Summary of Procedures for Graduate Degrees (Procedure/ Under Direction of/ Date)
Application/ Office of Graduate Studies and Research/ No later than May 1 for summer session enrollment, August 1 for fall semester enrollment, and December 1 for spring semester enrollment or the following Monday should these dates fall on a weekend.
Selection of an Advisor/ Department Chairperson/ Varies by program
Selection of a Committee/ Advisor/ Varies by program
Preliminary Examinations/ Department Chairperson or Advisor/ Not required by some programs
Admission to Candidacy/ Advisor, Department Chairperson, Dean of Graduate Studies and Research/ Not later than penultimate semester or summer session relative to intended date of graduation. Classified Status Only.
Comprehensive Examinations/ Advisor or Department Chairperson/ Varies by program
Thesis or Dissertation Draft to Committee/ Student and Advisor/ Not later than 2 weeks prior to oral defense
Thesis or Dissertation Defense/ Advisor, Committee, and Dean of Graduate Studies and Research/ Not later than 2 weeks prior to end of final semester
Oral Examination (Non-Thesis)/ Advisor, Committee, and Dean of Graduate Studies and Research/ Not later than 2 weeks prior to end of final semester
Application for Graduation/ Office of Registration & Records/ During registration for final semester
Payment of $20 Application for Graduation Fee/ Office of Registration & Records/ By the end of final semester
Submission of Final Thesis or Dissertation Copies/ Dean of Graduate Studies and Research/ Within 1 week following oral examination
Idaho State University
Each year, Idaho State University enrolls over 2,000 graduate students in over 40 master's programs and nine doctoral programs. Located in the southeastern community of Pocatello, Idaho State University offers a remarkable combination of academic excellence, relaxed life style, and superb outdoor recreational opportunities. Idaho State University is accredited by the Northwest Association of Secondary and Higher Schools. In addition, it is accredited or approved for specific programs by the following organizations: American Council on Pharmaceutical Education, American Chemical Society, National League for Nursing, American Dental Association Council on Dental Education, American Assembly of Collegiate Schools of Business, American Speech and Hearing Association, National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education, National Association for State Directors for Teacher Education and Certification, Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs, Engineering Accreditation Commission of the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology, and the Council of Social Work Education. Idaho State University is proud of its tradition of excellence in graduate studies and research. If you are interested in Idaho State University, you probably already know a bit about our offerings in your area. Nevertheless, we invite you to call the Graduate School (208-236-2150) or the chairperson of your prospective department for further information.
Classifications of Graduate Students
Classified Students
Graduates of accredited institutions who have earned grade point averages of 2.75 or higher for all upper division credits taken at the undergraduate level, regardless of the institution at which the credits were earned, are eligible to be admitted as regular degree-seeking students and are given the classification of Classified student upon submission of official GRE scores. In the case of those students who have not completed the baccalaureate degree, the grade point average shall be recalculated on all upper division credits once the bachelor's degree is completed. Students who achieve at least the 35th percentile in one of the aptitude sections (Verbal, Quantitative, Analytical) may be eligible for this classification if the earned grade point average for all upper division credits taken at the undergraduate level is 2.0 or higher. However, many departments have more restrictive requirements than these for this classification. The College of Business requires the GMAT and the Department of Counselor Education and Special Education accepts the MAT in lieu of the GRE. Please see the department sections for this information.
Conditional Students
A department/college may, at its discretion, admit students in a degree program on a trial basis as Conditional students to ascertain their ability to do graduate work within a particular curriculum. Conditional students are those who do not have acceptable undergraduate grade point averages and/or GRE (GMAT in the College of Business, or MAT in the Department of Counselor Education and Special Education) scores for admission to the university.
Conditional status also may be used by a department for students whose credentials do not meet specific departmental requirements. Conditional students must adhere to regulations established by the Graduate Council. The following criteria must be met by the student before the Conditional status can be changed to Classified:
Unclassified Students
Applicants holding a bachelor's degree who desire to take courses for graduate credit for personal or professional enrichment but who do not want to pursue a graduate degree are eligible to apply for admission as Unclassified (non-degree-seeking) students. There is no assurance that courses taken under Unclassified status may be used later to satisfy degree requirements. Courses may be taken only in those departments that have approved a student's Unclassified admission. If the student wishes to pursue a graduate degree within the university, the student must (1) notify in writing the department/college of his/her intention to seek admission as a Classified student and (2) initiate an Approval for Change of Student Status in the Office of Graduate Studies and Research. The student must also meet application and admission requirements of degree-seeking students described previously or below. At the option of the departments, students may petition the Dean of Graduate Studies and Research to transfer course work taken while under Unclassified status to a degree program. The total number of such credits transferred shall not be more than 30% of the credits of the program of work required of each student for the degree.
