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| Preparing the Prospectus | Presenting the Prospectus |
Writing the Thesis |
Selecting a major professor to direct a thesis project is an important decision for the student and the department. The student wants to select a major professor with whom s/he can work effectively and efficiently. Further, that professor’s direction should contribute significantly to the quality of the study. At the same time, the department has a significant interest in distributing the workload associated with directing a thesis across all members of the graduate faculty in the department. Therefore, a student should consult with the Director of Graduate Studies for advice regarding which professors to consult regarding thesis.
1. When the major professor and the student decide that it is time to begin work on a
thesis, the student registers for COMM 5950, designating the section number of the
professor who is directing the thesis. Once a student registers for 5950, s/he must
continue to register for that course each semester until the final thesis is submitted to
the Toulouse School of Graduate Studies.
In most cases, the prospectus will serve as the first chapter of the thesis. Items that typically are included in a prospectus are:
When the major professor is satisfied with the prospectus, s/he will notify the student to schedule a prospectus meeting and distribute copies of the prospectus. A student must not schedule a prospectus meeting or distribute copies of the prospectus without approval of the major professor.
2. Prepare copies of the prospectus and the invitation (Click
here to see a sample prospectus meeting
invitation). The student is responsible for all typing and
reproduction costs associated with the prospectus and the thesis. Departmental
equipment is not to be used.
3. At least one week prior to the prospectus meeting, the student should distribute copies of the prospectus and the invitation to:
4. The purpose of the prospectus meeting is to save the student from investing a great deal of work in a project that may have serious flaws or that lacks substantial scholarly merit. The prospectus meeting has two functions:
Frequently, the committee will require alterations in the proposal. The student must
attend the prospectus meeting in person.
6. The student will be asked to leave at the beginning of the prospectus meeting in order for the committee to discuss procedures and potential concerns. Upon reentering the meeting, the student will defend the rationale and approach selected for the thesis orally. This process begins with a presentation by the student, followed by questions from faculty members in attendance. When the questioning ceases, the student will be asked to leave the room again, whereupon the committee decides to accept or reject the proposed study. Upon reaching a decision, the committee calls the student back into the conference to disclose the decision.
1. After approval of the prospectus, the student writes the thesis under the direction of the major professor. Faculty members differ in the way they handle this role, but it is the responsibility of the student to seek whatever help is needed, submit drafts for approval/correction, and meet university deadlines. A thesis may be the most important task before a student at a given moment, but it is only one of the many tasks a faculty member must negotiate. Therefore, a student should not expect instantaneous responses to requests. In addition, faculty members are not expected to be available to work on thesis projects when they are not on staff (e.g., during summer terms or while on sabbatical leave). The degree to which the other graduate advisory committee members become involved varies individually. To avoid misunderstandings, committee member involvement during the writing phase of the thesis should be discussed and understood by all parties during the prospectus meeting. 2. Obtain a copy of the thesis and dissertation preparation guide in the main office of the Toulouse School of Graduate Studies. Following the guidelines set forth in this publication from the beginning of the writing process will save a great deal of time and effort. Students who do not use the guide often must reformat the entire document for submission to the graduate school. 3. The Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association (APA) is the style manual approved by the department for writing theses. 4. When the student begins work on the thesis, s/he is required to enroll for thesis hours (COMM 5950) every semester until the final thesis is approved by the Toulouse School of Graduate Studies. Only one enrollment is required during the summer. The total number of semester credit hours recorded for a thesis may not exceed six, regardless of the number of enrollments in COMM 5950.
Defending the Thesis 1. It is often advisable to seek the help of an editor (the Graduate School can supply a list) before submitting the thesis. The major professor can assist in many ways, but s/he cannot be expected to rewrite a poorly written thesis. Employing an editor may save time, money, and frustration. 2. In consultation with the major professor, the other graduate advisory committee members, and the department chair, the student selects a date and time for the thesis defense. Students must consult each committee member and the department chair regarding the date and time for the meeting. When the date and time have been established (the meeting will require approximately one hour), the student is responsible for contacting the department secretary to reserve a conference room for the meeting. 3. Prepare a reading copy of the thesis. This copy does not need to be reproduced on bond paper. When preparing the reading copy, also prepare copies of the title-fly. Like the reading copy, the title-fly pages do not need to be reproduced on bond paper. 4. Prepare an abstract of the thesis. The abstract summarizes what the study did and its findings. The thesis abstract, which must be attached to the notification of the final thesis defense, must not exceed 150 words. 5. Prepare a “Notification of Thesis Defense.". 6. At least one week prior to the final thesis defense, copies of the notification of thesis defense, the abstract, and reading copies of the thesis must be distributed to:
7. At the same time (at least one week prior to the thesis defense) a copy of the notification of thesis defense and the abstract must be delivered to all other Communication Studies faculty members. 8. The purpose of the thesis defense is to afford the student an opportunity to explain the work done, the methods used, the findings, and any conclusions that can be drawn from the study. The defense also is a time for the thesis advisory committee to ask the student questions raised by the study. The department chair and other members of the Communication Studies faculty may participate in the examination. 9. It is the responsibility of the student to see that the final thesis defense is scheduled before the filing deadline. This date usually occurs approximately six weeks before the end of the semester. The candidate should schedule the defense at least one week prior to the deadline to allow time any revisions required by the committee. 10. On the day of the thesis defense, the candidate should bring a personal copy of the thesis for reference purposes. The major professor chairs the thesis defense. In addition to answering questions, the candidate should make notes or changes suggested or required by committee members. 11. The thesis defense begins with a presentation by the student, followed by questions from faculty members in attendance. When the questioning ceases, the candidate and all other persons not on the student’s thesis committee will be excused from the room, whereupon the committee decides whether to approve the thesis. Upon reaching a decision, the candidate is informed of the decision and of any conditions attached to the decision.
1. In consultation with the major professor, the student incorporates any changes specified by the graduate advisory committee. The final copy is then prepared and is delivered in person by the candidate to the Toulouse School of Graduate Studies. 2. When notified by the Graduate School, the student picks up the thesis and a correction list prepared by the official thesis reader. It is wise to review the correction list with the major professor. After corrections have been made, the student returns a final copy of the thesis to the Toulouse School of Graduate Studies. 3. The Graduate School will accept two copies of the thesis for binding (one for Willis Library and one for the department). The Graduate School no longer binds student copies of the thesis, but can provide a listing of area binderies. The candidate should provide a bound copy of the thesis for the major professor.
Production Thesis For instructions on the preparation of a production thesis, follow this link. Back to TopReturn to Communication Studies Home Page
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