Thesis Format

Guidelines for Preparation of Master's Thesis

Executive Summary

1. Select thesis advisor.
2. Select a topic.
3. Select a committee.
4. Obtain approvals for committee, advisor.
5. Register for the thesis course with thesis advisor. (A section number will be provided to you by your thesis advisor.)
6. Start Research.
7. (Optional) Present a thesis proposal to the committee during mid-way of the thesis.
8. Write thesis.
9. Defend thesis.
10. Publish thesis.

Thesis Option

Allen Holliday (2003) identifies a thesis as an endeavor of more significance and difficulty than a research project. It involves:

1. Analyzing the problem or topic.
2. Conducting extensive research.
3. Summarizing findings from the research investigation.
4. Recommending additional research on the topic.
5. Drawing conclusions and making recommendations.
6. Documenting the results of the research.
7. Defending conclusions and recommendations.

Pre-Thesis Planning

Students contemplating a thesis should discuss their interests with as many individuals as possible to gain a broad perspective of the experience. Students will find their department faculty and graduate program advisor knowledgeable and willing to offer excellent suggestions and advice regarding an appropriate thesis topic.

The student should identify the thesis topic and develop a draft of the thesis proposal. The student is encouraged to discuss topic ideas and research direction with his/her faculty advisor and with other faculty who have an interest in the student's topic and who may be willing to serve as the student's thesis advisor or as a member of the thesis committee.

The student should give considerable thought to the identification and planning of a thesis topic. Reviewing literature related to the student's interests is a very worthwhile activity and is strongly recommended. Also, the student should read a variety of research papers, abstracts, and proposals for content, methods and structure. Looking at completed master's theses will be a useful activity toward expanding inquiry skills and thought processes.

After the thesis advisor is selected, the student may register on-line for a thesis section. The student will need to see the Department Coordinator or faculty advisor to obtain the thesis section number.

Suggested Thesis Timeline

Below please find a suggested timeline. Individual timelines may vary from one student to another.

Fall Start	Spring Start	Recommended Task Completion	Overview
Prior to the start of the term	Prior to the start of the term	Select a thesis advisor. Select a topic. Register for a thesis section.	Planning
August	January	Select a committee
September	February	Schedule the thesis proposal defense. Submit a one page proposal to the thesis committee at least one week prior to the proposal defense.
October	March	Submit introduction to the thesis advisor	Research & Writing
November	April	Submit chapters to the thesis advisor; student should be making significant progress toward writing his/her thesis.
February	September	Submit conclusion and bibliography to the thesis advisor; student should have completed his/her thesis writing.
March	October	Schedule thesis defense. Revise and resubmit the thesis two weeks prior to defense. After defense, but no less than four weeks prior to the end of the term submit an unbound copy of the thesis to the Associate Dean of Research and Graduate Studies for pre-printing review.	Submission & Examination
Prior to the end of term	Prior to the end of term	Submit copies of bound thesis.

Required Deadlines

1. An unbound thesis must be submitted to the Associate Dean of Research and Graduate Studies two weeks prior to submitting the thesis for printing.
2. Bound thesis must be submitted by the last day of classes. The last day of class can be identified in the Academic calendar.

Scholarship Possibilities

Funding is usually specific to the area of expertise. You will want to research scholarship options during the pre-thesis planning as many scholarship applications are due months before the award is granted.

• Research assistantship with a faculty advisor related to the topic of research
• Teaching assistantship to teach an undergraduate laboratory
• Check with Career Center for on-campus positions
• Attend all career fairs that would be of interest to consider summer internships
• SPIE (The International Society for Optics and Photonics)
• Sensors Council

More opportunities exist; you will need to search for scholarships based on your topic of research.

Citing Sources

The College of Technology* does not mandate citation styles, but you must cite your sources and cite them consistently. Here are some helpful links to assist you with citation:

• Citation Styles
• Landmark's Son of a Citation Machine
• Wikipedia Citation Templates
• Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE)
• Chicago Style

*The Human Development Consumer Science department prefers you to use the APA style. Please consult with your thesis advisor when choosing a citation style.

Thesis Quality

The College of Technology has significant expectations with regard to thesis quality. Poor or average level theses will not receive college approvals. It is the joint responsibility of the student and the committee to ensure that the thesis is of acceptable quality. Ultimately, the task is one borne by the student as the thesis is a reflection of the quality of their work. The thesis committee can direct the student to seek assistance if quality issues are noticed as the chapters are developed. The student should take quality feedback seriously and not wait until the end to attempt to fix this type of problem as it can result in significant delays and postponement of graduation. When you write and defend your thesis, keep the following guidelines in mind:

• A poor quality thesis:
  • Shows a cursory examination of the topic.
  • Makes little use of existing data sources.
  • Fails to examine primary sources.
  • Shows little comprehension of crucial texts or research in the subject matter.
  • Lacks adequate organization.
• A quality thesis:
  • Treats the topic in a competent, straightforward way.
  • Shows a good grasp of the material.
  • Makes use of existing data sources in a competent fashion or shows a good acquaintance with primary sources and current research.
  • Shows a solid comprehension of research in the subject matter
  • Sustains a line of argumentation throughout the thesis
• A high quality thesis
  • Shows all of the above qualities of a quality thesis as well as some measure of originality in research.

Originality is defined as developing new data; treating existing data in an original or particularly compelling way; developing new or particularly compelling theoretical arguments; interpreting existing research in an original or particularly compelling way; or bringing primary or secondary materials and research together to sustain a new, comprehensive or compelling interpretation. In general, a thigh quality thesis either shows some measure of originality in its argument or empirical base; or is in some other way striking or new.

