lamar dissertation handbook

2023-2024 Comprehensive Catalog

Graduate academic policies and procedures, 1. about the college of graduate studies.

The College of Graduate Studies was instituted in the fall of 1960 with the offering of the Master of Arts Degree. In 1962, graduate degrees in the Master of Science, Master of Engineering, and Master of Education were offered. In 1965, the Master of Business Administration was initiated. Our first doctoral degree, Doctor of Engineering, was authorized in 1970 in the College of Engineering. A Doctor of Education in Deaf Education was approved in 1993. The Doctor of Audiology degree was approved in 2003, the Doctor of Education in Educational Leadership in 2004, and the Doctor of Philosophy in Chemical Engineering in 2005. In 2007, the College of Education and Human Development initiated LU’s first online Academic Partnership degree program. A complete list of graduate degrees offered at Lamar University appears below.

The College of Graduate Studies promotes high-quality graduate education at Lamar University by recruiting, admitting, and enrolling qualified students and ensuring requirements are met.

The College of Graduate Studies provides leadership, vision, and support to enhance graduate education at Lamer University. We encourage the establishment, growth, development, and continuous improvement of graduate educational programs in targeted disciplines that address the advanced workforce needs nationally and internationally.

We will achieve our mission and vision by

• increasing the awareness of graduate educational opportunities and benefits.
• recruiting qualified graduate students.
• enhancing the academic rigor of graduate programs through continuous improvements.

The objectives of the College of Graduate Studies are as follows:

• Advance knowledge through quality education and research programs.
• Cultivate critical thinking skills and intellectual advancement of graduate students through research and educational activities.
• Engage graduate students in professional practice and training.

Degrees Offered

Please refer to the list of Programs .

2. Regulations and Policies

Student responsibility.

It is the responsibility of each student to know the academic policies of the College of Graduate Studies and the academic department and colleges, to enroll in the appropriate courses for the degree plan, and to maintain the standards of the university, the College of Graduate Studies, and the degree programs.

Health Insurance

Campus sponsored health insurance is required of all international students and offered to all domestic students. Eligibility requirements apply and can be found on the Academic Health Plans (AHP) website along with enrollment forms and other detailed information. All services delivered at the SHC are paid at 100%. Premiums are due at the time of enrollment and are available per semester or on an annual basis.

3. Academic Policies of the College of Graduate Studies

All graduate students are expected to be familiar with the policies and regulations of the College of Graduate Studies.

• Academic Year. The university divides the academic year into two long semesters (fall and spring) and two summer terms of six weeks each. There are also specific terms designated for select degree programs. Please consult with the department and colleges regarding the dates of those terms.
• Time Limit for Degree Completion. All course work applied toward a given master's or doctoral degree at Lamar University must be completed within a period of six years or 10 years, respectively. The timeline commences with the first semester of graduate enrollment. These time limits apply to all work at the graduate level, including work transferred from other institutions. Program faculty may request that graduate courses taken outside these time windows be recertified and counted toward the degree requirements based upon a specific, objective, written plan filed in the department, college, and College of Graduate Studies offices and approved by the dean of the College of Graduate Studies. Time spent in active military service is not included in the six, eight, and 10-year limits. Due to U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (US CIS) regulations, a shorter period of time may apply to international students.
• Maximum Semester Course Load. The maximum course load for graduate students during the spring and fall semesters is 15 hours per term. Nine hours is a minimum full-time load. The maximum course load for graduate students for any 6-week summer term is 6  hours, or 7 hours if a lab course is taken, not exceeding 12 hours for the entire summer semester. These maximums apply even when the graduate student is enrolled in a combination of graduate and undergraduate courses.
• Definitions of Full and Part-Time. A full-time graduate student is defined as a student taking at least 9 semester hours of graduate work during the fall or spring semesters. After completing the course work for a graduate degree, students who are enrolled in a thesis, dissertation, or field-study course may be considered full-time even though they are enrolled in as few as 3 semester hours. In the summer, full-time is 3 hours per term, or 6 hours for the entire summer semester. Students taking fewer than 9 hours in the fall and spring semesters and fewer than 6 hours for the entire summer semester are considered part-time. Full-time status may be required for certain fellowships and scholarships, including Competitive Graduate Scholarship and Institutional Doctoral Scholarship.
• Deferring Graduation. International students who wish to defer graduation by taking additional course work after their original degree plan has been completed must meet one of the following conditions: (1) admission to the new program must be granted by the new major department, and a new I-20 Form must be issued indicating the new major program of study and the length of time for completion of the second degree; or (2) the student must be enrolled full time (9 hours in long semesters, 3 hours in each summer term, or 6 hours in the entire summer semester), and permission must be given in writing by the major department stating that the additional course work is required for the degree sought. All additional course work must be taken for credit, and a grade must be earned.
• Permission for an Undergraduate Student to Enroll in Graduate Courses. Reservation of Work by Undergraduates for Graduate Credit. An undergraduate student who is within 12 semester hours of graduation may take a maximum of 6 semester hours of graduate courses that may be applied toward a master's degree of an approved accelerated program. Both the chair of the intended graduate program and the graduate dean must approve, and the total academic load in that semester may not exceed 15 hours. The G-11 form, available on the Graduate Studies website, can be used for obtaining permission.
• Transfer of Graduate Credits to Lamar University. With the approval of the chair of the major department and the graduate dean, a student may transfer up to 6 hours of graduate work completed at another institution, and these transferred credits may be applied toward a graduate degree at LU. Only courses with grades of "A", "B" or "S" (satisfactory) that were accepted as graduate credit at the institution where the work was taken may be considered for graduate credit transfer. Transfer courses must not be more than 6 years old when applied to a master's degree and 10 years old when applied to a doctoral degree. Transferred credits are not considered in the computation of the graduate grade-point average at Lamar University.
• Application of Credits from One Master's Degree toward a Second Degree. A maximum of 6 semester hours taken for one master's degree at Lamar University may be counted toward a second master's degree, provided that the course credits to be applied are closely related to the second master degree. Coursework must not be more than 6 years old.
• Use of Advanced Undergraduate Courses toward a Graduate degree. Undergraduate courses, even if senior-level, may not be applied toward a graduate degree.

Grade Replacement Policy. Students may replace a graduate course grade by repeating the course. This is allowed for up to three graduate-level courses (nine semester hours). If a student repeats a course, the last grade recorded will be considered the official grade and used in calculating the cumulative grade point average (CGPA), although all grades remain on the student’s transcript. Special topics courses that have the same course number are not considered to be the same course if the topics differ. The repetition of a course taken at another institution will not replace a grade in the CGPA calculation of the corresponding Lamar University course. If a student earns a D or F in a course required for his/her graduate degree, the course must be repeated, and a passing grade of A, B, or C must be earned. Once a degree has been conferred, a student may not use the Grade Replacement Policy for any courses used to award the degree or to recalculate the CGPA. The grade replacement request can be made using a G-18 form (Request for Grade Replacement, available at  https://www.lamar.edu/graduate-studies/forms.html ). 

