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The Ph.D. program in Chemistry at Michigan State University is designed to provide sufficient experience in the performance of original research in a supervised setting to produce graduates who can carry out research independently and who can judge worthwhile research in a field. Such students have been a partner in the advancement of knowledge and can be expected to have a deep understanding of that extraordinarily important human activity. As a by-product, the training received is essential for a career in higher education and is required for many research positions in industry or government.

Performance of original research in Chemistry requires substantial background knowledge in Chemistry and in related scientific disciplines such as mathematics, physics, and biology. Therefore, the Ph.D. program in Chemistry at MSU includes course work in addition to that normally expected in the typical 4-year bachelor’s degree course program in Chemistry. The program also includes examination procedures to insure that sufficient background is available to carry out the intended research. In addition to written examinations, these procedures include oral presentations of descriptions of previous work and a proposal for future research.

An essential component of original research is communication of the results of the research to the scientific community and to the world at large. Therefore, the Ph.D. program in Chemistry at MSU includes requirements for the writing of a dissertation that is a detailed description of the research performed and for the presentation of one or more manuscripts suitable for publication in refereed scientific journals.

The Plan A M.S. program in Chemistry is designed to strengthen the knowledge and research competence of students entering after completion of the equivalent of the typical 4-year bachelor’s degree in Chemistry. The program includes written examinations to determine whether the student has the knowledge necessary for enrollment in graduate courses and also has sufficient background to engage successfully in original research. In addition to the written examinations, a final oral examination is designed to test the student’s understanding of the research performed. A written thesis is required to communicate the results of the research to the scientific community.

The Plan B M.S. program in Chemistry is an all-course program that is designed to strengthen the knowledge base of students who have completed the equivalent of the typical 4-year bachelor’s degree in Chemistry. Courses are selected to improve understanding in the areas of weakness and to increase knowledge in the areas of interest of the student.

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Graduate Studies Handbook

You are here, information on master's and doctoral programs, revised august, 2023, table of contents.

• Program Overview
• Master's Degree Requirements
• Course Requirements
• Research and Selection of Advisor
• Qualifying Examination
• Formation of the Guidance Committee and Doctoral Degree Program
• Comprehensive Examination
• Ph.D. Graduation Requirements
• University Procedures: Academic Performance
• Financial Support
• Work Related Policies and Procedures
• Integrity and Safety in Research and Creative Activities
• Student Conduct and Conflict Resolution
• University Resources

Previous Versions

1. program overview.

The Department of Chemical Engineering and Materials Science offers Master of Science and Doctor of Philosophy degree programs in chemical engineering and in materials science and engineering. A wide range of course offerings and research activities allows an individual program to be designed to fit the background, capabilities, and aims of the student. Studies in the department may be supplemented with courses offered by other departments in the College of Engineering and in other colleges.

The graduate programs in chemical engineering and materials science and engineering are designed to develop research expertise needed for the graduate to serve as a principal investigator in industrial or academic research. The coursework is designed to expand the student's knowledge of engineering principles and applications. Each student also conducts an extensive research project that significantly advances fundamental understanding of a chemical engineering or materials science system. Results of the research are documented in a dissertation and research paper(s) for publication in a peer-reviewed journal.

The program descriptions and requirements provided below are intended to be consistent with the Academic Programs content provided by the MSU Registrar. In the case of any discrepancies, the Registrar's content will be given priority.

Chemical Engineering

The chemical engineering program emphasizes a fundamental approach to chemical engineering principles and contemporary applications of chemistry, biosciences, and advanced mathematics. Specialized studies (selected topics) in chemical engineering build upon fundamentals with opportunities for study and research in such areas as nanotechnology, biotechnology, biomedical engineering, bioprocessing, metabolic engineering, process analysis, thermodynamics, chemical reaction engineering, composite materials, polymers, heat transfer, mass transfer, distillation, absorption, extraction, transport phenomena, and diffusion.

Materials Science and Engineering

Special emphasis is placed on the mastery of basic principles and methods. Courses and research opportunities are available in such areas as alternative energy materials, biomaterials, ceramic materials, composite materials, electron microscopy, electronic and photonic materials, impact damage, intermetallic alloys, nanotechnology, polymers and their composites, shape memory alloys, surface modification of ceramics, metals and polymers, structural thin films, and superplasticity of metals.

2. Master's Degree Requirements

Master of science in chemical engineering.

The Plan A (thesis option) master's degree requires a total of 30 credits, including 24 credits of coursework at the 400 level or above, as approved by the faculty advisor. In addition, a minimum of six credits in thesis research must be completed. The Plan A program must include the following:

• CHE 801 Advanced Chemical Engineering Calculations
• CHE 821 Advanced Chemical Engineering Thermodynamics
• CHE 822 Transport Phenomena
• CHE 831 Advanced Chemical Reaction Engineering
• Two (2) credits of CHE 892 Seminar. CHE 892 is limited to three credits per student.
• A minimum of six (6) credits in supporting courses from outside Chemical Engineering. This requirement is waived if the student enters with a degree other than Chemical Engineering.
• A minimum of 20 credits at the 800 level or above.

Courses at the 400 level are acceptable as long as the minimum of 20 credits at the 800 level or above are met. Courses below the 400 level are not acceptable toward a graduate degree.

Students register for thesis research credits under the Departmental course, CHE 899. CHE 899 credits appearing on the Plan A program will change to the grade given at the time of the Master's Oral Examination. Credits taken in excess of those appearing on the Plan A program will remain as DF-Deferred on the transcript.

Students supported by department research assistantships while under a Plan A program are expected to graduate under the Plan A program. Students having a bachelor's degree from a discipline other than chemical engineering must also complete collateral courses as described below.

The Plan B (non-thesis option) master's degree requires a total of 30 credits of coursework at the 400 level or above, as approved by the faculty advisor. The Plan B program must include the following:

• The CHE Core Courses (see Plan A above.)
• A minimum of 18 credits at the 800 level or above.
• Six to nine credits taken in a coordinated technical minor, as approved by the faculty advisor.

Courses at the 400 level are acceptable as long as the minimum of 18 credits at the 800 level or above are met. Courses below the 400 level are not acceptable toward a graduate degree.

Students having a bachelor's degree from a discipline other than chemical engineering must also complete collateral courses as described below.

Master of Science in Materials Science and Engineering

The Plan A (thesis option) master's degree requires a total of 30 credits, including 24 credits of coursework at the 400 level or above, as approved by the faculty advisor. In addition, six credits of thesis research must be completed. The Plan A program must include the following:

• MSE 851 Thermodynamics of Solids;
• MSE 855 Advanced Rate Theory and Diffusion;
• MSE 860 Advanced Theory of Solids;
• MSE 870 Electron Microscopy in Materials Science OR MSE 881 Advanced Spectroscopy and Diffraction Analysis of Materials;
• Two (2) credits of MSE 892 Seminar. MSE 892 is limited to three credits per student.
• One mathematical or statistical course of at least 400-level (for example, MSE 880; CHE 801; or CMSE 801), as approved by the faculty advisor.
• A minimum of 16 credits at the 800 level or above.

Courses at the 400 level are acceptable as long as the minimum of 16 credits at the 800 level or above are met. Courses below the 400 level are not acceptable toward a graduate degree.

Registration for thesis research credits will be under the Departmental course, MSE 899. MSE 899 credits appearing on the Plan A program will change to the grade given at the time of the Master's Oral Examination. Credits taken in excess of those appearing on the Plan A program will remain as DF-Deferred on the transcript.

Students supported by department research assistantships while under a Plan A program are expected to graduate under the Plan A program.

• The MSE Core Courses (see Plan A above.)

General Information for Master's Programs

Enrolling for Courses: All students admitted into the master's program are assigned a temporary faculty advisor who is a member of the Department's Graduate Studies Committee. Plan A Master's students should identify a permanent advisor in their first semester. Plan B Master's students will be assigned an advisor in their first semester. Students must consult with their advisor before enrolling for classes. Once the student and advisor have agreed on the course enrollment, the advisor must approve any additional change(s).

Transfer Credits: The department may accept credits earned at another institution. In such cases, the completed "Credit Evaluation for the Graduate Program" form must be included with the program. As many as nine semester credits of graduate coursework (excluding research and thesis credits) may be transferred into a master's degree program from other accredited institutions provided they are appropriate to a student's program and they were completed within the specified time limits for earning of the degree. Transfer credit will be given only for courses in which a grade of 3.0 or higher was earned. Credits from foreign universities (other than Canada) are not transferable to the program.

Dual Enrollment: A master's student can be enrolled simultaneously in another department's master's or Ph.D. program. A Request for Permission to Complete Two Degrees Concurrently form must be completed and approved by both departments.

Undergraduate-Graduate Dual and Linked Degree Options: Current MSU undergraduate students have three options for pursuing a graduate degree within the MSU College of Engineering:

• Apply for admission to a Linked BS+MS degree program (the BS and MS are completed sequentially.)
• Apply for dual enrollment in a MS or PhD program (the BS and MS or PhD are completed concurrently).
• Apply for regular admission to a MS or PhD program (the BS and MS or PhD are completed sequentially). This is the normal option for most students.

More information on these options is provided by the College of Engineering . Students interested in the Linked BS+MS program should contact the appropriate Graduate Program Director and complete the application form .

Collateral Courses: Students may be required to take additional collateral courses to supplement their academic background. For example, students entering the chemical engineering graduate program with a B.S. in a field other than chemical engineering must take the following collateral courses:

• CHE 804 Foundations of Chemical Engineering I (3 credits)
• CHE 805 Foundations of Chemical Engineering II (3 credits)
• CHE 806 Foundations of Chemical Engineering III (3 credits)

A grade of 3.0 or higher is required in each course. In some cases, students may be granted provisional status in the program until collateral coursework has been satisfactorily completed. Collateral coursework does not count towards fulfillment of degree requirements.

Selection of Research Advisor for Plan A Students: The Research Advisor for Plan A Master's students should be a "Regular", i.e. tenure-stream, MSU faculty and have at least 50% appointment in CHEMS. Advisor assignments not satisfying this requirement must be approved by either the CHEMS Chair or Graduate Studies Committee. Plan A Master's students are encouraged to contact faculty with matching research interests to identify possibly research advisors. MS students do not participate in the formal Ph.D. advisor selection process as outlined below.

Formation of the Guidance Committee for Plan A Students: During the first program semester, Plan A Master's students shall form a Master's guidance committee, with the research advisor serving as chairperson. The committee must consist of three "Regular" MSU faculty, at least two of which must hold at least 50% appointment in CHEMS. Before the end of the first program semester, the student and advisor shall submit the proposed guidance committee for approval. The electronic form for the Doctoral Degree Guidance Committee is located on student.msu.edu in the GradPlan tile. Failure to establish an approved guidance committee by the required date will result in a hold on enrollment, which may affect the student's ability to register for courses.

Formulating a Master's Degree Course Plan: Students' should meet with their faculty advisor to design a course plan that will develop the student's competence in chemical engineering/materials science engineering and related fields. The course plan must include the master's degree course requirements, and it should be submitted for approval upon the completion of six course credits, typically at the end of the first semester. The electronic form for the Master's Degree Course Plan is located on student.msu.edu in the GradPlan tile. Registration beyond the second program semester will not be permitted until this requirement has been met.

Any changes in the program must also be submitted for approval on student.msu.edu . No course may be added or deleted from this program after a grade (including DF) has been received. This includes courses that have been dropped after the middle of the term and in which a grade of N has been received.

Transfer to Ph.D. Program: Students wishing to transfer to the Ph.D. program after completing the master's program must submit a letter of intent to the department chairperson during their last semester in the master's program. The departmental chairperson and the Graduate Studies Committee must approve transfers from the master's program to the doctoral program.

Master's Degree Graduation Requirements

Application for Graduation: The form " Graduation Application " can be obtained from the Registrar either via the web at or in room 150 Administration Building. The form should be submitted in the first week of the semester in which the student plans to graduate. Summer graduates should submit the form by the first week of spring semester.

Thesis Formatting: The Graduate School offers an online Thesis/Dissertation Formatting Guide . A formatted preliminary copy of the Thesis/Dissertation can be taken to the Graduate School (118 Linton Hall) any time during the semester to ensure that proper formatting requirements are met.

Final Master's Oral Examination: The Master's guidance committee will administer a Master's Oral Examination. The exam will consist of a presentation of the thesis research, followed by an oral examination. The exam must be scheduled for a date not earlier than two weeks after the thesis has been submitted to the committee members. A majority vote of the committee constitutes a pass. The student will be given a maximum of two opportunities to pass. The second opportunity, if needed, must take place the following semester. Students must be registered during the semester in which the exam is taken.

Prior to the examination, the student is responsible for preparing the Record of Thesis Defense form . Upon completion of the examination, this form must be signed by the student's committee members and the CHEMS Department Chairperson.

Submission of thesis to The Graduate School: MSU only accepts theses and dissertations submitted electronically, as described by the web page " Thesis and Dissertation Electronic Submissions ". After the final Oral Examination, revisions recommended by the faculty advisor must be made by the student to produce a final unbound thesis manuscript. If the document is satisfactory, the faculty advisor will approve it by signing the Approval Form , obtained from the Graduate School. These materials are then submitted electronically to the Graduate School, whereupon the candidate is required to complete an Exit Survey . Questions about master’s exit surveys may be sent to [email protected] .

The target date for the FINAL APPROVAL of an electronic Thesis or Dissertation to the Graduate School for graduating the semester of that submission is FIVE working days prior to the first day of classes for the next semester. Submission via ProQuest does not mean that the document has been ACCEPTED. The review process is interactive and final approval can take anywhere from a few hours to weeks, depending upon the extent of the necessary revisions and how diligent the author is when making the necessary revisions. Graduation on the semester of the electronic submission is only guaranteed if the document is APPROVED on or before the target date for that semester.

One hardbound copy of the thesis may be delivered to the research advisor upon request. Granting agencies etc. may require additional copies. Students are responsible for all dissertation preparation and expenses. Departmental equipment or materials may not be used for this purpose.

Commencement: Commencement information can be obtained from commencement.msu.edu .

Student Departure: Departing students are required to fill out the Termination-Separation Checklist . The checklist is provided to highlight the range of issues that may need to be addressed when terminating MSU employment or otherwise separating from a department. The research advisor and graduate secretary must sign the checklist.

3. Ph.D. Degree Requirements

The Ph.D. degree has the following requirements: (1) coursework, (2) research and selection of advisor, (3) qualifying examination (4) formation of the guidance committee and doctoral degree program, (5) comprehensive examination, (6) meeting the Ph.D. graduation requirements including completion of a dissertation and final oral examination. Each of these requirements is described in more detail in subsequent sections of this handbook.

(3.1) Course Requirements

The candidate must fulfill the requirements listed in the MSU regulations and procedures. To ensure that the candidate has a comprehensive knowledge of a major field, the guidance committee will prescribe a customized course Course Plan that must include:

• Coursework taken after the bachelor's degree equivalent to core courses required for the Plan A (thesis option) master's degree in the program, plus several (typically about four) additional relevant courses. Course requirements for the master's degrees are listed above under Master's Degree Requirements .
• CHE 802 Research Methods (1 credit)
• Five (5) credits of CHE/MSE 992/892 Seminar. CHE/MSE 992 is limited to five credits per student.
• A minimum of 24 credits and no more than 36 credits of doctoral dissertation research (CHE/MSE 999). The research credits will be assigned a grade of Pass or Fail on the transcript, based on the outcome of the dissertation defense.

For a typical student entering the Ph.D. program with a BS degree in discipline, 34-36 credits of coursework is expected. A typical student with an MS degree in discipline may need 12 course credits plus some core courses.

A grade of 3.0 or greater in collateral courses is required. In some cases, students may be granted provisional status in the graduate program until collateral coursework has been satisfactorily completed.

Course enrollment: Courses taken during a student's degree program will be determined by the student, their advisor, and their Ph.D. committee; with approval of the CHEMS Department Chair and College of Engineering Associate Dean for Research and Graduate Studies. As highlighted below, item #4 of this section, students should meet with their Ph.D. guidance committee to determine their Course Plan in the semester following the semester in which the Ph.D. qualifying exam is satisfactorily completed. First year students will take designated courses as outlined below.

Chemical Engineering Students : First-year chemical engineering graduate students typically take the following courses.

Fall Semester:

• CHE 801 Advanced Chemical Engineering Calculations, 3 credits
• CHE 821 Advanced Chemical Engineering Thermodynamics, 3 credits
• CHE 802 Research Methods, 1 credit, Ph.D. only
• CHE 892/992 Seminar, 1 credit
• CHE 999 Doctoral Dissertation Research, 1 credit

Spring Semester:

• CHE 822 Advanced Transport Phenomena, 3 credits
• CHE 831 Advanced Chemical Reaction Engineering, 3 credits
• CHE 999 Doctoral Dissertation Research, 2 credits

Materials Science and Engineering Students: First-year Materials Science and Engineering graduate students typically take the following courses.

• MSE 851 Thermodynamics of Solids, 3 credits
• MSE 8XX Graduate Elective: Dislocation Theory or Electron Microscopy or Mat. Surf. Interfaces or Eng. Ceramics, etc, 3 credits
• MSE 802 Research Methods, 1 credit, Ph.D. only
• MSE 892/992 Seminar, 1 credit
• MSE 999 Doctoral Dissertation Research, 1 credit
• MSE 855 Advanced Rate Theory and Diffusion, 3 credits
• MSE 860 Advanced Theory of Solids, 3 credits
• MTH/STT/CMSE Advanced Math/Statistics 400 level or above, 3 credits OR MSE 881: Advanced Spectroscopy and Diffraction Analysis of Materials, 3 credits

Course Changes: Once enrolled, classes may be dropped or added as outlined by the Office of the Registrar . The period allowed for adding and dropping generally runs from the time the first billing is sent out until about the second week of the semester. After that period, the department that offers the course makes schedule changes.

To change a schedule after the drop and add period, students must complete a Drop/Add form (obtained from the departmental secretary) and have it signed by the instructor. The departmental secretary will update enrollment status online.

Paying for Classes: Students will receive a registration bill after enrolling for classes. The bill is sent according to the schedule on the fee payment page of the Quick Guide to Enrollment and Registration booklet. This bill will reflect tuition that is paid (or reduced) through assistantship appointments or fellowships.

(3.2) Research and Selection of Advisor

Carrying out novel, creative research is a key activity in becoming a Ph.D. This research will be carried out in association with a faculty research advisor. Research advisor selection takes place in September and October of the student's first year in the graduate program. Faculty members will present a description of their available research projects to the students. From these presentations, graduate students identify five projects that interest them and arrange a meeting with the faculty members who direct those projects. Students are also encouraged to meet with the graduate students currently working on the projects of interest. About two weeks after the presentations, students submit their five top project choices to the departmental secretary on the Research Project Selection Form . A selection committee then matches students to advisors based on students' preferences and availability of research funding.

Once the advisor has been assigned, both the student and advisor have responsibilities to ensure a productive relationship. The responsibilities of the research advisor, as described in MSU Guidelines for Graduate Student Mentoring & Advising , include:

• Ensuring that graduate students receive information about requirements and policies of the graduate program (e.g., advising graduate students on developing a Course Plan, including appropriate course work, research or creative activity, and on available resources)
• Providing training and oversight in creative activities, research rigor, theoretical and technical aspects of the thesis or dissertation research, and in professional integrity and research ethics
• Providing regular feedback on the progress of graduate students toward degree completion (e.g., providing feedback on research or creative activities, course work, and teaching, and constructive criticism if the progress does not meet expectations, completion of annual written evaluations)
• Helping graduate students develop into successful professionals and colleagues (e.g., encouraging students to participate and disseminate results of research or creative activities in the appropriate scholarly or public forums, writing letters of reference for appropriate fellowship, scholarship, award, and job opportunities)
• Facilitating career development and exploration, including advising graduate students on appropriate job and career options, as well as on the preparation of application materials for appropriate fellowship, scholarship, and other relevant opportunities
• Providing for supervision and advising of graduate students when the faculty advisor is on leave or extended absence
• Assisting the graduate student in navigating disagreements among the guidance committee

Change of Advisor: A doctoral candidate in good standing that desires to change advisors may consult with the Graduate Coordinator of the relevant program and/or the Department Chair. If an agreement is reached that a change of advisors is justified, all efforts will be made to by the department to assist in making this change. However, it is the student's responsibility to arrange for a new advisor. Once a new advisor is identified, any modifications to the Guidance Committee and Doctoral Degree Program must be approved as described below.

(3.3) Qualifying Examination

Students must pass the Ph.D. Qualifying Exam before being admitted to Ph.D. candidacy. The purpose of this exam is to determine if the student is qualified to proceed in the doctoral program and to identify any weaknesses that may exist in the student's background knowledge or skills needed to succeed in independent research. The Qualifying Exam is usually taken near the end of the spring semester during student's first year of enrollment in the Ph.D. program. For those students who enter the PhD program in the spring semester, upon consultation with the student's research advisor, students may request a delay to take the Qualifying Exam near the end of the second spring semester as ChE/MSE 802 is only offered in the fall semester.

Exam Format: A qualifying exam committee (QEC) will be appointed by the Graduate Studies Committee to administer the exam. The QEC will consist of the student's research advisor and two other departmental faculty members, at least one of who is knowledgeable in the student's academic discipline. In the case when student's research advisor has less than 50% appointment from the department, one additional departmental faculty member will be assigned to the QEC. The examination will include a written and an oral component.

The written component should be given to the graduate secretary two weeks prior to the scheduled start date of the qualifying exams. The document must include a critical literature review on a research topic agreed upon by the student and advisor. The length should be no more than 15 pages including figures, tables, and equations, excluding the bibliography. It should be double-spaced, with 12-point font. Formatting of tables, figures, references, etc. should be consistent with the Thesis & Dissertation Formatting Guide .

