, the university has grown and
developed in terms of enrollment, curriculum, and stature. Its widened scope has matched
legislative action that has changed its name through four distinct phases of
development.
In 1918, the school became Southwest Texas State
Normal College and in 1923, the school became Southwest Texas State Teachers
College. In 1959, the word
Teachers was dropped from its title.
In 1969, the Sixty-First Legislature changed the name to Southwest
Texas State University. On June 18, 2003, the governor signed a bill changing
the schools name to Texas State University-San Marcos effective on September
1, 2003, recognizing that Texas State University-San Marcos has become a
first-class regional, state, and national institution of higher learning.
Texas State is a member of the Texas State University
System and is governed by a nine-member Board of Regents. Other universities in the system
include Angelo State University, Lamar University, Sam Houston State
University, and Sul Ross State University. The first president was Mr. T. G. Harris, who served from
1903 to 1911. He was followed by
Dr. C. E. Evans, 1911-1942; Dr. J. G. Flowers, 1942-1964; Dr. James H.
McCrocklin, 1964-1969; Dr. Leland E. Derrick (acting), 1969; Dr. Billy Mac
Jones, 1969-1973; Mr. Jerome C. Cates (interim), 1973-1974; Dr. Lee H. Smith,
1974-1981; Mr. Robert L. Hardesty, 1981-1988; Dr. Michael L. Abbott (interim),
1988-1989; Dr. Jerome H. Supple, 1989-2002; and Dr. Denise M. Trauth,
2002-present.
Authorization
The
establishment of a Graduate College at Texas State University-San Marcos was
authorized by the Board of Regents at its meeting on June 15, 1935. Graduate courses were first offered
during the summer of 1936, and the first Master of Arts degree was conferred at
the 1937 spring commencement.
Texas State
University-San Marcos (Texas State) was established in 1899 to address the states
need for excellent teachers.
Throughout its rich history, Texas State has responded to the changing
needs of our state. Today, Texas
State is a comprehensive, culturally diverse university offering undergraduate
and graduate instruction to citizens across Texas as well as those from other
states and nations. Texas State is
also a metropolitan university, providing special service to the greater
Austin-San Marcos-San Antonio region.
Although the teaching-learning experience, supported by research and
creative activity, is the heart of Texas State, we also encourage involvement
in extra curricular activities and the development of leadership. We teach the skills that will prepare
students for tomorrows careers, and we introduce them to ideas and experiences
that will broaden their lives forever as we pursue the following purposes:
Undergraduate
Education
To provide
undergraduate students with a broad base of knowledge in a variety of
college-level competencies, and specialized courses of study selected from a
comprehensive range of undergraduate programs.
Graduate Education
To provide graduate
students the opportunity to expand their knowledge in a variety of specialized
programs through research, creative expression, and advanced study.
Scholarship
To contribute to
the greater body of knowledge in specific disciplines through research,
scholarship, and creative expression.
Service to State and Community
To serve as a
professional, educational, and cultural resource to the local area and the larger
community by providing consultation, advice, and special services.
Enriched Learning Community
To develop a
technology-enhanced learning community reflecting the rich diversity of the
state.
Campus Environment
To sustain an
environment for learning and professional development that is supportive,
inclusive, and welcoming.
Personal Growth
To develop the full
potential of each individual.
We fulfill this mission by adopting goals and
implementing strategies that we identify in Texas States Strategic Plan. We demonstrate our accountability
through careful assessment and continuous improvement.
Philosophy
We, the faculty, staff, and students at Texas State,
affirm that our university exists to enrich our minds and to humanize our
hearts so that we might contribute to the betterment of humanity. We are dedicated to providing a
curriculum and educational experience that develop our capacities not only to
analyze critically and think creatively, but also to reason ethically and feel
compassionately.
To guide us as we learn to evaluate the consequences of
our actions not to indoctrinate either intellectually, morally, or
religiously we articulate the following:
The lifelong pursuit of academic excellence.
We value the seeking
of knowledge, including the freedom to engage in meaningful debate and the
responsibility to continually explore new possibilities for learning.
The nurturing of individuals.
We value the
opportunity to develop the potential of every individual of our diverse
community.
The cultivation of character.
We value the
modeling and teaching of honesty, integrity, diligence, courage, compassion,
fairness, and respect.
A continuing process.
We see the
articulation of this statement as ongoing. Its publication should serve to keep dialogue continually
alive and it should be formally reviewed every two years to decide whether
publication should be renewed and, if so, what form.
The university is organized into the College of Applied
Arts, the College of Business Administration, the College of Education, the
College of Fine Arts and Communication, the College of Health Professions, the
College of Liberal Arts, the College of Science, and the Graduate College. All undergraduate students enter Texas
State through the University College.
Objectives of the Graduate College for the Doctoral Program
The purpose of doctoral education in the Graduate
College is to provide the means for continued intellectual growth through
advanced and specialized education that emphasizes original research. The ultimate aim of doctoral study is
to develop leaders in basic and applied research in their fields of
specialization. More explicitly,
the Graduate College has adopted the following objectives for doctoral study
that will add both breadth and depth to the academic and professional
preparation received at the undergraduate and masters degree levels, as
follows:
·
To impart a thorough
understanding of research methods and techniques in specialized fields;
·
To afford students with
the opportunity to undertake original research in their areas of
specializations, both independently and in collaboration with the faculty;
·
To provide students with
the ability and resources to integrate their research into the community of
scholars and professionals in a particular academic discipline;
·
To challenge students
intellectually, to develop their powers of independent thought, and to direct
them toward positions of intellectual leadership in their personal and
professional lives.
Characteristics of Doctoral Study
Doctoral study affords students of exceptional academic
ability with ample opportunity to continue their intellectual growth and
development, and to integrate themselves into the professional community of
scholars in a manner emphasizing the completion, presentation, and publication
of original, creative research.
Doctoral study presupposes the previous acquisition of sufficient knowledge
obtained at the bachelors or masters degree level, and a command of skills
and techniques needed to conduct intensive independent research and
investigation.
Doctoral instruction differs fundamentally from
instruction at the undergraduate and masters levels in at least the following
respects:
·
Doctoral students are
expected to assume responsibility for the planning, completion, and
presentation of original scholarly research;
·
With the assistance of
the faculty, doctoral students are expected to undertake research projects that
will lead to professional presentation and publication;
·
More extensive reading,
emphasizing primary source material in a specialized field, is expected;
·
Students are expected to
become thoroughly familiar with the current literature in their fields, with
emphasis on recently published developments in research methods and results;
·
Doctoral courses are
seminars that stress active roles for students in intellectual exchange with
both faculty and peers and in the critique of published research;
·
Doctoral course work
underscores integrating student research into the norms of an academic
discipline.
Texas
State University-San Marcos believes that freedom of thought, innovation, and
creativity are fundamental characteristics of a community of scholars. To promote such a learning environment,
the university has a special responsibility to seek cultural diversity, to
instill a global perspective in its students, and to nurture sensitivity,
tolerance, and mutual respect.
Discrimination against or harassment of individuals on the basis of
ethnicity, sex, religion, or race is inconsistent with the purposes of the
university
The university requires that its students and
applicants for admission furnish their social security numbers. The university uses these social
security numbers to verify identities.
Disclosure of these social security numbers is mandatory. The universitys record-keeping system
was established prior to January 1, 1975, pursuant to the authority given the
Board of Regents, Texas State University System, in Section 95.21 of the Texas
Education Code. These numbers are
also solicited under the statutory authority of 42 U.S.C.A. Section 405 (c) (2)
(C).
A student is required to use his or her correct legal
name and social security number on university documents. The university assumes no
responsibility if a student uses different names or social security numbers or
a variation of names and numbers.
A students name will appear on official records as it
is stated on the application for admission. If a student has previously attended Texas State
University-San Marcos under a different name, the student may be asked to
provide proof of name change. A
student must then provide a copy of a marriage certificate, divorce decree, or
drivers license, and social security card with the new name posted.
Texas State University-San Marcos does not discriminate
on the basis of disability in the recruitment and admission of students to the
university. Students with
disabilities must meet the same admission requirements as other students.
The Office of Disability Services (ODS) at Texas State
assists students with disabilities to independently achieve their educational
goals and enhance their leadership development by providing reasonable and
appropriate accommodations. ODS
facilitates access to university programs, services, and activities in the most
integrated setting appropriate. In
order to qualify for services, a student must provide ODS with verification of
disability. Students with learning
disabilities must provide an evaluation that has been completed within the last
five years. To ensure a timely
review of documentation and provision of support services, students are
requested to provide verification of disability at least thirty days prior to
attendance at the university.
Students needing sign language or oral interpreting services for
admissions counseling or academic advising should contact ODS one week prior to
the event to ensure interpreter availability. Students who have concerns or complaints should contact the
Director of Disability Services at 512-245-3451 (voice/TTY) or the university
ADA Coordinator at 512-245-2278 (voice/TTY).
The university has established a grievance procedure
for the prompt and equitable resolution of complaints related to illegal
discrimination on the basis of disability. This grievance procedure is described in UPPS No. 04.04.46,
Prohibition of Illegal Discrimination or Harassment Based on Race, Color,
National Origin, Age, Sex, Religion, or Disability. A copy is available in the university library, Office of
Disability Services, and most other university offices.
For more information on services for students with disabilities
at Texas State call 512-245-3451 (voice/TTY) or write 601 University Drive,
Suite 5-5.1 LBJ Student Center, San Marcos, TX 78666.
The International Office provides a variety of services
to international students, faculty, and staff at Texas State. The office advises international
students with respect to immigration regulations and cross-cultural
adjustment. It is the primary
campus resource for non-immigrant status and visa issue. The office oversees international
outreach and recruitment, provides assistance with international exchange
agreements, and provides leadership for the campus internationalization
process. For information, phone
512-245-7966, fax 512-245-8264, e-mail: International@txstate.edu.
The Alkek Library
contains some 1.3 million volumes of books, documents, and bound
periodicals. In addition, there
are some 233,000 volume equivalents in microform and 31,000 AV titles,
including nearly 1,800 software programs for the public computer lab. The library receives over 5,900
periodical and serial subscriptions in print and has access to more than 1,500
electronic journals and 170 electronic databases.
The library is open
104.5 hours per week during the fall and spring semesters. An online catalog that can also be
accessed from off campus provides information on the librarys holdings.
Special Collections
include the Southwestern Writers Collection, a literary archive reflecting the
culture of the Southwestern United States and the Wittliff Gallery of
Southwestern and Mexican Photography:
http://www.library.txstate.edu/swwc/.
Interlibrary loan
and document delivery services are provided. Cooperative borrowing agreements with other libraries are
maintained. Through TexShare, a
statewide library resources sharing program, Texas State faculty, students, and
staff can obtain a TexShare library card which grants library privileges at
most of the public university and community college libraries in Texas.
Library support
facilities include laptop computers connecting to a wireless network that may
be checked out for building use and a computer lab with Macintosh and IBM
compatible workstations, along with laser printers, adaptive equipment for disabled
individuals, and scanners.