Doctoral Programs
Admission to doctoral programs varies depending upon the program of study. Potential applicants are encouraged to read the appropriate sections of the Graduate School Catalogn for individual program variations. Generally, students applying for admission to a doctoral program must hold a master's degree and must have achieved at least the 50th percentile in one of the aptitude sections (Verbal, Quantitative, or Analytical) of the Graduate Record Examination. (Doctor of Arts applicants must have an average GRE score placing them in the 50th percentile or above.)
Interdisciplinary Degrees
Idaho State University offers students the opportunity to pursue an interdisciplinary master's degree. The degree sought and the field appearing first in the title of the program will be that of that department providing the major portion of the graduate credits. Other fields in the title will be secondary fields of concentration. The requirements include: completion of a minimum of 30 credit hours with a minimum of 10 hours in each of the departments participating. Students must be admitted into such a program by each department which participates. Students must contact each department contemplated to be involved prior to initiating the development of an interdisciplinary program. Although students must take at least 10 credits in each of the departments participating, departments may, at their discretion, require additional credit hours of the students as a condition of the departmental participation and admission of the student in the program. Admission to candidacy requires approval of all courses and additional requirements by chairpersons of the departments involved. Requirements for candidacy are the same for the interdisciplinary program as they are for other degree programs (see section on Candidacy). An interdisciplinary thesis may be written with a minimum of three credit hours and a maximum of five credit hours in each department. The final oral examination must include a representative from each department and a graduate faculty representative from a department not involved in the interdisciplinary program.
Hazardous Waste Management (Interdisciplinary Studies)
Students may pursue an M.S. in Hazardous Waste Management (Interdisciplinary Studies). Students must obtain admission from the Graduate School, which requires that students possess a 2.75 GPA or higher for all upper division credits taken at the undergraduate level, regardless of the institution at which the credits were earned, and GRE scores must be provided for admission. Students may be admitted on a conditional basis without GRE scores, but the scores must be submitted no later than the end of the first semester of enrollment.
Students must also obtain admission from two academic departments/disciplines. Admission requirements vary between departments, and there may be departmental requirements beyond those of the Graduate School which the student must fulfill to gain departmental admission.
Within the framework of the basic degree requirements, an advisory committee is chosen to work with the student to create an individualized program of study. The advisory committee consists of two ISU faculty advisors, one from each of the two listed departments, and a Graduate Faculty Representative appointed by the Dean of Graduate Studies. The faculty member in the primary department acts as the student's major advisor and provides direction to the student regarding all relevant aspects of the program. The committee should assist the student in selecting courses appropriate for the program of study. An initial program of study must be developed and submitted to the Hazardous Waste Management Council for approval no later than the second semester of enrollment. Changes in the initial program may be made with the approval of the major advisor. The final program of study is submitted to the Council for graduation clearance.
The objective of the Interdisciplinary Studies program in Hazardous Waste Management is to allow the student to combine courses in Hazardous Waste Management with related courses in areas of primary interest. At least 30 credits are required for the degree, of which at least 15 must be at the 600 level. At least 10 credits must be completed within each of the two listed departments, with the remainder of the course work representing the Hazardous Waste Management required and elective course work. No more than 9 credits may be transferred from another university, with the exception of courses cross listed with the University of Idaho, which will be accepted as resident credits. Thesis and non-thesis options are available for the degree. A maximum of 10 credits of research and thesis may be counted toward the degree; these credits may apply towards the 15 credits at 600 level requirement. There are specific program-wide and department-specific requirements for the thesis and non-thesis option. Students should confer closely with their advisory committee members in deciding the most appropriate option.
