A thesis is required in the master of arts and master of science degree programs for History (excluding non-thesis option and public history option), biology, chemistry, English, clinical psychology, and school psychology. A thesis is optional for the master of arts in music; however, a lecture/recital is required. A thesis may be accepted for some degree programs leading to the master of arts in education, the master of health sciences, the master of science in applied mathematics, the master of science in communication disorders, and the master of science in nursing.
A thesis proposal approved by the student’s thesis committee, major department, or program coordinator, and the dean of Research and Graduate Studies must be on file in the Graduate School. If the student’s research involves either human or animal subjects, the protocol must be approved by either the Institutional Review Board (for human subjects) or the Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (for other live vertebrates) before the thesis proposal can be approved.
An unbound copy free of errors must be submitted to the dean of Research and Graduate Studies at least three weeks before the commencement ceremony at which the degree is to be conferred. The student’s major department will guide the preparation of the thesis and inform the student as to when final copies of the thesis are due to be filed with the Graduate School. A thesis guide to help students prepare their theses is available from the Graduate School. The guide can also be found online at www.wcu.edu/graduate/. After the thesis has been read for format by Graduate School personnel, it will be returned to the student for changes and for signatures from committee members; the student will then make at least three original copies on required thesis paper. All copies must be returned to the Graduate School at least two days before commencement for the graduate dean’s signature. Upon approval, three copies must be presented to the library for binding at the student’s expense. The student may also have a personal copy bound by the Hunter library at cost.
Students should contact the Graduate School for additional information prior to submitting their theses.
The thesis, in its final form, must be approved by the student’s major department and the dean of Research and Graduate Studies before a candidate can receive the graduate degree.
This page is maintained by Nancy Carden in the
Office of the Provost.
Last updated: 6/24/2005.
Copyright 2005 by Western Carolina University .