MS non-Thesis graduation procedures, MSE

Registration

First, please remember to register for at least the minimum number of required credit hours in the term in which you wish to graduate:

  • If you are self-funded, at least 3 credit hours (also applies to company/government-funded students--confirm minimum hours with funding source).
  • If funded by a GRA or Fellow position (this would include making use of a Summer Term Fee Authorization)--see enrollment instructions found on Carmen.osu.edu under the "MSE Graduate Students" site.
  • International students: be sure to register for the minimum number of credits required for your visa type and funding source (you may wish to confirm with OIA).

Applying to graduate

Complete the Application to Graduate request form
MSE students must complete the form at the link above to receive instructions for the submission of an Application to Graduate. Upon submission of this form, the MSE-WE Graduate Studies Coordinator will review the student's academic status. A Student Status Summary and further instructions concerning the on-line submission of an Application to Graduate by way of the Graduate School's GradForms.osu.edu system will be e-mailed to the student. On-line submission and GSC Chair approval of the Application to Graduate must occur by the third Friday of the planned term of graduation.

MS based upon completion of the Candidacy Exam

There are no forms for you to submit other than the Application to Graduate form, which must be submitted by the third Friday of the term in which you wish to graduate. However, you must be registered for the proper number of credit hours for your status (see "Registration" above).

Your submission of the Application to Graduate form to the Graduate School--as well as the results indicated on your Candidacy Exam Report form--placed you on the list of MS degree recipients for Commencement. The only fees involved with the MS non-thesis degree are for gown rental/purchase and hood purchase (prices available through the Graduate School, 292-6031).

And you're done! Note Commencement information below.

MS non-thesis as a final degree

Your submission of the Application to Graduate form will generate one "form", or task, in GradForms.osu.edu for each of your committee members, the Report on Final Examination. This becomes available to your committee after the Graduate School approves your Application to Graduate. See also "Master's Examinarion Committee" below.

Updated process effective beginning with SP14:

Enroll in MSE 6193.01. During the student's final term in the program, s/he is to register for credits of MSE 6193.01, Independent Study, under the advisor's class number. The student's graduate enrollment in the final term must be 1) at least 3 graduate credits and 2) sufficient to assure that s/he reaches the 30-credit overall minimum required of a Master's degree at OSU. Please enroll appropriately.

  • Seminar presentation in MSE 6193.01. The student is to provide an oral presentation to his/her advisor as part of MSE 6193.01. The topic for the talk is to be determined by the student and the advisor. The topic may match that of the MS written exam subject (see below). This presentation is to occur during the final term in the program. The presentation may occur remotely via video link (such as Skype, etc.). A room and time may be reserved with the staff in 143 FL. Available rooms include 184 WA, 145 FL, and 177 WA.

Written examination. The student is to present to his/her MS Examination Committee a written document, the subject of which is determined by the MS Examination Committee. This document serves as the written portion of the MS non-thesis examination. The paper may be a technical report, a critical literature review, or other document of sufficient rigor. The topic may match that of the oral presentation described above. Submission of this written document to the members of your Master's Examination Committee must occur on or before the fourth Friday prior to Commencement.

The document is to be a maximum of twenty pages in length, exclusive of references. The entire document is to be typed in a 12 point easily legible font, line spacing set at 1.5, with one inch margins throughout. The reference listing has no set length.

The document is to be an original work developed by the student.

As concerns plagiarism...

The MSE department takes plagiarism very seriously and will forward cases to the OSU Committee on Academic Misconduct as necessary.

"Plagiarism is the representation of another's work or ideas as one's own; it includes the unacknowledged word-for-word use and/or paraphrasing of another person's work, and/or the inappropriate unacknowledged use of another person's ideas." OSU Code of Student Conduct (3335-23-04)

For further information view the MSE statement on Academic Integrity.

Master's Examination Committee Your exam committee is to be made up of at least two MSE faculty members, one of whom is your advisor. If you are co-advised by two MSE faculty, a third MSE faculty member must be included. People from outside the MSE dept. may also be included on your committee. If they are to be voting members, the student must initiate a request this by means of a "Committee and Examination Petition" submitted through GradForms.osu.edu. Please include the prospective committee member's resume/CV with your request. Please make your request of the GSC at the time that you apply to graduate. The committee members should be listed on your Application to Graduate form; if there is any change in the committee's membership, your advisor must inform the Graduate School in writing before the committee meets.

Report on Final Examination The committee members are to indicate the results of the written exam by posting "approve" or "deny" on the Report on Final Examination within GradForms.osu.edu. These results are to be posted by the third Friday prior to Commencement. The Graduate School does not need a copy of the written document.

And you're done! Review the MSE / WE dept. exit procedures below.

The only fees involved with the MS non-thesis degree are for gown rental/purchase and hood purchase (prices available through the Graduate School, 292-6031).

