Thesis Project

Psychology Thesis Guidelines

Please be sure to visit the University Thesis Office's web site for additional guidance (and deadlines): University Thesis Office.

These guidelines are meant to help you.  If you find anything confusing or you have any questions, please phone or make an appointment to see Diane Roe, the Graduate Advisor.  (I've been through the thesis process myself.)  For convenience's sake, the links scattered throughout this web publication also appear at the bottom.  The printable 2009/2010 PDF version of this Psychology Thesis Guidelines is available as well (no active links).

Developing a Thesis Topic

Students are encouraged to work closely with a faculty member’s research program for their thesis project.  The Graduate Office has a list of faculty research interests and on-going projects.  This document is updated at the beginning of each Fall semester, and is published via the department web site.  The MSIO program has a required thesis development course (PSY 681) which is designed to assist students in developing thesis proposals; PSY 696 has been revised to strengthen its thesis component.

If you are unsure about a project or about the format of the written materials, previous theses are available through the University Library, both through a data base as well as for check out.  Links to abstracts on the data base are listed on the department web site by program: MAPR, MSHF, MSIO.  Some recent full text theses may be viewed and printed via the database (access to full text is available to current students).   However, keep in mind that formatting requirements may have changed – please defer to the University Style and Format Guidelines for Master’s Theses and Project Reports, available on-line via the campus library (it is formatted as a visual example of the required style). 

Enrollment in Thesis Units

You must apply for Advancement to Candidacy during the semester you first enroll in PSY 698 (Thesis) or already have been Advanced to Candidacy.  Also, you must have a thesis chairperson by the time you register for PSY 698.  Get the registration course call number from the Psychology Graduate Office to register for your thesis units – the name of your thesis chair is required to register for thesis units (this will be verified with the faculty member).

If you have completed the required number of thesis units for your program but have not completed the thesis, you must continue to be enrolled in the University.  This can be accomplished by enrolling in GS 700 through the Extension Office.  Enrollment in GS 700 maintains your status in the University at the cost of one unit (no credit earned, however).  Please see the Graduate Newsletter for details.

If you have broken enrollment, completed the thesis in absentia, and then plan to return to complete the degree, you must request reinstatement in the program by petitioning the program committee via the Graduate Advisor’s Office.  (You must also reapply to CSULB and petition to have your program coursework reinstated.)  If you are successfully reinstated, you will then need to be enrolled in GS 700 until completion of final orals and submission of your thesis.  Please be aware of the seven-year limit rule regarding coursework.  (It is strongly advised that you do not break continuous enrollment - you might be required to reapply to your program and repeat coursework.)

Thesis Units Grading

For each semester that you enroll in Thesis units (PSY 698), you will receive "RP" on your transcript.  (This stands for "Report in Progress.")  At the time of final orals, your Thesis Committee will determine a grade for your thesis and a Change of Grade form will be sent to the Records Office, to be used to change your total units of PSY 698 (either 4 or 6, depending on your program) from "RP" to the grade you receive.  For example, if your committee gives you an "A" on your thesis, you will receive either 4 (MSIO) or 6 (MAPR, MSHF) units of "A" as your grade for PSY 698 (there is no grading for GS 700).  Do not register for more thesis units than your program requirement – this will result in a delay in your graduation processing and a "W" (or worse) on your transcript!  (MAPR and MSHF - 6 units; IO - 4 units.)

Procedures

The University thesis office’s handbook, University Style and Format Guidelines for Master’s Theses and Project Reports, is also available for sale in the Bookstore.  It is kept either at the Copy Center, located to the right of the book stacks, or at the Information Desk, under the stairs.

Also, "trouble shooting" information is available from the University Thesis Office and on the campus library’s web site at:
http://www.csulb.edu/library/guide/serv
or linked through the campus library's home page at:
http://www.csulb.edu/library/ 

Whenever you plan to visit the University Thesis Office, Rm LIB 501 (fifth floor), (562-985-4013), the Bookstore Copy Center (562-985-5050), the Graduate Advisor (562-985-5000 – please call to set up an appointment), the Associate Dean of the College of Liberal Arts (562-985-5381), or your typist, it is wise to phone ahead, particularly at the end of the semester or near deadlines when everyone is extremely busy.

