Plant and Soil Sciences Graduate Policy

Authorization and Administration of Graduate Degree Programs:

The Department of Plant and Soil Sciences (the Plant Science Department became the Department of Plant and Soil Sciences in 1990) received permanent approval from the University of Delaware Board of Trustees to award the Master of Science degree (M.S.) in Plant and Soil Sciences July 7, 1958, and the Doctor of Philosophy degree (Ph.D.) in Plant and Soil Sciences, effective December 7, 1968, and a non-thesis Master's of Plant and Soil Sciences in September of 1996. The Department Chairperson is responsible for administering these degree programs.

Graduate degrees are awarded in recognition of scholarly achievement and demonstrated ability to investigate problems independently and effectively.

The graduate program in the Department is concentrated in two areas, PLANT BIOLOGY and SOIL SCIENCE . Consideration of student goals and judicious advisement by the faculty advisor and graduate advisory committee will influence development of the graduate student's academic program. All M.S. and Master's (non-thesis option) students must take at least 12 credit hours from within the Department of Plant and Soil Sciences. There are many other courses that students can select from the Graduate Catalog to supplement the curricula within the Plant and Soil Sciences Department. Students must meet with their advisors and have their plan-of-study approved each semester. All graduate students are expected to attend departmental seminars regularly and must register for PLSC 802, Professional Development (P/F) once.

All graduate students are expected to give a presentation just prior to the oral defense of their thesis/dissertation.  The presentation is to be publicly announced within the department at least two weeks prior to the defense date.

In addition to formal course work, competence in certain laboratory, greenhouse, and/or field research techniques is essential for completion of an acceptable thesis or dissertation for those students enrolled in the M.S. and Ph.D. degree programs. It will be the responsibility of the student and the student's advisory committee to assure that these skills are properly developed. For students in the Master's (non-thesis option) degree program, successful completion of at least three credits of PLSC 666 (Independent study) is required.

A student on assistantship/fellowship must seek permission in writing from their advisor to hold additional university employment concurrent with an assistantship/fellowship appointment.

Admission to graduate degree programs is the responsibility of the Department Graduate Studies Committee and the Department Chairperson. The Graduate Studies Committee is composed of at least 3 faculty members active in graduate student advisement, graduate teaching and research. At least one member of the committee must be tenured. The chairperson of the committee is designated as the Departmental Graduate Studies Coordinator and is charged with ensuring that graduate student applications are reviewed promptly by the committee. The committee screens applicants for admission to the department and recommends candidate acceptance or rejection to the Department Chairperson.

Admission to full-time graduate study will be considered only after the applicant provides a completed application. This consists of the following:

1. Completed University of Delaware Graduate Studies application received by the Office of Graduate Studies, University of Delaware.

2. Graduate Record Examination Scores (minimum total score (VERBAL + QUANTITATIVE) = 1050 is desirable).

3. Official, up-to-date transcripts of all undergraduate and graduate programs (minimum indices: 2.5/4.0, cumulative; a nd 3.0/4.0 major).

4. Three letters of recommendation from individuals knowledgeable of the applicant's academic preparation and potential ability as a graduate student.

5. International students must take the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) (Minimum Score: 550 paper test, 213 computer test).

6. Applicants for the Ph.D. degree must have received at least one degree from another college within the University of Delaware or from another university.

7. A graduate student applicant must, at the time of admission, have a faculty advisor who has agreed to direct and advise the applicant.

Exceptions to the above criteria for admission apply only in instances where the faculty advisor can provide suitable justification to the Graduate Studies Committee and the Department Chairperson that the exception is not in substantive conflict with the other criteria.

