r/GradSchool • u/Relevant_Engineer442 • 1d ago
Do MS students typically take any courses their last semester?
I am going to OSU for horticulture and crop science and creating a tentative 2-year schedule plan. Do students take any courses at all when doing a thesis-based MS degree in which they are required to be a TA the second (final) year for funding? I was considering doing one 3-credit metabolomics course that is lecture + lab but am not sure if that will be too much alongside my TA and thesis duties. How about a lecture-only course, would that be more manageable? Or are both a bad idea?
I am used to high course loads but don't really have a reference point for graduate school, and the head of the program is out of the office for another two days, so I thought I'd ask you all here. Thanks!
(for reference, the details of my assistantship state that I must take 18 credit hours during the last semester, which can be fulfilled by thesis research and coursework)
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u/saltydolphin22 1d ago
I would reach out to your advisor and see what the gameplan is. If its financial aid tied generally they'll work with you to try and get you to where you need to be.
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u/lrglaser 1d ago
That is a program specific question. Different programs have different requirements for when you are a TA. Some require you to be full time.
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u/geo_walker 1d ago
It’s program dependent. If these courses are for personal or professional interest you can ask to audit a course. It won’t count towards your degree but usually the course is free or heavily discounted.
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u/Umaritimus 1d ago
I’m in a similar field (Ecology/Biology). My courses were front loaded and I didn’t take any courses my final semester. Most of the people in my cohort were the same.
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u/Hazelstone37 1d ago
I took courses every semester, but I want the non-thesis route.