1. New Student Information 

   This is great information that is appropriate for new graduate advisors as well!

2. Degree Program Options and Requirements

   • Master of Arts/Master of Science – On Campus
   • Applied Master’s – Online

3. Forms and Steps to Degree Completion
   

   The School of Graduate Studies processes applications for all graduate programs at BSU. It is the responsibility of this office to collect all required documents as deemed by departments before submitting said documents to the department for admission recommendations and advisor assignments. Once received from the department, the following steps are followed:

   • Master of Arts/Master of Science

     • Acceptance Email: A student admitted into a master’s program will receive an email confirming their admission; the assigned academic advisor will receive a copy along with Procedures Checklist.
     • Procedures Checklist: This checklist is sent to the student and assigned academic advisor along with their acceptance email. The checklist contains reference to all graduate school forms/requirements from application through graduation.
     • BSU E-Mail Policy: Students are informed that their BSU E-mail address is the official account they need to use for all BSU announcements, etc. Including financial aid information, etc.
     • Online Billing and Drop for Non-Payment: Students are notified by BSU that they must have paid or have a payment plan in place by a certain date or be dropped from their registered courses. Business Services has the specifics.
     • Form 2: Application for Admission to Candidacy: After the completion of 13-16 graduate credits, a student must complete and submit their Form 2 (grad plan) to their assigned advisor. The advisor reviews and if approves, signs, and forwards to the Department Chair, College Dean, and Director, School of Graduate Studies. Once all approvals are secured, the student and assigned advisor will receive a copy of the approved Form 2.
     • Form 3-5: Proposal through Graduation:
       • Form 3, Graduate Research Paper/Thesis Proposal: Each student must write a proposal for their graduate committee chair and committee members; selection of the chair and committee members are done at this time.
       • Competency (see below)
       • Written Examination (see below)
       • Form 4, Application for Graduation: Students are asked to submit Form 4 during the first week of the term in which they plan to complete their degree; March 1 if a summer graduation.
       • Preliminary Curriculum Vita (CV): Students are asked to submit along with their Form 4; the CV lists all coursework associated with the degree.
       • Form 5, Pre-Defense Signature Form: Students are asked to submit once the chair and committee members have reviewed and provided feedback on their research paper/thesis draft.
       • The student must submit a hard copy of the final draft to the School of Graduate Studies so that the Graduate Faculty Representative assignment may be done. Only AFTER this assignment is the student instructed to schedule their defense.

   • Applied Master’s

     • Acceptance Email: A student admitted into a master’s program will receive an email confirming their admission; the assigned academic advisor will receive a copy along with Procedures Checklist.
     • Procedures Checklist: This checklist is sent to the student and assigned academic advisor along with their acceptance email. The checklist contains reference to all graduate school forms/requirements from application through graduation.
     • BSU E-Mail Policy: Students are informed that their BSU E-mail address is the official account they need to use for all BSU announcements, etc. Including financial aid information, etc.
     • Online Billing and Drop for Non-Payment: Students are notified by BSU that they must have paid or have a payment plan in place by a certain date or be dropped from their registered courses. Business Services has the specifics.
     • Form 2: Application for Admission to Candidacy: After the completion of 13-16 graduate credits, a student must complete and submit their Form 2 (grad plan) to their assigned advisor. The advisor reviews and if approves, signs, and forwards to the Department Chair, College Dean, and Director, School of Graduate Studies. Once all approvals are secured, the student and assigned advisor will receive a copy of the approved Form 2.
     • Form 3-5: Proposal through Graduation
       • Form 3, Graduate Project/Presentation Proposal: Each student must write a proposal for their Advisor, Final course instructor, non-department member, and Field Representative; selection of the committee is done during the final course(s) of the program.
       • Competency (see below)
       • Written Examination (see below)
     • Form 4, Application for Graduation: Students are asked to submit Form 4 during the first week of the term in which they register for their final course; March 1 if a summer graduation.
     • Preliminary Curriculum Vita (CV): Students are asked to submit along with their Form 4; the CV lists all coursework associated with the degree.
     • Form 5, Graduate Project/Presentation Final Approval: Students are asked to submit once the Advisor, Final course instructor, non-department member, and Field Representative have reviewed and provided feedback on their research paper/thesis draft and BEFORE the presentation is scheduled.

4. Human Subjects Research 

   Anyone using human or animal subjects for research MUST secure prior approval. It is advised for all new faculty to take the CITI training immediately and submit the certificate of completion to the School of Graduate Studies. Once completed, you will not need to re-take the training for 5 years.

5. Competency Requirement 

   Each master’s program requires graduating students to demonstrate competency in a specific area. The department/program determines the appropriate competency options and requirements.

6. Written Examination Requirement 

   In order to complete the Application for Graduation, candidates must identify the dates on which they intend to take or have taken the written examination. The written examination is a separate requirement from the oral examination.

7. Time limits Imposed on Graduate Students

   • Graduate credits earned within seven years (7) before the confirming of the degree shall apply to the master’s program. Coursework more than seven years old is considered obsolete and may not be included in a student’s program of study.
   • Transfer credits from an accredited University/College must also fall within this timeframe.
     e. A student began taking credits toward a degree in the Fall of 2013 from St. Cloud State University; therefore they must complete all degree requirements by the end of Fall 2020.

8. Maintaining Active Status

   Effective Fall 2017, ALL graduate students at Bemidji State University must register for at least one credit-bearing course in each term that they wish to maintain access to university services and faculty support.

   If, after one calendar year, a student does not register for courses, their student account and email will be deactivated.

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