MS Thesis Defense and Timeline

M.S. Thesis

An M.S. Thesis may be a research, design or development project. A copy of the Thesis outline must be approved by the student’s committee and put on file with the GPD and forwarded to the Graduate School at least four months prior to the defense. The thesis guidelines prepared by the Graduate School Handbook must be followed.

Thesis Defense

  • Thesis Advisor: Students must connect with their research advisor in the first semester.
  • Thesis Committee: The student and advisor select the graduate faculty committee for the thesis defense. These names and departmental info are sent to Nauman Tazeem to submit to the Dean of the Graduate School for approval. The thesis committee comprises:
    • at least two MIE faculty members
    • at least one “outside member”, which are not in the MIE Department
    • more than 3 members are encouraged for optimal support and insights.
  • Thesis Proposal: A thesis outline & proposal must be presented to the committee.
    • An oral presentation performed before the committee a min of 4 months prior to defense.
    • The committee must unanimously approve the proposal.
  • Thesis Defense
    • Thesis Date: See the Graduate School Handbook for scheduling regulations.
    • Thesis Draft: The committee must receive the draft 14 days prior to the defense.
    • Oral Defense Notification: Notice must be provided 7 days prior to the defense.
    • Oral Defense: the defense must be held before the entire committee.
      ∗ only a unanimous vote results in a pass

M.S. Thesis Timeline

A suggested timeline for M.S. Thesis. Some deadlines are firm; others are more flexible.

  1. First Semester: Select Permanent Advisor
  2. First Semester: Prepare Program of Study
  3. End of First Year: Register for Thesis Credit
  4. End of First Year: Select Thesis Committee
  5. End of Second Year: Complete Required Courses
  6. Four Months Prior to Defense: Thesis Proposal
  7. Set the Date of Defense.
  8. Two Weeks Prior to Defense: Deliver Thesis to Committee
  9. Seven days before the defense, send Nauman Tazeem the defense details and abstract.