MGI Graduate Handbook

MGI MANUAL FOR GRADUATE STUDY TABLE OF CONTENTS
1. Introduction
2. General Information
3. Academic Information
4. Organization, Awards, and Career Planning
5. Financial Support and Employment
6. Master's Program
7. Doctoral Program
8. Ph.D. Program Concurrent with Professional Medical Programs
9. Non-Degree Students
10. Judicial Structure
11. Amending and Revising this Manual
12. Appendices

 

1. INTRODUCTION

The Manual for Graduate Study of the Department of Microbiology, Genetics, & Immunology (MGI) contains directives, regulations and policies that pertain primarily to the administration of graduate education. The Manual is a reference document for graduate education in the department, but it is not a substitute for the Graduate Catalog of the University (https://reg.msu.edu/academicprograms/).

The objective of the manual is to provide working guidelines that allow for reasonable changes and interpretation. The objective of the MGI graduate program is to provide an opportunity for qualified students to enhance their potential as scientists to the maximum of their ability. The major emphasis of the PhD is research training, which can be applied to a variety of careers, including researcher, teacher, patent attorney, science writer, or science policy analyst. The Ph.D. degree is a research-oriented degree; the emphasis is on experimental an creative work, and the aim is to enable the student to become a self-educating independent scholar. The MGI graduate program also includes the training of B.S./M.S. and M.S. students.

Students enrolled in the MGI graduate program can take advantage of several additional educational opportunities. For example, Ph.D. students may earn a dual major in Environmental Science and Policy (https://espp.msu.edu), in Environmental and Integrative Toxicological Sciences (https://iit.msu.edu/training/index.html), in Ecology, Evolution and
Behavior (https://eeb.msu.edu), or in Molecular Plant Sciences (https://mps.natsci.msu.edu). Dual majors with other programs are available on a case-by-case basis and established by agreement of the guidance committee and Graduate Directors of both programs (following requirements set out here: https://reg.msu.edu/AcademicPrograms/Print.aspx?Section=407). Dual degrees with any of three professional medical programs are possible (see section 8). Finally, students with a particular interest in College-level teaching can earn a Certificate in College Teaching (https://grad.msu.edu/cctp).

 

2. GENERAL INFORMATION
2.1 Administration
The department is administered jointly by the Colleges of Natural Science (NatSci), Veterinary Medicine, Human Medicine, and Osteopathic Medicine. Part of the research effort is also administered by AgBioResearch.

The chief administrative officer of the department is the Chairperson, who is responsible for the educational, research and service programs, the budget, physical facilities, and personnel. The Director of Graduate Studies (DGS) and the MGI Graduate Committee are responsible for graduate student affairs.

2.2 Advisement

Incoming students will be advised by the MGI Graduate Committee and the Director of the BioMolecular Science program. This arrangement is meant to provide the students with early, pertinent advice without obligating them to choose a major professor(s) prematurely. BioMolecular Science graduate students are also assigned a separate advisor who will meet with them at least once per year for general guidance, providing advice and hearing any  concerns they may have. Entering Ph.D. students should discuss potential research areas with several faculty members (and also current graduate students) and rotate through the laboratories of three professors before choosing a major advisor.

By the middle of their second semester, the student should decide on a major professor(s) for continuing guidance. Further detail on rotations and major professor selection is provided in Sections 7.2 and 7.3. M.S. students are expected to choose a major professor as soon as possible after or prior to entering their graduate degree program.

The responsibility for the guidance of a graduate student resides with the major professor(s) in collaboration with the student's research guidance committee. Selection and formation of the research guidance committee is accomplished by the student in cooperation with their major professor(s). Further details on guidance committee selection and duties are provided in Sections 3.8, 6.4 and 7.4. The student's research guidance committee provides a critical adjunct to the major professor (and DGS) in providing depth, breadth, and balance to advising, examining, and serving as an advocate to a student throughout their career.

3. ACADEMIC INFORMATION
3.1 Degree Programs

Graduate study leading to the Master of Science degree (Plan A or B, see section 6) and Doctor of Philosophy degree (section 7) is offered in the department. Graduate study concurrent with professional education is available for students in human medicine, osteopathic medicine, and veterinary medicine curricula.

3.2 Academic Catalogues and Schedule of Courses

The MSU Academic Programs Catalogue contains the official description of all degree programs in MGI (www.reg.msu.edu/AcademicPrograms/). Course schedule information can also be obtained through this location.

3.3 Program of Courses

Development of a program of course study other than specific required courses is the responsibility of the student in consultation with their major professor(s) and research guidance committee. The final program requires the completion of the program in GradPlan (https://grad.msu.edu/gradplan) with approval of the student, the major professor(s), the research guidance committee, the Chairperson, and the Dean of the college in which the student is enrolled. The program specifies the student's minimum course requirements for obtaining the degree. Logical and necessary changes in the program are permitted but require changes that are approved in GradPlan.

3.4 Course Credit Load

By University policy, graduate assistants must be registered each semester in which they hold an assistantship as indicated below. Most MGI graduate students are supported by half-time assistantships.

1. Doctoral students with quarter-time assistantships or half-time assistantships initially must carry at least 3 credits (typically in the first two years students enroll for ~6-9 credits in the Fall and Spring Semesters). One exception to the minimum is the case of Doctoral students who are doing off-campus fieldwork related to their dissertation; they need only enroll for one credit. Also, those who have passed comprehensive exams may enroll for 1 credit starting the semester after the student’s completed exam form is submitted to the appropriate college Associate Dean.

2. Master’s students with quarter-time assistantships or half-time assistantships must carry at least 6 credits.
   
   
3. During the summer session, the enrolled graduate assistants must carry a minimum of 3 credits.* Students must be enrolled in the summer if they have a fellowship with this requirement, if taking a comprehensive examination, or if defending a dissertation or thesis (1 credit required); others may be supported by student payroll and not enrolled during the summer.

4. Visitor credits may count as part of a student’s credit load if approved in writing by the student’s department chair, college, and the Dean of the Graduate School (see https://reg.msu.edu/AcademicPrograms/Print.aspx?Section=509).

5. Deviations from the minimum enrollment requirements listed above, except as noted for doctoral students, are permitted only during the semester in which the degree is granted, when students must enroll for at least the number of credits required to complete the degree or meet the University minimum registration requirement of one credit.
   
   *Doctoral students may enroll for 1 credit as described in (1) above.

3.5 Graduate Grading System

The usual University grading system for graduate courses is either the numerical system (4.0 - 0.0), or credit-no credit (Cr-NC). A grade of Cr shall be awarded for performance at a level of 3.0 or above, a grade of NC shall be given for performance below 3.0. The Pass-No grade (P-N) system is used for MGI 892 (Seminar) and 899/999 (the final grade for research is deferred until completion of the degree). DF is for a deferred grade and must be completed within 6 months or it changes to U, unfinished. The I-Incomplete may be given only when: the student (a) has completed at least 6/7 of the term of instruction, but is unable to complete the class work and/or take the final examination because of illness or other compelling reason; (b) has done satisfactory work in the course; and (c) in the instructor's judgment can complete the required work without repeating the course. The required work must be completed, and a grade must be reported to the Office of the Registrar, no later than the middle of the student's next semester in attendance. The required work must be completed, and a grade must be reported to the Office of the Registrar, no later than the middle of the student's next semester in attendance. Failure to complete the required work by the due date will result in a grade of 0.0, NC or N, depending on the grading system under which the student was enrolled.

3.6 Appointments and Reappointment to Assistantships and Fellowships

Graduate assistantship appointments at the Ph.D. level are normally made for the academic year beginning in Fall semester. The university recognizes three levels of assistantship appointment (https://reg.msu.edu/AcademicPrograms/Print.aspx?Section=357). Incoming Ph.D. students are typically appointed as level 1 assistants. Advancement to level 2 usually requires satisfactory completion of one year of study towards the Ph.D. within the department. Advancement to level 3 requires a master’s degree or equivalent plus 9 additional semesters of satisfactory experience as a research assistant or 6 semesters as a teaching assistant. Within the ranges established for the University, the stipend at each level will depend on the qualifications of the individual, and on the availability of funds.

All appointments are contingent upon satisfactory progress in the degree program and on availability of funds. Graduate support comes from a mixture of departmental funds, faculty grant funding, teaching assistantships and fellowships. Typically, support is provided by the BioMolecular Science (BMS) program for the first 1.5 semesters, after which students are supported via faculty grants or other sources. Directly admitted students are supported by other sources at the initiation of their studies. Assistantship appointments include a tuition waiver, matriculation fee waiver and healthcare insurance program. Stipend levels vary annually; consult with the department Graduate Office for the latest levels. See also Section 5.1.

