Ecology Graduate Handbook

Graduate studies are an opportunity to focus on an area of specialization in a discipline or profession of choice. Graduate studies are much more than earning an impressive GPA. It is expected that you will demonstrate the initiative, ambition, excitement, and creativity that an independent position will require when you graduate.

Recognize that more than coursework is required to become independent in your specialization. Extensive reading, beyond a course's requirements, and a continuing discussion of your ideas for insight, revision, and expansion, will let you meet the purpose of the degree. This means that you should set aside time for these activities on campus.

Learn to ask questions that go beyond the facts. The ability to ask challenging questions reflects your knowledge and its applications.

Evaluate yourself and your progress constantly. Consider revising your goals if the program becomes a chore, if your progress is comparatively slow, or if you do not find a challenge that is stimulating.

Remember that one of the reasons you were admitted into our graduate program was the perception that you could become a leader in your field.

Remember that the faculty want you to succeed, but that you must provide the commitment to achieve success.

Practice the self-discipline that the faculty and your future profession are expecting.

Summary of Graduate Degree Requirements

Please Note: The Graduate School website provides information on policies and procedures, deadlines, and all current forms you will need to complete your degree.

The next few pages contain summaries and checklists of the most basic requirements for students pursuing M.S. or Ph.D. degrees. If the checklists in this handbook are contrary to what the Grad School has published online, you may check with the academic services coordinator or the Grad School, but generally the Graduate School website will have the most accurate and up-to-date requirements.

Although there is some flexiblity,you will avoid unnecessary problems if you follow the recommended sequence. Take some time now to fill in the semester deadlines. You can then simply check each step as it is completed or record the date of completion.

For more detailed descriptions of terms and procedures from the checklists, see section IV of the handbook: “Descriptions and details,” or refer to the Graduate School policies & procedures online.

Reminder: Confirm any information (the most current requirements, credits, deadlines, thesis/dissertation formatting, etc.) and required forms on the Graduate School website.

Check for exact dates and details whenever you are approaching a major event in the checklist provided below(https://www.montana.edu/gradschool/datesdeadlines.html).

All Graduate School forms should be submitted to the Ecology Department for copying, filing, and forwarding on your behalf.

Checklist for Completing a Master's Degree

Before the end of your second semester:

Develop a preliminary Program of Study and choose a Committee:
Discuss your career plans and graduate school objectives with your major professor (advisor/committee chair) and construct a tentative Program of Study.This should reflect your background and the knowledge base necessary to achieve a broad understanding of your degree field. See Appendix V for suggested courses.
Prepare a preliminary outline of your research to facilitate constructive discussion of your research plans.
Review your research plans individually with potential committee members and request their feedback.
Choose and confirm your Graduate Committee members.

Take the Qualifying Exam:

Schedule Your Qualifying Exam. You are responsible for notifying the department academic services coordinator and for reserving a suitable room and necessary presentation equipment (laptop, projector, OWL) for committee meetings and examinations. The department academic services coordinator will offer assistance and suggestions. The department Library, 309 Lewis, is often available.
Take the Qualifying Examination. The Qualifying Exam is an oral examination over general ecology and is described in detail in Appendix I of this handbook. Upon successful completion of the Qualifying Exam, your committee members will sign the Qualifying Exam report sent out by the academic services coordinator. If a committee member is not able to be present, they may use video- conferencing to attend in accordance with the Video Conferencing Policy from the Graduate School. The department head gives final approval on your form.

Qualifying exams are not required by The Graduate School but are required by the Ecology Department. The academic services coordinator will keep the report in your personal file. Please ensure they receive a copy of the report on exam form or work with them to route the form for signature.

If you do not successfully complete the examination, you may take it again during the following semester. If you are unable to pass the examination on your second attempt, you will not be permitted to continue your graduate program in the Ecology Department.

Complete Your Program of Study and Paperwork:

If you do not meet the deadline for filing your program of study/committee form with The Graduate School by the end of your second semester of classes, a registration hold will be placed on your registration until it is approved. A one-time $50 processing fee will be charged by The Graduate School to your student account upon approval of the Program of Study. No fee is associated with processing changes. You are responsible for this fee unless your advisor specifically approves payment by other means. See the Fees & Holds page for more information.

Please review the Graduate School policies regarding thesis/dissertation, independent study, and internship credits before submitting the Program of Study. These policies can be reviewed in the Special Courses’ section of The Graduate School’s Degree Requirements Policies.

Please note that Masters students take their comprehensive exam and defend their thesis in the same semester, almost always in the same session.

At the End of Your Coursework and Research:

Thesis Defense and Electronic Submission of Final Thesis
- Register for at least (3) credits in the term during which you want to graduate. Submit a Graduation Application to the Department, to be forwarded to The Graduate School before the deadline of the semester in which you plan to defend your thesis. This date is usually the third Friday of the term. You can check the Graduate School website for the deadline.

A $20 audit fee is charged to the student’s account each term an application is submitted.

A one-time $40 commencement fee is charged to the student’s account the first time they apply to graduate. See the Fees & Holds page for more information.

You must notify the Ecology Department at least 14 days before the scheduled date of your defense. It is your responsibility to ensure that all committee members can be present at the times and dates of the seminar and meeting and the seminar time and date are publicly advertised.
Submit a flyer to the departmental affairs coordinator two weeks before your defense in order to notify the department of your defense and have it advertised on the MSU Calendar online. See office staff for help in securing a room for both your defense and closed-door committee meeting.
All theses & dissertations are submitted electronically to the Graduate School through an Electronic Thesis and Dissertation (ETD) process. Formatting guidelines and a Graduate School formatting advisor are available to assist you with formatting; see details on the web. It is recommended you start working with the formatting advisor early; they are not looking for content, just formatting. The deadline for approval of your ETD is typically 14 working days before the end of the semester. You can check the Graduate School website for the deadline. Please note that The Graduate School recommends submitting your ETD at least two weeks before the approval deadline.
The M.S. Thesis must be defended, and you should graduate, within 6 years of your first semester of enrollment. The Thesis Defense is a post-project seminar, open to the department and the public, in which your research and conclusions are presented with an opportunity for questions from the audience. Your Graduate Committee will hold a closed-door Defense Meeting on the same day as the seminar. Your Committee Chair must attend in person. See The Graduate School Video Conferencing Policy.
Once your defense is complete, it is your responsibility that all your committee members sign the Report of Thesis Defense form. The closed-door portion is considered the Comprehensive Examination and should be reported as such. The academic services coordinator will complete this form digitally and have it available in your student file.
Upon final approval of your thesis by your committee, you have the responsibility to complete the required Certificate of Approval Form to The Graduate School.
Provide the required digital copy of your thesis for the Department of Ecology to be printed, bound, and cataloged in the Ecology Library. See Appendix II for more details.

If you are unable to meet graduation requirements before the semester deadline, you must withdraw your graduation application, submit a new application, and pay another $20 audit fee for the correct semester. You are responsible for graduation fees unless your advisor specifically approves the payment. See your committee chair if you are interested in a One-Credit Extension in order to complete your degree requirements by the first class day of the next semester.

Master's Degree Final Graduation Checklist

Register for 3 credits in the term you wish to graduate Complete your Graduation Application
Double-check that your Program of Study in DegreeWorks reflects the courses you have completed for your degree and update Program of Study as needed
Defend your thesis and pass your closed-door committee meeting Turn in the Report of Thesis Defense Form
Submit your ETD (Electronic Thesis) to The Graduate School. Complete the Certificate of Approval Form
Once your thesis is edited to your liking, communicate with the Ecology Department about getting copies printed and bound. The Ecology Department will cover the cost for (1) copy for the department library. All other copies will be covered by the student or advisor
Return all keys to the business operations manager and remove all personal items from your graduate student office and lab. Respond to any check-out emails sent from the department about address changes/email lists/etc

Checklist for Completing a Doctoral Degree

Before the End of Your Third Semester:

Develop a preliminary Program of Study and choose a Committee:
- Discuss your career plans and graduate school objectives with your major professor (advisor/chairperson) and construct a tentative Program of Study. This should reflect your background and the knowledge base necessary to achieve a broad understanding of your degree field. Doctoral students do not have required courses (with the exception of Ecology & Environmental Sciences PhD students); you will develop a Program of Study based on master’s courses taken previously and new courses suggested by your advisor and potential committee members. Please see the Graduate School’s policies on transferring previous credits to your doctoral Program of Study.
- Prepare a preliminary outline of your research to facilitate constructive discussion of your research plans.
- Review your research plans individually with potential committee members and request their feedback.
- Choose and confirm your Graduate Committee members.

Take the Qualifying Examination:

Qualifying exams are not required by The Grad School but are required by the Ecology Department. Only PhD students without a master’s degree or with a master’s degree in an unrelated field are required to take a Qualifying Exam (for students starting Jan. 1, 2025 or later).

Schedule Your Qualifying Exam. You are responsible for notifying the department academic services coordinator and for reserving a suitable room and necessary presentation equipment (laptop, projector) for committee meetings and examinations. The Department graduate academic services coordinator will offer assistance and suggestions. The department Library, 309 Lewis, is often available.
Take the Qualifying Examination. The Qualifying Exam is an oral examination over general ecology and is described in detail in Appendix I of this handbook. Upon successful completion of the Qualifying Exam, the academic services coordinator will send out a report form for all committee members to sign. If a committee member is not able to be present, they may use video-conferencing to attend in accordance with the Video Conferencing Policy from the Graduate School.

The academic services coordinator will keep the report in your personal file. Please ensure they receive a copy of the report on exam form or work with them to route the form for signature.

If you do not successfully complete the examination, you may take it again during the following semester. If you are unable to pass the examination on your second attempt, you will not be permitted to continue your graduate program in the Ecology Department.

Complete Your Program of Study and Paperwork:

Based upon their evaluation in the Qualifying Examination, your Committee may suggest changes to your Program of Study. You will then need to resubmit your Program of Study via MyInfo with the approved changes. The new program of study will route to the academic services coordinator, committee members, and department head before being re-accepted. Once a course is graded it cannot be removed from a Program of Study. Please review the Graduate School policies regarding thesis/dissertation, independent study, and internship credits before submitting the Program of Study. These policies can be reviewed in the Special Courses’ section of The Graduate School’s Degree Requirements Policies.

