Graduate students at Oregon State University can choose from over 55 doctoral programs, over 100 master’s programs and various certificate programs. 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 and career development beyond their undergraduate degrees.

Prestigious programs

Several of our academic units claim top twenty, and even top ten, rankings in the world including Forestry (#2), Oceanography (#3), Mycology (#8), Marine Biology (#8) and Agricultural Sciences (#13). Our top rankings in the United States include Robotics (#4), Natural Resources (#4) and Big Data (#10). 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 diverse student body

Our over 5,000 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, the Native American Longhouse Eena Haws, the Pride Center, and the Hattie Redmond Women & Gender Center.

Services by the Graduate School

The Graduate School provides essential services to students and programs including where you apply to become a student at Oregon State and registering your important academic milestones such as your program of study, committee members, oral prelims, final exams, and graduation. Familiarize yourself with the Graduate School’s website where you will find relevant information for future and current students.

Interdisciplinary programs at the Graduate School

Similar to the 11 academic colleges at Oregon State, the Graduate School is also the academic home for several interdisciplinary programs and the students enrolled in those programs. These programs are unique in their ability to offer an education and training in topic areas spanning multiple colleges and disciplines.

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 for students of a specific major. An option is one of several distinct variants of course aggregations within a major that focus on an area of study designed to provide a student with specialized knowledge, competence, and skills while sharing a minimum core of courses.

A graduate option consists of a minimum of 12 designated quarter credits of related course work (excluding thesis credits), comprised of course work 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 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 card 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 strong graduate program is available. Areas of concentration may be referenced on the student's program of study, but they are not listed on the student's transcript.

Graduate Minor

A graduate minor is an academic area that clearly supports the major. Master's program minors must include a minimum of 15 quarter credits of graduate course work; 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 cognate 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 Master’s Degrees

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, scheduling separate final oral examinations for each degree, and passing final oral examinations for each degree. For additional information, please refer to the Transfer Credit section of this catalog.

Dual Majors

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

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 post baccalaureate 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 course work completed at institutions other than OSU are considered for use on OSU credentials as 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 other schools must provide transcripts for courses already completed to the Graduate School prior to the submission of a study program. Undergraduate students at OSU may receive credit for graduate courses (500 and 600 level) 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 program of study 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 pre-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 course work 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 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 three 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, scheduling separate final oral examinations for each degree, and passing final oral examinations for each degree.
3. Such credit will be granted only for graded course work earned at Oregon State University and completed with a grade of C or higher.

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

Preparation for a graduate major is ordinarily an undergraduate major in the same subject, or a fair equivalent. Preparation for a graduate minor is ordinarily at least one year of upper-division work in addition to foundation courses in the subject.

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 his or her 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 examinations in their major and minor fields to determine overall preparation and background. The examination serves as a guidance examination, the results of which are used in setting up the graduate study program. The examination usually is taken during the first quarter of graduate enrollment.

In lieu of their own qualifying examination, departments and programs may accept a satisfactory showing in the Graduate Record Examination (GRE), or some other standardized test. Check with the anticipated major department or program to find out which exams are appropriate.

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.

Federal regulations require that enrollment statuses are defined for short-term courses for the purpose of distributing VA education benefits. Enrollment statuses in short-term classes (e.g., short-term summer term classes) for this purpose are defined per the table below.

VA Education Benefits

	Wks	10+	9	8	7	6	5	4	3	2	1
Crds
9+		Full	Full	Full	Full	Full	Full	Full	Full	Full	Full
8		3/4	Full	Full	Full	Full	Full	Full	Full	Full	Full
7		3/4	Full	Full	Full	Full	Full	Full	Full	Full	Full
6		1/2	3/4	Full	Full	Full	Full	Full	Full	Full	Full
5		1/2	1/2	3/4	3/4	Full	Full	Full	Full	Full	Full
4		<1/2	1/2	1/2	1/2	3/4	Full	Full	Full	Full	Full
3		<1/2	<1/2	1/2	1/2	1/2	3/4	Full	Full	Full	Full
2		1/4	1/4	<1/2	<1/2	<1/2	1/2	1/2	1/2	Full	Full
1		1/4	1/4	1/4	1/4	1/4	1/4	1/4	<1/2	3/4	Full

