Thesis/Dissertation Defense/General Exam

The final defense is much more than just a rehash of your thesis/dissertation. The defense is intended to determine if you see the larger picture within which your work fits and determine whether you can adequately defend your work under scrutiny. Note, the entirety of the defense is fully open to any interested persons, including other students, faculty and the general public.  For more detailed information, please download and review the Graduate School's "Guidelines for Master’s Theses and Doctoral Dissertations."

Plant and Soil Sciences Graduate Program Student Guide
WELCOME TO THE PLANT AND SOIL SCIENCE GRADUATE PROGRAM
Getting Started
Administration of the Program
PRACTICAL CONCERNS
Student ID Card: you need this to do just about anything!
Contacts you need to know
Office (desk) space
Keys
Phones and mail
Information Technologies
Information technology services on campus, including computer and telephone services, are provided by the UMass Amherst Information Technology (IT)
What if I did not receive a NetID and password?
What services are provided by IT?
Library information
Graduate Employee Organization (GEO)
What does GEO do?
What benefits and assistance does GEO provide?
How do you become a member?
How many hours a week do I need to work to receive a tuition waiver?
How many hours a week do I need to work to receive health insurance?
How do I sign up for the Dental and Vision Plans?
If I elect to pay the Continuation Fee (formerly known as the Program Fee) for a semester in which I am not enrolled in classes, am I still eligible for benefits?
Does GEO membership give me a discount on parking?
What should I do if I have a problem in my workplace or with my insurance provider?
How can I get involved in GEO?
Graduate student fees
Important considerations
Fee Minimization Strategies
Seminar Series offered in Stockbridge School of Agriculture, and College of Natural Sciences
Graduate Program Meetings
Animal and Human Use Protocol / Research Permits
When should I pursue this?
Travel Grants
THE PROGRAM
General Policies and Administrative Requirements
Academic Honesty
Title IX
Publishing
Statute of Limitations
Stipends and Tuition Waiver
Full-time Status
Continuation (Program) Fees
Examination/Advisory Committee
MS Degree (thesis and professional degree concentrations)
Ph.D. Degree
Changing advisors and committee members
SSA Program Requirements
Course Credit Requirement
MS Degree (thesis option) Course Requirement
MS Degree (non-thesis On-campus option) Course Requirement 
Accelerated M.S. Degree
M.S. Degree (non-thesis, Off-campus Soils Option)
Ph.D. Degree
Thesis/Dissertation Proposal
Thesis/Dissertation Defense/General Exam
Before the Defense
Content of the Defense
After the Defense
MS Professional General Exam
Checkoff Lists
LIST OF CURRENT AVAILABLE GRADUATE COURSES

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