AHRM Master's Policy Handbook
Master’s Program Progress
ADVISORY COMMITTEE
The major advisor and advisory committee advise the student throughout the program. The major advisor chairs the committee and assists the student in selecting committee members. The major advisor should be selected from the qualified faculty in the student’s subject matter area. Committee members, including the advisor, should be selected based on their experience and expertise as it relates to the student’s research topic. Should the student change research topics after selecting the committee it may be necessary to change committee membership.
Establishing an Advisory Committee
Students should select their graduate committee in consultation with their major advisor. This committee shall be composed of at least three faculty members (including the chairperson) with the necessary background and interest to advise the student. Students may have additional members if special advantage can be derived from their contributions, whether they come from within or outside the department.
Selecting a Major Advisor: Prior to choosing a permanent major advisor, the student is encouraged to discuss possible career goals and research interests with several faculty members. In consultation with the department head, the student should select the major advisor who will serve as chair of the student’s advisory committee for the remainder of the work in this department. This person may be different from the assigned, temporary advisor.
Composition of Committee: In consultation with the major advisor the student selects a minimum of two other committee members. The committee also must be approved by the department head and the Graduate School.
Functions of the Advisory Committee
At minimum, committee meetings must be held for approval of the program of study, approval of the research proposal, and defense of the final thesis. Other meetings may be (and often are) called at the discretion of the major advisor. Occasionally committee members may participate in meetings by sending a proxy, by conference call, or in absentia by sending comments to the major advisor in advance of a meeting. According to Graduate School policy, the latter option is not allowable for final defense meetings unless there are more than the minimum number of committee members on the committee. A master’s thesis defense requires that three members be present. Since many of the faculty on campus are on academic-year (9 month) appointments, meetings are usually not held during the summer term or between sessions. Most faculty have established personal policies regarding their availability during that time.
PLAN OF STUDY
A Plan of Study will be developed by the student and the major advisor in consultation with the student’s committee members, with consideration for the career goals of the student. A formal meeting of the student and the committee should be held to discuss and formally approve the student’s program of study.
The Plan of Study must meet Graduate School requirements for the Master’s degree in addition to the following requirements of the Department of Apparel, Housing, and Resource Management:
- AHRM 5704 Orientation to Research
- AHRM 5944 Graduate Seminar
- Three credits of statistics
- Six credits of AHRM 5994 Research and Thesis or courses equivalent if non-thesis option.
No more than 50% of the graded credit hours needed to satisfy the minimum requirements for the degree may be transferred in from another accredited university. All credits must have earned a B or better, been earned while in good standing in graduate status, and been offered for graduate credit. No grades of “S” or “P” can be transferred. These credits must have been earned within the time limits established by the Graduate School. Research hours earned at another university can not be included on a student’s Plan of Study.
The Plan of Study must be signed by all members of the student’s committee and the graduate program director head before it is sent electronically to the Dean of the Graduate School.
After it is approved by the Graduate School, all revisions or changes in the Plan of Study must be signed by every member of the student’s committee and the graduate program director before submission to the Graduate School for approval. Changes in the Plan of Study require submission of the “Request for Plan of Study Changes” form to the Graduate School.
Sample plans of study suggesting requirements for Apparel thesis, Housing thesis, Housing non-thesis, Resource Management thesis, and Resource Management non-thesis. These plans of study assume adequate preparation at the undergraduate level. If the student’s academic background shows deficiencies, appropriate supporting courses will be recommended, necessitating a proportionately longer time to earn the degree in the chosen area.
RESEARCH PROPOSAL AND THESIS
The Master of Science program (thesis option) includes experience in planning and conducting a formal research project that culminates with a final, written report called a thesis. Technically the thesis is an unpublished report that becomes part of the university’s permanent collection and is available to other researchers.
The thesis is published as an electronic document through Virginia Tech’s electronic thesis and dissertation system (ETD). The document can be released immediately upon submission and approval by the graduate school or the student may choose to limit distribution only to the Virginia Tech community or to block its release completely for a period of time.
Below is a brief description of Department of Apparel, Housing, and Resource Management policies, procedures, and expectation regarding this important phase of the master’s program. From beginning to end, the student is advised to consult frequently with the major advisor and to keep other committee members apprised of progress.
PROPOSAL
Selection of research topic or problem: The first step in the process is to select a research problem that is then approved by all members of the advisory committee. This need not be a formal process, but all members of the advisory committee must be in agreement that the topic is researchable, worthy of study, and possible to complete within a reasonable length of time.
Preparation of the proposal: When the topic is approved, the student, in consultation with the advisory committee, will prepare a more detailed plan of work, i.e., a comprehensive proposal, which will include three main parts: an introduction, a review of relevant literature, and an explanation of the design of the study. Each of these sections is described in some detail below, but it is important to realize that the exact format for the proposal may vary. Note, however, that a conceptual/theoretical framework for the research is required.
The following outline may be useful in developing the thesis proposal:
Introduction
- Background of the problem and justification for the study
- Purpose or general objective(s)
- Statement of the problem or research question(s)
- Theoretical or conceptual background or context
- Specific objectives
- Assumptions, delimitations, and limitations
- Definition of terms, if appropriate
Review of Relevant Literature
- Classic, definitive, or influential research
- Explanation and application of a theoretical (conceptual) framework
- Summary and analysis of the literature as applied to the research problem
Design of the Study
- Variables with operational definitions
- Hypotheses and/or research questions
- Instrument selection or development
- Validity and reliability of sample and/or instrument
- Procedures for pilot testing
- Sampling procedures
- Method of collecting data
- Method of analyzing data
Approval and Modification of Proposal
A formal meeting of the advisory committee shall be held to discuss the proposal. Students should give a draft of the proposal to the committee members at least one week in advance of a proposal meeting. Students should expect to make a brief (15-20 minute) presentation to the committee to summarize the proposal. The final proposal shall be signed by the major advisor and by all members of the advisory committee. A signed corrected copy is then given to each committee member, including the major advisor. In addition, a copy is given to the graduate program coordinator to file in the department office. The proposal approval form must be signed by all committee members and filed with the graduate program coordinator in the department.