Change of Major. Graduate students may file a request to change their graduate major after taking at least one long semester of coursework in the degree program of admission. The request must be made using the G16 form (Request to Change Graduate Major, available at https://www.lamar.edu/graduate-studies/forms.html ) and is subject to qualification review by the Academic departments and Colleges, and the College of Graduate Studies. Approval will be granted only to students who meet the admission requirements of the new program. No students are allowed to take multiple graduate majors except in the dual degree programs that have been approved by Lamar University, including the M.B.A./M.S.-MIS, M.S.A./M.S.-MIS, M.B.A./M.S.A. and M.B.A./M.S.N. programs. Students who change their major and transfer from one department to another may lose financial assistance.  Students who are admitted to a graduate program and who have not yet taken courses in the program to which they have been admitted must contact the Office of Graduate Admissions ( [email protected] ) to have their application placed in review for the new major and their previous admission vacated. The request to the Office of Graduate Admissions must be made in a timely manner for a full review by the department of the new major.

Enforced Withdrawal or Course Drop. A graduate student may be required to drop a course or courses or withdraw from the university temporarily or permanently if the student's academic work is below the standards of the College of Graduate Studies (see discussion of probation/suspension below), or if the student is found to have engaged in academic dishonesty or misconduct. In those programs that provide clinical training or student teaching (e.g., audiology, speech-language pathology, nursing, education, and human development), a student can be removed from practicum and/or the program if the student is found (through due process) to be a threat to the well-being of patients, students, clients, etc.

• Academic Dishonesty, Misconduct, Discipline Code. Student conduct regulations, as found in the Lamar University Student Handbook , apply to all graduate students. These regulations include policies relating to academic dishonesty, plagiarism, university disciplinary code, and student rights and responsibilities. It is the responsibility of all graduate students to read the Student Handbook and to abide by all university regulations.
• Grading System. The grading system for graduate students is "A" (superior), "B" (good), "C" (marginal), "D" (poor), "F" (fail), "I" (incomplete), "S" (satisfactory), "U" (unsatisfactory), “Q” (drop), and “W” (withdrawal). Credits applicable to graduate degrees are given only for the grades A, B, C, and S. Although C grades earned at Lamar University may be counted toward the requirements for a graduate degree, C grades are not considered acceptable graduate-level performance. Courses in which a student earns only a D or F may not be counted toward a graduate degree, although such grades are calculated in determining the grade-point average. The student is to have the 3.0 grade-point average required before the degree will be awarded. In computing grade-point averages, an "A" is valued at four grade points, a "B" three, a "C" two, a "D" one, and an "F" zero. An overall CGPA of "B" (3.0) on all graduate work attempted is required for graduation. Thesis students must receive an S or U for thesis courses until the thesis is approved. At that time, 6 semester hours credit is awarded. If a letter grade (A, B, C, D, F) is issued to the final thesis course by the supervising professor in the semester of thesis completion, the grade for the credited 6 semester hours is included in the computation of grade point averages. Incomplete course work that is not finished during the next long semester (spring or fall) will be credited with an "F." With compelling justification, the graduate dean may grant an extension of the time limit for the completion of incomplete coursework. International students must receive an "NG" for courses (such as Graduate Projects) that have not been completed and should not receive an "I" in any course work.
• Grade Change. After a degree has been conferred, no transcripted grade may be changed except for those assigned to graduate students in their final semester. Such changes require the approval of the Provost, Vice Provost, or Senior Associate Provost.
• Additional departmental CGPA Requirements. A department or graduate program may impose CGPA standards, approved by the dean of the academic college, for its majors that exceed the standards set by the College of Graduate Studies.
• Admission of Faculty to Graduate Degree Programs. Lamar University faculty will not be permitted to work toward a graduate degree within their own department. To pursue a graduate degree in another department, faculty must have the approval of the graduate dean.
• English Proficiency Required of International Students for Graduation. International students whose first language is not English are required to pass an English proficiency test before they may be admitted candidacy for a graduate degree.
• Rule Changes. The university reserves the right to change any of its rules, regulations, or course requirements without notice.
• Waiver of Regulations. Graduate students have the right to file a petition for exemption from any graduate academic policies. Petitions for exemption are considered by the Graduate Council, which makes recommendations to the graduate dean. Decisions of the graduate dean may be appealed through administrative channels (i.e., to the provost, the president, the system chancellor, and finally to the Board of Regents).
• Open Records Policy. Student records, which generally include information concerning the student and the student's individual relationship to the educational institution, are available on request to Lamar University personnel who have an educational interest in the records. Individual records are also accessible to the student in question. Without the written consent of the student, records are not released except as noted above.

Recertification of Out-of-Date Graduate Credit. At the discretion of the program faculty, academic credit granted outside the time limits established for graduate degrees (6 years for master's degrees and 10 years for doctoral degrees) must be recertified by examination or other appropriate means before the work can be applied toward the requirements of a degree program. Course(s) to be recertified must have been completed at Lamar University or be accepted as transfer credit in lieu of Lamar University courses. In order to recertify out-of-date course(s), the student must receive the permission of the chair of the department, and the dean of the college. The form "Request to Recertify Out of Date Course(s)" (G-20) shall be used to record student and course(s) information, means of recertification, and approvals. This form along with a memorandum from the department chair describing the method of recertification must be submitted to the College of Graduate Studies for final approval by the graduate dean.

Quality of Work and Probation/ Suspension Regulations. A graduate student must maintain a 3.0 a cumulative grade point average (CGPA) on all courses that receive graduate credit, whether or not they are to be applied toward a graduate degree, except thesis, dissertation and field study courses. Leveling and elective courses taken for graduate credit are included in the computation of the grade point average. Transferred credits will not be used in the computation of CGPR at LU. A student whose CGPA in graduate work falls below 3.0 must improve academic performance either by repeating courses in which the grades are low or by completing other graduate courses with grades high enough to bring the CGPA to at least 3.0. Graduate students who do not meet this academic standard will be placed on probation or suspended. Students on probation may enroll in graduate courses but may not apply for graduation. Suspended students may be temporarily or permanently denied permission to enroll in graduate courses.

