Thesis Guidelines
M.A. Thesis in Communication
Step by Step Guide
DRAFT: August 27, 2002
Part I: Committee Proposal
1. Get a copy of the UNC Thesis Manual from the graduate school. 2. Select an area of study within the communication discipline. 3. Read the literature in the area you have chosen. Focus your reading on communication journals. 4. Develop a thesis statement or research purpose statement. 5. Schedule an appointment during with faculty who have expertise in your chosen area (during office hours please). 6. After speaking to members of the faculty, select a thesis advisor who: (1) is a current member of graduate faculty, (2) has expertise in the area you have selected, and (3) agrees to serve as your thesis advisor. 7. With the guidance of your proposed thesis advisor, assemble your thesis committee. Thesis committees consist of at least three people, two of which must be current members of the graduate faculty (Note: Please check with the graduate school for policies regarding M.A. Thesis committees). At least one member of your committee needs to be proficient in the method you will use to investigate your thesis (e.g., critical, ethnographic, experimental, interaction analysis, rhetorical criticism, survey-interview, survey-questionnaire, textual analysis, etc.). 8. Write a Committee Proposal and submit eight (8) copies to the Chair of the Speech Communication department. The proposal will be discussed and voted on by the faculty. The proposal consists of the following areas: • Thesis Statement, Purpose Statement, Research Question or Research Hypothesis. • Justification for the Thesis • Choice of Research Method • Committee Members and Rationale for Selecting Each Committee Member • Proposed Time-Line for Thesis Completion • Bibliography of seminal works in your area of study (see step 2).
Part II: Thesis Proposal
9. Upon acceptance of the Committee Proposal begin writing
Step by Step Guide
DRAFT: August 27, 2002
Part I: Committee Proposal
1. Get a copy of the UNC Thesis Manual from the graduate school. 2. Select an area of study within the communication discipline. 3. Read the literature in the area you have chosen. Focus your reading on communication journals. 4. Develop a thesis statement or research purpose statement. 5. Schedule an appointment during with faculty who have expertise in your chosen area (during office hours please). 6. After speaking to members of the faculty, select a thesis advisor who: (1) is a current member of graduate faculty, (2) has expertise in the area you have selected, and (3) agrees to serve as your thesis advisor. 7. With the guidance of your proposed thesis advisor, assemble your thesis committee. Thesis committees consist of at least three people, two of which must be current members of the graduate faculty (Note: Please check with the graduate school for policies regarding M.A. Thesis committees). At least one member of your committee needs to be proficient in the method you will use to investigate your thesis (e.g., critical, ethnographic, experimental, interaction analysis, rhetorical criticism, survey-interview, survey-questionnaire, textual analysis, etc.). 8. Write a Committee Proposal and submit eight (8) copies to the Chair of the Speech Communication department. The proposal will be discussed and voted on by the faculty. The proposal consists of the following areas: • Thesis Statement, Purpose Statement, Research Question or Research Hypothesis. • Justification for the Thesis • Choice of Research Method • Committee Members and Rationale for Selecting Each Committee Member • Proposed Time-Line for Thesis Completion • Bibliography of seminal works in your area of study (see step 2).
Part II: Thesis Proposal
9. Upon acceptance of the Committee Proposal begin writing