MS Degree (thesis and professional degree concentrations)

You need at least two (but more is OK) SSA Graduate Faculty (as approved so by the Graduate School) on your committee. The Chair (almost always your major professor) must be a member or adjunct member of the SSA Graduate Faculty. A second member must also be a member or adjunct member of the SSA Graduate Faculty, who could bring diverse viewpoints to the committee. Additional members can be from outside SSA (e.g., faculty from other departments and universities, agencies, and private industry who are approved by the Graduate School to serve one-time as a Graduate Faculty). At least one member of the committee must be a regular University employee (i.e., not an adjunct faculty member).

UMass Research Associates (holding an MS degree at a minimum) are eligible to serve as members of MS committees, but not on Ph.D. committees. People not listed as UMass Five College Graduate Faculty (e.g., faculty from other institutions or individuals from agencies or industry that hold PhD’s) can be included as "Consulting members" (i.e., non-voting) or "Members" (i.e. voting), but cannot replace either of the two SSA faculty members (i.e., they can be the third or fourth member). If such people are included as "Consultants" or full “Members,” the GPD has to forward a memo to the Graduate School (along with the curriculum vitae, and date of birth) to convince them to allow it. The Graduate School prefers such people to be named as Consultant.

With your assistance, your major professor must forward a committee request memo to the GPD (for professional degrees) and the Graduate School by the GPD (for thesis degrees). Your graduate committee is not officially formed until this memo has been sent to the GPD and Graduate School. You must have an approved committee before you can submit your thesis proposal.