The University of Arizona
Insect Science: the Graduate Interdisciplinary Program

Student Handbook: Program Requirements

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Welcome

Welcome to the Graduate Interdisciplinary Program in Insect Science. The program in Insect Science is designed to be flexible in its requirements, which allows you to design, in collaboration with the program's faculty, a graduate program tailored to your interests. You can develop cross-discipline connections and bring together aspects of insect biology in novel and exciting ways. The possibilities are wide-open. However, with this freedom comes a great deal of responsibility for your own graduate education. The program faculty are here to assist you in learning how to develop the specifics of your degree program and in designing and accomplishing your research goals. To a very large extent, your level of commitment to your program and your research will determine your success as a scientist. So welcome and best of luck in your graduate training.
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The Program

The Interdisciplinary Program in Insect Science was approved in 1994 as a degree program at the University of Arizona. The program faculty includes 31 members representing 6 departments: Entomology, Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Neurobiology, Molecular and Cellular Biology, Nutritional Sciences, and Plant Sciences. All faculty members also belong to the Center for Insect Science, a multicampus organization made up of insect scientists in Arizona representing a wide range of primary disciplines.

The Program was developed in response to a need, expressed by both faculty members and students, for a formal mechanism to bring the type of cross-discipline research enabled by the Center for Insect Science together with graduate education.
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Administration of the Program

The Insect Science Program is one of about 14 interdisciplinary graduate programs at the University of Arizona. All of these programs report to Andrew Comrie, Associate Vice President for Research, Dean of the Graduate College and Director of the Graduate Interdisciplinary Programs. Jolene Gruener is the Associate Director of the Graduate Interdisciplinary Programs (GIDPs.) Their offices are on the third floor of the Administration Building.

The GIDP in Insect Science is administered by an Executive Committee consisting of six members. One member of the Executive Committee serves as chairperson of the Committee on Insect Science for a renewable three-year term. Current Executive Committee members include Judith Bronstein, Judith Brown, Goggy Davidowitz, Martha Hunter, Nick Strausfeld and Diana Wheeler. Nick Strausfeld is the chairperson and Martha Hunter is the academic advisor. Arizona Research Laboratories provide administrative support through Anh Le and Sharon Richards.

The Executive Committee of the Program in Insect Science formulates policies and procedures for the operation of the graduate program in such areas as admissions, curriculum, student supervision and completion of degree program requirements. The Executive Committee may also appoints interim faculty advisors for new students to provide academic counsel to, and evaluation of, students in the early phases of their program, until each has a Major Professor and an individual Graduate Committee.
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Advising and Progress

The Executive Committee or the Academic Advisor will advise you in the preparation of your first-year program of study until the time that you select a Major Professor and Graduate Committee. If you have selected a Major Professor by the beginning of the first year, you can assemble your own interim Graduate Committee in Consultation with this advisor. Completion of remedial course work may be required by these advisory committees. If you have not selected a Major Professor, the Executive Committee can assign you an interim faculty advisor.

You must take a minimum of 6 units and usually 9 units of graduate course work in each fall and spring semester in order to remain in good standing in the Program. Some funding sources require that you register for up to 12 units. Students in the Graduate Program are expected to maintain a grade-point average of 3.00 (B) and to have no more than one grade of C. Failure to achieve such a record can result in dismissal from the program at any time. Ordinarily, students complete all requirements for the Ph.D. degree within 5 years; all requirements must be completed within a period of 10 years.

You must meet at least once a year with your Graduate Committee and Major Professor for a formal review of progress.

An M.S. in Insect Science degree is awarded only in rare instances in which a student is unable, for whatever reason, to complete a Ph.D.  To qualify for the master’s degree, the student must successfully pass the written and oral comprehensive exams, or their equivalent, and fulfill all the requirements of the Graduate College for that degree. 
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Program Requirements: Courses

Insect Science Courses. A minimum of 36 units of graduate work must be taken in Insect Science, excluding dissertation research credits, and can include not only INSC courses but also other courses chosen from the schedule of classes and approved by your Graduate Committee. At least 18 of these must be in courses taken for a letter grade.

Insect Science Courses for Fall 2008

Courses in the Minor. To make sure that you have some expertise in an area of science outside of Insect Science, a minor consisting of at least 9 units in another department or program is required. The selection must be approved by the Executive Committee. You should check with the minor department to determine its requirements for course work, qualifying exams, preliminary and final oral exams.

Rotations. Each student must take two or three research rotations, which count towards the 36 units of Insect science courses, in the first year in the Program. The required course, Methods in Insect Science (INSC 700), provides a formal mechanism for these rotations, which encourage you to have hands-on experience in areas of interest, to learn research methods in the field and to become acquainted with the laboratory work and research group of prospective dissertation advisors. Ordinarily, rotations are approximately 8-16 weeks each, with about 10 hours/week in the lab.

Design the project with the help of either your advisor (if you have one) or the INSC academic advisor, Martha Hunter, and your rotation mentor. BEFORE the project begins, submit a brief outline of the planned work to Sharon Richards. AFTER the rotation is complete, you need to complete a brief summary of the work and training accomplished. In addition, both you and your rotation mentor should complete separate evaluations of the experience. Submit these to Sharon Richards.

