2002-2003 Edition
Texas A&M University Graduate CatalogTexas A&M University Graduate Catalog
Catalog Contents
Academic Calendar
Board of Regents and System Administrative Officers
Texas A&M University Administrative Officers
Office of Graduate Studies
General Information
Degree Information
Admission
Registration and Academic Status
Tuition, Fees and Other Financial Information
Housing
Orientation
Resources for Students
Texas A&M University at Galveston
Course Descriptions
Faculty
Appendices

Office of Graduate Studies

Objectives of Graduate Studies

The Office of Graduate Studies (OGS) maintains the official record for each graduate student, and in this role serves as the primary administrative body and overarching source of information for graduate education. Once a graduate student is accepted by an academic department, school or college, OGS assists and facilitates progression towards completion of a graduate degree through maintenance of all official documents. OGS interacts directly with the Graduate Council and Graduate Operations Committee in order to set minimal University guidelines, and all departments and colleges use these as a framework for operation, only setting more stringent standards when needed and appropriate. Clearance for graduation, including final review of theses and dissertations when required, is performed by OGS, but the Office of the Registrar is responsible for issuing all transcripts.

The overall objective of graduate study is to provide students with the intellectual depth and breadth, and appropriate training necessary to pursue productive careers in the professions and in various fields of teaching and research and in other ways make a larger contribution to society than would be otherwise possible.

Graduate students are admitted for graduate study in a department to pursue generally only one of the programs listed on the following pages. Such programs are usually accessible by admission into a single department. However, there are a select number of dual degree programs, which allow a student the opportunity to pursue two masters degrees simultaneously. For a listing of the approved dual degree programs, students should consult their departments. In some cases, an intercollegiate faculty oversees the programs allowing access through several departments. Each department has one or more graduate advisors who can provide information about specific programs within that department.

A student's program of graduate study usually consists of a combination of course work, independent study and scholarly research resulting in a report, record of study, master's thesis or doctoral dissertation. In some programs, students may be required to participate in an internship or other professional activity to satisfy particular degree requirements. Some departments require students' participation in teaching as part of their degree programs.

Administration of Graduate Studies

The graduate faculty consists of the President, the Executive Vice President and Provost, the Associate Provosts, the Vice President for Research, the Dean of Graduate Studies, the Deans of all colleges and schools, selected Directors and a properly qualified academic group appointed by the Office of Graduate Studies. Members of the graduate faculty participate in the graduate degree programs of the University by serving on student advisory committees and teaching graduate courses. Individuals who are not members of the graduate faculty of Texas A&M University may not teach graduate courses or serve on student advisory committees unless special approval is granted by the Office of Graduate Studies.

The Graduate Council, a reporting committee to the Faculty Senate, serves as an advisory group to the Dean of Graduate Studies and it makes recommendations on major policy matters to the Faculty Senate. The Graduate Council concerns itself with the development of graduate programs within the University and with the maintenance of standards of excellence in all graduate instruction and graduate activities. Each college has a committee on graduate instruction with the responsibility for making recommendations concerning graduate course offerings, general policies on graduate instruction and for other matters pertaining to graduate studies in that college. The chair of each committee on graduate instruction is a member of the Graduate Council.

The Graduate Operations Committee (GOC) serves as an advisory body to the Dean of Graduate Studies. It focuses primarily on operations and procedures regarding administration of graduate education throughout the University. The GOC works very closely with the Graduate Council to coordinate all curriculum and policy issues. It also works closely with the Academic Operations Committee and the Academic Program Council to consider recommendations concerning operations and procedures. Each academic college is represented on the GOC by the associate dean (or other named individual) responsible for graduate studies in that college.

Graduate Faculty

General Description of Graduate Faculty

The Graduate Faculty is composed of Members, Associate Members, Adjunct Members and Special Appointments. Members and Associate Members are selected from qualified individuals of the academic staff of University, from the staff of other parts of the University, from The Texas A&M University System, and from affiliated research organizations (such as USDA) located in College Station, Texas.

Nomination for membership on the Graduate Faculty is always initiated by the head of the appropriate academic department of Texas A&M University in College Station and is processed as discussed in the following sections.

Appointment to membership on the Graduate Faculty, although considered an honor, serves functional purposes and must be earned. Appointment to membership is not for the purpose of conferring recognition upon an individual, but is designed to assure competence in the directing and counseling of graduate students and in the teaching of graduate courses. Such competence is, in part, a function of experience and knowledge of operational procedure; it is also characterized by ability and motivation.

