V. Milestones, Procedures and Timetable

A. Master's Degree with Thesis

1. The Committee will arrange and conduct the final oral examination. grad. student in lab

2. The Graduate Advisor meets with the student to identify areas of deficiency, appropriate coursework and a suitable research project (first semester). Upon entering the program additional advice may be sought from the department head, Graduate Program Director and especially the student’s advisory committee regarding appropriate coursework.

3. Recommendation for Advisory Committee members is made by the Graduate Advisor and student via email to mjschnei [at] umass.edu who will send a (form M.4) to the graduate school.

4. A general research plan is reviewed by the Master's Committee at its first meeting.

5. Final thesis outline is approved by the Master’s Committee. Please submit the title of your outline to mjschnei [at] umass.edu at least one week before your thesis outline meeting. A formatted signature page will be generated for your committee to be signed electronically after the presentation and will be sent to the Graduate School.
 
6. Master’s Committee approves copy of thesis and conducts the final “Defense of Thesis” oral examination. The Graduate Advisor must notify mjschnei [at] umass.edu of the result and notification will be sent to the graduate school. 

Fifth Year or Non-Thesis Master's Degree

The non-thesis Master’s Degree program requires the transfer of 6 graduate credits into the program (those credits cannot have been counted towards the requirements of another degree such as a bachelor’s degree). The 6 credits can have been taken as a non-degree graduate student or taken in another graduate program. Previous research or other practical experience and 4 semesters of attendance (generally summer after graduation, the following academic year fall and spring semesters and the culminating summer semester) are required.

1. Upon entering the program, students must establish a Sponsoring Faculty member (aka Graduate Advisor) who will agree to guide the student in the 10 credits of independent study portion of the degree; this can be lab research or other appropriate culminating experience that will produce a tangible outcome such as data suitable for a scientific publication or a handbook or manual for teaching.

2. The remainder of the 14 credits required is coursework.
 
3. Establish an advisory committee consisting of two or more faculty members.

Ph.D. Degree

1. Upon entering the program, students must establish a Sponsoring Faculty member (aka Graduate Advisor) who is also a major advisor and the research supervisor or thesis advisor.

2. The Graduate Advisor meets with the student upon entry to identify areas of deficiency, appropriate coursework and a suitable research project. It is recommended that the student complete one or two course requirements per semester during the first 2 years, in order to have the coursework completed by the time of comprehensive exam.

3. The Graduate Advisor recommends the committee members by memo to mjschnei [at] umass.edu who will notify the Graduate School via (form D.3).

4. Presentation of background information and preliminary data is reviewed by the dissertation committee at its first meeting as well as course work taken and expected to be completed.

5. The Preliminary Comprehensive Examination is scheduled and evaluated by the Dissertation Committee. The result of the exam must be communicated by the Graduate Advisor to mjschnei [at] umass.edu who will notify the Graduate School via (form D.2)
 
6. A final dissertation outline is approved by the dissertation committee and submitted to the Graduate School at least 7 months prior to the defense. (form D.4).  The student should send the title of their prospectus to mjschnei [at] umass.edu at least a week before the prospectus meeting.  A formatted signature page will be circulated to the committee members for electronic signatures and then sent to the Graduate School. 
 
7. The Dissertation Committee approves the dissertation before the final oral examination is scheduled.
 
8. Scheduling of a dissertation defense and final oral examination must be communicated by memo by the Graduate Advisor to mjschnei [at] umass.edu who will communicate it via (form D.5) to the Graduate School. Scheduling must be at least 35 days prior to the examination date.
 
9. The results of the final oral examination are communicated by the Graduate Advisor to mjschnei [at] umass.edu who communicates the results via (form D.6) to the Graduate School.
 

 

 

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