• Thesis Proposal
• Thesis Committee
• Thesis Enrollment and Credit
• Fee Reduction
• Thesis Deadlines and Approval Process
  

    Reapplication for the Degree.  If a student fails to complete the degree requirements in time for his or her planned graduation, the student must reapply for the next (or later) graduation by contacting the Office of the Graduate College.  Reapplication for the degree must be filed in the Office of the Graduate College within the period announced in the University Academic Calendar for degree application.

Thesis Requirements for a Master’s Degree
    If a student elects to follow the thesis option for the degree, a committee to direct the written thesis will be assigned by the department chair in conference with the student.  The thesis must demonstrate the student’s capability for research and independent thought.  Preparation of the thesis must be in conformity with the Graduate College Guide to Preparing and Submitting a Thesis or Dissertation.  The thesis handbook may be accessed at http://www.gradcollege.txstate.edu/docs/Thesis_Diss_Guide.pdf.
    Thesis Proposal. The student must submit an official Proposed Research form to his or her Thesis Committee.  The required thesis proposal form may be obtained from the Office of the Graduate College or at http://www.gradcollege.txstate.edu/Thes-Diss_Info/T-D_Forms. After obtaining committee members’ signatures and the department chair’s signature, the student must submit the thesis proposal form to the Dean of the Graduate College for approval before proceeding with research on the thesis.  It is recommended the thesis proposal form be submitted to the Dean of the Graduate College by the end of the student’s enrollment in 5399A.
    Thesis Committee. The Thesis Committee must be composed of a minimum of three approved graduate faculty members.
    Thesis Enrollment and Credit. Enrollment for the thesis will be recorded as course number 5399A for a student’s initial thesis enrollment and 5399B for each subsequent thesis enrollment in the field in which the subject matter of the thesis falls, e.g., Biology 5399A, English 5399A, English 5399B, etc.  Preliminary discussions regarding the selection of a topic and assignment to a supervisor will not require enrollment for the thesis course.
    A student will be required to enroll in and pay the fee for at least three hours of the thesis course during any semester in which the student will receive thesis supervision or guidance.  Failure to register for the thesis course during a semester in which supervision is received may result in postponement of graduation.  After initial enrollment in 5399A, the student will continue to enroll in 5399B as long as it takes to complete the thesis.  In the rare case when a student has not previously enrolled in thesis and plans to work on and complete the thesis in one semester, the student will enroll in both 5399A and 5399B.  The student will receive a grade of “PR,” in progress, until the thesis is completed and submitted to the Texas State Alkek Library.  A maximum total of six-semester hours credit (“CR”) will be awarded only after the thesis is filed in the Texas State Alkek Library, the binding fee is paid, and the librarian has electronically returned the thesis card to the Office of the Graduate College.
    A student who has selected the thesis option must be registered for the thesis course during the semester or Summer I (during summer the thesis course runs ten weeks for both sessions) in which the degree will be conferred.  The only exception to this rule will be when the thesis has been approved by the Graduate College and submitted to the Texas State Alkek Library for binding prior to the first class day of the succeeding semester, and all other graduation requirements have been met.  In this case the candidate need not enroll in thesis the succeeding semester in which the degree is conferred.
    Fee Reduction. A master’s or doctoral degree candidate for graduation may be eligible for a one-time fee reduction under V.T.C.A, Education Code, Section 54.054.  Please refer to the section titled Fee Reduction in the Additional Fees and Expenses chapter of this catalog for more information.
    Thesis Deadlines and Approval Process. Thesis deadlines are posted at the start of each semester at the following web page: http://www.gradcollege.txstate.edu/Current_Students/Graduation.html#Applying_for_Graduation. The completed thesis must be submitted to the chair of the Thesis Committee no later than 36 days before the date of the commencement at which the degree is to be conferred.
    The following must be submitted to the Office of the Graduate College no later than 23 days, not counting weekends or holidays, before the date of commencement at which the degree is to be conferred:

1. One (1) copy of the thesis in final form on standard paper (Traditional Submission Option) or
   on a CD as a single file non-encrypted PDF together with a signed Electronic Thesis and Dissertation (ETD) Access Agreement form (Electronic Submission Option).
2. The signature page(s), on the same bond paper as required for the thesis that is to be bound by the Alkek Library, bearing original signatures of the committee members.  Two signature pages are required for the Traditional Submission Option and one signature page is required for the Electronic Submission Option.

    After the Dean of the Graduate College approves the thesis, the process is as follows:

1. Pick up the thesis and signature page(s).  The Office of the Graduate College will electronically send the thesis card to the Alkek Library.
2. For the Traditional Submission Option take two (2) copies of the thesis including the two (2) signature pages to the circulation desk in the Alkek Library.  Pay the binding fee.  The Alkek Library will bind additional copies.
   

   For the Electronic Submission Option take one (1) copy of the thesis including the signature page to the circulation desk in the Alkek Library; the Graduate College will submit the PDF and ETD form to the Alkek Library.  Pay the binding fee.  The Alkek Library will bind additional copies.

