Master of Arts Degree Students seeking an M.A. must file a Designation of Major Professor form with the department and the Graduate School. In addition, the Graduate School requires a Master of Arts Program of Study. Once the M.A. an advisory committee has been appointed and approved, any change must be requested in writing using the Request for Change in Advisory Committee form. Committee changes require the approval of the Director of Graduate Studies, in consultation with the major professor of record and, if necessary, the Graduate Program Committee. All current and former committee members must be notified of any change, and a revised Advisory Committee for Master of Arts Candidates form must then be completed and approved by the Director of Graduate Studies. Forming a Ph.D. Advisory Committee The major professor chairs the Ph.D. advisory committee. Students who completed a sociology M.A. at UGA may continue with the same major professor or work with a different faculty member for the remainder of their doctoral studies. No later than the fall semester of Year 3, the student selects a major professor (to chair the dissertation) and, in consultation with that professor, the remaining committee members. A committee has three to five members. At least two must belong to the specialty area in which the student will take the doctoral comprehensive examination (see Appendix E for faculty by specialty area). At least three must be members of the Graduate Faculty holding an appointment in UGA’s Department of Sociology. For additional details on committee composition, students should consult the Graduate Bulletin. The Ph.D. Advisory Committee is responsible for: Planning the Doctoral Program of Study with the student; Preparing and evaluating the written comprehensive examination; Conducting and evaluating the oral comprehensive examination; Conducting and evaluating the dissertation prospectus hearing; Serving on the student’s dissertation committee; and Evaluating the dissertation and participating in the defense. Designating the major professor and doctoral committee requires two forms: Request for Appointment of Major Professor and Advisory Committee for Doctoral Candidates. After the committee is approved, any change requires two more: Request for Change in Advisory Committee–Ph.D. and a revised Advisory Committee for Doctoral Candidates. Changes must be approved in writing by the Director of Graduate Studies, in consultation with the major professor of record and, if necessary, the Graduate Program Committee. All current and former committee members must be notified. Advisory committee forms and any changes are submitted through the Enrolled Student Progress Portal.
