Thesis Committee Form: Instructions for Completion and Submittal
Dissertation and Thesis Manual (DTM): Purchase the current edition of the DTM in the Aztec Shops Bookstore. This is a required text: You must comply with its guidelines regarding the format of your thesis. It also includes information on the general structure of theses as well as all policies and procedures you must follow regarding Plan A-Thesis. Read the DTM, Section 2.2.1 and the rest of this page before completing the Thesis/Project Committee form.
Human Subjects: If, for your thesis research, you are planning to obtain information from people through the use of a survey, interview, observation, or experimentation, or if you are planning to analyze human tissues, records, samples or other data previously collected by someone else, you are probably using human subjects. All activities that involve humans or human tissues, records, or samples, where results are intended for publication (e.g., theses), require approval by the Institutional Review Board (IRB) in advance of subject recruitment or analysis of existing data. You will not be allowed to submit the Thesis Committee Form until you have confirmation from the IRB that they have received a completed protocol from you. Information and forms are available on the Division of Research Administration website. If you have questions, email irb@mail.sdsu.edu or call 594-6622. Allow 4-6 weeks for completion of the IRB review process once completed application materials are submitted for review.
Animal Subjects: Research involving animals must be approved by the Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC) in advance of any data collection. Information and forms are available on the Division of Research Administration website. For additional information contact the Division of Research Administration at 619 594-0905 or email the IACUC at iacuc@mail.sdsu.edu for additional information.
Rights to Thesis/Dissertation Data and Publication Authorship: This agreement is attached to the Appointment of Thesis/Project Committee form. It must be completed and submitted with the Thesis Committee form (see #7).
Theses in Foreign Languages: Check the appropriate box on the Thesis Committee form and be sure all faculty members are fluent in the language. Read Section 2.1.7 in the DTM about the required verification of competency in standard written English from the Graduate Adviser. The Committee Form will not be approved without an attached verification.
Faculty Committee: In consultation with the department graduate advisor, a student will select a chair for the thesis committee. The student, the graduate advisor and the thesis committee chair select the other faculty who will be asked to serve on the thesis committee. If needed, obtain human and/or animal subjects approval (or verification of protocol submission) which needs to be submitted with the thesis committee form. Faculty members' names should be listed in the following order: chair & 2nd from department, then 3rd member from outside the department. The Graduate Advisor of your department must be the last signature obtained. If a FERP, emeritus, adjunct or lecturer is to serve as a committee member, appropriate recommendations and additional forms must be prepared, signed, and attached to the Thesis Committee Form when it is submitted. For the full policy and links to additional forms click on the Thesis Committees link on the left side of this page.
Submit the completed Thesis Committee form, including Authorship agreement (p.2 of the form), and any additional information as described above to the Graduate Division. Allow 1 week for processing and approval. Contact the Graduate Division after 7 days to see if your committee has been approved. If so, you may then obtain the schedule number for Thesis 799A from the Graduate Division.
