Masters of Science in Sustainable Tourism

Transcription

1 Masters of Science in Sustainable Tourism Graduate Program Handbook East Carolina University Greenville, North Carolina Revised 10/22/2012

2 1. Welcome Welcome to the graduate program in Sustainable Tourism at ECU! We are delighted that you have decided to join us. You are about to embark upon a truly rewarding journey. Over the next two years, you will have many new experiences and discover unique opportunities for intellectual inquiry, camaraderie and personal growth. That does not mean, however, that graduate school will be easy. So, let us begin with a note of caution. By pursuing a graduate degree, you are entering a new and different phase of your academic career and intellectual development. Graduate study is not simply a continuation of your undergraduate degree, but is qualitatively different in a number of important respects. As a graduate student, you will: Begin a transition from being primarily a consumer of knowledge and information to being a producer of knowledge and information. This transition requires different and higherlevel skills than you employed as an undergraduate. Be more independent. Within the requirements of the MS-ST program, you will design your own course of study, academic specialization, and a research agenda. Far more of your time will be spent on primary research and independent scholarly activity than on classroom assignments. Play an important and active role in your courses. Many graduate courses are seminars. By definition, these seminars involve a substantial contribution from all participants and give-and-take between faculty and students. Read and write more than you ever imagined possible! The good news is that most students make this transition quite well, and the faculty affiliated with the Sustainable Tourism degree is here to assist you. You will be pushed to your maximum potential and you will be given every opportunity to achieve success. Graduate school will undoubtedly require hard work. But, when you finally complete your program, you will gain a genuine sense of achievement, and may be justifiably proud of your accomplishments. 2. Purpose This handbook is a guide to the East Carolina University (ECU) graduate program in Sustainable Tourism for Graduate Students and faculty. It is meant as a supplement to the regulations set forth by the East Carolina University Graduate School ( and should be used as a reference for program-level policies and procedures. Exceptions to the policies described herein can be made only in consultation with and formal written approval by, the Graduate Program Director and the student s advisor. The program graduate committee will then decide whether to grant or decline the student s petition for an exception. 2

3 3. Administration of the Graduate Program The Graduate Program Director (GPD) manages the Sustainable Tourism graduate program. The Director, in consultation with the Graduate Program Executive Committee (GPEC), generally has decision-making power over admissions and degree requirements. The GPEX is confirmed by the full Faculty Graduate Program Committee (FGPC) of the MS-ST each fall. Students or faculty who wish to appeal a decision of the GPEC should seek remedy from the full FGPC. The Center s GPD also serves as the program s representative to the ECU Graduate School. 4. Graduate Professional Development Beyond the formal requirements and coursework, there are numerous opportunities for professional, scholarly, and social enrichment at the Center for Sustainable Tourism and through participating partners and departments. These include guest speakers from other universities and institutions, professional meetings and conferences, the Students for Sustainable Tourism organization and many informal field trips and social opportunities. These opportunities for learning and networking are an integral part of graduate training and are invaluable for professional development. While we recognize that students have lives and responsibilities beyond ECU, we also expect graduate students to actively contribute to the intellectual climate and scholarly culture of the program. 5. Degree Options Specific degree requirements are set forth in the Graduate catalog for the year in which students enter the program. The MS-ST is managed by the Center for Sustainable Tourism with oversight from an interdisciplinary faculty advisory committee (Faculty Graduate Program Committee). The Sustainable Tourism degree is designed for individuals interested in the tourism profession with a focus on sustainability as it applies to economic success, social and cultural vitality and equity, environmental conservation, and the long term health of hosts and tourists alike. The MS-ST prepares students for managerial or regulatory positions in the profession and for relevant PhD programs. There are two distinct versions of the M.S. degree: thesis and non-thesis. Students must declare which option they will pursue, generally at the beginning of their second semester. The degree program requires a minimum of 34 (thesis) to 37 (non-thesis) semester hours. These hours include courses in the common core made up of required courses, research methods and statistics, and directed electives. Directed electives are chosen, in consultation with the student s advisor, from a range of disciplines that provide exposure to the examination of social, economic and environmental issues from a variety of perspectives. The listing of directed electives can be obtained from the Graduate Program Director Thesis Option The Thesis Option is the standard option for students who want the opportunity to engage in independent scholarly research on a topic of interest, culminating in the writing of a thesis. This is the intended option of this unique degree program and the preferred option of both the Graduate School and the Division of Research and Graduate Studies. The degree requires 34 hours of coursework including 13 hours of required courses (SUTO 6000, 6100, 6200, 6300, 6700) and 6 hours of thesis credit (SUTO 7000). The format is flexible and can include the traditional chapter-by-chapter format or, for some, an intended journal article(s) is acceptable. 3

