Always read through this site for information: https://grad.wisc.edu/current-students/masters-guide/

Main contacts:

• Agronomy, Agroecology, Plant Breeding & Plant Genetics (PBPG) and Plant Science Technology: Caitlin Collies, caitlin.collies@wisc.edu 

• Department Administrator: Tricia Check, tlcheck@wisc.edu 

Ready to graduate?

Always read through this site for information: https://grad.wisc.edu/current-students/masters-guide/

Terminal MS

• Settle on a day and time for your thesis seminar and oral exam with your committee
• See your graduate program manager or the main office to reserve a room
• Create a flier to send to your graduate program manager to distribute
• Declare your intent to graduate in your Student Center
  • If you graduate in the summer, you can attend a ceremony in either May or December
  • There is a deadline to declare so your name can be printed in the commencement program. https://registrar.wisc.edu/applyforgraduation/
• Request warrant at least three weeks in advance:

• Agronomy Warrant
• PBPG Warrant
• Agroecology Warrant
• PST Warrant
• Grad Manager receives your info, submits your request to grad school.
• The Graduate School issues a degree warrant if you meet these requirements:

• Registered for a minimum of two graduate-level credits (300-level or above for a grade, no audits, or pass/fail) in the semester (fall, spring or summer) you expect your degree.
• Meet all credit requirements
• Graduate GPA of at least 3.00.
• All incomplete, unreported grades, or progress grades in anything other than research/thesis (usually 690, 790, 990) must have been cleared.
• Students receiving a second (or third) master’s degree from UW-Madison, and students receiving two master’s degrees during the same semester, must submit official lists (on program letterhead and signed by advisors or program chairs) of courses used for each degree. We use these lists to check the 25% overlap rule.
• You must complete all requirements by the appropriate degree deadline.

• Your warrant will be available at https://my.grad.wisc.edu/ . Follow these steps to obtain signatures:

• Select 'My Student Information'
• Find the warrant in the Warrants section
• Click the ellipsis in the Actions column
• Click 'View Committee'
• Send emails to committee members
• Once completed, the grad manager will submit to the grad school
• Download the signed warrant.
• It is your responsibility to ensure everyone signs. You can send follow up emails through the system if necessary.

• Complete Masters Exit Survey online. Must be done prior to submitted signed warrant. You will be emailed instructions once you request a warrant. Also see here https://grad.wisc.edu/current-students/masters-guide/#things-you-need-to-know
• Give seminar. Complete oral exam.
• Get all needed signatures on warrant, you email your committee through the Grad Portal. Grad manager will be notified once completed and will submit to the grad school.

Post Defense Assessment:

• PBPG only – student self-assessment and faculty assessment. Can be found here https://plantbreeding.wisc.edu/current-students/program-requirements/  
• PST only - Post defense assessment to be given to your committee. Self assessment to be filled out by you. Found here: https://pasdept.wisc.edu/plant-science-technology-graduate-programs/links-for-current-plant-science-technology-graduate-students/ and returned to graduate manger confidentially by the committee.
• Agronomy only - Post defense assessment to be given to your committee. Self assessment to be filled out by you. Found here:  https://pasdept.wisc.edu/academics/graduate/agronomy/for-current-students/ and returned to graduate manger confidentially by the committee.
• Agroecology only – Post defense assessment to be given to your committee. Found here: https://agroecology.wisc.edu/about/student-resources/ and returned to graduate manger confidentially by the committee.

Thesis Deposit:

• Agroecology only- submit final project/thesis to graduate manager as a PDF.
• Submit your thesis for publication (Only PBPG, PST and Agronomy)
  • Details here: https://grad.wisc.edu/current-students/masters-guide/
  • Once a thesis is submitted it becomes available to the public. If you would like an embargo, or delayed release, then you must request one before you deposit from Elena Hsu in the grad school. elena.hsu@wisc.edu
• Remind your advisor to submit a final grade for your 990s. If you are completing your degree before the end of the semester your advisor will have to complete this grade change form https://kb.wisc.edu/registrar/116414

Final Tasks:

