/Institutions/Central-Connecticut-State-University/json/Current/Undergraduate-Graduate-Catalog-local.json

/Institutions/Central-Connecticut-State-University/json/Current/Undergraduate-Graduate-Catalog.json

Thesis (Plan A)

The master's thesis is required of all graduate students completing degrees under the Plan A option. The thesis represents a report of original scholarship completed under the supervision of a faculty thesis advisor. Depending on department curriculum policy, students receive either three or six credits for completing the thesis requirement as listed in the catalog course descriptions.

Students electing to write a thesis, in accordance with department or program policy, will select or be assigned a faculty thesis advisor. Students select a topic in consultation with the thesis advisor. The advisor and committee of a minimum of one additional faculty member must approve the thesis proposal and the thesis prior to the submission of each item to the academic dean , who assures that the thesis meets University standards for format and quality. Some departments require the student to give an oral defense of the thesis before it is submitted for approval. When all requirements are met and approved, the thesis is transmitted to the University library.

The following University requirements apply to all students writing theses:

1. Whenever possible, the student's graduate advisor will serve as the thesis advisor. If the student and the advisor deem it appropriate, another faculty member may be appointed by the department chair to serve as thesis advisor.
2. The student must register for the thesis 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.
3. A thesis proposal must be approved by the thesis advisor and academic dean before a student begin substantive work on the thesis. An approved proposal is also required to be eligible to participate in an upcoming Commencement ceremony.
4. 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.
5. The thesis must be prepared in a style and format appropriate to the discipline and approved by the thesis advisor, any additional committee members/readers, and the academic dean. Among the currently approved styles are ACA, APA, MLA, Campbell, and Chicago.
6. An electronic copy of the approved thesis and abstract (not to exceed 200-300 words and one to two pages) must be submitted to the dean's office, accompanied by the Public Access Approval form signed by the student and thesis advisor. Some program require an oral defense prior to the submission of the final thesis for approval.
7. If a student planning to graduate wishes the thesis title to be included in the Commencement Program, the final thesis must be submitted by April 8 for May or November 8 for December of the year in which the student plans to graduate. If the student only has an approved proposal by this date, the student's name will be listed under the Master's Degree Candidates but their thesis title will be listed in a future Commencement Program once the final thesis is approved.
8. Final Thesis 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.
9. As a service to our students, Elihu Burritt Library provides the option to have up to two personal copies of a Master's Thesis bound professionally for $20 per copy.  The turnaround time for students to receive their bound thesis is two to six months. To obtain copies of your thesis please utilize the Bound Personal Copy of Thesis Request form.