Students are assigned a faculty advisor by the Graduate Admissions and Advising Committee (GAAC) upon entry into the program. The academic advisor is responsible for monitoring the student’s progress through the program, mentoring them on course choices and research, and signing the appropriate forms. The minor advisor and minor committee must be chosen by the end of the first semester. By the end of the third semester, the student must choose a Ph.D. dissertation advisor. Upon selection, the dissertation advisor becomes the faculty advisor.
The student and their faculty advisor recommend members of the Oral Comprehensive Examination Committee, the Minor Committee, and the Ph.D. Committee. These recommendations are reviewed by the GAAC and must be approved by the PTYS Department Head.
- The student’s minor advisor chairs the Minor Committee
- The minor advisor must be different from the dissertation advisor.
- The minor committee consists of two or more members chosen from the student’s minor department or program of study.
- Committee members other than University of Arizona faculty require approval of the Graduate College.
- The student’s faculty advisor chairs the Oral Comprehensive Examination Committee.
- The committee consists of five or more members chosen from PTYS/LPL and faculty from related departments. A majority of committee members must be from PTYS/LPL.
- The Oral Comprehensive Examination Committee must include the PTYS standing Oral Comprehensive Examination Committee member. The standing member must be physically present at the examination.
- PTYS does not require that the Oral Comprehensive Examination Committee include members from the minor department. However, some minor departments require that members from the Minor Committee also serve on the Oral Comprehensive Examination Committee. No more than two such non-PTYS/LPL minor committee members may serve on the Oral Comprehensive Examination Committee.
- The student’s dissertation advisor chairs the Ph.D. Committee.
- The committee must consist of five or more members from PTYS /LPL faculty or faculty from related departments. A majority of this committee must be from PTYS/LPL.
- The committee must include at least three members that hold tenure-track teaching appointments at the University of Arizona.
- A majority of the Ph.D. Committee meets with the student once per year following successful completion of the Oral Comprehensive Examination (up to the third year of candidacy) and once every six months thereafter to review the student’s Dissertation Progress Reports.
- The Ph.D. Committee also administers the Final Oral Defense Examination.
- The Ph.D. Committee does not have to include the standing member from the PTYS Oral Comprehensive Examination Committee.
- The Ph.D. Committee does not have to include representatives from minor departments. In some cases, it may be useful to include members from other departments if they have expertise in the student’s research area.
- It is possible to include committee members from other departments at the University of Arizona who do not hold tenure-track teaching appointments, as well as committee members from other institutions. These members must be approved by the Graduate College. For information on how arrange for a “special member” exception, contact PTYS graduate academic advisor.
- The memberships of the Oral Comprehensive Examination and Ph.D. committees are often similar but there is no requirement that they be similar or identical.