Guidelines for Graduate/Thesis Project

The GRADUATE PROJECT/THESIS (hereafter Project will refer to Thesis too) is a major synthesizing effort of high quality by the M.A. student in Communications and Training. Flexibility in form allows students to develop such projects as research papers, creative works, curricula development, training proposals/workshops, major grant proposals, community projects, etc. The graduate project is an academic presentation rather than just a demonstration of professional abilities. A creative project, for example, may include research and evaluation phases as well as an implementation or production phase. Whatever form chosen, the student must be able to provide a rationale for the selection of both form and content. A graduate project committee of three faculty reviews both the proposal and final submission.

GRADUATE PROJECT CREDITS: The course "Graduate Project/Thesis" must be taken for a minimum of two (2) units in the MCOM sequence, and no less than four (4) units in the COMS sequence. Normally students are limited to a maximum of four (4) units for the graduate project though, in extraordinary circumstances, a total of six (6) units may be awarded for works of sufficient magnitude and/or scope.

PROCEDURES: The essential principle in the development of the graduate project is that the student and the advisor to the project work closely throughout the process, from proposal to final submission. The advisor to the project is often the student's regularly assigned advisor, but may be another member of the Communications and Training program faculty.

A series of checkpoints have been instituted to avoid inadequately prepared projects and to insure that the final submission has a high probability of successful review. The project will be submitted to the project committee only after the project advisor has had an opportunity to review it.

The steps of the Graduate Project process are:

l. PRELIMINARY DISCUSSION--The student and advisor should discuss possible topics, formats, and preparation to undertake the project. The process of the project's development should be discussed at this time. The responsibility for selecting the subject and formally proposing the project is that of the student.

2. PROPOSAL DEVELOPMENT--A draft of the graduate project proposal should be discussed and reviewed with the advisor. The members of the project committee should be selected and their agreement to serve obtained.

3. PROPOSAL SUBMISSION--The student submits the formal proposal through the project advisor, allowing one to two weeks for this review. Responses of the committee are discussed with the student through the advisor; a project cover page is affixed to the proposal.

DETAILS OF THE PROPOSAL

1. TITLE OF PROJECT A short, descriptive title for the project.

2. DESCRIPTION--In concise but specific language, define the "problem," research interest, or goal of the project. Projects including a creative phase should discuss the theme, subject matter to be treated, motif and production approaches anticipated, as much as is practical.

3. BACKGROUND and/or REVIEW OF LITERATURE--Describe existing research data and works that led you to the subject matter or research problem. If a creative work, provide a brief background on the subject matter and the influences that brought you to your theme, subject matter, or original use of the media.

REGARDLESS OF THE FORM OF THE PROJECT, A SELECTIVE BIBLIOGRAPHY SHOULD BE INCLUDED.

4. RATIONALE Describe your qualifications for undertaking the project. Include prior experiences or familiarity with the field. List relevant modules in theory, research, skills, and/or production. If appropriate, indicate your own evolution toward this project.

5. SIGNIFICANCE--If possible, state the potential significance, impact or usefulness of the project to the field in which you are working, to others and to you.

6. METHODOLOGY--Explain specifically how you will go about your project. If a research project, include hypothesis and research design. For production projects, include research approach to the subject matter, method of production or implementation, and technical formats to be employed (e.g., video tape, cassette).

7. BUDGET, FACILITIES, and OUTSIDE AID--Indicate what facilities will be needed, where they will be obtained, budgetary requirements, and sources of support. Indicate any outside monetary, facilities, or human resources to be involved in the project If other people are involved in the project, indicate them by name and what their function in the project will be.

8. FINAL SUBMISSION--Indicate the final form of the project (i.e., written, video tape, etc.), approximate length, and proposed completion date. Be realistic about the proposed completion date and allow time for reviews and revisions as necessary. For creative works indicate such items as the number of prints, choice of medium, and dates of exhibition.

9. SPECIAL PROBLEMS--Identify as best you can any special problems that may impede the project, or that require special attention to consideration.

GRADUATE PROJECT COMPLETION: Depending on the nature of the project, an error-free, typewritten copy, shall be submitted as the University copy to be placed as appropriate in the university library. A separate copy (or copies) should be submitted to the graduate project committee.

For photography projects, in addition to written documentation, a catalog listing titles of each print and outside dimensions as well as a series of transparencies in protective plastic sheets should be submitted.

For film and video projects, a video cassette copy will be dubbed and served as the University copy. Cassettes will, where possible, be provided by the University without charge. Creative works of this nature should also include a short final paper evaluating the entire process and the final creation. The outline of the proposal may serve as a guide for this evaluation .

A public exhibition of creative works is considered as desirable and will be scheduled and publicized as appropriate.

