Graduate Student Handbook
Department of Crop and Soil Sciences
Washington State University
2007-2008
Soil Science Graduate Student
Academic Requirements and Policies
Members of the Faculty in Soils have adopted a firm policy calling for a formal advisory-review program on a routine basis. As soon as the graduate student committee has been established they are expected to meet at least twice a year to assist in program and research planning, to carefully review the student's progress and to give advice as needed.
To the extent possible, Soils graduate students should be knowledgeable in all five sub-disciplinary areas of Soils (chemistry, fertility, morphology, biology, and physics). However, since many students entering graduate school may have received their B.S. degrees from an area outside of Soils, it is sometimes impractical and often very time consuming to take a graded course in each of these areas for the M.S. degree. For this reason, the Soils Faculty require that a graded Soils course be taken in a minimum of three of the five sub-disciplinary areas in Soils. Additional Soils and other courses to make up deficiencies can be taken as P/F as determined by the M.S. thesis committee and Soil Faculty. (It is generally expected that all deficiencies will be taken for a letter grade, but recognize that in special cases, it may make sense to take one as P/F, if agreed to by the thesis committee and Soils Faculty.)
Your thesis Committee has the sole responsibility and flexibility to develop the program of study with you. After your program has been approved by your Committee and by the Soils Faculty (generally the second semester), it is your responsibility to have appropriate forms typed, proofread, and signed by your Committee and Department Chairman for final approval by the Graduate School. You can request revisions in your program should the need arise. Your Committee, the Graduate Coordinator and the Department Chair, must approve all revisions. The Soils Faculty must approve all major revisions. Revisions must be sent to the Graduate School on approved forms that are available at http://www.gradsch.wsu.edu/
Soils Students Seminar Requirements:
MS students are required to take one credit of Soils 501 during their final semester, which is accessible via WECN for off campus sites. Ph.D. students are required to take two credits of Soils 501, one credit must be taken during their first year of study with the subject being their research proposal. The second credit for Soils 501 will be for the dissertation seminar presented in the final semester.
Special Soils Course Descriptions:
Soils 502 – Advanced Topics
All graduate students in Soils are encouraged to enroll and to participate in this course. Sections of this course are designed to acquaint you with the literature in Soils. The course is organized on an informal basis by subject matter areas, with each area being the responsibility of a faculty member who specializes in that area. You may register and repeat this course for up to six credit hours, but not more than three credits per semester.
Soils 503 – Advanced Soil Analysis
In the past, courses ranging from one to three credits have been offered on specialized topics relating to instrumentation and to soil analysis. Topics have included site selection and characterization, flame emission and absorption, organic matter analysis, electronics, fluorescent antibody techniques, elemental analysis, microcomputer software, tracer techniques, N-15 mass spectrometry, and others.
Soils 505 – Teaching Practicum
All Ph.D. degree candidates are required by department policy to enroll in Teaching Practicum (Soils 505) prior to graduating. This course offers credit for experience in Teaching Assistant (TA) duties obtained in a soils course. Foreign TAs must pass an English Proficiency Exam, which tests communication skills in English prior to engaging in Practicum. The type of experience obtained depends upon several factors, including the nature of the course, the capabilities of the student, and the needs of the instructor. Experience could include lecturing in a discussion or laboratory section, preparing and grading exams or homework, or helping set-up laboratory or discussion sessions.
Credits |
Sem |
Offered |
||
Soils 201 |
Soil Science: A Living System |
3 |
F |
every year |
Chem 240 |
Elementary Organic Chemistry |
4 |
F, S |
every year |
Stat 412 |
Biometry |
3 |
F, S |
every year |
SoilS 441 |
Soil Fertility |
3 |
S |
every year |
Soils 451 |
Pedology |
3 |
F |
every year |
The M.S. in Soils is awarded to graduate students for substantial scholarly achievement beyond the baccalaureate. To earn this degree a student is expected to demonstrate in-depth knowledge of a basic subject matter area in Soil Science and research competence in the form of a thesis or competence in the application of soil science in the form of a special project. The M.S. degree in Soils at WSU includes both the thesis and non-thesis options. A suggested guideline for progress toward the M.S. degree is included on the following page.
