SEMESTER BASED

A) Administration of the Graduate Program:

1) The Graduate School: The Soil Science Graduate Program operates within the general policies and practices of the Graduate School. Details pertaining to the general regulations and organization of the Graduate School are outlined in the Constitution and Bulletin of the Graduate School; both faculty and graduate students should be familiar with these documents. Information summarized in this document is provided as an additional guide to those specifically concerned with advanced studies in Soil Science at the University of Minnesota.

2) The Graduate Advisory Committee and Director of Graduate Studies: The general policies of the graduate program are established by the Soil Science Graduate Faculty, and are administered by the Graduate Advisory Committee and the Director of Graduate Studies. The Committee is concerned with a number of activities aimed at serving both faculty and graduate students in the maintenance of academic standards without impinging on the student-advisor relationship. Problems related to the progress of a graduate student may be directed to the Committee by either the student or faculty advisor. The Director of Graduate Studies chairs the Graduate Advisory Committee, and is the facilitator for a range of program activities, and signatory for most program documents. Membership of the Graduate Advisory Committee is as follows:

One representative from each of the five discipline areas recognized within the Department of Soil, Water, and Climate, i.e., Climatology, Soil Biology and Biochemistry, Soil Chemistry and Fertility, Soil Classification and Genesis, and Soil Physics. Each representative is elected for a three-year term from amongst graduate faculty members in that discipline, with the elections staggered to ensure continuity in the committee. Except in unusual circumstances, the retiring discipline representative will not be eligible for reelection in the year in which he/she completes the term in office.

- The Head of the Department of Soil, Water, and Climate (ex-officio).

- The Director of Graduate Studies (ex-officio).

- Two Ph.D. candidates in Soil Science, elected by ballot of the Soil Science Graduate Student Association to serve a one-year term. Student members of the committee may participate in policy discussions, but not in issues relating to student applications, programs or faculty appointments.

The Director of Graduate Studies is elected by ballot from among all qualified members of graduate faculty, and serves a three-year term. The Director of Graduate Studies and the student representatives on the committee may stand for reelection at the expiration of their term in office.

A) Selection of Candidates for Graduate Studies:

1) Applications for Admission to the Graduate School and for Financial Assistance: Forms for application for admission to the Graduate School and for financial assistance are available by contacting the Department of Soil, Water, and Climate, 439 Borlaug Hall, University of Minnesota, St. Paul, MN 55108-6028. Applications for admission to the Graduate School are returned to the Graduate School, 309 Johnston Hall, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota 55455; while applications for financial assistance, along with three letters of recommendation, and other program specific materials are returned to the Director of Graduate Studies, Department of Soil, Water, and Climate at the address given above.

2) Evaluation and Selection of Applicants: Applicants judged as qualified by the Graduate School and by Graduate Advisory Committee are recommended for admission to the Director of Graduate Studies, who subsequently makes a recommendation to the Graduate School, which will only question recommendations for acceptance of a student when that student's grades or GRE scores fall significantly below the preferred standards established by the program. The Graduate School will notify the applicant of the decision to accept or reject, but subsequent information on the conditions of appointment and the possibility of financial support will be supplied by the program. The formal review process will normally take 4-6 weeks, once all documents have been received.

This formal application selection procedure does not preclude faculty members from making preliminary contacts, interviews, and evaluation of potential applicants; these types of contacts are encouraged, particularly if the applicant seeks funding. However, it should be made clear to the applicant during this process that any tentative commitments are subject to approval of the Departmental Graduate Advisory Committee, the Director of Graduate Studies, and the Graduate School.

3) Basis of acceptance into the Graduate Program in Soil Science: To be considered as acceptable for admission into the Graduate Program in Soil Science, we prefer applicants whose native language is English will be expected to have maintained a Grade Point Average (GPA) of 3.0 out of 4.0 during their undergraduate and other post-graduate studies, and to have achieved scores in the Verbal, Quantitative and Analytical sections of the Graduate Record Exam (GRE) which would place them in the 50th percentile or higher for each section of this exam. However each applicant will be judged on their overall record with trends in the student's performance in upper division courses, in those courses most pertinent to the study of Soil Science, or to superior scores in the Quantitative and Analytical sections of the GRE, considered especially important in marginal cases.