Organization of Thesis

The original and copies of the thesis MUST include the following items IN THE ORDER LISTED:

1. Blank sheet of bond paper at the beginning of each copy submitted.
2. Copyright page (optional).
3. Title Page (must show month and year of graduation - see example).
4. Signature page (see example). All three required copies must have ORIGINAL SIGNATURES of the committee and the student. Signatures must be in black ink.
5. Acknowledgment (optional).
6. Abstract Title Page (optional - must show month and year of graduation - see example).
7. Abstract (optional - University Microfilms, Inc. requires abstracts be no longer than 150 words.).
8. Table of Contents.
9. Text.
10. References.
11. Blank sheet of bond paper at the end of each copy submitted.

Style Requirements

Although there is no prescribed style for the completed thesis, there are several style manuals available which may prove helpful. The student should contact the thesis advisor to discuss the style manual to be used. Above all, it is important to be consistent throughout the entire thesis. Decide how you wish to structure your manuscript and be consistent throughout it. The Graduate Advisor's Office maintains an electronic style guide in Microsoft Word format to assist students in the formatting of the thesis. This guide is a guide only, designed

Specifications for Binding

1. Paper: For the University copies you must use at least 20 lb., 8 1/2" X 11" white bond with 50% rag content (50% cotton paper). For your own copies, do not use less than 13 lb. paper (25% cotton).
2. Type: The type must be from a typewriter, typesetting, or letter quality printer. "Correspondence quality," "near-letter quality" and dot matrix methods are not acceptable. (The thesis must be double-spaced.)
3. Margins: The left margin should be one and one-half inches (1-1/2"). The right, top and bottom margins should be one inch (1") each.

Binding the Thesis

Several companies in the Houston area have expertise in bookbinding and are familiar with the University of Houston thesis requirements for binding and engraving. Most departments use:

Legacy Bookbinding Plus Contact: Erika Capristo and Raul Romero 6999 W. Little York, Suite K Houston, TX 77040 713-934-7738 (phone) 713-299-2582 (cell)

Book Bindery Contact: Natalie 14019 S Gessner Rd # E Missouri City, TX 77489 281-403-3009 boundtolast@aol.com

Bella Becho Book & Print Bindery Contact: Deborah Karchmer 404 Arlington St. Houston, TX 77007 713-880-8294 (Studio) 866-235-5223 (Toll Free) 713-882-2564 (cell) 713-880-2942 (fax) sales@bellabecho.com www.bellabecho.com

It is the student's responsibility to have the thesis bound. Proof of binding, in the form of a receipt from the binding company, must be submitted to the Graduate Program Advisor prior to the last day of classes.

It is the student's responsibility to have the original and the copies bound before submitting them to the College.

Students who select the thesis option for their Master's degree must submit the original to the department and two copies of the bound thesis to the Graduate Advisor in the Academic Service Center (Room 108, T1). If the student wishes to make his/her thesis available for check-out at the library, please submit a third bound copy of the thesis to the Graduate Advisor. The bound copies are retained by the University for reference purposes, including library loans.

Thesis Microfilming and Copyright Instructions

Students who are interested in having their thesis microfilmed and copyrighted should contact University Microfilms, Inc. (UMI) at the following address for additional information:

University Microfilms, Inc.
300 North Zeeb Road
P.O. Box 1346
Ann Arbor, MI 48106-1346
713-761-4700 or 1-800-521-0600
www.umi.com

All theses to be copyrighted must also be microfilmed. Microfilming and copyrighting information is also available from the graduate program advisor (Room 108, T1).

Master's theses that are copyrighted and microfilmed must include an abstract. The abstract is double-spaced and must not exceed 150 words.

Electronic Copy Submission

All College of Technology theses submitted in an electronic format may be hosted on the College webpage. As such, students are encouraged to submit an electronic copy of the thesis in pdf format that accurately represents the printed version of the final document. Please see the Graduate Advisor for additional information.

Prepare to Submit :
Note: Be sure all corrections are made to the document and that your signature page is completed.

Submit :

• Step 1 - Convert your document to a PDF
  • Do not convert your signature page to a PDF. It should not be uploaded to the ETD site.
  • For assistance with this step, please review this video available for your use.
• Step 2 - Upload your PDF to the Vireo system
  • For assistance with this step, also review this video available for your use.
• Step 3 - Wait for confirmation from your faculty chair and college coordinator that your document has been accepted
• Step 4 - Submit your document to UMI/ProQuest
• Step 5 - Complete the Survey or Earned Doctorates (SED)
  • You may complete the hard-copy form given to you by the dissertation/thesis coordinator in your college, or
  • Complete the electronic form by visiting the SED website

Example Thesis Pages

• Copyright Page Example
• Title Page Example
• Signature Page Example
• Acknowledgements Page Example
• Abstract Title Page
• Abstract Page

Appointment of Thesis Committee Forms

• Master of Science Degree

Bibliography

• (2006). Academics. Retrieved September 19, 2006, from Cornell University, Cornell Institute for Public Affairs Web site: http://www.cipa.cornell.edu/cip_writrequire.html
• Elkin, Stephen. "Thesis Writing." Government and Politics Honors Program. (2003). University of Maryland. 19 Sep 2006 <http://www.bsos.umd.edu/gvpt/honors/thesis.htm>.
• Holliday, Allen (2003). Master's Project and Thesis Guidelines. Retrieved September 11, 2006, from http://www.fullerton.edu/ECS/files/CS_ProjGuidelines.pdf#search="thesis endeavor of more significance"

Page Updated: October 5, 2012 at 10:55 AM

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