Heckart Lodge
2900 SW Jefferson Way
Oregon State University
Corvallis, OR 97331-2121
Phone: 541-737-4881
Fax: 541-737-3313
Website: https://gradschool.oregonstate.edu

Administration

Philip Mote, Vice Provost and Dean, 541-737-1458
Steph Bernell, Associate Dean, 541-737-9162
Jessica Beck, Assistant Dean, 541-737-8576
Ashleigh Anderson, Director of Graduate Student Success, 541-737-4652
Nick Fleury, Director of Financial Support, 541-737-0450
Karen Hanson, Director of Graduate Enrollment Services, 541-737-1464
John Henry, Director of Information Technology, 541-737-7619
Patrick McBrien, Director of Recruitment and Admissions, 541-737-2046
Lauren Henry, Director of Digital Media and Communications, 541-737-1422
Kim LeMay, Executive Assistant to the Dean, 541-737-1456
Maureen Childers, Assistant to the Associate Deans and Assistant to the Office of Postdoc Programs, 541-737-2033

Find a list of all Graduate School staff on our website

Graduate School

Graduate students at Oregon State University can choose from over 95 distinct academic programs at the certificate, master’s, and doctoral levels. Listed as a “Very High Research Activity (R1)” institution by the Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education, Oregon State offers students tremendous opportunities for research, career and professional development beyond their undergraduate degrees.

Prestigious Programs

Several of our academic units have claimed top ten rankings in the world, including agriculture (#4) (universities.com, 2024), forestry (#2), oceanography (#3), and marine and freshwater biology (#8) (Center for World University Ranking, 2017). Join Oregon State as a graduate student, and you will become an integral part of a growing, dynamic, creative and collaborative top-tier institution.

A Place to Call Home

Our 4,700 graduate students come from more than 70 countries and every state in the US. Almost 20% of graduate students are from outside the US. Oregon State’s seven cultural resource centers help give students a place, and a community, to connect with once they arrive on campus, especially for those who may be far from home. The cultural centers include the Asian & Pacific Cultural Center, the Lonnie B. Harris Black Cultural Center, the Centro Cultural César Chávez, the Ettihad Cultural Center, Kaku-Ixt Mana Ina Haws, the Pride Center, and the Hattie Redmond Women & Gender Center.

Administrative & Student Services

The Graduate School provides services to students and programs, including admissions, enrollment, and registering important academic milestones such as the program of study, committee membership, oral prelims, final exams, and graduation. The Graduate School also provides financial (awards, fellowships and scholarships) and student support services, including new student orientations, courses, workshops, the Graduate Student Commons and the Graduate Writing Center. Familiarize yourself with the Graduate School’s website, where you will find relevant information for future and current students. The Graduate School is also the home of the Office of Postdoctoral Programs.

Interdisciplinary Programs

The Graduate School serves as the academic home for several interdisciplinary programs, and the students enrolled in those programs. These programs are unique in their ability to offer education and training in topic areas spanning multiple colleges and disciplines.

Table of Contents

• Graduate Major
• Graduate Option
• Graduate Area of Concentration
• Graduate Minor
• Concurrent Master's Degrees
• Dual Majors
• Dual Degrees
• Graduate Certificate
• Transfer Credit
• Preparation Required for a Graduate Major
• Qualifying Examinations
• Registration Requirements
  • Continuous Enrollment
    • Minimum Registration
    • Leave of Absence
      • Eligibility
      • Criteria
      • Limits
      • Acknowledgement
      • Student Fees
    • Unauthorized Break in Registration
    • Appeal
  • Implementation of the Continuous Enrollment Policy
• Registration Requirements for Graduate Assistants
• Grade Requirement
• Policy on Disallowance of Undergraduate Courses in the Calculation of the Final Graduate Student GPA
• Course Numbers
  • 500-Level Courses
  • 600-Level Courses
  • 700-Level Courses
  • 800-Level Courses
  • Blanket-Numbered Courses
  • Courses Graded on a Nonstandard Basis
  • 4xx/5xx Courses
  • Repeating 4xx/5xx Courses
• Remote Access for Graduate Committee Meetings
• Petitions
• Diploma Application
• Institutional Review Board Approval of Human Subjects Research
• Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee IACUC
• OSU Scientific Diving and Scientific Boating
• Graduate Work by Faculty Members
• Graduate Student Teaching
• Graduate Appointments
• International Graduate Teaching Assistant English Language Requirement
• Students Who Fail to Find a Major Advisor
• Dismissal from Graduate School
• Student Conduct Regulations
• Grievance Procedure
• Policies Governing Graduate Certificate Programs
  • Graduate Certificate Study Program
  • Time Limits
  • Financial Aid Eligibility
  • Transfer Credit
• Policies Governing Master's Degree Programs
  • Graduate Learning Outcomes
  • Residence Requirements
  • Language Requirements
  • Graduate Program of Study
  • Time Limit
  • Thesis
  • Final Examination
• Policies Governing Doctoral Degree Programs
  • Graduate Learning Outcomes
  • Graduate Program of Study
  • Time Limit
  • Residence
  • Language Requirements
  • Preliminary Examinations
  • Thesis
  • Final Examination

Policies Governing All Graduate Programs

Graduate Major

A graduate major is the area of academic specialization in which the student chooses to qualify for a graduate degree. Upon completion of a graduate degree, the degree awarded and the graduate major are listed on the student's transcript. Find a list and description of degree types and graduate majors in the Catalog.

Graduate Option

Options are available to students of a specific major. An option is one of several distinct variants of course aggregations within a major that focuses on an area of study designed to provide a student with specialized knowledge, competence, and skills. Options are listed on the student's transcript.

A graduate option consists of a minimum of 12 designated quarter credits of related coursework (excluding thesis credits), and is comprised of coursework offered by the sponsoring unit as well as by other academic units. The option may be comprised of specific courses, completion of a designated number of credits from a longer list of alternative courses, or a combination of specific and alternative course lists. Approved options may be added to a graduate program of study, and must be approved by the faculty advisor(s) and the director of the sponsoring unit. On the program of study, there should be no overlap in course credits between options (the same course cannot be used to satisfy credit requirements in multiple options). When the unit submits the final examination results to validate awarding of the major to the Graduate School, the unit will also validate that the requirements of the option have been completed.

Graduate Area of Concentration

A graduate area of concentration is a subdivision of a major or minor in which a graduate program is available. Areas of concentration are determined by the academic program and are not listed on the student's transcript.

Graduate Minor

A graduate minor is an academic area that supports the major. Master's program minors must include a minimum of 15 quarter credits of graduate coursework; doctoral minors require a minimum of 18 credits. On a master's or doctoral program, a minor may be:

1. An academic area available only as a minor
2. A different major
3. The same major with a different area of concentration
4. An integrated minor

An integrated minor consists of a series of courses from two or more areas. These courses must be outside the major area of concentration, with most of the courses being outside the major department. The graduate faculty member representing the integrated minor must be from outside the major department. Graduate minors are listed on the student's transcript.

Concurrent Graduate Degrees

Students who earn two graduate degrees at Oregon State University must complete all degree requirements for each degree. This requires filing separate programs of study for each degree, filing separate diploma applications for each degree, completing separate projects or theses for each degree, scheduling and passing separate final oral examinations for each degree. For additional information, please refer to the Transfer Credit section of this catalog.

Dual Majors

For any single degree (e.g. M.A., M.S., Ph.D.), a student may select two graduate major areas to pursue instead of the traditional single major. Only one degree is awarded, and the student must satisfy all degree requirements for majors in both areas. For more details, contact the Graduate School.

Dual Degrees

Students enrolled in professional degree studies (DVM or PharmD) may seek concurrent admission to a graduate degree at the masters or doctoral level. For more information, contact the professional program involved.

Graduate Certificate

A graduate certificate program is a structured progression of graduate-level courses that constitute a coherent body of study with a specific defined focus within a single discipline or a logical combination of disciplines. It is designed for a student who has completed a baccalaureate degree and is in pursuit of advanced-level learning. Graduate certificates reflect the educational mission of the university.

Transfer Credit

Internal transfer credits are credits from courses completed at Oregon State University prior to full admission to the certificate or degree to which they will be applied. Internal transfer credits may be earned in non-degree graduate status, undergraduate or postbaccalaureate status, in the Accelerated Masters' Program, or while the student is enrolled in a different certificate or degree other than the one to which the student wants to apply these credits.

Credits from graduate coursework completed at institutions other than OSU are considered external transfer credit.

Students may only transfer course credits from regionally accredited institutions (or equivalently recognized institutions outside the U.S.). Students who wish to transfer graduate credits from a non-OSU institution must provide transcripts for completed courses to the Graduate School prior to the submission of a program of study.

Undergraduate students at OSU may receive credit for graduate courses (500 and 600 level) completed in excess of the requirements for a baccalaureate degree. Graduate courses taken at OSU while the student was a non-degree graduate student, a post-baccalaureate student, a professional degree-seeking student (PharmD or DVM), or an undergraduate student, are considered transfer courses.

