project plan thesis

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Guide for Thesis Research

• Introduction to the Thesis Process
• Project Planning
• Literature Review
• Theoretical Frameworks
• Research Methodology
• GC Honors Program Theses
• Thesis Submission Instructions This link opens in a new window
• Accessing Guilford Theses from 1898 to 2020 This link opens in a new window

Web Resources

• Developing a Thesis - Harvard College Writing Center
• How to Write Your Thesis - Columbia University
• Navigating the Dissertation - University of Southern California

Mapping Out Your Thesis Project

Good project planning will help you make the most out of your thesis experience. Here are some pointers:

• What are the specific requirements for theses in your department?
• What type of sources will you need?
• How much information will you need?
• What kind of data will you need to collect?
• Start your thesis project with enough time.
• Establish a working schedule.
• Establish benchmarks.
• ​Anticipate difficulties in the research process.
• Give yourself leeway to refine or alter your topic as needed.
• Be willing to try different strategies as you conduct your research.
• Databases you have consulted
• Search queries you have used
• Relevant sources you have located
• Have you found sufficient quality information?
• Have you answered your research questions?
• Can you develop and support a coherent argument with the sources that you have?
• Do you have enough to fulfill your thesis requirements?
• Give yourself time to analyze your sources. Consider how they tie together and help support the points you wish to make.
• Give yourself time to craft your written product. Make sure it effectively communicates the research you have done and the ideas you wish to express.
• Show drafts of your written product to others. Ask for their honest feedback, and take it into account.
• Be very clear about what you wish to say and how you will support it.
• Anticipate possible questions you might get.
• Rehearse as much as possible.
• Enjoy the experience!  
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• URL: https://library.guilford.edu/thesis-guide

Instructions for the Thesis

• Thesis Workshop
• Thesis Guidance and Allocation of Responsibilities
• Research Ethics and Data Protection
• Sources of Thesis Guidelines
• Ideation, Selection, and Approval of Your Topic
• Project Plan or Research Plan
• Planning and Initiation of the Thesis
• Formats of a Thesis
• Writing the Theoretical Framework
• Selection and Description of the Method
• Guidelines for Reporting

Citations and Creating a Reference List

• Language Guidance for the Thesis
• Plagiarism Check
• Guidelines for Theseus
• Maturity Test
• Instructions for the Final Stage of Master’s Thesis
• Evaluation of the Thesis
• Defining the search topic
• Evaluating the search results
• Choosing and using sources
• Finna search services
• Open access (OA)
• Google Scholar
• Evaluating online sources
• Good to know about search engines
• Databases and articles
• Other resources

Project plan

Your thesis work begins with familiarizing yourself with the topic and creating a project plan. The plan is also referred to as a research plan and thesis work plan. You familiarize yourself with the topic by searching for information from previous research and literature related to the subject. This way, you gain an understanding of the significance, timeliness, novelty or added value of the work, and how the topic fits into the research field. Scientific research is characterized by the accumulation of knowledge. New research builds heavily on previous research. (Metsämuuronen 2006, p. 31.) If your work is purely a development task, you need to find out from the literature how similar targets have been developed in the past.

Before writing the plan, it is advisable to review the guidelines for information retrieval , sources , and referencing techniques.

You present the plan as agreed and/or submit it to your supervisor for review and approval. Your supervisor familiarizes themselves with the plan and grants permission to proceed to the implementation phase or may request you to make further revisions to the plan.

Typically, a kickoff meeting is held with the student, supervisor, and client. At this stage, you also need to determine whether you need to apply for research permits or establish confidentiality agreements, for example, with the client. These agreements are stored in Wihi.

Recommended structure for Research plan (Master’s thesis):

• 1 INTRODUCTION
• 2 PURPOSE, OBJECTIVES AND RESEARCH QUESTIONS/TASKS
• 3 KNOWLEDGE BASE (titled by topic)
• 4 RESEARCH METHODS AND MATERIAL
• 5 ETHICS AND RELIABILITY
• 6 SCHEDULE AND RESOURCE PLAN
• 7 REPORTING, RIGHTS AND OBLIGATIONS
• ATTACHMENTS

In the introduction, your goal is to introduce the topic and arouse the reader's interest.  The structure of the introduction is as follows:  •    Related national and/or international background  •    Justification why this particular thesis is important  •    Presentation of a potential partner  •    Description of the operating environment (if relevant).

This is an important chapter, these are the questions you are seeking to answer with your thesis. There is no need for sources in this chapter.   Purpose   Describe why this thesis topic was chosen and what is expected of this work.  For example:  •    The purpose of the thesis is to find out / describe / map / understand  Goal Describe the benefits of the thesis from the perspective of developing the field, who will benefit from the finished work/thesis results, and what can be done based on the results.  For example  •    The aim is to produce information that can be utilised in nursing... in the development of practices....  Research questions/assignments  Refine the purpose of the thesis with a few research questions or assignments (1-3).  For example:  •    How do employees assess their competence...  •    How does the immediate supervisor perceive...  •    What are the problems with nursing record-keeping? 

In this chapter you describe the theoretical background. Use an investigative and argumentative approach, not just a summary of literature.  •    Define the key concepts and their connection to your thesis  •    What is already known about the subject based on previous research

In this chapter, you present the chosen research and development strategy and the rationale for the choices  •    Introduction to the data collection method  •    Presentation of the data analysis method  •    Introduction to the development method  •    Each point is justified by reference to the research literature.

In this chapter, you demonstrate your familiarity with research integrity and reliability. How to ensure different perspectives related to research integrity in your work: such as the research permit process, processing of personal data and data protection, confidentiality, data management plan (attached).   You evaluate the reliability and validity of the thesis after the work has been completed, how do you ensure in the planning phase that the result is as reliable and valid as possible? 

Instructions and template for data management plan (Arene)

In this chapter, you will present the schedule plan step by step and how resource needs are considered (staff time, facilities or external funder requirements).  

This chapter sets out the following:   •    Documentation and publicity of the work  •    Planned publication: trade journal, Energy online magazine, presentation of results e.g. conference/commissioning organization.  •    Copyright of the thesis, responsibilities of the UAS, thesis author and supervisor. These can be copied from the agreement template. If an assignment agreement is done, this is not necessary.

The attachments shall contain:   •    Possible interview outline / set of questions  •    Cover letter  •    Informed consent form for participants  •    Data management plan (when deeded)  •    Any attachments required by the client

Instructions

Stages of information searching

Sources of information

Writing instructions

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• Last Updated: May 8, 2024 1:45 PM
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Project Plan

Research Methodologies

Home Courses Research Methodologies Course materials Exercises Project Plan

Course subject(s) 8. Exercises Research Methodologies

Your assignment for research methodologies is to write a project plan for your thesis work. Timing wise it is best to combine this with your literature study (AE4020).

The plan you have to submit for this course is just that, a plan. It is a plan that should help you structure your thesis work before you discuss your final plan with your thesis supervisor and possible external client, just like you will be doing in your future professional life. That means that it does happen that the plan will deviate from the actual thesis work once you have carried out your thesis work, as plans are a living document and may change. That is the whole point of having one, so you can have discussions of what you initially agreed upon and why you are going to deviate.

The plan you hand in for this course does not have to be the same version of the plan you eventually discuss with your supervisor. It may be a draft of that or a first set up. What we are primarily concerned about in this course is that you learn to write a plan and we will give you feedback on the plan once we have graded it. (This is why it takes so long to correct compared to exams). We do not discuss your plan with your supervisor, that is up to you, or have an opinion about the actual topic. Our concern is the quality of the plan and the way you formulate it and think it through.

Therefore, start on this plan  early  in the start of your thesis research (including the literature study) so you may be benefit from the skills we are trying to teach you in this course.

