For Direct Online Application - http://www.lsu.edu/gradapply
Phone: LSU: 225-578-1641 or 225-578-2112(FAX)
Please Note: to speed things up, the three letters of recommendation and copies of all documents including the Departmental Information sheet can be directed to the Horticulture Department at: Graduate Coordinator, Horticulture Department, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, LA 70803. This is NOT absolutely necessary.
The Graduate School will still need the original copies of transcripts, GRE scores, TOEFL scores, etc. shipped directly to them as listed on their website.
To Check the Graduate School Status of Your Application - http://www.lsu.edu/gradapply
To Check the Horticulture Department Status of Your Application - pwwilson@lsu.edu
or phone: 225-578-2158 or 225-578-1025
HORTICULTURE ASSISTANTSHIP AVAILABILITY
L.S.U. DEPARTMENT OF HORTICULTURE GRADUATE
PROGRAM POLICIES AND PROCEDURES
The purpose of this document is to provide information concerning departmental policies in the planning and execution of graduate study programs and to facilitate mutual understanding between students and faculty. All students pursuing the M.S. and Ph.D. degrees in the department are expected to become familiar with this material pertaining to departmental policy, regulations, and requirements in the graduate program. As this document is intended only to supplement items included in the Graduate Catalog, each student is also responsible for knowledge of and adherence to all the rules and regulations of the graduate school, including all deadlines for submission of completed forms and reports to the Graduate School, the Department, and elsewhere.
Graduate work is offered in the Department of Horticulture leading to the Master of Science and the Doctor of Philosophy degrees. Students may specialize in any phase of horticulture, including breeding and genetics, propagation, physiology, mineral nutrition, weed control, plant growth and development, postharvest physiology, and food processing. Laboratories and experimental farms are available for each area of specialization within the department. Additional facilities are available on campus which include: computers, electron microscope, nuclear magnetic resonance spectrometer, mass spectrometer, inductively-coupled plasma analyzer, and radioisotope laboratories. A well-balanced program may include courses in agronomy, botany, food science, genetics, statistics, plant pathology, plant physiology, chemistry, biochemistry, entomology, and/or agricultural economics. Students may minor in any of these fields.
Unlike undergraduate studies, the graduate program is not based entirely on the ability of the student to earn good grades in organized course work. Participation in the entire horticultural programs is as important as grades. Within the graduate program, the student is expected to develop an appreciation of the total broad field of horticulture. This will not likely be accomplished through strictly formal studies but will come from working closely with the faculty of the department and other graduate students.
Objectives of Graduate Programs
The purpose of our M.S. program is: 1) to provide an opportunity for study beyond the baccalaureate level and to acquire some degree of specialization in horticulture; and 2) to initiate and develop proficiency in scientific investigation and in reporting the results of these investigations. Thus, the M.S. degree transforms the student of horticulture into a professional horticulturist on the second highest plane. Successful candidates for the M.S. in horticulture are qualified for positions of research and consultation in governmental agencies or private industry, or for horticultural positions in higher education involving intermediate-level teaching, research, and/or public service.
The Ph.D. is the highest earned degree offered by universities. It is conferred only for work of distinction in which the student displays decided powers of original scholarship and only in recognition of marked ability and achievement. The purpose of our Ph.D. program is: 1) to provide an opportunity for advanced study and specialization in horticulture; 2) to assist the student in developing proficiency in independent, scientific investigation; and 3) to allow the student to rigorously acquire and develop new knowledge about horticulture. Thus, the Ph.D. degree transforms the student of horticulture into a professional horticultural scientist on the highest plane. Successful candidates for the Ph.D. in horticulture are qualified for positions of advanced research and consultation in governmental agencies or private industry, or for positions in higher education involving teaching, research, or extension work in horticulture.
Applicants should have a grade point average of at least 3.0 (4.0 =A) for the last 60 semester credit hours or 90 quarter credit hours of undergraduate course work attempted. All applicants should have a minimum GRE score of 1000. International students must have a 550 TOEFL score. Students entering a doctorate program are generally expected to have successfully completed a masters-level program with thesis. Those who have completed a non-thesis Masters are normally not admitted into the doctorate program.
The Department of Horticulture accepts only those students who show the potential and promise to complete the requirements for the degree being sought. Applicants should have adequate preparation in the fundamental sciences (chemistry, biochemistry, calculus, statistics, physics) and at least 20 semester credit hours of undergraduate course work in the plant sciences (e.g., agronomy, botany, horticulture, plant physiology, plant pathology, plant anatomy). Applicants lacking adequate preparation will be accepted conditionally, and the undergraduate courses must be completed before the degree will be awarded.
In awarding financial support for graduate study, there are always many more applicants than support monies. Acceptance for graduate study in the department is not considered to be a commitment for present or future financial support. Students with exceptional qualifications are urged to apply for University- or College-wide fellowships. Individual faculty members may have research assistantships available for specific projects based on grants. In addition, the Department of Horticulture has several research and teaching assistantships available to well-qualified students. These departmental assistantships are allocated to individual faculty members on a rotating basis and an opening becomes available only when a student graduates or resigns.