It is important to recognize that the proposal serves as a contract between the student, the advisor, and his or her advisory committee that, when approved by all parties, constitutes an agreement that data may be collected and specifies the steps that will be taken to complete the study. As long as the student follows the steps outlined in the proposal at the time it is approved, the advisor and committee members are discouraged from demanding significant changes to the study. However, it is not uncommon for there to be small changes because it is impossible to predict adjustments that may need to be made during the process of collecting and analyzing data.
Thesis
Conducting the Research
Following final approval by the major advisor and committee members, the student may begin to collect data. Presuming committee approval or collecting data before approval is done at the student’s own risk.
Use of Human Subjects
Any research in the university, including thesis research, that involves collecting responses from people must be reviewed and approved by the Institutional Review Board (IRB).
Reporting the Research
Following collection, compilation, and analysis of the data, the report of the research, i.e., the thesis, is written. Requirements for preparation of the thesis are found in the Graduate Catalog in a section titled “Format Requirements for Major Papers/Thesis and Dissertations.” In addition to the requirements and examples found in that section, the following points are helpful:
- Follow the writing and referencing style of The Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association (5th ed.)
- The student should take the initiative to arrange conferences with the major advisor as needed. The advisor expects to have a typed copy of the material to be discussed well in advance of each conference.
- A number of revisions of the thesis usually are necessary as the student works with the major advisor and members of the advisory committee to prepare for the final oral examination.
- A printed copy of the initial draft of the entire thesis should be distributed to each committee member several weeks prior to the final oral examination to allow for discussion of the research project and committee recommendations. The advisor may recommend an informal meeting of the advisory committee to discuss the draft of the thesis and to reach consensus.
- A printed copy of the thesis prepared for presentation at the oral examination shall be given to the major advisor at least three weeks prior to the date of the oral examination and to each member of the committee at least 10 working days before the examination.
FINAL EXAMINATION
The Final Examination will be conducted by the student’s advisory committee after the thesis has been completed. The Final Examination will be oral and will be primarily a critical evaluation (defense) of the thesis. The committee will decide whether the student has passed and suggest any necessary revisions or corrections to the thesis which must be completed before the title page and Electronic Thesis and Dissertation (ETD) form is signed by the committee members.
The student must be registered during the semester in which the final examination is administered and degree requirements are completed. If registration is for GRAD 5864 Master’s Defense, the minimum registration is for 1 hour and the defense must occur within the first 20 class days of the term, including summer sessions. If the defense is at the end of the term, minimum registration is for 3 hours (unless a graduate assistant who must be enrolled full-time).
The student shall consult with the major advisor and committee members to select a date and time for the Final Examination and reserve a room for the meeting. At least two weeks (10 working days) before the date of the final examination, the committee will submit a form “Request to Admit Candidate to the Final Exam”
The invitation to attend the final examination, along with an abstract of the thesis, will be issued to the department faculty and graduate students by the major advisor at least one week prior to the date of the examination.
The final examination is scheduled only during an academic semester or summer term. The final examination card must be obtained by the student from the Graduate School. The signed card shall be returned to the Graduate School as soon as possible after the examination. A copy of the card should be submitted to the department secretary for the student’s file.
To facilitate communication and exchange of information about research in the department, the final examination for all AHRM M.S. students will include:
1. An oral presentation of the thesis (maximum 15-20 minutes) open to all AHRM faculty and graduate students and the university community, and
2. An in-depth examination conducted by the advisory committee. Other faculty may attend.
After passing the oral examination the student has two weeks to clear the thesis with the Graduate School and the department. This includes: 1) making corrections and revisions, 2) collecting signatures of all members of the advisory committee, 3) submitting the thesis electronically to the Graduate School, and 4) submitting one copy of the thesis on 20 lb. bond thesis paper to the department. The department will bind the thesis and maintain a department copy. The Graduate School requires an ETD signature form, signed by all committee members with the submission of the thesis. The major advisor will sign the form after the final corrections are made and the department copy is received. The student will provide final, bound copies of the thesis for the major advisor and each member of the advisory committee if requested. Additional copies may be distributed as deemed appropriate by the student.
COMPREHENSIVE EXAM
Students choosing the non-thesis option will take a comprehensive exam consisting of written and/or graphic and oral portions. The purpose of the exam is to measure comprehension, synthesis, and application of coursework. This examination will be comprehensive over all coursework and knowledge areas. The student’s advisory committee in consultation with the student will decide the content and length of the exam, which will be administered after completion of 27 hours of coursework. It is expected that the student and committee will meet to plan for this examination. A student must be registered for at least three (3) credits during the semester in which the comprehensive exam is administered.
The written/graphic portion of the exam will range from 4 to 8 hours of written and/or graphic work as determined by the committee. The advisor will submit a written request to the Graduate School for scheduling the oral portion of the comprehensive exam. Requests to schedule the exam must be received by the Graduate School at least two (2) weeks prior to the examination date. Those to be present at the exam include the student to be examined, members of the advisory committee, and other interested faculty.
In order to pass any part of the comprehensive exam, a candidate is allowed at most one (1) negative vote. If the student fails the comprehensive exam, one full semester (a minimum of 15 weeks) must elapse before the second examination is scheduled. No more than two opportunities to pass any one examination are allowed.