Coin-operated photocopying machines, public telephones, vending
machines, and a lounge are also available.
More information
about the library is available through the Alkek Librarys website found
at: http://www.library.txstate.edu
Access to a
post-secondary education is not limited by the ability of a student and/or
parent to provide for necessary educational expenses.
1.
Generally, graduate
students working toward a masters, doctoral or certification credential must
have a cumulative Texas State GPA of a 3.0 after one academic year on all work while
continuing to be enrolled at Texas State in a degree or eligible certification
program.
Additionally, students must complete the minimum number of new hours during
the academic year or grace period as listed:
Total Registered Minimum
New
Hours Fall and Spring Hours
Required to
or During Grace Complete
24+ 18
20-23 15
16-19 12
12-15 09
06-11 06
03-05 03
02 02
01 01
*Repeated
courses do not count toward completion rate.
2.
There is also a maximum
number of semester hours in which students must complete their degree or
certification requirements as shown below. These hours include all hours at any institution of higher
education regardless of whether financial aid was received.
Degree Maximum
Number of Hours
Masters 80
Doctoral 50
Certification
36
3.
Students not meeting the
above requirements may submit a written appeal for financial aid in those cases
where there are documented extenuating circumstances. Appeals must be made in the following order:
a.
Financial Aid Counselor
b.
Assistant/Associate
Director
c.
Director
d.
Financial Aid and
Scholarship Advisory Committee
4.
A student has five (5)
working days from the time of notification (written or oral) of not meeting the satisfactory
academic progress requirements to submit a written appeal to the next
level. If no written appeal is
submitted within the prescribed period, the student forfeits rights to any
further appeal.
Texas State
participates in a variety of federal, state, and local financial aid programs
which may provide assistance if students do not otherwise have sufficient funds
available to defray educational costs.
Other than loans and
work-study, financial assistance (scholarships and graduate assistantships) for
graduate students is handled primarily through the Office of the Graduate
College or through the academic departments. The Office of Student Financial Aid does process student
loans and a limited number of need based scholarships for graduate students.
To be eligible for
financial assistance, a student must be enrolled at least half-time in a
degree-granting or eligible certification-granting course of study, in good standing,
making satisfactory academic progress, and not in default or delinquent on any
loan made to the student for attendance at any institution. The student must not owe a refund on
federal funds previously received for attendance at any institution.
Federal regulations
require financial aid recipients to be making satisfactory academic progress
toward a degree or certificate.
Minimum Cumulative
Texas State GPA Required
Certification 3.00
Masters 3.00
Doctoral
3.00
The Office of Student
Financial Aid awards aid on the basis of financial need, starting with the
highest need factors and awarding aid until funds are depleted. Meeting the application priority dates
is important as there is a limited amount of aid to be distributed, and those
applications completed by the priority dates will be considered first. To ensure priority consideration,
applications and all required documentation must be on file in the Office of
Student Financial Aid by the following application dates:
Fall/Spring
Semester April
1
Summer March
1
The Office of Student
Financial Aid is located in room 240 J.C. Kellam Administration building. Information about office hours and
deadlines can be obtained through http://www.txstate.edu/financialaid or
calling 512-245-2315. Students can
obtain information about their specific application by calling
512-392-CATS. This service is
available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Students need to activate their Texas State e-mail account
because the Student Financial Aid Office will send important information via
this account to students.
Students who are not
Texas residents and receive a Texas State competitive scholarship in the amount
of a least $1,000 may be eligible to pay resident tuition. Financial Aid staff may be reached at
512-245-2315 or on the second floor, room 240, J.C. Kellam Administration
building, Monday through Friday.
Veterans Benefits
Students
attending Texas State while receiving educational assistance under one of the
public laws for veterans and/or their dependents must contact the Texas State
Office of Veterans Affairs, J.C. Kellam Administration building, in room 111,
or at 512-245-2641 to complete the required forms. Information and forms are also available on our website at http://www.txstate.edu/registrar/vaserl.htm.
Students applying for
educational benefits under the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs for the
first time must provide the Office of Veterans Affairs with a photocopy of
member four (4) of DD Form 214, Certificate of Release or Discharge from
Active Duty. Reserve and National
Guard members applying for Chapter 1606 benefits must provide DD 2384 form:
Notice of Basic Eligibility.
Active duty military and dependents are exempt from the above
requirements. Transferring
students who have previously used their VA educational benefits need only
submit a change of place of training form.
Benefit payments are made at
the end of each month. Any
student enrolling under any of the provisions for VA educational benefits
should bring sufficient funds to defray the initial cost of tuition,
fees, and living expenses for approximately three (3) months.
A graduate student receiving
veteran benefits must file with the Office of Veterans Affairs an official
masters degree outline, a certification deficiency plan, or other similar
documentation showing the requirements needed to accomplish your
objective. It is your
responsibility to notify the Office of Veterans Affairs of any adds, drops,
course, or program changes.
After exhausting available VA educational benefits,
students should check with the Office of Veterans Affairs for information about
the Hazlewood Exemption.
Applications and information sheets for the Hazlewood Exemption may be
obtained at the J.C. Kellam Administration building, in room 111 or on our web
site at http://www.txstate.edu/registrar/vaser1.htm.
Abandoned and unclaimed personal property discovered on
a system university campus shall be turned over to the campus security or
police department for safekeeping and standardized handling. Property shall be considered abandoned
if it appears from the circumstances under which the university comes into
possession of the property that the owner has thrown it away or has voluntarily
left or lost it without any intent to expectation to regain it.
Abandoned and unclaimed personal property acquired by
the campus security or police department of a system university shall be held
for a minimum of one hundred and twenty (120) days from the time the campus
security or police office acquires the property. If the property is reclaimed during that time, the
university may charge the owner a reasonable storage fee. Campus security or police will develop
appropriate procedures to assure the return, if possible, of unclaimed personal
property to the proper owners. All
possible efforts are made to notify the owner.
After one hundred and twenty (120) days, and after
appropriate property checks that reflect the value of the property have been
made, the item may be sold as part of a normal university surplus property
sale. For specifics on the handling and processing of abandoned and unclaimed
property please refer to UPPS 05.01.20.
Texas State University-San Marcos believes that the
primary purpose of higher education is to promote learning and stimulate
inquiry for truth in an atmosphere of freedom. The university is committed to the value of racial and
ethnic diversity. Accordingly, the
university encourages students to exercise the rights of citizenship. However, these rights are subject to
reasonable limitations necessary for the orderly operation of the
university. The university expects
students to accept their responsibilities as citizens and members of a
scholarly community. Paramount
among these responsibilities are respect for the rights of others, academic and
personal integrity, and adherence to federal, state, and local laws as well as
university regulations.
The faculty and administration are genuinely concerned
with the physical and ethical welfare of students. To that end, the university has established rules of conduct
and has published these in a Code of Student Conduct. These regulations guide students in achieving personal and
academic goals and help the university function in an orderly way. Since students voluntarily associate
themselves with the university, they should know that these rules are honestly
and faithfully enforced. The rules
include clear prohibitions against sexual or racial harassment.
The administration and faculty encourage students to
participate in managing the university through its system of advisory councils
and committees. Students are
invited to serve as voting members of many these groups, and are expected to
contribute actively to their success.
Students may submit recommendations for changes in policy, not only
through the committee structure, but also through their student government.
Texas State University-San Marcoss annual security
report includes statistics for the previous three years concerning reported
crimes that occurred on campus, in certain off-campus buildings, owned or
controlled by Texas State, and on public property within or immediately
adjacent to and accessible from the campus. The report also includes institutional policies concerning
campus security, such as policies concerning alcohol and drug use, crime
prevention, the reporting of crimes, sexual assault, and other matters. The Texas State campus security report
is available through the UPD website at: http://www.police.txstate.edu. It is also available by mail at no
charge from Texas States Offices of Admission, Graduate College, Human
Resources, or the University Police Department by calling 512-245-2111.
The Graduate
Council is the advisory group within the Graduate College. The Graduate Council governs the
policies of the Graduate College, and these policies are administered by the Graduate
Dean. Besides the Graduate Dean,
who serves as chair, the Graduate Council is composed of a voting
representative of each department offering only a graduate major or minor or
support courses. The President of
the University, the Vice President for Academic Affairs, and the University
Registrar are ex-officio members of the Council.
Dr. J. Michael Willoughby, Dean of the Graduate College
Dr. Maria Acosta, Associate Professor, Mathematics (1998-2004)
Dr. Audwin Anderson, Associate Professor, Sociology (2000-2006)
Dr. John Baccus, Professor, Biology (2003-2006)
Dr. Andy Batey, Associate Professor, Technology (1988-2005)
Dr. Michael Blanda, Associate Professor, Chemistry and Biochemistry
(2001-2004)
Dr. Mary Brennan, Associate Professor, History (2003-2006)
Dr. Tina Cade, Assistant Professor, Agriculture (2003-2006)
Dr. Paul Cohen, Professor, English (2000-2006)
Dr. James R. Crawford, Professor and Chair, Physics (1999-2004)
Dr. Elaine Eikner, Professor, Accounting (2003-2006)
Dr. John Fleming, Associate Professor, Theatre (1999-2005)
Dr. Maria Diana Gonzales, Assistant Professor, Communication Disorders
(2003-2006)
Dr. Robert Gorman, Professor, Political Science (2003-2006)
Dr. Linda Homeyer, Associate Professor, Educational Administration and
Psychological Services (2002-2005)
Dr. Diana Hunter, Associate Professor, Physical Therapy (1999-2006)
Dr. Catherine Jaffe, Professor, Modern Languages (1995-2004)
Dr. Charles M. Johnson, Associate Professor and Chair, Health Services
Research (1996-2005)
Dr. Khosrow Kaikhah, Assistant Professor, Computer Science (2000-2004)
Dr. Vincent Luizzi, Professor and Chair, Philosophy (2001-2004)
Dr. Roseann M. Mandziuk, Professor, Communication Studies (1990-2004)
Dr. Erik Nielsen, Professor and
Acting Chair, Art and Design (1995-2004)
Dr. Dorinda Noble, Associate Professor, Social Work (2001-2004)
Dr. Robert J. Olney, Professor and Associate Dean, College of Business
Administration, Management (1985-2005)
Dr. Randall Osborne, Associate Professor and Chair, Psychology
(2001-2004)
Dr. Cynthia Peterson, Associate Professor, Curriculum and Instruction
(1999-2006)
Dr. Joy Pollock, Professor, Criminal Justice (2002-2005)
Dr. Sandhya Rao, Associate Professor, Mass Communication (2000-2006)
Dr. Oren Renick, Professor, Health Administration (2003-2006)
Dr. Russell Riepe, Professor, Music (1998-2004)
Dr. Vivek Shah, Professor, Computer Information Systems and Quantitative
Methods (2002-2005)
Dr. Fred Shelley, Professor, Geography (1996-2005)
Dr. Dean Showalter, Associate Professor, Finance and Economics
(2002-2005)
Dr. Stephen B. Springer, Associate Professor and Director, Occupational
Education (1980-2005)
Dr. David Wiley, Professor, Health, Physical Education, and Recreation
(2003-2006)
Dr. Sue Williams, Professor, Family and Consumer Sciences (1999-2005)
Dr. Gail Zank, Assistant Professor, Marketing (2002-2005)
Dr. Robert D. Gratz, Vice President for Academic Affairs
Dr. Denise M. Trauth, President, Texas State University-San Marcos
Dr. Douglas VanDenBerg, University Registrar
General Admission Policies
The requirements set forth on the following pages are
the minimum for admission to the Graduate College at the doctoral level. Meeting these requirements does not
necessarily ensure acceptance into a doctoral program. Applicants must receive departmental
recommendation for admission after the application files are completed in the
Office of the Graduate College.