If you do not meet the deadline for filing your program of study/committee form with The Graduate School by the end of your third semester of classes, a registration hold will be placed on your registration until it is approved. A one-time $50 processing fee will be charged by The Graduate School to your student account upon approval of the Program of Study. No fee is associated with processing changes. You are responsible for this fee unless your advisor specifically approves payment by other means. See the Fees & Holds page for more information.

During Your Degree Program:

Written Proposal and/or Proposal Presentation Approved by Committee: All PhD students are required to have a written proposal and/or proposal presentation that is approved by their committee (for students starting Jan, 1, 2025 or later). The mode of presentation (written, oral, or both) is at the discretion of the major advisor. If the student does not receive approval of their proposal, this process can be re-initiated after needed revisions are accomplished. After approval, major amendments to the proposal should be communicated by the student and major advisor via email to the committee.

At the End of Your Coursework and Research:

Comprehensive Examination: this exam is the major academic examination during doctoral study that assures to graduate faculty that you have attained sufficient mastery of a program of study. It must be both written and oral. You and your full committee are responsible for arranging the Comprehensive Examination schedule. This includes the potential assigned grad rep for the oral exam. The Committee Chair must attend in person and other committee members may attend through video conference in accordance with the Video Conferencing Policy from the Graduate School. This examination is valid for five (5) years from the term of successful completion.
- You must be registered for a minimum of 3 credits during the term in which the examination is taken.
- Two-thirds (2/3) of the course work required for a degree must be completed prior to sitting for the comprehensive exam.
You may choose to schedule and hold your Comprehensive Examination prior to the semester in which you defend your Dissertation. See The Graduate School website for information and requirements of the Comprehensive Examination.
The time and place of the examination must be announced by your committee at least one month before the examination by written notice to you.
The last day to take the comprehensive exam is on or before the 14th business day prior to the end of the term the student intends to graduate.
The Department Head is responsible for giving written notice of the results of each section (oral and written) of the examination to you and to the Dean of The Graduate School no later than five (5) business days after the examination is held or after each section is administered.

You are allowed two total attempts to pass the comprehensive examination. At least six months must elapse before the second attempt at the examination. Failure to pass the second attempt results in termination of graduate study and dismissal from the academic program. Students who are dismissed from the program due to a second failed attempt are ineligible to reapply for the same degree program.

Dissertation Defense and Electronic Submission of Final Dissertation

Register for at least (3) credits during the term in which you want to graduate.
Submit a Graduation Application to the Department via MyInfo before the deadline of the semester in which you plan to defend your thesis.

A audit fee is charged to the student's account each term an application is submitted. A one-time commencement fee is charged to the student's account the first time they apply to graduate. See Fees & Holds for more information.

Each member of the graduate comittee must be given a minimum of fourteen (14) business days prior to the defense date to read the dissertation. The graduate committee chair should discourage a candidate from defending if the candidate is not adequately prepared.
You must notify the Ecology Department at least 14 days before teh scheduled date of your defense. It is your responsibility to ensure that: all supervisory committee members can be present at the times and dates of the seminar and meeting, and the seminar time and date are publicly advertised.
Submit a flyer to the departmental affairs coordinator two weeks before your defense to notify the department of your defense and have it advertised both on the MSU calendar and online. See office staff for help in securing a room for both your defense and closed-door committee meeting.
All theses and dissertations are submtted electronically to The Graduate School through an Electronic Thesis and Dissertation (ETD) process. Formatting guidelines and a Graduate School formatting advisor are available to assist you with formatting. It is recommended you begin working with the formatting advisor early; they are not looking for content, just formatting. Please note that the Graduate School recommends submitting your ETD at least two weeks beforthe approval deadline.
The PhD dissertation must be defended, and you must graduate, within 10 years of your first semester of enrollment. The Dissertation Defense is a post-project seminar, open to the department and public, in which your research and conclusions are presented with an opportunity for questions from the audience. Your Graduate Committee will hold a closed-door Defense Meeting following the public seminar and it is expected that the entire doctoral defense (both public and private portions) will take place on the same day and back-to-back. However, if there are extenuating circumstances due to committee composition or time zones, the Graduate School policy can be appealed. An appeal must be supported by the student's chairs or co-chairs and the department head. Your committee chair must attend in person. See the Graduate School video conferencing policy.
Once your defense is complete, it is your responsibility that all your committee members sign the Report of Thesis Defense form. Typically, the academic services coordinator will complete this form.
Upon final approval of your thesis by your committee, you have final responsibility to complete the required Certificate of Approval for The Graduate School.
Provide the required digital copy of your dissertation for the Deparrtment of Ecology to be printed, bound, and catalogued in the Ecology Library. Ask academic services coordinator for details.

If you are unable to meet graduation requirements before the semester deadline, you must withdraw your graduation application, submit a new application and pay another $20 audit fee for the correct semester. You are responsible for graduation fees unless your advisor specifically approves the payment. See your committee chair or Academic Advisor if you are interested in a One-Credit Extension in order to complete your degree requirements by the first class day of the next semester.

Doctoral Degree Final Graduation Checklist

Register for (3) credits in the term you wish to graduate
Complete your graduation application
Double-check that your Program of Study in DegreeWorks reflects he courses you have completed for your degree and update Program of Study as needed
Defend your thesis and pass your closed-door committee meeting
Turn in the Report of Thesis Defense Form
Submit your ETD (Electronic Thesis) to The Graduate School
Complete the Certificate of Approval form
Send a digital copy of your thesis to the Ecology Department to be printed and bound. The department will cover the cost for one copy for the department library. All other copies will be covered by the student and advisor.
Return all keys to business operations manager and remove all personal items from the graduate school office and lab. Respond to any check out emails sent from the department about address changes, email lists, etc.

Graduate Student Responsibilities

Progress is Your Responsibility

You are responsible for meeting all registration requirements and deadlines and/or confirmation of attendance requirements.

You are responsible for making sure that the prerequisite information is presented to The Graduate School before a defense. You must also be registered for the correct number of credits during the semester of your defense or The Graduate School may deny permission or refuse to recognize your defense.

You are responsible for completing your degree within the The Graduate School established statute of limitations. If you do not meet the recommended deadlines, your coursework may need to be revalidated (with written approval only) or retaken or you may have to reapply for admission to the program.

You are responsible for meeting the deadline for the application of advanced degree.

Funding is Your Responsibility

You are ultimately responsible for making sure that you receive any funding during your program of study. Well before the beginning of each semester, check with your advisor to make sure that the funding (stipend or tuition and/or fees) you are anticipating is in place.

You are responsible for registering early enough to make sure that your graduate assistantship funding can be submitted and approved on time.

You are responsible for checking the balance on your student account regularly. Fees may be posted at any time without specific notification. These include Graduate School fees, student health services, and prescriptions.

Accounting Documentation is Your Repsonsibility

You are responsible for providing a detailed list of all purchases from your grant and the grant number to MSU accountants. This list may be on an itemized invoice or on an itemized receipt. Your copy of the signed credit card slip is not a detailed list for all expenditures. Know your responsibilities for travel and ask for help whenever it seems confusing.

Academic Standing

Good Academic Standing

Degree-seeking graduate students are expected to maintain a 3.00 Grade Point Average (GPA) to be in Good Academic Standing. This includes maintaining:

A minimum term GPA of 3.00,
A minimum 3.00 GPA in the entire Program of Study, and
A minimum cumulative GPA of 3.00.

Any student whose cumulative or term GPA is less than 3.00 at the end of any term may be placed on academic warning or suspended from their degree program. See Academic Warning & Suspension.

Information on GPA calculation, Pass/Fail grades, N grades, and I grade eligibility may be found at Grade-point average (GPA), Pass/Fail grades, N grades, “I” Grade Eligibility, and “W” Grade Eligibility. Students should be aware that all “I” grades must be replaced with a standard letter grade no later than the term of graduation.

Academic Warning and Suspension from an Academic Degree Program

Academic Notice and Academic Warning

Students may be placed on Academic Notice if their term GPA falls below 3.00 and cumulative GPA remains at 3.00 or above. Students in their first semester whose term GPA falls below 3.00 will be placed on Academic Notice.

Students beyond their first semester may be placed on Academic Warning for either of the following reasons: 1) their cumulative GPA or Program of Study GPA has fallen below 3.00; or 2) the Graduate School or academic department provisions of admission have not been met.

Students can remain on Academic Warning if their cumulative GPA remains below 3.00 and their term GPA is above 3.00, i.e., they are making progress on improving their GPA. When placed on Academic Warning the student will be sent a Plan of Action template from the Assistant Dean of the Graduate School. The student should work with their committee chair to complete the Plan of Action. The plan must enumerate the items to be completed for the student to return to good standing and will be signed by the student, the student’s committee chair, department head, and the graduate school.

Academic Suspension

Students may be academically suspended from a degree program if any of the following reasons apply:

Their cumulative or program of study GPA stays below 3.00 after being placed on Academic Warning and their term GPA is below 3.00
The provisions of the student’s admission are not satisfied.
Unsatisfactory progress in a degree program as determined by a majority of the student’s graduate committee. This is summarized below. Note, comprehensive exams (section 5.3.5), thesis (section 5.2.9) and dissertation defenses (section 5.3.6) are handled separately and are described in separate sections of graduate school policy.

Academic Standing for Graduate Students

Good Standing: A graduate student has a term and cumulative GPA of at least 3.00 or better or is a new student.
Academic Notice: A student's cumulative GPA remains at 3.00 or better and their term GPA is below 3.00. Or students in their first semester whose term GPA falls below 3.00.
Academic Warning: A student beyond their first semester and whose cumulative GPA is below 3.00. Student will remain on Academic Warning if their cumulative GPA remains below 3.00, even if their term GPA is above 3.00.
Academic Suspension: A student was placed on Academic Warning in the prior term and their term GPA is below 3.00; OR Provisions of admission are not satisfied; OR Unsatisfactory progress in a degree program.

In deciding whether to suspend a student from their program or change their program from a doctoral to a master’s program, the student’s graduate committee should consider all the following factors:

The student’s overall progress towards degree
Course and examination grades
Research performance
Any other information relevant to whether the student should be allowed to complete their program of study. Committees should weigh the student's overall performance and come to a consensus before making their decision.

