A graduate student at Texas A&M University benefits from the guidance and expertise of faculty members who agree to serve on their graduate advisory committee. The students’ committee approves courses, thesis and dissertation proposals, conducts preliminary written and oral examinations for doctoral students, and administers the final examination required for all degrees. It is the student’s responsibility to form an advisory committee. This is done by completing a degree plan, which is signed by the faculty members who agree to serve on the advisory committee.
Master’s Degree
Master’s degree students must file their degree plan and form their advisory committee prior to the end of their second semester in residence (excluding summer semester). Registration for future semesters is blocked until the degree plan is on file.
Master’s degree advisory committees will consist of no fewer than three members of the graduate faculty representative of the student’s fields of study and research. The chair or one of the co-chairs of the advisory committee must be from the student’s department, and at least one or more of the members must be from a department other than the student’s major department.
Ph.D. Degree
Students in the Ph.D. program must file their degree plan and form their advisory committee before the end of their fourth regular semester in residence, excluding summer semester. Registration for future semesters is blocked until the degree plan is on file.
Doctoral advisory committees will consist of no fewer than four members of the graduate faculty. The chair or co-chair must be from the student’s department, and at least one or more of the members must be from a department other than the student’s major department.