Graduate Program Thesis Option

Thesis Option Educational Administration

Thesis

• An advisor will be assigned by the Department Head prior to completion of the student’s eighth class. It is the responsibility of the student in consultation with their advisor, to select a topic. The topic should arise from the student’s interest and academic training and it should be appropriate in its substance and scope, considering the framework of a Master’s thesis, and the time and resources available.

Preparation of the Thesis Proposal

• The thesis proposal is a description of the student’s research plan and normally includes the following:
  • Proposed title
  • Statement of the problem or issue to be studied
  • Research questions to be investigated
  • Brief outline of the chapters comprising the proposed thesis
  • Research methods to be used
  • Survey of the basic literature on the topic
  • The content of the thesis proposal typically addresses the first three chapters of the thesis.

The Proposal Oral

• When both student and advisor are satisfied that the thesis proposal has been well thought out and is in proper scholarly form an oral is convened. This is a forum in which the student presents the proposal and discusses it. The purpose of the oral is to give the student and advisor an opportunity to discuss both the substance and the methodology of the research project, to solicit constructive criticism and to seek advice in improving the quality of the thesis. Proposals involving the study of human subjects must also be submitted to the University Ethics Committee for approval or exemption. This must be documented before the thesis is accepted.

The Thesis Oral

• With the advice and guidance of the advisor the student completes the research and prepares the thesis. When the student and advisor consider it ready for defence, a final oral is convened. This involves a thesis committee and an external examiner approved by the College of Graduate Studies. The evaluation of the thesis/oral and the report of the external examiner are based upon the following:
  • grasp of subject, powers of criticism and awareness of previous work;
  • diligence, care, technical skill in carrying out research;
  • organization of findings;
  • quality of presentation (lucidity, style, etc.)

For further information please contact the Department Head (Dr Sheila Carr-Stewart).

Telephone: (306) 966-7611
Fax: (306) 966-7020
Email: sheila.carr-stewart@usask.ca