MSU: Graduate Guide

MONTCLAIR STATE UNIVERSITY

I. THE GRADUATE SCHOOL

Procedures and Guidelines

for the

Preparation of Theses

Montclair State University

January 2001

I. Introduction

A graduate thesis is a permanent record of a significant contribution made by a student to a particular field of knowledge. It demonstrates the writer has the capacity for research, the ability to draw logical conclusions, and make interpretative claims. In the process of developing the thesis, students will be required to accomplish extensive readings and to demonstrate a significant knowledge of their discipline's methodological approach to research. Students must act ethically in all aspects of the thesis process.

Statement of Responsibility:

Students are responsible for following the requirements set forth in this thesis guide and any additional guidelines established by their department or program. (To determine if your program has additional or special guidelines, contact your graduate advisor.) It is the student's responsibility to locate appropriate materials, perform the necessary research, develop conclusions, and present all of the above in a form, which meets standards acceptable to the discipline. Students are expected to know, understand and follow the policies and procedures as outlined in the students' Rights and Responsibilities section of the Student Handbook.

Plagiarism in any form is unacceptable and will result in serious disciplinary action including loss of matriculation. If detected after graduation, the student's degree may be rescinded.

Subject content and appropriate supervision of all aspects of the thesis process is the responsibility of the thesis sponsor and the thesis committee. The department will approve the thesis only if style, form, and content standards appropriate for the department are maintained.

Students are required to be fully matriculated and in good academic standing in their graduate degree program before being allowed to register for the thesis course or complete the thesis project.

Before certifying to the Registrar's office and the department that the thesis has been formally approved, The Graduate School will review the manuscript to determine compliance with Graduate School standards as to form and style.

II. THE THESIS PROCESS

Students intending to write a thesis are to follow the steps described below.

A. Identification of Thesis Topic

1. Upon matriculation into the Master's program, you should begin to consider the possible thesis topics. Students should have received these and any departmental guidelines from their graduate advisors at the time of matriculation. Students should begin the thesis process as early in their program as possible to ensure timely completion of the degree. As you begin to take courses you should continue to discuss possible thesis topics with your graduate advisor as well as other faculty in your department.

2. As you begin to identify a possible thesis topic, you should begin to review the literature available on this topic. Reference librarians and your graduate advisor may be resources to help you begin this literature review.

3. Once you have completed the literature review and have defined your thesis topic, you should meet with your graduate advisor to discuss your thesis topic and identify potential thesis sponsor/advisors. At this meeting your graduate advisor can answer any questions you may have about the thesis process.

B. Thesis Sponsor and Committee Selection

1. After meeting with your graduate advisor, you should seek the cooperation of a particular faculty member to serve as your thesis sponsor. The selection of this person is very important. The thesis sponsor has the primary responsibility for the general supervision of your thesis. To facilitate this process, prepare a 1 to 3 page general topic statement. Faculty members will use this document to decide if they have the expertise and interest to serve as your sponsor.

2. Thesis sponsor/advisor must be a full-time tenured/tenure-track faculty member in the student's department. The sponsor must also hold graduate faculty status as defined by the Graduate Council Policy Manual (Appendices I.C.2).

3. In consultation with your thesis sponsor, you should seek the cooperation of two additional faculty to serve on your thesis committee. The sponsor and the two committee members constitute your three-member thesis committee.

4. Thesis committee members shall be full-time, tenured/tenure-track faculty who hold graduate faculty status within the student's department. Committee members who do not hold graduate faculty status and/or are not full-time, tenured/tenure-track may be appointed to serve on thesis committees with the approval of the graduate advisor/director/coordinator (as identified by the department).

5. No more than one member of the thesis committee may be from outside the student's department.

6. Changes in committee members may be made at the discretion of the thesis sponsor and/or graduate advisor at any time up until registration for the thesis course.

7. Once registered for the thesis course, changes in thesis committee members or thesis sponsor must be made by submission of a new Approval for Writing a Master's Thesis form with the Graduate School.

C. Approval of Thesis Topic

With the establishment of the thesis committee, you should begin to define more clearly the thesis topic. At this time, prepare a 3 to 4 page (or longer) document which provides a clear statement of the research issue, an annotated bibliography (if appropriate), an extended literature review and a proposed research design/methodology. This document will be used by your committee to focus your thesis topic and help you prepare to write the thesis outline (if necessary).

