GRADUATE HANDBOOK
Department of Biological Science
Florida State University
last revision approved by the faculty: 4 February 2021
TABLE OF CONTENTS
PREFACE
PHILOSOPHY
ADMISSION POLICIES
REQUIREMENTS FOR THE DEGREE
Summary
I. Time Limits for Degrees
II. Supervisory Committee
III. Required Courses
IV. Teaching Requirement
V. Program of Studies (MS and PhD Students)
VI. Prospectus for the Thesis MS Degree
VII. Proposal for the PhD Degree
VIII. Graduate Examinations
IX. Timetable
ANNUAL REVIEWS and SCHOLARLY ENGAGEMENT
FINANCIAL SUPPORT
REGISTRATION
MISCELLANEOUS
APPENDICES
I: Residency
II: Funding for Student Travel
III: Dual Compensation
IV: English Competency
V: Graduate Appeals Policy
VI: Teaching Assistants (TA) Manual
VII: Neuroscience Doctoral Program
Detailed Table of Contents
PREFACE
This document contains information useful to both graduate students and fac-
ulty. It lists and denes requirements and responsibilities for our graduate
degree programs. It also provides details on such “fringe benets” as depart-
mental funding of graduate research expenses and travel to present a paper at
one professional meeting per year. Nevertheless, it might be incomplete, and
1
you are invited to suggest topics to be added and/or claried in future editions.
The degree program guidelines are designed to ensure that students progress
toward earning a degree in a timely fashion.
A. Students may complete the requirements in the departmental Graduate
Guide of the year in which they enter FSU or those of any subsequent year’s
Guide. Students may not combine requirements from dierent years except
at the discretion of the Associate Chair (see below) and then only for sound
academic reasons presented in advance. Please note that the Department may
have additional, or more stringent, requirements than are stated in the FSU
Graduate Bulletin. Continuing students who are unsure of their requirements
should consult with the Graduate Oce.
B. Students are expected to satisfy all requirements within the specied time
lines, except when it is impossible to do so for reasons beyond their control.
In such cases, which should be identied in advance, the Associate Chair can
exercise discretionary authority either to waive the requirement or to approve
an extension or substitution. The Associate Dean of Students in the College
of Arts and Sciences also has discretionary authority, but only with regard to
college requirements (e.g., extension of academic probation).
C. Finally, and certainly not least, we want you to know that we wish each of
you every success in what will be an exciting and rewarding graduate experience,
and that we are available at all times to serve in the facilitation of your career.
PHILOSOPHY
The program of graduate study in the Department of Biological Science is de-
signed to transform an individual from student to professional scholar. Awarding
of the degree signies that the individual is qualied to join the community of
scholars and is recognized as an authority in the discipline.
Graduate education is one of the most important missions of the department.
Thus, eort is made to provide both nancial and professional support for qual-
ied research-based graduate students. The goal of such support is to facilitate
progress toward the graduate degree while contributing to the teaching and
research eort of the university. Secondarily, an additional goal of the Depart-
ment is to provide course opportunities for continuing graduate scholars to assist
career enhancements.
ADMISSION POLICIES
Admissions Criteria
Applicants are strongly encouraged to meet minimal criteria of a 3.0 undergradu-
ate grade point average (upper division work), a Graduate Record Exam Verbal
score of 156 (72%, 550 on the old GRE) and a Quantitative score of 154 (67%,
530 on the old GRE), and 3 current letters of recommendation from individuals
2
who are able to assess the applicant’s academic and research potential. Foreign
students, in addition to the above, also must score a minimum of 600 on the
paper-based TOEFL exam; 250 on the computer-based TOEFL exam, or 92 on
the internet-based TOEFL exam.
The Department ordinarily does not accept a student without a faculty sponsor
or sponsors willing to serve as the major professor.
Admission into the PhD and MS Thesis Programs, and Switching
between Programs
Students holding a bachelor’s degree may apply for either the PhD or the MS
Thesis program. Students enrolled in the MS program may switch to the PhD
program with the approval of their Supervisory Committee and the Associate
Chair. The Committee’s recommendation must include a justication from the
major professor and be co-signed by all the committee members.
Continuation for the PhD Degree after completing the M.S Thesis.
Students receiving a MS Thesis degree from our Department may request con-
tinuation in the PhD program by the following mechanism. The student and
major professor can greatly facilitate this process by laying the ground work
well before the formal request.
The Master’s Supervisory Committee should be informed of the student’s in-
tent to continue for the PhD before the thesis defense by way of a cover letter
accompanying the thesis. Within 2 weeks following the thesis defense, each
of the Supervisory Committee members should send to the Graduate Oce a
statement expressing a position for or against continuation of the student in the
PhD program. Within one week of receiving the last Supervisory Committee
member letter, the Graduate Oce will provide the available documentation
to the Area and request that the Area submit a recommendation to the Asso-
ciate Chair for or against continuation of the student in the PhD program. The
Associate Chair will make the nal decision.
A student may appeal a negative decision by the Associate Chair to the depart-
mental Graduate Policy Committee (GPC). This appeal should be submitted,
in writing, to the Graduate Oce within 2 weeks following receipt of the nega-
tive decision. For the purpose of the appeal, the GPC will be convened by the
Department Chair instead of the Associate Chair. The 6 voting members of the
committee will be the Department Chair, faculty members on the GPC exclud-
ing the Associate Chair, and the student member of the GPC. The Associate
Chair may be present for consultation but will not vote. A majority decision by
the appeal committee will be nal at the departmental level.
3
Neuroscience Doctoral Program (see Appendix VII).
REQUIREMENTS FOR THE DEGREE
Summary
A. Course-type Master’s Requirements
Minimum of 32 semester hours of graduate credit- a minimum of 21
letter-graded hours
Program of Studies form
Comprehensive Examination
Directed Individual Study requirement: literature- or research- based
B. Master’s Requirements
Minimum of 30 credits to include a minimum of 18 letter-graded credits
and a minimum of 6 thesis credits
BSC 6921-Bio Sci Colloquium
Committee-Major professor plus 2-3 other members (majority
tenured/tenure-track Bio Sci faculty)
Seminar: One departmental seminar
Teaching: One course
Orientation and Teaching Workshop
Program of Studies form
Prospectus
Thesis
Defense
C. Doctoral Requirements
Minimum of 24 dissertation research hours taken after completion of the
Preliminary Examination
BSC 6921-Bio Sci Colloquium or Neuroscience equivalent for students in
Neuroscience
4
Committee-major professor plus 4 other members (majority tenured/tenure-
track Bio Sci faculty)
Seminars: 3 seminars (at least one must be departmental)
Teaching: 2 dierent courses
Orientation and Teaching Workshop
Program of Studies form
Preliminary Examination
Proposal
Dissertation
Defense
I. Time Limits for Degrees
The course-type master’s program is designed to be completed in 18 months to
2 years.
A thesis master’s program should be designed so that it can be completed in
2-3 years. The University requires that master’s degree be completed within 7
years from the time the student rst registers for graduate credit.
A doctoral program should be more exible than the master’s degrees. The
University requires that the degree be completed within 5 calendar years from
the time the student gains admittance to candidacy by passing the Preliminary
Examination.
II. Supervisory Committee
A. Committee Composition
The graduate supervisory committee is responsible for guiding the student’s re-
search program and adherence to graduate policies. At least half the committee
members must be tenured or tenure-earning Department of Biological Science
faculty who hold Graduate Faculty Status (GFS). Masters committees cannot
have more than one non-tenure track faculty member, doctoral committees can-
not have more than 2 non-tenure track faculty members.