The Dean of the Graduate College grants final admission approval. The university reserves the right to
deny admission to any prospective or former students who have criminal records,
including any conviction of a felony, offenses involving moral turpitude, or
other offenses of a serious nature.
Application Deadlines
Students who hold acceptable masters or bachelors
degrees or the equivalent from accredited colleges or universities in Biology,
Chemistry, Engineering, Geology, or in related natural science fields must
submit applications to the Office of the Graduate College if they wish to
pursue a doctoral degree at Texas State to ensure full consideration. To ensure the timely processing of
student files, the student is requested to include his or her social security
number on all documents.
All required application materials should be submitted
to the Office of the Graduate College no later than the following deadline
dates to ensure processing for the desired semester: Deadline dates are subject to change.
Fall
Semester May
1
Spring
Semester October
1
Application Deadlines For International Students
Deadline dates subject to
change.
Fall
Semester May
1
Spring
Semester October
1
No
international student applications will be processed after the published
deadlines.
Applications are for specific semesters.
Prospective students should contact the Office of the Graduate College
to update their application for enrollment in a subsequent semester if the
student is unable to enter the semester for which his or her application is
accepted. Students should do this
as soon as they know that they will not be enrolling for the semester of
acceptance. Some programs require
reapplication.
Admission Requirements for United States Citizens
The application process for consideration for admission
to the PhD program in Aquatic Resources is a two-part process. Part I requirements must be submitted
to the Office of the Graduate College and Part II requirements must be
submitted to the Department of Biology.
Part
I Submit to the Office of the Graduate College
1.
Complete a Doctoral
Program Graduate College Application for Admission. An application can be obtained by contacting the Office of
the Graduate College or by downloading it from the website (http://www.gradcollege.txstate.edu).
2.
Submit a non-refundable
application fee of $40.00 (check or money order payable to Texas State in U.S.
currency) for all students.
3.
Submit two official
transcripts which indicate the completion of a masters or bachelors degree in
Biology, Chemistry, Engineering, Geology, or in a related natural science
discipline from an accredited college or university:
a.
Non-Texas State Graduates
From each college or university (including Texas State if attended). These
must be mailed directly from the institution to the Office of the Graduate
College.
b.
Texas State Graduates
Only need to order transcripts from any colleges not listed on the Texas State
transcript. The Office of the
Graduate College will obtain the Texas State transcript from the Registrars
office.
4.
For students holding a masters
degree, a grade point average (GPA) of at least 3.25 on all completed graduate
work. For students holding a
bachelors degree, a GPA of at least 3.5 on all completed undergraduate work. The Doctoral Admission Committee will
consider exceptions to this requirement on a case-by-case basis.
5.
A preferred combined
verbal and quantitative score on the Graduate Record Exam (GRE) of at least
1150. This score must be on file
in the Office of the Graduate College prior to the evaluation of the students application.
6.
Students entering the PhD
Program with a masters degree must have completed a masters thesis or
demonstrated evidence of scholarly research and writing.
Part
II - Submit to the Department of Biology
1.
Demonstrate adequate
subject preparation in content and quality as reflected in transcripts and
three letters of recommendation.
The student must include his or her social security number within the
letters.
2.
Provide a satisfactory
Statement of Goals as a PhD student and for professional career. Students may obtain a Statement of
Goals form by contacting the Office of the Graduate College or downloading it
from the website http://www.gradcollege.txstate.edu.
Admission Requirements for International Students
An international applicant is defined as an
applicant who is not a citizen of the United States. All
non-U.S. citizens fall under regulations of Bureau of Citizenship and
Immigration Services of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. University rules applying to non-U.S.
citizens must comply with federal law; hence, admission requirements for
international students, including permanent residents, differ from those for
United States citizens.
In addition
to the Admission Requirements for U.S. Citizens listed above, non-U.S. Citizens
must:
1.
Submit a non-refundable
international fee of $50.00 (check or money order payable to Texas State in
U.S. currency) in addition to the $40.00 application fee to the Office of the
Graduate College.
2.
Submit, to the Office of
the Graduate College, two official transcripts and diploma or degree
certificate, along with an English translation, showing the type of degree
earned and the date the degree was conferred for each previously earned degree.
3.
If English is not the
students native language, have an official score of at least 550 (paper based)
or 213 (computer-based) on the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL).
An official TOEFL score from the Educational and Testing Service (ETS) must be
on file in the Office of the Graduate College prior to the evaluation of the
students application.
4.
International students
who plan to attend Texas State on an F-1 student visa must furnish proof of
sufficient financial resources for their educational and personal expenses to
the Office of the Graduate College. Proof of a minimum of $17,580.00 (subject
to change) support for the academic year is required. Proof of additional funds is required for persons attending
summer sessions.
After all academic and financial requirements have been
met, Texas State will issue an I-20 Form to qualified international
applicants. A permanent resident
alien is not required to furnish proof of financial support and is not issued
an I-20 Form.
Contact the Office of the Graduate College at
512-245-2581 for more information.
International Students Transferring from Other
Institutions in the United States.
Because of new Bureau of Citizenship and Immigration Services (BCIS)
regulations governing school transfers, students must plan carefully and allow
adequate time for submission of application materials, evaluation of the
application, and making other necessary arrangements. Failure to plan carefully may require students to leave the
United States and return before transferring to Texas State. Please carefully read items 1 to 7
below.
1.
Students transferring to
Texas State from another Student and Exchange Visitor Information System
(SEVIS) institution in the United States should verify the procedures to
transfer out with the appropriate Designated School Official (DSO) at their
current school. A DSO in the
international student office of the current school will assign a release date
to the SEVIS record for students who have decided to attend Texas State.
2.
Following the release
date, the Texas State International Office will be able to issue a SEVIS Form
I-20. According to BCIS
regulations, students must transfer to Texas State within 60 days of the
release date or within 60 days of completing studies at the current school.
3.
Students are required to
start classes at Texas State during the semester indicated in the admission
letter issued by the Office of the Graduate College and within 5 months from
the release date. Students
unable to begin classes at Texas State
within the 5-month limit are required to leave the United States and reenter
within 30 days before the program start date indicated on the Texas State I-20.
4.
New Texas State transfer
students are required to contact a DSO at the Texas State International Office
no later than 15 days after the program start date listed on the SEVIS Form
I-20 and in the admission letter issued by the Office of the Graduate College.
5.
After a new transfer
student has enrolled in classes at Texas State, the DSO at Texas State will
update the students file to reflect the students enrollment and current
address. The student must report
to the International Office within five days after the 12th day of
class in order to complete the transfer process.
6.
If the current school is
a non SEVIS school, students should contact the Texas State International
Office as soon as they have made their final decision to attend Texas State,
but no later than 15 days after the program start date indicated on the SEVIS
Form I-20 and in the admission letter.
7.
Finally, BCIS regulations
and procedures change frequently.
Therefore, students should contact the DSOs at their current school and
at Texas State for any updates in transfer procedures.
If you have any questions regarding transfer
procedures, please contact the Texas State International Office at International@txstate.edu
or call 512-245-7966.
Admission for Former Texas State Students
If an applicant last attended Texas State as an
undergraduate or graduate student (degree-seeking, certification, or special
student) and now plans to seek a doctoral degree at Texas State, the student
must follow the admission requirements listed under the Admission Requirements
for United States Citizens or the Admission Requirements for Non-United
States Citizens (International Students). Non-immigrant students (F-1 Visa status) must update their
financial support verification with the Director of the International Office
(telephone: (512) 245-7966), to be issued a new form I-20.
Students on Probation/Suspension at their Former Schools
Students who are currently on probation or suspension
at other colleges or universities are not eligible for admission consideration by the Texas State
Graduate College.
All Part I admission materials must be filed with the
Office of the Graduate College.
The mailing address is as follows:
The Graduate College
Texas State University-San Marcos
601 University Drive
Phone: 512-245-2581
Fax: 512-245-8365
All Part II admission materials should be forwarded to
the College of Science, Department of Biology. The mailing address is as follows:
PhD Program Coordinator
Doctoral Program in Aquatic Resources
Texas State University San Marcos
601 University Drive
San Marcos, TX
78666
All
materials submitted become the property of the university and cannot be
released, except in accordance with the federal Family Educational Rights and
Privacy Act or the state Public Information Act.
Incomplete application files are kept for only one year and are then
destroyed.
An application for admission to doctoral study must be
made on the official form that may be obtained from the Office of the Graduate
College or by downloading it from the Graduate College website,
http://www/gradcollege.txstate.edu.
This application is not the same as the application that undergraduate students or masters students
complete.
Application Fee
A non-refundable application fee of $40.00 (check or
money order payable to Texas State in U.S. currency) is required for all
degree-seeking students. No
application will be considered until the necessary fees are paid.
International/Evaluation Fee
If you are a non-U.S. citizen, or if your application
is considered for admission on the basis of foreign credentials, you must
submit a non-refundable international fee of $50.00 (check or money order made
payable to Texas State in U.S. currency) with the Application for Admission to
the Graduate College. No
application will be considered until the necessary fee is paid.
An applicant for a graduate degree program at Texas
State must have two official transcripts from each school attended sent to the
Office of the Graduate College.
The transcripts cannot be hand-carried nor mailed by the applicant; they
must be sent directly from the institutions to the Office of the Graduate
College. The transcripts must
reflect all college work attempted and any degree(s) conferred. Former or currently enrolled Texas
State students are not required to request transcripts; the transcripts will be
requested by the Office of the Graduate College.
Transcripts from foreign institutions must be
accompanied by English translations, if appropriate, and must carry any additional
legend that will assist in their evaluation.
Graduate Record Exam (GRE)
All applicants under the degree-seeking admission
status are required to take the general portion of the Graduate Record
Examination (GRE). The Graduate
College uses only the verbal and quantitative scores combined. Subject examinations are not
accepted.
If an individual has taken the GRE some years ago and
the Educational Testing Service is no longer able to report the official GRE
score, the individual must retake the GRE so that a current valid score can be
submitted. GRE score reports that
bear the designation of applicants copy or institutional examinations are
not considered official scores for admission purposes.
GRE information bulletins and application forms may be
obtained from the Educational Testing Service, P.O. Box 6000, Princeton, New
Jersey 08541-6000, U.S.A.; the University Testing Center at Texas State
University-San Marcos; the Texas State Office of the Graduate College; or
http://www.GRE.org. Please allow
adequate time for the examination results to reach the university.
Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL)
All international applicants must meet proficiency
requirements in the English language and are required to have the official
results of the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) sent before the
application for admission will be considered. The paper-based minimum score of 550 or computer-based score
of 213 is required for admission as a graduate student. Native speakers of English may receive
an exemption from taking the TOEFL.
The TOEFL requirements may be waived if an applicant already possesses a
degree from an American university located in the United States. However, the TOEFL requirements vary
among programs. The Educational
Testing Service must mail the score directly to the Office of the Graduate
College. Some applicants may be
required to provide further evidence of proficiency in the English language
depending upon program requirements.
Official TOEFL scores more than two years old are not
released by the Educational Testing Service; therefore, if an applicant has
taken the TOEFL more than two years before the semester for which he or she is
applying, the applicant must retake the TOEFL so that a current valid score can
be submitted. TOEFL score reports
that bear the designation of applicants copy or institutional TOEFL scores
are not considered official scores for admission purposes.
The TOEFL is administered at various centers in the
United States and abroad at least six times each year. Application forms and information
bulletins may be obtained from the Educational Testing Service, P.O. Box 6151,
Princeton, New Jersey 08541-6151; the University Testing Center at Texas State
University-San Marcos; the Texas State Office of the Graduate College; or
http://www.TOEFL.org.
International students who will attend Texas State on
an F-1 student visa must furnish proof of sufficient financial resources for
educational and personal expenses.
Texas State will not issue an I-20 Form until all of the financial and
academic requirements for admission have been met and the Dean of the Graduate
College has approved the graduate advisors recommendation for admission. An international student on an
immigrant visa is not required to furnish proof of financial support and is not
issued an I-20 Form.
International
Students Transferring from Other Institutions in the United States. Because of new Bureau of Citizenship
and Immigration Services (BCIS) regulations governing school transfers,
students must plan carefully and allow adequate time for submission of
application materials, evaluation of the application, and making other
necessary arrangements. Failure to plan carefully may require students to leave
the United States and return before transferring to Texas State. Please carefully read items 1 to 7
below.
1. Students transferring to Texas State from another
Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS) institution in the
United States should verify the procedures to transfer out with the appropriate
Designated School Official (DSO) at their current school. A DSO in the international student
office of the current school will assign a release date to the SEVIS record for
students who have decided to attend Texas State.
2. Following the release date, the Texas State
International Office will be able to issue a SEVIS Form I-20. According to BCIS regulations, students
must transfer to Texas State within 60 days of the release date or within 60
days of completing studies at the current school.
3. Students are required to start classes at Texas State
during the semester indicated in the admission letter issued by the Office of
the Graduate College and within 5 months from the release date. Students unable to begin classes at
Texas State within the 5-month limit are required to leave the United States
and reenter within 30 days before the program start date indicated on the Texas
State I-20.
4. New Texas State transfer students are required to
contact a DSO at the Texas State International Office no later than 15 days
after the program start date listed on the SEVIS Form I-20 and in the admission
letter issued by the Office of the Graduate College.
5. After a new transfer student has enrolled in classes at
Texas State, the DSO at Texas State will update the students file to reflect
the students enrollment and current address. The student must report to the International Office within
five days after the 12th day of class in order to complete the
transfer process.
6. If the current school is a non SEVIS school, students
should contact the Texas State International Office as soon as they have made
their final decision to attend Texas State, but no later than 15 days after the
program start date indicated on the SEVIS Form I-20 and in the admission
letter.
7. Finally, BCIS regulations and procedures change
frequently. Therefore, students
should contact the DSOs at their current school and at Texas State for any
updates in transfer procedures.
If you have any questions regarding transfer
procedures, please contact the Texas State International Office at International@txstate.edu or call
512-245-7966.
Mandatory Health Insurance for International Students
International students are responsible for any medical
expenses incurred while in the United States. As a non-resident, the student may not be eligible for any
of the public assistance medical plans offered in the U.S. All non-immigrant international
students are required to have medical insurance as a condition of enrollment at
Texas State. The fee for the Texas
State International Student Insurance Plan is automatically added to the fee
bill at the time of registration.
International students who wish to have this fee waived must present
proof of comparable insurance (including major medical, evacuation, and
repatriation) to the Student Health Center for approval prior to each
registration. Insurance waiver
information and forms may be obtained by e-mailing requests to healthcenter@txstate.edu
or calling the Medical Records Department at 512-245-2161. International students may obtain
insurance coverage for a spouse and/or dependent children. For more information, contact the Texas
State Student Health Center at 512-245-2161.
Registration
The Office of the Graduate College will notify
applicants officially by mail regarding admission. Since applications are for specific semesters, an applicant
should notify the Office of the Graduate College as soon as possible if he or
she will not be enrolling in the semester for which the applicant was accepted.
Registration course schedules are published in advance
of each semester. Students may
obtain information regarding registration each semester from the Office of the
Registrar at 512-245-2367 or at http://www.txstate.edu/registrar/, or the
Office of the Graduate College at 512-245-2581. Registration in the Graduate College beyond the first
semester depends on satisfactory progress in fulfilling any admission
conditions that may have been imposed and maintaining satisfactory academic
progress.
Registration Termination. The Dean of the
Graduate College may terminate the registration of any student who fails to
comply with Graduate College and/or other appropriate university regulations.
Course Load. At the graduate level, the full-time
course load during a long semester is nine semester hours; the maximum load is
15 hours. The full-time course
load during each summer session is five graduate-level hours; the maximum load
is six hours.
An international student on an F-1 visa must register
as a full-time student each long semester (fall and spring semesters). As a graduate student, an international
student must carry a minimum of nine semester credit hours, as required by
immigration regulations, to be considered full-time.
The department or operating unit will determine the
permissible course load of employees of the university under their
supervision. Graduate Assistants
should refer to the Grading and Academic Policies information.
Overloads.
Course loads exceeding the
maximum hour loads listed above require written approval. Only the Dean of the Graduate College
may authorize an overload. To
request an overload, you must request your major department to submit a written
request to the Dean of the Graduate College at least three days before
registration for the Graduate Deans review and approval. No overloads exceeding 15 semester
hours total can be granted during
the entire ten to twelve week summer period.
Verification of students enrolled in the Graduate
College varies by semester. If you
are enrolled during the fall or spring semester, nine hours is considered
full-time, six hours is 3/4 time, and five hours is half-time. If you are enrolled during a six-week
summer session, five hours is considered full-time, four hours is 3/4 time, and
three hours is half-time. If
you are receiving VA benefits, you must check with the Veterans Affairs Office
for enrollment requirements at 512-245-2641.
Continuing Education Study
Continuing
education courses are non-credit hour classes and are not offered through the
Graduate College. They do not apply toward a graduate degree program at Texas State and
are not considered for regular admission.
Correspondence Study
Correspondence course work cannot be used toward a doctoral degree at Texas State.
The Office of Correspondence and Extension Studies
offers several graduate courses.
It is up to the individual academic departments/graduate schools at
various universities to determine if these courses may be applied to the
graduate degree. Therefore, it is
recommended that any student who wishes to apply a graduate-level course
offered through the Office of Correspondence and Extension Studies toward a
degree should first determine prior to enrolling if that course will be
accepted.
A W grade will be assigned automatically if a student
officially withdraws from the university or officially drops one or more
classes by the automatic W Drop/Withdrawal deadline.
After the automatic W period, faculty assign grades
to students who officially drop classes or withdraw from the university. Faculty assign the W grade only to
those students who have a passing average at the time the drop/withdraw action
is officially completed.
Otherwise, faculty assign the F grade.
Information regarding adding/dropping courses and
withdrawing from the university can be found in the Schedule of Classes as well as on the Registrars web site at
http://www.txstate.edu/registrar/dropinst.htm. Schedule changes and withdrawal dates are published each
semester in the official University calendar that can be found at
http://www.txstate.edu/registrar/Academic_cal_all.htm. For assistance, contact the Office of
the Registrar.
To audit a course, a student must be accepted by the
Graduate College. After the
student has registered through Computer Assisted Touch-tone Services (CATS), he
or she must contact the Registrars Office in person by the 4th
class day in the summer or by the 12th day in the fall or
spring. Check the University
Academic Calendar for the exact date.
A student will pay the same fees as if the course were taken for credit
and the course will be entered on his or her transcript record, but the student
will not receive credit for the course.
Senior citizens, 65 or older, may audit courses without
payment of a fee if space is available.
Registration is permitted just prior to the start of the semester, with
reduction made by the tuition adjustment clerk, Cashiers Office (JCK
Administration Building 188), before calling CATS.
A student must be
in attendance in class, fulfill the course requirements, and be evaluated by
the course instructor in order to receive course credit for that class. The attendance requirement to receive
class credit does not affect enrollment for thesis or independent study.
A student must be
enrolled in the course during the semester or summer session in which he or she
receives credit for that class. A
student may not enroll in a class to:
1. Receive credit for course work performed in a preceding
semester or summer session.
2. Receive credit for work performed at another college or
university.
Course
Level. All courses
required for the graduate degrees offered at Texas State should be at the 5000
level or above. 7000 level courses
are open only to doctoral students and students seeking an MS degree in
Geography. Background or leveling
courses may be taken at the 1000-4000 undergraduate level or the 5000-6000
graduate level but will not count toward a doctoral degree.
Repeating Courses
A 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. When a course is repeated once, the
last grade earned (W and I grades excluded) is the only grade included in
computing the students cumulative record of hours attempted and grade points
earned. When a course is repeated
more than once, the second grade and all-subsequent grades are included in
computing the students cumulative record of hours attempted and grade-points
earned. 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.
Up to six hours of 7000 level course work taken as a
post-graduate certification student with a grade of B or better may be
petitioned for doctoral degree credit, after a student is granted regular
degree-seeking admission.
With approval of the Doctoral Program Coordinator and
the Dean of the Graduate College, a PhD student can transfer up to six semester
hours of course work from another accredited doctoral program that are directly
applicable to the Aquatic Resources PhD program at Texas State, provided:
1.
The credit was completed
in residence at an accredited institution.
2.
The course work is at the
doctoral level.
3.
The Office of the
Graduate College is provided with written verification of the students status
at the university from which coursework is to be transferred. Additionally, the students PhD advisor
must submit a written request to the Dean of the Graduate College asking for
acceptance of the transfer work as part of the students degree.
4.
Prior written approval is
obtained from the Dean of the Graduate College if the credits are to be earned
after the student is admitted to the Graduate College. To gain this approval the student must
initiate a request for a letter of good standing well in advance of the time of
his or her anticipated enrollment if the student plans to take courses at
another university to complete a part of the doctoral program at Texas
State. Transfer credit cannot be
permitted unless a letter of good standing has been issued prior to a students
enrollment in the course(s) to be transferred.
If the student is currently working toward a doctoral
degree at Texas State and wishes to take a course(s) at another accredited
university to apply toward the doctoral degree at Texas State, the student will
need to:
1.