Department/academic disciplines participating in the program include: Biological Sciences, Business, Chemistry, Engineering, Geology, Mathematics, Pharmaceutical Sciences, Physics, Political Science, and Vocational Teacher Education (Occupational Training Management).
Currently a number of the Hazardous Waste Management courses are being offered only in Idaho Falls, although efforts are made to provide instruction to Pocatello students as often as possible via the telecommunications system. Many courses are instructed during evening hours. Due to these factors and the interdisciplinary nature of the program, it may be anticipated that completion of the M.S. degree may take longer than for other "traditional" M.S. degrees.
Required Courses
The following courses are required of every student receiving the M.S. degree in Hazardous Waste Management (Interdisciplinary Studies).
BIOS 587 Environmental Science and Pollutants 3 cr
ENGR 570 Survey of Hazardous Waste 3 cr
Management Problems
ENGR 606 Environmental Law and Regulations 3 cr
ENGR 655* Hazardous Waste Management Seminar 1 cr
*Course must be completed two times in order to satisfy requirement.
Elective Courses
Students, together with their advisory committee, should choose courses from the following electives which will complement departmental courses in each of their chosen areas and strengthen their degree program.
BIOS 623 Soil and Groundwater Bioremediation 3 cr
BIOS 624 Microbial Ecology 3 cr
BIOS 599 HWM Problems (Independent Study) 2 cr
CHEM 535 Environmental Chemistry 2 cr
CHEM 537 Environmental Chemistry Laboratory 1 cr
ENGR 606 Environmental Law and Regulations 3 cr
ENGR 659 Special Topics in Engineering Science 3 cr
ENGR 589 Principles of Hazardous
Waste Site Remediation 3 cr
ENGR 608 Waste Treatment Technologies 3 cr
ENGR 504 Engineering Risk Assessment 3 cr
ENGR 607 Hazardous Waste Management 3 cr
ENGR 609 Treatment of Radioactive Waste 3 cr
ENGR 612 Treatment of Hazardous Chemical Waste 3 cr
ENGR 614 Hazardous Waste Site Remediation 3 cr
GEOL 520 Principles of Geochemistry 3 cr
GEOL 530 Principles of Hydrogeology 3 cr
GEOL 599 Fate and Transport of Contaminants
in the Environment 3 cr
GEOL 617 Environmental Geochemistry 3 cr
PSCI 621 Biological Action of Chemicals 3 cr
PSCI 622 Principles of Toxicology 3 cr
PHYS 605 Radiological Environmental Monitoring
and Surveillance 3 cr
PHYS 599 Emergency Planning and Preparedness 3 cr
Special Requirements Department of Biological Sciences:
Students who have not taken an undergraduate ecology course will be required to complete the ecology bridge course BIOS 521 prior to enrollment in BIOS 587, a required course.
All students choosing this option will be required to complete Hazardous Waste Management Problems BIOS 599, an independent study course.
College of Business:
The College of Business will participate in the Interdisciplinary Studies program in Hazardous Waste Management with students who have a science or engineering undergraduate or graduate degree. Students with neither a science or engineering degree are encouraged to consider an MBA degree with 12 hours of Hazardous Waste Management courses as electives. It is expected that students will use business as the secondary area in the Interdisciplinary degree program and that an academic department/discipline in either science or engineering will be the primary field. Exceptions may be granted in cases where students not having a science or engineering background can provide a compelling case for business to be part of their program.
Students who choose to have the College of Business as one of the academic disciplines providing instruction for their Interdisciplinary degree must meet the following specific requirements: The College of Business part of the degree program shall consist of at most 15 graduate hours in business. Students may be required to take additional undergraduate courses if they have not taken the appropriate prerequisites for classes selected in their program. Business courses may be selected from MBA I course work (MBA 601 through 608 and ECON 607 as shown in the College of Business section of this Catalog) or MBA II course work (MBA 630 through 640 and 691, 692) or 500 level elective courses in the College of Business. The specific business courses selected as part of this degree program must be approved by the College of Business MBA Program Director.
College of Engineering:
The College of Engineering participates as an academic discipline in the Interdisciplinary Studies program for Hazardous Waste Management. Students may also choose to pursue an environmental engineering major and a M.S. degree in Engineering. The environmental engineering major is based on the hazardous waste management curriculum but requires a more vigorous quantitative curriculum. Please see the Engineering section for more detail on this degree. Students may also choose to pursue an M.S. degree in Engineering with an emphasis in hazardous waste management within two other majors. The latter option is administered through the College of Engineering, and information regarding this option is detailed elsewhere in this Catalog.
