Academic Research

Welcome current Academic Research grad students

Program Resources:

PDF icon AR Student Handbook

Please remember to regularly visit the Graduate Studies webpage for information for current graduate students.

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Thesis & Project Submission Process

  1. Meet with your advisor and committee to review coursework and thesis proposal. 
  2. Thesis proposal must be approved by your advisor/committee chair, all committee members (or second reader for projects), and the program graduate coordinator.
  3. Submit proposal to Institutional Review Board (IRB) or Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (if research involves humans or non-human vertebrates)
  4. Advance to candidacy by submitting Application for Advancement to Candidacy. 
  5. Successfully defend your final thesis.
  6. Indicate that you intend to graduate by filling out the Intent to Submit form as soon as you decide that this current semester is the semester you want to submit your final thesis/project and graduate
  7. Optional: Enroll in the Thesis & Project Format Tutorial Canvas Course to get on the right track when writing your manuscript. 
  8. Optional: Request courtesy format review prior to your official thesis submission via the digital commons.  Be sure to confirm the cutoff date to request a courtesy review each year. 
  9. Submit your thesis/project through the digital commons. Your committee members and program coordinator will be notified that your work is awaiting their approval. PLAN AHEAD so that all of them will have time to approve your work before the approval deadline. More information about BePress submission and approval is available on the grad studies website.
  10. Once your work has been approved by all of your committee and your graduate coordinator, the Graduate Studies Office will conduct a formal format review. Your work will either be accepted as is, or you will be instructed to make revisions and resubmit for another format review.

Most graduate students apply for candidacy after their first year as a graduate student. Before a student can apply for candidacy the following requirements must be met. You must have:

  • Classified standing (cleared admission deficiencies, if applicable)
  • Completed a minimum of 12 units of coursework for your program
  • A cumulative grade point average of 3.0 or better in all courses taken as a graduate student.
  • Approval of plan to use humans or animals as subjects for research, if applicable. (A copy of the approval letter must be attached to candidacy paperwork) done