Overview
Thesis-option Masters and Doctoral candidates are required to submit a research proposal. Your research proposal should be prepared in a professional manner with proper literature citations and provides background information and preliminary results as well as the future direction of the dissertation project.
Guidelines
- In connection with the timing of the preliminary examination, the dissertation research proposal (prepared by the student) must be distributed to all committee members at least two weeks prior to the day of the preliminary oral examination. The graduate office will review the proposals and those in compliance with the guidelines will be distributed to the committee members. Proposals received after the deadline will not be reviewed and the exam will be cancelled. See: Preliminary Exam Proposal Format and Content Guidelines
- A copy of the research proposal, title page, and the signed approval form is due to the Graduate Program Office within 30 days of the preliminary exam.
- Masters students must submit the proposal no later than 14 weeks prior to the close of the semester in which they expect to receive their degree.
- It is understood that the Research Proposal is an original piece of work generated exclusively by the student. The student may ask other group members or their research advisor to offer comments and suggestions but the intellectual content of the proposal must be original. International students would be wise to visit the site on Academic Integrity; there may be significant differences associated with how Westerner's include the work of others in a scientific publication.