Frequently Asked Questions
Admissions
Q: What is the deadline for applications?
A: January 15th is the deadline for graduate applications.
Q: Are applications to the graduate program in ESS accepted for spring semester?
A: No! Applications to the graduate program in ESS are only accepted for fall semester.
Q: Is the Graduate Record Exam (GRE) required for admission to the graduate program in ESS?
A: Yes! The GRE scores for the verbal, quantitative and writing exams are required for admission. The verbal and quantitative scores should add to 1000 or higher to be considered for admission. GRE scores should be sent directly to the Department and NOT to the Graduate School. Applicants should choose “Physical Education” on the drop down menu for Department when taking the computerized version of the GRE exam.
Q: Does ESS offer graduate programs that can be completed entirely online?
A: No. At present, all graduate degree programs require students to complete courses and other requirements on the campus of the University in Salt Lake City, UT.
Q: Can a student be admitted to the ESS graduate program with a grade point average (gpa) lower than 3.0? If so, how?
A: Yes, but this situation requires a special appeal to the Graduate Admissions Committee, chaired by the Associate Dean of the Graduate School. Should the faculty members in a particular subdiscipline desire to admit a student with a gpa lower than 3.0, the graduate referral form (completed by the Director of Graduate Studies) must be accompanied by a letter of support from the Department (written by the Chair or the Director of Graduate Studies), GRE scores, a letter from the applicant, letters of recommendation that the student has received in support of the student, and any other supporting documents that can provide rationale for recommending admission to an applicant with a gpa lower than 3.0. The Graduate Admissions Committee may vote to accept, accept on probation, or to deny admission to applicants with a gpa lower than 3.0.
Q: Is the gpa requirement for admission to the graduate program in ESS based upon previous graduate or undergraduate work?
A: The gpa required for graduate admission is primarily based upon undergraduate work, although the graduate gpa will also be considered for those applying to the doctoral program. The undergraduate gpa can be based on overall or the last two years of undergraduate work.
Registration
Q: What is considered “full time” status for graduate students?
A: Full time enrollment is considered 9-12 credit hours per semester. Students pursuing a master’s thesis or who are in the doctoral program and have completed their coursework and passed the qualifying exam are considered full time if registered for 3 credit hours per semester. However, the Graduate School requires all students on the tuition benefit program (www.utah.edu/graduate_school/tbpguidelines.html) to maintain enrollment in 9-12 credit hours per semester to remain eligible for a tuition waiver, regardless of whether coursework requirements have been met.
Q: What is the residency requirement for doctoral students?
A: All doctoral students must spend one full year in residence at the University in order to earn a graduate degree. This is met by enrolling in at least 9 credit hours for two (usually the first two) consecutive semesters of admission. Master’s students must take at least 24 credits in residence at the University.
Q: How many thesis/dissertation hours can I count toward my degree?
A: MS students must register for a minimum of 6 credit hours of thesis research (ESS 6970), and can count up to 10 thesis hours toward the degree. Doctoral students must register for a minimum of 14 credit hours of dissertation research (ESS 7970). Yet, there is no limit to how many dissertation credit hours can be taken.
Q: I’ve completed all of my required thesis/dissertation hours, how do I remain registered?
A: It is permitted to register for more than the required number of thesis or dissertation credit hours. Students can also register for faculty consultation hours (ESS 6980/ESS7980). Doctoral students can register for "continuous registration" (ESS 7990), but only under certain circumstances (see below).
Q: What is ESS 7990 “continuous registration?” How many times may I register for it?
A: This course option can only be utilized by doctoral students who are not working directly with faculty, who are not using University facilities, or who may be out of the local area. Doctoral students may only register for ESS 7990 a total of 4 semesters.
Q: How many credits must I take to be considered continuously registered?
A: All students must be registered for a minimum of 3 credit hours each fall and spring semester. Doctoral students are recommended to register for ESS 7980 during the semester of the dissertation defense. Doctoral students who are not working with faculty, not using University facilities (except the library) and who are out of the local area may maintain continuous registration by registering for ESS 7990 (Continuous registration).
Q: What are the registration requirements for International students?
A: International students are required to maintain full time enrollment each fall and spring semester. Further, International students must indicate if they will be taking summer semester as a vacation semester. International students should become familiar with the International Center (http://www.sa.utah.edu/inter/) to be aware of registration requirements. International students who do not register for the required number of credits may be deported and required to re-apply to the Graduate School for readmission.
Q: How many credits should a teaching assistant, research assistant, graduate assistant or graduate fellow enroll in each semester?
A: Students who are being supported on any type of assistantship should enroll in 9-12 credit hours each semester, preferably 12 credits when possible. Students may fulfill those credit requirements by taking a combination of regularly scheduled courses and registering for independent study or thesis/dissertation credits.
