PhD Checklist - Graduate Handbook : Department of Food Science : UMass Amherst

To do	Notes
Residency requirements	Register nine or more credits in two consecutive semesters, maximum 16 credits per semester can be registered
Dissertation credits	18 total dissertation credits (FS899), maximum of 9 credits of dissertation credits per semester. Use dissertation credits to maximize to 16 credits per semester
Course requirement	Get approval from your advisor on course selection
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) A minimum one letter grade seminar (require presentation)
Category 4	All course requirements ≥ 600 level Independent Study credits cannot be used in this category unless approved by GPD
Category 4a (Students with Food Science MS)	Six credits from courses within the Department ≥600 level One ≥600 level can be outside department upon 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 Fd Chem, Fd Micro, or Fd Proc/Eng, both courses cannot be in the same area, e.g. Fd Chem) One ≥600 level can be outside department upon 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 Fd Chem, Fd Micro, or Fd Proc/Eng, both courses cannot be in the same area, e.g. Fd Chem) One ≥600 level can be outside department upon 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.
Continuous Enrollment	Students who take less than nine credits in a semester or continuous enrollment (GRADSCH999) must request an override for full-time status by emailing Moriah Fahey ([email protected]). This needs to be done at the beginning of every semester.
Comprehensive exam	Ask your advisor to form the comprehensive exam committee (at least four faculty). The exam should be completed within the 18 months.
Form dissertation committee	Ask your advisor to send an email to GPD requesting the appointment of the dissertation committee (which should include at least one outside member).
Prospectus	Student submits signed prospectus/outline signature sheet to graduate school after completion of prospectus (At least seven months before defense).
Defense notification	Ask your advisor to send an email to GPD for a memo with the dissertation defense date, time, location, and title of the dissertation. This should be done at least one month prior to the defense date. The student requests Moriah to send a defense notification to the department 1-2 days prior to the scheduled defense.
Defense	Ask your advisor to send an email to GPD with the results of defense, the date passed, and committee names.
Paperwork	After a successful defense, the student will submit their digitally signed dissertation signature page to the Graduate School. They should also submit their Doctoral Degree Eligibility form through SPIRE. Student files dissertation electronically to ScholarWorks@UMass Amherst . Student completes the survey of earned doctorates requested by the graduate school.