The Ph.D. Degree
Graduate
Student Handbook (511 kb)
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The Ph.D. program at Michigan State
University is designed to develop the student's ability to conduct original
research. As such, the program fosters:
- understanding of scientific inquiry;
- knowledge of the structure of the Geographic discipline, its history, issues, methods
and trends;
- depth of knowledge in an area of specialization, including an understanding of important
research questions;
- proficiency in appropriate analytical and technical skills;
- skills in communicating the results of research.
[ Overview | Requirements |
Calendar | Advising ]
Requirements for the PhD Degree
- Ph.D. applicants whose Master's degree is in a field other than Geography must have
completed courses in (1) physical, (2) cultural/human, (3)
economic/urban, and (4) regional Geography, as well as (5) quantitative
methods, (6) GIS, and (7) a "tool" course (e.g.,
cartography, remote sensing, quantitative methods). If these courses have not been
taken previously, they must be taken while in the degree program at MSU. In addition
students seeking the Ph.D in Geography must:
- Complete:
Three of the following four seminars:
GEO 871 (Seminar in Physical Geography)
GEO 872 (Seminar in Human Geography)
GEO 873 (Seminar in Human-Environment)
GEO 874 (Seminar in GIScience) |
9 cr. |
| GEO 886 (Research Design in Geography) |
3 cr. |
| GEO 986 (Theory and Methods in Geography) |
3 cr. |
| At least one advanced-level tool course (see below) |
at least 3 cr. |
| Electives (may include GEO 825 and 865) |
usually about 14 cr. |
| Dissertation credits (GEO 999) |
24 cr. |
| Total |
56 cr. |
- Pass the comprehensive examination, (see below).
- Present and defend a written dissertation proposal before the Department (see below).
- Complete a dissertation (see below).
- Present a research paper or poster, approved by the advisor, at a professional
meeting. This requirement must be met prior to the awarding of the degree.
- Submit an authored or co-authored manuscript, approved by the advisor, for publication
in a book or referred journal. This requirement must be met prior to the awarding of
the degree.
- Pass an oral examination in defense of the dissertation.
Tool Courses
- Eight credits in a foreign language, appropriate for and pertinent to, the dissertation
research, and/or in appropriate research techniques, are required as tool courses.
Acceptance of foreign language as a tool requires the student to pass a competency
examination. Approval of the language courses and the level of proficiency is
determined by the student's Guidance Committee; the Committee may confer with a faculty
member in the department offering the courses for guidance on the issue of language
competency. Generally, the tool course must advance the level of competency, via
coursework, while in the MSU Ph.D. program. Research techniques used to satisfy the
tool requirement must be in the fields of cartography, GIS, remote sensing, computer
science, statistics, mathematics, or social or physical science research methods.
Coursework in combinations of these areas is permitted. Tool courses taken to
satisfy deficiencies (see above) may not also be used to fulfill the tool course
requirement for the Ph.D. program.
- Ph.D. students whose Master's degree is in Geography from MSU may count one tool course
they successfully complete (grade > 3.0) in their MA/MS program toward the eight
credits of tools required in their Ph.D. program of study. The credits from this
course cannot, however, be counted toward the 56 needed for graduation (see above).
Comprehensive Examination
- Students are eligible to undertake the comprehensive examination, not before their
fourth semester and no later than the fifth semester. This examination will cover
the student's field of specialization as defined in the student's Guidance Committee
Report, together with related theory and methodology. It will include both a written
portion and an oral portion. Performance on the examinations must provide evidence
of the student's mastery of subject matter, knowledge of related geographic literature,
and an understanding of research theory and methodology.
Dissertation Proposal
- The student must prepare a written dissertation proposal in consultation with the
Guidance Committee. The content of the proposal will be orally presented and
defended before the Guidance Committee and other interested faculty and graduate students
by the end of the student's fifth semester. The primary purpose of the proposal
presentation and defense is to facilitate high-quality dissertation research by providing
a forum for student-faculty interaction on this critical part of the student's Ph.D.
work. The session gives the student access to evaluation of the research by the
committee, other faculty, and students. At least two weeks before the presentation,
copies of the written proposal must be made available to each member of the committee and
to the Graduate Secretary for distribution. It is the responsibility of the student
to insure that copies of the proposal are made available by the deadline.
- A time for the proposal defense should be selected that will allow for a minimum of
scheduling conflicts. The room selected should be large enough to seat the bulk of
the GEO faculty and graduate students. Scheduling proposal defenses over spring
break or during finals week is discouraged. Two hours will be allowed for the
presentation and subsequent questioning. An initial uninterrupted presentation of
the proposed research should be 20-30 minutes in length. All faculty and students,
including those who do not wish to remain for the full question period, are encouraged to
attend this initial presentation. The question session that follows will be
moderated by the major professor, and normally all Guidance Committee members will
actively participate. However, all persons attending may ask questions and offer
comments. Following the session, the student's Guidance Committee will meet to
determine whether the proposal must be revised and presented again. A student may
present and defend a proposal only twice.
- When approved by the student's committee, the proposal becomes a written understanding
that sets forth the committee's expectations and the student's obligations. A
dissertation that deviates significantly from the approved proposal may be found
unsatisfactory. Students can contact the University Committee on Research Involving
Human Subjects (UCRIHS) before beginning any research that involves Human Subjects.