Receive prior permission
from his or her PhD advisor and the Program Director to take a course
elsewhere.
2.
Have his or her PhD
Advisor submit a written request to the Program Director, who will notify the
Dean of the Graduate College in order that the Dean can issue an official
letter of good standing. The
request from the students PhD advisor should identify the course(s) by name
and number and should state during which semester(s) and where the student will
be taking the work. If the Dean of
the Graduate College approves the request, than a letter of good standing will
be sent to the university where the student will enroll.
3.
Have an official
transcript forwarded to the Office of the Graduate College as soon as the work
has been completed.
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. A student may also be requested to provide a catalog that
gives course descriptions for any transfer work requested.
Students on probation/suspension will not receive
credit for transfer work.
Undergraduate-level Background Course Work.
Undergraduate courses taken to fulfill background requirements will be
accepted for transfer only if such courses are of the same level as those
specified on the official degree outline.
Withdrawing from the university (dropping all classes)
is an official action whereby a student informs the University Registrar, who
in turn informs the instructor(s) of record, that the student will cease
attending all classes in which enrolled.
The student must contact the University Registrar in
person, by letter, or by fax to
withdraw officially from the university.
Visit the Registrars Office website at
http://www.txstate.edu/registrar/ or contact the Registrars Office at
512-245-2367 for the proper procedures.
Students living in university residence halls must also contact the
Residence Life Office in person, by letter, or by fax.
Dropping a class is an official action whereby a
student drops one or more courses, yet remains enrolled in at least one other
course. Refer to the Schedule
of Classes for details on dropping a
class or http://www.txstate.edu/registrar/dropinst.htm.
Deadlines. The deadline for dropping classes or
withdrawing from the university is two weeks preceding the beginning of final
examinations during the fall and spring semesters (one week preceding final
examinations during the 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:
1.
A W grade will be
assigned automatically if a student officially withdraws from the University or
officially drops one or more classes by the automatic W Drop/Withdraw
deadline.
2.
After the automatic W
period, faculty assign grades to students who officially drop classes or
withdraw from the university.
Faculty assign a W grade only to those students who have a passing
average at the time the drop/withdraw action is officially completed. Otherwise, faculty assigns an F
grade.
Financial Aid
Graduate
assistantships and scholarships are available to qualified candidates. Please contact the Graduate Program
Coordinator, Department of Biology for more information about
assistantships. The Office of the
Graduate College can provide further information regarding scholarships.
Academic Information for Graduate
Assistants (GAs)
A prospective
doctoral graduate assistant must be admitted as a degree-seeking student in the
Texas State Graduate College. GAs
may be either instructional assistants (IAs) or research assistants (RAs).
The Aquatic
Resources Program of the Department of Biology will offer doctoral graduate
assistantships on an annual basis to selected applicants. These assistantships may be continued
for four years, depending upon annual review of a students performance. GAs are half-time employees of the
university and, as such, work 20 hours a week for the department.
Course Load. For GAs the minimum course load
required for a long semester is nine semester hours of doctoral-level
courses. GAs taking more than 12
semester hours of course work must have approval from the Dean of the Graduate
College.
Academic Expectations. GAs are required to maintain a minimum
3.0 grade-point average.
GA Teaching
Load. The
semester-hour teaching load during the long semester (fall or spring) normally
is the equivalent of 3-4 semester hours or the equivalent of one class, and the
semester hour teaching load during a six-week or eight-week summer session is
the equivalent of one course (up to a maximum of four hours). The Dean of the Graduate College must
approve any exceptions to these teaching loads.
Learning and
teaching take place best in an atmosphere of intellectual freedom and
openness. All members of the
academic community are responsible for supporting freedom and openness through
rigorous personal standards of honesty and fairness. Plagiarism and other forms of academic dishonesty undermine
the very purpose of the university and diminish the value of an education. Specific sanctions for academic
dishonesty are outlined in the official student handbook.
It is the policy of the university to require regular,
punctual attendance at all classes.
However, the university recognizes that attendance policies may vary
from department to department and in course to course. The university has no mandatory class
attendance requirements except:
1.
Each faculty member will
inform students of the course attendance policy at the initial class meeting.
2.
Students are responsible
for understanding the attendance policy for each course in which they enroll
and for meeting the attendance requirements.
Religious Holy Days. A
religious holy day means a holy day that is observed by a religion whose places
of worship are exempt from property taxation under Section 11.20, Tax
Code. Religious Holy Days absence
forms are kept in the Dean of Students office. The student should complete the form and present it to the
Dean of Students or designee for approval. The Office of the Dean of Students is located in room 5-9.1
of the LBJ Student Center.
Students must present an approved form to each instructor by the 15th
calendar day of the semester.
Instructors must acknowledge the request by initialing and dating the
form. Students must present the
form again to the instructor two class periods prior to the absence. Instructors must note assignments on
the form, give a completion date, and sign in the appropriate place. If the student completes the
assignments as noted, the instructor will evaluate and record the grade.
Texas State
follows a four-digit numbering system.
The first digit indicates the level of the course: 1-freshman, 2-sophomore, 3-junior,
4-senior, 5 and 6-graduate and post-graduate, and 7-doctoral. Courses numbered 5000-6000 are open to
all graduate students, while courses numbered 7000 are open only to doctoral
students and students in the MS with a major in Geography. The second digit of the course number
indicates the semester credit hours the course carries. For example, a course numbered 5300
would carry three semester hours of graduate-level credit. The last two digits usually indicate
the location of the course in the departments curriculum. A letter (A, B, C, etc.) or symbol (#,
@, etc.) attached to a course number indicates an area of concentration within
the course. Numbers in parentheses
(3-4) following a course title indicate the clock hours per week spent in
lecture and laboratory, respectively.
Grades. Texas State grades are assigned as
follows: A, excellent; B,
good; C, average; D, passing (not at the graduate level); F, failure or
withdrawn failing; I, incomplete; and W, withdrawn passing. A grade of PR, in most instances may
be temporary and non-punitive, but may be assigned in selected courses where
the required clock hours needed to complete requirements extend beyond the
regular semester or summer session.
A grade of CR is assessed when credit only is given for a course, as
in the case of the thesis course, after completion of the thesis.
Incomplete
Grade. If any course
work is incomplete during any semester, the work must be completed by an
indicated deadline arranged between the student and the course instructor. The I grade may be assigned when, due
to unusual circumstances beyond the students control, a significant portion of
a course, such as a term paper or final examination, has not been
completed. An I grade from Texas
State will not count as hours attempted until another grade is substituted for
the I. If the I grade has not
been removed in twelve months time, the grade will automatically change to
F.
Withdrawal
Grade. A W grade is
assigned only if a student drops a course by the published deadline. See also Registration and Course
Credit chapter, Withdrawal section.
Change of
Grade. An individual
course grade may be changed when the involved faculty member certifies to the
Registrar that an error was made in computing the original grade. The grade
change must be approved by the department chair/school director and the
appropriate college dean. Students
who wish to protest a grade earned in a course should first discuss the grade
with the instructor. If no
resolution is reached, the student may appeal the grade to the department
chair/school director. If no
satisfactory conclusion can be reached at this level, the student may appeal to
the college dean whose decision is final.
In accordance with Texas States records retention policies, a student
appeal for a change of grade must be filed no later than two years after the
grade is issued.
The grade-point average (GPA) is the number of grade
points earned divided by the number of semester hours attempted. Semester grade symbols have the
following values:
A = 4 points C
= 2 points F
= 0 points
B = 3 points D
= 1 point
Neither hours nor grades
are calculated for I, CR, PR, or W.
A graduate or
post-graduate student as defined in this catalog, is required to maintain a 3.0
cumulative grade-point average for all Texas State 4000-, 5000-, 6000-, and
7000-level courses (excluding required background courses) listed on a
students degree outline for a graduate degree. Cumulative GPAs are computed at the end of the fall
semester, the spring semester, and the second summer session (both summer
sessions combined are treated as equivalent to one semester in determining
satisfactory academic progress).
If a students
cumulative GPA falls below 3.0 during any semester of enrollment at Texas
State, the student will be placed on academic probation. In the next semester of enrollment the
student must raise his or her cumulative Graduate College GPA to
3.0 or above or be suspended from the Graduate College. When the student has achieved a
cumulative GPA of at least 3.0 at the end of the semester of probation, the student
will be notified that he or she has been removed from probation status.
Readmission. After being on
suspension status for six months, a student may petition his or her graduate
advisor and the Dean of the Graduate College for permission to reenroll in the
Graduate College. Each readmission
decision is made on an individual basis.
If a student is readmitted after being suspended, the student must
maintain a 3.0 GPA in each semester of enrollment or be suspended again. Individual graduate programs may also
impose additional cumulative GPA restrictions for their students.
Change of
Major. Graduate students
on probation may not change programs.
If a suspended student wants to be readmitted (after the six months of
the first suspension has lapsed) but to a different program, that student must
reapply to the Graduate College with the application subject to the approval of
the Dean of the Graduate College.
Financial
Aid. If a student is
receiving financial aid, the student must also meet the satisfactory academic
progress requirements for financial aid.
See the General Information section for further details.
Residency Requirement
Doctoral students
must satisfy a one-year residency requirement defined as 18 graduate credit
hours (as part of the 31 required hours of course work) taken during
consecutive fall, spring, and summer semesters.
Doctoral Major and Degree Offered:
Aquatic
Resources, PhD
The course
curriculum for the doctoral degree is designed to provide depth and breadth of
knowledge in the field of aquatic resources and related disciplines, including
basic and applied research, management, and policy aspects. Admission to the Aquatic Resources PhD
Program normally requires an earned masters degree or equivalent from an
accredited college or university in Biology, Chemistry, Engineering, Geology,
or other natural science relevant to sustainable aquatic resources. Exceptionally qualified applicants with
an earned bachelors degree or equivalent from an accredited college or
university in these same fields also will be considered for admission to the
Aquatic Resources PhD Program.
Each doctoral
student will have a research and study program designed to meet the students
academic goals agreed upon in consultation with the students PhD advisor, the
Program Chair, and the Dean of the Graduate College. The individual program will include core skills, and an
appropriate mix of internal and external elective courses necessary to provide
the doctoral student with the scientific expertise and knowledge to work
independently and with others in a multidisciplinary environment to address the
range of issues comprising sustainable aquatic resources.
Students
entering the PhD Program with an earned masters degree in an appropriate field
must complete a minimum of 45 hours of graduate course work and a minimum of 15
hours of dissertation research and writing credit. Students entering the PhD Program with an earned bachelors
degree must complete a minimum of 75 hours of graduate course work and a
minimum of 15 hours of dissertation and writing credit.
Educational Goal
The educational goal of the program is to provide a PhD
in Aquatic Resources through which students will be educated in the field of
aquatic resources and 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.
Background Course Requirements
Background course work will be included on the degree
outline as a requirement when a student is deemed to be deficient in certain
course work. Course work
identified on a students official PhD degree outline as background will not be
used in the computation of the students advancement to candidacy GPA. Any course required for background is
not awarded graduate degree credit.