Degree programs must notify a student in writing of a suspension due to unsatisfactory progress or not meeting admission provisions and provide the reasons for the suspension. This notice must be signed by the student’s committee chair, a majority of the committee (if a committee is in place), and the graduate program coordinator or department head. A copy of the notice shall be provided by the program to The Graduate School. Suspension notices due to GPA thresholds will be sent by the Graduate School.

Students may appeal an academic suspension by following the appeal process.

A suspended student has a path to re-apply, as detailed in this policy and re-admission policy (section 4.1 Enrollment).

The final decision on a suspension appeal resides with The Graduate School.

Re-Admission to Graduate Degree Standing

Students considering applying to the same program they were suspended from should consult with the program before applying for re-admission.

To be considered for re-admission to degree-seeking status for another program within The Graduate School, a student must:

Submit a regular graduate application to that program.
Demonstrate academic strength after suspension:
- Completing a minimum of (9) credits at the 4XX level and higher courses
- Achieving a minimum of 3.00 GPA in these courses

Descriptions and Details

Major Advisor or Graduate Committee Chair

The professor who supported your application into the Ecology degree program will also be your major advisor and graduate committee chair as you work to earn your degree. Since they selected you to mentor through the degree process, they expect you to succeed and will do all that can be done to help you during your graduate work. Your committee chair has the experience of helping you become a professional. You should approach them as a professional colleague to discuss your profession and to seek advice about your progress.

Your committee chair is responsible for evaluating and enforcing your progress promptly. If you are communicating freely and frequently, problems of frustration are less likely to occur. If it seems like you need a third party to mediate a issue with your graduate committee chair, the Ecology Department umbudsperson, a graduate school representative, the department head, other committee members, or The Graduate School can be approached for help in resolving the conflict.

Major conflicts and misunderstandings can be avoided if you resolve two important issues early in your research. Authorship sharing and patent sharing must be formalized. Your advisor’s expectations may be quite different than your own expectations so early, open discussion, and formal agreement about sharing the results of your shared research will provide the foundation for cooperation. In cases of serious disagreement, it is your prerogative to request a change in major professor, but it is your responsibility to find someone else willing to serve in that capacity, and you may forfeit any research assistantship provided by your former major advisor.

Graduate Committee and Program of Study

During your second (MS) or third (PhD) semester of graduate study, it is a requirement to meet with your major professor and form the committee that will also help to mentor your progress. Together, you should complete a tentative list of courses and a schedule before the end of the required semester. The Program of Study for the graduate degree (not additional courses to satisfy deficiencies) must meet The Graduate School requirements as clarified here.

Program of Study Requirements

All students earning a Master of Science degree from Montana State University must complete a minimum of 30 credit hours post-baccalaureate. A minimum of 20 course credits and a minimum of 10 thesis credits are required on the program of study.
All students earning a doctoral degree from Montana State University must complete a minimum of 60 credit hours post-baccalaureate. For those who have completed a masters, a maximum of 30 credits may be applied to the PhD program of study. To complete the PhD, a minimum of 18 dissertation credits and 12 course credits are required on the program of study. For candidates who have not earned a master’s degree the program of study must include a minimum of 28 dissertation credits and 32 course credits in order to earn a PhD.

Please see the Special Courses’ section of The Graduate School policies for guidance on internship and independent study credits.

Your full Graduate Committee will need to meet to approve your Program of Study. The Program of Study is submitted via MyInfo. Please see the Graduate School’s website for instructions. The Graduate Committee/Program of Study Form requires the signatures from the full committee for approval to show their willingness to serve and to give their approval to your Program of Study. The form will be automatically routed from MyInfo.

Committee Membership Requirements

A minimum of three committee members for the MS and four for the PhD are required. Your major professor must be a tenure-track faculty member from the degree-seeking academic unit, but you may have an affiliate or research faculty member as a committe member. If a potential committee member is not already a tenure-track member of the faculty at MSU, you will need to have the Department and The Graduate School approve them as a committee member for voting purposes. Provide a Curriculum Vita from the potential member. Your major advisor will need to write a letter of recommendation to the Department Head explaining why he/she should be a member and what he/she will contribute. The Department Head will provide a recommendation.

The majority of your committee members must be members of the Department of Ecology.

Post docs may not serve as committee members even if they are an affiliate faculty member.

Faculty should be asked if they are willing to serve. When all have agreed to serve and any required documentation is provided, you can proceed with submitting the committee's information in MyInfo.

The student and committee can elect to add a graduate representative from another department to the student’s graduate committee. See The Graduate School Policy on Optional Graduate Representative online.

Deadline Requirement

If you are off campus during the required semester, you must complete the committee and program of study before you leave. A hold is placed on your registration by the Graduate School if you miss the semester deadline.

Once the committee membership and program of study are approved by the Head of the Department and the Graduate School, they may only be changed with their approval as well.

Students are not allowed direct access to their files. It is important that you have your own copy of your Graduate Program and Committee Form for your reference when you register. Once approved, your Program of Study will be built into your DegreeWorks and should be referenced there. You will need to check that the classes you have taken match the courses listed on this form when you are ready to graduate. Any changes to that program, or your committee membership, need official approval from several officials. Please reach out to academic services coordinator for more details.

If you do not meet the deadline for filing your program of study/committee form with The Graduate School by the end of your third semester of classes, a registration hold will be placed on your registration until it is approved. A one-time processing fee will be charged by The Graduate School to your student account upon approval of the Program of Study. No fee is associated with processing changes. You are responsible for this fee unless your advisor specifically approves payment by other means. See the Fees & Holds page for more information.

Research Proposal

All PhD students are required to have a written proposal and/or a proposal presentation that is approved by their committee (for students starting Jan. 1, 2025 or later). The mode of presentation (written, oral, both) is at the discretion of the major advisor. If the student does not receive approval of their proposal, this process can be re-initiated after needed revisions are accomplished. After approval, major amendments to the proposal should be communicated by the student and major advisor via email to the committee.

The Research Proposal is a scholarly work and may be your first attempt at such an endeavor. A well-designed research proposal can do a lot to ensure your success. A proposal is no more than a thorough statement of the research that you are planning to do. Writing the proposal forces you and others to evaluate your ideas and to see whether they withstand critical scrutiny. It is better to identify weaknesses in research plans before the work is started than during the project (or even worse, after the work is completed). All proposals must identify and discuss the relevance of studies that have been conducted by others and published. This literature review can also be included in your thesis or dissertation and represents early progress on your research. Obviously, it comes before the research, so you are not expected to have final results. Nonetheless, some students may have preliminary results from pilot studies. If you do not have any preliminary results, consider using hypothetical results to analyze graphically and/or statistically to help you and your committee members conceptualize what the results may look like.

This may be your first attempt at technical writing, something that will become a common professional endeavor. The ability to communicate effectively is critical. Talk to your major advisor and committee members about technical writing and look at style manuals for assistance. Begin with your outline. Give early drafts to your graduate student peers for critiques and the more polished drafts to your major advisor for critical review. Numerous revisions and major rewrites (usually entailing more than checking spelling and grammar) may be necessary. You should recognize that many of the faculty may use the proposal as the document which illustrates your writing competency, one requirement to become a “candidate.”

The following criteria will help you evaluate your proposal:

An individual, who is an informed reader but not necessarily an expert in the field, will be able to understand what you are writing, trace the logical development of your ideas, and clearly understand your planned research.
The question (hypothesis) of your research is clearly stated.
The reason why your research is an important addition to previous research is well argued.
The methods that you use to collect your data are both carefully developed and explained.
The analysis of the data is described specifically.
The data analysis will provide a direct and meaningful answer to your question.
Alternative explanations for your anticipated results have been clearly considered and a means to discriminate among them has also been developed.
This study will be a significant addition to the knowledge in your field.

Note: The first six criteria deal primarily with the technical aspects of the proposal. Proposals from both MS and PhD students should fit these descriptions. Numbers 7 and 8 help evaluate the originality of the project and need full consideration from the PhD candidate’s proposal.

If your response is, “true, my proposal meets this criterion” to all of these, go through the list once again. Positive responses, following critical evaluation, to all these criteria indicate that you have done a good job and have progressed along the road to solving problems analytically and identifying important questions.

A profitable way of thinking about the proposal is that it should be easily adapted to become your introduction and method sections in your thesis/dissertation. There is no length requirement for the proposal, but it should be long enough to meet the suggested standards, plus provide the necessary literature citations to support claims. Pilot data can be included if any are available. Figures and tables should also be used.

Qualifying Exam

The qualifying exam is the ﬁrst major exam that assesses your ability to synthesize and use information from many different sources. One of the biggest differences between graduate and undergraduate study is that you must take substantial responsibility for your own learning. With help from your major advisor and committee, you must identify your areas of focus, determine what you need to know, develop a plan to gain that knowledge and implement the plan. The qualifying exam, comprehensive exam, and thesis defense are used to structure this process and assess your progress.

Please note: qualifying exams are not required by The Graduate School but are required by the Ecology Department. Only PhD students without a master’s degree or with a master’s degree in an unrelated field are required to take a Qualifying Exam (for students starting Jan. 1, 2025 or later).

Goals:

The goals of the qualifying exam are:

To assess general preparation in ecology, and in the aspects of general biology most relevant to ecology. You are expected to have retained background knowledge from a good undergraduate degree in the life sciences.
To identify strengths and weaknesses in your speciﬁc areas of specialization.
To provide experience in communicating complex ideas, and to assess communication skills.
To provide experience in critical thinking, and to assess critical thinking skills.

Timing:

The qualifying exam will be completed by the end of the second semester for an M.S. degree or by the end of the third semester for a PhD degree, if possible.

The faculty views the preparation for this exam to be more valuable than the exam itself because the preparation will require you to read, synthesize and think about a broad range of subjects that will form the basis of your graduate education.

Structure of the Exam

Oral Test

The qualifying exam is only an oral test. It has no formal written component. The exam typically lasts about 2 hours, but the committee can make it longer or shorter.

Areas of Specialization

You must select four areas of specialization from six options, which are:

Scientific Methods & Quantitative Methods
Population Ecology & Conservation Biology
Community Ecology
Evolution & Genetics
Landscape Ecology
Physiological & Ecosystem Ecology

For each of these options, a set of example questions and required readings is attached. (See Appendix I.) These questions are not intended to be an exhaustive study guide. They are examples of questions faculty ask in the qualifying exam. The required readings are intended to provide a common background expected of all students in that area of specialization. Where a required reading list is not available you are encouraged to talk to your major professor and committee members about recommended reading. You can expect that your committee will draw from these sources for basic questions. For all qualifying exams, you are also expected to have retained the basic knowledge that is common to typical undergraduate degrees in population or organismal biology, ecology, or ﬁsh and wildlife. Note that this implies that you will have some grounding in each of the six areas of specialization.

