Milestones
Handbook for Graduate Students in Soil Science
4. SOIL SCIENCE GRADUATE STUDENT STANDARDS FOR PROGRESS/MILESTONES CHECKLIST
First semester:- Get desk assignment and office/building keys. See your major advisor and/or Departmental Administrative Assistant.
- Safety training (laboratory, pesticide, etc. as applicable). See Rodney Utter, Depatmental Safety Officer, and visit the safety office Web page to become familiar with safety requirements (http://www.ndsu.nodak.edu/ndsu/police_safety/safety/safetyoffice.htm).
- Obtain ITS logon and password for University computer use and Novell network. Register on the following Web page: http://www.ndsu.nodak.edu/helpdesk.
- State Fleet training (defensive driving) and driver licensing, as applicable. State Fleet Motor Vehicle Safety http://www.ndsu.nodak.edu/ndsu/police_safety/safety/Loss%20Prevention/SOP/State%20Fleet%20Motor%20Vehicle%20Safety.pdf
- Determine major advisor, if not already done.
- Form advisory committee.
- Work on removing any admission deficiencies and continue working each following semester until all are eliminated.
- Present seminar including the thesis/dissertation proposal and plan of study.
Second semester:
- Draft and submit plan of study and thesis/dissertation proposal. Follow up until approved.
Third semester or before:
- Submit research plans for approval by IRB*( http://www.ndsu.nodak.edu/irb/), IACUC* (http://www.ndsu.nodak.edu/research/compliance/iacuc/index.shtml), or IBC* (http://www.ndsu.edu/research/compliance/ibc/index.shtml), if needed.
- Submit research plans for approval by Radiation Safety Committee, if needed.
Once each year:
- Call meeting of supervisory committee to review progress.
- Complete final seminar requirement.
- Meet with Graduate School student services associate to verify plan of study completion and required GPA.
- Schedule exams: M.S. final oral; Ph.D. preliminary (written and oral) and Ph.D. final oral. [Follow Graduate School and Department requirements for scheduling.] Form is available at http://www.ndsu.nodak.edu/gradschool/forms/index.shtml.
- Submit disquisition to examining committee at least 7 days before final oral examination (M.S. and Ph.D.).
After final examination:
- Submit disquisition (dissertation) for Graduate School approval after changes resulting from final exam.
- Disquisition must be approved within one year or the final exam must be retaken.
Terminal semester:
- Submit and obtain approval of dissertation.
- Check out of Department (move out of office, return keys).
* IRB = Institutional Review Board, IACUC = Institutional animal care and use committee, IBC = Institutional Biosafety Committee. Usually these do not apply to Soil Science projects.