Applicants for departmental assistantships must have a minimum 3.25 GPA, 1000 GRE and 550 TOEFL (if applicable). Consequently, a careful evaluation of each applicant is made and offers are extended to those candidates who show the greatest potential for graduate study and use of the knowledge gained. Only for exceptional cases will the Graduate Policy Committee consider other applicants for an assistantship. The department does not assume the responsibility for giving priority to those students presently in the program at their own expense. A student in the non-thesis M.S. option will not be considered for an assistantship.
Departmental graduate assistantships are normally assigned annually on a fiscal year basis and will be renewed only upon maintaining satisfactory performance. New students wishing to be considered for a departmental research or teaching assistantship should indicate this at the time of graduate application. Current students who wish to apply for assistantships must submit a cover letter and supporting materials (i.e., transcripts and GRE scores) to the Graduate Coordinator. Assistantships are subject to annual renewal based on satisfactory progress as determined by their Graduate Committee and the Graduate Policy Committee. Assistantships for M.S. may be renewed for up to a total of 24 months. Those for Ph.D. students may be renewed for up to a total of 36 months. Extensions require prior approval of the department head, the Graduate Committee, and the Graduate Policy Committee. The maximum length of extension will be 1 semester. Current assistantship stipends are $12,000 for M. S. and $14,000 for Ph. D., minimum, but stipends may be supplemented through individual faculty grant funds. Graduate students are not exempt from tuition and must pay the equivalent of "in-state" fees out of their assistantships.
Students who indicate during application that an assistantship is required prior to graduate study and are accepted into the graduate program without an offer of assistantship must inform the Graduate Coordinator, in writing, if they still intend to begin graduate study. Otherwise, it is assumed the student will not begin graduate study within the Horticulture Department.
A doctoral or masters student holding a graduate assistantship can only pursue a dual degree with the written consent of the student's major professor and graduate committee. No doctoral student will be permitted to begin a dual degree program without successfully completing the general exam.
Research Assistantships
Research assistants are expected to work part-time for their assistantship. Work hours for students are determined on the basis of a forty-hour week. Accordingly, a one-half time research assistantship requires at least twenty hours per week. The specific nature of this service is determined by the student's major professor and is exclusive of thesis/dissertation research. Support for students not fulfilling their assumed responsibilities will be terminated. The student is entitled to a two-week vacation each year, but the time of the vacation must be approved by the major professor.
Teaching Assistantships
In addition to departmental research assistantships, a limited number of assistantships (teaching) may be available from the College of Agriculture. Application for these assistantships should normally be made through the Graduate Policy Committee by February 15 for consideration of employment beginning the next fiscal year (July 1). LSU requires all international students to be interviewed by the Director of Interdepartmental Linguistics Program before serving as teaching assistants. Upon the Director's recommendation, such students may be required to participate in a special course in linguistics.
General Graduate Teaching Requirement
All Horticulture graduate students (regardless of assistantship status) are expected to help teach undergraduate courses within the department as a general requirement for the advanced degree. All Ph.D. students are required to serve as a teacher's aid for two semesters. M.S. students are required to serve as a teacher's aid for one semester. This requirement is usually met by the student helping with lab sections in a Horticulture course.
Departmental Colloquia and Hort 7913 Seminar
Departmental Colloquia will be held throughout the academic year. All resident graduate students are expected to attend all departmental colloquia. These consist of presentations by visiting lecturers and departmental scientists. In addition, each student is required to present a Thesis/Dissertation research seminar of their results to the entire Horticulture Department prior to graduation.
Graduate Seminar in Horticulture (Hort 7913) consists of presentations and research critiques by graduate students. Each semester a different special topic area will be chosen by the faculty chair of the seminar. Graduate students are required to complete at least two semesters of seminar before completing either the M.S. or Ph.D. degree. This course will be graded.
Graduate Policy Committee
The Graduate Policy Committee (GPC) consists of 3 Horticulture Department faculty members whose role is to ensure that satisfactory annual academic and research progress is made by each student to maintain uniformity of standards, and to ensure that the minimum departmental expectations are adhered to by all graduate students. The GPC maintains a file of each student's progress during his/her graduate career, and advises the student of potential problems. The GPC also makes recommendations to the department head concerning various aspects of the departmental graduate program, including allocation of scholarships, assistantships, and travel grants. This committee is not intended to usurp the responsibility of the student's Graduate Committee for academic and research guidance.
Near the end of every fall semester, each student must be evaluated by the Graduate Policy Committee with respect to completed coursework requirements and research progress. A completed Graduate Student Progress Document (see Appendix B), signed by the Graduate Committee, must be submitted to the Graduate Policy Committee prior to December 18. Failure to submit a completed document will result in a termination recommendation by the Graduate Policy Committee and possible dismissal of the student from the department by the Department Head.