Courses to be transferred must be graduate level. It is the responsibility of the student wishing to transfer the course to provide the necessary documentation to satisfy the OSU guidelines.

All courses on a program of study require final approval by the student's committee and the Graduate School. Committees are free to deny inclusion of any course if they believe that the earned grade is not sufficient; the course is not appropriate, sufficiently current, sufficiently rigorous based on syllabus content; or for any other reason. To be considered for inclusion on a graduate program of study, OSU courses whether taken as either an enrolled graduate student or before graduate admission, must have an earned grade of C or better. To be considered for inclusion on a graduate program of study, courses from another institution (transfer courses) must have an earned grade of B minus or better.

If the transfer credit is from a foreign university, the student must provide copies of the original transcript and an English translation of the transcript, with the courses to be transferred clearly indicated. Grades and credits for the courses must be clearly identified. In some countries, the first university degree, which OSU considers to be equivalent to a baccalaureate degree, may take five years or more to complete. All of the coursework toward such a degree is considered a requirement for the first university degree, and hence none of it can be transferred to a graduate certificate or graduate degree at OSU.

Students may not transfer courses from another institution that are graded on a nonstandard basis (e.g., Pass/No Pass, Credit/No Credit, Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory) to their graduate certificate or degree programs unless it can be verified from the registrar of the university offering the course that the grade is equivalent to a B minus or better.

Graduate courses to be transferred from another institution to an OSU master's degree must not have been used to satisfy the requirements for a bachelor's degree, master's degree (or equivalent) or a doctoral degree.

Graduate courses to be transferred from an OSU master's degree to a second OSU master's degree must meet the following two requirements:

1. Credits used to satisfy the residency requirements of one master's degree may not be used to satisfy the residency requirements of another master's degree.
2. Students who earn two master's degrees at Oregon State University must complete all degree requirements for each degree. This requires filing separate programs of study forms for each degree, filing separate commencement applications for each degree, completing separate projects or theses for each degree, and scheduling and passing separate final oral examinations for each degree.

Up to 22 graduate credits may be transferred toward a 45-credit master's degree. Up to 9 graduate credits may be transferred toward an 18-credit graduate certificate.

Graduate courses to be transferred to a doctoral degree program can be courses that were used to satisfy the graduate course requirements for a graduate certificate or a master's degree (or equivalent). Selected 700-level courses that have been deemed equivalent to graduate-level learning may be used on doctoral programs of study upon approval of the student's graduate committee. There is no limit on transfer credit toward the doctoral degree as long as the doctoral residence requirement is satisfied.

Credits earned in fulfillment of a graduate certificate program may be applied to a graduate degree, so long as they meet the appropriate standards for use in the degree and the criteria to transfer credit as defined herein. Courses completed for a degree program may likewise be applied toward a certificate program, so long as they meet the appropriate standards for use in the certificate and the criteria to transfer credit as defined herein.

Preparation Required for Graduate Major

Academic performance is not the sole criterion for admission to and continuation in certain courses and programs at the university, such as practicum courses and internships. The university may find it necessary to evaluate a person's background to determine their likelihood of maintaining standards of professional conduct necessary in the academic discipline or profession. An evaluation may consider current performance as well as past experiences and actions that could affect a student's ability to perform in the particular course or program.

Qualifying Examinations

Some departments and programs require graduate students working for advanced degrees to take oral and/or written comprehensive/qualifying examinations in their major and minor fields to determine overall preparation and background. These examinations are separate from the Ph.D. preliminary oral examination.

Check with the major department or program to find out which exams are required.

Registration Requirements

Introduction

Full-time status as a graduate student is defined by Oregon State University as enrollment in 9 credits per term. The maximum load for a full-time graduate student is 16 credits. A student may exceed this limit only with the approval of the Graduate School. Students receiving approval to exceed 16 credits will be assessed a per-credit overload fee.

Full-time status (i.e., a minimum of 9 credits per term) may not be sufficient to qualify for purposes of veterans' benefits, visa requirements, external fellowships, or federal financial aid.

Students who are eligible for VA educational benefits should consult with the Military and Veteran Resources Office at OSU for more information.

To assure full compliance with visa regulations, international students must consult with the Office of International Services (OIS) for additional information about registration requirements.

Continuous Enrollment

1. Minimum Registration

Unless on approved leave of absence (see section 2), all graduate students in graduate degree programs must register continuously for a minimum of 3 graduate credits until their degree is granted or until their status as a credential-seeking graduate student is terminated. This includes students who are taking only preliminary comprehensive or final examinations or presenting terminal projects. Students must register for a minimum of 3 graduate credits and pay fees if they will be using university resources (e.g., facilities, equipment, computing and library services, or faculty or staff time) during any given term, regardless of the student’s location. If degree requirements are completed between terms, the student must have been registered during the preceding term.

​Graduate students who have successfully completed all course and non-course requirements in accordance with diploma deadlines are not required to register during the subsequent term. Visit the Graduate School website for a list of deadlines.

Nonthesis master's degree students who complete all degree requirements during a term for which they are registered should not register for the subsequent term.

Doctoral and thesis master's students who fail to meet the following will be required to register for a minimum of 3 graduate credits during the subsequent term and may be subject to reexamination:

• Upload their thesis to ScholarsArchive and submit the Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Submission Approval form by the required deadline
• Complete all course and non-course requirements during the term

Graduate students who use facilities or faculty/staff time during summer session to engage in academic or research activities in support of their thesis/pursuit of degree are required to register for a minimum of 3 credits during the summer session. Graduate students who use facilities or faculty staff time during summer session purely in service to the university and not to engage in academic or research activities in support of their thesis/pursuit of degree are not required to register during the summer session.

Graduate students do not need to submit a Leave of Absence form if they do not enroll in summer term.

It should be noted that graduate assistantship eligibility requires enrollment levels that supersede those contained in this continuous enrollment policy. Various agencies and offices (e.g., Veterans Administration, Immigration and Naturalization Services) maintain their own registration requirements that also may exceed those specified by this continuous enrollment policy. Therefore, it is the student’s responsibility to register for the appropriate number of credits that may be required for funding eligibility and/or compliance as outlined by specific agency regulations under which they are governed.

2. Leave of Absence

On-leave status is available to graduate students who need to pause their academic pursuits for personal, financial, or other reasons. Students who want to take a leave of absence will work with their major professor, program administrator and/or director, and the Graduate School to arrange authorized leave. Leave of absence secures the student's academic status for the duration of the leave period; it does not guarantee employment status upon return from leave. However, students with a qualifying condition may be eligible for Family Medical Leave (FML). Eligibility for FML is determined by the Office of Human Resources, it may include employment protections, and FML will not be included in time limits pertaining to the student's degree program. Visit the Family and Medical Leave Policy on the Graduate School's web site. 

The Leave of Absence form must be received by the Graduate School at least 15 working days prior to the first day of the term for which leave is being requested. The time the student spends in approved on-leave status will be included in any time limits relevant to the degree (see sections c.i. and c.ii. below). Students in on-leave status may not a) use any university facilities, b) make demands upon faculty time, c) receive a fellowship or financial aid, d) be employed as a graduate assistant, or e) take coursework of any kind at Oregon State University.

Students are expected to resume their academic pursuits following the last term of their leave of absence, excluding summer term. Failure to do so will result in loss of active graduate student status and will require readmission to continue in their academic program.  

a. Eligibility

Only matriculated graduate students in active graduate student status are eligible for leave of absence.

b. Leave of Absence Criteria

Leave of absence is granted on a term-by-term basis for personal, financial, or other reasons. Students who request a leave of absence must:

i. be in active graduate student status,

ii. submit the Leave of Absence form indicating each term for which leave is requested, and

iii. complete all degree requirements within the time limits established in this catalog.

c. Limits

i. Leave of Absence is granted in up to three-term increments, excluding summer session.

ii. Time spent in on-leave status will be included in all time limits pertaining to the student’s degree program.

iii. Students who matriculate fall term 2016 or later¹ may use unlimited leaves as long as time to degree constraints are met (7 years for master's degrees and graduate certificates; 9 years for doctoral degrees). Leaves of absence must be renewed to retain student status. Failure to renew the leave of absence or register will result in the loss of student status.

d. Acknowledgement

Acknowledgement of the student's request for leave is required from the major professor, department/program chair or director, and graduate dean.

e. Student Fees

Students with approved on-leave status are not required to pay tuition or fees. However, students who must register as per section I, "Minimum Registration," must pay both tuition and student fees.

¹

Students who matriculated prior to fall 2016 must contact the Graduate School for Leave of Absence limits

3. Unauthorized Break in Registration

A graduate student who takes an unauthorized break in registration by failing to maintain continuous enrollment or by failing to obtain a leave of absence will relinquish their graduate standing in the university. Students who wish to have their graduate standing reinstated will be required to apply for readmission and pay the application fee. The readmission application must be approved by the student's major professor, department/school/program chair, and graduate dean. Acceptance back into a graduate program is not guaranteed even if the student departed in good standing. The petitioner for readmission will be required to meet university and departmental admission requirements and degree completion requirements that are in effect on the date of readmission. Review of the Application for Graduate Readmission may also result in a change of residency status from resident to nonresident.

