Department NewsTraditional Master's Program, requirements, and funding
The Traditional Master's degree program is flexible and serves a variety of career objectives, such as teaching in secondary schools, employment in a variety of research-oriented jobs, interpretive work in parks and nature centers, and preparation for further professional training. A Traditional Master's degree can be earned either through graduate course work alone, or through graduate course work and a Master's thesis (these options are described below). The Master's degree is NOT a prerequisite for admission to the doctoral program, nor is it intended as probationary admission to the doctoral program.
Students applying to the Traditional M.S. program are expected to have a solid foundation in the biological sciences. In addition, they are recommended to have completed the following college level courses: Physics (two semesters of lectures or one semester of lecture and one semester of lab); Calculus (one semester); Organic Chemistry (two semesters of lectures and one semester of lab.)
Advising
An advising committee for incoming students, comprised of the graduate chair and a faculty advisor will meet with each student upon his/her arrival to discuss the student's academic background. The committee will decide whether to require additional background courses such as those recommended in the admission policy or alternative courses the committee deems necessary for individual students. Results of the committee's meeting with each student, including any additional courses the committee requires, will be placed in the student's file.
Students are required to obtain advisor approval for all initial course elections, including courses elected at the Biological Station, and to have their election worksheets signed by their advisor or the committee chair for each semester thereafter. A student may change advisors by petitioning the Graduate Affairs Committee. For students pursuing the thesis option, it is assumed that the student's thesis advisor will take on this role once the thesis committee is formed. It is essential that students seek advice from an advisor during all phases of their graduate program.
The Graduate Affairs Committee, is responsible for counseling and for the development and administration of the Master's program. Petitions and problems that students might encounter should be directed to the GAC, through contact with the graduate coordinator. A student representative attends all committee meetings and contributes to all decisions made by the committee.
Degree options:
Master's degree by course work:
The degree requires completion of 24 graduate credit-hours in EEB and other science-related courses; at least 16 hours must be selected from courses in the Department of EEB. No more than six hours of research courses may be included in the minimum of 24 hours required. Only graduate-level courses (numbered 400 and above) can be included in the required credit toward the program. Election of courses is determined in consultation with the program director or a faculty advisor, and is based on the goals of the individual student. The program must include one seminar course which requires an oral presentation, or a written report. By Rackham rule, students must complete four hours of graduate-level cognate course work offered by a department other than EEB. Cognates should be a science-related course, or one that is relevant to the program.
Master's degree by thesis:
In addition to coursework requirements described above, the student prepares a thesis describing original research carried out under the guidance of a thesis committee. Up to six credit hours may be accumulated on the thesis research project and included in the minimum 24 hours required by Rackham.
A thesis committee consists of the student's primary advisor plus two additional members, one of whom must be from EEB. The student chooses all members, usually by the winter term of their first year in the program. Following preliminary, informal discussions with thesis committee members, the student is expected to prepare a thesis proposal outlining the thesis research. The student then meets formally with the full committee to present and discuss the proposal—approval of the proposal by the committee is recorded by their signature on a approval form which must be returned to the graduate coordinator. For most students, this step will be completed by March or April of the student's first year.
Function and constitution of the thesis committee:
For EEB Master's students, the thesis committee is charged with the supervision of a student's thesis activities. The entire committee is intended to be a resource upon which the student may draw throughout the period of the thesis-oriented research. It should guide and encourage the student in the design and execution of the research program and in the writing of the dissertation. Committee members must certify that the student has passed the oral examination, and has produced a thesis that is satisfactory in every way. The student chooses a chair or co-chairs who will act as the primary director of the student's research. Together they choose other faculty who may be expected to supply a high degree of expertise in the special area of the thesis, and whose appointment will satisfy the following requirements.
The thesis committee is responsible for (1) providing advice concerning the conduct of the thesis research, (2) monitoring progress in research, (3) providing advice on other aspects of professional development, (4) administering the final oral thesis defense, and (5) certifying that the completed thesis meets the requirements for the M.S. degree.
Things to consider when selecting thesis committee members:
See Ph.D. committee formation information.