When writing the plan, use the textbook and the information in this course to help you write the plan. It will help you do well in this course. Also make sure you make clear why you have made the choices you have. These may be obvious to you but realise that your understanding of the topic is likely a lot higher that that of other readers of your report. When writing focus on what you are adding to the body of knowledge, the science of it, and not just on solving a problem.

So what should this plan look like? We have defined a number of key deliverables we feel must be present in each project plan. They are listed below with a short explanation. More details can be found in the template for the project plan which is listed further down this page. It is  MANDATORY  to use the template, which also explains what other elements should be present in your plan to make it a readable piece of work. More explanation on each can be found in the weekly course content of lectures and reading. How we will grade your work can be found in the Rubrics on this page.

• Objective: Each plan must have an objective. This objective is not just a goal but also states how you are going to achieve it: e.g. “I am going to dig a hole  by  using a shovel”. See also the book of the course for more details on research objective and its formulation.
• Literature Review: This is a detailed part of the proposal that rigorously reviews what work has been already carried out by other academics in this area while also benchmarking industry best practice. You frame and position your research with this state-of-the-art review.
• Research questions: This is where you get down to the details of what you are looking to find out. when you find the answer to these questions your research is finished.There are either multiple main questions or one main question with several subquestions. See also the book of the course for more details on research questions and their formulation.
• Theory/Methodology:This is where you outline the theory or theoretical model you will follow or the method you will use to get the answers to your research questions.
• Experimental Set-Up:This is where you outline how you will get your results: this can be via measurements or interviews but also via programming and computerbased modelling. In all cases also state the challenges and limitations you expect to face and how you may mitigate their effects
• Results/relevance/Outcome:You need a target to work to: what are you expecting as results in terms of parameters, what outcomes are you interested in and what is the relevance of your project. Also include your validation & verification here.
• Planning: This part is where you show when you intend to complete each part of the project. Realise that iterations are present in a thesis project as it is highly unlikely things go right in one go. Motivate your planning and clearly identify which project parts depend on the outcome of other project phases by interlinking in your Gantt chart
• Conclusions:These should be conclusions about your plan and its feasibility, NOT about the outcome of your thesis. The conclusions should highlight what choices you have made and defending them as well as listing points-of-concern and attention.
• References: Use good academic quality references with as a minimum conference proceedings. Webpages, company websites, technical reports are considered weak references as they are not peer-reviewed and therefore the work has not always been critically, scientifically examined. Also make sure that when you use other people’s work you either quote them using quotation marks or paraphrase their finding in your own words. Always add a reference to these, even when it comes to using graphics and equations. After all they are not your own work. Errors should be avoided at all cost. Realise that in many other countries innocent mistakes may be perceived as plagiarism and lead to immediate expulsion. Use TurnItIn to help you check you have not made any mistakes. Also check that you include sufficient information for people to trace your references should they want to look them up.
• General readability: Read your work before you submit, correct errors, check for grammar and completeness. If in doubt have a friend or relative read your work before submitting. Points are awarded for spelling, grammar and flow. Ensure you link  sections one another, there should be no stand alone.

Finally: the plan has to be concise. So stay within the page limit of 10 pages, which excludes the references and the Gantt Chart and adhere to the font size (no smaller than 10pt). No appendices unless you put your Gantt chart in it. Exceeding the page limit means we will return the work to you for resubmission and delays in grading of 3 months will occur. Also, if you miss one of the deliverables above you loose marks straight away.

Please find attached the templates of the project plan. There is a word template and a LaTeX template. These templates must be used!

Read the templates carefully as they contain useful information on the expected deliverables.

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How to Write a Master's Thesis: A Guide to Planning Your Thesis, Pursuing It, and Avoiding Pitfalls

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Part 1: Initial Considerations

Who needs to write a master’s thesis.

Thesis writing is one of the more daunting challenges of higher education. That being said, not all master's students have to write a thesis. For example, fields that place a stronger emphasis on applied knowledge, such as nursing, business, and education, tend to have projects and exams to test students on the skills and abilities associated with those fields. Conversely, in disciplines that require in-depth research or highly polished creative abilities, students are usually expected to prove their understanding and independence with a thesis.

What's Your Goal?

Do you want to write a thesis? The process is a long one, often spanning years. It's best to know exactly what you want before you begin. Many people are motivated by career goals. For example, hiring managers may see a master's degree as proof that the candidate is an expert within their field and can lead, motivate, and demonstrate initiative for themselves and others. Others dream of earning their doctorate, and they see a master's degree as a stepping stone toward their Ph.D .

No matter what your desired goal is, you should have one before you start your thesis. With your goal in mind, your work will have a purpose, which will allow you to measure your progress more easily.

Major Types of Theses

Once you've carefully researched or even enrolled in a master's program—a feat that involves its own planning and resources —you should know if you are expected to produce a quantitative (which occurs in many math and science programs), qualitative (which occurs in many humanities programs), or creative (which occurs in many creative writing, music, or fine arts programs) thesis.

Time and Energy Considerations

Advanced degrees are notoriously time and energy consuming. If you have a job, thesis writing will become your second job. If you have a family, they will need to know that your thesis will take a great deal of your attention, energy, and focus.

Your studies should not consume you, but they also should not take a back seat to everything else. You will be expected to attend classes, conduct research, source relevant literature, and schedule meetings with various people as you pursue your master's, so it's important to let those you care about know what's going on.

As a general note, most master's programs expect students to finish within a two-year period but are willing to grant extra time if requested, especially if that time is needed to deal with unexpected life events (more on those later).

Part 2: Form an Initial Thesis Question, and Find a Supervisor

When to begin forming your initial thesis question.

Some fields, such as history, may require you to have already formed your thesis question and to have used it to create a statement of intent (outlining the nature of your research) prior to applying to a master’s program. Others may require this information only after you've been accepted. Most of the time, you will be expected to come up with your topic yourself. However, in some disciplines, your supervisor may assign a general research topic to you.

Overall, requirements vary immensely from program to program, so it's best to confirm the exact requirements of your specific program.

What to Say to Your Supervisor

You will have a supervisor during your master's studies. Have you identified who that person will be? If yes, have you introduced yourself via email or phone and obtained information on the processes and procedures that are in place for your master's program? Once you've established contact, request an in-person meeting with him or her, and take a page of questions along with you. Your questions might include:

• Is there a research subject you can recommend in my field?
• I would like to pursue [target research subject] for my thesis. Can you help me narrow my focus?
• Can you give me an example of a properly formatted thesis proposal for my program?

Don't Be Afraid to Ask for Help (to a Degree)

Procedures and expectations vary from program to program, and your supervisor is there to help remove doubt and provide encouragement so you can follow the right path when you embark on writing your thesis. Since your supervisor has almost certainly worked with other graduate students (and was one at some point), take advantage of their experience, and ask questions to put your mind at ease about how to write a master’s thesis.

That being said, do not rely too heavily on your supervisor. As a graduate student, you are also expected to be able to work independently. Proving your independent initiative and capacity is part of what will earn you your master's degree.

Part 3: Revise Your Thesis

Read everything you can get your hands on.

Whether you have a question or need to create one, your next step is simple and applies to all kinds of theses: read.

Seek Out Knowledge or Research Gaps

Read everything you can that relates to the question or the field you are studying. The only way you will be able to determine where you can go is to see where everyone else has been. After you have read some published material, you will start to spot gaps in current research or notice things that could be developed further with an alternative approach. Things that are known but not understood or understood but not explained clearly or consistently are great potential thesis subjects. Addressing something already known from a new perspective or with a different style could also be a potentially valuable project. Whichever way you choose to do it, keep in mind that your project should make a valuable contribution to your field.