The document should include the following sections:

• Abstract: The abstract should briefly (less than 300 words) summarize the contents of the paper.
• Introduction and Background: This section should introduce the topic and summarize the state of current knowledge of the topic, as indicated by the relevant technical literature.
• Definition of a Significant Research Problem: This section should clearly define an important research problem (or hypothesis) suggested by the literature review and should identify the underlying fundamental principles that govern the system's behavior.

The oral component of the exam will consist of a 30-minute presentation summarizing the literature review and its implications for research, followed by an oral examination by the QEC. This examination will test the depth of the student's knowledge of the research topic, as well as his/her general understanding of the foundations of the student's discipline. The oral examination will be open to all CHEMS faculty. However, only QEC members will participate in the questioning and the grading.

Requirement for Original Work: Although the topic of the proposal may be related to ongoing research in the advisor's research group, the student should contribute a significant amount of original content and should write the literature review in his/her own words. The student should not receive assistance or feedback from anyone on the written presentation, with the exception of the Abstract. The advisor may provide feedback on the Abstract to ensure that the research topic selected is satisfactory. The document's cover page will include a signed certification statement that the student did not receive assistance writing or editing the document, other than the Abstract.

Students may practice their oral presentations and receive feedback prior to the qualifying exam. However, students are required to prepare their own presentation slides.

Evaluation of Student's Performance: Primary criteria considered in the evaluation are

• Depth of understanding of the research topic and its significance,
• Breadth of understanding of principles across the student's discipline,
• Ability to integrate fundamental principles in the analysis of a complex problem,
• Effectiveness of oral and written communication.

The QEC will use CHEMS Grading Rubrics Worksheets to evaluate both the oral and written presentations. In addition to facilitating consistent and objective evaluations, the rubrics will also help identify areas of relative student strength and weakness. Grades will be assigned based on a benchmark of first-year graduate students who have gone on to complete the program's Ph.D. degree. Such students would be expected to score at least weakly positive, on average, in the areas evaluated. Thus, grades of weakly positive and strongly positive indicate that the student's performance meets or exceeds minimum expectations at the Ph.D. level. Grades of strongly negative and weakly negative indicate that the candidate's performance falls below expectations of a successful Ph.D. student.

The grades for the oral and written presentations will be converted into numerical scores on a scale of 1.0 (strongly negative) to 4.0 (strongly positive). The numerical scores within each category (organization, content, and presentation) will be averaged to give an average score for that category. The following formula will then be used to calculate a composite score for the presentation.

Composite score = 0.6 × (average content score) + 0.2 × (average organization score) + 0.2 × (average presentation score)

For each QEC member, there will be one composite score for the oral presentation and one for the written presentation. These two composites scores will be averaged to give the overall score for the Qualifying Exam. If the overall score is 3.0 or higher, that QEC member will assign a passing grade. For a student to pass the Qualifying Exam, two of the three QEC members must assign a passing grade. In borderline cases, a discussion of the student's performance may be warranted to help clarify whether the student should pass.

Feedback Provided to Students: Individual worksheets will not be released to the student. However, the faculty advisor will provide the student with a written summary of the QEC's evaluations.

Policy on Repeat Exams: Normally only one opportunity will be given to pass the Qualifying Exam. However, a second opportunity may be offered with the approval of the QEC, Graduate Studies Committee, and departmental chair. The repeat exam should be scheduled at the earliest convenient time (e.g., in the summer semester of the first year).

In the event that a student fails the Ph.D. qualifying exam, at the discretion of their Ph.D. qualifying exam committee, the student may take the examination at most a second time. Upon failing the qualifying exam the second time, the student will be removed from the Ph.D. program. The student may continue to work towards an M.S. degree, either thesis or non-thesis.

(3.4) Formation of the Guidance Committee and Doctoral Degree Program

Doctoral Guidance Committee: Within two months (not counting summers) of passing the Qualifying Exam, the student shall form a doctoral guidance committee, with the research advisor serving as chairperson. The committee must consist of:

• at least four regular MSU faculty members (see University definition of Regular Faculty members),
• at least two members must have at least 50% appointment from the major department, and
• at least one member must be from another department.

Students wishing to request an exception to these committee membership rules should contact the graduate secretary for assistance in making the request.

Within two months (not counting summers) of passing the Qualifying Exam, the student and advisor shall submit the proposed guidance committee for approval. The electronic form for the Doctoral Degree Guidance Committee is located on student.msu.edu in the GradPlan tile. Failure to establish an approved guidance committee by the required date will result in a hold on enrollment, which may affect the student's future pay and ability to register for courses. The composition of the guidance committee may be changed with the permission of the research advisor, the CHEMS Department Chairperson and the College of Engineering Associate Dean for Research and Graduate Studies. Although rare, it is possible for a graduate student to change research advisors, upon the approval of the CHEMS Department Chairperson and the College of Engineering Associate Dean for Research and Graduate Studies.

The committee will meet at least once each year to review the student's academic and research progress. This meeting will be recorded on the CHEMS Department Ph.D. Guidance Committee Annual Meeting Form, which is available from the CHEMS graduate secretary. The completed form will be added to the student's permanent file in the CHEMS Department.

The responsibilities of the guidance committee, as described in MSU Guidelines for Graduate Student Mentoring & Advising , include:

• Advising graduate students on course work, research, or creative activities
• Providing regular and timely feedback and guidance concerning progress towards the degree
• Administering exams in a fair and professional manner
• Reviewing and providing feedback on research proposals and the thesis or dissertation in a timely, constructive and critical manner
• Providing guidance to help the student achieve their career goals

Doctoral Course Plan: The guidance committee must meet with the student for the purpose of formulating and approving a course Course Plan designed to develop the student's competence in chemical engineering/materials science engineering and related fields. The electronic form for the Doctoral Degree Course Plan is located on student.msu.edu in the GradPlan tile. This program must be submitted for approval of the guidance committee, the CHEMS Department Chairperson and the College of Engineering Associate Dean for Research and Graduate Studies by the end of the fall semester of the second year. Registration beyond the spring semester of the second year will not be permitted until this requirement has been met. Any changes in the program must likewise be submitted for approval to the guidance committee, the CHEMS Department Chairperson and the College of Engineering Associate Dean for Research and Graduate Studies. No course may be added or deleted from this program after a grade (including DF) has been received. This includes courses that have been dropped after the middle of the term and in which a grade of N has been received.

(3.5) Comprehensive Examination

The Doctoral Comprehensive Examination must be taken by the end of the 5th semester of enrollment in the Ph.D. program (excluding summer semesters). At the end of the fifth semester in the Ph.D. program, if the student has not taken the comprehensive exam, the Graduate Secretary will send a message to both the student and the advisor stating that if the exam is not taken by the end of the second month of the following semester, the Graduate Secretary will put a hold on the student's account. This hold will prevent the student from being paid in the subsequent semester. The examination may be taken no more than two times, no more than once per semester, and must be passed by the end of the 6th semester of enrollment in the Ph.D. program (excluding summer semesters).

The student's Final Oral Examination (Ph.D. Dissertation Defense) must take place a minimum of six months after the Comprehensive Examination has been passed.

The comprehensive examination is in the form of a research proposal defense and contains two parts:

• Written Proposal: The written document is limited to a maximum of 30 double spaced pages with 1 inch margins, with a minimum of 12 point font size. Figures and tables are included in the 30-page limit. However, the bibliography is not included in the 30-page limit.
• Oral Examination: The oral examination must be scheduled at least two weeks after the written proposal has been submitted to the guidance committee. The oral defense will be administered by the student's guidance committee and will cover advanced technical topics related to the student's Ph.D. thesis topic as well as the broader scope of the student's field of study.

The guidance committee will evaluate the proposal for:

• Tentative dissertation title;
• Statement of the problem and its significance;
• Background, including a comprehensive review of the literature;
• Scope of proposed work (completed, in progress, and to be accomplished);
• Expected outcomes and engineering significance.

Prior to the examination, the student is responsible for preparing the Record of Comprehensive Examinations form . Upon completion of the examination, this form must be signed by the student's committee members and the CHEMS Department Chairperson.

Passing the comprehensive examination requires satisfactory performance on both the written proposal and the oral defense of the written proposal, as determined by a unanimous vote of the guidance committee.

Should the degree requirements not be completed within the eight-year limitation, the Comprehensive Exam must be retaken. The student must be registered for the semester which the examination is taken. For students who enroll in the spring and take their comprehensive exams during the immediately following summer semester, the department can request a waiver of the requirement that the student be enrolled for at least one credit the semester of the comprehensive exam. These requests are to be directed to the Graduate School and must be endorsed by the student's department and college.

After passing the Comprehensive Exam, a student may maintain full-time status by enrolling for a minimum of 1 credit each semester.

(3.6) Ph.D. Graduation Requirements

Application for Graduation: The form " Graduation Application " can be obtained from the registrar either via the web at or in room 150 Administration Building. The form should be submitted in the first week of the semester in which the student plans to graduate. Summer graduates should submit the form by the first week of spring semester.

Dissertation Formatting: The Graduate School offers an online Thesis/Dissertation Formatting Guide and a formatting tutorial on its website. A formatted preliminary copy of the Thesis/Dissertation can be taken to the Graduate School (118 Linton Hall) any time during the semester to ensure proper formatting requirements are met.

Submit copy of dissertation to guidance committee: The candidate must submit a dissertation in accordance with the University regulations for graduate programs. Essentially error free, readable copies of the document in temporary bindings must be distributed to all members of the guidance committee at least two weeks before the final Doctoral Oral Examination.

Doctoral Candidate Information Form: To publicize doctoral defenses, the College of Engineering requires doctoral candidates to complete the web form at least two weeks before the actual date of the thesis defense. The form collects information about student's academic background, accomplishments, publications, and the PhD dissertation itself.

Final Doctoral Oral Examination: A final Doctoral Oral Examination in defense of the dissertation must be administered by the guidance committee to satisfy the requirements of the Graduate School. Students must be enrolled the semester they defend. All students defending their dissertations in the summer must register for at least one credit during that summer, regardless of their enrollment status during the preceding spring semester. The Doctoral Oral Examination must be scheduled for a date not earlier than two weeks after the dissertation and abstract have been submitted to the guidance committee members. After scheduling an examination date, the candidate should request a room from the graduate secretary and provide the secretary with the exam date, dissertation title, and abstract.

Prior to the examination, the student is responsible for preparing the Record of Dissertation and Oral Examination form . Upon completion of the examination, this form must be signed by the student's committee members and the CHEMS Department Chairperson.

Submission of dissertation to The Graduate School: MSU only accepts theses and dissertations submitted electronically, as described by the web page " Thesis and Dissertation Electronic Submissions ". After the final Doctoral Oral Examination, revisions and corrections recommended by the faculty advisor must be made by the student to produce a final unbound thesis manuscript. If the document is satisfactory, the faculty advisor will approve it by signing the Approval Form , obtained from the Graduate School. These materials are then submitted electronically to the graduate school, whereupon the candidate is required to complete exit surveys . Questions about doctoral exit surveys may be sent to [email protected] .

Candidates must also show evidence that a manuscript based on their Ph.D. research has been submitted to an appropriate journal for publication. Students are responsible for all dissertation preparation and expenses. Departmental equipment or materials may not be used for this purpose.

University Policy on Dissemination of Graduate Research: In keeping with MSU’s public mission, the University requires that theses, dissertations and abstracts will become public after the conferral of the degree; embargoes can only be pursued for a limited period (see [1] below). Results that are subject to restrictions for dissemination by funding agencies (see [2] below) cannot be part of any document submitted as a thesis or dissertation to the Graduate School.

[1] Hold/embargo on publication of documents submitted to ProQuest: Students submitting a thesis/dissertation to ProQuest can request a hold/embargo of publication by ProQuest by contacting the Graduate School at [email protected] . In response to the request, the Graduate School will send the student a form that needs to be completed and turned to the Graduate School prior to submission of the document to ProQuest. The form needs to be signed by the student’s major professor and by the Associate Dean of the student’s college. The request for the hold/embargo may be for six months, one year or two years. Requests for a period longer than six months must include a written justification for the length of the hold/embargo.

[2] Graduate student participation in a University Research Organization (URO) : Graduate students involved in a URO project will receive both written documentation and a verbal explanation of any limitations or implications to their current or future academic progress prior to participating on the project. Students engaging in work for a URO project undergo a 2-step approval process before hiring: 1. consultation with a representative of the URO’s office to explain the restrictions on the project, and 2. an interview with the Graduate School Dean or Dean’s designee to discuss the relationship, if any, between their work as graduate students and their participation in the project.

Students must be informed that results that are subject to dissemination restrictions cannot be part of any document submitted as a thesis or dissertation. As part of their degree program, all graduate students must have research options to ensure the generation of appropriate results to fulfill the degree requirements, and to have data for professional development activities that are integral to their graduate education (e.g., presentations at conferences and research seminars).

Additional University Ph.D. Degree Guidelines

Seminars: Graduate students are required to attend departmental seminars, even if they are not registered for a seminar course. Seminars are scheduled on Thursdays at 9:10 a.m. A schedule with specific dates will be listed on the departmental web page and distributed via e- mail.

Residency Requirement: In order to establish residency, MSU requires that the Ph.D. student complete 6 credits at MSU in each of two consecutive semesters (total of 12 credits). Both coursework and research credits count toward fulfilling the requirement.

Commencement: Commencement information can be obtained from commencement.msu.edu.

Time Limitation: All work in the master's program including those courses for which credits were transferred must be completed in five (5) years; all work in the Ph.D. program including transfer credits must be completed in eight (8) calendar years of the student's first enrollment in the doctoral program. Exceeding this time limit will result in dismissal from the graduate program. Applications for extension of these time limits may be submitted by a student to the respective graduate program for approval by the Dean of Engineering and the Dean of the Graduate School.

4. University Procedures: Academic Performance

Students should refer to the most recent edition of the Academic Programs Catalog for a complete discussion of academic standards pertaining to the graduate program. The following is a summary of current policy on academic performance.

In order to be considered full-time, students must carry the minimum number of credits per semester as defined below:

• Master's level: 9 credits
• Doctoral level: 6 credits
• Graduate-Professional level: 12 credits

Full time status for doctoral students is defined as a minimum of 1 credit for those students who:

• Have successfully completed all comprehensive examinations and are actively engaged in dissertation research OR
• Are doing department-approved off-campus fieldwork related to preparation of their dissertation.

Annual Progress Report: As described in " Graduate Student Rights and Responsibilities , " Section 2.4.8, graduate students have a right to periodic evaluations to assess their academic progress, performance, and professional potential. To this end, students are required to complete an Annual Report, including a self-evaluation using the Graduate Reporting System . The faculty advisor will then prepare a written evaluation in consultation with the student. January/February is the time frame for these evaluations, and the report must be complete by March 1. Failure to meet the March 1 deadline for completing and verifying the annual report will result in a hold being placed on students' accounts. More information on Annual Reports is available here .

Grade Point Average Calculations: The grade point average (GPA) will be based on all programmed work, except for collateral work or transfer credits. If a grade of less than 2.0 is received, the course may be repeated; if a grade of 2.0 or 2.5 is received, the course may be repeated only with the permission of the College of Engineering Associate Dean of Research and Graduate Studies. For repeated courses, only the second grade will be used in the GPA calculation.

Minimum GPA and Probational Status: Grades of 2.0 or higher are acceptable toward the graduate degree. However, a minimum GPA of 3.0 is required for graduation. A candidate having a GPA below 3.0 will be placed on probational status. In such status, the candidate will not be allowed to carry more than nine credit hours per semester or take any non-competitive, special problems courses as part of the program.

Retention in Program: Should a Master's candidate's cumulative grade-point average fall below 3.0 after 16 or more credits of programmed work (not including collateral courses) have been accumulated, one semester on probational status will be allowed. Failure to remove the deficiency during this semester will result in dismissal of the candidate from the program.

Should a Ph.D. candidate's cumulative grade-point average fall below 3.0 after having completed half of the courses in the approved guidance committee report, OR should the student accumulate more than 3 deferred grades (identified by the DF-Deferred marker), the student may be enrolled in probational status in the doctoral degree program for one additional semester. If at the end of the additional semester the student's cumulative grade- point average is 3.0 or higher AND the student has no more than 3 deferred grades, the student may continue to enroll in the doctoral degree program. Otherwise, the student will be dismissed from the program.

Credit-Non-Credit Registration: All courses are open for Credit/Non-Credit registration. However, at least 22 credits on the master's program or equivalent must be taken on the basis of the established numerical grading system. (These 22 credits may include thesis credit, but not collateral course credit.) Collateral courses taken to fill deficiencies in the student's undergraduate background should be taken using a numerical grading system.

DF-Deferred grades: The required work must be completed and a grade reported within 6 months with the option of a single six-month extension. If the required work is not completed within the time limit, the DF will become U-Unfinished and will be changed to DF/U under the numerical and Pass-No Grade (P-N) grading systems, and to DF/NC under the Credit-No Credit (CR-NC) system. This rule does not apply to graduate thesis or dissertation work.

Course Registration: Students enroll using online enrollment . The student's PID and PAN are required for the enrollment process.

5. Financial Support

The CHEMS Department strives to provide financial support to all Ph.D. students and Plan A master's students. Several types of financial support are available, including fellowships, research assistantships and teaching assistantships. Continued financial support is contingent upon the student's making satisfactory progress toward completion of the degree. The department's criteria for satisfactory progress includes courses completed, the nature of the courses, grades received, passing the Ph.D. qualifying examination, and progress in completing master's thesis or Ph.D. dissertation research. Funding is also dependent on the total number of semesters the student has been supported, availability of funds, and the needs of the department for particular services.

Fellowships: Fellowships provide financial support that is not associated with specific tasks other than making satisfactory progress toward completion of the degree. Fellowships are assigned based on availability of funds and the student's qualifications and performance.

Receipt of externally funded fellowships by students who have written their own grant applications and worth at least $24,000 (direct costs) makes the student eligible for in-state tuition rate. The in-state tuition rate applies only to the semesters during which the student is supported by the fellowship. This policy applies only to grants funded through a competitive process by a US or international institution/agency/foundation. Funds obtained through non-competitive processes (e.g., need-based fellowships) do not qualify the student for in-state tuition rates. For more information, consult the Graduate School Funding Page .

Research Assistantships: Research assistantships are assigned by the research advisor based on criteria including the availability of research funds and the student's qualifications, interests, and past performance. Students on research assistantships perform work needed to complete a funded research project. Often, but not always, the work is related to the student's thesis/dissertation topic. Renewal of research assistantships is based on satisfactory performance and availability of funds.

Teaching Assistantships: Teaching Assistantships (TA) are assigned by the chairperson based on criteria including prior commitment to provide support, availability of other forms of support, number of semesters of previous support, and the student's knowledge of the course material, teaching ability, and interest in teaching as a career option.

Candidates for TA appointments who were either (a) required to demonstrate English proficiency as a condition for regular graduate admission or (b) received a waiver of the TOEFL or other accepted tests of English proficiency for admission, 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 an ITA language support course (AAE 451 or AAE 452) and receiving a score of 50 or higher on the ITA Oral Interaction Test (ITAOI) .

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 ELC upon the request of the department and with the endorsement of the Associate Dean of the College.

Tuition Waiver, Fees, and Health Insurance: Research assistantships and teaching assistantships include a tuition waiver (nine credits for fall and spring semesters and five for summer semester) matriculation and energy fees, and health insurance.

Duration of Financial Support: Ph.D. students should expect no more than 5 years of assistantship or fellowship support after admission to the Ph.D. program.

6. Work Related Policies and Procedures

The Department of Chemical Engineering and Materials Science strives to provide an excellent learning and working environment for all of its graduate assistants. It is important that graduate assistants comply with University and Department policies concerning work schedule, health and safety, and appearance of office space to help maintain this environment.

Responsibilities of the Graduate Student: The responsibilities of the graduate student, as described in MSU Guidelines for Graduate Student Mentoring & Advising , include:

• Learning and adhering to University and academic unit rules, procedures, and policies applicable to graduate study and research or creative activities, including those outlined in Academic Programs , Graduate Student Rights and Responsibilities or Medical Student Rights and Responsibilities, and Academic Freedom for Students at MSU
• Meeting University and academic unit requirements for degree completion
• Forming a guidance committee that meets University requirements, as well as requirements that are outlined in the Graduate Handbook of the academic unit
• Seeking regulatory approval for research in the early stages of thesis or dissertation work where applicable
• Keeping the faculty advisor and guidance committee apprised on a regular basis of the progress toward completion of the thesis or dissertation

Rights and Responsibilities of Graduate Teaching Assistants: Students' rights and responsibilities as a graduate teaching assistant are found in the Graduate Employees Union (GEU) Collective Bargaining Agreement . This contract also outlines MSU's rights and responsibilities as an employer. The graduate secretary can provide a copy of the contract.

Training and Professional Development: The Department and supervising faculty members are responsible for establishing orientation and in-service training programs for all employees (TA's). Such programs will provide training in the teaching of subject matter, an introduction to course goals, grading criteria and practices, and classroom procedures, as well as periodic classroom visitations. The department will hold teaching assistant orientation and training fall semester as part of the Department's graduate student orientation. Supervising faculty will ensure that teaching assistants are qualified in the subject matter and are trained in the course goals, grading criteria and practices, and classroom procedures. The supervising faculty will also carry out periodic classroom visitations. Employees (TA's) shall, as part of their regular duties, participate in the orientation and training.

Appointment Levels: Three levels are established for graduate students appointments. The departmental standard for promotion is as follows:

• Level 1: First year Ph.D. students and all M.S. students
• Level 2: Ph.D. students who have passed the Qualifying Examination
• Level 3: Students who have served as Teaching Assistant for six or more semesters.