Students who have insufficient background to complete the engineering course work included in the program of study will be required to take the engineering bridge course, ENGR 501.
Department of Political Science:
The Department of Political Science will serve only as a secondary academic discipline in this program, with another discipline chosen as the primary field.
Master of Natural Science
Majors in Biology, Chemistry, Geology, Mathematics, and Physics or approved interdisciplinary combination of the foregoing may lead to the degree of Master of Natural Science. This program is designed to provide subject matter material for those teaching at the secondary level or intending to do so. Requirements include possession of or pursuit of a standard secondary teaching credential. "Pursuit of a standard secondary teaching credential" shall be defined as follows: The following factors must be completed by the student, or the student must have equivalency in these areas to meet the definition:
l. Meet the requirements for admission to the Teacher Education Program at ISU, including:
EDUC 200 1 cr.
2. Complete or take equivalent courses in:
HE 200 2 cr. CE/SE 200 2 cr. HEC 200 2 cr. EDUC 323 3 cr. EDUC 333 3 cr. EDUC 343 3 cr.
Therefore, if a student enters a M.N.S. program with no equivalent coursework in education, the student must take these 16 additional credits in addition to 30 graduate credits in the discipline to receive the M.N.S. degree. This leaves 12-19 credits, including student teaching, to be completed to receive certification in Idaho. Candidates must complete a program of study in one, two, or three of the areas listed. The committee designing the program of study, in consultation with the student, should be comprised of members from each department involved plus a graduate faculty representative. Requirements include completion of a prescribed program of study of at least 30 credits at the graduate level approved by a departmental committee selected by the student in consultation with the student's major professor and approved by the Dean of Graduate Studies and Research and satisfactory performance on final written and oral examinations. If the student's teaching background is considered to be dated or deficient, a pedagogical component approved by the committee may be included. Pedagogical credits are beyond the 30 hours minimum required in subject matter course work. Courses to be counted toward the degree must be g-designated 300-400 level courses or at the 600 level. At least 22 credits must be taken in residence.
Family Practice Residency Program
The Idaho State University Family Practice Residency is a postgraduate training program for physicians who have an M.D. or D.O. degree. The program has affiliations with the medical schools of the University of Utah and the University of Washington and is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education. The Family Medicine Clinic, located on the ISU campus, is the outpatient training site with hospital rotations at Bannock Regional Medical Center and pocatello Regional medical Center. The Residency will accept four residents per year into its three year program.
The program is geared to produce well trained Family Physicians to practice in rural Idaho. The curriculum includes family medicine, obstetrics/gynecology, surgery, internal medicine, pediatrics, geriatrics, emergency medicine, community medicine, behavioral science, rural medicine, orthopedics and other subspecialties. The program is designed to support each individual resident's personal as well as professional growth.
Curriculum Overview
First Year
12 weeks Internal Medicine
12 weeks Pediatrics (Inpatient)
12 weeks Obstetrics
8 weeks General Surgery
4 weeks Emergency Medicine
2 weeks Family Practice Center
Second Year
12 weeks Internal Medicine
8 weeks Pediatric (Outpatient)
4 weeks Geriatrics
4 weeks Gynecology
8 weeks Rural Rotations
8 weeks Emergency Medicine
2 weeks Community Medicine
2 weeks Psychology
4 weeks Electives
Third Year
16 weeks Internal Medicine (Chief Resident)
2 weeks ENT
2 weeks Urology
2 weeks Ophthalmology
2 weeks Dermatology
6 weeks Orthopedics
2 weeks Sports Medicine
4 weeks Rural Rotations
2 weeks Research
12 weeks Electives
For more information, please contact the Family Practice Residency Program Director at Idaho State University, Campus Box 8357, Pocatello, Idaho 83209; (208)236-4508.
