So you want to write a MALAS thesis! Episode 3, the committee…

So you want to write a MALAS thesis!  Episode 3, the committee…

Katelyn May

 

Your thesis committee is a crucial element of the entire thesis process and must be completed in accordance with SDSU’s guidelines. This is where things become much more technical with stricter rules and dates to abide by. But don’t worry, I’m here to walk you through it. 

So what is a committee and why do you need it? Your committee is a minimum group of 3 advisors who will oversee your research and ultimately formally approve your thesis for consideration by the university. You are free to choose your own committee members, though they do have to meet certain criteria. Let’s break this down: 

First and most importantly is your committee Chair. This person will have the most impact on your progression through your thesis. Graduate Affairs requires that the Chair be either a tenured or tenure-track faculty from your home department. For us, that would mean MALAS. Which is great, because MALAS professors spread all across campus with so many different fields to choose from. 

Your second committee member must also be a tenure/tenure-track professor OR professor emeritus, FERP, adjunct professor, or lecturer. Still, this person must be from your home department as well. 

Your third committee member may also be a tenure/tenure-track professor OR professor emeritus, FERP, adjunct professor, or lecturer, however they must be affiliated outside of your home department. As a MALAS student this might get a little confusing because the program involves such a wide variety of faculty. Don’t worry too much about this, I’d suggest choosing someone who is familiar with your area of research who will challenge you to produce your best analysis. Maybe think outside the box a bit on this one, perhaps in a field you might not have considered. If you get stuck here, I recommend asking Bill for suggestions. I found my third committee member just by asking around and ended up working with an awesome professor from the Television and Film department that I hadn’t actually worked with prior. 

You may also have additional committee members who can meet any of the above criteria. If you’re even a little bit confused or worried your choices might not get approved, ask as soon as possible so that you don’t fall behind. Like I said, we’re getting into the technicalities of the thesis writing process, and while there is still a lot of room for you to bring your own ideas and creativity to this step, there are specificities that have to be followed. Just don’t let it scare you, ask too many questions, and you’ll get through it easy-peasy. 

Just make sure that for everyone serving on your committee, their areas of expertise complement your area of focus. For example, my thesis focused on film and philosophy, so it wouldn’t make much sense for me to ask, say, a hotel and tourism professor to serve on my committee. But like I said, MALAS encourages curiosity and dipping into any field that interests you, so there is a lot of flexibility here. Grad Affairs will definitely let you know if your committee selection isn’t up to their standards. In fact, the Dean of Grad Affairs will have to OK your final committee members. 

More info to come on what to expect from Grad Affairs, what they expect from you, and how to complete all the necessary paperwork!