Updated 2/4/2013

Documents

University Graduate Catalog --  see especially the sections concerning Grade Point Average Requirement, Dismissal, and Time Limits

M.A. Thesis Final Examination Guidelines

Dissertation Final Examination Guidelines

Style Guide & Instructions for Typing Thesis and Dissertations

Policy on and Leaves of Absence for Funded Graduate Students

Graduate Handbook (Fall 2011)

Graduate Student Travel Funding Policy

Kent State University administrative policy regarding cheating and plagiarism

Forms

MA Level [M1-M6]

M1 — NEW Graduate Student Progress Record

• Fill out in the first semester of the program and continue updating each semester. Contact Dr. Kalkhoff if you need the old forms (i.e., prior to Fall 2011).
  

M2 — KSU Notification of Approved Thesis Topic 

• Fill out no later than the semester before the formal thesis defense at the required proposal/prospectus defense. NOTE: This document must be filled out and IRB approval must be obtained before you begin data collection. Return the completed form to the Sociology main office and one of the assistants will hand deliver it to the Office of Graduate Affairs (108 Bowman). You may deliver it yourself if you wish.
  

M3 — Report of Thesis Final Examination 

• Fill out at the thesis defense. NOTE: The oral defense of the thesis must occur by the deadline for graduation in any semester. Check the College of Arts & Sciences "dates and deadlines" web page for semester-specific dates. The completed thesis should be submitted to committee members at least 10 days (but preferably two weeks) prior to the defense. No "pre-oral" meeting (without the student) is required for the M.A. thesis. Return the completed form to the Sociology main office and one of the assistants will hand deliver it to the Office of Graduate Affairs (108 Bowman). You may deliver it yourself if you wish.

M4 — Thesis Preparation Approval Form

• Fill out after the thesis has been successfully defended and a few weeks before graduation. You should deposit your final document with the university electronically. Instructions are available here: http://www.library.kent.edu/page/15258. Check the College of Arts & Sciences web page for the filing deadline. Return the completed form to the Sociology main office and one of the assistants will hand deliver it to the Office of Graduate Affairs (108 Bowman). You may deliver it yourself if you wish.

M5a — Application for Graduation with Arts & Sciences - THESIS 

• There is no longer a form for this application. To apply for graduation, log in to Flashline and click on "Application for Graduation" under the "Student Tools & Courses" tab. Make sure you apply for graduation in the semester prior to the semester you intend to graduate. Check the College of Arts & Sciences "dates and deadlines" web page for the application deadline.
  

M5b — Application for Graduation with Arts & Sciences - NON-THESIS 

• There is no longer a form for this application. To apply for graduation, log in to Flashline and click on "Application for Graduation" under the "Student Tools & Courses" tab. Make sure you apply for graduation in the semester prior to the semester you intend to graduate. Check the College of Arts & Sciences "dates and deadlines" web page for the application deadline .
  

M6 — M.A. thesis defense announcement template - Post in suitable locations around the department at least a week prior to the scheduled defense.

PhD Level [P1-P8]

P1 — New Graduate Student Progress Record

• Fill out in the first semester of the Ph.D.  program and continue updating each semester (same file as M1 above). Contact Dr. Kalkhoff if you need the old form(s) (i.e., prior to Fall 2011).
  

P2 — Declaration of Comprehensive Examination Areas

• Fill out the semester before you take the comprehensive exams. This form should be completed by April 1 for a fall semester exam and by December 1 for a spring semester exam.
  

P3 — Report of Doctoral Candidacy Examination

• Fill out after passing both comprehensive exams. Return the completed form to the Sociology main office and one of the assistants will hand deliver it to the Office of Graduate Affairs (108 Bowman). You may deliver it yourself if you wish.

P4 — KSU Notification of Approved Dissertation Topic and Prospectus 

• Fill out no later than the semester before the dissertation defense at the required proposal/prospectus defense. NOTE: This document must be filled out and IRB approval must be obtained before you begin data collection. Return the completed form to the Sociology main office and one of the assistants will hand deliver it to the Office of Graduate Affairs (108 Bowman). You may deliver it yourself if you wish.