Course Levels, Credits, and Grading
Course Levels
Courses numbered 600 and 700 are for students in the Graduate School only. Other courses for which graduate credit may be obtained are indicated with "g" designations in the University Catalog and the Graduate School Catalog. Courses with "g" designations are shown on registration forms and transcripts as 500-level courses (e.g. EDUC g483 becomes EDUC 583.) Extra work is required of graduate students enrolled in "g" courses. Whether these or other courses may be applied toward requirements for a graduate degree is determined by the department offering the degree. Credit by examination (course challenge) is not permitted in graduate programs.
Activities Instructors May Require to Meet the "Additional Work" Requirement to Receive Graduate Credit in Those Courses Offered as g300 and g400
The Graduate Council expects instructors to require specific work to be done in a graduate level course to justify graduate credit being given. This is particularly true for courses which may be used to count toward a degree. In those courses designated at the g300 or g400 level, for students to receive graduate credit (500 level courses) specific and evaluated activities and performances must be identified. Listed below are a suggested list of activities which an instructor may use to meet this requirement.
a. term paper(s)
b. substantive report(s) which may be one of the following: survey,
analysis and report; laboratory investigation and report; library
research and report
c. attendance at a significant regional or national meeting with an
analysis and report
2. Classroom activities that are beyond that required of undergraduates and are evaluated.
a. special presentation of some subject
b. provision of leadership on discussion of some significant topic in
the classroom
c. any other classroom activity which is evaluated and not required of
undergraduates
3. Examinations. Special examinations which are different from those given to undergraduates and are more demanding than those given to undergraduates. Such exams may be those which require greater performance at the higher cognitive levels such as interpretation, synthesis and evaluation.
Credits
For a master's degree, a minimum of 30 credits in approved course work, including thesis credits if required, must be completed. Except in the cases of the M.N.S. and M.P.A. degrees, a master's degree student must complete at least 15 credits in 600-level courses. Credit requirements for doctoral degrees vary by program.
A credit hour in graduate courses requires:
Students who, because of exceptional circumstances, want to take more than the maximum number of credits, must request permission in person from the Dean of Graduate Studies and Research. They must also have support in writing from the graduate program director or chairperson of their department.
Thesis or dissertation credits are not awarded to the student until after completion and final approval by the examining committee. At this time, the advisor reports a grade of S or U for all previous thesis registrations. The student may register for thesis credits any semester she/he is enrolled as a degree-seeking student, subject to the approval of the department chair or program director, but the letters IP (in progress) are recorded on the transcript in place of a grade for all such registrants until final approval is obtained. The student who wishes to continue work on thesis credits shown on earlier registrations without registration is free to do so.
Workshop and Special Course Credits
A maximum of four credits earned in workshops may be applied toward a degree. A workshop is defined as a short course that does not exceed one week. Workshops and special courses taken under the 597 number may not be applied toward a degree.
Grading
A 3.0 GPA is required for any graduate degree or certification at Idaho State University. A grade of C or below is essentially failing at the graduate level. However, some departments may accept a C grade in one or two courses as long as the minimum overall 3.0 GPA is maintained. C grades may cause departments/colleges to dismiss students from a graduate degree program.
All thesis and dissertation credits are graded on a satisfactory (S) or unsatisfactory (U) basis. Departments/colleges may grade additional graduate courses with the S/U system with approval of the Graduate Council. IP (in progress) grades may be given for those students who have initiated but not completed their thesis or dissertation work.
Students may repeat a course in which they received a grade lower than an A. In such cases, the last grade received shall be the grade of record.
Transfer of Credits
Master's Degrees
All credits must be earned on the Idaho State University campus except in the following instances: (1) In all degree programs a total of nine semester credits may be transferred from an accredited institution. Transfer of residence credits from an accredited institution is acceptable only if the courses were taken as resident credits at that institution and are specifically approved by the Graduate School and academic department of ISU at the time the student becomes a candidate for an advanced degree. (2) Extension credits earned through ISU but taught by instructors other than approved faculty of ISU are treated as transfer credits. Official transcripts to be used for transfer of credits in a degree program must be received before admission to candidacy will be approved.
Intra-institutional Transfer
Transfer of Credits from Unclassified to Classified Status. Students may petition the Dean of Graduate Studies and Research to transfer course work taken while under Unclassified status to a degree program. The total number shall not be more than 30% of the credits of the program of work required of each student for the degree.