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 all deadlines and complete all course and non-course requirements during the term will be required to register for a minimum of 3 graduate credits during the subsequent term. However, only if library copies of the thesis have been submitted to the Graduate School within the first two weeks of the subsequent term and the thesis is the only outstanding requirement remaining for certification of the student’s graduate degree may an exception to this rule be considered.
   
   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 maintain their own registration requirements that also may exceed those specified by this continuous enrollment policy (e.g., those of the Veterans Administration, Immigration and Naturalization Service for international students, and those required for federal financial aid programs.) 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 students who need to suspend their program of study for good cause. Students who desire a leave of absence will work with their major professor, program administrator, and the Graduate School to arrange authorized leave. Students understand that while on leave they will not use university resources. Graduate faculty members are students’ most important resource at the university and will work closely with graduate students to ensure timely completion of academic goals, understanding of the continuous graduate enrollment policy, and that graduate students enroll each term other than when they are on authorized leave. The Graduate School will assist graduate students and graduate faculty members with administrative procedures related to the continuous graduate enrollment policy. The Graduate School recognizes the diverse circumstances and unpredictability of graduate students’ lives and will work in partnership with the graduate community in arranging leaves and responding to unanticipated situations.
   
   A graduate student intending to resume active graduate student status following interruption of his or her study program for one or more terms, excluding summer session, must apply for leave of absence to maintain graduate student standing in his or her degree program. (See Section IV below). 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 involved. The time the student spends in approved on-leave status will be included in any time limits relevant to the degree (See Sections C.1. and C.2. 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, or d) take course work of any kind at Oregon State University.
   1. Eligibility
      Only graduate students in good standing are eligible for leave of absence.
      Leave of Absence Categories
      1. Regular. Regular leave of absence is granted on a term-by-term basis in cases where the student demonstrates good cause (e.g., illness, temporary departure from the university for employment, family issues, financial need, personal circumstances). Students who request a leave of absence must:
         1. be in good standing,
         2. submit the Leave of Absence form indicating each term for which leave is requested, and
         3. complete all degree requirements within the time limits established in this catalog.
      2. Family and Medical Leave. This leave is different from regular leave in that it is for 12 continuous weeks that may span multiple terms and must meet FMLA leave requirements as determined by the Office of Human Resources. Find the Family and Medical Leave policy.
   2. Limits
      1. Regular Leave of Absence is granted for a specified time period that may not exceed three terms, excluding summer session.
      2. Time spent in on-leave status will be included in all time limits pertaining to the student’s degree program.
      3. Students who matriculate fall term 2016 or later 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 may be approved for up to three terms at a time, but must be renewed to retain student status. Failure to renew the leave of absence or register will result in the loss of student status.
      4. Family and Medical Leave is available for 12 continuous weeks that may span multiple terms and must meet FMLA leave requirements as determined by the Office of Human Resources. These absences will not be included in time limits pertaining to the student’s degree program. Contact the Graduate School for additional details.
   3. Approval
      Approval of the major professor, department/program chair, and graduate dean are required.
   4. 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.
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 his or her 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 certificate-only students, including those enrolled prior to fall 2002, are subject to this policy.

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

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).

As a condition of their academic appointments, graduate teaching and research assistants are required to register for 3 credits above the minimum full-time load (i.e., a minimum of 12 credits) each term of the appointment during the academic year (fall, winter, and spring.) During summer session, a minimum registration of 3 credits is required for graduate assistants. 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 under 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 prorgram 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 final oral or written exam 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 course work, both cumulatively and on the program of study, for graduation.

Course Numbers

Graduate Courses

All graduate courses will be designed around well-defined objectives or student learning outcomes, and instructional opportunities should be designed to help students achieve these outcomes. Student learning outcomes encompass the range of student 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 course work 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 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.