• Minimum Academic Performance. A graduate student with a CGPA of 3.0 or higher is in good standing. A student with a CGPA below 3.0 will be placed on probation, suspended, or expelled.
• Probation. Students with full graduate admission status who fail to achieve and maintain a CGPA of 3.0 at the completion of nine semester hours of graduate enrollment will be placed on academic probation (P1). A P1 student who fails to raise their CGPA to a 3.0 in the subsequent semester will be placed on (P2) probation.
• Students on probation may enroll in courses but may not apply for admission to candidacy or for graduation
• A graduate student who has been placed on (P2) probation and who fails to raise his/her graduate CGPA to at least 3.0 in the next enrolled semester will be suspended. Suspended students may enroll in graduate courses in the summer and undergraduate courses during spring, fall, or summer semesters. However, students must receive a recommendation from their department chair, college dean, and approval from the graduate dean through an appeal to enroll in graduate courses during spring and fall semesters, using the G-8 form (Academic Suspension Appeal, available at https://www.lamar.edu/graduate-studies/forms.html). Suspension for the fall semester may be removed if the student raises the graduate CGPA to at least 3.0 during the summer term. The first academic suspension (S1) shall be for one long semester (fall or spring). A graduate student who has been suspended (S1) and who fails to raise his/her CGPA to at least 3.0 in the next enrolled semester will be suspended again (S2), and the second suspension (S2) will be for two long semesters. An S2 student who fails to raise the CGPA to 3.0 or higher in the next enrolled semester will be dismissed from the graduate program.
• Transfers to New major Departments by Students on Probation/Suspension. Suspended students may be admitted to another department only after they have completed their suspension, provided that they meet the admission standards of the new graduate major. Students on probation may transfer to a different graduate program with the approval of the chair of the new program but will remain on probation and must raise their overall CGPA to at least 3.0 within the next nine semester hours of graduate course work. A student on probation may transfer to a new major department only once.
• PB and PG Students and Probation/Suspension. Post-baccalaureate and pre-graduate students taking graduate course work are not subject to probation or suspension until they have been admitted to the College of Graduate Studies and a graduate degree program.
• Grades Earned in Deficiency, Leveling, or Background Courses. A CGPA of 3.0 must be maintained for all undergraduate courses assigned as a deficiency, leveling, or background courses by the student's major department. If the CGPA earned on these courses is below 3.0, additional undergraduate courses will be required, or courses with grades of "C" or lower will be repeated until the CGPA earned on all deficiency, leveling, or background courses is 3.0 or higher. Such courses must be repeated if grades of "D" or less are received.
• Additional departmental Regulations. A department, with approval from the the academic college dean, may require its majors to meet additional standards with regard to probation, suspension, and expulsion.  These may be found in the appropriate departmental section of this catalog.

4. General Degree Requirements

• Students must earn the number of semester hours of graduate credit specified in the respective degree requirements. Specific details may be found in the program guide on the College of Graduate Studies website.
• Any student who writes a thesis or dissertation must defend it orally before his/her committee. Students who are in a degree program that does not require thesis and dissertation may be required to pass a comprehensive assessment, the form of which may be oral, written, or others as designated by the program.
• A student must meet the specific requirements as set forth in this catalog for a particular degree program.

Concentrations

Within the major field of study, a student may (or if required by their major program, must) choose a concentration area from those listed and described in this catalog. This can only be earned as a part of a degree program, and cannot be awarded independently of a degree. This concentration will be indicated on the student’s official transcript. Only one concentration may be completed within a degree. Concentration hours are specialization areas within a discipline and are included in the minimum hours required to complete the degree. The specific requirements for each concentration will be established by the department or program offering the concentration. These requirements are published in the appropriate section of this catalog. Not all programs offer concentrations. Select programs have more than one concentration area to choose from while other programs require completion of a specific concentration area. Questions regarding concentrations should be referred to the academic department chair or program director.

Certificates

A student may choose to pursue a certificate from those listed and described in this catalog. A certificate offers students a focused study on a narrow subject, rather than the broader range of study offered by a degree. Often, credits earned toward a certificate can also be applied to complete a degree in the same field. Requirements are published in the appropriate section of this catalog. Following a review and recommendation from the University Curriculum Council, the Provost approves all certificates and decides all disputes concerning certificates. Questions regarding certificates should be referred to the appropriate academic department chair or program director.

Master of Arts

• Meet all general degree requirements.
• If writing a thesis, complete 30 semester hours of graduate work: 18 in the major field, six in thesis, six in an approved minor, or six additional hours in the major.
• If not writing a thesis, complete 36 semester hours of graduate work approved by the graduate committee.
• Except for the non-thesis option in history candidates for the M.A. degree must present evidence of a reading knowledge of at least one foreign language. (ASL may not be used for this requirement). This requirement may be satisfied by examination or by submitting college credit equivalent to that required for the degree of Bachelor of Arts at Lamar University. Candidates for the M.A. without evidence of a reading knowledge of a foreign language must take the non-thesis options.  

Master of Business Administration

• Complete 30 hours of second-year M.B.A. courses specified under College of Business degree requirements if a thesis is written, plus any first-year M.B.A. courses required.
• If a thesis is not written, complete 36 hours of second-year M.B.A. courses as specified under College of Business degree requirements, plus any first-year M.B.A. courses required.

Master of Education

• Complete 30 semester hours of graduate work if a thesis is written or 36 semester hours if a non-thesis program is selected.
• Meet the specific requirements listed in the College of Education section of this catalog for each degree program.

Master of Engineering

• Meet all College of Graduate Studies general degree requirements.
• Complete a minimum of 30 hours (10 courses) of graduate work approved by the student's graduate advisor.
• Satisfactory completion of a final comprehensive examination.

Master of Engineering Management

Master of engineering science.

• Complete a minimum of 24 semester hours (eight courses) approved by the student's graduate committee chair and graduate advisor.
• Satisfactorily complete and defend a master's thesis (a minimum of 6 semester hours).

Master of Music

• Performance Track. Complete 30 semester hours of graduate work: 12 hours in the applied major, six in music literature, six in music theory, and six in music education.
• Special requirements in addition to the above: a formal public recital and a research paper OR a lecture recital.
• Education Track. Complete 36 semester hours of graduate work: 18 in music education, six in music literature, six in music theory, and six in a thesis.
• Exceptions: six additional hours in music education may be substituted for the thesis, and six hours in applied music may be substituted for music education courses.

Master of Science in Nursing

• Complete 37 semesters hours of graduate work: 15 hours of graduate nursing core courses, 13 hours in the track (Nursing Administration or Nursing Education), and 9 hours of support courses.
• Complete at least 4 hours of Advanced Role Practicum in the selected track.
• Meet the specific requirements listed in the College of Arts and Sciences, JoAnne Gay Dishman Department of Nursing section of this catalog.

Master of Public Administration

• Complete 36 semester hours of graduate work as specified for the degree in the Department of Political Science section of this catalog.
• Pass both oral and written comprehensive final examinations.

Master of Public Health

• Meet all degree requirements
• Complete 42 semester hours of graduate work as specified for the degree in the Department of Health and Kinesiology section of this catalog.
• Pass 6 hours of a capstone sequence as part of the 42- semester hour requirement.

Master of Science

• Complete 30 semester hours of graduate work: 15 to 18 semester hours in the major field, six in thesis, and six to nine semester hours in the minor field. With the approval of the head of the major department, a student may elect to take all work in the major field.
• If a thesis is not required, complete 36 hours of approved coursework.
• The graduate degree in psychology requires 38 hours in approved coursework and 6 hours in a thesis.
• Students applying to the computer science program must satisfy the depth and breadth requirements as defined by the graduate faculty of the Department of Computer Science as stipulated in the department's section of this catalog.