3.7 Registration

Graduate students arrange a tentative course schedule with the major professor(s), DGS, or Director of the BMS program and enroll via computer preregistration as scheduled by the University. Registration for any given semester entitles graduate students to receive available University services from the first day of registration of that semester to the first day of registration for the following semester. Students must be registered the semester in which the comprehensive examination is attempted and passed, and when the dissertation or thesis defense is completed and passed (see University Regulations).

3.8 Annual Committee Meetings and Reports

Annual Committee Meetings: At least once a year, each student is required to initiate a meeting with their research guidance committee (a typical Ph.D. graduate student timeline is summarized in Appendix 1). See Section 6.4 (M.S.) or 7.4 (Ph.D.) for further details on guidance committee selection. At least one week prior to the meeting, the student will provide the committee with an agenda, a written summary of their research progress, and an updated Individual Development Plan (IDP, see below for details). The student will also provide an updated CV, new publications, and manuscripts in preparation. The summary of research progress may be included as part of the IDP. At the meeting, the student will report on progress in research and coursework since the last committee meeting, along with their plans for the future. Before the conclusion of the meeting, the department representative will request that the major professor(s) leave the meeting, to allow for a confidential discussion with the graduate student and remaining guidance committee. If necessary, the department representative can prepare a separate report that is shared with the DGS. The research guidance committee report must be completed by the departmental representative, signed by all members of the research guidance committee and student, and filed with the DGS to serve as an audit and a record in the student's file. NOTE: Failure to hold an annual committee meeting may result in a student being ineligible for departmental, college of university awards.

Individual Development Plans (IDPs): IDPs provide an opportunity for students and mentors to reflect and converse on their shared goals for graduate training and professional development. Each year, ~1 month prior to their annual guidance committee, the student is required to provide their mentor with a completed IDP. The format of the IDP is not specified, but it is recommended to use the format employed by the BMS program for first year students.

Satisfactory Progress: The grade point average will serve as another index of satisfactory progress. The student should maintain at least a 3.0 average exclusive of seminar, research, and collateral course credits. (Collateral courses in the department are defined as those courses in the undergraduate program below the 400 series, and those courses specifically designated by the research guidance committee as not directly applicable to the graduate degree). If the student is failing to make satisfactory progress in their thesis research or if the 3.0 grade average is not maintained, the research guidance committee will consider remedial actions up to and including the removal of the student from the program. Recommendations of the guidance committee go to the MGI Graduate Committee and Chairperson for review.

3.9 Evaluation of Progress of First-year Students

It is in the interest of the student and of the department to evaluate progress at the end of the first year of graduate school. Since in most cases a research guidance committee will not have been formed, the MGI Graduate Committee, in consultation with the BMS director, will review the academic and research progress of each student at the end of their first academic year.

3.10 Retention

The BioMolecular Science program accepts only those students who are believed to have the potential to successfully complete the degree program. Where a student encounters difficulties in meeting the requirements of the program, their major professor(s) (if one has been chosen), the DGS, and the research guidance committee (or the Graduate Committee) work together with the student to overcome these problems. As noted in Sections 3.8 and 3.9, the Graduate Committee or research guidance committee may conclude that it is in the best interest of the student (and/or the department) for the student to be dismissed from the program. Such a recommendation requires the approval of the Chairperson and the appropriate Dean. In cases of dismissal or instances in which a student voluntarily leaves the program, the DGS and/or major professor(s) will work with the student to identify and take advantage of alternative career opportunities.

3.11 Department Seminar and Work in Progress Seminars (WiPS)

Departmental Seminar: One hour per week is reserved in Fall and Spring semesters for departmental seminars. All graduate students are expected to attend regularly and Ph.D. students must enroll in four credits of a course related to these seminars. Graduate students have the opportunity to invite several speakers for departmental seminars (see 4.1).

WiPS: One hour per week is reserved in the Fall and Spring semesters for WiPS. WiPS provide an opportunity for graduate students and postdocs to present their research progress and practice their presentation skills. The format for WiPS is generally a 20-25 minute presentation followed by questions. All graduate students are required to attend WiPS every week and present a WiPS seminar once per year, beginning in their second year. During semesters when a student is conducting their comprehensive exam or dissertation defense, the student is not required to present at WiPS.

3.12 Ethical Standards

Graduate students in the department are expected to adhere to the ethical standards set forth in University regulations (www.grad.msu.edu/researchintegrity/) and those conventionally used in the conduct of scientific research. The department endorses and adheres to MSU's Rights and Responsibilities of Graduate Students and Regulations as defined in Spartan Life (https://spartanexperiences.msu.edu/about/handbook/graduate-student-rights- responsibilities/index.html).

The monograph published by the Committee on Science, Engineering, and Public Policy (On Being a Scientist: A Guide to Responsible Conduct in Research, National Academy Press 3rd edition, 2009 (www.nap.edu/catalog.php?record_id=12192); a book entitled “Integrity in Scientific Research: Creating an Environment that Promotes Responsible Conduct: (National Academies Press, 2002; https://nap.nationalacademies.org/catalog/10430/integrity-in-scientific-research-creating-an-environment-that-promotesresponsible); and Harvard Medical School's "Guidelines for Investigators in Scientific Research" (see Appendix 2) offer excellent discourses on crucial matters affecting scientific integrity and conflict resolution and are practices/guidelines generally accepted by our faculty.

Responsible Conduct of Research (RCR) Mandatory Training. Each student is required to receive training in the Responsible Conduct of Research during their years in the program. RCR training topics will include conflict of interest and commitment; data acquisition, management, sharing and ownership; research misconduct; publication practices and responsible authorship; mentor/trainee responsibilities; peer review; human subjects; and animal welfare. Initial training will take place by completing 4 CITI online modules. Students should be logging into the ABILITY information management system to complete their on-line RCR training (http://ora.msu.edu/train/). This system must be used for proper documentation of training. For individuals involved in human or animal subjects research, the MSU training modules for those subjects must be completed before submitting IRB or IACUC approvals. Additional RCR training will utilize both online modules (3 additional CITI modules required), as well as assigned readings (www.grad.msu.edu/researchintegrity/resources/) followed by discussion with the mentors. Face-to-face sessions with the research mentor(s) or during group meetings also will address RCR topics. A minimum of 6 hours of discussion-based training prior to receiving your degree is required. Additionally, for Year 3 and beyond, 3 hours of annual  refresher training is required, which can be conducted online or face-to-face. This should be reported in Grad Info as “annual” training. Finally, for interested students, courses on research integrity are available (section 7.6). 

Other Mandatory Training: All Graduate students must complete the online training about the Relationship Violence and Sexual Misconduct Policy (https://orrs.msu.edu/train/programs/rvsm.html). If you need assistance, contact the Help desk at 517-884-4600 or ORRS.train@msu.edu. In the rare situation in which a student violates the ethical standards described above, in an advisory role the student’s research guidance  committee will judge the validity of the putative violation and, if necessary, recommend to the Chairperson the appropriate action to be taken. If the student in question does not have a research guidance committee, the Graduate Committee will act in its place. Should disciplinary action be needed, a hearing board will be assembled following procedures defined in the MGI policy on Graduate Student Academic Grievance Hearing Procedures. As indicated in Section 11 of this Manual (Judicial Structure), the student may appeal the Chairperson's decision to the Graduate Committee or other appropriate judicial body in the College/University.

4. ORGANIZATIONS, AWARDS, AND CAREER PLANNING
4.1. Microbiology & Molecular Genetics Graduate Student Organization

Embracing all registered graduate students of the department, this organization (also called Graduate Student Workshop or GSW) serves as an assembly for open discussion, distribution of department, college and University regulations and policies, and social functions. It is a resource for nominees to the graduate student committee structures of the University at large, and it organizes workshops, parties, and picnics. This organization also invites and hosts speakers for the departmental seminars subject to approval by the MGI seminar committee. All students are expected to participate in the Graduate Student Organization-selected presentations.

4.2 Departmental, College, and University Committees

The bylaws of the department, the colleges under which the department is administered (Human Medicine, Natural Science, Osteopathic Medicine, and Veterinary Medicine), and the University specify the committees on which graduate students are eligible to serve. In MGI, this typically includes the Graduate, Curriculum, and Seminar Committees, and generally two graduate student representatives attend open portions of department faculty meetings.

4.3 Honors and Awards

A variety of annual graduate student Fellowships, Scholarships, and Awards are granted competitively by a selection committee comprised of the Graduate Committee. Students are nominated by their mentors and can include MGI students as well as non-MGI students working in labs of MGI faculty. Further information is available under "Graduate Studies" at the departmental web site (mgi.msu.edu).

4.4 Membership in Professional Societies

Graduate students are encouraged to seek membership in professional societies, for example, the American Society for Microbiology (ASM). A Michigan Branch functions in the state.

