• Foreword
• Table of Contents
• 1: Introduction
  • 1.1 Expectations
  • 1.2 Purpose
  • 1.3 Content
    • 1.3.1 Thesis Types
    • 1.3.2 Using Guide
  • 1.4 Using Sections
  • 1.5 Important Info
    • 1.5.1 Checklist
    • 1.5.2 Final Copies
• 2: Qualitative Thesis
  • 2.1 Timeline
  • 2.2 Proposal
    • 2.2.1 Components
    • 2.2.2 Considerations
    • 2.2.3 Thesis Sections
    • 2.2.4 Chapters
  • 2.3 Human Subjects
    • 2.3.1 Protection
• 3: Quantitative Thesis
  • 3.1 Timeline
  • 3.2 Proposal
  • 3.3 Thesis Chapters
    • 3.3.1 Sequential
    • 3.3.2 Stand Alone
  • 3.4 Subject Protection
    • 3.4.1 Human
    • 3.4.2 Animal
• 4: Filing the Thesis
  • 4.1 Dishonesty
  • 4.2 Copyright
  • 4.3 Submission
• 5: Formatting
  • 5.1 Requirements
  • 5.2 Style Manuals
    • 5.2.1 Online
    • 5.2.2 Examples

Chapter 1: Introduction to Graduate Research and Thesis Writing

Section 1.1: What is expected in a thesis?

Research is an essential component of graduate education. The thesis is often seen as the culmination of graduate work, and it is the formal product. However, the process requires the work of many people. The two crucial components of this work are the Major Advisor and Advisory Committee. These two components, interacting with a Master's student, create a significant professional experience and shape the degree work and resulting thesis. One of the most important aspects of graduate work is communication between the Major Advisor and the student. Methods, circumstances, and personalities vary and can make sufficient communication challenging. Ultimately it is the student's responsibility for making adequate progress toward completion of his or her thesis and for producing high quality work.

A Master's Thesis provides opportunities for students to plan, complete, interpret, and report research. Thesis projects must not have been published previously, and must be conducted and written under the supervision of a Graduate Faculty Major Advisor member and a Graduate Advisory Committee. The completion of a Master's Thesis constitutes six semester hours of credit.

Master's projects should be the result of work that is independently conducted, and that represents original research and critical analysis. The work should demonstrate the following from the student concerning the field of study:

• Awareness and understanding of important current work in the field
• Ability to plan a research activity
• Knowledge and motivation to carry out the planned research activity
• Ability to analyze the results of the research
• Ability to draw reasonable conclusions from the research
• Ability to complete a written description of the work in the form of a well-written, properly organized thesis
• Ability to complete a thesis with potential for presentation at and/or participation in professional meetings and/or publication in scholarly journals

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