Create a Thesis/Non-Thesis Option in Existing Master’s Program
Overview
A Master’s degree may include a thesis and/or a non-thesis option. The degree type will appear on a student’s transcript. Creating a new thesis or non-thesis option begins with creating a proposal in CIM. Following necessary committee and Provost approvals, the proposal must also be reviewed by the Board of Trustees and the Alabama Commission on Higher Education (ACHE). It typically takes 6-9 months for a new thesis or non-thesis option to be created.
Process Details
To create a new thesis or non-thesis option the originating academic unit should:
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Submit Proposal into CIM
Input the proposed thesis/non-thesis option into the Curriculum Inventory Management System (CIM) for review and approval by appropriate unit, college and university committees. A CIM training guide is available for assistance. Because there are two ways to display the new option in the Bulletin, we strongly recommend contacting the Registrar’s Office at bulletin@auburn.edu prior to submitting the proposal.
University committees (graduate and undergraduate) meet once a month and usually review all proposals received by the first of that month. The undergraduate committee does not meet in the summer months.
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Request Provost Approval and Board Review
Approved Curriculum Model
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Request Alabama Commission on Higher Education Review
Upon Board approval, work with the university’s ACHE Coordinator to prepare and submit the following item for the Alabama Commission on Higher Education:
The Commission meets four times per year.
Process Completion
After approvals, the Registrar will build the new thesis/non-thesis option in Banner to ensure it is operable; this usually occurs within a month of ACHE approval. The new thesis/non-thesis option will appear in the next Bulletin if it is created by the Registrar prior to May 1st.
Questions about process completion should be sent to the ACHE Coordinator.
