Standards and Procedures

Academic Common Market

The purpose of the Academic Common Market (ACM) is to share specified academic degree programs between states located at southern public colleges and universities. This is accomplished through an exchange of students across borders at in-state rates.

The motivation for this cooperation continues to be:

  1. eliminating unnecessary duplication among the states, in that it is impractical for any institution or single state to develop or maintain degree programs in every field of knowledge,
  2. to support existing degree programs that have the capacity to serve additional students, and
  3. to provide access and encourage movement across state lines for programs not available in a student’s home state.

ACM Overview

  1. Be a resident of one of 15 participating SREB states.
  2. Student learns of the ACM and contacts SREB or home state coordinator to determine eligible programs.  Please note that Texas participates in the ACM only at the graduate level (master's, doctoral, and related degrees) for both in-state and out-of-state students.
  3. Student applies for and is accepted to an ACM-approved program.
  4. Student applies for certification of residency through their home state coordinator.
  5. State coordinator certifies student and notifies institution.
  6. Institution grants in-state status or waiver for out-of-state fees.

Texas Residents

For Texas residents looking to study out of state, the first step is to confirm that a comparable program at the same degree level is not already offered at a Texas public university. Visit the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board website to search for degree programs in Texas.

If there are no programs at Texas public institutions that have at least 50% comparable required coursework, then the graduate student can apply for the ACM by following instructions on the Texas ACM website.           

General information about the Academic Common Market can be found on the SREB website.  For specific questions about Texas participation, send an email to ACMrequests@thecb.state.tx.us or call Jessica Acton at (512) 427-6214.

Residents of Other Participating States

Residents looking to study at Texas A&M should contact the ACM coordinator at the graduate student’s home institution or home state. The contact information for each participating state can be found on the SREB website.

Once the student is approved, the Texas State Coordinator will communicate with the Texas A&M ACM Coordinator who arranges with the appropriate institution officials.

A detailed list of approved Texas A&M programs, concentrations, and eligible states is available on the SREB website.  A summary of the approved Texas A&M programs is given below.

ACM List of Approved Texas A&M University Programs

  • Master of Science in Animal Breeding
  • Master of Arts in Anthropology
  • Doctor of Philosophy in Anthropology
  • Master of Arts Conservation Archaeology in Anthropology
  • Master of Arts Nautical Archaeology in Anthropology
  • Doctor of Philosophy Nautical Archaeology in Anthropology
  • Master of Architecture in Architecture
  • Master of Science in Architecture
  • Doctor of Philosophy in Architecture
  • Master of Science in Athletic Training
  • Doctor of Philosophy in Educational Psychology: Learning Sciences
  • Master of Health Administration in Health Policy and Management
  • Master of Science in Land Development
  • Master of Urban Planning in Landscape Architecture and Urban Planning
  • Master of Marine Resources Management in Marine Resources Management
  • Master of Science in Master of Real Estate Program
  • Master of Engineering in Nuclear Engineering
  • Master of Science in Nuclear Engineering
  • Doctor of Philosophy in Nuclear Engineering
  • Master of Engineering in Ocean Engineering
  • Master of Science in Ocean Engineering
  • Doctor of Philosophy in Ocean Engineering
  • Master of Science in Oceanography
  • Doctor of Philosophy in Oceanography
  • Master of Wildlife Science in Wildlife Science

 Academic Common Market Electronic Campus Program

The ACM/EC enables graduate students to pursue eligible degree programs via distance or e-learning without leaving their home state, work, and other commitments.

ACM/ED Overview

Residents of 15 SREB states may participate in the SREB Academic Common Market Electronic Campus program. States and students alike enjoy significant savings. States do not have to provide costly, specialized programs that are available to their residents through initiative, and students who enroll in other states’ programs do not have to pay the higher out-of-state tuition rates.