Talk with Experts in Your Field (and Don't Be Afraid to Revise Your Thesis)

To help narrow down your thesis topic, talk to your supervisor. Your supervisor will have an idea of what is current in your field and what can be left alone because others are already working on it. Additionally, the school you are attending will have programs and faculty with particular areas of interest within your chosen field.

On a similar note, don't be surprised if your thesis question changes as you study. Other students and researchers are out there, and as they publish, what you are working on can change. You might also discover that your question is too vague, not substantial enough, or even no longer relevant. Do not lose heart! Take what you know and adjust the question to address these concerns as they arise. The freedom to adapt is part of the power you hold as a graduate student.

Part 4: Select a Proposal Committee

What proposal committees are and why they're useful.

When you have a solid question or set of questions, draft a proposal.

You'll need an original stance and a clear justification for asking, and answering, your thesis question. To ensure this, a committee will review your thesis proposal. Thankfully, that committee will consist of people assigned by your supervisor or department head or handpicked by you. These people will be experts who understand your field of study and will do everything in their power to ensure that you are pursuing something worthwhile. And yes, it is okay to put your supervisor on your committee. Some programs even require that your supervisor be on your committee.

Just remember that the committee will expect you to schedule meetings with them, present your proposal, respond to any questions they might have for you, and ultimately present your findings and thesis when all the work is done. Choose those who are willing to support you, give constructive feedback, and help address issues with your proposal. And don't forget to give your proposal a good, thorough edit and proofread before you present it.

How to Prepare for Committee Meetings

Be ready for committee meetings with synopses of your material for committee members, answers for expected questions, and a calm attitude. To prepare for those meetings, sit in on proposal and thesis defenses so you can watch how other graduate students handle them and see what your committee might ask of you. You can even hold rehearsals with friends and fellow students acting as your committee to help you build confidence for your presentation.

Part 5: Write Your Thesis

What to do once your proposal is approved.

After you have written your thesis proposal and received feedback from your committee, the fun part starts: doing the work. This is where you will take your proposal and carry it out. If you drafted a qualitative or quantitative proposal, your experimentation or will begin here. If you wrote a creative proposal, you will now start working on your material. Your proposal should be strong enough to give you direction when you perform your experiments, conduct interviews, or craft your work. Take note that you will have to check in with your supervisor from time to time to give progress updates.

Thesis Writing: It's Important to Pace Yourself and Take Breaks

Do not expect the work to go quickly. You will need to pace yourself and make sure you record your progress meticulously. You can always discard information you don't need, but you cannot go back and grab a crucial fact that you can't quite remember. When in doubt, write it down. When drawing from a source, always create a citation for the information to save your future self time and stress. In the same sense, you may also find journaling to be a helpful process.

Additionally, take breaks and allow yourself to step away from your thesis, even if you're having fun (and especially if you're not). Ideally, your proposal should have milestones in it— points where you can stop and assess what you've already completed and what's left to do. When you reach a milestone, celebrate. Take a day off and relax. Better yet, give yourself a week's vacation! The rest will help you regain your focus and ensure that you function at your best.

How to Become More Comfortable with Presenting Your Work

Once you start reaching your milestones, you should be able to start sharing what you have. Just about everyone in a graduate program has experience giving a presentation at the front of the class, attending a seminar, or watching an interview. If you haven't (or even if you have), look for conferences and clubs that will give you the opportunity to learn about presenting your work and become comfortable with the idea of public speaking. The more you practice talking about what you are studying, the more comfortable you'll be with the information, which will make your committee defenses and other official meetings easier.

Published authors can be called upon to present at conferences, and if your thesis is strong, you may receive an email or a phone call asking if you would share your findings onstage.

Presenting at conferences is also a great way to boost your CV and network within your field. Make presenting part of your education, and it will become something you look forward to instead of fear.

What to Do If Your Relationship with Your Supervisor Sours

A small aside: If it isn't already obvious, you will be communicating extensively with others as you pursue your thesis. That also means that others will need to communicate with you, and if you've been noticing things getting quiet, you will need to be the one to speak up. Your supervisor should speak to you at least once a term and preferably once a week in the more active parts of your research and writing. If you give written work to your supervisor, you should have feedback within three weeks.

If your supervisor does not provide feedback, frequently misses appointments, or is consistently discouraging of your work, contact your graduate program advisor and ask for a new supervisor. The relationship with your supervisor is crucial to your success, especially if she or he is on your committee, and while your supervisor does not have to be friendly, there should at least be professional respect between you.

What to Do If a Crisis Strikes

If something happens in your life that disrupts everything (e.g., emotional strain, the birth of a child, or the death of a family member), ask for help. You are a human being, and personal lives can and do change without warning. Do not wait until you are falling apart before asking for help, either. Learn what resources exist for crises before you have one, so you can head off trauma before it hits. That being said, if you get blindsided, don't refuse help. Seek it out, and take the time you need to recover. Your degree is supposed to help you become a stronger and smarter person, not break you.

Part 6: Polish and Defend Your Master's Thesis

How to write a master’s thesis: the final stages.

After your work is done and everything is written down, you will have to give your thesis a good, thorough polishing. This is where you will have to organize the information, draft it into a paper format with an abstract, and abbreviate things to help meet your word-count limit. This is also where your final editing and proofreading passes will occur, after which you will face your final hurdle: presenting your thesis defense to your committee. If they approve your thesis, then congratulations! You are now a master of your chosen field.

Conclusion and Parting Thoughts

Remember that you do not (and should not) have to learn how to write a master’s thesis on your own. Thesis writing is collaborative, as is practically any kind of research.

While you will be expected to develop your thesis using your own initiative, pursue it with your own ambition, and complete it with your own abilities, you will also be expected to use all available resources to do so. The purpose of a master's thesis is to help you develop your own independent abilities, ensuring that you can drive your own career forward without constantly looking to others to provide direction. Leaders get master's degrees. That's why many business professionals in leadership roles have graduate degree initials after their last names. If you already have the skills necessary to motivate yourself, lead others, and drive change, you may only need your master's as an acknowledgement of your abilities. If you do not, but you apply yourself carefully and thoroughly to the pursuit of your thesis, you should come away from your studies with those skills in place.

A final thought regarding collaboration: all theses have a section for acknowledgements. Be sure to say thank you to those who helped you become a master. One day, someone might be doing the same for you.

Image source: Falkenpost/Pixabay.com 

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How to Write a Master's Thesis Proposal

How to write a master’s thesis proposal is one of the most-asked questions by graduate students. A master's thesis proposal involves a copious amount of data collection, particular presentation ethics, and most importantly, it will become the roadmap to your full thesis. Remember, you must convince your committee that your idea is strong and unique, and that you have done enough legwork to begin with the first few drafts of your final thesis. Your proposal should serve as a foundational blueprint on which you will later build your entire project. To have the perfect thesis proposal, you need to have original ideas, solid information, and proper presentation. While it is a good idea to take assistance from thesis writing services , you still need to personally understand the elements that contribute to a master’s thesis proposal worthy of approval. In this blog, we will discuss the process of writing your master’s thesis proposal and give you tips for making your proposal strong. Stay tuned!

>> Want us to help you get accepted? Schedule a free strategy call here . <<

Article Contents 8 min read

How to decide the goals for your master's thesis.

If you are pursuing a master’s or a PhD , you will be undertaking a major research paper or a thesis. Thus, writing a thesis proposal becomes inevitable. Your major objective for pursuing a master’s degree is to improve your knowledge in your field of study. When you start your degree, you delve deeper into different concepts in your discipline and try to search for answers to all kinds of questions. If you come across a question that no one can answer, you can select that question as your research thesis topic.

