Applied Physics Graduate Program
2023-2024&Graduate&Student&Handbook&
Graduate(Degree(Requirements(and(Procedures(
This handbook provides general guidelines for Applied Physics graduate students. In addition to being in
agreement with the regulations stated in this program handbook, students must also be in agreement with the
General Announcements (GA) and the Code of Conduct of Rice University. Students are responsible for meeting all
program requirements and all the university requirements.
In case there is conflicting information, university-wide regulations take precedence over the program regulations,
which take precedence over research group-wide regulations.
In doubt, students should seek help first at the program level (graduate administrator, advisor, program director)
and then at the central administration level (Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies, GPS).
Revisions or additions of this handbook may be made from time to time. A current version is available at
https://appliedphysics.rice.edu/graduate-student-handbook. Students should keep a personal file containing this
document, future memos about rule changes and other departmental matters, and documentation related to
graduate progress.
APP Graduate Handbook, 2023-2024 page 2
Contents'
Introduction 5!
Institute and Program Members 5!
Applied Physics Faculty & Staff 5!
Applied Physics Committee for Curriculum & Admissions 5!
Smalley–Curl Institute 5!
Faculty 5!
Academic Program Support Staff 6!
Academics: Overview 6!
Graduate Application 6!
Degree Program 7!
Research Groups 7!
Academic and Research Advisors 8!
Advice on Changing Research Groups or Host Departments 8!
Honor System and Student Code of Conduct 9!
Research and Scholarly Activities 9!
Program Learning Outcomes 9!
Email as a Formal Mode of Communication 10!
Coursework 10!
Course Registration 10!
Core and Elective Requirements and Course Waiver Requests 10!
Core Courses 11!
Elective Courses 11!
Course Credit Transfers and Elective Credit Requests 11!
Grades, Department Duties, Employment, and Academic Status 12!
Grades 12!
Departmental Duties Required by the Doctoral Advisor 13!
Academic Status 13!
Host Department Seminars, Classes, and Qualifying Exams 13!
Timelines and Procedures, Candidacy and Defense 13!
Degree Timeline 13!
M.S./Ph.D. Timelines and Procedures 14!
Petitioning for Candidacy 15!
Thesis Committee 15!
APP Graduate Handbook, 2023-2024 page 3
M.S. Candidacy and Defense 15!
Ph.D. Candidacy and Defense 16!
Degree Candidate Status 17!
Financial Support and Time Off 17!
Financial Support 17!
Support Limitations 18!
External Fellowships/Scholarships 18!
Internships 18!
Time Off 19!
Vacation and Holidays 19!
Unscheduled Time Off 19!
Interruptions of Study and Withdrawal 19!
Leaves of Absence 19!
Short-Term Medical and Parental Release 19!
Nonmedical Withdrawal and Readmission 20!
Medical Withdrawal and Readmission 20!
Best Practices in Mentoring, Progress Reviews, and Program Effectiveness 20!
First-Year Mentorship and Guidance 20!
Presenting and Publishing Research 20!
Annual Reviews 21!
Graduating Students and Alumni 21!
Graduate Student Associations 21!
General Information 21!
ESTHER (Employee and Student Tools, Help, and Electronic Resources) 21!
imagineOne (iO) 22!
Campus Mail Service 22!
Computing 22!
Study Areas, Building Access, Office Space, and Telephone Service 23!
Purchasing and Expenditures 23!
Procurement 23!
Office Supplies 23!
Copying Services 23!
Mailing and Shipping 23!
Travel 23!
APP Graduate Handbook, 2023-2024 page 4
Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies Office (GPS) 24!
Graduate Student Policies 24!
Guidelines for Dismissals, Petitions, Appeals, Grievances, and Problem Resolution 24!
Leaves or Withdrawals 24!
Funding and Stipends 24!
Time Boundaries 25!
Thesis Information 25!
Graduate Form Library 25!
Digital Scholarship Archive 25!
Office of the Registrar (OTR) 25!
General Announcements (GA) 25!
Office of International Students and Scholars (OISS) 26!
Student Health Insurance and Services 26!
Health Insurance 26!
Student Health Services 26!
The Rice Wellness Center 26!
Title IX 26!
APP Graduate Handbook, 2023-2024 page 5
Introduction'
Welcome to the Applied Physics Graduate Program (APP) of the Smalley–Curl Institute (SCI) at Rice University!
Your admission to Rice is the latest milestone in an exemplary academic career. At Rice, researchers and faculty
members at the forefront of their fields will guide your progress to receiving a doctoral degree. You will be taught
to think creatively, be a part of a network of knowledge, and redefine your own limits.
The Ph.D. program prepares students for careers in academia, national laboratories, industry, and government
agencies. Students admitted to the Ph.D. program with a bachelor’s degree are required to complete at least 90
hours of credit (typically 27 hours of coursework and 63 hours of research).
Graduate education is a unique mixture of instruction, training, mentorship, and scientific collaboration. In our
program, we want each student to get the most out of their experience, contributing to the advancement of
science and engineering through outstanding original research, while at the same time preparing for a
professional career. Our students have gone on to outstanding, diverse professional careers, including academic
research, government research and service, technical careers with companies ranging from large corporations to
exciting startups, in fields as diverse as the oil industry, electronics, energy, consulting, education, and more.
Institute'and'Pr og ra m'Members'
Applied'Physics'Faculty'&'Staff'
Director, Applied Physics Junichiro Kono
Program Administrator
1
Laura Livingston
Applied'Physics'Committee'for'Curriculum'&'Admissions'
Alessandro Alabastri Songtao Chen
Kaden Hazzard Shengxi Huang
Junichiro Kono^ Lan Luan
Kevin Slagle Hanyu Zhu
* For committee updates or changes, please visit https://appliedphysics.rice.edu/people
^ Program Director
Smalley–Curl'Institute'
Director Naomi Halas
Executive Director Alberto Pimpinelli
Program Administrator
1
Laura Livingston
Administrative Director John Marsh
Marketing & Events Coordinator TBD
1
The Program Administrator is part of both the APP and the SCI
Faculty'
Faculty members have a myriad of responsibilities, including the advisement and mentoring of students, research
in their areas of interest and expertise, managing the financial aspects of their labs, and instruction at the
undergraduate and graduate levels.
APP Graduate Handbook, 2023-2024 page 6
The primary faculty contact for first-year Ph.D. students is the APP Director. Once students have affiliated, the
primary point of contact becomes the advisor. Students may continue to seek the guidance of the APP Director as
well as other members of the Applied Physics Committee, which is responsible for program development and
coordination of activities related to the graduate program, including assessment of progress, as well as
recruitment and admissions of new students. Specific duties include the consideration of all proposed new
courses, curricular modifications, and program activities. The Committee also facilitates resolutions to complaints
involving academic or administrative decisions that may interfere with the students’ academic and research
progress. Additionally, the Committee reviews student petitions. Students must petition the Committee for
exceptions to academic requirements (e.g., course substitutions, transfer credits, waivers, etc.). Details of how to
submit a petition are listed under the Course Waiver Requests section in this handbook.
