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Copyright 2004, University of Northern Colorado |
Graduate Student Handbook"The Stone Tablets"Admission, Comprehensive Examination, Earth Science Club, Facilities, Field Trips, Funding, Graduate Committee, Graduate Coordinator, Major Advisor, Plan of Study, Planning Guidelines, Research, Seminar, Teaching Assistantships, Return to the Earth Sciences Home Page Return to Graduate Program Page IntroductionThis handbook is intended to supplement the University of Northern Colorado Graduate School Policies and Procedures Manual and to explain how those policies and procedures are applied in the Department of Earth Sciences. The reader is cautioned that the Policies and Procedures Manual may change from time to time. In the event that conflicts develop between the contents of this handbook and the Manual, the Graduate School Policies and Procedures Manual will be considered binding.
AdmissionApplication to graduate programs may be made at any time. Application procedures are outlined in the Bulletin and Graduate School Policies and Procedures Manual. Application is made through the Graduate School. Please note that applications must include a letter outlining the applicant's educational objectives. Graduate CoordinatorDr. Nesse is the Graduate Program Coordinator for the Department of Earth Sciences. He works with incoming graduate students to help them select a major advisor and get organized for their first semester. He also handles much of the routine paperwork that is involved in the program. Major AdvisorEach graduate student must have a major advisor who is a faculty member in the Department and a member of the graduate faculty. The selection of the major advisor is an important decision, because the major advisor typically supervises the graduate student's thesis/research project and is chairman of the graduate committee. An incoming graduate student will work with the graduate coordinator to select a major advisor based on the student's interests and career goals. See Faculty for information about the faculty. If you change your research interest or career goals and the existing major advisor is no longer appropriate, you are expected to change major advisors in consultation with the graduate coordinator and your current major advisor. Changing a major advisor requires that paperwork be submitted to the Graduate School.
Graduate CommitteeThe graduate committee usually consists of three individuals, one of which is the major advisor. Committee members are typically faculty members in the Department of Earth Sciences, but may be faculty from other departments or other qualified individuals. The graduate student is responsible for selecting the committee in consultation with the major advisor. The graduate committee should be selected as early as practical the first semester of residence.
Plan of StudyEach graduate student must develop a plan of study in consultation with the major advisor and have it approved by his or her graduate committee. A sample format for the plan of study is attached. An incoming graduate student will work with the graduate coordinator and/or major advisor to select courses for the first semester and then develop a complete plan of study in consultation with his or her graduate committee no later than registration for the following semester. The plan of study must satisfy departmental and graduate school requirements for graduation. See the current Bulletin and the Graduate School Policies and Procedures Manual for details of the requirements. Some of the relevant items are:
The typical procedure for preparing a plan of study is as follows:
The program plan may be revised as needed to reflect changes in interest, changes in course schedules or other considerations. Each revision must be approved in writing by the committee.
Comprehensive ExaminationThe Department requires both a written and an oral comprehensive examination. The comprehensive examination is taken near the end of the program after most of the course work is completed and you are working on your research. The Department requires that you have at least 20 hours of graduate course work in your program completed prior to taking comps. In addition you must be a regularly admitted graduate student in good standing with a grade point average of at least 3.0. The comprehensive examination is intended to test your knowledge of the subject matter that you have covered in courses at UNC as part of your program as well as general knowledge in the earth sciences. Please feel free to consult with your committee and faculty from whom you have had courses concerning the content of the exam. Make use of the time prior to the exam to review and study all prior course work and other relevant information. Do not take comps lightly. You will be expected to demonstrate thorough professional knowledge of the relevant subject material. You may obtain an application form to take the comprehensive exam from the Department of Earth Sciences. Application should usually be made early in the semester in which you wish to take the exam and must be submitted to the Graduate School no later than two weeks prior to the examination. Work with your major advisor and committee to select an appropriate date. Be sure to have at least two weeks between when you schedule the written exam and the Graduate School deadline for submission of the results, which is usually about a month before the end of the semester. This allows time for grading and flexibility in scheduling the oral exam. Check with the Graduate School for specific dates. Once you have scheduled your written exam, your major advisor will solicit questions from the faculty from whom you have taken courses and compile the examination. The written exam is typically taken in one 8-hour day, usually in a number of two or three-hour blocks. The faculty grade their respective parts of the exam and report the results to your major advisor. Your committee evaluates these results and determines whether you may proceed to the oral examination. The oral exam will not be administered if the committee determines that performance on the written exam does not meet appropriate standards. The oral examination is usually scheduled for about three hours in the afternoon one or two weeks after the written and is open to any interested individual. In it the committee and other faculty ask questions of the candidate. Faculty frequently use the oral exam to have the candidate explore issues raised on the written exam or to discuss other related areas. The wise graduate student uses the time between the written and oral examinations for study, particularly of those areas which were not handled well on the written exam. Based on the results of both the written and oral exam, the committee passes or fails the candidate ( if the student does not take the test, that also may be reported). In rare cases, conditions may be imposed upon a student who passes the exam such as additional course work and/or some demonstration of competency. In the event the candidate does not pass, he or she may retake the exam no sooner than the following semester. Only one retake is allowed.