Academic Common Market Electronic Campus waivers of out-of-state tuition are available only if certain conditions are met:

  • No public college or university in the student’s home state (state of residence) offers a degree program in his or her chosen field of study.
  • The program is available in another SREB state that participates in the ACM/EC.
  • The program is available through distance learning.
  • The student meets admissions requirements of the college or university that offers the program.
  • The student is certified as a resident of his or her home state.

Review the programs available in the ACM Electronic Campus 

The approval process is the same as stated above for ACM.

ACM/EC List of Approved Texas A&M University Programs

  • Graduate Certificate in Advanced International Affairs
  • Graduate Certificate in Homeland Security
  • Graduate Certificate in Statistics
  • Master of Engineering in Petroleum Engineering

English Language Proficiency Requirement

Verification for International Graduate Student Admissions

All international graduate students whose native language is not English must meet minimum English Language Proficiency standards.

For admission to Texas A&M University, international graduate students must attain Level 3 Verification.

Level 3 Verification can be attained using the following:

  • a TOEFL score of at least 80 on TOEFL iBT (550 paper-based) or 8.5 on TOEFL Essentials;
  • an IELTS score of at least 6.0;
  • a GRE Verbal Reasoning score of at least 146 (400 on the old scale);
  • a GMAT Verbal score of at least 22; or
  • acquiring Alternative Verification during the admission process from the Graduate and Professional School via a request submitted by Colleges, Departments, or interdisciplinary degree programs.  An international graduate student holding a master’s degree or completing all years of a bachelor’s degree or higher from an accredited institution located in the United States qualifies for Alternative Verification.

Individual Colleges, Departments, or interdisciplinary degree programs may choose to establish proficiency standards that exceed the University minimums listed above.  Scores from TOEFL-iBT, TOEFL Essentials, and IELTS examinations administered more than two years before submission of the admissions application are not eligible for use in attaining English Language Proficiency Verification.

The Office of Admissions will exempt applicants who are citizens of certain English-speaking countries from the English Language Proficiency Requirement for admission and will consider these students Level 3 Verified. Refer to the list of exempted countries on the Office of Admissions website.

Refer to the Graduate and Professional School website for more information regarding English Language Proficiency requirements.

Certification for International Graduate Students Serving in Teaching Positions

For eligibility to hold a teaching position at Texas A&M University – such as Graduate Assistant-Teaching (GAT), Instructor, Lecturer, etc. – the State of Texas Education Code (Section 51-917) and university guidelines require international graduate students to meet minimum English Language Proficiency standards beyond those required for admission.

International graduate students who wish to serve in teaching positions must meet the English Language Proficiency Requirement before hiring by achieving requisite scores on the oral component of a standardized language examination (see chart below). Colleges, Departments, and interdisciplinary degree programs may also request Alternative Certification under certain conditions (see details below).

If international graduate students who wish to serve in teaching positions do not achieve requisite standardized test scores prior to enrollment at the university, they can achieve certification by passing the oral skills assessment of the English Language Proficiency Exam (ELPE) offered by Texas A&M Testing Services.

Eligibility Levels for International Graduate Students Serving in Teaching Positions

Level 1: Eligible. Students eligible for teaching assignments.

Level 2: Conditionally Eligible. Students conditionally eligible for teaching assignments for one semester only. Must simultaneously enroll in the Texas A&M University Center for Teaching Excellence English Language Proficiency (CTE-ELP) program. The student must achieve a Level 1 certifying score on the ELPE oral skills assessment or the speaking section of a global standardized test (TOEFL, TOEFL Essentials, or IELTS) by the end of the semester of conditional eligibility.

Level 3: Ineligible. Students not eligible for teaching assignments. Ineligible students who wish to be considered for future employment should participate in spoken language training (such as that offered by the university’s CTE-ELP or other independent English language instruction providers) to assist them in meeting English Language Proficiency requirements. They will remain ineligible until they achieve a Level 1 certifying score on the ELPE oral skills assessment or the speaking section of one of the global standardized tests (TOEFL, TOEFL Essentials, or IELTS).