Graduate Coordinator
The Graduate Coordinator serves as a member or exofficio member of the Graduate Policy Committee. The role of the Graduate Coordinator is to provide a liaison between faculty and graduate students with respect to recruitment, application procedures, sources of graduate funding, and consistent interpretation of graduate program policies.
THE GRADUATE COMMITTEE
While all faculty are available to assist and consult with graduate students, the key individual in the development of the graduate program is the major professor. The major professor is responsible for helping the student plan a program of study that will provide the opportunity to reach a prescribed level of excellence. It is important to recognize that the professor is to advise and counsel and not to "carry" the student. It is the responsibility of the student to achieve or exceed the prescribed level of excellence.
Any associate or full member of the Graduate Faculty (see Appendix A) may serve as major professor to M.S. and Ph.D. candidates. The acceptance by a major professor is based on the interests and goals of the student, the source of funding if the student is provided financial assistance, the current work-load and interest of the faculty, and the availability of facilities. In the working relationship between major professor and student, every effort will be made to ensure that the student has the best possible opportunity to achieve the graduate program goals.
It is the function of the student's Graduate Committee to assist the major professor and the student in developing an appropriate course of study, and to review the student's detailed research proposal, once the project has been outlined by the student and the major professor. The role of the committee is to offer ongoing consultation, helpful suggestions, and expertise toward the most effective execution of the research effort. It is the student's responsibility to keep the graduate committee regularly appraised of progress and setbacks in research and the study program. Students may, and should, arrange meetings of their Graduate Committees as needed and at least once per year.
Before preregistration for the student's second semester of study, a Graduate Committee must be selected. The recommended composition of this committee will be determined by the student and major professor, with final committee members officially nominated by the department Head and approved by the Graduate School Dean. Emphasis should be placed on adding technical, scientific, and/or experimental expertise to complement the knowledge foundation provided by the major professor. The M.S. committee shall consist of at least 3 members of the Graduate Faculty, one of whom is the major professor and one who is a full member of the Graduate Faculty in the Horticulture Department (Appendix A). If the student is pursuing a minor, one committee member must be from the minor department.
For Ph.D. candidates, the Graduate Committee is composed of at least 5 members, two of whom are full members of the Graduate Faculty from the Horticulture Department (Appendix A). At least one member of the Ph.D. Graduate Committee must be from a department other than Horticulture. Members of the Graduate Committee will usually constitute the General and Final Examining Committees.
In all instances, the student's major professor will serve as Chair of the Graduate Committee. The Head of the Horticulture Department may serve as an ex-officio member of all departmental graduate committees. Additional committee members may be recommended at any time, as deemed necessary by the major professor and the Graduate Policy Committee. Recommended additions or changes in the composition of the Graduate Committee must be approved by the department Head and by the Dean of the Graduate School.
Before the end of the pre-registration period for the student's second semester of graduate study, an exploratory meeting should be held with the Graduate Committee. The meeting will be arranged by the student and the major professor, with the student providing transcripts and career goal statements to each committee member prior to the meeting. The purpose of this meeting is to determine the student's current level of competence and to begin development of a total plan of study to assist the student in achieving the determined career goals. The meeting will typically be an informal discussion/oral examination, but it may also be preceded by a written examination if desired by the student's major professor.
Within two weeks after the exploratory meeting, a complete program of study (see Appendix C) will be prepared by the student and the major professor. This plan will include a schedule of courses to be completed and will be based upon the results of the exploratory meeting and the recommendations of the Graduate Committee. A timetable of the proposed total program will also be prepared at this time. The plan of study and the timetable will be submitted to the Graduate Committee for approval and to the Graduate Policy Committee for review and inclusion in the student's graduate file. The plan of study shall become the minimum coursework requirement for graduation. All members of the student's Graduate Committee must be provided a copy of the plan. If there is to be any deviation from the plan, modifications must be approved by the student's Graduate Committee.
A specific research proposal must be developed by both M.S. and Ph.D. candidates before the midpoint of the second semester of study. It is to be developed by the student in consultation with the major professor. Copies of the proposal are first submitted to the Graduate Policy Committee for review of the general area of research and recommendation of any additional members for the students's Graduate Committee. The proposal is then presented by the student to his/her Graduate Committee for their recommendations and approval at a meeting held for this purpose. A copy of the approved proposal must be submitted to the Graduate Policy Committee for inclusion in the student's graduate file.
The research proposal should include the following:
1. Title - A clear, concise statement of the subject of the research. The title, used by itself, should give a good indication of what the project is about.
2. Previous work - A brief review of the current state of knowledge on the problem, how it falls short of meeting current and future needs, and how the proposed work will extend present knowledge (literature citations should be listed at the end of the project outline). The conclusion of this section should lead the reader directly into the next two subsections.
3. Justification - A concise statement of the importance of the problem to state, regional, national, or international agriculture; reasons for doing the work; and potential benefits to agriculture, the scientific community, and the public at large.
4. Objectives - Enumerated, clear, complete, and logically-arranged statements describing the specific objectives of the project.
