Thesis Committees
SDSU POLICY FOR SERVICE ON MASTER'S THESIS COMMITTEES
The university's criteria for appointment to a thesis committee as adopted by the SDSU Graduate Council are listed below. Departmental policies on faculty eligibility to serve on thesis committees vary somewhat, as do the procedures for selection of specific faculty to advise a particular student. Students should consult their departmental graduate adviser for information.
Normally, the thesis committee is composed of three full-time members of the university faculty. The chair and at least one of the other members should hold permanent (tenure or tenure-track) faculty appointments. The chair and the second member should have a full-time or joint appointment in the department in which the thesis is written. The third member of the thesis committee must be from a department other than that of the chair.
Normally, all thesis committee members should (a) hold a terminal degree or the equivalent in an appropriate discipline and be current in the field as determined by the department, and (b) regularly teach graduate-level courses.
Normally, thesis committee chairs should also have specific expertise (theoretical, methodological, or topical) in the area of the proposed thesis.
If a FERP or Emeritus faculty member is to serve either as a chair or 2nd/3rd member of a committee for a thesis/project, the student and faculty member must sign an Agreement for FERP or Emeriti Faculty to Serve as Thesis/Project Chair/Member (see Forms and Procedures below). That agreement must also be approved by the department. FERP and emeriti faculty must sign this Agreement each time they serve on a student's thesis/project committee.
In special circumstances of direct benefit to the student, the department of the committee chair may recommend the appointment as either a second or third member of a thesis committee an adjunct faculty member or lecturer who may be expected to be available for the period required for the student to complete the thesis. Such faculty must hold a terminal degree or equivalent in an appropriate discipline and be current in the field as determined by the department. Departments should submit to the Dean of the Graduate Division the names and current vitae of any adjunct faculty or lecturers they wish to nominate as participants on thesis committees along with a cover letter from the Department Chair providing justification for the request . Adjunct faculty and lecturers must also sign an Agreement to Serve as a Member of a Thesis Committee each time they serve on a student's thesis/project committee (see Forms and Procedures below).
An individual who has special expertise directly related to the thesis research may serve as a fourth member of the committee or as a co-chair. Appointment as co-chair requires that the individual hold a terminal degree or the equivalent in an appropriate discipline and be current in the field as determined by the department.
Final appointment of the membership of thesis committees rests with the Dean of the Graduate Division. If the dean does not approve of the thesis committee recommendation, the dean will confer with the department prior to making any final decision.
Revised and approved by the Graduate Council
October 10, 2002 and December 11, 2003
Forms and Procedures:
Recommended procedure for preparing and submitting the Appointment of Thesis/Project Committee Form
(this form is available only from the Graduate Division office (SSE 1410, 594-5213):
Student discusses and finalizes proposed committee composition with proposed thesis chair. At that time, if an adjunct faculty member or lecturer is proposed as a 2nd or 3rd reader, arrangements should be made to obtain a letter of nomination and the nominee's vita from the department chair as described in #5 of the policy above--unless such letter is already on file in the Graduate Division (call the Graduate Division at 594-6367 to inquire about letters on file).
Student fills out top 3 sections of page 1 of the form and obtains IRB or IACUC approvals as necessary. After discussing with thesis chair, student completes page 2 of the form and signs.
Student obtains the signature of: (a) the thesis chair [on both pages of the form], 2nd & 3rd members [on page 1 of the form] and, (b) if any of the proposed committee members have FERP, adjunct or lecturer appointments or are retired (emeritus), obtains signature(s) of same on the appropriate Agreement form(s) listed below.
Student obtains signature of the graduate adviser on the thesis committee form and on any Agreement forms as per 3(b) above.
Student obtains signature of Department Chair on Agreement forms (except FERP), and obtains the letters of nomination and vitae for any adjuncts or lecturers if there are none already on file in the Graduate Division.
Student submits complete packet [2-page committee form, IRB or IACUC verification as necessary, plus materials from items 3(b) and 5 above as necessary] to the Graduate Division. Allow 1 week for processing.
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