Academic'Program'Support'Staff'
The Program Administrator oversees the academic administrative functions of the academic program and should
be the first point of contact for any administrative issues. The Academic Coordinator is also available to assist
with administrative questions or concerns when the Program Administrator is unavailable.
Laura Livingston, Program Administrator
TBD, Academic Coordinator
301 Space Science
Academics:'Overview'
The SCI supports the APP in guiding students to the Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) in Applied Physics. The program
does not offer a standalone thesis Master of Science (M.S.) degree; students admitted to our program with a
bachelor’s degree are required to earn the thesis M.S. within the program before proceeding to the Ph.D. in lieu
of a formal qualifying exam.
Students admitted with an approved previous M.S. degree will need to discuss specific requirements with the APP
Director for acceptance of that degree. Previous M.S. degrees are approved or denied contingent upon the
approval of the APP Director. Some courses may still be required as core courses cannot be waived. Non-
acceptance of previous M.S. degrees requires the student to obtain a Rice Applied Physics M.S. degree before
continuing on to the Ph.D. degree.
Graduate(Application'
The online application for admission is located at https://gradapply.rice.edu/.
The application process is opened beginning on September 1. Admissions are for the fall only, and the deadline is
December 31. Late applications will not be considered.
The application fee is waived for all applicants.
Successful applicants to the Ph.D. program must have a minimum Grade Point Average (GPA) of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale.
The general GRE is not required for admission to the APP. If applicants have taken the GRE test, then scores can
be indicated on the application.
APP Graduate Handbook, 2023-2024 page 7
Minimum TOEFL scores for international applicants are 600 (paper), 250 (computer), 90 (iBT), and 620 (ITP
Plus Exam). The minimum IELTS score is 7.0. TOEFL and IELTS requirements for the Ph.D. program may be
waived for students who have received a degree from a university where English is the official language of
communication.
For international students admitted to the program, proof of financial support is also required.
Our average admitted students obtain a 3.63 GPA (on a 4-point scale). The average TOEFL iBT score for admitted
international students is 100, and the average IELTS score is 7.5. A minimum Duolingo score of 115 may also be
accepted.
Degree(Program(
Students admitted to the Ph.D. program are funded by the APP for the first semester with a monthly stipend and
full tuition waiver. Students must be enrolled full-time with a minimum of 9 credit hours during the spring,
summer, and fall semesters.
At the end of their first semester (by December 1) and continuing throughout subsequent years, APP students will
select a faculty advisor and affiliate with their research group, who is then responsible for funding of the student's
stipend and research expenses. (See Academic and Research Advisors on page 10 for additional details.) The
advisor’s department of primary affiliation will be the student’s Host Department, and the student enjoy will day-
to-day association with faculty and students in that department.
Ph.D. students might be required to fulfill one or more semesters of grading or teaching as required by their
advisor but are not specifically obligated or required to perform any grading or teaching as part of our program’s
doctoral degree requirements.
A 3.0 GPA (B) must be maintained, and all classes that count toward the degree must be taken as a standard letter
grade course. Only courses in which a grade of B- or above is achieved will be counted towards the M.S./Ph.D.
degrees. Students whose term GPA falls below a 2.5 will be placed on academic probation by the program.
Students whose term GPA falls below 2.33 or cumulative GPA falls below 2.67 will be placed on academic
probation by the university. For more information see the Academic Discipline section of the General
Announcements.
Research(Groups'
Because of the interdisciplinary nature of the APP, there are a number of research groups in Engineering and
Natural Sciences, as well as the Texas Medical Center (TMC), available to students.
The five thematic areas, or tracks, we current have are:
- Photonics and Plasmonics
- Nanomaterials and Nanodevices
- Quantum Science and Engineering
- Neuroengineering and Biotechnology
- Theory and Computation
During the summer before the first semester as well as during APPL 500, the program will organize Brown Bag
Lunch seminars (also known as BB Talks) hosted by faculty who have research assistant openings in their groups
across a broad range of disciplines. These seminars allow students to meet faculty and to learn about research
being done at Rice University that is pertinent to the APP. Seminars may be hosted by APP as well as the
Department of Physics & Astronomy. These seminars will help students find an area of interest, research group,
APP Graduate Handbook, 2023-2024 page 8
and advisor. Exploring a range of research areas is important because not all faculty members have resources or
openings for additional students in any particular year.
The student should make every effort to speak with the most likely faculty mentors and the current students in
their research groups. An informed choice requires consideration of many issues: Where are graduates of that
group employed? Is funding adequate? What is the typical duration of a Ph.D. in that group? What journals does
the group publish in and how often? And most importantly, is the research interesting to you?
It is the responsibility of the student to talk with faculty about the likelihood of joining a particular research group.
Students should begin these discussions as early as possible. Any faculty member in the Schools of Engineering
and the School of Natural Sciences can advise APP students. Faculty who are currently advising APP students are
listed at https://appliedphysics.rice.edu/people/advisors.
Academic(and(Research(Advisors'
By the end of the first semester, students should be actively engaged with a research group and confirm affiliation
with the advisor. No later than December 1 of the first semester, APP students will complete the official
paperwork associated with affiliation. Paperwork for affiliation should be turned in as early as possible after
finding an advisor, at the latest on December 1. Late affiliation requires discussion and prior approval permission
from the APP Director. Starting on January 1 at the start of the second semester, and continuing throughout
subsequent years, the advisor is then responsible for funding of the student's stipend and research expenses.
Students desiring to work with faculty in the TMC may do so only with the permission of the APP Director.
Should a student choose an advisor in the TMC, the student should first attempt to contact the faculty member in
the TMC. If no response is received, the student can request the APP Director to send an introductory email to
the faculty. The APP Director will act as the student’s Rice advisor to serve as the Rice liaison on things such as
the thesis committee.
At this time, the students should complete the Research Proposal & Affiliation form, including a brief description
of their planned research, which must be reviewed and approved by the prospective advisor and the APP Director.
Once the advisor has been chosen, students will be hosted by the same department as their advisor. Grading or
TAing is not required as part of the APP Ph.D. program, but students may be asked to grade/TA, depending on the
preference of the host department and the advisor.
After affiliating with a research group, stipend decisions are determined by the advisor and/or the host
department. Students are responsible for discussing salary issues with their respective advisors. Initial salary
discussions should be held before officially affiliating with a research group.
Advice(on(Changing(Research(Groups(or(Host(Departments(
After affiliation in the first semester, students are required to have a research advisor to remain in good
standing. Rice recognizes that research interests may change after a student enters a graduate program. If a
student feels their interests and talents could be better served working with a different advisor or in another
research group or department, a change can be accommodated. Although each case is unique, following are
guidelines for making an advisor/group/department switch:
- Discuss issues with the current advisor. Often an adjustment of research topic may resolve the
problem.
- If issues are insurmountable, speak with the APP Director and then with faculty members whose
research interests are more in line with the student’s and who have the funding for support.
APP Graduate Handbook, 2023-2024 page 9
- When an alternate faculty member agrees to replace the current advisor, obtain permission from the
APP Director, and then proceed to the Program Administrator, who will process the documentation
required for the change. A Change of Affiliation form will be required, along with a new research
proposal, which must be reviewed and approved by the APP Director.