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See Also MCOM Thesis/Project Guidelines for further instructions The GRADUATE PROJECT/THESIS (hereafter Project will refer to Thesis too) is a major synthesizing effort of high quality by the M.A. student in Communications and Training. Flexibility in form allows students to develop such projects as research papers, creative works, curricula development, training proposals/workshops, major grant proposals, community projects, etc. The graduate project is an academic presentation rather than just a demonstration of professional abilities. A creative project, for example, may include research and evaluation phases as well as an implementation or production phase. Whatever form chosen, the student must be able to provide a rationale for the selection of both form and content. A graduate project committee of three faculty reviews both the proposal and final submission. GRADUATE PROJECT CREDITS: The course "Graduate Project/Thesis" must be taken for a minimum of two (2) units in the MCOM sequence, and no less than four (4) units in the COMS sequence. Normally students are limited to a maximum of four (4) units for the graduate project though, in extraordinary circumstances, a total of six (6) units may be awarded for works of sufficient magnitude and/or scope. PROCEDURES: The essential principle in the development of the graduate project is that the student and the advisor to the project work closely throughout the process, from proposal to final submission. The advisor to the project is often the student's regularly assigned advisor, but may be another member of the Communications and Training program faculty. A series of checkpoints have been instituted to avoid inadequately prepared projects and to insure that the final submission has a high probability of successful review. The project will be submitted to the project committee only after the project advisor has had an opportunity to review it. The steps of the Graduate Project process are: l. PRELIMINARY DISCUSSION--The student and advisor should discuss possible topics, formats, and preparation to undertake the project. The process of the project's development should be discussed at this time. The responsibility for selecting the subject and formally proposing the project is that of the student. 2. PROPOSAL DEVELOPMENT--A draft of the graduate project proposal should be discussed and reviewed with the advisor. The members of the project committee should be selected and their agreement to serve obtained. 3. PROPOSAL SUBMISSION--The student submits the formal proposal through the project advisor, allowing one to two weeks for this review. Responses of the committee are discussed with the student through the advisor; a project cover page is affixed to the proposal. DETAILS OF THE PROPOSAL 1. TITLE OF PROJECT A short, descriptive title for the project. 2. DESCRIPTION--In concise but specific language, define the "problem," research interest, or goal of the project. Projects including a creative phase should discuss the theme, subject matter to be treated, motif and production approaches anticipated, as much as is practical. 3. BACKGROUND and/or REVIEW OF LITERATURE--Describe existing research data and works that led you to the subject matter or research problem. If a creative work, provide a brief background on the subject matter and the influences that brought you to your theme, subject matter, or original use of the media. REGARDLESS OF THE FORM OF THE PROJECT, A SELECTIVE BIBLIOGRAPHY SHOULD BE INCLUDED. 4. RATIONALE Describe your qualifications for undertaking the project. Include prior experiences or familiarity with the field. List relevant modules in theory, research, skills, and/or production. If appropriate, indicate your own evolution toward this project. 5. SIGNIFICANCE--If possible, state the potential significance, impact or usefulness of the project to the field in which you are working, to others and to you. 6. METHODOLOGY--Explain specifically how you will go about your project. If a research project, include hypothesis and research design. For production projects, include research approach to the subject matter, method of production or implementation, and technical formats to be employed (e.g., video tape, cassette). 7. BUDGET, FACILITIES, and OUTSIDE AID--Indicate what facilities will be needed, where they will be obtained, budgetary requirements, and sources of support. Indicate any outside monetary, facilities, or human resources to be involved in the project If other people are involved in the project, indicate them by name and what their function in the project will be. 8. FINAL SUBMISSION--Indicate the final form of the project (i.e., written, video tape, etc.), approximate length, and proposed completion date. Be realistic about the proposed completion date and allow time for reviews and revisions as necessary. For creative works indicate such items as the number of prints, choice of medium, and dates of exhibition. 9. SPECIAL PROBLEMS--Identify as best you can any special problems that may impede the project, or that require special attention to consideration. GRADUATE PROJECT COMPLETION: Depending on the nature of the project, an error-free, typewritten copy, shall be submitted as the University copy to be placed as appropriate in the university library. A separate copy (or copies) should be submitted to the graduate project committee. For photography projects, in addition to written documentation, a catalog listing titles of each print and outside dimensions as well as a series of transparencies in protective plastic sheets should be submitted. For film and video projects, a video cassette copy will be dubbed and served as the University copy. Cassettes will, where possible, be provided by the University without charge. Creative works of this nature should also include a short final paper evaluating the entire process and the final creation. The outline of the proposal may serve as a guide for this evaluation . A public exhibition of creative works is considered as desirable and will be scheduled and publicized as appropriate. ^^^TOP

Graduate Project/Thesis Guidelines