ResearchCandidates for the MA in Earth Sciences must complete either a thesis or a graduate research project. The decision of whether to complete a thesis or a graduate research project is made in consultation with the major advisor and committee. Graduate students must recognize that theses and graduate research projects are substantial undertakings. Most theses/research reports are rewritten several times and it is common for students to be required to collect additional data or complete other activities as part of the rewrite process. It is essential to work closely with the major advisor on all aspects of the research to insure timely completion. Research Proposal Prior to beginning work on the thesis or graduate research project, a graduate research proposal must be approved by the graduate committee. Most students will complete their research proposal as part of ESCI 600 Introduction to Earth Science Research. Committee approval of the work done on the research proposal is required to receive a passing grade in that class. A copy of the cover sheet/approval form for the graduate research proposal is attached. Theses The thesis option is usually selected by candidates who wish
to develop a relatively focused program of study and in which the
extensive research activity of a thesis is desirable. The thesis
involves research of a topic under the direction of the
candidate's major advisor and committee. The work should make a
significant contribution to the body of knowledge of the subject.
Between 6 and 10 credit hours of ESCI 699 Thesis may be taken and
the credits may be spread over several semesters. A grade of NR
(No Report) will be submitted until the thesis is completed. Theses must be signed and approved by all members of the student's graduate committee prior to submission to the Graduate School. The Graduate School has established deadlines for submission of theses. Graduate Research Projects The graduate research project option may be appropriate for candidates for whom a broad base of knowledge in all of the earth sciences is appropriate. The graduate research project is typically of a smaller magnitude or different focus than a thesis, but has the same expectations concerning academic and scientific quality. Between 2 and 6 credits of ESCI 697 Graduate Research may be taken and the credits may be spread over several semesters. A grade of NR (No Report) will be submitted until the graduate research report is completed. Graduate research reports should be prepared following the Graduate School guidelines for theses as modified by the Department's guidelines. A copy of the Department's guidelines is available in the Department office. A copy of the Graduate School guidelines may be downloaded from the Grad School. Exceptions to these guidelines may be approved by the major advisor. Graduate research reports must be signed and approved by all members of the student's graduate committee. A copy of the title and signature pages is attached. Rather than being submitted to the Graduate School, graduate research reports are submitted to the Chair of the Department of Earth Sciences. Graduate research reports must have approval signatures from all committee members and the Department Chair before a grade may be turned in. One bound copy of the graduate research report must be provided for the major advisor and one copy for the Department. It is the responsibility of the student to bind the final copies of the report. Consult with your major advisor concerning appropriate binding formats. The deadline for submission of an approved research report to the Department is the last day of the semester.
Teaching AssistantshipsThe Department hires Teaching Assistants to teach introductory-level laboratory sections of our general education courses or other courses that may be appropriate. The source of funding includes both state appropriated funds and grants. In addition to the salary associated with the position, some reduction in tuition is generally available for TAs. If you are interested in being a Teaching Assistant, apply in writing to Dr. Hoyt (Program Director). He will consult with the Graduate Program Coordinator and the faculty to select teaching assistants.
Earth Science SeminarFriday afternoons are usually reserved for the Earth Science Seminar (ESCI 599). All graduate students are required to enroll in ESCI 599 each semester of residence. In addition to being a forum for guest speakers, the seminar provides graduate students with an opportunity to present the results of their research to fellow classmates, undergraduates, faculty and other interested individuals. All graduate students are required to speak at seminar at least once.
Earth Science ClubThe Earth Science Club is composed of undergraduate and graduate students in the Department. It is a chartered campus organization and may apply for money each year from student fees to support its activities. Nominal dues are collected from members. The club is student operated and has elected officers. Dr. Hoyt is the faculty advisor. The club sponsors speakers, hosts social events, conducts field trips, sponsors student attendance at professional meetings and otherwise promotes the interest of students in the Department. All graduate students are encouraged to actively participate in the Earth Science Club.