A master's thesis proposal will have multiple sections depending on your decided layout. These sections will continuously support your argument and try to convince the reader of your core argument. The structure will also help you arrange the various parts of the paper to have a greater impact on the readers. A paper should always begin with you giving a brief summary of the topic and how you have come across it. The introduction is particularly important because it will give the readers a brief idea about the topic of discussion and win their interest in the matter.

After the summary has been given, slowly you need to progress into the body of the thesis proposal which would explain your argument, research methodology, literary texts that have a relation to the topic, and the conclusion of your study. It would be similar to an essay or a literary review consisting of 3 or 4 parts. The bibliography will be placed at the end of the paper so that people can cross-check your sources.

Let's take a look at the sections most master's thesis proposals should cover. Please note that each university has its own guidelines for how to structure and what to include in a master’s thesis proposal. The outline we provide below is general, so please make sure to follow the exact guidelines provided by your school:

Restate your primary argument and give us a glimpse of what you will include in the main master\u2019s thesis. Leave the reader wanting more. Your research proposal should talk about what research chapters you are trying to undertake in your final thesis. You can also mention the proposed time in which you will complete these chapters.  ","label":"Conclusion and proposed chapters","title":"Conclusion and proposed chapters"}]" code="tab1" template="BlogArticle">

A thesis proposal needs to be convincing enough to get approval. If the information is not enough to satisfy the evaluation committee, it would require revision. Hence, you need to select and follow the right methodology to make your argument convincing. When a research proposal is presented, the reader will determine the validity of your argument by judging the strength of your evidence and conclusions. Therefore, even writige:ng a proposal will require extensive research on your part. You should start writing your thesis proposal by working through the following steps.

Interested in a summary of the points covered below? Check out this infographic:

Exploring your topic in detail

You need to delve deeper into your chosen topic to see if your idea is original. In the process of this exploration, you will find tons of materials that will be supportive of your argument. When choosing your research topic and the problem you want to explore, you should always consider your primary research interest (yes, the one which you had mentioned in your research interest statement during grad school applications) for a better master’s thesis. You have a high probability of performing better in an area that you have always liked as compared to any other research area or topic.

Reviewing the literature

You have to include all the sources from where you have formed your argument and mention them in the thesis proposal. If you neglect to mention important source texts, the reader may consider it to be plagiarism. Furthermore, you want to keep track of all your research because it will be easier to provide references if you know the exact source of each piece of information.

Finding opposing arguments for your study

You should also mention any texts that would counter your argument and try to disprove their claims in the thesis. Make sure to use evidence if you try to disprove the counterarguments you face.

Emphasizing the importance of your research

At the end of the thesis proposal, you need to convince the reader why your proposal is important to your chosen field of study, which would ultimately help you in getting your topic approved. Thus, it is essential to outline the importance of your research thoroughly.

Drafting your proposal

After doing proper research, you should go ahead and draft your proposal. Remember you will not get it right in just one draft, it will take at least 50 attempts to come up with a satisfactory proposal. You should proofread your draft several times and even have a fellow student review it for you before sending it further to your research supervisor.

Getting your proposal evaluated by your supervisor

After you have written sufficient drafts, you need to get your proposal evaluated by your research supervisor. This is necessary to meet the graduate research requirements. It will ensure the clarity and correctness of your proposal. For your supervisor to evaluate your proposal, you should complete the research methodology part along with sufficient proposed work.

Since your supervisor will play a crucial role in your master's research thesis, you must choose a supervisor who can be your ultimate guide in writing your master's thesis. They will be your partner and support system during your study and will help you in eliminating obstacles to achieving your goal.

Choosing the ideal supervisor is a pretty daunting task. Here’s how you can go about the process:

You should approach your professor with an open mind and discuss the potential goals of your research. You should hear what they think and then if you both mutually agree, you can choose them as your supervisor for your master\u2019s thesis. "}]">

Length of a Master’s Thesis Proposal

The length of a master’s thesis proposal differs from university to university and depends on the discipline of research as well. Usually, you have to include all the above-mentioned sections, and the length is around 8 pages and can go up to 12-15 pages for subjects such as the liberal arts. Universities might also define the number of words in the guidelines for your master’s thesis proposal and you have to adhere to that word limit.

Are you debating between pursuing a Masters or a PhD? This video has details that can help you decide which is best for you:

How to Format a Research Thesis Proposal Correctly?

Now that you know how to write a thesis proposal, you must make it presentable. Although your school might give your specific instructions, you can keep in mind some of the general advice:

• You can use some basic font like Times New Roman and keep the font size to 10 or 12 points.
• The left margin should be 1.5 inches and all other margins should be 1 inch each.
• You should follow double-spacing for your content.
• The first line of paragraphs should be indented 0.5 inches and the paragraphs should be left or center aligned.

Tips to Write a Strong Master's Thesis Proposal

When you are writing your master’s thesis proposal, you should keep these tips in mind to write an excellent master’s thesis proposal with all the correct elements to get approval from the evaluating committee:

Select your research objectives wisely

You should be clear on what you wish to learn from your research. Your learning objectives should stem from your research interests. If you are unsure, refer to your grad school career goals statement to review what you wanted out of grad school in the first place. Then, choose your objectives around it.

Write a clear title

The title of your research proposal should be concise and written in a language that can be understood easily by others. The title should be able to give the reader an idea of your intended research and should be interesting.

Jot down your thoughts, arguments, and evidence

You should always start with a rough outline of your arguments because you will not miss any point in this way. Brainstorm what you want to include in the proposal and then expand those points to complete your proposal. You can decide the major headings with the help of the guidelines provided to you.

Focus on the feasibility and importance

You should consider whether your research is feasible with the available resources. Additionally, your proposal should clearly convey the significance of your research in your field.

Use simple language

Since the evaluation committee can have researchers from different subject areas, it is best to write your proposal in a simple language that is understandable by all.

Stick to the guidelines

Your university will be providing the guidelines for writing your research proposal. You should adhere to those guidelines strictly since your proposal will be primarily evaluated on the basis of those.

Have an impactful opening section

It is a no-brainer that the opening statement of your proposal should be powerful enough to grasp the attention of the readers and get them interested in your research topic. You should be able to convey your interest and enthusiasm in the introductory section.

Peer review prior to submission

Apart from working with your research supervisor, it is essential that you ask some classmates and friends to review your proposal. The comments and suggestions that they give will be valuable in helping you to make the language of your proposal clearer.

You have worked hard to get into grad school and even harder on searching your research topic. Thus, you must be careful while building your thesis proposal so that you have maximum chances of acceptance.

If you're curious how your graduate school education will differ from your undergraduate education, take a look at this video so you know what to expect:

Writing the perfect research proposal might be challenging, but keeping to the basics might make your task easier. In a nutshell, you need to be thorough in your study question. You should conduct sufficient research to gather all relevant materials required to support your argument. After collecting all data, make sure to present it systematically to give a clearer understanding and convince the evaluators to approve your proposal. Lastly, remember to submit your proposal well within the deadline set by your university. Your performance at grad school is essential, especially if you need a graduate degree to gain admission to med school and your thesis contributes to that performance. Thus, start with a suitable research problem, draft a strong proposal, and then begin with your thesis after your proposal is approved.

In your master’s thesis proposal, you should include your research topic and the problem statement being addressed in your research, along with a proposed solution. The proposal should explain the importance and limitations of your research.

The length of a master’s thesis proposal is outlined by the university in the instructions for preparing your master’s thesis proposal.

The time taken to write a master’s thesis proposal depends upon the study which you are undertaking and your discipline of research. It will take a minimum time of three months. The ideal time can be around six months. 

You should begin your master’s thesis proposal by writing an introduction to your research topic. You should state your topic clearly and provide some background. Keep notes and rough drafts of your proposal so you can always refer to them when you write the first real draft.

