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Role of the Advisory Committee

Your Master's graduate advisory committee guides your professional project design and monitors your academic progress. Core operational responsibilities include:

• Collaborating with you to finalize your formal Graduate Study Plan (GSP) by your second semester.
• Guiding project methodology, practical execution, and project scope.
• Conducting annual evaluations and submitting report documentation to the Graduate School.
• Evaluating and signing off on your final project presentation and project report.

Finalizing Appointment & Submission

The routing workflow is completely digitized. The tracking file can be initialized on the central portal by you, your primary advisor, or your department’s graduate coordinator.

Milestone Action & Rules

In close coordination with your advisory team, map out your full structural timeline of coursework and mandatory project credits (e.g., F698). Your approved GSP acts as an agreement of mutual expectations protecting your degree pathway as long as you maintain continuous program enrollment.

How to Build Your GSP

Consult with your advisor/committee before filling out the form, then execute these sequential steps:

1. Open Catalog Benchmarks: Open the active GSP form link. In a separate browser window, cross-reference choices directly against your entry year benchmarks in the or matching catalog archives.
2. Input Chronologically: List past, active, and prospective course modules into the dynamic GSP form data fields. Click "add another" to populate extra registration lines for future tracking semesters.

Annual Requirement

Each year, students, advisors, and committee members participate in an annual review to assess progress toward degree completion. As part of this process, students are required to submit a brief 2–5 page evaluation highlighting project milestones, academic achievements, challenges encountered, and goals for the coming year. You can use our or create your own self-evaluation template.

Comprehensive Exam Requirement

Master's project students must pass a comprehensive examination. The structure, timeline, and delivery format (written, oral, project presentation, or a combination) are determined directly by your academic department and graduate advisory committee guidelines.

Once completed, your advisory committee chair will submit the official examination outcome documentation to the Graduate School office to update your milestones transcript entry.

Achieving Candidate Status

Submitting this form certifies that your primary classroom content requirements and comprehensive exams are fully met, establishing that you have successfully transitioned into final project execution and documentation phases.

The Initialization Phase

Submit your active graduation intent directly inside . If assistance is required, reach out to the Degree Services desk.

Coordinate directly with your advisory committee and department chair to schedule your final project defense or presentation according to departmental guidelines.

Post-Presentation Clearance Workflow

Your committee must file a formal Report on Defense following your project presentation.

From there, execute these steps to finalize degree clearance:

1. Committee Signatures: Route your Project Approval Form to collect signatures from all advisory committee members.
2. Administrative Clearances: Secure final electronic approvals from your designated department chair and college dean.
3. Final Verification: The Graduate School verifies completed signatures and processes your degree completion status.