Graduate Division Thesis and Defense Policies and Guidelines

A thesis represents the culmination of a graduate student's academic work and should demonstrate original research, critical thinking, and contribution to the field of study. The thesis document must reflect scholarly work that meets the standards expected of graduate-level research.

a. Thesis Topics

Thesis topics should be selected in consultation with the faculty advisor and committee members. The topic must be:

• Relevant to the student's discipline
• Of sufficient scope to demonstrate the student's research capabilities
• Narrow enough to be completed within the expected timeframe
• Original, contributing new knowledge to the field

b. Supervision

Each thesis student must have a primary supervisor who ensures the quality and direction of the research. The thesis committee shall consist of at least three faculty members, including the supervisor, with at least one member from outside the primary department (when applicable).

c. Timeframe

Theses must conform to specific formatting standards to ensure consistency and professional presentation. These standards address organization, typography, illustrations, and documentation.

Structure

A thesis should generally include the following components in order:

1. Title page
2. Abstract
3. Table of contents
4. List of tables and figures
5. Acknowledgments
6. Main body (introduction, literature review, methodology, results, discussion, conclusion)
7. References/bibliography
8. Appendices (if necessary)

Format Specifications

Style Guide

Students should follow the citation style appropriate to their discipline (APA, MLA, Chicago, etc.). Consistency in formatting and citation style throughout the document is essential.

Before the formal submission, students must:

• Submit a complete draft to the thesis committee for review
• Incorporate feedback and make required revisions
• Obtain formal approval from the committee to proceed to defense

Final thesis submissions must include:

• A PDF version of the final thesis
• Signed approval pages from all committee members
• Completed submission forms available from the Graduate Division website
• Any required copyright permissions for previously published materials

Electronic submission is mandatory. The submission portal will be available through the Graduate Division's thesis management system.

The oral defense is a formal examination of the student's thesis and knowledge of the field. To schedule a defense:

1. Submit a request to schedule the defense through the Graduate Division system
2. Provide a copy of the final thesis to all committee members at least two weeks prior to the defense
3. Publish a notice of the defense to the academic community one week in advance
4. Arrange for necessary technology or equipment for the presentation

Thesis defenses are public events unless confidentiality is warranted. The defense typically follows this format:

• Public presentation of research (20-30 minutes)
• Question period with committee members (30-60 minutes)
• Non-public deliberation by the committee
• Announcement of the decision to the candidate

Students should prepare a concise presentation highlighting the research question, methodology, key findings, contributions to the field, and directions for future research.

Committees evaluate theses based on multiple criteria:

• Originality and significance of the research
• Adequacy of methodology and analysis
• Interpretation and discussion of results
• Writing quality, organization, and clarity
• Student's understanding of the broader context of the research
• Student's ability to articulate and defend their work

Possible outcomes include: unconditional pass, conditional pass (requiring minor revisions), or fail. Conditional passes require completion of revisions within a specified timeframe.

After a successful defense, students must complete all required revisions:

• Incorporate changes suggested by the committee
• Obtain final approval from the supervisor
• Submit the final version to the Graduate Division by the deadline

All approved theses are published electronically in the institution's repository. Students may request an embargo period for up to two years if:

• Patent applications are pending
• Publication in peer-reviewed journals is anticipated and delay would be disadvantageous
• Other compelling reasons exist

Embargo requests must be submitted in writing with the support of the thesis supervisor.