In order to remain in good standing, the student must secure affiliation with the new advisor prior to leaving the
previous advisor.
If the advisor wants to terminate financial support and a research advising relationship with a student who has
officially affiliated, this requires a timely warning and a written justification to both the APP Director and the
GPS. The procedures are outlined in the GA under Dismissals. A student may appeal such a dismissal through
the petition and appeal process.
Honor(System(and(Student(Code(of(Conduct(
All incoming Rice students agree to abide by the Rice University Honor System. The Honor System, one of the
oldest and proudest traditions at Rice, is administered by the Honor Council, whose student members are
elected each year by the student body. Students at Rice, through their commitment to the Honor Code, accept
responsibility for assuring the validity and integrity of all examinations, assignments, products of their research,
and public dissemination of their results. The Honor Council is responsible for investigation of all reported
violations and for trial in those cases where the facts warrant.
Graduate students are expected to observe the provisions of the Rice University Honor Code both in their
academic and research duties. Violations may result in serious penalties, including a failing grade in the course
and suspension from the university.
The faculty will state the restrictions applying to various forms of class work. If there is doubt about the
conditions for a particular assignment, it is the student’s responsibility to contact the faculty member in charge
of the course.
Plagiarism is a particularly thorny issue. Never explicitly or implicitly claim someone else’s work as your own.
See http://gpsdocs.rice.edu/orientation/Plagiarism_Hewitt_document.pdf for important details.
Please refer to the Rice University GA for the Honor System and Student Code of Conduct for more information.
Research(and(Scholarly(Activities'
Please refer to the Rice University GA regarding Research and Scholarly Activities, as well as the following Rice
policies: 324 Research Misconduct, 326 Human Research Protection Policy, 333 Patent and Software Policies, and
334 Copyright Policy.
Program(Learning(Outcomes'
Students graduating in the program will:
1. Acquire and demonstrate advanced knowledge in the foundational applications of physics including
familiarity with past and current scientific literature in their specialization.
2. Develop the ability to conduct independent applied physics research including the aptitude to identify,
formulate, and overcome challenging scientific and engineering problems in this endeavor.
3. Make an original and significant technical contribution in their chosen specialization area.
APP Graduate Handbook, 2023-2024 page 10
Email(as(a(Formal(Mode(of(Communication(
The APP recognizes and utilizes email as the official means of communication with students. The program will
routinely send official communications to students via their university email address. Because email is a primary
mechanism for sending official communications to students, and certain communications may be time-sensitive,
students should check their email at least daily. Failure to read official university communications sent to the
student’s official Rice email address does not absolve students from complying with the content of said emails.
Students are expected to communicate official business with the SCI and APP using their Rice email accounts.
Non-Rice email systems (e.g., Gmail, Yahoo! Mail, Hotmail) are not acceptable for official business.
Coursework'
Course(Registration(
University policy requires students to maintain their student status throughout their career at Rice University.
APP Ph.D. students are considered full-time students and expected to register for 9 hours of “Graduate Research
and Thesis” (APPL 800) during the summer semester unless special arrangements for an internship are made in
advance with their advisor. Students are responsible for registering for at least 9 hours of courses each fall and
spring semester to maintain full-time status.
First-year students may not register prior to orientation. Time will be provided to register for courses at the end
of the program orientation. Representatives from the Applied Physics Graduate Student Association (APGSA) will
be available to provide technical assistance. APPL 500 Introduction to Applied Physics is a required course for all
incoming first-year students and is typically taken in the fall term or during the student’s first semester.
Additional academic advice is available from the APP Director and Applied Physics Committee members. If
students require academic assistance/advising after their first semester, they should first seek advice from their
faculty advisor and ensure that the advice is in alignment with APP requirements.
Students register for courses online through their Esther account. For a list of registration deadlines, consult
the Office of the Registrar’s website at https://registrar.rice.edu/. Current and upcoming academic calendars
can be found at https://registrar.rice.edu/calendars.
Core(and(Elective(Requirements(and(Course(Waiver(Requests('
The Ph.D. program prepares students for research careers in academia and industry. Students admitted to the
Ph.D. program are required to complete 90 hours of credit for coursework and research, beyond the bachelor’s
degree. A minimum of four semesters of full-time study at Rice is also required.
A first-year student should consult with the APP Director, an Applied Physics Committee member, an APGSA
representative, and/or their graduate student mentor to determine their first semester coursework. The first
year consists of a minimum of 18 hours of coursework and research hours. Students will meet with their advisors
to plan coursework for the second semester and subsequent years.
For the Ph.D. degree in Applied Physics, the student must fulfill the University requirements set forth in the
catalog under which they entered or any subsequent catalog. The semester hour requirements may be fulfilled
both by classroom hours and research hours. Nine one-semester graduate level courses of no less than 3 credits
hours or higher are required, divided into 4 Core and 5 Elective courses.
APP Graduate Handbook, 2023-2024 page 11
The M.S. degree is offered only as a precursor to the Ph.D. degree. It requires at least 36 semester hours of credit
beyond the bachelor’s degree. At least 21 of the hours must be course credit (Core and Elective courses) and the
remaining hours in APPL 800 (Research and Thesis) credit.
If a similar M.S. has already been earned under another school/program, candidates may petition the APP
Director to waive the M.S. requirement, and subsequently, other course requirements.
Core%Courses!
- PHYS 515 Classical Mechanics
- PHYS 516 Mathematical Methods
- PHYS 521 or CHEM 530 Quantum Mechanics I
- PHYS 522 or CHEM 531 Quantum Mechanics II
- PHYS 526 or CHEM 520 Statistical Physics
- PHYS 532 Electrodynamics
- PHYS 563 Solid State Physics
- CHBE 501 Fluid Mechanics
- CHBE 602 Physico-Chemical Hydrodynamics
- CHBE 611 Thermodynamics
- BIOE 502 Physical Biology
Elective%Courses%
Five courses may be selected from a list of approved courses offered by different departments in Natural Sciences
and Engineering. These are chosen according to the research directions of the student. The current list is
maintained at https://appliedphysics.rice.edu/curriculum. Other courses may be considered to count as Electives
on a case-by-case basis by petitioning and obtaining approval from the Applied Physics Committee. Courses
offered at institutions in the TMC may also be counted for Elective credit (via transfer credit) if the advisor
recommends the course.
Course%Credit%Transfers%and%Elective%Credit%Requests%%
Particular Core course requirements may be transferred for students who have had similar courses elsewhere and
who demonstrate a thorough knowledge of the material in the course at Rice. To receive a course transfer credit,
the course cannot be part of the credits for a previous degree, a copy of the official transcript must be provided, a
copy of the class description from the syllabus must be provided, and the Graduate Transfer Request for Credit
form must be completed. (Visit the Office of the Registrar’s website for university guidelines at
http://registrar.rice.edu/students/grad_transfer/). The APP Director will evaluate for approval; the faculty
member teaching the relevant course at Rice may also be consulted.
For elective classes completed at Rice and not on the Approved Electives list, Committee approval is required.