 

Eligibility Levels for
International Students
to Serve in
Teaching Positions

Global Standardized Tests

Locally Administered Exam
(on Texas A&M Campus)
Level

TOEFL Essentials

Speaking Section

TOEFL

Speaking Section

IELTS

Speaking Section

ELPE

Oral Exam

1. Eligible ≥ 11 26-30 ≥ 8.0 ≥ 80
2. Conditionally Eligible 9-10 23-25 7.0-7.5 ≥ 75
3. Ineligible ≤ 8 < 23 < 7.0 < 75
 

Alternative Certification for International Graduate Students Serving in Teaching Positions

Colleges, Departments, and interdisciplinary degree programs have the option to request Alternative Certification from the Graduate and Professional School on behalf of international graduate students who wish to serve in a teaching position. Alternative Certification can be attained using the following:

  • An international graduate student who has received a baccalaureate degree following four years of study at an accredited institution located in the United States qualifies for Alternative Certification. Texas A&M requires an official transcript be submitted to the Office of Admissions denoting the degree conferral date. Please Note: An international graduate student holding a master’s degree from an accredited United States institution qualifies for Level 3 Verification, but not Level 1 Certification.
  • Colleges, Departments, and interdisciplinary degree programs can request Alternative Certification for an international graduate student who is a citizen of certain English-speaking countries. Refer to the list of accepted countries on the Office of Admissions website.

All other requests for Alternative Certification require strong College, Department, or interdisciplinary degree program justification.  The Graduate and Professional School will evaluate requests on a case-by-case basis.

English Language Proficiency Examination

The English Language Proficiency Examination (ELPE) evaluates English skill in the area of oral communication. The examination is designed to evaluate the test-taker’s understandability and accuracy in verbal use of the English language. The assessment is conducted by a panel of two or three trained individuals, and the interviewers undergo pre-session training to ensure common standards.

Successful completion of the ELPE can provide Level 1 Certification as required by the State of Texas and Texas A&M University before a graduate student is eligible to serve as a Graduate Assistant-Teacher (GAT), Graduate Assistant-Lecturer (GAL), or in any other teaching position with instructional or curricular support responsibilities. More information regarding the English Language Proficiency Requirements may be found on the Graduate and Professional School website.

Visit the Testing Services website for more information on upcoming exam dates and how to register for the English Language Proficiency Exam.

Intellectual Property

The ownership, management and commercialization of system-owned Intellectual Property and Tangible Research Property are set forth in System Policy 17.01 Intellectual Property Management and Commercialization. Intellectual Property reflects, collectively, all forms of intellectual property including but not limited to issued patents, patent applications, patentable inventions, (including without limitation those inventions where the System has decided not to file for patent protection or has deferred a decision to file for patent protection, or a patent application is not currently filed), plant variety protection certificates, copyrightable works, trademarks, mask works and trade secrets. The System recognizes and affirms the traditional academic freedom of its faculty and staff to publish pedagogical, scholarly, or artistic works without restriction. In keeping with this philosophy, the System does not claim copyright to pedagogical, scholarly, or artistic works, regardless of their form of expression, unless required by a funding or research contract. Such works include, but are not limited to, copyrightable works of students created in the course of their education, such as dissertations, papers and journal articles. Authors of copyrightable works that are not owned by the System, its members, or another party such as a research sponsor, own the copyright in their works and are free to publish them, register the copyright, and receive any revenues which may result.

Accordingly, copyrightable works may be owned by the student/author/creator, by multiple individuals (such as a research team or co-authors of a publication), by the System, by a System member, or by another party such as a research sponsor. Factors that require consideration in determining ownership include:

  1. whether or not the intellectual property was conceived or developed as a result of activities related to an individual’s employment responsibilities and/or with support from university-administered funds, facilities or personnel;
  2. whether or not the intellectual property was conceived or developed in the course of, or resulting from, research supported by a grant or contract with the Federal Government, state government, a nonprofit, or for-profit nongovernmental entity; and,
  3. the individual collaborators, relative contributions of each individual, and agreements among creators of the work.