P5 — KSU Report of Dissertation Final Examination 

• Fill out at the dissertation defense. NOTE: The oral defense of the dissertation must occur by the deadline for graduation in any semester. Check the College of Arts & Sciences "dates and deadlines" web page for semester-specific dates. The completed dissertation should be submitted to all committee members at least 10 days prior to the required pre-oral committee meeting (without the student). At the pre-oral, the committee should agree that the dissertation is ready for defense prior to the formal oral defense. The oral defense with the candidate should be scheduled no sooner than 10 days after the pre-oral meeting. For more details, see the "Dissertation Final Examination Guidelines" document (above). Return the completed form to the Sociology main office and one of the assistants will hand deliver it to the Office of Graduate Affairs (108 Bowman). You may deliver it yourself if you wish.

P6 — Dissertation Preparation Approval Form

• Fill out after the dissertation has been successfully defended and a few weeks before graduation. You must deposit your final document with the university electronically. Instructions are available here: http://www.library.kent.edu/page/15258. Check the College of Arts & Sciences "dates and deadlines" web page for the filing deadline. Return the completed form to the Sociology main office and one of the assistants will hand deliver it to the Office of Graduate Affairs (108 Bowman). You may deliver it yourself if you wish.

P7 — Application for Graduation with Arts & Sciences 

• There is no longer a form for this application. To apply for graduation, log in to Flashline and click on "Application for Graduation" under the "Student Tools & Courses" tab. Make sure you apply for graduation in the semester prior to the semester you intend to graduate. Check the College of Arts & Sciences "dates and deadlines" web page for the application deadline.
  

P8 — Dissertation defense announcement template - Post in suitable locations around the department at least a week prior to the scheduled defense.

Additional Forms for All Graduate Students [MP1-MP8]

MP1 — KSU, Request for Exception to Full-time Enrollment Requirements for Graduate Assistant

• Fill out the semester before the semester in which you would like the exception. Return the completed form to the Sociology main office and one of the assistants will hand deliver it to the Office of Graduate Affairs (108 Bowman). You may deliver it yourself if you wish.

MP2 — Department of Sociology, Petition for Graduate Level Individual Study

• Fill out several weeks before the semester in which you plan to do individual study.

MP3 — Notice of Matriculation

• Fill out this form if you wish to continue on in the Ph.D. program after completing your M.A. thesis in the Department. Submit this form no later than February 1 (for fall matriculation) to avoid a disruption in funding.Return the completed form to the Sociology main office and one of the assistants will hand deliver it to the Office of Graduate Affairs (108 Bowman). You may deliver it yourself if you wish.

MP4 — Petition for Approval of TA/GA Dual Employment

• Used under rare circumstances. Consult the Graduate Coordinator before filling out this form.
  

MP5 — KSU, Approval for acceptance of graduate coursework at northeast Ohio public universities 

• Fill out the semester before the semester in which you would like to take a course at another Ohio university.

MP6 — Re-application for Graduation, KSU 

• If you filled out the application for graduation form but didn’t graduate in the specified semester, fill out this form.  [Again, submit it the semester prior to the semester you intend to graduate.] Return the completed form to the Sociology main office and one of the assistants will hand deliver it to the Office of Graduate Affairs (108 Bowman). You may deliver it yourself if you wish.

MP7 — Application for Graduate Reenrollment

• Fill this out when you return from an approved leave of absence. Leaves are approved by submitting a formal request (in writing) to the Graduate Coordinator. Before submitting a request, please see the university policy regarding Short-Term Absences and Leaves of Absence for Funded Graduate Students (pp. 5-9).
  

MP8 — Declaration or Change of Advisor Form

• Fill this out when you declare a faculty advisor or anytime you change advisors. New MA students should aim to declare an advisor by the end of their first semester. This form can be completed again anytime a change is desired.