Doctor of Audiology

• Satisfactorily complete 57 semester credits of didactic coursework required by graduate faculty.
• Satisfactorily complete 42 semester credits of clinical practicum. (24 clinical practicum; 18 externship).
• Satisfactorily complete an approved Candidacy Research Project or comprehensive examination.
• Satisfactorily complete an approved Candidacy Research Project
• Satisfactorily complete a one-year full-time externship beginning in the student's fourth year of the program.
• Satisfactorily complete a one-year full-time externship in the student's fourth year of the program.

Doctor of Education in Deaf Studies/Deaf Education

• Obtain credit for all courses required by the student's doctoral committee. The number of these courses will depend upon the student's pre-doctorate educational preparation, previous experience, and specialization emphasis during the program. Students must complete a minimum of 60 hours of coursework and six hours of dissertation.
• Satisfactorily pass preliminary written and oral examinations after the completion of 18 semester hours.
• Complete a four-semester (one calendar year) residency requirement.
• Obtain admission to candidacy by completing all coursework required for the degree, complete six hours of dissertation credit following admission to candidacy, and successfully defend the dissertation prior to graduation.

Doctor of Education in Educational Leadership

• Complete 60 semester hours: 33 hours of core courses, 15 hours in research and 12 hours in dissertation. All coursework, including successful defense of the dissertation, must be completed within 10 years.
• Obtain credit for all courses required by the student's doctoral committee. The number of these courses will depend upon the student's pre-doctorate educational preparation, previous experience, and specialization emphasis during the program.
• For admission to candidacy, complete student proficiency assessment comprised of a portfolio, synthesis paper, and oral presentation.
• Following admission to candidacy, complete six hours of dissertation courses and defend the dissertation proposal. Complete six additional hours of dissertation and successfully defend the dissertation.

Doctor of Engineering

• Obtain credit for all courses required by the student's doctoral committee. The number and extent of these courses will depend upon the student's diagnostic examination, engineering experience, and educational objectives. In general, a minimum of 30 semester hours of 5000- and 6000-level course work beyond the equivalent of a master's degree will be required.
• Complete a residency of one year.
• Satisfactorily pass candidacy examinations as required by the student's doctoral committee.
• Complete a field study, normally 30 semester hours, involving some technological innovation.
• Submit and defend a formal engineering report on the field study.

Doctor of Philosophy in Chemical Engineering

• Ph.D. candidates must complete a minimum of 70 credit hours of coursework beyond the bachelor's degree.
• Complete direct action items.
• Select the academic committee adhering to the requirements of the department.
• Pass a written qualifying exam.
• Select an advisor within one semester after passing the written qualifying exam and submit a degree plan within one year.
• Complete dissertation proposal, prepare dissertation and pass dissertation defense.

For special conditions, see the College of Engineering portion of this catalog, Section 11.

5. Candidacy Requirements for Degrees

New graduate students do not have an academic committee and are advised by the chair of the major department or a member of the graduate faculty designated as the initial advisor. Graduate students are not considered to be candidates for a degree until they have completed a specified set of graduate courses and have proven their academic capability. In select programs, students must pass a qualifying exam before being admitted to candidacy. Students who have been admitted to candidacy are assigned an academic committee, and the committee establishes a graduation plan.

• Initial Advisement. For the first 12 hours of graduate work, students are advised by the chair of the major department or a member of the graduate faculty who has been designated by the chair as the initial advisor. In the College of Business, all graduate students are advised each semester by the associate dean.
• Timing of Admission to Candidacy. Admission to the College of Graduate Studies does not imply admission to candidacy for a graduate degree. Students seeking a graduate degree must be admitted to candidacy after completing a minimum of 12 semester hours of graduate study and before their last nine semester hours.
• Restrictions and Prohibitions to Admission to Candidacy. Graduate students may not be admitted to candidacy if they a) are on probation, b) are suspended, c) have not removed all undergraduate deficiencies, and/or d) have not completed at least 12 hours of recommended graduate courses. International students must show English proficiency before they can be admitted to candidacy.
• Procedure for Applying for Admission to Candidacy. The student is responsible for verifying that the process for admission to candidacy has been initiated by the major department through the degree Audit process.
• Recommendation of Academic Committee and Degree Plan. If these recommendations are approved, the student is admitted to candidacy. The graduate dean has the option of appointing additional members to an academic committee.
• Composition and Roles of the Academic Committee. The academic committee will include a member of the graduate faculty designated as the supervising professor, along with a minimum of two other members of the graduate faculty. For interdisciplinary or collaborative research, a co-supervising professor may be designated and must be approved by the graduate dean. Either the supervising professor or the co-supervising professor must be from the student's home department and must have full or initial graduate faculty membership. An additional non-graduate faculty member may be included in the committee, subject to the approval of the graduate dean. The committee will assist in monitoring/supervising the remainder of the student's program, including revision of the degree plan; supervision of research; writing and approval of the thesis, field study report, or dissertation; and administration and evaluation of the final comprehensive examination.
• Candidacy Examinations. In the process leading to admission to candidacy, an academic department may require a passing score on a standardized or locally produced examination.

6. Academic Committees - Appointment and Modification

Members of a student's academic committee are appointed by the chair of the student's major department at the time the student is admitted to candidacy. After admission to candidacy, but before the date of the final examination or the oral defense, the student may request a change in the committee composition with the approval of the student's current committee members, new committee members, the department chair, and the college dean. If the department chair or college dean does not approve a request for a committee change, the student may request the graduate dean to appoint a three-member Review Committee. In the event the Review Committee fails to effect an agreement between the student and the department chair (and/or the academic committee), a new committee may be selected for the student by the graduate dean, the dean of the student's academic college, and two members of the graduate faculty of the student's academic college chosen by the graduate dean. The time period should not exceed 10 class days from the date of receipt by the graduate dean of a written request for review and arbitration by the student and the appointment of a new committee.