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 his or her 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. Advance agreement of the student and all committee members has been obtained;
2. All participants join in with two-way audio and video connections; audio-only connections must be approved by the major professor if the video connection is not possible. When the student is the remote participant, his or her 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 committee members participate in the complete meeting, discussion, presentation, and evaluation; and
5. The student is responsible for making arrangements.

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 his or her 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

Graduate students wishing a printed diploma 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.

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

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.

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.

To qualify for appointment as a graduate assistant the student must:

1. Be a regularly admitted, conditionally admitted, or provisionally admitted graduate student at Oregon State University (i.e., not a graduate nondegree-seeking, post-baccalaureate student, Accelerated Master's Platform (AMP) student, or PharmD or DVM student).
2. Be enrolled as a full-time degree-seeking graduate student at Oregon State University, completing a minimum of 12 credits of instruction each term (3 credits during summer session). Audit registrations, course withdrawals, and enrollment in INTO OSU may not be used to satisfy these minimum enrollment requirements.
3. Be making satisfactory progress toward an advanced degree.

Graduate assistants may be appointed on an academic term basis, an academic-year basis (nine months) or a full-year basis (12 months). No appointment can be for less than .30 FTE or more than .49 FTE per term.

Teaching assistants are expected to provide duties related to the university's instructional program (e.g., teaching laboratories or discussion sections, grading papers, advising). Research assistants provide duties related to the research function of the university.

The work schedule and the duties to be performed by the graduate assistant shall be established by the department or program sponsoring the assistantship.

Graduate assistants must register for and complete a minimum of 12 credits each term except during summer session, when a minimum of 3 credits is required. Audit registrations, course withdrawals, and enrollment in INTO OSU courses may not be used to satisfy these minimum enrollment requirements. (See section on 'Registration Requirements for Graduate Assistants' for complete details.)

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

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 (with the unit paying the cost of this training).
2. If at all 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 will be coordinated with the units so that students can attend the course and conduct teaching assistantship duties. Please check the online 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 and committees for students in this situation provides guidance and can be obtained by contacting the Graduate School.

Dismissal from Graduate School

Advanced-degree students (regularly, conditionally, and provisionally admitted) are expected to make satisfactory progress toward a specific academic degree. 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 toward an academic degree, 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 State Board of Higher Education. 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 Study Program

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.

Financial Aid Eligibility

Students enrolled in only 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.

All master’s students must:

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

The assessment of these outcomes and the specification of learning objectives related to these outcomes are to be carried out at the program level.

Residence Requirements

Beginning with 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. (This does not include graduate credits taken as an undergraduate, post-baccalaureate, graduate certificate or graduate nondegree seeking student, nor transfer courses.)

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 must 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.

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.

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.

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, and signed by those professors and the chair of the academic unit before filing in the Graduate School. Each candidate’s program should include substantial work with at least three faculty members offering graduate instruction. 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, course work, 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, electronically to ScholarsArchive and submit the signed ETD submission approval form with a copy of the title page to the Graduate School. If final submission requirements are completed after the initial six-week period, the student may be subject to re-examination. Please refer to the Graduate School's thesis guide for complete details.

Signatures on the ETD submission approval form can be electronic, signed, scanned and emailed or faxed. The thesis will not be accepted for graduate requirements until it has received approval by the graduate dean, which the thesis editor will obtain.

Full information concerning the prescribed style for theses is given in the booklet, Thesis Guide: Preparing a Thesis or Dissertation at OSU, available at https://gradschool.oregonstate.edu/progress/thesis-guide.

The results from studies conducted using human subjects without obtaining Institutional Review Board approval shall not be used to satisfy master’s thesis or doctoral dissertation requirements. 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 take a final written examination.
• 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 admitted to the degree program prior to June 2017 must successfully pass a written project portfolio that demonstrates mastery of the MCoun learning outcomes.
• MCoun students admitted to the program beginning June 2017 must successfully pass a nationally administered exam determined by program faculty.
• MEng students in most majors may complete degree requirements by successfully completing a portfolio 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 his or her 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 his or her 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 his or her 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.

