Ph.D. Requirements
Advisory Committee
In consultation with the Graduate Program Committee and his/her advisor, a student will select a Research Advisory Committee by the beginning of the third semester in residence. The purpose of this Committee is to discuss and assess the student's progress and to provide additional guidance on research and overall professional development. This committee will comprise the membership of the examination committee for the research progress report and original research proposal, although the Graduate Program Committee may add another member if additional expertise is needed in a specific area. The Committee may also be called upon for input when there are questions about a student's ability to continue in the Ph.D. program. In addition, after the student reaches ABD status, the Advisory Committee will meet with the student annually in Dissertation Progress Meetings to support timely completion of their Ph.D.
A typical Advisory Committee will consist of the Research Advisor(s) and two other Chemistry faculty members, normally from the Tenure Track or Research Track. When it would be advantageous for the student's research, one of these members may be from outside the department. Note that each faculty member may serve on a limited number of these Advisory Committees to ensure that he/she can provide the appropriate amount of attention to each student. Therefore, students are typically advised to have committees with three faculty members; students with co-advisors should have four members. Note that advisory committees may need to change when a student plans his/her dissertation defense in order to conform to MCS Guidelines on Doctoral Thesis Committees which require a "visiting" member not affiliated with the department.
The student will also select a Chair of the committee, different from the Research Advisor(s), whose role is to oversee and provide feedback on the oral exams for the research progress report and original proposal, to provide general guidance regarding the original proposal, to help the student in preparing for dissertation progress meetings, and to provide a brief summary and written feedback to the ABD student and the GPC after dissertation progress meetings.