Graduate Committee Discretion

Your committee will also develop questions tailored more directly to your own project. Your graduate committee has considerable latitude in determining the structure of your qualifying exam. At least two months prior to the exam, you should speak to each member of your committee to get a clear picture of their expectations and their recommendations for preparation (in addition to these general guidelines). Discuss these expectations with your major advisor.

Outcomes of the Exam

The formal outcome of the exam is determined by majority vote; unanimity is not required. In case of a tie, the committee will discuss and re-vote. If still tied, the major professor will break the tie. Possible outcomes are:

Pass: no further action required.
Pass with Informal Follow-Up: This will be reported as a pass to the Graduate School after the exam. No further action formally required at levels outside the department, but with departmental requirements for further reading, written reports on areas of weakness, or the addition of coursework to the proposed plan of study. The major advisor should provide documentation for the student’s file.
Not Pass with Retake: A timeline for a retake is established, in addition to the steps outlined for pass with informal follow up. Retaken exams will be no sooner than one month but no later than six months after the initial exam. Failure to retake on the planned schedule will result in a fail. The major advisor should provide documentation for the student’s file and report the pass/fail outcome at the time of the retake.
Fail: Failing the qualifying exam twice will result in the termination of your graduate program in the department.

Comprehensive Exam (PhD Only)

The Comprehensive Exam is used to determine that you are prepared to conduct independent research with success. It evaluates these three main areas: knowledge of your specialization and supporting areas; understanding of the current philosophies in your field; and ability to communicate your knowledge and understanding very well.

The exam has two parts. The written exam is a set of questions gathered from each member of the Graduate Committee that is answered with essays. The oral exam is the test of your ability to answer questions verbally. The oral portion must be attended by the optional graduate representative if one is assigned.

Written Portion

A typical Comprehensive Exam would consist of questions (minimum of one) from each committee member. Written answers must be completed over at least 5 working days but for no longer than 10 working days. The scope of knowledge to be addressed in written and oral questions can vary considerably from quite broad to quite specific. An individual committee member may require you to answer the written portion from memory or may allow you to use reference material. Both the scope and form of the exam are at the discretion of your Graduate Committee, collectively and individually. You should discuss their planned approach with them ahead of time so that you know what to expect.

A decision as to the acceptability of your answers will be determined within 2 weeks of the completion of the exam. To receive approval for this portion of the exam, at least two-thirds (e.g. 4 of 5) of your committee members must signify that you “passed” their portion of the exam.

This could be accomplished with the approval of your original answers or through required follow-up work such as a review paper, etc. Failure to pass the written exam ends the Comprehensive Exam.

Oral Portion

The oral exam is generally used for two purposes:

(1) to clarify any ambiguous responses to your written exam and to probe deeper into your understanding in areas critical to your research and

(2) to assess your ability to think on your feet and verbally communicate succinctly your understanding of the discipline. Ask your major advisor and graduate committee members how they perceived your performance on the written exam before you take the oral exam. This should help you to be fully prepared.

There are ways to help maintain your confidence during an oral exam. If you do not know an answer, do not “bluff”. Bluffing is obvious, and it might stimulate questions to uncover your bluff. Instead, admit that you cannot answer the question now, or consider asking for clarification of the intent of the question. If you recognize that you are feeling too emotional, ask for a brief pause; you may request permission to leave the room momentarily. If you feel “hassled,” diffuse the situation rather than becoming defensive or angry. Recognize that your committee has an obligation to the discipline to make sure all graduates are fully capable and that they must sometimes press you for such assurances. Be sure to keep in mind that these committee members are your mentors who want you to succeed. However, they will be and must be thorough in determining whether their expectations have been met.

Outcomes of Comprehensive Exam

The Committee will ask you to leave the room while the decision is made, possible outcomes include:

Pass: This decision means that a majority of the committee members recommend that you can continue your candidacy in the PhD program.
Fail: You are allowed two (2) total attempts to pass the comprehensive examination. At least six (6) months must elapse before the second (2nd) attempt at the examination. Failure to pass the second (2nd) attempt results in termination of graduate study and dismissal from the academic program. Students who are dismissed from the program due to a second (2nd) failed attempt are ineligible to reapply to the same degree program.

Thesis (M.S. Only)

Your thesis is the high point of your degree work. You will want it to point to the professional and academic achievements that you have accomplished and that indicate that you are ready to find employment or to do specialized work in a PhD program.

You must understand and use the format requirements for The Graduate School. Your Graduate Committee may set additional requirements to follow.

Your thesis/dissertation must be well written. The writing process is challenging, and it will take a great deal of time. There should be many revisions. Do not expect to complete it with a single draft! Your fellow graduate candidates will be excellent reviewers for the early drafts. Ask your major advisor to comment on a more polished draft before you even consider presenting it to any other graduate committee members. Everyone must rewrite their thesis/dissertation. If you use the same criteria that you used for your research proposal, you will avoid glaring errors for correction.

You should consider writing one or more chapters of your thesis/dissertation in the format for the journal in which you intend to publish. This will give you practice in writing for publication, and you will be ready to publish sooner. However, the format for journals is not identical to The Graduate School format in all cases. You will need to work with your advisor to creatively meet both requirements.

Since the thesis is the final presentation and discussion of your research results, it must be formally defended to your Graduate Committee. It is your responsibility to find a date that works for each committee member and to formally notify each member, and the The Graduate School, of the final date and location. This often occurs following your public defense.

Comprehensive Exam and Defense of Thesis (M.S. Only)

The Department of Ecology combines an oral Comprehensive Exam and the Defense of Thesis in one evaluation session for master’s degree candidates. (There is at present no written comprehensive exam for master’s candidates.) Schedule several hours for your presentation, questioning, and evaluation.

Since the thesis is the final presentation and discussion of your research results, a public presentation of your work is the first requirement. Then it must be formally defended to your Graduate Committee.

IMPORTANT: Do not schedule your Defense of Thesis until you have clear indications that your committee is ready to approve your work.

In addition, your Graduate Committee must be given a copy of your thesis a minimum of two (2) weeks before you notify The Graduate School of your defense. Because the The Graduate School requires a minimum of 14 business days’ notice of your defense, you should not publicize your Defense of Thesis any sooner than three (3) weeks after giving it to your committee members. This timeline assumes that there will be no major problems. Be prepared for an individual committee member to require substantial changes before they agree that you are ready for your formal defense.

Because this is a formal presentation, your presentation should be well prepared and include visuals and/or media. Be sure to include the following insights into your research work:

A clear statement of the question that your research addressed
An explanation of the importance of your question considering earlier work by others
A presentation of the methods and/or techniques of research and analysis of the data
A clarification of any weaknesses in your data and/or how you might have done the research differently given the experience that you gained
The conclusions supported by your data and their comparison with other findings

Graduate Committee Evaluation Session (M.S. only)

Generally, immediately after the public defense, but at least within 48 hours, your full Graduate Committee is responsible for conducting an oral thesis defense. The defense is used to clarify any ambiguous sections in your thesis or public presentation and to assess your ability to succinctly communicate your methods and results. Your committee chair must attend in person and all Video Conferencing policies must be observed.

Following the defense, the committee will vote on the quality of your thesis and your oral examination. These decisions are possible:

Pass: This means that your committee will sign the Report on Thesis Defense, brought to the meeting by your advisor, recommending you be granted an advanced degree. This often includes minor revision of the thesis and/or passing of courses that you are currently taking.
Fail: The student is allowed two (2) total attempts to pass the defense. At least two (2) months must elapse before the second (2nd) attempt takes place. Failure to successfully pass the second attempt results in termination of graduate study and dismissal from the academic program. Students who are dismissed from the program due to failure to pass the defense are ineligible to reapply to the same degree program. This is an unlikely event since your major advisor and supervisory committee would have indicated that likelihood much earlier.

Without exception, a decision of failure will be reviewed by The Graduate School and the Department Head.

Dissertation (PhD Only)

Your dissertation is the high point of your degree work. It will also open the doors to future research opportunities. This means that its degree of scholarship will be acceptable for peer-reviewed publication in your field of expertise.

You must understand and use the format requirements for The Graduate School. Your Graduate Committee may set additional requirements to follow.

Your dissertation must be well written. The writing process is challenging, and it will take a great deal of time. There should be many revisions. Do not expect to complete it with a single draft. Your fellow graduate candidates will be excellent reviewers for the early drafts. Ask your major advisor to comment on a more polished draft before you even consider presenting it to any other graduate committee members.

Everyone has to rewrite their dissertation. If you use the same criteria for your dissertation that you used for your research proposal, you will avoid glaring errors for correction. The originality of your research should be clear.

Since this work must be published, you might select options that will minimize your need to rewrite material before submission to a journal, monograph series, etc. You should consider writing one or more chapters of your thesis in the format for the journal in which you intend to publish. This will prepare you for writing for future publication, and you will be ready to publish sooner after your defense. However, the format for journals is not identical to The Graduate School format in all cases. You will need to work with your advisor to creatively meet both requirements.

Since the dissertation is the final presentation and discussion of your research results, a public presentation of your work is the first requirement. Then it must be formally defended to your Graduate Committee.

IMPORTANT: Do not schedule your Defense of Dissertation until you have clear indications that your committee is ready to approve your work.

In addition, your Graduate Committee must be provided with a copy of your thesis a minimum of fourteen (14) business days before your defense. Because The Graduate School requires a minimum of seven (7) days’ notice of your defense, you should not publicize your Defense of Thesis any sooner than three (3) weeks after giving it to your committee members. That assumes that there will be no major problems. An individual committee member may require substantial changes before they agree that you are ready for your formal defense.

Public Defense Seminar

A public seminar is part of the formal defense requirement for a MS and a PhD candidate. Schedule a maximum of 45 minutes presentation and allow at least 15 minutes for questions from the audience. It is your responsibility to find a date and time that fits the schedule of each committee member, including the optional Graduate Representative assigned by the The Graduate School to a PhD committee. In addition, you must broadly advertise the seminar at least 7-14 days before the presentation. The departmental affairs coordinator will submit the required announcement for the MSU Calendar of Events and will help to advertise within the department, but you should also do some additional advertising in other departments which share research interests. Be sure to send a defense flyer that includes your name, title, and defense time and place to the department at least 14 days before your defense.

