Thesis Timeline

Year 1

Fall

  • Start looking for a research lab for your thesis research:

Winter

  • Meet with FSGG faculty, identify a Principal Investigator

Spring

  • Establish your thesis committee (see your PI, Program Director or Program Coordinator for guidance)
  • Write your thesis proposal, get it signed by your entire committee and submit to your Program Coordinator

Summer

  • Thesis research: plan to spend ~20 hours/week on the bench doing your thesis research

Year 2

Fall

  • Complete your thesis research
  • Write your thesis

Winter

  • Write your thesis

Spring

  • During the first week of classes, schedule the time/date for your thesis defense with your committee (see below for timeline of submission and defense dates)
  • Submit your thesis to your committee 4 weeks before your defense date
    • this is a Graduate Studies policy
  • Schedule your thesis defense no more than 2 weeks prior to the Graduate Studies Filing Deadline for the quarter
    • this gives you sufficient time after your defense to make edits to your thesis and have it reviewed by your committee before submission to Graduate Studies

Thesis Defense Guidelines:

The format of the thesis defense meets FEPAC accreditation guidelines. No exceptions will be made, except in extraordinary circumstances.

Your thesis defense is an in-person, public presentation of your thesis research. All of your committee members are required to be present in-person. As soon as you have scheduled a date/time with your committee, contact the Forensic Science Program Coordinator to reserve the classroom at the Forensic Science Center for your defense. The Forensic Science Program office will advertise you defense time and date to the students/faculty in the program.

Format: 1) student gives a 20 – 40 minute presentation, 2) questions from all attendees, 3) student meets with committee for further questions