Foreword

Graduate students should be familiar with the contents of the current Northern Michigan University Graduate Bulletin at the time of their admittance into a degree program. This guide for graduate students expands on the Graduate Bulletin with respect to requirements and policies pertinent to individuals majoring in biology.

Table of Contents

Admissions
Graduation and Degree Requirements
Graduate Plan of Study and Admission to Candidacy
Theses
Research Funding
Graduation
Policy for Student Academic Grievances Against Faculty Members
Graduate Assistantships
Departmental Thesis Policy
Sample Thesis Title Page
Sample Thesis Approval Page
Graduate Student Checklist

Admissions Procedures

Applicants for admission to the Northern Michigan University College of Graduate Studies and the Biology Department Graduate Program must submit the following:

The following should be submitted directly to the College of Graduate Studies:

1. Completed Application for Admission
1. This form can be obtained from the College of Graduate Studies, Biology Department or online.
2. Application for Assistantship (if desired)
3. Official transcripts from all previously attended colleges
4. Graduate Record Examination (GRE) scores.

The following should be submitted directly to the Biology Department:

1. Three letters of recommendation.
2. Letter of Application describing your background, research interests and career goals.

In addition to the materials submitted to the College of Graduate Studies and Biology Department, potential graduate students must identify a member of the Biology Department faculty to serve as a graduate thesis advisor and have that faculty member submit a memorandum indicating willingness to serve in such a capacity.

International Students must also:

1. Hold or obtain an F-1 or J-1 visa
2. Submit official transcripts through an acceptable clearinghouse
3. Present a Declaration and Certification of Financial Responsibility
4. Submit evidence of proficiency in English (a minimum TOEFL score of 550 is required)

International students are encouraged to consult the International Affairs office by telephone (1-906-227-2910) or at OIA@nmu.edu.

Admission Requirements and Status

Regular Degree Admission

Regular admission will be granted to graduates of four-year accredited institutions who have been admitted into the College of Graduate Studies, meet all of the admission requirements of the Biology Department and have a minimum undergraduate grade point average of 3.00 on a 4.00 scale.

Applicants are expected to have a solid background in biology, including one year of general biology and other courses as deemed necessary by the graduate thesis advisor and graduate advisory committee. Coursework in chemistry (general chemistry and organic chemistry) and physics (minimum one semester with lab) are also required*. When such courses have not been taken, the student's graduate advisory committee will recommend appropriate courses to strengthen the background of the student. The Committee may require the student to complete whatever course is missing with a grade of C (2.00) or better, they may require that courses be taken in other relevant areas to substitute for the deficiencies, or they may require other appropriate options.

Students must have regular degree status in order to be considered for a graduate assistantship or to graduate.

Additional information may be obtained from the Department Head of Biology, 2001 New Science Facility (phone 906-227-2310).

*A student admitted with a deficiency in chemistry may take a graduate level chemistry course and count the credits toward the graduate program.

Conditional Admission

Applicants with an undergraduate or graduate grade point average of less than 3.00, or with numerous deficiencies in course work may be granted conditional admission.

The conditions that must be met for a change to regular admission status will be specified in the letter of acceptance. Students who fail to meet the conditions of their admission by the completion of 12 graduate credits will be denied further registration.

Conditional admission can also be granted to undergraduate students in their final semester before graduation, which will allow enrollment in courses for graduate credit.

Probationary Non-Degree Status

Probationary non-degree status is granted to students who do not qualify for regular or conditional admission or who fail to meet acceptable academic standards in graduate course work. Graduates of non-accredited institutions are initially placed in non-degree status. Graduate students whose grade point average drops below 3.0 will be placed on probationary status and have a maximum of two semesters to raise their grade point average to 3.0 or above. Students cannot receive a graduate degree while on probationary status. Policies of the College of Graduate Studies concerning academic probation are found on page 13 of the Graduate Bulletin under "Academic and Retention Standards".

