All students must conduct original research, under the supervision of the major professor and the advisory committee, on a selected problem related to Horticulture. A hypothesis must be proposed and tested. A review of the literature in the selected area of study should precede the experimental work. The data collected must be analyzed, interpreted, and presented in the form of a bound thesis (M.S.) or dissertation (Ph.D.). (Candidates for the M.S., plan B. may submit a research report in lieu of a thesis.)

The 7 Essential Elements of a Masters of Science Research Proposal
Adopted 3 Dec 2004

A baseline expectation for all Masters of Science (Plan A) students associated with the MSU Horticulture Department is that they develop a brief research proposal that addresses each of the following elements pertinent to developing scientific research skills:

1) one or more testable hypotheses
2) clear research objectives
3) rationale for the proposed research, including a scientific literature review and, if available, preliminary data
4) feasible proposed research methodology
5) expected outcomes
6) potential impact
7) pertinent literature citations

Masters students (Plan A) in the Horticulture graduate program are required to write a thesis based on their original research; the process of developing a concise research proposal is an appropriate and necessary prerequisite for the eventual completion of the research thesis.

The research proposal, to be developed in close consultation with the major professor, should be reviewed and approved by the student’s graduate advisory committee. The graduate advisory committee should assure that the above 7 elements are addressed clearly and adequately in the submitted research proposal. Following advisory committee approval of the research proposal, it must be submitted to the Graduate Programs Committee (see submission form below) for inclusion in the student’s file records, at which time it also will be reviewed by the GPC solely to confirm that the essential elements have been addressed (i.e., not for detailed content). If there is an omission or inadequacy in the essential elements, the GPC will return the proposal to the student and major professor and identify the element that fails to adhere to departmental expectations. The student will be required to correct the proposal within a specified time in order to continue making adequate progress towards the completion of their graduate program.

Masters Thesis (Plan A) Research Proposal Requirement - Form