5. Procedure - A statement of the essential working plans, methods, experimental designs, and statistical analyses to be used in attaining each of the stated objectives. The procedures should correspond to the objectives and follow the same order. A tentative schedule of the work to be undertaken should be presented. The location of the work and the facilities and equipment available and needed should be indicated. The statement on procedure should indicate that the research has been carefully planned and provide for changes when they are necessary to improve the work.
6. Duration - An estimate of the time required to complete the
planned research and to publish the results.
Whenever any material change in the objectives of a project is advisable,
a new or revised project outline should be prepared and circulated to the
Graduate Committee and Graduate Policy Committee. A major change in procedure
may also necessitate a revision of a project outline.
In addition to the general requirements for the M.S. degree as presented in the LSU Graduate School Catalog, the Department of Horticulture has certain specific requirements that must be met. The student must demonstrate a high degree of familiarity with the subject of horticulture, especially in the student's area of specialization. Also, a thesis must be presented based on original research results worthy of publication in a refereed scientific journal.
Coursework programs are varied to meet the needs and interests of individual students. Those students who are deficient in horticulture or other fields important to their program will be required to improve their background by taking certain undergraduate courses which usually do not carry graduate credit. In some cases, 4000-level courses taken for this purpose may be included as credit courses. It is strongly urged, though not required, that Master=s students take at least one course in each of four core areas of horticulture or demonstrate equivalent transfer credit. These four core areas are: 1) olericulture (HORT 4083), 2) pomology (HORT 4085), 3) ornamentals (HORT 4021, 4071, 4086, or 4087), and 4) postharvest/processing (HORT 4051 or 4096).
The minimum requirement is 30 total semester hours of graduate credit including 6 hours of thesis credit (HORT 8000). In order to achieve familiarity with the subject matter, the student is required to earn a minimum of 24 semester hours of credit in graduate coursework (4000 level or higher); at least 9 of these semester hours must be in courses at or above the 7000 level. Special problem/topic courses in any department can make up no more than 4 hours total. All students are required to take one course in statistics (EXST 7004 or 7005). In addition, each student must enroll in graduate seminar (Horticulture 7913) at least twice. A total of 6 semester hours of credit must be earned in thesis research (HORT 8000) during the program of study. Formal coursework is concentrated in horticulture, but some courses may be required in other areas. A minor is not required for the M.S. student, but one may be chosen if desired. A limited number (up to 6 semester hours) of transfer credits may be accepted from accredited institutions, provided that they are approved by the major professor, the Graduate Policy Committee, the department Head, the Graduate School and the Registrar.
In certain exceptional cases, a student may be allowed to take 6 additional hours of formal coursework in horticulture or a related field instead of Horticulture 8000 (the "non-thesis" option). This results in a total coursework requirement of 36 semester hours, at least 18 of which must be in courses at or above the 7000 level. Special problem/topic courses in any department can make up no more than 4 hours total. This alternative option must be approved within the first year in a student's program of study by his/her Graduate Committee and Graduate Policy Committee. Students choosing to pursue the M.S. degree through this optional procedure generally will not be considered for future doctoral studies at LSU, nor will they be eligible for a new or continuing assistantship. A final written and/or oral comprehensive examination and a project report (approved by the Graduate Committee) are required for all non-thesis M.S. students in lieu of the thesis defense.
In most cases, students are advised to complete more than the minimum required hours as stated in the Graduate Catalog.
The thesis must fulfill several requirements. It must be an original contribution to knowledge in horticulture. It should illustrate that the student has knowledge of research methods, the ability to conduct research, the necessary skill to obtain and analyze research data, the judgement to interpret the data logically and objectively, and the literary capacity to prepare a document of impact.
The research work leading to the thesis begins early in the student's program of study. Ordinarily, assignment of a particular problem is made by the major professor or the student is allowed to choose or develop a project that is considered appropriate by the major professor. This decision is usually made during the first semester of study. The student prepares a thesis proposal in outline form to be followed generally during the course of research work. The proposal must be approved by the major professor, reviewed by the Graduate Policy Committee, and then approved by the members of the student's Graduate Committee. Alterations may be made in the proposal at the suggestion of any committee member, subject to concurrence by the major professor and the other members of the Graduate Committee.
Once the proposal is approved, the student relies heavily on the major professor for guidance and advice in carrying out the research work necessary for the thesis. In most cases, however, additional consultation with other members of the Graduate Committee will be needed for matters pertaining to their areas of specialty.
When the research has been completed, the student must document the project in the form of a thesis. At least five weeks prior to the thesis defense (final exam), a draft of the thesis must be submitted to the student's major professor. This draft should be what the student and the major professor consider to be an acceptable presentation to the rest of the Graduate Committee. The major professor will then review and make appropriate suggestions regarding logic, spelling, punctuation, grammar, sentence structure, organization, and format. Once these changes have been incorporated, the thesis should be circulated to the student's Graduate Committee for further input. A copy should also be given to the Graduate Committee's authorized outside representative, if one has been appointed by the Graduate School.