D. Thesis Outline (Optional)

1. Once the thesis committee has approved your thesis topic, you should begin developing a complete thesis outline. It should follow disciplinary standards and include significant detail. In developing the outline, it is imperative that you work closely with your thesis sponsor. Although they are not usually asked to review the outline until it is completed, other committee members may be approached for assistance.

2. When the student and the sponsor agree the outline adequately presents the proposed thesis, it should be submitted to the thesis committee. Upon their suggestion, significant revisions may be necessary. When the outline is approved, the Thesis Outline Approval form must be approved by your thesis sponsor and committee members. The thesis outline is retained by the thesis sponsor. A copy does not need to be submitted to the Graduate School.

E. Institutional Review Board for Human Subjects Protection.

In accordance with national legislation and University policies, assurances must be made in writing that where human subjects are in any way involved in the thesis research, no physical or psychological harm will occur them. Prior to initiation of any experiment on and/or the collection of any data from human subjects, the Montclair State University Graduate School and University Institutional Review Board for Human Subjects Protection (IRB) committee must review and approve the research procedures to be employed. When you are ready to begin the data collection phase of your research, a copy of the Disposition Form must be appropriately signed and filed with the Graduate School. The student must honor the methodology agreed upon and alter nothing without prior approval of the Montclair State University Institutional Review Board for Human Subject Protection. Students should request an Institutional Review Board application from the Office of Institutional Research and Sponsored Programs, College Hall, Room 309, extension 4128. Students should allow 4 - 6 weeks for full review. Students should also read a copy of the statement on Ethical Standards published by the American Psychological Association, which is available in the Graduate School.

F. The Thesis Course (next section for discussion)

1. The Thesis Course

2. Extensions

3. Time limit to complete the thesis

4. Thesis due date

The final thesis must be submitted to the Graduate School no later than six (6) weeks prior to commencement.

G. Research and Writing the Thesis

1. Your thesis committee will specify a particular style manual. (A list of some potential manuals is provided in Section III, Style Manuals). Section V, Forms and Sample Pages, contains style instructions, which are applicable to all theses. All drafts -- preliminary (working) and final -- must be in conformity with the selected style manual, Section IV, Preparation of Manuscript, and, if applicable, any special school, program, and/or departmental thesis guidelines.

2. All questionnaires, letters of inquiry, etc., that are not subject to the Institutional Review Board for Human Subject Protection approval which are addressed to persons off this campus, must be approved, in writing, by your thesis sponsor prior to mailing.

3. Any change in your research outline and/or research methodology must be approved, in writing, by your thesis committee prior to its implementation and may require revision of your originally approved outline.

4. It is expected that you will be providing to each member of your committee regular drafts of your work in progress. In providing material to your committee, be certain to allow adequate time for the members to develop their responses. During the summer sessions, many faculty are not available. Be aware of the university calendar (published in the Schedule of Courses booklet) and of the schedules of your committee members. Adequate planning is an absolute necessity. Your thesis sponsor may also recommend a timetable for the completion of the thesis; you should follow this timetable as closely as possible.

5. Maintain duplicates of your research materials and of the various drafts of the thesis.

6. It is highly probable that several drafts may be written before the final version is developed. Be certain to budget your time accordingly.

H. Completion and Approval of Thesis

1. When you, your thesis sponsor, and the thesis committee agree that the thesis is complete, submit a final version of the thesis to the committee for its approval. This copy of the thesis should follow the format specifications as outline in section ???

2. Oral Examination(Optional):

a) The oral examination is a critical element of the thesis process. The date of the examination will be determined by your thesis sponsor. Oral examinations may not be scheduled during the summer sessions or winter break. To allow for the incorporation of changes and possible additional research, the orals should be held at least eight weeks prior to the date of graduation

b) The format of your oral examination will be determined by each program. Normally, the thesis sponsor will lead the examination. You should be prepared to provide a verbal presentation of the thesis (approximately 10 to 20 minutes). Committee members and persons outside the committee are allowed to raise issues and ask questions. To determine the exact nature of your oral examination, contact your thesis sponsor.

c) Immediately at the end of the oral examination, the sponsor and the committee members will convene privately to pass upon the thesis and the oral examination. The sponsor will notify you immediately of the decision. Some of the possible decisions include:

(a) The thesis is approved.