4. Appeal

In the case of extraordinarily extenuating circumstances, students may appeal the provisions of the continuous graduate enrollment policy by submitting a detailed request in writing to the dean of the Graduate School.

Implementation of Continuous Enrollment Policy

All graduate students, excluding most certificate-only students, including those enrolled prior to fall 2002, are subject to this policy. The College of Business requires certificate students to maintain continuous enrollment.

All graduate students should be enrolled for a reasonable number of credits sufficient to represent their use of university space, facilities or faculty time. Minimum enrollment is three credits per term.

Registration Requirements for Graduate Assistants

In addition to the above registration requirements, the following requirements apply to graduate teaching assistants (GTA) and graduate research assistants (GRA).

Students are responsible for determining whether the minimum 3-credit summer registration fulfills their individual immigration, financial aid, tax liability or other specific needs. Audit registrations, course withdrawals, and enrollment in INTO OSU courses may not be used to satisfy enrollment requirements for graduate assistant salary/stipend, tuition remission, salary supplement or health insurance benefits. Tuition charges associated with INTO OSU enrollment are not covered by the graduate assistant tuition remission.

Grade Requirement

A grade-point average of 3.00 (a B average) is required: 1) for the cumulative GPA earned on all courses taken as a degree-seeking graduate student, and 2) for courses included in the graduate degree or graduate certificate program of study. In some cases, a graduate program may allow use of an OSU grade below a B, but grades below C (2.00) cannot be used on a graduate program of study. A grade-point average of 3.00 is required before the exams or alternative summative assessments may be undertaken. Enforced graduate-level prerequisite courses must be completed with a minimum grade of C.

Policy on Disallowance of Undergraduate Courses in the Calculation of the Final Graduate Student GPA

Calculation of the final cumulative GPA for graduation for a graduate student will include all 500-, 600- and certain 700-level courses determined to be eligible for use on a graduate program of study. Undergraduate (100 to 400 level) courses taken, even if taken while a graduate student, will not be used in the cumulative GPA calculation for graduation. A graduate student is required to attain a 3.0 GPA in all graduate-level coursework, both cumulatively and on the program of study, for graduation.

Course Numbers

Graduate Courses

All graduate courses will be designed around well-defined student learning outcomes, and instructional opportunities should be designed to help students achieve these outcomes. Student learning outcomes encompass the range of knowledge, skills, attributes, and abilities that students should be able to demonstrate after successful completion of the course.

500-Level Courses

These courses are graduate courses offered primarily in support of graduate certificate or master's degree programs but which are also available for use on doctoral level degree programs.

Undergraduates of superior scholastic achievement may be admitted to these courses on the approval of the instructor, and they may, if admitted, under some conditions, use a limited number of these courses toward a graduate certificate or a graduate degree program. These courses have one or more of the following characteristics:

1. They require upper-division prerequisites in the discipline.
2. They require an extensive theoretical base in the discipline.
3. They increase or re-examine the existing knowledge or database of the discipline.
4. They present core components or important peripheral components of the discipline at an advanced level.

600-Level Courses

These are graduate courses offered principally in support of doctoral level instructional programs but also are available for use on graduate certificate or master's level degree programs. In addition to exhibiting the characteristics of 500-level courses, these courses typically require 500-level prerequisites and they build on and increase the information presented in 500-level courses.

700-Level Courses

These are advanced professional or technical courses that may be applied toward a first professional degree (e.g., DVM, PharmD). They make up the bulk of the coursework for these professional degree programs. In general, these courses are not considered graduate-level courses, and may not be applied toward graduate certificate, master's level or doctoral level (PhD or EdD) degree programs. However, selected 700-level courses that have been deemed equivalent to graduate-level learning may be used on doctoral programs of study upon approval of the student's graduate committee and the Graduate School.

800-Level Courses

These courses are in-service courses aimed at practicing professionals in the discipline. These courses have an in-service or retraining focus and provide the professionals new ways to examine existing situations or new tools to treat existing problems. These courses generally have none of the characteristics of 500-level courses. They are not graduate-level courses, and they may not be applied to graduate certificate or graduate degree programs nor to professional degree programs.

Blanket-Numbered Courses

Blanket-numbered courses have a zero middle digit. Those that carry graduate credit may be repeated up to the maximum totals indicated below.

• Research (501 or 601) is for research that is not part of the thesis. Data obtained from such research should not be incorporated into the thesis.
• Thesis (503 or 603) covers the thesis research and writing. A student may register for thesis credit each term.
• Reading and Conference (505 or 605) and Projects (506 or 606) are used for special work not given under a formal course number.
• Seminar (507 or 607) is used both for departmental seminars and for special group work not given in a formal course.
• Workshop (508 or 608) is usually a special, short-term course covering a variety of topics.
• Practicum (509) is used for courses whose emphasis is the application of academic theory to the work environment.

No more than 9 credits of blanket-numbered courses, other than thesis (or research-in-lieu-of-thesis for nonthesis programs), may be applied toward the minimum 45-credit master's degree. While internship credit (510) is not considered a blanket-numbered course, no more than 6 credits of internship may be applied toward a 45-credit master's degree. The internship credit limit is in addition to the 9-credit blanket-hour limit.

No more than 15 blanket-numbered credits, other than thesis, may be applied toward the minimum 108-credit doctoral program.

No more than 3 credits of blanket-numbered courses in each field of study may be used in the MAIS program; thesis credits or research paper credits are exempt from this limitation.

No more than 4 blanket-numbered credits may be applied toward the minimum 18-credit certificate program.

Blanket-numbered transfer courses will count toward the maximum totals specified above.

Courses Graded on Nonstandard Basis

Graduate students may elect to take courses on an S/U basis only if those courses are not in their graduate certificate or graduate degree program or are not required for the removal of deficiencies. Graduate students may use courses taken at OSU on a P/N basis in their graduate certificate or graduate degree programs.

4xx/5xx Courses

No more than 50% of courses used for a graduate program of study may be the 500-level component of a dual-listed course. Courses bearing dual-listed numbers (400/500) must provide students who are enrolled for 500-level credit with graduate-level learning.

Expectations for learning outcomes in the graduate component of dual listed (400/500 level) courses are the same as for stand-alone 500-level courses. A distinction should be made between learning outcomes for students taking the course for undergraduate credit (400 level) and those taking the course for graduate credit (500 level). In most cases this distinction should include emphasis on developing skills in analysis, synthesis, and/or evaluation for the 500-level credit. The different student learning outcomes should be accompanied by appropriate differences in instructional opportunities and evaluation procedures.

Repeating 4xx/5xx Courses

A graduate student who has taken a 4xx course may not normally include the corresponding 5xx course on their graduate program.

Remote Access for Graduate Committee Meetings

It is generally expected that all members of graduate committees should be physically present at all required graduate committee meetings (i.e., program meetings, preliminary examinations, and final examinations). However, it is permissible for the student, and/or committee members to participate from a remote location provided the conditions listed below are met:

1. Remote participants must have audio and video connections; audio only connections for committee members must be approved by the major professor if the video connection is not possible
2. When the student is the remote participant, their connection must be an audio and video connection
3. Any visual aids or other materials have been distributed in advance to the remote participants
4. The student is responsible for setting up the remote meeting and providing the necessary information to all committee members

Petitions

A student wishing to deviate from normal Graduate School regulations and procedures may submit a request and the reasons for it to the Graduate School in a letter signed by the student and their major professor. In reaching a decision, the Graduate School may seek advice from the Graduate Council. The student will be advised of the decision when it has been made. Action taken on a petition will not be considered precedent for future action.

Diploma Application

All graduate students must complete a Diploma Application form. This form should be submitted prior to taking the final examination, indicating the term the student intends to graduate. Participation in Commencement ceremonies requires earlier submission of this form.

Institutional Review Board Approval of Human Subjects Research

It is Oregon State University policy that the OSU Institutional Review Board (IRB) must review all research that involves human subjects. The results from studies conducted without obtaining IRB review and approval may not be published or widely distributed, nor can such data be used to satisfy master's thesis or doctoral dissertation requirements.

The requirements for IRB review of research involving human subjects is based upon research ethics and federal law, and the implications of conducting human subjects research without IRB approval are significant. Failure to follow this policy places both the individual and the institution at risk: the individual may be subject to university sanctions and/or incur personal liability for negligence and harm; the university could lose access to federal funding or be forced to cease all human subjects research. For more information, please send an email to irb@oregonstate.edu or visit the IRB website.

Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee IACUC

The Oregon State University Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC) requires prior review and approval for all live vertebrate animal use in research, teaching, testing, per the IACUC Scope of Work Policy. An eligible principal investigator must be identified in order to submit an ACUP to the committee, per PI Eligibility Policy. Review leading to approval is accomplished via submission of an Animal Care and Use Protocol form (ACUP) to the IACUC.