4.5 Professional Development and Career Planning

Students are encouraged to participate in professional development programs offered by The Graduate School (https://grad.msu.edu/professional-development). Three to four semesters before a graduate student anticipates completion of the degree, they should begin to plan for future employment. The major professor(s), other MSU faculty, the Career Connections Job Search of the ASM (www.asm.org), the MSU Career Services Network (https://careernetwork.msu.edu) and the NatSci website may all provide help. For students contemplating academic careers, postdoctoral research experience has become almost essential. The departmental seminar series (Section 3.11) can be an additional mechanism to help students meet leading scientists and explore postdoctoral opportunities, as can student travel to meetings (Section 5.2). The department regularly participates with similar graduate programs on campus in sponsoring a graduate student "Career Day" with invited speakers from business, academia, research centers and other areas of potential scientific employment.

5. FINANCIAL SUPPORT AND EMPLOYMENT
5.1 Financial Assistance

The BioMolecular Science program attempts to provide or identify graduate research assistantships for all incoming Ph.D. students for the first 1.5 semesters of study. Thereafter, graduate assistantships are generally from research grants or other sources available to the student's major professor(s). If and when graduate support from the major professor(s) is temporarily unavailable, the department makes every effort to identify alternative support mechanisms, so that the student's progress towards the degree is not adversely affected. All students are encouraged to apply for available fellowships or other financial aid, internal or external to MSU. Support for students in M.S. programs is provided on an as available basis, with a lower priority for departmentally administered support than for students in the Ph.D. program.

Assistantship appointments include a tuition and matriculation fee waiver and healthcare insurance program. Stipend levels are reevaluated annually; consult with the department Graduate Office for the latest levels. When a stipend is provided, it is usually done so through a half-time assistantship. Appointments may be for the academic year of two semesters or for the three-semester calendar year (Ph.D. candidates). Initial appointment and changes become effective only at the beginning of a semester.

Financial assistance in all cases is subject to the availability of departmental and grant funds. Support by grant or contract funds subjects the student to the terms and requirements of that grant or contract. The status of the student within their graduate program and the requirements imposed by that program are independent of a student's mode of financial assistance or lack thereof. However, a student must remain in good standing and continue to demonstrate acceptable progress towards the degree to be eligible for support.

Individuals who are regularly employed as a means of earning a livelihood are not encouraged to undertake a regular graduate program concurrently. Employed persons admitted to a graduate program normally plan a leave of absence to devote full-time to research.

5.2 Travel Assistance

Financial support for travel of graduate students will be considered in categories of internal and external support. External MGI support is from grants and contracts and will be at the discretion of the principal investigator. Internal support may be available from the department, college, graduate school, and (for international travel) the International Studies and Programs. Information on travel funding is available at: https://grad.msu.edu/travel.

Travel to national meetings will be appropriate mainly for doctoral students in their last year or two of work. Other students scheduled to present research papers at national meetings will also be considered for funding. The department will provide a flat rate for graduate students subject to availability of funds. Graduate students are also encouraged to present papers at branch and local meetings, without financial subsidy. Reimbursement for travel expenses can take time and represent a financial burden for some students. Graduate students are eligible for cash advances for travel to mitigate this financial burden. Information on cash advances can be found here: https://ctlr.msu.edu/combp/mbp61ebs.aspx.

5.3 Vacation

Graduate assistants appointed for 12 months are expected to be on campus and actively pursuing graduate education for at least 11 months. Breaks between semesters, if taken, are considered part of the annual vacation. The major professor should be informed of the vacation schedule.

5.4 Leave of Absence Policies

A graduate assistant unable to fulfill the duties of their appointment because of illness or injury shall notify the major professor (and course instructor, if a teaching assistant) and Chairperson or DGS as soon as circumstances permit.

Similarly, a graduate assistant unable to fulfill the duties of their appointment due to pregnancy are encouraged to notify the Chair or DGS at the time of their choosing.

During the illness, injury, or pregnancy the department will adjust (reduce, waive, or reschedule) the graduate assistant's duties as those duties and the assistant's physical circumstances reasonably dictate. If total absence from duties is necessary, the department will maintain the stipend of the appointment, provided the graduate assistant is still enrolled, for a period of two months, or to the end of the appointment period, whichever is sooner.

The graduate assistant shall have the right to return to the assistantship, within the original semesters of the appointment, at such time as they are able to reassume the duties of the position.

A few common considerations for leave are discussed below:

Informal Leave: A graduate student can be on leave for 2 consecutive semesters (Fall, Spring, and/or Summer) without filing a formal leave. In this case, the graduate student simply does not enroll for 2 semesters. This approach is appropriate if the student is confident of their timeline for return to their studies.

Formal Medical Leave: Medical withdrawal requires the completion of formal paperwork and can be retroactive. Detailed information on the MSU medical leave policy can be found here: https://www.deanofstudents.msu.edu/medicalleave and is detailed in the Medical Leave and Return Process Policy (found here: https://www.deanofstudents.msu.edu/sites/default/files/content/Medical%20Leave%20and%20Return%20Process%20Summary_01.2021.docx). The student can be away for 2 semesters without having to re-apply but may be required to show "readiness to return" via medical documentation indicating that they are able to return to regular academic studies.

For longer leaves, when the student feels that they are ready to return, they present medical support for this to the medical leave panel, who then evaluate the student’s ability to return. This formal leave approach is appropriate if the time for return is unknown.

Parental Leave Policies

Details of the policy for parental leave are found here: https://reg.msu.edu/AcademicPrograms/Print.aspx?Section=341

• Pregnancy leave: The pregnancy and maternity leave policy is as described in the MGI graduate handbook, section 5.4. After a student notifies their advisor or the Director of Graduate Studies of their pregnancy, “the major unit shall adjust (reduce, waive, or reschedule) the graduate assistant's duties as those duties and the assistant's physical circumstances reasonably dictate. If total absence from duties becomes necessary, the major unit shall maintain the stipend of the appointment, provided the graduate assistant is still enrolled, for a period of two months, or to the end of the appointment period or of the semester, whichever should occur first.”

• Adoption: “A graduate assistant who adopts a child shall be entitled to adoption leave of up to two (2) months, the first week of which will be paid by the major unit and the balance of which will be unpaid, to commence on or before the date of adoption as determined by the graduate assistant.”

• Parent by birth but not covered by pregnancy leave: “A graduate assistant who becomes a parent by birth and is not otherwise covered by the pregnancy leave policy, shall be entitled to parental leave of up to two (2) months, the first week of which will be paid by the major unit and the balance of which will be unpaid to commence on or before the date of birth as determined by the graduate assistant. Additional unpaid leave may be arranged on an ad hoc basis, as mutually agreed with the major unit.”

• Eligibility for adoption leave or parental leave: Eligibility is “determined under the following conditions: (1) It must be completed within six (6) weeks of the birth or adoption of a child under the age of six (6); (2) It may not extend beyond the graduate assistant’s previously scheduled appointment end date; and (3) It must be requested in writing no less than four (4) weeks prior to the scheduled start of the leave.”

Health Insurance During a Leave

Health insurance considerations during a leave of absence are very important and specific to a student’s particular situation. Therefore, specific advice on how health insurance is managed during a leave is not provided here. However, there are multiple options for continuing health insurance during a leave. Specific questions relating to graduate student health insurance should be directed to the MSU HR department.

5.5 Student wellness

Supporting graduate student mental health and wellness is a top priority of the MGI Department. Challenges relating to mental health, illness, and other personal and family matters, can have a profound impact on student training. MGI is committed to providing the resources and support students’ need to address these challenges and find the most appropriate resources needed to successfully complete graduate training. Resources and information are provided in Appendix C to help navigate issues related to mental health and wellness at MSU.

6. MASTER'S PROGRAM
6.1 Overview and Admission

The B.S./M.S. program described below is a Plan B Master's program that requires oral and written research reports, but no thesis. Except for the BS/MS program and PhD students that elect to receive an MS rather than completing their programs, the department rarely accepts applicants for the M.S. program, except under unusual circumstances. In such cases, students complete a Plan A M.S. that involves preparation and defense of a thesis. Admission  procedures and criteria are generally similar to those for the Ph.D. program (Section 7.1), including the requirement of a minimum gradepoint average of 3.0. Consult the DGS (micgrad@msu.edu) for detailed information.

6.2 B.S./M.S. Combined Degree Program

This program is available to MSU undergraduates in MGI or other departments who wish to extend their studies by (at least) one year and earn both the B.S. and M.S. degrees. Although it is a non-thesis (plan B) program, a multi-year research experience is required, along with a written and oral report on that research. A total of 150 credits are required for the combined degree. Students are encouraged to begin the B.S./M.S. program in their junior year. The combined degree is not possible for students who have already completed their B.S. degree. The academic performance of students prior to and after entering the B.S./M.S. program should be consistent with the criteria for admission to the regular Masters programs (Sec. 6.1). Interested students should consult the undergraduate advisor, the department's Director of Undergraduate Studies and/or the department web page at mgi.msu.edu.