The Department of Plant and Soil Sciences accepts part-time students for the M.S. and the Ph.D. degrees and for the non-thesis Master's degree program but does not ordinarily provide financial aid to students in this category. Students, both full- and part-time, with deficiencies in their backgrounds, as determined by the Graduate Studies Committee, may be admitted on provisional status, without financial assistance. These deficiencies typically include an inadequate academic background, particularly a lack of appropriate course work in the major area. The deficiencies are ordinarily remedied by satisfactory performance in a course in the specific area of the deficiency. Satisfactory performance in the areas of deficiency stipulated in the letter of provisional admission will result in a change of status from provisional status to full- or part-time, regular status. The student's advisor and the Department Chairperson will communicate these provisions to the student, and when the deficiencies are rectified, they will inform the student and the Office of Graduate Studies. The letter of provisional admission will state the time limits for satisfactory completion of courses needed to make up deficiencies.

A) Master's (Thesis) Degree - The development of a program of study will be the joint responsibility of the student, and his/her graduate advisory committee and must meet all departmental course work requirements. Departmental acceptance of the program of study will be determined by the Department Chairperson.

The minimum number of credits required for the M.S. degree is 30 credit hours, including 6 credit hours of thesis (PLSC 869) and PLSC 802, Professional Development (P/F).

Research and teaching assistants must register for 6 credit hours of graduate-level course work per semester. Students holding fellowships must register for 9 credit hours of graduate-level course work per semester. Registration as a listener (L) or enrollment in undergraduate-level courses will not apply toward or meet the registration requirements of the contract. Exception to these requirements may be approved by the Office of Graduate Studies in the case of international students with language difficulty or teaching assistants engaged in unusually heavy teaching activities. Graduate students receiving financial assistance must maintain a 3.0 overall GPA. If a student's GPA should fall below this level, loss of stipend is possible. A one-semester grace period may be provided in which the student has the opportunity to improve his/her GPA. The grace period is not automatic, however, and requires approval that is initiated by a written request from the faculty advisor to the Department Chairperson and the Office of Graduate Studies. A student's stipend may be reinstated, if lost for academic or other reasons, only after approval by the Department Graduate Studies Committee and the Department Chairperson. Any graduate student, self-supporting or those receiving financial assistance, with a GPA less than 3.0, is subject to a reclassification of academic status to warning , probation , or termination depending upon the severity of the substandard academic performance. Details are provided in the University Graduate Catalog. It is the responsibility of the faculty advisor to inform the Chairperson of substandard academic performance.

Advancement to degree candidacy is contingent upon successful oral defense of a research proposal during the first or second semester after matriculation. The research proposal, and later the thesis, will be presented to the graduate advisory committee in typewritten form at least five working days before the scheduled oral defense. All graduate students are expected to give a presentation just prior to the oral defense of their thesis/ dissertation. The presentation is to be publicly announced within the department at least one week prior to the defense date.

Awarding of the M.S. degree is contingent upon successful oral defense of the research performed, an acceptable thesis and a demonstrated knowledge of related disciplines. A student shall have no more than two attempts to defend their thesis. Deliberations of the graduate committee will be limited to committee members, and the outcome immediately conveyed to the student.

B) Master's (Non-Thesis) Degree - The non-thesis Master's degree in Plant and Soil Sciences is designed for students who do not desire the independent research skills obtained through work on the Master's thesis. Upon matriculation, students must select the non-thesis degree. The program does not allow students to switch from the M.S. or Ph.D. degree programs into the non-thesis Master's degree program unless approval is granted by the student's faculty advisor, the student's graduate advisory committee, and the Department Chairperson. The non-thesis Master's degree requires students to complete 30 credits of course work successfully. The plan of study is developed by the student in consultation with the student's graduate advisory committee. Students in the non-thesis Master's degree program also are required to present a departmental seminar that is based on their required independent study project (PLSC 666) and to complete successfully PLSC 802, Professional Development (P/F). The seminar is to be publicly announced within the department at least two weeks prior to the presentation. Registration as a listener (L), or enrollment in undergraduate-level courses, will not apply toward graduation. Departmental acceptance of the program of study will be determined by the Department Chairperson. Master's (non-thesis option) students with a GPA less than 3.0 are subject to a reclassification of academic status to warning , probation , or termination depending upon the severity of the substandard academic performance. Details are provided in the University Graduate Catalog. It is the responsibility of the faculty advisor to inform the Chairperson of substandard academic performance. Awarding of the non-thesis Master's degree is contingent upon: (i) successful completion of all required and elective course work as determined by the student's graduate advisory committee and (ii) passing an oral examination administered by the student's graduate advisory committee at the termination of the degree program. A student shall have no more than 2 attempts to pass their oral examination.