Elective courses must be at least 3 credit hours to be eligible. Elective credit requests should be submitted prior
to taking the course. To make a request, send an email to [email protected] with the course number (e.g., APPL
750), title, instructor, term (e.g., Fall 2024), description, and any restrictions, prerequisites, and corequisites,
noting that the request is for credit for an elective course not on the approved list. The course information can
be found at https://courses.rice.edu/courses/swkscat.main.
No courses may be used for fulfilling both Core and Elective requirements. Due to overlap of curricula, only one
from each of the pairs PHYS 521/CHEM 530, PHYS 522/CHEM 531, and PHYS 526/CHEM 520 may be used for the
APP Graduate Handbook, 2023-2024 page 12
nine required courses. No courses previously used to fulfill the requirements of a bachelor’s or professional
master’s or other degree will be accepted as Elective courses, and in the case of acceptance of a Core course, then
a substitute course must be chosen in its place to meet the full 27 credit hours required.
Qualifying exams of the host department are not required for APP students. However, for the students' own
benefit, we strongly advise that they enroll in any required seminar courses required by the advisor once they
affiliate with a research group.
Grades,(Department(Duties,(Employment,(and(Academic(Status(
Grades!
University guidelines state that to graduate, students must achieve at least a B– (2.67) GPA in each course
counted toward the graduate degree. Some programs and departments have more stringent standards. For the
APP, the overall GPA of all Core and Elective courses must be a B (3.0) or better, with a grade of at least B– (2.67)
in all courses. A Core course may be repeated once to bring the grade up to this level, applicable for a maximum
of 2 Core courses. Students may also choose to take a different Core course (from the list) to replace an
unsatisfactory grade. For repeated (or replaced) Core courses, the GPA calculation for satisfaction of this
requirement will not include the first grades of repeated Core courses.
To compute GPAs, the credits attempted in semester hours for each course and the points for the grade earned
(from A+ = 4.33 to F = 0.00) are multiplied, then the products (one for each course) are added together, and the
sum is divided by the total credits attempted. Please note that the GPA for courses is calculated separately from
seminars and research & thesis courses.
Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory.
Some departments may assign a grade of Satisfactory (S) or Unsatisfactory (U). Students should be
aware that while a grade of S or U does not affect their GPA, no credit will be awarded if a grade of U is
received. Courses with a grade of S will count towards total credits earned but not towards the Core
and Elective course requirements..
Incompletes.
Instructors report this designation to the Office of the Registrar when a student fails to complete a
course because of verified illness or other circumstances beyond the student’s control that occur during
the semester. For an incomplete received in the fall semester, students must complete the work by the
end of the fourth week of the spring semester or by an earlier date as defined by the instructor;
instructors must submit a revised grade by the end of the fifth week. For an incomplete received in the
spring semester, students must complete the work before the start of the fall semester or an earlier
date as defined by the instructor; instructors must submit a revised grade by the end of the first week.
Audit.
The grade designation of Audit (AUD) is used for students auditing a course who have met the audit
requirements of the course. A grade designation of (NC) is given to students who have not met the
audit requirements. Requests to audit a class or to change from audit to credit or vice versa must be
done by the end of the second week of the semester. Audited classes do not count toward the Core
and Elective course requirements.
APP Graduate Handbook, 2023-2024 page 13
Departmental%Duties%Required%by%the%Doctoral%Advisor%
In most research degree programs, students may be asked to complete a limited amount of teaching or to
perform other services as part of their training. Assigned duties should not entail more than 10 hours per week
(averaged over the semester) or extend over more than eight semesters.
APP students may also be requested by their advisor as part of their graduate education to perform some
teaching and/or grading. The precise duties are set by the advisor’s primary department, which subsequently
provides written certification of fulfillment of teaching/grading responsibilities to the APP.
Academic%Status%
The student’s research advisor and the APP Director will review the student’s research progress and academic
status annually to ensure that the student is making satisfactory progress in the program. Satisfactory progress
is defined as completing the course and research requirements, as detailed in the degree timeline (page 14-15),
maintaining a term GPA of at least 2.67, and submitting annual progress reports by the deadline; students are
strongly encouraged to complete the M.S. degree by the end of the third year with an approved exception no
later than 4 years. The student and advisor are required to complete an annual online progress report. (See
Annual Reviews on page 22 for additional details.)
The APP Director will review the grades and affiliation process to evaluate the progress of first-year students.
Any problems regarding the student’s performance will be discussed at that time.
Students must maintain continuous program involvement and enrollment unless granted an official leave of
absence. See Leaves and Withdrawals in the GA for more information.
Host(Department(Seminars,(Classes,(and(Qualifying(Exams(
Qualifying exams of the host department are NOT required for Applied Physics students; Applied Physics
students achieve the M.S. thesis degree in lieu of any qualifying exam.
Applied Physics students will follow the requirements of the program (4 Core and 5 Elective courses) and not
the requirements of the host department. However, for the student’s own benefit, we strongly advise that
they enroll in any required seminar courses and classes as requested by the advisor.
Timelines'and'Procedures,'Candidacy'and'Defense'
(
Degree'Timeline'
Year One
- Complete at least 6 courses (APPL 500, Core/Elective courses, research credit) over Fall and Spring
semesters
o Register for at least 3 hours of APPL 800 for Spring
- Attend Brown Bag Lunches in APPL 500 to learn about research opportunities
- Utilize mini lab rotations in APPL 500 to meet with potential research advisors
- Meet with APP Mentor at least once per month until affiliation; continue to meet in Spring as well
- Officially affiliate with advisor/research group no later than December 1
- Complete Annual Progress Review in April
- Summer: Register for 9 hours of APPL 800 unless on internship or other leave
APP Graduate Handbook, 2023-2024 page 14
Year Two
- Continue required coursework during Fall and Spring semesters
- Register for APPL 800 (minimum of 3 hours)
- Continue research
- Grade/teach if requested by host department/advisor
- Take any seminar or other courses requested by the advisor
- Complete Annual Progress Review in April
- Summer:
o Register for 9 hours of APPL 800 unless on internship or other leave
o Work with advisor to determine M.S. Thesis Committee
o Submit M.S. Petition for Candidacy by August 15
Year Three
- Complete required coursework during Fall and Spring semesters
- Register for APPL 800 each semester (minimum of 3 hours)
- Continue research
- Grade/teach if requested by host department/advisor
- Take any seminar or other courses requested by the advisor
- Complete Annual Progress Review in April
- Defend M.S. Thesis by August 15
- SUMMER:
o Apply for M.S. Degree conferral for appropriate semester
o Register for 9 hours of APPL 800 unless on internship or other leave
Year Four and Beyond
- Apply for M.S. Degree conferral (if not completed during previous summer)
- Register for at least 9 hours of APPL 800 for Fall, Spring, and Summer
- YEAR 4:
o Work with advisor to determine Doctoral Thesis Committee
o Submit Ph.D. Petition for Candidacy by August 15
- Continue research
- Grade/teach if requested by host department/advisor
- Take any seminar or other courses requested by the advisor
- Complete Annual Progress Review in April of each year, including final year
- Defend Doctoral Thesis within 6 years (final timeline to be determined with advisor)
NOTE: The Applied Physics requirement is achievement of the Ph.D. within 6 years of the B.S. degree and 4 years
with an accepted previous M.S. degree. Year 8 is the university deadline for defense and completion of the Ph.D.
before the end of the Spring semester. Students should make every effort to complete their degrees sooner.
