State University of New York
College of Environmental Science and Forestry
GRADUATE PROGRAM
IN
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE
(GPES)
Master of Science
(M.S.)
Degree
HANDBOOK
2012 – 2013
Updated: 3/13/2013
Table of Contents
Page
I.
Introduction
…………………………………………………………………………… 2
II.
Requirements for the M.S. Degree ……………………………………………………. 3
III.
Timeline of Important Actions
IV.
Resources …………………………………………………………………………………. 5
……………………………………….…………. 4
Appendices
A1.
Student Program Checklist
…….……………………………………………. 7
A2.
Program Administration
…….……………………………………………. 8
A3.
Student Course Plan Sheet
……….…………………………………………. 9
A4.
M.S. Thesis Proposal Approval Form ..………………………………………………. 10
1
I. Introduction
Welcome to the Graduate Program in Environmental Science (GPES). We are delighted that
you have joined a unique set of graduate students, faculty, and researchers who share a deep
concern for the development and application of multidisciplinary approaches to the
stewardship of our natural and built environments. This handbook is intended as a guide to
GPES for both students and faculty. Please refer to the GPES website for additional information
at the URL: http://www.esf.edu/environmentalscience/graduate .
The State Education Department and SUNY establish policy that applies to all graduate
programs. Graduate Policies specific to ESF have been adopted by the College Faculty and are
available on the Graduate School website (http://www.esf.edu/graduate/policies.htm).
GPES is an interdepartmental program, which distinguishes it from the other graduate
programs on campus. Like other programs, GPES has specific policies, procedures, and
guidelines, which are detailed in the handbooks specific to each degree (M.S., M.P.S., and Ph.D.)
program.
GPES is organized into Areas of Study formally approved by ESF Faculty Governance and
identified on the web site: http://www.esf.edu/environmentalscience/graduate/areas.htm .
Each Area of Study has at least three active faculty members including a Coordinator. Each
GPES student is admitted into one Area of Study. The Area Coordinators, the GPES Graduate
Coordinator, and the Director of Division of Environmental Science make up the GPES
Committee, which is responsible for admissions, allocation of graduate fellowships, initial
assignment of MPs, curriculum changes, and program administration and assessment.
Students are strongly encouraged to network with their peers and to actively participate in their
Areas of Study. A current list of GPES students can be found at:
http://www.esf.edu/environmentalscience/graduate/students.asp .
2
II. Requirements for the M.S. Degree
The Catalog description provides the basic framework of graduation requirements. The student
checklist (Appendix A1) will be useful to track your progress through the program. To facilitate
detailed program planning and graduation documentation, GPES offers a Student Program
Checklist to track overall progress in the program (Appendix A1). Combined with the Program
Administration form (Appendix A2), progress towards degree completion can be assessed.
Tracking progress on individual courses and credits completed is facilitated by the Student
Course Plan Sheet (Appendix A3), which can be used to help complete the College's Form 3B.
All College forms are available from the website:
http://www.esf.edu/graduate/graddegreq.htm .
Advanced Standing
A maximum of 6 graduate credit hours with a grade of B or above that have not been applied to
another degree may be transferred via petition. The petition must include an attached syllabus
and a justification of how the courses are to be included on the student's Plan Sheet.
Petitions regarding Core requirements may be submitted following matriculation. Petitions
regarding Area of Study requirements are to be submitted following the formalization of the
student's steering committee (submission of Form 2A establishes the steering committee).
Program Requirements
The Master's Degree is designed as a two-year experience. The minimum total credits for the
degree is 30. Lists of courses that meet requirements identified in this section have been
approved by each area of study (AOS) faculty group and are hyperlinked to the AOS web page
at URL - http://www.esf.edu/environmentalscience/graduate/areas.htm. These lists are not
exclusive; courses not on these lists may be taken with the approval of the Major Professor and
Steering Committee, as indicated on the Form 3B.
Required credit hours are identified in three categories:
a. Core: The broad interdepartmental focus of GPES is reflected in the core
requirements - A minimum of 9 credit hours distributed in 3 areas: social science,
natural or physical science, and methods/tools.
b. Area of Study: A minimum of 15 credit hours (excluding 898 and 899 courses) in
AOS courses are required.
c. Thesis: A minimum of 6 credit hours of research resulting in a document that clearly
demonstrates graduate level accomplishments of the student, followed by a defense
examination. Students must have an approved Thesis Proposal. A form for approval is
available in Appendix 4. Guidelines for preparation of the thesis document can be
found at : http://www.esf.edu/graduate/documents/Format_Guidelines_050312.pdf
.
3
The remaining 6 credit hours of required coursework can be distributed in Core areas
(a), Area of Study Courses (b), or in seminars taken for credit with the guidance and
approval of major professor and steering committee.
Concurrent Degree.
Concurrent degree students may “double count” 8 credit hours towards their M.S.
degree.