Foreign students for whom English is a second language must show academic qualifications equivalent to a GPA of 3.0 out of 4.0, but are not be required to take the GRE exam; however, it is strongly encouraged that they do so. They should also provide evidence that they ranked in the top 20% of the graduating class. Such students will also be expected to demonstrate English proficiency equivalent to achieving a Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) score meeting the Graduate School minimum, currently 540 points. (The format of the TOEFL examination is currently being restructured; so acceptable score levels may change in the near future). This score is not, in itself, sufficient to permit the student to undertake unrestricted coursework, but is considered adequate for limited coursework on topics familiar to the student.

Applicants who do not meet the preferred standards stated above, but who are judged to have sufficient academic strength to warrant their admission to the M.S. program, may be accepted on conditional status. If accepted on conditional status, the following conditions will prevail:

a) a faculty advisor will usually be assigned on a temporary basis,

b) the academic record will be reviewed each semester by the Graduate Advisory Committee,

c) unsatisfactory progress in coursework will result in termination of graduate enrollment,

d) conditional appointments normally will not carry stipends for at least the first semester.

The conditional appointment may not extend beyond two semesters. Within this period, the student must be cleared of conditional status by the Graduate Advisory Committee and must have made final arrangements for a faculty advisor.

4) Diversity:

The Graduate School embraces the University of Minnesota's position that promoting and supporting diversity among the student body is central to the academic mission of the University. We define diversity to encompass many characteristics including economic disadvantage, special talents, evidence of leadership qualities, race or ethinicity, a strong work record, and disability. A diverse student body enriches gradute education by providing a multiplicity of views and perspectives that enhance research, teaching, and the development of new knowledge. A diverse mix of students promotes respect for, and opportunities to learn from others with the broad range of backgrounds and experiences that constitute modern society. Higher education trains the next generation of leaders of academia and society in general, and such opportunities for leadership should be accessible to all members of society. The Graduate School and its constituent graduate programs are therefore committed to providing equal access to educational opportunities through recruitment, admission, and support programs that promote diversity, foster successful academic experiences, and cultivate the leaders of the next generation.

5) Financial Assistance: While acceptance into the Graduate School is a requirement for receiving financial assistance, Graduate School admission does not automatically assure the availability of such assistance. Financial assistance is most frequently in the form of research or teaching assistantships which are awarded to the best qualified applicants. Because research assistantships are generally funded by award of external research grants, their availability is difficult to predict; consequently, availability will vary from time to time. Most assistantship stipends are based on 0.5 FTE (full time effort) appointments, although appointments between 0.25 and 0.5 time may be made on occasion. Advanced students may be eligible for appointment at a higher FTE rate under some circumstances. Half-time research assistants are expected to carry out research activities during the period of their stipend. The actual time spent on such activities varies, and in some cases, such as summer, may be more than 20 hours per week. The schedule of research is worked out with the advisor. While research assistantship appointments do not accumulate vacation time, some time each year away from the daily routine is encouraged for all students. Students should work with their advisor in making arrangements for such time.

Retention of regular appointment is contingent on continued registration and satisfactory performance in the academic, research, and teaching aspects of the graduate program and the availability of assistantship funds. Continued registration involves registration in the Graduate School each semester that the appointment is held during the academic year. Registration during the summer session is not required.

Graduate students not on a regular assistantship may be supported by fellowships administered by the Graduate School or by non-University agencies, and some may be self-supporting. The same standards of performance and the same obligations to assist in teaching activities pertain to all graduate students in Soil Science irrespective of status of financial support.

Background Requirements (Soil Science Track): The academic coursework background required for entering a graduate program in Soil Science specifically in the Soil Science Track includes:

Mathematics through short calculus;

– an introductory course in Soil Science.

