Special Project (Plan C)
In general a special project involves completion of a body of work appropriate to the degree specialty. The availability of this option and the requirements for the special project vary according to the degree program. However, all special projects must include as a minimum an abstract, a definition of the project, project objective (purpose, rationale for conducting the project), a review of literature, research methods or a plan for the project, results or findings, summary or conclusions, and bibliography or references, as well as appendices, if appropriate.
For Plan C, the faculty advisor or another faculty member in the department will supervise the project. Students select a topic in consultation with the advisor. The advisor must approve the capstone proposal and the final project prior to the submission of each item to Graduate Studies, who assures that the thesis meets University standards for format and quality. Some departments require the student to give an oral defense before it is submitted for approval. The student's work will be evaluated by the advisor and by at least one other faculty member as determined by departmental requirements.
The following University requirements apply to all students completing a special project:
- The student must register for the special project using the Graduate Capstone Course Registration Form, available on the website. Students must obtain all signatures as required on the form and must register during the regular registration period. To register, students must have a minimum grade point average of 3.00 and at least 18 credits completed in programs of 30-35 credits or 24 credits completed in programs with greater than 35 credits. The special project proposal will not be approved by the Dean, School of Graduate Studies, until the student has registered for the course.
- A capstone proposal must be approved by the special project advisor and Graduate Studies before a student begin substantive work on the project. An approved proposal is also required to be eligible to participate in an upcoming Commencement ceremony.
- If human or animal subjects will be used, the student must submit a proposal to the Institutional Review Board (IRB) or Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC) prior to data collection.
- The special project must be prepared in a style and format appropriate to the discipline and approved by the capstone advisor, any additional committee members/readers, and the academic dean. Among the currently approved styles are ACA, APA, MLA, Campbell, and Chicago.
- An electronic copy of the approved project and abstract (not to exceed 200-300 words and one to two pages) must be submitted to the Graduate Studies office, accompanied by the Final Capstone Approval form signed by the student and thesis advisor. Some program require an oral defense prior to the submission of the final approval.
- If a student is planning to graduate in the current term, the Capstone proposal must be approved by April 8 for May or November 8 for December of the year in which the student plans to graduate in order to have the student's name listed under the Master's Degree Candidates. Special Project titles are not listed in the Commencement Program.
- Final Projects must be submitted for approval by the last day of finals, as listed on the University calendar, in order for the Master's degree to be awarded in that semester.