III. Timeline of Important Actions
The Steering Committee, which is comprised of the major professor and at least two
faculty members or other qualified persons as detailed in the Graduate School policies
(URL: http://www.esf.edu/graduate/ms.htm ), should be appointed (using Form
2A) in the first or second semester of graduate study.
The Steering Committee approves the Course Requirements (Form 3B) before the end
of the second semester of graduate study.
The Defense Committee consists of members of the Steering Committee and at least
one additional faculty member as Examiner. The Examiner, who is not a member of
the steering committee, is appointed (using form 5B,
http://www.esf.edu/graduate/documents/form5B.docx ) after agreeing to the
student’s request to serve in that role. The Dean of Instruction and Graduate Studies
appoints a committee Chair who is not from the student's degree program (see the
College Catalog).
The student must inform the Dean's office of the agreed upon date, time, and location
for the defense at least two weeks in advance of the defense date (Form 5A,
www.esf.edu/graduate/documents/form5A-07_2009.doc ).
It is GPES policy that the defense copy of the thesis must be delivered to each member
of the Defense Committee, including the Chair, at least 14 days prior to the scheduled
defense date.
4
IV. Resources
The Graduate Program in Environmental Science has limited staff, facility, and financial
resources. Over the past few years we have developed management approaches for their
effective and equitable utilization.
Graduate Program in Environmental Science (GPES) Office - 134 Baker Laboratory
The office has two primary segments: Production Staff, Records and Communications. The
Office maintains files (unofficial) of student records, folders of job and research announcements,
course syllabi, and internship requests. It maintains a collection of GPES Theses, Dissertations,
Research Proposals, and Internship Reports, which are available for reference.
Most students at some time during their studies encounter problems of a personal or academic
nature for which they require assistance. An early full discussion of the situation and options is
often the key to their resolution. Major Professors and the GPES Director are all available to
facilitate this process.
GPES Mailboxes - Outside the Division Office (134 Baker Laboratory)
Although email is the primary mechanism for internal College and Faculty communications,
mailboxes provide additional means, students should make it a practice to visit their box at least
once a week. The mailboxes should not be used to receive U.S. Mail, and the GPES Office Staff
cannot receive personal phone messages for students. Students have an additional mailbox
which is located with the mailboxes for your major professor’s home department.
Office Space
It has been the general practice of the College that graduate students are provided with a desk
space as available. Students working as graduate assistants or as research assistants have
priority for desk space. Because of limited facilities and the flux of students in residence, the
assignment of such space usually takes a few weeks each fall. Students should first ask for
space available from their major professor. Office space for GPES students is allocated by the
major professor’s home department and is not guaranteed.
Assistantships
There are two basic forms of assistantships: Graduate (GA), and Research (RA). GA's are
awarded by the College each year based on Faculty recommendations. They are primarily used
for Teaching Assistantships in undergraduate and graduate courses. In 2012-2013, GPES had 12
semester positions for its approximately 100 graduate students. Each spring students who will
be returning in the fall are notified by the GPES Director of the projected GA positions available
and are invited to formally apply. Incoming admitted students are also included in the selection
process. A faculty committee prioritizes the applications for administrative action.
As a graduate-research college, ESF is involved in numerous externally funded projects most of
which involve RA's. Each project is managed by a Principal Investigator who has the
responsibility of selecting staff. GPES has no direct involvement in this process. Students
interested in RA's should discuss opportunities with their Major Professor. Throughout the
5
year the Graduate Office and Research Office circulate research, fellowship, and internship
announcements. Students should periodically check their mailboxes, the appropriate
Environmental Science folders, and the Environmental Science bulletin board.
The Edna Bailey Sussman Fund (URL: http://www.esf.edu/sussman/ ) provides stipends to
support graduate student summer internship experiences. The Fund has supported
approximately 12 ESF students per year (about one-quarter have been GPES students). Sussman
supports a broad range of interest areas, from environmental policy, regulation and
communication to various environmental sciences. Sussman applications are treated
competitively; awards are usually in the range of $4,800 for full-time internship employment.
Applications must be filed by the annual application deadline, usually in early March. Awards
are announced in early May. Detailed requirements, eligibility, and links to past internship
reports are available in the web site identified above.
6
Appendix A1. Student program checklist.
Step
1.
2
3.
Procedure
Responsibility
Major Professor (in
Propose steering committee to Office of
consultation with
Instruction and Graduate Studies (OIGS)
student)
Student and steering committee
determine appropriate coursework.
Student completes Form 3B and “Plan
Sheet” forms. Student, major professor,
Student
and steering committee sign form (which
must be approved by Ruth Yanai and
OIGS
Meet with steering committee to review
study plan (and if necessary, revise Form
Student
3B
Target date
Date done
First semester
__/__/__
First semester
__/__/__
Second semester
__/__/__
__/__/__
4
Submit thesis to major professor for
review
Student
Beginning of final
semester
5.
