Department of Consumer and Design Sciences
M.S. in Consumer and Design Sciences
The M.S. in Consumer and Design Sciences offers both a Thesis and a Non-Thesis Option. The Thesis Option requires a minimum of 30 semester hours of graduate level coursework including a research or creative scholarship-based thesis and a final Oral Examination (presentation and defense of the thesis). The Non-Thesis Option requires a minimum of 36 semester hours, a graduate project, and an oral presentation of the project. This Graduate Project may include creative scholarship, case study, course development, or design development. The Plan of Study is highly individualized, based upon the student’s academic background, work experiences, and career goals.
Teaching and/or research assistantships are awarded on a competitive basis, based upon program needs, student qualifications, and funding availability.
The following list suggests topical areas for advanced study in Consumer and Design Sciences:
Beyond basic requirements, each student’s program is tailored to his or her own educational objectives and goals through the selection of courses and topic for the thesis or project. Although coursework is taken primarily within CADS, courses from other departments may be identified as appropriate.
New students are advised by the Graduate Program Officer for their first and perhaps second term. Coursework includes CADS requirements. Following identification of a Major Professor, elective selections are made in communication with and approved by the Major Professor and student’s Graduate Advisory Committee. CADS courses carrying graduate credit (numbered 6000-8000) include regularly scheduled courses and customizable courses that may be taken by a single or small group of students. A list of possible non-CADS supporting courses has been identified by CADS graduate faculty, but others may be suggested by a student.
CADS Requirements
Parallel requirements for Thesis and Non-Thesis Options (13-14 credit hours)
One of the following four theory courses:
One statistics course (3-4 total hours): Selected from a list of choices in consultation with student's Major Professor or GPO
Requirements for the M.S. – Thesis Option:
A minimum of 30 total credit hours required
CADS 7990 Research and Thesis: (4-6 credit hours)
10-13 credit hours in CADS graduate courses; courses outside the Department may be approved for some of these hours.
Requirements for the M.S. -- Non-thesis Option:
A minimum of 36 total credit hours required
CADS 7980 Graduate Project (Non-Thesis) (3-6 credit hours)
16-20 credit hours in CADS graduate courses; courses outside the Department may be approved for some of these hours.
Customized Program
Courses taken beyond the CADS specific requirements should be taken to support the student’s post-graduate goals and fill in gaps in experience or knowledge identified by the student and Graduate Program Officer (first) and ultimately by the Major Professor.
Graduate Advisory Committee
Each master’s student’s Graduate Advisory Committee is typically composed of three faculty – a major professor and two other graduate faculty. It is led by the major professor who succeeds the GPO as advisor. During the first term, students will hear about the graduate faculty’s interest areas in CADS 7060. You are strongly encouraged to schedule meetings with those faculty whose focal areas of research or creative work could link to your interests and goals.
Once you have decided whom you would like to have as your major professor, you ask that professor if he/she is willing. Once you have a major professor, you will begin to talk with him/her about identifying committee members. At least one member has to be CADS graduate faculty. Sometimes a student asks a professor in another department (whose course the student has taken) to be a member, but most often both members are CADS faculty. Sometimes there are reasons to have a third member to make a committee of four total.
Choosing the committee members may not occur until the student and major professor have had some time to discuss the student’s thesis or project interests. The committee must be identified prior to the student being able to complete the Plan of Study. It is students’ responsibility to ask the faculty in person if they will serve on his/her committee.
Plan of Study
The plan of study is each student’s list of courses completed and to be completed to comply with Graduate School and CADS requirements. It is filled out online at http://grad.auburn.edu/degreeworks.html. CADS program requirements are pre-identified within the system. Other courses and terms taken need to be added.
Content of the plan of study should be decided with the major professor prior to going online. Sometimes committee members will suggest courses. Committee members must approve your plan of study. You are strongly encouraged to complete the course planning and Degreeworks entry by the beginning of your third semester. It must be completed one semester prior to the semester in which you graduate.
Once completed, the plan of study can be revised if needed; revisions must be approved by your committee. The Revision to Existing Plan of Study form is available online. Substantial revisions may require filing a new POS in Degreeworks. The Graduate School will audit your Degreeworks plan when you request a graduation check (no later than the end of the semester before you plan to graduate -- Graduation Application and Approval Form (GAAAP).
Dr. Wi-Suk Kwon
Graduate Program Officer
kwonwis@auburn.edu
334-844-4011