Q: How many semesters may I receive a tuition waiver?
A: MS students may receive a tuition waiver for 4 semesters (2 years). Doctoral students that already have a master’s degree from another university may receive a tuition waiver for 8 semesters (4 years). Doctoral students who received their MS from the University of Utah may receive a tuition waiver for 6 semesters (3 years).
Q: What are the registration requirements and other rules governing those receiving a tuition waiver?
A: The Department requires all students receiving a tuition waiver must be registered for 9-12 credit hours. Students receiving a tuition waiver are assumed to be working 20 hours per week for the University. The other 20 hours per week (of a 40 hour work week) the student is assumed to be attending to his/her studies. Students working on campus at a combined rate greater than FTE .74 (three-quarter time or 30 hours per week) are ineligible to receive a tuition waiver. All students receiving a partial or full tuition waiver are strongly recommended to review the policies of this program on the Graduate School’s website (www.utah.edu/graduate_school/tbpguidelines.html).
Q: Do I have to be registered to take my qualifying exam?
A: Yes! Doctoral students must be registered for a minimum of 3 credit hours in the semester they take their qualifying exam.
Q: How many and which credits from another university may I transfer?
A: The University of Utah will allow 6 transfer credits from another university, but they must be credits that were not used for the completion of a previous degree. Therefore, doctoral students who received a master’s degree at another university cannot transfer credits obtained at that university that were completed as a part of the master’s degree. If a master’s or doctoral student transferred to the University of Utah from another graduate program without completing a degree, 6 of the credits from the previous program may be transferred to the program at the University of Utah. Transfer credits must have been considered the equivalent of graduate level at the University of Utah and must have earned the grade of a B or higher. Whether transfer credits can be applied to the student’s program of study is the decision of the student’s supervisory committee.
Q: I haven’t been registered for classes over the past year. May I register for classes to continue in the program this semester?
A: Students who haven’t been continuously registered in a minimum of 3 credit hours each fall and spring semester must apply to the Department for re-admission.
The Graduate Supervisory Committee
Q: Who is my advisor?
A: The chair of a graduate student’s supervisory committee is considered that student’s advisor. Students accepted to the MS Thesis and PhD degree options must have a designated mentor at the time of admission. MS students in the Non Thesis option are strongly recommended to secure an advisor soon after arriving on campus.
Q: Who can serve as the chair of an ESS graduate supervisory committee?
A: Master’s and doctoral committees can be chaired by any regular ESS faculty member (those who are tenured or on tenure track). Auxilliary faculty members (lecturers, clinical & research faculty) can also chair ESS graduate committees if the specific expertise required for the direction of a thesis or dissertation cannot be provided by regular member of the ESS faculty, and if that individual is on a long-term appointment in the Department. Auxilliary faculty members can serve as sole chair a graduate committee by approval of the Dean of the Graduate School or by serving as co-chair of a committee with a regular faculty member.
Q: When do I need to have my first supervisory committee meeting?
A: All graduate students should have their first full committee meeting by the end of the first year of study. Ideally students should meet with their advisor regularly each semester and with the full committee 1-2 times per year.
Q: How should I form my supervisory committee?
A: The supervisory committee should consist of a chair who conducts research (thesis/doctoral students) or teaches (non-thesis) in the student’s area of interest. Master’s students should have a total of 3 committee members, with at least 2 members from ESS. All 3 committee members may be from ESS. Doctoral students must have a total of 5 committee members, with at least 3 members from ESS, and at least 1 member from outside of ESS. Committee members not from ESS may be employed at a different university. For students pursing research, the committee should support the student’s interest in research and at least one person should be very well versed in research methods and design and statistics.
Thesis/Dissertation Requirements and Procedures
Q: When do I have to propose my thesis/dissertation?
A: There is no official timeline required of students to propose the thesis or dissertation. It is recommended that MS students propose the thesis at the end of the 1st or beginning of the 2nd year and doctoral students propose the dissertation during the 3rd year. Ultimately, the supervisory committee determines whether or not the student is prepared to present the proposal.
Q: May I collect data for my thesis/dissertation prior to proposing?
A: It is recognized that some students will begin working on a thesis or dissertation soon after arriving at the University. Some data collection may take place prior to the formal proposal, notably pilot or preliminary data (provided that IRB or IACUC approval has been obtained). The collection of data prior to proposing a thesis or dissertation should be approved by the student’s supervisory committee. In this case, the student should present pertinent data collected prior to the proposal during the proposal presentation. Should the supervisory committee have concerns regarding the direction, focus or methodology of the project, the student may be required to make changes to the proposal, regardless of the data already collected. Collecting data prior to the thesis/dissertation proposal does not guarantee that the student will pass the formal proposal.
