WELCOME TO
GRADUATE SCHOOL
Tips for Success in Graduate School
• Learn Academic Requirements
•
Conditional Admission
•
Low GPA/Academic Probation
• Assume responsibility for your success
•
Familiarize yourself with the Graduate Catalog
•
Learn degree requirements
•
Use your advisor
• Be proactive in completing your degree
•
•
Obsolete coursework
•
Master’s – 6 years
•
PhD – 8 years
Make a Plan of Study
Adapted from
http://www.career.ucf.edu/Students/Graduate_Students/Tips_for
_Achieving_Success_in_Graduate_School_31_417.aspx
Graduate School Staff
• Dean of the Graduate School- K Doerner
• Graduate Services Coordinator- M Ochsner
• Graduate Admissions/Recruiter- K Johnson
• Senior Secretary- D Johnson
Program Administrator I – A Gerlach
• Asst to the Dean- N Lounsbery
•
Campus Information
• Parking
• All campus parking lots
require a parking tag from
8am-4pm or you risk
receiving a ticket
• Student ID Card
• Photo ID
• Student ID Number
• Entry to the Wellness Center
• Entry to Athletic Events
• Hobo Dough
• Purchase parking tags online
through sdstate.edu/parking
• 605-688-PARK
• Yaeger Hall Room 103
• Meal Plan
• Card services - Be sure to bring
a photo ID with you to get your
ID card
Offices to Know
• Cashier’s (Admin 136)
• Student accounts/bills
• Records (Admin 100)
• Petitions
• Transcripts
• Financial Aid (Admin 100)
• Loans, grants, work study,
loan deferral
• Student Health &
Counseling (Wellness Center)
• Health appointments
• Graduate School
(Admin 130)
• Any student concerns
• One on one and group
counseling
• Immunization records
Offices to Know
• Wintrode Student Success Center
(Wintrode Building)
• Tutoring
• Writing Center
• CAP Center (Medary Commons 120)
• Resume writing
• Interview Skills
• Job postings (part time, full time, on and off campus)
• International Affairs
(Briggs Library 119)
• Comprehensive home for international students and scholar services
SDSU Website
www.sdstate.edu/graduate
WebAdvisor
Webadvisor.sdstate.edu
Class registration, payment, course listings, grades
MyState
Mystate.sdstate.edu
Student portal – Jacks email activation, Parking, Student schedule, News &
Events, Access to Accounts (Hobo Dough, WebAdvisor, etc)
Jacks Email
Yourlogin@jacks.sdstate.edu
Jacks email accounts are the official email of SDSU, all university
news and contact will come via your Jacks account.
You are responsible for activating and checking this account.
Desire 2 Learn (D2L)
d2l.sdbor.edu
Online course materials
Need Technical Support?
• eSDSU Laptop Center (Student Union)
• Free labor
• Computer support
• Viruses
• SDSU Support Desk (Admin 131)
• 688-6776 or supportdesk@sdstate.edu
• Support on SDSU systems (Email, WebAdvisor, etc)
Registration & Status
• Transcripts/Conditional Admission
• SDSU needs final official transcripts from all previous institutions – failure to
submit can block registration
• International students must provide transcript evaluations of all degrees
• Check acceptance letter for any conditions
• Immunization records
• MMR shots are also required for all students taking classes on campus –
failure to submit can block registration
• Active Status
• To maintain active status students must be registered for each semester of the
academic year (excluding summer).
• Students who fail to register for 3 academic terms will be considered inactive
and will have to reapply
• Graduate assistants must register for a minimum of 1 credit (including
summer) in order to keep assistantship
Master’s Degree Options
 Option A- Thesis
 30 cr min
 “thesis research” 798: 5 cr min, 10 cr max (Plan of Study)
 Option B- Research/ Project Report
 32 cr min
 Usually “Research/Design” 788: 2 cr min, 5 cr max (Plan of Study)
 Option C- Coursework Only
 35 cr min
 Some use internships, practicum….etc
Plan of Study
• List of agreed upon courses which
will complete degree requirements
• Doctoral students will meet with
advisory committee before
submitting Plan
• Submit the first semester of
graduate work or prior to 50% of
credits towards graduation
Advisory Committee
Major advisor – chairperson, must have Grad Faculty Status
Program representative – from major or related dept.
Additional member
major or related department
professional with outstanding academic record or knowledge
Graduate Faculty Representative
Assigned by Graduate School (method under review)
Not closely related field
Graduate council / Student advocate.
Must vote in favor of passing for student to pass
Master’s – first semester or as soon as practical
3 members (min)
Doctoral - first semester or prior to twelve (12) graduate credit
hours
4 members (min)
Master’s Exams
Oral exam required.
Scheduling oral exams is conducted through the Graduate
School
Submitted 10 working days before oral exam
Posted publically
Complete by date published for same semester graduation
Written exams are not required by the University
Programs may use written exams as part of internal practice.
Doctoral Exams
•Three (3) exams are required.
•Comprehensive written exam
•After coursework is substantially completed.
•Comprehensive oral exam
•Completed following comprehensive written exam
•At least 2 months before dissertation defense
•Final Exam
•“final oral exam; defense”
•Completed 2 mo or longer after comp. oral exam
•Competed by deadline for graduate same semester
•All scheduled through Graduate School
•Allow 10 working days for processing
Time-Limits
 Time to Degree: Marked by Semesters not calendar date
 Ex: If started during Fall, student would time out at
end of relevant Fall semester.
 Master’s: 6 years
 Doctoral: 8 years
Thesis & Dissertation
• SDSU Graduate School has set format requirements
for binding purposes
• Available on SDSU’s website
• Department may also have guidelines specific to
your area of study
• Follow all printed submission dates published by
the graduate school each semester
• Thesis/Dissertation Formatting
Workshop –
Spring 2014
Q&A
Thanks for coming!