Course-type MS the Director of the Course-type Master’s program and the
DIS research supervisor. All committee members must have GFS or co-Doctoral
Directive Status (co-DDS) or co-Master’s Directive Status (co-MDS). If the
committee has a single major professor, this person must be a tenured or tenure-
earning member of the Department of Biological Science who holds GFS, or a
5
faculty member of FSU’s Coastal and Marine Laboratory who holds GFS. If
the committee has 2 co-major professors, one of them must be a tenured or
tenure-earning member of the Department of Biological Science with GFS. The
committee is established by written memo to the Graduate Oce from the
Director of the Course-type Master’s program.
Thesis MS–major professor plus 2-3 other members. All committee members
must have GFS or co-Doctoral Directive Status (co-DDS) or co -Master’s Di-
rective Status (co-MDS). MemoIf the committee has a single major professor,
this person must be a tenured or tenure-earning member of the Department of
Biological Science who holds GFS, or a faculty member of FSU’s Coastal and
Marine Laboratory who holds GFS. If the committee has 2 co-major professors,
one of them must be a tenured or tenure-earning member of the Department
of Biological Science with GFS. MemoThe committee is established by written
memo to the Graduate Oce from the major professor and initialed by each
committee member, and the committee must be approved by the Associate
Chair for Graduate Studies. (See Graduate Handbook section IX. Timetable.)
PhD– major professor plus at least 4 other members. All committee members
must have GFS or co-Doctoral Directive Status (co-DDS). MemoIf the commit-
tee has a single major professor that person must be a tenured or tenure-earning
member of the Department of Biological Science, or a member of FSU’s Coastal
and Marine Laboratory, with GFS. If the committee has 2 co-major professors
one of them must be a tenured or tenure-earning member of the Department
of Biological Science with GFS. One member of the committee, the University
Representative, must be a tenured FSU faculty member with GFS who is from a
department other than Biological Science and who does not have a courtesy fac-
ulty appointment in Biological Science.Memo The committee is established by
written memo to the Graduate Oce from the major professor and initialed by
each committee member, and the committee must be approved by the Associate
Chair for Graduate Studies. (See Graduate Handbook section
IX. Timetable.)
The Graduate Oce must be notied, immediately, of any changes in the con-
stitution of the committee (e.g., substitution of committee members or change
of major professor).
B. Co-Major Professor
Tenured or tenure-earning faculty who hold GFS in other departments at Florida
State University can serve as co-major professor with a tenured or tenure-earning
faculty member of the Department of Biological Science who holds GFS. The
remaining committee composition must be consistent with both departmental
and university standards.
C. Retired Faculty
Tenured or tenure-earning faculty with GFS who retire or leave the university
may continue to serve on committees under the following conditions (as ap-
proved by the Faculty Senate).
Fully retired faculty may continue to serve as major professors for those students
6
who have already begun their dissertation at the time of the major professor’s
retirement. Fully retired faculty, however, may not accept additional students in
this capacity. Fully retired faculty may serve as an additional member beyond
the minimum number required on doctoral committees of new students if they
choose
Faculty holding GFS who leave the university may continue to serve on existing
committees provided they are granted a courtesy faculty appointment in Biolog-
ical Science. If the departing faculty member is the student’s major professor
then a co-major professor must be appointed who is a tenured or tenure-earning
Biological Science faculty member with GFS.
D. Courtesy Faculty
Courtesy faculty who are not tenured or tenure-track personnel of FSU can serve
on supervisory committees with the following restrictions:
They must be members of the Department of Biological Science or have a cour-
tesy faculty appointment in Biological Science.
They must have the appropriate directive status GFS, or co-DDS for doctoral
committees. GFS, co-DDS or co-MDS for masters committees. If they are on the
faculty at another university in the SUS, then they must hold the appropriate
directive status at their home university.
They may be co-major professor with a tenured or tenure-earning Biological
Science faculty member who holds GFS, subject to approval of Associate Chair
for Graduate Studies.
The remaining committee composition must be consistent with both departmen-
tal and university standards
Each fall students will meet with their committees to discuss their progress.
Each committee will then submit to the student and to the Graduate Oce a
statement assessing the student’s progress (see Annual Reviews).
III. Required Courses
A. Colloquium (BSC 6921)
This course is an important learning vehicle. Students should take advantage
of the breadth of new information, strategies, and research-track directions of
research presented by experts in various elds. Attendance is required for stu-
dents and encouraged for faculty and Course-type MS students. Neuroscience
students should register for the neuroscience colloquium (PSB 6920) instead of
BSC 6921.
B. Seminars
Graduate education involves learning how to present research ideas and results.
The degree seminar requirements contribute to this education.
7
Both the Thesis MS and PhD degree programs require the presentation of “de-
partmental seminar(s). A “departmental seminar” should consist of an oral
presentation of greater than 40 minutes in length during which the student
makes a professional presentation of a body of scientic information to an audi-
ence.The student’s Supervisory Committee will be responsible for determining
which presentations fulll this requirement by informing the Graduate Oce
of the title, date, and type of forum of the approved presentation. At the dis-
cretion of the Supervisory Committee, student presentations in graded courses,
selected topics courses, and area seminars (including for example Seminar in
Ecology and Evolutionary Biology) can satisfy this requirement. Ordinarily,
journal club and research lab meeting presentations or thesis and dissertation
defense presentations will not fulll this requirement.
Course- type MS No departmental seminar is required.
MemoThesis MS One departmental seminar as dened above is required. Stu-
dents also are encouraged to present their research at regional and/or national
meetings.
MemoPhD Three presentations are required, one of which must be a depart-
mental seminar as dened above. The other 2 presentations may be either
departmental seminars or presentations at regional and/or national meetings.
Oral presentations at meetings may be shorter than 40 minutes. Poster presen-
tations count only for the senior author, and only one poster presentation can
be used toward satisfying this requirement.
C. Core Courses
As required by particular areas. (Consult with your major professor.)
BSC 5900 (Directed Individual Study). A Course-type MS student must
register for DIS research hours as soon as the research project has been selected
and begun. A minimum of 2 semesters satisfactory DIS research is required for
the Course-type MS degree.
BSC 5971 (Thesis Research). A Thesis MS student must register for the-
sis research as soon as the research project has been selected and begun. A
minimum of 6 thesis hours is needed for graduation.
BSC 6980 (Dissertation Research). Once the Preliminary Exam has been
successfully completed, a student must register for BSC 6980. A minimum of
24 dissertation hours is needed for graduation.
Such other courses as may be specied by the supervisory committee.
D. Responsible Conduct of Research
Federal funding agencies have requirements for training on the responsible con-
duct of research for individuals supported by or participating in projects funded
by those agencies. The University Oce of Research has established policy and
procedures for ensuring compliance with these requirements. RegisterIn order
to comply with University policy, all Biology graduate students must complete
8
the online training course oered by CITI (Collaborative Institutional Training
Initiative) within two months of rst registering as a graduate student.
Students are also encouraged to register for the course “PSB 5077: Responsible
Conduct of Research” as an introduction to survival skills and ethics in scientic
research.
IV. Teaching Requirement
Graduate students who have not earned a minimum of 18 graduate hours should
register for BSC 5945 (Supervised Teaching) for up to 3 hours total in their
master’s degree program or up to 5 hours total in their doctoral degree program.
A. Course-type MS no teaching experience is required.
B. Thesis MS Memoteaching experience in at least one course recommended
by supervisory committee and approved by the Associate Chair.