6.3 Planning a Master's Program and the Appointment of a Research Guidance Committee

Upon enrolling in an M.S. program, the student should select an area of research and a major professor(s), working with the DGS as needed. As soon as feasible after choosing a major professor(s), the student and major professor(s) select a research guidance committee. This committee shall consist of the major professor(s), and two additional members, one of whom may be from outside the department. No more than 40% of the members of the research guidance committee may be from outside the department.

The student may have a co-major professor at MSU, either within or outside the department, if the Chairperson or MGI Graduate Committee approves this in advance. However, at least one MGI faculty member must be identified to accept major responsibility for the student. At the time of the formation of a research guidance committee, the Master's study plan will be drawn up, acted upon, and signed by the major professor(s) and research guidance committee. Then it will be submitted to the DGS and the Dean of the appropriate college for their approval.

6.4 Program of Study

The M.S. degree requirements consist of coursework, research, and a thesis (Plan A) or research report (Plan B). Students must earn a minimum of 30 credits, with more than half of these at the 800 or 900 level and the remainder at the 400 level or greater, unless specifically approved by the relevant Dean.

6.4.1 Research Credits

These are earned by providing reasonable evidence to a research guidance committee of the ability to critically examine scientific literature and organize it as the background information for stated problems, to formulate hypotheses and design experiments to test them, to organize and tabulate data, to interpret and set down inferences on the basis of these data and to suggest either practical or theoretical relevance for these data. Evidence to satisfy these criteria shall be a written thesis (Plan A) or a research report (Plan B) and an oral defense thereof. A minimum of five (Plan A) or seven (Plan B) and a maximum of fifteen credits are required in research (MGI 899 or MGI 890, respectively). The BS/MS combined degree requires a minimum of eight research credits combined of MGI 499 (1 credit minimum applied to the BS) and MGI 890 (7 credit minimum applied to the MS) over a period of 4 or more semesters.

6.4.2 Thesis (Plan A only)

For information on the preparation of thesis and abstract, a Formatting Guide and additional assistance are available from the MSU Graduate School (look under "Resources" at (grad.msu.edu/thesisdissertation/). Thesis requirements for the Plan A M.S. are generally similar to those for the Ph.D. described in Section 7.13 below.

6.4.3 Research Report (Plan B)

The B.S./M.S. program requires preparation of a research report in a form generally suitable for submission to a reviewed journal, for example one of those published by the American Society for Microbiology.

6.4.4 Coursework

Generally, 15-25 credits of coursework are required in addition to the MGI 890 (Plan B) or 899 (Plan A) credits (see 6.5.1). These will be as specified by the research guidance committee in the Master's program described in Section 6.4.

More than half of the total 30 credits required for the Plan A M.S. must be at the 800 or 900 level (not including MGI 899) with the remainder at the 400 (or greater) level, unless specifically approved by the relevant Dean. The combined B.S./M.S. program requires a total of 150 credits, both graduate and undergraduate. The specifications above apply only to the 30 credits beyond those required for the B.S. In general, 50% or more of the coursework for all M.S. students will be in courses offered by the department. Training in Responsible Conduct of Research is required for all M.S. students (see 3.12).

6.4.5 Examination

A final oral examination is required over coursework and thesis (Plan A) or report (Plan B). The examination committee will consist of the research guidance committee and one member of the Graduate Committee. The examination will be chaired by the student's major professor(s). Each member must be provided a copy of the thesis (Plan A) or report (Plan B) at least two weeks prior to the examination.

A notice of the examination will be posted and electronically distributed to the MGI community two weeks prior to the examination. Faculty and students are invited to attend. The candidate will be examined over both the primary area of study and any related areas deemed appropriate by the committee, including defense of thesis (Plan A) or report (Plan B). The examining committee will deliberate in private. Passing the examination requires the unanimous support of the research guidance committee.

A numerical grade shall be assigned for MGI 890 or MGI 899 by the major professor.

6.5 Teaching requirements

Although there are no specific teaching requirements for the M.S. degree, students can explore teaching assignments with their mentors. For example, teaching can serve as a source of support if grant funds are not available.

6.6 Academic Standards

Satisfactory progress is deemed to be a 3.0 or higher average grade, in the 800-900 level credits, excluding thesis and collateral courses (see Section 3.8). Any grade below 3.0 in courses other than collateral may subject the student to review by the MGI Graduate Committee (See Section 3.10 and/or the Academic Programs document described in Section 3.2). Grades of less than 3.0 are not included in the 30 credits needed for degree certification and may require the student to repeat the course or otherwise remediate the deficiency. Repeats of courses with grades of 2.0 or 3.0 require approval by the Dean’s office.

6.7 Transfer Credits

As many as 9 semester credits are allowed to be transferred from other accredited institutions. The transfer of these credits is subject to the approval of the departmental Chairperson and dean.

6.8 Off-Campus Work and Residence

Credit for courses taken at MSU off-campus centers/affiliates is equivalent to the credit for on-campus courses. However, for the M.S. degree, at least 6 credits must be earned in residence. A student who plans to take off-campus courses should discuss the possibilities of acceptance of such work toward the degree with their major professor(s) and the DGS. Such approval should be obtained before enrolling in an off-campus course, just as is done for an on-campus course.

6.9 Time Limit

The time limit will be 6 calendar years, starting with the semester in which the student is first enrolled. If the 6th year elapses, the student will be dismissed from the program unless an exception is approved by the Chairperson, Dean of the college, and Dean of the Graduate School. The Master's program normally should be completed within 2-3 years. The combined B.S./M.S. program is designed to be completed in a total of five years, although a longer time period may sometimes be required.

7. DOCTORAL PROGRAM
7.1 Admission

7.1.1 General Admission Requirements

Admission to the MGI Ph.D. program occurs through the BMS program and is based on a detailed review of undergraduate (and, where applicable, previous graduate) performance, letters of recommendation, previous research experience, and a letter of intent and research interests. Applicants should have a minimum grade-point average of 3.0, grades of 3.0 or above in science and mathematics courses, and proficiency in written and spoken English. In general, applicants should have had the equivalent of at least one academic year each of physics, inorganic chemistry, and organic chemistry; one biochemistry course; beginning mathematics through integral calculus, and one or more biology courses. Students admitted to the BMS program subsequently are able to select MGI as their home department. For more details on application information, consult the BMS website (https://biomolecular.natsci.msu.edu), and/or contact the BMS Graduate Office. (cns.bmsgrad@msu.edu)

7.1.2 Language Requirements

Applicants without full native fluency in English must fulfill proficiency requirements as part of admission on either a regular or provisional status. For example, scores in the TOEFL’s Internet-based test (iBT) should have no subscore below 19 for reading, listening, and speaking; no writing subscore below 22; with a minimum average score of 80. More information is available from The Graduate School (https://grad.msu.edu/english-language-competency).  International graduate students are also required to participate in the International Graduate Assistant orientation program sponsored by the University. In order for a student to be a Teaching Assistant (as a member of the Graduate Employees Union) they must have a SPEAK score of at least 50 or a waiver approval.

7.1.3 Readmission

Any person previously admitted to and in good standing with the Ph.D. program but who has not been in attendance at MSU for three or more semesters, including summer, should secure an application for readmission form from the Office of Admissions. This application should be filed with the Registrar three weeks prior to the first day of registration of the semester in which they expect to resume their studies. Readmission is subject to approval of the DGS.

7.2 Graduate Student Rotations

As mentioned in Section 2.2, most Ph.D. students complete three research rotations (~ 8 weeks each) during their first academic year. This activity aids entering graduate students in identifying a major professor, gives students intensive familiarity with cutting-edge research, and integrates them into the broader microbiology and molecular genetics scientific community on campus. The experience also substitutes for formal laboratory-based classwork. The BioMolecular Science program may accept 2 rotations as fulfilling the rotation requirement.

Choice of rotations by students is made in consultation with the Director of the BMS program, and requires the approval of the directors of the laboratories in question. Rotations can be carried out with any MSU faculty member or with individuals at associated organizations who are officially affiliated with the BMS program. MSU faculty members affiliated with any of the six BMS-affiliated PhD programs are automatically affiliated with the BMS program.

Rotation mentors are asked to provide the student with a feasible, small individual research project. Rotation mentors are also required to complete an evaluation form of the student’s progress at the end of the rotation period, discuss it with the student, and send it to the BMS office.

7.3 Selection of a Major Professor(s)

Students may elect a major professor(s) at any time, but should complete at least two and preferably three rotations. The selection need not be from among professors in whose laboratories rotations were carried out. 

