Frequently Asked Questions About Committees

(Ph.D. Committees: Guidance Committee, Comprehensive Examination Committees, Dissertation Committees).

What is the minimum composition of a Ph.D. committee?

The committee must contain at least four members. At least three must be regular faculty in the Sociology Department. The fourth can be in or out of the Department but must be regular faculty at MSU. Note further that while some faculty have joint appointments, all have a primary Department and this determines whether or not they are considered within the Department of Sociology.

("Regular faculty" has the rank of professor, associate professor, assistant professor, instructor or librarian and are appointed under the rules of tenure. Sometimes they are referred to as tenure stream faculty.)

Note also that at the oral defense of the dissertation, there must be a Dean's representative and this person must be a regular MSU faculty member from outside of the student's department.

If the Dissertation Committee already contains such an outside member, that member may be appointed as the Dean's representative. If not, the Dean's office will appoint a faculty member from outside the Department as Dean's rep.

Can the committee be larger than 4 members?

Yes.

Can a regular faculty member appointed in another department, but with an adjunct appointment in sociology, serve as a member from the department of sociology?

No.

What about emeritus (retired) professors?

They can serve both as committee members and committee chairs if the department chair approves. It is not recommended to begin a new committee with an emeritus professor as chair.

Can non-tenure stream faculty serve on committees as one of the required members?

Yes, but they must go through an approval process. The department chair must approve and request approval from the Dean of the Graduate School , who must also approve.

What about serving as additional members?

Persons who are not MSU regular faculty can serve on committees but the total number of such persons cannot exceed the number of regular faculty.

How does a student form a committee?

Start with a meeting with your advisor. Discuss with him/her your interests and career objectives and agree on a list of potential members. Contact potential members and ask them to serve. Be prepared in each case to provide information about your interests and objectives and the potential contribution of the faculty member to the committee. When the committee is complete, inform the Graduate Secretary. Forming a committee is the joint responsibility of student and advisor.

Can a student change their advisor or committee members?

Yes. Obtain a form from the Graduate Secretary. The form must be signed by the advisor (or new advisor) and the graduate program coordinator. It is recommended but not required that the student or advisor personally inform committee members who are being removed from a committee.

Second Year Paper Committees (M.A. committees)

What is the standard minimum composition of a second year paper committee?

Three. All must be regular faculty members at MSU. The student's advisor must be from the department of sociology and ordinarily at least one of the other two members must be from the department.

What about emeritus professors, non-tenure stream faculty, and the like?

The same rules apply as for Ph.D. committees.