C. PhD Memoteaching experience in at least 2 dierent courses recommended
by supervisory committee and approved by the Associate Chair.
D. BSC 1005L may count for the teaching requirement at the discretion of
the Associate Chair.
E. Teaching Workshop the Department oers a Teaching Workshop the
week prior to fall classes. New students are required to attend. The coordinator
of the workshop is Dr. Carolyn Schultz, (850) 644-6826.
V. Program of Studies (MS and PhD Students)
This document, developed in consultation with the supervisory committee,
should outline past and current course work and courses proposed for the
future. Form (See IX. Timetable.)
VI. Prospectus for the Thesis MS Degree
This should follow the same outline as the doctoral proposal (see below), but
should be about 5 to 10 pages long. A budget is not required. The student
is required to meet with the supervisory committee to discuss and defend the
prospectus. MemoUpon committee approval, the prospectus is submitted to the
Graduate Oce.
The Prospectus must be submitted no later than the third semester in residence.
VII. Proposal for the PhD Degree
Most of our PhD students will be involved in writing grant proposals during
their careers. The writing of a PhD proposal is intended to provide experience
in writing a research proposal. Therefore, the proposal should follow the NSF
or NIH format. Writing the proposal also helps the student crystallize the
9
plan for their dissertation research and map out the experiments that need to
be done. The proposal must be defended within 6 months of completing the
Preliminary Examination and no later than the tenth semester in the program,
and students must submit their proposal to their committees no less than 2
weeks prior to the proposal defense. Committees of students not meeting this
schedule must submit a memo to the Associate Chair for Graduate Studies
explaining why the proposal is delayed and setting a clear date for the proposal
defense. A minimum of 12 months must elapse between approval of the proposal
and defense of dissertation.
Generally the proposal will include the following:
A. Abstract
B. Signicance
C. Introduction with background review
D. Proposed research and rationale
E. Facilities and equipment required
F. Budget (including indirect costs and “fringe benets”)
G. Time required to complete study
H. Vita
I. Literature cited
The student is required to meet with the supervisory committee to discuss and
defend the proposal. MemoUpon committee approval, the proposal is submitted
to the Graduate Oce.
VIII. Graduate Examinations
It is often dicult to arrange an exam or defense during the summer because
of the unavailability of committee members who tend to be o-campus dur-
ing this time. Analogous problems might result from one or more committee
members being on sabbatical for one or both semesters of the academic year.
Students should check with their committee members well in advance of any
such examination to make sure that everybody will be available to participate.
Theses, written exams, and dissertations are expected to reect original work.
The review of academic integrity should be completed prior to the oral de-
fense by the major professor. Faculty may choose to use appropriate plagiarism
checkers and peer review tools (such as iThenticate) with early drafts of these
manuscripts as an instructional aid in advising students on matters relating to
plagiarism.
A. Comprehensive Written Examination for Course-type MS
Students will have to pass a written examination to be composed and adminis-
10
tered by the Supervisory Committee. The written examination may be tailored
to the area of study and the research area. A memo will be sent to the Graduate
Advising Oce conrming when the student has successfully passed this exam.
B. The Thesis Defense (BSC 8976)
The Thesis Defense (BSC8976) will consist of an oral defense of the completed
master’s thesis as well as a test of general knowledge. FormsThe candidate must
submit the nal copy of the thesis to the supervisory committee at least one
week before the scheduled examination.
C. The Preliminary Examination (BSC 8964) for Doctoral Students
The written portion of the Preliminary Examination should be taken no later
than the seventh semester and the written and oral portion of the exam should
be completed within a 3 month period. Committees of students not meeting
this schedule must submit a memo to the Associate Chair for Graduate Studies
explaining why the exam is delayed and setting a clear date for the exam. At
the discretion of the Supervisory Committee, any portion of the exam may be
retaken within 3 months if the performance was judged unsatisfactory.
This examination is “designed to test scholarly competence and knowledge and
to aord the examiners the basis for constructive recommendations concerning
the student’s subsequent formal or informal study” (2007-2009 FSU Graduate
Bulletin, p. 54).
The possible outcomes of the Preliminary Examination are:
1. passed
2. failed, without possibility of re-examination
3. conditional pass, additional work to be completed
4. re-examine
MemoResults of the Preliminary Examination must be submitted to the Grad-
uate Oce immediately following the completion of the exam.
If a conditional pass is received, the committee must stipulate, in writing, the
conditions and the deadline for meeting these conditions.
Upon passing the Preliminary Examination, and if the student has met the
graded credit-hour requirement, the student may apply for a course-based Mas-
ters with the approval of the Director of the Course-type Master’s program.
Preliminary Examination Failure Policy
Approved by the GPC on 1/11/21 and Faculty Senate on 1/20/21.
If a student fails the preliminary examination before being admitted to candi-
dacy, a re-examination may be oered by the student’s supervisory committee
or other relevant decision making body within each department or unit, per that
11
department or unit’s doctoral student handbook. The Academic Dean’s oce
should be notied of the outcome of any preliminary exam attempt.
Students can take the preliminary examination for admission to candidacy only
two times. A second failure on the preliminary exam makes the student ineligible
to continue in the degree program. The second attempt at the preliminary exam
shall occur no sooner than six full class weeks after the results of the rst attempt
are shared with the student. For the purpose of this policy, a “full class week” is
dened as a week with ve days during which classes are held at FSU. Students
must be registered separately for their rst and second attempt, if necessary
within the same semester, and must receive either a “pass” or a “fail” grade for
each attempt.
An exception request regarding the timing of the re-examination can be submit-
ted for consideration to the Academic Dean’s Oce by either the student or the
supervisory committee. Students who allege that academic regulations and/or
procedures were improperly applied for the re-examination of their preliminary
exam may have their grievances addressed through the general academic appeals
process.
D. The Dissertation Defense (BSC 8985)
The Dissertation Defense (BSC 8985) for doctoral students will consist of a
public seminar presenting information from the dissertation prior to an oral
examination which is administered by the candidate’s supervisory committee.
“Academic courtesy requires that a preliminary draft of the dissertation be sub-
mitted to each member of the supervisory committee at least four weeks before
the date of the oral examination” (2007-2009 FSU Graduate Bulletin, p. 54).
University policy requires that all members of the supervisory committee be
present either physically, or by a real time virtual connection for the dis-
sertation defense. In the Department of Biological Science if one committee
member cannot be physically present for the dissertation defense then that
committee member must be present by a video conference connection. More
than one committee member may attend by a video conference connection with
the agreement of the entire supervisory committee. If the full committee cannot
be present —- either physically or by a real time virtual connection -— then
the defense must be rescheduled or new committee members appointed.
Passage of the dissertation defense will be based on a vote of the supervisory
committee. FormsThe vote is to be recorded and communicated to the Asso-
ciate Chair. The Department has a long tradition of supervisory committees
making decisions by consensus. Committees are encouraged to continue to work
for consensus as this produces the best possible dissertation and is in the best in-
terest of the student and the department. However if consensus (a unanimously
positive vote) cannot be reached, only one negative vote is permitted regardless
of committee size, and the University Representative on the committee must
vote for passage. If the University representative votes no, or if there are 2
or more negative votes by the committee, then the student has not passed the
12
dissertation defense.
IX. Timetable
Note: There are 3 semesters per calendar year, viz., fall, spring and summer.