M.S./Ph.D.(Timelines(and(Procedures(
Barring a written exemption from the APP Director, the M.S. must be completed within 3 years of entering the
program; the Ph.D. from B.S. should be completed within 6 years. A student with an approved previous master’s
should achieve the Ph.D. in 4 years. The program does not offer a stand-alone thesis M.S. degree; students
APP Graduate Handbook, 2023-2024 page 15
admitted to our Ph.D. program with a bachelor’s degree are required to earn the M.S. within the program before
proceeding to the Ph.D.
NOTE: approved previous M.S. degrees will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis by the APP Director. (See Core
and Elective Requirements, Course Waiver Requests for more information.)
Petitioning(for(Candidacy(
Candidacy marks a midpoint in the course of graduate education. Achieving candidacy for the Ph.D. signals that a
graduate student has: (a) completed required course work, (b) demonstrated the ability for clear oral and written
communication, and (c) shown the ability to carry on scholarly work in his/her subject area.
Master’s students must be approved for candidacy before the beginning of their fifth semester of enrollment at
Rice; Ph.D. students must be approved for candidacy before the beginning of their ninth semester of enrollment.
Students who are approaching or who have passed their deadline to candidacy must submit an extension of
candidacy request to the Office of GPS. Students who exceed their time boundaries without an approved
extension request will be charged a fee of $125 for reinstatement to good standing.
Before candidacy is approved, a thesis committee consisting of at least three tenured or tenure-track faculty or
research fellows is selected by the student and advisor. At least two of those members should have an
appointment at Rice University.
Thesis(Committee(
The thesis committee will oversee a student’s defense(s) and should include at least three members who are
tenure or tenure-track Rice faculty (not adjunct):
1. Thesis Director/Committee Chair – your advisor*
2. Member within the program (another APP faculty member, not necessarily in your host dept)
3. Member outside OR inside the program/department**
Students may also choose to have an additional committee member who does not conform to the above
requirements. Note that thesis committees may later be changed, if necessary.
Thesis committee makeup is approved by the APP Director, with final approval given by the Office of GPS. See the
General Announcements (GA) for the formal structure of the thesis committee.
*If your primary advisor is outside of Rice University, they can still be your Thesis Director, but you will need to
indicate a different Committee Chair. The Chair may either be your (administrative) "Rice advisor” (i.e., the APP
Director) or another APP faculty member.
** Note that the third member for a student’s doctoral committee must be outside the program AND outside the
department (not in your host department and a non-APP faculty member = currently not advising an APP student).
However, students should be able to keep their same M.S. committee, if desired.
M.S.(Candidacy(and(Defense(
When a student has completed the requisite hours (36 from within the Ph.D. course plan), has established a
committee, and has performed research, the Petition for Approval of M.S. Candidacy form is submitted to the
Program Administrator by August 15 after the end of the second year (after fourth semester, not including
summers). The Program Administrator will provide the statement of applicable department requirements, a copy
APP Graduate Handbook, 2023-2024 page 16
of the transcript, and the student’s checklist to candidacy. The form requires the APP Director’s signature and
approval by the Office of GPS, which will be obtained by the Program Administrator. Note that the Program
Administrator can provide a checklist of tasks and deadlines for defense.
For guidelines on writing the thesis, visit the following websites for information:
- Thesis Template Documents
- Thesis Format Guidelines
- Frequently Asked Questions
When the student is ready to defend, they should confer with committee members, reserve a space, and notify
the Program Administrator. At least one week prior to defending (a minimum of 7 full days, excluding holidays),
the student must submit the following information to the Office of GPS, via the Rice Events Calendar: defense
date, time, location, title, and abstract. The confirmation of submission and the abstract should then be emailed
to [email protected]. The student must also submit a draft thesis to the thesis committee and [email protected] a
minimum of 7 days in advance of defense.
Before the defense, GPS will issue the Approval of Candidacy form via Adobe Sign to be completed by the
student. Once the student defends their Master’s thesis, the student has six months to submit their final signed
thesis and cover page to GPS. For degree conferral (graduation), students must have submitted an Application
for Degree with the Office of the Registrar (either in person or via e-mail to [email protected]) by the deadline
for the desired term and submit their final thesis before the deadline for that term. Note that this deadline is
typically at the beginning of the semester in which a student plans to graduate. For full information, visit
http://graduate.rice.edu/thesis/ and https://registrar.rice.edu/students/degree_apply.
Ph.D.(Candidacy(and(Defense(
In order to petition for Ph.D. degree candidacy, a student must have completed 72 semester hours of
advanced studies as approved by the program; achieved at least a 3.0 (B) average in Core and Elective
courses; and defended their Master’s thesis or earned a M.S. degree from Rice University (or have an
equivalent M.S. degree approved by the APP Director).
The Petition for Approval of Ph.D. Candidacy form is then submitted to the Program Administrator before the
beginning of the fifth year (after nine semesters, excluding summers). The Program Administrator will provide the
statement of applicable department requirements, a copy of the transcript, and the student’s checklist to
candidacy. The APP Director’s signature is required on the petition, which is then submitted to the Office of GPS
for approval. Note that the Program Administrator can provide a checklist of tasks and deadlines for defense.
For guidelines on writing the thesis, visit the following websites for information:
- Thesis Template Documents
- Thesis Format Guidelines
- Frequently Asked Questions
When the student is ready to defend, they should confer with committee members, reserve a space, and notify
the APP Program Administrator. The student must also have completed any grading requirements for the host
department and notify the Program Administrator with the details at [email protected].
At least one week prior to defending (a minimum of 14 full days, excluding holidays), the student must submit the
following information to the Office of GPS, via the Rice Events Calendar: defense date, time, location, title, and
abstract. The confirmation of submission and the abstract should then be emailed to [email protected]. The
APP Graduate Handbook, 2023-2024 page 17
student must also submit a draft thesis to the thesis committee and [email protected] a minimum of 14 full days in
advance of defense.
Before the defense, GPS will issue the Approval of Candidacy form via Adobe Sign to be completed by the student.
Once the student defends their Doctoral thesis, the student has six months to submit their final thesis and signed
cover page to GPS.
For degree conferral (graduation),
students must have submitted an Application for Degree with the Office of the
Registrar (either in person or via e-mail to registrar@rice.edu) by the deadline for the desired term and submit
their final thesis before the deadline for that term. Note that this deadline is typically at the beginning of the
semester in which a student plans to graduate.
For full information, visit http://graduate.rice.edu/thesis/ and
https://registrar.rice.edu/students/degree_apply.
Degree(Candidate(Status'
Degree Candidate Status indicates that the student has completed all requirements for the degree, which can be
conferred in May, August, or December (depending on when the student submits the Application for Degree).