Semester Hour Requirements
Students entering the doctoral program with a masters
degree must complete 45 semester hours of graduate course work to meet the
minimum requirements for advancement to candidacy. Students entering the doctoral program with a bachelors
degree must complete 75 semester hours of graduate course work to meet the
minimum requirements for advancement to candidacy. In some cases, a student may need to complete additional hours
before being allowed to advance to candidacy. The student must have satisfied the residency requirement of
18 graduate credit hours.
Degree Outline
Each PhD student is issued a degree outline by the
Office of the Graduate College, which lists all of the courses required for
completion of PhD course work. In
the first semester that a student enrolls for doctoral study, the student
should confer with his or her PhD advisor and prepare a degree outline. Doctoral degree outlines are tailored
with the individual student in mind.
It is possible, therefore, for an individual degree outline to exceed
the number of degree hours identified in this catalog.
The Office of the Graduate College approves and
finalizes a students official degree outline. A copy of the official degree outline is prepared for the
student, and he or she will receive a copy from the Office of the Graduate
College when the outline has been prepared. The outline should be used in
determining enrollment each semester.
Any course taken prior to the official degree outline being approved is
taken at the students own risk.
Any change in the degree outline must be requested on a Graduate College
Degree Outline Change Request form, and be submitted by the Program Director to
the Office of the Graduate College for final approval.
With admission into the doctoral program, it is
expected that students will pursue their course work and research activities in
an efficient and timely manner. If it is deemed that a student is not
making adequate progress toward completion of the doctoral degree requirements,
consultations will be undertaken between the student, his or her PhD advisor,
the Program Director, and the Department Chair to identify and propose measures
for reconciling any obstacles to this goal. This may include revising a students study or research
program. Reconciliation of any
unresolved issues, which can include termination of the students enrollment in
the doctoral program, will be at the discretion of the Program Director. Students removed from the doctoral
program in this manner may appeal to the Dean of the Graduate College for
reinstatement in the program.
Course Work Requirements
For students entering the doctoral program with an earned masters
degree:
Core Courses: 20
hours
Elective Courses: 25
hours
Dissertation: 15
hours minimum
For students entering the doctoral program with an earned
bachelors degree:
Core Courses: 27
hours
Elective Courses: 48
hours
Dissertation: 15
hours minimum
Core Courses*,
**
BIO
7102 Seminar in Aquatic
Resources
BIO
7302 Problems in Aquatic
Resources
BIO
7303 Research
BIO
7305 Statistics and
Experimental Design for Aquatic Ecosystems I
BIO
7306 Statistics and
Experimental Design for Aquatic Ecosystems II
BIO
7310 Global Aquatic
Resources
BIO
7312 Government Policy Impacts
on Aquatic Resources
BIO
7322 Scientific Method
and Aquatic Resources
BIO
7401 Assessment
Techniques for Aquatic Resources
BIO
7402 Molecular Field
Techniques
PHIL
7323 Environmental Ethics and
Sustainable Aquatic Resources
* Subject to the approval of the Doctoral Program Advisor, a
core course beyond the minimum required hours can be counted as an elective
course toward the total required hours for the doctoral degree.
** For students entering with a masters degree, the 20 hours
of required core courses must be selected in consultation with and following
the approval of the Doctoral Program Advisor. For students entering with a bachelors degree, the 27 hours
of required core courses must be selected in consultation with and following
the approval of the Doctoral Program Advisor.
Elective
Courses:
AG 7310 Agriculture
and Sustainable Aquatic Resources
BIO
7302 Problems in Aquatic
Resources
BIO
7322 Scientific Method
and Aquatic Resources
BIO
7325 Wildlife and
Recreation: Impacts and Management
BIO
7328 Waterfowl
Management
BIO
7346 Conservation
Biology
BIO
7348 Aquatic Resources
Economics
BIO
7350 Aquatic Resources
Law
BIO
7352 Aquatic Resources
Hydrology
BIO
7355 Plant-Water
Relations
BIO
7356 Pollution of
Aquatic Ecosystems
BIO
7360 Special Topics in
Aquatic Resources
BIO
7362 Environmental
Impact Analysis
BIO
7366 Integrated
Management of Aquatic Resources for Sustainable Use
BIO
7368 Mathematical
Modeling of Aquatic Resources and Ecosystems
BIO
7406 Instrumentation for
Water Quality Analysis
BIO
7408 Fish Ecology and
Conservation
BIO
7410 Aquatic Microbial
Ecology
BIO
7419 Stream Ecology
BIO
7421 Landscape Ecology
and Aquatic Resources
BIO
7422 Wetlands Ecology
BIO
7424 Phycology
BIO
7426 Ecology Management
of Aquatic Macrophytes
BIO
7440 Aquatic Toxicology
BIO
7466 Phylogenetics and
Aquatic Resources
BIO
7468 Groundwater
Resources
BIO
7471 Reservoir Ecology
BIO
7475 Restoration of
Polluted Aquatic Resources
CHEM 7330 Environmental
Chemistry
ENG
7314 Specializations in
Professional and Technical Communication Topics: Writing
and
Communicating about Aquatic Resources Issues
GEO
7316 Remote Sensing and the
Environment
GEO
7318 GIS and Environmental
Geography
GEO
7334 Geographic Aspects of
Water
HR
7375 Aquatic
Health Ecology and Human Disease
POSI
7310 Resolution of Disputes
Involving Aquatic Resources
Dissertation: 15 hours minimum
BIO 7399A Dissertation*
BIO
7699A Dissertation*
*Repeatable
with at least three-credit hour registration per semester.
Application for Advancement to
Candidacy
Doctoral
students are normally expected to be advanced to candidacy within two years of
initiating PhD course work, and after completion of the required core
courses. The student will need
to pick up the Dissertation Packet, containing the Advancement to Candidacy
form, from the Program Director.
The student must complete the necessary form and return it to the
Program Director, who will then submit it to the Office of the Graduate College.
Approval of a PhD dissertation proposal prepared by the
student is a requirement for Advancement to Candidacy status. The approval requires positive votes
from the students PhD advisor and a majority of the remaining members of the
Dissertation Committee. The
proposal typically will define the proposed dissertation topic (problem
definition and scope), research method(s), proposed methodology and timetable
for completion, and identify relevant literature. A PhD Dissertation Proposal form prepared by the student
must be approved before he or she can be advanced to candidacy status (see
Dissertation Research and Writing section).
Advancement to Candidacy
Examination
The
Advancement to Candidacy Examination will assess a students knowledge in the
area of aquatic resources. It will
be a comprehensive exam, encompassing the subject matter content of the
students courses and the prevailing expectations in the field. It is expected that students sitting
for this examination will have completed all the required courses as prescribed
in their degree plan. Specific
information on the examination procedure can be obtained from the Program
Director.
The
Advancement to Candidacy Examination will consist of written and oral sections. The written section of the examination
will consist of questions submitted by the Dissertation Committee members, and
will be administered by the Program Director. If the student successfully passes the written portion, an
oral examination will be scheduled no later than two weeks subsequent to the
written examination. Successfully
passing the written examination requires positive votes from the students PhD
advisor and a majority of the remaining members of the students Dissertation
Committee.
The oral
section of the Advancement to Candidacy Examination will consist of the
dissertation proposal (see Dissertation Proposal section) prepared by the
student given as a public seminar, followed immediately by a closed defense of
the dissertation proposal attended only by the student and his or her
Dissertation Committee. Both the
presentation and defense parts of the oral examination must take place on the
same day. Successfully
passing the oral examination requires positive votes from the students PhD
advisor and a majority of the remaining members of the students Dissertation
Committee.
After the
Office of the Graduate College has received notification of a student passing
both sections of the Advancement to Candidacy Examination, notification will be
sent to the student stating he or she has been advanced to candidacy status.
Application for Advancement to
Candidacy
The student
will need to pick up the Dissertation Packet from the department, containing
the Application for Advancement to Candidacy form. The student will need to complete the necessary form and
return it to the department, which will then submit it to the Office of the
Graduate College.
Advancement to Candidacy Time
Limit
For students
entering the doctoral program with an earned masters degree, the Advancement
to Candidacy Examination will normally be taken no later than the end of the
second year following a students admission to the program. For students entering the doctoral program
with a bachelors degree, the Advancement to Candidacy Examination will
normally be taken no later than the end of the third year following a students
admission to the program. Any
exceptions to this timing will require the approval of the Program
Director. The student may take the
Advancement to Candidacy Examination without being enrolled in course work.
No credit
will be applied toward a students doctoral degree for course work completed
more than four years before the date on which the student is admitted to
candidacy. This time limit applies
toward credit earned at Texas State, as well as credit transferred to Texas
State from other accredited institutions.
Requests for
a time extension must be submitted to the Program Director, who in turn, will
submit a recommendation to the Dean of the Graduate College.
Grade-Point Requirements for
Advancement to Candidacy
A minimum GPA
of 3.0, as determined on the basis of all course work undertaken as a graduate
student in the Aquatic Resources doctoral program, is required for a student to
achieve candidacy status. No grade
earned below B on any graduate course work may apply toward a PhD degree in
Aquatic Resources at Texas State.
Incomplete
grades must be cleared through the Office of the Graduate College at least ten
days before the approval for advancement to candidacy.
Recommendation for Advancement to
Candidacy
The
Dissertation Committee recommends the applicant for Advancement to Candidacy to
the Program Director and the Department Chair. The results of the Advancement to Candidacy Examination must
be filed in the Office of the Graduate College before the Dean of the Graduate
College gives final approval to candidacy. The Program Director is responsible for submitting the
report to the Office of the Graduate College.
Dissertation Research and Writing
All doctoral students are required to complete a
dissertation. It must be the
result of independent investigation in a significant area in aquatic resources,
and must represent an original contribution to scholarship. 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.
Enrollment. Students
may enroll for a maximum of six dissertation hours before being officially
admitted to candidacy. After being
admitted to candidacy, students must maintain continuous enrollment from the
time they advance to candidacy (upon successful defense of the dissertation
proposal) until the defense of their dissertations. Students must register for at least three semester credit
hours every long semester until their dissertation is approved.
Hours. Students must complete a minimum of 15
semester hours of dissertation research and writing credit.
Fee Reduction
Qualifications. A doctoral degree
candidate for graduation may be eligible for a one-time fee reduction under
V.T.C.A., Education Code, Section 54.051, if the student is registered only for
dissertation credit, and if such credit is the final credit hour requirement
for the degree in progress. Only
Texas residents can qualify for this fee reduction.
Procedure. If a student meets the above
qualifications, the following steps must be taken during registration:
1.
Register by phone. After completing the telephone
registration process, the student should immediately contact the Office
of the Graduate College to request a Fee Reduction Verification of Enrollment
form.
2.
The Office of the
Graduate College will verify a students eligibility to obtain the fee
reduction and then forward the Fee Reduction Verification of Enrollment form
to the Accounting Office, which will adjust the bill accordingly.
3.
The adjustment must be
made BEFORE paying fees since the
University policy does not allow for refunds.
