M.S. Program in Endocrinology & Animal Biosciences 

Assessment of student achievement in Goal 1:

• Grades in graduate courses
• Review by faculty of student progress with close advising and mentoring
• Comprehensive examination assessing depth and breadth of knowledge and a research thesis
  • Assessment of student’s performance by committee of graduate faculty members
• Continuation of graduate studies or placement in a professional position that requires an understanding of endocrinology and integrated physiology, as well as competency in the technical aspects of performing work in these areas as they relate to animal and human health

Role of the program in helping students to achieve Goal 1:

• Close advising to assure that students are being prepared in a coherent and academically rigorous fashion
• Effective monitoring of student progress
  • Includes annual reports on research progress from both the student and the student’s committee chair
• Evaluations of teaching effectiveness of instructors in graduate courses
  • If effectiveness is below expectations, work with instructors to improve effectiveness
• Periodic review of curricular offerings and assessment tools
  • By program faculty
  • In consultation with the office of the dean of the graduate school and/or the unit dean

Assessment of student achievement of Goal 2:

• Preparation and defense of Master’s thesis
• Assessment of quality of Master’s thesis:
  • Public defense of thesis
  • Critical reading of thesis by committee of graduate faculty members
  • Submission and acceptance of peer-reviewed articles and conference papers
• Achievement of students as evidenced by continuation of graduate studies or professional placement

Role of the graduate program in helping students achieve Goal 2:

• Provide early introduction to research methods and opportunities for research
• Provide opportunities to present research and receive feedback
• Provide comprehensive advising and assist in the identification of mentors

Assessment of graduate student achievement of Goal 3:

• Participation in internships and other work tailored to career goals, assessed accordingly
• Collection of data on professional placement or continuation of graduate studies
• Review by external advisory committees, both inside of and external to the academy

Role of the program in helping students achieve Goal 3:

• Host professional development and career exploration activities
• Develop internship opportunities
• Host external advisory committees

• Determine your advisor (committee chair) and lab you intend to work in.
• Meet the Graduate Program Director to plan a course of action.
• Determine courses needed. Take careful note of times/semesters the courses are offered and plan accordingly.
• Select a thesis topic and do preliminary research.
• Select your committee in the spring semester and begin holding committee meetings in your second year. See the ‘Miscellaneous’ Section for Tips on Selecting a Committee.

• Complete required coursework and research credits.
• Hold a committee meeting each year. (If there is an outside member who is not a member of the School of Graduate Studies (SGS) faculty, their name, professional address, and affiliation must be submitted to the Graduate Program Director and SGS for approval along with a copy of their CV.)
• Complete your research and write your thesis (according to SGS style guidelines).
• Present a final research seminar to the department and defend your thesis to your committee.
  • Talk with the faculty coordinator of the Seminar in Endocrinology and Animal Biosciences series prior to the semester you anticipate presenting your defense seminar so that it can be included on the schedule. If your defense seminar cannot be part of the regular Friday Seminar series, ask the Program Coordinator’s help in scheduling a room for your defense seminar and a room for your committee defense.
• Make any required revisions to the thesis.
• Submit your thesis electronically to SGS as per the Submission Instructions: Application for Master’s Degree with Thesis.
• Submit your completed Master’s Degree Application (on the SGS forms website) with signatures along with one original title page (with signatures in black ink or via DocuSign) to SGS. (If using DocuSign, fill out the form and send it along with your title page to the EAB Program Coordinator. The Program Coordinator will route the form and title page via DocuSign to your committee members for their signatures and then return the signed documents to you for submission to SGS.)
• Complete additional items listed in the submission instructions.

In most cases, students admitted with a B.A. or B.S. will complete their M.S. within 2 academic years. SGS will allow 3 years after initial registration before they question your progress.

Forms

• M.S. Committee Form
• Master’s Degree Application - go to the SGS forms website to download the most up-to-date version