Membership on the Graduate Faculty is maintained only by participating in the graduate program by teaching, by directing or administering graduate work, by doing research and publication, or by other direct and substantial contributions to the graduate programs of the University, such as by service on a Graduate Instruction Committee or by administrative assignments in graduate education. The Graduate Council expects that all Deans and Department Heads will regularly review the Graduate Faculty under their direction and will recommend withdrawal of the appointments of any members who no longer merit membership on the Graduate Faculty on the basis of their lack of contribution to graduate education. The Department Head shall notify any faculty member who is non-voluntarily removed from the roles of the Graduate Faculty, and the faculty member has the right to appeal his or her removal through the PPM 2.3.2.6 (Faculty Grievance Procedures).

A graduate student at Texas A&M University may not be a member of the Graduate Faculty. Membership on the Graduate Faculty of any faculty or staff member of Texas A&M University or The Texas A&M University System and affiliated research organizations is forfeited upon a faculty or staff member's admission to a graduate program at Texas A&M University. The four categories of membership are: (1) Member; (2) Associate Member; (3) Adjunct Member; and (4) Special Appointment.

Members

Eligibility. Tenure track and tenured faculty members of Texas A&M University are eligible to participate as Members of the Graduate Faculty under criteria and guidelines as established by each college, school or department on the College Station campus. Appointment of an individual as a Member is accomplished by a letter of nomination from the head of a department on the College Station campus to the Dean of Graduate Studies. In some cases, additional approval is required by the Dean or the Graduate Instruction Committee of the individual's college or school.

A non-tenure-track individual employed by Texas A&M University, TAES, TAEX, TEES, TEEX or TTI with professorial rank is eligible to participate as a Member of the Graduate Faculty. A person holding the title of Lecturer or Senior Lecturer may not normally be considered for Member status on the Graduate Faculty. Exceptions to this will be acceptable only if the person concerned has an unusual or unique contribution to make to the graduate program of Texas A&M University and approval is granted by the department, college, school and Office of Graduate Studies. A non-tenure-track individual is nominated by the head of the appropriate academic department in College Station who must present evidence that (a) the nominee (1) has taught a graduate class, or (2) has actively served on a graduate student's advisory committee, or (3) has held a definite administrative assignment in the graduate program of a university; and that (b) the nominee has published a scholarly work as primary author (or, in the case of a professional discipline, has exhibited appropriate evidence of professional accomplishment). Recognized scholars and authorities whose merits are clearly established need not be measured by standard criteria. Appointment of these individuals is accomplished by use of the Personal Record Form, initiated by the head of the academic department in College Station, through the College Graduate Instruction Committee and the college or school Dean to the Dean of Graduate Studies.

Privileges

A Member of the Graduate Faculty, located at College Station, may teach graduate courses and serve as member, co-chair or chair of a graduate student's Advisory Committee. Members located at the Texas A&M University Galveston Campus, the TAMU Temple Campus or TAMU's Institute of Biosciences and Technology-Houston may teach graduate courses and serve as a member, co-chair or chair of a graduate student's Advisory Committee.

Other Members of the Graduate Faculty located off-campus may teach graduate courses and serve as a member or co-chair (but not chair), with a Member as the other co-chair, of a graduate student's Advisory Committee.

Associate Members

Eligibility . Any faculty member (including Instructors and Lecturers, if permitted by the department or college's policy) or professional staff employed by Texas A&M University, TAES, TAEX, TEES, TEEX or TTI who holds the highest earned degree common to that person's discipline may be granted Associate Member status on the Graduate Faculty of Texas A&M University provided that the individual's appointment as an Associate Member of the Graduate Faculty will be beneficial to the department's graduate program. In addition, employees of federal and state agencies located in the College Station area are eligible for Associate Member status. It is expected that a nominee for Associate Member status has published a scholarly work as primary author (or, in the case of a professional discipline, has exhibited appropriate evidence of professional accomplishment). Recognized scholars and authorities whose merits are clearly established need not be measured by standard criteria.

Appointment to Associate Member status is accomplished by use of the Personal Record Form, initiated by the head of the academic department at College Station through the College Graduate Instruction Committee and the college or school Dean to the Dean of Graduate Studies. A non-tenure-track individual is nominated by the head of the appropriate academic department at College Station who must present evidence that (a) the nominee (1) has taught a graduate class, or (2) has actively served on a graduate student's advisory committee, or (3) has held a definite administrative assignment in the graduate program of a university; and that (b) the nominee has published a scholarly work as primary author (or, in the case of a professional discipline, has exhibited appropriate evidence of professional accomplishment). Recognized scholars and authorities whose merits are clearly established need not be measured by standard criteria. Appointment of these individuals is accomplished by use of the Personal Record Form, initiated by the head of the academic department at College Station through the College Graduate Instruction Committee and the college or school Dean to the Dean of Graduate Studies.

