Steps to Completing Your M.S. Degree
Application for Admission to Candidacy (Rainbow Form)
Two months before the beginning of the semester of graduation, you need to submit the “Admission for Candidacy Form” (rainbow form) to the graduate school.
This form identifies all the coursework you will take for the Masters degree. The form must be approved and signed by your graduate committee and the Director of Graduate Studies.
Final Comprehensive Examination and Oral Defense
During the last semester of the coursework or thesis work, students will take their final comprehensive examination.
Students doing a thesis do not have to do a comprehensive examination on their core course work, but those doing a project do. For thesis students, your final oral defense of your thesis research will serve as your comprehensive exam. The committee or any other faculty attending may test you orally on the quality of the thesis research or the competencies that you should have acquired through the Masters Program. So be prepared for any question that your committee might ask.
For those who complete a project the exam will be written. Only one examination will be given which may or may not include questions regarding the project. Your committee chair will get questions from your committee members covering basic core classes. You will be given three weeks to complete these questions if done as a take home exam or you can take the complete exam in the DHPE offices.
Final Project or Thesis Oral Defense
All master’s students will schedule a final project or thesis defense with their chair and let the departmental secretary know one week in advance to advertise your defense to faculty.
You should prepare a formal presentation including a PowerPoint that has been approved in advance by your chair and send to your committee members prior to the scheduled defense.
Upon completion of the comprehensive exam, the committee will file the Report of the Comprehensive Examination.