MS Core Course Requirements |
Credits |
Sem |
Offered |
|
SoilS 501 |
Seminar |
1 |
F, S |
every year |
SoilS 502 |
Special Topics, State Tour |
1 |
F, S |
every year |
SoilS 700 |
Master’s Research (Thesis Option) |
4 |
F, S |
every year |
or 702 |
Master’s Special Problems (Non-Thesis Option) |
4 |
F, S |
every year |
Graduate School Course Requirements for a Non-Thesis Master’s Degree
- 30 hours minimum of total credit
- 26 hours minimum of graded course work, which consists of:
- 17 hours minimum of graded course work at the 500-level
- 4 hours minimum of 702
- 9 hours maximum of non-graduate graded course work credit (300-400 level only)
Graduate School Course Requirements for a Thesis Master’s Degree
- 30 hours minimum of total credit
- 21 hours minimum of graded course work, which consists of:
- 15 hours minimum of graded course work at the 500-level
- 4 hours minimum of 700-level credit in major
- 6 hours maximum of non-graduate graded course work (300-400 level only)
Credits |
Sem |
Offered |
||
CropS 503 |
Advanced Cropping Systems |
1 |
F |
every year |
Stat 512 |
Analysis of Variance of Designed Experiments |
3 |
F, S |
every year |
SoilS 502 |
Advanced Topics in Soils |
1-3 |
F, S |
every year |
SoilS 503 |
Advanced Soil Analysis |
1-3 |
S |
every year |
SoilS 504 |
Research Presentation Techniques |
1 |
|
|
SoilS 505 |
Teaching Practicum |
1 |
F, S |
every year |
SoilS 514 |
Environmental Biophysics |
2 |
S |
every year |
SoilS 515 |
Environmental Biophysics Laboratory |
1 |
S |
every year |
SoilS 521 |
Environmental Soil Chemistry |
3 |
S |
every year |
SoilS 526 |
Soil Mineralogy (UI SoilS 526) |
2 |
S |
every year |
SoilS 531 |
Advanced Soil Biochemistry and Microbiology |
2 |
S |
every year |
SoilS 537 |
Soil Biochemistry (UI SoilS 537) |
3 |
F |
every year |
SoilS 541 |
Soil-Plant-Microbial Interactions |
3 |
|
|
SoilS 547 |
Soil Fertility Management (UI SoilS 547) |
3 |
F, S |
every year |
SoilS 557 |
Advanced Soil Genesis and Classification |
3 |
|
|
SoilS 562 |
Systems in Integrated Crop Management |
3 |
|
|
SoilS 574 |
Remote Sensing and Geospatial Analysis |
3 |
S |
even years |
SoilS 575 |
Seminar in Remote Sensing |
1 |
S |
even years |
All students pursuing a Ph.D. are required to have taken an undergraduate course (400 level) in each of the major areas: soil chemistry, soil physics, soil fertility-management, soil genesis, morphology-classification, and soil microbiology-biochemistry. In addition, a graduate (500 level) course must be taken in two of the five Soils areas.
An Interdisciplinary Soils Ph.D. is defined as: expertise in Soils enhanced by another academic discipline (for example, plant physiology, agricultural economics, civil engineering or colloid chemistry). A representative from the outside discipline must serve on the Doctoral Committee. In the program of study the student may substitute one 400/500 level course in another academic discipline for a required 400/500 level course in Soils. The interdisciplinary program must be approved at the same time the program of study is approved. Also refer to Preliminary Doctoral Examination for guidelines specific to the Interdisciplinary Soils Ph.D.
A suggested guideline for progress toward the Ph.D. degree is included below.
