Dissertation Advisor and Committee Selection

The Dissertation Committee provides guidance and oversight of the student’s dissertation research and writing. Prior to enrolling in dissertation credit, a student must choose a Dissertation Chair. The Dissertation Chair must be an Economics full-time tenure / tenure-track faculty member, and should be someone who specializes in the area in which the student plans to write a dissertation. If a student is having difficulty selecting a Dissertation Chair, the student can seek advice from the PhD Director or complete directed readings (ECON 896) with different faculty members. 

COMMITTEE SIZE:  Doctoral candidates must have a dissertation committee made up of a Chair and at least two other members (Member #1, Member #2). 

COMMITTEE CHAIR: Must be a Mason Economics full-time tenure / tenure-track faculty member. 

COMMITTEE MEMBERS:  Each dissertation committee must have at least two members in addition to the Chair. The Dissertation Chair should be able to assist in the creation of a dissertation committee.

• Member #1 – must be Mason Economics full-time tenure / tenure-track faculty member
• Member #2 – may be Mason Economics full-time tenure / tenure-track faculty member OR may be from another Mason department full-time tenure / tenure-track faculty member

Additional committee members may be added by qualified individuals with suitable academic training and research experience, either inside or outside the university.

EXCEPTIONS:  Any exceptions must have the approval of the PhD Director and the Dean of the College of Humanities and Social Sciences.

Last updated:  10/25/17