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.

By completing the requirements necessary for the PhD, students shall: (a) produce and defend an original significant contribution to knowledge; (b) demonstrate mastery of subject material; and (c) be able to conduct scholarly activities in an ethical manner. Additional program specific learning outcomes, the assessment of all outcomes and the specification of learning objectives related to these outcomes are to be carried out at the program level.

Graduate Program of Study

The student’s doctoral program of study is formulated and approved subject to departmental policies at a formal meeting of his or her 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 have been 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 course work, 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. the student must spend at least three terms of full-time graduate academic work (at least 9 credits per term) on campus or at an off-campus site approved by the Graduate School. The latter requirement of three terms of full-time enrollment does not have to take place in consecutive terms.

Adequate fulfillment of the residence requirement shall be determined by the Graduate School.

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

The student working toward a doctoral degree must pass a comprehensive preliminary examination. The purpose of this exam is to determine the student’s understanding of their major and minor fields and also to assess the student’s capability for research. Students must enroll for a minimum of 3 credits during terms in which they undertake departmental written or 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 course work. The oral examination is conducted by the student’s doctoral committee, and should cover the student’s knowledge in his or her 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 Ph.D. degree must submit a thesis embodying the results of research and giving evidence of originality and ability in independent investigation. The thesis must be a real 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 will require at least one full-time academic year. The Thesis Guide provides formatting rules and pretext pages.

The results from studies conducted using human subjects without obtaining Institutional Review Board approval shall not be used to satisfy master’s thesis or doctoral dissertation requirements. For more information, please send an email to irb@oregonstate.edu or visit the IRB website.

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.

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, upload one PDF copy of your thesis, without signatures, electronically to ScholarsArchive and submit the signed ETD submission approval form with a copy of the title page to the Graduate School. If final submission requirements are after the initial six-week period, the student may be subject to re-examination. Please refer to the Graduate School's thesis guide for complete details.

Signatures on the ETD submission approval form can be electronic, signed, scanned and emailed or faxed. The thesis will not be accepted for graduate requirements until it has received approval by the graduate dean, which the thesis editor 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 be written in part 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 course work 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 his or her 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. In any case, 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 his or her 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.

Leadership

The Graduate School oversees admission standards, and degree requirements; enforces current regulations; recommends changes in graduate policy to the Graduate Council; acts on petitions to deviate from existing regulations; and is responsible for the efficient and effective operation of the Graduate School.

Philip Mote, Vice Provost and Dean, 541-737-1458
Steph Bernell, Associate Dean, 541-737-9162
Rosemary Garagnani, Assistant Dean for Enrollment Management and Student Services, 541-737-1465
Jessica Beck, Assistant Dean, 541-737-8576
Nick Fleury, Director of Financial Support, 541-737-0450
Karen Hanson, Director of Graduate Success, 541-737-1464
John Henry, Director of Information Technology, 541-737-7619
Lindsay Loebig, Director of Graduate Recruitment, 541-737-2046
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.

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 State Board of Higher Education. 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 and competency 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 head and academic dean of each unit 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. The chief administrative officer of the academic unit is responsible for managing the graduate programs in that unit and is responsible to the dean of the Graduate School for all graduate work performed by the unit.

Academic units have a major role in the success of graduate education. Within the general rules of the Graduate School, the academic units establish and teach courses, maintain a graduate faculty to teach and supervise research, establish their own admission standards and specific graduate certificate and degree requirements, make graduate student appointments, and provide advice and supervision for their graduate students.

Address

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

Graduate tuition and 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 during the month of July prior to the academic year start.

Residency

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

Graduate fellowships and 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 Financing Your Education section of our website.

Graduate student assistantships and hourly employment

Each year, Oregon State 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. Many of these grants include financial support for graduate students. Interested students should direct inquiries and applications to the unit concerned.

