NAVIGATING THE THESIS/NON-THESIS PROCESS

Thesis Plan  

The thesis plan requires the completion of a minimum of 27 hours of Graduate course work plus a thesis research project which yields six semester hours of credit, and the passing of a comprehensive examination (this does not apply to Graduate Nursing) in the professional education area and the field of endorsement. The student will be advised by an advisory committee, composed of one member from the professional education staff, one member from the field of endorsement, and a third member designated by the Dean of Graduate Studies.  

The option of a project in the research process is also available to graduate nursing students. The student is required to complete at least three components of the research process under the guidance of a research mentor.  

The student is responsible for delivering the original and two copies of the completed thesis/project to the office of the School of Graduate Studies on or before the first Friday of April for May graduation and on or before the second Friday in November for December graduation. Students will follow the guidelines in the Thesis Manual, published by the School of Graduate Studies.  

Non-Thesis Plan  

The non-thesis plan requires the completion of a minimum of 33 hours of course work which must be at the graduate level, and the passing of a final comprehensive examination in the professional education field and the field of endorsement. The student will be advised by an advisory committee, composed of one member from the departmental faculty, one member from the specific degree discipline, and a third member designated by the Dean of the School of Graduate Studies or the Department Chairperson. The final examination will be administered by the advisory committee. A candidate may be reexamined a second time after a minimum period of two months’ delay if his or her performance on the first examination is unsatisfactory.  

Programs will be individually prescribed by the student's advisory committee involved in each area of concentration.