7. Thesis and Other Requirements

A thesis is required for the Master of Science degrees in chemistry and psychology and for the Master of Engineering Science degree. It is not available in programs leading to the following degrees: Master of Public Administration, Master of Music, Master of Education in Counseling and Development, Master of Education in Educational Administration, Master of Engineering Management. A thesis is optional in all other degree programs. Students who write a thesis must follow the procedure below

• Register for the departmental thesis course with the approval of the student's graduate advisor. The first registration is for Thesis 5390; all subsequent registrations are for Thesis 5391. Only an S or U will be entered for Thesis 5390 or Thesis 5391 until Thesis 5391 has been completed. Thesis 5390 and 5391 should not be taken in the same semester. Note : No academic credit is given for thesis courses until the thesis has been approved and accepted by the major department and the College of Graduate Studies. At that time, the semester hours of credit as specified by the degree program will be awarded a grade determined by the supervising professor.
• Attend a thesis workshop given by the College of Graduate Studies in the first thesis course. Thesis workshops are held every semester and are designed to inform the student of the quality standards and accepted formats and styles. Students will have the opportunity to ask questions of the Graduate Office staff who oversee the thesis process.
• Write a thesis under the direction of the supervising professor. The form and style of the thesis must follow the thesis guidelines that are available on the College of Graduate Studies website .
• After the thesis has been proofed for content, grammar, and format by the supervising professor and members of the thesis committee, the student will submit a preliminary electronic copy of the thesis in the final form via email to the College of Graduate Studies. Check the Graduate Studies website for important dates.
• Defend the thesis orally at least 15 days before the date of graduation at a time and place specified by the supervising professor. Once the defense is complete, the supervising professor will use Degree Audit to enter the G-7 form to report the results of the defense to the College of Graduate Studies within two working days.
• Submit the final copy of the thesis electronically on or before the deadline set by the College of Graduate Studies (see the website for deadline and instructions). A copy of the signature page with all original signatures except the graduate dean must also be submitted to the Graduate Office before the deadline.

8. Non-Thesis Requirements

• Each candidate for a graduate degree who does not write a thesis may be required to pass a comprehensive final assessment during the last semester of attendance and at least 10 days before the conferral of the degree. The requirement to take and the form of the comprehensive final assessment will be determined by each individual program as approved by the graduate dean.
• A student must register for the comprehensive assessment by completing and submitting the required form to the chair of the major department at the same time when applying for graduation. Applications must be filed before the deadline established by the College of Graduate Studies. Specific dates will be found in the Academic Calendar .
• With the approval of the graduate dean and if all requirements for graduation except successful completion of the comprehensive assessment have been completed, the student may complete the assessment during a later semester without being enrolled in the College of Graduate Studies.
• Written comprehensive assessments will be administered in accordance with the schedule set by the academic department. For specific dates, please consult the official calendar or contact the College of Graduate Studies for details.
• Failure to pass a comprehensive assessment in three attempts will result in permanent suspension from that degree program. The assessment may be taken only once each term. Students suspended under this provision may be admitted to another degree program if they meet the required standards and are accepted by the new degree program.
• A department may prescribe additional academic requirements for its majors with the approval of the dean of the College of Graduate Studies.

9. Special Topic Projects

A Special Topic Project may be required for some degrees. Those taking Special Topic Projects will be required to be continuously enrolled in the course until completion. If a student is unable to complete this course in one semester, a U will be given, and the student must re-enroll in this course until completion.

10. Graduation Procedure

Students who intend to graduate at the end of a particular semester must apply for graduation through Self-Service Banner on or before the official deadline for application as established by The Academic Calendar .

Participation in commencement exercises is not required for the receipt of a graduate degree, though participation is strongly recommended. 

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Recent MAEd & PhD Topics in Art Education

DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY IN ART

(art education ph.d.) , procedures and requirements.

Updated May 2022

A Doctor of Philosophy in Art degree with an emphasis in Art Education is the highest degree offered by the area of Art Education. The culmination of the degree is the acceptance of a doctoral dissertation that demonstrates that the student is capable of doing independent and original research that contributes to the body of knowledge in the field. Admission to the program requires experience in art education or related teaching experience. Candidates for the degree will demonstrate competence in academic writing, research methodologies and contemporary theories and practices in art education and related disciplines. The specific sequence of courses for each candidate will depend on the student’s area of interest and previous coursework. Admission to candidacy is granted at the completion of a minimum of thirty hours of coursework, satisfying the research skills requirement, approval of the dissertation prospectus, and satisfactory performance on the written and oral components of the comprehensive exam.

STUDENT RESPONSIBILITIES

1. It is the student's responsibility to meet all requirements for the degree, including Art School requirements listed in this document; and to observe all appropriate deadlines as the graduate program progresses. Each student should carefully study the following throughout their program:

• The UGA academic calendar:  https://reg.uga.edu/general-information/calendars/academic-calendars/
• UGA Graduate Bulletin: https://grad.uga.edu/index.php/current-students/policies-procedures/graduate-bulletin/graduate-bulletin-a-c/
• School of Art’s Graduate Handbook for the PhD in Art Education degree:  https://art.uga.edu/graduate-student-handbook
• Graduate Student Forms page of the School of Art Website:  https://art.uga.edu/graduate-student-forms
• OR, the Forms page of the UGA Graduate School website:  https://grad.uga.edu/index.php/current-students/forms/

2. Please check your UGA email account on a regular basis for important announcements given that all official UGA emails are sent to your UGA account.

3. Art Education students should subscribe to the Art Education Graduate listserv and any other relevant listservs by visiting http://listserv.uga.edu . Once on the site: log in, click on Subscriber’s Corner, and search the following:

• ARTED to subscribe to ARTED-GRADS listserv

4. Keep the School of Art Graduate Coordinator's Office updated on changes of address, phone number, and email.

ACCEPTANCE OF TRANSFER OF CREDIT

No courses taken at another institution prior to admission to the doctoral degree program at The University of Georgia are eligible for transfer.

ENROLLMENT POLICIES

Degree-seeking graduate students at the University of Georgia are required to register for a minimum of 3 hours for at least two semesters in each academic year (fall, spring, summer). Please note that the graduate enrollment policy does not replace any more stringent policy affecting enrollment. For example, students who’ve been awarded graduate assistantships must register for the minimum hours required by that policy (9 for summer, 12 for fall and spring for one-third to one-half service assistantships). International students and those receiving financial aid must register for the number of hours required by those programs. Students must register for a minimum of 3 hours during the semester they complete degree requirements even if they were registered for the two previous semesters. Students must register for a minimum of three hours in any semester in which they use university resources, including faculty time.

Failing to comply with enrollment policies can be expensive. Penalties are explained in the policy. Please become familiar with the enrollment policy in the Graduate Bulletin at  http://www.uga.edu/gradschool/academics/registration.html

ACADEMIC HONESTY

All students must be familiar with and abide by UGA's academic honesty policy. Policy can be found at website: https://honesty.uga.edu

AUDITING A COURSE

University policy requires permission from the department, in effect, from the course instructor, to audit a course. Students auditing courses in Art Education must have permission from the instructor to register as an audit and should discuss the conditions of the audit with the instructor before classes begin.

DIRECTED STUDY COURSES

A student who wishes to enroll for a directed study course must obtain permission from faculty who will be directing the study and their advisor. A directed study form will need to be filled out by the advisor.

GRADE AVERAGE

To be eligible for graduation, a student must maintain a 3.0 (B) average on the graduate transcript and a 3.0 (B) average on the program of study. No course with a grade below C may be placed on the final program of study.

TIME LIMIT AND ENROLLMENT POLICIES

All requirements for the degree, except the dissertation and final oral examination, must be completed within a period of six years. This time requirement dates from the first registration for graduate courses on a student's program of study. A candidate for a doctoral degree who fails to complete all degree requirements within five years after passing the comprehensive examination, and being admitted to candidacy, will be required to take the comprehensive examinations again and be admitted to candidacy a second time. 