Privileges

An Associate Member of the Graduate Faculty of Texas A&M University may teach graduate courses and serve as member or co-chair (but not as chair) with a Member as the other co-chair of a graduate student's Advisory Committee.

Adjunct Members

Eligibility . Recognized scholars who do not hold a permanent appointment to the faculty (including visiting and adjunct academic appointments) of this University, but who otherwise meet the basic requirements for the status of Member of the Graduate Faculty, as described previously, may be eligible for appointment to Adjunct Member status. In addition, individuals not located in College Station and not employed by Texas A&M University may be considered for Adjunct Member status on the Graduate Faculty provided they are employed by another agency of the Texas A&M University System or are qualified staff of federal or state agencies. Such nominations should be made in those cases in which there is an apparent need, and justification can be presented by the head of an academic department in College Station.

A non-tenure-track individual is nominated by the head of the appropriate academic department in College Station who must present evidence that (a) the nominee (1) has taught a graduate class, or (2) has actively served on a graduate student's advisory committee, or (3) has held a definite administrative assignment in the graduate program of a university; and that (b) the nominee has published a scholarly work as primary author (or, in the case of a professional discipline, has exhibited appropriate evidence of professional accomplishment). Recognized scholars and authorities whose merits are clearly established need not be measured by standard criteria. Appointment of these individuals is accomplished by use of the Personal Record Form on the website ogs.tamu.edu/OGS/faculty.htm, initiated by the head of the academic department at College Station through the College Graduate Instruction Committee and the college or school Dean to the Dean of Graduate Studies.

Privileges

An Adjunct Member of the Graduate Faculty may teach graduate courses and serve as a member or co-chair (but not chair) with a Member as the other co-chair of a graduate student's Advisory Committee.

Special Appointment

There may be times when the head of an academic department in College Station wishes to have qualified individuals teach a graduate course or serve on a student's Advisory Committee without being permanently on the Graduate Faculty as either a Member, Associate Member or Adjunct Member. In addition, qualified individuals from other universities, government or industry may be appointed in special cases to teach a graduate course or to serve on a student's Advisory Committee.

These appointments are accomplished by use of the Personal Record Form on the website ogs.tamu.edu/OGS/faculty.htm initiated by the head of the academic department in College Station through the College Graduate Instruction Committee and college or school Dean to the Dean of Graduate Studies with the individual's résumé attached. The department head should indicate if the Special Appointment status is to be limited to the one specified committee, to one specified teaching assignment, or to a fixed length of time (e.g., for one or two years).

A qualified individual from another university, government or industry who holds Special Appointment status to the graduate faculty and who serves on a Graduate Advisory Committee is not counted toward the minimum number of graduate faculty necessary to form the committee.

Procedural Guidelines
  1. Research staff who are on the Graduate Faculty of Texas A&M University and who hold payroll titles equivalent to the "Scientist" titles will be assigned by the Dean of Graduate Studies, for the purpose of listing in the Graduate Catalog , the equivalent "Scientist" title. (Example: A person holding the payroll title of "Associate Research Engineer" will be assigned the title of "Associate Research Scientist.")

  2. Extension Service personnel on the Graduate Faculty of Texas A&M University will be identified in the Graduate Catalog by the title "Extension Specialist."

  3. USDA personnel on the Graduate Faculty of Texas A&M University will be identified in the Graduate Catalog by the title "USDA Scientist."

  4. Individuals in the Member, Associate Member and Adjunct Member categories will be listed in the Graduate Faculty section of the Graduate Catalog.

  5. Only names of individuals in the Member category of the Graduate Faculty will be listed under the respective departmental headings in the Graduate Catalog.

Intercollegiate Faculty

Texas A&M University has established the concept of an intercollegiate faculty with expressed goals of (a) fostering development and communication in disciplinary fields represented by faculty members in different departments and colleges, (b) utilizing faculty expertise in specific areas to strengthen emerging disciplinary programs and (c) overseeing the academic administration of graduate degree programs in a particular discipline.

In order to have access to an intercollegiate faculty's degree programs, a graduate student must be admitted to that program and a member of that faculty must serve as chair of the student's advisory committee.