C) Ph.D. Degree - No specific total number of cumulative credit hours are required for the Ph.D. degree. The program of study must be approved by the student's advisory committee.

At least 3 academic years of work subsequent to the M.S. degree or 5 years subsequent to the B.S. degree are normally required for the Ph.D. degree. The normal time to completion for part-time Ph.D. candidates will generally exceed these guidelines. Graduate advisory committees are required to meet at least once a year.

Upon the recommendation of the doctoral student's advisory committee and the Department Chairperson, students may be admitted to candidacy for the Ph.D. degree. The stipulations for admission to doctoral candidacy are that the student has (1) had a program of study approved, (2) completed one academic year of full-time graduate study in residence at the University, (3) passed the program's qualifying examination(s), (4) shown the ability to do research, and (5) had a research project accepted by the advisory committee.

The deadline for admission to candidacy for the fall semester is August 31. The deadline for admission to candidacy for the spring semester is January 31. The deadline for admission to candidacy for the summer is April 30. Responsibility for seeing that admission to candidacy is secured at the proper time rests with the student.

Once the student has registered for all course requirements in a program of study but has not yet met all of the stipulations for passing into candidacy (G1 status), the student must maintain registration during the fall and spring semesters in course(s) or in three to nine credits of Pre-Candidacy Study (964). Pre-Candidacy Study (964) is graded pass/fail. If the student registered in Pre-Candidacy Study is admitted to candidacy before the end of the free drop/add period of the next semester, the registration in Pre-Candidacy Study (964) for the preceding semester may be changed to the course, Doctoral Dissertation (969). (Students who are classified G1 and are holding a graduate assistantship or tuition scholarship must be registered for a maximum of six graduate credits, and those holding a fellowship must be registered for a minimum of nine graduate credits.) . In addition, students must register for PLSC 802, Professional Development (P/F).

Once a student has met all of the stipulations for candidacy and becomes classified with G2 status (candidacy), the student is required to register in nine credits of Doctoral Dissertation (969). Students may not register for Doctoral Dissertation (969) until admitted to candidacy (G2 status). Registration in Doctoral Dissertation (969) and Doctoral Sustaining (999) is restricted to students with G2 status. Once the student has registered in nine credits of Doctoral Dissertation, the student is required to maintain matriculation in the doctoral program by registering in Doctoral Sustaining (999) in subsequent semesters until the degree is awarded. All students must be registered in the term in which the degree is officially awarded. (Sustaining registration is not required in summer session unless the degree is to be awarded at the conclusion of the summer session. Sustaining registration is never required for winter session because graduate degrees are not awarded at the conclusion of winter session.)

Advancement to candidacy is contingent upon successful completion of written and oral qualifying examinations (to be completed by the end of the fourth academic semester of the student's program) administered by the student's advisory committee. The student will show written competence in areas selected by the advisory committee. The oral qualifying examination will provide an overview of the concepts and plans making up the proposed Ph.D. project. The oral examination is intended to evaluate students' abilities in several areas: creative thinking, progress in understanding and formulating a research project, and preparation and presentation of a technical talk. In preparation for the exam, students prepare a brief written summary of their research progress and plans. The oral qualifying examination is also where the research proposal will be presented for approval by the student's advisory committee. The written research proposal will be given to committee members at least five working days before the scheduled oral defense. Qualifying exams for progress to degree candidacy may be taken at most twice. Deadline dates are outlined in the University graduate catalogue. Responsibilities for seeing that admission to candidacy is secured at the proper time rests with the student. A student shall have no more than two attempts to defend their dissertation.