Field TripsField trips are in integral part of many classes. Faculty typically try to schedule trips to be convenient for students, but there are numerous constraints related to weather, vehicles, conflicting trips, etc., that reduce flexibility in scheduling. In many cases it is possible to go on a field trip even if you are not registered for the associated class, provided that space is available. Check with the instructor responsible for the field trip for details. Facilities AvailableThe Department has a variety of facilities available for graduate student use. Special purpose labs include Ross 3070 (sedimentology/core lab, field equipment storage), Ross 3080 Petrography/sample preparation; Ross 3255, general purpose lab; Ross 3060, Computer analysis (digitizing tablet, computer, plotter, etc.); In addition the facilities of Chemistry, Biology, and Physics may be available to qualified individuals. Michener library has collections of books, journals, government publications, maps, and other resources in all of the earth sciences disciplines. In addition, material not in the library may be obtained through interlibrary loan. Computers are available for student use in a number of labs in Ross Hall and around campus. In addition, the department has computer facilities available for student use in Ross 3060, 3257, and 0120. Students may obtain an account from Information Services that provides internet access and e-mail. Drafting facilities are available in Ross 3060. Sources of FundingApplication to the David Hunter Fund for funds to support research may be made at any time with a letter to Dr. Nesse. The Department also maintains application forms and related information concerning a number of funding agencies that support research projects. Miscellaneous scholarship and grant information is posted on the bulletin board in the Earth Sciences hallway. In addition to anything that you might find posted, consider the following: Colorado Scientific Society: Several funds to support field geology and other research projects. Rocky Mountain Section of SEPM Scholarship. Apply to Dr. Maya Elrick, Earth and Planetary Sciences, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM 87131 (505) 277-5077, e-mail dolomite@unm.edu. The E.D. McKee Grant is for Master's candidates doing work in sedimentary and/or its application to better understanding the rock record in the Rocky Mountain region. Rocky Mountain Association of Geologists: Grants to support graduate student research. Colorado Mountain Club Foundation: Research Fellowships in the range of $300-$600. Geological Society of America: Research grants. Deadline is usually in mid-February. American Association of Petroleum Geologists: Grants in Aid. Deadline is typically mid-January. UNC Graduate School: Graduate Student Scholarly Travel Fund. Up to $150 in support to travel to a meeting to present a talk. Contact the graduate school for more information UNC Graduate School: Graduate Student Mini-Research Grants. Up to $200 is available for graduate student research. Contact the graduate school for more information. Sigma Xi: The UNC Sigma Xi chapter offers modest grants to support graduate student research and travel to meetings at which papers are presented. The National Park Service may be able to provide logistical or related support for research which deals with Rocky Mountain National Park. Student Representative Council (SRC): UNC student research grants of up to $500 are available. U.S. Geological Survey: Funds to support field mapping projects is available through the EDMAP Program. A variety of scholarships also are available. Application procedures and deadlines vary. In most cases announcements for these scholarships will be posted in Ross Hall. Check with the granting department for details. Selberg Scholarship: Three $1000 awards are typically given each year to full-time undergraduate and graduate students in science teaching. MAST Center is responsible McCracken Scholarship: Scholarships are awarded annually to individuals whose interests include science teaching at the elementary and middle school level. MAST Center is responsible. Bachenburg Scholarship: This scholarship is awarded each spring to a undergraduate or graduate student in physics, chemistry, or earth sciences. Physics is responsible Sund Scholarship A scholarship awarded through the MAST Center for graduate students who are preparing to be or are professional science teachers, based on professional potential. Competition is usually in the spring for an award of about $500 to be awarded in Fall Semester. Colorado Grad Fellowship: A scholarship awarded through Earth Sciences. Sigma Xi Grants Grants are available to support graduate research. Check with Dr. Hoyt regarding application deadlines. Trowbridge Scholarship: This scholarship is awarded each spring to a student whose career goals include teaching earth sciences. Earth Sciences is responsible. Planning GuidelinesThe sequence with which specific actions should be completed is summarized below. They assume fall semester enrollment. Each individual student's situation is unique and may require that things be handled differently. Please work closely with your major advisor to insure that relevant deadlines are met and that you progress smoothly through your program. First Semester Develop first semester course schedule in consultation w/ Dr. Nesse First Month: Select major advisor and members of graduate committee Second Month: Develop plan of study and obtain approval from committee Second Semester Enroll in ESCI 600 Introduction to Earth Science Research Take classes per approved plan of study Prepare Research Proposal and obtain approval of graduate committee (required in ESCI 600) Summer Work on research project. Enroll in summer classes (including ESCI 697/699) if included in plan of study. Third Semester Enroll in ESCI 697 or ESCI 699, work on research project. Take classes per approved plan of study Fourth Semester Complete research project, write thesis/graduate research report Revise thesis/graduate research report several times Take classes per approved plan of study Take comprehensive examination |