OREGON STATE UNIVERSITY
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If you need help, additional information, assistance, or guidance, reach out to your academic advisor, WRGP's administrative program assistant, or to the department head, Steve Good.
Everything you need to know about preparing for your thesis/dissertation defense can be found here.
All Graduate School forms that you will need can be found here.
WRGP students will work with a variety of fascinating Oregon State University faculty, in addition to their major advisor. Several of these people will form the basis of your academic committee.
In addition, several students will work with committee members who are not a faculty member of the University.
At the stage you are starting to form your committee, please let the WRGP Director and Administrative Program Assistant know that you are working with anyone outside Oregon State.
There are certain policies to follow and documentation that needs to be submitted in order for them to officially become a part of your committee.
Students may be able to transfer selected graduate credits from a previously attended institution if all university guidelines on transfer credits are met (see Policies Governing All Graduate Programs, Transfer Credit in the OSU General Catalog) and if the student's graduate program decides the courses are applicable to the proposed OSU degree. Students may submit the Request for Transfer Credit form if they wish to determine whether the courses might be eligible for transfer credit and available for use on an OSU graduate program of study.
https://gradschool.oregonstate.edu/formlink/14621
If you want/need to submit the Transfer of Credits form through Docusign, reach out to Catherine or Sam (please include the name of your advisor)!
This task needs to be completed before a transfer student submits their Program of Study.
A Program of Study form is a mandatory requirement of the Graduate School for every student.
One of the best aspects of our program, it's unique and individualized academic pathway, also makes it difficult to fill out.
Below are sample guides to help you better plan for drafting your own:
Graduate Council Representative (GCR). An essential member of your committee will be the GCR. This faculty member is needed to ensure that all policies and rules are upheld between preparing to defend and graduation. Treat this person as a full member of your committee and necessary team member to help you prepare for graduation.
You will want to fill out this survey to generate a list of faculty members not associated with WRPM, but interested in helping our students. Then reach out to the people on this list via email individually and ask each if they can serve.
Students and their major advisor's need to communicate goals and progress with each other, then provide this information on to the department for assessment.
Please do this by or before June 30th each year you are here at
By now, the goal is in sight!
It is mandatory to let the WRGP and your advising department know that you will be defending.
Let us know at least two weeks in advance ~~ but a month is recommended.
This will also allow us enough time to schedule a room as well as promote your defense.
The request form can be found here: Defense Information Request for WRGP.
Do to staffing shortage, we do ask that students attempt to find a room on their own first. We will step in and assist if you are unsuccessful or have a particular room in mind.
If you intend on meeting in person: please make sure you choose a room with Zoom capabilities, so that your defense can be seen by anyone who can't attend.
Here are several locations that you can choose from!
Almost everyone uses Zoom during their defense, even the candidates that hold them primarily live/on campus. The below link will provide you with pertinent details on how to set up Zoom for *your* defense.
Congratulations to all successful candidates! What happens next?
One of the faculty members will need to provide the WRGP office with a copy of the Graduate Learning Outcome form for our records.
Make sure all of the documents needed for the Graduate School have been completed. One of the most common documents forgotten is the ETD submission approval form.
Please complete the exit survey;
If you have keys to an office or lab, you will need to clean up your area and return them to the department that advised you; and
We hope that you will join our alumni listserv. We would like to keep in touch and hear about all your future success, both professionally and personally.
Masters students: Students in an MS program should always register for 500 level courses.
Doctoral students: 600 level courses are designated for PhD level; HOWEVER, if there isn’t a 600 level course option for you, then you can sign up for the 500 level.
Within your program (Science, Engineering, or Policy), sign up for the WRGP thesis section that lists your advisor (example: WRE 503 008/11804 Chad Higgins).
The program of study helps you define your path to degree completion. Create your program of study in collaboration with your major professor or advisor(s).
For master’s students, we recommend submitting the program of study form before completing 18 graduate credits and no later than 15 weeks prior to the defense.
Doctoral students are required to submit the program of study form by the fifth term.
All Doctoral students and Master's students who are writing a thesis (as well as all MAIS students) are required to include a Graduate Council Representative on their committee. The Graduate Council Representative (GCR) serves in the role of impartial committee member who advocates for the student and insures that all rules governing committee procedures are followed. They must be present at your final defense of your thesis.
You must select a GCR from the list generated by the online GCR list generation tool.
A lot can happen between start and completion of your degree. However, we are here to support you.
First, let your advisor and your WRGP, or home department’s Program Administrative Coordinator know (share only what you are comfortable with, but enough so they can help you).
Second, fill out any necessary forms to notify the University.
For example if you need to take a leave of absence, fill out the leave of absence request every term you need to be out. Or you have decided to change your major (change of major form).
All forms can be found here: https://gradschool.oregonstate.edu/forms
The Office of International Services can connect you with information on taxes, work, maintaining status, etc.
It is best for you to rent a car or van from Motor Pool. Complete the drivers authorization form, email it to WRGP's APA for their signature.
