Committees for Preliminary Exams and Dissertation Defense

Every incoming student is required to identify a main advisor and select a chair of their doctoral committee at the beginning of the spring semester of their first year in residence. The student and their chair will jointly file the names of the doctoral committee with the DGS and Graduate School no later than the fall semester of the third year. Per Graduate School guidelines, committees must be a minimum of four members of the graduate faculty, there must always be at least two members from the CMAC faculty, at least three members from the student’s primary research field/area, and one Minor Area Representative (MAR) on the student’s committee. The committee approval form must be approved by the Graduate School at least 30 days prior to the first day of the preliminary exam. A majority of the committee must be physically present with the student for the examination, the chair MUST always be physically present for the examination.