General Information for Thesis-Option MS and All PhD Students
Other Requirements and Procedures
- Students must ideally select a permanent thesis advisor before registering for classes for the first time. A student arriving with support in the form of a research assistantship will have their project director as their thesis committee chairperson and also their advisor. Other students with fellowship support or teaching assistantship or non-supported students should find a permanent thesis advisor within two months and in no case later than the end of their first semester. The GPD may act as a temporary advisor for new students who have not yet found a permanent advisor before first time registration.
Registration must always have the approval of the student’s advisor.
General information about the faculty and their research interests can be found on the Department’s website. - Students are expected to prepare a coherent program of study during the first semester and before pre-registration for the second semester. This program of study should be approved by the student’s advisor in consultation with the members of their M.S. committee. Curriculum programs which deviate from requirements specified herein must be approved in writing by the GPD and recorded on the student’s curriculum form. The M.S. Thesis Committee members are selected by the student with advice and approval of the Committee Chairperson and the GPD. The Committees shall consist of three members of the Graduate Faculty, at least two of whom must be regular MIE faculty and at least one of whom must be outside the immediate area of specialization of the thesis. Thesis committee members must agree to serve before they are appointed to the committee.
- Advisors will normally require that students register for three credits of Thesis in their first or second semester. Teaching Assistants may not register for more than a total of thirteen credits per semester.
- A copy of a thesis outline must be approved by the student’s committee and must be put on file in the Department office at least four months prior to the Thesis defense. The thesis outline must also be put on file in the Graduate School Office (see the Graduate School Handbook).
- ASSISTANTSHIP AND FELLOWSHIP HOLDERS ARE NOT PERMITTED TO HOLD OTHER PART-TIME JOBS OR TO BE SIMULTANEOUSLY ENROLLED IN ANOTHER DEGREE PROGRAM WITHOUT THE WRITTEN PERMISSION OF THEIR ACADEMIC ADVISOR AND THE GPD. Students not supported by the Department or University are required to notify their advisors and the GPD of any part-time employment.
Role of the Graduate Program Directors
The MIE GPDs administer all MIE graduate degree programs. Subject to final approval by the Department Head, the GPDs are responsible for all aspects of the graduate programs and approve plans of study, Dissertation Committee appointments, recommendations for degrees, etc. Advisors and Dissertation Committees are subordinate to the GPDs though it is rare that the recommendations of the Advisor and Dissertation Committee are not accepted.
Graduate Teaching Assistants
Subject to the availability of qualified applicants, all graduate teaching assistantships (GTAs) are offered to Ph.D. students only. Graduate teaching assistantships are offered not only to fulfill immediate departmental needs, but also to advance the degree programs of graduate students and the teaching needs of the Department. Students who have appointments as GTAs will be assigned duties by the Department Head. This work will normally require between 10 and 20 hours of work each week. It is the policy of this Department not to renew teaching assistantships beyond the time period stated in the initial contract. All additional financial support is generally provided by a student’s academic advisor, or through fellowships.
Graduate Research Assistants
All applicants for admission to the graduate program in MIE are automatically considered for teaching and research assistantships in the Department. Each applicant’s qualifications are first reviewed by the Graduate Committee. The Graduate Committee then submits the application forms for the top candidates for further review by individual faculty members whose interests most closely parallel those of the applicants. The decision to offer a research assistantship is made by individual faculty members and is based upon the availability of funds and the qualifications of each applicant. The stipends received for this work vary with the type of work, the amount of time involved and the availability of funds. These details are normally worked out between the student and their advisor, and generally exclude the possibility of the student taking any part-time or full-time consulting jobs.
The topic or program of the GRA work will usually coincide with that of the student’s thesis or dissertation, so the project’s Principal Investigator will automatically assume the role of the student’s advisor as well.
Continuation of the research assistantship is based upon the continued availability of funds and satisfactory performance by the student in both research and course work.
Graduate students who are already in the program and who do not have a research assistantship are encouraged to contact individual faculty members whose interests closely parallel those of the student and inform them of their interests and availability. The decision to offer an assistantship to a student always rests with the faculty member.
For timely completion of degrees, it is essential to follow the Graduate School’s policies and deadlines. The table below outlines the required actions, timelines, and deadlines:
| Action | Timeline | Deadline |
| Sign forms in black ink | – | Before submission to the Graduate School |
| GPD & Graduate School approves committee | – | Before the committee is official |
| Submit approved thesis/dissertation outline to the Graduate School | At least 7 months prior to final PhD oral exam | – |
| Submit approved thesis/dissertation outline to the Graduate School | At least 4 months prior to MS thesis defense | – |
It is the student’s responsibility to ensure that all memos and forms are sent to both the department and the Graduate School website.
M.S. Programs
For M.S. programs, follow these steps:
- Obtain a Masters Graduation Eligibility Form from the Graduate School website.
- Complete the form and submit it to the Graduate Program Office (ELAB 208F) for approval.
- Note that the form will only be accepted upon approval of the original M.S. thesis by all committee members.
Ph.D Program
For Ph.D. programs, follow the steps outlined for M.S. programs above. Additionally, complete any additional forms required by the Graduate School. These forms can be found at the Graduate School’s website.