• Request degree completion letter from the graduate school if starting a new job before degrees are conferred (optional) https://grad.wisc.edu/documents/certification-of-graduation/
• Send your non UW email to the graduate manager to get on the alumni email list
• Return your keys and any other department property
• Update your Diploma address in MyUW prior to leaving campus. The Registrar’s Office will send your diploma to this address approximately 12 weeks after degree conferral.
• You will not have access to certain UW accounts like your wisc mail so make sure to save all files that you need. Information from DoIT here
• You can sign up for PAS newsletters here https://explore.wisc.edu/plantagroscilanding
• Don’t forget us

MS, continuing to PhD

• Settle on a day and time for your thesis seminar and oral exam with your committee
• See your graduate program manager or the main office to reserve a room
• Create a flier to send to your graduate program manager to distribute
• Request warrant at least three weeks in advance:

• Agronomy Warrant
• PBPG Warrant
• Agroecology Warrant
• PST Warrant
• Grad manager receives your info, submits your request to grad school.
• The Graduate School issues a degree warrant if you meet these requirements:

• Registered for a minimum of two graduate-level credits (300-level or above for a grade, no audits, or pass/fail) in the semester (fall, spring or summer) you expect your degree.
• Meet all credit requirements
• Graduate GPA of at least 3.00.
• All incomplete, unreported grades, or progress grades in anything other than research/thesis (usually 690, 790, 990) must have been cleared.
• Students receiving a second (or third) master’s degree from UW-Madison, and students receiving two master’s degrees during the same semester, must submit official lists (on program letterhead and signed by advisors or program chairs) of courses used for each degree. We use these lists to check the 25% overlap rule.
• You must complete all requirements by the appropriate degree deadline.

• Your warrant will be available at https://my.grad.wisc.edu/ . Follow these steps to obtain signatures:

• Select 'My Student Information'
• Find the warrant in the Warrants section
• Click the ellipsis in the Actions column
• Click 'View Committee'
• Send emails to committee members
• Once completed, the grad manager will submit to the grad school
• Download the signed warrant.
• It is your responsibility to ensure everyone signs. You can send follow up emails through the system if necessary.

• Complete Masters Exit Survey online. Must be done prior to submitted signed warrant. You will be emailed instructions once you request a warrant. Also see here https://grad.wisc.edu/current-students/masters-guide/#things-you-need-to-know
• Give seminar. Complete oral exam.
• Get all needed signatures on warrant. Grad Manager will be notified once completed and will submit to the grad school.

Post Defense Assessment:

• PBPG only – student self-assessment and faculty assessment. Can be found here https://plantbreeding.wisc.edu/current-students/program-requirements/  or email Caitlin.collies@wisc.edu for it.
• PST only - Post defense assessment to be given to your committee. Self assessment to be filled out by you. Found here: https://pasdept.wisc.edu/plant-science-technology-graduate-programs/links-for-current-plant-science-technology-graduate-students/ and returned to graduate manager confidentially by the committee.
• Agronomy only - Post defense assessment to be given to your committee. Self-assessment to be filled out by you. Found here:  https://pasdept.wisc.edu/academics/graduate/agronomy/for-current-students/ and returned to graduate manager confidentially by the committee.
• Agroecology only – Post defense assessment to be given to your committee. Found here: https://agroecology.wisc.edu/about/student-resources/ and returned to graduate manager confidentially by the committee.

Thesis Deposit:

• Agroecology only- submit final project/thesis to graduate manager as a PDF.
• Submit your thesis for publication (Only PBPG, PST and Agronomy)
  • Details here: https://grad.wisc.edu/current-students/masters-guide/
  • Once a thesis is submitted it becomes available to the public. If you would like an embargo, or delayed release, then you must request one before you deposit from Elena Hsu in the grad school. elena.hsu@wisc.edu
• If you are staying with the same advisor for your PhD and will be in the same subject 990s then they do not need to update your 990 until after you complete the PhD. If you are changing advisors/program 990s, have your MS advisor change your 990 grade from a P to S.
• You will need to fill out a program add/change request in your graduate student portal in MyUW to move over to PhD. The request will go to the graduate manager for approval. If you are moving to a PhD program outside of Agronomy or PBPG you will need to work with that program for admissions/to move over to the PhD. Please work with that program well in advance of when you intend to move to the PhD.
• Move on to your PhD.