4 A typical 2-year program under the Thesis Option: YEAR 1 YEAR 2 Fall SUTO 6000: Principles of Tourism and Sustainability (3 s.h.) SUTO 6100: Environmental Systems and Sustainability (3 s.h.) SUTO 6700: Research Seminar in Sustainable Tourism (1 s.h.) Research Methods (3 s.h.) Spring SUTO 6200: Development and Mgmt. of Sustainable Tourism (3 s.h.) SUTO 6300: Planning and Policy of Sustainable Tourism (3 s.h.) Research Methods (3 s.h.) 5.2. Non-Thesis Option The Non-Thesis Option can be pursued with special permission from the GPD and is suited for students interested in pursuing a research topic through opportunities such as writing a review article, conducting a capstone project, completing an applied research project for an industry, government, or non-governmental client, or completing an in-depth analysis under the supervision of a faculty mentor. The non-thesis option requires 37 hours of coursework including the required common core (SUTO 6000, 6100, 6200, 6300, 6700, 6 s.h. of Research Methods and Statistics, and 9 s.h. of Directed Electives). Students selecting the non-thesis option complete electives including at least three credits of independent study or directed research under the guidance of a faculty mentor. The other 6 s.h. of electives should be carefully chosen to enhance professional success within an area of the industry. Please be aware that some experiences serve better than others as a basis for scholarly inquiry. It is the student s responsibility to identify a suitable non-thesis opportunity early in their program, and to specify how the experience will be related to the sustainable tourism literature. At the conclusion of the non-thesis project, students are required to prepare a professional report, which is generally written on behalf of a specific client or constituency. In addition, non-thesis students will complete a written exam followed by an oral defense. A typical 2-year program under the Non-Thesis Option: YEAR 1 YEAR 2 Fall Directed Elective (3 s.h.) Directed Elective (3 s.h.) Directed Elective (3 s.h.) Fall SUTO 6000: Principles of Tourism and Sustainability (3 s.h.) SUTO 6100: Environmental Systems and Sustainability (3s.h.) SUTO 6700: Research Seminar in Sustainable Tourism (1 s.h.) Research Methods (3 s.h.) Spring SUTO 6200: Development and Mgmt of Sustainable Tourism (3 s.h.) SUTO 6300: Planning and Policy of Sustainability (3 s.h.) Research Methods (3 s.h.) Fall Directed Elective (3 s.h.) Directed Elective (3 s.h.) Directed Elective (3 s.h.) Spring SUTO 7000: Thesis (3 s.h.) SUTO 7000: Thesis (3 s.h.) Independent St./ Internship (3s.h.) Elective (3 s.h.) Elective (3 s.h.) 4

