Coursework Requirements

Credit Load

All graduate students at Colorado State University are required to be continuously enrolled in their degree programs. This policy applies from the time of first enrollment through graduation. Registration is required in the fall and spring semesters of each academic year, but not during the summer term. Students typically fulfill credit load requirements with regular and/or non-regular courses. You may choose special Continuous Registration status, in which a Continuous Registration Fee is assessed rather than the regular tuition charge. Registration for CR status is accomplished the same was a course registration. If you have a GRA or GTA position, you must take at least 1 credit of graduate course work (regular or non-regular). If you are on CR status, you are not eligible for either GRA or GTA positions.

Scholastic Standards and Student Code of Conduct

Graduate students must remain in good academic standing at all times and must consistently demonstrate satisfactory progress in all aspects of their graduate program. At the discretion of your graduate committee, if your GPA falls below 3.00, you may be dismissed from graduate school. You may appeal a decision for dismissal through existing Graduate School grievance procedures.

You are required to follow the CSU Student Conduct Code (https://resolutioncenter.colostate.edu/wp-content/uploads/sites/32/2018/08/Student-Conduct-Code-v2018.pdf) and are also expect to conduct yourself according the CSU Principles of Community.

In addition to the minimum requirements set by the Graduate School, your thesis committee may require additional courses. You may also have to take undergraduate level courses (300-level or below) if you do not have the pre-requisite knowledge for graduate courses important for your degree program. Courses below 300-level at Colorado State University or equivalent level courses at another institution are not accepted for graduate credit. The specific courses required for your degree program will be decided on by your graduate committee and will be submitted to the Graduate School on the GS-6 form.

Brief course descriptions can be found in the course catalog http://catalog.colostate.edu/general-catalog/courses-az/Ā and course syllabi are posted on the departmental website (https://agsci.colostate.edu/agbio/graduate/courses/)

M.S. Plan A Degree

  • 30 credits plus a thesis
  • 24 of these credits must be earned at CSU
  • 21 of these credits must be earned after acceptance to graduate school
  • Of the courses earned at CSU, at least 16 credits must be in 500 or higher level courses. Of the 16 credits, at least 12 credits must be in 500 or higher levelĀ regularĀ courses.
    • Course numbers with the last two digits between 82-99 (i.e. PSY 784, JTC 690) are consideredĀ non-regular courses.
    • Includes courses completed both prior and after admission to the Graduate School.

Pest Management M.S. Plan B Degree

  • 34 credits, an internship, and a professional paper
  • 24 of these credits must be earned at CSU
  • 21 of these credits must be earned after acceptance to graduate school
  • 16 of these credits must be 500- or higher-level courses and 12 of these 16 credits must be earned in regular 500- or higher-level courses
  • The Pest Management courses are listed here https://agsci.colostate.edu/agbio/4-plus-1/#1501868836754-50b941b7-df33

Ph.D. Degree

  • 72 credits plus a dissertation
  • 24 credits may be research credits
  • 15 credits must be 500- or higher-level courses
  • 21 of these credits beyond an M.S. and 37 credits beyond a B.S./B.A. must be earned in 500- or higher-level courses
  • Up to 30 credits earned in an M.S. program at another institution or at CSU may be accepted towards Ph.D. requirements
  • Up to 10 credits in formal courses earned at another institution or at CSU after completion of an M.S. degree may be accepted towards Ph.D. requirements if approved by the graduate committee and the Graduate School.

No more than 6 credits earth with a grade of S in courses other than research and seminar will be counted toward meeting credit requirements for the M.S. or Ph.D. degrees.

Regular course works is defined as courses other than independent or group studies, research courses, seminars, thesis/dissertation credits, or any courses that are graded pass/fail. You must maintain a GPA of at least 3.00 in regular coursework and in the courses listed in your program of study (GS-6 form). A separate 3.00 GPA must be maintained in any independent or group studies, research courses, seminars, and thesis/dissertation credits receiving a traditional grade (A through F). If you fail to maintain good academic standing, you may be dismissed from graduate school.

You may take courses in addition to those required for your degree, but you must still meet the expectations of your GRA or GTA position (if applicable) and make timely progress on your independent research, internship, professional paper, and/or thesis. If you decide to take additional courses, you should discuss your plan with your graduate committee.

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