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Graduate Studies
International Student Orientation
Graduate Studies
Scott WebsterDirector, Graduate Studies & Admissions
121 Foster Administration Building508/ 999-8026, [email protected]
Goals for this Session1. Provide context for graduate study
2. Describe academic programs of university — so you will understand all that we do
3. Explain academic organization of university — who does what; whom to see
4. Review graduate policies and procedures — with emphasis on academic requirements
5. Offer “Advice for Success”
Graduate Study Context
Highest Level of Educational Attainment of U.S. Population, 2005
Some high school 8.5%High school graduate 32.2%Some college 16.8%Associate's degree 8.6%Bachelor's degree 18.1%Master's degree 6.8%Doctoral degree 1.2%Professional degree 1.5%
Graduate Study Context
● UNESCO estimates that 781 million adults in the
world are illiterate.
● About 64% of those adults are women.
Graduate Study Context
According to the U.S. Commerce Department, over an
adult's working life:
-- high school graduates can expect, on average, to
earn $1.2 million;
-- those with a bachelor's degree, $2.1 million;
-- those with a master's degree, $2.5 million;
-- those with doctoral degrees $3.4 million;
-- those with professional degrees $4.4 million.
Graduate Study Context
● The World Bank defines “extreme poverty” as living on less than US$1 per day, and “moderate poverty” as less than $2 a day.
● It has been estimated that 1.1 billion people have consumption levels below $1 a day and 2.7 billion live on less than $2 a day.
Graduate Study Context
● Today, there are more than 58,000 graduate programs.
● As the host of 22 percent of the world’s international students, the United States is by far the preferred destination.
Graduate Study Context
● Annually, more than 500,000 students came from around the world to study at schools of higher education in the United States.
● India, China, and Korea are the top three countries of origin for international students enrolled in U.S. graduate schools. Together, they account for approximately half of the total.
● Students from the Middle East account for 5 percent of total enrollment.
Graduate Study Context
● Among international students, business and
management is the most popular field of study.
● Engineering is the second most popular.
Graduate Study Context
● UMass Dartmouth’s total student population is approximately 9,000.
● Graduate students number approximately 1,100.
● 24 Master’s programs
● 6 Doctoral programs
Academic Programs of University
Refer to handout.
• List of Colleges and Departments
• Shows all academic programs
• Find your academic program
• Look at other UMass Dartmouth programs
Academic Organization of University
Refer to handouts.
• Different roles and functions at each level
• Departments and Graduate Program Directors
• Whom to see for help: start with Graduate Program Director or Faculty Advisor
Graduate Policies and Procedures
Graduate Catalogue
• Refer to this book often.
• Review its contents and read key sections.
Description of Your Program
Second Half of Graduate Catalogue
Find your own program
• Study what it says (check with department for updates)
– Faculty, qualifications and research interests
– Overview of program
– Specific requirements and choices
– List of actual courses
• Ask questions; see Advisor or Graduate Program Director
Description of Your Program
Register for Courses
● Graduate courses are numbered 500 and higher
● www.umassd.edu/courselistings/courselisting.cfm
● www.umassd.edu/coin
● University Enrollment Center, 508/999-8857
Description of Opportunities
Front Section of Graduate Catalogue
• Graduate Opportunities [starts page 10]– Library; Computing; Research
• International Students [starts page 38]
• Services and Support [starts page 41]– Academic assistance, other assistance– Activities, athletics, arts and lectures . . .
Graduate Academic Regulations
For example...
• Registration—full-time status, leave of absence,
course credits, add/drop, etc. [pages 19-20]
• Grading System [pages 20-22]• Absence for Religious Holidays [page 21]• Degree Requirements [pages 26-29]
“Advice for Success”
Don’t Do Anything to Risk your Visa Status
• Full-time load towards degree — 9 credits minimum• Special waivers—these must be authorized• Continuous enrollment /academic progress• If assistantship, do not ignore tuition bill• Employment/practical training• Current local address• Always ask questions—of the right people!• See Christina Bruen and/or Scott Webster for help
“Advice for Success”
Get to know your Advisor, Graduate Program
Director, and and other faculty. These persons:
• Plan your research/creative work as well as coursework
• Arrange your thesis or project
• Monitor your performance and progress
Your Advisor expects you to ask questions and be
engaged. Be an active partner in your education.
“Advice for Success”
Be active participant in class and out of class
• Ask questions, in and out of class.
• Take advantage of office hours.
• U.S. faculty expect you to talk in class, to ask questions, to interact with them.
• If you do not, they may think you are not interested in the class or in learning!
• Research/creative participation is part of your learning.
“Advice for Success”
Understand U. S. Classroom “Conventions”
• Many professors act informal (dress, speech).
• They allow you to be relaxed with them, personally.
• They expect you to have high academic standards.
• Homework and exams are a part of your learning.
• Learning out of class; being responsible to learn.
• The professor makes the rules for his or her class.
“Advice for Success”
Learn Academic Conventions and Expectations for your academic field and in U.S.
• Using research, textbooks, library references
• Academic honesty and plagiarism--see p. 23
• Quoting and paraphrasing; documentation of sources
• Group-work vs. individual work
• Always ask questions about Academic Expectations!
“Advice for Success”
Have fun in addition to working hard at academics.
• Athletics, Sports (what is “football” in the U.S.?)• Arts, lectures, and other campus events • Explore off campus — U.S. presidential election this fall
— Travel, go to the mountains or beach, be a “tourist” — Go shopping; try the mall (but don’t spend too much!) — Go to the movies, theater; try “night life”; see Boston
• Meet other students; introduce yourself• Enjoy being here! (A time of adventure…)
“Advice for Success”
You just might be a graduate student if...
...you can analyze the significance of appliances you cannot operate.
...your office is better decorated than your apartment.
...you are startled to meet people who neither need nor want to read.
...you have ever brought a scholarly article to a bar.
...you rate coffee shops by the availability of outlets for your laptop.
...you have ever discussed academic matters at a sporting event.
...you have ever spent more than $50 on photocopying while researching a single paper.
...there is a microfilm reader in the library that you consider "yours."
...you actually have a preference between microfilm and microfiche.
...you can tell the time of day by looking at the traffic flow at the library.
...you regard ibuprofen as a vitamin.
...you find the bibliographies of books more interesting than the actual text.
...you have accepted guilt as an inherent feature of relaxation.
...you find yourself explaining to children that you are in “17th grade“ (or higher!).
...you often wonder how long you can live on pasta without getting scurvy.
...you look forward to taking some time off to do laundry.
...you have more photocopy cards than credit cards.
“Advice for Success”
AND . . .
• Always accept “free” food!