Annual Evaluation: For each candidate, an evaluation of both academic progress and professional potential will be made by March 15 of each year. The Associate Dean of Engineering for Research and Graduate Studies may dismiss a student whose performance does not meet the program's acceptable standards of quality.

Work Calendar: Graduate assistants are paid for the period of August 16 to December 31 for fall semester, January 1 to May 15 for spring semester, and May 16 to August 15 for summer semester. As departmental employees, graduate assistants are expected to perform assigned duties on campus unless they have explicit permission from their supervisor to be away. This applies particularly during the final exam week and the subsequent grading period.

Vacation: University holidays include Labor Day, Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year's Day. In Summer (mid-May to mid-August) supported students are paid for 10-20 hours per week. Generally, however, Summer is a time to focus on research and make significant progress towards degree requirements. That requires a investment of personal time that goes beyond paid time. Students should aim to take about a day a week off during Summer, possibly in a 10-12 day block. Research advisors should approve vacation time well in advance.

Payroll Processing: Students should complete an I-9 form within three business days of date of hire, August 16, and present an original document(s) that establish identity and employment eligibility. Students may choose which identification document(s) ( e.g. , social- security card) to present from the list on the back of the I-9 form.

Provide copy of Social Security Card: Graduate assistants who do not have a social security card or whose card is lost, stolen or destroyed are required to apply for a card from the Social Security Administration. The local Social Security office is located at 5210 Perry Robinson Circle, Lansing, MI 48910. The phone number is 517-393-3876, and the operating hours are 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., Mon. - Fri. About eight to twelve weeks are required for processing the new card.

Enrollment Required: Paychecks will be held for graduate assistants who are not enrolled (i.e., fees paid) by the payday.

Location of Paychecks: Michigan State University now requires that all employees enroll in Direct Deposit or elect to have a PayCard. Students may enroll in direct deposit or chose to receive a Pay Card through Enterprise Business System under the employee self-service tab. More information is available from the Office of the Controller .

Direct Deposit Personal Entry: Students may have paychecks automatically deposited to a bank account through the Enterprise Business System under the employee self-service tab.

W-4 Form: Tax withholdings (W-4 form) should be submitted through the Enterprise Business System under the employee self-service tab. (Exception: some international students and scholars may be limited in their access capabilities. For example, some individuals are required by federal regulations to file their paperwork and related documents in person at the MSU Payroll Office .)

Parking: Graduate students with assistantships or fellowships are eligible for on-campus parking permits. Students may apply for a parking permit online with MSU Police or in person at the Public Safety Office, 870 Red Cedar Road. Car registration and insurance must be presented when applying for a parking permit at the office. Students living in Owen Hall must show proof of residency. Students living in University Apartments must show a leasing agreement.

Office Space: Graduate assistants are assigned office space, typically during the first week of the semester.

Keys: Graduate assistants are issued office and desk keys. Lab keys are issued at the request of the faculty advisor. Keys are issued in the CHEMS department office, 2100 Engineering Building.

Office Upkeep: Students are expected to maintain a clean and orderly office space. Trash should be disposed of at recycling stations located throughout the hallways. All offices are smoke-free areas.

Labs: No drinks or food are allowed in labs. Students are expected to maintain a clean and orderly lab space.

Ergonomics: Health problems can result from continuous and prolonged use of computer keyboards. Proper posture and periodic breaks are recommended.

Department Website, Email, and Mail: Notices regarding events of general interest are posted on the CHEMS Department homepage. Email is widely used to communicate with students. Hard-copy mail for graduate assistants is distributed in mailboxes assigned to graduate students in the CHEMS Office, Room 2100 Engineering Building. Graduate assistants should check the CHEMS Department home page and their assigned mailbox at least twice a week; E- mail should be checked at least daily.

Emergencies: MSU buildings have evacuation alarms that are activated by the red pull handles found in the hallways. However, these handles only activate the alarm; they do not notify the fire or public safety departments. Thus, in case of an emergency that may require evacuation, such as a fire or dangerous chemical spill, students should both activate the alarm and also contact the Department of Public Safety (DPS) by dialing 911 on any phone. A phone for emergency use only is located in 3350 Engineering Building. No money is needed to dial 911 on pay phones. Pay phones are located in the lobby area of the Engineering Building, near 1345 EB and 1405 EB.

Non-emergency Assistance: To summon non-emergency assistance, students should notify the CHEMS Department office, 2100 Engineering Building, phone 355-5135 during business hours. If immediate attention is needed outside of business hours, notify the MSU telephone operator by dialing 0 on a MSU phone. Each lab has emergency phone numbers on its outside door.

Telephone: Personal long distance telephone calls should not be placed on departmental phones. Pay phones are located on the first floor of the Engineering Building. Business-related long distance calls may be made in the departmental office with your advisor's approval.

Purchases: Graduate assistants engaged in research may purchase apparatus, chemicals, and other supplies (transparencies, tape, etc.) for research purposes with the approval of their research advisor. These items should be purchased on campus through General Stores, Biochemistry Stores, or Chemistry Stores and charged to a research account. The research advisor can provide the account number to use.

Below are some of the common funding sources, along with the corresponding record keeper:

Research advisors can provide the record-keeper with contact information for particular accounts. A number of different types of purchase transactions can be carried out.

Open Orders Companies: It may be possible to purchase items not sold on campus through an "open order" company. Open order companies have special purchasing agreements with MSU. Purchases made through open orders companies do not require departmental approval if they do not exceed $1000. A list of open order vendors is available online through University Stores .

Spartan Marketplace: Open orders can be placed online via Spartan Marketplace . Spartan Marketplace can be accessed through EBS. The graduate assistant must set up a profile before they can place an order via Spartan Marketplace.

Credit Card Orders: If any item is not available via Spartan Marketplace, a credit card order may be placed. Credit card order forms may be obtained from the department secretary. Credit card orders have a limit of $2500. Any order over $2500 will require a quote and a purchase order to be completed by the department secretary.

Shop Orders: The College of Engineering maintains a machine shop and an electronics shop. The research advisor and departmental chairperson must approve requests for shop labor. Shop work order forms are located in the CHEMS departmental office.

Copy machine: The CHEMS copy machine must be used for department-related tasks only. Teaching assistants will be assigned a copier account number, which must be used only for the assigned course. When copying research-related material, the student's research advisor will authorize a research account number. The department copier cannot be used for thesis/dissertation copying, because of the large number of pages involved. On campus copy centers are available that have copiers better suited for high-volume jobs.

Travel: A Travel Authorization form must be completed and approved on Concur , and the departmental secretary must be notified at least two days before traveling on MSU-related business, so that MSU can provide travel insurance.

Travel Abroad:

• Check with the MSU Travel Clinic . They will let you know of any health risks or immunizations.
• Check the Travel Smart website. The department or research grant supporting TAs or RAs research are required to pay for all needed vaccinations and or medications, as determined by the MSU Travel Clinic. These costs may be included in applications for funds from the Research Enhancement or Travel Grant programs administered by the Graduate School.
• Apply for assistance with travel funding via the Graduate School . If the Graduate School provides funding, they will also provide a MEDEX emergency card.
• Check the International Studies and Programs website for issues related to safety around the world.

CHEMS Office Hours: The CHEMS office is open from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Monday - Friday. The phone number is 517-355-5135. The e-mail addresses for office staff members are available on the department website .

7. Integrity and Safety in Research and Creative Activities

Safety training.

The MSU Office of Environmental Health & Safety (EHS) coordinates safety training. Graduate assistants are required to complete the following safety training:

• Chemical Hygiene and Hazardous Waste
• Lab-specific training (consult with advisor)
• Annual Departmental Safety Seminar
• Annual Hazardous Waste Refresher

Additional information on training modules is available on the EHS web site . Additional information specific to Safety in the CHEMS department can be found on the CHEMS web site .

Responsible Conduct of Research (RCR)

Guidelines on ethics and research integrity are described during Responsible Conduct of Research (RCR) training, required for all CHEMS graduate students. In addition, each graduate student should review the document, " Guidelines for Integrity in Research and Creative Activities ," and discuss its content with their research advisor.

Michigan State University considers the responsible conduct of research (RCR) as essential to all research activities associated with the University. Integrity in research and creative activities embodies a range of practices listed below:

• Honesty in proposing, performing, and reporting research
• Recognition of prior work
• Confidentiality in peer review
• Disclosure of potential conflicts of interest
• Compliance with institutional and sponsor requirements
• Protection of human subjects and humane care of animals in the conduct of research
• Collegiality in scholarly interactions and sharing of resources
• Adherence to fair and open relationships between senior scholars and their coworkers

Honesty in Proposing, Performing, and Reporting Research: The foundation underlying all research is uncompromising honesty in presenting one's own ideas in research proposals, in performing one's research, and in reporting one's data. Detailed and accurate records of primary data must be kept as unalterable documentation of one's research and must be available for scrutiny and critique. It is expected that researchers will always be truthful and explicit in disclosing what was done, how it was done, and what results were obtained. To this end, research aims, methods, and outcomes must be described in sufficient detail such that others can judge the quality of what is reported and can reproduce the data. Results from valid observations and tests that run counter to expectations must be reported along with supportive data.

Recognition of Prior Work: Research proposals, original research, and creative endeavors often build on one's own work and also on the work of others. Both published and unpublished work must always be properly credited. Reporting the work of others as if it were one's own is plagiarism. Research advisors and members of guidance committees have a unique role in guiding the independent research and creative activities of students. Information learned through private discussions or committee meetings should be respected as proprietary and accorded the same protection granted to information obtained in any peer-review process. Unintentional plagiarism can be prevented using programs such as "Ithenticate," anti-plagiarism software available on the Ithenticate Site as part of the 'Turn-It-In" package. More information is available from MSU Technology .

Confidentiality in Peer Review: Critical and impartial review by respected disciplinary peers is the foundation for important decisions in the evaluation of internal and external funding requests, allocation of resources, publication of research results, granting of awards, and in other scholarly decisions. The peer-review process involves the sharing of information for scholarly assessment on behalf of the larger disciplinary community. The integrity of this process depends on confidentiality until the information is released to the public. Therefore, the contents of research proposals, of manuscripts submitted for publication, and of other scholarly documents under review should be considered privileged information not to be shared with others, including students and staff, without explicit permission by the authority requesting the review. Ideas and results learned through the peer-review process should not be made use of prior to their presentation in a public forum or their release through publication.

Disclosure of Potential Conflicts of Interest: There is real or perceived conflict of interest when a researcher has material or personal interest that could compromise the integrity of the scholarship. It is, therefore, imperative that potential conflicts of interest be considered and acted upon appropriately by the researcher. Some federal sponsors require the University to implement formal conflict of interest policies. It is the responsibility of all researchers to be aware of and comply with such requirements.

Compliance with Institutional and Sponsor Requirements: Investigators are granted broad freedoms in making decisions concerning their research. These decisions are, however, still guided, and in some cases limited, by the laws, regulations, and procedures that have been established by the University and sponsors of research to protect the integrity of the research process and the uses of the information developed for the common good. Although the legal agreement underlying the funding of a sponsored project is a matter between the sponsor and the University, the primary responsibility for management of a sponsored project rests with the principal investigator and his or her academic unit.

Protection of Human Subjects and Humane Care of Animals in the Conduct of Research: Research techniques should not violate established professional ethics or federal and state requirements pertaining to the health, safety, privacy, and protection of human beings, or to the welfare of animal subjects. Whereas it is the responsibility of faculty to assist students and staff in complying with such requirements, it is the responsibility of all researchers to be aware of and to comply with such requirements.

Collegiality in Scholarly Interactions and Sharing of Resources: Collegiality in scholarly interactions, including open communications and sharing of resources, facilitates progress in research and creative activities for the good of the community. At the same time, it has to be understood that scholars who first report important findings are both recognized for their discovery and afforded intellectual property rights that permit discretion in the use and sharing of their discoveries and inventions. Balancing openness and protecting the intellectual property rights of individuals and the institution will always be a challenge for the community. Once the results of research or creative activities have been published or otherwise communicated to the public, scholars are expected to share materials and information on methodologies with their colleagues according to the tradition of their discipline. Research advisors have a particular responsibility to respect and protect the intellectual property rights of their advisees. A clear understanding must be reached during the course of the project on who will be entitled to continue what part of the overall research program after the advisee leaves for an independent position. Advisors should also strive to protect junior scholars from abuses by others who have gained knowledge of the junior scholar's results during the mentoring process, for example, as members of guidance committees.

Adherence to Fair and Open Relationships Between Senior Scholars and Their Coworkers: The relationship between senior scholars and their coworkers should be based on mutual respect, trust, honesty, fairness in the assignment of effort and credit, open communications, and accountability. The principles that will be used to establish authorship and ordering of authors on presentations of results must be communicated early and clearly to all coworkers. These principles should be determined objectively according to the standards of the discipline, with the understanding that such standards may not be the same as those used to assign credit for contributions to intellectual property. It is the responsibility of the faculty to protect the freedom to publish results of research and creative activities. The University has affirmed the right of its scholars for first publication except for "exigencies of national defense".

It is also the responsibility of the faculty to recognize and balance their dual roles as investigators and research advisors in interacting with graduate students of their group, especially when a student's efforts do not contribute directly to the completion of his or her degree requirements. Additional materials are available through MSU's Research & Scholarly Integrity website.

Misconduct in Research Scholarly Activities: Federal and University policies define misconduct to include fabrication (making up data and recording or reporting them), falsification (manipulating research materials, equipment or processes, or changing or omitting data such that the research is not accurately represented in the record), and plagiarism (appropriation of another person's ideas, processes, results, or words without giving appropriate credit). Serious or continuing non-compliance with government regulations pertaining to research may constitute misconduct as well. University policy also defines retaliation against whistle blowers as misconduct. Misconduct does not include honest errors or honest differences of opinion in the interpretation or judgment of data.

The University views misconduct to be the most egregious violation of standards of integrity and as grounds for disciplinary action, including the termination of employment of faculty and staff, dismissal of students, and revocation of degrees. It is the responsibility of faculty, staff and students alike to understand the University's policy on misconduct in research and creative activities , to report perceived acts of misconduct of which they have direct knowledge to the University Research Integrity Office, and to protect the rights and privacy of individuals making such reports in good faith.

RCR Training

The National Science Foundation (NSF) has established requirements for RCR training of all undergraduate students, graduate students, and post-doctoral personnel engaged in the conduct of research. In keeping with these requirements, MSU requires the following training components for graduate students, depending on program:

• First Year (All graduate students) Four online training modules from CITI Program : (1) Introduction to RCR; (2) Authorship; (3) Plagiarism; (4) Research Misconduct. The modules must be completed by Dec. 31 of the first year of the graduate program.
• Discussion (All graduate students) A minimum of six hours of interpersonal discussion (one-on-one or in groups) must be completed prior to graduation. These can include Graduate School RCR Workshops , College of Engineering RCR Seminars , Departmental Courses, and Individual or Group conversations with research advisor(s). Discussion hours must be approved by research advisor(s).
• Second Year (M.S. Plan A, Ph.D.) Three online modules from either CITI Program or MSU Regulatory Training (M) : • Collaborative Research (C) • Conflicts of Interest (C) • Data Management (C) • Financial Responsibility (C) • Mentoring (C) • Peer Review (C) • IACUC Tutorial for Animal Care Training (M) • Human Research Protection/IRB Certification (M) • Rigor and Reproducibility (M, in development). The modules must be completed by Dec. 31 of the second year of the graduate program.
• Refresher (Ph.D.) Starting third year, 3 hrs/year of Online or discussion-based training. Discussion based training may double-count with the six-hour minimum described above. Online modules must be beyond the 7 completed in years 1-2. Refresher training must be completed between Jan 1 and Dec 31 of each year .

All researchers are responsible for logging their RCR training on the Research Training Tracking System (RTTS) provided by the College of Engineering. RCR training records must be included in the students annual report.

8. Student Conduct and Conflict Resolution

Student Conduct: The University expects student conduct and behavior to reflect qualities of good citizenship, both in and out of the classroom. Details are given in the " Spartan Life " handbook and resource guide.

Conflict Resolution and Grievances: Conflicts involving graduate students may be handled informally or formally, depending on the preference of the involved parties. Students' rights and responsibilities, including formal grievance procedures, are described in " Student Rights and Responsibilities at Michigan State University ". Procedures specific to graduate students are described in " Graduate Student Rights and Responsibilities ." The CHEMS Department's Hearing Board follows specific procedures to deal with such issues, which can be found here . The College of Engineering's Hearing Board procedures can be found here . The Office of the Ombudsperson is a resource for additional information.

9. University Resources

The following is a list of URLs for University Resources covered in this document:

• Academic Programs Catalog: www.reg.msu.edu/AcademicPrograms/
• Annual Progress Report: www.egr.msu.edu/graduate/graduate-student-annual-reporting-requirements
• CHEMS Department: chems.msu.edu
• Collaborative Institutional Training Initiative: ora.msu.edu/train/programs/citi.html
• Commencement: commencement.msu.edu
• MS Defense Form: www.chems.msu.edu/sites/default/files/content/grad/MS_defense_form.pdf
• PHD Comprehensive Form: www.chems.msu.edu/sites/default/files/content/grad/PHD_comprehensive_form.pdf
• PHD Defense Form: www.chems.msu.edu/sites/default/files/content/grad/PHD_defense_form.pdf
• Doctoral Candidate Information: www.egr.msu.edu/graduate/doctoral- candidate-information-intro
• English Language Center elc.msu.edu
• Enterprise Business System: www.ebs.msu.edu
• Environmental Health & Safety: www.ehs.msu.edu
• Exit/Destination Survey (Doctoral): www.egr.msu.edu/doctoral/survey/
• Exit/Destination Survey (Master's): www.egr.msu.edu/Master's/survey/
• GradPlan: student.msu.edu ; GradPlan tile
• Graduate Employees Union (GEU) Collective Bargaining Agreement: hr.msu.edu/contracts/documents/geu-2019-2023.pdf
• Graduate School Funding: grad.msu.edu/funding/
• Graduate School: grad.msu.edu/
• Graduate Student Rights and Responsibilities: splife.studentlife.msu.edu/graduate-student-rights-and-responsibilities
• Student Information System (SIS): student.msu.edu
• Graduation Application: www.reg.msu.edu/StuForms/GradApp/GradApp.asp
• MSU Guidelines for Graduate Student Mentoring & Advising: https://grad.msu.edu/msu-guidelines-graduate-student-mentoring-advising
• International Studies and Programs: www.isp.msu.edu/information-resources/international-travel/
• Office of the Registrar: reg.msu.edu
• Ombudsperson's Office: ombud.msu.edu/
• Online Enrollment: www.reg.msu.edu/ROInfo/Enrollment.asp
• Payroll Office: ctlr.msu.edu/COPayroll/default.aspx
• Police: dpps.msu.edu
• Procedures Concerning Allegations of Misconduct In Research and Creative Activities: rio.msu.edu/sites/rio.msu.edu/files/2018-12/June_2009_Procedures.pdf
• Registrar Graduate Education: www.reg.msu.edu/AcademicPrograms/Text.asp?Section=111#s394
• Research Integrity Office: rio.msu.edu
• Research Training Tracking System: www.egr.msu.edu/secureresearchcourses/
• Responsibly Conduct of Research (RCR): www.egr.msu.edu/graduate/rcr
• Student Rights and Responsibilities: splife.studentlife.msu.edu/student-rights-and-responsibilities-at-michigan-state-university
• Termination-Separation Checklist: www.hr.msu.edu/ua/leaving-msu/documents/TerminationChecklist.pdf
• Electronic Theses and Dissertation Submissions grad.msu.edu/etd
• Travel Clinic: travelclinic.msu.edu
• Travel Smart: grad.msu.edu/travel/
• University Stores: usd.msu.edu/university-stores/

The following are other resources not referenced in this document:

• College of Engineering: www.egr.msu.edu
• Council of Graduate Students: cogs.msu.edu/
• Office for International Students and Scholars: oiss.isp.msu.edu
• Graduate student professional development: grad.msu.edu/professional-development
• Spartan Life: splife.studentlife.msu.edu
• Vice President for Research: www.msu.edu/unit/vprgs/
• CHEMS Graduate Handbook 2022
• CHEMS Graduate Handbook 2021
• CHEMS Graduate Handbook 2020
• CHEMS Graduate Handbook 2019
• CHEMS Graduate Handbook 2018
• CHEMS Graduate Handbook 2017
• CHEMS Graduate Handbook 2016
• CHEMS Graduate Handbook 2015

Graduate Degree

Rhetoric and writing - doctor of philosophy, college of arts and letters, department of writing, rhetoric, and cultures, graduate study.

The doctoral degree in Rhetoric and Writing prepares students to conduct research and teach courses in writing studies, digital rhetoric, experience architecture, and technical and professional communication. Students learn to do this work by engaging with scholarship, learning with faculty, collaborating on research teams, producing multimodal content for organizations, understanding people-focused experiences, teaching in our programs, and working with local and global communities. Through these experiences, students examine issues of accessibility, ethics, literacy, and storytelling through writing, composing, and making. Central to this work is applying and developing theories and methodologies to be a positive force for structural change, growth, and innovation with an emphasis on culture, context, and access. This degree prepares students to lead in various workplaces, including academia, civic, corporate, government, and nonprofit organizations. Our students go on to administer programs in academia, conduct user experience research for organizations, design products and services in industry, manage international projects, publish in academic and trade journals, and research and teach in higher education contexts.

To be considered for admission to the Doctor of Philosophy degree in Rhetoric and Writing an applicant must:

• Specify the concentration the applicant wishes to pursue.
• Include in the letter required by the college, a statement of purpose and a statement of instruction philosophy.
• Submit two writing samples (major research paper, summary of master’s thesis, or digital documents).