Graduate students may be employed as graduate teaching or graduate research assistants by units on campus. In addition to monthly stipends, graduate assistants appointed at .30 FTE or above are eligible for a tuition and fee subsidy plus health insurance. Graduate assistants are represented by the Coalition of Graduate Employees (CGE) and covered by the Collective Bargaining Agreement.

In addition to graduate assistantships, graduate students may be hired for hourly student positions on campus. These appointments are not eligible for a tuition or fee subsidy.

The maximum combined appointment FTE for all jobs on campus 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 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. 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 Public Health and Human Sciences and accredited through the College of Education. The 65-hour program includes 37 credit hours of course work 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 final oral examination.

Master of Arts (MA)

In certain departments and programs, M.A. thesis is optional, to be determined in each case by the department, school, or program and the major professor. 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. 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.

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 course work 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 an intensive 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 basic teaching license upon the positive evaluations of the university and public school supervisors.

The professional program in teacher education is full-time and one calendar year in length. Students will enroll with their subject area cohort group and complete the program in one year. Teacher licensure is offered in the following areas:

• Advanced Mathematics Education
• Agricultural Education
• Biology Education
• Chemistry Education
• Elementary Education
• Family and Consumer Sciences Education
• Foundational Mathematics
• Integrated Science Education
• Language Arts Education (English) — Cascades Campus only
• Music Education
• Physics Education
• Spanish Education

The professional teacher education program begins with a 15-credit professional education core that is foundational to and a prerequisite for the 48-credit Master of Arts in Teaching degree. The 48-credit MAT includes a professional education concentration (3 credits), professional course work in the teaching specialty (18 to 21 credits), a public school professional internship (15 to 18 credits), and a minimum of 9 graduate credits in the subject matter specialization (mathematics, physics, literature, etc.). Because the professional teacher education program is a two-part program, including the professional core and the MAT, future students may plan their programs as either five-year (with a nine-month MAT) or as fifth year programs (with 12 months of graduate study including both the professional core and the MAT).

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

Master of Athletic Training (MATRN)

The Master of Athletic Training (MATRN) degree consists of a combination of classroom, laboratory, and clinical education experiences in the field of athletic training. Students proceed through the accredited two-year professional program in a cohort model attaining the entry-level educational standards stipulated by the Commission on the Accreditation of Athletic Training Education. The degree prepares students to complete the Board of Certification for the Athletic Trainer’s certification exam and pursue a career as an athletic trainer.

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 course work can complete the program in as few as six terms. The MBA degree requires no thesis. 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.

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 course work 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 Accountancy (MAC)

The MAC is a one-year master’s program for students with an undergraduate degree in accounting. It allows accounting students to receive an undergraduate degree and a master’s degree during their five years of university study required to become a CPA. As an integrated program, the MAC is designed to allow students the opportunity to plan early enough in their accounting education program to enable them to receive both an undergraduate degree and a graduate degree. The MAC is also designed to accommodate postbaccalaureate students wishing to prepare for accounting careers.

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 (G.L.O.’s) 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 written exam will evaluate all three graduate learning outcomes (G.LO.'s). 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, but not before the end of the term in which the exam was administered. No more than two re-exams are permitted.

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 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 course work-only degree, with the option of substituting research or internship credits for a few courses. No thesis or project is required.

The MEng program requires a minimum of 45 credits. The final summative assessment is achieved through the development, and review by faculty, of a portfolio. The examining committee consists of 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. The MFA in Creative Writing is a program that helps students define and advance their literary ambitions and develop their skills as artists and teachers. 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/or 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 is a two-year 77 credit program comprised of four intensive ten-day residencies (with pre-residency independent-study as preparation) in June and November followed by four term-length individual mentorships. Individualized mentorships are conducted by nationally known writers throughout the year, allowing students to work closely with established writers to hone their craft. When not in residency, students engage in self-directed study involving the generation of new work, revision, peer review, and research. The curriculum builds sustainable writing habits, 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 technical report on an approved topic, correlated with courses in the major field, must be submitted. A final oral examination 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 work and who plan professional careers with forestry organizations, either public or private. The main objective is to improve students’ knowledge of 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 professional careers with a wide variety of natural resource organizations, such as government agencies and non-governmental organizations. Coursework and the technical report focus on natural resources, forest science, social science, 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 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 30 graduate credits in the major, and 15 elective graduate credits. A final oral examination is required.