Course-Type MS Timetable
Requirement Action Latest Deadlines
Committee Meet with committee;Memo to Graduate Oce 1st semester
Program of Studies Form Form submitted to Graduate Oce. 2nd semester
Directed Individual Study requirement literature- or research- based
Comprehensive Examination
Thesis MS Timetable Teaching and Seminar requirements, as well as Ro-
tations and any Courses required by Area, do not have specic deadlines, and
are not shown on the timetables below.
Requirement Action Latest Deadlines
Teaching Workshop Required for PIE
certication
1st week, or before 1st
TA assignment
Faculty
AdvisororPreliminary
Supervisory Committee
[Memo] submitted to
Graduate Oce.
1st semester in
residence
Major Professor Memo submitted to
Graduate Oce
2nd semester
Committee Meet with
committee;Memo
submitted to Graduate
Oce
2nd semester
Program of Studies
Form
Form submitted to
Graduate Oce.
2nd semester
Annual Review [Student Info update]
completed
online.[Annual Review
Form] completed by
Major Professor, and
submitted to the
committee, area
representative, student,
and Graduate Oce.
every fall semester
13
Requirement Action Latest Deadlines
Master’s Prospectus Approved by the
Graduate Oce.Memo
submitted to Graduate
Oce
no later than 3rd
semester
Thesis Hours (6) Register for BSC 5971
Thesis Research
All semesters after
Prospectus approved
Defense Register for BSC 8976
Thesis Submitted to Clearance
Oce. Be sure to check
with the Clearance
Advisor in 408 WES
during your drafting in
order to prevent
disasters at the last
second.Thesis MS
Defense Forms
within 60 days following
defense
PhD Timetable Teaching and Seminar requirements, as well as Rotations
and any Courses required by Area, do not have specic deadlines, and are not
shown on the timetables below.
Requirement Action Latest Deadlines
Teaching Workshop Required for PIE
certication
1st week, or before 1st
TA assignment
Faculty
AdvisororPreliminary
Supervisory Committee
[Memo] submitted to
Graduate Oce.
1st semester in
residence
Major Professor Memo submitted to
Graduate Oce
2nd semester
Committee Meet with
committee;Memo
submitted to Graduate
Oce
3rd semester
Program of Studies
Form
Form submitted to
Graduate Oce.
3rd semester
14
Requirement Action Latest Deadlines
Annual Review [Student Info update]
completed
online.[Annual Review
Form] completed by
Major Professor, and
submitted to the
committee, area
representative, student,
and Graduate Oce.
every fall semester
Preliminary
Examination
Register for BSC
8964Memo submitted
to Graduate Oce
Written portion should
be taken no later than
the 7th semester and
the written and oral
portion of the exam
should be completed
within a 3 month
period.
Doctoral Proposal Approved by the
Graduate Oce.Memo
submitted to Graduate
Oce
Must be defended by
the 9th or 10th
semester at the latest.
Should be completed
within 6 months of the
Prelim Exam
Dissertation Hours (24) Register for BSC 6980
Dissertation Research
All semesters after
Prelim Exam passed
Defense Register for BSC 8985
Dissertation Submitted to Clearance
Oce. Be sure to check
with the Clearance
Advisor in 408 WES
during your drafting in
order to prevent
disasters at the last
second.PhD Defense
Forms
within 60 days following
defense, but no later
than 5 calendar years
from the Prelim Exam
ANNUAL REVIEWS and SCHOLARLY ENGAGEMENT
REQUIREMENT
The purpose of the Scholarly Engagement requirement is to ensure that stu-
dents are active participants in the scholarly community. To meet the Scholarly
Engagement requirement, doctoral students should interact with faculty and
peers in ways that may include enrolling in courses; attending seminars, sym-
15
posia, and conferences; engaging in collaborative study and research beyond the
university campus; and utilizing the library, laboratories, and other facilities
provided by the University. The goal is to prepare students to be scholars who
can independently acquire, evaluate, and extend knowledge, as well as develop
themselves as eective communicators and disseminators of knowledge.
All students will be evaluated annually. The intent of the annual review is
to assure that each student has the opportunity for scholarly engagement and
continues to make timely and satisfactory progression toward completion of the
degree program.
Course-type MS students
Graduate students will be evaluated annually by the program director.
Thesis MS and PhD students
All graduate students in the Department have an opportunity to present their
progress each year to the faculty in their areas. Through this process the stu-
dent can be aided in fullling the degree requirements on a timely basis. The
review also encourages interaction between graduate students and faculty who
otherwise may have little direct contact.
All graduate students will be informed of their status and the results of their
evaluations each year. It obviously is dicult to provide an in-depth evaluation;
but the major professor should meet with the student following the review for
discussion.
The committee meetings should be completed between the fourth week
in September and the second week of December each year and should be
reasonably uniform across groups.
The mechanism should be:
All students, except those who entered in August of the current academic year,
are required to meet with their committees prior to the Reviews. DO NOT
WAIT UNTIL IT IS TIME TO HAVE THE REVIEWS TO HAVE THESE
MEETINGS. Faculty serve on many committees and their schedules will not
permit them to accommodate last minute or spur of the moment scheduling.
Those doctoral students who have passed the Preliminary Examination are re-
quired by the University to have an annual committee-signed statement (the
Graduate Advising Oce maintains the Annual Evaluation Forms) in their per-
manent University le. The Graduate Oce will provide this form. It is the
student’s responsibility to see that the completed form is submitted to the Grad-
uate Oce.
Each student lls out a progress report plus a 250 word abstract and submits
them to the Graduate Oce. These will be distributed to the faculty.
Each student beyond the rst year is required to present a 5-10 minute sum-
mary of his/her progress, outlining goals and presenting plans for the following
year. The student’s presentation should be informal, without slides, overheads
16
or handouts. All rst-year students must appear, but should merely be prepared
to discuss their goals. There will be an additional 5 minutes for questions and
another 5 minutes for discussion after the student leaves.
Review Outcomes
Thesis MS and PhD Students receiving a satisfactory review will be guaranteed
support for the next academic year.
Any student who receives an unsatisfactory rating by the area faculty will be
on probation and must meet specic conditions to continue support. When
submitting an “unsatisfactory” rating for a student, the area faculty should
enumerate specic criteria by which the student can achieve “satisfactory” status
(e.g., get o academic probation, meet specied levels of performance in the
research lab, etc.) along with a required timeline for meeting these criteria
and consequences of not meeting them (loss of Department support or dismissal
from the program). These recommendations will be submitted to the Associate
Chair for Graduate Studies who will monitor the student’s compliance.
Each area representative will notify the Graduate Oce of the results of the
Reviews. Shortly after the Reviews, each student should receive from the area
representative written results of the evaluation, and if necessary, any specic
recommendations.
FINANCIAL SUPPORT
Thesis MS and PhD Students Only
Teaching Assistantships
One source of nancial support for Thesis MS and PhD students is through
Graduate Teaching Assistantships. For 2015-2016 the stipend is $21,239 for
thesis master’s students and $22,143 for doctoral students. This is considered a
one-half time appointment. As a one-half time appointee, the University guide-
lines recommend that no more than 20 hours of duties be required of the student
weekly, although this may vary depending on the needs of the department. No
departmental nancial support is available for students enrolled in the Course-
type MS program.
Graduate Teaching Assistantships for students already enrolled are awarded and
are distributed to students based on (a) an assessment of the student’s progress
toward the degree as primarily indicated by the Annual Review, (b) the recom-
mendation of the faculty associated with the various courses and the student’s
past performance as a teaching assistant, if available. Incoming students will
usually be awarded teaching assistantships as recommended by the area faculty
based on the available information.
