You've survived four years of college, so you're pretty savvy about surviving university life, right? Well, welcome to graduate school, which has a culture and set of bureaucracies all its own. Just when you thought you knew how to write papers, take courses and deal with professors, you will find that the system has somehow changed.
In last week's column we discussed one of the first responsibilities of the graduate student: choosing a supervisor. This week covers the second responsibility: putting together a thesis or dissertation committee.
Every graduate department is a little different, but the basics are essentially the same. If you enter the process with some understanding of your role, and your committee members' roles, then the selection process will be easier for you.
Your team relationship could last four or more years, so you want to make sure you choose people who will benefit your program, and perhaps even your future career, the most. Committee members will be guiding you through the various stages of your research, from research design, piloting, statistical analysis, literature review, research reporting, and thesis defence. They may also have input on course selection and examinations, if these are required. These people may also be offering you moral support during those tough times when your research and writing seem hopeless, useless and interminable ("Why did I ever start this??"). You'll survive, but it can be challenging!
Departments differ in how much flexibility is offered in terms of making changes to your committee once it has been officially set up. It can be difficult and time-consuming to make changes once your research has begun, since new members will have to become familiar with you and your work in progress. It can also be uncomfortable to "dump" a committee member if you still have to study or work in the same department together.
The best advice for committee members will probably come from your supervisor, who will have a great deal of experience in your area of research. He or she will know who the leading experts in that field are, and whose style of research will best match yours (quantitative vs. qualitative, for example). Your supervisor might even suggest people outside your department or university, if your program allows external committee members.
The key thing to remember is that your thesis will be developed by a team of people, not just you. It's in everyone's best interest to work together constructively to create and write up a piece of original, scholarly research that will advance the field.
In last week's column we discussed one of the first responsibilities of the graduate student: choosing a supervisor. This week covers the second responsibility: putting together a thesis or dissertation committee.
Every graduate department is a little different, but the basics are essentially the same. If you enter the process with some understanding of your role, and your committee members' roles, then the selection process will be easier for you.
Your team relationship could last four or more years, so you want to make sure you choose people who will benefit your program, and perhaps even your future career, the most. Committee members will be guiding you through the various stages of your research, from research design, piloting, statistical analysis, literature review, research reporting, and thesis defence. They may also have input on course selection and examinations, if these are required. These people may also be offering you moral support during those tough times when your research and writing seem hopeless, useless and interminable ("Why did I ever start this??"). You'll survive, but it can be challenging!
Departments differ in how much flexibility is offered in terms of making changes to your committee once it has been officially set up. It can be difficult and time-consuming to make changes once your research has begun, since new members will have to become familiar with you and your work in progress. It can also be uncomfortable to "dump" a committee member if you still have to study or work in the same department together.
The best advice for committee members will probably come from your supervisor, who will have a great deal of experience in your area of research. He or she will know who the leading experts in that field are, and whose style of research will best match yours (quantitative vs. qualitative, for example). Your supervisor might even suggest people outside your department or university, if your program allows external committee members.
The key thing to remember is that your thesis will be developed by a team of people, not just you. It's in everyone's best interest to work together constructively to create and write up a piece of original, scholarly research that will advance the field.
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