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Role of the Advisory Committee

Your Master's graduate advisory committee guides your research thesis 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 research methodology, safety compliance, and operational project scopes.
• Conducting annual evaluations and submitting report documentation to the Graduate School.
• Evaluating and signing off on your public defense performance and final written thesis.

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 thesis credits (e.g., F699). 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 research or project milestones, academic achievements, challenges encountered, and goals for the coming year. You can use our , PDF evaluation template (PDF) (Opens in new window), or create your own self-evaluation template.

Comprehensive Exam Requirement

Master's thesis students must pass a comprehensive examination. The structure, timeline, and delivery format (written, oral, 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 pure thesis research and writing phases.

The Initialization Phase

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

You must also coordinate the following items alongside your committee and department chair:

• Set your official thesis defense date, time, and location details.
• Submit a formalized public presentation notice request.

Post-Defense Clearance Workflow

Your committee must file a formal Report on Defense within 2 weeks of your presentation.

From there, execute these steps to finalize manuscript archiving:

1. Committee Review Loop: Route your Thesis Approval Form to get signatures from your committee members.
2. Administration Clearances: Secure signatures from your designated program department chair and college dean.
3. ProQuest Processing: Upload your fully corrected, approved manuscript directly to the digital ETD database repository.
4. Formatting Review: The Graduate School checks for formatting errors and submits final approval flags into ProQuest once verified.

Celebrating Your Achievement

All Master's thesis graduates are invited to walk in the university-wide commencement event located at the Carlson Center. Be sure to RSVP through the student terminal, check registration periods early, and secure your institutional cap, gown, and hoods from the university bookstore ahead of deadlines.