The basic sections that your master’s thesis proposal should cover are the problem statement, research methodology, proposed activities, importance, and the limitations of your research.

A master’s thesis proposal which clearly defines the problem in a straightforward and explains the research methodology in simple words is considered a good thesis proposal.

You can use any classic font for your master’s thesis proposal such as Times New Roman. If you are recommended a specific font in the proposal guidelines by your institution, it would be advisable to stick to that.

The ideal font size for your master’s thesis proposal will be 10 or 12 points.

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Think of yourself as a member of a jury, listening to a lawyer who is presenting an opening argument. You'll want to know very soon whether the lawyer believes the accused to be guilty or not guilty, and how the lawyer plans to convince you. Readers of academic essays are like jury members: before they have read too far, they want to know what the essay argues as well as how the writer plans to make the argument. After reading your thesis statement, the reader should think, "This essay is going to try to convince me of something. I'm not convinced yet, but I'm interested to see how I might be."

An effective thesis cannot be answered with a simple "yes" or "no." A thesis is not a topic; nor is it a fact; nor is it an opinion. "Reasons for the fall of communism" is a topic. "Communism collapsed in Eastern Europe" is a fact known by educated people. "The fall of communism is the best thing that ever happened in Europe" is an opinion. (Superlatives like "the best" almost always lead to trouble. It's impossible to weigh every "thing" that ever happened in Europe. And what about the fall of Hitler? Couldn't that be "the best thing"?)

A good thesis has two parts. It should tell what you plan to argue, and it should "telegraph" how you plan to argue—that is, what particular support for your claim is going where in your essay.

Steps in Constructing a Thesis

First, analyze your primary sources.  Look for tension, interest, ambiguity, controversy, and/or complication. Does the author contradict himself or herself? Is a point made and later reversed? What are the deeper implications of the author's argument? Figuring out the why to one or more of these questions, or to related questions, will put you on the path to developing a working thesis. (Without the why, you probably have only come up with an observation—that there are, for instance, many different metaphors in such-and-such a poem—which is not a thesis.)

Once you have a working thesis, write it down.  There is nothing as frustrating as hitting on a great idea for a thesis, then forgetting it when you lose concentration. And by writing down your thesis you will be forced to think of it clearly, logically, and concisely. You probably will not be able to write out a final-draft version of your thesis the first time you try, but you'll get yourself on the right track by writing down what you have.

Keep your thesis prominent in your introduction.  A good, standard place for your thesis statement is at the end of an introductory paragraph, especially in shorter (5-15 page) essays. Readers are used to finding theses there, so they automatically pay more attention when they read the last sentence of your introduction. Although this is not required in all academic essays, it is a good rule of thumb.

Anticipate the counterarguments.  Once you have a working thesis, you should think about what might be said against it. This will help you to refine your thesis, and it will also make you think of the arguments that you'll need to refute later on in your essay. (Every argument has a counterargument. If yours doesn't, then it's not an argument—it may be a fact, or an opinion, but it is not an argument.)

This statement is on its way to being a thesis. However, it is too easy to imagine possible counterarguments. For example, a political observer might believe that Dukakis lost because he suffered from a "soft-on-crime" image. If you complicate your thesis by anticipating the counterargument, you'll strengthen your argument, as shown in the sentence below.

Some Caveats and Some Examples

A thesis is never a question.  Readers of academic essays expect to have questions discussed, explored, or even answered. A question ("Why did communism collapse in Eastern Europe?") is not an argument, and without an argument, a thesis is dead in the water.

A thesis is never a list.  "For political, economic, social and cultural reasons, communism collapsed in Eastern Europe" does a good job of "telegraphing" the reader what to expect in the essay—a section about political reasons, a section about economic reasons, a section about social reasons, and a section about cultural reasons. However, political, economic, social and cultural reasons are pretty much the only possible reasons why communism could collapse. This sentence lacks tension and doesn't advance an argument. Everyone knows that politics, economics, and culture are important.

A thesis should never be vague, combative or confrontational.  An ineffective thesis would be, "Communism collapsed in Eastern Europe because communism is evil." This is hard to argue (evil from whose perspective? what does evil mean?) and it is likely to mark you as moralistic and judgmental rather than rational and thorough. It also may spark a defensive reaction from readers sympathetic to communism. If readers strongly disagree with you right off the bat, they may stop reading.

An effective thesis has a definable, arguable claim.  "While cultural forces contributed to the collapse of communism in Eastern Europe, the disintegration of economies played the key role in driving its decline" is an effective thesis sentence that "telegraphs," so that the reader expects the essay to have a section about cultural forces and another about the disintegration of economies. This thesis makes a definite, arguable claim: that the disintegration of economies played a more important role than cultural forces in defeating communism in Eastern Europe. The reader would react to this statement by thinking, "Perhaps what the author says is true, but I am not convinced. I want to read further to see how the author argues this claim."

A thesis should be as clear and specific as possible.  Avoid overused, general terms and abstractions. For example, "Communism collapsed in Eastern Europe because of the ruling elite's inability to address the economic concerns of the people" is more powerful than "Communism collapsed due to societal discontent."

Copyright 1999, Maxine Rodburg and The Tutors of the Writing Center at Harvard University

Thesis Project Plan Template

• Great for beginners
• Ready-to-use, fully customizable Subcategory
• Get started in seconds

Embarking on a thesis project can be an exciting yet daunting journey for graduate students. To ensure your research is well-organized and on track, a comprehensive project plan is essential. ClickUp's Thesis Project Plan Template is here to ease your stress and help you excel in your academic pursuits.

With ClickUp's template, you can:

• Clearly define your project's scope, objectives, and research questions
• Break down your thesis into manageable tasks and set realistic deadlines
• Allocate resources and track progress to ensure timely completion
• Collaborate with advisors and team members for valuable feedback and guidance

Take control of your thesis project and achieve academic success with ClickUp's Thesis Project Plan Template. Get started today and pave the way for groundbreaking research!

Thesis Project Plan Template Benefits

The Thesis Project Plan Template in ClickUp offers numerous benefits for graduate students working on their thesis projects:

• Streamlines the planning process by providing a structured framework to outline the scope, objectives, and tasks of the project
• Helps ensure that all necessary research components are considered and accounted for
• Facilitates effective time management by setting clear deadlines for each milestone of the project
• Enables easy collaboration and communication with advisors and fellow researchers
• Provides a centralized location to store and organize research materials and resources
• Allows for easy tracking of progress and identification of potential bottlenecks
• Enhances productivity by providing a visual overview of the entire project timeline
• Promotes accountability and helps students stay on track towards completing their thesis on time and within budget.

Main Elements of Thesis Project Plan Template

When it comes to managing your thesis project, ClickUp's Thesis Project Plan template has got you covered with its comprehensive features:

• Custom Statuses: Keep track of your progress with three different statuses - Complete, In Progress, and To Do, allowing you to easily identify which tasks need your attention.
• Custom Fields: Utilize custom fields to capture important information such as objectives, deadlines, resources, and any other details specific to your thesis project.
• Doc View : Create and edit your thesis project plan as a document, allowing you to include all necessary information and collaborate with others.
• Board View : Visualize your tasks and progress using a Kanban-style board, enabling you to drag and drop tasks as they move through different stages.
• List View : Get a detailed overview of your tasks and their status, making it easy to prioritize and plan your work effectively.

With ClickUp's Thesis Project Plan template, you'll have all the tools you need to stay organized, meet deadlines, and successfully complete your research project.

How To Use Thesis Project Plan Template

If you're embarking on a thesis project, the Thesis Project Plan template in ClickUp can help you stay organized and on track. Follow these three steps to effectively use the template:

1. Define your research question and objectives

Before diving into your thesis project, it's crucial to clearly define your research question and objectives. What is the problem you're trying to solve or the knowledge gap you're addressing? By establishing these parameters, you'll have a solid foundation for your project.