(b) The thesis is approved with modification

3. If the thesis is approved, you should proceed immediately to prepare the final version.

III. Thesis Document Style

A. Font and Style

The Graduate School assumes that all theses will be presented as word processed documents. The print must be in blank ink. Type only on one side of the paper. When pen work is required, it must be performed in a permanent, carbon-based black ink employing either a lettering guide or a lettering device. Non-standard typefaces--such as script--are not acceptable. All non-standard typefaces must be approved, in advance, in writing, by your thesis committee, by the chair of your department, and by the Graduate School. To obtain such approval, submit a sample page to the above principals.

B. Paper

As the original copy is maintained permanently in the Sprague Library, it must be typed on white, 20 lb. bond paper. While it is not necessary to use the above paper for photocopies, such copies must be made on substantial paper.

C. Margins

Each page must have the following margins:

1 and ½ inches on the left margin

1 inch for the right, top, and bottom margins

D. Spacing, Pagination, Footnotes, Citations, Bibliographical Entries, etc.

Follow the style manual selected by your thesis committee.

E. Corrections

The manuscript must be free of strikeovers, interlineations, and other detectable corrections. Erasures are allowed if they are indiscernible. Liquid correction fluid and dry correction tape (e.g., KO-REC-TYPE) are never acceptable. Clean copy is essential. Both sides of all sheets must be free of carbon smears, smudges, gray cast, or any other extraneous marks.

F. Illustrations and Similar Data

Subject to the following guidelines, drawings, figures, tables, graphs, photographs, maps, and all other types of illustrative material may be included. All such processes must be permanent and of high quality.

All illustrative data in the text must be prepared on paper of the same size, weight, and color as that of the rest of the manuscript. Such material must conform to the page margin requirements. A typewriter, lettering guide, or similar device must be used for captions, numerals, symbols, and characters. A black typewriter ribbon or permanent, carbon-based, black ink must be used for preparing the material.

Photographs should be printed from negatives on 8 ½ x 11 inch photographic paper. Charts, maps, drawings, etc., also may be photographed and printed on 8 ½ x 11 inch paper.

If illustrations must be mounted, great care must be exercised in choosing a procedure. Generally, dry mounting is considered to be a permanent method. A permanent paper cement (with the affixed material dried under pressure) may be acceptable. Do not mount with rubber cement, mucilage, photo-mounting corners, tape, staples, or other non-permanent methods.

G. Oversized Data

This material should be photographically reduced and printed on 8 ½ x 11 inch paper. If this is impossible, a folded page may employed. To avoid cutting during the binding process, the right hand folded edge must be at least ¼ inch from the right edge of the regular pages. Be certain to number this page in alignment with the pagination in the text.

H. Proofreading

The manuscript in final form must be carefully proofread and corrected before it is submitted to the Graduate School.

Every page must be checked for correct numbering and correct margins, and all copies must be checked to insure that pages are not missing. The manuscript must be thoroughly proofread for consistency. All titles in the table of contents must agree exactly with their wording in the text. Headings and subheadings must appear in the table of contents in descending order of value. Consistency in positioning all headings of the same value must be maintained.

I. Reproduction

The manuscript must be photocopied in a permanent manner on a paper of substantial quality. In all cases, the printing must be of acceptable quality and completely free from smudges, gray cast, or any other extraneous marks.

IV. Format of Document

A. Abstract.

Prepare a 1 to 2 page abstract of the thesis.

B. Thesis Signature Page.

Complete The Thesis Signature Page (see Forms and Sample Pages) and have it signed by the thesis sponsor and the other committee members.

C. Title Page. The second page is the title page. (See the sample title page located in Section V, Forms and Sample Pages.) Observe the usual margin requirements. Center all lines within the margins. The title of the thesis is in upper case (capital) letters. With a long title, double space between lines and use an inverted pyramid form. The author's name is typed in full. The month and year should be that in which your degree will be conferred.

D. Copyright Page. (Optional).

Include only if you wish to have your thesis copyrighted. The university does not require that the thesis by copyrighted; however, if your thesis is placed into the library without a copyrighted page, it becomes public domain and cannot be copyrighted at a later date.

For complete copyright information, write to the Copyright Office, Library of Congress, Washington, DC 20557 or call at (703) 557-8700. (See sample copyright page located in Section V, Forms and Sample Pages.)