5 6. Coursework and Grade Policies 6.1 Course Schedule The typical course load is three courses, or 9 hours, per semester. In some cases, 12 or even 15 hours may be taken, although this is generally discouraged. For most purposes, a student is considered full-time if they are registered for 9 or more hours in a given semester. An exception is made for thesis students in the last semester of their program. A student registered for SUTO 7000, (3 or 6 credit hours), is considered by the registrar to be a full-time student and eligible to continue on assistantship. A student must be registered for at least 5 hours to be considered halftime, the threshold to delay repayment of student loans. 6.2 Advising All course selections must be approved by the student s academic advisor. The GPD will serve initially as temporary advisor, but students should select a permanent advisor before the beginning of their second semester. Advisors must be members of the graduate faculty. Students may change their advisor upon mutual agreement between the student, the new advisor and the GPD. It should be noted that as a professional courtesy, students are expected to discuss this change in advisor with their former advisor and the Director before a final change occurs. 6.3 Common Core The Common Core courses are designed to provide students with a solid foundation in the philosophical and methodological approaches commonly used in sustainable tourism, and to facilitate the preparation of a thesis or non-thesis topic proposal. All students are required to take the 19 s.h. common core courses SUTO Courses The five courses offered with the SUTO prefix are as follows: SUTO 6000 (Principles of Tourism and Sustainability), SUTO 6100 (Environmental Systems and Sustainability), SUTO 6200 (Development and Management of Sustainable Tourism), SUTO 6300 (Planning and Policy of Sustainable Tourism) and SUTO 6700 (Research Seminar in Sustainable Tourism) Research Methods (Includes both a methods course and a statistics course) In addition to the five SUTO courses, all students are required to choose a minimum of 6 s.h. of research methods and statistics. The courses must be approved by the student s advisor (or the Graduate Program Director) and should reflect the methodological approach (quantitative or qualitative) to be used in the student s thesis or project. Possible courses are listed below but this is not an exhaustive list: SOCI 6212, 6213 Social Statistics (3) RCLS 6300 Statistics and Analysis in Health and Human Performance (3) ECON 6301 Econometrics I (3) PSYC 6430 Statistics and Research Design (3) RCLS 6110 Research Methods in Recreational Therapy and Recreation Leisure Services (3) GEOG 6150 Quantitative Methods in Geography (3) OMGT 6213 Operations and Supply Chain Management (3) PLAN 6301 GIS and CAD Application for Planning (3) 5

6 6.4 Directed Electives Elective courses should be chosen in consultation with the student s advisor. Students are encouraged to select courses that combine to form a coherent program of study. These electives are to reflect upon the triple bottom line critical elements of sustainability studies. Students in the non-thesis option should select two additional electives (3 s.h. each) of coursework that directly supplements or enhances their non-thesis project focus or career development. A list of directed electives is available from the GPD. 6.5 Independent Study, Research, Internship An Independent Study is a scholarly exploration of a specified topic, carried out under the direction of a faculty member. A student wishing to undertake an independent study must fill out an Independent Study Proposal Form, detailing the scope of work to be pursued and the means of evaluation. The form must be signed by the supervising faculty member and filed with the graduate secretary. Independent studies cannot be used as an alternative to a regular graduate or undergraduate course. No more than 6 hours of coursework in the form of independent study may count toward the degree without the approval of the GPD and the Faculty Graduate Program Committee. 6.6 Thesis and Internship Credit SUTO 7000 (Thesis) is a required 6-hour course within the Thesis Option. It is designed to provide students with the time necessary to work toward completion of the thesis, generally in the second year. Thesis courses are graded pass/fail. A grade of S (satisfactory-progress) or U (unsatisfactory progress) will be assigned by the registrar until all requirements for the degree have been met, including the successful defense of the thesis. The grade of S will denote satisfactory progress in research; credit hours will be included in attempted and earned hours. The grade of U will denote unsatisfactory progress in research; credits will not be earned but credit hours will be included in attempted hours. After successful defense of the thesis and approval by the Graduate Dean, the grade of R will be assigned by the Registrar s Office upon receipt of the Thesis Acknowledgement Form from the Graduate School. Grades of S, U, and R will carry no quality points and will not be included in the calculation of grade point averages. Any grade of Q (in progress) in 7000 courses on a student s record from terms prior to spring 2011 will be replaced with a grade of S at the time of completion and approval of the thesis. Both thesis and non-thesis students can elect to take a Sustainable Tourism Internship (SUTO 6400). In combination, internship hours may total a minimum of 3 hours but not more than 6 hours toward the degree. Students wishing to enroll in Internship hours must submit an Internship Project and Duties Form describing their expected duties and evaluation process. 6.7 Grade Policies and Incompletes According to ECU Graduate School Policy, students receiving a grade of C or F in courses totaling more than 6 hours will have their program terminated. In addition, students must maintain an average grade of B or risk having their program terminated. 6