Committee Members

Your first step will be to approach a full time Psychology department faculty member to ask him or her to serve as your thesis chair.  Although it is not necessary to have done research with a professor to ask her or him to chair your committee, it's usually expected for your topic to be related to her or his research interest(s).  Very often, the chair will then help you select your other members.  Three members are required and usually more are permitted, but more members will require more coordination at each stage.  All of the members must be present at both preliminary and final orals.  Please check with the members as to their plans for the future, including sabbaticals, and in particular as to summer plans (often orals wind up being later than you planned).  Once you have your committee members selected, contact the Graduate Advisor to file the appropriate paperwork.  The following is the Psychology Department’s official policy regarding thesis committees:

MA-Psychological Research Thesis Committee Members:
A MA-Psychological Research thesis committee shall consist of at least two full-time in residence, tenured/tenure track faculty members from Psychology (including the Chair) and one other individual who holds at least a Masters degree.  If there are compelling academic reasons, a student may petition the MA-Psychological Research Program Committee to approve a thesis committee that includes a tenured/tenure track faculty member from Psychology who shall serve as the Chair, a tenured/tenure track CSULB faculty member from another department or program, and other individual(s) from the community who hold(s) at least a Master's degree.

MS-Industrial/Organizational Thesis Committee Members:
A MS-Industrial/Organizational thesis committee shall consist of two full-time in residence, tenured/tenure track faculty members in Psychology, including the Chair; the third may be any professionally qualified person with a minimum of a Master's degree.

Thesis Proposal

The proposal is to specify clearly what you propose to do for your thesis project or research study so that you and the committee can discuss the details and arrive at definite decisions and agreement.  Committees differ in what they require in the proposal, but in general they usually include an introduction, methods and planned analysis and interpretations section.  See both the "Announcement/Abstract Guide for Orals" and "Thesis Proposal Guide" below for guidance in organizing the proposal.  Proposals are written in the future tense ("will").  If there are some details or procedures you are uncertain about, include a discussion of the various ways you might proceed in your proposal, indicating the pros and cons of each possible way.  These options are discussed until resolution at preliminary orals.

You are not permitted to begin the research or project itself until your proposal has been approved at (or after) preliminary orals and by the Office of University Research (see IRB discussion below).  You may do pilot work with your committee chairperson’s approval.  After gaining approval, you must follow the plans agreed to in the proposal.  If minor changes are needed as you proceed, clear them with your chairperson.  If major changes are needed, a new proposal (or revision) and new preliminary orals are required.  Also, if a copyrighted measurement device is to be used, approval must be obtained from the copyright holder (do this as soon as possible, as approval can take three-six months or even longer).  See the University Thesis Office's information regarding Copyright, as well as a formatted Request for Permission form.

The  department will accept a satisfactory thesis based on the approved proposed research or project even if the results of the study were not as exciting as hoped, or a committee member had to be replaced (hopefully, a rare event).

Students must submit a printed copy of their proposal (the same draft given to committee members) to the Psychology Graduate Office at the time they announce preliminary orals (at least one week in advance).  You are asked to give copies of your thesis drafts to all your committee members at points designated by your thesis chair, and at least two weeks prior to the date of your Orals - please give them a hard copy.   Do NOT email it to them, unless you ask them first if they would like it emailed and they say yes - they might even ask for both.  You are always to give a hard copy to the Graduate Advisor at least a week before your Orals (both Prelims and Final orals).

Statistics Consulting / Tutoring Services for Student Theses

The MAPR program strongly discourages, and the MSHF program prohibits, students from obtaining outside tutors or consultants to help them with the statistics for their projects.  Any guidance a student needs concerning (a) the appropriate statistics to use or (b) the execution and interpretation of those statistical procedures should come from members of the student's thesis committee (or possibly other members of the Psychology Department).  Furthermore, the MAPR program refuses to advertise any consulting/tutoring services to its students.

Members of the thesis committees should make sure that thesis students demonstrate a good understanding of the statistical results of their projects.  This should begin with the preliminary orals when the data analysis procedures for testing the research hypotheses are discussed and approved.  The student should demonstrate knowledge of: (a) what procedures are appropriate for the data to be gathered, (b) how to carry out the analyses with available software, and (c) how to interpret the outcome of the procedures.

Preliminary Orals

This meeting to discuss your proposed study in detail is scheduled as soon as you and your committee are satisfied that your proposal is reasonably well conceptualized.  The oral begins with your presentation of a 10-15 minute overview of the study.  Then the committee will question, discuss, and hopefully resolve the details of your proposed study.  Usually orals last only an hour, but two hours may be necessary in some cases, or an adjournment to a second hour at another time may be required.  Any faculty member or graduate student may attend your orals (and you should feel free to attend those of other students - although it would be nice to give them fair warning; graduate students are permitted to attend as observers only; however, non-committee faculty might ask questions).  Note: Individuals other than faculty and grad students are usually not permitted to attend - please check with your committee before inviting others.

