First-Year
Masters-Level Report
Before the end of the first twelve-month period of full-time registration, each graduate student will submit to their Thesis Examiners a report which must be uploaded in Pathfinder (Report Description) describing progress to date and future plans concerning both the research project and the coursework. Not later than 13 months after initial graduate registration, the student will meet with their Examining Committee and give an oral presentation describing the area of thesis research, the ultimate objectives of the project, the motivation for the work, and the results to date. In the description below, "Progress" refers to
- progress in research;
- an understanding of the research area; and
- the timely completion of and performance in graduate courses.
Note: the student must submit the first-year report at least one week (seven days) before the meeting to their advisory committee via Pathfinder.
For students not seeking Ph.D. candidacy:
Students not seeking Ph.D. candidacy will remain with the Thesis Examining Committee (examiners) after the First Year Report has been presented, and the Committee will ask questions related primarily to the research. The aim is to assess the student's understanding of the research area. The Thesis Supervisory/Examining Committee will deliberate after the student withdraws from the meeting and decide whether the progress of the student is satisfactory or not satisfactory.
If progress is satisfactory, the Committee will recommend to the Chair of the Graduate Education Committee that the student proceeds with M.Sc. candidacy.
If progress is not satisfactory, the Committee will recommend to the Chair of the Graduate Education Committee that the student is offered a single opportunity to redo the oral presentation and defense of the First Year Report within two (2) months. Following the second presentation and defense, the Committee will recommend the student either:
- proceed with M.Sc. candidacy,
or - withdraw from the program.
For students in or seeking admission to the Ph.D. program:
(Students planning to transfer from the master's to the doctoral, must do so before the end of their 5th term)
Students in or seeking admission to the Ph.D. program will remain with the Thesis Examining/Supervisory Committee after the First Year Report has been presented, and the Committee will conduct an oral comprehensive examination. The student will be asked questions on the research and ancillary topics; questions will be related to the research area but will aim to assess the student's broader understanding of chemistry. The committee will deliberate after the student withdraws from the meeting and decide whether the progress of the student and performance in the oral comprehensive exam is satisfactory or not satisfactory. Please email the to the Graduate Assistant who will obtain the Graduate Chair's signature and send the document to the School of Graduate and Postdoctoral studies to be processed.
For students seeking admission to the Ph.D. program:
If progress is satisfactory and performance in the oral comprehensive exam is satisfactory, the Committee will recommend to the Chair of the Graduate Education Committee that the student is admitted to the Ph.D. program immediately without writing a Master's thesis.
If progress is satisfactory and performance in the oral comprehensive exam is not satisfactory, the Committee will recommend to the Chair of the Graduate Education Committee that the student is offered a single opportunity to redo the comprehensive examination and defense of the First Year Report within two (2) months. Following the second comprehensive examination, the Committee will recommend the student either:
- be admitted to the Ph.D. program immediately without writing a Master's thesis,
- remain in the Master's program, and proceed to write a Master's thesis,
or - withdraw from the program.
If progress is not satisfactory, the Committee will recommend to the Chair of the Graduate Education Committee that the student
- remain in the Master's program, and proceed to write a Master's thesis,
or - withdraw from the program.
Doctoral-Level Report
For students already in the Ph.D. program:
If progress is satisfactory, and performance in the oral comprehensive exam is satisfactory, the Committee will recommend to the Chair of the Graduate Education Committee that the student proceeds with a Ph.D. candidacy.
If progress is satisfactory, and performance in the oral comprehensive exam is not satisfactory, the Committee will recommend to the Chair of the Graduate Education Committee that the student is offered a single opportunity to redo the oral comprehensive examination within two (2) months. Following the second comprehensive examination, the Committee will recommend the student either:
- proceed with Ph.D. candidacy,
or - withdraw from the program.
If progress is not satisfactory, the Committee will recommend to the Chair of the Graduate Education Committee that the student withdraws from the program.
