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Thesis Committee
- Purpose. The Thesis Committee 1) approves the student's choice of courses, 2) evaluates and approves the thesis outline, 3) guides and monitors progress of the thesis project, and 4) conducts the Defense of Thesis Examination.
- Membership. The Thesis Committee will consist of the Thesis Advisor, who serves as the Chair, and two additional members. One of the latter must be from the PB Program, while the other member may be either a member of the Program, or a Graduate Faculty member in another program or department at the University of Massachusetts, Amherst, or an expert from outside the University of Massachusetts, Amherst. Membership of the committee must be approved by the Graduate Operations Committee and the Graduate School.
- Timetable. Within two semesters of initiation of the Master's degree program, the Graduate Program Director, upon recommendation of the Thesis Advisor, shall recommend to the Dean of The Graduate School the appointment of the Thesis Committee. It is the responsibility of the Thesis Advisor to ensure that the Thesis Committee meets at least once per semester as long as the student is enrolled in the M.S. program. Following each meeting, the student must prepare a summary of the decisions made, have his/her Thesis Advisor sign it, and submit it to the Graduate Program Director for placement in his/her file.