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BSU School of Graduate Studies

Frequently Asked Questions

Prospective Student FAQ’s
Current Student FAQ’s
Thesis/Research Paper FAQ’s

Prospective Student FAQ’s

1. Is the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) or any other test required for admission?

The GRE is required for the Biology, Environmental Studies and Counseling Psychology masters programs. Other departments have the option to request an applicant take the test for admission purposes

2. What information should be included in letters of recommendation and how many are required?

Letters of recommendation are to address the candidate’s qualifications for the candidate’s chosen program. Two (2) letters of recommendation (dated, signed and on letterhead) are required for all programs except for Environmental Studies (no letters are required). Counseling Psychology requires three (3) letters.

3. If I am admitted as a Graduate Special Student at BSU and decide to apply for admission into a specific graduate program, will those credits count toward my master’s?

Yes, as long as the credits to be used are within the seven (7) year period for you to complete your degree AND your advisor approves the courses to be used. The seven (7) years would start from the time you began taking courses that would count toward your degree.

For example, if you began taking courses as a special student in the summer of 2005 and you were officially admitted into a graduate degree program in the fall of 2006, you would have until the summer of 2012 to complete your degree.

4. Do I need to apply for admission to graduate school to obtain licensure?

No, you may complete licensure as a Graduate Special Student.

5. Is there a deadline for applying for admission to graduate studies?

We admit students on a rolling basis at BSU, which means we will accept applications throughout the year. The only program that does NOT accept applications each semester is Counseling Psychology; they ONLY admit students during Fall semesters and their deadline is usually in February. See their website for specific dates.

6. How long does it usually take to process my application materials and to actually be admitted into a graduate program?

Once all materials (application, letters of recommendation, etc.) are collected in the School of Graduate Studies, copies are sent to the Graduate Coordinator/ Department Chair for their review, approval of admission, and advisor assignment. This usually takes about ten (10) business days.

7. Do I need to have a current teaching license to be considered for a master’s program?

Current teaching licenses are not required. However depending upon the master’s program chosen, the department does use this information to determine an applicant’s qualification for that program. A copy of a current or previous license is requested.

8. What is the minimum undergraduate Grade Point Average (GPA) requirement to be considered for admission into a master’s program?

A minimum undergraduate GPA of 3.0 is required for full admission; students with a 2.75 or higher GPA could possibly be admitted on a provisional basis until such time a graduate GPA is established. Although a student’s undergraduate GPA may be below the 2.75, each student’s application and all required materials are considered.

9. What is the maximum amount of time that I have to complete my degree?

You will have a total of seven (7) years to complete your degree. For example, if you began taking graduate credits toward your degree in the Fall of 2006, you will have until the end of Fall of 2013 to complete your degree.

10. If I am an International student desiring to pursue a master’s degree at BSU, who should I contact?

International students need to go through a different admission process than U.S. residents. You would need to contact the International Program Center at StudyBemidji@bemidjistate.edu for the appropriate application materials.

11. As an International student, am I required to take the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL)?

Yes, the TOEFL score is required of all applicants whose first language is other than English. A minimum score of 550 is required.

12. What’s the difference between an M.Ed. and an M.S. degree in Education?

First, the similarities:
Same core courses
Same cognate areas

Now the differences:
M.S. in Education – research-oriented degree for those who intend to go beyond a master’s degree or want to do scholarly research; a formal paper or thesis is required

M.Ed. – applied degree designed for practicing teachers who plan to remain in the classroom and want to improve their teaching knowledge and skills; additional coursework is required, without a formal research paper or thesis. You may choose either degree regardless of your future plans.

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Current Student FAQ’s

1. What do I need to know if I want to transfer credits?

Transferring credits for a Masters degree is possible, but there are some guidelines to think about.

Transfer Credits

  • Provide your advisor with a course description to seek approval for transferring credits. (Final approval is made by the Dean of the School of Graduate Studies.)
  • Provide your advisor with a course description to seek approval for transferring credits. (Final approval is made by the Dean of the School of Graduate Studies.)
  • Credits must be from courses within the last 7 years.
  • Credits must have an associated letter grade.
  • If a student is planning to enroll elsewhere and transfer a class while pursuing a graduate degree at BSU, they must seek pre-approval from their advisor.

2. When will I be assigned an advisor? Do I have a choice as to who my advisor will be?

You will be assigned an advisor once all application materials have been received and your materials have been sent to the Graduate Coordinator/Department Chair for their review and approval. If you have an advisor you would prefer to work with, you would need to share that preference with the School of Graduate Studies prior to your materials being sent to the department.

3. When I’m on campus, where can I store my stuff (e.g. coat), so I don’t have to lug it around?

In a locker, free for students. How to get one:

  • Find your locker of choice and remember the locker number.
  • Go to the information desk on the second floor of the Upper Union (or to Decker 112).
  • Sign out your locker for the semester or academic year.

Locker locations

  • Hall/tunnel between library and Upper Union
  • Hagg-Sauer Hall, 2nd floor, near skyway to Bridgeman Hall
  • Sattgast Hall, 2nd floor, tunnel between Sattgast and Memorial
  • Decker Hall, in hall outside Graduate Studies office (go to Decker 112 to sign out locker)

4. Can I get about campus in the tunnels without going outside?

Yes and no. Some buildings are not connected, and sometimes the easiest route between two buildings is outside.

Tunnel Networks

  • Most of the dorms, Walnut Hall, and the PE and fitness complex.
  • The Linden-Decker-Birch Hall trio, and most of the academic and administrative buildings.