Students are
normally expected to complete the dissertation within three years of
advancement to candidacy.
Successful completion of the Dissertation Exam must occur within ten
years of the students entry into the PhD Program. Any exceptions to this rule require the approval of the
Program Director. The Program
Director will review each students progress annually to ascertain his or her
progress in pursuing the degree, and will consult with the students PhD
advisor and Dissertation Committee on this matter as appropriate.
The
Dissertation Committee will oversee the research progress of a doctoral student
and the writing of the students PhD Dissertation. The committee will consist of at least five members,
including the students PhD advisor, two other Texas State Biology doctoral or
associate faculty, one external doctorate-level faculty member from another
Texas State department, and one external doctorate-level member from another
institution of higher learning.
The students PhD advisor will chair the committee and will normally be
from the major department. The
student, Program Director, Department Chair, and the Dean of the Graduate
College will approve the composition of the Dissertation Committee, as well as
any changes to the committees membership. Changes must be submitted no less than sixty days before the
final oral comprehensive examination.
The
Dissertation Committee will function as advisors and consultants during the
students research tenure, and also act as examiners for the Advancement to
Candidacy Examination and the dissertation defense.
The
Dissertation Defense may not be attempted until all other academic and program
requirements have been completed, and the Dissertation Committee has approved
the penultimate dissertation draft.
The
Dissertation Defense will consist of two parts. The first part is an oral dissertation presentation given as
a public seminar, with questions and discussion restricted to the dissertation
topics.
The second
part of the Dissertation Defense will be given immediately following the public
presentation, but will be restricted to the students Dissertation
Committee. The full committee,
including the external member(s), must be present.
Dissertation Defense Results
The approval
of the dissertation requires positive votes from the students PhD advisor and
a majority of the remaining members of the Dissertation Committee.
Passing the
Dissertation Defense may be unconditional or conditional, with the conditions
to be determined by the Dissertation Committee. Only one repeat examination will be allowed, and it must
occur within 12 months after the initial examination.
Passing the
Dissertation Defense qualifies the student to be recommended to the Dean of the
Graduate College to receive the PhD degree. Failure to do so will result in the removal of the student
from the PhD Program.
Approval and Submission of the Dissertation
Following approval of the dissertation by the
Dissertation Committee, the student must submit copies of the dissertation to
the Office of the Graduate College for final approval. All dissertation
abstracts must be published in Dissertation Abstracts International. Specific
guidelines can be found in the Graduate College Dissertation Packet.
Graduation
Graduation and the Ceremony
Application
for Graduation. The candidate must
apply for graduation by the published deadline date posted on the University
Academic Calendar. That date, as
well as other deadline dates, and instructions outlining how to apply for
graduation are posted on the Graduate College web site each semester. For further information regarding the
graduation application deadline, contact the Office of the Graduate College at
512-245-2581 or visit our web site at http://www.gradcollege.txstate.edu/ceremony.htm.
Ceremony. Degrees are conferred in a commencement ceremony each
fall, spring and second summer session. Details for each ceremony may be
obtained in the Office of the Graduate College.
Degree Certification
Upon
the recommendation of the Dean of the College of Science, the Dean of the
Graduate College certifies doctoral Aquatic Resources candidates for graduation
after the completion of all requirements for the doctoral degree are met.
AG
7310 Agriculture and Sustainable Aquatic Resources.
(3-0) Study of the impacts of
agricultural on aquatic resources, including agricultural water requirements
for various types of crops and soils, impacts of agricultural chemicals on
aquatic ecosystems, efficiency of alternative irrigation practices, and means
for altering or mitigating current practices that can adversely affect aquatic
resources.
BIO 7102
Seminar in Aquatic Resources. (1-0)
Interactive discussion of timely issues and problems, designed to
introduce students to the range of scientific, socioeconomic and policy issues
likely to be encountered within the field of aquatic resources. All students seeking a doctoral degree
in Aquatic Resources must enroll in BIO 7102 at least twice.
BIO
7302 Problems in Aquatic Resources. (3-0) Individual study on specific state,
national or international aquatic resources issues, under direct supervision of
a doctoral or associate faculty member.
Students may not enroll in BIO 7302 more than twice for doctoral credit
without the approval of the Program Director.
BIO 7303
Research. (3-3) Research course for students who have
not yet passed their Candidacy Exam, typically under direction of
research-dissertation supervisor.
Pre-candidacy students must enroll in course every semester until
admission to Candidacy, although the it may not be taken more than three times
for doctoral credit without the approval of Program Director.
BIO 7305
Statistics and Experimental Design for Aquatic Resources I. (3-0) Introduction
to inferential statistics, including exploratory and confirmatory data analysis,
estimation and hypothesis testing, analysis of variance and regression, and
non-parametric techniques, as applied to aquatic resource issues. Computer applications emphasized.
BIO 7306
Statistics and Experimental Design for Aquatic Resources II. (3-0) Introduction
to the principles of experimental design, including randomization, replication,
sample-size determination, completely randomized and randomized block design,
factorial design, repeated measure design, and analysis of variance and
covariance, as applied to aquatic resource issues. Computer applications emphasized. Prerequisite:
BIO 7305 or consent of instructor.
BIO 7310 Global Aquatic Resources.
(3-0) Introduction to global, national and regional aquatic
resource issues, including scientific, environmental policy and socioeconomic
components and perspectives. Water
quantity and quality issues and their root causes in different regions of the
world are examined, with an emphasis on case studies.
BIO 7312
Government Policy and Aquatic Resources. (3-0) Examination
of aquatic resources issues in federal, state or local governments,
including examination of goals and relations of different governmental entities
to each other. Relevant
international treaties, and federal and state statutes in which these policies
are embodied, are examined.
BIO 7322
Scientific Method and Aquatic Resources. (3-0) Analysis of the scientific method
applied to ecological research, focusing on aquatic ecosystems. Topics include methods of reasoning and
statistical inferences in research, strategies of scientific research in
aquatic ecology, and scientific research as a social process.
BIO 7325
Wildlife and Recreation: Impact
and Management (3-0).
Introduction to the impacts of human recreational activities on wildlife
habitats and populations.
Management practices to enhance human-wildlife encounters or to minimize
detrimental effects on wildlife populations are presented. Prerequisites: BIO 5423 and BIO 5435, or equivalent.
BIO 7328
Waterfowl Management. (3-3) Examination of the principles and practical
methodology of waterfowl management, including techniques in monitoring and
data collection related to population dynamics and habitat parameters of
waterfowl species. Field trips may
be required.
BIO 7346
Conservation Biology. (3-0) Examination of the alteration of
habitats and associated biological changes threatening the continued existence
of species and basic ecosystems.
Topics include conservation ethics, working paradigms, levels and loss
of global biodiversity, conservation at population and ecosystem levels,
restoration ecology, endangered species biology and conservation laws. Recent Advances are stressed.
BIO
7348 Aquatic Resources Economics. (3-0) Examination of economic and related
social issues for facilitation of sustainable aquatic resources for competing
beneficial human uses and ecosystem maintenance, including valuation of aquatic
ecosystem services.
Prerequisite: BIO 7312.
BIO
7350 Aquatic Resources Law. (3-0) Examination of treaties, state and federal laws, and
regional and local regulations, affecting freshwater and coastal aquatic
resources. The focus is on aquatic
ecosystems, water quantity and quality and environmental conditions, including
the availability, storage, use and protection of aquatic resources.
Prerequisite: BIO 7312.
BIO
7352 Aquatic Resources Hydrology. (2-3) Overview of the properties,
distribution and movement of water over and under the land surface, in the
atmosphere, and the relation to sustainable aquatic resources.
BIO 7355
Plant-Water Relations. (3-0) Examination of the physiology
and ecology of water use in higher plants, including the uptake, utilization
and movement of water, transpiration and adaptation to variable water
availability including drought, and the ecological role of water in structuring
plant communities.
Prerequisite: BIO 3465 or equivalent, or permission
of instructor.
BIO 7356
Pollution of Aquatic Ecosystems. (3-0) Overview of the water quality degradation of aquatic
ecosystems (rivers, lakes, wetlands, groundwater aquifers) and their living
resources from point and nonpoint pollutant sources. Topics will include aquatic ecosystem pollution and impacts
attributable to nutrients, heavy metals, organic chemicals, sediment, salinization
and acid rain. Field trips may be
required.
BIO
7360 Special Topics in Aquatic Resources.
(3-0) Examination of current or
emerging state, national and international aquatic resources issues, including
root causes and their human and ecosystem implications. The course may be repeated for credit,
depending on the topic. No more
than six hours can be counted for doctoral credit without the approval of the
Program Director.
BIO
7360A Industry and Sustainable Aquatic Resources. (3-0) Examination of industrial water needs
and uses, the types and quantities of water pollutants produced by different
industries, problems faced by industry regarding process water for different
manufacturing activities, and the possibilities for industry to contribute to
the goal of sustainable aquatic resources.
BIO
7360B Environmental Linkages and Sustainable Aquatic Resources.
(3-0) Introduction to the
environmental relationships between humans and other living beings and the
ecological systems in which they exist.
Emphasis will be on the potential for individual environmental problems
to have serious impacts on other environmental components, as well as the
nature of these impacts.
BIO 7362 Environmental Impact Analysis.
(3-0) Examination of government
regulations regarding environmental impact, content of environmental impact
statements, procedure for impact studies, application of ecological principles
to impact studies, and the review process for environmental impact statements,
focusing on aquatic resources.
BIO
7366 Integrated Management of Aquatic Resources for Sustainable Use.
(3-0) Study of principles
for the holistic, integrated management of aquatic resources for sustainable
use, including watershed and regional planning processes and consideration of
transboundary water systems.
Linkages with other environmental components (climate change,
biodiversity, etc.) will be discussed.
Prerequisites: BIO 7310 and BIO 7312.
BIO
7368 Mathematical Modeling of Aquatic Resources and Ecosystems.
(3-0) Application of mathematical modeling, including regression and
correlation analysis and systems modeling of natural processes, to sustainable
aquatic resource and ecosystem issues.
Computer applications emphasized.
Prerequisite: MATH 2471/2472, or equivalent.
BIO
7399A Dissertation. (3-5) Original research and writing in
Aquatic Resources, to be accomplished under direct supervision of the
dissertation advisor. While
conducting dissertation research and writing, students must be continuously
enrolled each long semester for at least 3 dissertation hours. Graded on a credit (CR), nocredit (F) basis.
BIO
7401 Assessment Techniques for Aquatic Resources.
(3-3) The rationale for designing
and implementing monitoring and sampling programs for aquatic resources is
examined. General field and
laboratory methods for assessing water quantity, water quantity and the status
of aquatic ecosystems and their living resources, will be introduced. Field trips will be required.
BIO
7402 Molecular Field Techniques. (2-3) The
application of molecular tools for identifying, quantifying, and interpreting
biological diversity assessments in aquatic systems. The course focuses on micro organismal identification and
vertebrate model systems.