Non-Degree Admission

Students admitted to the College of Graduate Studies, but not admitted to the departmental program have non-degree status. A student classified as a non-degree student may petition the Dean of Graduate Studies and Research for regular degree status after the completion of 12 but no more than 20 hours of graduate credit by completing a "Request for Change of Curriculum" form. Only students with a minimum grade point average of 3.00 may file such a petition. No assurance can be given to a student that any credits earned under non-degree status will be accepted in a degree program or used to meet the requirements for graduation. To be applied toward a degree program, courses completed during non-degree standing must be recommended by the assigned adviser and approved by the department head and the Dean of Graduate Studies and Research.

Maintenance of Academic Standards

The provisions specified in the Graduate Bulletin section titled "Grading," apply to students in biology. Grades received in any undergraduate deficiency courses are not included when calculating your GPA.

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Graduation and Degree Requirements

Master's Degree Requirements

Degree requirements for Graduate Students are listed in the current graduate bulletin. Pertinent to the graduate program in the Biology Department are the following:

1. Satisfactory completion of a minimum of 32 credit hours that have been submitted as a Graduate Plan of Study and approved by the student's advisory committee, Head of the Biology Department and Dean of Graduate Studies.
2. A minimum of 20 credit hours of biology courses.
3. A minimum of 16 credits at the 500 level.
4. A maximum of 16 credits earned through a combination of courses of unspecified content including, but not limited to, Research (BI 589; 4 credits maximum), Thesis (BI 599; 4 credits maximum) and Directed Studies (BI 598; 8 credits maximum).
5. A maximum of 10 credits transferred from another institution.
6. All credits must be earned within the seven-year limit (out of date credits may be validated by the Dean of the Graduate College).

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Graduate Plan of Study and Admission to Candidacy

Graduate Advisor

All graduate students in the Biology Department must have a thesis advisor. This individual must be identified and agree to act as the thesis advisor prior to admission to the Biology Department Graduate Program. In order to act as a thesis advisor a faculty member must have level 2 or level 3 Graduate Faculty Status and be employed full-time in the Biology Department. The primary role of the thesis advisor is to chair the student's graduate advisory committee, have the primary role in overseeing the academic progress of the student and the planning, execution and completion of the thesis.

If the student wishes to change thesis advisors or the thesis advisor determines that he/she can no longer act in that capacity, the student and advisor and should try to identify a new thesis advisor that would be willing to serve in that role.

If the student and advisor are unable to come to a mutually agreeable solution the Graduate Committee will be asked to make a recommendation.

Graduate Advisory Committee

All graduate students in the Biology Department should choose a graduate advisory committee and meet with that committee before they have completed 12 hours of their graduate program. The graduate advisory committee consists of the thesis advisor (who chairs the committee and must have Level 2 or Level 3 Graduate Faculty status) and at least two additional faculty members. A minimum of two members of the committee (including the thesis advisor) must be from the Biology faculty. Non-NMU faculty and adjunct faculty may serve on graduate advisory committees; however, the voting majority must be NMU faculty with level 1, 2 or 3 Graduate Faculty status. Non-faculty experts may serve as non-voting members of graduate advisory committees.

Plan of Study

The student and advisory committee will develop a proposed plan of study that specifies the course work that is required for each student to complete the master's degree. The plan of study form must be signed by the thesis advisor, members of the thesis committee, and must be submitted to the Department Head of Biology and to the College of Graduate Studies and Research. Forms for this process are available from the department secretary. This form and the signatures are the official indicator of your graduate advisory committee.

The Biology Department Graduate Committee will maintain records of all graduate students to insure that there is compliance with this policy. Failure to form an advisory committee and submit a plan of study within the specified time may result in forfeiture of credits earned in excess of 12 semester hours and the termination of an assistantship appointment and/or denial of future registration.

