Graduate Council Meeting Agenda

Coastal Carolina University

April 4, 2007

 

11:30 am, Dawsey Conference Room, Singleton Administration Building

 

 

I.                    Call to Order

II.                 Approval of minutes from the March 7, 2007, Graduate Council meeting

III.               Old Business

IV.              New Business

 

  1. College of Natural and Applied Sciences

 

Proposal for New Course

 

MSCI 570 Biology of Marine Mammals (3) (Prereq: permission of instructor) A comprehensive survey of the biology and ecology of marine mammals, including cetaceans, pinnipeds, sirenians, sea otters, and polar bears.  Major topics include evolution and classification, anatomy and physiology, sensory biology, communication, feeding, ecology and energetics, social and reproductive behavior, and life history.

 

Rationale: MSCI 570 is a foundational course for graduate students who are pursuing careers/ research in marine mammal science.  It will be offered concurrently with MSCI/BIOL 470.

 

 

Catalog Change, -p 210

 

Delete Qualifying Examination Requirement

 

Qualifying Examination

 

In addition to the regularly scheduled course examinations, a candidate for the master’s degree must satisfactorily pass a written qualifying examination arranged by the CMWS Graduate Committee. The examination is designed to incorporate general information from the core courses.  Exam questions will require students to integrate and apply their knowledge.  A student who is not successful in passing the qualifying examination may, at the discretion of the CMWS Graduate Committee, be allowed another examination not later than one semester after the unsuccessful attempt.

 

Rationale:  Students must complete a thesis/research proposal that relates their research project with physical processes, ecological processes, and environmental policy structures existing within the coastal region. Students will meet with their thesis committee who will evaluate the student’s understanding of concepts, knowledge base and their ability to complete the proposed research project.

 

 

 

 

 

 

New requirement description

 

An internal document, Thesis/Research Proposal, used in the CMWS graduate program with additional requirements

 

Thesis/Research Proposal

 

Attach your thesis proposal to this form.  Please include the following information.

 

1.  Title

2.  Justification for undertaking this research

3.  Articulation of your research project with physical processes, ecological processes, and environmental policy structures existing within the coastal region

4.  Pertinent literature (A thorough review of past research)

5.  Materials and methods (Include data collection, a description of techniques to be used and methods of analysis, an outline of statistical methods to be used)

6.  Proposed timetable for completion of the thesis/research.

7.  Budget proposal.