Please also make note of the Graduate School's enrollment policies . This link includes information on Minimum Enrollment, Continuous Enrollment, Residence Credit, and Leave of Absence, Time Limit, and Extension of Time requirements.

PROBATION AND DISMISSAL

Students may be dismissed at the end of any semester if they have not made sufficient academic progress to warrant continuance of study. See additional information at Academic Regulations and Procedures on the Graduate School website.

ADVISEMENT/ADVISORY COMMITTEE

At the time of admission, the student will be assigned a temporary advisor by the Area Chair. Before completing 24 credit hours, the student should meet and discuss their research interests with their advisor in order to guide the selection of a Major Professor and an Advisory Committee. By the completion of 24-30 credit hours, the student should confirm a Major Professor and, in consultation with that professor, select their Advisory Committee, consisting of the Major Professor as Chair and at least two additional members. The committee must be composed of at least three full-time UGA faculty with Graduate status and one member must be from a related area outside of Art Education. This committee must have the approval of the School of Art Graduate Coordinator and the Dean of the Graduate School. To obtain approval, submit the Advisory Committee Form.

The Advisory Committee, in consultation with the student, is responsible for providing feedback during the Pre-Comprehensive Exam Meeting, guiding the student's program of study, administering the written and oral comprehensive examinations, approving the Prospectus and Dissertation, and advising in regard to all requirements. 

IMPORTANT: Please be aware that faculty are not contracted during the summer. With this in mind, you should plan accordingly to ensure that you have the support you need for academic advising, examinations, or other forms of support during the academic year, which typically runs mid-August to mid-May. Any work you do in the summer months will need to be undertaken independently. This will be especially important for you to keep in mind in the later stages of your degree as you plan a timeline for research and advising, defenses, and, ultimately, graduation.

CHANGES IN MAJOR PROFESSOR AND ADVISORY COMMITTEE MEMBERSHIP

Changes in Advisory Committee membership, including the Major Professor, may occur during a student’s doctoral program for a number of reasons. Either the student or a faculty member may initiate changes in Advisory Committee membership. Caution and prudence should be used when making Advisory Committee changes, and all changes must be made with the objective of helping the student complete the degree. To change your Major Professor, complete the Change in Major Professor Form. A new Advisory Committee form will have to be approved and signed by the Graduate Coordinator.

PRELIMINARY AND FINAL PROGRAMS OF STUDY

Students, in consultation with their Advisor and Advisory Committee, should develop a rich and challenging program of study that suits their individual scholarship and research goals. The Department encourages students to take courses across the College and University and to engage in University-wide events and projects that enhance their doctoral student experience and prepare them for future scholarship and practice.

A Preliminary Program of Study Form must be submitted to the Graduate School by the end of 30 hours of coursework . The program of study will be developed by the Major Professor and the student and must be approved by a majority of the Advisory Committee. A final program of study must be submitted to the Graduate School prior to application for admission to candidacy. A minimum of 30 credit hours of course- work, exclusive of dissertation credit, must be taken at The University of Georgia at the doctoral level.

University-wide Required Courses

As of fall 2022, all graduate students are required to take the GradFIRST seminar (GRSC 7001). This one-credit, seminar style class is designed to introduce graduate students to supplement discipline-specific education with more generalized material meant to help incoming students successfully navigate graduate education at UGA. This course is to be taken in addition to the three-credit Graduate Seminar (GRSC 7770), which is required for all students on assistantship with instructional duties.

ART EDUCATION PHD PROGRAM OF STUDY

(See corresponding worksheet on the next page)

● Prior to completion of the degree, the graduate school must verify course completion.

● A minimum of 30 hours of academic classroom graduate credit is required for the PhD. However, it is not uncommon for students to take additional courses as needed.

● A minimum of 30 hours of consecutive coursework included on the program of study must be spent in resident study on this campus.

● The entire program of study for a Ph.D. should include 18 hours of 8000-level and 9000-level courses. No more than 12 hours of coursework may be below the 8000 level.

● 4 Art Education courses are required (12 credits). See WORKSHEET FOR COURSE REQUIREMENTS, below.

● 9 credits of Research are required. See WORKSHEET FOR COURSE REQUIREMENTS .

● All elective courses should be carefully chosen based on a developing research interest and in consultation with the Major Professor. Although a minimum of 9 credit hours of electives is required, most students end up with more than 9 credits.

● Once the course requirements from this table are complete, students should anticipate registering for doctoral research credits (9000 level) through the completion of the PhD.

ELECTIVE COURSE OPTIONS

(This list is not exhaustive and is merely a starting point for consideration)

ARED 8430      Topics in Art Education

ARED 8440      Directed Study in Art Education

ARST                Studio course (graduate level)

ARHI                 Art History courses (graduate level)

CHFD 8920      Behavior Problems in Children

CMLT 6545       Comparative Postcolonial Studies

EDEC 7010      Trends and Issues in Early Childhood Education

EDEC 7020      Theory and Curriculum in Early Childhood Education

EDEC 8260      Post-structural Theory and Early Childhood Education

EDEC 8400      Feminist Perspectives in Elementary Education

EFND 7040      History of Education in the United States

EFND 7120      Sociological Theories of Education

EFND 8010      Philosophy of Education

EPSY 6010      Foundations of Human Development for Education

EPSY 7060      Assessment of Gifted Children and Youth

EPSY 7110      Characteristics of Gifted Children and Youth

EPSY 7240      Creativity: Instructional Procedures and Problem Solving Processes

EPSY 8160      Special Topics in Educational Psychology

EPSY 8220      Theories of Creativity

ETAP 7045       (For Example) Social Constructionism, Feminism, and Critical Race Theory

ETAP 8300       Children’s Development of Self: Learning to Become a Competent Member of a Culture

ETAP 8560       New Materialism and New Empiricism in Educational Theory and Practice

ETAP 8585       Foucault and Education

ETAP 8595       Derrida, Deconstruction, and Education

ETAP 8700       Psychoanalysis and Education

JRMC 8070(WMST)       Media Culture and Diversity

LLED 6310       Survey of Children's Literature, Grades P-8

LLED 7312       Poetry, Grades P-8

LLED 8045       Introduction to Youth Participatory Action Research

LLED 8200       Critical Pedagogies

LLED/QUAL 8590       Arts-Based Inquiry in Diverse Learning Communities

PSYC 6210       Individual Differences

QUAL 7500       Action Research

SOCI 6270        Personality and Social Structure

SOCI 6370        Sociology of Race and Ethnicity

WMST 6060      Black Feminism

WMST 6100      Queer Theories

WMST 6070      North American Asian Feminisms

WMST 6170S    Environment, Gender, Race, and Class

WMST 8030      Transnational Gender Studies

WMST 8100      LGBTQ Studies

WMST 8180      Feminist Pedagogy

SELECTION OF MAJOR PROFESSOR AND DOCTORAL ADVISORY COMMITTEE

After 24-30 hours of coursework, students should select a Major Professor from the members of the Art Education Faculty. The Major Professor serves as the principal advisor and mentor to students throughout their graduate experience. They also play a critical role in assisting a doctoral student with developing their program of study, selecting a dissertation topic, and completing the degree program. The student should ask the potential Major Professor if they are willing to assume that role.