7 If a student receives a grade of Incomplete for any course, they are given one year to complete the coursework. After one year any grade of I will automatically become an F. It is the student s responsibility to ensure that a Change of Grade form is submitted by the appropriate faculty member once an Incomplete has been resolved. 7. Program Steps and Milestones Graduate Students should adhere to the schedule below if they plan to complete the program in two years. Meeting the milestones listed below and summarized in Tables 1 and 2 is considered satisfactory progress toward completion of the degree. Failure to meet them can jeopardize financial aid. It is the responsibility of the student (not the advisor) to see that any necessary paperwork is completed at the appropriate time. Note that, according to graduate school policy, any course taken more than six years ago may not count toward a degree. That is, students who do not complete their program in six years will be required to repeat coursework in order to receive their degree. 7

8 Table 1: Summary and Checklist of Graduate Program Milestones Thesis Option First semester Courses to enroll: SUTO 6000, SUTO 6100, SUTO 6700 and a research methods course Identify a thesis topic Second semester Identify an advisor Courses to enroll: SUTO 6200, SUTO 6300 and a research method (statistics) course Assemble a thesis committee (2 members plus your chair) Write and defend thesis proposal Submit Topic Approval Form; Submit for IRB approval if appropriate Summer Begin working on thesis! Third semester Begin writing thesis/internship report Directed electives Submit the Graduate Application for Graduation form Fourth semester Directed electives if needed Finish writing thesis Schedule defense Defend thesis (student s committee conducts the defense) Submit electronic thesis to the graduate school Follow Graduate School guidelines for electronic submission of thesis Return keys and fill out Alumni Contact Sheet 8

9 Table 2: Summary and Checklist of Graduate Program Milestones Non-Thesis Option First semester Courses to enroll: SUTO 6000, SUTO 6100, SUTO6700 and a research methods course Second semester Identify an advisor Courses to enroll: SUTO 6200, SUTO 6300 and a research methods (statistics) course Identify suitable non-thesis topic Submit Topic Approval Form; submit for IRB approval if appropriate Summer Begin working on project! Third semester Begin writing thesis/internship report Directed electives Submit the Graduate Application for Graduation form Fourth semester Directed electives if needed Finish writing non-thesis report Schedule a comprehensive exam (The exam committee will be comprised of the student s advisor and a subcommittee of the Faculty Advisory Committee) Oral defense of project and comprehensive exam Return keys and fill out Alumni Contact Sheet 9

