On the basis of mutual or similar interests, the Director of Graduate Studies assigns entering graduate students a faculty member as an entrance advisor for the first year.  Students may change advisers at any time if they find another faculty member who agrees to serve as the new adviser.  Toward the end of the first year, students begin to look for two faculty members to serve on their MA committees during the second year and are expected to formally appoint the committee in the fourth quarter of residence (ordinarily fall quarter of the second year).  The Master’s Committee will help the student prepare the Master’s Paper and take on the role of advisors.  In the quarter following acceptance of the Master’s Paper, usually at the beginning of the third year, students select their advisors who will guide them through the next phase in their studies.  This post-M.A. advisor can be one of the M.A. committee members or a different faculty member and most likely will become a member of the doctoral committee.  After successful completion of the field exams students must nominate the doctoral committee.  The chair of the doctoral committee will become the primary advisor.