Credits |
Sem |
Offered |
||
SoilS 501 |
Seminar |
1 |
F, S |
every year |
SoilS 502 |
Special Topics, State Tour |
1 |
F, S |
every year |
SoilS 505 |
Teaching Practicum |
1 |
F, S |
every year |
SoilS 800 |
Doctoral Research |
20 |
F, S |
every year |
Summary of Doctoral Program of Study Requirements
- 72 hours minimum total credits
- 34 hours minimum from graded courses, which consists of:
- 21 hours minimum of graded coursework at the 500-level
- 20 hours minimum 800-level research credits
- 9 hours maximum of non-graduate courses (300-400 level only)
Credits |
Sem |
Offered |
||
SoilS 514 |
Environmental Biophysics |
2 |
S |
every year |
SoilS 515 |
Environmental Biophysics Laboratory |
1 |
S |
every year |
SoilS 521 |
Environmental Soil Chemistry |
3 |
S |
every year |
SoilS 526 |
Soil Mineralogy (UI SoilS 526) |
2 |
|
|
SoilS 531 |
Advanced Soil Biochemistry and Microbiology |
2 |
|
|
or 541 |
Soil-Plant-Microbial Interactions |
3 |
|
|
SoilS 551 |
Advanced Pedology |
3 |
|
|
or 557 |
Advanced Soil Genesis & Classif. (UI SoilS 557) |
3 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Credits |
Sem |
Offered |
||
SoilS 503 |
Advanced Soil Analysis |
V |
F, S |
every year |
SoilS 521 |
Environmental Soil Chemistry |
3 |
S |
every year |
SoilS 526 |
Soil Mineralogy (UI SoilS 526) |
2 |
|
|
E Mic 586 |
Special Projects in Electron Microscopy |
3 |
F, S |
every year |
Chem E 565 |
Fundamentals of Multiphase Environ. Processes |
3 |
F |
every year |
Chem 501 |
Advanced Inorganic Chemistry |
3 |
F |
even years |
Chem 502 |
Advanced Inorganic Chemistry II |
3 |
|
|
Chem 503 |
Advanced Topics in Inorganic Chemistry |
V |
F |
odd years |
Chem 582 |
Environmental Chemistry II |
3 |
|
|
Geol 579 |
Groundwater Geochemistry |
3 |
S |
odd years |
|
|
|
|
|
Credits |
Sem |
Offered |
||
SoilS 468 |
ArcGIS and Geospatial Analysis |
4 |
F |
every year |
SoilS 514 |
Environmental Biophysics |
2 |
S |
every year |
SoilS 515 |
Environmental Biophysics Laboratory |
1 |
S |
every year |
SoilS 517 |
Fate Environmental Contaminants (ES/RP 517) |
3 |
|
|
SoilS 531 |
Advanced Soil Biochemistry and Microbiology |
2 |
S |
every year |
SoilS 541 |
Soil-Plant-Microbial Interactions |
3 |
S |
every year |
SoilS 547 |
Advance Soil Fertility Management |
3 |
S |
every year |
CropS 503 |
Advanced Cropping Systems |
3 |
F |
every year |
Stat 512 |
Analysis of Variance of Designed Experiments |
3 |
F, S |
every year |
Biol 513 |
Plant Metabolism |
3 |
|
|
Biol 517 |
Stress Physiology of Plants |
3 |
S |
even years |
|
|
|
|
|
Credits |
Sem |
Offered |
||
SoilS 442 |
Soil Analysis |
3 |
F |
every year |
SoilS 521 |
Environmental Soil Chemistry |
3 |
S |
every year |
SoilS 513 |
Models for Vadose Zone Transport |
2 |
|
|
SoilS 514 |
Environmental Biophysics |
2 |
S |
every year |
SoilS 515 |
Environmental Biophysics Laboratory |
1 |
S |
every year |
SoilS 531 |
Advanced Soil Biochemistry and Microbiology |
2 |
S |
every year |
Ch E 525 |
Interfacial Phenomena |
3 |
S |
odd years |
Math 548 |
Numerical Analysis |
3 |
F, S |
every year |
E Mic 586 |
Special Projects in Electron Microscopy |
3 |
F, S |
every year |
BsysE 515 |
Groundwater Contamination |
3 |
every year |
|
BSysE 550 |
Advanced Hydrology |
3 |
every year |
|
CE 315 |
Fluid Mechanics |
3 |
F, S |
every year |
|
|
|
|
|
Credits |
Sem |
Offered |
||
SoilS 514 |
Environmental Biophysics |
2 |
S |
every year |
SoilS 515 |
Environmental Biophysics Laboratory |
1 |
S |
every year |
SoilS 521 |
Environmental Soil Chemistry |
3 |
S |
every year |
SoilS 531 |
Advanced Soil Biochemistry and Microbiology |
2 |
S |
every year |
SoilS 541 |
Soil-Plant-Microbial Interactions |
3 |
S |
every year |
Stat 512 |
Analysis of Variance of Designed Experiments |
3 |
F, S |
every year |
MBIOS 301 |
General Genetics |
4 |
S |
every year |
MBIOS 303 |
Introductory Biochemistry |
4 |
S |
every year |
MBIOS 426 |
Microbial Genetics |
3 |
F |
every year |
MBIOS 442 |
General Virology |
3 |
S |
every year |
MBIOS 506 |
Molecular Techniques in Microbiology |
3 |
S |
every year |
MBIOS 513 |
General Biochemistry |
3 |
F |
every year |
MBIOS 514 |
General Biochemistry |
3 |
S |
every year |
MBIOS 550 |
Basic & Applied Microbial Physiology |
3 |
S |
every year |
MBIOS 578 |
Molecular Biology Computer Techniques |
1-4 |
|
|
Chem 332 |
Physical Chemistry |
3 |
S |
every year |
Chem 340 |
Organic Chemistry I |
3 |
S |
every year |
Biol 548 |
Evolutionary Ecology of Populations |
3 |
S |
every year |
Biol (Bot) 563 |
Field Ecology |
2 |
S |
every year |
Biol 564 |
Molecular Ecology and Phylogeography |
3 |
|
|
EMIC 587 |
Special Problems Electronic Microscopy |
1 |
S |
every year |
Preliminary Doctoral Examination:
The preliminary examinations are designed to evaluate the suitability of the student to become a candidate for the Ph.D. in Soil Science. It is also an opportunity for the student and his/her committee to re-evaluate the appropriateness of remaining coursework, either to correct academic weaknesses or enhance scholarly interests that may surface during these examinations. The exams evaluate the candidate's disciplinary knowledge as well as his/her ability to think creatively, analyze, synthesize, evaluate knowledge and information, and apply that information to establishing new hypotheses for creative research and problem solving. The doctoral committee and chair will coordinate the preliminary doctoral exams. Students should become familiar with the purpose and scope of preliminary examinations well in advance of the time the examination is scheduled.