Request appointment of defense
committee and committee chair (Form
5B) through Ruth Yanai to OIGS
Student (Major
Professor)
At one (1) month before
__/__/__
proposed defense date
6
Schedule defense date with committee
(including committee chair) and notify
OIGS
Student
After Major Professor
approves draft thesis
__/__/__
7.
Present Capstone Seminar
Student
Prior to defense
__/__/__
8.
Submit thesis and abstract in final form
to defense committee
Student
Fourteen (14) days
before scheduled
defense date
__/__/__
9.
Defend thesis (Form 5-E to OIGS)
Student (committee
chair)
As scheduled
__/__/__
10.
Submit corrected thesis and abstract to
major professor and defense chairman
for final approval and signing
Student
As scheduled at defense __/__/__
11.
Submit thesis to Ruth Yanai for approval
Student
and signing
Before graduation
__/__/__
12.
Submit copies of thesis to OIGS for
signatures and binding
Student
Before graduation
__/__/__
13.
Certify completion of all requirements
Form 9, through Ruth Yanai to OIGS
Major Professor
7
Before graduation
__/__/__
Appendix A2. Program Administration
Student:
Degree:
Semester Entered:
Ph.D.
M.S.
M.P.S.
Area of Study:
Address:
Phone:
Email:
Deficiencies:
Semester Remedied:
Administrative Requirements Completed:
3B Form
Yes
Date:
Thesis/Internship Proposal:
Title:
Yes
Date:
Steering Committee:
1)
2)
3)
4)
Phone
Phone
Phone
Phone
Examiners (M.S., Ph.D. only):
1)
2)
3)
4)
Phone
Phone
Phone
Phone
Defense/Exam Chair (M.S., Ph.D. only):
Capstone Seminar:
TA/RAs Held:
Semester
Semester
Semester
Semester
Semester
Semester
Yes
Phone
Date:
Time and Location:
Course/Project
Course/Project
Course/Project
Course/Project
Course/Project
Course/Project
Supervisor
Supervisor
Supervisor
Supervisor
Supervisor
Supervisor
8
Appendix A3. Student Course Plan Sheet
Student:
Phone:
Course
Progress
Course
Progress
Course
Progress
Course
Progress
a
Semester Entered:
Area:
Email:
Semester:
Cr.
Hrs.
/30
credits
Semester:
Cr.
Hrs.
/30
credits
Semester:
Cr.
Hrs.
/30
credits
Semester:
Cr.
Hrs.
/30
credits
Grade
GPA
/3.0
min
Grade
GPA
/3.0
min
Grade
GPA
/3.0
min
Grade
GPA
/3.0
min
a Seminars
(2)
/2
courses
a Seminars
(2)
/2
courses
a Seminars
(2)
/2
courses
a Seminars
(2)
/2
courses
PreReq.
/0-9
credits
PreReq.
/0-9
credits
PreReq.
/0-9
credits
PreReq.
/0-9
credits
App.
Soc. Sci.
Method
/Tools
Nat/Phy
Science
/3
credits
/3
credits
/3
credits
App.
Soc. Sci.
Method
/Tools
Nat/Phy
Science
/3
credits
/3
credits
/3
credits
App.
Soc. Sci.
Method
/Tools
Nat/Phy
Science
/3
credits
/3
credits
/3
credits
App.
Soc. Sci.
Method
/Tools
Nat/Phy
Science
/3
credits
/3
credits
/3
credits
Seminars are counted by the course, NOT by credit hours
9
Study
Area
/15
credits
Study
Area
/15
credits
Study
Area
/15
credits
Study
Area
/15
credits
Thesis
/6
credits
Thesis
/6
credits
Thesis
/6
credits
Thesis
/6
credits
Appendix A4. M.S. Thesis Proposal Approval Form
Approval of Proposals
Students are required to prepare a Thesis Proposal. This proposal must be formally approved
by the student's Major Professor and Steering Committee using the form below for signatures
with a copy of the proposal attached.
Although progress in developing a proposal may vary from student to student, students are
normally required to produce an approved proposal before registering for more than 3 credits
of ENS 899 Thesis Research.
Content of Proposals
Proposals will vary in content according to the nature of the planned research. In general, these
should be succinct statements of research plans, normally about 10 pages in length, describing
the planned work as follows:
1. Tentative title.
2. Research objective or hypothesis.
3. Background - A brief statement summarizing pertinent literature.
4. Key data or information sources.
5. Method of analysis.
6. Expected results.
7. Timetable for research, writing, and defense examination.
8. Brief bibliography.
••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••
PROPOSAL APPROVAL
Student Name:
Thesis Title:
Approved:
Major Professor
Committee Member
Committee Member
Date
Date
Date
A copy of the approved proposal should be affixed to this form, and copies of this document
with attached proposal should be provided to each of signatories above and to the Graduate
Program in Environmental Science (GPES) Office, 134 Baker Laboratory.
10