Department of Journalism
Kimpel 116
University of Arkansas
Fayetteville, AR 72701
479-575-3601
E-MAIL CONTACTS:
Patsy Watkins, Department Chair
Carol Rachal, Alumni contact
how to apply
Thesis Process, Masters Program
Students in the Lemke Journalism Department's master's program are required to write a thesis, which is then the subject of the student's comprehensive oral examination (see The Thesis Defense). A thesis represents an original contribution to research and analysis and is a detailed written report of an analytical research project. As part of meeting the requirement for the master's program, a student must register for a minimum total of six hours of credit for Master's Thesis (JOUR 600V). No more than six hours of credit for thesis enrollment may be applied toward the degree. The scheduling of thesis enrollment should be done in consultation with the student's adviser. (While a thesis is in progress the student's record will show a grade or mark of "R," which is the only acceptable mark when a thesis is in progress. A final grade may be assigned to the thesis when it has been accepted by the thesis committee.) Students may take a project prepared for one of their graduate courses and use it as the basis for developing a thesis. The title of the thesis must be approved by the thesis director and the thesis committee , and be approved by the Dean of the Graduate School at least three months before the date of the comprehensive oral examination. The University Graduate School has strict format requirements for the thesis. Students should obtain a copy of the Graduate School's Guide for Preparing Theses, and carefully adhere to the standards and requirements listed in the Guide. Upon acceptance of the thesis by the thesis committee and at least one week before graduation, two typewritten copies of the unbound thesis in prescribed form must be delivered to the Graduate Dean for approval before being deposited in the Mullins Library. In addition, the Journalism Department requires that students turn in to the Journalism Office one bound copy of the approved thesis for Department files. All final copies of the thesis must include the original signatures of the student's thesis committee of record as approved and filed in the Graduate Dean's Office. Signatures of persons other than those of the official thesis director and members of the thesis committee are unacceptable.
The Thesis Committee
The thesis committee is normally made up of faculty members with whom the student has done graduate work. These faculty members should have expertise related to the student's thesis topic. These faculty members serve as resources, guiding the student through the thesis planning, research, and writing. The main resource and guide for the student, however, is the "thesis adviser," who chairs the thesis committee and with whom the student is encouraged to consult frequently while researching and writing the thesis. The thesis committee must consist of a minimum of three (and usually no more than four) faculty members who have been approved by the Graduate School. As noted earlier (See Adviser and Program of Study), the student's journalism graduate adviser may but does not automatically serve as chair (adviser) for the student's thesis committee. It is the student's responsibility to secure faculty members' agreement to serve on the committee and to report the members of the committee to the Graduate School. At least two members of the committee, including the thesis adviser, must be from the Journalism Graduate Faculty. At least one member must be a member of the Graduate Faculty from another department, typically from the student's approved second area of study. The student must have the thesis committee's approval before proceeding with the thesis. To do this, the student writes a Thesis Proposal and presents it to the committee. The proposal should be approved at least six months before the intended graduation date.
The following dates provide an example of what would be an appropriate schedule:
- For a May graduation, the Thesis Proposal should be approved by the committee no later than October 1 of the preceding year.
- For an August graduation, the Thesis Proposal should be approved no later than February 1 of that year.
- For a December graduation, the Thesis Proposal should be approved no later than June 1 of that year.
In researching and writing the thesis, the student should consult regularly with his/her adviser. Most advisers will asks the student to submit a planned schedule for completion of various elements of the thesis. A student may consult with his/her thesis advisor, committee members or the graduate coordinator regarding preparing the thesis.
Thesis Defense/Comprehensive Examination
For the Thesis Defense, the student meets with his/her thesis committee to present formally and discuss a final written draft of the thesis. The student is responsible for scheduling the defense session in consultation with the committee members and should allow at least one hour for the defense.
In preparing for the defense, the student must deliver a copy of the final written draft of the thesis to each committee member no later than two weeks before the scheduled defense. The defense itself must be completed no later than two weeks before the Graduate School's deadline for submitting final thesis copy for the semester.
The thesis adviser chairs the Thesis Defense. The student is responsible for bringing to the session all paperwork from the Graduate School which requires action by the committee. Students should understand that the committee may recommend changes or additions to the thesis before giving final approval.