Your orals announcement (see "Announcement/Abstract Guide for Orals" below) must be distributed at least five (5) school days (or 1 week) before the date of the meeting: type the announcement and email it to your chairperson as a Word attachment, who will then distribute it via email to the faculty and the Graduate Advisor (at least a week in advance) for paperwork preparation.  An Orals Announcement template formatted in MS Word is available on the department web site.  Also submit a hardcopy (no emails!) of your proposal to the Graduate Advisor at this time – this is a copy of the same draft that you are submitting to your committee members. 

Please check with your committee members as to whether they want a hardcopy of your draft, or if emailing it is OK - many professors prefer a hardcopy as they will be making notes on the draft.

Paperwork provided to your thesis committee by the Graduate Advisor will include a form documenting their approval, as well as paperwork to be given to you.

When arranging for preliminary orals, it is your responsibility to reserve a room (usually Psy 101 or 232).  You can reserve either of these rooms with the Psychology Department Receptionist (562-985-5001, M-F 8-12, 1-5).  If you are using the department subject pool, also contact the Department Receptionist immediately after preliminary orals.  There is no Subject Pool during summer or winter sessions.

Be sure you apply for a Grad Check and pay the fee before the University deadline. Graduate students seeking to graduate in May (Spring) or August (Summer) must file between the preceding May 1st and October 15th.  Graduate students seeking to graduate in December (Fall) or January (Winter) must file between the preceding December 1st and March 1st.  This is done at the Enrollment Services Office, located in Brotman Hall. 

IRB Discussion

To comply with Federal regulations, CSULB has the University Institutional Review Board for Protection of Human Subjects (IRB), located in the Foundation building.  Students using human subjects in their research must submit a protocol to the IRB Committee for approval (after preliminary orals but before starting research on the project).  Please visit the IRB web site for application information (P):
http://www.csulb.edu/divisions/aa/research/our/compliance/irb/

Students using animals in their research must obtain approval from the CSULB Animal Welfare Board.  Your thesis Chair will give you instructions from the IRB web site to assist you; please visit the IRB web site to complete the required form.  (Please make note of the time frame involved listed in the IRB protocol paperwork.)

Department Assistance

At your preliminary orals you will be given a sample of the Thesis Expense Form from the Graduate Advisor’s office.  The Psychology Department will give you up to $50 in supplies from our storeroom and/or copying privileges toward your thesis (NO MONEY).  These supplies consist mainly of letterhead paper and envelopes, bond paper and clasp envelopes, as well as copying services.  You must pay the first $50 of thesis costs not including the actual manuscript preparation.  List your costs (such as assessment materials, photocopying, stamps, etc.) on the actual NCR form (available from the Graduate Office) and get your Thesis Chair’s signature.  Bring the completed form to the Graduate Advisor to receive the supplies mentioned above.  Do not purchase any supplies expecting reimbursement.

PAM Request

You will also receive a form requesting your input from the Psychology Assessment Materials (PAM) office, regarding any non-proprietary research instruments you may use for your thesis.  It is hoped that with your help, a database of such instruments may be established in order to assist Psychology graduate students with their research.  Too often students end up spending weeks of time identifying relevant measures, and getting approval for use from hard-to-reach researchers.  Your assistance would be a great help in this area.

Final Orals

The purpose of final orals is to obtain the approval of your committee on the content of your thesis.  The meeting is scheduled after all members are satisfied that your thesis draft (including a 150-word Abstract – the 150-word limit comes from the university) is complete.  You are encouraged to have orals on a final draft (not the perfect professionally typed end-product), since changes of some kind will probably be needed.

Announce final orals just as you did preliminary orals, except that you are now reporting results (in the past tense: "did") rather than plans (in the future tense: "will"), and you must give the department a hardcopy of your final orals thesis draft with a 150-word Abstract.  Also, you will need to show a printed version of your thesis committee Signature Sheet to the Graduate Advisor for approval prior to your orals meeting.  It should be formatted properly – names of faculty must match the way they appear in the back of the school Catalogue, first name first (Ph.D. must have periods).  An Approval Signature Page template formatted in MS Word is available on the department web site.  If you're hiring a typist, have him or her produce the signature sheet so the printing matches.  It is your responsibility to reserve a room for final orals (again, through the Psychology Dept. Receptionist: 562-985-5001).