Students may select a major professor(s) affiliated with any of the six BMS-affiliated PhD programs. Major professors must be among the regular MSU faculty or approved by MGI, college, and The Graduate School to serve as chairman of a guidance committee. In some cases, a student may wish to select co-major professors. Co-major professors are viewed together as a single entity, hence at least three additional faculty members are required to form a complete guidance committee as described in section 7.4. Likewise, both co-major professors are excused from participation in the closed questioning portion of the comprehensive examination (Section 7.10.3.1).

A student may change their major professor(s) for a variety of reasons. In such a situation, the student should work with the DGS and the Chairperson to assure that the roles and expectations are clear for the student, the current major professor(s), and the future major professor(s).

7.4 Appointment of a Research Guidance Committee

Within two semesters after choosing a major professor(s), the student and major professor(s) must form a research guidance committee. The research guidance committee shall consist of the major professor(s) and three or four faculty members from areas related to the candidate's area of interest. One member of the research guidance committee will be appointed by the DGS in consultation with the Graduate Committee. At least three of the research guidance committee members must be from MGI, and one must be from outside the department (i.e., whose primary academic appointment is not in the department). Research guidance committee membership is subject to approval by the DGS and Chairperson. In cases where a desired guidance committee member does not have an affiliation with MSU, that member would be included in addition to the four MSU-affiliated members, and approval is also required from the Dean of The Graduate School. Changes in the research guidance committee similarly may be requested by the major professor(s) jointly with the student and require approval of the MGI Graduate Committee and the Dean of the appropriate College.

To promote productive student mentor interactions, both the student and major professor are required to review the “MSU Guidelines for Graduate Student Mentoring and Advising”  available at https://grad.msu.edu/sites/default/files/content/mentoring/Grad%20Mentoring%20Guidelines%202022.pdf. As noted in the guidelines “Productive mentoring relationships are the product of community norms and expectations. The following Guidelines are designed to provide the foundation for mentoring experiences that are fruitful and transparent.” Should either the student or major professor(s) believe that the guidelines are not being fulfilled, a meeting with the DGS or research guidance committee is encouraged to address this challenge as soon as possible.

The student and major professor(s) will plan the candidate's program subject to suggestions and approval of the research guidance committee. This plan of study report (see www.grad.msu.edu/forms/docs/guidancecommittee.pdf) will be filed with the Dean of the College concerned (typically 14-18 months after joining the Ph.D. program) and shall be regarded as the statement of program requirements.

It is the student’s responsibility to see that the research guidance committee will meet at least once per year to ascertain whether adequate progress is being made toward the degree (See Section 3.8). A meeting agenda, an outline or short written summary of goals and research progress (no more than five pages, excluding figures and tables), a status report on course requirements, and an updated IDP must be provided to the committee at least one week ahead of time. The progress report included in the IDP could replace a stand-alone progress report, when appropriate. In addition, a CV, new publications by the student, and manuscripts in preparation by the student should be provided to the committee. Annual progress reports must be filed by the Departmental Representative in the departmental Graduate Office.

7.5 Program of Study

In the course of studies for the Ph.D. degree, a student will complete the following requirements (see a typical timeline in Appendix 1):

1. Complete courses in the major and related fields as prescribed by their research guidance committee (see section 7.6 for details).
2. Conduct original research (see 7.9).
3. Pass the doctoral comprehensive examination (see 7.10).
4. Gain experience in teaching by assisting faculty in designated courses (see 7.11).
5. Prepare two or more publishable manuscripts (with at least one as first-author or co-first author) and, desirably, publish or at least submit them for publication (see 7.12).
6. Prepare a dissertation (see 7.13).
7. Present their doctoral research at a public seminar and then pass a final oral examination in defense of the dissertation (see 7.14).

7.6 Course Requirements

Prior to selection of a major professor and formulation of a research guidance committee, the student will engage in coursework recommended in consultation with the Director of the BMS program and the MGI Graduate Committee. Thereafter an individualized program of study is formulated by the student in consultation with the major professor(s) and the research guidance committee. The program of study should be designed to ensure that the student will have a broad knowledge of the general field of Microbiology & Molecular Genetics, comprehensive knowledge of a specialized area in the field, and supportive knowledge of associated subjects. This minimum program (with possible additional courses specified by the research guidance committee) must include:

1. Four courses at the 800 or 900 level, excluding topics and seminar courses, at least two of which are offered by MGI. The four required lecture courses will normally include as a requirement: a graduate level course in molecular biology or genetics, such as BMB 801, MGI 833 or MGI 835, and at least one graduate level course that includes discussion of cellular physiology or cell biology, such as MGI 801, BMB 802, or MGI 825. Electives should be chosen to enhance the depth and breadth of the student’s knowledge of microbiology. In consultation with their mentor(s), members of the research guidance committee, and DGS, students may take other courses as needed depending on their specific area of research specialization.

2. Participation in three seminar courses (MGI 803, MGI 892 (section 3 or greater), MGI 991, or the equivalent). These courses may be substituted by equivalent seminar courses offered by other departments/programs subject to approval by the student's guidance committee and DGS.

3. Enrollment in four credits of MGI 892, section 1, involving attendance at departmental seminars.
   
   
4. As described in section 3.12, students are required to have 8 hours of initial training in this topic, with 3 hours of refresher training on an annual basis.

5. Training in college-level teaching such as ISE 870 “Teaching College Science” or enrollment in MGI 892 section 2 during the semester when teaching at least two credits of undergraduate instruction under the supervision of a faculty mentor.

7. 999 (Doctoral Dissertation Research) Credits: A minimum of 24 credits are required for graduation; students can enroll for a maximum of 36. Requests for overrides to exceed the maximum of 36 credits of 999 must be directed to the Office of the Registrar. Should the total number of credits go above 45, the RO will require approval of the college and Graduate School before considering the request for an override.
8. Students entering the doctoral program with one or more deficiencies in undergraduate coursework may be asked by the DGS or guidance committee to take the appropriate courses as a part of the degree requirement.

Satisfactory completion of the course requirements entails earning a grade of 3.0 or higher, or a P (or Cr) in a P-N (Cr-NC) course. Where a grade below 3.0 is received in a required course, the following options are available:

1. The student may retake the course and receive a 3.0 or higher grade after obtaining appropriate approval from Dean’s office.
2. With the approval of the DGS and Graduate Committee, a different graduate level (non-seminar) course or other option may be taken. The substitute course together with the remediated course will count as just one required course.

3. The accumulation of grades below 3.0 in three courses of 3 or more credits each, or deferred grades in three courses of 3 or more credits each at any given time, or a combination of the above in three courses will be grounds for dismissal of the student from the program.

7.7 Residence and Transfer Credits

The minimum residence requirements when a student enters the Ph.D. program without taking the M.S. degree is three semesters on campus (or at the Kellogg Biological Station), involving at least two consecutive semesters (counting summer as a semester) of six credits of graduate work/semester.

Graduate work may be transferred from other accredited graduate schools if it is appropriate to a student's new program, and provided it was completed within the time limits approved for earning the degree desired at MSU.

7.8 Academic Standards.

Satisfactory progress is deemed to be a 3.0 average. Any grade below 3.0 may subject the student to review by the MGI Graduate Committee. (See Section 3.10 and/or the Academic Programs document described in Section 3.2). If collateral courses (see Section 3.8) are required, they must be taken for credit and a grade less than 2.0 will be considered unsatisfactory fulfillment of the requirement.

7.9 Research Requirements

Research should be an independent, original, experimental study that results in a new and significant contribution to knowledge. The student should demonstrate to the research guidance committee reasonable evidence of the ability to: critically examine scientific literature and organize it as the background information for a stated problem(s), formulate hypotheses and design experiments to test them, organize and tabulate data, interpret and set down inferences on the basis of these data, and suggest either practical or theoretical relevance for these data.

The research requirement (24 credits of MGI 999) is the central feature of the Ph.D. program. Enrollment in MGI 999 is not allowed unless the student has been admitted to the doctoral program. Progress towards, and completion of, the doctoral research requirement is judged by the candidate's research guidance committee based on annual progress reports (see Section 3.8), performance in the comprehensive examination (7.10), submission of a publishable manuscript(s) (7.12) and dissertation (7.13), and the dissertation defense (7.14). All research involving human or animal subjects must be approved by the relevant MSU Committee PRIOR to its initiation. Generally, the major professor will have obtained such approval, but the student will be required to verify that the necessary approval(s) has been obtained before their dissertation or thesis will be accepted (Section 7.13), and it is the responsibility of the student to consult with the major professor(s) and ensure that this requirement has been met.

7.10 Comprehensive Examination

The comprehensive examination for candidacy to the Ph.D. will consist of three parts: 1) a written research proposal, 2) an open seminar and 3) closed questioning by the comprehensive examination committee. The goal of the comprehensive exam is to judge if the candidate is sufficiently well prepared to successfully complete their Ph.D. training. Key areas of assessment include the candidate’s ability to identify an important research problem, knowledge in the chosen area of interest and related areas, and their ability to design experiments for the solution of the problem and to effectively communicate these ideas both orally and in writing (section 7.10.3.2). Notably, the timing of the comprehensive exam and the outcome of the exam is not dependent on the candidate’s dissertation research progress in the  lab. Indeed, the proposal can be on a topic unrelated to the candidate’s dissertation research.