Upon receipt of a graduate student application, it is the responsibility of the graduate studies coordinator to contact faculty in the student's professed interest area to ascertain his/her interest in acting as a graduate student advisor. If a faculty member (or members) indicates interest, the student will be given the opportunity to discuss a potential graduate program with the advisor(s) before admission. Advisor selection is the joint responsibility of the Department Chairperson and the Graduate Studies Committee. All incoming students should have an advisor assigned before admission.

If assignment to a new advisor becomes necessary, the student will consult with the Department Chairperson and any interested faculty members. Based on the student's preference and willingness of involved faculty, a new advisor will be reassigned by the Department Chairperson.

A student in either the M.S. (thesis), Master's (non-thesis option), or Ph.D. program will select a graduate advisory committee, in consultation with his/her advisor, before the end of the second semester after matriculation. The graduate advisory committee for a M.S. (thesis) student or a Master's (non-thesis option) student will consist of at least 3 members of the faculty of the University of Delaware (including advisor). The graduate advisory committee for a Ph.D. student will consist of at least 4 members. For a Ph.D. student, at least one committee member must be from another Department in the University or from outside the University. The Department Chairperson is an official member of all graduate advisory committees. 

Students in the M.S. (thesis) and Ph.D. programs will successfully defend a research proposal before the graduate advisory committee before being considered as a candidate for the degree. The graduate advisory committee will serve as an advisory body during the period of candidacy and as an examining committee for the oral thesis or dissertation defense. As part of the latter, all M.S. and Ph.D. graduate students will present their research findings at a seminar in conjunction with the actual defense. The student's advisor will serve as chairperson of the oral defense and will arrange for committee replacements when required. For Ph.D. students, the advisor must coordinate the written and oral qualifying examinations.

Admission to candidacy for either the M.S. (thesis) or the Ph.D. degree, and acceptance of the thesis or dissertation in partial fulfillment of the degree requirements, will be recommended if no more than a single dissenting vote is cast by the examining committee. In each case, the examining committee will establish the contribution of the thesis or dissertation to science and determine the degree of scholarship attained by the student. 

The format of the thesis or dissertation will conform to that stipulated in Thesis and Dissertation Manual, available from the Office of Graduate Studies. 

Graduate student financial support for teaching assistants is derived from University sources, and the number of available teaching assistantships will fluctuate according to student enrollments. Support for graduate research assistants is obtained through the Experiment Station or other non-University sources such as outside grants and contracts. Faculty graduate advisors are not obligated to provide financial support to students, nor does the department guarantee financial support for the duration of a student's graduate program.

Financial aid is awarded on the basis of merit within the defined programs of study by the Department Chairperson, in consultation with the department graduate studies committee. Support is awarded on a yearly basis. Graduate students under contract are reviewed each year for academic standing and progress toward the degree. Ordinarily, students progressing satisfactorily are funded through completion of the normal degree period which is two (2) fiscal or academic years (whichever applies) for the M.S. degree and three (3) fiscal or academic years for the Ph.D. degree. Except for valid extenuating circumstances, financial support will not continue beyond this period. The maximum time limit on credit viability for the M.S. degree and the non-thesis Master's degree is 10 consecutive semesters from matriculation, and 14 consecutive semesters for completion of requirements for the Ph.D. degree. 

Graduate students on contract, regardless of their work assignment, are highly recommended to contribute to the departmental teaching program in a capacity to be decided by the student's advisor in consultation with the department chair. A student's contributions may include, but are not limited to: teaching course laboratory sections, grading of exams and quizzes, preparing materials needed by the instructor for a lecture or laboratory section of a course, supervising laboratories, creating notebooks or visual aids for a given topic. In an extension program capacity, a student could give a talk on an appropriate topic, develop written materials that would serve as a resource, or help organize and assist in demonstrations. International students being considered for in-classroom teaching responsibilities must obtain clearance from the English Language Institute before receiving teaching assignments.

The Departmental Graduate Studies Coordinator must initiate action on revisions or additions to the current Graduate Program Policy Statement.