Other Requirements
Comprehensive Examination
The comprehensive examination is completed approximately two months before the last day of the graduation term. Students must select committee members before the end of term prior to graduation term.
Students are required to submit a written document of the first chapters of their Master’s thesis, including expanded Introduction and detailed Methods sections. The Master’s thesis must be original research (using primary or secondary data). Literature review papers are not acceptable. Best practice is for students to submit their written document to their committee two weeks prior to the oral portion of the Comprehensive Examination but can be later with prior committee approval.
If the candidate passes, committee members sign the Report on Requirements for Master’s Degree form certifying the milestone has been satisfactorily completed.
Thesis
Students are required to successfully complete the Comprehensive Examination before advancing to the Thesis stage. The Final Oral Defense of the master’s thesis is approximately three weeks prior to the school-wide graduation final paperwork deadline. The written master’s thesis should be submitted to the committee at least two weeks prior to the oral defense date, or closer to the defense date with prior committee approval.
If the candidate passes the thesis defense, committee members sign the Report on Requirements for Master’s Degree form certifying the successful oral defense and approval of the final written document.
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