Graduate Program General Requirements
The academic regulations and requirements of the Graduate School for the M.S. and Ph.D. degrees are included in the graduate catalog and are applicable to all graduate students. The Graduate School has also published "A Handbook for Graduate Assistants," a valuable document available from the Graduate School.
Departmental regulations and requirements are included in this manual. Requirements may vary from year to year as these documents are periodically updated. A graduate student is responsible for meeting all requirements stated in the Graduate Catalog and the department's Graduate Program Manual current at the beginning of the first semester of the student’s degree program.
GENERAL KNOWLEDGE OF PLANT BIOLOGY EXAM
During the first week of arrival on campus all new graduate students will be required to take an exam to assess general knowledge of plant biology. All graduate students in Plant Biology should be expected to have a solid foundation of general knowledge of the subject matter in the field of plant biology—at minimum having the breadth expected of our undergraduates. Recognizing that applicants come from a variety of schools and backgrounds, this examination serves the purpose of determining strengths and deficiencies in general knowledge. The exam questions will be based on information presented in any good general botany textbook. Areas covered include: general botany (including life cycles of major groups), cell biology, anatomy, morphology, systematics, ecology, evolution, plant physiology, and genetics. A grade of 80% is considered passing. Should the exam reveal deficiencies in particular areas, the Graduate Program Committee will make recommendations to the student's advisor and guidance committee to remedy the deficiency (such as taking a particular course or courses).
DEPARTMENTAL SEMINARS
The Departmental Seminar series is an integral part of graduate education. These seminars consist of talks by invited speakers, faculty, and graduate students (see exit seminar). Graduate students are required to attend all departmental seminars. Exceptions can be granted only when there is a legitimate academic, research, or personal reason for absence.
GRADUATE SEMINAR — PBIO 997
Each student is required to register for Graduate Seminar (PBIO 997), during the first fall semester at UNH on a M.S. or Ph.D. program. The course is intended to help the student develop a research project, write a proposal, and learn how to present a well-designed seminar.
EXIT SEMINAR
Each student will present an Exit Seminar based on the student’s thesis/dissertation research. This seminar will be presented at one of the regularly scheduled Department Seminars at a time when the research is near completion in either the fall or spring semester (exceptions by approval of Graduate Coordinator for Chairperson only). Scheduled seminars should not be cancelled or postponed except for reasons of illness or other compelling personal reasons.
PROGRESS OF GRADUATE STUDENTS
It is the student’s responsibility to become acquainted with the Graduate School and departmental degree requirements and to fulfill these requirements in a timely manner. Students are responsible for their own progress. To ensure that satisfactory progress is being made, frequent meetings with the advisor are recommended. Additionally, the student should meet with his or her Guidance Committee each fall to bring the committee up-to-date on progress made. Graduate credit is normally granted only for coursework completed with a grade of B- or better. Warnings from the Graduate School may be issued for unsatisfactory academic progress.
In the event of reasonable doubt concerning the student’s academic or research progress or performance as a teaching or research assistant, the advisor, with the advice and consent of the Guidance Committee, may submit a report to the department’s Graduate Admissions and Standards Committee requesting action. This committee may, if warranted, recommend termination of an assistantship or suspension or dismissal from the graduate program. Procedures for suspension or dismissal have been outlined by the Graduate Council under “Due Process for Graduate Students” and are available in the Graduate Dean’s Office.
