Thesis Track
The thesis track gives students the opportunity to work directly with MATC faculty members while conducting an in-depth study on a particular topic. Students who opt for the thesis track will replace one elective class and the internship course with two thesis courses taken in consecutive semesters.
The two thesis classes are generally completed in the fall and spring of your second year in the program. Prior to signing up for a thesis section, you will need to invite an MATC faculty member to be your thesis chair. This means that you will be working directly with that faculty member on your thesis. To do this, get to know the MATC faculty members, decide which faculty member will be able to help you the most with your thesis, and politely invite that faculty member to be your thesis committee chair. If that faculty member declines your invitation (usually because they have too many commitments to take on another student), be sure to have a backup faculty member to invite.
Although you will be required to do all of the reading, writing, and research required for the thesis, your thesis committee chair will offer helpful feedback and guide you through the process.
Students may be interested in the thesis track for a variety of reasons, including:
- the desire to gain in-depth knowledge on a particular topic.
- the desire to demonstrate expertise in a specific area to a future employer.
- the desire to demonstrate scholarly ability to potential PhD programs.
Step 1: Thesis A
ENG5399A: Thesis A is a class designed for developing and researching student theses. The class prepares students to complete the following:
- Narrowing theses topics to a manageable idea students can dedicate their time and energy to.
- Preparing and researching the thesis topic.
- Writing literature reviews and a possible thesis first draft.
- Finding and requesting an appropriate thesis committee and faculty chair.
- Submitting the thesis proposal application to the Graduate College.
Gaining approval for Thesis B registration.
Step 2: Thesis B
ENG5399B: Thesis B is taken after the completion of Thesis A and keeps students on track to complete their thesis during their final semester. Students can expect the following during Thesis B:
- Writing and editing the thesis for chair review.
- Rewriting and editing the thesis based on chair review feedback.
- Defending the thesis in front of the chosen thesis committee.
- Submitting the thesis to the Graduate College for final approval.
Advancing the thesis for possible publication.
Resources - Guidelines