At the time of your final orals, your Committee Chair will give you a "pink" Department Clearance Sheet.*  It is recommended that you take the final copy of your Thesis Committee Approval Signature Page (printed by your typist or yourself on 20 lb. copy paper - it is recommended that you take a couple copies) to your final orals to collect your committee members’ signatures (providing they are willing to sign off on your thesis at that point; you may borrow the recommended signature pen from my office or mailbox).  Some students have experienced problems tracking down committee members afterwards, particularly during the summer months, so it's best to obtain their signatures as soon as possible, as well as the Associate Dean's signature, which is now required prior to submitting a thesis to the University Thesis Office.  Please show a preliminary copy of the Approval Signature Page to the Graduate Advisor prior to your final orals so that it may be checked for proper formatting. 

*Pink Department Clearance Sheet: All graduate students must obtain the signatures of those faculty/staff members listed on this form to verify that all keys, theses, test materials, Audio-Visual materials, etc., have been returned and any outstanding financial obligations have been paid.  This is required of every student, even if you have never checked out any of these supplies.  It is recognized that this is somewhat of an inconvenience, but it is a requirement for graduation.  (If you take care of getting the Key Issue signature, I can follow through on the rest - two of them are mine.)

Usually the meeting begins with a presentation by the student on the results of the study, with emphasis on findings and interpretation.  This is followed by discussion among the committee members and the student.  Committee members may make specific suggestions for changes in your thesis.  Be sure you agree with and understand these suggestions, because you will have to make them before final approval is granted.  However, do not hesitate to discuss fully any changes you don’t understand or agree with.

Submission/Completion Dates

After you have final orals and have made any required changes to your thesis, you are ready to have it prepared for submission to the University Thesis Office. Most students have their theses on computer disks.  You may either prepare the thesis yourself or have a professional typist prepare it for you.  Thesis typists’ "advertising" is posted on the bulletin board outside of room 110 and on the department web site.  Remember, you are hiring this person — feel free to ask questions and shop around.  You are the client.

If you choose to prepare the thesis yourself, it would be a good idea to contact the University Thesis Office or visit their web site prior to beginning to make sure you are sufficiently informed of the requirements, but especially be sure to get the University Style and Format Guidelines for Master’s Theses and Project Reports and read it!  It is available on-line via the campus library, which serves as a visual example of the correct style format.  It is also available for purchase from the Campus Bookstore.

A Title Page is a required part of the thesis; the thesis title, program name, Committee Members' and Associate Dean's names, student author's name, college degree(s) earned, and the master's degree's graduation month and year comprise this page.  A formatted PDF version is available through the University Thesis Guidelines and here as well; a Word document template is available by clicking here.  Please list your program using the following:
    MAR: Master of Arts in Psychology
    MSHF: Master of Science in Human Factors Psychology
    MSIO: Master of Science in Industrial/Organizational Psychology

Thesis manuscripts may now be printed on standard 20 lb. copy paper, but must be submitted in a 8 1/2 x 11 lidded box.  You may obtain a suitable box from the Graduate Advisor (I have a supply in my office).

The official master copy for submission is prepared.  For more details on the actual preparation, please see the University Thesis Office’s Guidelines mentioned above.  Submission and completion deadlines are announced one year in advance on the University Thesis Office's web site (http://www.csulb.edu/library/guide/serv/thesis.html).

After your thesis has been prepared on the 20 lb. copy paper (place it in a box), take it to your Thesis Committee and have them sign the Approval Signature page with a medium black felt-tip pen (black ball-point may be used, but it might not render a thick enough line - use the felt-tip if at all possible), if not already signed – you may borrow a pen from my office or my mailbox (please be sure to return it!). (They are not to date their signatures!)  It is suggested that you have two signature sheets signed, so that you have a back-up, just in case.

After your committee signs the Approval Signature page, take it to the College of Liberal Arts (COLA) to get the Associate Dean's signature.  The turn-around time for the Dean to sign is usually one to two days (unless out of town).

Before you submit your thesis to the University Thesis Office, you will need to register via the "Author Login" procedure on the Thesis Office's web site.  Be sure to register once you know for sure which thesis deadline you will be meeting.   This is good for only one term, so please do not complete it until you know for sure you’ll be meeting that deadline. You must be registered before you will be allowed to submit your thesis.

Then, take the entire thesis (in the paper box - this protects it) to the University Thesis Office on or (preferably) before the Submission Deadline.  Please refer to the Thesis Reviewer’s handouts or web site regarding submission periods and deadlines.