7.10.1 Research Proposal

The subject of the written proposal will normally be the student's doctoral dissertation research, although it can be focused on an unrelated research topic with prior agreement by the guidance committee. The proposal (maximum of 10 pages of single-spaced text, not including references, figures and tables; 11-point Arial font; 1-inch margins) should include Specific Aims (often including Hypotheses), Background and Significance, Preliminary Studies/Progress Report, and Research Plans akin to the format of a NIH or NSF postdoctoral application. All sources of information ordinarily available to research workers may be utilized in the preparation of the proposal, including any of the major professor’s own grant proposal(s) that they may wish to make available to the student. Prior to undertaking the writing, the student should engage in dialogue with the major professor(s) and guidance committee members regarding the feasibility of particular experiments. However, the spirit of the examination is that the written proposal must reflect the student's own ideas and thinking. While it is impossible (and inappropriate) to remove the influence of the major professor from the conception and definition of the student’s project, the student is responsible for writing the background and impetus for the research, the rationale of approach, the hypotheses to be tested, the experimental designs, and the anticipated results and significance of the work. The proposal must also meet accepted standards of original writing and attribution of source material. Students are encouraged to seek scientific and grammatical input on the proposal from coworkers, colleagues, and a member of the faculty, but (once the writing has begun) not from the advisor(s) or guidance committee members.

The written proposal must be submitted to each member of the research guidance committee two weeks before the open seminar and oral defense of the proposal. At this time, the seminar announcement will be posted and distributed.

7.10.2 Open Seminar

The student will present an open seminar formulated around the written proposal. The major professor(s) will be an observer at the seminar and will not assist in developing the talk (it is permissible, however, for the student to modify introductory slides provided by the mentor). The seminar will normally include: a general introduction, rationale for the proposed research, preliminary results, proposed experimentation, and potential conclusions. The seminar should take 40-50 minutes and should include a PowerPoint presentation or equivalent visual aids.

Following the seminar, the student will take questions from the audience, other than members of the comprehensive examination committee.

7.10.3 Closed questioning by the comprehensive examination committee

7.10.3.1 Comprehensive examination committee members

This committee is composed of the student's research guidance committee and a departmental faculty member (appointed by the Graduate Committee) who is broadly conversant in the research area of the faculty mentor. The Graduate Committee representative will chair the closed questioning session and ensure consistency and equity of comprehensive examinations. The major professor(s) will be excused from participation in the examination.

7.10.3.2 Guidelines for closed questioning

The criteria used by the committee to render a decision include an assessment of the candidate’s ability to identify an important research problem, knowledge in the chosen area of interest and related areas, and their ability to design experiments for the solution of the problem and to effectively communicate these ideas both orally and in writing. In addition, questions relating to the proposal and pertinent coursework will be asked. The Graduate Committee member is asked to ensure that the student's breadth of knowledge is challenged in a consistent and equitable fashion for all doctoral students.

7.10.3.3 Outcomes of comprehensive examination

In arriving at a decision, the comprehensive examination committee will evaluate the student’s performance on the written proposal, seminar presentation and closed questioning.

Three outcomes are possible:

1. PASS – requires a unanimous vote of the examination committee. The student is thus admitted to official Ph.D.candidacy.

2. FAIL – requires a unanimous vote of the examination committee. If this decision is reached, no remediation is available and the student will be recommended for dismissal from the doctoral program. The student may continue toward an M.S. degree if the major professor(s) concurs. Upon completion of the M.S., the student may reapply to the Ph.D. program. At this time, the M.S. guidance committee will evaluate the student’s potential for a doctoral degree and decide whether to recommend the student for acceptance into the MGI doctoral program.

3. DELAY - If the examination committee chooses neither of the above options and can identify a deficiency in the student's performance that is believed to be correctable within a reasonably short period of time, it will attempt to detail, both verbally and in a letter to the student, the nature of the problem(s) and the requirements for successful remediation. A time limit, at the discretion of the committee, will be set. If, in the opinion of the committee, the student fails to adequately remediate the deficiency in the specified time frame, they will be recommended for dismissal from the doctoral program. If the student is judged to have remediated it successfully, they will then have passed the exam. Situations that may warrant a “DELAY” include: (i) a serious pitfall in an otherwise satisfactory proposal that can be remedied by revision of an experimental design or method of analysis; (ii) the failure to recognize, deal with or interpret a likely alternative outcome(s) of an experiment and its implication(s); (iii) a poorly written or poorly documented section of the proposal requiring substantial revision; and (iv) the lack of sufficient understanding of a method of data acquisition (e.g., an assay procedure) or analysis (e.g., appropriate statistical method) viewed as a critical component of the research. The “DELAY” should not be used to remedy a serious deficiency in fundamental knowledge that should have been attained by the student through required coursework.

7.10.3.4 Timing of comprehensive examination

Students are required to encouraged to complete the comprehensive examination no later than 26 months after enrolling in the regular doctoral program (Fall Semester of the third year), and are encourage to do so as soon as feasible (during the second year). By 26 months, the student should have completed at least 80% of the required courses with an overall GPA of 3.0 or higher. Failure to complete the exam by this deadline will initiate a review of the student's progress by the doctoral research guidance committee and the MGI Graduate Committee, who will either set a specific deadline for the comprehensive examination or recommend the student for dismissal from the program (See Section 3.10). Students who take the examination in Summer semester can request a waiver of the enrollment requirement.

7.11 Teaching

As previously described, learning oral communication skills is an important component of graduate training in MGI. An essential aspect of scholarly activity is the presentation of scientific material to peers and to students at various levels. Regardless of their eventual career goal, all Ph.D. students can benefit from and are expected to participate in teaching with faculty mentoring. A special Certificate program (https://grad.msu.edu/cctp) is available for those students who desire extra experience, training, and credentials in college-level teaching.

Generally, students will participate in one teaching assignment during their graduate career. Depending on student interest, needs of the department, and available funding, some students may complete additional teaching assignments. Furthermore, foreign graduate students are required to participate in the foreign student teaching orientation program sponsored by the university.

MSU candidates for TA appointments who were required to demonstrate English proficiency as a condition for regular admission to MSU must also demonstrate that they meet a minimum standard of proficiency in spoken English before they can be assigned teaching work that involves oral communication with undergraduate students.

Those international teaching assistants (ITAs) may meet this requirement in one of the following ways:

• Presenting a TOEFL iBT speaking section score of 27 or higher.
• Receiving a score of 50 or higher on the MSU Speaking Test
• Taking AAE 451 or AAE 452 (ITA language support courses) and receiving a score of 50 or higher on the ITA Oral Interaction Test (ITAOI).

Those ITAs who received a waiver of the TOEFL or of other accepted tests of English proficiency for admission, must also meet the requirement of proficiency in spoken English before they are assigned to teaching work that involves oral communication with undergraduate students. To meet this requirement, those ITAs may use any of three options listed above. Individual exceptions from these requirements (on a case-by-case basis in rare circumstances) will be considered by the Graduate School in consultation with the English Language Center upon the request of the department and with the endorsement of the Associate Dean of the College.

The faculty member charged with responsibility for the courses that involve teaching assistants are expected to provide instruction and opportunities for those assistants to enhance their abilities and to provide feedback that can aid in future improvements. The nature of student responsibilities will vary according to the course in question.

7.12 Publishable Manuscripts

A minimum of two accepted publications (with at least one listing the student as first author or co-first author) in peerreviewed journals are expected prior to completion of doctoral research. The student’s Research Guidance Committee will review exceptions to this guideline. Publications by the student can be incorporated directly into the student's dissertation (see below); however, for cases where the student is not the first author the specific contributions of the student should be summarized on the chapter title page.

7.13 Dissertation

In general, the dissertation must conform to the guidelines and requirements of The MSU Graduate School. For information on the preparation of thesis and abstract, a Formatting Guide and additional assistance are available from The Graduate School at https://grad.msu.edu/etd.

Approximately six months prior to the expected completion date, doctoral candidates must consult their research guidance committee to finalize plans. Items to be accomplished at this meeting are: a) evaluation of the current status of research and identification of areas to be completed or strengthened, and b) identification of a realistic timetable for completion. The timetable must include sufficient time between the defense and the student’s planned departure to allow for adequate completion of changes and corrections specified by the research guidance committee.

