Graduate Student Insurance
Insurance is provided to graduate students who are on assistantship through Cougar Health Services. Information can be found at the Cougar Health Services website.
Residency
Because tuition is considerably less expensive for Washington residents than out-of-state students, you should establish residency right away after you arrive in Washington State. Information on establishing residency and forms can be found on the graduate school website.
Graduate School Forms
Visit WSU Graduate School to find common forms, including:
- Program of Study: Your program plan for completing your degree
- Plan and Degree Level Change: Submit this form if you wish to change your major or degree level. Contact Graduate Admissions for additional information.
- Program Change: Submit this form if your approved program of study has changed. Be aware of dates and deadlines.
- Scheduling Exam: Procedures for scheduling standard exams. Students must have an approved Program of Study on file at the Graduate School before scheduling examinations.
- ABD Waiver: If you have passed your preliminary exam and have completed your formal program of study course work, you can apply for an ABD waiver
- Committee Change: If you would like to change your committee, use this form.
- Rubrics: Email krista.haney@wsu.edu to request rubrics.
Appointment Requests
To schedule an appointment, please contact our graduate coordinator directly:
Krista Haney
Abelson Hall, room 301
krista.haney@wsu.edu
509-335-3553
Generalized Timeline for Thesis MS Degree
Year 1
- Fall: coursework, assemble thesis committee, file program of study
- Spring: continue coursework, begin research, present research proposal
- Summer: continue research
Year 2
- Fall: complete coursework, complete data analysis
- Spring: write and defend thesis, graduate
Thesis
- Grad School
- At least 21 total graded credits at the 400 (≤ 6 cr.) or 500 level
- transfer credits count up to 50% of graded credits
- SBS
- At least 9 graded credits with BIOLOGY prefix
- BIOLOGY 585: teaching course (graded)
- BIOLOGY 582: course on research proposal design and grant writing (graded)
- BIOLOGY 500, section 2: seminar attendance course (S/U graded by thesis advisor)
- Enroll each semester
- May wave for 1 semester
- BIOLOGY 501, section 2: MS thesis proposal defense (2 cr.; S/U)
- Normally take in second semester
- Must present proposal seminar to SBS
- BIOLOGY 500, section 1: exit seminar (S/U)
Non-Thesis (Biology only)
- Grad School
- At least 30 total credits
- Must include at least 26 graded credits & at least 17 credits of 500-level courses
- transfer credits count up to 50% of graded credits
- SBS
- At least 12 graded credits with BIOLOGY prefix
- Must include coursework from 3 areas of core curriculum
- ecology
- evolution
- physiology
- BIOLOGY 585: teaching course (graded)
- 2 or more credits of BIOLOGY 702: balloting exam (S/U)
Generalized Timeline for PhD Degree
5 years with MS, 6 years without
Year 1
- Fall: coursework
- Spring; continue coursework, assemble committee, file program of study
- Summer: begin research project
Year 2
- Fall: continue coursework, continue research
- Spring: complete coursework, take oral qualifying exam
Year 3
- Fall: complete proposal defense (enroll in Bio 501), apply for extramural funding, take courses as needed
- Spring: continue research, take courses/seminars as needed
Final Year
- complete research, write and defend thesis
- Grad School
- At least 21 total graded credits at the 400 (≤ 6 cr.) or 500 level
- transfer credits count up to 50% of graded credits
- SBS
- At least 9 graded credits with BIOLOGY prefix
- Breadth requirement: 6 graded cr. outside student’s main area of study
- BIOLOGY 585: teaching course (graded)
- BIOLOGY 582: course on research proposal design and grant writing (graded)
- BIOLOGY 500, section 2: seminar attendance course (S/U graded by thesis advisor)
- Enroll each semester
- May be waved up to 2 semesters during degree program
- BIOLOGY 501, section 1: dissertation proposal defense (2 cr.; S/U)
- Normally take in 5th semester
- Must present research proposal seminar to SBS
- BIOLOGY 500, section 1: exit seminar (S/U)