Graduate students in a MA/MS program are required to complete either a master’s thesis or final research paper to achieve the degree.
Those programs are:
- Biology (MS)
- English (MA/MS)
- Environmental Studies (MS)
- Mathematics (MS)
Go to the Applied Master’s Track if you are pursuing the Master of Arts in Teaching, the Master of Special Education, the Master of Business Administration, or Master of Public Accountancy.
Use the forms and instructions below to secure approval for your thesis/research paper and apply for graduation. We’ve also included some helpful resources for styling/formatting your final paper.
Instructions to Lock and Unlock Templates and Forms
Graduate Paper/Project Proposals
The links and forms below will guide you through the process of putting together a research proposal and getting approval for your final paper or project. If you are planning to use human subjects in your thesis, research paper, or capstone project, you need to secure Institutional Review Board approval (formerly Human Subjects Committee) PRIOR to gathering data. The official approval and survey/interview document must be included in and with your proposal approval form (previously Form 3).
- When do you need IRB approval?
- APA PROPOSAL Template (Front Matter Pages ONLY)
- MLA PROPOSAL Template (Front Matter Pages ONLY)
Register for Research/Thesis Credits
Students usually register for research/thesis credits for the term in which they plan to complete the oral defense and degree. In order to register, you must complete an Arranged Course Form and contact your advisor/graduate committee chair for approval.
Final Paper Handbooks
Some of these documents are in .pdf format and require Adobe Acrobat Reader in order to view them. Download Adobe Reader for free.
All MA/MS students should use the Handbook for the Preparation of the Thesis or Research Paper in order to correctly format their final papers and should supplement with other specialized handbooks that may come from their departments or are available online.
The current handbook is updated to provide guidelines for APA 6th Edition and MLA.
General Handbook – MA/MS Degrees
Creative Thesis – MA in English Only
Front Matter Templates
These templates are provided for your convenience in properly formatting your research paper or thesis. The use of templates is not mandatory, but it may assist you in ensuring that your final product meets the formatting requirements of the School of Graduate Studies. Please contact our office if you experience any difficulties.
APA 6th Edition Users
- 2 Levels of Heading Template
- 3 Levels of Heading Template
- 4 Levels of Heading Template
- 5 Levels of Heading Template