GENERAL GUIDELINES AND REQUIREMENTS FOR MS PLAN-A STUDENTS IN MBBE

Minimum course requirements: Twelve credits of 600-level courses (not including MBBE 699), six credits of 400 level courses (not including MBBE 499), 6 credits of MBBE 699 and 6 credit of MBBE 700.  The list of approved courses is presented under the “courses” tab above.  Your major advisor and the Graduate Chair must approve all courses to be taken.  Graduate students are encouraged to take 1 credit seminar (MBBE 610 or equivalent) each academic year.  They require at least one seminar credit for MS degree.  The thesis proposal or defense seminar cannot be used to meet this requirement.

Two-page proposal. MS students shall define and discuss their research projects with their major advisors and write a two-page research proposal with specific objectives within the first semester.

A thesis proposal seminar: MS students need to present their preliminary results and plan of research in a proposal seminar within one year of entrance.  MS students who conduct research in laboratories outside the Manoa campus may present their proposal seminars in their laboratory locations.

Presentation at the CTAHR symposium. MS plan-A students must make at least one presentation in the CTAHR symposium.  They are encouraged to make presentations in other national and international conferences.

Thesis defense. MS plan-A students must make a public presentation of their thesis research in the final semester (preferably within two years of entrance).  Students should consult with their committee and the Graduate Chair in advance to ensure a convenient and available date for this presentation that will also meet graduate division deadlines.  A seminar notice must be posted in appropriate places in the department and other important locations.  A seminar notice must also be sent by email to all MBBE graduate faculty and students.

Publication. Students are encouraged to publish a paper in a peer-reviewed scientific journal before the defense date.  In publications, the MBBE departmental address should appear as the students’ primary or secondary address. For details, please see “General guidelines and requirements for PhD degree in MBBE”.

GENERAL GUIDELINES AND REQUIREMENTS FOR MS PLAN-B STUDENTS IN MBBE

Minimum course requirements: Eighteen credits of 600-level courses (excluding MBBE 699), nine credits of 400 level courses (excluding MBBE 499), three credits of MBBE 699.  Graduate students are encouraged to take one credit seminar (MBBE 610 or equivalent) each academic year.  They require at least one seminar credit for MS degree.  The final research presentation cannot be used to meet this requirement.  The Graduate Chair must approve all courses.

Research report, final presentation and oral exam. The plan-B students also do a research project for at least two semesters.  The results of this research should be written as a ‘research report’ and submitted to a committee composed of the research advisor, another faculty and the Graduate Chair.  The results also must be presented as a seminar in the final semester.  At the end of the presentation, the committee will ask questions about the research project and other related subjects.  The written report should be about 10-20 pages, double spaced, with the following sections:  abstract (200-300 words), introduction (background and justification, 1- page), literature review (3-7 pages), objectives, materials and methods (3-7 pages), results and discussion (3-10 pages), and references.  For graduation, a student must obtain a satisfactory evaluation of the research report, oral presentation, and in response to the committee’s questions.