It is required that the student identifies in the thesis, dissertation or record of study any collaborators, contributors, and sources of financial support (unless prohibited through contractual agreements) in carrying out the research or in publications presented in the thesis/dissertation/record of study. It is also required that the student clearly indicate what the student’s independent contributions were to the work. The advisory committee is responsible for ensuring that the student’s independent contribution is sufficient to represent a thesis, dissertation, or record of study.

Oak Ridge Associated Universities

Since 1950, students and faculty of Texas A&M University and its branch campuses have benefited from membership in Oak Ridge Associated Universities (ORAU). ORAU provides innovative scientific and technical solutions to advance national priorities in science, education, security, and health. Through specialized teams of experts, unique laboratory capabilities, and a consortium of more than 145 major colleges and universities, ORAU works with federal, state, local, and commercial organizations to advance national priorities and serve the public interest by integrating academic, government and scientific resources globally.

ORAU operates the Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education (ORISE), a Department of Energy (DOE) asset that is dedicated to enabling critical scientific research and health initiatives of the department and its laboratory system by providing world class expertise in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) workforce development; scientific and technical reviews; and the evaluation of radiation exposure and environmental contamination. ORISE collects, manages and analyzes health data on current and former workers; conducts epidemiological studies and health surveillance; and provides technical assistance in the protection of human subjects. ORISE works closely with DOE to administer its Human Subjects Protection Program, which ensures the rights and protection of human research participants in all research funded by DOE, conducted at DOE institutions, or performed by DOE employees or their contractors. ORISE supports DOE Institutional Review Boards for oversight of research activities and in keeping the public informed on the types of research DOE commissions.

The Research and University Partnerships Office at ORAU actively works with our research staff, subject matter experts, and member universities to connect expertise with government and private sector organizations to create mutually-beneficial partnerships for innovation in scientific research and education. Through the university consortium and strategic partnerships, ORAU brings together university faculty and students to collaborate with ORAU experts on major scientific initiatives that strengthen America’s leading edge in science and technology.

For more information about ORAU and its programs, visit www.orau.org or contact:

Jack Baldauf
Vice President for Research
ORAU Councilor for Texas A&M University
(979) 845-8585

Requirements for Graduate Teaching Assistants

The Teaching Assistant Training and Evaluation Program (TATEP) is intended to improve undergraduate teaching, enhance the classroom experiences of Graduate Teaching Assistants (TA), and respond to the need for more systematic preparation and evaluation of TAs. For international TAs, it will supplement programs already in place to evaluate and promote English language competency.

Current Components of TATEP

  • University-Level TA Training – New TAs’ attendance at the Center for Teaching Excellence (CTE) Teaching Assistant Institute (TAI) is mandatory. TAs whose first teaching assignment is for the new academic year and TAs who have not previously completed TA training are required to attend the TA Institute on the date assigned to their College by the Graduate and Professional School. The TA Institute is offered twice a year, once each fall and spring semester. By the twelfth class day in the fall and spring semesters, departments will enter all TAs employed by their department in the TATEP Compliance System. Departmental and college-level users of the TATEP system will be able to view certificates of students who completed all elements of the TAI one week after the final institute date. Departments wishing to offer training through their department-level TA training program equivalent to the TAI may apply for a “Request for Teaching Assistant Institute Waiver”. Approval for waivers is granted by the CTE for a three-year period. Departments must reapply for a waiver every three years.  Departments are required to submit a syllabus outlining the departmental training program for new TAs, as well as copies of training materials for new TAs.  Departments with a waiver should still enter their teaching assistants into the TATEP system by the twelfth class day each semester.  
  • Discipline Specific TA Training – Discipline-specific training for new TAs will be provided at the College or Department level. The nature of this training, while varying widely across different disciplines, will complement university-level training and will address the unique and specific needs of graduate students serving as TAs within their disciplines. Discipline-specific training will expose new TAs to the specific patterns of behavior, systematic methods, classroom management, and/or instructional practices associated with successful teaching within their disciplines.
  • TA Evaluation – Each academic department employing TAs shall develop an appropriate set of procedures and evaluation instruments to employ in monitoring the performance of TAs each semester. Departments will share their evaluation and feedback process in their departmental reports each year.
  • TATEP Reporting – Each department will submit a compliance report using the Departmental Compliance Report Template by the due date each summer through the TATEP System.  This report summarizes the overall data for TAs completing the TAI and describes the supports and evaluation procedures used.  College reports summarize the departmental compliance data and outline steps to support departments in reaching full compliance.