Additionally, the student should select at least two additional professors for their Doctoral Advisory Committee. Committees may be larger if necessary. This selection should be made in consultation with and upon the approval of the Major Professor. One member must be from a related area outside of Art Education. Once approved by the Major Professor, the student should meet with each potential committee member to discuss their research topic and invite them to be an Advisory Committee member. The role of the Advisory Committee is to work with the student to customize a program of study (identifying courses that help the student prepare for his or her comprehensive exams) and oversee the comprehensive exam process as well as the preparation and approval of the prospectus and the dissertation. Once each faculty member agrees to serve on the committee, the student must obtain signatures on the Advisory Committee Form and return it to the Graduate Coordinator’s office.

QUALIFYING EXAMINATION

GUIDELINES FOR THE QUALIFYING EXAMINATION

Students take a qualifying exam to demonstrate their potential for success in continued study and on future exams (comprehensive exams, prospectus, and dissertation). An important goal of doctoral study is preparing students as scholarly writers. A core purpose of the qualifying exam is to work with students to assess their strengths as writers and identify any aspects of scholarly writing that need further support and development.

The qualifying exam is required after a student has completed 15 credit hours in the program. For most students, this exam takes place near the end of their first year in the program and materials are due on May 15 (unless another date is provided by faculty). For the Qualifying Exam, students will submit the following Word documents to their temporary advisor for review:

• Current curriculum vitae
• One example of an edited and revised academic paper from doctoral coursework
• Description of the research: Explain what you are interested in studying and why.
• Statement of the problem: What is the nature of the problem you are interested in investigating through research?
• Potential research questions: Generally, about 1 to 3 focused questions.
• Significance of the problem: Explain why this study would be significant for the field of art education?
• Brief summary of relevant literature: Include literature relevant to topics and theories important to the research.
• References: Include a list of at least 10 relevant references using APA formatting.

Once the temporary advisor has approved the exam documents, they will share the documents with the other art education faculty. Once the faculty have reviewed the documents, the temporary faculty advisor will meet with the student to report the faculty assessment. The assessment will recommend that the student: 1) continue in the program; 2) continue in the program and take additional coursework; or 3) discontinue the program.

GUIDELINES FOR PRE-COMPREHENSIVE EXAMINATION MEETING

Prior to beginning the Comprehensive Exam, students will meet with their Major Professor to discuss preparation for a Pre-Comprehensive Exam (Pre-Comps) Meeting with the Advisory Committee. The Pre-Comps meeting gives students an opportunity to describe their research to their committee and receive feedback on drafted exam questions prior to beginning the Comprehensive Exam process. In preparation for the Pre-Comps Meeting, students will compile the following:

• A 2-3 page document that describes the intended direction for doctoral research. While there is no specific format for this document, two possible forms it may take include a narrative that describes the student’s research interest or an abbreviated version of a research proposal.
• One question that prompts an investigation of the research topic
• One question that prompts an engagement with the theory that will guide the research
• One question that prompts an exploration of potential methodology for the research
• 15-20 APA formatted references for each question.
• A general timeline for: completing the comprehensive exam, submitting the dissertation prospectus, implementing the study (including gathering data), and writing and defending the dissertation.

Once the student and the Major Professor agrees that the questions and references are sufficient, the student will contact Advisory Committee members and use meeting software to set up a two- hour Pre-Comps Meeting. During the Pre-Comps Meeting, Advisory Committee members will provide feedback that the student will use to finalize the comprehensive exam questions. Once the questions are revised and approved by the Advisory Committee, the student will let the committee know when they will begin writing their Comprehensive Exam.

GUIDELINES FOR DOCTORAL WRITTEN & ORAL COMPREHENSIVE EXAMINATION

To be admitted to candidacy for the doctoral degree and begin work on research, students must first pass a Written and Oral Comprehensive Examination.

THE WRITTEN PORTION OF THE COMPREHENSIVE EXAM

Once the Advisory Committee has agreed that the student is ready to proceed with the Comprehensive Examination process and has approved the Comprehensive Exam Questions, the student should identify a start and end date for the 12-week written examination and inform the Advisory Committee.

For the written portion of the Comprehensive Exam, students will write a 20-25 page response to each Comprehensive Exam question following APA style. Students should pay careful attention to the specifics of each question, making sure to answer each question fully. Upon completion, the student will inform the Major Professor and obtain approval to contact the Advisory Committee. The student will contact the Advisory Committee members using scheduling software (e.g. Doodle Poll) to set up a two-hour oral examination. Students must take into account that committee members must be given two weeks to review the examination responses prior to the meeting date.

Once all of the committee members and the student have settled on a date, time, and location for the oral exam, the student must complete the Comprehensive Exam Announcement Form, which notifies the Graduate School of the time and place of the oral examination. This form must be turned in to the School of Art Graduate Coordinator’s office. The Graduate School must be notified at least two weeks in advance of the date of the oral examination. This form can be found on the School of Art Graduate Website.

A signed final Program of Study Form must be submitted by the time oral comprehensive examinations are scheduled (i.e., at least two weeks in advance of the oral exam). If a change in the program of study is necessitated (i.e., change in coursework after it has been approved by the Dean), notify the School of Art Graduate Coordinator's Office with the appropriate form so that these changes can be submitted to the Dean for further approval.

THE ORAL PORTION OF THE COMPREHENSIVE EXAM

On the scheduled oral exam date, the student will meet with their Doctoral Advisory Committee for the oral portion of the Comprehensive Examination. Immediately after convening the meeting, the student will be asked to step out of the room while the committee discusses their approach to the meeting. The student will be asked to return, at which time they should be prepared to make brief (approximately 5-10 minutes) informal remarks regarding what they have learned through this process, the significance of their graduate studies thus far, and so forth. Then each committee member will ask one or more questions regarding the student’s written responses. Once the committee has finished asking questions, the student will step out of the room again while the committee deliberates the student’s written and oral responses. When the committee is finished deliberating, they will ask the student to return to the room and will share the results of the exam. This is a pass/fail examination for both the written and oral components. The oral portion of the examination takes approximately two hours to complete.

Students are eligible for admission to candidacy once they have successfully defended both the written and oral portion of their comprehensive exams. The student should complete the Application for Admission to Candidacy for Doctoral Degree Form. The student is responsible for initiating an application for admission to candidacy so that it is filed with the Dean of the Graduate School at least one full semester before the date of graduation. The student must register for a minimum of 3 hours credit in any semester when using University facilities and/or staff time.

