DEPARTMENT OF ENTOMOLOGY
GRADUATE STUDENT MANUAL

Ethics in Science

Requirements for each degree are set by the graduate faculty in Entomology and the Graduate School. Requirements for each degree are described in detail below. A suggested timeline is also provided in Chapter 6 for rough guidance in scheduling. Entomology and Graduate School filing procedures and where to obtain forms are presented in the last section of this manual.

All students (Masters and Ph.D.) must satisfy an ethics requirement set by the Graduate School (see http://www.grad.umn.edu/ethics/ethics_brochure.html). One way this requirement may be met is by enrolling in a one-credit, S/N course entitled, Scientific Communication and Ethics, offered every fall in the Department of Entomology. Students who entered the graduate program prior to 1999, or received training through other appropriate venues, are exempt from this requirement but are encouraged to attend the course.

Effective Fall 2002, all Graduate School students will be required to register in the Graduate School every fall and spring term to maintain their active status. This is a change from the previous policy that required Graduate School registration once per year.

Active status is required for students to be able to register for courses, take exams, submit milestone forms, file for graduation, or otherwise participate in the University community as a Graduate School student.

Graduate Students who must register soley to meet the Graduate School's registration requirement may register for Grad 0999. Grad 0999 is a free, zero-credit, non-graded registration mechanism that meets the Graduate School's registration requirement. Grad 0999 can not be used to meet registration requirements established by departments/agencies within or outside of the University (which include, but are not limited to, registration required to hold an assistantship, maintain legal visa status, obtain financial aid, or defer loans).

International students need to stay abreast of changes in registration requirements to maintain legal visa status.  Questions regarding such requirements should be directed to staff at the International Student and Scholar Services (ISSS) see:  http://www.isss.umn.edu/.

Plan A
Students must:

• complete an approved program of course work that includes at least 14 class credits in 4000- to 8000-level entomology courses.  Included in the 14 credit minimum are the core courses (11 cr., see below) and Seminar (ENT 8300, 1 cr.).  The graduate school requires that 2/3 of all course credits be taken A-F;
• complete 6 credits outside of Entomology (minor or supporting programs) in addition to the 14 credits in entomology;
• pass three written examination questions;
• take 10 thesis credits (ENT 8777);
• pass an oral preliminary examination;
• present their thesis research in a public seminar;
• defend their thesis in a closed final oral examination;
• deposit voucher specimens in the departmental museum if appropriate; and
• submit the final version of the thesis to the Graduate School

Plan B
Students must:

• complete an approved program of course work that includes at least 20 class credits in 4000- to 8000-level entomology courses.  Included in the 20 credit minimum are the core courses (11 cr., see below) and Seminar (ENT 8300, 1 cr.), and six credits of special problems (ENT 5910).  The graduate school requires that 2/3 of all course credits be taken A-F;
• complete 6 credits outside of Entomology (minor or supporting programs) in addition to the 20 credits in entomology;
• pass three written examination questions;
• submit two project reports (rather than a thesis) to the final examination committee (reports not necessarily presented in a public seminar);
• pass final examination (written and/or oral)
• submit the project reports to the Entomology library (optional but encouraged)

Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.)

Students in the Ph.D. program must

• complete an approved program of coursework that includes at least 15 class credits in 4000-, 5000-, and 8000-level Entomology.  Included in the 15 credit minimum are the core courses (11 cr., see below) and Seminar (ENT 8300, 2 cr.).  The graduate school requires that 2/3 of all course credits be taken A-F;
• complete 12 or more credits outside of Entomology;
• pass the required number of written prelim questions (see Ch 4);
• pass an oral preliminary examination;
• take 24 thesis credits (ENT 8888);
• present a dissertation in a public seminar;
• defend the dissertation in a closed final oral examination;
• deposit voucher specimens in the departmental museum if appropriate; and
• submit the final version of the dissertation to the Graduate School