10 7.1 First Year Milestones Thesis Committee The thesis committee consists of an advisor (the committee chairperson) and two additional faculty members. No more than two committee members may be from the same department on campus. Additional members, formal or informal, may be added to any committee by mutual agreement between student and advisor Thesis Proposal Students writing a thesis will develop a written proposal by the end of their first year, and give an oral presentation of the proposal to faculty and students. This proposal must show the linkage and integration of sustainability to the research topic. The advisor has discretion over the length and format of the document, but in general the proposal should include a review of the relevant literature, and clearly describe the research questions, theoretical framework, methodology and expected outcomes of the thesis. Copies of the proposal will be distributed to the advisor and committee members about two weeks prior to the oral presentation of the proposal. The proposal defense will take place at the end of the student s second semester. The defense will begin with a presentation by the student of approximately 15 minutes, followed by questions from the audience and then a defense before the committee. The student s advisor and committee members will confer and vote pass or fail on the proposal. If the outcome of the vote is not unanimous, the student s committee will decide upon additional requirements. The advisor will submit a written pass/fail evaluation of the proposal to the GPD soon after the presentation Thesis or Internship Topic Approval Form Both thesis and non-thesis students will submit a Topic Approval Form normally at the end of the second semester after a topic has been identified, the committee has been formed (for thesis students), and the proposal has been successfully defended. It should be filled out by the student, signed by the advisor and the Director of Graduate Studies, and filed with the graduate secretary. 7.2 Second Year Milestones Graduate Application for Graduation This form is available from the Graduate School or Registrar s Office and must be filled out by the student the semester prior to that in which he/she plans to graduate. This will normally occur at the end of the student s third semester. At the time of application, students will be required by the graduate school to complete an on-line graduate student exit survey The Thesis or Non-Thesis Report The M.S. thesis should represent a substantial piece of original, innovative research and must show the linkage and integration of sustainability to the research topic. Guidelines for preparation and presentation of thesis texts are available from the Graduate School. The student and advisor should agree in advance on a referencing style. Normally, the student and advisor consult until the advisor feels the thesis draft is of sufficient quality to be reviewed by the committee. The draft is then submitted to the entire committee. The committee may elect to require further work or modifications, or determine that the thesis is ready to defend. 10

11 The M.S. non-thesis report should represent a combination of knowledge gained in the academic environment and application of this knowledge to the real world and to solve practical problems. It should include a substantial piece of original and innovative research and thinking and demonstrate how practical problems or issues are addressed and solved within the profession. Guidelines and referencing styles used for theses can be used in the internship report. Generally, the student and advisor should consult until the advisor feels that the report is of sufficient quality to be graded. Content from the report and the report itself may be included for discussion and review in the comprehensive exam Timing and Scheduling of the Thesis Defense or Comprehensive Exam Thesis Defense - When the committee determines that the thesis is ready to defend, a date is set. As a matter of courtesy and pragmatism, students should allow committee members at least two weeks to evaluate the draft thesis. It is the responsibility of the student to publicize the date and reserve a room for the defense by making arrangements with the graduate secretary. Non-Thesis: Comprehensive Exam In the last semester prior to graduation, the student in consultation with his or her advisor should schedule a comprehensive exam. The exam will be conducted by the exam committee which is made up of the student s advisor and two members of the Faculty Graduate Program Committee. The exam has two parts, a written exam covering materials contained in the five core SUTO courses and questions related to the non-thesis project. A follow up oral exam is scheduled to further discuss the written exam and matters related to the project. Graduation Schedules - Students wishing to graduate in the spring semester usually face a mid- April deadline for successfully defending their thesis or taking the comprehensive exam (see the current Graduate School Academic Calendar for the exact dates). To meet a Spring deadline, students are strongly advised to complete a final draft of their thesis or internship report no later than March 15, in order to ensure sufficient time for edits and revisions. Students who are registered in the Spring Semester but do not finish their degree requirements may graduate in the summer without re-registering or paying tuition. Please note however, that faculty members are frequently unavailable during summer months. Students should not expect to receive significant input from their advisor or committees and will likely have to work around busy schedules. For a summer graduation, the deadline for the successful defense of the thesis or internship project is usually in mid-july. To meet a Summer Session deadline, students are strongly advised to complete a final draft of their thesis or non-thesis report no later than June 15, in order to ensure sufficient time for edits and revisions. Students anticipating a defense or completion at other times of the year should consult the current Academic Calendar for deadlines. If a student has accumulated sufficient hours for their degree, they no longer need to register for classes while finishing a thesis or non-thesis report. An inactive student, however, must apply for readmission to the graduate school, and must be registered for at least one credit hour during the semester in which they intend to graduate. 11