Use the Goals feature in ClickUp to set specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-bound (SMART) objectives for your thesis project.

2. Break down your project into manageable tasks

To ensure that your thesis project progresses smoothly, break it down into smaller, manageable tasks. Start by identifying the major milestones you need to achieve, such as literature review, data collection, analysis, and writing the final thesis. Then, further break down these milestones into actionable tasks.

Use the Gantt chart view in ClickUp to visualize your project timeline and dependencies. This will help you allocate time and resources effectively.

3. Set deadlines and allocate resources

Assign deadlines to each task to create a timeline for your thesis project. Be realistic and consider factors such as the availability of research materials, data collection time, and the complexity of analysis. Additionally, allocate resources such as research materials, equipment, and software needed for each task.

Use the Calendar view in ClickUp to schedule tasks and set reminders for important deadlines and milestones. This will help you stay on top of your project and ensure timely completion.

By following these steps and utilizing the features of ClickUp's Thesis Project Plan template, you'll be able to stay organized, track your progress, and successfully complete your thesis project. Good luck!

Get Started with ClickUp’s Thesis Project Plan Template

Graduate students undertaking thesis projects can use the Thesis Project Plan Template in ClickUp to effectively manage their research and stay organized throughout the process.

First, hit “Add Template” to sign up for ClickUp and add the template to your Workspace. Make sure you designate which Space or location in your Workspace you’d like this template applied.

Next, invite relevant members or guests to your Workspace to start collaborating.

Now you can take advantage of the full potential of this template to plan and execute your thesis project:

• Use the Doc View to create a comprehensive document outlining your research objectives, methodology, and timeline
• The Board View will help you visualize your tasks and progress using columns and cards
• The List View allows you to see all your tasks in a simple, organized list format
• Customize the template by adding custom fields to capture specific information relevant to your research, such as literature review status or data collection methods
• Organize tasks into three different statuses: Complete, In Progress, To Do, to track your progress
• Update statuses as you complete tasks to keep track of your progress and stay on schedule
• Monitor and analyze tasks to ensure you're meeting your milestones and deadlines
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Graduate Studies

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• Thesis/Project Planning

If your program requires a thesis or project, this will be the culminating experience of your graduate program. Work with your committee or advisor to develop a plan, get your research approved and start to put together your thesis or project.

Starting Your Research

The Humboldt Library has a dedicated Research Desk to help you learn how to navigate the library's databases and resources. They also offer workshops on how to use library resources and get started on your research.

You may want to consider using a Citation Management System to organize the articles you will be using and citing in your thesis/project. Humboldt library offers short workshops (called SkillShops ) to help you learn programs like Zotero or OneNote to keep your research organized.

Research Approval

If you plan to conduct research involving a human subject, you will need to submit a proposal to the Institutional Review Board (IRB).

If you plan to conduct research involving non-human vertebrates, you will need to submit a proposal to the Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC).

If you plan to use secondary data or research, you may be exempt from needing IRB or IACUC approval. Check the IRB's Open Data Sources .

Starting Your Thesis/Project

Many programs require a formal proposal before you begin writing your thesis/project. Check with your advisor or Graduate Coordinator as you develop your plan.

Check your program's graduate handbook to make sure you are aware of any guidelines that will impact the way you write your thesis/project.

Formatting Your Thesis/Project

Your thesis or project will need to be formatted according to Humboldt policies so it will be ready to be published to Humboldt's Digital Commons. See the Thesis/Project Help page for formatting requirements and templates to help you format your thesis/project correctly.

Student Responsibilities

The responsibility for writing and for editing rests with the student, not with the advisor, committee chair, graduate committee, or graduate coordinator. The student's minimum responsibilities for the thesis/project are to:

Work closely with your advisor/committee chair and consult with other members of the graduate committee as needed. Keep your advisor/committee chair informed of your progress. 

Allow adequate time for revisions (see Planning Ahead Turnaround Time).

Receive approval from your advisor/committee chair, committee members, graduate coordinator, and graduate dean prior to changing the scope of your project or research

Comply with university policy, state laws and federal laws/regulations regarding research that includes humans, data on humans, or involves vertebrate animals.

Ensure that your thesis/project evidences originality, critical and independent thinking, appropriate organization and format, and thorough documentation.

Use correct formatting and accuracy of quotations and literature citations. Each thesis or project should be an original contribution to your discipline. Plagiarizing all or part of a thesis or project will make the entire document unacceptable.

Make corrections as suggested by the graduate committee and graduate coordinator.

Proofread the entire document including acknowledgments references and appendices.

Ensure that your thesis or project meets program and Cal Poly Humboldt format requirements.

Take primary responsibility to stay informed and adhere to all department, Graduate Studies, and Office of the Registrar deadlines. No exceptions will be made for missed deadlines or late submissions.

Advisor & Committee Chair Responsibilities

Although the primary responsibility for writing the thesis/project lies with the student, the student should work closely with their advisor/committee chair.

The advisor/committee chair should:

Advise the student on improvements to organization, form, content, and the expression of material.

Resolve any disagreements between committee members.

Familiarize themselves with policies and deadlines that affect their graduate students.

By registering approval through Digital Commons, the advisor/committee chair certifies that:

The document is well-written, this includes writing and format as well as the overall quality of the research or project;

It is an accurate description of the work performed;

It is an original and worthwhile contribution by the student;

the suggestions made by the graduate committee have been incorporated into the final document.

Planning Ahead: The Revision Process

The student submits the initial drafts of their thesis or project to their advisor/committee chair, who reviews the drafts and makes corrections and recommendations.

The student corrects errors and incorporates suggested changes to the thesis/project or meets with their advisor/committee chair to discuss why suggested changes should not be made.

This process continues until the student and committee chair feel that the document is ready for the committee to review.

Note the committee reviews the thesis/project only after the chair has approved it. Again, several drafts may be provided to the committee.

When each committee member is satisfied with the document, the student will submit the thesis or project in Digital Commons for committee member and graduate coordinator approval.

Planning Ahead: Turnaround Time

The standard turnaround for advisors/committee chairs, committee members, and graduate coordinators to read each draft is three weeks. Any time constraints are solely the responsibility of the student.

Note that the standard turnaround time applies only to faculty academic work days. Faculty are not obligated to read drafts during approved holidays, breaks or during the summer.

Students and their advisors/committee chairs should discuss the turnaround time for the student to submit a revised document. An average thesis or project usually requires three to four drafts to the committee chair and one or two drafts to the committee.  

Considering the standard turnaround time, if a student worked one to two weeks on each revision, the revision process would take between three to eight months. Plan accordingly so you can complete your thesis/project on time.

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Graduate Studies Siemens Hall 217A 1 Harpst St, Arcata, CA 95521 Phone: 707.826.5194 Fax: 707.826.6179 [email protected]

¶ MS Project & Thesis Process

The content of this page is adapted from this document .

¶ Defining the Difference between Project and Thesis

The graduate catalog gives us a distinction between the thesis and project, as follows:

...each student is required to complete either a Master’s thesis (a systematic approach to addressing an identified research question, typically done individually) or a Master’s project (a substantial development effort that follows a production plan to implement a design vision, typically done in teams) to complete the degree requirements (9 credit hours)

A thesis requires the student to answer a research question, following established research methods, under close supervision of a faculty advisor and with the support of a faculty committee. It incorporates a formal proposal milestone and a formal presentation milestone.

A project requires students to work on a design and development project related to IMGD. It may incorporate an innovative aspects of design and/or technology, or demonstrate the mastery of advanced topics in IMGD. Milestones for this are a short design document with accompanying prototype, a demonstration of the project, and a playtesting/user experience report to be provided at the end of the year.

