MASTER'S THESIS OPTION
Contents of this Document:
- What a Thesis Is
- Thesis Length
- Thesis Advisor
- Thesis Proposal
- Progress Report
- Thesis Defense
- Graduate School Requirements
Part of the strength of Towson's MPW program lies in the
creativity
and flexibility which the program allows its candidates. A thesis
may take many forms to reflect the differing professional
interests
of the students.
In every case, a thesis should be a significant, substantive,
original,
representation of the culmination of your work in the MPW
program.
A thesis counts for six graduate credits.
A thesis should be no fewer than 50 pages of significant,
original work.
The length of your thesis, of course, needs to be discussed with
and
approved by your thesis advisor.
You should choose a thesis advisor who is familiar with your
work, and whose
field of expertise complements your thesis. Together, you and
your thesis
advisor will select the two additional members of your thesis
committee.
Your proposal of 3-4 pages (typewritten, double-spaced) must be
reviewed first by the faculty member with whom you will be
working,
then submitted to your thesis committee for final approval.
The following are to be included in the proposal:
- A statement of need, which establishes a rationale for the
proposed thesis and the audience toward whom it will be directed.
The statement of need will consist of one or more of the
following
as they are applicable to your specific project:
- a review of the literature relevant to the question you
propose to explore
- research for your finished product
- a description of your projected work and its genre, as well
as documentation of your previous experience in this or a related
genre.
- A statement of purpose or objectives, which clearly focuses
your idea and tells exactly what you expect to accomplish. The
scope
of your topic should be made clear in this section.
- An outline of the projected thesis, which gives readers a
preliminary plan for the project and an estimated time table.
When your proposal is approved, you must then establish
with your thesis director a schedule of monthly meetings at which
you will present written progress reports. The thesis option
differs both
from a traditional course or directed reading in that your
director, in commenting on your work, will function in a purely
advisory capacity. You are ultimately responsible for content,
organization, and style.
When you and your director agree that your work has reached a
satisfactory conclusion; you should apply, in writing, to the
thesis
committee for a defense committee (consisting of two members from
the MPW faculty and one outside member appointed by the Graduate
School) and a defense date. Your application must be accompanied
by four copies of your thesis, executed in the stylistic format
your director has deemed appropriate for your project. The
deadline
for submission to the graduate thesis committee is April 1st for
May graduation, and November 1st for January. Any revisions
required
by your defense committee must be made before your thesis can be
considered completed and the six credits for which you applied
entered on your transcript.
You are responsible for meeting all the requirements of the
Graduate School. Check the Graduate School Handbook, pp. E-
2-ff, for the regulations regarding deadlines for filing for
graduation, and the procedures for defending your thesis.
Clearly, the thesis option is considerably more arduous than
the six hours of course-work it replaces. It demands a well-
articulated project sufficiently compelling to sustain solitary
effort over a substantial period of time. Since unforeseen
obstacles can delay the completion of a thesis, which in turn
will
delay your degree, we strongly urge you to consider this option's
drawbacks as well as its rewards.
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Last modified: March 15, 1996