Visit the Teaching Assistant Training and Evaluation Program website for more information on the training of TAs, including training dates and requirements. 

Responsible Conduct of Research

Texas A&M University is committed to supporting responsible and ethical conduct of research and scholarship among its faculty, staff, and students.  As such, the university follows federal, state, and university guidelines regarding Responsible Conduct of Research (RCR). A campus-wide environment pertaining to responsible conduct of research requires researchers to have the knowledge, skills, and tools that enable them to be responsible for their research conduct.

In August 2020, University SAP 15.99.99.M0.04 went into effect. The requirements outlined apply to any graduate student, postdoctoral researcher, or undergraduate student participating in research. The specific requirements will depend on the type of student and the type of funding supporting the research. 

What is required for Graduate Students?

Education and training in the ethical and responsible conduct of research are integral elements of research for all graduate students, postdoctoral researchers, and undergraduate students who engage in research in any field or who pursue advanced degrees at university facilities. The requirements for graduate students depend on whether the graduate student is participating in research funded internally, by research gift(s), or externally sponsored research. Internally funded research is not funded via an agreement with a sponsor, but is instead funded through internal sources that may or may not be restricted to research.  Graduate students enrolled in a course (such as 685, 691, etc.) that includes research as an integral element are also subject to these RCR requirements (e.g., any student conducting research as part of a course, honors thesis, master’s thesis, or doctoral dissertation).

Graduate students participating in research through a course or funded internally or by research gift(s) must complete the CITI RCR training within 60 days from their commencement of the research activity.

Graduate students participating in externally funded research must complete the CITI RCR training and an additional four hours of face-to-face Core training. The CITI training must be completed within 60 days following initiation of such support and the Core training must be completed within the first six months of the student’s involvement in externally funded research.

Additional Information

Additional information, including the specifics on how to complete the training, may be found on the VPR RCR website. Questions related specifically to graduate students, please contact rcr.grad@tamu.edu.

University Statement for Individuals with Disabilities

Texas A&M University (TAMU) is committed to providing reasonable accommodations to qualified students, faculty, staff and visitors and to maintaining an accessible campus community, including making its web sites accessible and usable.  Texas A&M University does not discriminate on the basis of an individual’s disability and complies with Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, and the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) as amended.  

Students are protected from discrimination regarding access to and participation in Texas A&M’s programs and activities.  Texas A&M provides academic adjustments and auxiliary aides to accommodate the needs of students with disabilities, as defined under the law, who are otherwise qualified to meet the institution’s academic requirements.  

