Composition of Master's Thesis Committees

Graduate faculty status is a prerequisite to chairing a master's thesis committee. A master's thesis committee must consist of a minimum of three members, at least two of whom must be members of the graduate faculty.

Composition of Doctoral Advisory Committees

Graduate faculty status is a prerequisite to chairing a doctoral advisory committee. Additional criteria for chairing dissertation committees may be prescribed by the appropriate academic division. A doctoral advisory committee must consist of a minimum of four members, at least three of whom must be members of the graduate faculty. One of the members must be an external member whose primary appointment is outside the candidate's program or department, or outside the University. The external member must be familiar with the standards of doctoral research and should be in a collateral field supportive of the student's dissertation topic. It is recommended that this member have graduate faculty status, if from another graduate program.

The composition of the doctoral advisory committee is recommended by the chair of the relevant department/program, requires concurrence by the dean (or designate) of the academic division and approval by the Associate Provost for Graduate Academic Affairs.