Transfer of Credits from One Program to Another. There are no limits to the number of credits which may be applied toward a master's degree program which were originally awarded in a different degree program if a) the student was not awarded a degree in the original program and b) the department approves the transfer of such credits and the courses taken meet the requirements for the degree approved by the Graduate Council. There are no limitations with respect to electives which exceed the requirement for the degree.
Departments and/or colleges may allow students to apply up to nine semester credit hours earned at ISU to two master's degrees.
Doctoral Programs
Departments may accept credits by transfer in toto or in part from a master's degree earned at ISU or at another institution regardless of age of the courses. See section on Time Limits for further discussion of this policy.
Residency/Correspondence Courses
Residency
All credits which are to be applied to an advanced degree must be earned as resident credits or accepted for transfer as described in the Transfer of Credits section. Resident credits are those earned on the Idaho State University campus except in the following instances: (1) With the approval of the department and college offering the degree, graduate credits earned in the Boise Cooperative Graduate Center, Twin Falls Graduate Center, or Idaho Falls Graduate Center are considered resident credits and may be applied toward an advanced degree. (2) Extension courses approved by the Graduate Council and taught solely by approved faculty of ISU may be, with departmental approval, accepted as resident credit, but only when normal instruction does not demand special facilities available only on campus. A maximum of 15 credits earned under these circumstances may be applied toward a degree.
Correspondence Courses
No credit obtained by correspondence may be counted toward a graduate degree at ISU.
Time Limits
Master's and Educational Specialist Degrees
All requirements for a master's degree or educational specialist degree must be completed within eight years preceding the student's graduation. An extension of time may be obtained for good cause with the approval of the Graduate Council (file petition through the Office of Graduate Studies and Research).
Doctoral Degrees
The doctorate is a research or performance degree and signifies that the holder has the competence to function independently at the highest level of endeavor in the chosen profession. Hence, the number of years involved in attaining or retaining competency cannot be readily specified. Rather, it is important that the doctoral student's competency be assessed and verified in a reasonable period of time prior to conferral of the degree.
The comprehensive examination is the method of assessing whether the student has attained sufficient knowledge of the discipline and supporting fields in order to undertake the independent research or practice. It is expected that the examination will occur after all course work has been completed and language or other requirements satisfied, and it consists of a series of examinations covering all areas specified in the plan of study.
Because the comprehensive examination attests to the academic competence of the student who is about to become an independent researcher or practitioner, the examination should not precede the degree by too long a period of time. Consequently, doctoral candidates are allowed no more than five years in which to complete remaining degree requirements. In the event a student fails to complete the doctorate within five years after passing the comprehensive examination, an extension of time can be obtained only by: a) The student getting a specified set of requirements from the student's committee which states in writing what must be done to make the candidate up-to-date in the discipline. These new requirements for obtaining an extension may include the necessity to repeat parts or all of the comprehensive examination. b) The student must then submit a petition to the Graduate Council for the extension and provide the written documents showing the additional requirements established by the student's committee justifying the requested extension.
Out-of-Date Credits
All credits applied to a master's degree or to an educational specialist degree must have been taken within eight years immediately prior to granting of the degree unless it can be shown that the course work taken more than eight years earlier covers material which has not changed substantially during the intervening time or that the student has been able to remain current in the topics covered in the course. Evidence that the older course work is still appropriate must be approved by the department chairman. A petition requesting an exception to the eight-year limitation must be submitted by the student to the Graduate Council for approval. The letter of approval from the department chairman should identify the reasons why the older course work is still appropriate and be submitted with the petition to the Graduate Council.
Advisors & Examining Committees
All members of the examining committee ordinarily must be members of the Graduate Faculty. Appointments to examining committees of non-faculty members or of faculty members not on the Graduate Faculty must be approved by the Dean of Graduate Studies and Research. A listing of Graduate Faculty is contained in this Catalog.
Usually, when a student is admitted to graduate study, a temporary advisor is assigned. (In some cases, the department chairperson or director of graduate studies serves in this capacity for all incoming graduate students.) The student, following departmental procedures and regulations, then selects a permanent advisor who will be responsible for helping the student to finalize the program of study.