Thesis defense:
Upon completion of research, students write a thesis in accordance with the requirements of the Rackham School of Graduate Studies. Once the thesis is read and initially approved by the thesis committee members, the student must present an oral defense of the thesis.
The student must arrange an oral defense date acceptable to all thesis committee members and the defense must be advertised in public postings. The master's thesis is defended in a public seminar open to all faculty and students in the University. Following the public portion of the defense, the student defends his/her thesis before the thesis committee, plus any other member of the EEB department who wishes to attend, until a time when the defense meeting becomes closed (only committee members), at the chair's discretion. After the oral defense, the thesis committee decides upon the acceptability of the thesis. The committee may accept or reject the thesis or recommend further work and re-examination. The student must submit a signed Master's Thesis Graduation Form, available in the Graduate Office, to the Graduate Affairs Committee. Upon review and approval by the GAC, it will be recommended to Rackham that the student receive a "M.S. Thesis" notation on their final official transcript.
Financial support
Students in the Traditional Master's program are eligible for Graduate Student Instructor (GSI) appointments in the Department of EEB; but no guarantees of appointment are made for Traditional M.S. students. Other external sources such as loans and work-study programs are available through the University's Office of Financial Aid, 2011 Student Activities Building. Students planning to enter a master's program are eligible to apply for external fellowships, such as the National Science Foundation (NSF) or NASA. These fellowships provide substantial stipends plus full tuition and students are urged to apply. Some students may wish to hold a part-time position with a University unit and carry a reduced academic program, or they may be able to obtain fellowship support. Positions are variable in kind and availability, and are best found by applying in person to the Student Employment Office, 2503 Student Activities Building, in the summer prior to the fall term registration.
View more information on departmental, university and external funding.
Rackham requirements
The Horace H. Rackham School of Graduate Studies specifies the general requirements for admission and degree programs as well as other general standards. Therefore, in addition to the specific requirements of the EEB Program, applicants and students should also be familiar with the following Rackham requirements. View the Handbook for Graduate Students.
Time limit: A student in a terminal master's program is expected to complete all work within five years from the date of first enrollment in the program. Students exceeding this time limit must file a petition for modification or waiver of regulation with Rackham OARD. Petitions must describe explicitly the amount of work remaining and a timeline for completion. A student who fails to complete degree requirements within five years may be withdrawn and required to apply for readmission.
Residence requirement: The Graduate School requirement involves credit hours and should not be confused with State Residency requirements. Traditional masters students are expected to complete at least one-half of their degree on the Ann Arbor campus, or at the Biological Station.
Minimum average grade of "B": An overall grade point average of "B" (5.00) is required for all graduate courses taken for credit and applied toward the Master's degree.
Transfer of credit: A maximum of six semester hours (inter-University), or half of the program (intra-University and inter-University combined) may be transferred. Please refer to the Rackham Bulletin for complete guidelines.
Cognate requirement: Rackham recognizes the value of intellectual breadth in graduate education, and the importance of formal graduate study in areas beyond the student's field of specialization. Cognate courses are those that are in a discipline or area different from a student's field of study, but are related or connected with some aspect of this field. Cognate coursework must be approved by the department or program, and may be satisfied by:
- completing 4 credit hours of cognate coursework in approved graduate-level courses with a grade of B- or better.
- using coursework within the same department or program but in a subfield different from the student's own. A course in a student's program that is cross-listed as a course in another program may satisfy the cognate requirement. In this case, the department or program should notify Rackham OARD.
- using credit officially transferred from another institution in another field of study.
- completing graduate coursework at another institution that meets the expectation of the cognate requirement without officially transferring the credit to the transcript. The student must provide Rackham OARD with an official transcript, including the courses and credit hours, and the department or program should notify Rackham OARD. These courses do not apply toward the minimum requirement for the degree, and do not appear on the University transcript.
Diploma application: To be recommended for a Traditional master's degree, it is necessary to apply online through Wolverine Access, in the Student Business section. Deadlines for each term are published by Rackham OARD. A student who fails to complete all requirements during the term in which the degree application is submitted must reapply to be considered again for the degree. Master's diplomas are not distributed at commencement, but are mailed seven to eight weeks later.
For more information from Rackham for master's students, check out Rackham's Master's students page.
