Directions for the MSWord Version of the Environment and Resources Certification
The file that you have just opened is both a Word document and is Protected. This means that you can only fill in information in the provided spaces. Moving from one area to the next can be accomplished by hitting your "tab" key. Any additional information that you cannot get into these "open" areas should be typed onto your sheet with a typewriter or provided in an appendix.
When you have completed your certification, you should print a copy of the document for committee signatures and final approval by our office and the Chair. Our office will only take paper copies of this document for approval. If you have any questions about this form, give Jim Miller a call at 262-9206 or email at .
Certification
Certification is the process by which students define their goals within the Environment and Resources Program and their plans to meet these goals. This process culminates with a meeting of the student's entire faculty committee in order to discuss together the student's plan and progress. M.S. candidates should complete certification during their second full semester, according to the instructions on the certification form. The timing of certification for part-time students may be established in consultation with the program chair.
Information within the program certification form should be as specific as possible. Define seminars and topics courses with an explanatory title if one is not provided. Specify all course work taken or anticipated. If a future course is only tentative, you may want to list an alternate course; this could save you the trouble of having to submit a Course Substitution Request Form at a later date.
The student should take primary responsibility for timely completion of the program certification process. The student's certification meeting should be scheduled to involve all members of the faculty committee, and should include an evaluation of progress-to-date and a discussion of the proposed program. If the committee recommends changes, these are recorded in the certification document with any substitutions outlined in a memo from the major advisor to the program chair. Committee members then sign the paperwork, and the student submits it to the Nelson Institute Academic Programs Office for approval by the program chair. Once the program chair has reviewed and approved the certification, a memo is sent to the student confirming completion of the certification process.
Any program changes, including changes in course work made after the certification process is complete, must be approved by the faculty committee and the program chair. This should be done by submitting a Course Substitution Request Form. Additional copies are available from the Academic Programs Office. A student may use the certification meeting to discuss details of thesis research with the faculty committee, though the certification should not be delayed for this purpose. Alternatively, the student can meet individually or as a group with committee members to discuss research plans at another time. In either case, a student should have committee approval before committing substantial time and effort to M.S. research.
Environment and Resources Program M.S. Degree Certification Checklist
Before submitting your program certification form, please review its content with respect to the items listed below. These are required elements. Please do not turn in your certification if any of these are missing:
Every section (A-G) has been completed and/or attached.
All courses are listed, along with semester credits, semester/year taken or anticipated, and grades. Seminars, special topics courses, and independent study courses are defined with specific titles. Each course is listed only once, and credit totals meet the requirements of each category.
Courses are listed in the most appropriate category. (Note: Although the Environment and Resources course list is a useful guide in choosing courses, it is by no means an all-inclusive list. However, the courses that are defined for a specific category according to the course list should not be placed in other categories unless specific reasons for exceptions can be demonstrated. Also, no foreign language courses can be used to satisfy Environment and Resources course requirements.)
The seminar in Category 4 is labeled as such. The course that you are using for your seminar in Category 4 should be marked with a % symbol. The seminar course CAN count towards the 12 credits in Category 4.
All courses listed are graduate-level courses. (Undergraduate-level courses or courses taken as an undergraduate may not be used to meet program requirements.)
Except for research credits, no more than two credits of "S" graded course work are included on the course list. (All students are expected to be aware of the program guidelines for satisfactory progress, as described on the program website. Courses that fall outside of these guidelines should not be included in the course list except as background courses. Courses that are graded pass/fail, credit/no credit, or audit may not be used to satisfy program requirements.)
All courses taken as a Special Student are labeled as such. (Note: their use is at the discretion of your faculty advisory committee and the program chair.)
All course work taken at another institution is labeled as such, and current transcripts are attached; and the credit value of these courses reflects the credit value of courses taken on this campus. (UW-Madison credits are based on a 16-week semester. Semesters that are significantly shorter or that are based on the quarter system should be translated into credit values comparable to UW-Madison; e.g., a quarter hour is about 2/3 of a semester hour.)
Transcripts for international course work, if used to satisfy program requirements, are attached and accompanied by an official English translation, including conversions of grades into values comparable to UW-Madison grades.
Any requests for exceptions to the above requirements should be made by attaching a memo of support that has been drafted and signed by the members of your advisory committee. Include copies of course syllabi or any other information that relates to your request.