¶ Thesis and Project Selection Process

The thesis/project requirement is 9 credits, which equates to approximately 540 hours of work (12 hours/week for three semesters). The proposal process is designed to help students make the most of that time, ensure faculty loads are balanced, and support the research, creative, and/or teaching goals of the faculty.

Except in circumstances where students independently propose their project or thesis, projects are proposed by the faculty, typically at the end of B term.

¶ MS Project Pitch Day

MS projects are typically pitched by the faculty during a pitch day in B term; during COVID they’ve been emailed out to IMGD graduate students instead. Faculty prepare a short description of the project, including:

The design concept and/or goals of the project

How many students are needed to complete the project, and what roles each student would take

What experience students should already have to join the project

Any restrictions on when the project can run (e.g. 6 credits in Fall, 3 credits in Spring)

These pitches are presented to graduate students. Faculty can pitch more than one project. Students rank their top two or three projects to work on, and the graduate committee subsequently assigns students to projects. The goal with assignment of students to projects is to help balance the advising load on faculty, and to reduce confusion in situations where there are not enough students interested in each project.

¶ Thesis Topic Selection Process

Faculty submit descriptions of potential theses that they are willing to supervise. Each thesis description should include a research question that serves as a starting point, and the student and advisor may work together to refine this question as part of the thesis proposal process. The thesis description should also list what semesters the advisor expects the thesis to run, to assist students in planning. Faculty submit their potential theses to the graduate coordinator, who will maintain a list of all current theses that faculty are willing to supervise. The list will be updated at the end of A and C terms each academic year.

Students can apply to work on a thesis under faculty supervision. The approval process for joining a thesis is entirely controlled by the supervising faculty member.

¶ Independent Project or Thesis Proposal

Students may propose their own project or thesis, but it must be done before they begin the 9 credits of work. If a student group wishes to propose a project to a faculty member, they develop a short pitch with description at the same level of detail as those that would be generated by faculty. If a student wishes to propose an independent thesis, they should go to the faculty member with the research area that best fits their interest, and generate a description of the thesis at a similar level of detail to that proposed by faculty. Accepting an independently proposed project or thesis is at the faculty member’s discretion.

¶ Thesis Advising and Milestones

A thesis has a primary advisor and one reader, who constitute the thesis committee. A thesis advisor is responsible for regular meetings with the student and guiding the overall research. The thesis reader is responsible for once-per-term meetings with the student and advisor, offering external feedback and insight.

The thesis proposal should be completed within the first three credits of thesis credit. It constitutes a formal written document that describes the research area, identifies the research question, situates the work in the context of related work, describes the research methods to be used, and how the research question will be answered. The advisor and readers must approve the written proposal before an oral presentation can be scheduled. The oral presentation consists of a 15 minute talk and 5 minute public Q&A period that is open to the public, and then a 10 minute question and critique period from IMGD Steering faculty. The attending faculty vote on the outcome of a thesis proposal, which can be one of three outcomes: a) pass, b) pass with revisions, and c) fail and re-propose. If a student passes with revisions, the committee must approve revisions to the proposal, but the student does not need to present again. If a student fails their proposal, they must revise their proposal and give another oral presentation. Written proposals will be sent to all IMGD faculty at least two days before the presentation date.

The written thesis should be completed by the end of the nine credits. It is a piece of formal academic writing that fully describes the research aims and activities and how it fits into a broader scholarly context. The advisor and readers must approve the written proposal before an oral defense can be scheduled. The defense consists of a 40 minute public talk, 5 minute public Q&A, and then a private Q&A session that must be attended by the committee, and that other IMGD faculty are welcome to attend. Students should schedule their thesis defense with the program admin (Allison Darling), and provide the thesis title, the abstract, and the committee members. This must happen at least one week prior to the thesis defense . The outcomes from the thesis defense can be: a) pass, b) pass with revisions, and c) fail and re-present. As with the proposal: revisions must be approved by the committee; failure means making revisions and giving another defense.

The written thesis goes in the ETD, and students must meet the ETD deadline for their intended graduation date.

¶ Project Advising and Milestones

A project is advised by a faculty member, with another faculty member agreeing to serve as a reader. Advisors meet regularly with students. Readers agree to meet for one hour per term, and to review the design document and final project report prior to their presentation.

Within the first three credits of a project, students must complete a design document for their project, including an early prototype. This design document should describe the experience goal and audience, relate the proposed project to inspiration media, outline major design and technical elements, and give an assessment plan that focuses on playtesting, usability testing, or user experience evaluation. This design document should be accompanied by a prototype. Design documents must be approved by the advisor and readers before students are approved to give their project pitch. Project pitches take the form of a 5 minute public presentation followed by 5 minute public Q&A and 5 minutes of faculty critique.

The two deliverables for an MS project are: 1) an interactive media artifact, and 2) a written report and accompanying video documentation of the overall project. This report should describe the final design, any technical challenges faced and how they were overcome, and the outcomes from assessment. These deliverables must be approved by the advisor and reader.

The interactive media artifact must be shown to the public during at least one event (e.g. Showfest, a conference, or a festival), and made available for public use. Students present their final project at a presentation event for all graduate students, delivering a 20 minute talk with 5 minutes for questions.

¶ FAQ: Who is my advisor?

Each graduate student is assigned an advisor when they are admitted to WPI. After the student selects a project or thesis, their advisor will be changed to the project/thesis advisor.

How to Plan a Research Thesis

A very important element of research, particularly for students, is the thesis which constitutes a report of the work performed. A thesis allows the organization of thoughts and results, and also serves to fulfill institutional requirements. Judgments about how good is the work are based on the quality of the thesis, among other things. It is therefore essential to plan the thesis writing well in advance. Some of the essential steps in this process are summarized below.

• The first phase of the process involves locating a suitable research advisor and institution, determining overlap of interest, and then formulating the research plan.
• Attempt to anticipate all the tasks which will be involved and potential problems that you may encounter in consultation with your research advisor .
• Devise a thesis proposal, which is a short description of why and how the research is expected to be completed, and define the eventual goal.
• Before you embark on the actual work, perform a thorough search of existing literature, which will help you put the proposed research in better perspective.
• Construct or learn to use suitable apparatus and acquire a working knowledge of experimental and/or theoretical frameworks before you attack the research problem.
• Once you begin the research, maintain detailed and clear notes at every stage so that these can be consulted when you begin writing the thesis.
• On completion of the work, appropriate conclusions should be drawn from the work which can be put in the discussions section of the thesis.
• The layout and format of the thesis should be decided before commencing writing. An outline of the front matter, body, and concluding portions should be first prepared.
• Once the details are written, the thesis should be reviewed by not just the research advisor but also peers and other experts in the field. The quality of the writing can be improved using professional help .
• The final and critical part is the thesis defense-thoroughly revise every detail in the thesis and be prepared to field queries related to any aspect.

A well-planned and -written thesis can be crucial to recognition by peers and also career advancement.

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Thesis/Project Student Process

The following process applies to all Division of Computing & Software Systems (CSS) graduate students, regardless of degree program (CSSE or CSE) or thesis/project goals.

In general, a thesis is a scholarly written document aimed at an academic audience as a contribution to an existing body of knowledge. A project is aimed at building a connection between academic concepts and the application of those concepts into real-world context.

Before students determine which option to pursue, they should discuss how each option applies to their own individual goals for their degree program with their faculty advisor and the CSS Graduate Advisor.

Step 1: Form a Supervisory Committee

Students who desire to register for their thesis/project credit(s) must first form a committee of faculty who will supervise and grade their efforts and results of their work. A supervisory committee will consist of a student’s Faculty Advisor (who will serve as Committee Chair) and at least 2-3 additional faculty members. At least two of the committee members must be faculty whose primary appointment is in the Computing & Software Systems Division. The Chair of the Committee and at least one-half of the total membership must be members of the graduate faculty.