The dissertation may be written in standard format (see https://grad.msu.edu/etd for specifics), but the department encourages (and The Graduate School will accept) a modified form that embodies the requirement for publishable manuscripts. In this modified form, the publication reprint(s) or manuscript(s) is (are) directly incorporated into the dissertation, together with a suitably integrative introductory chapter to provide a more thorough review of the literature along with supplementary materials that usually consist of addenda with more detailed methods, results and/or discussion than are generally accepted in published journals. In recognition of the cooperative nature of modern research, material that involves more than two authors (i.e., the student and major professor) may be included in the body of the thesis or an Appendix along with a brief explanation of what portion of the work described was done by the student. Samples of dissertations prepared with published manuscripts are available from the department Graduate Office.

All research involving human or animal subjects must be approved by the relevant MSU Committee PRIOR to its initiation. The student will be required to verify that the necessary approval(s) has been obtained before their thesis will be accepted. The student should obtain the required approval information from the major professor(s) that will enable them to verify this to The Graduate School.

The student must submit to the major professor(s) a complete draft of the dissertation, abstract, and manuscript(s). The major professor(s) will review the draft and authorize the distribution of copies of the semi-final draft to the members of the research guidance committee. The committee members must have two weeks to edit and review the semi-final draft before the final oral examination. After the student has presented a seminar and passed an oral examination in its defense, the student must incorporate into the dissertation any recommended changes and corrections before having it produced in final form and permanently bound. Committee members may require further review of the final draft before it is submitted or may choose to leave this responsibility to the major professor(s). The final copy will be electronically submitted to The Graduate School (instructions are available at https://grad.msu.edu/etd). Students are strongly advised to consult The Graduate School for exact details of what is required well in advance.

7.14 Final examination

The candidate must be registered during the semester in which the final examination is taken. An announcement is posted two weeks ahead of the final examination and electronically distributed to all faculty. As part of the examination, the student presents an open seminar. Immediately after the public presentation and open discussion, the oral examination on the thesis will be conducted by the research guidance committee, chaired by the major professor(s). Satisfactory completion of the examination requires a unanimous decision of the examining committee. At this time the student should have the Electronic Thesis and Dissertation (ETD) approval form approved by their committee.

7.15 Time Limit

Students typically complete their Ph.D. in 4-6 years, however delays may occur in certain situations. As specified by the university, all requirements for the Ph.D. degree must be completed within 8 years of a student's first enrollment for doctoral degree credit. Any exceptions must be approved by the Chairperson or Graduate Director, Dean of the relevant College and the Dean of The Graduate School. Extensions, if needed, should be requested before the 8-year limit.

8 PH.D. PROGRAM CONCURRENT WITH PROFESSIONAL MEDICAL PROGRAM
8.1 Introduction

The department permits the development of concurrent Ph.D.-D.V.M., Ph.D.-M.D., or Ph.D.-D.O. programs for the exceptional professional student interested in academic research. The approval of such an arrangement for a given student requires a careful review of the applicant's qualifications, career aspirations, and other relevant factors. To be considered for a concurrent program, the prospective student must have exceptional academic and research capabilities. Unless otherwise agreed to in advance, the existing directives and requirements for the doctoral program will be followed for students in the concurrent programs. Additional directives and requirements for the concurrent degree programs will be the same for students in the College of Human Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, and College of Osteopathic Medicine, unless otherwise agreed.

8.2 Admission

A student already enrolled in the curriculum of the Colleges of Human, Veterinary, or Osteopathic Medicine wishing to initiate a concurrent Ph.D. program may apply for admission to the doctoral program of the department. In this case, admission into the department graduate program is, in effect, admission into a concurrent M.D.-Ph.D., D.V.M.-Ph.D., or D.O.-Ph.D. program. Therefore, the student must address the following three criteria to aid in determining the appropriateness and feasibility of a combined program:

1. An area of research and a major professor(s) should be identified, or a rotation schedule should be proposed.
   
   
2. A course of graduate study will be established which is compatible with the appropriate medical school curriculum.

3. Personal interviews with either the Director of the BioMolecular Science program, Chairperson, or the DGS of the department and the Assistant/Associate Dean for Admissions and Student Affairs of the appropriate college

shall be completed.

A prospective student yet to be admitted either to a graduate program or to a professional program will need to apply independently to and be accepted by both the BioMolecular Science program (see Section 7.1) and the relevant College. Both applications should clearly state the desire for a concurrent dual degree program and the three items above should be addressed during the application process.

In the case of a student already pursuing a Ph.D. in MGI and wishing to initiate a concurrent D.V.M., M.D., or D.O. program, the student shall meet the same criteria described above. It is strongly recommended that the student include endorsements from the major professor(s) and the DGS or Chairperson in the application to the professional school in question. Acceptance into the dual degree program will be determined by the Admissions Committee of the relevant professional school. If the student is accepted by the relevant College and already has a research guidance committee, it will remain intact but must include at least one member representing the appropriate medical college.

8.3 Course and Credit Requirements

Selected graduate school courses can be waived upon approval of the research guidance committee, when the required MGI courses in the student's professional curriculum provide adequate exposure to a subject area. Conversely, waiving of a MGI course in the medical curriculum will be permitted, if allowed by the student's respective college, and if graduate courses provide adequate exposure to the same subject matter.

8.4 Academic Standards

The academic achievement of a student in a combined program will be evaluated by established college and department standards (see Section 7). This evaluation will include those courses from the student's medical curriculum that have been prescribed as part of the Ph.D. program.

Students in a combined degree program are expected to make satisfactory progress towards both degrees simultaneously. When possible, the student should utilize vacation and elective time to take required graduate courses and conduct research. Unless free or elective time becomes available, students may be requested to temporarily stop their professional studies in order to take appropriate graduate courses and facilitate satisfactory simultaneous progress.

8.5 Time Limit

The time limit of the student's respective professional college shall apply to students in a dual program. In the Colleges of Human Medicine, Osteopathic Medicine, and Veterinary Medicine, comprehensive examinations must be taken within 5 years, and all requirements must be  completed within 8 years from the time of the student's first enrollment into the doctoral program.

9. NON-DEGREE STUDENTS

9.1 Admission to Non-Degree Status

The department may permit any qualified person to pursue graduate coursework on a non-degree basis providing advisors and space are available. It is understood that admittance to a non-degree status does not imply that regular status will be forthcoming. (University regulations prohibit the transfer of more than 9 credits from a non-degree status toward a graduate degree.) Financial assistance is not available for non-degree study.

9.2 Admission to a Degree Program

Non-degree students who demonstrate the potential for academic excellence and seek admission to a degree program must apply to the BMS program.

10. JUDICIAL STRUCTURE

The MGI Academic Hearing Panel will serve to hear student complaints at such times as this becomes necessary. This panel will hear student complaints only if the problem cannot be resolved after consulting with the Chairperson, DGS, or the student's major professor(s). If satisfactory resolution of a conflict is not achieved, the student may seek resolution by asking the chairperson to convene a MGI Academic Hearing Board. Please review the Graduate Student Academic Grievance Hearing Procedure policy.

11. AMENDING AND REVISING THIS MANUAL

Any faculty member or graduate student may submit proposals to amend or revise the MGI Manual for Graduate Study. Amendments to be considered must be written and circulated to the faculty and graduate students not less than 14 days prior to the meeting at which they are to be voted upon. Amendments must be passed by a majority of the "voting faculty" as defined in the MGI bylaws.

12. APPENDICESAppendix A: TYPICAL TIMELINE FOR A PH.D. STUDENT IN MGI (and section of manual related to each topic)

Year 1 - Fall Semester
Entry into BioMolecular Science program (7.1)
Advisement by Director of the BioMolecular Science program and DGS (7.2)
Begin classes (7.6) (e.g., BMB 801 and MGI 801 or MGI 833)
Initiate first 8-week laboratory rotation (7.2)
Begin second 8-week laboratory rotation (7.2)

Year 1 - Spring Semester
New classes begin (7.6) (e.g., BMB 802, MGI 825, or MGI 835)
Begin third laboratory rotation (7.2)
Select MGI as home department by the end of term
Select major professor by end of term (7.3) and begin thesis research project (7.9, 7.12)

Year 2 – Fall Semester
Appropriate courses selected with mentor (7.6)
Continue research (7.9, 7.12)
Identify Guidance Committee members (7.4)
First Guidance Committee meeting (3.8)

Year 2 – Spring Semester
Additional courses as needed (7.6)
Continue research (7.9, 7.12)
Comprehensive examination during this semester or summer (7.10)

Year 3- Fall Semester
Additional courses as needed (7.6)
Continue research (7.9)
Write first manuscript, if possible (7.12)
Deadline for comprehensive examination: 26 months after beginning the program (7.10)

Year 4 – Spring Semester and beyond
Additional courses as needed (7.6)
Continue research (7.9)
Work on manuscript(s) (7.12)
Annual Guidance Committee meeting (3.8)

~ Year 5
Complete manuscripts (7.12)
Write Dissertation (7.13)
Final Examination (7.14)

Added notes: Some students obtain permission from the Director of the BioMolecular Science program to complete only two rotations, while others request permission to do a fourth. Participation as a teaching assistant is required, but the timing varies. Additional information is provided on vacations (5.3), illness/injury/pregnancy leave (5.4), readmission (7.1.3), and other topics.