The University Thesis Office will read your thesis manuscript and return it to you with a list of corrections (if any, and there usually are some).  Have the corrections made and take the thesis back to the Thesis Reviewer to either show her/him the corrected thesis.  Do this by the Completion Deadline (given to you by the University Thesis Office – not to be confused with the Submission Deadline).  Now take the signed/corrected thesis to the Bookstore's Copy Center to have the correct number of copies made.  The number of required copies will be conveyed to the Bookstore by the University Thesis Office.  Order any personal copies at this time as well (see below).  You will pay for all copies at the Bookstore's Copy Center at this time. 

And lastly:
Report the receipt number to the Thesis Office (very important!).

After the University Thesis Office is notified you have completed the process (by you reporting the receipt number to that office), the Masters Evaluator in Enrollment Services will be informed ("Library Clearance"); however, the graduation clearing process will not begin until the beginning of the next semester/term. 

Thesis Binding and Microfilming Fees

After submitting your thesis to the University Thesis Office, all corrections have been made and the Thesis Office has given its approval, have the required copies made at the Bookstore's Copy Center.  At this time, you will also pay for thesis binding (Library copy) and microfilming.  You are required to have one (1) hard-bound copy (on University thesis paper – this is a special paper which has the university seal watermarked) for the Library.  If you want one for yourself or family, you may pay for this service at this time.  The Library also requires one (1) clean copy (unbound) which will be used for microfilming.  This copy will be destroyed after use.  Please be sure to update your address with the Thesis Office if it changes prior to you receiving your manuscript back.

At the time you submit your thesis to the Bookstore’s Copy Center, you will be asked to fill out a form for the microfilm company. This form, provided by the Bookstore, will ask you to provide up to five key words for your thesis – this information will be used by the library as well for keyword searches in COAST.

Once you have taken your thesis to the Copy Center, paid for required copies, and reported the receipt number to the University Thesis Office, that should conclude your involvement in the process.  The Thesis Office will pick up all copies and go through every set to make sure they are in the correct order and that all pages were copied correctly.  The Thesis Office will then have the correct bindings done and will mail personal copies and the original thesis to the student.  Turn-around time on theses is four to six months. 

In addition to the officially required photocopies, most students order a velo-vinyl bound copy for the committee chairperson.  Your other committee members may also want a copy.  It would be best to ask.  You may find it cheaper to get additional copies made and bound via an off-campus photocopy business. However, remember that it will be approximately four to six months before your original thesis copy is returned to you.  If you have a duplicate copy of your manuscript and a second signed Approval Signature Page (or a copy), you need not wait to make additional copies for yourself.  (If your thesis’ page count is excessive, you may be able to do "mirror margins" on copies you have done yourself to save money.  Ask me if you have any questions about this.)

Additional Notes

If you have any questions about content, ask your committee chair and members. Check with the Graduate Advisor regarding procedural questions, as well as any possible problems that you have not been able to resolve with your committee.  For formatting questions check with the University Thesis Office and the University Guidelines publications.  Be sure to obtain supplemental materials from the University Thesis Office, the Graduate Advisor, or the CSULB Library Thesis web site.  These include the "Thesis Office Checklist" and information regarding "Page Order" and "How to Set Up Table of Contents Tabs."

If you are planning to include copyrighted material in your thesis, be sure to contact the copyright holder regarding permission.  A sample permission form is included in the appendixes of the University Style and Format Guidelines for Master’s Theses and Project Reports, as well as on the Thesis web site.  Keep in mind that it can take three - six months (or longer) to hear back.  Please refer to the University Master's Theses Guidelines or the Thesis Reviewer’s office for additional information regarding copyrights. 

If your committee membership changes, you must see the Graduate Advisor to do the appropriate revision paperwork filed with the Dean's office.  If your program coursework changes after you advance to candidacy, you must see the Graduate Advisor to do the appropriate paperwork (if the courses stay the same, and all that changes is when you take/took the course, your Advancement to Candidacy need not be updated). Also, if your graduation date changes after you have filed your Grad Check, you must do a change of graduation date form with Enrollment Services ($10).  Remember, you must be enrolled the semester you graduate.

MA-Psychological Research Option Students: Final orals can only be scheduled the semester or summer session after successful completion of the three comprehensive exams specified on your MA/MS program of studies.  Also, any MA-R students who Advanced to Candidacy Fall 1998 through Spring 2004 are required to have attended at least six department colloquia prior to scheduling preliminary orals, and all twelve required colloquia must be attended before scheduling final orals; for those who Advanced beginning Fall 2004 the colloquia numbers are four and six respectively.