12 7.2.4 The Thesis Defense The thesis defense represents the final assessment of the student s knowledge in his or her area of expertise and the quality of the research project. This defense will normally take place in the student s fourth semester. Students should allow at least two weeks advance notice, so that those interested will have an opportunity to review the manuscript. A copy of the manuscript should be made available in the Center for Sustainable Tourism during this period. The defense should be well publicized and all sustainable tourism faculty and graduate students invited to attend. The thesis defense will begin with a 15 to 20 minute presentation by the student, highlighting the major findings and implications of the thesis research. Following a brief question-and-answer period, the committee will meet in closed session with the candidate for the formal defense. The committee may ask questions about the research documented in the thesis and further assess the student s knowledge in the area of expertise. After the committee s questioning period, the committee will determine whether the student has passed or failed. Students passing the defense should expect that they will have to make additional changes to the thesis to remedy deficiencies identified by the committee. Students failing the defense should work with their committee to correct problems and schedule a future defense Electronic Submission of Thesis The Graduate School has strict guidelines governing the formatting of any ECU thesis and requires submission of electronic theses. Students should consult the Graduate School s website for details. Upon completion of all required revisions, the student must print out the thesis signature page and have it signed by the student s advisor, committee and the program chairperson. Students will give the GPD a copy of the final thesis once the thesis signature page has been given to the Graduate School and the electronic thesis submission is complete Before you leave Students are reminded to please turn in all keys and fill out an Alumni Contact Sheet at the time of graduation. We wish you well please keep in touch! 8. Departmental Assistantships Departmental assistantships are awarded on a competitive basis, and provide modest stipends to students in exchange for employment. The number and dollar value of assistantships are dependent upon both levels of funding and the nature of the student applicant pool, and may vary from year to year. Generally, there are two types of funding. Graduate Assistantships (GAs) are funded by the ECU graduate school and allocated by the Director of the Center for Sustainable Tourism and the Graduate Program Director. Research Assistantships (RAs) are associated with external research grants to individual faculty, and are awarded at the discretion of the grant recipient in consultation with the GPD and the Director of the CST. Assistantships are awarded on a semester-by-semester basis. Continued funding is contingent upon both satisfactory progress toward the degree and acceptable performance of assistantship duties. Students are not typically funded for more than four semesters. 12

13 8.1 Duties, Responsibilities, and Evaluations The typical Graduate or Research Assistant works 20 hours per week depending on funding level. Assistants are responsible for doing their jobs during all times school is in session, regardless of the demands placed on them by course or thesis work and generally involve employment under the supervision of one or more faculty members. GA s are expected to meet with their faculty supervisor at the beginning of each semester to set up a work schedule, and should check in frequently throughout the semester. RA duties will be determined by the faculty member in charge of the grant. Graduate Assistants will be evaluated at the end of each semester, and poor performance may result in the discontinuation of funding. 9. Tuition Remissions The Center for Sustainable Tourism awards a limited number of out-of-state tuition remissions to individual students on a competitive basis. Students receiving a remission pay tuition at the rate of a North Carolina resident. Remissions will not automatically be renewed for a second year, and students are strongly encouraged to take the necessary steps to secure North Carolina residency by the beginning of their second year. Remission students who leave their assistantship or drop courses will be responsible for re-paying their remissions in full. Remissions may not be used to pay for distance education courses. 10. North Carolina Residency Out of state students who are US citizens may qualify for North Carolina residency (and thus in-state tuition rates) after one year if certain conditions are met. Information about the requirements and application procedures for residency can be found at the graduate school web site. 11. Desks, Offices and Labs The Center has a limited amount of graduate student office space. Priority will be given to students receiving assistantships. Desks and offices are intended to be active work spaces, not storage closets or social areas. Students who are not making appropriate use of their office space will have their desk reassigned to another student. Please endeavor to keep program and Center facilities neat and clean. Use of Center equipment is limited to work-related activities, and students should refrain from using computers or printers for personal matters. 12. Affiliate Faculty Affiliate faculty are those faculty who share an interest and enthusiasm for the Center's mission, conduct tourism research activities in conjunction with the Center, serve as thesis advisors and members, and mentor students working on sustainable tourism related research. They represent the four colleges which are the pillars of the Center and the degree program and numerous departments and disciplines including biology, communications, economics, hospitality, geography, maritime history, recreation and leisure studies, international studies, sociology, English, construction management, physics, engineering, interior design and business, among others. 13