Keep in mind that completion of this certification process does not, by itself, ensure completion of the minimum credit requirement of the Graduate School.
Environment and Resources
M.S. P R O G R A M C E R T I F I C A T I O N
for
(Student's Name)(ID#)
The attached individual study plan is hereby certified and approved as meeting the standards for the M.S. Degree in Environment and Resources.
Reviewed and Approved
by Student's Graduate
Advisory Committee:
(Signature of Major Professor)(Date)
(Signature of Committee Member)(Date)
(Signature of Committee Member)(Date)
Received at Program Office:
(Date)
Reviewed by Program Chair:
(Signature of Program Chair)(Date)
PROGRAM CERTIFICATION
SECTION A.STUDENT INFORMATION SHEET
Please update the attached Student Information Sheet.
SECTION B.PROGRAM FOCUS AND OBJECTIVES
On a separate sheet of paper or on the page provided, present your individual program focus. State your objectives, describe your approach, and provide any other information that is pertinent. Give your program a title.
SECTION C.COURSE LIST
On the form provided, list all courses, seminars, and research credits that you intend to use to complete the requirements or to provide background for your program. No more than 6 research credits for M.S. students may be used to complete the Category 4 requirements. All courses should be accurately identified, including work yet to be completed. If a future course is only tentative, you may want to list an alternate course.
SECTION D.UPPER LEVEL SEQUENCE REQUIREMENT
This section could be similar to Category 4 of Section C, but may also include courses listed in Category 1, 2 or 3 that directly contribute to the focus of your research. This sequence shows how you have constructed a coherent program focus, from basic to advanced competency. Use the attached sheet.
SECTION E.THESIS PLAN
On a separate sheet of paper or on the page provided, describe in detail (1-2 pages) the problem you hope to address in your thesis, and provide a tentative title.
SECTION F.PROPOSED TIMETABLE(Give month and year)
When do you expect to complete course work
for this degree?
When do you expect to complete all require
ments for this degree?
SECTION G:DOUBLE DEGREE INFORMATION
If you are pursuing a double degree in which course work will be double counted with another department or program on campus, you must complete a DOUBLE DEGREE FORM available as a MSWord file (http://www.nelson.wisc.edu/grad/requirements/double_degree.doc) or in Room 70, Science Hall.
SECTION A.STUDENT INFORMATION SHEET
NAME:
CURRENT
ADDRESS:
Email:
Home Phone:
Office Phone:
UNIVERSITY EDUCATION:
University or CollegeMajor FieldDegree Date Rec'd
PREVIOUS EXPERIENCE, RESEARCH AND AWARDS (List activity or award, location and dates):
Sem/YearSource:
FINANCIAL SUPPORT:
(source & duration)
Faculty Name:Graduate Program/Department:
MAJOR PROFESSOR
AND COMMITTEE:
(3 for M.S.)
DATE:
SECTION B.PROGRAM FOCUS AND OBJECTIVES
SECTION C.COURSE LIST
List all courses and seminars that you wish counted or considered in this program. Include department name, course number, title, number of credits, semester/year taken and grade (if completed). Include name of college/university (or abbreviation) if different from UW-Madison. Star (*) courses that are listed for background but not credit; do not include these in the credit totals. Specify course work taken as a special student.
If you are requesting the use of graduate courses from another institution, please identify these as such. The credit value of this work should reflect the credit value of course work done on this campus (e.g., the value of UW-Madison's credits is based on a 16-week semester).
Dept Course#Course Title (be specific)Semester Credits Sem/YrGrade
CATEGORY 1: Natural Science (M.S. requires 6 credits)
CATEGORY 2: Social Science/Humanities (M.S. requires 6 credits)
CATEGORY 3: Measurement and Analysis (M.S. requires 6 credits)
Dept Course#Course Title (be specific)Semester Credits Sem/YrGrade
CATEGORY 4: Individual Program Focus (M.S. requires 12 credits; M.S. students may include no more than 6 credits of research)
TOTAL CREDITS, CATEGORIES 1 4 (M.S. requires 30 credits):
SECTION D.UPPER LEVEL SEQUENCE REQUIREMENT
Dept Course#Course Title (be specific)
SECTION E.THESIS PLAN