BIO
7406 Instrumentation for Water Quality Analysis.
(3-3) An introduction to the
theory and application of laboratory and field instrumentation and techniques
for analysis of water quality.
Prerequisite: CHEM 3410.
BIO
7408 Fish Ecology and Conservation. (3-3) Examination of the linkages and
interactions between fish assemblages and communities and their population
ecology. Issues related to flowing
and pooled water systems and fisheries conservation also are discussed. Field trips may be required.
BIO 7410
Aquatic Microbial Ecology. (3-3)
Examination of microbial organisms, communities and interactions
affecting the form, structure and functional aspects of aquatic ecosystems. Field
trips may be required.
Prerequisite: BIO 2400/3440 (Microbiology) or consent
of instructor.
BIO 7419 Stream Ecology.
(3-3) Study of ecological
theories, concepts and processes occurring at the population, community and
ecosystem levels of organization in running water. Laboratory includes sampling methods, descriptive and
comparative studies, experiments and critical discussion of literature. Field trips may be required.
BIO 7421
Landscape Ecology and Aquatic Resources. (3-3) Study of
processes influencing energy flows, nutrient and mineral cycling, and
pollution of aquatic ecosystems, emphasizing system and spatial analysis of
watershed and land use features and characteristics. Use of geographic information systems and remote sensing
techniques will be examined. Field
trips may be required.
BIO 7422
Wetlands Ecology. (3-3) Study of the characteristics, classification, conservation
and management of marshes and other periodically-inundated ecosystems,
emphasizing the interactions of physical, chemical and biological factors. Field trips may be required.
Prerequisite: BIO 4416 or equivalent or permission of
instructor.
BIO 7424
Phycology. (3-3) Examination of algae (phytoplankton, periphyton) and their structure,
taxonomy, ecology and distribution.
BIO
7426 Ecology and Management of
Aquatic Macrophytes. (3-3)
Examination of aquatic macrophytes and their ecology, taxonomy,
distribution and management. Field
trips may be required.
BIO 7440
Aquatic Toxicology. (3-3)
Introduction to principles for identifying and assessing the adverse
effects of chemicals and other compounds and mixtures on aquatic organisms and
ecosystems. Completion of
BIO 7402 is recommended prior to enrollment in BIO 7440.
BIO 7466
Phylogenetics. (2-3)
Study of the use of phylogenetic methodologies in aquatic research,
including practical data collection, management and analysis in the
reconstruction of phylogenies.
Laboratory exercises will introduce
phylogenetic and DNA analysis software.
Prerequisite: BIO
2450, 4369 and 5466, or with consent of instructor.
BIO 7468
Groundwater Resources. (3-3)
Study of the geological, physical, chemical and biological factors
influencing sustainable groundwater resources, including hydrologic linkages
and interactions with surface aquatic resources. Emphasis will be on the karst aquifer systems of Central
Texas, and other groundwater aquifer systems of the United States.
BIO
7471 Reservoir Ecology. (3-3) Study of the physical, geological,
chemical, and biological factors that influence and form structural and
functional aspects of reservoir ecosystems. Lab focuses on field, laboratory and mathematical approaches to quantifying and managing these important
ecosystems. Field trips may be
required. Prerequisite: Biology 4470 or 5470 or consent of
instructor.
BIO 7475
Restoration of Polluted Aquatic Resources. (3-3) Overview of methods for treating or
restoring aquatic resources degraded by pollution and related anthropogenic
impacts. Topics include point and
nonpoint source pollution of surface waters and groundwater aquifers, pollution
from storage and waste disposal sites, aquatic habitat rehabilitation and
on-site methods. Field trips may
be required. Prerequisite: BIO 7356 or consent of instructor.
BIO
7699A Dissertation. (6-10)
Original research and writing in Aquatic Resources, to be accomplished
under direct supervision of the dissertation advisor. While
conducting dissertation research and writing, students must be continuously
enrolled each long semester for at least 3 dissertation hours. Graded on a credit (CR), nocredit (F)
basis.
CHEM
7330 Environmental Chemistry. (3-0) An introduction to environmental chemistry, with an emphasis
on aquatic resources. Basic
principles of geochemistry and atmospheric chemistry, as they relate to
pollutant impacts on aquatic ecosystems, also will be examined.
Prerequisites: CHEM 1341/1141, CHEM 1342/1142, CHEM
2341/2141, CHEM 2342/2142 and CHEM 3410.
ENG 7314:
Specializations in Professional and Technical Communication Topics: Writing and
Communicating about Aquatic Resources Issues.
(3-0) Provides
theoretical and practical information for specialized types of technical and
professional communication.
GEO
7316 Remote Sensing and the Environment.
(3-0) A detailed examination and
implementation of sophisticated approaches for processing satellite digital
images with emphasis on environmental applications.
GEO
7318 GIS and Environmental Geography. (3-0) This course examines the nature of
environmental problems and exploration of the potential of GIS for
environmental modeling and management.
The conceptual basis for using GIS as well as the framing of
environmental research problems will be covered.
GEO
7334 Geographic Aspects of Water. (3-0) This seminar is a critical analysis of
developmental and current literature that defines waters critical role in
determining the physical and cultural characteristics of the earth. Principal focus will be placed on
waters role on land use and as a critical resource.
HR
7375 Aquatic Health Ecology and Human Disease.
(3-0) Introduction to the health
consequences of human-environment interaction and aquatic pollution. Topics to include bacterial and toxic
aquatic agents and their relation to human disease. Control of communicable and noninfectious diseases from
water resources, and epidemiological principles important to research in
waterborne human disease, will be examined.
PHIL 7323
Environmental Ethics and Sustainable Aquatic Resources. (3-0) Examination of the ethical
implications of environmental use and management policies and practices, with
emphasis on sustainable aquatic resources.
POSI 7310
Resolution of Disputes Involving Aquatic Resources. (3-0) Analysis of historically significant
environmental disputes affecting aquatic resources and establishing precedents
for resolution subsequent disputes.
Techniques for resolving environmental disputes (e.g., litigation,
arbitration, mediation, negotiation) and how science and scientists are used in
each procedure. Design of systems
for using dispute resolution procedures in appropriate sequence.
Arsuffi,
Thomas Lee, Associate Professor of Biology. BS, MS, Kent State University; PhD, New
Mexico State University. (Stream Ecology, Invertebrate Ecology).
Baccus,
John Thomas, Professor of Biology. BSEd, MS, Midwestern University; PhD,
University of North Texas. (Wildlife Management, Mammology. Community Ecology).
Barnes,
Paul W., Professor of Biology. BA, Augustana College; MS, PhD,
University of Nebraska, Lincoln. (Ecophysiology, Global Change, Plant Ecology).
Bonner,
Timothy H., Assistant Professor of Biology. BS, Texas A&M University; MS,
Southwest Texas State University; PhD, Texas Tech University. (Ichthyology,
Fisheries Management).
Forstner,
Michael R.J., Associate Professor of Biology. BS, Southwest Texas State University;
MS, Sul Ross State University; PhD, Texas A&M University. (Genetics,
Systematics).
Gabor,
Caitlin Rathie, Assistant Professor of Biology. BA, University of Santa Barbara; MS,
PhD, University of Southwestern Louisiana. (Environmental and Evolutionary
Ecology).
Garcia,
Dana Michelle, Associate Professor of Biology. BS, Texas A&M University; PhD,
University of California at Berkeley. (Cell Biology, Physiology).
Groeger,
Alan Walter, Associate Professor of Biology. BS, Purdue University; MS, Central
Michigan University; PhD, University of Oklahoma. (Limnology, Aquatic
Sciences).
Huston,
Michael A, Professor of Biology. BA Grinnell College, Grinnell,
Iowa; MS University of Michigan - Ann Arbor; Ph.D. University of Michigan - Ann
Arbor. (Landscape Ecology).
Koke,
Joseph Ralph, Professor of Biology. BS, MS, University of Oregon; PhD,
University of Alberta, Edmonton. (Cell Biology, Physiology).
Longley,
Glenn, Professor of Biology and Director, Edwards
Aquifer Research and Data Center.
BS, Southwest Texas State University; MS, PhD, University of Utah.
(Limnology, Pollution Biology).
Moore,
Joe G. Professor
of Biology, Texas State University-San Marcos. BA, MA Government, University of Texas at Austin. (Water Policy).
McLean,
Robert James Cameron, Associate Professor of Biology. BSc, University of Guelph; PhD,
University of Calgary. (Bacterial Structure and Function, Microbial Ecology).
Nice,
Christopher C., Assistant Professor of Biology. BS, University of Minnesota, Twin
Cities; PhD, University of California at Davis. (Population Genetics, Ecology).
Ott,
James Randall, Associate Professor of Biology. BS, George Mason University; MS, North
Carolina State University; PhD, University of Maryland. (Ecology, Evolutionary
Biology).
Rast,
Walter, Associate Professor of Biology and PhD
Program Director. BA, University
of Texas at Austin; M.S. (Molecular Biology), M.S. (Environmental Science),
Ph.D., University of Texas at Dallas. (Limnology, Water Quality, Aquatic
Resource Management).
Uliana,
Matthew, Assistant Professor of Geology. BS, James Madison University; MA, PhD,
University of Texas at Austin. (Geology, Hydrogeology).
Weckerly,
Floyd, Assistant Professor of Biology. BS, MS, Eastern New Mexico University;
PhD, University of Memphis. (Biostatistics, Wildlife Ecology).
Williamson,
Paula Sue, Professor of Biology. BS, Southwest Texas State University;
MA, PhD, University of California at Santa Barbara. (Plant Anatomy, Physiology,
Systematics, Wetland Ecology).
Willingham,
Emily, Assistant Professor of Biology. BA, PhD,
University of Texas at Austin. (Aquatic Toxicology, Developmental Biology).
Associate Doctoral Faculty
Aron, Gary Michael, Professor of Biology. BS, MS, St. Johns University; PhD,
Pennsylvania State University. (Microbiology, Virology).
Lemke, David Edward, Professor of Biology. BS, Bucknell University; PhD, The
University of Texas at Austin. (Plant Taxonomy).
Manning, Richard W., Assistant Professor of Biology. BS, University of Nebraska-Lincoln; MS,
University of Nebraska-Omaha; PhD, Texas Tech University. (Zoology, Mammology).
Moody, Sandra West, Associate Professor of Biology. BS, MS, University of Houston; PhD,
Texas A&M University. (Science Education).
Rose, Francis L., Professor of Biology and Chair,
Department of Biology. BS, MS,
University of Georgia; PhD, Tulane University. (Ecology and Physiology of
Amphibians and Reptiles).
Simpson, Thomas R., Assistant Professor of Biology. BA, University of Dallas; MS, PhD,
Texas A&M University. (Zoology, Wildlife Management).
Upchurch, Garland R., Jr., Associate Professor of Biology. BS, University of Nebraska; MS, PhD,
University of Michigan. (Paleobotany, Paleoecology, Global Change).
Westerlund, Julie, Assistant Professor of Biology. BA, The University of Texas at Austin;
MS, University of Minnesota; PhD, The University of Texas at Austin. (Science
Education).