The requirements for IACUC review are based on the ethics of animal use, and our assurances to agencies that provide federal oversight, funding, and program accreditation. Implications regarding conduct of animal research without IACUC approval and oversight are significant. Failure to secure and maintain approval can result in the student's inability to continue research or publish data. In addition, OSU could lose accreditation, lose access to funding and/or be required to pay significant fines. Please contact APOffice@oregonstate.edu for more information.

OSU Scientific Diving and Scientific Boating

Student who work underwater or on a boat are required to meet standards set by the Research Office. For more information, please visit the boating or diving websites. 

Graduate Work by Faculty Members

The Faculty as Student policy specifies that one may not simultaneously be an Oregon State University faculty member and an OSU graduate student. This policy pertains to all OSU faculty members (both ranked and professional), is consistent with practices at most universities, and is in keeping with recognized appropriate graduate education practice. For questions regarding this policy, email Steph Bernell at steph.bernell@oregonstate.edu.

Although faculty members are eligible to enroll for courses at staff fee rates, such coursework may not be applied to a graduate certificate or graduate degree without prior approval from the graduate dean or designee.

Graduate Student Teaching

Appointment as Instructor of Record. For a graduate student to be appointed as the Instructor of Record for a graduate course (including the 500-level component of a slash course): 

• The unit/program of employment must be separate and distinct from the unit/program of enrollment.
• The instructor must be appointed to the graduate faculty based on their academic/professional qualification by the unit/program of employment.
• In the event that graduate students from the instructor's unit/program of enrollment are enrolled in the course, alternative arrangements must be made for evaluating the work of those graduate students.

Appointment as Teaching Assistant. For a graduate student to be appointed as the Teaching Assistant for a graduate course (including the 500-level component of a slash course), the Director of the Graduate Program must ensure that potential conflicts of interest are avoided to the maximum extent possible. This may include:

• Making alternative arrangements to evaluate the work of graduate students from the same unit/program as the Teaching Assistant, or
• Ensuring that the Teaching Assistant has advanced to candidacy status (after prelims) and all graduate students in the class have not advanced to candidacy

If neither of these criteria are met, the program must have a conflict of interest plan approved by the Graduate School. Please consult Steph Bernell steph.bernell@oregonstate.edu with questions.

Graduate Appointments

Graduate assistants are represented by the Coalition of Graduate Employees, American Federation of Teachers Local 6069 (CGE). Terms and conditions of employment for service not performed as a requirement for their degrees are prescribed in the collective bargaining agreement between OSU, and CGE.

Persons interested in assistantships should write directly to the specific department or program.

International Graduate Teaching Assistant English Language Requirement

If the Graduate School determines that an applicant or current student's native language is not English, the proposed IGTA is required to take the Internet Based TOEFL (iBT) test before being appointed as a graduate teaching assistant.

Potential IGTAs scoring below 22 on the speaking section of the iBT can be appointed but will be required to undertake further English language training.

If a department wishes to offer a student with an iBT speaking score of 18 to 21 an assistantship, the unit must:

1. Affirm that the graduate student will be enrolled in IEPA 098NC Communication for IGTAs, or an alternative offered by the Graduate School, with the unit paying the cost of this training.
2. If possible, assign the graduate student assignments (such as paper grading, reagent preparation, etc.) that do not require personal contact with undergraduate students.
3. If (b) above is not possible, and if possible, pair the IGTA in the laboratory or classroom with another TA who is a native speaker of English.
4. Monitor the quality of IGTA performance using student evaluations and the evaluations of the supervising professors. The unit will document for each student the results of their evaluation of the student's performance as a GTA.

If the unit agrees to meet these conditions, the IGTA appointment can be made.

The scheduling of IEPA 098NC, or alternative, will be coordinated with the units so that students can attend the course and conduct teaching assistantship duties. Please check the Schedule of Classes for confirmation of the time and date.

Students with an iBT speaking score of less than 18 cannot be assigned teaching assistantships.

Students Who Fail to Find a Major Advisor

There are times when students are making satisfactory academic progress but are unable to complete graduate studies with their initial major professor. Oregon State University has an ethical responsibility to assist such students in identifying a new major professor. The Graduate Council and Faculty Senate policy for establishing major advisors for students in this situation provides guidance and can be obtained by contacting the Graduate School.

Dismissal from Graduate School

Advanced-degree students and graduate certificate (regularly, conditionally, and provisionally admitted) are expected to make satisfactory progress toward a specific academic degree or certificate. This includes maintaining a GPA of 3.00 or better for all courses taken as a graduate student and for courses included in the graduate program, meeting departmental or program requirements, and participating in a creative activity such as a thesis.

If a student is failing to make satisfactory progress, as determined by the major department/program or the Graduate School, the student may be dismissed from the Graduate School.

Any doctoral student who fails the preliminary oral examination, with a committee recommendation that the student's work toward this degree be terminated, may be dismissed from the Graduate School.

Any student who fails a final oral examination may be dismissed from the Graduate School.

Academic dishonesty and other violations of the Student Conduct Code may serve as grounds for dismissal from the Graduate School.

Student Conduct Regulations

Graduate students enrolled at Oregon State University are expected to conform to basic regulations and policies developed to govern the behavior of students as members of the university community. The regulations have been formulated by the Student Conduct Committee, the Student Activities Committee, the university administration, and the Higher Education Coordinating Commission. Violations of the regulations subject a student to appropriate disciplinary or judicial action. The regulations and the procedures for disciplinary action and appeal are available via the Office of Student Conduct and Community Standards website.

Grievance Procedure

All students desiring to appeal matters relating to their graduate education should request a copy of Grievance Procedures for Graduate Students at Oregon State University from the Graduate School. Graduate assistants whose terms and conditions of employment are prescribed by the collective bargaining agreement between OSU and the Coalition of Graduate Employees, American Federation of Teachers Local 6069, should also refer to that document.

Policies Governing Graduate Certificate Programs

General Requirements

The Graduate Certificate Program at Oregon State University is a structured progression of graduate-level courses that constitute a coherent body of study with a defined focus within a single discipline or a logical combination of disciplines. It is designed for a student who has completed a baccalaureate degree and is in pursuit of advanced-level learning. Graduate certificates reflect the educational mission of the university. Students desiring a graduate certificate must be admitted to the university as a credential-seeking graduate student. There is no formal committee requirement for graduate certificates. Certificate students are subject to all general policies governing the courses for the master's degree, unless specified within the Graduate Catalog.

Graduate Certificate Program of Study

The graduate certificate curriculum consists of a minimum of 18 graduate credits, and may include a final project, portfolio, or report for integration of the sequence of course materials. All graduate student programs of study submitted to the Graduate School must consist of, at a minimum, 50 percent graduate stand-alone credits. The remaining credits may be the 500 component of 400/500 slash courses. No final examination is required.

Time Limits

Courses completed no more than seven years prior to the graduate certificate award may be used to satisfy certificate requirements. Students enrolled in certificates without concurrent enrollment in a graduate degree program are not subject to the continuous enrollment policy during the time allowed for certificate completion, with the exception of students completing certificates in the College of Business.

Financial Aid Eligibility

Students enrolled in some graduate certificate programs may qualify for federal loan and work-study financial aid. Students must complete the federal FAFSA form to begin the financial aid application process.

Transfer Credit

If all other requirements for transfer course eligibility are met,

1. Up to 9 quarter credits maybe transferred into an OSU Certificate Program.
2. No more than half of the credits used for a certificate program may be counted in any other certificate program.
3. Capstone courses (whether numbered as blanket or not) can be counted toward capstone credits only once. Credits from capstone courses may be transferred into any other certificate or graduate program but would not count toward a capstone requirement.

Policies Governing Master's Degree Programs

General Requirements

All master's degree programs require a minimum of 45 graduate credits including thesis (6 to 12 credits), research-in-lieu-of-thesis (3 to 6 credits), or an integrative capstone experience (3 to 6 credits). Exceptions to this capstone requirement are specified under the degree descriptions that follow these universal master's degree requirements. All graduate student programs of study submitted to the Graduate School must consist of, at a minimum, 50 percent graduate stand-alone courses. The remaining credits may be the 500 component of 400/500 slash courses. General regulations for all master's programs are cited here, with certain exceptions provided for master's degrees in the professional areas listed on the following pages.

Graduate Learning Outcomes

All university and program specific graduate learning outcomes are assessed each year. The university graduate learning outcomes for all master's students are:

1. Conduct research, produce some other form of creative work, or participate in an integrative capstone experience; and
2. Demonstrate mastery of subject material; and
3. Be able to conduct scholarly or professional activities in an ethical manner

Additional program specific learning outcomes are developed by each graduate program. Graduate learning outcomes are consistent across all locations and modalities of program delivery. Specific program learning outcomes are listed on each program's catalog page.

