Graduate Program - Thesis or Creative Component

Selecting the Program of Study Committee

Whether a student selects a thesis or a creative component, a three-person Program of Study (POS) Committee must be selected. The committee includes at least two members, including the major professor, from inside the Greenlee School and one member from another department or major. The POS committee may contain more than three members, but this is not common.

Once the major professor is selected, he or she will discuss names of professors who might best serve as members of the POS committee with the student. Although it is not required, some of the professors will ask to see a research proposal draft before agreeing to serve. In most cases, after the student has visited with nominated professors and secures their tentative agreement, a POS meeting is held with the student and all three committee members present. At the meeting, the student presents and defends his or her proposal for a thesis or creative component.

The professors are also asked to sign the official form to become a member of the student's POS committee. The committee will be asked to approve the student's program of study, which lists all courses the student has taken and plans to take for the degree.

After the POS is approved by the committee, signed by the graduate coordinator, and approved by the Graduate College, it becomes the official document concerning courses the student must successfully complete before receiving his or her degree and must be signed at least one semester before the final oral examination.

The student, the POS committee, the graduate coordinator, and the dean of the Graduate College must approve changes to the POS form. For more information, please refer to the Graduate College Handbook.

Did you know?

The Reading Room has a media room with a DVD player, VCR, telephone, typewriter and an audiocassette player.