Ph.D. Degree in Food Science - Graduate Handbook

Ph.D. Degree in Food Science - Graduate Handbook Bill Leahy

General Requirements

  • Course requirements
  • Comprehensive exam
  • Prospectus
  • Defense
  • Checklist

Residency Requirements

  • Register nine or more credits in two consecutive semesters, a maximum of 16 credits per semester. This is a graduate school requirement for all students.

Dissertation Credit

  • Eighteen dissertation credits are required to complete the degree. A maximum of nine dissertation credits can be registered per semester. 

Course Requirements

  • The Ph.D. coursework is dependent on the student's background and level. Students must get approval from their advisor on course selection.
  • Students should meet the following requirements for courses taken during the degree:
Category 1 (all students)
  • Three credits Research methods (FS790STA)
Category 2 (all students)
  • One credit Teaching Experience (FS796T)
Category 3 (all students)
  • Two credits Graduate Seminar (FS791A/792A, one credit each, two separate semesters). At minimum one letter grade seminar (requires presentation)
Category 4
  • All course requirements ≥600 level. Independent Study credits cannot be used in this category unless approved by the GPD.
Category 4a (Students with Food Science MS)
  • Six credits from courses within the Department ≥600 level
  • One ≥600 level can be outside of the Department upon the advisor's approval
Category 4b (Students with Food Science BS)
  • Nine credits from courses within the Department ≥600 level
  • One 500 level can be used to replace ≥600 level upon advisor's approval
Category 4c (Students with non-Food Science MS)
  • Six credits from courses within the Department ≥600 level
  • Six credits 500 level (any two of Food Chemistry, Food Microbiology, or Food Processing/Engineering, both courses cannot be in the same area, e.g., Food Chem)
  • One ≥600 level can be outside of the Department upon the advisor's approval
Category 4d (Students with non-Food science BS)
  • Nine credits from courses within the Department ≥600 level
  • Six credits 500 level (any two of Food Chemistry, Food Microbiology, or Food Processing/Engineering, both courses cannot be in the same area, e.g., Food Chem)
  • One ≥600 level can be outside of the Department upon the advisor's approval
  • One 500 level can be used to replace ≥600 level upon advisor's approval
Category 4e (Students with UMass Food Science MS)
  • No additional requirements

Required Processes and Forms

  1. Comprehensive oral exam: The student requests that their advisor form the comprehensive oral exam committee, which must include at least four faculty. The exam should be completed within 18 months of starting the degree. The chair of the Comprehensive Exam Committee, who should not be the advisor, sends the results of the comprehensive exam to GPD and the graduate program administrator. A memo with the results of the examination will be sent to the graduate school.
  2. Appointment of a dissertation committee: The student requests that the advisor email the GPD and the graduate program administrator to request the appointment of the dissertation committee, which should include at least three internal members (including the advisor) and one external member.
  3. Submission of prospectus: Student submits signed prospectus/outline signature page to graduate school after completion of the prospectus. (At least seven months before final defense).
  4. Notification of final defense: The student requests that their advisor sends an email to the GPD and graduate program administrator to draft a memo containing the student’s full name, SPIRE ID, degree, date, day of the week, time, location, and title of dissertation, and chair of committee. This must be done at least one month prior to the defense date. All requirements on the Checklist for Doctoral Oral Examinations must be completed before scheduling the final oral exam.
  5. Final defense and documentation: After completing the final defense, a memo stating that the exam was passed and the date on which it was passed must be signed by the graduate program director and filed with the Graduate Student Service Center. Please ensure your advisor submits via email the results and the date passed to the GPD and graduate program administrator so the memo can be processed.
  6. Paperwork: After completing a successful defense, the student will use DocuSign to obtain digital signatures from their committee for their signature page and submit the page to the Graduate School. The student should also submit the Doctoral Degree Eligibility Form for departmental review at least two weeks prior to the degree deadline. This form will be completed and approved through the SPIRE and Kuali systems. The student will need to submit the unsigned signature page after the copyright page in the electronic dissertation. Please ask Moriah to send the signature page through DocuSign if necessary.
  7. Electronic Submission of dissertation: Student submits dissertation electronically to ScholarWorks@UMass Amherst
  8. Survey: Complete the online Survey of Earned Doctorates by the deadline.
  9. Additional graduation requirements:
    • Maintain active student status
    • Ensure no holds are on your record
    • Pay all outstanding Bursar fees
    • Update Diploma Name, Home (Non-UMass) email address, and Diploma address in SPIRE (Academics > Graduation > Diploma Preferences)

Notes

  • Specific timing depends on an individual student's progress.
  • Additional information can be found in the Graduate Schools handbook under degree requirements.
  • You can submit the required documents by either emailing them to UMass Graduate School Student Records at @email or by handing them in at the Graduate Student Service Center, 534 Goodell Building.
  • Dr. Hang Xiao, [email protected] (338 Chenoweth Lab) is the Food Science GPD
Ph.D. Degree in Food Science - Graduate Handbook