Because it is a formal presentation, the seminar should be well prepared and include visuals and/or media. Be sure to include these insights into your research work:

A clear statement of the question that your research addressed
An explanation of the importance of your question, considering earlier work by others
A presentation of the methods and/or techniques of research and analysis of the data
A clarification of any weaknesses in your data and/or how you might have done the research differently given the experience that you gained
The conclusions supported by your data and their comparison with other findings

Defense of Dissertation Meeting (PhD Only)

Generally, immediately following the oral presentation, but at least within 48 hours, your full Graduate Committee has the responsibility to conduct an oral dissertation defense. The defense is used to clarify any ambiguous sections in your dissertation or oral presentation and to assess your ability to succinctly communicate your methods and results.

These decisions are possible:

Pass: This means that your committee will sign the Report on Dissertation Defense recommending you be granted an advanced degree. This form is routed to your Graduate Committee by the Academic Services Coordinator. The committee’s decision often includes minor revision of the thesis and/or passing of courses that you are currently taking.
Fail: You are allowed two (2) total attempts to pass the defense. At least two (2) months must elapse before the second (2nd) attempt takes place. Failure to pass the second (2nd) attempt successfully results in termination of graduate study and dismissal from the academic program. Candidates who are dismissed from the program due to failure to pass the defense are ineligible to reapply to the same degree program. This is an unlikely event since your major advisor and supervisory committee would have indicated that likelihood much earlier. Without exception, a decision of failure will be reviewed by The Graduate School and the Department Head.

Leave of Absence and Continuous Enrollment

After a qualifying event, to maintain graduate status, a student must be enrolled in three (3) or more credits (including thesis or dissertation) each semester, excluding summer semester.

Qualifying events include:

Master’s students: after completion of required content course work on the approved graduate Program of Study (content coursework excludes thesis or dissertation credits) OR after the student passes any portion of the comprehensive examination.
Doctoral students: after passing any portion of the comprehensive exam.

Students to whom continuous enrollment applies may have a leave of absence from the university for a maximum of three semesters, excluding summer term, without penalty. These leaves of absence may be taken as consecutive or individual semesters. No form or approval from The Graduate School is required for a leave of absence but you must notify your major advisor and complete an Intent to Register before returning.

Excess leaves of absence may be approved for documented medical reasons or military duty.

A comprehensive exam or defense of thesis/dissertation may not be conducted during a semester off.

One Credit Extension Policy

A One-credit Extension allows students additional time past the intended term of graduation up to the first day of the following term or by the posted deadline for summer one-credit extensions. Appropriate reasons to utilize the One-credit Extension are as follows:

To satisfactorily complete all coursework (including “I” grade make-ups).
To complete a comprehensive exam or defend thesis/dissertation past the published deadline for the intended term.
To satisfactorily complete all of the recommended corrections to the thesis/dissertation and submit all required copies in final format to The Graduate School past the published deadline for the intended term.
Approval of the thesis/dissertation by the Graduate Dean.
Successful completion of all other degree requirements as determined by the department and The Graduate School, including submission of all documentation required for graduation.

To use the One-Credit Extension, the student must do the following:

Withdraw their Graduation Application for the original term of graduation on The Graduate School website by the end of the current term (if applicable).
Submit a new Graduation Application for the following term indicating you are using the One-Credit extension by the end of the current term.
Register for (1) credit the following term. To register for (1) credit, you may be able to do this yourself or contact your department Academic Services Coordinator or committee chair to register you for the appropriate credit/course.

The degree will not be conferred until the end of the following term. If all degree requirements are not met by 5:00 p.m. on the published deadline, the student will be required to register for an additional two (2) credits to meet the minimum of three (3) credits and to complete graduation requirements.

You are NOT eligible for tuition waivers or a research-assistant appointment during the one-credit extension semester. If you are not a resident, you will be charged at the full non-resident rate.

Switching from a Masters to a PhD

If you are switching from a Masters program to PhD program, you will need to file a Change in Graduate Status form with The Graduate School.

This form should be completed when you are making the following changes:

Switching to a PhD program while NOT completing a Masters degree
Switching to a PhD AFTER completing a Masters degree

Please note this process is only used for switching graduate status within the Ecology department. If you are switching to a new graduate program, please speak with the administrative staff in your new department for instruction. You can submit this form to the academic services coordinator to route to The Graduate School.

Graduate School Requirements

All requirements, policies, and forms are updated first on the The Graduate School website. This is the most reliable place to seek current information.
It is recommended that you confirm all information on the Graduate School website before you proceed at any point in your program or submit any required forms.
The department staff and faculty are ultimately not responsible for checking for new information, policies, or forms though every effort will be made to keep information current.
The Graduate School site includes the current information about their policies such as limitations on the age of courses, limitations on the age of comprehensive exam, continuous enrollment, and requirements for the program and study and committee approval.
The department has the option to require additional limitations and/or requirements for completing your degree. The qualifying exam is an example of a department requirement.

Student Topics

Orientation Meeting

Every graduate student is expected to register and attend The Graduate School orientation meeting/reception at the beginning of fall or spring semester each year. New graduate students will also receive an email with registration instructions. They can also reach out to the Academic Services Coordinator for additional information. New students are automatically charged an orientation fee which cannot be covered with grant funding. The Department will also hold an orientation/get together meeting for Graduate Students at the start of the semester. Graduate students are introduced to the department at the first Ecology Seminar. Attendance is required.

During the Graduate School Orientation, you will receive training on mandatory topics such as ethics, Title IX, Safety & Risk, Library, Research Compliance, CITI Training, gaining residency and more. You must also be aware that the correct and most current graduate catalog is online. In the past, The Graduate School has made changes to the online version of the catalog with no notification to students or advisors. It would benefit you to check the online catalog for all deadlines and procedures as you reach each milestone of your degree.

CatCard (ID)

All Montana State University students are assigned a student identification number (GID). You will need to obtain the MSU CatCard with this number for identification. You will always want to carry it with you. Your CatCard is used for access into approved academic buildings after-hours, student activities, the Campus Recreation Fitness Center, computer and math labs, library services, and much more. Please visit the CatCard website for more information.

Keys

Ecology department labs and graduate student office space are located in AJM Johnson, Lewis Hall, and in Leon Johnson Hall. Each advisor has office space for students studying under them. Typically, all students with the same advisor share office space.

To get a key to the lab or graduate office you will need to request one via email from the Ecology Business Operations Manager. The access request process can take up to two weeks.

If a key is lost, please report it as lost to both Facilities Services and the Ecology Department. The Ecology Business Operations Manager will then submit a new Access Request form for you. There may be a charge for a lost key.

Any university keys must be turned in to the Ecology Business Operations Manager before you leave campus at the time of your graduation.

Parking

Parking is handled through Parking Services. All vehicles parked on campus must have a permit associated with its license plate number. The cost of the parking permit depends on the parking lot you wish to park in. If you do not have a permit, or your vehicle is parked incorrectly in a designated lot or parking area, you will be fined for each infraction. Your registration for courses or your transcript could be held if you have any outstanding fees or fines.

Information regarding parking policies, fees and fines can be found at https://www.montana.edu/parking/ .

Bicycles

It is required to register bicycles with our police as well. There are bicycle thefts in Bozeman and on campus, so your registration has strong value. Bicycle registration is free, and you will receive a registration decal. Bicycles are allowed on all campus walkways and should be parked on the bicycle racks only. Inappropriately parked bicycles are subject to impoundment. Find more information here: https:// www.montana.edu/parking/bicycleandPTD.html

Office Essentials

Documentation

Throughout the course of your graduate study, you will be required to complete paperwork to document your progress toward your degree. All forms that have been approved for submitting the details of your progress can be found online. Your advisor and/or the office may or may not remind you of the deadlines for completing requirements that are specific to your program. You are ultimately responsible for submitting all your paperwork verifying the completion of each step toward graduation and in meeting all deadlines.

There are consequences if forms are not filed correctly or in a timely manner. Students will have a HOLD placed on registration for not filing the Graduate Program of Study prior to the end of the second (for master’s students) or third semester (for PhD students) in attendance. If you have any questions about when forms need to be filed, check the Graduate School website. You may also inquire in our department office.

The department keeps electronic copies of all completed documentation of progress. When a document is submitted for approval (all required signatures), a copy is also made to verify that the paperwork was submitted on time. Since officials in several departments must sign for their approval, please allow several days to meet a deadline. The academic services coordinator can keep you informed about the progress of your paperwork. If you have not heard whether your submission has been approved, you may call the office about your concern.

Ecology Library

The department’s library is located next to the office in Room 309. The collection includes copies of theses and dissertations of former MSU students. There is a limited collection of donated periodicals. Any of these materials may be signed out for personal use. If you are planning on checking anything out, please check with office staff to sign out procedures and time limits. Lost theses cannot be replaced, so you are assuming a major responsibility when you take them with you. All theses and dissertations can also be accessed online through the Renne Library.

The library may also serve as a conference/lecture room. If you wish to use the room for committee meetings, oral qualifying exams, or any other academic purposes, reserve the time with the office staff. The department staff has a master schedule. The staff can provide a list of alternative rooms when our library is unavailable.

Computers and Accessories

If you need a laptop, projector, or equipment adapters for campus presentations, each is available for loan through the department. The office staff has check-out forms to sign out equipment. Always remember to return the equipment as soon as you are finished using it since another student or faculty may have reserved it for the next time block. As a backup, the Cooperative Fisheries Unit has a projector that they may allow students to borrow.

A scanner is available for approved use. The copier with the scanner is located in Lewis Hall 310. You can ask the office staff for help.

There are specific procedures for the purchase and disposal of any computer equipment. Please check in the office before you purchase or get rid of any equipment. And if you are provided with an MSU or grant purchased personal computer, you must return it to the Ecology Department upon leaving MSU. You cannot take the computer with you.

Office Supplies

Only office supplies needed for teaching classes (i.e. your duties as a GTA) are provided by the department. Purchase your own supplies for projects, research needs, or personal use as directed under “Purchases” below.

IMPORTANT: Before buying or charging any office supplies to a grant, find out if such supplies are specifically allowed by the grant.