Acceptable courses to fulfill the requirements at the University of Minnesota include:

Required Area	Semester-based Course Equivalent
Mathematics	MATH 1271, 1272, 2243
Chemistry	CHEM 1021 and 1022
Physics	PHYS 1301W and 1302W
Geology	GEOL 1001
Soil Science	SOIL 2125

Students whose verbal score in the GRE falls below the 35th percentile will be expected to complete an additional course in Rhetoric to improve their verbal and written communication skills.

Coursework requirements for overcoming background deficiencies will be clearly defined by the Graduate Advisory Committee at the time of acceptance and must be satisfactorily completed before receiving an advanced degree in Soil Science, unless approved by formal petition to the Graduate Advisory Committee. All academic background course work shall be taken on a regular grading system (A-N). Research or teaching assistantships normally will not be awarded until most background deficiencies have been satisfied.

1) Assignment of Advisor: Unless prior arrangements have been made, the Director of Graduate Studies will appoint a temporary advisor at the time the student enters the graduate program. The advisor assists the student in planning the academic program and, except when serving as a temporary advisor, will start the student on the research phase of the program as soon as feasible. It is considered implicit in all advisor-advisee affiliations that the entering student has the opportunity during the first two semesters in residence to change advisors, providing mutually satisfactory arrangements can be made with all the staff members concerned, particularly where assistantship appointments are involved. The Graduate Advisory Committee may be asked by staff members or by students to assist in such arrangements. Students with program already well under way are advised that changes in the advisor affiliation may result in additional time for degree completion and may jeopardize any previous arrangements for financial assistance.

GENERAL REQUIREMENTS FOR COMPLETION OF M.S. OR PH.D. DEGREE IN SOIL SCIENCE

1) Graduate Tenure: The recommended maximum period of full-time study (equivalent to half-time appointment) leading to the M.S. degree is 2.5 calendar years, and that of the Ph.D., 3.5 calendar years beyond the M.S. degree. These time periods may be extended by non-resident status or by formal written petition, signed by the advisor, to the Graduate Advisory Committee. Duration of assistantships should be established at the time of appointment.

THE UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA DOES NOT HAVE A RESIDENCY REQUIREMENT FOR GRADUATE DEGREES

2) Academic Performance: The Graduate Advisory Committee maintains surveillance on the overall academic standards of the graduate program and works closely with all staff advisors to carry out this function. Evaluation of student performances is generally made on receipt of Progress Reports from the Graduate School.

Students are expected to maintain an average of 3.0 in the M.S. and Ph.D. program course work to remain in good standing. The Graduate Advisory Committee may place a student on probation for failure to meet scholastic or other requirements, including thesis research. Removal from probation is accomplished upon specific recommendation from the student's major advisor to the Graduate Advisory Committee. Generally, registration beyond the second semester will be refused a student whose GPA is less than 3.0.

3) Seminar - Soil 8128: The departmental seminar (Soil 8128) provides a forum for the presentation of topics of interest and significance to soil science. As such, all faculty and graduate students are expected to attend, support the seminar, contribute to it, and enter into the discussions. One credit in seminar is required in each M.S. and two seminar credits are required in each Ph.D. program in Soil Science. One of these should be a presentation which reviews literature available in the student's specific field of research, and which lays out a possible research program for discussion. This should be scheduled within the first 18 months after acceptance into the program. Seminar requirements are to be satisfied and grades recorded before defense of thesis is scheduled. Arrangements for satisfying the seminar credit are made with the Department Seminar Committee. This involves formal presentation of a seminar topic. All seminar credits are graded on the (S-N) system.

If requested by the student or advisor, the seminar committee and the advisor will meet with the student to discuss and constructively evaluate formal seminar presentations.

4) Teaching Experience - Soil 8005/8550: All students enrolled in graduate studies in Soil Science are required to assist in some phase of departmental teaching since experience in teaching and preparation of laboratory courses is considered an essential part of advanced study. Students in MS and PhD programs are also required to take one credit of SOIL 8550 (2 credits SOIL 8005, Supervised Classroom or Extension Teaching Experience, may substitute for SOIL 8550). Teaching assignments will be made by the Teaching Experience Coordinator at the start of each academic year. The 2 credits for Soil 8005 or 1 credit for Soil 8550 can be counted as part of the 14 credits minimum requirement for the M.S. degree.

