Information every graduate student will need—assistantships, teaching requirements, thesis research seminar, English proficiency testing, and more
Teaching Experience
All Food Science graduate students have an academic requirement of obtaining teaching experience for their graduate degree. Non-Food Science graduate students advised by Food Science faculty members are expected to serve as TA's as if they were Food Science graduate students. It is the responsibility of all international graduate students to register for the Penn State American English Oral Communicative Proficiency Test (AEOCPT) their first semester. Register by contacting the Graduate Program Coordinator.
Assistantships/Time Limitations
Departmental Assistantship appointments are normally limited to two years (4 semesters + 2 summers) for a M.S. candidate. Continued funding is considered on a case-by-case basis.
Grade-Point Average
A minimum grade-point average of 3.0 for work done at the University is required for graduation.
Thesis Research Seminar
All Food Science graduate students are required to present a seminar on their completed research before their final defense. The presentation is to be 30-40 minutes in length with an abstract and bibliography made available to the audience. This presentation is viewed as a professional obligation to the department and is considered a general FD SC graduate degree requirement. The seminar should be scheduled preferably during the weekly Departmental Seminar Series. The scheduling of this seminar is administered by the student's advisor in conjunction with the Graduate Program Coordinator.