Outside trips:

  • Between networks (Tamarack and Linden Halls)
  • Buildings isolated by the renovation of Bridgeman Hall (Hagg-Sauer Hall and CAET)
  • Unconnected buildings (e.g. American Indian Resource Center and David Park House)

5. How can I find a Graduate Assistant position?

There are several ways to track down Graduate Assistant positions.

Contact your GA Representative:

  • Check the School of Graduate Studies website under Graduate Assistantship contacts.
  • Contact the representative in your department or any department that they may suggest could use your skills (e.g. an English Graduate student may apply for a Communications GA position).

Check your BSU email account:

  • The School of Graduate Studies will occasionally email students about available Graduate Assistant positions.
  • Make sure to check your BSU student email account for these opportunities.
  • If you have questions, contact student services.

6. Can a Graduate assistantship count as an internship? Why or why not?

No, not regularly. There are specific guidelines for the internships. Students must have a focus and be able to complete objectives within that focus. While it is possible to link an internship to the assistantship work, the assistantship itself cannot count as an internship.

7. What are “competencies” and why do I need them?

Each degree has a competency requirement that must be fulfilled before you are able to complete graduation. Which one(s) you are required to complete depends upon your program(s):

Competency requirements include:

Statistics:
Biology M.S.
English M.S.
Environmental Studies M.S.
Counseling Psychology M.S.
Science M.S.
Sports Studies M.S.

Foreign Language:
English M.A.

Intsructional Technology
Mathematics M.S.
Technological Studies M.S.
Professional Education M.S.

8. What are the comprehensive exams?

The Comprehensive exam is the written exam portion of a student’s final preparation for graduation. Students are asked to select the areas of study in which they wish to be examined and work with three faculty members in taking their comprehensive exam.

The Process

  • The exam is in three (3) parts.
  • All parts must be taken in one (1) semester.
  • Students should take the exams during their last semester of study.
  • The oral defense cannot be scheduled until the comprehensive exam has been passed.
  • Students are responsible for scheduling the comprehensive exam and should arrange for them prior to their last semester of study.
  • Students should work closely with advisors in selecting exam areas and determining the dates, times, and procedures for each section.
    (See “Comprehensive Exam Details” for further information.)

9. If I finish next summer, when do I “graduate”?

You have two dates. First, with good academic standing and no more than 12 credits of course work to complete before September 1, you may participate in the spring Commencement ceremonies.

Commencement: Submit Form 4 (Application for Graduation) and the non-refundable $10.00 graduation fee by the 1st week of the semester in which you finish.

Graduation date:Your official graduation is in August. If you do not plan to participate in Commencement, submit Form 4 during spring semester.

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Thesis/Research Paper FAQ’s

1. Can I use a research topic that I am currently investigating with a professor, or an internship topic that I have been working on, for my Graduate thesis?

Yes, students may use their projects for their thesis or for jumpstarting it. Internship projects can be used in the same way.

2. How does a graduate student form her or his Graduate Thesis/Research Paper Committee?

Consult with your graduate advisor and suggest names of graduate faculty members that you have had classes or think would have interest in the area you are interested in researching.

Discuss them with you major advisor. Then ask the faculty member if S/he will be on your committee.

Sabbaticals, retirement, or major projects may limit the graduate faculty member's availability.

3. Where can I get help with my thesis or research paper?

Primary Authorities
Begin with two primary authorities: 1) Handbook for the Preparation of the Thesis or Research Paper, from the School of Graduate Studies at Bemidji State University; the latest edition is June 2005. 2) Your graduate department or program’s style manual. The two manuals used most at BSU include the Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association (APA) and the MLA Handbook for Writers of Research Papers (used by the English department). The latest editions: APA – fifth, MLA – sixth.

Note Particularly
The handbook and applicable style manual will guide you in format, grammar, sentence structure, and other stylistic matters. In the Handbook, note particularly page 6 (Page Sequence) and Appendix A (Sample Front Matter Pages); both a thesis and a research paper will have chapters. In the APA manual, note particularly Chapter 6 (Students tab), Chapter 3 (APA Editorial Style), and Chapter 4 (Refs tab). In the MLA manual, note particularly Chapter 3 (The Mechanics of Writing), Chapter 6 (Citing Sources), and Chapter 5 (List of Works Cited).

ReviewersAfter writing your thesis or research paper, submit the first draft to your advisor for a review of content and format. After making any recommended changes, submit the final draft to your other committee members for a review of content and format. After making any further recommended changes, submit the approved final draft to the School of Graduate Studies for a review of format. Any final changes should be correcting minor format errors.

4. Where can I find a sample paper written in APA style?

In two places: in reference materials and in campus archives.

References

  • Publication Manual of the APA (study the sample paper, pages 306-320, and the differences noted for student papers, pages 321-326).
  • Handbook for the Preparation of the Thesis of Research Paper (the link is on the Graduate Forms web page).

Archives

  • BSU student thesis: Search the Library catalog by subject, title, or author; retrieve it from the general collection (4th and 2nd floors); check it out at the Circulation Desk (3rd floor).
  • BSU student research paper: Contact the applicable department or program office.

5. Do I need a page header in my research paper or thesis??

It depends on the style manual used:

  • MLA: Yes. Along with the page number, your last name is required.
  • APA: Optional. The header is the first two or three words of your title. (See p. 288 of the manual. Ignore p. 296).
  • Handbook: See sample and instructions for formatting your title page.

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