Photocopying

Please ask for assistance the first time you use the department photocopier, or whenever you have forgotten how to make copies that are not basic and straightforward. The office staff will be happy to assist you in saving paper and time!

MSU has selected Color World, located in Bozeman, as its preferred printing vendor. Printing requests can be submitted through an online ordering system: https://www.montana.edu/printshop/ .

Graduate Teaching Assistants making photocopies for class instructional purposes should plan their copying needs well in advance. All large copying jobs are to go through a printing vendor. When submitting your order through a MSU preferred vendor, you will need to include an index number for billing. Please ask the course Faculty member or Business Operations Manager as to which approved course account index you can use.

If you need to make copies for your research project, verify through your advisor that copies can be made on your grant (some grants do not allow for office costs). Then make your copies at the MSU library or at a copy vendor.

Do not make copies on the department copier on “write in the rain” paper. Bad things happen to our copier when you do. Please, check with FedEx, Color World, or other local copy shops about the proper copy equipment that can handle “write in the rain” paper.

The department photocopier is not available for personal use. If you need to make copies of class notes, exams, or hand-outs for courses you are taking, copy them at the MSU library or a copy vendor.

Mail Services

IMPORTANT: If you have a package that requires additional handling or help with moving, you must contact the business operations manager to arrange assistance from facilities. Grant indexes will be charged for facilities appointments.

All students are assigned a mailbox when they arrive in the Ecology Department. Mailboxes are located in the Department Office, 310 Lewis Hall. Students associated with the Montana Fishery Cooperative Unit have one in the main unit office at 301 Lewis Hall. Students are responsible for checking your mailbox on a regular basis.

Boxes or items ordered related to your studies or research should be addressed to:

YOUR NAME c/o The Ecology Department Montana State University

310 Lewis Hall

Bozeman, MT 59717-3460

Email Services

You are required to check your preferred and affiliated email regularly.

Students with GTA and/or GRA positions need to ensure that their MSU account ([email protected]) is either routed to their preferred email or checked regularly as undergraduate students or other MSU-affiliated individuals will likely reach out to you through your official email. You are responsible for managing this inbox.

Money Matters

General Information

Even though all academic matters for graduate students are handled by the Ecology Department Office, financial matters are divided. If your funding is through the Ecology Department, the staff in 310 Lewis Hall will help and answer questions. In general, students whose advisor works in the Montana Fisheries Cooperative Research Unit will go through that office for all grant accounting matters. There are a few exceptions to that rule. If you are not sure whom to ask, please ask your advisor or either one of the accounting staff.

Please keep the office updated with your contact information, including a home phone number (to be used only for emergencies) and email address. The email address on your graduate application form is not automatically assumed to be current because you may change service providers or your preferred email address.

Beginning Employment

A Graduate Teaching Assistant (GTA), Graduate Research Assistant (GRA), or Graduate Service Assistants (GSA) appointment requires you to have employment status with MSU. A Fellowship is not an employment category.

The first time you are appointed, certain hiring forms will need to be completed and submitted prior to you receiving any pay/stipend. The Ecology Business Operations Manager will be reaching out to you, asking for you to complete the needed forms. Please be aware that you will also need to complete an Employment Eligibility Verification form (I-9). Human Resources will need to verify your identification in person. Which means that you will need to have with you an original passport or a valid driver’s license and social security card or birth certificate. Only original documents can be reviewed so please do not bring photocopies with you.

Fellowships

Some grants provide support with a fellowship. A fellowship provides a monthly stipend that can also be used to cover expenses such as tuition, fees, and books. This fellowship payment is processed through the Graduate School and University Business Office instead of Human Resources/Payroll. Any tax liability is the responsibility of the recipient. Payments are made monthly, and the dates of issue can vary. For example, if you are appointed from August 1 through December 31, your first stipend will come in August and your last would come during December.

Graduate Teaching Assistants (GTA)

The Ecology department has a number of graduate teaching assistantships (GTAs) available each academic year. Graduate students in these positions assist faculty with course instruction through leading labs or discussion sections, delivering lectures, and grading assignments. GTAs are nominated by their advisors and evaluated by the department in the Fall and Spring of each academic year. They are selected according to their need for funding and background in courses and research.

Graduate students who are appointed as GTAs are required to be enrolled in classes to be employed. During Spring or Fall Semester, a student must take a minimum of six credits.

In addition to a stipend, teaching assistants receive a tuition fee waiver (in-state or out-of-state). Other fees charged by the University (e.g., required fees, special fees, and health insurance) are not included in the TA fee-waiver package.

Both incoming and current graduate students may be eligible for teaching assistantships.

Please refer to the MSU Graduate Student Policies for additional details of your appointment.

Graduate Research Assistants (GRA)

Graduate Research Assistantships (GRAs) may be made available to graduate students by faculty members who have received funding or grants from outside sources (e.g., Forest Service, Park Service, Fish and Wildlife Service, National Science Foundation, or other public or private organizations). The number of research assistantships offered varies by year depending on available funds. Research assistantships include similar financial benefits to those of teaching assistantships. Research assistants are required to register for a minimum of six credits each semester.

You are responsible for knowing who handles your appointment, whether the Ecology Office, the Fisheries Coop Unit, or another campus office.

Please note that your status as full-time or part-time student will affect the amount deducted from your gross income.

Health Insurance

Please visit the grad school Healthcare Options for additional information: https:// www.montana.edu/gradschool/wellness/healthcare_options.html

Please contact the Student Health Services for information regarding additional available services: https://www.montana.edu/health/

Purchases

Any major purchases, and possibly minor ones, will need to be approved by your advisor before you make them. Be aware that new MSU policies and grant funding do not allow office supplies and equipment to be billed to federal grants unless they are specified in the budget.

All purchases need to be through SmartBuy, unless otherwise approved. The university requires students, faculty, and staff to purchase through contracted vendors. If you are completing a purchase with a vendor outside of the SmartBuy portal, please discuss with both the Ecology Business Operations Manager and your advisor. You can review vendors and access SmartBuy training on the MSU webpage (https://www.montana.edu/ubs/smartbuymsu/).

Reimbursements

If you use your own cash or a credit card to purchase items necessary for your degree program, you may request reimbursement within 90 days of purchase. You must provide a detailed list of all purchased items on either an invoice or an itemized receipt and provide the index number when requesting a reimbursement. You must be able to justify any unusual purchases. Be sure to check the budget for the grant before you spend your own funds and also get approval from your advisor. Please submit your reimbursement request to the Ecology Business Operations Manager.

Travel

For all out of state travel, including trips to Yellowstone National Park, (WY), you need to submit a pre-travel authorization. With your advisor’s approval, pre-travel authorization forms are accessed via Chrome River. Also any travel expense reimbursements must be submitted via Chrome River.

When renting cars from local businesses, do not take out the insurance they offer. MSU has insurance to cover these rentals.

Each Spring, the Ecology Business Operations Manager holds a travel information session. Please make sure that you attend this informative session.

Supervising Employees

Timesheets for your student workers or hourly workers are completed online and approved by your advisor. As the supervisor, you are responsible for making sure your employees complete the online timesheet. If employees do not complete this Webtime Entry by the deadline, they will not be paid on time.

Hiring Lab Techs

It is assumed that you have spoken with your advisor before you consider a hire. Be sure that there is adequate funding for the length of the hire. Have an agreement on what approved hourly rate salary can be offered before you begin the hiring process. These inflexible amounts are set by the State of Montana for state employees. If you are hiring an active student, more options may be available.

Do not offer a job to anyone without a proper interview and/or reference. If you hire without a thoughtful procedure, you may find yourself having to fire someone and paying a severance from your funding and interrupting timely research.

Be sure to talk with your advisor who has already experienced the process of hiring a technician. Get suggestions on the kind of questions you should ask during an interview, references you might want to have, problems to avoid, etc.

Hiring someone to work for you is probably a new experience. There are many options for the type of appointment for your employees. Please get accurate information from the Ecology Business Operations Manager before you begin interviewing.

Misinformation gives a poor start to any employee/employer relationship and will complicate the hiring process.

All new hires must be officially hired prior to begin working. Please contact the Ecology Business Operations Manager to begin the hiring process as soon as you have your candidate.

Graduate Responsibilities

Seminar

Graduate students are expected to attend the Ecology Department seminars. Ecology Seminar notices are posted each week during spring and fall semesters. The seminar list is also posted online from the main Ecology webpage. Students are expected to attend all seminars while in Bozeman to broaden and strengthen the MSU educational experience. In addition, we cannot attract quality speakers if we do not have a good audience. All graduate students preparing presentations deserve your full support.

The Department maintains an email list, which includes all graduate students, to which additional seminars or defense notices are sent. Information about defense seminars and invitations also are posted on the bulletin board across the hall from the main office.

Fees

There is a schedule of tuition and incidental fees for both resident and non-resident students available online. There are deadlines for paying fees listed in the front of each semester’s Registration Handbook. If you do not pay by the deadline, you will be assessed a late fee.

You are assessed a one-time orientation fee your first semester in residence. This required Graduate School Orientation usually coincides with an Orientation session date.

Your CatCard ID fee cannot be paid for with grant funding. Your advisor may be willing to use their funds for this cost, but this is a special request that you must initiate for approval.

Registration

It is extremely important to register before the deadlines posted by the Office of the Registrar. If you do not register by the deadline, you will not be able to register via MyInfo or CatCourse. The only way to register after the deadline is through the add/drop forms.

Before registering for your courses, speak with your advisor and confirm the correct number of credits. Every graduate student has a different contract with their advisor and credit waivers are dependent on grant funding. If you do not register for fewer credits than your contract states, you will run into issues with your funding. If you register for more credits than your contract states, you are responsible for paying the difference.

Register as soon as possible. Your appointments and waivers cannot be submitted for approval until you are registered for the correct number of credits. The academic services coordinator will provide a department deadline for registration to ensure that graduate courses have sufficient enrollment for the following semester.

To register, you will need to check for your registration PIN in the Notes section of your DegreeWorks. Your registration number is required for online registration and is a six-digit number that will change each spring and fall semester. The summer and fall registration numbers are the same. If you do not see the registration PIN listed in the Notes section, please reach out to your advisor and/or the academic services coordinator.

You are not notified of a late fee or health service fees that post. You may find that your next semester registration is put on HOLD.

On HOLD means you cannot register until outstanding amounts are paid. It is your responsibility to register on time and check your student account regularly. Holds will also show in your DegreeWorks.