Summary of Commencement deadlines for MS non-thesis as final degree

The following deadlines apply if the student wishes to attend Commencement in the term requested. Commencement occurs on the Sunday following Finals Week; all dates below include the Friday prior to Commencement. [For students seeking an MS based on Candidacy Exam completion: only the Application to Graduate submission deadline (and Commencement) apply.]

If you will not attend Commencement you must provide a "Commencement Absence Form" (PDF, 92K) to the Graduate School.

  • Application to Graduate form: to be submitted to the Graduate School by the third Friday of the term.
  • Master's Exam Document: to be submitted to the advisor no later than the fifth Friday before Commencement.
  • Master's Exam Report form: to be submitted to the Graduate School no later than the fourth Friday before Commencement by 4:30 p.m.
  • Oral presentation to the student's advisor must occur on or before the last day of classes.
  • Other final requirements: other miscellaneous items--the Graduate School will inform you of these, if any apply--are to be submitted to the Graduate School no later than the third Friday before Commencement by 4:30 p.m.

Download Graduate School deadlines for submission (PDF, 36K) Dates assume that you wish to attend Commencement in that term.

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Commencement

OSU Commencement information

As regards specific Commencement ceremony procedures, those who have submitted an Application to Graduate by the third Friday of the term will receive a Commencement Information Packet from the Graduate School. This will provide details on the ceremony, including your numbered assignment in the Commencement line.

This packet is provided mid-term to your local address / email address (therefore it is very important that you provide the Graduate School with your current contact information).

Any questions about the ceremony should be addressed to the Graduation Services Office within the Graduate School, 292-6031.

End-of-term graduates

If the Commencement submission deadlines are missed, you have until the last business day before the start of the next term to meet all requirements (document submission, forms, fees, oral presentation, etc.). If this final deadline is met, you will receive the degree during Commencement at the end of the following term. If requested, the MSE department can provide a verification letter confirming completion of all degree requirements.

Registration for the next term

If the required items are not submitted by the last business day before the start of the next term, you must re-register for at least three credit hours (see minimums below) and re-submit a request for an Application to Graduate using the MSE / WE on-line request form. The Application to Graduate form must be received through GradForms.osu.edu by the third Friday of that term.

First, please remember to register for at least the minimum number of required credit hours in the term in which you wish to graduate:

  • If you are self-funded, at least 3 credit hours (also applies to company/government-funded students--confirm minimum hours with funding source).
  • If funded by a GRA or Fellow position (this would include making use of a Summer Term Fee Authorization)--see enrollment instructions found on Carmen.osu.edu under the "MSE Graduate Students" site.
  • International students: be sure to register for the minimum number of credits required for your visa type and funding source (you may wish to confirm with OIA).

Exit procedures

You've worked hard completing your degree and should be proud of your accomplishments! As you prepare to leave, there are a few administrative items to address. Please follow these steps to assure that there are no loose ends left as you move on to your new career.

  1. Please complete the MSE / WE Alumni form found in the Alumni section of the MSE / WE site. This will permit us to forward any postal mail that comes for you, as well as remain in touch regarding upcoming MSE alumni events.
  2. Contact the MSE Human Resources Officer and provide an estimated date after which you will no longer be working for your advisor as a GRA (if applicable), as well as any future plans.

    If you will be remaining with the department after graduation, please inform the Graduate Studies Coordinator and MSE/WE Fiscal Officer. For example, if you will be staying on in a research capacity or other form of employment following graduation. If you do not inform these staff, your e-mail account, mailbox, and key card access may be closed.
  3. Return your lab and office keys to the MSE Fiscal Officer and/or Ed Pfeifer (292-4139, 106 EJTC) and also provide your forwarding address.
  4. Be sure that your advisor has all results of any research carried out on his/her projects and that your lab and office space have been cleaned up.
  5. Return tools and any other equipment to the Research Support Staff; Ken Kushner, Steve Bright, Ross Baldwin, Cameron Begg, Henk Colijn, and/or Ed Pfeifer.
  6. Department account deletion. Your MSE / WE account will be deleted from the department's servers on the first business day of the term following that in which you receive your terminal degree. Please be sure to backup or forward any important messages, documents, etc. E-mail Mike Davis (- and inform him of a forwarding e-mail account to which your MSE e-mail should be sent.
  7. Complete the Engineering Career Services' post-graduation plans survey Your participation helps the College and the MSE/WE department understand our program's effectiveness in training students.

Alumni contact form

Complete the MSE / WE Alumni contact form Please use the form to keep your mailing address and contact information up-to-date with the MSE/WE department!

Questions?

Please e-mail the MSE Graduate Studies Coordinator, go to 143 Fontana Labl, or call (614) 292-7280 with any questions.

You may also wish to contact the Graduation Services Office in the Graduate School, 247 University Hall, at 292-6031.