The preliminary doctoral examinations in Soils, to be completed by the end of the fourth semester, consist of a written evaluation and an oral exam. The options for these requirements are:
- Written Evaluation
a. Traditional Written Exam
As the best preparation for the oral exam the faculty encourages the traditional written exam. The committee will solicit questions from the faculty in 4 of the five sub-discipline areas in Soils (chemistry, fertility, morphology, biology, and physics), which must include one area of major emphasis. For the Interdisciplinary Soils Ph.D. 3 areas of Soils (including one major area) and the identified non-Soils discipline will be tested. The format for the written exam will be determined by the thesis committee. Generally the time allotted for completing the questions are 3 hours for each non-major area and 6 hours for the major area. A passing grade for each discipline in the exam must be a B or higher.
b. Research proposal
In some cases the student and doctoral committee may decide that a proposal is the best option for meeting the written portion of the exam. The proposal should evidence the student’s breadth and depth of knowledge of Soil Science and be outside of the student’s specific research area. The research proposal portion should be initiated no later than the second semester into the Ph.D. program. The entire committee will mentor the proposal development. The final proposal will be evaluated by the committee and by faculty from at least 4 sub-disciplines or for the Interdisciplinary Soils Ph.D. by 3 soils disciplines plus the selected non-Soils discipline. The format should be appropriate for submission to a major funding agency. A passing grade for the research proposal must be a B or higher from all disciplines.
The results of the written or research proposal portion of the exam will be available to other faculty for review prior to the oral exam.
- Oral Exam
Ph.D. graduate students must take a 400 or 500 level course in all 5 sub-disciplines of Soil Science and will be expected to defend these areas at the 400 level in the oral preliminary exam. For the Interdisciplinary Soils Ph.D. 4 areas of Soils and the non-Soils discipline must be defended. A passing grade for the oral exam must be a B or higher in each discipline.
The oral portion of the preliminary exam must be completed within five weeks after successfully completing the written portion of the preliminary exam. If this time schedule is not followed, students must retake both the written and oral exams.
Alternatives and exceptions to the above guidelines must be submitted to the Soils Faculty by the student's advisor for approval no later than the end of the student's second semester of graduate study.
Guidelines for Scheduling the Preliminary Doctoral Examinations:
The student with approval from his/her advisor and committee is responsible for scheduling the preliminary examination with the graduate school. Do not delay, as delaying the preliminary examination can, if the student is unsuccessful, reduce alternative options for a career.
- Graduate students should set a tentative date for the preliminary examination at the time they develop an academic program. This is normally during the second semester of study for the Ph.D.
- Graduate students preparation should be consistent with the requirements in the Graduate School policy and procedures – “that a substantial portion of the required coursework has been completed".
- If the written evaluation is graded below a B level and where the student is given a second opportunity the re-examination must be in the form of the traditional exam, followed within five weeks by the oral exam. If the written exam is passed but the oral exam is unsuccessful, with permission of the faculty the oral exam may be repeated. In either case there must be at least one month before re-examination but less than three months.
- Alternatives and exceptions to the above guidelines must be submitted to the Soils Faculty by the student's advisor for approval no later than the end of the student's second semester of graduate study.
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