Major Advisor

M.S. in biology students must choose a major research advisor and establish a thesis committee within the first year. Under the circumstances where a major advisor of a graduate student is no longer employed by Alabama State University but has contributed extensively to the student’s dissertation research, that major advisor will be given the opportunity to continue to work with the graduate student as an external advisor. However, the major advisor must send a request to the Chair of the Department for approval to continue in such capacity. Meanwhile the Graduate Program Director upon approval by the department chair will assume the role as internal advisor or co-mentor. The department chair may also designate an individual to serve as the internal advisor. Should the major advisor choose not to continue as an external advisor, the Graduate Program Director will assume the role as major advisor or appoint a member of the student’s dissertation committee to fulfill that role with the consent of the graduate student, the dissertation committee members and the Department Chair.