Visit https://registrar.rice.edu/calendars for important deadlines by semester.
Financial'Support'and'Time'Off'
Financial'Support'
Students accepted by the APP receive a stipend from the program for the first semester, along with a full tuition
waiver. Compensation is calculated and paid bi-weekly from August 16 to December 31. Students may see the
payroll calendar on the Controller’s webpage at https://controller.rice.edu/payroll-calendar.
Starting on January 1 at the beginning of a student’s second semester, and continuing throughout subsequent
years, the faculty advisor is then responsible for funding of the student's stipend and research expenses.
Paperwork for affiliation (including form and research proposal) is due to the Program Administrator no later than
December 1 so that students may be affiliated with a research group by the first week of the second semester.
Students may communicate with the APP Director if additional time may be needed. After affiliating with a
research group, stipend decisions are determined by the faculty advisor and/or the host department. Students
are responsible for discussing salary issues with their respective advisors before officially affiliating with the
research group. Once the student affiliates, the advisor’s department of primary affiliation will become the
student’s host department.
If the student is funded by an external fellowship, scholarship, training grant, or other source of external funding
that covers all or a portion of a student’s stipend, then that will override the advisor-paid stipend or first-year
fellowship. Students are required to notify and provide documentation to the Program Administrator at
[email protected] of any external fellowships or scholarships they receive immediately upon receiving the award,
including awards received prior to matriculation. Contact the Program Administrator if you have any problems
with financial support.
APP Graduate Handbook, 2023-2024 page 18
Support!Limitations!
The normal limit of financial support for graduate students is dependent upon the advisor and the host
department. Students should consult with the advisor for confirmation of support limitations. If the student
anticipates taking longer than the limitation set by the advisor/host department, the student may consult with the
APP Director in conjunction with the advisor.
Students whose funding has terminated may continue to finish any written publications, such as thesis and
papers, but may not perform work in the laboratory environment.
If a student fails to continue to make acceptable progress, he or she is subject to partial or complete loss of
financial support.
External!Fellowships/Scholarships!
Students are encouraged to seek external fellowships and awards. The Office of GPS has a list of fellowships at
https://graduate.rice.edu/fellowship-opps. The Office of Proposal Development (http://opd.rice.edu/grad-
student-postdoc-fellowship) also has a list of fellowships and offers an extensive array of proposal development
services when developing and writing proposals for federal grant agencies and other entities to seek funding for
research projects.
If a student receives an external award, the following apply:
● If the total amount of the fellowship, including stipend, insurance, etc., is below the current stipend, the
student should discuss supplemental support with the advisor. The host department policies will dictate
supplements.
● If the student’s external support ends or is revoked during the student’s studies at Rice and the student is
achieving satisfactory performance, reasonably progressing toward the degree, and funding is available, the
student will receive stipend support from the advisor.
Internships!
Occasionally, industrial internship opportunities arise for doctoral students. Pursuit of an internship while
remaining a doctoral student must be approved in advance of the relevant semester by the advisor and the APP
Director. For domestic students, the main concern is that the internship not delay timely progress toward the
graduate degree. For foreign students, there can be complications regarding the visa status – this requires
detailed discussions between the student, the Office of International Students and Scholars (OISS), and the
advisor. There are also strong requirements that the topic of the internship be integral to the student’s doctoral
research in order to be approved.
In case of external fellowship support, it is the student’s responsibility to ensure that an internship does not
conflict with the conditions of such a fellowship.
Students participating in internships do not receive a graduate stipend during the period of the internship.
Financial arrangements must be finalized with the advisor and the Program Administrator prior to the internship,
in time for necessary procedures to be completed (generally April 15 for a summer internship). Students must
provide documentation of the internship to the Program Administrator for record keeping.
APP Graduate Handbook, 2023-2024 page 19
Details for international student internships with regard to Optional Practical Training (OPT) and Curricular
Practical Training (CPT) are located at http://oiss.rice.edu/opt.
Time'Off'
Vacation'and'Holidays'
During the first year of study, graduate students observe the same holiday schedule as other students engaged in
course work. Beginning in the second semester, doctoral students engaged in research follow the staff holiday
schedule, including winter break when the university is officially closed.
Rice is not officially closed during fall midterm recess, spring recess, or spring break. As such, Ph.D. students do
not automatically receive these dates as time off. All requests for vacation time, including fall or spring recess or
spring break, must be approved in advance by the student’s advisor. Students should also discuss paid vacation
time policies with their respective advisors. If the requested leave is not granted, the student can discuss the
situation with the APP Director.
Unscheduled'Time'Off'
Ph.D. students must actively participate in required academic activities (including laboratory work) as a basic
condition of financial support. Absences, other than medical and family emergencies, must be approved by the
advisor in advance. In the case of medical and family emergencies, notification is expected in as timely a manner
as possible, depending on the specific situation.
Students who are not present and carrying out required academic activities for more than one week, without
approval of the absence, will receive a written warning from the advisor or the APP Director.
Students who are absent from required program activities for a contiguous two weeks without permission and
without mitigating circumstances may be subject to termination of financial support. Such absences may be
taken as an indication that inadequate academic progress is being made.
Interruptions'of'Study'and'Withdrawal'
Leaves!of!Absence!
A leave of absence (LOA) may be granted only by GPS and is granted only to students in good standing. Leave
must be approved in advance of the academic semester in question. A LOA will not be granted after the student
has registered for courses or after the registration period has passed. Normally, a LOA is granted for no more
than two consecutive semesters. No work toward a degree may be completed at Rice (or involve Rice
faculty/facilities) during a student’s LOA. Students must pay a reinstatement fee of $125 upon their return from
an official leave.
The LOA form can be found at http://gpsdocs.rice.edu/forms/LOA-request.pdf. The form should be completed
and submitted to the Program Administrator.
Short-Term!Medical!and!Parental!Release!
If a graduate student cannot fulfill the duties of their appointment due to a medical emergency or the
adoption/birth of a child, the student may be temporarily released from their academic responsibilities.
APP Graduate Handbook, 2023-2024 page 20
Enrollment and stipend support may be continued for up to six weeks or until the appointment expires
(whichever occurs first). A student may apply for short-term medical (STMR) or parental (STPR) release at any
time during the semester. See https://graduate.rice.edu/leaves for additional details. The form for completion
can be found at http://gpsdocs.rice.edu/forms/Parental_STML_Request_Form.pdf.
Nonmedical!Withdrawal!and!Readmission!
Students who wish to withdraw from Rice during the semester, for any nonmedical reason, are to notify the APP
Director and Program Administrator in writing. Failure to register for any period without an LOA granted by the
Office of GPS constitutes a de facto withdrawal. Students who later wish to resume study after a voluntary or de
facto withdrawal must petition for readmission to the university. Readmitted students must pay a readmission
fee of $350.
See https://graduate.rice.edu/leaves for additional details and
http://gpsdocs.rice.edu/forms/WithdrawalForm.pdf for a copy of the withdrawal form.
Medical!Withdrawal!and!Readmission!