5) Graduate Student Education in Research and Professional Ethics: Students must take the programs approved by the Department and the University Vice President for Research.

6) Minor Programs Relating to Soil Science: Minor programs in other fields which may be of interest to graduate students in Soil Science include Agronomy, Chemistry, Ecology, Forestry, Geography, Geology, Microbiology, Microbial Ecology, Plant Pathology, and Water Resources. Course requirements for these minors vary from 6 to 9 credits for the M.S. minor to 12-14 for the Ph.D. minor, and will often include specific courses. The minor program must usually be approved by the Director of Graduate Studies in the minor field. Where a formal minor is proposed, both external members of the student's committee must be from that program.

7) The Minor in Soil Science: M.S. or Ph.D. degree candidates in other fields who wish to minor in Soil Science may do so with the approval of the Director of Graduate Studies and under the direction of a member of the Graduate Faculty in Soil Science serving as the minor advisor. The M.S. degree minor requires a minimum of 9 graduate level credits of regular course work (not special problems) in Soil Science. The Ph.D. degree minor requires a minimum of 18 graduate level credits, including 2 of the Soil or Climate core courses, and must meet the minimum course credit requirements for a Plan M.S. degree in Soil Science, including one credit hour for Soil 8128 (Seminar). All courses in the minor or supporting field must be taken as the A-F grading system unless approved by petition to the Graduate Advisory Committee or offered on an S-N basis only, such as Seminar (Soil 8128), Teaching Experience (Soil 8005 or 8550), and Colloquia (Soil 8110).

8) Grievance Procedures for Graduate Students: Grievances related to graduate study are limited to non-academic matters: i.e. decisions or judgements concerning a student's scholastic performance are not considered to be grievable. The grievance procedure follows the guidelines established by the University. Information on the procedures in filing a grievance can be obtained by contacting the Departmental Grievance Officer.

Before initiating formal grievance procedures graduate students are urged to seek alternative remedies within the Department. The recommended course of action is: 1) Contact the President of the Graduate Student Association for information and suggestions; 2) Consult with a faculty member in whom the student has trust. Depending on the issue the faculty member may or may not be the Grievance Officer, a thesis advisor, or the Director of Graduate Studies; 3) if the faculty member is not able to resolve the issue the student should go to the Grievance Officer, the Director of Graduate Studies, or the Department Head; 4) If the issue is one that might be better solved by involving more than one faculty member the issue should be brought before the Graduate Advisory Committee or an ad hoc committee convened by the Department Head or the Grievance Officer. If the issue is still unresolved, the Grievance Officer should be contacted regarding the procedures for filing a formal grievance.

9) Council of Graduate Students: The Council of Graduate Students (COGS) is the official governing body representing graduate students at the University. COGS provides opportunities for graduate students to participate actively in University administrative and policy decisions. Graduate students in each degree-granting program are entitled to elect one representative to serve on COGS, which also recruits student representatives for the Graduate School Policy and Review Councils, the University Senate, and many College of Liberal Arts and University-wide committees. In addition, COGS provides ombudsman services for graduate students and disseminates information, primarily through the Gradletter and through general meetings held twice per semester. Information on housing University governance, and grievance procedures is available from the COGS office.

Students may contact COGS at 409 Johnston Hall, University of Minnesota, 101 Pleasant Street S.E., Minneapolis, MN 55455 (612/626-1612).

10) Graduate Student Participation in Departmental Activities: A majority of the departmental committees includes at least one voting graduate student member who participates in making policies. Graduate student representatives are elected by graduate students from among volunteers wishing to serve on the different committees. Student committee members report directly to the Graduate Club chair, who, in turn, is the communication link with the department graduate student body. In addition, the Graduate Club chair or COGS representative attends all departmental meetings in an official capacity. In addition, students organize social activities, give seminars, teach and instruct.