The changes suggested by the Graduate Committee should then be included and the draft put into final form, but not final typing, and copies made available to the Graduate Committee. All members of the Examination Committee must receive the thesis two weeks in advance of the date of the final examination. Final acceptance of the master's thesis rests with the Examination Committee.
The form of the thesis must be in accordance with instructions from the LSU Graduate School. Detailed guidelines for the format and style are available from the Graduate School.
Final Examination (Thesis Defense)
The final examinations shall be taken during the final semester as a Master's degree candidate. The members of the Examination Committee are usually the same individuals who have served on the student's Graduate Committee. The final examinations usually consists of a short seminar presented by the student describing the thesis research, followed by questions from each member of the Graduate Committee. The questions pertain primarily to the thesis but may apply to some other area of the major or minor fields. There is no time limit on the examination. The outcome of the M.S. final examination is is either pass or fail (elimination from the departmental graduate program). In order for the student to pass this examination, there may not be more than one dissenting vote.
If the committee approves the thesis, the student must make whatever alterations the committee has agreed upon, has as many pages re-typed as necessary, and submits two copies of the thesis to the Graduate School, one copy to the major professor, one copy to the department head, and retains a personal copy. It is common courtesy to offer a copy to each member of the Graduate Committee as well.
For non-thesis option students, a comprehensive general knowledge final exam will be given after submission of the project report to the Graduate Committee and prior to the end of the final semester of studies.
Publication Policy
The schedule and procedures described in this section have been established to ensure that there will be adequate time for all involved to provide as much assistance as possible in helping the student develop a paper that will be submitted to a scientific journal. The student is required to submit at least some portion of the thesis for publication in a nationally or internationally recognized, refereed, scholarly journal. When preparing a paper for publication, the student is responsible for senior authorship, and the major professor and possibly others who have made significant contributions to the work usually act as junior authors. All manuscripts must include an acknowledgement of the university, the department, and other personnel who have rendered valuable service to the project. A draft of the paper or a copy of the completed manuscript to be published must be submitted to the major professor before the student's graduate program is officially completed.
A candidate for the master's degree must complete all requirements for the degree within five calendar years after the first registration in the Graduate College.
Sequence of M.S. Program: Summary and Timetable
1. Acceptance by major professor.
2. Graduate Committee selected prior to preregistration for the second semester of study.
3. Exploratory meeting with Graduate Committee to determine the plan of coursework that will be required during the student's graduate program. A copy of this plan of study and a timetable for completion must be given to each Graduate Committee and Graduate Policy Committee member within two weeks of the exploratory meeting.
4. Research (or non-thesis project) proposal developed, submitted and reviewed by the Graduate Policy Committee, then submitted and approved by the student's Graduate Committee before the midpoint of the second semester. A copy of the approved proposal should be submitted to the Graduate Policy Committee for inclusion in the student's graduate file.
5. Annual evaluation (Appendix B) of research and academic progress by the students' Graduate Committee and the Graduate Policy Committee (due every December 18th).
6. Submit a draft of thesis to major professor five weeks prior to final exam. Submit a request to the Graduate School for approval of the Examining Committee (Appendix C) at least three weeks prior to the exam. Copies of the thesis must be submitted to the student's Examining Committee at least two weeks prior to the exam. Students should consult the Graduate School academic calendar for appropriate deadlines during the semester of expected graduation.
7. Submit manuscript from thesis research for publication in appropriate refereed journal prior to exam.
8. Presentation of student's research (or non-thesis project) results in the Departmental Colloquium prior to exam.
9. Final progress report (Appendix D) approval by Graduate Policy Committee prior to exam.
10. Thesis defense (Comprehensive final exam for non-thesis option).
In addition to the general requirements for the Ph.D. as presented in the LSU Graduate Catalog, the Department of Horticulture has certain specific requirements that must be met. The student must demonstrate unmistakable evidence of mastery of the subject of horticultural science, especially in the horticultural area of specialization. Such evidence is ordinarily provided by passing a General Examination. Also, he/she must prove the ability to complete a significant program of original research by preparing a dissertation embodying creative scholarship, worthy of publication in refereed scientific journals. A rigorous Final Examination must also be passed.
In order to achieve mastery of the subject matter, the student is required to earn at least 45 hours total of graduate credit with a minimum of 36 hours in graduate coursework (4000-level courses or higher) and 9 semester hours of credit in dissertation research (HORT 9000) during the program of study. Research problems/special topics courses in any department can make up no more than 4 hours total. The above is the minimum course credit hour requirement for graduation; more course credits may be required by a student's Graduate Committee. Formal coursework is concentrated in the student's area of specialization, but some courses are also required to add depth to the student's horticultural and scientific background. Transfer credits may be accepted from accredited institutions, provided they are approved by the student's Graduate Committee, the Graduate Policy Committee, and the Graduate School.