17
Research Assistantships
One source of nancial support for Thesis MS and PhD students is the research
assistantship paid for by the grant funds of the major professor. These assis-
tantships are awarded at the discretion of the major professor subject only to
the University stipulation that reinstated students on academic probation are
ineligible for nancial support.
Financial support varies with the resources of the major professor but should
not be lower than the teaching assistantship for equivalent half-time work.
Fellowships
Florida State University provides nancial support in the form of fellowships to
a number of graduate students. For more information on these awards, please
visit the Graduate School’s page on fellowships.
The Department of Biological Science also oers several undergraduate and
graduate scholarships. For more information on these scholarships, please visit
the Department’s scholarships page
Tuition Waiver Policies For Research-Based Programs
University policy limits the number of years a graduate assistant can receive
tuition waiver support from the University central waiver pool. The standard
is 3 years for a MS degree and 3 additional years for a PhD, or a combined
total of 6 years for a student who enters graduate school at FSU without a
MS degree. Students who enter our graduate program with a MS degree will
have a limit of 4 years for waiver support as a doctoral student except when
‘required by a departmental committee to follow the same program as a student
entering without a MS degree’ in which case they fall under the same 6 year
standard as students entering without a MS degree. Students who have carried
a heavy instructional load throughout their graduate study may be approved for
an additional year of waiver support on a case by case basis. Students enrolled
in the Course-type MS program are not available to receive a tuition waiver.
A. Matriculation Waivers:
Students receiving teaching or research assistantships for at least one-quarter
time or who are on a fellowship are eligible for matriculation waivers. These
provide for a waiver of the in-state tuition fees only. Students are still respon-
sible for activity, athletic, health fees, etc. Consult the Graduate Oce for the
necessary paperwork.
B. Out-of-State Tuition Waivers:
Students receiving teaching or research assistantships for at least one-quarter
time or who are on a fellowship are eligible for out-of-state tuition waivers.
These provide for a waiver of the out-of-state tuition fees only. Students are
still responsible for activity, athletic, health fees, etc. Consult the Graduate
Oce for the necessary paperwork. U.S. citizens who are non-Florida residents
18
are eligible for an out-of-state waiver for one year. See Appendix I for further
information on residency.
Taxes on Stipends
The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) has ruled that student assistantships are
not tax exempt. However, some foreign countries have treaties with the U.S.,
and individuals from those countries may be tax-exempt. Questions about taxes
(especially prior returns) should be directed to the IRS.
REGISTRATION
All Thesis MS and PhD students, whether funded or not, are required to register
for 12 hours each term, including summer. Students in the Course-type MS
program may be enrolled part-time with the approval of the Program Director.
Exceptions
1. Completion of Program Requirements
Students who have completed all program requirements (including research)
except for the thesis/dissertation writing and defense, and who have missed the
nal University graduation deadline at the end of the semester, must register
for 2 hours (non-US residents one hour) of BSC 5971 (Thesis Research) or BSC
6980 (Dissertation Research) in the next semester in order to complete their
degree. This will be allowed with the following stipulations:
A. the student will not be eligible for departmental or university support.
B. the student is not to be using University facilities (laboratory, oce space,
library, etc.) or personnel except those that are directly required for the student
to complete the writing and defense of her/his thesis or dissertation.
C. submit to the Graduate Oce a timely, supervisory committee-signed memo
of approval for such absence (your major professor and other committee mem-
bers must be aware that your research has indeed been completed and give
approval for such absence).
Students who have not completed their degree and who leave campus to take
a position elsewhere must register for 2 hours (non-US residents one hour) of
BSC 5971 (Thesis Research) or BSC 6980 (Dissertation Research) each semester
until graduation in order to remain in the graduate program.
2. O-Campus Scholarly Endeavors
Students may request permission to participate in research or collaborative study
beyond the university campus for a maximum of one term per academic year.
The request must be approved by the student’s major professor, the Associate
Chair for Graduate Studies, and the Department Chair. The student is not
required to enroll at the University or register for university courses during this
19
o-campus term. The student will not be given a departmental appointment,
and the student should not utilize faculty time, laboratories, and other facilities
provided by the University during this o-campus term. There will be no change
in the total number of hours required for the degree. Students must still comply
with the Graduate School’s continuous enrollment policy (see the FSU Graduate
Bulletin, Academic Regulations and Procedures, Continuous Enrollment).
Students conducting o-campus research beyond one semester, and not using
University facilities (laboratory, oce space, library) or personnel:
A. will not be eligible for departmental or university support.
B. must submit to the Graduate Oce a timely, supervisory committee-signed
memo of approval for such absence(s).
C. must register for at least 2 hours (non-US residents one hour) of either BSC
5971 (Thesis Research) or BSC 6980 (Dissertation Research), as appropriate,
each semester thus absent. Those PhD students who have not passed their
Preliminary Examination should register for BSC 5900 (DIS) instead of BSC
6980. However, such absence(s) should not delay the Preliminary Examination.
In rare instances, students in their nal year who are o campus conducting
research and who need to use University facilities and personnel on only a limited
basis, will be required to register for 4 thesis/dissertation research hours for each
semester, except the nal term which will be full-time hours.
3. Leave of Absence for Medical or Family Issues
Under extraordinary circumstances, students may request permission to take
a one-term leave of absence for medical or family reasons. The request must
be approved by the Associate Chair for Graduate Studies and the Department
Chair. The student is not required to enroll at the University or register for
university courses during this o-campus term. The student will not be given a
departmental appointment, and the student should not utilize faculty time, lab-
oratories, and other facilities provided by the University during this o-campus
term. There will be no change in the total number of hours required for the
degree. Students must still comply with the Graduate School’s continuous en-
rollment policy (see the FSU Graduate Bulletin, Academic Regulations and
Procedures, Continuous Enrollment).
MISCELLANEOUS
Research Product. Graduate students are not permitted to have undergradu-
ates or graduates conduct any part of their thesis/dissertation research for them;
but DIS students can work with a graduate student on a non-thesis/dissertation
project as long as there is signicant interaction with the major professor/faculty
member.
Satisfying Requirements. Major professors and supervisory committees can
recommend by memo to the Graduate Oce that a student has satised a partic-
20
ular requirement (e.g., teaching), but are not authorized to determine that the
requirement has been satised or waived, or to postpone a deadline. Be aware,
however, that supervisory committees may impose additional requirements.
Thesis/Dissertation Format. These documents maybe written as a single
work or as several individual chapters intended to be independent manuscripts.
The Graduate School requires that in the latter case the thesis/dissertation
must include an overall Introduction and an overall Conclusions section. Clear-
ance guidelines can be found at the Graduate School’s website on manuscript
clearance. The Clearance Advisor is located in 408 Westcott.
Academic Probation MS Thesis and PhD Students on initial probation (rst
semester of probation) have one semester to bring their cumulative GPA up to
3.0, during which they are eligible for stipend support. Students enrolled in the
Course-type MS program are required to maintain a cumulative GPA of 3.0. If
the student does not reach a cumulative 3.0 by the end of that term, he/she will
be dismissed from the University. Reinstatement is possible in cases in which
a cumulative GPA of 3.0 is very likely by the end of the next semester. The
University does not allow reinstated students to draw a stipend.
Departmental/University Facilities. The Department/University main-
tains an Analytical Laboratory (Dano Fiore), Electron Microscope facility (Ken
Taylor), Marine Lab (Felicia Coleman), Molecular and Hybridoma Laboratory
(Ken Roux), Neuroscience facilities (Mike Meredith), Computer Lab (Alex
Stuy), and photo darkroom. Some of the equipment is cost-free, but some is
not. Students should consult rst with the major professor and then with the
contact person named above concerning the use of these facilities.
