Student Portal
Thesis/Project timeline checklist
Make sure that this form (Report on thesis or Project Defense) is filled and signed by the advisorThe timeline required to complete your thesis/project is one year for full-time students and up to 2 years for part-time students. It is usually dependent on your choice of the thesis topic and how much you know about it, the research methods you choose to apply, and your knowledge of the thesis/project requirements, in addition to your individual skills in time management and organization. In addition, you need to expect that some delays may occur throughout the process, emerging from multiple causes. It is important to relay all your concerns to your thesis adviser and make sure resources required for your project are available at FHS and AUB. The timeline provided in this manual applies to a full-time MS thesis/project student and is useful to both the student and his/her adviser. The checklist is intended to help you manage your time more efficiently and effectively; however, you will still need to check the dates set by the Office of the Registrar for each academic year, and maintain regular follow-up with your registration adviser. In addition, the timeline provided is tentative and it is desirable to adjust it continually based on your needs, and in communication with the adviser.
A student who plans to collect primary data that involve human subjects need to consult with the thesis adviser to ensure that the time needed is feasible for the planned time of graduation and for the maximum number of residency permitted. In addition, if a student plans to use data collected by a third party, he/she needs to ensure obtaining the data, the administrative and the IRB approval on time from the third party.
The Timeline checklist recommended for thesis/project completion:
General Information |
Progress | |
| Read the General University academic Information | August-September of Year 1 of enrollment | |
| Meet with the MS coordinator to discuss matching research interests | First and Second semester of Year 1 of enrollment | |
| Identify possible Thesis/Project Advisor | End of Summer of Year 1 | |
| Register for Thesis/Project Course and for the Comprehensive exam^: | As soon as you complete your courses | |
| Tentative Proposal Title /Research Question | Summer of Year 1 | |
| Identify thesis/project Committee member(s) | Summer of Year 1 | |
| Discuss and Seek approval of committee members | Fall of Year 1 | |
|
Approval of Proposal By GSC Make sure you use the form: Thesis Title and Thesis Committee for submission to GSC |
Fall of Year 1 At least four months before thesis defense |
|
| Submit to IRB (for thesis/projects that involve human subjects) | As soon as GSC approval is obtained or in parallel to GSC approval | |
| Complete the comprehensive exam | No later than the Fall semester of Year 2# | |
| Start collection and Analysis (as applicable) | As soon as you obtain IRB approval (if applicable) or GSC approval | |
|
Give chapters to Advisor and Committee members for feedback |
As you progress (at least four times) | |
| Schedule a meeting with committee members (if needed) in coordination with your advisor for feedback | As you progress | |
| Schedule Thesis /Project Defense | One month earlier than the Deadline of the Thesis Defense (no later than April of Year 2) | |
| Submit a final draft of your thesis/project to committee members | AT LEAST 2 weeks before your defense. You MUST negotiate this with your committee. Some members may need more time. (By end of March of Year 2) | |
| Make sure that this form (Report on thesis or Project Defense) is filled and signed by the advisor | By the end of the defense | |
|
Deposit a hard copy of the approved thesis to Jafet Library. EPHD requires depositing one copy of the thesis at the EPHD Library. |
Early May of Year 2. Check Table 4. Essential thesis/project deadlines below
|
|
| Follow AUB guidelines for Thesis/Project completion forms & final submissions |
*Thesis/project proposals need to be reviewed and approved by the GSC before they are submitted for IRB approval.
# A student is not allowed to defend her/his thesis unless s/he has passed the comprehensive examination.
^ The comprehensive exam is a written exam for the MS Epidemiology students and an oral exam for the MS in Environmental Health students.