Admission to Candidacy

Admission to the College of Graduate studies and to the Graduate Program in the Biology Department does not imply admission to candidacy for a graduate degree. Admission to the College of Graduate studies and to the Graduate Program in Biology indicates that you are a graduate student, admission to candidacy indicates that you are a candidate for a graduate degree. Admission to Candidacy will be granted upon the recommendation of the Graduate Advisory Committee, Department Head and approval of the Dean of Graduate Studies.

Requirements to admission to candidacy include:

1. Regular degree status
2. Cumulative graduate grade point average of 3.0 or better.
3. Approved Graduate Plan of Study signed by graduate advisory committee, the Head of the Biology Department and the Dean of Graduate Studies.
4. Thesis Proposal approved by the graduate advisory committee.
5. Application for candidacy during the semester in which the 12th graduate credit will be earned.

Changes in the students program require submission of a new Graduate Plan of Study signed by the graduate advisory committee and the Head of the Biology Department.

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Theses

1. All graduate students in the Biology Department are required to carry out a plan of study that includes research and thesis. The research must be original and carried out under the direction of a graduate research advisor. This research should be conducted using the scientific method but does not preclude a student from forming a hypothesis and testing that hypothesis through collection and synthesis of data from the literature.
2. Theses shall be prepared in accordance with the "Guidelines For The Preparation of Master's Theses". The Guidelines can be obtained in the Biology Department or the College of Graduate Studies Web Page.
3. Prior to registering for or receiving thesis or research credit, a formal research proposal providing a literature review and clear explanation of the methods to be used must be presented to the Advisory Committee for approval.
4. Each student will present a public seminar and prepare a thesis based on the research at the conclusion of their program.
5. Subsequent to the presentation of the public seminar the thesis will be defended by the candidate at an oral examination conducted by the members of the candidate's graduate advisory committee.
6. After the thesis defense a copy of the corrected version of the thesis will be submitted for review by the Department Head at least three weeks before submission to College of Graduate Studies.
7. Following completion of the thesis defense, the original thesis and one copy must be submitted to the College of Graduate Studies. The original thesis should be signed by the student's Graduate Advisory Committee, the Department Head and the Dean of Graduate Studies. This approved document must be in the College of Graduate Studies no later than 30 calendar days prior to graduation.
8. The data collected by the student in preparation of a thesis is the intellectual property of the student, the thesis advisor and the funding agency. Students that leave the university prior to completion of their thesis, or prior to publication of their data should see that adequate documentation is filed with the thesis advisor and/or funding agency. Prior to leaving the university, it is wise that clear expectations for publication of data be discussed with the thesis advisor. These expectations should include a timeline for publication (by the student or thesis advisor), authorship and author affiliations.

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Research Funding

Students conducting original research as part of their plan of study should apply for funding to help offset the cost of the proposed research. Applications for funding can be from internal campus and external sources. Campus funding sources include:

Charles C. Spooner Student Research Program.

Spooner grants can provide up to $500 dollars. Application deadlines and application procedure can be found on the College of Graduate Studies website.

Excellence in Education Research Grant Program.

Excellence in Education Grants provide up to $1,000 dollars for summer research. Application deadlines and application procedures can be found on the College of Graduate Studies website.

Biology Department Development Fund.

Development fund grants are administered by the Department's Budget Committee. Deadlines for proposals are October 15 (for fall semester) and March 15 (for winter semester and spring and summer sessions). The application should include a statement of intent and the objectives, the plan and timetable, and a budget justification. Complete guidelines for development fund grants are available in the Department Office.

