<div class="content-box-1"> <p>Students who wish to
write a thesis should consult the current <a
href="/academics/graduate/liberalarts/departments/english/programs/ma/forms.stj">
forms</a> and <a
href="/media/3/56b5e20a283f487f9ea0cd98eaee2dd0.pdf">guidelines</a>
provided by the Dean's office. The Dean's office recommends that
the working copy of the thesis be prepared three months before
graduation, so students need to get started on their work toward
the end of the fall semester before they intend to graduate in the
spring.</p> <p>During the fall, students first submit a
short prospectus, or research proposal, about 5-10 pages long. The
prospectus sketches the topic, a preliminary thesis or research
question, and contains a working bibliography. Masters's prospecti
are often based on a course paper that a student wishes to expand
into a longer project (between 30-60 pages, depending on the
purpose). Unlike a course paper, however, the prospectus must
summarize the thrust of the course paper, and provide a discussion
of how the original paper will be amplified or developed.
Accompanied by the prospectus, Form 1M is signed by the students'
advisor, one other faculty reader chosen by the student, and the
department chair.</p> <p>After writing the thesis, the
student submits the document to the advisor and reader with forms
2M and 4M, approximately three months before graduation. When the
Graduate Dean has been notified that the thesis is satisfactory,
the student submits a copy to the Dean, following the formatting
and procedures described in the Dean's Guidelines.</p>
</div>