Appendix B: GUIDELINES FOR INVESTIGATORS IN SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH (REPRINTED FROM HARVARD MEDICAL SCHOOL)

I Introduction

These guidelines describe practices generally accepted by members of the Faculty of Medicine and already in effect in their laboratories. The primary intent of codifying them is to bring them to the attention of those beginning their careers in scientific research. These recommendations are not intended as rules, but rather as guidelines from which each group of investigators can formulate its own set of specific procedures to ensure the quality and integrity of its research.

II. Supervision of Research Trainees:

Careful supervision of new investigators by their preceptors is in the best interest of the institution, the preceptor, the trainee, and the scientific community. The complexity of scientific methods, the necessity for caution in interpreting possibly ambiguous data, and the need for advanced statistical analysis, all require an active role for the preceptor in the guidance of new investigators. This is particularly true in the not uncommon circumstance of a trainee who arrives in a research unit without substantial experience in laboratory science.

Recommendations:

The responsibility for supervision of each junior investigator should be specifically assigned to some faculty member in each research unit.

The ratio of trainees to preceptors should be small enough that close interaction is possible for scientific interchange as well as oversight of the research at all stages.

The preceptor should supervise the design of experiments and the processes of acquiring, recording, examining, interpreting, and storing data. (A preceptor who limits his/her role to the editing of manuscripts does not provide adequate supervision.)

Collegial discussions among all preceptors and trainees constituting a research unit should be held regularly both to contribute to the scientific efforts of the members of the group and to provide informal peer review.

The preceptor should provide each new investigator (whether student, postdoctoral fellow, or junior faculty) with applicable governmental and institutional requirements for conduct of studies involving health volunteers or patients, animals, radioactive or other hazardous substances, and recombinant DNA.

III. Data Gathering, Storage, Retention:

A common denominator in most cases of alleged scientific misconduct has been the absence of a complete set of verifiable data. The retention of accurately recorded and retrievable results is of utmost importance for the progress of scientific inquiry. A scientist must have access to his/her original results in order to respond to questions including, but not limited to, those that may arise without any implication of impropriety. Moreover, errors may be mistaken for misconduct when the primary experimental results are unavailable. In addition, when statistical analysis is required in the interpretation of data, it should be used in the design of studies as well as in the evaluation of results.

Recommendations:

Custody of all original primary laboratory data must be retained by the unit in which they are generated. An investigator may make copies of the primary data for his/her own use.

Original experimental results should be recorded, when possible, in bound books with number pages. An index should be maintained to facilitate access to data.

Machine printouts should be affixed to or referenced from the laboratory notebook.

Primary data should remain in the laboratory at all times and should be preserved as long as there is any reasonable need to refer to them. The chief of each research unit must decide whether to preserve such primary data for a given number of years or for the life of the unit. In no instance, however, should primary data be destroyed while investigators, colleagues, or readers of published results may raise questions answerable only by reference to such data.

IV. Authorship:

A gradual diffusion of responsibility for multi-authored or collaborative studies has led in recent years to the publication of papers for which no single author was prepared to take full responsibility. Two critical safeguards in the publication of accurate, scientific reports are the active participation of each co-author in verifying that part of a manuscript that falls with his/her specialty area and the designation of one author who is responsible for the validity of the entire manuscript.

Recommendations:

Criteria for authorship of a manuscript should be determined and announced by each department or research unit. The Committee considers the only reasonable criterion to be that the co-author has made a significant intellectual or practical contribution. The concept of "honorary authorship" is deplorable.

The first author should assure the head of each research unit or department chairperson that s/he has reviewed all the primary data on which the report is based and provide a brief description of the role of each co-author. (In multiinstitutional collaborations, the senior investigator in each institution should prepare such statements.) Appended to the final draft of the manuscript should be a signed statement from each co-author indicating that s/he has reviewed and approved the manuscript to the extent possible, given individual expertise.

V. Publication Practices:

The Committee has observed certain practices that make it difficult for reviewer and reader to follow a complete experimental sequence: the rapid publication of data without adequate tests of reproducibility or assessment of significance, the publication of fragments of a study, and the submission of multiple similar abstracts or manuscripts differing only slightly in content. In such circumstances, if any of the work is questioned, it is difficult to determine whether the research was done inaccurately, the methods were described imperfectly, the statistical analyses were flawed, or inappropriate conclusions were drawn. Investigators should review each proposed manuscript with these principles in mind.

Recommendations:

The number of publications to be reviewed at times of faculty appointment or promotion should be limited in order to encourage and reward bibliographies containing fewer but more substantive publications rather than those including many insubstantial or fragmented reports. (It has been suggested, for example, that no more than 5 papers be reviewed for appointment as Assistant Professor(s), no more than 7 for Associate Professor(s), and no more than 10 for Professor(s).) Simultaneous submission of multiple similar abstracts or manuscripts to journals is improper.

VI. Laboratory Guidelines:

Because each research unit addresses different scientific problems with different methods, each unit should develop its own specific guidelines to identify practices that seem most likely to enhance the quality of research conducted by its members. Those guidelines should be provided to the new investigator upon starting work.

 

Appendix C: Mental Health Resources

Mental health resources on campus

MSU provides counseling and psychiatric services through CAPS (https://caps.msu.edu/index.html). CAPS is a confidential service and provides support for a wide range of concerns including “depression, anxiety, stress management, homesickness, adjustment or acculturation, relationships, issues around race, gender and sexual orientation (LBGTQ), substance abuse, traumatic experiences, eating or body image concerns, and other personal mental health concerns.”

Notably CAPS “combines the clinical services of counseling and psychiatry in one setting” and is committed to “creating a welcoming, safe, inclusive, equitable, and affirming environment for each student.”

How to seek assistance from CAPS?

• More information on CAPS can be found here: https://caps.msu.edu/index.html
• If you are in crisis and imminent danger, call 911 or go to the nearest emergency room.
• If you are in crisis and need to speak to a crisis counsellor, call 517-355-8270 and press “1” at the prompt.

Crisis counseling is available at all times. More information on dealing with crisis situations is provided at: https://caps.msu.edu/emergency/index.html.

• Initiating a CAPS appointment can be done through a request form linked here: CAPS Phone Request or found on the CAPS website: https://caps.msu.edu/general_info/index.html.

• CAPS currently has a mandarin speaking counselor for those seeking support in mandarin. Other specific support for international students can be arranged through CAPS.

Academic accommodations for disability, medical or mental health issues

Disability, medical or mental health issues may interfere with your training activities. The MSU Resource Center for People with Disabilities (RCPD) provides advice and support for accommodations that will help you succeed in your graduate training. More information on the RCDP can be found here: https://www.rcpd.msu.edu.

Graduate student life and wellness

Graduate training is an incredibly rewarding experience, but it can also be mentally and physically challenging. Maintaining student wellness and a well-balanced life is essential for ensuring graduate training is a positive experience. MSU has many resources available to promote graduate student life and wellness (https://grad.msu.edu/wellness). A few examples of available resources are highlighted below.

• Dimensions in Wellness: The Dimensions in Wellness program provides resources to promote physical, social, intellection, and spiritual wellness, as well as promoting community engagement and emotional and mental health. Resources provided through Dimensions in wellness can be found here: https://grad.msu.edu/dimensionwellness.

• Student organizations: Student organizations provide an opportunity for social and community interactions. More information on student organizations can be found here: https://studentlife.msu.edu/rso-s/index.html.
  
  Selected organizations are highlighted below:
• • Alliances for Graduate Education and the Professoriate (AGEP): https://grad.msu.edu/agep
  • Graduate Recruitment Initiative Team (GRIT): https://biomolecular.natsci.msu.edu/applicants/graduate-recruitment-initiative-team-grit/
• Health4U: The Health4U program provides classes, coaching and groups to help graduate students develop and maintain a healthy lifestyle. More information on the Health4U program can be found here: https://health4u.msu.edu.

• Academic Women’s Forum: The academic Women’s Forum provides “an opportunity to connect with other academic women, support one another, and become empowered at MSU.” More information can be found here: https://aan.msu.edu/academic-womens-forum/

• Resources for Parents: “The MSU Student Parent Resource Center offers a supportive environment to obtain information and resources for ALL students who are parents and their families on and off campus.” More information can be found here: https://studentparents.msu.edu

• LGBTQIA+ Resources: The LGBT resource center provides “intersectional educational and social programming and collaborate[s] with student leaders and campus partners to build community and increase a sense of belonging.” More information can be found here: https://lbgtrc.msu.edu.