Marine Lab. Students using the Marine Lab for any part of their thesis or
dissertation research should supply the Marine Lab with a bound copy of the
nal document. The Department will cover the costs of copying and binding
this copy.
APPENDIX I: Residency
Deadline for Applying for Florida Residency: The Declaration of Domi-
cile form must be led at the courthouse prior to the rst day of classes of
the term you are rst registering as a graduate student. Failure to do so may
jeopardize your petition for future residency.
All non-Florida, U.S. citizens are required to obtain residency by the begin-
ning of their second year. Students must be completely independent from their
parents (i.e., not claimed on tax returns, etc.) for one year prior to obtaining
Florida residency status. Out-of-state tuition waivers will only be given for the
rst year. The Oce of Graduate Studies has provided the following helpful
tips: New Student Info.
21
APPENDIX II: Funding for Student Travel
When resources are available, the Department will assist you in attending na-
tional/regional meetings to present a paper or poster. The policies and proce-
dures for this support are as follows:
Policies:
Every Thesis MS and PhD student is eligible to receive funds to present his/her
work at one meeting each scal year (July-June).
You must be a registered full-time graduate student presenting (not just co-
author) a paper, based on work done at Florida State University, at a na-
tional/regional meeting. International meetings will be handled separately.
The Department will provide a xed amount of money based on the following
mileage table. The gures are based on radius of travel from Tallahassee to the
meeting site. No vicinity mileage is included. You will be reimbursed up to
the amount which can legally be reimbursed under the State of Florida’s travel
procedures.
Procedures:
At least 2 weeks prior to your departure, submit to the Biology Graduate Oce
a notice of acceptance of your paper and evidence that you will be the presenter
(i.e., abstract) along with the Funded Travel Authorization form ). The Congress
of Graduate Students (COGS) may also have available funds. For information
on funds from COGS, please visit the COGS website.
Upon your return you must immediately ll out a Reimbursement Voucher. Fail-
ure to do so within the rst week of your return will result in NO reimbursement.
The maximum amount that any one person can receive is $800.00.
We are aware that this policy is less than perfect as it is implemented, please
feel free to provide rational input, in writing, concerning any problems which
arise.
TRAVEL DISTANCE(ROUND TRIP) AMOUNT ALLOWED
200-500 $260
501-800 $310
801-1100 $415
1101-1400 $470
1401-1700 $525
1700-2000 $580
2001-2300 $635
2301-2600 $690
2601-2900 $745
2900- $800
22
modied Fall 2004
APPENDIX III: Dual Compensation
The stipend provided to graduate students is intended to facilitate study, ed-
ucational progress and research. Additional, unrelated, outside employment
reduces a student’s role in contributing to the departmental graduate program,
and also might be construed as indicative of a lack of commitment to a student’s
training.
However, it is recognized that special, extenuating circumstances occur, and
provisions for them are given in the following categorization:
FormHalf-time (or less) graduate teaching assistants (TAs) and graduate re-
search assistants (departmental or grant RAs). Such a student nding it neces-
sary to obtain supplementary, outside employment must report their intention
to seek outside employment to his/her major professor, other supervisory com-
mittee members and the Associate Chair (see below).
FormGraduate fellowship recipients (domestic and foreign). Some fellowships
include funds for payment of all fees, others pay some but not all fees, and some
pay no fees. It is the Department’s policy to provide students a supplemental
equivalent to the fee waivers available to TAs and RAs. A copy of the award
letter indicating the distribution of monies will be needed to determine eligi-
bility for supplemental funds. Nevertheless, any fellowship recipient nding it
necessary to obtain supplementary, outside employment must report their inten-
tion to seek outside employment to his/her major professor, other supervisory
committee members and the Associate Chair (see below).
Greater than half-time TAs and RAs. On rare occasions it is necessary to
appoint a few graduate assistants, usually on a term-by-term basis, at a level
and corresponding stipend greater than half-time. Such appointments require
the written approval of the initial advisor or major professor, and Associate
Chair.
Graduate studies should be engaged as a full-time endeavor. Students who are
supported on a qualifying assistantship are expected to be fully engaged with
their studies. Additional employment or activity, especially outside the Depart-
ment, is discouraged to ensure timely completion of one’s degree. Requests for
additional or outside employment or activity will be evaluated for conicts of
interest in accordance with the GAU Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA).
Approval of supplemental work and compensation does not excuse a student
from meeting the time lines specied in section IX. Timetable of the Graduate
Guide.
APPENDIX IV: English Competency
Certication of competency in spoken English of international graduate teaching
23
assistants, Department of Biological Science. Revised February, 2008
The Department accepts responsibility for ensuring that international students
receiving departmental nancial support achieve competency in spoken English
sucient to communicate as a scientist and to participate in a quality instruc-
tional program at the undergraduate level. As the minimum, the Department
requires the following training/certication of all international students on entry
into the graduate program.
All new Thesis MS and PhD students, including international students, are re-
quired to attend one complete orientation and departmental Teaching Workshop
oered prior to the fall semester each year. It is expected that the students will
take the workshop at the start of their rst year in the program. Students who
have not completed the workshop will not be permitted to teach.
The Department recognizes a score of 50 on the SPEAK test (or a score of 26
on the spoken part of the IBTOEFL) as certifying spoken English competency
for international teaching assistants. The SPEAK test (administered by the
Center for Intensive English Studies) is to be taken by all international students
from countries where English is not the native language when they rst arrive on
campus (normally in the week before classes in the Fall semester). International
students will have one calendar year from the time they enter the program to
pass the Speak Test with a score of 50 or better. Any international students
who fail to meet this requirement will be ineligible for support as a TA until
they pass the Speak Test. Petitions for exceptions to this policy will be decided
by the Associate Chair for Graduate Studies in consultation with the Graduate
Policy Committee.
International students who have not passed the Speak test or who have not
been certied by the Associate Chair for Graduate Studies will be required to
take one credit hour of spoken English courses from C.I.E.S. every semester
until they pass or are certied. (Either EAP 4830 “Spoken English for Inter-
national TAs”, EAP 4831- Advanced Spoken English for ITAs, or EAP 4832
“Pronunciation for ITAs”)
Satisfactory completion of these requirements qualies the student to serve as a
graduate teaching assistant. Assignment of teaching duties prior to completion
of these requirements is at the discretion of the Associate Chair for Graduate
Studies.
APPENDIX V: Graduate Appeals Policy
Grade appeals: see 2007-2009 FSU Graduate Bulletin, p63.
Other: Any graduate student who feels that an action or decision aecting
him/her adversely in his/her graduate program has been made in an arbitrary
and capricious manner.
A. should, within 5 calendar days of the action/decision, consult with the per-
24
son(s) deemed responsible for that action/decision in order to resolve the prob-
lem.
B. should then, in the absence of a satisfactory resolution (a), consult with the
Associate Chair for Graduate Studies about the matter within 5 calendar days
of that meeting, and, if the issue is still not resolved.
C. can le a dated 1-page appeal document with the Graduate Oce within the
next 5 calendar days.
The written appeal document must contain.
A. a description of the action or decision, with citation of the date(s) when made
and by whom, and
B. a statement of the resolution sought, with a justication of that remedy.
The appeal document will be duplicated and distributed to the departmental
Graduate Policy Committee (= 4 faculty representatives + one student repre-
sentative + Associate Chair), which may arrange a meeting with the student to
explore the problem. The meeting will be held within 5 calendar days of receipt
of the appeal document.
