GraduatePolicyDoc-1

SUNY Optometry/GCVR Graduate Policy Document Amended September 25, 2018

E. Masters Program Research Requirement

1. In consultation with his/her thesis advisor, a Masters student will invite at least two members of the graduate faculty to serve on his/her thesis committee by May 1st of their first year. Since one role of the thesis committee is to resolve any conflicts that may arise between a student and his/her advisor, a member other than the thesis advisor should be named committee chairperson. This committee shall be approved by the Associate Dean. The thesis committee may, if it desires, make use of consultants not on the committee. 2. By no later than June 15 of their first year, a student will write a brief thesis proposal and meet with the committee members to discuss the project and obtain approval and submit a Masters Thesis Committee Progress Report to the Associate Dean. As a proposal, it is anticipated that changes may be made as the research project is executed; students should inform committee members of any significant changes in the project as it progresses. 3. Students are expected to meet with their full Thesis Committee at least once per year (usually in the Spring) in order to discuss the project and assess progress. The committee chairperson will provide a progress report to the Associate Dean after the meeting. 4. Each student must submit a final thesis based upon completion of his/her research activities, which must be approved by the student’s thesis committee. 5. In addition to the written Masters thesis, students will be required to present and defend their work orally in the form of a scheduled talk to the College community, including the thesis committee, followed by a question and answer period. A satisfactory oral presentation, as judged by the student’s thesis committee, is a requirement of the M.S. degree. 6 O.D.-M.S. students are encouraged to finish the written thesis and oral defense before the beginning of their 4 th year of optometry school, particularly if they will be away on externships. 1. The student must complete at least 80 semester credits (see Ph.D. Curriculum requirements, Section IX-B). Candidates are encouraged, in consultation with their advisors, to take advanced seminars and tutorials and relevant course work. 2. The student must have a cumulative grade point average from course work, including research course work, of 3.00 or higher. 3. All students in the PhD Program are expected to attend at least 75% of the SIVR Colloquia and/or VisioNYC, presented each academic year, except during the final semester before submitting their dissertation. 4. All PhD students are expected to give a minimum of one presentation at a national conference per year beginning in Year 3. 5. All PhD students are required to make a yearly oral presentation of their research accomplishments. (see Section IX-D on Oral Presentations.) 6. Students must take and pass a Qualifying exam: (see Section IX-F). After passing this exam, the student will advance to candidacy. IX. DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY (Ph.D.) IN VISION SCIENCE A. Requirements for the Ph.D. degree

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