One of the first tasks for a thesis/doctoral student is to form a committee. Depending on the degree being pursued, the committee may have three, four, or five members. Sometimes the committee may be larger or smaller. Typically, the thesis/doctoral student is assigned an adviser who is charged with assisting the student in developing a program of studies. This adviser, if the student desires, may remain as the chair/director of the thesis/doctoral committee. Or the student may select another faculty member to serve as the chair of the thesis/doctoral committee. In other words, the thesis/doctoral student has the final say in who serves as the chair of the committee. When selecting the chair, the student should seek a faculty member with whom he or she is compatible and who has similar scholarly interest(s). After the chair has been selected, then the student and the chair should collaborate to select the additional committee members. #doctoralstudents #thesis #dissertation #researchcommittee #researchadivser