If you are dealing with Human Subjects in any way you must gain approval from this
committee before starting your research.
The Dissertation
- The dissertation must be written documentation of research that makes an original
contribution to knowledge. The research is performed under the guidance of the major
professor and the Guidance Committee and must be acceptable to them. The student,
however, is responsible for the quality and design of the research, including any field
work, statistical analysis, and graphics. The dissertation must be organized, typed,
duplicated, and bound according to regulations prescribed in the Graduate School Guide to
the Preparation of Master's Theses and Doctoral Dissertations. An abstract not
exceeding 600 words must be included.
- Not later than six weeks before the end of the last semester and at least three weeks
before the final oral examination, the student is required to submit the dissertation and
abstract to the major professor, members of the Guidance Committee, Graduate Secretary,
and the Dean of the College of Social Science. The Graduate Secretary must be
notified at least 3 weeks prior to the final oral examination so that required paperwork
can be completed. The student should, however, check the appropriate MSU Schedule of
Courses and Academic Handbook for exact deadlines. The dissertation must be in
completed form, typed with complete illustrative material and acceptable to the major
professor. At this stage, it should be bound only by spiral, or other loose types,
of binding.
- The final oral examination in defense of the dissertation will be conducted and
evaluated by the Guidance Committee, which may be supplemented with a Dean's
Representative appointed by the Dean of the College of Social Science. Other
interested faculty and students may attend and participate but not vote. According
to University guidelines, both the dissertation and the student's performance on the oral
defense must be approved by a positive vote of at least 75% of the voting examiners, and
with not more than one dissenting vote among the MSU regular faculty members of the
Guidance Committee. At least two weeks advance notice of the examination (and
availability of the completed dissertation) will be given to all faculty.
- Before being questioned by members of the committee, the candidate will present an
uninterrupted, professional oral summary of the dissertation that shall be no more than 30
minutes in length. An oral examination period shall follow. Three hours will be allocated
for the entire dissertation defense. Following its conclusion, the Examination Committee
will decide whether the candidate has defended the dissertation satisfactorily. The
student will be considered as having "passed" the Dissertation Defense provided
that no more than one member of the Examination Committee (Guidance Committee plus, where
provided, the Dean's representative) votes to fail. If the student fails the
defense, it may be repeated, but no sooner than three months from the time of failure, and
not more than once.
- After the Guidance Committee has reviewed and approved the dissertation and the student
has passed the oral defense, the student should incorporate into the dissertation
recommended changes and corrections before having it permanently bound. One copy of
the abstract must be bound with the dissertation. One bound copy of the dissertation
and abstract be provided to the Department for its possession. Not later than two
weeks before commencement the student must submit to the Office of the Graduate School one
unbound copy of the dissertation and abstract. The student should, however, check
the appropriate MSU Schedule of Courses and Academic Handbook for exact deadlines for
submission of the dissertation. Students should also consult the Graduate School
Guide to the Preparation of Master's Theses and Doctoral Dissertations for further
information on preparing and submitting the dissertation.
-
[ Overview | Requirements |
Calendar | Advising ]
Calendar of Progress Toward the
Ph.D. Degree
| Middle of second semester |
Advisor chosen |
| End of second semester |
Guidance Committee chosen
Guidance Committee Program Report on file |
| End of fifth semester |
Comprehensive Examination completed
Dissertation Proposal defended |
[ Overview | Requirements |
Calendar | Advising ]
Academic Advising and Committee
Structure for Doctoral Students
- The Department of Geography is committed to the policy that graduate students have a
right to the best advice regarding program planning, research, selection of courses and
faculty, and general degree requirements, with the understanding that students are
responsible for consulting their advisors before making program decisions.
- Incoming Ph.D. students are assigned to the Graduate Supervisor until an advisor is
selected by the student. The student's advisor shall be selected no later than the
middle of the second semester following entry into the program. The advisor shall be
a member of the Geography regular faculty with a Ph.D. in Geography.
- The doctoral program Guidance Committee consists of at least four regular Michigan State
University faculty. The professor with whom the student works most closely is known
as the major professor or advisor. Generally, the major professor is the chairperson
of the student's Guidance Committee and the dissertation advisor. The additional
members of the Guidance Committee are chosen by the student in consultation with the major
professor. Members may be from an academic unit other than Geography but at least
half of the committee must be composed of faculty from Geography. The composition of
the committee must be approved by the Chairperson of the Department and reported to the
Graduate Secretary and the Dean of the College of Social Science. Persons eligible
to serve as Guidance Committee members include all regular Michigan State University
faculty and, in some cases, emeritus faculty. Persons who are Specialists and
Administrative Professionals may be included on the Committee but do not count toward the
minimum of four (or more) members required. They are, in essence, 'extras.'
Changes in the constitution of the committee must be approved by the Department
Chairperson and the Associate Chairperson, and a Doctoral Program Changes form must be
submitted to the Graduate Secretary. The Guidance Committee should be formed no
later than the end of the second semester following entry into the program.
- Ph.D. students changing from an advisor who has already been designated and approved
must first convene a meeting of the current and prospective advisors and the Graduate
Supervisor to discuss the matter. The student shall be responsible for finding a
meeting time and place that is convenient for all the above persons. The Department
Chairperson shall be notified of this meeting, by the student, at least 5 days in advance.
Additional Information
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