Coursework programs are varied to meet the needs and interests of individual students. Students who are deficient in horticulture or other fields important to their program will be required to improve their background by taking certain undergraduate courses which usually do not carry graduate credit. Most 4000-level courses taken for this purpose may be included as credit courses toward the 36 hour requirement. All Ph.D. students, with the exception of those in turfgrass science, must successfully complete or have transfer credit for at least one course in each of four core areas, in addition to the courses recommended by the student's Graduate Committee. The core areas are: 1) olericulture (HORT 4083 or 7025), 2) pomology (HORT 4085 or 7026), 3)ornamentals (HORT 4021, 4071, 4086, or 4087), and 4) postharvest/processing (HORT 4051 or 4096). Turfgrass science students have the option of either fulfilling the credit requirement in the core areas or declaring a minor (see below).
Doctoral students are required to take at least 2 courses in Experimental Statistics (7004 and 7014 or 7005 and 7015) or have equivalent transfer credit. In addition, each student must enroll in graduate seminar (Horticulture 7913) at least twice, and take English 4002 (or equivalent). In most cases, students are advised to complete more than the minimum required hours as stated in the Graduate Catalog in order to provide more thorough training in horticultural science at this level.
Together, the student and the major professor draw up a tentative "Program of Study" and schedule the Exploratory meeting with the student's Graduate Committee. During this meeting, the Graduate Committee will be consulted regarding program development. A minor field may be chosen, but it is not required except for those turfgrass science students who choose not to fulfill the core area requirement. Coursework requirements in the minor field (minimum of 10 semester hours for Ph.D.) must be approved by the minor field head/chair (assuming he/she has full graduate faculty status), the minor field graduate coordinator and the faculty member from the minor field who serves as minor professor on the student's Graduate Committee. A "Program of Study" form (see Appendix C) from the Graduate School is used to obtain the signatures of the minor professor, the major professor, the minor field department head, and the Dean of the Graduate School. Minor fields chosen by Ph.D. students in horticulture include: agronomy, biochemistry, botany, entomology, experimental statistics, food science, forestry, plant pathology, and crop physiology.
Those students working toward the Ph.D. degree are required to successfully complete a General Examination prior to admission to candidacy for the doctoral degree. The time and date of the General Exam shall be announced to the faculty in the departmental newsletter two weeks prior to the exam. The General Examination shall be taken following completion of the majority of the formal course work. If the student holds an M.S. degree, the oral General Examination for the Ph.D. shall be given no later than the end of the second year after enrollment in the Graduate College for a Ph.D. degree. The student must send a recent, complete copy of all transcripts to the committee members before the exam.
The purpose of the General Examination is to ensure that the student is competent in the chosen fields of specialization and can be expected to successfully conduct the research outlined in the dissertation research proposal. The General Examination is a very comprehensive examination of general knowledge which usually comprises several hours of discussion. It is likely to be the most comprehensive testing of knowledge and understanding that the student will ever experience. Not only is it important that the candidate demonstrate a thorough mastery of the specific subject matter within the chosen discipline, but he/she must also demonstrate a clear comprehension of how specific concepts and facts fit together and how this knowledge is utilized in problem-solving situations. The exam is a comprehensive test of the student's mastery of the subject matter, the ability to think and express oneself clearly and forcibly, and the capacity to pursue independent research. It may be both written and oral, and is not limited to courses taken. The written exam shall be administered by the student's major professor and include questions submitted by the student's Graduate Committee.
The oral General Examination is chaired by the major professor, with participation by all members of the Graduate Committee plus one or more additional members appointed by the Dean of the Graduate School. During this examination, the student is expected to demonstrate a high level of competence in the field of horticultural science, with in-depth knowledge in the area of specialization. Further, full knowledge of the minor field should be displayed. The length of this examination is a matter of discretion by the Graduate Committee.
The outcome of the Ph.D. General Examination is either pass (not more than one dissenting vote) or fail. If, in the judgement of the examining committee, the student passes the general examination, a form is filled out by the major professor and signed by each committee member stating the results of the examination and requesting the admission of the student to "candidacy" status for the Ph.D. degree. This form is likewise submitted to the Dean of the Graduate School for approval and submission to the Graduate Council. In the event of failure, the failure is reported to the Graduate School and the student may retake the exam only once more. Failure of the second General Examination results in dismissal from the Graduate Program.
The dissertation must fulfill several requirements. It must be an original contribution to scientific knowledge in horticulture. It should reflect the student's thourough familiarity with research methods in horticulture, the ability to conduct independent research, the necessary skill to obtain and analyze research data, the judgment to interpret the data logically and objectively, and the literary capacity to prepare a document of this size and impact.
The research work leading to the dissertation begins early in the student's program of study. Ordinarily, a particular problem is either assigned by the major professor or the student is allowed to choose or develop one that is considered appropriate by the major professor. This decision is usually made before the Exploratory meeting. After the meeting, the student prepares a dissertation proposal in outline form to be followed generally during the course of research. Approval of the proposal must be obtained from the major professor and other members of the student's Graduate Committee, and copies of the approved proposal must be given to the Graduate Policy Committee for the student's graduate file. Alterations may be made in the proposal at the suggestion of any committee member, subject to concurrence by the major professor.