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M.S. DEGREE PROGRAM in Soil Science

A) General:

The M.S. degree is offered under both Plan A, involving a thesis and Plan B, which substitutes additional course work and special projects for the thesis. Both are based primarily on attainment of satisfactory proficiency in the broad fundamentals of Soil Science.

B) The Plan A Type M.S. Program:

1) Minimum Credit Requirements: Plan A students must take a minimum of 14 semester credits in the major field and a minimum of 6 semester credits in one or more related fields outside the major, or 6 credits in a single field for a specific minor. An additional 10 thesis credits (SOIL 8777) must be completed before receiving the M.S. degree. In addition to making up any specified deficiencies in academic background, the M.S. degree program must include a minimum of one credit each of Seminar (SOIL 8128) and 1 credit for Teaching Experience (SOIL 8550) (2 credits for SOIL 8005 Supervised Classroom or Extensions Teaching Experience may substitute for SOIL 8550). The 2 credits for Soil 8005 or and 1 credit for Soil 8550 can be counted as part of the 14 credits minimum requirement. It is intended that these credit requirements represent the minimum requirements for the degree; additional coursework may be required by the student's advisor and thesis committee.

Students in the Soil Science Track are required to take a minimum of 3 of the following four core courses: SOIL 5311, Soil Chemistry and Mineralogy; SOIL 5232, Vadose Zone Hydrology; Soil 5515, Soil Genesis and Landscape Relations; and SOIL 5611, Soil Biology and Fertility. It is recommended that students take all four core courses as coursework is required in all four areas for professional licensure.

Students in the Climatology Track are required to take a minimum of two or more graduate level courses in Climatology or Atmospheric Sciences (approved by the student's advisory committee) and two of the four core courses in Soil Science listed below.

Core Courses in Soil Science:

SOIL 5311 - Soil Chemistry and Mineralogy.

SOIL 5515 - Soil Genesis and Landscape Relations.

SOIL 5611 - Soil Biology and Fertility.

SOIL 5232 - Vadose Zone Hydrology

Graduate Courses Acceptable for Climatology Track:

SOIL 5421 - Introduction to Atmospheric Science.

SOIL 5211 - Environmental Biophysics and Ecology

SOIL 5212 - Environmental Biophysics and Ecology Laboratory

SOIL 5402 - The Atmospheric Boundary Layer.

Specific subject area requirements may be waived, where a given subject area is either adequately represented on the undergraduate transcript, or an alternate course is approved by written petition (signed by the student and advisor) to the Graduate Advisory Committee.

All courses taken in the major, minor, or related field must be taken on a regular grading system (A-N) rather than the (S-N) system, unless approved by petition to the Graduate Advisory committee or for courses offered only on an (S-N) basis, such as seminar and colloquia.

2) Graduate Student Education in Research and Professional Ethics: Students must take the programs approved by the Department and the University Vice President for Research.

3) Language Requirement: There is no foreign language requirement for the M.S. degree, although a language competence is considered desirable and preferably should be part of the undergraduate curriculum.

4) Filing of Masters Degree Program: A special form obtained from the Soil, Water, and Climate Department office is used to submit the proposed course work program for the M.S. degree (and thesis title for Plan A degree). The program must be approved by the advisor and is then submitted to the Graduate Advisory Committee for review and recommendation to the Director of Graduate Studies who in turn submits it to the Graduate School. The proposed program may be submitted after 10 semester credits of course work has been completed and no later than the second semester of registration. If the program has not been submitted by this time, or if there are 4 or more semester hours of incomplete credits, or an overall GPA of less than 3.0, a warning will be placed on the student's registration. If the cause of the warning has not been corrected, a hold will be placed on the student's registration by the Graduate School for the following semester. A copy of the student's undergraduate and graduate transcripts, and a brief outline of the student's intended research program must accompany the M.S. program form.

5) Selection of M.S. Examining Committee: The student's advisor is asked to attach a list of at least 3 recommended examining committee members to the Graduate Advisory Committee for approval along with the M.S. program form. These should include at least two members from the major field, including the advisor, and one from the minor or related field. The list of proposed committee members is then passed on to the Director of Graduate Studies for approval and submission to the Graduate School.

6) The M.S. Thesis and Final Oral Examination: The M.S. thesis must be completed and registered in accordance with guidelines stipulated by the Graduate School. The final examination should be arranged in accordance with procedures outlined in the Graduate School Bulletin and involves an open presentation (may not be counted for Seminar credit) of the thesis during which the M.S. thesis material is presented followed by the formal meeting of the M.S. examining committee. The advisor should bring the student's file to the formal examination for review by the examining committee.

C) The Plan B Type M.S. Program:

Requirements for the Plan B program are essentially the same as for Plan A except that additional course work and special projects are substituted for the thesis. As in the Plan A program, Plan B students must take a minimum of 14 semester credits in the major field and a minimum of 6 semester credits in one or more related fields outside the major, or 6 credits in a single field for a specific minor.

Students in the Soil Science Track are required to take all 4 core courses in Soil Science:

SOIL 5232, Vadose Zone Hydrology

SOIL 5311, Soil Chemistry and Mineralogy;

SOIL 5515, Soil Genesis and Landscape Relations; and

SOIL 5611, Soil Biology and Fertility

unless a given subject area is adequately represented on the undergraduate transcript and approved by petition to the Graduate Advisory Committee. The courses considered to meet the requirements for each of the respective subject areas are the same as those specified above for the Plan A Type M.S. degree. Additional courses are chosen by the student and advisor with approval of the Graduate Advisory Committee.

Students in the Climatology Track are required to take a minimum of 3 graduate level courses in Climatology or Atmospheric Sciences and at least 2 of the core courses in Soil Science listed above unless a given subject area is adequately represented on the undergraduate transcript and approved by petition to the Graduate Advisory Committee. The courses considered to meet the requirements for each of the respective subject areas are the same as those specified above for the Plan A Type M.S. degree. Additional courses may be chosen by the student and advisor with approval of the Graduate Advisory Committee.

The Plan B Type M.S. seminar involves an open presentation of the Plan B paper or papers and is scheduled as part of the final M.S. oral examination. The seminar is immediately followed by the formal meeting of the M.S. examining committee.

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THE Ph.D. PROGRAM in Soil Science

1) General:

All students in the Ph.D. program are particularly urged to become thoroughly familiar with the details presented in the Graduate Bulletin and the regular Graduate School announcements for numerous aspects of the program relating to registration, special forms, deadlines, and Graduate procedures.

2) Eligibility: Students applying for admission to the Ph.D. program, either from another institution or from the University of Minnesota, must have completed a Masters degree with thesis (Plan A) or present documented evidence of research experience equivalent to a Plan A thesis. On occasion, students currently enrolled in the M.S. program who have demonstrated exceptional academic and research competencies may be advanced to the Ph.D. program without prior completion of the M.S. degree upon formal petition signed by the student and advisor and approved by the Graduate Advisory Committee.

Masters students from the University of Minnesota must make formal application through the Graduate Advisory Committee by filing the Change of Status Readmission Request Form (G.S. 72) after completion of the M.S. degree. GRADUATE STUDENTS ON THE MS TRACK INTENDING TO CARRY ON WITH A PHD AT THE U OF M SHOULD MAKE SURE THAT THEY HAVE BEEN ACCEPTED IN THE GRADUATE PHD PROGRAM BEFORE THEY OFFICIALLY OBTAIN THEIR MS DEGREE. IN OTHER WORDS, SUBMIT YOUR DOCTORAL APPLICATION FORMS TO THE GRADUATE SCHOOL AT LEAST ONE MONTH BEFORE YOU GRADUATE. OTHERWISE, THERE WILL BE A PERIOD WHEN YOU WILL NO LONGER BE A STUDENT AT THE U OF M, WITH FINANCIAL CONSEQUENCES, AND MORE SERIOUS IMPLICATIONS FOR FOREIGN STUDENTS. The Graduate Advisory Committee will consider the formal application in connection with a review of the personal file of the student and appropriate interviews with the student or staff members. Students may not enroll in courses toward the Ph.D. without the necessary approval of the Graduate Advisory Committee, the Director of Graduate Studies, and the Graduate School.

3) Background Requirements: Academic background requirements for the Ph.D. degree are the same as those described earlier in this document for graduate work in Soil Science plus the minimum credit requirements in the major field as described for the Plan A Type M.S. program.

4) Registration Requirements: Candidates for the Ph.D. must register in the Graduate School for at least six semesters. Students should familiarize themselves with the Graduate School Bulletin for other registration requirements. The above applies to REGISTRATION requirements. The University of Minnesota does not have RESIDENCY requirements.

5) Minimum Coursework Requirements: Requirements for Ph.D. students are similar to those for the Plan A Type M.S. with some exceptions. There are no minimum credit requirements for the Ph.D., but there are coursework requirements. In addition to making up any specified deficiencies in academic background, the Ph.D. degree program must include a minimum of two credits of Seminar (SOIL 8128) and two credits of Teaching Experience SOIL 8005 or 8550 taken during the Ph.D. degree program. An additional 24 doctoral thesis credits (SOIL 8888) must be completed before receiving the Ph.D. degree; however, doctoral thesis credits may not be taken before completion of all program coursework requirements and advancement to candidacy. Up to 6 University of Minnesota master's thesis credits can be used toward the 24 credit doctoral requirement.

Students in the Soil Science Track are required to take all four of the following four core courses:

SOIL 5232, Vadose Zone Hydrology

SOIL 5311, Soil Chemistry and Mineralogy;

SOIL 5515, Soil Genesis and Landscape Relations; and

SOIL 5611, Soil Biology and Fertility.

Students in the Climatology Track are required to take a minimum of three or more graduate level courses in Climatology or Atmospheric Sciences (approved by the student's advisory committee) and two of the four core courses in Soil Science listed below.

Core Courses in Soil Science:

SOIL 5232 - Vadose Zone Hydrology

SOIL 5311 - Soil Chemistry and Mineralogy.

SOIL 5515 - Soil Genesis and Landscape Relations.

SOIL 5611 - Soil Biology and Fertility.

Graduate Courses Acceptable for Climatology Track:

SOIL 5211 - Environmental Biophysics & Ecology

SOIL 5212 - Environmental Biophysics & Ecology Laboratory

SOIL 5402 - The Atmospheric Boundary Layer.

SOIL 5421 - Introduction to Atmospheric Science.

Beyond these courses, the number and nature of the courses to be taken in the major field will be determined in consultation with the advisor and in accordance with the interests and competence of the advisee, and final approval of the student's thesis committee, the Graduate Advisory Committee, and Director of Graduate Studies. Courses in the major field may consist of Soil Science courses and courses in closely allied fields. Unless approved by petition to the Graduate Advisory Committee, all courses in the major field must be taken on a regular grading basis (A-F) unless offered on an (S-N) basis only, such as seminar and colloquia.

6) Minor or Supporting Program Course Work: A minor or supporting program is taken in areas logically related to the special field of the candidate. Requirements for the minor field are set by the Graduate Faculty of that field and candidates should plan their minor program in consultation with a faculty advisor representing the minor field. A supporting program must be a logical program from two or more disciplines that convincingly support the major field. It is determined by the advisor, as indicated by the interests and competence of the advisee, and comprises 18-24 credit.

7) Graduate Student Education in Research and Professional Ethics: Students must take the programs approved by the Department and the University Vice President for Research.

8) Language Options: There is no foreign language requirement for the Ph.D. degree, but the option to include one such component in the Ph.D. program is available. Candidates who have special career objectives and who wish to document a foreign language proficiency in their record that is particularly pertinent to those career objectives may wish to consider this option. Higher proficiency in a single foreign language is meant to embody a level of both reading and conversational skill adequate to the use of the language as a professional tool. The determination of proficiency will be made by the appropriate language department.

9) Filing of the Ph.D. Program: A special form obtained from the Graduate School is used to submit the proposed course work program for the Ph.D. degree. This program is approved by the advisor and thesis committee and submitted to the Graduate Advisory Committee for review and recommendation to the Director of Graduate Studies who in turn submits it to the Graduate School. Early submission of the proposed program is encouraged and it must be submitted before completion of the end of the second semester of enrollment. If the program has not been completed by this time, or if there are 4 or more semester hours of incomplete credits, or an overall GPA of 3.0 or less, a warning will be placed on the student's registration for the third semester. If the cause of the warning has not been corrected, a hold will be placed on the student's registration for the fourth semester. A recent copy of the student's operational record must accompany the Ph.D. program form.

10) Selection of Ph.D. Examining Committee: The student's advisor is asked to attach a list of at least five recommended examining committee members to the Graduate Advisory Committee for approval along with the Ph.D. program form. These should include at least three members representing different sub-discipline areas in the major field as well as at least two members from the minor or supporting fields. The list of proposed committee members is then passed on to the Director of Graduate Studies for approval and submission to the Graduate School. Changes in committee assignments can be made for valid reasons on request of the advisor or Director of Graduate Studies to the Graduate School. The membership of the Ph.D. Examining Committee may be significantly different from that of the student's Preliminary Examination Committee.

11) Preliminary Written Examination: A written preliminary examination in the major field is required for all students in the Ph.D. program. All students in the soil science track take the same integrative written preliminary examination covering all 4 core areas of soil science (Rules of the climatology track will be forthcoming). Administration of the examination is the responsibility of the Graduate Examination Committee. The examination will be prepared and graded by this committee. Grading will be accomplished in a timely manner. Exams will be given twice a year, shortly after the end of each semester. The written examination must be taken at the end of 2 semesters of residency. Results of the examination are reported to the Graduate School on the appropriate Graduate School form, signed by the Advisory Committee for information and entry into the student’s personal file. Three types of results are possible: pass, pass with a marginal mention, and fail. In case of failure, upon approval of the Graduate Examination Committee, only one retake of the Preliminary Written Examination is allowed, to be taken at the next regularly scheduled period. The Graduate Examination Committee will specify some remedial activities for students who have passed with a marginal mention.

12) Preliminary Oral Examination: The preliminary oral examination should be scheduled and should be completed four weeks after successful completion of the preliminary written examination. The examination will probe the candidate’s weaknesses in the written exam, and the ability to do research. Reference should be made to the Graduate Bulletin for details relating to the scheduling, reporting of results, and re-examination if necessary. The advisor, as chairman of the examination committee, will provide a copy of the candidates' Ph.D. program and their graduate progress file at the time of the examination. The date of the preliminary oral, the names of the committee members, and the outcome of the examination are recorded in the student's graduate progress file immediately after the examination, and are reported to the Graduate School.

13) Within 6 months of passing the written examination, students must present a research prospectus (See Format for PhD Research Proposals - Exhibit A attached) and defend it to their research advisory committee.

14) Filing the Ph.D. Thesis Title Form: The Ph.D. thesis title form and form for thesis statement should be completed and submitted to the Graduate Advisory Committee along with or shortly after the program form has been submitted. If this form has not b

Required Area	Semester-Based Course Equivalent
Mathematics	MATH 1142
Microbiology	MICB 2022 (2cr) (Physics, Genesis)
	MICB 2032 (4 cr) (Chemistry/Fertility)
	MICB 3301 or BIOL 3301 (5 cr) (Soil Biology)
	SOIL 5611 (cannot be used simultaneously as a background requirement and a core course)
Organic	CHEM 2301
Physics	PHYS 1101 and 1102W
Geology	GEOL 1001
Soil Science	SOIL 2125

SEMESTER BASED

POLICIES AND PRACTICES

RELATING TO GRADUATE STUDIES

IN THE

DEPARTMENT OF SOIL, WATER, AND CLIMATE

UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA

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HUMAN RIGHTS STATEMENT