While every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of the program learning outcomes in the Catalog, for the most up-to-date information, contact the academic unit administering the program.

Residence Requirements

Beginning in fall 2020, the academic residence requirement for the master's degree is 23 graduate Oregon State University credits after admission as a degree-seeking graduate student. A minimum of 23 resident credits are required on a master's program. Thus, up to 22 credits taken at Oregon State University or elsewhere prior to acceptance into a 45-credit master's program, may transfer into the master's program. (Transfer credit includes graduate credits taken as an undergraduate, post-baccalaureate, graduate certificate or graduate nondegree seeking student.)

Language Requirements

For the Master of Arts degree, the student must show foreign language proficiency (including American Sign Language) equivalent to that attained at the end of a second-year university course in that language with a grade of "C" (2.00) or better. English is not considered a foreign language for purposes of this requirement. There is no language requirement for the Master of Arts in Interdisciplinary Studies degree. For other master's degrees, there is no foreign language requirement unless a language is required in the individual student's program. A student must be enrolled to complete their foreign language requirement before they take the final oral examination for the degree.

Graduate Program of Study

A regular master's degree student should complete a program of study in consultation with an advisor/advisory committee before completing 18 graduate credits. This includes credits earned as a post-baccalaureate, graduate nondegree-seeking student, or graduate student that are transferred to the graduate degree. Students who wish to transfer credit to OSU must submit a Transfer Credit Request form before they submit their program of study.

The final program of study must be submitted to the Graduate School at least 15 weeks prior to the date of the student's final examination.

All graduate student programs of study submitted to the Graduate School must consist of, at a minimum, 50 percent graduate stand-alone courses. The remaining credits may be the 500 component of 400/500 slash courses.

If a minor is declared, approximately two-thirds of the work (30 graduate credits) should be listed in the major field and one-third (a minimum of 15 graduate credits) in the minor field. In such cases, the student's advisory committee must include a member from the minor department.

The program is developed under the guidance of the major professor, and minor professor when a minor is included. Each candidate’s program should include substantial work with at least three faculty members offering graduate instruction. Thesis-based master's degrees plus all MAIS degrees include a fourth faculty member, a Graduate Council Representative. Non-thesis master's degrees with an alternative summative assessment may include fewer than three faculty members. The program is signed by all committee members and the chair of the academic unit before filing in the Graduate School. Changes in the program may be made by submitting a Petition for Change in Program form.

Time Limit

All work toward a master's degree, including transferred credits, coursework, thesis (if required), and all examinations, must be completed within seven years. Time in which the student is on a leave of absence is included in the seven-year limit with the exception of approved Family Medical leaves.

Thesis

When scheduling their final oral examinations, thesis option master's students are required to submit the pretext pages of their thesis to the Graduate School at least two weeks prior to the final oral examination. Pretext pages include the abstract, copyright, title page, approval page, acknowledgment page, contribution of authors, table of contents, list of figures, tables, appendices, dedication (optional), and preface (optional). It is expected that students will distribute examination copies to all their committee members, including the Graduate Council representative, sufficiently early to permit thorough review of the thesis prior to the student's final oral examination.

Within six weeks after the final oral examination or before the first day of the following term, whichever comes first, students must upload one PDF copy of the thesis, without signatures, to ScholarsArchive and submit the completed ETD submission approval form to the Graduate School.

• If final submission requirements are completed between the terms, the degree will be awarded the following term.
• If final submission requirements are not completed after the initial six-week period or by the start of the next term, whichever comes first, the student may be subject to re-examination and will be required to register for a minimum of 3 graduate credits during the subsequent term.

Please refer to the Graduate School's thesis guide for complete details and style. The thesis will not be accepted for graduate requirements until it has received approval by the graduate dean, which the degree completion specialist will obtain.

For master's thesis and doctoral dissertations that use human subjects, Institutional Review Board (IRB) approval is required. For more information, please send an email to irb@oregonstate.edu or visit the IRB website.

The credit allowed for the thesis, including research and preparation of the manuscript, varies from 6 to 12 credits. In certain departments and programs, the M.S. or M.A. thesis is optional, to be determined in each case by the department/school/program and the major professor. See departmental descriptions.

Final Examination

Successful completion of a final oral examination is required for all master's degrees with the exception of the following graduate programs:

• EdM students who complete the nonthesis option must complete a capstone defense.
• EMPP and MPP students complete an applied policy capstone project.
• MBA students submit capstone projects that are assessed at the curricular core and graduate option levels, in addition to being assessed upon their fulfillment of graduate learning outcomes.
• MCoun students must successfully pass a nationally administered exam determined by program faculty.
• MEng students in most, but not all, majors may complete degree requirements by successfully completing a portfolio or project course and earning a passing grade on a portfolio in lieu of a final oral examination.
• MPH students must complete final assessments or oral examinations based upon the academic option in which they are enrolled.

Some departments also require the student to pass a written exam prior to the oral exam.

The final oral examination for master's candidates may, at the discretion of the graduate program, consist of a public thesis defense followed by a closed session of the examining committee with the candidate. Under normal circumstances, the final oral examination should be scheduled for two hours.

For master's candidates whose programs require a thesis, not more than half of the examination period should be devoted to the presentation and defense of the thesis; the remaining time can be spent on questions relating to the student's knowledge of the major field, and minor field if a minor is included in the program of study. Graduate faculty serving on thesis-oriented master's degree programs may contribute to the direction of the student's thesis, will assess the student's thesis and their defense of it in the final oral examination, will vote to pass or fail the student, and may sign the thesis when it is in acceptable final form. The examining committee consists of at least four members of the graduate faculty—two in the major field, one in the minor field if a minor is included, and a Graduate Council representative. When a minor is not included, the fourth member may be from the graduate faculty at large. All members of the student's graduate committee must approve the scheduling of the final examination.

Students writing a thesis must have a Graduate Council representative on their committee. It is the student's responsibility to obtain their own Graduate Council representative from a list provided by the Graduate School. This must be done prior to scheduling the final exam.

When no thesis is involved, not more than half of the examination period should be devoted to the presentation of the research project; the remaining time can be spent on questions relating to the student's knowledge of the major field, and minor field if one is included in the program. For nonthesis master's degree programs, the major professor is responsible for directing and assigning a final grade for the research or culminating project. Other members of the nonthesis committee will assess the student's defense of the project in the final oral examination, as well as the student's knowledge of their field, and vote to pass or fail the student. No more than two re-examinations are permitted by the Graduate School, although academic units may permit fewer re-examinations. The examining committee consists of three members of the graduate faculty—two in the major field and one in the minor field if a minor is included. When a minor is not included, the third member may be from the graduate faculty at large. Non-thesis master's degrees with an alternative summative assessment may have fewer than three committee members.

Policies Governing Doctoral Degree Programs

General Requirements

The Doctor of Philosophy degree is granted primarily for creative attainments. There is no rigid credit requirement; however, the equivalent of at least three years of full-time graduate work beyond the bachelor's degree (at least 108 graduate credits) is required. Effective fall 2005, all graduate student programs of study submitted to the Graduate School must consist of, at a minimum, 50 percent graduate stand-alone courses. The remaining credits may be the 500 component of 400/500 slash courses.

After admission into the doctoral program, a minimum of one full-time academic year (at least 36 graduate credits) should be devoted to the preparation of the thesis. A minimum of 27 regular non-blanket credits must be included on a doctoral program.

Graduate Learning Outcomes

All university and program specific graduate learning outcomes are assessed each year.

The university graduate learning outcomes for all PhD students are:

1. Produce and defend an original significant contribution to knowledge;
2. Demonstrate mastery of subject material; and
3. Be able to conduct scholarly activities in an ethical manner.

Additional program specific learning outcomes are developed by each program. Learning outcomes are consistent across all locations and modalities of program delivery. Graduate program learning outcomes are listed on each program's catalog page.

While every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of the program learning outcomes in the Catalog, for the most up-to-date information, contact the academic unit administering the program.

Graduate Program of Study

The student's doctoral program of study is formulated and approved subject to departmental policies at a formal meeting of their doctoral committee. The committee is comprised of a minimum of five members of the graduate faculty, including two from the major department and a representative of the Graduate Council. If a minor is declared, it must consist of at least 18 credits (15 credits for an integrated minor) and the committee must include a member from the minor department. All committee members must be on the graduate faculty with appropriate authorization to serve on the student's committee.

Doctoral students must complete the program of study in consultation with their advisory committee. This signed plan must be submitted to the Graduate School by the end of the fifth term of study.

The student must be registered for a minimum of 3 credits for the term in which the program meeting is held. When the program is approved by the doctoral committee, the departmental chair, and the dean of the Graduate School, it becomes the obligation of the student to complete the requirements as formulated. Changes in the program may be made by submitting a Petition for Change of Program form available in the Graduate School.

Selected 700-level courses that the Graduate Council deemed equivalent to graduate-level learning may be used on doctoral programs of study upon approval of the student's graduate committee.