Students with disabilities who would like to request accommodations may contact the following resources based on their campus location: 

  • Texas A&M University, School of Nursing, Irma Lerma Rangel School of Pharmacy College Station, School of Medicine, School of Public Health, Institute of Biosciences and Technology, EnMed Program, Bush School in Washington DC, Mays Business School – CityCentre, and TAMU Engineering Academies should contact Disability Resources at (979) 845-1637 or disability@tamu.edu
  • School of Dentistry should contact the Office of Academic Affairs (214) 828-8978 or rosa.vargas@tamu.edu to request accommodations. 
  • School of Law School of Law should contact the Office of Student Affairs at (817) 212-4111 or law-disability@law.tamu.edu to request accommodations. 
  • Irma Lerma Rangel School of Pharmacy in Kingsville should contact the Disability Resource Center at Texas A&M University - Kingsville at (361) 593-3024 or drc.center@tamuk.edu to request accommodations.
  • Texas A&M University School of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences in Canyon should contact the Office of Student Disability Services at West Texas A&M University – Canyon at (806) 651-2335 or pfenstermaker@wtamu.edu.
  • Texas A&M University at Galveston (TAMUG) should contact Counseling, Career and Ability Services at (409) 740-4736 or studentservices@tamug.edu
  • Texas A&M University at Qatar (TAMUQ) should contact the campus psychologist, Dr. Steve Wilson +974-4423-0047 or stephen.wilson@qatar.tamu.edu

Students with a disability who believe they have experienced discrimination may contact Jennifer Smith, Assistant Vice President and Title IX Coordinator in the Civil Rights and Equity Investigations office, YMCA Building Ste 108, 365 Houston St. #108, College Station, TX 77843, civilrights@tamu.edu, or at (979) 458-0308.  Students can also contact Julie Kuder, the Texas A&M ADA Coordinator, at  (979) 845-8116 or ADA.Coordinator@tamu.edu. The office address is YMCA Building Ste 108, 365 Houston St. #108, College Station, TX 77843 or see the ADA website at https://urc.tamu.edu/ada.  Reported allegations of discrimination will be immediately forwarded to the Office of Civil Rights and Equity Investigations for review, investigation, or resolution.

For more information about disability accommodations, see TAMU Student Rule 46, Disability Accommodations in Academic Programs or TAMUG Student Rule 46, Disability Accommodations in Academic Programs

University Statement on Harassment and Discrimination

Texas A&M University is committed to providing a safe and non-discriminatory learning, living, and working environment for all members of the University community. The University provides equal opportunity to all employees, students, applicants for employment or admission, and the public regardless of race, color, sex, religion, national origin, age, disability, genetic information, veteran status, pregnancy or related conditions, sexual orientation, or gender identity. Texas A&M University will promptly and equitably investigate and resolve all complaints of discrimination, harassment (including sexual harassment and sex-based misconduct), and related retaliation in accordance with applicable federal and state laws, University rules and standard administrative procedures.

The University’s response to allegations of discrimination, harassment, and related retaliation will be 1) prompt and equitable, 2) intended to stop and prevent the recurrence of any harassment, and 3) intended to remedy discriminatory effects, as appropriate.  A substantiated allegation of such conduct will result in disciplinary action, up to and including separation from the University. The University's student sanctioning guidance for substantiated allegations of discrimination on the basis of sex, including sexual harassment, sexual violence and related retaliation, can be found here: Title IX Cumulative Sanctioning Matrix.

Students who have questions or believe they have experienced discrimination, harassment, sexual harassment/sex-based misconduct, and/or related retaliation are encouraged to contact Jennifer Smith, Assistant Vice President and Title IX Coordinator, at YMCA Building Ste 108, 365 Houston St. #108, College Station, TX 77843, civilrights@tamu.edu, or at (979) 458-8167.  The Title IX website can be found at titleix.tamu.edu.

To report incidents, request accommodations, or inquire about discrimination based on disability, you may contact Julie Kuder, ADA Coordinator, at (979) 845-8116 or ADA.Coordinator@tamu.edu. The office address is YMCA Building Ste 108, 365 Houston St. #108, College Station, TX 77843, or see the ADA website at https://urc.tamu.edu/ada. Reported allegations of discrimination will be immediately forwarded to the Office of Civil Rights and Equity Investigations for review, investigation, or resolution.

