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Masters of Science (MS) degree requirements
Whereas the Genetics program generally gives priority to students who seek the PhD degree, there are still good reasons for some students to get an MS degree. It can serve as an alternative for students who for any of a number of reasons do not proceed to the PhD.
A common misconception is that a MS is required before getting a PhD, and all faculty must make an attempt as early as possible to make clear to students that this is not the case. It is particularly unfortunate when a very good prospective student has this misconception, and is given lower priority for admission because of their stated desire to get an MS.
The M.S. in Genetics must be completed within 8 years of starting study. In addition to the course requirements,the MS student must achieve:
- A minimum grade point average of 3.0
- A minimum of 30 graduate credits, of which 20 must be from Penn State, and up to 10 credits of graduate work may be transferred from another institution
- At least 18 credits at the 500-600 level
A thesis is required of all MS students. The University has strict requirements on thesis format, and students are advised to get a current copy of the Thesis Information Bulletin from the Graduate School Thesis Office, 303 Kern Graduate Building, before commencing with writing.
Duties of Advisor and committee
The student and advisor will form a graduate committee after completion of the first year. This committee will be composed of at least three members including the advisor (the Chair of the Committee), an additional representative from the Genetics Faculty and a third representative from a related field of study. The duties of the advisor and graduate committee are to assist the student in developing a plan for completion of course work, review and evaluate the student's thesis proposal, administer the final examination and approve the thesis. These duties are accomplished by a series of meetings.