MS degree programs are designed to give the student the opportunity to gain additional knowledge and skills in Horticulture and Crop Science. The emphasis of this program should allow the student to engage in research and other scholarly activities, to teach, and to become a practitioner in Horticulture and Crop Science. M.S. Plans A and B are available; however, Plan B requires written permission of the GSC and is considered to be a terminal degree. Plan B is not available to students on associateship. A summary of MS graduation requirements and detailed information regarding forms, filing dates, the composition and conduct of written and oral examinations, is presented in section 8 of the Graduate School Handbook.
Students entering the MS program are expected to complete degree requirements within 6 years. Extension of the 6-year limit will be considered on a case-by-case basis by the GSC. The first step in obtaining the MS is to choose an advisor and then to name a SAC (within the first quarter) to assist in the design of a course program and research proposal. The MS program in Horticulture and Crop Science consists of:

A. Choosing an advisor and a student advisory committee(SAC).

• See The Advisor and The Advisory Committee (section V)
• Approved research proposal by end of the second quarter

B. Coherent pattern of courses and seminars.

• minimum of 45 graduate credit hours is required (see Course Requirements section on p. 15)
• courses must be listed in a Graduate Course Program during the second quarter of enrollment
• courses must be approved by the SAC and submitted to the Horticulture and Crop Science GSC
• Seminar requirement under Course Requirements (see section VI,A,1)

C. Thesis.
The student must submit a complete, typed, thesis draft to the SAC for approval prior to the Master's exam. Format is important, so follow the Graduate School Guidelines for Preparing and Submitting Theses, Dissertations and D.M.A. Documents. If the thesis is acceptable and the student performs satisfactorily on the Master's exam, the SAC will indicate approval by signing a Thesis Approval form. The approval form and the final thesis must be submitted to the Graduate school no later than one week before commencement. A bound copy of the thesis must be submitted to the Horticulture and Crop Science main office in Columbus.

D. Master's exam.
After filing an Application to Graduate - Master's Degree, The Master's Exam Report form, signed by the SAC to indicate their judgment, must be submitted to the Graduate School no later than two weeks before commencement. The advisor notifies the student and the GSC as to the outcome of the exam. On completion of the Master's exam, the examining committee shall determine if the student will be allowed to continue for a PhD in the OSU Department of Horticulture and Crop Science.

E. Exit seminar.
The final or exit seminar consists of a one hour public seminar (Columbus and Wooster via satellite link) presenting the major results of the research efforts. This seminar is normally scheduled to be given during the final quarter of attendance, and announcements are circulated to the faculty and students of the Department. This presentation counts as one of the two required seminars (see section VI,A,1).