M.S. Degree Plan A
Description
This M.S. degree emphasizes research and requires a written thesis of your research findings as well as graduate-level coursework related to your thesis work. The plan A M.S. degree is appropriate if you plan to continue your education or plan to have a career in research, extension, or teaching.
In the Agricultural Biology Department, you can earn a plan A M.S. degree in entomology, plant pathology, or weed science. If you are part of the Agricultural Biology department, but earning your degree in another program, such as Graduate Degree Program of Ecology, you are required to follow the procedures of the GDPE program https://ecology.colostate.edu/.
All of the forms listed in this table are available at the Graduate School Forms Website http://graduateschool.colostate.edu/policies-and-procedures/forms/.
Procedures and Deadlines
Step
Apply for residency
Timing
Immediately. All domestic non-resident graduate students, including permanent residents, must obtain Colorado in-state tuition classification prior to the start of their second year of employment as a graduate student. You must initiate filing for residency as soon as you move to Colorado in order to meet the deadline. Instructions on how to apply can be found here: http://catalog.colostate.edu/general-catalog/financial/residency/. Failure to do so may result in ineligibility for tuition coverage, starting in your third semester of graduate school.
Select 3-person graduate committee
End of the first semester is preferred.
End of the third semester is required.
Determine coursework and file program of study form (GS-6)
End of the second semester is preferred.
End of the third semester is required.
Apply for graduation (GS-25)
By the sixth week of the fall or spring semester or the first week of the summer semester.
Submit dissertation to thesis committee
Three weeks prior to defense date is preferred.
No later than two weeks prior to the defense date is required.
File the notice of defense form (GS23)
Two weeks prior to defense date.
Advertise thesis defense
One week prior to defense date.
Thesis defense
Prior to the twelfth week of the fall or spring semester or the fifth week of the summer semester.
File the report of final thesis exam (GS24)
Within two working days of the defense results.
Submit signed thesis to the graduate school
Prior to the end of the twelfth week of the fall or spring semester or the end of the fifth week of the summer semester.
Forms
The graduate school forms website, http://graduateschool.colostate.edu/policies-and-procedures/forms/, has other forms that may be important for your graduate work, including:
Request for change of department or degree program (GS7)
Petition for change of committee member (GS9A)
Study abroad transfer credit request (GS11)
Report of department examination (GS14)
Request for letter of completion (GS26)
Dissertation embargo request (GS31)