Graduate students may request a medical withdrawal from the university by applying in writing to the Office of
GPS at any time during the semester, up until the last day of classes; the withdrawal does not take effect until
approved in writing. Email communication is considered to be “in writing.” Graduate students who wish to seek
readmission following a medical withdrawal must submit to the Office of GPS a written petition for readmission
no later than June 1 for the fall semester and November 1 for the spring semester after the medical withdrawal.
Visit https://graduate.rice.edu/leaves and
http://gpsdocs.rice.edu/medical_withdrawals/medical_withdrawal_readmission_petition.pdf for details; the
withdrawal form can be found at http://gpsdocs.rice.edu/forms/WithdrawalForm.pdf.
Best'Practices'in'Mentoring,'Progress'Reviews,'and'Program'Effectiveness'
First-Year(Mentorship(and(Guidance
At the start of the fall semester, students will meet with members of the APGSA and the APP Director to help
them determine which courses to take in the first semester and beyond. During the summer and fall semester of
the first year, Brown Bag Lunch seminars (also known as BB Talks) will be held. These seminars, along with APPL
500, allow students to meet faculty and to learn about research being done at Rice University that is pertinent to
the APP as well as help students find an area of interest, research group, and advisor.
During the first year, students will also be assigned a senior APP student to assist with course selection, finding an
advisor, introduction to the APGSA, familiarization with Rice, and life in Houston. Students should meet with their
mentors at least once per month during the first year.
Presenting(and(Publishing(Research(
Rice University is a graduate research institution, where students are expected to publish research papers and
present at national/international conferences in the students’ respective fields. In addition to this, the students
will have an opportunity to present on campus in the annual SCI Summer Colloquium as well as host department
seminars, symposiums, and colloquia.
APP Graduate Handbook, 2023-2024 page 21
Note that APP students' official affiliation appearing in publications (including conference abstracts) should
include the student’s host department as well as the APP: Applied Physics Graduate Program, Smalley-Curl
Institute, Rice University, Houston, Texas 77005, USA.
Annual(Reviews(
Students and advisors complete a progress report in the spring semester of each year to discuss the academic and
research progress made in the program towards the awarding of the doctoral degree. These reviews are collected
and evaluated by the APP leadership and are kept confidential. If there is any difficulty with a student progressing
in the program, the APP Director will discuss separately with the student and advisor. If needed, a meeting
between the student, advisor, and the APP Director will occur each semester until such issues can be resolved.
Graduating(Students(and(Alumni(
Graduating APP students are asked by GPS to complete an exit interview, and occasional surveys are sent to
alumni to obtain their continued feedback and overall perspectives on the program. Graduate students can also
apply for an alumni email at https://riceconnect.rice.edu/.
Graduate'Student'Associations'
The Graduate Student Association (GSA) comprises degree seeking graduate students at Rice University.
The GSA mission is to enrich the graduate experience and to represent, support, and promote graduate
student interests and values. An integral and essential part of the Rice community, the GSA provides
programs and services in aiding in recruitment and retention of graduate students, represents graduate
student interests to the University administration, and builds a strong sense of community both on and
off campus.
Each department on campus has its own GSA, and although APP is not its own department, it has a non-
voting branch. The Applied Physics Graduate Student Association (APGSA) was founded in 2011 to
represent the interests of APP students at Rice. The primary functions and goals of the APGSA are to
promote professional growth of graduate students, to serve as a representative in voicing the concerns
of its members, and to promote professional and personal relationships amongst graduate students,
faculty, and the community. Contact the Program Administrator or visit
https://appliedphysics.rice.edu/current-students/apgsa for APGSA details.
General'Information'
ESTHER'(Employee'and'Student'Tools,'Help,'and'Electronic'Resources)'
The ESTHER system is a web application used by all students, faculty, and staff. For information on how to use
ESTHER, visit http://registrar.rice.edu/students/ESTHER_FAQs/. Student resources in ESTHER are listed below:
- Register
- Add and drop courses
- View your course schedule
- Access your final grades
- View and print your unofficial transcript
APP Graduate Handbook, 2023-2024 page 22
- Obtain enrollment verifications
- View time boundaries
- Print your degree application
- View course and instructor evaluation comments for previous semesters
- Identify holds on your account
- View financial aid information
- Review charges and payments
- Pay your account online
imagineOne'(iO)'
The imagineOne (iO) system is another web application used by students, faculty, and staff. For information on
how to use iO, visit https://imagineone.rice.edu/about/about-imagineone. Student resources in iO are listed
below:
- Update your contact information
- View your employment information, such as pay stubs
- Changes to forms (W4 and direct deposit information)
- Download W2 forms
- Receive reimbursement
Campus(Mail(Service(
All mail delivered to you using a Rice campus address should include your mail stop. The mail stop for Applied
Physics is 100. After affiliation, students may elect to keep their mailbox with Applied Physics or move the
location to the host department. To keep your mailbox with APP, send an email request to [email protected].
Host Department Mail Stop Mailbox Location
Applied Physics 100 301 Space Science (SCI Suite)
Bioengineering 142 BioScience Research Collaborative (BRC), suite 1030
CTBP 654 BioScience Research Collaborative (BRC), suite 1005
Chemistry 60 Space Science, 1
st
floor
Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering 362 Abercrombie Hall, 2
nd
floor
Labs in Space Science 306 Space Science, 2
nd
floor
Electrical & Computer Engineering 378 Brockman Hall, 3
rd
floor
Labs in the BRC 656 BioScience Research Collaborative (BRC)
Materials Science & NanoEngineering 325 George R. Brown Hall, West, 2
nd
floor
Physics & Astronomy 61 Brockman Hall, 2
nd
floor
Statistics 138 Duncan Hall, 2
nd
floor
Computing(
All new students are assigned a Rice Net ID username and password, which gives them access to Rice email and
other resources; you can manage your account at https://mynetid.rice.edu/. See the Rice IT web pages at
https://oit.rice.edu/ for more information about computing resources.
Many research groups maintain their own specialized computing facilities. They will become available to the
student after affiliating with the research group.
APP Graduate Handbook, 2023-2024 page 23
Study(Areas,(Building(Access,(Office(Space,(and(Telephone(Service(
First-year students will initially have an office on the third floor of the Space Science and Technology building with
after-hours building access provided via Rice ID. After affiliation, students should have an office with the other
students in the advisor’s research group. Check with the host department administrator or coordinator to obtain
an office key, gain after-hours building access, determine convenient study areas, and learn telephone policy.
Purchasing(and(Expenditures(
After affiliation with a research group, you may be asked to make purchases or incur other expenses on behalf of
your research project. University accountants are very stringent in their interpretation of federal, state, local,
and university rules that control such expenditures. Please take careful note of those policies and consult with a
staff member before incurring any expense. Under no circumstances are personal items to be charged to any
university or research account.
Procurement(
Procurement regulations change frequently. You are advised to consult the purchasing coordinator in your host
department before attempting to make any purchases for their specific department guidelines.
Office(Supplies(
Office supplies purchased by the department or research grants may not be used for any personal purpose,
including course work. All costs of thesis preparation, defense, and submission are the responsibility of the
candidate. This specifically includes paper and printing or copying costs for drafts, defense, and library versions.
