Mastering your Destiny: Final Year for Masters Students

1. Mastering your Destiny: Final Year for Masters Students Julie Wilson, Director

2. Office of Graduate Studies web site ogs.tamu.edu TAMU Howdy Portal Howdy.tamu.edu

3. Master’s Degree Requirements • Thesis-Option • Degree Plan, Residency, Research Proposal, Final Examination, and Graduation • Non-Thesis Option/Professional • Degree Plan, Final Examination or Exemption from Final Examination, and Graduation

4. English Language Requirements (International Students) • Verification - NOT allowed to teach • Certification – eligible to teach • All appropriate ELPE requirements must be met prior to holding a teaching assistantship and taking final examinations. • Students are automatically allowed to postpone taking English Language Institute classes during the first semester.

5. Grade Point Average (GPA) • Graduate students have two GPAs. 1. Degree Plan GPA– all courses on degree plan • 2. Cumulative GPA – all eligible courses taken • BOTH must be at least a 3.0 in order to graduate • Course levels included in GPA calculation = 300, 400, 600, 700, 900 and transfer courses from the TAMU HSC. • Course levels not included in GPA calculation = all of transfer courses and 100 / 200 level courses.

6. Degree Plan • Submitted electronically through on-line Degree Plan Submission System • Must be electronically approved by committee chair, advisory committee (if applicable), department, and the Office of Graduate Studies • If degree plan is not submitted by the required deadline, the student’s registration is blocked. Each college determines the blocking criteria for its masters students. Check with your program for specific information.

7. Ogsdpss.tamu.edu

8. Degree Plan Submission Information • All students, faculty, and staff must have a Neo e-mail account, NetID, and NetID password • Complete, Audit, and SUBMIT the degree plan. • The chair or departmental graduate advisor will be notified they have a degree plan for review. • After chair, and/or graduate advisor approve the degree plan, it will be sent to the committee members. • After all required approvals, it comes to the Office of Graduate Studies for processing. • Anyone along the way can deny/reject the degree plan. If so, you must make the required changes, audit, and re-submit. • Student will receive an email from OGS, indicating approval/denial of the degree plan.

9. Other Forms • Petitions • Change of major, department, or degree program • Change of committee • Change of coursework • Waivers or exceptions • Extension of time limits • Proposals • Exams • Final exam • Exemption from final exam

11. Master’s Thesis Option Research Proposal • Format for the proposal is determined by the student’s committee and program. • Must complete Proposal Approval Form • Must turn in signed Proposal Approval Form and at least FIVE pages of the proposal itself to the Office of Graduate Studies • The approved proposal is due to the Office of Graduate Studies at least 25 days before the final exam.

12. Signatures on OGS Documents • OGS prefers that all signatures are original and on one form. • If the document requires a Department Head’s signature, at a minimum, the Department Head’s signature must be original. • If the signature does not require a Department Head’s signature, at a minimum, the Committee Chair’s signature must be original. • Each department has “Authorized Signers,” who are allowed to sign for faculty within that department if a committee member is unavailable.

13. Office of Graduate Studies 302 Jack K. Williams Administration Bldg Web site: ogs.tamu.edu 979-845-3631 E-mail: ogs@tamu.edu Hours: 8 AM to 5 PM Monday thru Friday Julie Wilson, Director jdwilson@tamu.edu