Master of Medical Physics (MMP)

The MMP degree prepares the graduate for a professional career in applied medical physics, focused on practical hands-on experience. The MMP program is designed as a clinical specialization for individuals with an undergraduate degree in science or engineering, offering areas of concentration in therapeutic radiologic physics or medical health physics. The degree requires a minimum of 45 graduate credits, including 30 graduate credits within the major and 15 elective graduate credits. The program does not require a thesis, however, candidates are required to pass a final oral examination.

Master of Natural Resources (MNR)

The MNR program is designed for individuals interested in strengthening their natural resources knowledge and skills. The College of Forestry administers the MNR degree, however this interdisciplinary program draws from leading scientists from multiple departments within the Colleges of Agricultural Sciences; Forestry; Science; Liberal Arts; and Earth, Ocean, and Atmospheric Sciences. The MNR curriculum, consisting of 45 credits, is organized into three sections: core (18 credits), area of emphasis (18 credits), and capstone project (9 credits). It is taught as a distance, online curriculum, although it may be possible for some students to work toward the MNR degree while in residence at Oregon State University. The MNR degree is offered as a non-thesis option only. A final oral examination is required.

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 persons who already have a bachelor’s degree and who wish to obtain further formal education in the field of public health. The MPH degree has options in biostatistics, environmental and occupational health, epidemiology, global health, health systems and policy, health promotion and health behavior, and physical activity, as well as the online option in public health practice. The MPH degree consists of 12 core credits, plus additional units of required and elective courses, and an internship. Programs are approximately 60 credits in length. All students are required to complete an alternative summative assessment 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, five policy concentrations, and a final Applied Policy Capstone Project. EMPP students can select a focus in one of 4 concentrations (energy policy, environmental policy, rural policy and social policy) or 11 graduate certificate programs, or self-design a concentration with an advisor and with the approval of the OSU Public Policy Graduate Program Director. All concentrations and graduate certificates require at least 16 quarter credits. Students can take concentration and elective courses from a variety of approved programs and colleges across OSU curriculum and relevant Portland State University online courses. Each concentration and/or certificate 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 offer 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 62 graduate credits, 44 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 18 credits support the student's preferred area of concentration, consisting of environmental policy, international policy, rural policy, science policy, or social policy. Students with little work experience in public service, the nonprofit sector, or the international context will be required to 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 with relevant work experience will substitute course work for internship credits. A final oral examination is required. The MPP is available at the Corvallis campus or through Ecampus.

Master of Science (MS)

In certain departments and programs, M.S. thesis is optional, to be determined in each case by the department/school/program and the major professor.

Professional Science Master's (PSM)

The PSM allows students to pursue advanced training in science 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. All have been developed in concert with employers and are designed to dovetail into present and future professional career opportunities.

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

1. Environmental Sciences
2. Fisheries and Wildlife Administration

For further information on Environmental Sciences, email: carolyn.fonyo@oregonstate.edu

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 universities, community colleges and similar institutions. The purpose of the EdD is to apply research to practice and for developing practitioner knowledge related to leadership in postsecondary institutions.

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

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

1. A minimum of 108 credits beyond the baccalaureate degree.
2. 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.
3. Completion of the same residence requirements as listed for the PhD degree.
4. A dissertation of no less than 24 credits.
5. 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)

Interdisciplinary Programs (IST)

Molecular & Cellular Biology (MCB)

Water Resources Engineering (WRE)

Water Resources Policy & Management (WRP)

Water Resources Science (WRS)