IMPORTANT: If you have personally arranged for student loans, grants, or other financial aid, confirm the registration requirements for that funding. Contact Financial Aid for assistance. You must meet minimum credit requirements for many student appointments.

If you have completed your Program of Study OR have taken your Comprehensive Examination, you may need Continuous Enrollment. You must then register for at least three credits each semester in which you remain in the degree program. (You are allowed 3 semesters maximum of “leave.”)

Confirm Your Attendance (Bill)

You must confirm your attendance for your funding to be applied to your account. You may do this online through your MyInfo as soon as you have a zero-balance due on your current Web Bill. Confirm as soon as the balance is zero dollars.

For the Fall Semester, the period for enrollment confirmation starts in the middle of July and runs until the last day to pay for classes without a late fee. For the Spring Semester, the period for enrollment confirmation starts at the end of November and continues until the last day to pay for classes without a late fee.

The sooner you confirm your enrollment, the less chance it will be that you are assessed a $40 late fee. Especially if your grant or financial aid is paying for all your tuition, you are required to confirm your bill/enrollment. No payments, including those from grants or financial aid, will be credited to your account until you have verified that you will be attending school.

These will show as “anticipated” funding.

Registering for classes or making a partial payment does not confirm your attendance/bill.

Grades

You can access your grades online through your DegreeWorks or from the Student Records link under the Student Services tab in your My Info.

Obtaining Residency

The Graduate School reviews residency status on a rolling basis. Students wishing to be declared a Montana resident should review the requirements thoroughly at least a year in advance.

Simply moving to Montana, having a lease, or filing taxes is not enough to be considered a resident according to the Board of Regents Policy so it is important to review all requirements thoroughly. Additional guidance can be provided by the academic services coordinator or the Registrar’s Office. More information as well as all documents and the Board of Regents policy can be found here: http://www.montana.edu/registrar/residency/index.html.

The advantage of establishing residency is that you may register for less than 6 credits a semester once residency is established and there is a significant difference in cost associated with a one-credit extension.

Title IX and Parenting

Title IX provides parenting and pregnant student rights. If you have questions about your rights, please contact the Campus Civil Rights Office.

Conflicts of Interest: Consensual Sexual or Romantic Relationships

There are legal risks in any sexual or romantic relationship between individuals in inherently unequal positions, and parties in such a relationship assume those risks. As a graduate student, such position relationships include (but may not be limited to) supervisor and employee, mentor and trainee, teaching assistant and student. Because of the potential for conflict of interest, or the perceived conflict of interest, disclosure is required by university policy for all employees of the university. The MSU “Relationships with Students Policy” summarizes this policy in detail. Graduate students paid as a GTA or receiving funding from university-administered grants are included under this policy.

A consensual sexual or romantic relationship is, simply, risky. The real or perceived integrity expected for supervision and evaluation may be threatened. The trust inherent in a position of authority is put at risk. In addition, such relationships may harm or injure others in the academic or work environment when others perceive an undue access or advantage, a restriction of opportunities, or a conflict of interest. Finally, circumstances may change and a situation of sexual harassment is possible. (Even when both parties have consented at the outset to a consensual sexual or romantic relationship, this past consent does not remove grounds for a charge based upon subsequent unwelcome conduct.)

That is why the Montana State University Policy for employees states:

“A consensual romantic relationship in which one party has supervisory or evaluative responsibilities for the other is a conflict of interest and, as such, and as provided in the University Conflict of Interest (COI) Policy the party in the evaluative or supervisory position must promptly disclose the relationship to his or her supervisor and to the campus official responsible for COI reporting. The supervisor and the University official responsible for COI management shall take steps to ensure that the situation is appropriately managed in accordance with the campus COI Policy. This could result in the removal of the employee or student from the supervisory or evaluative responsibilities by their romantic partner. As provided in the COI Policy, an employee's failure to promptly disclose a conflict of interest may result in discipline.”

Your Responsibility as a Graduate Student

When such relationships exist or may potentially exist, you, as the person in the position of greater authority or power, have the primary burden of accountability, and you have the responsibility to make sure that no conflict of interest occurs. You are responsible for taking action to eliminate or reduce the potential for harm and to disclose the relationship.

This means that you must notify your supervisor or department chair in advance about the potential conflict of interest. The chair or your graduate advisor can then exercise his or her responsibility to evaluate the situation and to determine the extent of disclosure to the university. The department has the option to take any action necessary to ensure compliance with the spirit of this responsibility, including transferring either or both employees in order to minimize disruption of the work or academic group. In extraordinarily rare situations where this is not a possibility, your department supervisor must approve all evaluative and compensation actions.

Avoid such situations. Treat all of those under you the same way, with respect, regardless of race, age, gender, or disability. Remember that “sorry” isn’t enough.

There is a nepotism policy for employees, which also requires disclosure to avoid conflict of interest, which you may need to review when hiring. See the Relationships in the Workplace policy.

Appendix I

Scientific Method/Quantitative Methods

Example Questions:

Deﬁne accuracy, precision and bias, and use examples to illustrate each.
Provide a brief outline of a process for doing science. How do models ﬁt into this process?
Observational studies? Experiments?
Deﬁne, compare and contrast hypothesis tests and conﬁdence intervals.
For each of Student’s t-test, ANOVA, Regression, and contingency table analysis, describe the kinds of questions that can be addressed, the kinds of data required, and principal problems to be aware of.
Deﬁne induction and deduction and give examples of each with respect to the scientiﬁc method.
How do replication, controls, and randomization each help you interpret the results of an experiment? What are some strengths and weaknesses of the hypothesis-testing and model-selection approaches to science?
What assumptions are associated with a standard capture-recapture population estimate?
What are common methods of estimating vegetation composition along environmental gradients?

Required Reading:

Gotelli, N. A. and A. M. Ellison. 2004. A Primer of Ecological Statistics. Sinauer Associates, Sunderland, MA.

Ch 1 -An introduction to probability.
Ch 2 –Random variables and probability distributions Ch 3 -Summary statistics.
Ch 4 -Framing and testing hypotheses
Ch 5 -Three frameworks for statistical analysis

Population Ecology and Conservation Biology

Example Questions:

What are the three types of idealized survivorship curves? How do they compare to curves ﬁt to empirical data?
Describe two methods that estimate mortality for an animal population and how you would determine if the population was over harvested.
Describe the key properties of the logistic model of density-dependent population growth (or some similar model) using words, graphs, and equations.
What are the main features of a life table? What are some useful things you can do with such data?
In terms of population dynamics, what are demographic and environmental stochasticity? Which is generally more important?
What is an extinction vortex? Describe one possible example.
What is reproductive value?
Layout the rough, basic framework of a population viability analysis. (There is more than one way to do this.)
Why should we conserve rare species?
Niche Theory. Deﬁne the ecological term niche. What statistical methods are used to quantify the niche of a population? How does the niche of an organism inﬂuence its habitat selection?
Is the Endangered Species Act effective? What are some of the important issues in implementing the ESA? How could it be improved?
Anglers have expressed concern that the yellow perch ﬁshery in Canyon Ferry Reservoir is over- fished and requires more restrictive harvest regulations. List the population parameters and ﬁshery characteristics that would need to be quantiﬁed to assess the validity of this assertion, describe how they relate to each other, and provide a study design for estimating them.
Why are some organisms iteroparous and others semelparous?

Required Reading:

Gotelli, N. A. 2004. A Primer of Ecology. Sinauer Associates, Sunderland, MA.

Ch 1 – Exponential population growth
Ch 2 - Logistic population growth
Ch 3 - Age-structured population growth
Ch 4 - Metapopulation dynamics

Begon, M., C. R. Townsend, & J. L. Harper. 2006. Ecology: from Individuals to Ecosystems, 4th edition. Blackwell, Cambridge.

Ch 4 - Life, death and life histories

Community Ecology

Example Questions:

What are some basic methods of describing the structure of a community?
What is the difference between a community and an assemblage?
How do introduced species affect ecosystems?
Deﬁne competition, describe its different forms, list its requisites, and describe how to determine its occurrence.
Write out a pair of equations that describe the dynamics of a pair of species that compete with one another. Deﬁne all of the variables and explain the structure and logic of the equations. If it is a heuristic model, explain the model’s general predictions. If it is a model that is meant to be applied empirically, explain a way in which it could be applied. Identify the underlying assumptions of the model and discuss its limitations as a description of population dynamics for competing species in the real world.
Indices of Biotic Integrity (IBIs) are commonly used to assess anthropogenic degradation of aquatic systems. Describe what IBIs involve and explain their underlying principles.
Explain the MacArthur/Wilson theory of island biogeography. Describe a potential application.
Deﬁne ecological succession. What are the primary models of successional development and the underlying mechanisms?

Required Readings:

Begon, et.al. 2006. Ecology from Individuals to Ecosystems, 4th edition. Blackwell, Cambridge.

Ch 5 - Intraspeciﬁc competition
Ch 8 - Interspeciﬁc competitions
Ch 9 - The nature of predation
Ch 10 - The population dynamics of predation

Gurevitch, J., S. M. Scheiner & G. A. Fox. The Ecology of Plants. Sinauer Associates, Sunderland, MA

Ch 9 - Community properties
Ch 10 - Competition and other interactions among plants

Evolution/Genetics

Example Questions:

What is the difference between evolution and natural selection? Do individuals evolve? Do populations evolve?
What are some mechanisms of evolution other than natural selection?
What are the requirements for natural selection?
What is ﬁtness?
What is mutation?
What is phylogenetic inertia?
Discuss extinction rates and mass extinction events. What causes most extinctions at present? How do current extinction rates compare to background rates?
What are the major forces of evolution, and how do they work?
What are the requirements for adaptive evolution by natural selection?
What is heritability? Describe at least one way in which heritability is measured.
What are environmental and demographic stochasticity, and how do they inﬂuence a population’s probability of extinction?
What is meant by r and K selection? Are these useful concepts?
What is an extinction vortex?
What is an Evolutionarily Signiﬁcant Unit (ESU) or a Distinct Population Segment (DPS)? Why are they important? How might one use genetic data and/or other data to identify such units?
What is inbreeding? Describe one way to measure it. What is inbreeding depression? Describe one way to measure it.
Describe two types of neutral genetic variation that are commonly measured. For each, describe two uses for such data.
Explain the cladistic method of systematics. What is a monophyletic group? What is the major problem with strict application of cladistics when identifying taxonomic units such as species?
How many species are there on earth? If you cannot give a number, what are some of the problems or uncertainties associated with answering this question?
Give two deﬁnitions of species. What aspects are shared by almost all modern deﬁnitions of species? Why is it difficult to apply these deﬁnitions operationally: that is, why are we still discussing what a species is, centuries after Linnaeus?

