GUIDELINES FOR MATERS THESIS

THE MASTERS THESIS

The Masters Degree

The Masters Degree is now the most common graduate degree in the United States. In 1960, there were seven times as many Masters Degrees awarded as Doctoral Degrees; in 1988, there were nine times as many Masters as Doctoral degrees awarded. Sixty percent of students taking the Graduate Record Examination in 1990 indicated that the Masters Degree was their ultimate objective.

Building on the Bachelors Degree, the Masters Degree prepares researchers, professionals and practitioners. It provides a stepping stone to the Doctoral Degree as well as a capstone for a professional career. It is primarily built on the knowledge gained in undergraduate study, but it may also provide advanced work in a field new to the student. It is the entry level degree for many professions, a fact which is being rapidly extended by American education and business.

THE MASTERS THESIS

The Masters Thesis is a crucial part of the Masters Degree program. It is a written, scholarly presentation of original research that is submitted and defended as partial fulfillment of requirements for the Masters Degree. It may be original in the sense that either previously-unknown information is uncovered and presented or previously-known information is presented in a creatively new way leading to new applications. The prescribed format for the written Thesis is outlined on the following pages.

THE THESIS ADVISOR AND COMMITTEE

The Thesis Advisor is a faculty member, with particular expertise in the students projected area of research, who has primary responsibility for guiding the student through the research. The Thesis Committee is a faculty group of three (3) with expertise in the students area of research or in areas as related to it. The Thesis Advisor is both a member and the Chair of the Thesis Committee. It is the responsibility of the student to seek out a Thesis Advisor and a Thesis Committee, and to submit to them in writing a research proposal. It is the responsibility of the Thesis Committee to grant final approval to the students research proposal, to oversee the research, to approve the written Masters Thesis and to conduct a final examination of it. This final examination will be, first, a public presentation and defense of the Thesis followed, secondly, by a private defense before the Thesis Committee. The selection of a research topic should be made as early in the program of studies as possible. Once approved, the research proposal becomes part of the students permanent record.

GUIDELINES FOR MATERS THESISOR DOCTORAL DISSERTATION

Submitted in the Graduate SchoolOf Creighton University

The basic guide for matters of style in preparing the final copy of the Masters Thesis or Doctoral Dissertation should be determined in consultation with the thesis/dissertation director and the Department Chairman. The following stipulations must be met to achieve the format required for final copies of theses and dissertations submitted in fulfillment of degree programs in the Graduate School.

GENERAL REQUIREMENTS:

1. Type used must be letter quality, pica, or elite (10 point or larger).2. Paper should be standard size (8 x 11), 20 pound bond, white and opaque to ensure good contrast of black letters on white background.3. Text, typed on one side, should be double spaced with a 1 margin on the binding edge of the page, and one inch margins on the remaining sides. Chapter headings and the like are to be included within these margins.4. Pagination: Each page in the manuscript, including blank pages, should be assigned a number, beginning with the title page. For the preliminaries, use small Roman numerals (i, ii, iii, iv, etc.). For the remainder of the manuscript (including the text, illustrations, appendices, and bibliography), use Arabic numerals beginning with 1.5. Binding services are available through the Graduate School Office. The cost of binding is $25.00 per each copy bound. You may bind as many copies as you wish to pay for. Present a check for binding at the cashiers window of the Business Office and submit the receipt to the Graduate School with the final copies of your thesis. The spine of each bound copy must show: author, title (full or shortened), and year of degree conferral. The cover of each bound copy must show: authors full name, full title, and year of degree conferral. Bound copies submitted by the candidate become the property of Creighton University. FORMAT SPECIFICATIONSORDER OF MATERIAL:1. A blank page (not counted for numbering).2. A signature page (see template)3. Title page (see template). [First counted page, number not printed.]4. A blank page OR the copyright page (number not printed).5. Abstract (not to exceed 350 words).6. Optional preface, dedication, acknowledgments, and (if applicable) permissions to quote from unpublished materials.7. Table of contents.8. List of graphs, charges, tables.9. List of illustrations.10. Text, composed of:[Arabic numerals begin this section]a. Introductionb. Main body, usually consisting of well defined divisions such as parts, chapters, section.11. Back matter composed of:a. Appendix or appendices (if applicable).b. Endnotes (if applicable).c. Glossary (if applicable).d. Bibliography OR References.

THESIS/DISSERTATION (Select one) APPROVED BY

_____________________________________________________________Date[Committee Chair Name], Ph.D., Chair

____________________________________[Committee Member Name], Ph.D.

____________________________________[Committee Member Name], Ph.D.

____________________________________[Committee Member Name], Ph.D.

____________________________________[Committee Member Name], Ph.D.

____________________________________Gail M. Jensen, Ph.D., Dean[Title Page]

TITLE OF THESIS/DISSERTATION CENTERED, ALL CAPS

___________________________________

BySTUDENT NAME___________________________________

A (THESIS/DISSERTATION)

Submitted to the faculty of the Graduate School of the Creighton University in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the degree of (Master of Arts, Master of Science, Doctor of Philosophy Select one) in the Department of (Name of Department)_________________________________

Omaha, NE (month, day, and year)