Once the proposal is approved, the student is expected to assume full responsibility for the independent thought and research activities necessary for successful completion of the project. A close "working relationship" with the major professor will provide a level of expert guidance and advice in carrying out the research work necessary for the dissertation. In most cases, however, additional consultation with other members of the Graduate Committee or campus experts will be needed on matters specific to their fields.
The form of the dissertation must be in accordance with instructions from the LSU Graduate School. Detailed guidelines for format and style are available to the student from the Graduate School. When the student has finished preparing the typed draft of the dissertation, it is submitted to the major professor who reviews the work for logic and possible errors in spelling, punctuation, grammar, sentence structure, organization, and format. Once the draft is approved by the major professor, the student makes the necessary corrections, has the dissertation retyped, and a copy is distributed to each member of the Graduate Committee by the date specified in the Graduate School Catalog.
Final Exam (Dissertation Defense)
At least five weeks prior to the final oral exam, a draft of the dissertation must be submitted to the student's major professor. This draft should be what the student and the major professor consider an acceptable presentation. The major professor will then review and suggest appropriate changes. Once these changes have been incorporated, , the dissertation is to be circulated to the student's Graduate Committee for further input. A copy should also be given to the official outside representative authorized to approve the dissertation format, as required by the Graduate School.
The changes suggested by the Graduate Committee should then be included, and the draft put into final form, but not final typing, and copies made available to the Graduate Committee. All members of a final examination committee must receive the dissertation at least two weeks in advance of the date of the examination.
The final oral examination is an open exam and has the essential character of the General Examination, except for the level of performance expected by the student and finality of its interpretation by the faculty. Traditionally, this examination is described as the dissertation defense. Generally, the research on which the dissertation is based provides the starting point for question posed.
It is the general practice for questioning to pursue lines of thought and argument from data and concepts that have contributed to the research and to its critical evaluation by the student. This broadening of the base is acceptable for the purpose both of defending the dissertation and of determining the intellectual qualifications of the candidate for the degree. Inasmuch as the Ph.D. degree is conferred on the basis of originality, independence of thought and capacity to synthesize and interpret, the oral examination generally deals more with principles and historic perspective than with factual data. The student is trying for an academic degree of high order, and the final oral examination should be conducted on a corresponding plane of intellectual inquiry. The examination itself is not a routine exercise to be taken lightly by the student and examining committee, but one which determines the student's qualification for a degree having the broad connotation of Doctor of Philosophy. In judging the qualification for a degree of this type, the quality of the research presented, as well as its defense and evidence of associated intellectual capacity, are taken seriously into account. Suggestions for exam preparation are listed in Appendix E.
The outcome of this examination shall be pass (no more than one dissenting
vote) or fail. If the outcome is fail, the committee decides:
1. That the examination should be rescheduled after a short interval.
2. That the failure to pass should be recorded, but that the
candidate should be given another opportunity after completing additional
coursework or research.
3. That the failure is final [but, at the discretion of the major
professor and committee, the student may be allowed to complete a Master's
degree with the work already finished].
If the committee approves the dissertation, the student makes whatever alterations the committee has agreed upon, has as many pages as necessary re-typed, and submits two copies of the dissertation to the Graduate School, one copy to the major professor, one copy to the department head, and retains one copy for himself/herself. Common courtesy calls for the student to offer a copy to each Graduate Committee member.
Publication Policy
The Ph.D. student is required to submit at least some portion of the dissertation for publication in a nationally or internationally recognized, refereed, scholarly journal. In preparing a paper for publication, the student is responsible for senior authorship, and the major professor and possibly others who have made significant contributions to the work usually act as junior authors. All manuscripts must include an acknowledgement of the University, the department, and other personnel who have rendered valuable service to the project. The student must submit a draft of the paper or a copy of the completed manuscript to the major professor before his/her graduate program is officially completed.
A candidate for the Ph.D. degree must complete all requirements for the degree within seven calendar years after the first registration in the Graduate College.
Sequence of Ph.D. Program: Summary and timetable
1. Acceptance by major professor.
2. Graduate Committee selected prior to preregistration for the second semester of study.
3. Exploratory meeting with Graduate Committee to determine the plan of coursework that will be required during the student's graduate program. The "Program of Study" form from the Graduate School (Appendix C) should be developed and filed with the Graduate School and Graduate Policy Committee.
4. Research proposal developed, submitted and reviewed by the Graduate Policy Committee, then submitted and approved by the student's Graduate Committee before the midpoint of the second semester. A copy of the approved proposal should be submitted to the Graduate Policy Committee for inclusion in the student's graduate file.
5. Annual evaluation (Appendix B) of research and academic progress by Graduate Policy Committee (prior to December 18).
6. Completion of majority of formal course work.
7. Submit a request to the Graduate School for approval of the General Examination date and Examining Committee (Appendix C) at least threeweeks prior to the requested date. The General Examination (written and/or oral) should be taken before the end of the second year of graduate study.