To be admitted to the program on regular status, an applicant must have a master’s degree or the equivalent, a minimum grade-point average of 3.5 in graduate-level courses, and at least three letters of recommendation from persons qualified to assess the applicant’s ability to pursue advanced graduate study.

In addition to meeting the requirements of the university and the College of Arts and Letters, students must meet the requirements specified below.

Requirements for the Doctor of Philosophy Degree in Rhetoric and Writing

The student must:

Academic Standards

A student must maintain a cumulative grade-point average of at least 3.5 in all graduate courses.

A student may count toward the degree only those courses in which the student has received a grade of 3.0 or higher.

A student may accumulate no more than 6 credits with a grade below 3.0 in rhetoric and writing courses taken for the purpose of satisfying the degree requirements.

A student who fails the comprehensive examinations, the pre-dissertation examination, or the final oral examination in defense of the dissertation, may repeat that examination only once, during the following semester.

Other Links

College of Engineering

Mechanical Engineering (Ph.D.)

Mechanical Engineering

Doctor of philosophy, department of mechanical engineering, program details.

The Department of Mechanical Engineering offers a Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) degree in Mechanical Engineering .

The components of the doctoral program in Mechanical Engineering involve the student first finding an advisor and forming a committee. Subsequently, the components of the doctoral degree programs consist of a qualifying exam, a comprehensive exam, prescribed course work, research, the dissertation, and a final oral defense and examination.

• Program overview (Office of Registrar)
• Course descriptions (Office of Registrar)

Graduate Handbook

Current MSU students

Future students

Applications from students are due by the following dates and will be reviewed beginning:

• December 15 for Fall enrollment
• September 15 for Spring enrollment (Only a very small number of financial aid offers are available to Spring applicants.)

Applications are all considered for financial aid and assistantships. Applications received by the above dates will receive the maximum consideration for this financial aid and assistantships.

• Applicants to M.S. programs should have earned a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering, Engineering Mechanics, or a closely related field prior to the term for which they are applying.
• Applicants can enter directly into a Ph.D. program after earning their B.S. in Mechanical Engineering, Engineering Mechanics, or a closely related field prior to the term for which they are applying - this is called the Direct Admit Ph.D. program.
• Applicants who have earned a M.S. degree in Mechanical Engineering, Engineering Mechanics, or a closely related field prior to the term for which they are applying can also enter the Ph.D. program.

Applicants must complete the following:

• Upload electronically with your Michigan State University application
• An official copy of your TOEFL Scores for applicants from countries where the official language is not English. Applicants should have all test scores sent from the testing agency directly to Michigan State University; Office of Admissions; Hannah Administration Building; 426 Auditorium Road, Room 250; East Lansing, Michigan 48824-2604. The Mechanical Engineering department code for the TOEFL is 68. Click here for the  English Language Proficiency Minimum Requirements
• A "Statement of Financial Proof and Affidavit of Support" if you are an international student and can provide for your own support as a graduate student. Visit the  International Applicants  page for information.
• A copy of your resume
• A written personal statement describing how your background and life experiences - including social, economic, cultural, familial, educational, or other opportunities or challenges - motivated your decision to pursue a graduate degree. Your Personal Statement should be concise, and no more than 2 pages when formatted in Times New Roman 12-point font with 1-inch margins and single line spacing.
• A written academic statement explaining your reasons for seeking a graduate program degree. The following statement must be included: "My intended area of specialization in the graduate program in Mechanical Engineering at Michigan State University will be in ___________________________." Your Academic Statement should be concise, and no more than 2 pages when formatted in Times New Roman 12-point font with 1-inch margins and single line spacing.

Current Research Groups  are:

• Biomechanics Engineering Group
• Dynamic Systems and Controls Group
• Fluid-Thermal Science and Engineering Group
• Solid Mechanics, Design, and Manufacturing Group

Completion requires an application fee. Requirements and fees are not waived.

The graduate application fee is $65 for domestic students and $75 for international students.

Upload/enter additional application materials/information and request letters of recommendations using the  graduate student education portal  which you access with your MSU applicant ID and password. The portal also allows you to check the status of your application and send e-messages to the department.

• Three (3) letters of recommendation are requested through the  graduate student education portal . 3.
• Official academic record from all previous universities attended. The applicant's record should exhibit outstanding achievement as indicated both by grade point average (GPA) and the quality of courses over his or her entire academic career. Competitive applicants for financial aid and assistantships are in the top 10% of their BS class and have at least a 3.5 GPA on a scale of 4.0.

IMPORTANT: You must make sure that all the above documents: application, exam scores, financial proof, and recommendations use exactly the same first and last names. One of the largest single causes for incomplete applications is an applicant's use of multiple forms their name including reversal of last (family) name and first (personal) name on application documents. Admissions cannot correctly process documents if different forms of your name are used on documents submitted. Be consistent. The Mechanical Engineering Department's address is:

Graduate Program Department of Mechanical Engineering 428 S. Shaw Lane, Rm. 2555 East Lansing, MI 48824-1226 USA

For more information, please email the Mechanical Engineering Graduate program at [email protected]  or Dr. Lik Chaun Lee at [email protected]

For more information regarding International Admissions, visit The Graduate School Website

Annual cost information and a budgeting tool is available at the MSU Tuition Calculator

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Department of Educational Administration

• Higher, Adult, and Lifelong Education
• M.A. in Higher, Adult, and Lifelong Education
• M.A. in Student Affairs Administration

Ph.D. in Higher, Adult, and Lifelong Education

• Ed.D. Leadership for Equity-Minded Change in Postsecondary Education
• All Graduate Programs
• Center for Higher & Adult Education
• HALE Graduate Research Colloquium
• HALE Faculty Research
• HALE Dissertation Abstracts
• K-12 Educational Administration
• Master of Arts in K-12 Educational Administration
• Ed.D. in Educational Leadership
• Ph.D. in K-12 Educational Administration
• Urban Education Graduate Certificate
• Certification Pathway
• K-12 Graduate Research Colloquium
• K-12 Admin Faculty Research
• K-12 Admin Dissertation Abstracts
• University Council for Educational Administration
• Education Policy Doctoral Program
• Economics of Education
• Education Policy Forum
• Education Policy Innovation Collaborative
• Green and Write Blog
• Faculty Research
• Dissertation Abstracts
• Graduate Student Conference Support
• Erickson Chair
• Raines Colloquium
• Focus on Urban Education
• International
• Featherstone Society
• Student Forms & Policies
• Funding & Scholarships
• Faculty Resources
• Requirements
• HALE MA MEDIA
• Handbook & Forms
• Funding Opportunities for SAA MA Students
• Our Students
• Experiences
• Teaching Opportunities
• What to Expect
• Certificate Completion Requirements
• State Authorization
• Additional Resources
• CENTER FOR HIGHER & ADULT EDUCATION

HALE Ph.D. Handbook and Forms

• Annual Progress to Degree
• Ph.D. Checklist (updated 09/07/23)
• Internal Credit Evaluation for Transfer Credit
• Dissertation Proposal Approval

Overview and Objectives

Program mission.

The primary mission of the programs in Higher, Adult, and Lifelong Education (HALE) is to prepare individuals for leadership positions in a variety of postsecondary educational organizations. The doctoral program focuses on the processes and environments emerging around the globe that are connecting learners with knowledge in new ways.

The program enables students to examine changing perspectives on postsecondary educational organizations, changing notions of postsecondary teaching and learning, and the changing roles of the students, teachers, researchers, and administrators who work and study within these organizations.

Program Philosophy

Professional knowledge is dynamic, requiring practitioners to be knowledgeable of the “state of the art,” but also requiring them to participate in efforts to question and push back the boundaries of professional understanding. It requires scholars to examine the meaning and enactment of effective professional practice. Leaders in educational organizations must be able to support the needs of many types of learners.

Moreover, the administration of complex postsecondary education enterprises requires leaders who possess well-developed personal and educational philosophies, a depth of understanding and knowledge of education as a social institution, a broad range of professional experiences in a number of institutional programs and activities, a sound understanding of human and organizational development theory, and well-developed educational leadership and analytic skills.

The HALE Ph.D. program provides students with perspectives on current knowledge in postsecondary and adult education and on methods of inquiry aimed at improving the quality and ensuring the continued development of postsecondary learning organizations. Through courses and other planned learning experiences, students critically examine current understandings of teaching, learning, administration, organizational functioning, diversity, policy, student development, and the leadership process. They also analyze, assess, and conduct research.

The doctoral program in HALE is a result of extensive reflective dialogue among faculty, students, alumni, and employment partners. The product is a graduate experience that is intellectually stimulating, professionally relevant, and that leads to research that supports decision making and problem solving around the key issues facing postsecondary institutions.

To enhance its mission of preparing postsecondary educational leaders for reflective practice, the program maintains active relationships with a variety of colleges and universities, community colleges, and other organizations throughout Michigan and the nation. HALE is the home for a number of faculty-directed scholarly and professional application projects involving doctoral students in many capacities.

We believe in the value of intellectual community, which we label “Community of Scholars.” Those studying in the HALE doctoral program are expected to engage in the various opportunities provided and/or to create opportunities for sharing of ideas, critically reflecting on practice and collaborating on research. Examples include the Faculty Speaker Series, Graduate Research Colloquim, Ewigleben Policy Seminar, “Brown Bag” conversations, scholarly colloquia, and dissertation proposal and defense presentations. It is also an expectation that doctoral students, as emerging postsecondary education leaders and scholars, will contribute to the field through involvement in professional associations at the state, regional, national, and/or international level.

Program Objectives

To provide students with grounding in the conceptual underpinnings of the practice of higher and adult education.

To provide students with a broad appreciation and understanding of educational systems in social, historical, and normative perspectives as one basis for the exercise of educational leadership.

To expand students’ theoretical understanding of administrative practice through study of one or more disciplines related to higher, adult, and lifelong educational administration.

To convey inquiry skills useful to the practice of higher and adult education and to the conduct of research in the field.

To provide opportunities to connect theoretical understanding to problems and contexts of practice through field-based experiences.

Program Standards for Students

The program standards represent the knowledge, skills, and dispositions that this degree program aims to develop in students. They apply to students preparing for a wide range of leadership and administrative positions in postsecondary education, faculty positions, policy-related responsibilities, and various postsecondary and system leadership positions held by foreign and international students who enroll in this program. Students work toward these standards throughout the program. The standards serve to guide progress, ground assessment, and supply feedback to students and faculty alike. The standards are intended to influence individual courses and experiences, connections among and across discrete program elements, and the continuing and culminating assessments for graduation from the program.

I. Vision and strategy to promote learning

The first objective of the program is to assist students in developing a philosophy concerning leadership of educational organizations that is grounded in personal values and professional commitments. Over the course of the program, students will:

• acquire a working knowledge about contemporary approaches to learning of college students as one basis for administrative leadership. Such approaches encompass cognitive, socio-cultural, and developmental theories as these apply to the learning of adults.
• elaborate a personal-professional vision for their organization and the larger community it serves; one aim of the program is to encourage students to develop a core set of beliefs that serve to guide their actions as current and future leaders.
• develop commitment to this vision together with the means for building the vision collaboratively and for communicating it broadly to diverse public and professional constituencies; the program offers opportunities for students to share their beliefs, to consider the beliefs of others, and to work on developing consensus as well as “agreements to disagree,” as part of working with others.
• acquire practical strategies and means for using their vision in decision-making, action planning, and the general exercise of leadership; putting beliefs into action is an integral part of the practical activities making up internships and other experiences in the program.

II. Analytic and reflective capacities related to leadership of learning organizations

The second broad objective concerns both the willingness and the capacity to engage in inquiry and reflection as part of an overall approach to leadership, particularly in an era that requires evidence-based practice. Students will:

• acquire skills to conduct local inquiries in postsecondary education institutions and communities on issues of educational practice and outcomes; the program provides opportunities to use inquiry skills on practical problems of practice.
• develop capacity to engage in disciplined reflection on their own experiences and practices; skills and the habits of reflection also are emphasized as a core ingredient in effective leadership.
• gain knowledge and experience in using data of various kinds for decision-making, needs assessment, and accountability; technical knowledge and skills regarding the conduct of responsible inquiry will be provided.
• acquire substantive knowledge related to their role responsibilities: applied theories of learning and development; curriculum, instruction, and assessment; professional development; organizational functioning; and policy development and analysis.

III. Personal, interpersonal, and political aspects of leadership

The third broad objective acknowledges that leadership involves getting results through other people, drawing on interpersonal skills and sensitivities as well as micro-political awareness and skill. In this regard, students will:

• increase self-knowledge related to their leadership tendencies, including understanding of their strengths, weaknesses, and means for addressing them.
• develop skills and knowledge around the balance between decisive action under time constraints and the value of collaborative, participatory processes.
• acquire skills and knowledge in working with others, including attention to active listening and open communication, bargaining and negotiation, conflict resolution, public relations, community development, and leadership of change.
• understand the political dimensions of their work, including how to lead through the political process in their schools and communities.

IV. Role-related functions and competencies

A fourth domain of competence is grounded in the particular roles and functions that define the work of postsecondary education leaders. In this regard, students will:

• gain knowledge of the theories and models of organizations and the principles of organizational development.
• acquire knowledge of the fiscal and legal responsibilities associated with their organizational roles and tasks.
• learn the use of current technologies that support administrative and teaching functions.
• develop the capacity for making wise and timely decisions about the allocation of human and material resources.

V. Professional norms and standards for conduct and practice

The final area of development draws attention to the ethical and moral dimensions of leadership, preparing individuals to reason through ethical issues, to be aware of the moral aspects of leadership, and to develop “habits of the heart” in their approach to leadership. In this vein, students will be prepared to:

• understand the ethical responsibilities associated with their roles.
• appreciate the broad social consequences and involvements of their leadership duties.
• develop capacity and commitment to act with integrity.

Program Requirements and Policies

Academic standards.

Attendance: Regular attendance is expected. Instructors will inform the students of course attendance requirements and penalties that may be incurred as a result of failure to comply with these requirements.

Grades: A 3.0 cumulative grade-point average in the degree program is the minimum university standard. However, attainment of the minimum grade-point average is in itself an insufficient indicator of potential for success in other aspects of the program and the field. The grading system is as follows: 4.0, superior; 3.5, excellent; 3.0, good; 2.5, fair; 2.0 poor; 0/1.0/1.5, failure and in specific courses, P-N (Pass- No Grade). Once grades have been submitted in to the registrar’s office, they may only be changed by the course instructor through written application. A student whose semester grade point falls below a 3.0 receives a written warning indicating unsatisfactory academic performance.

Incompletes, Defers, and Extensions :A student who, for compelling reasons, finds it necessary to postpone the submission of required course work may petition their instructor for the grade of Incomplete (I), Defer (DF), or Extension (ET). A form for this request must be completed by the instructor of the course and contain all information requested, including a description of the work the student will complete and the due date, which cannot be later than the date specified in the academic calendar. The form must be signed by the student, instructor, and department chair (or designee). The last day to request an incomplete and submit the form is indicated in the academic calendar.

The grade of I, DF, or ET shall remain on the student’s transcript until a grade has been submitted by the instructor.

A grade of I, or incomplete, may be given after a student has satisfactorily completed 12 weeks of the course but is unable to complete the work within the allotted time period because of “illness or other compelling reason,” and the professor believes that the student can complete the work without repeating the course. The work must be completed and a grade turned in no later than next academic term, whether or not the student is enrolled. (If the student does not enroll in subsequent semesters than s/he has up to a year to complete the course requirements.)

A grade of DF, or deferred, may be given only to graduate students who are doing satisfactory work but cannot complete it because of reasons acceptable to the instructor. Deferred grades need to be resolved within six months with the option of a six month extension, although the instructor may stipulate a shorter time frame.

Writing Standards: Scholarly writing has its own set of rules and conventions that are different from those of creative or technical writing. As a graduate student in the HALE program, you will be required to meet rigorous writing standards and APA Style (See Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association ).

Plagiarism: In essence, plagiarism is the use of another person’s words or ideas without proper acknowledgment. It is imperative that writers appropriately paraphrase, use quotation marks (direct citations), and credit their sources both within the text and in a reference/bibliography. An instructor that suspects that a student has committed plagiarism will provide the student with an opportunity to present and explain the origin of the work. In addition, the instructor will explore whether the student understands the relevant standards of academic conduct. If the instructor determines that a minor offense has occurred s/he may require the student to resubmit the assignment or assign a “0” to the paper. However, if an instructor determines that a major offense was committed, procedures presented in the GSSR manual will be followed. Questions about the handling of plagiarism cases should be directed to the department chair.

Through the Desire 2 Learn program supported by Michigan State University, Ithenticate, the anti-plagiarism software is available for faculty, postdocs, and graduate students can check manuscripts for unintentional plagiarism before submission. Learn more

Components of the Ph.D. Program

Students in the HALE doctoral program will enroll in a minimum of 45 credit hours, not including at least 24 dissertation research credit hours.

Curricular Structure

Major Courses – Required of all HALE doctoral students (15 credits)

• EAD 960 Proseminar in Postsecondary Education (3)
• EAD 970 Organization and Administration in Postsecondary Education (3)
• EAD 968 Teaching, Learning, and Curriculum in Postsecondary Education (3)
• EAD 967 Policy Development and Analysis in Postsecondary Education (3)
• EAD 966 Students in Postsecondary Education (3)

Required Inquiry Courses (12-13 credits)

• CEP 930 Educational Inquiry (3)
• A 900-level course in quantitative methods approved by the student’s guidance committee (3)
• A 900-level course in qualitative methods approved by the student’s guidance committee (3-4)
• EAD 995 Research Practicum in Educational Administration (3) This course is to be taken after the student has completed the three inquiry course referenced above.

Electives (18 credits):

Eighteen additional credits in Educational Administration courses (800 level or above) which deal with issues of postsecondary education.

Of the 18 credits, nine (9) credits are in advanced HALE seminars that deal with issues of postsecondary education and are appropriate for the student’s interests.

With the approval of the Guidance Committee, the remaining nine (9) credits of electives should include courses taken to deepen study in a manner that complements the student’s required HALE coursework. Courses can be taken in any university department or unit.

Research Practicum Requirement

All Ph.D. candidates in the doctoral programs in the Department of Educational Administration are required to complete a research practicum (EAD 995). The research practicum aims to provide students with the opportunity to develop systematic inquiry skills, practical knowledge about research, and the experiential perspective on the conduct and reporting of research under real conditions but with support and supervision, through participation in a “community of scholars” experience. It must be completed before the dissertation proposal can be approved.

Before undertaking the research practicum, students should have satisfied the college-wide requirements on educational inquiry (CEP 930 and CEP 932), plus one additional research- methodology course (CEP 933, TE 931, EAD 955B, or the equivalent).

Dissertation Research (minimum 24.0 credits, maximum 30.0 credits)

The overall curriculum of the HALE Ph.D. program is represented below as a planning guide:

The first year major courses are offered one night a week, back to back in fall and spring semester. Documentation should be completed by May 15 of each year.

Required Research/Inquiry Coursework

Dissertation

Total Program Credit Minimum: 69.0 semester hours

Comprehensive Examination

This section provides a brief summary of the Comprehensive Examination in HALE, for more specific information please see the Comprehensive Examination Policies and Procedures document (revised: Oct. 2022).

The HALE Comprehensive Exam is made up of two parts:

Part One is a written exam designed as an opportunity for students to demonstrate integration of knowledge of topics, issues, and resources in postsecondary education. This part focuses on and reflects completion of the courses in the HALE Ph.D. core curriculum. Students are expected to take Part One of the Comprehensive Exam within one year of completing the HALE core curriculum. Part One is offered twice annually, at the beginning of the fall and spring semesters. More about Part One of the Comprehensive Exam can be found on the Policies and Procedures document (see above). Note: The University requires that students be enrolled at the time they are meeting any exam requirement.

Sample Comprehensive Exam Responses

Part Two is successful completion of EAD 995 (“Research Practicum”) or a successful dissertation proposal defense, whichever occurs first. [1] To enroll in EAD 995, students must pass the written Comprehensive Exam and have the approval of their advisor. EAD 995, required of all doctoral students in the College of Education, is the final course in the research sequence. The purposes of EAD 995 are: (a) to guide students toward preparation of a dissertation proposal and (b) to enable students to engage in a research experience within a community of scholars. As part of the HALE Comprehensive Exam, EAD 995 is an opportunity for students to demonstrate their ability to complete the HALE Ph.D. Program. Students typically enroll in EAD 995 at the end of their course work, which is usually Year Three for full-time students but may be later for those enrolled part-time. EAD 995 is also offered twice annually, every fall and spring semester. Approval to enroll in EAD 995 requires that the student provide evidence to the advisor of sufficient preparation for the course and the opportunity to make significant progress on a dissertation proposal. More about Part Two of the Comprehensive Exam can be found on the Policies and Procedures document (see above).

[1] All students are required to enroll in EAD995. Those who defend their proposal prior to completing 995 will coordinate expectations with the 995 instructor .

Upon successful completion of Parts One and Two, students will have completed the HALE Ph.D. Comprehensive Exam and advanced to candidacy for the Ph.D.

Registration Requirements

Minimum Registration Requirements

All students using university services (faculty consultation included) for graduate work must be registered each semester. Minimum registration consists of one course of one (1) credit.

Maximum Registration Requirements

Graduate students may carry up to 16 credits each semester. The maximum number of credits, however, is determined by the department or school. A student load above 16 credits requires approval by the student’s dean. Enrollment in doctoral dissertation research (course number 999) credits need not be counted in determining maximum credits.

Full-Time Student Status

In order to be considered full time for academic purposes, students must at least 6 credit hours per semester.

