Finishing your Graduate Degree

1. Take the courses required for your program.  Consult your graduate advisor as needed.

2.  Take comprehensive exams. 4th Semester--mid semester or after.  The Graduate Coordinator will schedule the exam. 

3. Write your paper (B paper or Thesis). 

  • Consult with Grad Advisor (Dr. Brinkman) about Your Committee. This committee will be present at your oral defense.  It is composed of the chair, one member from the Music Dept. and one from another department.  We will pick a chair that seems right for your topic.  You will work with the chair to prepare your paper. 
  • Submit a proposal to the Committee Chair In general, this is a 1-2 page document that explains why you are interested in a topic, why it is important, what you expect to find or do in the paper, and how you think it will apply to your field. In addition, include an annotated bibliography of at least 20 sources that you have examined.  This show that you know something about the topic.  Consult with your Chair before you do this, as individual professors may have differing requirements. Chair will approve it or ask you to revise it.
  • When your chair says you are ready, you will schedule your oral defense.  This is normally done after your comprehensive exams are completed.  You only interact with the other members of the committee at the defense.
  • Suggested timeline for your Plan B paper. 
2nd Semester

 

 3rd Semester

Continue/finish the items past.

 Last Semester

Continue/finish the items from the past

  • Choose a topic and consult with Graduate Coordinator (Dr. Brinkman) about a possible committee chair.
  • Get consent from committee chair to work with you.
  • Consult with your committee chair about the topic
  • Do preliminary research, compile bibliography
  • Submit proposal to your Chair.  Electronic submissions are preferred and will speed the process.

 

 
  • Obtain approval of your proposal from the Grad Committee
  • Consult with your committee chair about the paper 
  • Form a committee.  Your grad advisor and committee chair will help you with with this.
  • Write your paper. Keep in close contact with your committee chair .  Show drafts only to that person.
  • Choose a graduation semester. It can be your last summer, but also can be fall or spring.

Submit your Program of Study form.
  • Submit Anticipated Graduation Date form.
  • Submit the "last draft" to the committee chair at least 4 weeks before your defense..  This will give you a chance to have time to make corrections before your defense.
  • Your writing style must be academic in nature. The thesis statement must be clearly stated in the abstract, introduction, and conclusion. The research must be thorough, sources must be contemporary, and recent journal articles must a part of the research.  You must follow a "writing style" such as APA, Chicago, Turabian, etc.
  • Have your committee chair contact the other members of your committee to schedule a defense date.  Scheduling a defense in the summer can be tricky.  Plan ahead.  Committee members get the paper 2 weeks before the defense.
  • Defend the paper. Make changes as suggested by your committee. 
  • Submit Report of Final Exam form. It is due by the last day of classes. This form is signed when your classes, comps, and paper are complete. Bring it to your defense.

This assumes you are ready to graduate in your 4th summer.

There is a six year rule  You have to finish within 6 years of starting your program.  There is nothing wrong with delaying your graduation a semester or two, but it is not good to have to deal with the 6 year problem.

4.  Oral Defense is a session of 60-90 minutes where you explain, discuss, apply, and defend your paper.  It is a formal end to the process, and is the last thing you do for your degree.

5. Graduate.  Note that there are specific deadlines that have to be met during the semester that you intend to graduate. 

Questions? Contact  Dr. Brinkman