Graduate Research Plans
To meet research literacy and writing requirements for a graduate degree, the student should contact the department chair and/or graduate coordinator to select one of the following Research Plan options (I, II, III or IV). All students seeking a master’s degree must register for the appropriate research foundations course the first time it is offered, and after they are admitted to the College of Graduate Studies. Research Plans I, II, III and IV are as follows:
- Plan I: Research Literacy
- Plan II: Research Project
- Plan III: Thesis
- Plan IV: Field Study
For determining which Plan is required for a student obtaining his/her degree, including the specific details of the required Research Plan, the student should contact the department chair and/or graduate coordinator in his/her program of study.
During the last term in residence, or as otherwise specified, the candidate must pass a departmental oral and/or written comprehensive examination on all work used to meet the requirements for degree. The examination is a test of the candidate’s ability to integrate knowledge of the major and related fields, including material in the research literacy paper, research project paper, and thesis or field study report. Upon completion the approved Verification of Thesis/Field Study/Research and/or Written-Oral Exam Completion Form must be turned into the College of Graduate Studies for the Dean’s approval two week’s prior to the end of the semester in which student expects to graduate. If the performance is unsatisfactory, the candidate may be re-examined after a minimum of three months and before a maximum of twelve months, unless otherwise approved by the Dean of the College of Graduate Studies. The result of the second examination will be final. Unanimous agreement by the student’s graduate committee is necessary for passing the examination.
Honor and recognition of superior thesis work will be considered each semester for those graduate students who submit committee approved thesis research to the College of Graduate Studies two week’s prior to the end of the semester in which student expects to graduate. The Thesis Review Sub-Committee from the Graduate and Research Council will review the theses for the honor. The selected candidate’s award will be announced and presented during the practice graduation ceremony.
Research Involving Humans and Animals
All research concerned with human subjects must be approved by the Austin Peay Institutional Review Board. Most departments with graduate programs have representatives on this review board. Forms for submitting human research proposals and guidance in their preparation are available on the College of Graduate Studies website at www.apsu.edu/cogs/irb.
All research involving animals must be approved by the University Animal Care and Use Committee. Departments that conduct animal research are represented on this committee. Forms for submitting animal research proposals and guidance in their preparation are available in the Office of Grants and Sponsored Research, located in the McReynolds building, room 110.
Continued Enrollment to Complete Graduate Research Requirement
There will be an assessment of tuition and fees for the continued enrollment of those graduate students who have completed all course work, not to include the research plan component of their degree requirements. During a two-semester “grace period,” tuition and fees will be waived and enrollment is not required. Summer terms are not considered to be semesters. Beginning the third semester, students who have not completed their theses, field study reports, research project papers, or research literacy papers must re-apply for graduate admission and will be assessed tuition and fees for a one credit hour course each semester until completion of the requirement. |