Curriculum

All entering first-year MS students undertake one four-week research rotation at the start of the fall semester. The rotation is chosen according to the interests of each student and the availability of laboratories; the faculty mentor for the research rotation is identified during the application process. In the event that a student enters an unworkable situation, that student may petition the graduate advisor for a different rotation.

During the rotation, students are expected to spend no less than ten hours per week on rotation-related activities. It is the responsibility of each faculty member to ensure that student rotations in faculty laboratories are properly structured for the enrichment of the students, including a defined goal for each student’s efforts.

At the conclusion of the rotation, an evaluation form is completed by the faculty mentor. This evaluation includes a brief assessment of the student’s rotation experience, level of effort and ability, and a grade for the rotation.

Upon mutual agreement by both the student and mentor, at the conclusion of the rotation, the student may enter the mentor’s laboratory and begin thesis research. If the student does not join the laboratory in which the rotation was performed, the student must rotate in another lab to find a mentor for thesis research. Up to three four-week rotations may be performed in the first semester. If no mentor is identified by the end of the first semester, the student is dismissed from the program.

Evaluation at Committee Meetings

Grades for thesis research (J810) are assigned by the student’s advisory committee. Students hold at least two committee meetings per year, during which the student’s progress in the program is assessed. At each meeting, the committee decides upon a grade that reflects the student’s progress, and each committee member initials the grade form to indicate assent to that grade. The committee also fills out a rubric that details the level of the student’s progress. After the meeting, the chair submits a written synopsis of the student’s progress to the course director (graduate advisor). Failure to hold a meeting for a given semester results in a grade of incomplete (I) at the end of that term. If no letter grade is assigned within one year, the I is automatically converted to an F.

The grade given to a student at the completion of a committee meeting is based upon a variety of criteria: the student’s understanding of the literature and ability to apply that literature to the design of the project; appropriate design of experiments including controls; the student’s technical ability and ability to move the project along logically, responding to problems as they arise; satisfactory progress since the previous meeting; student’s ability to effectively communicate the project and its results and think logically in responding to questions/comments and the student’s professionalism, as shown by participation in required activities beyond didactic coursework and research.

As the student advances through the program, the ability of the student to work independently also contributes to the formulation of a grade.