University Statement on Pregnancy and Related Conditions

Title IX prohibits discrimination on the basis of sex, including pregnancy and related conditions.   in educational programs and activities.  This includes harassment and discrimination against a student based on pregnancy, childbirth, false pregnancy, termination of pregnancy, or recovery from any of these conditions. 

The university is required to provide reasonable accommodations due to pregnancy and related conditions, including excused absences or alternative participation options when accommodations are medically necessary.  Students seeking accommodations should contact Julie Kuder, ADA Coordinator at YMCA Building Ste 108, 365 Houston St. #108, College Station, TX 77843 or (979) 845-8116 or email address ADA.Coordinator@tamu.edu, or Jennifer Smith, Assistant Vice President and Title IX Coordinator, at the YMCA Building Ste 108, 365 Houston St. #108, College Station, TX 77843. Her telephone number is: (979) 458-8167 and email address is civilrights@tamu.edu. For more information, go to https://titleix.tamu.edu/.

Students who have questions or believe they have experienced discrimination, harassment, sexual harassment/sex-based misconduct, and/or related retaliation are encouraged to contact Jennifer Smith, Assistant Vice President and Title IX Coordinator, at the YMCA Building Ste 108, 365 Houston St. #108, College Station, TX 77843. Her telephone number is: (979) 458-8167 and email address is civilrights@tamu.edu.  The Title IX website can be found at titleix.tamu.edu.

Degree Requirements: Thesis, Dissertation, and Record of Study

An acceptable thesis is one where the student reflects a comprehensive understanding of the pertinent literature and expresses in clear English, the problem(s) for study, the method, significance, and results of original research. 

The dissertation reflects the candidate’s ability to develop clear research plans, conduct valid, data-supported, theoretically consistent, and institutionally appropriate research, and effectively disseminate the research results in appropriate venues to a range of audiences.

The record of study explains and supports the activities undertaken in the project and supports its conclusions with adequate investigations, empirical data and a comprehensive bibliography. All records of study should be characterized by accuracy of observation and measurements, thoroughness of analysis and synthesis, and accuracy and completeness of presentation.

Manuscript Requirements

The Graduate and Professional School is responsible for reviewing each thesis, dissertation, and record of study to ensure that the university’s format requirements are met. Guidelines and electronic templates for the preparation of the manuscript are available in the Guidelines for Theses, Dissertations, and Records of Study and online on the Thesis and Dissertation Services website.

All manuscripts must be submitted electronically.

Texas A&M offers free Overleaf professional accounts for all students, faculty, and staff who would like to use a collaborative, online (LaTeX) editor for their projects. Overleaf is designed to make the process of writing, editing and producing your research papers, project reports, and ETDs much quicker for both you and your collaborators. Students can use Overleaf to receive real-time feedback from their graduate advisors on their final thesis, dissertation or record of study.

Pre-Defense Publication of Thesis, Dissertation, or Record of Study Material

A graduate student may publish material that subsequently will be used as part of the thesis, dissertation, or record of study.

Students should be mindful of the copyright agreement they sign when a journal (hard copy or electronic) accepts an article for publication. At that time, the student generally assigns rights to the journal as publisher. If the student has not retained the right to use the material in the thesis, dissertation, or record of study, they must obtain written permission from the copyright holder to include the material in the manuscript. If such permission is not obtained, or rights have not been retained, the copyrighted material cannot be included in the thesis, dissertation, or record of study.

Use of Classified and Proprietary Information in Thesis, Dissertation, or Record of Study

Committee chairs are cautioned against allowing a student to use classified or proprietary information in electronic theses, dissertations, and records of study (ETDs), because these documents will become available to the public. The research conducted at Texas A&M, as a public institution, is ultimately for the public’s benefit. All ETDs are eventually made available via the Texas A&M Digital Repository. In addition, dissertations are published electronically and made available by ProQuest (UMI). A temporary embargo, or delay in public release, is possible.