No more than 15 credits of blanket-numbered courses, other than thesis, may be included in the minimum 108-credit program.

Students who wish to transfer credit must submit a Transfer Credit Request form before submitting their program of study to the Graduate School.

Time Limit

Effective beginning with students matriculating fall term 2016, all work toward a doctoral degree, including coursework, thesis (if required), and all examinations, must be completed within nine years of the indicated start term on the Departmental Action Form. Extensions of this time limit may be requested by submitting a petition to the Graduate School.

Residence

For the doctoral degree, the residence requirement consists of two parts:

1. A minimum of 36 graduate Oregon State University credits must be completed; and
2. Any degree-specific requirements must be fulfilled as described in the degree program's student handbook that may relate to enrollment requirements, residency requirements, or other non-curricular requirements.

Language Requirements

The foreign language requirement is determined by the student's doctoral committee, subject to the same approval required for the graduate study program, and is so designated in the official doctoral program. Foreign language requirements must be completed before the oral preliminary examination.

Preliminary Examinations

Students must enroll for a minimum of 3 credits during terms in which they undertake departmental written and oral preliminary examinations.

Written Comprehensive Examination

Most programs require a written comprehensive examination to be taken before the oral preliminary examination. If a written examination is required, it must be completed prior to the oral preliminary examination. The content, length, timing, passing standard, and repeatability of this examination are at the discretion of the major department. The general rules and structure of this examination, however, must be provided in writing to all candidates for this examination and a current copy of these guidelines must be on file with the Graduate School. Copies of the written examination (questions and student's answers) must be available to all members of the student's doctoral committee at least one week prior to the oral preliminary examination.

Oral Preliminary Examination

The oral preliminary examination is taken near the completion of the student's coursework. The oral examination is conducted by the student's doctoral committee and should cover the student's knowledge in their major and minor subjects. The exam may cover the student's proposed research topic, although no more than one-half the time should be devoted to specific aspects of the proposal. The examination should be scheduled for at least two hours, and the exam date must be scheduled in the Graduate School at least two weeks in advance. If more than one negative vote is recorded by the examining committee, the candidate will have failed the oral examination. No more than two re-examinations are permitted by the Graduate School, although academic units may allow fewer re-examinations.

At least one complete academic term must elapse between the time of the preliminary oral examination and the final oral examination. If more than five years elapse between these two examinations, the candidate will be required to take another preliminary oral examination.

Thesis

Each candidate for the doctoral degree must submit a thesis embodying the results of research and giving evidence of originality and ability in independent investigation. The thesis must highlight the contribution to knowledge based on the candidate's own investigation. It must show a mastery of the literature of the subject and be written in creditable literary form. The preparation of an acceptable thesis typically requires at least one full-time academic year. The Thesis Guide provides formatting rules and pretext pages.

A formal thesis proposal meeting is recommended but not required by the Graduate School. It is required for some majors. This meeting should be held with the student's doctoral committee prior to the start of any substantial doctoral thesis research.

For master's thesis and doctoral dissertations that use human subjects, Institutional Review Board (IRB) approval is required. For more information, please send an email to irb@oregonstate.edu or visit the IRB website.

When scheduling their final oral examinations, doctoral students are required to submit the pretext pages of their dissertations to the Graduate School at least two weeks prior to the final oral examination. Pretext pages include the abstract, copyright (optional), title page, approval page, acknowledgment page, contribution of authors, table of contents, list of figures, tables, appendices, dedication (optional), and preface (optional). It is expected that students will distribute examination copies of their thesis to all committee members, including the Graduate Council representative, sufficiently early to permit thorough review of the thesis prior to the student's final oral examination.

Within six weeks after the final oral examination or before the first day of the following term, whichever comes first, students must upload one PDF copy of the thesis, without signatures, to ScholarsArchive and submit the completed ETD submission approval form to the Graduate School.

• If final submission requirements are completed between the terms, the degree will be awarded the following term.
• If final submission requirements are not completed after the initial six-week period or by the start of the next term, whichever comes first, the student may be subject to re-examination and will be required to register for a minimum of 3 graduate credits during the subsequent term.

Please refer to the Graduate School's thesis guide for complete details and style. The thesis will not be accepted for graduate requirements until it has received approval by the graduate dean, which the degree completion specialist will obtain.

Final Examination

After completion of or while concurrently registered for all work required by the program, the student must pass a final doctoral examination that may include a written component but must include an oral examination. The final oral examination must be scheduled in the Graduate School office at least two weeks prior to the date of the examination. All incomplete coursework appearing on the program of study must be completed prior to scheduling the final oral examination.

The final oral examination consists of a public thesis defense followed by a closed session of the examining committee with the candidate. Under normal circumstances, the final oral examination should be scheduled for two hours.

All members of the student's graduate committee must approve the scheduling of the final examination.

It is expected that the thesis defense portion of the final oral exam be open to all interested persons and should be limited to one hour. After the open portion of the exam, the examining committee should exclude all other persons and continue with the examination of the candidate's knowledge of their field and the evaluation of the candidate's performance.

If the department favors a more elaborate presentation, it should be scheduled as a separate seminar apart from the final oral examination. The time involved for the open presentation may not impinge upon time required for the examining committee to conduct appropriate, iterative oral inquiry with the candidate, to evaluate the candidate's performance, and to deliberate fully within the time constraints of the scheduled oral examination.

The examining committee consists of the student's doctoral committee and any additional members, including professors from other institutions, whom the major department may recommend. In the oral examination, the candidate is expected to defend the thesis and show a satisfactory knowledge of their field. If more than one negative vote is recorded by the examining committee, the candidate will have failed the examination. No more than two re-examinations are permitted by the Graduate School, although academic units may permit fewer re-examinations.

The final oral examination must be taken within five years after the oral preliminary examination. If more than five years elapse, the candidate will be required to take another oral preliminary examination.

Mission

In partnership with the graduate faculty, the Graduate School plays a leadership and advocacy role to ensure that Oregon State attracts the best graduate students and delivers a compelling and high-quality graduate experience that prepares students to create new ideas and knowledge, to educate others, to make positive impacts on society, and to lead innovation.

Graduate Council

The Graduate Council guides the development and revision of policies, procedures and requirements related to graduate education, within the general authority granted by the Higher Education Coordinating Commission. The council establishes admission standards, basic degree requirements, and general policies; approves all graduate faculty members, new programs, and courses; and periodically reviews all existing graduate programs. Graduate Council members are appointed by the Executive Committee of the Faculty Senate, with each academic college having one representative. Major actions of the Graduate Council are referred to the Faculty Senate for review and approval.

Find current and past Graduate Council membership and information.

Graduate Faculty

Graduate faculty members are chosen from the university faculty based on their academic training, experience, demonstrated potential for scholarship, and evidence of their ability to direct and supervise graduate students in the pursuit of advanced knowledge.

Each graduate faculty member is authorized to perform specific activities within a particular graduate program. The unit leader and academic dean are responsible for nominating faculty members for these activities, subject to review and approval by the Graduate Council.

Academic Units

An academic unit is the administrative unit responsible for directing and managing a graduate major or minor field of study. An academic unit may be an academic program, department, school, or college, or composite of these.

Academic units have a major role in the success of graduate education. Following Graduate Council guidelines, the academic units develop curricula, maintain a graduate faculty to teach and supervise research, establish their admission standards and specific graduate certificate and degree requirements, make graduate student appointments (for example assistantships, fellowships, or employment), and advise and supervise their graduate students.

Tuition & Fees

The official Graduate Tuition and Fee Schedule can be found on the OSU Business Affairs website. Tuition and fees for the next year are usually finalized in late spring term prior to the academic year start.

Residency for Tuition Purposes

For questions about what qualifies for Oregon residency status, please visit the Office of Admissions’ residency website.

Fellowships & Scholarships

A number of Oregon State University fellowships and scholarships are available to students for graduate study in various graduate programs at Oregon State. For a listing of many of these fellowships and scholarships, visit Scholar Dollars.

For more information about scholarships and fellowships in the database above, including application instructions, as well as additional opportunities, contact the individual program of interest.

Additionally, the Graduate School offers a number of fellowship and scholarship opportunities, many of which require nomination by the student’s academic unit. For information about these opportunities or general information about graduate student funding, please visit the funding section of our website.

Student Assistantships

Each year, Oregon State allocates funding to support graduate student teaching opportunities. Additionally, OSU receives grants from federal and state agencies, public and private foundations, and business and industry to support institutional and individual projects. Funding is awarded to various units in academic colleges and to other research organizations on campus, including experiment stations, centers, and institutes. Interested students should direct inquiries and applications to the academic and/or research unit concerned.

Graduate students may be employed as graduate teaching or graduate research assistants by units on campus. Graduate assistants are represented by the Coalition of Graduate Employees (CGE) and covered by the Collective Bargaining Agreement.

The maximum combined appointment FTE for all university jobs while enrolled as a student is .49 FTE.

For more information on student employment, contact the academic unit of interest or the Office of Human Resources.

