Program Standards

Academic Integrity

The Department supports the high standard of academic integrity required by Utah State University. Failure of any graduate student to meet these standards, either in academic coursework or related research activities, may result in suspension or expulsion from the program. In addition to USU policies, graduate students should familiarize themselves with the Statement on Standards of Professional Conduct created by the American Historical Association.

Research

All MA and MS students who began their program after March 2020 must complete the Responsible Conduct of Research (RCR) training. Supervising faculty must complete related trainings.

The universityʻs Institutional Review Board oversees all research at USU that pertains to human or animal subjects. This includes projects that use questionnaires and/or interviews to collect data to be included in a research project. When a thesis is submitted to SGS for approval, the document is also checked for IRB approval. Failure to follow the procedures set by the IRB may result in rejection of the student’s thesis. This process also requires that the faculty member supervising the research also have IRB approval.

Graduate Faculty Mentor Responsibilities

  1. Faculty members will evaluate promptly course work, thesis drafts, and project presentations.
  2. Faculty members will inform students of the criteria for successful completion of coursework and degree.
  3. Faculty must be accessible to their students, research assistants, and GAs.
  4. Faculty may not plagiarize the work of students. When faculty members and students work together, appropriate credit must be accorded to student authors. Faculty members may not limit or curtail the right of any student to publish or otherwise communicate the result of the student's own independent scholarly activities.

Graduate Student Rights and Responsibilities

All incoming graduate students must take the Graduate School’s online or in-person orientation, which covers best practices and campus resources.

Utah State University seeks to create a welcoming environment for all students, staff, faculty, and visitors and has strict policies against discrimination based on race, color, religion, national origin, citizenship, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, disability, and qualified veteran status. Graduate students who experience discrimination or harassment should report it without fear of retribution or adverse effects on their educational career at USU.

Reporting Options

  • History Department – Director of Graduate Studies or Department Head
  • Dean’s Office, College of Arts and Sciences – Associate Dean for Graduate Studies
  • School of Graduate Studies – Associate Vice Provost for Graduate Studies (confidential reporting form).
  • Office of Equity – For reporting resources, see Policy 2101 (Discrimination based on Protected Characteristics) and Policy 3011 (Reporting Improper Conduct and Retaliation). Report any instances of discrimination or sexual harassment to USU’s Title IX Coordinator.

Graduate Teaching Assistants (GAs)

GAs work with large numbers of undergraduate students and therefore fall under the same requirements as faculty members in their professional interactions with students. In preparation for the teaching assistantship, graduate students must take CEUS 7901 and 7901, non-credit, online training courses.

GAs must complete all required trainings at learnblue.usu.edu by the stated deadline.

In addition to assisting with instruction, GAs are the principal graders in large survey courses. Their work is essential to the successful operation of those courses. Grading work must be completed fairly, impartially, and on schedule. GAs should remain in regular communication with the course instructor and inform them immediately of anything that may delay or prevent grading or prevent them from completing any of the other important duties they have in the course. Interactions with students enrolled in the course must be courteous and professional and are subject to similar rules and policies as faculty interactions with students.

Supervisors of Graduate Research Assistants and Fellows will articulate standards of conduct and performance for the respective students.