For most degree options, a second member is selected from the student's department to serve on the examining committee. (In some programs of study, more than one departmental faculty member, in addition to the advisor, serves on the examining committee.) A third member of the examining committee, called the Graduate Faculty Representative (GFR) is appointed by the Dean of Graduate Studies and Research from outside the student's department. The GFR must be on the graduate faculty and may not be selected from a separate discipline within a yoked department. The GFR is the Graduate School's representative on the examining committee and is responsible for reporting the results of graduate examinations to the Graduate Dean. The Graduate School welcomes suggestions from the student regarding candidates for the GFR.
Program, Candidacy, Application for Degree
Program of Study
Students seeking Master's Degrees, Educational Specialist Certificates, Family Centered Practice Certificates, or undertaking the Fifth Year Program in Teacher Education must submit a Program of Study form to the Office of Graduate Studies and Research during the semester immediately preceding the semester in which they intend to graduate. The Program of Study form will list all requirements that must be completed in order to receive the degree or certificate.
If the requirements for the degree or certificate being sought change during a student's program, the student is entitled to follow those requirements in effect at the time of admission, or the student may elect to follow the new requirements. If more than three years elapse after the filing of a Program of Study form, the form must be revised to meet the new requirements.
Candidacy for Doctoral Degrees
Students seeking Ed.D., Ph.D., and D.A. degrees must submit an Application for Candidacy form to the Office of Graduate Studies and Research upon completion of comprehensive examinations (or preliminary examinations for the Ed.D. in Counselor Education and Counseling), but no later than the semester immediately preceding the semester in which they intend to graduate. The Application for Candidacy form will list all requirements that must be completed in order to receive the doctoral degree.
Classified Research and Library
The Graduate Council affirms the policy regarding the participation of graduate students in classified or proprietary research as it is stated in the Idaho State University Patent Policy. "Idaho State University shall make only agreements with third parties which will not inhibit a student's timely completion of a course of study or degree." This shall be interpreted to mean that students must not be delayed in their program of study up to and including the award of the degree and that placement of the finished thesis or dissertation in the library for public access may not be delayed longer than six months.
Graduate student I.D. cards serve as permission to use the Library. Graduate students attempting to finish degree requirements, but who are not enrolled in courses and therefore do not hold a current student I.D., may obtain authorization to use the Library from the Office of Graduate Studies and Research.
Application For a Degree
Within the first two weeks of the semester or summer session in which the student expects to complete work for the degree, an application for graduation must be filed. An application fee of $20 must be paid at this time. If the student does not complete requirements during this semester or summer session, a new application must be submitted for the subsequent semester and the $20 fee paid again.
Degree applicants must submit all official transcripts before applying for a degree. Official transcripts to be used for transfer of credits into a degree program must be received before the application for a degree will be approved.
Applications for degrees will not be approved without the prior approval of a Program of Study or an Application for Candidacy form.
Examinations
All graduate students are to complete a final examination. Final examinations are scheduled by departments and reported to the Graduate School.
All examinations must be completed at least two weeks before the end of a semester or summer session in which the student plans to graduate. All graduate requirements must be completed prior to or at the end of the semester or summer session during which final examinations are held. Students writing theses or dissertations are given final oral examinations. Others are usually given both written and oral examinations. Doctoral students are required to take written examinations at various times prior to the final examination (see doctoral program descriptions). Oral examinations are open to all regular members of the faculty as observers. Oral examinations are not open to non-faculty without permission of the Dean of Graduate Studies and Research.
If the candidate's program requires a thesis, copies in substantially final form shall be in the hands of the examining committee at least two weeks before the date scheduled for the oral examination. Oral examinations are to be held at least two weeks prior to the date of graduation. If any member questions whether or not the substance or form of the thesis or dissertation is adequate, the committee as a whole decides if the thesis is sufficiently prepared for an oral examination. The major advisor is responsible for reporting a grade to the Registrar for all prior thesis registrations of the candidate when the thesis has been approved by the examining committee.
If the candidate's program requires no thesis, the department or college is responsible for having a written examination on the degree program prepared and administered. If the student's performance is judged to be satisfactory or if it is determined that deficiencies may be cleared up during the oral examination, the examining committee conducts the oral examination on the scheduled date. Otherwise, the student may be expected to complete subsequent requirements before the oral examination is held. Oral examinations for non-thesis students must also be completed two weeks prior to the date of graduation.