Financial Aid

The Office of Financial Aid administers federal financial aid programs to assist graduate students with meeting the cost of higher education. To determine eligibility for specific federal aid programs at Oregon State, graduate students are required to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) each year. Graduate students must be degree-seeking or in an approved certificate program and enrolled at least half-time (5 credits) to qualify for financial aid. Graduate students are not eligible for federal Title IV grants or subsidized loans. Students in graduate certificate programs are only eligible for aid for courses required for their certificate program.

For additional information about Financial Aid for graduate students, visit the Office of Financial Aid website or find contact information.

This page contains descriptions and additional policies specific to the degree types listed. Please find the list of policies pertaining to all graduate degree types and graduate majors on the Policies page.

Visit the list of graduate programs

Master of Adapted Physical Education (MAPE)

The MAPE program is an intensive professional degree program intended to prepare teachers for careers in teaching physical education and adapted physical education in K-12 schools. Successful completion of the program earns recommendation for an Oregon K-12 preliminary teaching license in physical education and an additional endorsement in adapted physical education. The professional program in teacher education is a full-time, 14-month graduate program which includes graduate courses as well as extensive practical experiences in the public schools at all levels. Beginning fall term, students are in continuous, on-site, supervised student teaching experiences in elementary, middle and high school physical education settings. Students also gain experience throughout the year with IMPACT (Individualized Movement and Physical Activity for Children Today), which is our motor skills fitness program for children with special needs. Coursework is integrated with these student teaching experiences, creating a unique mesh between theory and practice.

The MAPE program is housed in the College of Health and accredited through the College of Education. The 65-hour program includes 37-credit hours of coursework taught by Physical Education and Adapted Physical Education faculty, 7-credit hours of coursework taught by other Public Health and Education faculty, and the remaining 21-credit hours of internship experiences in public schools.

The MAPE degree requires the successful completion of a portfolio defense and final oral examination.

Master of Arts (MA)

For the master of arts degree, the student must show foreign language proficiency (including American Sign Language) equivalent to that attained at the end of a second-year university course in that language with a grade of "C" (2.00) or better. English is not considered a foreign language for purposes of this requirement. A student must be enrolled to complete their foreign language requirement before they take the final oral examination for the degree. Master of Arts generally assumes students complete a thesis. In some programs, a project can substitute for a thesis.

Master of Arts in Interdisciplinary Studies (MAIS)

The MAIS degree is granted for attainment of broad, advanced knowledge and achievement integrated from three fields of study. Most graduate majors or minors may serve as a field for this degree. The current list of approved majors is on the Graduate School website. Two of the three fields may be from one department if the areas of concentration within these two fields are different. A minimum of 9 credits in each of the three fields of study is required. The degree requires a minimum of 49 credits, including 4 credits of coursework on interdisciplinary research methods.

No more than 21 credits (excluding thesis or project credit) may be taken in any field unless the total program exceeds 49 credits. There is no foreign language requirement. No more than 3 credits of blanket-numbered courses in each field of study may be used in the program; thesis credits (Option A) or project credits (Option B) are exempt from this limitation. The student’s committee consists of four members of the graduate faculty—one from each of the three fields and a Graduate Council representative. A formal program meeting must be held prior to the completion of 18 graduate credits. A final oral examination is required.

Two options under the program:

Option A: Thesis option. The thesis must coordinate work in the three fields. The requirement is 6 to 9 credits of Thesis 503. The thesis advisor must be a member of the graduate faculty authorized to direct theses.

Option B: Project option. The project must integrate work from at least two of the three fields. The requirement is 4 to 7 credits, registered as Research 501, Reading and Conference 505, or Projects 506.

Master of Arts in Teaching (MAT)

The MAT is a professional degree program intended to prepare teachers for careers in public school education. Students who successfully complete the MAT can be recommended for the Oregon preliminary teaching license upon fulfillment of all program requirements.

Depending on the option, the professional program in teacher education is full-time or part-time, and can be completed in one to two years. The options and locations available are:

• OSU-Cascades: Language Arts, Social Studies, Advanced Mathematics, Foundational Mathematics, Science, Elementary Education
• Ecampus (hybrid): Clinically-Based Elementary Education

The MAT degree requires successful completion of a final oral examination.

Master of Athletic Training (MATRN)

The Master of Athletic Training (MATrn) program is designed to prepare students to practice as credentialed athletic trainers. The two-year program consists of classroom and clinical education experiences. Students proceed through the program in a cohort model while completing hands-on, direct patient care under the supervision of athletic trainers at a variety of locations. The professional program is accredited by the Commission on the Accreditation of Athletic Training Education. The degree prepares students for the Board of Certification for the Athletic Trainer’s certification exam and an athletic training career.

Master of Business Administration (MBA)

The MBA program represents a broad, yet responsive general management education that crosses the functional disciplines of business. Its advanced management emphasis creates practical value-added content for all students, both business and nonbusiness undergraduates, enabling them to solve complex business problems and successfully compete in the business marketplace.

The MBA program is concentrated in length—three academic terms for full-time students with a BA/BS in business or who have completed the foundation courses. Full-time students with no previous business or business-related coursework can complete the program in as few as four terms. The MBA is a non-thesis degree that culminates in an industry-focused capstone project.

Master of Science in Business (MSB)

The MSB is a specialty master's program that provides a focused exploration into a current or emerging business discipline. The coursework provides a strong foundation of business acumen, the tools to be a recognized expert in the field, and the flexibility to customize for emerging opportunities. The MSB is a STEM-designated, non-thesis degree that can be completed in as few as nine months for full-time students and culminates in an industry-focused capstone project.

Master of Counseling (MCoun)

Students admitted to the MCoun degree program prior to June 2017 must successfully pass a written project portfolio that demonstrates mastery of the MCoun learning outcomes. Students will specifically address graduate learning outcomes (GLOs) by describing how they have and/or how they would utilize research/evidence-based counseling practice in their clinical work. Students will be required to describe an ethical dilemma they have faced in their clinical practice to date and include an ethical decision model when describing their ethical decision-making processes. The written project portfolio will assess the 8 CACREP areas, in which the MCoun learning outcome objectives are based. A student shall receive a Pass when the grading committee unanimously grades the portfolio as a Pass.

Students admitted to the MCoun degree program beginning June 2017 must successfully pass a nationally administered exam determined by program faculty. The exam will evaluate all three graduate learning outcomes (GLOs). Successful completion of the national exam will evidence the candidate's mastery of MCoun subject material covered in the program and assess the candidate's ability to apply research and ethical proficiencies on the exam. The exam will assess the 8 CACREP areas, in which the MCoun learning outcome objectives are based.

The minimum passing score for the national exam is defined as one standard deviation below the national mean at the time of administration. Candidates who do not pass the national exam are allowed to take re-examination. No more than two re-exams are permitted. If the student does not pass the exam after the third take, they must successfully pass a written project portfolio that demonstrates mastery of the MCoun learning outcomes. Students will specifically address graduate learning outcomes (GLOs) by describing how they have and/or how they would utilize research/evidence-based counseling practice in their clinical work. Students will be required to describe an ethical dilemma they have faced in their clinical practice to date and include an ethical decision model when describing their ethical decision-making processes. The written project portfolio will assess the 8 CACREP areas, in which the MCoun learning outcome objectives are based. A student shall receive a Pass when the grading committee unanimously grades the portfolio as a Pass.

Please contact the College of Education for additional information regarding additional MCoun examination requirements, graduate learning outcomes, and the CACREP national examination.

Master of Education (EdM)

The EdM is a professional degree requiring a minimum of 45 credits in graduate courses (including a maximum of blanket-numbered courses); additional credits may be required in some areas of concentration.

The EdM degree requires successful completion of a final written examination.

A candidate for the EdM degree qualifies for the degree under one of these options:

1. For Adult and Higher Education (AHE) majors, students complete 45 credits in the major, including 5 internship credits focusing on instructional design, training and development, and/or developmental education. Students complete a capstone project that meets the standards for a master’s degree on some applied or professional aspect of education. AHE students are required to complete 4 capstone credits as their summative learning experience under the direction of an advisor. A thesis is not required for the AHE major.
2. For College Student Services Administration (CSSA) majors, students complete at least 39 credits in the major and 15 credits of graduate-level elective courses for a minimum of 54 credits. The curricular focus of CSSA is to provide students with the knowledge, skills, and awareness needed to effectively engage with contemporary and future college students. The Master of Education (Ed.M.), is earned through successful completion of all required program coursework and successful completion and defense of a capstone portfolio. The capstone portfolio is a cumulative, comprehensive, and reflective form of student assessment.

Master of Engineering (MEng)

The MEng degree is designed to provide students the opportunity to pursue advanced-level study in a field of engineering. The degree is concerned with application of specialized, graduate-level engineering and managerial knowledge to specific engineering disciplines. The degree is a coursework-only degree; no thesis or project is required.