Required Reading:

Conner & Hartl. 2004. A Primer of Ecological Genetics. Sinauer Associates, Sunderland, MA.

Frankham, R., J. D. Ballou, and D. A. Briscoe, 2004. A Primer of Conservation Genetics. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, U.K. Chapters 1-7

Landscape Ecology

Example questions:

What questions does the ﬁeld of landscape ecology address that differ from other sub disciplines of ecology?
Describe two techniques currently used to describe landscape condition.
What is the deﬁnition of a keystone species? Describe, from the literature, the effect that a particular keystone species has on the land/waterscape in which it resides.
Describe the effects of landscape fragmentation on ecosystem health at both large and small (local) spatial scales.
What are some positive and negative aspects of disturbance on ecosystems? Your examples could be from either anthropogenic or naturally occurring disturbance events.
What factors need to be considered in choosing a reference site for a ﬁeld research project?
How does succession inﬂuence landscape dynamics? How do equilibrium and disequilibrium landscapes differ? What ecological factors lead to a landscape showing a dynamic steady state equilibrium?
In what ways might landscape pattern inﬂuence the population dynamics of an organism? Deﬁne metapopulation dynamics. What are the methods typically used to model metapopulation dynamics? How might the concept of source/sink population dynamics be relevant to the management of a national park?
Describe the scientiﬁc method and some of the challenges involved in applying the scientiﬁc method to landscape scale questions. How can these be overcome?
Describe the process of habitat fragmentation by human activities. How do landscape patterns change as fragmentation proceeds? How do species differ in their responses to habitat fragmentation? What are the mechanisms by which some species may be lost from an increasingly fragmented landscape? What are the possible genetic consequences to a population of habitat fragmentation? What management strategies can be used to mitigate the effects of fragmentation? In what types of ecosystems is fragmentation likely to have a large effect on native species?
How does landscape ecology differ from ecology more generally? What are two of the most important principles of landscape ecology? Discuss the concept of scale, why it is important in landscape ecology and how hierarchy theory helps. Provide an overview of landscape metrics: what are the classes of metrics and the groups; what are examples of metrics used for each group; what have been some of the problems with using these metrics in landscape studies?
What is the purpose of simulation modeling in ecosystem and landscape ecology? Describe the nonspatial approaches that have been used to model vegetation dynamics. What are the challenges in adding consideration of spatial factors (such as biophysical gradients) to models of vegetation dynamics? How can these models be validated? What are the means by which simulation models of population dynamics, ecosystem dynamics, and human economics can be integrated?
Overview adaptive management. How effectively has it been implemented; how can this be improved?

Required Reading:

Gustafson, E .J. 1998. Quantifying landscape spatial pattern: What is the state of the art? Ecosystems 1:143-156.

Pulliam, H. R. Sources and sinks: Empirical evidence and population consequences. Pages 45-56, 63-69 in O. E. Rhodes, R. K. Chesser, and M .H. Smith, editors. Population Dynamics in Ecological Space and Time. The University of Chicago Press, Chicago, IL.

Reice, S. R. 1994. Nonequilibrium determinants of biological community structure. American Scientist 82:424-435.

Turner, M. G., R. H. Gardner, R. V. O’Neill. 2001. Landscape Ecology in Theory and Practice. Springer, New York.

Wiens, J.A. 1989. Spatial Scaling in Ecology. Functional Ecology 3(4):385-397.

Physiological and Ecosystem Ecology

Example Questions:

Starting with a living plant, describe the terrestrial carbon cycle. How do plants gain carbon, and how does carbon cycle through ecosystems?
Starting with a living plant, describe the terrestrial nitrogen cycle. What are the pools, and what are the critical processes of transformation?
What other elements are required and cycled by plants? How do these cycles differ by element?
How are plants, animals, and microbes all similar with respect to nutritional requirements? How do they differ, and what are the implications of these differences?
How are the temperature requirements of plants and animals similar and how are they different? How do the respective groups manage heat budgets?
Starting with a living plant, describe the ecosystem water cycle. Why do plants need water? How do ecosystems inﬂuence hydrological regimes?
What is net primary productivity? Draw a conceptual model of state variables and controls on forest productivity within a stand. What approaches have been used to map NPP continentally? What can satellites tell us about NPP? How are satellite data and simulation models interfaced to map NPP at these scales?
What factors limit primary productivity in aquatic systems? Terrestrial systems?
Biodiversity. Draw the shape of the relationship where net primary productivity is the independent factor and species richness is the dependent factor. Draw the relationship where species richness is the independent factor and NPP is the dependent factor. What is the theoretical explanation for each of the models? Which of these is more common in nature? How can these two models be integrated conceptually?
How can we predict species richness of an ecosystem based on niche theory? How can managers of a national forest use niche theory to guide strategies for maintaining native species diversity?

General Reading Applicable to All Areas:

Mackenzie, A., A. S. Ball, and S. R. Virdee. 2001. Instant notes in ecology, 2nd edition. Bios Scientiﬁc Publishers, Oxford.

Appendix II

M.S. in Fish and Wildlife Management

M.S. Graduate Curriculum Programs of Study – updated for 2016-2017 AY.

Fisheries Interest Program		SEM		Sub Totals	Totals
Required	Primer Courses	F	S
BIOE 554	Foundations of Ecology and Management	1
BIOE 555	Communication in Ecological Sciences		1
	Total Primer Courses Credits			2
Required	Fisheries Courses (Choose two)
WILD 510	Fisheries Science (even years)		3
WILD 513	Fisheries Habitat Management (even years)	3
WILD 525	Human Dimensions of FWL Management (even years)		3
	Total Fisheries Courses Credits			6
	Total Required Courses Credits				8
Electives	Approved Program of Study Courses Credits (Statistics courses highly recommended)				12
Thesis	Required Graduate School Credits				10
TOTAL					30

Wildlife Interest Program		SEM		Sub Totals	Totals
Required	Primer Courses	F	S
BIOE 554	Foundations of Ecology and Management	1
BIOL 555	Communication in Ecological Sciences		1
	Total Primer Courses Credits			2
Required	Wildlife Courses (Choose two)
WILD 501	Applied Population Ecology		3
BIOE 521	Conservation Biology	3
WILD 525	Human Dimensions of FWL Management (even years)		3
BIOE 515	Landscape Ecology & Management (odd years)	4
WILD 504	Wildlife-Habitat Relationships (even years)		3
	Total Wildlife Courses Credits			6-7
	Total Required Courses Credits				8-9
Electives	Approved Program of Study Courses Credits (Statistics courses highly recommended)				11-12
Thesis	Required Graduate School Credits				10
TOTAL					30

M.S. in Biological Sciences

Ecology Program		SEM		Sub Totals	Totals
Required	Primer Courses	F	S
BIOE 554	Foundations of Ecology and Management	1
BIOE 555	Communication in Ecological Sciences		1
	Total Primer Courses Credits			2
Required	Organismal & Population Level Courses (Choose one)
BIOE 521	Conservation Biology	3
BIOE 532	Physiological Plant Ecology (even years)	3
BIOE 548	Conservation Genetics	3
WILD 501	Applied Population Ecology		3
	Total Organismal & Population Level Courses			3
Required	Community, Ecosystem, & Landscape Level Credits (Choose one)
BIOE 542	Community Ecology (odd years)		3
BIOE 515	Landscape Ecology & Management (odd years)	4
LRES 568	Ecosystem Biogeochemistry		3
	Total Community, Ecosystem, & Landscape Level Credits			3-4
	Total Level Course Credits			6-7
	Total Required Courses Credits				8-9
Electives	Approved Program of Study Courses Credits (Statistics courses highly recommended)				11-12
Thesis	Required Graduate School Credits				10
TOTAL					30

Table of Contents

Introduction

Expectations for an Ecology Graduate Student

Summary of Graduate Degree Requirements

Checklist for Completing a Master's Degree

Before the end of your second semester:

Take the Qualifying Exam:

Complete Your Program of Study and Paperwork:

At the End of Your Coursework and Research:

Master's Degree Final Graduation Checklist

Checklist for Completing a Doctoral Degree

Before the End of Your Third Semester:

Take the Qualifying Examination:

Complete Your Program of Study and Paperwork:

During Your Degree Program:

At the End of Your Coursework and Research:

Dissertation Defense and Electronic Submission of Final Dissertation

Doctoral Degree Final Graduation Checklist

Graduate Student Responsibilities

Progress is Your Responsibility

Funding is Your Responsibility

Accounting Documentation is Your Repsonsibility

Academic Standing

Good Academic Standing

Academic Warning and Suspension from an Academic Degree Program

Academic Notice and Academic Warning

Academic Suspension

Academic Standing for Graduate Students

Re-Admission to Graduate Degree Standing

Descriptions and Details

Major Advisor or Graduate Committee Chair

Graduate Committee and Program of Study

Program of Study Requirements

Committee Membership Requirements

Deadline Requirement

Research Proposal

Qualifying Exam

Goals:

Timing:

Structure of the Exam

Oral Test

Areas of Specialization

Graduate Committee Discretion

Outcomes of the Exam

Comprehensive Exam (PhD Only)

Written Portion

Oral Portion

Outcomes of Comprehensive Exam

Thesis (M.S. Only)

Comprehensive Exam and Defense of Thesis (M.S. Only)

Graduate Committee Evaluation Session (M.S. only)

Dissertation (PhD Only)

Public Defense Seminar

Defense of Dissertation Meeting (PhD Only)

Leave of Absence and Continuous Enrollment

One Credit Extension Policy

Switching from a Masters to a PhD

Graduate School Requirements

Student Topics

Orientation Meeting

CatCard (ID)

Keys

Parking

Bicycles

Office Essentials

Documentation

Ecology Library

Computers and Accessories

Office Supplies

Photocopying

Mail Services

Email Services

Money Matters

General Information

Beginning Employment

Fellowships

Graduate Teaching Assistants (GTA)

Graduate Research Assistants (GRA)

Health Insurance