Contact Information

GRADUATE ADVISOR
THESIS BUDGET COORDINATOR
Diane Roe
Rm Psy 107 (Office hours posted on web site)
(562) 985-5000 
droe@csulb.edu 

UNIVERSITY THESIS OFFICE
Library 501
(562) 985-4013 
lib-thesis@csulb.edu 

SUBJECT POOL COORDINATOR
Dr. Dale Jorgenson
(562) 985-5032
djorgens@csulb.edu

The following is a THESIS SCHEDULE, with a step-by-step guide of things to do to complete your thesis as well as a time frame to follow.  Please read and follow this schedule.
 

Thesis Schedule

Beginning the Process

1. a) Find a topic and ask a full time Psychology professor to serve as your committee chair.  Begin literature review.
    b) Report chair's agreement to the Graduate Advisor (this will be confirmed).
    c) Enroll in 698 for (X) units (depending on how many semesters you expect to take before graduating, maximum total required depends upon your program).  You must have a committee chair to enroll in thesis units.
When: approximately 2-3 semesters before you plan to graduate, usually your second (MAR/MSHF) or third (MSIO) semester here for a & b.

2. Write a proposal (see Proposal Guide below) and get at least two other committee members.

3. Rewrite proposal to satisfy committee that it is ready for preliminary orals. Start saving money for typing, supplies, thesis publication, etc.

4. Announce preliminary orals to department via email attachment to thesis chair.
    Give copy of thesis proposal to Graduate Advisor.
    (See "Announcement/Abstract Guide for Orals," above)
When: Five (5) school days (1 week) before date of meeting.
Announcement must be emailed to your thesis chair at least one week in advance.
RESERVE ROOM.

Preliminary Orals

5. Preliminary Orals (see above).
    Approval of proposal signed by committee (meeting adjourned if necessary for satisfactory rewrites).
    a) Secure approval of your project by the University IRB Committee prior to initiating your research (see IRB discussion above).
    b) Have thesis cost form filled out and submit to Graduate Advisor (if requesting supplies or copying). Remember:
        1. You must pay the first $50 of project expenses.
        2. Do not make any purchases and expect to be reimbursed.  The department can only provide you with supplies such as letterhead paper and envelopes, and copying on our machines -- NO MONEY!

6. File "Request to Graduate" (AKA "Grad Check") with the Enrollment Services Office.  Students seeking to graduate in May or August must file a Grad Check between the preceding May 1st and October 15th to be on time. Students seeking to graduate in December must file between the preceding December 1st and March 1st. You may obtain a Request to Graduate form from Enrollment Services' web site (linked from department on-line Graduate Newsletter.

7. Print out (or at least read) PDF version of University Style and Format Guidelines for Master’s Theses and Project Reports via University Library web site, and get typists’ information from outside Psych Grad Office or via typists' list on web site. Check with Graduate Advisor about which typists know psychology format and phone or email typists until you have hired one.  
When: At time of preliminary orals, or at least the semester prior to graduation semester.

8. Once committee and IRB gives clearance, conduct study and analyze and interpret data.

9. Write first thesis draft to be given to committee chair. (Consult prior theses in Graduate Advisor’s office or library—and the University Style and Format Guidelines for Master’s Theses and Project Reports, APA Publication Manual, and Turabian style manual (if necessary) for basic format and reference style).

10. Rewrite thesis draft as required by committee chair and submit to other committee members.

11. Rewrite again as needed until you have a draft with which your committee is willing to go to Final Orals.

12. Give each committee member and the Graduate Advisor a copy of the Final Orals draft, including a 150-word max. abstract.
When: Before announcing Final Orals.

Final Orals

13. Announce Final Orals to department via thesis chair (same format basically as for preliminary orals, but with findings summarized) and give Graduate Advisor a copy of the thesis draft. Show draft copy of Committee Signature Page to Graduate Advisor for approval.
When: Five (5) school days (one week) before meeting.

14. Final Orals (See Final Orals section above).

15. Make changes in the thesis as required by your committee.  Show it to chair and other committee members.  At this point you should check the thesis very carefully for grammatical and format errors.  Polish and correct it for the typist or submission.

16. Thesis to typist.
When: At least 10 days before thesis deadline date.

17. Proofread the typed thesis using your draft and the thesis reviewer’s checklist.  Make list of errors; have typist correct errors as instructed.   (Note: Thesis Reviewer will stop and return thesis without correction comments for proofreading and correction after three reference errors.)
When: At least 3 days before deadline.

18. Go around to committee members with thesis, if another viewing required, and have each sign Signature page with a medium black felt-tip pen (ball point if you have to, but black ink only) if not already signed (you may borrow a pen from the Graduate Advisor).  
When: Before thesis deadline date. (At least three days before deadline date, in case you cannot find one of them.)

