MsFormA

.......Approval of a Master's Thesis/Project Committee

B ooks

THESIS: Students in selected Master’s programs must demonstrate evidence of a high degree of scholarship, competence in scholarly exposition and ability to select, organize and apply knowledge through a thesis. “Guidelines for Preparing the Master’s Thesis” as developed and enhanced by the Graduate Faculty of Jackson State University, provides examples of best practices concerning format standards that must be met before it receives final approval by the Division of Graduate Studies.

PROJECT: Students in selected Master’s programs must demonstrate evidence of a high degree of scholarship, competence in scholarly exposition and ability to select, organize and apply knowledge through a project. “Guidelines for Preparing the Master’s Project” as developed and enhanced by the Graduate Faculty of Jackson State University, provides examples of best practices concerning format standards that must be met before it receives final approval by the Division of Graduate Studies.

Each student should obtain a copy of the “Guidelines for Preparing the Master’s Thesis”
or“Guidelines for Preparing the Master’s Project”.

Click here for a Committee Approval Form

Committee Approval Form

This form is essential for students who are writing a thesis or project. It is established policy that the student selects his/her advisor with consent of the department chair. The advisor assists the student in the formation of a dissertation committee of graduate faculty members. This form documents the constitution of a student’s committee and approval of the student’s research proposal by the student’s committee.
The signatures of the committee members indicate their willingness to serve on your committee and their approval of the proposal. After all the signatures have been obtained, file this form with the Division of Graduate Studies.
The Committee Approval Form must be filed BEFORE you start your research.

Institutional Review Board (IRB) and Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee

If your proposed research involves human subjects, it must be approved by the Jackson State University Institutional Review Board, (IRB).

If your proposed research involves animal subjects, it must be approved by the Jackson State Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC).
A full explanation of the procedures and Federal Guidelines are available from the JSU Office of Research Compliance.

Note: The Division of Graduate Studies does not mandate a specific format or style for the proposal. “Guidelines for Preparing the Masters' Thesis” or "Guidelines for Preparing the Masters' Project" give directions for the style of the thesis/project. We suggest you follow the basic steps in preparing your proposal as practice.

Student’s Responsibility

Choosing a chairperson following the policies & guidelines of the major department.
Choosing the members of the thesis/project committee in conjunction with the chairperson following the policies & guidelines of the major department.
Meeting with the chairperson and setting a schedule for completion of the thesis/project in a timely manner.
Keeping on schedule.
Turning in all thesis/project material to chairperson typed in correct format.
Knowing and meeting all deadlines.
Filing all forms in a timely manner.

Advisor and Committee’s Responsibility

Ensuring that the student is aware of the rules, regulations and policies of the Division of Graduate Studies and the department.
Assisting the student in the formation of a committee.
Meeting with the student on a regular basis.
Keeping the scheduled appointments.
Ensuring that the student’s work is properly documented and not plagiarized.
Scheduling the prospectus hearing, if required, and the final defense of the thesis/project.
Notifying the committee members and the Department chair of the place, time & date of the prospectus hearing.
Notifying the Graduate Dean, College Dean, Department chair and committee members of the place, time & date of the final defense.

Committee’s Responsibility

It is the committee members’ responsibility to …

Attend the prospectus hearing and final defense.
Read the student’s work throughout the writing process.
Provide written feedback for correcting and/or improving the thesis/project.

Department Chair/Program Director’s Responsibility

It is the department chair/program director’s responsibility for knowing and enforcing policies, rules, and regulations of both the Division of Graduate Studies and department/program.

Ensuring that the graduate faculty of the department/program know and adhere to the policies, rules and regulations of the Division of Graduate Studies.
Keeping the faculty abreast of rule, policy and procedure changes from the Division of Graduate Studies.
Serving as a liaison between the student and the advisor, if necessary.
Ensuring the thesis/project advisor and all committee members are qualified to serve.

Return to CyberOrientation Page

Last Revised: October 2007