Note: After the completion of the Ph.D. comprehensive exam (part two), the minimum credit load requirement for full-time status is one (1) credit.

Continuous Enrollment

A student must be enrolled for at least one (1) credit each semester while completing the degree. (Academic Programs, p. 58)

Doctoral Dissertation Research Credit Requirements (EAD 999)

All doctoral student must register for and successfully complete a minimum of 24 credits and no more than 30 credits of doctoral dissertation research credits to graduate.

Note: Students may request an override to exceed the maximum of 30 credits. A Dissertation Credit Limit Waiver must be completed and submitted to request the override. This form is available on the Forms for Graduate Students page of the College of Education website.

In-State Residency Requirement

There is a residency requirement for the doctoral program where credits must be earned on the MSU campus. A year of residence will be made up of two consecutive semesters, involving the completion of credits at the level of full-time status (at least six (6) credits) of graduate work each semester. Most doctoral students will complete their residency by completing the first year required core courses.

Dual Major Doctoral Degrees

All dual major doctoral degrees must be approved by the Dean of the Graduate School. A request for the dual major degree must be submitted within one semester following its development and within the first two years of the student’s enrollment at Michigan State University. See the Registrar’s Academic Programs information about dual major doctoral degrees for details.

Grief Absence Policy

For doctoral students, it is the responsibility of the student to:

a) Notify their advisor/major professor and faculty of the courses in which they are enrolled of the need for a grief absence in a timely manner, but no later than one week from the student’s initial knowledge of the situation,

b) Provide appropriate verification of the grief absence as specified by the advisor/major professor and faculty

c) Complete all missed work as determined in consultation with the advisor/major professor and faculty.

It is the responsibility of the advisor/major professor to:

a) Determine with the student the expected period of absence – it is expected that some bereavement processes may be more extensive than others depending on individual circumstances

b) Receive verification of the authenticity of a grief absence request upon the student’s return

c) Make reasonable accommodations so that the student is not penalized due to a verified grief absence.

Students who believe their rights under this policy have been violated should contact the university ombudsperson.

Grievance Hearing Procedures

This section pertains to the Graduate Student Academic Grievance Procedures utilized by all graduate academic programs in the College of Education.

Students may request a hearing to resolve a dispute with an instructor, but only after trying to settle the matter in conversations with the instructor, the department chair or school director or program director and, in some cases, the Associate Dean of the College. The student also may consult with the university ombudsperson at any stage of the dispute. In the event that a student’s dispute remains unresolved a grievance hearing may be necessary. The College of Education outlines the current university policy and procedures for conducting a grievance hearing in the Graduate Student Academic Grievance Hearing Procedures.

Responsible Conduct of Research

Michigan State University requires that all graduate students be trained in the responsible conduct of research as part of their educational experience. The components of the training may be a mixture of online and face-to-face educational experiences. Click here for a downloadable PDF of RCRSA requirements (last updated 09/18/23).

Each student is expected to enter the relevant information regarding the completion of this training into the Research Training Tracking System (RTTS) .

To support the Responsible Conduct of Research training requirements, the following resources are available. Students should consult with their academic adviser and/or research supervisor to determine the appropriate training topics.

RCR Instructions (Students) — last updated 08/01/23

HALE Ph.D. RCR Requirements Presentation

Research Training Tracking System: https://www.egr.msu.edu/secureresearchcourses/

Human Research Protection Program modules: https://hrpp.msu.edu/required-training

Workshops offered by the Graduate School: http://grad.msu.edu/rcr/

Powerpoint resources through the Graduate School: http://grad.msu.edu/researchintegrity/resources/

Time Limit for Degree Completion

All comprehensive examinations must be passed within five years and all remaining requirements for the degree must be completed within eight (8) years from the time a student begins their first class used in their program of study.

Application for extensions of the eight-year period of time toward degree must be submitted by the department/school for approval by the Dean of the College and the Dean of the Graduate School. Upon approval of the extension, doctoral comprehensive examinations must be passed again.

Transfer Credits

Policies regarding credit transfer for HALE Ph.D. Degree Program can be found in  MSU’s Academic Programs Catalog  on the webpage of the Office of the Registrar. With approval of the College and the student’s academic advisor, as many as nine (9) semester credits of graduate course work may be transferred into HALE affiliated degree programs from postsecondary accredited institutions (including MSU graduate courses and Lifelong Education credits) if they are appropriate to a student’s program.

HALE affiliated degree programs do not accept transfer credits for courses that are designated as core required courses. Courses proposed for transfer into a HALE affiliated degree program will be evaluated on a case by case basis with the following criteria, as applicable.

The course must meet the following two criteria:

• the course has not been used toward the completion of another degree; and
• the course must have at least a 3.0 grade or its equivalent.

The course must also meet one of the following criteria:

• the course currently does not exist at MSU and fulfills the student’s program plan as an elective course; or
• the course is equivalent to an elective course currently offered at MSU.

To request a transfer of credits, a Credit Evaluation form (see forms section) must be completed, signed by the student’s academic advisor, and submitted to the HALE Administrative Assistant along with an official copy of the transcript listing the course and the course syllabus. Unofficial transcripts or those stamped “issued to student” will not be accepted. If the proposed transfer credits were awarded more than three years before the start of a student’s degree program, additional approval is required; see your advisor.

If the course to be transferred is a required methodology course for the HALE Ph.D. Program, the student should speak to their advisor for course transfer procedures.

There is no guarantee that requested transfer credits will be accepted toward HALE affiliated degrees.

Program Procedures

Admission to michigan state university.

U.S. Residents

U.S. applicants who are not already admitted to graduate study at MSU must submit the Graduate Application for Admission. An application fee and college transcripts of all previous academic work must be submitted with this form.

More Information on Admission to the MSU Graduate School Downloadable Application to Graduate Study

International Students

International students who have been admitted to graduate study at MSU are required to submit the International Graduate Application for Admission, proof of financial support, and proof of proficiency in English.

For more information please contact:

Office of International Students and Scholars 103 International Center Michigan State University East Lansing, MI 48824 (517) 353-1720 or email: [email protected]

Students who attended Chinese institutions for their bachelor’s degree must follow additional directions posted on The Graduate School Verification Process for Transcripts and Degrees from China webpage .

Admission to the HALE Ph.D. Program

Applicants must possess a master’s degree from an accredited institution. ALL HALE application materials are to be submitted through the Online Supplemental Application System (OSAS) . Applications should be submitted by December 1 for optimal consideration. Applicants must submit a personal statement/statement of personal goals, a current resume, three (3) letters of recommendation, a writing sample, GRE scores, and official transcripts. All materials are submitted through the online application system, with the exception of transcripts. Send official transcripts to:

Higher, Adult, and Lifelong Education (HALE) Program c/o HALE Admission Assistant Department of Educational Administration Michigan State University 423 Erickson Hall East Lansing, MI 48824-1034

email: [email protected] Phone: 517/353-5187 TDD/TTY: 517/423-3757 or 800/366-4MSU Fax: 517/353-6393

Regular and Provisional Admissions

Upon admission to a graduate program, a student is classified in one of two categories: regular or provisional. Specific criteria for distinguishing between these categories are determined within each college for its own programs. In general, these criteria are:

Students who are considered to be fully qualified to undertake a program toward the graduate degree for which they are admitted.

Provisional

Students of promise who have some remediable inadequacy of qualification such as a minor deficiency in subject matter preparation, for whom there is incomplete interpretation of available records, or non-native speakers whose records reflect some concern in oral or written communication. Such deficiencies typically require additional intense instruction in English (not counted towards degree requirements), or collateral work in Ph.D. academic courses.

English Language Requirements for International Students

All international students are required to be proficient in English as a condition for regular admission to MSU and HALE. For students whose native language is not English, proficiency must be demonstrated by meeting the minimum standards on any one of the following tests:

• Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL)
• International English Language Testing System (IELTS)
• Michigan English Language Assessment Battery (MELAB)
• English Language Center Placement Test (ELCPT)

Students who have not met the minimum requirements in English are required to take the ELCPT. If the results do not meet the minimum proficiency, students will be required to enroll in English Language Center classes until the university or departmental competence is attained. In some instances, students may be able to take academic courses along with their ESL classes. In such cases, restrictions are placed on the number of academic credits they may take until complete minimum proficiency is met.

Concurrent Applications for Admission

Michigan State University permits concurrent applications for admission to two graduate programs, each with a separate application fee. This option is available beginning with applications for Fall 2014 admissions.

Readmission to Graduate Program

Graduate students whose enrollment at Michigan State University is interrupted for any reason so that they are not enrolled for three consecutive semesters, including the Summer Sessions, must apply for readmission. Students must submit the readmission application form on the Office of the Registrar’s website. Domestic students must do this one month before their intended semester of re-entry and international students must complete it four months before. Students must send official transcripts of all work taken while not enrolled at Michigan State University to the HALE program secretary, at least one month prior to the first day of registration for the semester in which the student expects to resume graduate studies. The application for readmission is approved first at the unit level and by the department chair. Those who have been separated from the program longer than two years may be subject to review by the admissions committee, in accordance with the HALE readmission policy.

The conditions of readmission, based on the length of time one has been away from courses and MSU, include the following at a minimum: a) one might need to take some of the core courses; b) one might need to retake and pass part one of the comprehensive examination. Any student who goes beyond a certain length of time since their exam without completing the degree is required to retake part one of the exam. The core courses will be instrumental in preparing readmitted students for the exam and reacquainting them with the current process and; c) one might need to reconstitute a dissertation committee to make progress on your proposal and dissertation work. New advisors will be assigned.

Readmission with Change of Program

A graduate student wishing to pursue a degree or program other than the one originally sought, and who has not enrolled for three consecutive semesters, including the Summer Sessions, or who has completed prior courses of study, should file the Application for Readmission form and transcripts as described above. Further, the student should apply to the academic unit administering the proposed new degree or program at least six weeks in advance of its deadline for ordinary applications to allow time to file with that unit any additional information it may need before the deadline.

Upon admission to the HALE doctoral degree program, students are assigned a faculty member who serves as their initial academic advisor (temporary). The student has the right to change academic advisors and should seek the support of the program director or the department chair if this move is difficult.

Newly admitted students should contact their academic advisor as soon as possible. They should arrange for a personal conference with their advisor to develop a program plan within the first three (3) semesters of his/her matriculation. If the student does not do so, there is no guarantee that credit hours earned prior to the conference will be applicable to the degree. The HALE program faculty follow the recommendations provided in Guidelines for Graduate Student Advising and Mentoring Relationships.

GradPlan:  Committee Membership and Ph.D. Degree Plan

GradPlan was developed for Ph.D. students to lay out their Ph.D. program of study, record faculty approval, and make notes on all the degree requirements as they are completed.

GradPlan will be the only way final degree certification/degree audit will be conducted beginning in Spring 2017. GradPlan replaces the Report of the Guidance Committee, Record of Comprehensive Exam, and the Dissertation Final Defense form and the final certification form.

• Following approval by a department or college level designee, the Graduate School will certify the acceptance of each dissertation final format.
• The Office of the Registrar and departments will complete degree certification once a student completes an application for graduation and all degree requirements are met.

GradPlan help guides are available at https://gradinfo.msu.edu/help.asp .

Doctoral guidance committees should be formed at the end of the first year or beginning of the second year. The committee must have at least four regular (tenure stream) MSU faculty or approved (by Graduate School) non-tenured (i.e., temporary/fixed-term) faculty. The Ph.D. Degree Plan should typically be filed early in second year of Ph.D. program. Please use the link below to enter GradPlan to form both your guidance committee and your Ph.D. Degree Plan

Note that CEP 930, CEP 932, EAD 995, and the qualitative methodology course must be labeled as Research Requirement applied in the program plan.

Visit the GradPlan login.

Guidance Committee

Each graduate student admitted to the HALE doctoral program has the responsibility to form a guidance committee with the approval of the advisor. The guidance committee will consist of at least four Michigan State University tenure stream faculty members. The chair of the committee must be a HALE faculty member. In consultation with the student, the guidance committee plans the entire program, and thereafter supervises it, making modifications as needed until the degree is completed.

Any desired or required changes in the membership of the guidance committee may be made by the student with the concurrence of all the committee members, unit chairperson or director or designated representative, or by the unit with the concurrence of the graduate student in accordance with university, college, and unit policy.

The guidance committee is responsible for insuring the adequacy of the overall program, in keeping with the general policy that three or more academic years of study and research beyond the master’s degree are required.

GradPlan is the electronic documentation of guidance committee membership and program plans for students who started in Fall 2010 to current.  For Doctoral students who started prior to Fall 2010, please use the Forms prior to FS10 admits .

Annual Review of Student Progress

Written evaluations shall be communicated to the graduate student at least once a year, and a copy of such evaluations shall be placed in the graduate student’s file. A student whose performance does not meet the standards of quality will not be permitted to continue to enroll in the degree program, and appropriate action will be taken by the Department of Educational Administration.

The academic advisor and academic unit are jointly responsible for evaluating the student’s competency (as indicated by, e.g., grades in core and other courses, portfolio development, and development of professional skills) and rate of progress (as indicated by, e.g., the number of courses for which grades have been assigned or deferred). Download the Progress to Degree form .

A 3.0 cumulative grade-point average in the degree program is the minimum university standard. However, attainment of the minimum grade-point average is in itself an insufficient indicator of potential for success in other aspects of the program and the field. The grading system is as follows: 4.0, superior; 3.5, excellent; 3.0, good; 2.5, fair; 2.0 poor; 0/1.0/1.5, failure and in specific courses, P-N (Pass- No Grade). Once grades have been submitted in to the registrar’s office, they may only be changed by the course instructor through written application.

Students whose cumulative grade-point average falls below a 3.0 will be placed on academic probation the following semester. The student will work with her/his academic advisor to be restored to good standing. Students on academic probation should regularly meet with the academic advisor. Students shall have the right to appeal in accordance with the GSSR guidelines.

Incomplete or Deferred Grades

A student who, for compelling reasons, finds it necessary to postpone the submission of required course work may petition their instructor for the grade of Incomplete (I) or Deferred (DF). A form for this request must be completed by the instructor of the course and contain all information requested, including a description of the work the student will complete and the due date, which cannot be later than the date specified in the academic calendar. The form must be signed by the student, instructor, and department chair (or designee). The last day to request an incomplete and submit the form is indicated in the academic calendar. The grade of I or DF shall remain on the student’s transcript until a grade has been submitted by the instructor.

• A grade of I, or incomplete, may be given after a student has satisfactorily completed 12 weeks of the course but is unable to complete the work within the allotted time period because of “illness or other compelling reason,” and the professor believes that the student can complete the 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 (summer session excluded) if that semester is within one calendar year following receipt of the I-Incomplete.
• A grade of DF, or deferred, may be given only to graduate students who are doing satisfactory work but cannot complete it because of reasons acceptable to the instructor. Deferred grades need to be resolved within two years, although the instructor may stipulate a shorter time frame. The required work must be completed and a grade reported within six months (190 calendar days from the last class day of the term of instruction), with the option of a single six-month extension (190 calendar days).

Dissertation Information

Several student-initiated forms related to the dissertation are available from the College of Education website ( http://education.msu.edu/academics/graduate-forms.asp ). These include:

• Dissertation Director & Proposal Approval
• Notice of Doctoral Dissertation Oral Examination

Dissertation Committee Dissertation committees consist of four MSU tenure stream faculty members. Two members of the committee, including the chair, are HALE faculty. One member is from a different unit. The fourth committee member is either from HALE or another unit. Upon identification of committee members, the student must submit the Dissertation Director Approval/Dissertation Committee Approval form for unit and departmental approval, before it is officially filed with the SAO.

Changes in the membership of the dissertation committee, including change of dissertation chair, may be initiated by the student with concurrence of the department chairperson and acknowledgement of committee members by filing a new Dissertation Director Approval/ Dissertation Committee Approval form.

The Doctoral Dissertation A doctoral dissertation is a substantial scholarly product based on original research that makes a contribution to knowledge. Only single-authored papers may be considered, that were published, for inclusion in the dissertation if approved by the student’s dissertation committee.

Dissertation Format Students should review the Theses and Dissertations Formatting Guide, which can be viewed at the following site: http://grad.msu.edu/etd/

Dissertation Proposal A dissertation proposal is prepared by the student with the dissertation director and with approval of the director submitted to each member of the guidance committee prior to a meeting called to review and examine the proposal. At least three members of the committee need to be present at the proposal meeting and an approved proposal requires signatures from all committee members before the student is authorized to proceed with the research. The Dissertation Proposal Approval form must be signed by the guidance committee members and filed with the HALE program secretary.

It is necessary to obtain institutional review and approval through the University Committee on Research Involving Human Subjects (UCRIHS) prior to initiating any research involving the use of human or animal or hazardous materials.

Dissertation Defense After the dissertation director indicates that the dissertation is acceptable for examination, the student will distribute hard copies of the dissertation and abstract to the dissertation director, other guidance committee members, and, if necessary, to any appointed examiner. Dissertation defenses can be scheduled throughout the term, unless the unit sets more limited restrictions. However, the term of official degree completion concludes with the submission of revised copy of the dissertation approved by the guidance committee to the Graduate School.

The dissertation defense consists of two parts: a final oral presentation by the doctoral candidate and a final oral examination in defense of the dissertation.

Final Oral Presentation The oral presentation portion of the examination is open to other interested faculty members and members of the public without vote. An announcement of the final oral presentation is publicly posted after the student voluntarily completes the Notice of the Doctoral Dissertation Exam Form and submits it to the Student Affairs Office.

Final Oral Examination The final oral examination in defense of the dissertation is conducted and evaluated by the guidance committee and, at the discretion of the dean of the college, by one appointed faculty member whose voting status is determined by the college. The final oral examination is conducted after the final oral presentation. Other interested faculty members may attend the examination without vote. The dissertation and the student’s performance on the final oral examination must be approved by at least three-fourths of the voting examiners and with not more than one dissenting vote from among the regular faculty members of the guidance committee.

The final oral examination must be scheduled for a date not earlier than two weeks after the dissertation and abstract have been submitted to the chairperson of the guidance committee, other guidance committee members, and any appointed examiner. The student must be enrolled during the semester in which the final oral examination is taken.

Submitting your Dissertation Following the successful defense of the dissertation, students must submit an electronic copy of the completed dissertation to the Graduate School. Instructions for Thesis and Dissertation Electronic Submissions are available at http://grad.msu.edu/etd/ . When submitting the dissertation to ProQuest, a student has the option to open the document using Google, Google Scholar, and Google Books. The option to block such searches is also available.

MSU allows optional supplemental files (audio, video etc.) to be submitted to ProQuest and/or the MSU library. Please note that only those files approved by the major professor or committee, as denoted by the Graduate School approval form, are allowed. The supplemental materials will not be reviewed by the Graduate School for formatting. Items submitted to ProQuest must be acceptable by ProQuest and comply with ProQuest criteria and storage limits. Items submitted to the MSU library should be directed to the Assistant Director for Digital Information, currently Shawn Nicholson ( [email protected] ).

University Policy About Dissemination of Graduate Students’ Research

In keeping with MSU’s public mission, the University requires that theses, dissertations and abstracts will become public after the conferral of the degree; embargoes can only be pursued for a limited period (see [1] below). Results that are subject to restrictions for dissemination by funding agencies (see [2] below) cannot be part of any document submitted as a thesis or dissertation to the Graduate School.

[1] Hold/embargo on publication of documents submitted to ProQuest: Students submitting a thesis/dissertation to ProQuest now can request a hold/embargo of publication by ProQuest by contacting the Graduate School at [email protected]. In response to the request, the Graduate School will send directly to the student a form that needs to be completed and turned to the Graduate School prior to submission of the document to ProQuest. The form needs to be signed by the student’s major professor and by the Associate Dean of the student’s college. The request for the hold/embargo may be for six months, one year or two years. Requests for a period longer than six months must include a written justification for the length of the hold/embargo.

[2] Graduate students’ participating in University Research Organization (URO; https://uro.egr.msu.edu/): Graduate students involved in a URO project will receive both written documentation and a verbal explanation of any limitations or implications to their current or future academic progress prior to participating on the project. Students engaging in work for a URO project undergo a 2-step approval process before hiring: a consultation with a representative of the URO’s office to explain the restrictions on the project, and an interview with the Graduate School Dean or Dean’s designee to discuss the relationship, if any, between their work as graduate students and their participation in the project. Students must be informed that results that are subject to restrictions for dissemination cannot be part of any document submitted as a thesis or dissertation. As part of their degree program, all graduate students must have research options to ensure the generation of appropriate results to fulfill the degree requirements, and to have data for professional development activities that are integral to their graduate education (e.g., presentations at conferences and research seminars).

Exit Survey (effective May 9, 2011)

Students who have applied for graduation will have access to an exit survey. The survey asks questions about educational experiences in MSU graduate programs, as well as about immediate professional plans. The identity of all respondents will be kept confidential and only aggregate (group) information will be made available to faculty and administrators. Students will receive an email message from the dean of the graduate school with a link to the survey, or students may access the appropriate survey through the following websites:

• Doctoral students: https://www.egr.msu.edu/doctoral/survey/

Final Certification for Graduation

Each student must apply for graduation with the MSU Registrar’s Office , online (preferred) or in person at room 150 Administration Building. Application should be made during the first week of the semester one wishes to graduate. This will produce a final certification form that is to be completed and signed by the academic advisor and submitted to the HALE administrative assistant.

Commencement information will be sent to each degree candidate midway through their final semester. Commencements are held fall and spring semesters. Summer degree candidates may participate during the fall or spring ceremonies.

For further information, visit the Commencement website.

Funding Doctoral Education

There is no central information source about assistantships at MSU.

The MSU Graduate School has a funding page with information about many sources of funding (internal and external to MSU). This page also includes a link to assistantship opportunities in the Division of Student Affairs.