Petitions
A student may petition the Dean of Graduate Studies and Research for exceptions to the rules and procedures stated in the Graduate Catalog or for consideration of problems not covered by the stated procedures. Petition forms are available only from the Office of Graduate Studies and Research.
A student would use the petition form to petition for:
Students may voluntarily withdraw from a graduate course or a graduate program at any time. in such cases, the student must provide written request for the withdrawal by use of the appropriate withdrawal forms. Withdrawal from a course must occur prior to final examination week to avoid penalty.
A graduate student may be dismissed from a graduate program by a department/college according to the policy described in the Appeal of Dismissal section.
Appeals of Grade or Dismissal
Appeal of a Grade
Graduate students who wish to appeal a grade must use the following procedural format. Appeal of a grade must be made within one semester following the posting of the grade. Grades earned in the spring semester that are to be appealed need not be appealed during the summer, but the appeals process must be initiated in the following fall semester. Faculty members who are overruled in the appeals process are entitled to the same sequence of appeal as the graduate students. The Graduate School encourages resolution of appeals at the lowest possible level.
Step 1:
The Class Instructor. When a student receives a grade that is judged by that student to be unjustifiably low, the first step in the appeals process is to discuss the matter with the instructor of the class. This may be done informally but if the student plans to proceed up the line of appeal, a formal statement must be prepared in accordance with the format presented in the Protocol for Appeals shown below. This statement must specify what, in the student's mind, would constitute a fair redress of the grievance. If the instructor agrees that the student was erroneously graded, the grade is changed using standard procedures. If the instructor stands by the original decision, the case may be taken to the department chairperson. In such an instance, the instructor must prepare a statement explaining the reasons for the grade.
Step 2:
The Department Chairperson. The chairperson of the department in which the appealed grade was received is to review the student's written statement and the instructor's written rationale for the grade. The chairperson should interview the student and the instructor and may conduct whatever additional investigation is deemed appropriate to help in the decision-making process. The chairperson must render a decision within two weeks of receipt of the appeal.
If the chairperson sustains the decision of the instructor, the appeal may be taken to the dean of the college. If the department chairperson chooses to overrule the instructor, the grade must be adjusted and the chairperson may adjust the grade. It is possible to negotiate the adjusted grade. If the student remains dissatisfied with the adjustment, the appeal may still be taken to the dean of the college. Regardless of the decision, the chairperson must prepare a statement, in writing, that explains the reason for the decision. If the appeal is taken to the dean, the chairperson's statement must accompany the student's appeal and the instructor's statement.
Step 3:
The Dean of the College. The dean of the college is next to be contacted in the appeals process. The dean is to appoint an impartial committee of faculty members who will review all written documentation pertaining to the case. This appeals committee should interview both the student and the instructor and may conduct any other investigation deemed necessary. The appeals committee, which is advisory to the dean, must submit a written statement of its decision. The dean's decision is also to be tendered in writing. The committee's deliberation and the dean's decision must be completed within three weeks of receipt of the appeal in the dean's office. If the student is not satisfied with the decision of the committee, the appeal may be taken to the Graduate Council.
Step 4:
The Graduate Council. At the request of the student, the Graduate Council will review all prior documentation and render a decision within three weeks of receipt of the appeal. The Dean of Graduate Studies and Research and/or the Graduate Council may interview the student and instructor or carry out any other investigation deemed necessary to assist in the decision-making process. Once the decision is made, it is final and will be implemented by the Dean of Graduate Studies and Research.
Protocol for Appealing a Grade
Protocol for appeal of a grade must include the student's name, department/college, date of the appeal, course title and number, instructor's name, and grade received in the class. Also included must be the student's rationale for appeal of the grade. The student should state as succinctly as possible the reasons for making the appeal. The student must also state the solution that would satisfy the appeal from the student's perspective.
Appeal of Dismissal from a Graduate Program
Dismissal Policy
A graduate student may be dismissed from a graduate program by a department/college according to the following criteria:
Procedures for the Appeal of Dismissal
Step 1:
Departmental Level.
Protocol for appeal of dismissal from a graduate program must include the student's name, department/college, and date of the appeal. Also included must be the rationale for appeal of the dismissal. The student should state as succinctly as possible the reasons for making the appeal.