Master's Degree Requirements

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Suggested M.A. Timetable

Year 1

Fall
1. Meet with Interim Advisor at start of quarter to decide appropriate class(es) to take in addition to Geog 500 and 598.
2. Consult with relevant faculty about possible research interests.

Winter
1. Determine faculty advisor, and confirm this with Graduate Program Coordinator.
2. Begin discussions about possible thesis topics with advisor and relevant other faculty.
3. Discuss future coursework with advisor, including appropriate methods course.

Spring
1. Determine composition of masters’ committee.
2. Prepare thesis proposal for consideration of advisor and other member(s) of the committee.

Summer
1. Conduct research, as possible, for thesis.

Year 2

Fall
1. Complete additional coursework, as necessary.
2. Continue to research thesis.
3. If possible, begin writing thesis.

Winter and Spring
1. Register for thesis credits.
2. Write and revise thesis.
3. Defend thesis as early as practicable, but no later than the end of May.

Forming a Committee

Incoming students will be assigned an interim advisor.  Students should work with this interim advisor to determine the faculty member most appropriate to serve as the Chair of the student’s committee.  Ideally, this decision will be made by the end of the first quarter, but certainly no later than the middle of the second quarter.  One to three additional members may serve on the student’s committee.  Both the Chair and one other committee member must be on the Geography graduate faculty.

The student’s committee is responsible for ensuring that the student meets all the requirements for the degree.  More importantly, the committee provides the student guidance in developing and executing an original research project.  Ordinarily, the student works most closely with the committee Chair, who oversees the initial drafts of the thesis.  The committee is also responsible for conducting the student’s final examination.

Final Examination for the Master’s Degree

To schedule a final examination, the student must first determine availability from Supervisory Committee members to arrive at a mutually agreed upon date and time for the Final Examination. The student then reserves an appropriate room through the Geography main office (Smith 408).  Finally, the student requests a final MA Exam online, through MyGradProgram.

Students must defend by the last day of the quarter (i.e., last day of the Final Examination Week) and be enrolled in at least two credits (e.g., Geog 700). The student is responsible for giving the complete, near-to-final draft of the thesis to Committee members far enough in advance to ensure adequate time for review.

The Geography GPA will give the student’s Warrant to the Supervisory Committee Chair. The Supervisory Committee should sign the Warrant at the conclusion of the Final Examination. Results of the Final Examination must be reported to the UW Graduate School (by the last day of finals week) by returning the signed Warrant to the student’s permanent file and reporting the exam results to the Geography GPA. A minimum of two Committee members, including the chair, must be present for the final exam to take place; any absent members of the Supervisory Committee must certify the results (i.e., send an email to the SAFS Graduate Advisor with her/his recommendation). If the exam is not satisfactory, the Committee may recommend to the Dean of the UW Graduate School that the student be allowed to take another examination after an interval of study.

In addition to the signed warrant (to be kept in the student’s permanent departmental file), the student must also get signatures on the Master’s Supervisory Committee Approval Form. This form must be signed after all committee members have seen the final version of the MA thesis, and submitted to the Graduate School by the end of the quarter the student wishes to graduate, simultaneously with the electronic submission of the MA thesis. Information about the thesis-filing process can be found at:

http://www.grad.washington.edu/students/etd/info.shtml

As noted, enrollment in at least two credits (e.g., Geog 700) is required during the quarter in which a student takes the Final Examination (i.e., defends), submits the Master’s Supervisory Committee Approval Form, submits the thesis,  thesis, and graduates. The only exception is when a student needs a limited amount of additional time after the last day of the quarter to submit the thesis to the UW Graduate School. Students who submit their theses within fourteen (14) days after the last day of the quarter in which they defended do not have to enroll in two credits if they meet the Graduate Registration Waiver Fee eligibility requirements and submit the thesis and waiver fee by the applicable deadline.