19. Take corrected thesis to the Associate Dean, College of Liberal Arts for signature (Rm MHB 204.)  When: As arranged.  (Call ahead for an appointment.)  This step must be completed before continuing.

20. Register to submit thesis via the “Thesis Author’s Login Form” on University Thesis Office’s web site (this is required!).

21. Take the thesis manuscript in the paper box (boxes available from Graduate Advisor’s office) to the University Thesis Office.  A four to six weeks turn around time is estimated.

22. Pick up thesis with correction lists from University Thesis Office and make corrections/take to typist for corrections to be made.

23. Return now-corrected thesis to University Thesis Office for approval.  (Note: This step may be waived by the Thesis Office if only a few corrections are required.)

24. Take thesis to Campus Copy Center (Bookstore) for photocopying.  Pay duplicating costs, micro-filming fees, and hard-binding fees. 

25. Report receipt number to Thesis Office (otherwise you will not graduate).  Submit Pink Clearance Sheet signed by the Key Issue Office to Psychology Graduate Advisor (she'll get the rest of the signatures).

26. Be advised: Enrollment Services will not begin degree clearance until the beginning of the next term. Also, the University does not print your diploma — it is done by an outside company, which takes time.  When the diplomas are delivered to the Enrollment Services Office, a postcard notification will be mailed to you to come pick it up (or you may make arrangements at that time to have it mailed).  Keep your address up to date with the Enrollment Services Office, via your MyCSULB account.  Also, notify the Thesis Office if you move (as well as the Graduate Advisor!).

Note: Going through Commencement ceremonies does not mean you have graduated: "Anyone can walk."  So if you know you will be long gone the May after you have been cleared for graduation, you may wish to go through ceremonies while still here (you’ll be glad you did!).

Announcement/Abstract Guide for Orals

Produce your orals announcement via a word processor on your computer (template available via department web site). Email it as an attachment to your committee chair, who will approve and submit it to the Graduate Advisor, a minimum of one week prior to the date of your orals.

FORMAT:

Put the following information at the top of the page (see formatted orals announcement for visual example):

Preliminary (or Final) Orals

Name_______________________                                                         Day and Date __________________

Program ____________________                                                          Time_________ Room ___________

                                                                                                                 No. of subjects from
                                                                                                                 subject pool (if any)__________
                                                                                                                 (Needed for Preliminary Orals only)

TITLE

Next, type your abstract. (Remember, this is all on 1 page.)

        Usually include:                           Par. 1 - Purpose, major variables and major aspects of
                                                                            setting, background.
                                                          Par. 2 - Major aspects of method including subjects,
                                                                            materials, procedure, data analysis, etc.
                                                          Par. 3 - How you expect it to turn out and what it would
                                                                            mean if it did turn out that way.

        Note: For Preliminary orals, use future tense as in the proposal.

At the bottom of the page include:

    Committee:   List committee members                                                    
                        (with titles/positions                                                                           
                        if not Psych faculty)

Format is the same for both preliminary and finals orals.  However, for final orals shorten the purpose and method paragraphs and add results and discussion paragraphs.  Use past tense for method and results and present tense for discussion.

Click here for a formatted example of the Orals Announcement.  (Requires Adobe Acrobat Reader.)

Click here for a template formatted in MS Word for your use.

MA/MS Thesis Proposal Guide

Committees differ in what they require in the proposal, but in general the following outline will be satisfactory, modified as appropriate for your study. Remember that Chapters 1 and 2 will be essentially the same in your thesis as in the proposal.  Write the proposal in the future tense since this is a proposal for future work.

Chapter 1 - Introduction

Purpose: background theory and research; the present study: main conceptual variables (independent and dependent) and, briefly, how they will be operationalized in your study; hypotheses as to how the variables are related to each other; anything else the reader needs to know in order to understand the Method section.

Chapter 2 - Method

In detail, exactly how you propose to conduct the study.  Include a description of Subjects, Materials and/or Apparatus, Design, Procedure, and plans for data analysis, plus additional details about your study, as appropriate.  Include a draft of any questionnaires or other materials to be used.  If you are uncertain about exactly how you think some particular problem should be handled, include a discussion of the various possibilities and the pros and cons of each.  (Usually it is helpful to set off such discussions and other questions in a bracketed paragraph or footnote.)

Chapter 3 - Outcomes & Interpretations

Describe the expected outcome(s) of hypotheses and discuss how you will interpret the results conceptually.  Describe and interpret each of the other possible outcomes.

See this Psychology Thesis Guidelines for further information.  If you have questions about the content of your thesis study, see your committee chair and members.  If you have questions about procedures, email, phone or see the Graduate Advisor.

Guidelines for Faculty/Student Responsibility for MA/MS Thesis

It is recognized that both the faculty members on a thesis committee and the student have obligations related to the smooth conduct of the MA/MS process.  To that end, it is expected that the following guidelines will be observed:

Preliminary Orals

1. The committee should be given a minimum of one (1) week to read and review the thesis proposal before the date of preliminary orals can be officially announced (for a total of two weeks prior to orals date).  If a committee member cannot meet this deadline, she/he must inform the student and the chair immediately and negotiate an alternative acceptable to all parties.

2. The proposal should contain the introduction, which includes a literature review, statement of the problem to be investigated, and the methods and analyses to be used.

3. The distributed abstract for preliminary orals should contain clear statement of the problem, methodology and planned analyses of the study.

4. The preliminary oral should review the proposal.

5. The committee's department approval signature page should contain the abstract, the required analyses, and a general statement regarding expected outcome(s) of the study.

Final Orals

1. It is the responsibility of the student to inform his/her faculty committee during the first week of the semester that she/he intends to submit a thesis during that semester.

2. It is the responsibility of faculty to inform their graduate students of plans to be on leave of absence or sabbatical leave as soon as those plans are known, and no later than the end of the semester prior to the period of absence.  A faculty member’s "graduate students" are defined as all of those individuals for whom the faculty member has agreed to serve as either a thesis chair or a committee member.

3. It will be the responsibility of the thesis chair to see that the thesis draft for final orals contains all the required analyses and appropriate interpretations prior to distribution to the thesis committee.

4. The committee should be given a minimum of two (2) weeks to read and review the thesis draft before the date of final orals is officially announced.  If a committee member cannot meet this deadline she/he must inform the student and the thesis chair immediately and negotiate an alternative acceptable to all parties.

5. The committee members should write and submit to the student their comments, suggestions, changes, etc. regarding the thesis draft so that the student may go over them with the committee chair prior to orals.  Any major substantive changes requested by committee members should be presented at this time.  (Major, substantive changes will include any of the following: extensive new data analysis, extensive alternative data analysis, or extensive alternative interpretations.)  It is the student’s responsibility to provide the committee members with a current draft of the thesis prior to final orals.

6. Major, substantive changes requested by committee members (Item 5) which have not been previously brought to the student’s attention, should not be required at the time of final orals.  Minor changes or additional analysis may be required at this time, however.

7. Final orals should be primarily a review of the results chapter and the discussion chapter of the thesis.

Please click here for a formatted example of a thesis committee signature page.  (Requires Adobe Acrobat Reader.)

Thesis Deadline Dates for 2009/2010

UNIVERSITY THESIS OFFICE SUBMISSION PERIODS

Fall 2009:  Friday, September 11th to Friday, October 23rd
Winter 2010:  Monday, November 30th to Friday, January 15th
Spring 2010:  Friday, February 12th to Friday, April 2nd
Summer 2010:  Thursday, June 3rd to Friday, July 9th

COMPLETION DEADLINES

Students will be advised of completion deadline dates by the
University Thesis Office when their theses are returned for correction.

Links provided above:

Thesis Office
    University Thesis Office 
    http://www.csulb.edu/library/guide/serv/pageordr.html (Page order instructions)
    http://www.csulb.edu/library/guide/serv/thesis_deadlines.html (Thesis submission dates)
    Table of Contents Tab Instructions
    Thesis Office Checklist  
    http://www.csulb.edu/library/ (CSULB Library homepage) 
    University Style and Format Guidelines for Master’s Theses and Project Reports (CSULB Library on-line version)

IRB
    http://www.csulb.edu/divisions/aa/research/our/compliance/irb/ (IRB web page) 

Department
    Formatted orals announcement (PDF document - Acrobat Reader required)
    Orals Announcement template (Word document)
    Thesis Typists list 
    Formatted thesis committee Approval Sheet (PDF document - Acrobat Reader required)
    Thesis Committee Signature Sheet template (Word document)
    Formatted thesis Title Page (PDF document - Acrobat Reader required)
    Thesis Title Page template (Word document)
    Faculty Research Interests list (PDF document - Acrobat Reader required)
    MAPR, MSHF, MSIO (Links to Theses Abstracts - full text available for recent theses)

Graduate Newsletter   
    GS 700/Continuous Enrollment
    Seven-Year Rule
    Advancement to Candidacy
    Reinstatement 
    Grad Check
    Leave of Absence 

Emails
    droe@csulb.edu (Graduate Advisor)
    lib-thesis@csulb.edu (Thesis Office)