The thesis is an option for M.A. TESOL students. Instead of taking twelve classes (36 credits), students may opt to take ten classes (30 credits) and six credits of thesis. If the thesis option is chosen, the following procedure takes place.
Committee:
The student chooses three faculty members to serve on his/her thesis committee. One serves as the advisor and the other two serve as readers. The faculty committee members should have approval to teach M.A.-level classes by the graduate school.
Procedures:
- Upon consultation with the committee, the student will prepare an eight- to twelve-page proposal and submit it to the committee for approval.
- The committee members will submit their written responses and recommendations and, if they agree, will sign the Research Topic Approval (RTAF) form. The RTAF is then signed by the C&T director and forwarded to the graduate school.
- The student will also prepare and submit an IRB protocol, if needed, to the School of Graduate Studies and Research and await approval before beginning data collection.
- Once approval is gained, the student proceeds with data collection, analysis, drafting, and revision.
- Once the thesis advisor is satisfied with the completed thesis, he or she will notify the readers and arrange a “concluding event” date for reading and responding to the thesis.
- The student is responsible for delivering printed copies of the completed thesis to each of the committee members at least thirty days before a concluding event takes place.
Concluding Event:
Option 1 is preferred. In the event that a meeting is unfeasible, Option 2 may be used.
- Option 1: The committee members will meet with the student to discuss the thesis by the thirty-day deadline.
- Option 2: The committee members will read and respond to the thesis by the pre-established deadline. This may be done by written comments and marginal notes on the thesis itself. The student will then respond in writing to those comments.
- Outcome: One of three outcomes is possible: Pass, Pass with Revisions, Fail.
At the end of Option 1 or Option 2 and a decision, the thesis advisor meets with the student to oversee revisions.
The student then revises according to the thesis requirements of the graduate school and submits the completed thesis to the graduate school.