8. Completion of research.
9. Submit a draft of the dissertation to the major professor five weeks prior to final oral exam. Submit a request to the Graduate School for approval of the Final Examining Committee (Appendix C) at least three weeks prior to the exam. Copies of the thesis must be submitted to the student's examining committee at least two weeks prior to the exam. Students should consult the Graduate School academic calendar for appropriate deadlines during the semester of expected graduation.
10. Completion of dissertation.
11. Submit manuscript(s) from dissertation research for publication in appropriate referred journals prior to exam.
12. Presentation of research results in the Departmental Colloquium during final semester.
13. Final progress report (Appendix D) approved by Graduate Policy Committee prior to exam.
14. Dissertation Defense (Final Oral Exam) by student's Graduate Committee.
Graduate Faculty in the Department of Horticulture
Ed Bush - Associate Member
Charles Johnson - Full Member
Jeff Kuehny - Full Member
Don R. LaBonte - Full Member
James McCrimmon - Full Member
Carl Motsenbocker - Full Member
David H. Picha - Full Member
Paul W. Wilson - Full Member
Graduate Student Progress Document
Student's Name _____________________________________________ Major Professor ___________________________________APPENDIX B - Graduate Student Progress Document
INSTRUCTIONS: The graduate student and major professor
should jointly fill in and attach the information required below. Then
in the space provided, each Graduate Committee member should acknowledge
the described status of each item by initialing or by providing comments
when in disagreement. Items marked with an Asterisk (*) need only be answered
by the student and major professor. Completed forms, including all signatures
except those of the Graduate Policy Committee, must be submitted no later
than
December 18 to the Chair of the Graduate Policy Committee
for review by the entire committee.
| Graduate Committee Initials and Comments | ||
|
|
____________________________________________________________ | |
|
|
____________________________________________________________ | |
|
(Attach copy of updated transcripts.) |
____________________________________________________________ | |
|
|
____________________________________________________________ | |
|
Is satisfactory research progress being made? |
____________________________________________________________ | |
| *Ph.D. students only:
6. Was the General Examination taken before the end of
the second
|
____________________________________________________________ | |
|
instructor for which you served as a teaching assistant. |
____________________________________________________________ | |
|
|
____________________________________________________________ | |
SIGNATURE:
_________________________ _______ _____________________________________ ______
Graduate Student Date Major Professor Date
Graduate School Request Forms and Documents
Masters Program
-Request for Master's Examination
-Application for Admission to Candidacy
-Application for Degree
Doctoral Program
-Program of Study for the Doctoral Degree
-Request for change in Program of Study for Doctoral Degree
-Request for Doctoral General or Final Examination
-Application for Degree
1. Date of presentation of research results in Departmental Colloquium?
2. Title of manuscript(s) and refereed journal(s) to which manuscript has been submitted for publication:
3. Date of final examination (thesis/dissertation defense) by Graduate Committee?
4. Have all research materials and samples been disposed of from departmental storage facilities, greenhouses, etc?Graduate Policy
Committee Approval:
1. , Chairperson
2.
3.
Graduate Exam Preparation and Performance
The graduate program of study is designed to provide the student the opportunity to achieve a high degree of competence in preparation for a professional career. Throughout the program the student is evaluated, both formally and informally. Grades attained in formal courses are important but represent only a part of the total. Typically, the most in-depth evaluation of the overall professional competence of the student comes in relation to the general and final exams and the thesis or dissertation presentation. Thus, it is very important that the student do the best possible job in demonstrating total competence. The following are but a few general suggestions that will hopefully prove useful.
Preparation for General Exams
Well in advance of the examination, make plans to visit with each member of the examining group to obtain suggestions as to what you should prepare for. You may not have had a course from this person, and you may be examined on something different than you might expect. Prior to the examination it is also important that you discuss it thoroughly with your major professor. It is certainly appropriate to ask specifically how the examination will be conducted. Your major professor may have helpful suggestions.
Remember, there are several ways to respond to a question.
1. Give the correct answer.
2. Ask for clarification of the question. It may not have been worded so that you would give the best answer. Also, this will you time to think.
3. "I don't know" is an acceptable answer. The examiner may not let an "I don't know" answer stand, but try to lead you to the answer with other questions.
4. The question may call for a speculative answer. If so, speculate. You may need more information before you answer; if so, ask for it.
5. Remember, "The committee wants to help you." The examining committee feels as bad as you if you do not do well. Nobody benefits by a failure.Do whatever possible to reduce your nervousness. Being nervous will interfere with your conduct and responses to questions. If during the examination you need or want to do something to accomplish this, ask your major professor if this is permissible. If the examining faculty is doing something such as having a cup of coffee, feel free to do likewise. Do not let silence frustrate you.
For the final examination on the thesis or dissertation, you should prepare to review briefly .....
1. Reasons for the study - scientific or practical implications.
2. Methods used for the important findings and their significance.
3. Unanswered problems suggested by your research or in other words, "What's
next?"
Interdepartmental Faculty Associations:
Plant Physiology:
Genetics:
Biotechnology:
Food Science: