1. WELCOME TO GRADUATE SCHOOL

2. Tips for Success in Graduate School Learn Academic Requirements Conditional Admission Low GPA/Academic Probation Assume responsibility for your success Familiarize yourself with the Graduate Catalog Learn degree requirements Use your advisor Be proactive in completing your degree Obsolete coursework Master’s – 6 years PhD – 8 years Make a Plan of Study Adapted from http://www.career.ucf.edu/Students/Graduate_Students/Tips_for _Achieving_Success_in_Graduate_School_31_417.aspx

3. Graduate School Staff Dean of the Graduate School- K Doerner Graduate Services Coordinator- M Ochsner Graduate Admissions/Recruiter- K Johnson Senior Secretary- D Johnson Program Administrator I – A Gerlach Asst to the Dean- N Lounsbery

4. Campus Information Parking All campus parking lots require a parking tag from 8am-4pm or you risk receiving a ticket Purchase parking tags online through sdstate.edu/parking 605-688-PARK Yaeger Hall Room 103 Student ID Card Photo ID Student ID Number Entry to the Wellness Center Entry to Athletic Events Hobo Dough Meal Plan Card services - Be sure to bring a photo ID with you to get your ID card

5. Offices to Know Cashier’s (Admin 136) Student accounts/bills Financial Aid (Admin 100) Loans, grants, work study, loan deferral Graduate School (Admin 130) Any student concerns Records (Admin 100) Petitions Transcripts Student Health & Counseling (Wellness Center) Health appointments One on one and group counseling Immunization records

6. Offices to Know Wintrode Student Success Center (Wintrode Building) Tutoring Writing Center CAP Center (Medary Commons 120) Resume writing Interview Skills Job postings (part time, full time, on and off campus) International Affairs (Briggs Library 119) Comprehensive home for international students and scholar services

7. SDSU Website www.sdstate.edu/graduate

8. WebAdvisor Webadvisor.sdstate.edu Class registration, payment, course listings, grades

9. MyState Mystate.sdstate.edu Student portal – Jacks email activation, Parking, Student schedule, News & Events, Access to Accounts (Hobo Dough, WebAdvisor, etc)

10. Jacks Email Yourlogin@jacks.sdstate.edu Jacks email accounts are the official email of SDSU, all university news and contact will come via your Jacks account. You are responsible for activating and checking this account.

11. Desire 2 Learn (D2L) d2l.sdbor.edu Online course materials

12. Need Technical Support? eSDSU Laptop Center (Student Union) Free labor Computer support Viruses SDSU Support Desk (Admin 131) 688-6776 or supportdesk@sdstate.edu Support on SDSU systems (Email, WebAdvisor, etc)

13. Registration & Status Transcripts/Conditional Admission SDSU needs final official transcripts from all previous institutions – failure to submit can block registration International students must provide transcript evaluations of all degrees Check acceptance letter for any conditions Immunization records MMR shots are also required for all students taking classes on campus – failure to submit can block registration Active Status To maintain active status students must be registered for each semester of the academic year (excluding summer). Students who fail to register for 3 academic terms will be considered inactive and will have to reapply Graduate assistants must register for a minimum of 1 credit (including summer) in order to keep assistantship

14. Master’s Degree Options  Option A- Thesis  30 cr min  “thesis research” 798: 5 cr min, 10 cr max (Plan of Study)  Option B- Research/ Project Report  32 cr min  Usually “Research/Design” 788: 2 cr min, 5 cr max (Plan of Study)  Option C- Coursework Only  35 cr min  Some use internships, practicum….etc

15. Plan of Study List of agreed upon courses which will complete degree requirements Doctoral students will meet with advisory committee before submitting Plan Submit the first semester of graduate work or prior to 50% of credits towards graduation

16. Advisory Committee Major advisor – chairperson, must have Grad Faculty Status Program representative – from major or related dept. Additional member major or related department professional with outstanding academic record or knowledge Graduate Faculty Representative Assigned by Graduate School (method under review) Not closely related field Graduate council / Student advocate. Must vote in favor of passing for student to pass Master’s – first semester or as soon as practical 3 members (min) Doctoral - first semester or prior to twelve (12) graduate credit hours 4 members (min)

17. Master’s Exams Oral exam required. Scheduling oral exams is conducted through the Graduate School Submitted 10 working days before oral exam Posted publically Complete by date published for same semester graduation Written exams are not required by the University Programs may use written exams as part of internal practice.

18. Doctoral Exams Three (3) exams are required. Comprehensive written exam After coursework is substantially completed. Comprehensive oral exam Completed following comprehensive written exam At least 2 months before dissertation defense Final Exam “final oral exam; defense” Completed 2 mo or longer after comp. oral exam Competed by deadline for graduate same semester All scheduled through Graduate School Allow 10 working days for processing

19. Time-Limits  Time to Degree: Marked by Semesters not calendar date  Ex: If started during Fall, student would time out at end of relevant Fall semester.  Master’s: 6 years  Doctoral: 8 years

20. Thesis & Dissertation SDSU Graduate School has set format requirements for binding purposes Available on SDSU’s website Department may also have guidelines specific to your area of study Follow all printed submission dates published by the graduate school each semester Thesis/Dissertation Formatting Workshop – Spring 2014

21. Q & A Thanks for coming!