The Graduate Policy Committee will reach a decision within 5 calendar days of
the meeting, with the Associate Chair voting only to resolve a tie. No committee
member with possible conict of interest will participate in the proceedings
except for a possible interview by the rest of the Committee. The student will
be sent a written decision immediately.
A student who is dissatised with the decision of the Graduate Policy Committee
may appeal that decision to the departmental chairperson within 5 calendar
days of receipt of the committee decision. The Department Chair will consult
the original appeal document and may meet with the student (and perhaps
committee members) within 5 calendar days and shall notify the student of his
decision in writing within 5 calendar days. This decision will be binding.
A student’s non-adherence to the time lines stated herein will lead to dismissal
of the appeal unless extenuating circumstances apply. Committee member ab-
sences might cause some time limitation(s) to be extended.
Discretion and condentiality will be exercised during the entire appeals process.
A student will not suer a punitive action or decision for having pursued an
appeal.
APPENDIX VI: Teaching Assistants (TA) Manual
The opportunity to teach is one of the great joys of academic life. Nothing is
more rewarding than being able to share your knowledge with others and help
them grow in knowledge and skills. As a teaching assistant you are part of
the university’s instructional sta, all of whom must work together to provide
a coherent and high quality educational program for our undergraduates. The
25
purpose of this manual is to outline the Department’s policies and guidelines
for teaching assistants, and to provide logistical information that TAs need, so
that the delivery of our undergraduate courses is orderly and eective. This
is not intended to be a manual on how to teach. Some teaching training is
provided is the Department’s annual Teaching Workshop, which is required
to be taken by all new graduate students and undergraduate TAs. Additional
training for teachers is available through the Teaching Enhancement Workshops
of the Program in Instructional Excellence.
Admission, Support, and Category Changes
Only in exceptional cases is an unfunded student admitted to a Thesis MS or
PhD graduate program in the department. Most Thesis MS and PhD students
receive an initial appointment as a TA; later many students are supported with
research grants as a RA. A few students switch back and forth, depending on
the availability of grant funds. TAs planning to be supported by an available
RAship must provide the departmental Graduate Oce with a “timely noti-
cation of intent” in order to avoid depleting the teaching personnel needed by
the department.
Selection of Graduate Assistants
The awarding of teaching and research assistantships is decided at the time
graduate students are considered for admission. Assistantships are awarded
at the request of individual faculty members with the approval from the area
faculty (Cell & Molecular Biology, Neuroscience, and Ecology & Evolutionary
Biology) and the Associate Chair.
Continuing students may be reappointed on a departmental TA/RAship for
the ensuing academic year if (1) so recommended by the area faculty following
the Annual Review (see departmental Graduate Guide: Annual Reviews ) and
approved by the Associate Chair and (2) funds are available.
Initial and continued appointment on a grant RAship is at the discretion of the
principal investigator.
TA Course Assignment(s)
Teaching assignments are made by the Oce of the Associate Chair for Gradu-
ate Studies. New TAs are customarily assigned to BSC 1005L, BSC 2010L, or
BSC 2011L unless a particular student has the background to ll a special need
in another course. Subsequent assignments are made to other courses when
possible, with veteran students having priority. The primary considerations
in making TA assignments are the teaching needs of the Department and the
expertise and dependability of the individual graduate students. However, the
wishes of the faculty and graduate students are also taken into account. Prior
to the beginning of each semester the Graduate Oce asks the graduate stu-
dents which courses they would prefer to be assigned; the faculty are also asked
26
which students they want as their TAs. Recommendations from supervisory
committees are also taken into account. Every eort is made to accommodate
all parties, but uctuations in course enrollments and course oerings do not
always provide that everyone can be accommodated. Assignments are made on
a one-semester-at-a-time basis.
Teaching Workshop
All new Thesis MS and PhD students, and all undergraduate students who are
teaching for the rst time, are required to attend the Department’s Teaching
Workshop. This week-long workshop is held during the week before classes
each Fall semester and is coordinated by Dr. Carolyn Schultz, (850) 644-6826.
The workshop provides instruction in teaching and gives critical information on
University and departmental teaching policies. Under exceptional circumstances
the Associate Chair for Graduate Studies may approve a student’s petition to
delay taking the Teaching Workshop; however no exceptions are made to the
requirement that all new graduate students and undergraduate TA take this
workshop. Both Graduate and Undergraduate TAs are compensated for the
time they spend at the workshop.
Duties and Responsibilities
There are varying workloads for dierent levels of appointment (viz., 1/4-, 1/3-,
1/2-time, etc.,). These apply to both TAs and RAs. The standard TA assign-
ment is ½-time (which nominally means 20 hr/week). Most TAs are assigned
responsibility for teaching in laboratory courses, but some TAs serve to help
organize and prepare materials for large laboratory courses such as BSC 2010L
(course “Honchos”), and some TAs are assigned to assist a faculty member who
is teaching a large lecture course (usually the TA helps with grading and by run-
ning review/help sessions). Some opportunity for lecturing experience (under
faculty supervision) is available during the summer, particularly in BSC 1005.
The standard TA assignment is responsibility for teaching 2 sections of a labo-
ratory course that meets once a week for 3 hours. However, some courses dier
in format (some lab classes meet once a week for 2 hours and some have two
3-hour class meetings each week), so TA assignments are balanced to keep the
work load approximately the same for all TAs.
Specic TA duties, both in and out of class, are dened by the faculty member in
charge of the course (course instructor), or by the sta member responsible for
a large laboratory course (the course coordinator). Unsatisfactory performance
by a TA/RA may result in forfeiture of the assistantship. In general, a TA
is expected to work on course-related activities for an average of 20 hours per
week, although some weeks may require more time and some less. Each TA
is expected to be on campus and available to work starting one week before
classes and to remain until course grades are submitted on the Tuesday after
Final Exam Week or until the course instructor/coordinator indicates the TA
27
may leave. If a TA needs to be out of town, or for other reasons cannot fulll
their teaching duties for a period of time (for example to attend a conference
or because of a family emergency), then it is the TAs responsibility to inform
the course instructor/coordinator as early as possible and to work with the
instructor/coordinator to nd a suitable replacement. The TA must also ll
out the Attendance Policy for Teaching Assistants Form and submit it to the
Graduate Oce in advance of their trip. This requirement includes times when
2 TAs in the same course swap sections. The Department is committed to being
exible and making it possible for TAs to attend meetings and other educational
programs, but the TA must realize that not all accommodations are possible. In
general TAs should not expect to be able to be away from their teaching duties
more than once a semester and not for more than one week at a time.
Attendance Policy for Teaching Assistants Form: (obtain here)
Emergency Situations
Any TA that nds they are unable to attend a class or get to class on time
must immediately contact the faculty member in charge of the course (course
instructor), or the course coordinator, so that arrangements can be made to
cover the class. If the instructor/coordinator cannot be reached, then the TA
should contact the departmental oce (850-644-3700) and inform the oce sta
of their absence.
If during class a student becomes ill and needs medical assistance the TA should
contact the University Police (850-644-1234) and should also inform the course
instructor/coordinator of the situation. If a student becomes unmanageable
and disruptive in class the TA should calmly direct the student to leave the
classroom, and if the student refuses to leave then the TA should contact the
University Police and have the student removed from the classroom. Such inci-
dents should also be reported to the course instructor/coordinator.
