You may already have made inquiries or have a candidate in mind. Because your field faculty advisor is such a vital part of your learning experience, we expect that you will put much thought and care into this choice. Although your core faculty advisor can help direct your search and is ultimately responsible for monitoring this working relationship, for orienting and training your candidate, and for approving your choice, the privilege and responsibility for choosing a suitable candidate is yours. If you have difficulty locating a field faculty advisor, please let your core faculty advisor know, as he or she may well have suggestions in approaching prior field faculty advisors. If you find what appears to be the perfect candidate, but he or she does not have a doctoral degree, speak with your core faculty advisor.
Many students choose to work with two mentors, one of which has a doctoral degree.
This is especially true for those students planning a cross-disciplinary study, or a study in a relatively new or innovative academic area. Many students use the Field Faculty Manual as a recruiting tool. We think it best that you have secured a field faculty advisor before enrollment, but it is not a qualifying requirement for enrollment. Some students choose to delay enrolling until they have a field faculty advisor on board. If this is also your choice, please let your coordinator know.