14 13. Key Websites related to the Program and Application ECU Graduate School ECU Graduate Catalog ECU Graduate School Application Information ECU Graduate School Listing of Graduate Programs Tuition and Fees Center for Sustainable Tourism, ECU MS in Sustainable Tourism East Carolina University 14

15 M.S. in Sustainable Tourism Thesis Option (34 s.h.) Name: Click here to enter text. Banner ID#: Click here to enter text. Phone Number: Click here to enter text. Course Semester Hours Common Core (19 s.h.) SUTO Courses (13 s.h.) SUTO SUTO SUTO SUTO SUTO Research Methods (6 s.h.) METHODS 3 STATISTICS 3 Directed Electives (9 s.h) ECONOMIC 3 ENVIROMENTAL 3 SOCIAL 3 Thesis Option (6 s.h.) SUTO SUTO Grade Semester Enrolled 15

16 M.S. in Sustainable Tourism Non-Thesis Option (37 s.h.) Name: Click here to enter text. Banner ID#: Click here to enter text. Phone Number: Click here to enter text. Course Semester Hours Common Core (19 s.h.) SUTO Courses (13 s.h.) SUTO SUTO SUTO SUTO SUTO Research Methods / Statistics (6 s.h.) METHODS 3 STATISTICS 3 Grade Semester Enrolled Directed Electives (9 s.h) ECONOMIC 3 ENVIRONMENTAL 3 SOCIAL 3 Non-Thesis Option (9 s.h.) Independent Study, Research, Internship 3 Elective 3 Elective

17 Description of Internship, Independent Study or Non-Thesis Project Student: Click here to enter text. Date: Click here to enter a date. Semester/Summer Session: Click here to enter text. Internship location, if appropriate: Click here to enter text. Description of Tasks, Duties, Responsibilities (Please attach additional page(s) if desired). Course Number and Credits: 1. Goals: 2. Leaning Outcomes: What will be learned a. Objective: b. Objective: c. Objective: 3. Tasks to be Accomplished: 4. Proposed Time-Line: 5. Evaluation (Graded A, B, C, F) Rubric for the grade is as follows: Signatures: Student Date Faculty Supervisor (Advisor or DGS) Date 17

18 Pre-Thesis Research Approval Form Before beginning thesis research, this check list should be completed by the master s candidate in conjunction with the thesis advisor. Please NOTE: All thesis research must be approved by the thesis advisor and the Unit Graduate Program Director. All students whose thesis project involves human subjects must have their proposed research approved by the University and Medical Center Institutional Review Board (UMCIRB) before beginning the studies involving those subjects. Likewise, all students whose projects involve animals must have their proposed research approved by the Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC) before beginning those studies. A copy of the appropriate IRB, IACUC or Biosafety approval must be included in the Appendix of the completed thesis. Date Student name, phone number, and address: Working Title of Thesis Research: Have you selected an appropriate director for your master s work? Name Have you selected an appropriate committee for your master s work? If so, please list: Has your proposed research been reviewed and approved by your thesis director? Does your research involve human subjects? Has it been approved by the UMCIRB? If not, when will it be reviewed for approval? Does your research involve animals? 18

19 Has it been approved by the IACUC? If not, when will it be reviewed for approval? Does your research involve potential biohazards such as recumbent DNA, viral vectors, infectious agents, human blood products etc? Approvals: Has it been approved by the by the Biosafety Committee? If not, when will it be reviewed for approval? Thesis Director Signature Date Program Director Signature Date Acknowledgement of Receipt by Graduate School: Dean of the Graduate School or designee Date 19