Current practice in the GEOS department concerning the MS thesis proposal seems to be:
- Advisor works with candidate to define thesis. Candidate prepares
- proposal document (up to 10 pages including figures and references; should include timeline)
- presentation (about 20 min; should include hypothesis or research question, background, etc.)
- Candidate, advisor and advisory committee members attend proposal
- Proposal is public and may be attended by any interested student or faculty
- The advisor presides over the proposal meeting, introduces the candidate, etc.
- At the proposal meeting, the candidate...
- gives brief overview of his/her background (home town, undergrad, etc.)
- gives presentation (about 20 min) on proposed research
- answers committee questions
- Committee asks questions to clarify or set scope on proposed research.
- No committee vote is taken. Committee members either
- approve the proposal by remaining on the committee, or
- disapprove the proposal by stepping off the committee