FAQ

CURRICULUM

What if I have not chosen an MS advisor? Is there a course that I can take for the research credit?

Students who have not chosen their advisor may register for Research in Biomedical Sciences under Dr. Eric Swindell. Once you join a lab, your registration can be switched to your advisor.

STUDENT ENROLLMENT REQUIREMENTS 

What is the difference in full-time versus part-time enrollment?

Full-time registration is:

• Fall and Spring Semesters = 9 hours +
• Summer Semester = 6 hours +  

Part-time registration is:

• Fall and Spring Semesters = <6 hours
• Summer Semesters = <5 hours

Please note: if you are funded by Faculty, Financial Aid, or are an International Student you MUST be registered as a full-time student. However, if you are a domestic, self-funded student you may register as a part-time student.

CANDIDACY PETITION

What is the difference between good academic standing and academic probation?

Good academic standing is maintained when the student’s overall Grade Point Average (G.P.A.) is 3.0 or better and the student has been meeting his/her MS milestones in a timely fashion.

Academic probation - any of the following actions or conditions can cause the student to be placed on academic probation by the Dean:

• Failure of any course
• Cumulative G.P.A. falls below 3.0
• Failure to meet with his or her Advisory Committee within a six-month period
• Failure to meet the particular requirements for the MS degree in the time periods specified by the School
• Failure to make satisfactory progress toward the degree 

Consequences —

• Any student on probation is ineligible to apply for GSBS scholarships, fellowships, or travel awards and will not be allowed to stand for the MS final oral thesis examination.
• More severe actions, up to and including dismissal may be considered by the Academic Standards Committee for a student's failure to make satisfactory progress toward the degree.

ADVISORY COMMITTEE

Are there any additional requirements regarding Advisory Committee meetings?

• To remain in good academic standing, students are required to meet with their Advisory Committee soon after it is approved (within 1-2 months) and at least once every six months after.
• Students are expected to provide their committee with a pre-meeting progress update at least 5 days before their meeting
• After the meeting, the student and the Advisor complete the committee meeting report
• Both the student's progress update and the committee meeting report are to be submitted to gsbs.reports@uth.tmc.edu in Academic Affairs AS WELL AS members of the student’s Advisory Committee within 10 days of the meeting.

DEFENSE

Are there additional details I should know about the MS Defense?

• If a member of the Advisory Committee is unable to attend the defense, a substitute who meets the same criteria (e.g., outside the student's major interest or from another department) must be added.  The individual must be a GSBS faculty member.  The student should send an email to Dr. Swindell and copy the Advisor as well as the substitute member to request approval of the substitution.  The substitute member will sign the Results of the Defense form, but will not sign the student's thesis.  The committee member who was unable to attend the defense shouldn't sign the defense results form, but will still be required to approve and sign off on the thesis.
• Any member of the GSBS Faculty who attends the public presentation may participate in the examination to the extent described below. Others wishing to attend must be approved by the Advisory Committee.
• Within one week after the defense, Academic Affairs will communicate the results to the Dean and the ASC for their information and approval.
• Also within one week of the defense, any GSBS faculty member who has read the student's thesis and has attended the defense may write directly to the Dean to provide an evaluation of the student's performance.
• In reaching a final decision on whether to award the MS or require further work and/or another defense, the Dean will take into consideration the recommendation of the Advisory Committee and other comments received from GSBS Faculty. In particular cases, the Dean may solicit additional evaluations of the thesis from experts in the field either within or outside the GSBS Faculty.
• The decision of the Dean will be communicated to the student and the Advisory Committee within one month of the defense.

MS GRADUATION

What if I am not able to complete all of the necessary paperwork following my MS defense before the semester deadline?

• If all of the MS Thesis and Defense paperwork is not submitted by the semester deadline, the student must enroll for an additional semester of coursework and graduation will be delayed until all requirements are fulfilled.

APPLICATION TO THE GSBS PHD PROGRAM

MS Students can not transfer to the PhD program, but are welcome to apply for acceptance to the PhD program. All applicants (including GSBS MS students) will be evaluated using the same criteria. MS students must complete all of the requirements for their degree prior to beginning their PhD work. In the event that the student is unable to complete the elements of their MS degree prior to the first semester of the PhD program, the student must defer until completion of their MS degree requirements.