Students must submit a signed Request to Form a Supervisory Committee to the CSS Graduate Advisor to obtain an entry code to register for the class. Included with the signed form should be a proposal (minimally 3 pages) addressing the questions asked in section 2 of the form. Please follow the proposal guidelines detailed in the link below:

• Proposal Guidelines
• Proposal Rubric

Before submitting the form, students are expected to attend another students CSS master’s project or thesis final examination & defense. View the Thesis/Project Final Exam Schedule .

The deadline for all committee requests is the first day of the seventh week of the quarter PRECEDING the start of a student’s project or thesis coursework . Students should request for specific faculty to staff their Supervisory Committee; however, final staffing assignments of the Supervisory Committee resides with the CSS Division’s Graduate Program Coordinator. Once a supervisory request has been granted, students will receive an email from the CSS Graduate Advisor notifying them of the approved committee and an entry code to register for their thesis/project credit(s). Students are encouraged to submit their request early, to avoid any registration late fees.

Submission Deadlines

• Winter 2024: November 6, 2023
• Spring 2024: February 12, 2024
• Summer 2024: May 6, 2024
• Autumn 2024: July 29, 2024

Step 2: File a Thesis or Project Plan

By the end of the second week of the quarter in which a student is registered for their first capstone credits, the student must submit to their Supervisory Committee a detailed project or thesis plan. The plan should include an updated proposal of the work to be done, a time table listing key milestones and associated deliverables, the quality criteria and specific metrics by which student expects to measure the quality of their result, and the software development lifecycle and processes planned to complete the work. There are no penalties for deviations in the approved plan or failure to meet the estimates in the timetable or failure to achieve the quality goals. The plan simply provides a well-defined start for the remainder of the capstone work. A PDF copy of the approved plan must be submitted by the student to the STEM Graduate Advising Office.

• Winter 2024: January 16, 2024
• Spring 2024: April 8, 2024
• Summer 2024: July 1, 2024

To submit your plan to the STEM Graduate Office, please send your PDF document to [email protected] , with the subject line “Project Plan” or “Thesis Plan”.

Register for CSSSKL 594

A substantial working draft of the capstone research project paper or thesis should be completed by the beginning of the quarter in which you expect to graduate. For this reason, generally, you will enroll in CSSSKL 594 “Scientific Writing for Thesis/Project” during the quarter before you expect to graduate. (For example, to graduate in the spring, you should enroll in 594 in the Winter). Please consult with your supervisory committee chair as to the best timing of this class for the most benefit to you.

Step 3: Communicate Regular Progress Reports with the Supervisory Committee

Throughout the period of enrollment in the thesis/project credit(s), students are expected to lead the effort to regularly update their Supervisory Committee members on their work progress. Students should plan on meeting with their Committee Chair frequently based on the advice from the committee chair (minimally three times in each quarter that they are enrolled for thesis/project credits).

To register for second and subsequent quarters, students should work with their Chair to determine the workload for the upcoming quarter and the number of credits to enroll for. Once the Committee Chair grants permission and confirms the number of credits for the next quarter, the student forwards that permission to the CSS Graduate Advisor, who will issue a new entry code to use for registration. In cases where satisfactory progress is made, the student will be issued of a grade of N (in progress) until the project/thesis is complete.

Students who fail to make appropriate progress in their project/thesis during a quarter may receive a notification from their Chair warning them of lack of progress. If students continue failing to achieve satisfactory progress, Chairs may also choose to issue a grade of NC (No Credit) and move to dissolve the Committee. For full information regarding the project/thesis continuation policy, please see the Academic Progress Policy .

• Guidelines for Status Reports
• Rubric for Status Reports

Step 4: Schedule Final Defense

By 5PM on Thursday of the third week of the quarter that a student is registered for their final thesis/project credits, the student must consult with their supervisory committee members to schedule a defense of their culminating work. Students should work closely with their committee chair to ensure that they are ready for their final examination and defense. The STEM Graduate Advising Office will send students the link to the online scheduling system each quarter to select a time/date for their defense. View details about defense format options and attendance requirements in the Defense Attendance Policy .

Step 5: Apply to Graduate

By 5:00 p.m. on Thursday of the third week of the quarter that a student is registered for their final degree credits the student must apply to graduate by filing a master’s degree request online . Students should work with the CSS Graduate Advisor and Committee Chair to plan their degree curriculum accordingly, so that their final capstone requirements serve as the culmination of their degree coursework. Students must be registered for credits during the quarter they want to graduate.

Step 6: Submit Draft of Final Paper/Thesis

Writing the final paper/thesis is a time intensive process. Students should plan ahead to schedule substantial time to compose and proofread their paper/thesis. A low-quality paper/thesis may lead to the delay of their defense. Early in the quarter that a student is registered for their final thesis/project credits, the student must review the following sample templates and discuss with their committee chair on the preference for the organization of their final project or thesis report:

• Guidelines from the UW Graduate School for thesis document
• Word template for thesis and project papers
• Latex template for thesis and project papers

Two weeks before the defense , submit the title and abstract to the School of STEM Office of Graduate Studies to post on the Final Examination & Defense schedule.

At least seven days before the defense, the student must submit a final draft of their project paper or thesis to their committee for a preliminary reading. The purpose of this draft is to demonstrate to the Supervisory Committee that the student has achieved a Master’s level competency in computer science and software engineering, and that the student is ready to defend their work.

Step 7: Final Examination and Defense

The Final Examination and Defense consists of (a) a public student presentation, (b) a public questions and answers session, (c) a closed-door question and answer session between the student and the Supervisory Committee, (d) a brief private discussion among the Supervisory Committee, and (e) the Supervisory Committee announcing to the student the result of the Final Examination and Defense. A typical defense will last close to two hours. If a student does not pass the Final Examination and Defense, the Supervisory Committee will work with the student to decide upon the necessary additional work required for obtaining their Master’s degree. The final examination and defense must take place no later than the third day of the last week of the quarter (final exam week).

• Presentation Guidelines
• Presentation Rubric

Step 8: File your Thesis or Project Paper

After passing their final examination/defense, students must submit an electronic copy (PDF) of their final project paper or thesis, incorporating any post examination/defense revisions required by their Committee to the following entities in the order listed:

• Supervisory Committee members, by the time/date given to students by their Chairs. This deadline will vary, based on the date of the student’s defense and scope of requested changes. Students must receive approval of final document from their Committee before submitting the paper to the STEM Graduate Office (all students) and the UW Graduate School (thesis students only).
• STEM Graduate Office by 11:59 p.m. on the final day of the quarter in which the student intends to graduate. See submission instructions below.
• Thesis Students only: UW Graduate School by 11:59 p.m. on the last day of the quarter in which the student intends to graduate. This step applies to thesis students only. See “Special Notes for Thesis Students” section below.

Failure to complete any of the above steps by the appropriate time/date will result in a delay of graduation.

Students submit their final document to the STEM Graduate Office ( [email protected] ) with their supervisory committee members copied on the email, and the email subject as “Final Thesis”, or “Final Project Report.”

Special Notes for Thesis Students

• Formatting and process : Thesis students must meet formatting requirements, and follow a specific submission process. Students are urged to read the UW thesis formatting guidelines well in advance of their final examination, and to set up their ProQuest account early in the quarter they intend to graduate.
• Master’s Supervisory Committee Form : Thesis students must submit a signed Master’s Supervisory Committee Form as part of the ETD submission process.

Additional Information

• Summary of Master’s Guidelines & Rubrics Documents
• Video Overview and Guideline