Violations of the University’s Academic Honor Code (Cheating)
The Florida State University Academic Honor Policy denes the University’s
expectations of students in terms of academic honesty and lays out the proce-
dures that are to be followed in cases of academic dishonesty. The Academic
Honor Policy is found in the FSU General Bulletin, this policy was substantially
revised eective Fall semester 2005. All students and faculty are expected to be
familiar with and abide by this Academic Honor Policy.
As described in the Academic Honor Code, academic dishonesty includes (but is
not necessarily limited to) plagiarism (intentional copying another’s work with-
out proper citation), cheating on exams or quizzes, unauthorized group work,
fabrication or falsication of data, multiple submission of papers or reports,
damaging or stealing academic materials, and complicity in academic dishon-
esty (one student knowingly letting another student copy from their exam).
28
As a TA, if you observe academic dishonesty by a student in a class under
your supervision you are required to follow up on it. The rst thing to do
is to collect and preserve the evidence. The next step is to confer with the
course instructor/coordinator, explain what happened and what evidence you
have. The course instructor/coordinator will help you determine if academic
dishonesty has occurred and will help you work through resolving it following
the procedures laid out in the Academic Honor Policy. It is important to know
that the TAs role in resolving a potential case of academic dishonesty is not
done when he/she has reported the incident to the course instructor/coordinator.
Since you as the TA were the primary witness of the incident you will be needed
throughout the process of resolving the issues.
Departmental Policies on Interpersonal Relationships between TAs
and Students and the University Policy on Sexual Harassment.
It is the policy of the Department that there should be no close interpersonal
relationship between a TA and a student in the section(s) of the course they are
teaching. You not only must not date your students, but you should not have as
a student a relative or in-law or someone with whom you formerly had a close
interpersonal relationship. If you nd you are assigned to a class in which there
is a student with whom you have a relationship, you should inform the course
instructor/coordinator and discuss what changes could be made to resolve the
problem. The purpose of this policy is to make sure that all students in a class
have, and feel they have, fair and equal treatment by their TA.
The University has a very explicit policy regarding sexual harassment and how
sexual harassment should be handled. In part the University denes sexual ha-
rassment as: “unwelcome sexual advances, requests for sexual favors, and other
verbal or physical conduct of a sexual nature directed at an employee or student
by another …” It is the responsibility of each TA to read and be familiar with
the University’s sexual harassment policy (see the Oce of Human Resources
website ). One particularly important aspect of this policy that pertains to TAs
is its reporting requirement. Under the University’s policy any supervisor who
has witnessed or becomes aware of an alleged occurrence of sexual harassment
by, or who receives a complaint of sexual harassment involving a person within
their purview is required to report the matter to the University’s Oce of Audit
Services. As a TA, all the students in the sections you are teaching are under
your “purview”, you are their supervisor in this context. If you think sexual
harassment is occurring in your class, or if sexual harassment is reported to you
by one of your students, you should immediately discuss the matter with the
students involved and with the course instructor/coordinator; if it appears that
sexual harassment has occurred then the course instructor/coordinator will be
obliged to report it to the University Auditor.
APPENDIX VII: Neuroscience Doctoral Program
The interdisciplinary Program in Neuroscience includes faculty in several depart-
29
ments, primarily Biological Science and Psychology. Graduate students in the
Department of Biological Science who are working with members of the Program
in Neuroscience may elect to work toward the PhD in Neuroscience rather than
the PhD in Biological Science. This program has additional requirements, oers
opportunities for specialized training and a degree reecting the specialization.
Biological Science based Neuroscience PhD students remain graduate students
in the Department of Biological Science and must meet all departmental require-
ments. In return, they remain eligible for all departmental benets including
TA appointments and travel funds. Courses required for all Neuroscience PhD
students are PCB 5845: Cell and Molecular Neuroscience, PSB 5341: Systems
and Behavioral Neuroscience, PSB 5057: Molecules to Behavior, and PSB 5077:
Responsible Conduct of Research. The supervisory committee must include a
minimum of 3 members of the graduate faculty who have doctoral directive sta-
tus, one of whom is a representative-at-large of the graduate faculty drawn from
outside the student’s department and degree program. Neuroscience students
should include a Neuroscience Program member from a department other than
their home department and a non-Neuroscience Program member from their
home department.
Prospective Neuroscience graduate students may enter the Neuroscience PhD
degree track directly. Because there is no MS in Neuroscience, students wishing
to achieve a Thesis MS degree before proceeding to the PhD may be admitted as
a regular Biological Science student but are recognized within the Neuroscience
Program and the Department as Neuroscience students.
A description of the Program in Neuroscience is found at the http://www.neur
o.fsu.edu. The Program maintains several general-use facilities with associated
professional sta in the department, including: BRF Computer Facility (Jason
Orman); Photo lab (Charles Badland); Histology facility (XiXi Jia).
DETAILED TABLE OF CONTENTS
TABLE OF CONTENTS
PREFACE
PHILOSOPHY
ADMISSION POLICIES
Admissions Criteria
Admission into the PhD and MS Thesis Programs
Continuation for the PhD Degree after completing the M.S Thesis.
Neuroscience Doctoral Program
REQUIREMENTS FOR THE DEGREE
Summary
A. Course-type Master’s Requirements
30
B. Master’s Requirements
C. Doctoral Requirements
I. Time Limits for Degrees
II. Supervisory Committee
A. Committee Composition
B. Co-Major Professor
C. Retired Faculty
D. Courtesy Faculty
III. Required Courses
A. Colloquium (BSC 6921)
B. Seminars
C. Core Courses
D. Responsible Conduct of Research
IV. Teaching Requirement
A. Course-type MS
B. Thesis MS
C. PhD
D. BSC 1005L
E. Teaching Workshop
V. Program of Studies (MS and PhD Students)
VI. Prospectus for the Thesis MS Degree
VII. Proposal for the PhD Degree
VIII. Graduate Examinations
A. Comprehensive Written Examination for Course-type MS
B. The Thesis Defense (BSC 8976)
C. The Preliminary Examination (BSC 8964) for Doctoral Students
D. The Dissertation Defense (BSC 8985) for doctoral students
IX. Timetable
Course-type MS Timetable
Thesis MS Timetable
Phd Timetable
ANNUAL REVIEWS and SCHOLARLY ENGAGEMENT
Course-type MS students
Thesis MS and PhD students
Review Outcomes
FINANCIAL SUPPORT (Thesis MS and PhD Students Only)
Teaching Assistantships
Research Assistantships
Fellowships
Tuition Waiver Policies For Research-Based Programs
31
A. Matriculation Waivers
B. Out-of-State Tuition Waivers
Taxes on Stipends
REGISTRATION
Exceptions
Completion of Requirements
O-Campus Research
Medical/Family Leave
MISCELLANEOUS
Research Product
Satisfying Requirements
Thesis/Dissertation Format
Academic Probation
Departmental/University Facilities
Marine Lab
APPENDIX I: Residency
APPENDIX II: Funding for Student Travel
Policies
Procedures
APPENDIX III: Dual Compensation
APPENDIX IV: English Competency
APPENDIX V: Graduate Appeals Policy
APPENDIX VI: Teaching Assistants (TA) Manual
Admission, Support, and Category Changes
Selection of Graduate Assistants
TA Course Assignment(s)
Teaching Workshop
Duties and Responsibilities
Attendance Policy for Teaching Assistants Form:
Emergency Situations
Violations of the University’s Academic Honor Code (Cheating)
Departmental Policies on Interpersonal Relationships between TAs and Stu-
dents and the University Policy on Sexual Harassment
APPENDIX VII: Neuroscience Doctoral Program
32