Intercollegiate faculties have been formed in agribusiness, biotechnology, engineering systems management, food science and technology, genetics, nutrition, materials science and engineering, molecular and environmental plant sciences, toxicology and reproductive biology.

Texas A&M University System Graduate Faculty

The Texas A&M University System has established a System Graduate Faculty which enables and facilitates the collaborative research and teaching among faculty members of the nine universities and the Health Science Center within the System. By acquiring status through the System Graduate Faculty, faculty members are able to co-chair and serve on graduate student committees within The Texas A&M University System

System Graduate Faculty Guidelines
  1. Purpose. The Texas A&M University System Graduate Faculty has been developed for the following purposes:

    1. To facilitate participation in graduate education for The Texas A&M University System students.

    2. To provide graduate students access to the expertise of faculty members throughout the System.

    3. To increase inter-institutional faculty collaboration throughout The Texas A&M University System.

    4. To promote the development of multi-disciplinary educational and research programs and the capacity to study complex scientific and social issues.
  1. Membership Background
    1. Membership on The Texas A&M University System Graduate Faculty provides the opportunity to participate in graduate education at The Texas A&M University System universities through serving on graduate committees, advising graduate students, and teaching graduate courses.

    2. Appointment to membership on The Texas A&M University System Graduate Faculty is designed to assure rigor in the directing, counseling, and teaching of graduate students.

    3. All of The Texas A&M University System Graduate Faculty members can serve as members of any graduate committee.

    4. The chair of a graduate committee must be from the institution that is conferring the graduate degree.

  1. Membership Qualifications. Consideration for membership on The Texas A&M University System Graduate Faculty requires meeting the following qualifications.
    1. The individual must hold the terminal degree, usually an earned doctorate. Exceptions will be considered only if justified in accordance with the Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools.
    2. The individual must be a tenured or a tenure-track faculty member of a Texas A&M University System university and hold a professorial rank.
    3. A person holding the title of instructor or lecturer may not be considered for membership on The Texas A&M University System Graduate Faculty.
    4. Individuals holding professorial rank at an agency of The Texas A&M University System are eligible for membership.
    5. he individual must be a member of the graduate faculty at his/her home institution.
    6. The individual must be an active participant in his/her graduate program through teaching, directing or administering graduate work.
    7. The individual must show evidence of active research and scholarly work within the past five years. This should include publication as primary author of scholarly works in peer-reviewed journals, publication of scholarly books, presentations at professional meetings, or creative works, such as performances, work in juried exhibitions, or other creative works appropriate to the individual's discipline.
    8. A graduate student at any Texas A&M University System institution may not be a member of The Texas A&M University System Graduate Faculty. Membership on The Texas A&M University System Graduate Faculty is forfeited upon a faculty or staff member's admission to a graduate program at any institution in The Texas A&M University System.
  1. Nomination, Appointment and Review Process
    1. Nomination for membership to The Texas A&M University System Graduate Faculty is made by submission of an official application by a faculty member and an accompanying letter of endorsement from the individual's department head or chair and college dean. The application and letter of endorsement are sent to the graduate dean, who certifies institutional graduate faculty appointment status, and forwards the nomination to the Texas A&M University System Council of Graduate Deans for consideration and action.

    2. The application from the faculty member must identify the institutional graduate faculty of which he or she is a member, specify the graduate degree(s) that he or she is qualified to supervise under the conditions of the institutional appointment, and specify the graduate program(s) in which he or she wishes to participate as a System graduate faculty member. The application should be accompanied by a current curriculum vitae.

    3. The Council of Graduate Deans will appoint faculty from member institutions as needed to a Graduate Faculty Review Advisory Committee to consider applications and reappointments and to make recommendations to the Council of Graduate Deans.

    4. A Graduate Faculty member of The Texas A&M University System is appointed for a five-year term. At the end of the five-year term, the member will be re-evaluated for reappointment by the Council of Graduate Deans. Failure to maintain membership criteria will result in removal from The Texas A&M University System Graduate Faculty. The Council of Graduate Deans will notify by letter a faculty member who is non-voluntarily removed from membership on The Texas A&M University System Graduate Faculty. The faculty member's department head, dean, provost and graduate dean will also receive notification.
  1. Graduate Faculty Membership List. A list of the current membership of The Texas A&M System Graduate Faculty will be maintained in the Office of the Vice Chancellor for Academic and Student Affairs, the graduate office at each System university and on The Texas A&M University System Graduate Education website at tamusystem.tamu.edu/graduate-education/graduate-faculty-membership.