GUIDELINES FOR DISSERTATION PROSPECTUS

Following the successful completion of the Comprehensive Examinations, and in consultation with their major professor, the student will prepare a prospectus proposal that clearly and succinctly articulates the plan for dissertation research. The specific content and format of the dissertation prospectus may vary depending on the research methods employed. The page length of the prospectus will be determined by the Advisory Committee, but will typically be no longer than 25 to 30 pages. Regardless of format, the following elements should be included:

• Theoretical framework
• Statement of the problem
• Research questions
• Significance of the problem
• A literature review (enough to document the need for the project and to establish a theoretical framework)
• Thorough discussion of procedures and methods to be employed in the investigation
• Potential importance, implications, and limitations of the investigation
• Anticipated time-table for completing the dissertation project

Students are eligible to enroll in doctoral research hours (ARED 9000) during the semester in which they are preparing the Prospectus, but they should not enroll in dissertation writing hours (ARED 9300) until the Prospectus has been successfully defended and approved by the committee.

Upon completion, the student will inform the Major Professor and obtain approval to contact the Advisory Committee. The student will contact the Advisory Committee members using scheduling software (e.g. Doodle Poll) to set up a two-hour meeting. Students must take into account that committee members must be given two weeks to review the Prospectus prior to the meeting date.

At the beginning of the Prospectus meeting, students will have 5-minutes to share any insights with the committee regarding their work, after which the committee will ask questions and provide feedback. Once all of the questions and comments have been explored, the committee will determine whether the Prospectus is approved as is or if it is in need of significant revisions and should be resubmitted.

Once the Prospectus is approved, students may enroll in a combination of research (ARED 9000) and writing (ARED 9300) hours for the remainder of their program. Students should refer to the UGA course Bulletin ( https://bulletin.uga.edu ) to take note of the maximum number of credit hours allowed for each of these courses. If a student is at risk of maxing out the number of credits allowed for either ARED 9000 or ARED 9300, they can consult with their Major Professor about registering for any of the following: ARTS 9000, ARTS 9300, or ARED 9600.

Note students must be enrolled in at least 3 hours of a 9000-level ARED or ARTS course during the semester in which the dissertation is defended.

GUIDELINES FOR DISSERTATION APPROVAL AND DEFENSE

THE WRITTEN DISSERTATION

The Major Professor has the primary responsibility for guiding research, but the student should consult all members of the Advisory Committee to draw upon their expertise in relevant areas. When the Major Professor is satisfied with the quality, depth, scholarship, and organization of the completed dissertation, they will direct the student to schedule a final oral examination (Dissertation Defense). The student will contact the Advisory Committee members using scheduling software (e.g. Doodle Poll) to set up a two-hour meeting. Once the examination is scheduled, the student will email the dissertation to the remaining members of the Advisory Committee no later than two weeks in advance of the defense. 

Per University guidelines, the use of generative AI in theses and dissertations is considered unauthorized assistance per the Academic Code of Honesty and is prohibited unless specifically authorized by members of the advisory committee for use within the approved scope. If approved by the advisory committee, the extent of generative AI usage should be disclosed in a statement within the thesis or dissertation.

ANNOUNCEMENT OF THE FINAL ORAL EXAMINATION (DISSERTATION DEFENSE)

Portions of the Dissertation Defense are open to the public and therefore the defense must be announced through both the Graduate School and the School of Art.

Notification of the time and place of the dissertation defense must reach the Graduate School, via the Graduate Coordinator, at least two weeks prior to the date of the examination. Notification should take place using the Dissertation Defense Announcement Form. This will ensure that the defense will be announced on the Graduate School website.

In addition to the Graduate School announcement, the defense must also be announced to the School of Art community. The student, under the guidance of the Major Professor, should create a simple flyer to announce the defense using the template provided. The flyer should include the following: •    Title of the Dissertation •    One Image •    Your Name, Doctoral Candidate in Art Education •    Names of Committee Members •    Brief Abstract of 150 words or less •    Day, Date, Time •    Location (Classroom and/or teleconference link)

The flyer must be completed and approved by the Major Professor at least two weeks in advance of the defense. The Major Professor will then share the flyer to the School of Art Graduate Office for distribution on the student and faculty listservs. 

THE FINAL ORAL EXAMINATION (DISSERTATION DEFENSE)

Dissertation defenses will primarily occur during the Fall and Spring semesters. Note students must be enrolled in at least 3 hours of a 9000-level ARED or ARTS course during the semester in which the dissertation is defended. 

Written assent of Advisory Committee members is required before a dissertation can be approved as ready for a final oral defense. No more than 1 dissenting vote is allowed for the dissertation to move forward with approval for the oral defense. If the Advisory Committee declines to approve the dissertation as ready for the final oral defense, the Major Professor will notify the student and the Graduate School. 

The final oral defense of the dissertation is chaired by the student’s Major Professor and attended by all members of the Advisory Committee simultaneously for the entire examination period. The student and committee chair must appear in person for the defense, but other committee members can participate via teleconference or video conference, provided that the comments of all participants can clearly and consistently be heard. If the major professor is not able to attend the defense in person, they can designate a substitute chair who is a current member of the committee. The defense can be held completely remotely if approved by the graduate coordinator and the unit/department head. 

The defense will consist of a public presentation followed by a private defense during which only the student and advisory committee will be in attendance. The public portion is open to anyone who wishes to attend and will include a presentation of approximately 20 minutes, with 10 minutes for open discussion. At the close of the open discussion time, the student and any public attendees will be asked to step out of the room while the committee discusses their approach to the rest of the exam. When the committee has completed their discussion, the student will be asked to return and the private portion of the defense will begin. 

At the conclusion of the exam, the Advisory Committee must approve the student’s dissertation and oral defense with no more than one dissenting vote and must certify their approval in writing. The student’s Major Professor must approve the dissertation for the student to pass. An abstention is not an appropriate vote for the final defense. If there is more than one dissenting vote, the student fails the oral defense but may have one, and only one, more opportunity to successfully defend the dissertation. Upon completion of the oral examination, the Major Professor will submit the Approval Form for Doctoral Dissertation and Final Exam to the School of Art Graduate Office.

Once the written dissertation has been approved by the Advisory Committee and the final oral examination has been passed, the dissertation must be submitted to the Graduate School for final approval no later than two weeks prior to the graduation date of the following semester. Dissertations which are not submitted by this deadline must be defended again and approved by the advisory committee before they will be considered by the Graduate School for final approval.

APPLICATION FOR GRADUATION

An Application for Graduation Form must be filed with the Graduate School no later than Friday of the second full week (the first full week of summer) of classes in the semester of the anticipated graduation date. These deadlines are published on the Graduate School website.

Students must enroll for a minimum of three hours during the semester in which degree requirements are completed. The application for graduation is submitted electronically and requires no signatures at: https://grad.uga.edu/ind/policies-procedures/academics/application-for-…

This handbook was last reviewed in September 2022 and last revised on February 13, 2024.

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