The MEng program requires a minimum of 45 credits. The final summative assessment is achieved through either the development, and review by faculty, of a portfolio, or by a final oral exam. The examining committee consists of at least two faculty approved to serve as graduate faculty in the respective program.

Master of Fine Arts (MFA)

The Master of Fine Arts is offered in two formats.

The curriculum at the Corvallis campus provides an appropriate terminal degree for those who wish to teach in creative, performing, and studio arts in higher education. This full residency MFA in Creative Writing, held on the Corvallis campus, helps students define and advance their literary ambitions and develop their skills as artists and teachers. Over the course of six in-person terms, students will be introduced to three broad areas of knowledge within the field of creative writing that they need in order to become successful writers, editors, or teachers. These areas involve writing, reading, and marketing skills within contemporary literary fiction, poetry, and nonfiction. The degree requires a minimum of 60 credits comprised of 24 credits in creative writing workshops, 24 credits in literature and/or composition and rhetoric and one course emphasizing literary roots, and 12 credits in thesis and writing and conference. All MFA candidates are required to complete a thesis, which is to be a sustained piece of imaginative writing of literary merit. A final oral examination is required.

OSU-Cascades’ Low Residency MFA in Writing is a two-year program comprised of four intensive ten-day residencies in spring and fall, synchronous and asynchronous remote coursework throughout the calendar year. Courses are taught by established writers to generate and revise new work, participate in peer workshops, and conduct community engagement and original research. Additionally, each residency welcomes a Distinguished Visiting Writer to the cohort for a variety of workshops, readings, and mentorship. The curriculum builds sustainable writing habits with a focus on foundational elements of craft and the critical study of reading and writing as ethically engaged writers in a diverse and global literary community, develops skills needed to support a creative livelihood after graduation, and creates an environment for taking imaginative risks.

Master of Forestry (MF)

The Master of Forestry (MF) is largely a course-based and non-thesis professional degree intended for professional forestry and natural resource specialists in public and private organizations where a broad technical education is needed. Students can pursue this degree in either the: (a) Sustainable Forest Management, or (b) Forest Ecosystems and Society programs. For both programs, a thesis is not required, but a final technical/capstone report on an approved topic, correlated with courses in the major field, must be submitted. A final oral examination of this report is required.

The MF in Sustainable Forest Management is housed in the Department of Forest Engineering, Resources, and Management (FERM), and is designed for students who want one or more years of formal graduate education and who plan to have professional careers with forestry organizations, either public or private. The main objective is to improve student knowledge and competence in the principles and practice of active forest management to provide the full range of products and ecosystem services from forested landscapes.

The MF in Forest Ecosystems and Society is housed in the Department of Forest Ecosystems and Society (FES), and is designed for students who want one or more years of formal graduate education and who plan to have professional careers with a wide variety of natural resource organizations, such as government agencies and non-governmental organizations. Coursework and the final technical/capstone report tend to focus on natural resources, forest science, social science, and/or nature-based tourism or recreation.

Master of Health Physics (MHP)

The MHP degree is designed to be a professional, advanced graduate degree that emphasizes fundamental learning and professional development for those wishing the master's credential, but not requiring a research focus for their planned profession. The fully online degree directs students toward professional licensing as a certified health physicist in the field of radiation protection. The program will consist of a minimum of 45 graduate credits, with 34 graduate credits in the major, and 11 elective graduate credits. A final portfolio is required as the final summative assessment.

Master of Natural Resources (MNR)

The MNR is a 45-credit online degree program with curriculum organized into three sections: core (18 credits), area of emphasis (18 credits), and capstone project (9 credits). It is taught entirely online through Ecampus, although some students work toward the MNR degree while in-residence at OSU. The MNR degree is offered as a non-thesis program with a capstone project, rather than a thesis. A final oral examination is required.

The MNR's contemporary content is for natural resource professionals who work in settings that require cross-disciplinary competency to find solutions to natural resource problems. Integration of multiple disciplines occurs through the curriculum, assignments, and a capstone project. All MNR students integrate concepts and approaches developed throughout the entire program in a final capstone project.

Master of Public Health (MPH)

The MPH degree program combines broad training in public health with specific training in one of the specialty or interdisciplinary options. The MPH program is designed for people who already have a bachelor’s degree and who wish to obtain further formal education in the field of public health. The MPH degree offers options in biostatistics, environmental and occupational health, epidemiology, global health, health systems and policy, health promotion and health behavior, as well as the fully online option in public health practice. The MPH degree consists of 12 core credits, plus additional required and elective courses, and an internship. Programs are approximately 60 credits in length. All students are required to complete an alternative summative assessment (non-thesis) as determined by their specific option.

Executive Master of Public Policy (EMPP)

The EMPP at Oregon State is designed for mid-career professionals with 5+ years in the public and nonprofit sectors who are interested in moving up in their positions or who are looking to transition from the private sector to a career in public service. Students can move through the program at their own pace and all coursework is available online through OSU Ecampus. The EMPP is a 45-credit (quarter) program with interdisciplinary core coursework, seven policy concentrations, and a final Alternative Summative Assessment or Applied Policy Capstone Project. EMPP students can select a focus in one of 7 concentrations (economic policy, energy policy, environmental policy, international policy, law and crime policy, rural policy and social policy) or self-design a concentration with the approval of the OSU Public Policy Graduate Program Director. All concentrations require at least 19 quarter credits. Students can take concentration and elective courses from a variety of approved programs and colleges across OSU curriculum. Each concentration has a faculty advisor to help students identify appropriate courses and committee members.

Master of Public Policy (MPP)

The MPP is a professional degree intended to prepare students for careers in the public, nonprofit, and international sectors and offers training for in-service students desiring professional growth and advancement. The degree is designed to be a generalist program, with an emphasis on analytic skills and policy knowledge. The degree requires a minimum of 54 graduate credits, 34 of which are in the required core. The core curriculum provides an important foundation in statistics, research methods, computer applications, public policy analysis, public administration and ethics, and economics. The remaining 20 credits support the student's preferred area of concentration, consisting of economic policy, energy policy, environmental policy, international policy, law and crime policy, rural policy, or social policy. Students with little work experience in public service, the nonprofit sector, or the international context may engage in a supervised internship that will allow them to work closely with experienced mentors who will help them integrate theory with practice and introduce them to a professional network. Students are required to complete a capstone project as a summative assessment of their work. The MPP is available at the Corvallis campus or through Ecampus.

Master of Science (MS)

The MS degree is offered by graduate programs in many academic fields. Students complete advanced graduate level coursework. Often, a master of science is a precursor to doctoral studies. The MS degree requires completion a minimum of 45 graduate credits and a project or thesis, depending upon the field of study.

Professional Science Master's (PSM)

The Professional Science Master’s Degree (PSM) is offered with two graduate majors:

1. Environmental Sciences
   
   The PSM@ENSC (Professional Science Master’s in Environmental Sciences) allows students to pursue advanced training in science and business while simultaneously developing workplace skills highly valued by employers. PSM programs consist of two years of academic training in an emerging or interdisciplinary area in science, along with a professional component that includes internships and "cross-training" in workplace skills, such as business, communications, and regulatory affairs. The PSM@ENSC program has been designed to dovetail into present and future professional career opportunities.
   
   For further information on Environmental Sciences, email: carolyn.fonyo@oregonstate.edu


2. Fisheries and Wildlife Administration
   
   The PSMFWA (Professional Science Master’s in Fisheries and Wildlife Administration) provides advanced training for recent graduates of undergraduate programs looking to enter the workforce and early-career professionals employed by natural resources agencies, non-government organizations, and other entities with a need for expertise in fisheries and wildlife science. The PSMFWA also provides an opportunity for employers to meet their workforce planning goals and contribute to the self-improvement of current employees. PSM programs consist of two years of academic training via an interdisciplinary body of coursework, a professional component that involves either a professional internship or capstone paper and a public defense of their work.
   
   For further information on Fisheries and Wildlife, email: fw.gradadvising@oregonstate.edu

Doctor of Education (EdD)

The EdD program in Adult and Higher Education prepares post-secondary education professionals for leadership roles in four-year colleges and universities, community colleges and technical colleges. The purpose of the EdD is to allow students to apply research to practice and to develop practitioner knowledge related to leadership in postsecondary institutions.

Learn more about the admission requirements of the EdD from the College of Education website.

In general, the following requirements are in effect for the EdD:

1. A minimum of 108 credits beyond the baccalaureate degree.
2. Completion of the same residence requirements as listed for the PhD degree.
3. An applied research dissertation, requiring completion of at least 24 thesis credit hours.
4. A mentored internship in an appropriate work setting for a minimum of 6 credits.

Procedures and requirements for preliminary and final examinations and thesis are the same as those for the doctor of philosophy degree.

Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

Please review Ph.D. requirements on the policies page.

Graduate Education (GRAD)

Environmental Sciences (ENSC)

Interdisciplinary Programs (IST)

Water Resources Engineering (WRE)

Water Resources Policy & Management (WRP)

Water Resources Science (WRS)