Q: How long do I have to complete my degree, especially if it takes longer to complete my thesis/dissertation than expected?
A: It is recommended that master’s students complete their degrees over the course of 2-4 years. The Graduate School stipulates that all work for the master's degree must be completed within 4 consecutive calendar years. This time limit can be modified or waived by the dean of The Graduate School on recommendation of the student's supervisory committee. It is recommended that doctoral students complete their degrees over the course of 3-5 years, yet the time limit for completing the Ph.D. degree is determined by individual departments with the approval of the Graduate Council. ESS requires that doctoral students complete their degrees within 7 consecutive calendar years. Requests to exceed established time limits must be recommended by a candidate's supervisory committee and approved by both the departmental Director of Graduate Studies and the Dean of the Graduate School. Students whose studies have been interrupted for long periods and who have been granted an extension to complete their degrees may be required to complete additional courses, pass examinations, or otherwise demonstrate that they are current in their field.
Q: Do I have to be registered for 3 credit hours to defend my thesis/dissertation?
A: Yes! Regardless of how many thesis or dissertation hours have been completed, students must be registered for a minimum of 3 credit hours of faculty consultation (or of thesis or dissertation research, if the required number has not yet been met) in the semester they defend the thesis or dissertation..
Q: Do I have to be registered to turn in my thesis/dissertation?
A: No! Once the student defends the thesis or dissertation, he/she is no longer financially responsible to the University. Students who defend on the last day of a given semester can turn in the thesis or dissertation to the Thesis Editor the following semester without registering for credits in that semester.
Q: How much time do I have to complete the final changes to my thesis/dissertation after I defend?
A: Students should plan to complete their final changes to the thesis or dissertation within 3 months after the defense. Waiting longer than 3 montsh to complete the final changes could mean being required to defend the thesis or dissertation a second time.
Q: I was offered a terrific job, but I’m not finished with my thesis/dissertation. Can I take the position and finish my thesis/dissertation at my new job?
A: Students are encouraged to remain at the University until the thesis or dissertation is defended, all final changes are made, and formal approval has been granted by the Thesis Editor. In the event this doesn’t happen, it is the responsibility of the student to remain continuously registered until the thesis or dissertation is defended and to continue working on the thesis/dissertation despite the demands of the new job. Students who leave the University prior to completing the thesis or dissertation will require much more time to finish their degrees than those who remain on campus and are significantly less likely to finish the degree.
Miscellaneous
Q: I was originally admitted under the MS Thesis option and now I wish to switch to the Non Thesis option. What do I have to do?
A: This situation requires the chair of the student’s supervisory committee to write a short letter to the Dean of the Graduate School, explaining the student’s desire to switch from the Thesis to the Non Thesis option. It does not require a special form. However, if a student in this situation has already completed thesis research hours (ESS 6970) and he/she wishes these hours to count toward graduation, then the student will have to request that those hours count toward another requirement in the program, such as ESS 6910 or ESS 6951. Substituting research hours for different course designations requires an Exception to Policy Form, which can be obtained from the Registrar’s Office. In addition, students must register for Graduate Seminar (ESS 6850 for 3 credit hours) in their final semester, even if ESS 7850 was already completed earlier in the program. Lastly, students must complete any coursework and project or internship requirements for the Non Thesis option that are not required by the Thesis option.
Q: Can graduate students teach courses in the ESS undergraduate curriculum?
A: Yes, only if the student has completed the College Teaching sequence of courses and the student receives approval from the Chair. In most cases, graduate students are limited to teaching ESS undergraduate majors courses during the summer session, unless it is ESS 2500 or in the case of a faculty shortage (a position is vacant or a faculty member is on official leave).
Q: What is a leave of absence?
A: Students who have experienced extenuating circumstances that prohibit them from pursuing a degree, such as illness, pregnancy, family emergency or active military duty, yet who wish to complete the degree, can apply for a leave of absence. In addition, some students request a leave of absence in order to pursue educational or occupational opportunities that contribute to the overall academic goals of the student. A leave of absence is limited to one year. Time spent in a leave of absence does not count toward the total time required to complete the degree. Leaves of absence must be approved by the Department Chair and the Chair of the student’s supervisory committee.
Q: I’ve been on a leave of absence, but am not ready to resume my studies. Can it be extended?
A: A leave of absence is limited to one year. In some cases, they can be extended, but only if the extension is requested prior to the end of the leave. In order to extend a leave of absence, the Department Chair and Chair of the student’s supervisory committee must approve of the extended leave.
Q: If I am receiving a waiver of tuition, does this mean that all of my fees are waived as well?
A: No! Mandatory fees are waived by a full waiver of tuition, however, special course fees such as laboratory fees, are NOT covered by the tuition waiver.