E. Acknowledgements. (Optional)

F. Table of Contents.

G. List of Figures. Insert this page only if needed.

H. List of Illustrations. Insert this page only if needed.

I. Copies should be prepared and distributed as noted below:

a. The original and one photocopy ("Xerox" copy) must be given to the Graduate School. (Each should be in a covering binder, without punched holes.)

b. One photocopy must be given to the thesis sponsor.

c. One photocopy must be given to the department.

d. One photocopy must be given to each member of the thesis committee.

e. One photocopy should be retained by you.

The original of the Thesis Signature Page must be included in the original copy of the thesis. Make enough photocopies of the signature page to become the cover page for the photocopies of the thesis.

J, After the thesis has been received and approved by the Graduate School, the thesis sponsor will be notified that a grade may be assigned for the thesis. If this final approval is received during the semester in which the student registered for the thesis course, the grade is entered on the regular grade sheet. If the registration occurred in a previous semester, the sponsor should employ the procedures concerning incomplete grades.

V. STYLE MANUALS

Style, footnotes, citations, and bibliographical form of the thesis should conform to the conventions prescribed by a standard style manual appropriate to the student's major field. In some cases, the style employed in the discipline's major research publications may also be appropriate. The style manual selected must be approved by the thesis committee. Also check with your thesis committee for possible additional style requirements.

The following list includes some commonly utilized style manuals. In all cases, the latest editions must be employed.

American Chemical Society. Handbook for Authors of Papers in the Research Journals of the American Chemical Society. Washington, D.C.: American Chemical Society.

American Institute of Biological Sciences. Style Manual for Biological Journals. Washington, D.C.: American Institute of Biological Sciences.

Psychological Association. Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association. Washington, D.C.: American Psychological Association.

Campbell, William G. Form and Style: Thesis, Reports and Term Papers. Boston: Houghton Mifflin.

Gibaldi, Joseph and W. S. Achter. MLA Handbook for Writers of Research Papers. New York: The Modern Language Association of America.

Turabian, Kate L. A Manual for Writers of Term Papers, Theses, and Dissertations. Chicago: University of Chicago Press.

U.S. Government Printing Office. Style Manual. Washington, D.C.

University of Chicago. The Chicago Manual of Style. Chicago: The University of Chicago Press.

MONTCLAIR STATE UNIVERSITY

APPROVAL FOR WRITING A MASTER'S THESIS

__________________________________ is accepted for _______________________ in the

(print name of student and Social Security Number) (number & title of thesis course)

______________ semester in the year ____________.

Thesis Sponsor _________________ ____________________ ______

(type or print) (sign) (date)

Graduate Advisor _________________ ____________________ ______

(type or print) (sign) (date)

Committee Member _________________ ____________________ ______

(type or print) (sign) (date)

Committee Member _________________ ____________________ ______

(type or print) (sign) (date)

The Graduate School _________________ _____________________ ______

(type or print) (sign) (date)

Student _________________ _____________________ ______

(type or print) (sign) (date)

(i) FORM A

MONTCLAIR STATE UNIVERSITY

AN OUTLINE OF A PROPOSED MASTER'S THESIS

(thesis title)

(name of student)

Thesis Outline Approved

Thesis Sponsor _____________________ ____________________ ______

(type or print) (sign) (date)

Committee Member _____________________ ____________________ ______

(type or print) (sign) (date)

Committee Member _____________________ ____________________ ______

(type or print) (sign) (date)

(attach thesis outline to this form)

(ii) FORM B

Principal Investigator ___________________

MONTCLAIR STATE UNIVERSITY GRADUATE SCHOOL AND UNIVERSITY INSTITUTIONAL REVIEW BOARD FOR HUMAN SUBJECTS PROTECTION

Disposition Form

Instructions: The Principal Investigator should complete this form up to the double line.

Project Title: ____________________________________________

Principal Investigator: _____________________________________

Department: _____________________________________

Funding Agency (if applicable): ______________________________

Type of Review Requested:

_______ FULL COMMITTEE _______ EXPEDITED _______ EXEMPT

Do not write below this line; for IRB use only.

Reviewer's Name and Department Signature Date

________________________________ ______________________________ ________

For EXEMPT Reviews:

I, the above signed, agree with the Principal Investigator in finding this project to be exempt under category __________ below and will report my findings to the full committee at our next meeting.