The MSU Human Resources employment page includes job postings for faculty, staff, and student positions.

In addition to opportunities that may be available within the HALE programs or the College of Education, there are occasionally opportunities in other offices and departments around campus. These opportunities are typically advertised through various departmental list serves and HALE Happenings.

Graduate Assistantships

Graduate assistant (GA) is a generic term referring to a graduate student who is supported on a graduate assistantship. Graduate assistants are in one of three categories as they relate to policy in this section: research assistants, teaching assistants represented by the Graduate Employees Union (GEU), and teaching assistants not represented by the GEU.

Graduate assistantships are available only to graduate students who are actively pursuing graduate degree programs and who are making satisfactory progress toward their degrees, including maintaining at least a 3.00 grade-point average. Colleges, departments, or schools may set higher or additional standards.

Work Related Policies

Faculty in the HALE program regularly appoints qualified doctoral students as research assistants on a variety of research initiatives. The nature of the assistantship (e.g., length of appointment, work load expectations, available resources, necessary proficiencies, travel, and so on) will be defined by the hiring faculty member. The processing of assistantships through the university is conducted by the Department of Educational Administrations’s administrative assistant. The faculty, program, and department adhere to the guidelines set by the MSU Graduate School Graduate Assistantships policy.

GA Appointment Levels and Appointment Periods

Graduate assistants are appointed on a quarter-time, half-time, or three-quarter-time basis. The academic year encompasses two appointment periods: August 16 – December 31 and January 1 – May 15. During each appointment period, a graduate assistant’s duties to the university require an average of:

10 hours per week for a quarter-time stipend.

20 hours per week for a half-time stipend.

30 hours per week for a three-quarter-time stipend.

Summer appointments cover the period from May 16 – August 15. The appointing unit is responsible for informing the graduate assistant of the distribution of duties that are related to the summer appointment.

Minimum and Maximum Credit Loads for GA’s

Graduate assistants must be registered each semester in which they hold assistantships. The minimum and maximum credit loads are as follows:

For a quarter-time GA , minimum enrollment is six (6) credits for master’s degree students and three (3) credits for doctoral students (including credits in courses numbered 899 or 999); maximum enrollment is 16 credits (excluding credits in courses numbered 899 or 999).

For a half-time GA , minimum enrollment is six (6) credits for master’s degree students and three (3) credits for doctoral students (including credits in courses numbered 899 or 999); maximum enrollment is 12 credits (excluding credits in courses numbered 899 or 999).

For a three-quarter-time GA , minimum enrollment is three (3) credits (including credits in courses numbered 899 or 999); maximum enrollment is eight (8) credits (excluding credits in courses numbered 899 or 999).

Deviation from the minimum enrollment requirements listed above is permitted only during summer session, when a 3-credit minimum enrollment is allowed for all types of assistants; and the semester in which the degree is granted, when all types of assistants must enroll for at least the number of credits required to complete the degree or meet the university minimum registration requirement.

Any deviation from the maximum enrollment requirements listed above must have the approval of the dean of the college prior to enrollment.

In meeting the credit requirements, graduate assistants should be enrolled in courses that are recognized as being of graduate level unless the student’s department or school has granted written permission for course work constituting an exception to this rule. Visitor credits may count as part of a graduate assistant’s credit load, if approved, in writing, by the student’s department chair or unit director and the dean of the Graduate School.

Integrity in Scholarship and Research

Students are expected to uphold the principles and standards set forth in university policies that maintain the integrity of academic work. Academic dishonesty, violations of professional standards, and falsification of academic or admission records are considered serious violations and may result in disciplinary action.

In addition to their dissertation research, doctoral students are often engaged in forms of research for courses, in independent studies, or when working with faculty and colleagues on independent projects. A brief introduction to the standards for integrity in research and creative activities to which MSU and therefore, all HALE graduate programs subscribe is presented here.

Guidelines for Integrity in Research and Creative Activities

The conduct of research and creative activities by faculty, staff, and students is central to the mission of Michigan State University and is an institutional priority. Faculty, staff, and students work in a rich and competitive environment for the common purpose of learning, creating new knowledge, and disseminating information and ideas for the benefit of their peers and the general public. The stature and reputation of MSU as a research university are based on the commitment of its faculty, staff, and students to excellence in scholarly and creative activities and to the highest standards of professional integrity. As a partner in scholarly endeavors, MSU is committed to creating an environment that promotes ethical conduct and integrity in research and creative activities.

Innovative ideas and advances in research and creative activities have the potential to generate professional and public recognition and, in some instances, commercial interest and financial gain. In rare cases, such benefits may become motivating factors to violate professional ethics. Pressures to publish, to obtain research grants, or to complete academic requirements may also lead to an erosion of professional integrity.

Breaches in professional ethics range from questionable research practices to misconduct. The primary responsibility for adhering to professional standards lies with the individual scholar. It is, however, also the responsibility of advisors and of the disciplinary community at large. Passive acceptance of improper practices lowers inhibitions to violate professional ethics.

Integrity in research and creative activities is based not only on sound disciplinary practice but also on a commitment to basic personal values such as fairness, equity, honesty, and respect. These guidelines are intended to promote high professional standards by everyone, faculty, staff, and students alike. For additional information, please consult the Guidelines for Integrity in Research and Creative Activities.

Human Research Protection Program

The Human Research Protection Program is the home of MSU’s Institutional Review Boards (IRBs). Federal and university regulations require that all research projects involving human subjects be reviewed and approved by an IRB before initiation. Under the regulations, research is defined as a formal investigation designed to develop or contribute to generalizable knowledge. For full information on MSU’s Human Research Protection Program, and instructions for submitting research projects for review, please go to the website .

Student Conduct and Conflict Resolution

Conflicts, disagreements, and issues sometimes arise during the course of a graduate program. If you find yourself in this situation and have exhausted the internal resources for resolving the issue, you may contact the Office of the University Ombudsperson .

The Office of the University Ombudsperson provides assistance to students, faculty, and staff in resolving university-related concerns. Such concerns include: student-faculty conflicts; communication problems; concerns about the university climate; and questions about what options are available for handling a problem according to Michigan State University policy. The university ombudsperson also provides information about available resources and student/faculty rights and responsibilities. The office operates as a confidential, independent, and neutral resource. It does not provide notice to the university—that is, it does not speak or hear for the university.

Contact the ombudsperson at any point during an issue when a confidential conversation or source of information may be needed. The ombudsperson will listen to your concerns, give you information about university policies, help you evaluate the situation, and assist you in making plans to resolve the conflict.

Contact information: Office of the University Ombudsperson 129 N. Kedzie Hall (517) 353-8830 [email protected] https://www.msu.edu/unit/ombud

Within the HALE Department, the guidelines for Graduate Student Appeals of Allegations of Academic Dishonesty (GSAAD) establishes the right of graduate students to appeal allegations of academic dishonesty. For complete listing of rights and responsibilities, please see Article 5 of the Graduate Student Rights and Responsibilities document at Michigan State University (GSRR). For a detailed explanation of grievance procedures consult the  Graduate Student Academic Grievance Hearing Procedures document in the College of Education. 

Note: All students will have these and other documents on file in the HALE office. Students may, at any time, challenge the accuracy of the contents of their student files. This may be as simple as writing a letter to be put in the file.

Department of Psychology College of Social Science

Prospective phd students.

Interested in our graduate programs?

Watch a recording of a virtual information session to find out more about our areas of focus. Sessions were held for each area of interest.

Click here to watch:

Behavioral Neuroscience Recording Clinical Science Recording Cognition and Cognitive Neuroscience Recording Ecological and Community Recording Organizational Psychology Recording Social / Personality Recording

Admissions Information

Students may obtain a PhD in Psychology from Michigan State University by focusing their scholarship within one of the six on campus graduate programs.  Admission decisions are made by each of our six Areas separately although the application process is same across our department.  We recommend learning about the programs  here,  and  contacting individual faculty members  whose research interests match your own.

• We do not offer on-campus terminal masters degrees. Students enter the program with the intent of earning their PhD, and earn a Masters degree while working towards the PhD.
• We do not offer an online PhD program. 

Take some time to review the pages below that describe the application process.  If you have questions after you review those, please feel free to contact our academic program coordinator Darlene Dalessandro  for more information.

Applications for the 2025-2026 academic year open August 1, 2024. The application deadline is December 1, 2024.

Our department uses a holistic decision- making process – we make our decisions based on considering all the information you provide as we want to consider the whole person and all you would bring to our program. Admissions decisions are made by the faculty in each Area, based on the pool of applicants in a given year and available openings.  Because we offer an outstanding package of financial assistance to all admitted students- covering tuition and providing an assistantship stipend -- we admit only a small number of students in any given year. The following serve as general guidelines based on the past history of applicants who were admitted. Applicants are admitted to the program only if judged to be qualified to complete the doctoral degree.

General Standards:

• Completion of a level of education comparable to a four-year U.S. bachelor's degree.
• A grade-point average of 3.20 or better during the last two full years of undergraduate study.
• A major in psychology or or relevant background coursework in the area of interest, including courses in statistics.
• Favorable evaluations of the applicant by at least three referees, preferably instructors and research mentors in the applicant's undergraduate major.
• Meeting university requirements for English language proficiency (see https://grad.msu.edu/english-language-competency ).
• Submitting GRE scores is optional.

Admission at the doctoral level for students with a master's degree earned elsewhere:

There are three important issues that pertain to students who come to MSU with an MA or MS degree from another institution.

Will the MA/MS degree count as meeting the Master’s Program requirements at MSU?

It is rare that an MA/MS degree from another institution is considered a sufficient substitute for an MA at MSU, given the specific requirements of our program. Importantly, students with a non-thesis-basedMA/MS, and/or a degree in an unrelated area (e.g., English literature), will be required to complete the Master’s Program at MSU. Waiver of the entire MA degree requirement may occur in rare instances when the committee feels that both the thesis and the coursework completed (see immediately below) provide a sufficient substitute for the MA requirements here at MSU. Students who enter the program with a MA or MS degree from another institution who do receive this waiver for the Master’s Program are automatically admitted into the PhD program.

Will the thesis completed elsewhere count as meeting the requirements for an MA thesis at MSU?

If you completed a data-based MA/MS thesis in psychology or a related field, and you would like to waive the thesis requirement at MSU, you must receive prior approval. The departmental policy regarding whether an existing MA/MS thesis will be counted is that 1) the thesis must be data-based, 2) in psychology or a related field, and 3) it should demonstrate research competency. More information on specific steps for getting this waiver are provided after an admission decision is made.

Can required MSU Psychology Department courses be waived if the same material was covered in a  Course in a master’s program at another institution?

There are opportunities for some course waivers in your area of interest, and rarely in quantitative methods.  Processes for doing so will be explained if you are admitted to the program. You can also request that credits from graduate-level courses taken at other institutions be counted towards your degree. MSU limits this to 9-credit hours at the Master’s level (unlimited at the PhD level),but only if they were NOT counted toward another degree program at MSU.

Checklist for Application

• Write your statement of purpose/intent. 
• Ask three individuals to prepare letters of recommendation for you.  They will be sent links directly by MSU.  You just need to make sure you have their consent, names and email addresses.
• With a holistic process, GRE scores are considered along with other information. We do not grant waivers of providing GRE scores.
• Taking the GRE by computer makes scheduling easy.  However, if you are in a location which only offers standard paper exams, we recommend you take the test no later than October.
• There is a discount offered by ETS here . There is also a fee reduction request from ETS here .
• Send GRE test scores to MSU using the Institution Code 1465 and the Department Code 2001.
• Click here for important notes on filling out the graduate application in MSU's system.
• For eligibility for an application fee waiver, please click here .
• Upload Statement of Intent/Purpose to University Application
• Electronic transcripts are preferred and can be sent to Darlene Dalessandro at [email protected] . If you need to send a paper copy, please send it to Darlene Dalessandro, Psychology Building, 316 Physics Rd., Room 240E, East Lansing, MI 48824.
• Initially, you may upload an unofficial copy of your transcript so your application can move forward for review, but an official university copy is required before final decisions are made. It must be an official copy sent from the university. Emailed copies from a student are not an official transcript.
• If you are an international student, we recognize that the process of sending an official transcript might be more delayed and we encourage you to upload an unofficial copy to facilitate reviewing your file.

The Department of Psychology welcomes graduate students from around the globe.  Our department embraces the cross-cultural learnings that come with having students from many countries, and the university provides a supportive environment for international students. 

Please visit the Graduate School website, specifically   The Graduate School International Applicants Information Page  for information regarding the following:

General Visa Resource: http://studyinthestates.dhs.gov

Office for International Students and Scholars Michigan State University International Center 427 N. Shaw Lane, Room 105 East Lansing, MI 48824 Phone: 517-353-1720 Fax: 517-355-4657 [email protected]

FINANCIAL PROOF:

Our department supports our students with research or teaching assistantships, so financial proof is not required when applying to our department. Any student admitted to our program receives guaranteed funding with a Graduate Assistantship for 4 years. So you do not need to provide any proof in your application.

TRANSCRIPTS and DEGREES:

Admission to a program leading to a master’s or doctoral degree requires completion of a level of education comparable to a four-year U.S. bachelor’s degree. High scholastic standing and suitable preparation for the intended field of study are also considered. Normally, Michigan State University does not accept three-year bachelor’s degrees, diplomas or certificates as comparable to a four-year U.S. bachelor’s degree.

Information by Program Area

Overview of the behavioral neuroscience program:.

The Behavioral Neuroscience program focuses on the neuronal, hormonal, and genetic control of behavior. This research provides insights into human behavior and disease. Students will benefit from our highly collaborative research environment as our program prepares them for careers in academia, higher education, and biomedical research.

How many students are in the program?

Each year, there are approximately 10-15 students working in the labs of the Behavioral Neuroscience faculty. Some new students are admitted each year through the Behavioral Neuroscience graduate program within Psychology. Others are admitted through a variety of units, including the Neuroscience Program, Department of Integrative Biology.

All members of the Behavioral Neuroscience interest group in the Psychology Department are members of the interdepartmental Neuroscience Program. These two PhD-granting programs are separate, which one should I apply to?

It depends on what is best for you as an individual, and it is a good idea to discuss this issue with the person you are most interested in working with before you apply. However, the following list may help you in making your decision:

In either Psychology or Neuroscience, you can conduct your research in any of the following labs - Agruello, Lonstein, Smale, Veenema, or Yan, and the project you do could be identical regardless of the program.

• The coursework in Psychology and Neuroscience differ with respect to the number that are elective vs. required. In Psychology, there is somewhat more flexibility with respect to which courses each student takes and when they are taken. All students in the Neuroscience Program take a series of required courses during their first two years. In practice, however, Psychology students often elect to take many of the same courses as Neuroscience students. All of the courses are open to graduate students in both programs.
• The Neuroscience Program requires that students rotate in two labs during their first year; the Psychology Department does not.
• The format of the comprehensive exam differs. Behavioral Neuroscience students in Psychology develop an upper-level course in their discipline (this course is not taught, just planned), typically in their third year. Neuroscience students take a sit-down exam at the end of their second year.

What types of courses will I take?

Students typically take two 3-credit classes each semester prior to beginning their dissertation work. This allows ample time for involvement in research. Students take required courses including statistics and Advanced Behavioral Neuroscience, and can choose from options such as Sensation & Perception, Developmental Psychobiology, Systems Neuroscience, and others. Students may also take courses offered in other departments.

What types of research will I be involved in? 

Broadly, our research focuses on the neuronal, hormonal, and genetic control of behavior. Here is a brief list of each faculty member's specific research interests:

Amy Arguello : Is accepting new graduate students for fall 2024.

• Brain mechanisms underlying drug addiction
• Drug intake and relapse in adolescents and adults

Alexander Johnson : Is not accepting new graduate students for fall 2024.

• Neurobiology of learning and motivation
• Focus on obesity, addiction, and neuropsychiatric illness

Joe Lonstein : Is accepting new graduate students for fall 2024.

• Brain control of motherhood
• Neurochemistry of postpartum caregiving and mental health

Alexa Veenema : Is accepting new graduate students for fall 2024.

• Neuropeptide regulation of social behavior
• Modulation by sex, age, and early-life stress

Lily Yan : Is accepting new graduate students for fall 2024.

• Daylight effects on mental health and cognition
• Neurobiology of daily rhythms and sleep

Will I be assigned to work with a particular professor, or will I get to choose whom to work with?

First-year students often begin working with a particular faculty member by communicating directly with them when applying to the program. Our application form encourages prospective students to indicate which faculty member’s research is of particular interest to them. Students may sometimes choose to work in more than one laboratory during their first year while deciding which faculty member’s research best suits their interests. We are a highly collaborative group, and all graduate students (not only first-year students) are encouraged to work with more than one faculty member or on more than one research project to gain experience in different areas of Behavioral Neuroscience or to obtain new skills.

What type of financial support is available?

Most students are supported through teaching or research assistantships. Some receive University Fellowships. Students with these types of funding receive tuition waivers and health care benefits. Funding for four academic years is guaranteed for all students in good standing, and it is commonly available for students who need a fifth year to complete their degree. Behavioral Neuroscience faculty commonly support students during summers. As the become prepared, students are encouraged to apply for external funding, and many have been successful in obtaining fellowships from the National Institutes of Health and National Science Foundation.

Where are graduates employed?

Many of the graduates that obtain their Ph.D.s in the labs of Behavioral Neuroscience faculty go on to become post-doctoral researchers at a variety of institutions, and from there onto faculty positions. Others have opted to find employment teaching at small colleges or conducting research in industry. We encourage students to pursue their passions.

Do students attend or present research at professional conferences?

Most students attend the annual Society for Neuroscience conference , as well as other conferences more focused on their particular research area (such as the meeting of the Society for Behavioral Neuroendocrinology. Funding for these activities is available from a variety of sources on campus, and is commonly provided by students' major professors.

Do students publish research in professional and scientific journals?

It is expected that students will publish research articles in top-tier scientific journals based on their masters thesis and dissertation work.

Do I need to have my own computer?

Behavioral Neuroscience laboratories all have computers that graduate students can use for some applications. Software typically includes Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint), and statistical packages. All computers provide access to the Internet. However, most students do choose to purchase their own computer for use at home and/or in their offices.

Technical Resources

Within the behavioral neuroscience program.

It is common for students, postdocs and staff to learn procedures and use equipment across the Behavioral Neuroscience labs. Expertise is available in numerous areas, including:

• immunohistochemistry (including the use of multiple fluorescent markers)
• radioimmunoassay
• stereotaxic surgery
• up- and down-regulation of gene expression
• neuroanatomical tracing
• neural lesioning
• neuropharmalogical manipulation
• behavioral analysis across diverse functions (including learning/memory, affective, and motivated behaviors)
• telemetric quantification of biological rhythms
• Northern, Southern, and Western blot analyses
• in situ hybridization
• primary cell culture

Elsewhere on Campus

• confocal microscopy
• electron microscopy
• DNA and protein sequencing
• High performance computing

The Clinical Science Area will be accepting students for 2024/2025 academic year and admissions cycle . For information on the Clinical Science graduate program, including faculty members accepting new graduate students and information about admissions interviews, see the prospective students section of the Clinical Science page.

Overview of the Cognition and Cognitive Neuroscience Program:

The Cognition & Cognitive Neuroscience graduate program provides training in the scientific study of cognition and its underlying neural mechanisms. Key areas of research include perception, attention, memory, executive processes, and skill acquisition. We are a research-focused program that promotes cutting-edge research with sophisticated and rigorous methodology. Here are several reasons why you should apply to our program:

• Students engage in original research from the very start of the program.
• The program is well-structured with clear guidance and feedback to students.
• Students have access to diverse methodologies and resources
• The inter-departmental Cognitive Science Program provides further exposure to a wide variety of research topics on campus

We offer a variety of courses both in content areas (e.g., perception, cognition, cognitive neuroscience) and in methodologies (e.g., advanced statistics, programming, modeling, fMRI). In addition, students have the opportunity to take relevant courses from the vast course offerings elsewhere at MSU. Our course requirement is low, but comprehensive, and students typically complete the required courses within the first two years.

What types of research will I be involved with?

Students are guided by their advisors to work on their own projects and to gradually develop a more independent research program. We highly value innovative and interdisciplinary research with rigorous methodologies. Students are expected to present their research at scientific conferences and publish their findings in peer-reviewed journals. The vast majority of our students complete the program with a solid track of publications in well-respected journals. Our program has expertise in all of the key areas of cognition. Here is a brief description of each individual faculty member’s research interests:

Erik Altmann :   Dr. Altmann is not accepting new graduate students for fall 2024.

• procedural error, effects of task interruption, and individual differences in performance

Mark Becker :  Dr. Becker is accepting new graduate students for fall 2023. 

• visual attention, visual search, eye movement, and applied cognitive research 

Jan Brascamp :   Dr. Brascamp is accepting new graduate students for fall 2024. 

• visual perception, consciousness, pupillometry, and cognitive neuroscience

Kimberly Fenn :   Dr. Fenn is accepting new graduate students for fall 2024. 

• memory consolidation, sleep and memory, sleep deprivation, learning, and forensic memory

Zach Hambrick :   Dr. Hambrick is accepting new graduate students for fall 2024. 

• skill acquisition, expertise, and individual differences in cognition

Karl Healy : Dr. Healy is accepting new graduate students for fall 2024. 

• episodic memory, cognitive aging, computational modeling, and EEG

Taosheng Liu :   Dr. Liu is accepting new graduate students for fall 2024. 

• attention, working memory, decision making, and cognitive neuroscience 

Devin McAuley :   Dr. McAuley is accepting new graduate students for fall 2024. 

