Interdisciplinary Studies Committees

Thank you!

The Interdisciplinary Studies program relies on the generosity of faculty throughout the University to share their expertise with our students. We are very grateful for the support you show them and the time you invest in their success!

Committee Responsibilities & Standards

Whether students work on a project or a thesis, serving on their committees is the same in Interdisciplinary Studies as in any other program. Committee members' responsibilities include guidance on the research process, feedback on student work, approval of research proposals, approval of the project/thesis itself, and communication with other committee members when necessary.

Students are expected to build time into their process for multiple rounds of review, both for the proposal and the  final deliverable. Interdisciplinary Studies emphasizes the importance of working ahead and not leaving submission to the last minute starting at new-student orientation.

Mores specific guidance for faculty serving on project or thesis committees, including how to determine the number of credits associated with student work, is available for download from the sidebar at right.

Committee Composition

All Interdisciplinary Studies committees--whether project or thesis--must be chaired by a member of the Mason graduate faculty. For the other members, the composition of a project or thesis committees differs somewhat. Every member of a thesis committee must be Mason graduate faculty, but project committees are more diverse. The second reader can be Mason faculty of any type, and the third reader can be Mason faculty of any type or a practitioner in a relevant field, so long as they hold at least a master's degree. 

For More Information

For more information about Interdisciplinary Studies requirements, standards, policies, or procedures, you can:

We have also consolidated key information for serving on project or thesis committees in two handouts, available for download at right.