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Graduation

1. Completion of requirements or the enrollment in all required courses does not automatically make a student a candidate for graduation. A candidate for graduation shall make an application for graduation by registering for graduation using the appropriate code from the course scheduling booklet in the same manner as registering for a class. The last day to register (apply) for graduation is the fourth day of the semester in which the student plans to receive the master's degree.
2. At the time of registration for the semester in which the student expects to complete their work they must pay a one-time graduation fee of $15 to Financial Services. If a student plans to attend commencement ceremonies and rent a gown, a $20 apparel rental fee must be paid at the NMU Bookstore.
3. A candidate for graduation must check with the Placement and Career Planning Office to make certain that all placement forms have been completed if they wish to use their services.
4. A candidate for teacher certification must check with the Registrar's Office to make certain that all requirements and application forms have been submitted.
5. All requirements for the degree, except for current course enrollment, must be completed 30 calendar days prior to the date of graduation. This includes filing the completed thesis and removal of all "I" or "R" grades, which are commonly given while completing research and thesis. It is the student's responsibility to ensure that all necessary documentation has been filed and received prior to graduation.

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Policy for Student Academic Grievances Against Faculty Members

1. The student should first review and discuss with the faculty member the problem or allegation.
2. If not satisfied with the results of such a meeting, the student should then go to the department head.
3. If still dissatisfied, the student may request a departmental hearing by an ad hoc departmental committee composed of any three members selected by the student from a list of departmental faculty. Qualifications to be on a grievance committee include rank of instructor of higher and knowledge of the course in question. In a grievance, the student selects one of the three faculty to serve as chairman of the ad hoc committee. The chairman then sends a written report and recommendation to the faculty member and student, with copies to the Dean of Arts and Science, department head, and committee members.
4. The findings of the committee will not be binding on the faculty member in question.
5. If a student has a grievance against the department head, the student has the choice of selecting as one member of an ad hoc committee, a faculty member from another department.

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Graduate Assistantships

A limited number of graduate assistantships (teaching and research) are available each year. These assistantships are awarded to highly qualified graduate students on the basis of academic merit.

To apply for a teaching assistantship, the following steps are necessary:

1. Submit a completed application for admission to the Graduate School. See application procedures in this guide.
2. Complete an application for graduate assistantship

For teaching assistantships beginning in the fall semester, these materials should be submitted and available in the Graduate Studies Office by March 15. Normally the department will act on applications and announce the awards by May 1. For assistantships beginning in the winter semester, the corresponding dates are October 15 and December 1.

Applicants for research assistantships should:

1. Submit a completed application for admission to the Graduate School. See application procedures in this guide.
2. Submit a letter directly to the faculty member for whom the research will be conducted. Additional application materials may be requested by the specific faculty member.

Qualifications for Appointment

1. An applicant must have completed all application processes.
2. An applicant must be enrolled in a degree program and have regular admission status.
3. Once appointed, the Graduate Assistant must:
1. Be enrolled in at least six (6) credit hours of graduate work that is relevant to the declared program of study (courses that are or will be included in the Plan of Study), but no more than ten (10) credits. A six (6) credit load does not substitute for the required number of credits to be a full time student. A minimum of eight (8) credits must be taken during the Fall and Winter semesters to qualify as a full time student.
2. Maintain an overall graduate grade point average of 3.0.
3. Meet the qualifications as determined by the nature of the particular assignment.
4. Satisfactorily perform the duties assigned as evaluated by the faculty supervisor.
4. All Graduate Assistantships are awarded for one academic year and can be renewed for a second year. Renewal is not automatic and is dependent on:
1. Maintenance of a 3.0 or higher GPA.
2. Satisfactory performance in assigned duties.
3. Adequate progress toward completion of degree.
4. Admittance to Candidacy.

Criteria for the Selection of Graduate Teaching Assistants

1. Scholarship (Undergraduate GPA):

   Applicants for graduate assistantships will be evaluated primarily on their academic performance. Their undergraduate GPA, particularly in biology and other science courses, will be reviewed and rated. Emphasis will be placed on the applicant's most recent academic performance.

2. Deficiencies:

   Applicants will be rated more favorably if they have no undergraduate deficiencies.

3. Letters of Recommendation:

   Applicants will be evaluated on the basis of three letters of recommendation, requested by them, from people familiar with their background and potential for graduate study.