Copying(Services(
First-year students will be provided access to print/copy in the Smalley-Curl suite, limited to 30 black-and-white
pages per month.
After affiliation, check with your host department for the location and usage of copiers available for research and
departmental use as needed. You may be given a charge code for the appropriate machine.
Note that government funds cannot be used to prepare an application for a government grant and that personal
use of copies is not allowed.
There is a large-format (36” wide) color printer located in Geology. Geology department staff can provide access
on how to access this unit. Large format printing is also available through IT (in the MUDD building) at lower cost.
Mailing(and(Shipping(
All items to be mailed or shipped must be routed through the main department office. Department staff will help
you arrange an appropriate carrier and payment.
Travel(
Student travel must be authorized by the principal investigator of the project to which the travel will be charged.
The host department may be able to provide supplemental funds for students presenting papers at meetings, but
only for one trip per year. Contact the host department administrator or coordinator to request assistance with
travel and for rules and regulations regarding travel.
Rice University Travel Policy applies to all Rice University employees, students, and guests.
APP Graduate Handbook, 2023-2024 page 24
Graduate'and'Postdoctoral'Studies'Office'(GPS)'
Graduate(Student(Policies(
Visit https://graduate.rice.edu/policydoc to review the graduate student policies that all graduate students are
expected to abide by while at Rice University. Contact the Program Administrator prior to visiting GPS.
Guidelines(for(Dismissals,(Petitions,(Appeals,(Grievances,(and(Problem(Resolution(
The goals of these guidelines are to obtain compliance with Rice’s policies while striving to uphold standards and
raise the quality of graduate programs, as well as to provide graduate students with an environment that has high
standards, clear assessments of their achievements, and fair and transparent procedures for handling cases of
inadequate academic progress. See https://ga.rice.edu/undergraduate-students/academic-policies-
procedures/judicial-discipline/ and https://ga.rice.edu/graduate-students/rights-responsibilities/dispute-
resolution/ for details. Exceptions to the rules will be handled on an individual basis.
Leaves(or(Withdrawals(
Leaves or withdrawals include short-term medical and parental release, leaves of absence, medical and non-
medical withdrawal, and involuntary withdrawal. Readmission and non-enrollment restrictions are also included.
Funding(and(Stipends'
Most graduate students are provided with stipends for the duration of their graduate study at Rice, and many
departments offer multi-year financial assistance to students who are making normal progress towards a graduate
degree. For more information, visit https://graduate.rice.edu/current-students/stipends.
Please note that ALL vacation requests must be pre-approved by your advisor. If your day-to-day advisor works
outside of Rice University, you must also notify the Program Administrator to ensure that all Rice requirements
and guidelines are met.
(
(
APP Graduate Handbook, 2023-2024 page 25
Time(Boundaries(
Individualized time boundaries can be found in Esther. General time boundaries are as follows:
Master’s Candidacy Petition submitted before the start of the 3
rd
year (after 4 semesters, not including summers)
Master’s Defense completed by the end of summer after the 3
rd
year
Doctoral Candidacy Petition submitted before the start of the 5
th
year (after 9 semesters, not including summers)
Doctoral Defense completed by the end of the 6
th
year
Thesis(Information(
Read the information at http://graduate.rice.edu/thesis for achieving candidacy, defending, and submitting your
thesis.
Graduate(Form(Library(
The Graduate Form Library contains a list of up-to-date forms for graduate students, including:
- Candidacy Petitions
- Requests for Extension of Time to Candidacy
- Defense Announcements
- Requests for Extension of Time to Defend
- Thesis Submission Forms
- Degree Conferral Forms
- Commencement
Digital(Scholarship(Archive(
Rice Digital Scholarship Archive (https://scholarship.rice.edu) is Rice's institutional repository, a website where the
university's intellectual output is shared, managed, searched, and preserved. Most materials come from Rice
faculty members' research, electronic theses and dissertations, and digitized collections of rare or unique books,
images, musical performances, and manuscripts.
Office'of'the'Registrar'(OTR)'
Academic Calendars - https://registrar.rice.edu/calendars
Course Schedule - https://courses.rice.edu/courses/swkscat.main
Forms for Current and Graduate Students - https://registrar.rice.edu/online_forms#GR
General'Announcements'(GA)'
Rice University General Announcements - https://ga.rice.edu/graduate-students/
The GA includes information about academic opportunities, academic policies and procedures, student
services and organizations, student rights and responsibilities, and more. Be sure to review the
Regulations and Procedures for All Graduate Students at https://ga.rice.edu/graduate-students/academic-
policies-procedures/.
APP Graduate Handbook, 2023-2024 page 26
Office'of'International'Students'and'Scholars'(OISS)'
International Students- https://oiss.rice.edu/student
Includes the following:
- Obtaining I--20 for F--1 visa
- Short--term Visiting Research Students
- Pre-Arrival Information
- Orientation
- Maintaining Status
- Academic Resources
- Employment
- Students on OPT
- Travel
- Applying for a Social Security Number (generally eligibility is at the end of the first year)
Student'Health'Insurance'and'Services'
Health%Insurance!
Rice University requires all students to have health insurance coverage. Therefore, students may enroll in
the Rice Student Health Insurance Plan by completing a Health Insurance Application or request a Waiver
of insurance if comparable coverage is in place with another insurance provider. Visit
http://studenthealthinsurance.rice.edu/ for more information.
Student%Health%Services%
The Rice Student Health Services provides preventive and outpatient clinical care for the students of Rice
University. Student Health is located on-campus and is dedicated to meeting the unique needs of
undergraduate and graduate students, with an emphasis on prevention. Their website is
https://health.rice.edu/.
Students may not register for classes until the Health Data Form has been properly completed and
submitted to Student Health Services.
The%Rice%Wellness%Center%
The Rice Wellness Center website offers a variety of resources to help you navigate your well-being journey, from
topics on common student concerns, to opportunities for more involvement in wellness, and more. It also
includes information on the Rice Counseling Center.
Title'IX'
Rice encourages any student who has experienced an incident of sexual, relationship, or other interpersonal
violence, harassment or gender discrimination to seek support. There are many options available both on and off
campus for all graduate students, regardless of whether the perpetrator was a fellow student, a staff or faculty
member, or someone not affiliated with the university.
APP Graduate Handbook, 2023-2024 page 27
Students should be aware when seeking support on campus that most employees are required by Title IX to
disclose all incidents of non-consensual interpersonal behaviors to Title IX professionals on campus who can act to
support that student and meet their needs. The therapists at the Rice Counseling Center and the doctors at
Student Health Services are confidential, meaning that Rice will not be informed about the incident if a student
discloses to one of these Rice staff members. Rice prioritizes student privacy and safety, and only shares disclosed
information on a need-to-know basis.
If you are in need of assistance or simply would like to talk to someone, please call Rice Wellbeing and Counseling
Center, which includes Title IX Support:
Extension 3311 or 713-348-3311
Policies, including Sexual Misconduct Policy and Student Code of Conduct, and more information regarding Title IX
can be found at http://safe.rice.edu/.
