1. Early in your second year and/or after you have passed the MS Theory Exam, select a thesis topic and advisor. Let the Student Services Counselor (SSC) know who the thesis advisor is.2. After choosing a thesis, set up a supervisory committee.
The committee members will be responsible for reading your thesis. The usual number of people on a committee is two, and includes your thesis advisor and one other Biostatistics faculty member.
3. Important: Go
to the Graduate School web
site for a downloadable copy of their Style and Policy Manual for
Theses and Dissertations before you begin work on your thesis. You must follow the instructions carefully.
There is a thesis advisor at the Graduate School who can help you with
any questions.
Note: you are required to take a
draft of your thesis to the advisor for a preliminary evaluation.
It is recommended you do this as far in advance of graduation as
possible for review. Graduate School services are on a first
come, first serve basis during Finals Week. It is recommended
that you DO NOT WAIT until the last
week. If there are changes, you may not be able to complete them,
obtain signatures, and submit the thesis by the last day of the quarter.
4. Look ahead to the quarter you plan to be finished with the thesis (normally the last quarter of your second year). Contact the SSC and request an audit (review) of your transcript to be sure you have met all of the departmental and Graduate School requirements for graduation.
5. You must apply to graduate during the first seven weeks of that quarter. To do so, use the Graduate School's web site Master's degree request form.
Note: You may apply to graduate between weeks 7 and 9, but you will be charged a $250 late fee.
6. Once you have applied to graduate, contact the SSC. You will be sent an email detailing required procedures for graduation, along with notification that your warrant ("Request for Masters Degree") is ready for pick up.
When your thesis is finished and has been read by your committee members, pick up your warrant (and a GOODBYE form -- Click here for a pdf copy of the Goodbye Form ) from the Student Services Counselor. At least two people from your committee must sign the warrant, and the majority of the signatures must be from Biostatistics faculty.
You must have your committee sign the warrant, and you must return this form to the Student Services Counselor by 3:00p.m. on the last day of the quarter, so that the SSC may recommend your graduation to the Graduate School.
In lieu of signatures, the SSC will accept emails from your committee members. The email must be sent directly to rca@u.washington.edu (no forwards, please), and must include a statement indicating they approve your thesis and graduation for that quarter. Emails must include signature lines (name, title, address, etc.)
Give to the SSC no later than 3:00p.m. on the last day of the quarter (last day of Finals Week):
the signed warrant
a hard-bound copy of your thesis for our permanent collection
the completed GOODBYE form (Click here for a copy of the Goodbye Form)
7. Take two copies of your thesis to the Graduate School by the last day of the quarter (which is always the last day of Finals Week). It is recommended you schedule a final appointment -- final appointments may be scheduled after the preliminary check is complete.
8. If you miss the end of the quarter deadline, you have two options:
a) Graduate Degree Late Fee: this option is intended for students who need to make only MINOR corrections, and can submit the thesis by the 4th week of the following quarter. You must notify the Graduate School that you intend to utilize the late fee option by the last day of the quarter. For more information, visit http://www.grad.washington.edu/area/degreelatefee.html
b) Students with SUBSTANTIAL changes, or those who do not feel four weeks is enough time to complete the thesis submission process, must register for the next quarter (two credits minimum, if self-supported or ten credits if supported by a 50% RA/TA). A new MS degree request form must be filed, and this process repeated.
NON-THESIS MASTER'S DEGREE
- After completing all Ph.D. coursework and qualifying exams, fill out the MS Degree request form at the Graduate School web site. Indicate that you you are applying for a non-thesis MS.
- Once you have submitted the application, notify the Student Services Counselor. A warrant will be generated. You must have the Graduate Program Coordinator, your advisor, and/or the Chair of the Ph.D. Exams Committee sign the warrant. Return this form to the SSC no later than the last day of the quarter. The SSC will make a copy for your file. Your degree will be conferred at the end of that quarter.