Graduate Advisors

A graduate student entering the University for the first time is required to consult with a graduate advisor in his or her department. Departmental Graduate Advisors are available for consultation several days prior to registration. Graduate Advisors are designated by an asterisk in the Course Description section of this catalog.

Ombudsperson for Graduate Education

The Ombudsperson for Graduate Education assists graduate students, faculty, staff and administrators in solving conflicts informally. This is accomplished by serving as a neutral listener, information resource, advisor, intermediary and mediator.

Graduate students may serve in many roles during their academic careers such as students, teachers, co-workers, colleagues, employees or technicians. Varying rules/policies apply for the many roles. As long as the expectations for behavior are understood and accepted by all parties, there is rarely a problem.

However, challenges can arise when there are differing expectations or conflicting policies, or when one group is accused of violating the rules. The ombudsperson advocates for the processes of graduate education by being equally open and accessible to all parties--students, faculty, staff and administrators.

The Ombudsperson for Graduate Education can assist if:

  • you have an issue or a concern that you and others cannot resolve, or that you would prefer not to address through formal channels.

  • you have a matter to explore "off the record," or those for which you need informal consultation.

  • you have a problem, and are unsure with whom to speak or what options are available to address it.

  • you feel that a University policy, procedure or regulation has been applied unfairly, or is itself unfair or ambiguous.

  • you have a problem that requires an outside party to negotiate a solution, or facilitate your communication with others.

Ombudsperson contact information:

  Ombudsperson for Graduate Education
  1113 TAMU
  College Station, TX 77843-1113
  (979) 845-3631
  ombuds@tamu.edu

University Graduate Student Orientation

The University-wide graduate student orientation provides an introduction to and overview of the graduate education experience at Texas A&M. Whereas many colleges and departments hold graduate orientations to cover objectives and items for specific programs, the University graduate student orientation provides a broad overview of the graduate process.

The orientation covers the what, why, and the how of graduate degree requirements, the proper conduct of research and other pertinent topics. Participants also have the opportunity to learn about available campus resources from participating campus offices and organizations at a resource fair held as part of the orientation. New students receive information and registration forms for the orientation when they are admitted to a degree program. For further information about the University graduate student orientation , please contact the Office of Graduate Studies, 302 Jack K. Williams Administration Building, Texas A&M University, 1113 TAMU, College Station, TX 77843-1113, (979) 845-3631; via email at ogs@tamu.edu; or on the website vpr.tamu.edu.

Seminar Series

The Office of Graduate Studies sponsors the seminar series. These seminars are designed to provide graduate students with practical, useful and timely information that is generally not covered elsewhere. Topics of these seminars include Writing and Publishing Your Thesis or Dissertation; Getting That Job: Preparing and Interviewing for Non-Academic Jobs; Preparing Presentations for Professional Meetings; and Writing Grant Proposals. The seminars occur approximately five times during the year. Students are notified of the seminars in advance by email and posted fliers. There is no charge for the seminars, but seating is limited, so students must reserve a seat. For more information, please email ogs@tamu.edu.

Graduate Student Council

The Graduate Student Council (GSC) exists to share and discuss information important to Texas A&M University graduate and professional students and to serve as an advocate for their interests within the University community. Specific goals of the GSC include: to represent all graduate and professional students by identifying and advocating their interests on graduate issues; to be recognized as representing a unique population within the University system; to facilitate communication on graduate issues within the University community; and to enhance the graduate experience through social and service opportunities. Each academic graduate department elects one representative each fall. Officer elections are held in the spring. GSC also works closely with Student Government to assure graduate student issues are represented and addressed through student legislation and on University committees. Additional information can be obtained by visiting us on the website at www.tamu.edu/gsc.

Letter of Completion

As a courtesy, the Office of Graduate Studies may issue a letter of completion for an individual student upon written request from the student. The letter of completion certifies that the student has completed all academic requirements for the degree and states the date the degree will be awarded.

These letters may be requested anytime from the point the student has completed all requirements for the award of the degree and until five days prior to commencement. Students in thesis option or doctoral programs must have completed all degree requirements including final clearance from the Thesis Office to be eligible to request this letter. For students in non-thesis option programs, requests for letters will be accepted only if the student has completed all degree plan course work and the final examination results, if applicable, have been approved by the Office of Graduate Studies.

In addition to making a request for a letter with the Office of Graduate Studies, the student must also obtain clearance from the Student Debt Management Office (Pavilion, Room 113). The Student Debt Management Office will verify to the Office of Graduate Studies whether all financial obligations to the University have been satisfied.