• timing and rhythm, attention, music cognition, speech and language, and cognitive neuroscience

Susan Ravizza :   Dr. Ravizza is accepting new graduate students for fall 2024. 

• executive control, working memory, technology and learning, neuropsychology, and cognitive neuroscience. 

What co-curricular activities are available?

Students attend and present at our weekly seminar (Cognitive Science Forum), which features both MSU-based and outside speakers. There are also several other talk series on campus (e.g., Neuroscience Program seminar, Cognitive Science Distinguished Speaker Series) which students may attend to enhance their scientific training and to network with fellow researchers. Students have the opportunity to attend regional, national, and international conferences to present their research to a wide scientific audience. Funding for conference travel is available from the department and graduate school.

Will I be assigned to work with a particular professor or will I get to choose whom to work with?

Each student chooses a primary advisor during admission. However, students have the opportunity to work with more than one faculty member in pursuing their research. We strongly value and encourage collaborative research and many students work with multiple faculty members during their tenure in our program.

Where are graduates of the program employed?

Most graduates of the program pursue academic careers, although some have also pursued careers in industry or the government. The most typical career path following completion of the program is an initial job in a post-doctoral position, followed by a faculty position. A partial list of institutions where our recent PhDs were employed in post-doctoral or faculty positions includes Georgia Tech, University of Kentucky, Baylor College of Medicine, Aston University (UK), Florida State University, Pennsylvania State University, and Emory University.

What resources are available to me?

A variety of tools are available for your research. In addition to standard behavioral research tools (e.g., computers and software), eye tracking, EEG, and TMS technologies are available to students within our program. Our students also utilize fMRI facilities in the MSU Department of Radiology for their research. Each lab in our program has dedicated lab space and equipment, and many labs have grant support to facilitate research activities. For computing-intensive research, students can utilize MSU's state-of-the-art High Performance Computing Center in the College of Engineering. 

How can I learn more?

Additional information can be found on our website here . 

Frequently Asked Questions

The Ecological-Community Psychology program welcomes applications for graduate study from all individuals interested in pursuing a research-based PhD in Community Psychology. We are committed to cultivating a diverse and inclusive environment for community-based research and action, and particularly encourage applications from members of historically under-represented and marginalized groups. Our past graduates have gone on to diverse careers as academic faculty, consultants, practitioners, and evaluators.

What makes the MSU Ecological-Community Psychology program unique?

There are many great Community Psychology graduate programs around the country, but there are a few things that we think really sets our program apart:

• We are the oldest continuously operating community psychology program in the country, with a long-standing commitment to our community partners.
• Our faculty have won many awards, and are routinely recognized as among the best in community psychology and in their respective specialty areas.
• Our students get involved in the community early, through the first year Practicum Experience.
• Our alumni have had an excellent track record securing employment in both academic and practice settings.

What do students do in the program?

All students begin the program with a temporary advisor. During the first year, students select a more permanent advisor from the core Ecological-Community faculty, usually based on intellectual and personal fit. In some cases the same person will advise a student through the whole program, while in other cases a student may change advisors when transitioning from one project or program milestone to the next.

Incoming PhD students usually follow a standard course sequence:

• Year 1, Fall: Community psychology theory (PSY871), Practicum (PSY873), Statistics (PSY815)
• Year 1, Spring: Field research design (PSY870), Practicum (PSY874), Elective/Thesis
• Year 2, Fall: Qualitative methods (PSY872), Elective/Thesis, Elective/Thesis
• Year 2, Spring: Psychometrics (PSY818), Elective/Thesis, Elective/Thesis
• Year 3+ students select additional courses in consultation with their faculty advisor(s)

All students complete the same basic program milestones:

• MA Thesis – A research paper developed in collaboration with a faculty advisor, evaluated by a three-person committee and often completed in Year 2 or 3. Applicants who have completed an MA in a related field can apply for a waiver.
• Comprehensive Exam – This can take multiple forms, including a written exam, writing a literature review or grant proposal, or developing a new course.
• PhD Dissertation – An independent research project, evaluated by a four-person committee.

Along the way, our students participate in a wide range of other experiences:

• Teaching – Many students serve as a TA in a course led by a faculty instructor, and some students teach their own course, often in the summer.
• Research – In addition to their MA and PhD projects, all of our students work in close collaboration on faculty-led research projects.
• Community Engagement – Starting with the Practicum Experience, and continuing throughout their time in the program, our students are directly engaged in the communities they aim to serve through their research.
• Conferences & Publications – Students regularly attend regional, national, and international conferences to present their own work and work conducted in collaboration with faculty. Students also regularly publish their work in top-tier research journals.

For a detailed description of all the program's course and degree requirements, please take a look at the current program handbook .

What do you consider in admissions decisions?

The admissions committee, in consultation with the full faculty of the program, consider a wide range of factors when making admissions decisions, including:

• Commitment to research, particularly community-based research
• Commitment to advancing a diverse, inclusive, & intellectually engaging environment
• Intellectual fit with the program and current faculty research interests
• Program's ability to provide funding
• Recent GPA and GRE scores

How are students funded?

Depending on the availability of funding, students often receive funding by working as research assistants on faculty-led projects or as teaching assistants in psychology courses. In addition, a number of competitive fellowship opportunities are also available through Michigan State University. Fellowships provide a monthly stipend, tuition waiver, and health care, but do not require service as a Teaching or Research Assistant. You can find additional information about fellowships here . Some of our students have also secured funding from external sources including the National Institutes of Health.

How do I apply?

Application to the Ecological / Community Psychology graduate program requires an online application to Michigan State University . You can find a link to the online applications here .

Which faculty members are accepting graduate students for fall 2024?

Dr. Ignacio Acevedo  

Dr. Amy Drahota  

More Frequently Asked Questions

Where do graduate students live? Most graduate students rent apartments or homes in Lansing within biking distance of campus. Real estate is affordable in the area, so some graduate students have also bought homes.

How long does the program take? It depends on a lot of factors. Students entering without an MA often complete their MA by year 2 or 3, their comprehensive exam by year 4, and their PhD by year 5 or 6.

Click here for additional information about being a graduate student in our program.

Program Highlights

The aim of the graduate program in Organizational Psychology at Michigan State University is to provide Ph.D. level training to students who intend to obtain faculty positions in universities or research-oriented positions in major corporations, government, or other organizations. The program provides a strong background in psychology and quantitative methods, as well as the content of Organizational psychology.

In addition, there is an excellent working relationship with the Department of Management, Eli Broad College of Business, and with the School of Labor and Industrial Relations. Such a strong link is unique among most Organizational psychology programs. Students and faculty from these programs frequently are involved in joint projects.

 Frequently Asked Questions

Usually there are around 15-20 students in the program at any one time. Some incoming cohorts have had only 2 or 3 students, others have had as many as 7 students. The number of students admitted each year depends on several factors, including how many returning students there will be and what sources of funding will be available. Maintaining a low student- faculty ratio is important to allow students frequent interaction with all faculty and to provide for close mentoring relationships.

How many classes do students typically take?

Students typically take two (3-credit) classes each semester, prior to their dissertation work. This allows for ample time for involvement in multiple research projects. In fall and spring semesters, students who have assistantships are typically waived tuition for nine credit hours; during summer session, five credit hours of tuition are typically waived. While a few summer courses are offered in related departments, most students take thesis or dissertation credits during the summer.

What are the classes students typically take?

Each class is usually one three-hour seminar each week. First-year students take a standard set of courses, including two courses that provide an introduction to the Organizational field, one statistics course, and one course in psychometric theory and test construction. Although students take a majority of their classes within Organizational psychology, students are allowed to participate in seminars in other areas that fit with their interests. In past semesters, students have taken courses in social psychology, management, cognitive psychology, communications, math, human development, and education.

How long does the graduate program take?

The graduate program is typically completed in five years. This offers students time to develop the skills it takes to be successful and to become involved in research and applied projects that are outside of their required assistantship work or coursework. Students begin working toward their master’s degree by completing a thesis sometime in their second and third years in the program. After the thesis, the student is admitted to the doctoral level of the program. In the third or fourth year, students complete comprehensive exams. When the student has passed this phase, work begins on the dissertation. After completion of a dissertation, the student receives the Ph.D. degree.

Will I be assigned to work with a particular professor, or will I get to choose whom to work with? 

First-year students are assigned a “temporary advisor” to ensure that their transition is smooth.  They are also  assigned to work as a teaching or research assistant with a particular professor for their first year in the program. Students are required during their first semester to work on an additional project with a faculty member (a first year project). Students are then free to choose a more permanent advisor for thesis and dissertation work, and students are always encouraged to work with more than one faculty member on more than one research project throughout their time in the program, to gain more and varied experience in Organizational Psychology.

What is the mentoring approach at MSU?

Whereas many psychology programs use a direct mentoring approach, which assigns each graduate student to a single advisor, MSU’s Organizational students are selected into the program by the entire faculty. Students are not brought in to work with a single faculty member, but instead, gain a broad base of knowledge early in their graduate career by working with different faculty and eventually specialize over time. Students participate in different types of projects through their graduate careers: some involve one student with one faculty member, other projects involve collaborations of multiple students and/or multiple faculty members.

Will I receive a teaching or research assistantship? 

Generally, all students who are admitted to MSU’s Organizational program receive either a teaching or research assistantship.  MSU’s Organizational program has established a practice of only admitting the number of students that can be supported on a graduate assistantship through available funding. Specific information about funding offers is included in admission letters sent in the spring.

What is onboarding of new students like?

In addition to orientation sessions designed to familiarize students with the Psychology Department, program requirements, and getting to know more people at MSU, the Organizational Psychology program has some extended socialization experiences in the first year.  New students are paired with an advanced student prior to arrival to ensure a smooth transition and a peer resource for answering questions.  During the first year, new students participate in first year research projects that faculty members have developed to get involvement in research from Day One, as well as to engage students immediately in the research process.  Those projects are connected to a weekly proseminar which provides one-on-one time with each faculty member in Organizational Psychology, Management, and HRLR to discuss career issues, research programs, and other general topics.

Are professors actively involved in research? How involved are the students in research? 

The faculty members in MSU’s Organizational program are all actively involved in research. Some faculty members pursue more laboratory-oriented research, others are more focused on field research projects, and some are involved in both. All students are encouraged to work on research projects with the faculty members. Usually the role the student plays in the research depends on their interest and level of expertise. Student activity ranges from collecting laboratory data to participating in research plan development, and students are often encouraged to "take the lead" on various research projects.

What kind of applied work is done? 

Professors regularly do work with outside organizations. Examples of recent applied projects include: selection system design, training program development, employee surveys, and evaluations of interventions to enhance productivity and satisfaction. In addition to gaining hands-on experience, the project teams often build some research questions into the project design, which enables them to produce research articles as well as technical reports. Often students’ research assistantships will involve an applied project.

Will I be required to do an internship? 

While internships are not a required part of the doctoral program, students who are considering careers in applied settings are encouraged to seek an internship. Students who do intern usually take a position sometime during their fourth year, after completing comprehensive exams. Internships are not arranged by the faculty; students must actively and individually pursue internship positions with organizations and/or consulting firms. (see here for information on recent student internship experiences.

Where are recent graduates employed? 

Graduates of MSU’s Organizational Ph.D. program are employed at a variety of organizations, consulting firms, and universities.  See here for information on alums.

Do students attend or present research at professional conferences? 

Each year students attend the Society for Industrial and Organizational Psychology (SIOP) annual conference. Most students present one or more academic research papers, or contribute to a symposium presentation of their research.  See here for information on recent presentations.  Some students also attend and present research at the Academy of Management annual conference. 

Do students publish research in professional and scientific journals? 

MSU students regularly submit research articles to top-tier scientific journals and are often published. While many publications are generated by a group working together on a research project, students also have authored articles based on their dissertation, thesis, or class research papers. Student publications can be found in such journals as the Journal of Applied Psychology, Personnel Psychology, and Organizational Behavior and Human Decision Processes. See the site directory  for more information on student research activity.

Learn more about being a graduate student in our program here .

Overview of the Social / Personality Program:

The graduate program in social/personality psychology provides students with doctoral level training with the goal of preparing students to assume positions as faculty members in universities or as research associates in the private or public sector. The program is research intensive and provides students with expertise in theoretical and methodological aspects of both social and personality psychology. 

Unique characteristics of the Social/Personality program include:

• Strong and diverse methodological and data analytic training
• Expertise in secondary/existing data analysis
• Emphasis on replication, reproducibility, and open science practices
• Certificate programs in quantitative methods/evaluation science, infancy and early childhood, and cognitive science, and college teaching/instruction
• One-on-one mentoring opportunities
• Collaborative work with peers and faculty
• Collegial atmosphere
• Opportunities to mentor undergraduates
• Teaching assistantship opportunities

What types of courses will I be taking?

Students take a range of courses, including three courses in statistics, a research methods course, general overviews of social and personality psychology, and topical seminars in interpersonal, group and intergroup behavior, close relationships, attitudes and social cognition. A variety of other special topic seminars are also offered including seminars in emotions, social identity, the self, personality and development, stereotyping and prejudice, law and psychology, and evolutionary psychology. Students can also take courses in other areas of psychology as well as other departments at the university.

Core interests of the Social/Personality program include lifespan development, social cognition, evolutionary psychology, social relationships/networks, community-engaged research and processes, individual differences, health and well-being, political psychology, and group disparities in health and well-being. Here is a brief description of each individual faculty member’s research interests:

Kaston D. Anderson Jr. : Dr. Anderson is not accepting graduate students for fall 2024.

• Social determinants of health
• Substance use and addiction
• Marginalized and underserved populations

Mark Brandt : Dr. Brandt is not accepting graduate students for fall 2024.

• Political psychology and Moral psychology,
• Intergroup Relationships, Ideology, and Prejudice

Joeseph Cesario : Dr. Cesario is not accepting graduate students for fall 2024.

• Social Cognition
• Stereotyping and automaticity

William Chopik : Dr. Chopik is accepting graduate students for fall 2024.

• Close relationships and individual differences
• lifespan development

Richard Lucas : Dr. Lucas is not accepting graduate students for fall 2024. 

• subjective well-being
• personality
• measurement

Carlos Navarrete : Dr. Navarrete is not accepting graduate students for fall 2024.

• Evolutionary psychology
• Prejudice and discrimination

Jennifer Watling Neal : Dr. Neal is not accepting graduate students for fall 2024.

• Social Networks
• Child Development

Zachary Neal : Dr. Neal is not accepting graduate students for fall 2024.

• cities and neighborhoods
• computational social science
• social networks

Ted Schwaba : Dr. Schwaba is accepting graduate students for fall 2024.

• personality genomics
• openness to experience

What co-curricular activities are available? 

Students in the Social/Personality program attend a weekly brownbag seminar, where students, faculty, and guests from other universities present their research. The Social/Personality program also offers an informal weekly reading group where students and faculty read and discuss current research. Students will have opportunities to present their research within the area/department, region, nationally, and internationally at conferences, and have many networking opportunities.

Students typically have one primary faculty mentor, though they are encouraged to and often do work with multiple faculty members during their training.

Where are graduates employed? 

Former graduates have positions as faculty members in universities and as research associates in the private or public sector.

Most graduate students are supported for the first four years through either teaching or research assistantships and university fellowships. After their fourth year, students often receive support by teaching their own classes. In addition to the stipend, financial support covers tuition and health care. Students are encouraged to apply for funding from external sources such as the National Science Foundation, the National Institute of Health, and the Ford Foundation. More information about financial support can be found on the Graduate School webpage.

Psychology Graduate Student Life

The Department of Psychology at Michigan State University is committed to advancing a diverse and intellectually engaging environment. We embrace the differences among our colleagues, and believe that our success as scholars, educators, and citizens relies on learning from the experiences and perspectives we all bring. We strive to maintain an inclusive, respectful community that fosters collaboration and shared responsibility.

Our faculty and students believe that an enhanced understanding of all types of diversity is critical for the development of our individual students and faculty as psychologists, researchers, and professionals in the field. Our department subscribes to an inclusive definition of diversity which includes race, age, gender, sexual orientation, socioeconomic status, religion, disability, geographic region, and other significant identity groups.

While all faculty strive for inclusive approaches in their research, several of the department’s faculty members and  graduate students conduct research focusing more directly on diversity, equity, and inclusion. You can read more about this research by clicking on the following links: 

https://psychology.msu.edu/programs/clinical/diversity.html

https://psychology.msu.edu/programs/ecological-community/research-comm.html

https://psychology.msu.edu/programs/organizational/research-org.html

https://psychology.msu.edu/programs/social-personality/research-sp.html

To promote an inclusive environment in the department, we have a Psychology Department DEI Committee led by Dr. Ignacio Acevedo-Popovich which engages in planning, programming, and evaluation and DEI.

MSU as a university also has a comprehensive DEI plan that discuss the university’s strategic goals regarding diversity, equity, inclusion, and outreach.  Learn about DEI Initiatives at MSU here .

There are also numerous resources on campus specifically for graduate students, including the  including   Alliances for Graduate Education and the Professoriate (AGEP)   learning community.  The graduate school also has funding and fellowships to support DEI goals (see https://grad.msu.edu/diversity ). 

Other MSU resources and support can be found here:

Inclusion and Intercultural Initiatives

Gender and Sexuality Campus Center

Resource Center for Persons with Disabilities

Office for International Students and Scholars

Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) Program

Office of Cultural and Academic Transitions (OCAT)

Do students live on or off MSU's campus? What is a typical monthly rent payment in the East Lansing area?

Almost all students choose to live off-campus. There are plenty of reasonably priced apartments and townhouses in either walking or short-driving distance from campus. Prices range from approximately $815 to 1200, depending on size and location. There is also graduate housing available on campus. Click here for more information on graduate housing on campus and off campus.

When do students make living arrangements?

Students generally come to the East Lansing area to look for an apartment and sign a lease during the early summer.

Do I need to have a car?

While you may decide you don’t want to have a car if you live very close to campus, many of the current students do have cars. There are a few small stores and restaurants close to campus, but most of the supermarkets, other stores, and restaurants are not a reasonable walking distance. There is a bus line that runs through the East Lansing area. However, having a car is recommended. Parking permits are available for purchase for students who have assistantships. Parking permits are available here .  

What is the weather like in winter in mid-Michigan?

The first snowfall is usually in early November, and winter weather usually lasts until early May. Temperatures are coldest in January and February, usually ranging from mid-30s to the single digits. Snowfalls are not particularly heavy, and we have a number of students from southern states that have successfully learned to drive in the snow! 

Will I need to take out student loans, or can I afford to live off the assistantship?

The assistantship stipend is designed so that one student can afford to live modestly. Whether you need a loan will depend on your lifestyle, and if you have any other factors involved, such as a spouse or dependent children, high moving expenses, plan on purchasing a computer, etc. Many current students do have loans; however, there are a few who are managing the process loan-free. 

Do I have to pay tuition? Do I pay the out-of-state resident tuition rates?

in fall and spring semesters, students with assistantships are waived tuition for nine credit hours; during summer session, four credit hours of tuition are waived. Students who take more than nine (or four) credits are required to pay for those additional credits, but pay at an in-state student rate. The out-of-state portion of the tuition is waived for graduate assistants. Students are responsible for paying fees each semester. 

Do I receive any health care coverage?

All graduate students on an assistantship receive student medical insurance coverage free of charge. This includes major medical coverage, sick/injury visits to the campus health clinic, and many lab test are covered. Prescriptions have a modest co-pay.

Graduate students at MSU typically are awarded funding at the time of acceptance.  Funding is typically granted via a fellowship or an assistantship.  Most students will receive this funding including tuition coverage and health insurance. A fellowship is an award you are given to support you as you take classes and do research. An assistantship is employment (typically as a teaching assistant or research assistant).  Note that both fellowships and assistantships are considered taxable income. See  https://grad.msu.edu/ for more information.

​Assistantships

Graduate assistantships are an additional educational opportunity for graduate students to improve their skills in teaching and research among other activities while pursuing graduate education. Michigan State University offers teaching assistant, research assistant and teaching exempt positions.

MSU HR - Graduate Assistant Info  

Fellowships

The University provides fellowships to select students at the time of admission.  Nominations for fellowships are made by departments and colleges.

https://grad.msu.edu/universityfellowships

Students also often apply for and receive fellowships from outside entities (e.g., the National Science Foundation, the National Institutes of Health). See  https://grad.msu.edu/external-funding   for more information.

Additional Funding Opportunities

Graduate School Travel Funding  

Graduate School Research Enhancement Award  

• Psychology Graduate Student Handbook Psychology Graduate Student Handbook 2023-2024

Schedule:  While graduate students will need to be on campus when working in a lab, teaching a class, or working in the clinic, they generally have autonomy in determining the time and place where they work. Although all PhD students have their own desk, some students prefer to work at home, in coffee shops, or in one of the university’s libraries. Students' schedules also differ based on program area. For instance, in Clinical Psychology and Organizational Psychology, it is common for students to work on internships that have different scheduling requirements. 

Classes: Certain statistics classes and psychology classes in your program area are required, but for the most part, students can shape their class schedule to fit their unique interests. One can also take classes within other areas of psychology and outside of the department altogether. Most classes are reading and discussion based, and meet once a week for about 3 hours. Class papers are often written with the intention of converting them into future research projects. Students typically take only two classes per semester to leave time for working on research projects.

Research: Research projects can be initiated by both faculty and students and range across a wide spectrum of interests. Students can work one-on-one with professors, on larger research teams, with one another, or on their own. Michigan State has the advantage of a large subject pool to facilitate lab-based and survey research.

Conferences: Conferences are a popular outlet for students to present their work. Students regularly present their research at the annual conferences for the American Psychological Association, and the Association for Psychological Science, as well as conferences pertaining to their program area. Students may apply for funding to travel to conferences

Intramural teams and sports:  Many students play on  intramural teams  throughout the year. Psychology students team up with one another and other graduate students, which is a great way to meet new people and have fun.