The forms for your rotation plan, final report, student's evaluation and mentor's evaluation are available through this link or type your own with the indicated information:

Forms for Rotation

Seminars and Group Meetings. You are expected to participate actively in one or more of the group meetings, discussion groups, seminars and colloquia held by the Program or by the Center for Insect Science. Attendance and performance in these activities will be evaluated by the Major Professor and Graduate Committee at each yearly progress meeting.
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Program Requirements: Selection of Major Professor and Committee

Students should select a Major Professor and Graduate Committee before the start of the third semester of study.  This selection will be achieved by mutual agreement of the student and all members of the individual Graduate Committee and influenced by the research rotations and by individual meetings with the Program faulty. 

The Dissertation Committee should consist of at least four members, including at least two members of the Principal Faculty of the Program (one of whom is the major advisor), one faculty member from the student's minor field, and an additional faculty member chosen from either the major or minor area, or another appropriate field. All members must be University of Arizona tenured, tenure-track, or approved as equivalent.

The Major Professor and Graduate Committee (1) advise you on preparation of a program of study, (2) supervise your research (3) conduct the comprehensive examination, and (4) accept the dissertation and conducts the final examination and dissertation defense.


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Program Requirements: Examinations

Qualifying Exam. The Graduate College requires a qualifying exam to determine if a student is prepared to continue work towards the dissertation. You will have passed the exam when you have (1) completed course work in the first 2 semesters with a minimum of 3.00 grade-point average, (2) completed the research rotations, (3) obtained approval of the Executive Committee of your program of study.

Comprehensive (formerly Preliminary) Examination. The comprehensive examination must be taken according to the Graduate College regulations. Under normal circumstances, the comprehensive examination should be taken in your fourth semester in the Program. The Executive Committee may review petitions for extensions of this deadline. The examination, which has written and oral parts, tests knowledge in both the major and minor area. The written exam consists of a research proposal written according to the guidelines of NSF, NIH, or USDA. In addition, the individual Graduate Committee asks a maximum of three essay questions, each of which must be completed within one week of receipt. Your committee will determine if the proposal's quality, along with the responses to the written questions, satisfies the requirements for the written examination. The oral exam is given by your Graduate Committee.

The oral exam is given by your Graduate Committee.  The oral examination involves broad questions across your general field of study as well as more specific questions within your area of specialization. The oral examination can use the written proposal as a starting point for questions but should range through related and relevant areas of biology. You should demonstrate strong fundamental knowledge in basic areas of insect biology as well as biology in general. The oral exam must be taken within 6 months of the written exam.  If your minor is outside the biological research area, you are strongly encouraged to select a committee member who represents that area of study.

Dissertation and Final Examination. The formal defense of the dissertation is the Final Examination. The Final Examination consists of a scheduled, advertised public seminar by the candidate followed by an oral examination by your Graduate Committee that cannot exceed two hours. Provide the members of your committee with the dissertation two weeks prior to the scheduled Final.

The Graduate College requires a minimum of three members, all of whom must be University of Arizona tenured, tenure-track, or approved as equivalent. If a committee has only three members, all must approve the dissertation. In departments that require four or five members, there may be one dissenting vote.

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Financial Information.

First-year students are supported by Program funds while they take courses and do laboratory rotations.

Students in their second and subsequent years are funded by research assistantships from their advisors, teaching assistantships, training grant funds, or individual fellowships.

Students who are not legal residents of Arizona receive a waiver of the out-of-state tuition fees charged by the University of Arizona. Enrollment in the University's student health plan for the student, only, is covered.

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Exit Interview.

Upon completion of the dissertation defense, students should schedule a meeting with the Program Chair.  The purpose of this meeting is congratulatory as well as information-seeking.  The department is committed to the quality of its graduate program, and the advice and experiences of successful students are valued.

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Checklist for Insect Science Graduate Students


FIRST YEAR
First Semester
Upon Arriving in Tucson
  • Initial meeting with Academic Advisor.
  • Visit with Insect Science faculty to select and plan rotations.
End of Semester
  • Complete laboratory rotation(s); turn in rotation report(s).
  • Meet with Academic Advisor.
Second Semester
  • Complete final rotation(s); turn in final rotation(s) report.
  • Select Major Professor.
  • Develop Plan of Study with Major Professor. The Plan of Study identifies courses the student intends to transfer from other institutions; courses already completed at The University of Arizona which the student intends to apply toward the graduate degree; and additional course work to be completed in order to fulfill degree requirements. The Plan of Study must have the approval of the student's Major Professor and Program Chair before it is submitted to the Graduate College.
  • Choose Graduate Committee.
  • Annual Graduate Committee meeting for review of progress

SECOND YEAR
First Semester
  • Meet with graduate committee, finalize plan of study, submit finalized Plan of Study to the Graduate Degree Certification Office.
Second Semester
  • Write dissertation proposal.
  • Schedule written and Oral Comprehensive Exam when all coursework has been completed.
  • Annual Graduate Committee meeting for review of progress
THIRD YEAR
First Semester
  • MUST have completed written and oral exams—by end of semester.
  • Submit Doctoral Advancement to Candidacy Form to Graduate Degree Certification Office after completion of Comprehensive Exam and no later than six months before the Final Oral Defense Examination is scheduled.
Second Semester
  • Annual Graduate Committee meeting for review of progress
FOURTH YEAR
First Semester
  • Focus on dissertation research.
Second Semester
  • Annual Graduate Committee meeting for review of progress
FIFTH YEAR
First Semester
  • Prepare for dissertation defense and meet with the Graduate Committee.
Second Semester
  • Dissertation Defense.

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