M.S. Degree Requirements
- The M.S. degree requires a minimum of 30 credits including credit for thesis research. Four full-time academic semesters is considered the normal time for completing the M.S. Six semesters (excluding summer sessions) of full-time residence is the maximum time.
- Required course work includes core departmental courses, economics, statistics, research methods, and elective courses in students' area of interest.
- A thesis is required for the M.S. The purpose of the thesis requirement is to provide a firm grounding in empirical research through which students answer a question or resolve a problem with empirical data. Students develop a thesis proposal under the supervision of the major professor.
Thesis Guide
http://www.grad.wisc.edu/admin/academicservices/mguide.html
Master's Check Sheet.doc--38kb 
Ph.D. Degree Requirements
- The Ph.D. degree in Consumer Behavior and Family Economics is designed for completion in four semesters of full-time study plus dissertation work. A minimum of 32 credits of graduate work beyond the M.S. degree is required. Required credits come from Consumer Science departmental courses, advanced statistics and research methods, a 10-credit minor, electives in the student's area of interest, and a minimum of 3 research and dissertation credits.
- Following completion of formal course work a student must successfully pass the preliminary examination in order to begin dissertation work.
- A dissertation is required for the Ph.D. The purpose of the dissertation is to provide a firm grounding in empirical research through which students answer a question or resolve a problem with empirical data. Students develop a dissertation proposal under the supervision of the major professor.
Dissertation Submission Requirements
http://www.grad.wisc.edu/admin/academicservices/ddd.html
Ph.D. Check Sheet.doc--37kb