3. Submit the thesis to the Alkek Library no later than 5:00 p.m. on the Thursday one week preceding graduation.

Dissertation Requirements for Doctoral Degrees
    The dissertation must demonstrate the student’s capability for original scholarly contribution to the field of study.  Preparation of the dissertation must be in conformity with the Graduate College Guide to Preparing and Submitting a Thesis or Dissertation.  The Guide may be accessed at http://www.gradcollege.txstate.edu/docs/Thesis_Diss_Guide.pdf.
    Dissertation Committee. The Dissertation Committee must be composed of approved doctoral graduate faculty members.  The minimum number of committee members varies by doctoral program.  The student should consult with the Ph.D. Program Director regarding committee composition.  To form the Dissertation Committee, the Ph.D. Dissertation Committee Request form must be completed and signed by the student, committee members, Committee Chair, Ph.D. Program Director and the department Chair and then forwarded to the Dean of the Graduate College for approval and signature.  The required Ph.D. Dissertation Committee Request form may be obtained from the Office of the Graduate College or at http://www.gradcollege.txstate.edu/Thes-Diss_Info/T-D_Forms.
    Dissertation Proposal. The student must submit the dissertation proposal and an official Ph.D. Dissertation Proposal form to his or her Dissertation Committee.  The required Ph.D. Dissertation Proposal form may be obtained from the Office of the Graduate College or at http://www.gradcollege.txstate.edu/Thes-Diss_Info/T-D_Forms. After obtaining committee members’ signatures, Ph.D. Program Director’s signature and the department Chair’s signature, the student must submit the Ph.D. Dissertation Proposal form and one copy of the proposal to the Dean of the Graduate College for approval before proceeding with research on the dissertation.
    Each Ph.D. program prepares its own procedures for the dissertation proposal defense.  The procedures may be obtained from the Ph.D. Program Director.  Following the dissertation proposal defense, members of the dissertation committee, the Ph.D. Program Director and the department Chair sign the Defense of the Dissertation Proposal form.  The form is then submitted to the Dean of the Graduate College.  The required Defense of the Dissertation Proposal form may be obtained from the Office of the Graduate College or at http://www.gradcollege.txstate.edu/Thes-Diss_Info/T-D_Forms.
    Dissertation Enrollment and Credit. A Ph.D. student may begin enrolling in a dissertation course during the semester following completion of required course work as specified by the Ph.D. program.  Once the student begins enrolling in a dissertation course, the student must continue to enroll in a dissertation course until the dissertation has been completed, defended and submitted to the Texas State Alkek Library.  The minimum hours of required dissertation credit varies by Ph.D. program.  The student will receive a grade of “PR,” in progress, until the dissertation is completed and submitted to the Alkek Library.  The minimum number of hours of dissertation credit (“CR”), as specified by the Ph.D. program, will be awarded only after the dissertation is filed in the Alkek Library, the binding fee is paid, and the librarian has electronically returned the dissertation card to the Office of the Graduate College.
    A student must be registered for a dissertation course during the semester or Summer I (during summer the dissertation course runs ten weeks for both sessions) in which the degree will be conferred.  The only exception to this rule will be when the dissertation has been approved by the Graduate College and submitted to the Alkek Library for binding prior to the first class day of the succeeding semester, and all other graduation requirements have been met.  In this case, and this case only, the candidate need not enroll in dissertation the succeeding semester in which the degree is conferred.
    Fee Reduction. A master’s or doctoral degree candidate for graduation may be eligible for a one-time fee reduction under V.T.C.A, Education Code, Section 54.054.  Please refer to the section titled Fee Reduction in the Additional Fees and Expenses chapter of this catalog for more information.
    Dissertation Deadlines and Approval Process. Dissertation deadlines are posted at the start of each semester at the following web page: http://www.gradcollege.txstate.edu/Current_Students/Graduation.html#Applying_for_Graduation. The completed dissertation must be submitted to the chair of the Dissertation Committee no later than 60 days before the date of the commencement at which the degree is to be conferred.
    The following must be submitted to the Office of the Graduate College no later than 26 days, not counting weekends or holidays, before the date of commencement at which the degree is to be conferred:

1. One (1) copy of the dissertation in final form on standard paper (Traditional Submission Option) or
   on a CD as a single file non-encrypted PDF together with a signed Electronic Thesis and Dissertation (ETD) Access Agreement form (Electronic Submission Option).
   Some doctoral programs may require additional copies; check with the Ph.D. Program Director regarding additional program requirements.
2. The signature page(s), on the same bond paper as required for the dissertation that is to be bound by the Alkek Library, bearing original signatures of the committee members.  Two signature pages are required for the Traditional Submission Option and one signature page is required for the Electronic Submission Option.   Extra signature pages may be included for additional copies of the dissertation that the student wants bound for personal use.

    After the Dean of the Graduate College approves the dissertation, the process is as follows:

1. Pick up the dissertation and signature page(s).  The Office of the Graduate College will electronically send the dissertation card to the Alkek Library.
2. For the Traditional Submission Option take two (2) copies of the dissertation including the two (2) signature pages to the circulation desk in the Alkek Library.  Pay the binding fee.  The Alkek Library will bind additional copies submitted that the student wants bound for personal use.
   For the Electronic Submission Option take one (1) copy of the dissertation including the signature page to the circulation desk in the Alkek Library; the Graduate College will submit the PDF and ETD form to the Alkek Library. Pay the binding fee. The Alkek Library will bind additional copies submitted that the student wants bound for personal use.
3. Ph.D. students must also submit the following to Alkek Library: Doctoral Dissertation Agreement; one copy of the Dissertation Abstract; dissertation publishing fee; and submission of the copyright fee (optional).
4. Submit the dissertation to the Alkek Library no later than 5:00 p.m. on the Thursday one week preceding graduation.