Committee Guidelines

Master's

Thesis Committee or Comprehensive Examination Committee Thesis and Comprehensive Examination committee nominations are submitted to the Office of Graduate Studies for formal appointment in accordance with the Graduate Council policy (DDB 80, Graduate Council, B.1). The Major Professor serves as Chair of the committee.

Comprehensive Exam Committee

  1. The Comprehensive Exam Committee must have three members
  2. At least two members of the committee, including the Chair, must be faculty members of the Geography Graduate Group
  3. The decision on the examination must be unanimous
  4. The Chair of the Committee will report the result of the examination by letter to the Graduate Adviser

Thesis Committee

  1. The Thesis Committee must have at least three members
  2. The Chair of the Thesis Committee must be a Geography Graduate Group member
  3. At least two members of the Thesis Committee must be Geography Graduate Group members

Ph.D.

Qualifying Examination Committee

Ph.D. Qualifying Examination committee nominations are submitted to the Office of Graduate Studies or formal appointment in accordance with Graduate Council policy (DDB 80, Graduate Council, B.1).

  1. The Qualifying Examination committee must have at least five members.
  2. At least two members must represent the major specialization.
  3. At least one member must represent each minor specialization.
  4. At least three members must be Geography Graduate Group members; and one member must be from outside the Geography Graduate Group.
  5. The Chair of the Qualifying Examination committee may not chair the student’s dissertation committee.
  6. The Chair of the Qualifying Examination Committee must be a Geography Graduate Group member, but unlike some other graduate groups, the dissertation chair (major professor) does typically serve on the qualifying examination committee.
  7. Members of the student’s Qualifying Examination Committee are recommended by the Graduate Adviser, in consultation with the student, and appointed by the Dean of Graduate Studies.

Dissertation Committee

  1. The Dissertation Committee must have at least three members.
  2. The Chair of the Dissertation Committee must be a Geography Graduate Group member.
  3. At least two members of the Dissertation Committee must be Geography Graduate Group members.
  4. Members of a Ph.D. student’s Dissertation Committee are recommended by the Graduate Adviser, in consultation with the student, and appointed by the Dean of Graduate Studies