Steps to complete a Master’s Degree in the Davis College of Agriculture, Natural Resources and Design
If not assigned, establish a faculty member as your major advisor. *Faculty member MUST have Regular Graduate Faculty status (https://graduateeducation.wvu.edu/faculty-and-staff/graduate-faculty/graduate-faculty-members-list)
In collaboration with your major advisor, and within the restrictions of the program in which you are admitted (http://catalog.wvu.edu/graduate/daviscollegeofagriculturenaturalresourcesanddesign/), determine if your Master’s degree will require a thesis, a problem report, or only coursework.
If it will require a thesis or problem report – work with your major advisor to establish a graduate committee of at least 3 individuals. The committee must meet University guidelines (http://catalog.wvu.edu/graduate/advisingcoursesdegrees/degree_regulations/#committeestext) including that the majority of the committee must be Regular Graduate Faculty.
In collaboration with your major advisor and/or committee, and within the restrictions of the program in which you are admitted, determine the courses that you will be required to complete for your degree. All Master’s degrees require a minimum of 30 credits, only 12 of which can be shared with any other degree program. http://catalog.wvu.edu/graduate/advisingcoursesdegrees/ It is recommended that you hold a committee meeting to discuss these courses.
Submit your Plan of Study for approval: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfKvXbZZ2yoWOhbETwoIvPcey3OyvhFx2JbGsr_NKiZWovbJw/viewform Please use the indicated form to upload your course list (link needed). This should be submitted within the first semester of your program.
Complete courses and other requirements for the program in which you are enrolled.
In your final semester you must apply to graduate through https://star.wvu.edu/starprod/twbkwbis.P_GenMenu?name=homepage or your degree works BEFORE the deadline, which can be found here: https://registrar.wvu.edu/graduation-diploma.
For degrees requiring a thesis or problem report:
A final examination by your committee is required, this may or may not require a public presentation of the thesis or problem report. This defense may be scheduled after your committee has tentatively approved your written thesis or problem report. Once the defense is scheduled, submit the Intent to Defend form (link to be added).
Defend your thesis or problem report.
Your committee members will receive an email ballot on the day/time of your scheduled defense to submit their final vote of Pass or Fail.
For degrees requiring a thesis:
Your final thesis with all revisions approved by your major advisor and/or graduate committee should be submitted to the WVU Library: https://etd.lib.wvu.edu/ BEFORE the published deadline. This MUST include the Committee Signature Form https://etd.lib.wvu.edu/files/d/43efaf4a-8ae1-44b5-af0f-2dc1204c642d/fillable-etd-committee-signature-form.pdf.