Other activities:  Many students also pursue activities outside of the program, including MSU sports teams, recreational classes, clubs, and associations. Both the East Lansing Hannah Community Center and the  MSU Graduate School  offer affordable or free exercise classes.  Students can also get involved in volunteering activities, or join the  Council of Graduate Students . There are opportunities to get involved with the community both through MSU and the surrounding area.

Social life:  Many students also like to just spend time together outside of the office. Going to  football games , movies (tickets are very affordable!),  theater performances , and concerts are some of the things to do for fun.  

Students take trips to neighboring cities like Detroit, Grand Rapids,  Ann Arbor, Grand Haven, and Royal Oak to experience all that Michigan has to offer. Michigan is also a natural beauty, and is home to destinations like Sleepy Hollow State Park, Mackinac Island, and Sleeping Bear Dunes where students can go to hike, camp, kayak, etc. 

A lot of students travel home during the holidays. During the summer and spring breaks, many go home for several weeks and easily continue working with team members and faculty remotely.

"Manage your time and energy. Pursue work you are interested in and it will help you in your future career or help you decide what path may be best for you." "Every grad student looks at the successes of their peers and thinks in the back of their mind that they are the worst grad student in the department. If everyone is a failure, then no one is. Just go at your own pace and you will find success." "Be sure to take time for yourself. Graduate school is a big time commitment, but it's important to ensure you're taking the necessary time off and focusing on your mental and physical health." "Work hard, ask questions, and have fun!"

Evaluating evidence to create knowledge and make decisions is necessary in research careers in and outside of academia. The Quantitative Methods and Evaluation Science (QMES) certificate is a series of courses and projects that teach you highly sought after skills in quantitative and qualitative methods above and beyond the required training. This gives you additional skills to answer your research questions and make contributions in your career. The QMES Concentration is an option for students in all areas of the department and can be completed at any stage during your graduate training.

School of Criminal Justice College of Social Science

Doctoral program.

The Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) is designed to produce graduates who can apply interdisciplinary theory and a variety of research methodologies to the study of crime causation, societal responses to crime, and the administration of justice. The Ph.D. in Criminal Justice permits students to focus on various substantive crime-related issues while simultaneously developing a strong foundation in theory and research methods. The program prepares students for careers in college and university teaching and research, as well as advanced public-policy positions in government and private sectors.

Our faculty are trained in a variety of disciplines such as criminology, criminal justice, sociology, psychology, political science, public health, and public policy. Accordingly, doctoral student training is based on a multidisciplinary approach to the study of crime, responses to criminal behavior, and justice administration. Furthermore, students complete a sequence of advanced courses in research methods and statistics that prepares them to independently design, implement, and interpret research. Throughout the program there is an emphasis on the relationship between theory and practice, as well as the interconnected activities of the many agencies and professions involved in the criminal justice system. The program is individualized to allow students, working with a guidance committee, to shape a program of study that is broad in scope yet consistent with their specific interests. Through their research, teaching, and practice, graduates will be prepared to contribute to the prevention and control of crime and delinquency, and improvements in the efficacy of the criminal justice system and the fairness of outcomes it delivers to the public.

For further information regarding the doctoral program, please contact graduate secretary Melissa Christle at [email protected] or 517-353-7133.

Applications for the Criminal Justice doctoral program at MSU are screened for fall semester entry only. All application materials must be received by December 15 for consideration for the following fall semester. Applicants are typically notified of admission decisions within 6-8 weeks of the deadline. Incomplete applications will not be reviewed.

Application materials that may be uploaded include :

• Application for Graduate Study at Michigan State University. May be submitted online here . The major code for the Criminal Justice doctoral program is 4725.  After you begin your application, you will receive an email with a login and password.  You will be prompted to upload the following documents and request Letters of Recommendation.  
• A statement of your academic and professional goals. This should include information about your motivation to study criminal justice, a description of relevant research and/or work experience, and any other information that you would like the admissions committee to know. 
• One or more of the following: a copy of your thesis if it is defended; a copy of your thesis proposal outlining research up to data collection (if data collection is not complete); evidence of research preparation and capabilities (e.g., conference presentations, publications, research report, etc.).
• Three letters of recommendation from tenure-track faculty who can comment on your ability to perform graduate work. 

Additional required materials include :

• Graduate Assistantship resume. May be submitted here .
• ONE set of official transcripts from all colleges and universities attended. A transcript of work at MSU is not required, unless you attended MSU College of Law. Transcripts from US institutions may be sent electronically, and will be considered official if they are sent directly from the institutions attended to the graduate secretary at [email protected] . If they are mailed by the institution attended, they should be sent to the address that follows. International students must submit official transcripts in both the original language and English translation of transcript and diploma. Please have transcripts mailed directly from the institutions attended to: Criminal Justice Doctoral Program Michigan State University Baker Hall 655 Auditorium Road Room 557 East Lansing, MI 48824
• Graduate Record Exam (GRE) general exam scores from a test taken within the last five years. Test preparation material and information about test dates can be found at www.gre.com . Please note when scheduling your exam that it may take 4-6 weeks for your scores to be forwarded to the university and this department. The institution code for MSU is 1465 and the departmental code is 2202. Admission requires scores at or above the fiftieth percentile.
• International students must submit Test of English as a Foreign Language ( TOEFL ) exam scores from a test taken within the past two years. MSU's score requirement is a minimum average score of 80, with no subscores below 19 for Reading, Listening and Speaking, and no subscore below 22 for Writing. The institution code for MSU is 1465. Students from countries where the primary language is English may have the TOEFL requirement waived with the approval of the department, college, and Graduate School. Please contact the graduate secretary at [email protected] to determine whether the requirement may be waived.

Please note : Applicants must have achieved a GPA of at least 3.0 in prior undergraduate and/or graduate work. While formal admission to the program does not require completion of a master's degree, the screening committee looks for a strong methodological and statistical background.

Questions? Please contact graduate secretary Melissa Christle at [email protected] or 517-353-7133.

In addition to meeting the requirements of the university and of the College of Social Science, students must complete a minimum of 36 semester credits of course work and 24 credits of dissertation research, totaling a minimum of 60 semester credits. The program must be developed in consultation with a guidance committee and approved by the College of Social Science.

Required Core Courses (18 credits)

• CJ 801 - Crime Causation, Prevention and Control (3 credits)
• CJ 810 - Proseminar in Criminal Justice (3 credits)
• CJ 901 - Seminar in Contemporary Criminal Justice Theory (3 credits)
• CJ 906 - Advanced Quantitative Methods in Criminal Justice Research (3 credits)
• CJ 909 - Advanced Research Methods (3 credits)
• CJ 910 - Qualitative Methods (3 credits)

Admitted without a Master’s Degree

Students admitted directly from an undergraduate degree program must take CJ 811 (Design and Analysis of CJ Research) and CJ 887 (Quantitative Methods) as prerequisites to CJ 906, 907, 909, and 910. CJ 811 and CJ 887 may not be counted toward doctoral program requirements.

Elective Courses (12 credits)

Students must complete 12 credits of additional courses at the 800-level or above, as approved by the student’s guidance committee. Three of the core master’s courses in criminal justice taught at MSU may not be used toward doctoral program requirements (CJ 811, CJ 812, CJ 887).

Advanced Research Methods (6 credits)

Students must complete two 3-credit doctoral-level research methods courses in the College of Social Science as approved by the student’s guidance committee. CJ 907 and CJ 909 may be repeated for credit and count toward this requirement when topics have changed.

Qualifying Papers

Students will complete two qualifying papers (this is the program’s comprehensive exam requirement). Qualifying papers allow for the assessment of adequate student learning in criminological or criminal justice theory and research methods in criminology and criminal justice. Students will be expected to address unique research questions in their areas of study using the appropriate methods of analysis and should be able to contribute to the literature in ways consistent with high-quality peer-reviewed publications.

Dissertation (24 credits)

Students must submit and defend a dissertation reflecting original research focusing on a significant problem or issue in criminal justice. The guidance committee is responsible for providing direction for the student’s research. All program requirements, including oral defense and submission of the dissertation, must be completed within 8 years from the time of the first enrollment as a doctoral student.

Responsible and Ethical Conduct of Research (RECR)

MSU’s Graduate School has developed minimum education requirements for all graduate students regarding the Responsible and Ethical Conduct of Research (RECR for short). RECR training is also a federal requirement for all graduate students and completion of the training must be tracked. The RECR requirements are outlined by The Graduate School at the following LINK .

• Criminal Justice Doctoral Program Handbook
• Responsible Conduct of Research Requirements (RECR)
• Responsible Conduct of Research (RECR) Verification Form

Travis Carter  – University of South Florida Noah Turner – University of Nebraska Omaha, NCITE Research Associate Matthew Galasso  – Michigan State University

Elizabeth Adams  – Temple University Ashleigh LaCourse  – University of Cincinnati, Research Associate Yongjae (David) Nam  – University Texas San Antonio Amanda Osuna  – University of Tampa Jennifer Paruk  – Rutgers University, Postdoctoral Research Associate Stephen Oliphant  – University of Michigan, Postdoctoral Research Associate Kayla Hoskins  – Yale School of Medicine, Postdoctoral Fellow Meagan Abel  – RTI International Rae Boratto  – Monitor Conservation Research Society

Spencer Lawson  – University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Research Scientist Fiona Chan  - Indiana University Bloomington Mark Gibson - Director, Nurture Nature Campaign Katie Darcy  – University of Michigan-Dearborn Ariel Roddy  – University of Utah Christine Kwiatkowski  – Michigan State University College of Human Medicine, Research Scientist

Jin Ree Lee  - George Mason University Roberta Liggett-O'Malley - University of South Florida Michelle Malkin  - East Carolina University

Alaina DeBiasi Podges - University of California Davis Brent Klein - University of South Carolina Sung Uook Lee - University of Southern Indiana Rebecca Malinski - Moravian College

Yi Ting Chua - University of Cambridge, Cambridge Cybercrime Centre Alison Cox - University of Northern Iowa Gregory Drake - Rochester Institute of Technology Marva Goodson - Vanderbilt University Ka Wai Li - Rutgers University

Giovanni Circo - University of New Haven Lauren Magee - Indiana University School of Medicine Robert Peacock - Florida International University

Michael Cassidy - Niagara University Jina Lee - Grand Valley State University Seung Paek - SUNY-Oswego Ksenia Petlakh - SUNY-Delhi Sarah St. George - Northern Ohio Regional Fusion Center

Levente Fejes - Asociatia pentru Relatii Comunitare

Sadik Arin - Turkish National Police Kimberly Bender - University of Massachusetts-Lowell Roy Fenoff - The Citadel Byung Hyun Lee - Central Connecticut State University Juli Liebler - SCJ Outreach, Michigan State University Michael Rossler - Illinois State University Brandon Sullivan - Michigan State University/ Center for Anti-Counterfeiting and Product Protection 

Vaughn Crichlow - Florida Atlantic University Ryan Martz - Saginaw Valley State University Alexis Norris - California State University, San Bernardino Miriam Northcutt Bohmert - Indiana University Jason Rydberg - University of Massachusetts Lowell Charles Scheer - University of Southern Mississippi Rebecca Stone - University of Massachusetts Lowell Michael Suttmoeller - Missouri State University 

Margaret Fischer - Michigan State University Department of Police and Public Safety Melissa Garmo - Saginaw Valley State University Manish Madan - Richard Stockton College Raymund Narag - Southern Illinois University Carbondale Tia Stevens - University of South Carolina Julie Yingling - South Dakota State University 

Mohammad Ali -Punjab University Ismail Demirkol - Turkish National Police Joseph Johnson - Rowan University Wook Kang - Songpa Police Department Dae-Hoon Kwak - Illinois State University Juyoung Song - University of West Georgia Serkan Tasgin - Turkish National Police 

Jeremy Carter - Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis Suyeon Park - SUNY Plattsburgh 

Nebi Cetinkaya - Turkish National Police Eric Grommon - Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis Mustafa Halicioglu - Turkish National Police Jason Ingram - Illinois State University

Academic Calendar

View each academic year's important dates and deadlines.

Address Changes

Please inform MSU of any address changes as soon as possible at the Registrar's Office website. Click on the Student Services tab and select Address Change.

Bike Leasing

MSU offers a convenient, economical, and environmentally friendly way to get around campus.

Billing and Fee Payment Calendar

Schedule for approximate bill dates.

Bus - CATA (Capital Area Transportation Authority)

Offers 24/7 operations on MSU's campus during Fall and Spring semesters.

Interactive and printable maps. Driving directions.

D2L (MSU Online Learning Platform)

Once you are enrolled in credits, you can self-register for Students Getting Started with D2L, which walks new students through the online learning platform. You will not have access to this until you are enrolled, but once you are, go to D2L and log in. You'll see a Self Registration heading in the upper left side of the page. Click on that and then Students Getting Started with D2L.

Students have specific enrollment periods, and will be sent notification by the Registrar’s Office when the enrollment period is approaching. Students typically enroll in Fall and Spring semester at the same time (enrollment period usually early April) and Summer semester separately (enrollment period usually mid-March).

As a newly admitted student, you will be able to enroll in classes as soon as your admission is processed and your NetID and password established.

You can enroll in classes on the student portal . Click on Schedule Builder to search for classes and add them to your schedule. Follow the screen instructions to enroll. If you have difficulty enrolling in a course, you may need an override issued. Please contact Graduate Secretary Melissa Christle at [email protected] if you have difficulty enrolling in a Criminal Justice course.

Financial Aid

Information about financial aid, link to FAFSA form. Phone number is 517-353-5940.

MSU Housing MSU Off-Campus Housing Service

You will use your NetID to enroll in courses, check your MSU email, and log onto D2L (MSU's online learning platform). Your PID and PAN will be sent to you from the Office of Admissions once your admission is processed. When you have your PID and PAN, please visit the link above to establish your NetID and password.

Parking & Vehicle/Bicycle Registration

All vehicles and bicycles parked on campus need to be registered.

Graduate Assistants are eligible to park at a discounted rate for the semester(s) in which they are appointed. You will need to take a copy of your appointment form to the Department of Police and Public Safety in order to get this discounted rate.

Student Affairs and Services

Health, wellness, safety. Culture and identity. Living, learning, leading.

Student ID (Spartan Card)

Once enrolled, you may get your student ID card at 170 International Center (427 N. Shaw Lane). Please bring government issued photo identification such as a driver's license, passport, state or federal ID.

If you hold a graduate assistantship, please contact Melissa Christle at [email protected] to provide the numbers and digits on the lower right rear of the card, below the magnetic strip. These numbers are used to ensure you have building access when Baker Hall is closed. The sequence should appear as follows: 123456 12345678-1A

Check your enrollment date, grades and grade reports, student account details, etc.

Find out what books will be required at through the student portal . Search for your class and then click on the section number (typically 001). Once you have the ISBNs, you can order your books at a number of sites:

Spartan Bookstore Collegeville Textbook Company Amazon

Tuition rates

Other useful websites.

MSU Graduate School City of East Lansing City of Lansing State of Michigan MSU Federal Credit Union

Graduate Students

Department of EPIDEMIOLOGY AND BIOSTATISTICS

Admissions requirements, 1. basic admissions requirements for all candidates.

• PhD-Epidemiology
• MS-Epidemiology
• PhD-Biostatistics
• MS-Biostatistics

Master's degree or equivalent

• Under special circumstances individuals with only a bachelor’s degree will be considered.

Writing Sample

• Copy of your master’s thesis, capstone project report, published paper or similar writing sample. 

Undergraduate degree (BA, BS)

Master's degree or equivalent 

• MS in Biostatistics, Statistics or equivalent. Applicants without an MS degree from quantitative background (e.g., mathematics) or students from biological disciplines may also qualify, but they will need to complete coursework at the MS level, with training in probability, mathematical statistics and statistical inference (e.g., STT 861, STT 862, STT 863, and STT 864 or equivalents).
• Additionally, applicants to the Ph.D. program should have taken courses in multivariate calculus, and advanced undergraduate courses in linear algebra and probability.
• Experience with numerical computing is also recommended.
• Applications from students in applied fields such as biology, biochemistry, economics and computer science are strongly encouraged to apply, with the understanding that necessary mathematical coursework may have to be completed before enrollment in the program.

ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS FOR ALL PhD or MASTER'S DEGREES

TRANSCRIPTS

• Submit one official transcript from every college or university attended. Transcripts are considered official when mailed by the institution directly to Michigan State University. Please have them mailed to:

Michigan State University Office of Admissions 426 Auditorium Road, Room 250 East Lansing, MI 48824

• Recommended but not required.
• If you have GRE Scores less then 5 years old, you may submit them at your discrection. Scores should be submitted to MSU electronically.   Our institution code is 1465 . 

LETTERS OF RECOMMENDATION

• 3 letters are currently required.
• The applicant’s leadership skills
• The applicant’s capabilities in academics or professional settings
• The applicant’s potential to successfully complete our program
• Any specific achievements the applicant has obtained

ACADEMIC STATEMENT

• Your Academic Statement should be a concise statement of your plans for graduate study, your career goals, and how MSU's graduate program will help you meet your career and educational objectives. Your Academic Statement must include the following statement: "My intended area of specialization in the graduate program in the Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics at Michigan State University will be in _________________." If you have already been in contact with faculty or staff at MSU regarding your application for graduate studies, please list these contacts in your Academic Statement.

PERSONAL STATEMENT

• An 800-1000-word personal statement addressing the applicant’s research goals, career plans and research interests. Applicants should also include any additional experience in epidemiology or biostatistics, and discuss what they have done to prepare for an advanced degree in our program.
• Your Personal Statement should concisely describe how your background and life experiences - including social, economic, cultural, familial, educational, or other opportunities or challenges - motivated your decision to pursue a graduate degree.
• For more help on guidelines for the Academic and Personal statements click here 

2. PREFERRED BACKGROUND FOR ADMISSION

• All PhD Degrees
• All Master's Degrees
• For PhD in Epidemiology - Master’s degree in Epidemiology, Public Health or Biostatistics or advanced degree in related field.
• For PhD in Biostatistics - Master’s degree in Biostatistics, Statistics or equivalent degree in related field.
• A minimum GPA of 3.5 in the last academic program.
• Above the 50th percentile on the GRE verbal, quantitative, and analytical writing sections, or the MCAT.
• Previous course work: at least one year each of college-level biology and mathematics/statistics.
• Prior experience in a health field is recommended. 
• A minimum GPA of 3.2 in the last academic program.
• Above the 50th percentile on the GRE verbal, quantitative, and analytical writing sections, or on the MCAT.
• Prior experience in a health field is recommended.

 3. APPLICANTS WITH PRIOR GRADUATE DEGREES OR OTHER ADVANCED GRADUATE-LEVEL COURSEWORK (All  PhD or  Master's   degrees)

TRANSFER CREDITS

• A maximum of 9 credit hours from Non-MSU graduate courses can be transferred toward credits for the PhD. These courses must match existing course options in this MSU program and be approved by the department.

COURSE EQUIVALENCIES

• Students must obtain departmental approval for any previous graduate coursework they wish to use as fulfillment in the Epidemiology or Biostatistics Master’s course requirements. This is to ensure courses taken as part of their previous degree are equivalent to our MSU Master’s course requirements. Any deficiencies will require enrollment in the MSU course and if equivalency is approved, students will still need to take additional credits to fulfill their total MS credit requirement.

4. ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS FOR INTERNATIONAL APPLICANTS  (All  PhD or  Master's   degrees)

• If you are not a citizen of the United States or if your native language is not English, you are required to demonstrate your level of English proficiency by taking and submitting scores from one of the MSU-accepted language tests. TOEFL, IELTS, SAT, MSUELT or MELAB are accepted.   MSU’s Institutional code is 1465 . When scheduling testing, note that it may take a month or longer from the time of the request to send scores until they are received and recorded in the Office of Admissions.
• Click here to learn more about acceptable minimum scores for international graduate applicants.

FINANCIAL REQUIREMENTS

• Financial proof must be provided in order to comply with U.S. Government regulations. Final admission will not be granted until the Office of Admissions is satisfied that all documents are complete and correct. At that time, your immigration document will be issued.
• Estimated funding requirements for international students annually from the Office of Financial Aid can be found here .
• International Applicants will need to complete this Affidavit of Support form (PDF) . Note: Proof of sufficient funding is not a factor in the admissions decision”

INTERNATIONAL TRANSCRIPTS

• Request that one official copy of all previous schooling (mark sheets, transcripts, diplomas, certificates, etc.) be submitted in an official sealed envelope directly to MSU from the institution. In addition, where the original documents are not issued in English, also provide an official English translation of each document. Please note that translations certified by a notary are not acceptable. Transcripts are considered official when mailed by the institution directly to Michigan State University. Please have them mailed to:

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The patient is at the center of the educational enterprise. The Shared Discovery Curriculum will nurture, educate and graduate students who are ready, willing and able to be exemplary new residents and practicing physicians.

As a state-funded institution with a mission to serve the people, our students obtain their clinical training in communities throughout Michigan.

As the nation's pioneer community-based medical school, our MD program emphasizes patient-centered care through the innovative Shared Discovery Curriculum. The college also offers certificate programs and dual degree programs.

Students connect their academic coursework with community concerns through immersive service learning opportunities. Throughout medical school, students will reflect on their future roles as physicians and the role it plays within the communities they service.

Our students have several international health study opportunities throughout the academic year. They often spend breaks between classes in the winter, spring and summer to travel abroad and experience international health in underserved areas of the world.

Through the work of simulated patients, our students gain real world, hands-on experience in a variety of settings and scenarios.

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• MD/Oral Maxillofacial Surgery Residency Program  in conjunction with Henry Ford Health System