1. Research involves the study of normal educational practices in commonly accepted educational settings.

2. Research involves the use of educational tests, surveys, or interviews where identifiers are not recorded by the PI or where there is neither a risk of harm to subjects nor information sought concerning sensitive aspects of the subjects' own behavior. Research involves observation of public behavior where identifiers are not recorded by the PI or there is neither a risk of harm to subjects nor observation of sensitive aspects of the subjects' own behavior. This exemption does not apply to research with children when the investigator(s) participates in the activities being observed; for example, in classroom situations where the researcher is taking part in the classroom activities being studied or where surveys and interviews are being administered to children.

3. Research involves the use of educational tests, surveys, interviews, or observation of public behavior that is not exempt under the above category if: (a) subjects are elected or appointed public officials or candidates for public office or (b) federal statute(s) require(s), without exception, that the confidentiality of the personally identifiable information will be maintained throughout the research and thereafter. (Census, etc.)

4. Research involves merely the collection or study of existing data, documents, records, pathological or diagnostic specimens, where publicly available or where the information is private and identifiers are not recorded by the PI.

5. Research involves current public benefit or service programs, or alternatives to existing programs.

6. Research involves taste and food quality evaluation and consumer acceptance studies, if food or additives consumed meet FDA safety standards.

For FULL COMMITTEE Review:

I, the above signed, recommend to _________ Approve

_________ Not Approve

Use space provided below to explain why the study was not approved and what actions are recommended to gain approval.

For Studies Approved under EXPEDITED or FULL COMMITTEE Review Procedures:

IRB approval is normally granted for periods of one year, unless the committee finds that the research is sensitive enough to require more frequent review. The above named project will be due for a continuation review on or before: _________________

(date)

The expiration stamp on your Informed Consent Document serves as a reminder of the continuing review requirement. A form delineating the continuing review process will be sent to you several weeks in advance of the deadline. Continuing review must take place by the above date regardless of when your research actually begins.

MONTCLAIR STATE UNIVERSITY

(title of thesis)

(name of student)

A Master's Thesis Submitted to the Faculty of

Montclair State University

In Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements

For the Degree of

(insert name of degree)

(insert date degree is to be conferred)

School _____________________________ Thesis Committee

Department _________________________ _______________________________________________

(Thesis sponsor signs on line; type name under signature)

Thesis Sponsor

Certified by:

___________________________________ _______________________________________________

(Dean signs above; type name under signature) (Committee member signs on line; type name under signature)

Dean Committee Member

_____________________ _______________________________________________

(date) (Committee member signs on line; type name under signature)

_____________________________________________________

(Department chair signs on line; type name under signature)

Department Chair

(a) FORM D - Not to appear on title page

(Sample Copyright Page)

(Sample Title Page)

JUDGEMENT AND FEELING IN THE ANESTHETIC

THEORY OF BERNARD BOSANQUET

Bosanquet, Bernard (1848-1923), British philosopher, born in Rock Hall, Alnwick, England, and educated at the University of Oxford. Bosanquet was a lecturer at University College, Oxford (1871-81), professor of moral philosophy (1903-08) at the University of St. Andrews, and Gifford lecturer (1911-12) at the University of Edinburgh.

Bosanquet was one of the leaders of the so-called neo-Hegelian philosophical movement in Great Britain, deriving his ideas from Plato and the German philosopher G. W. F. Hegel. He wrote prolifically on logic, metaphysics, aesthetics, politics, and ethics. Among his best-known works are the Gifford lectures, The Principle of Individuality and Virtue (1912) and The Value and Destiny of the Individual (1913).

VELVA JEANNE OSBORNE

A THESIS

Submitted in partial fulfullment of the requirements

For the degree of (insert name of degree) in

The Department of (insert name of Department) in

the Graduate Program of

Montclair State University

(insert date degree is to be conferred)*

*Insert month and year (with no comma between). The only month degrees are conferred are January, May, and August. No other months should be specified.

Step 4. Once the thesis committee has approved your thesis topic, have all parties sign Form A, Approval for writing a Master's Thesis. (See Sections V, Forms and Sample Pages.) Provide your thesis sponsor and graduate advisor with photocopies of Form A. After Form A is approved by the Graduate School, at the next registration opportunity, you should enroll in your program's thesis course. If your thesis course is listed in the Schedule of Courses, register via the telephone response system. If it is not listed, you must register by using an Independent Study Application. When you submit your registration materials to the Registrar, Form A must be included. Without an appropriately completed Form A, your registration into the thesis course will not be processed.