MASTERS THESIS RESEARCH REQUIREMENTS

Introduction

The thesis is considered by the faculty to be a significant step toward acquiring the sophistication required to carry out original research. Consequently, each student entering the School of Psychology without having previously completed a Masters thesis will be required to complete one while in residence at Georgia Tech. Thesis research must fulfill both program and institute requirements.

Program Requirements: Work on the thesis may begin at any time during the first two years of residency in the School of Psychology. However, all course requirements for the Masters degree must be satisfied before the student is eligible for the oral defense of the thesis. In addition, the student's transcript must show 32 total hours of credit. Prior to beginning thesis research, each student should obtain a booklet entitled "Graduate Research--Some Minimal Guidelines". This booklet is available from the Division of Graduate Studies. Thesis research should proceed in the following sequence:

1. RESEARCH TOPIC SELECTION: The student, together with his/her advisor, should choose a research topic. The student should then conduct a literature review of the topic area and prepare a written draft of the masters proposal. This draft generally also includes a preliminary experimental methodology and design.

2. COMMITTEE FORMATION: The student, together with his/her advisor, will select members for a thesis committee. This committee will normally be made up of three faculty members from the School of Psychology or two members from Psychology and a third member from another school within the institute or an outside scientific scholar. The area must approve members that are not faculty of Georgia Tech. The written draft of the proposal should be distributed to the faculty members who have agreed to serve on the thesis committee.

3. M.S. PROPOSAL: The student will make a public oral presentation of the proposal to the thesis committee and other interested students and faculty. This presentation is technically intended for the thesis committee; however, other faculty input is encouraged to help the student recognize possible difficulties in his/her research plan prior to conducting the research. A copy of the final proposal should be submitted to each committee member and to the Psychology office approximately two weeks prior to the scheduled proposal meeting. An electronic copy of the abstract should also be submitted to the Psychology office for distribution to the entire faculty one week before the proposal.

4. FORMAL APPROVAL OF THESIS TOPIC: After the oral presentation, the student’s committee member must approve the thesis proposal. The student should then complete a "Request for Approval of Thesis Topic" form, which is located in the Psychology Office. The form should be submitted to the Graduate Coordinator first, and then to the Graduate School for approval. At this time, appointment of the thesis committee is made official. The student then carries out the proposed research in consultation with the thesis committee.

5. COMPLETING THE THESIS: Copies of the completed thesis are submitted to the student's thesis committee for approval. After this approval, the thesis should be distributed in preparation for the oral defense. The thesis must be in finished form with respect to content, format, and typographical accuracy. One copy of the thesis should be submitted to each committee member and the Psychology office approximately two weeks prior to the date of the oral defense. An electronic copy of the abstract should also be submitted to the Psychology office one week before the defense.

6. INSTITUTE REQUIREMENTS: The thesis must now be submitted to the Graduate Dean for approval, but first must meet certain institute and graduate division requirements.. In order to graduate, the student must (1) submit an Approved Program of Study form and a Petition for Degree form to the Registrar, (2) submit a thesis approval form which is to be signed by the committee and a copy given to the graduate coordinator's administrative assistant before submission to the graduate school, and (3) pay a $25 diploma fee at the Bursar's office. Check deadlines for all Institute requirements here.