4. Teaching Ability:

   The major duty of our laboratory assistants is to teach laboratory classes. Preference will be given to applicants with academic preparation which qualifies them to fill the needs of the department and who have the potential or skill for good teaching.

5. Graduate Record Examination (GRE):

   GRE scores will be assessed as part of the overall application.

6. Application Deadline:

   All applications are normally due by March 15. Under extenuating circumstances, the graduate committee may extend the deadline to enable students to complete their applications. A notice will be sent informing the applicant of incomplete applications resulting from delinquent letters of recommendation. It will be the responsibility of the applicant to see that all letters of recommendation have been forwarded to the School of Graduate Studies by March 15. The same policy applies to the October 15 application deadline for Winter semester applications.

Graduate Assistant Stipends

1. Graduate Assistants receive a stipend standardized for full time appointments.
2. Full time graduate assistants normally receive tuition waivers for the period of time that they are appointed. Full appointments during the Fall and Winter semester allow for 8.0 credit hours of tuition waiver per semester.
3. Graduate Assistants may elect to use part of their tuition waiver from their current appointment to pay for summer credits. However, the maximum that can be "carried-over" is two credit hours from each semester, due to the fact that the student must remain enrolled in at least six credits each semester of the academic year to be eligible for their assistantship. To use these "carry-over" credits, the student must file a petition in writing with his/her department requesting the tuition waiver and indicating details as to the number of credits being carried over and from which semester they were not used. This petition must be approved by the department head and the dean of the college before being forwarded to the Graduate Studies Office. This petition must be in the Graduate Studies Office by March 1. Failure to enroll in the approved summer credit hours by June 1 will result in forfeiture of the credit waiver. All credits paid for under this tuition waiver must be required graduate program credits.
Graduate assistants opting to enroll in summer session course work under this policy may not extend any work assigned to their graduate assistantship beyond the end of the winter semester.
4. All graduate assistants appointed for the academic school year and who are paid a stipend receive a Health Assistance Stipend for Fall and Winter semesters. This stipend will appear on the first paycheck of the semester.
5. A limited number of assistantships may be available during the summer semester. Students interested in a summer assistantship should contact the Department Head in writing early in the Winter semester.

Academic Loads for Graduate Assistants

1. Normally, the course schedule for graduate assistants will be limited to eight (8) credits per semester.
2. Graduate assistants in their second year of graduate studies who have a minimum grade point average of 3.00 may be allowed to take up to 10 credits, provided the student has the written consent of his or her adviser and the head of the Biology Department, and the approval of the Dean of Graduate Studies & Research. However, tuition remission is for a maximum of 16 hours per academic year.
3. Auditing a course through an official enrollment is the same as enrollment for credit.

Graduate Assistant Responsibilities

The duties of a Graduate Assistant will be designed to complement the student's graduate program and to advance the program of the department.

1. A Graduate Assistant's workload consists of 20 hours per week during the Fall and Winter semester.
2. The 20 hours should include preparation time for materials used in the classroom, teaching, office hours, grading, clerical duties, development of curricular materials, research assignments, etc.
3. Graduate Teaching Assistants are expected to hold regular office hours each week. Typically each teaching assistant should have four (4) office hours each week. These times should be included in the syllabi and posted on their office door. It is expected that the teaching assistant will be available at these times.

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Departmental Thesis Policy

Definition

A thesis is a thorough report of original scientific research. It is a requirement for BI 589-599 credit.

Standards

The standards of quality of graduate research and thesis preparation are determined by the graduate faculty in the Department of Biology and the head of the College of Graduate Studies and Research.

Advice on Preparation of a Thesis

The following advice is offered on preparation of a thesis.

1. Begin your first draft early, even if all work is not completed. Your advisory committee may wish to offer suggestions on your early drafts.
2. When your thesis supervisor approves the final rough draft, distribute this draft to your advisory committee for their use at least two weeks prior to your oral examination/thesis defense.

