Texas A&M University Graduate Catalog

• Academic Calendar
• Board of Regents
  & System Adminstrative
  Officers
• TAMU Administrative
  Officers
• Office of
  Graduate Studies
• General Information
• Degree Information
• Admission
• Registration & Academic Status
• Tuition, Fees &
  Other Financial Information
• Housing
• Orientation
• Resources for Students
• Texas A&M University at Galveston
• Course Descriptions
• School of
  Rural Public Health
• Faculty
• Appendices

Degree Information

Expectations for Graduate Study

The major goals of graduate education at Texas A&M University are to instill in each student an understanding of and a capacity for scholarship, independent judgment, academic rigor and intellectual honesty. Faculty and graduate students have a shared obligation to work together to foster these goals through relationships that advance freedom of inquiry, demonstrate individual and professional integrity, and encourage common respect.

Graduate student progress is guided and evaluated by an advisor and a graduate committee. These individuals give direction and support for the appropriate developmental and learning goals of graduate students. The advisor and the graduate committee also have the obligation of evaluating a graduate student's academic performance. The graduate student, the advisor and the graduate committee constitute the basic core of graduate education. It is the quality, scope and extent to interaction in this group that determine the significance of the graduate experience.

High quality graduate education requires professional and ethical conduct of the participants. Faculty and graduate students have mutual responsibilities in ensuring academic standards and quality graduate programs. Excellence in graduate education is achieved when faculty and students are inspired, have the academic and professional backgrounds essential to function at the highest level, and are genuine in their mutual desire to see one another triumph. Any action that negatively affects this interaction--from either faculty member or student--destroys the whole relationship. Mutual respect is critical to the successful process.

The requirements set forth in this catalog are defined as minimum University requirements. Departments and Colleges may opt to establish higher standards and/or additional requirements.