Form of the Thesis

1. Questions on form may be answered in Turabian, Kate, 1973, A Manual for Writers of Term Papers, Theses, and Dissertations, 4th ed., of Chicago Press, 216 pp. Questions on style may be answered in Conference of Biological Editors, 1983, Style Manual for Biological Journals, 5th ed., American Institute of Biological Sciences, Washington, D.C. 117 pp. Before writing, check with your advisory committee to determine if they have a specific form or style preferences.
2. Some commonly encountered problems are considered here.

1. Organization.

   The order of presentation should be as follows:

2. Title Page
3. Signature Page
4. Abstract
5. Preface (optional)
6. Acknowledgements
7. Table of Contents
8. List of Tables
9. List of Figures
10. List of Appendices
11. List of Abbreviations (recommended if appropriate)
12. Body of Paper - This may be organized in various ways depending upon the subject, but most theses will follow the normal pattern of Introduction and Literature Review, Materials and Methods, Results, Discussion, References Cited, and Appendix.
13. Paper. The paper should be 8 1/2 x 11 inches, and must be 100% rag bond, white paper.
14. Printing. Use of a laser printer is strongly recommended; any form of printing or reproduction of the thesis should be of archival quality.
15. Double spacing is required, except in the List of Figures and Tables where one item extends into two lines and in the References Cited. In these cases spacing between individual items should be double, but individual items that occupy more than one line may be single-spaced.
16. Margins should be at least 1 1/2 inches wide on the left side and at least 1 inch on the right side, top and bottom. Page numbers should be centered in the margin 1/2 inch from the bottom of each page. Preliminary pages, i.e., those through the List of Figures, should be numbered with small Roman numerals (ii, iii, iv, etc.). The Title Page counts as page i but is not numbered. Arabic numerals should be used, beginning with the Body of Text (Introduction) and proceeding through text, tables, figures, Reference Cited, and Appendix. The Title Page should conform to the example found in the "Guidelines for the Preparation of Master's Theses" available from the Graduate School.
17. Tables and Figures. Tables and Figures should normally be placed on the page following their first reference in the text, and their pages should be numbered in sequence with the text.
18. Reproduction. Photocopies are acceptable.

Copies

Four copies are required; one for the department, one for the adviser, and two for the College of Graduate Studies (library copies). These copies should be unbound, until after final approval. Usually the graduate student wishes to keep an additional copy.

Binding Fee

The department will make arrangements for binding the department and advisor copies of the thesis. The graduate should deliver the unbound copies to the Departmental Secretary and must pay the cost of binding. Additional copies may be bound at the student's pleasure and expense. There is no fee for the binding of the library copies.

Date of Submission

The final copies are required to be in the Graduate Studies Office 30 calendar days prior to graduation. Please see the Graduate Bulletin for additional information on thesis preparation.

Procedure for Acceptance of a Thesis

1. At least 4 weeks before the end of the semester in which graduating, the student will give a seminar or summary of his/her thesis work before taking an oral examination and defense of thesis. The main purpose of this examination is to test the student on the content and conclusions reached in the thesis. The examination, however, may also test the student's general academic capabilities in science.
2. The examining committee typically consists of the student's graduate advisory committee. Other members of the faculty or guest examiners may be invited by the major adviser. The examination is presided over by the chairman of the student's graduate committee. The examination usually begins with the student presenting a brief summary (5-10) minutes of their research followed by questions from the committee.
3. After the examination the examining committee recommends a grade for the thesis or they may recommend alterations in the thesis. In cases in which the thesis is regarded by the examining committee as unacceptable, the committee will make suggestions for improvement. The student will be encouraged to make improvements and to resubmit the thesis after these improvements have been made.
4. Upon acceptance of the thesis, the members of the student's graduate committee must sign an acceptance form (the "Signature Page") in quadruplicate. The copies of the signature page are forwarded to the Office for Graduate Studies for signature by the Dean of the College of Graduate Studies and Research. A copy of the acceptance form will then be attached to each copy of the thesis.

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