Prospectus-Thesis/Project-Defense

Prospectus

A prospectus is a written document that outlines the topic and approach of your project. It is reviewed by your committee so you can gain approval to proceed with the research. The prospectus defines and limits the scope of your research thesis or creative project and becomes the guideline you will follow in researching and writing or implementing your work.

You will create your prospectus with the guidance of your thesis director as well as your other committee members. Each member of your committee will read and approve your prospectus. A prospectus is discipline-specific; please consult your thesis director in regard to the expected content, format and length of your prospectus. A strong prospectus will usually include some, if not all, of the following elements:

• A statement of the issue (s) you will address, and how it is significant in your field (i.e., your project's nature and purpose).
• A critical review of related work in your field, with the purpose of providing background information and revealing your project's originality and how it is a worthwhile endeavor.
• Your research methodology and defense of the methods you have chosen or your approach to a creative project.
• Preliminary bibliography.

You may not submit your prospectus and defend your thesis in the same term.

Research Thesis

A research thesis will represent substantial scholarly effort, and will reveal your scholastic, intellectual and personal capabilities.

A successful thesis will usually contain the following elements:

• A clear statement of the issue and its significance—in this section, you should introduce your topic and provide a brief guide to the organization of your thesis
• Review of related work—this places your issue in context and provides criteria for judging the originality of your project.
• Review of your techniques and any specialized terminology—this makes your thesis more accessible to other readers and clarifies your understanding of the material
• Thorough presentation of your work—this is the heart of your thesis. Your research should be described completely, clearly identifying original results by stressing differences with previous related work
• Discussion of results and a critique of the impact on your field
• Summary of what was original and significant in your thesis, and suggestions for further research

Creative Project

A creative project in the context of Honors in the Major work may be defined as one that results in a performance or product rather than a written document. It often takes the form of a dance, music, or theater performance or an art show. In the sciences it may be a product design, which typically entails concept development, testing and construction or implementation of a physical object or service. Other creative projects are possible.

In such cases a written report on the project is required, with a minimum length of 10 pages of text plus documentation (bibliography, appendices, and the like.) The report may focus on various aspects depending on the project. These aspects may include but are not limited to one or more of the following:

• Historical, cultural, stylistic, analytic, or interpretive perspectives on roles or works performed.
• A chronology of the conception and evolution of the project.
• A description of the intention and significance of the project, tools and methods used and why chosen
• An analysis of how the project compares to other works in its genre.

Defense

When you have finished writing your thesis or creative project report, you will defend it orally in front of your committee. The student is responsible for coordinating the date, time and location of the defense. A defense usually takes place in a conference room in your department and typically lasts from 1 to 1 ½ hours. The following requirements are part of all defenses:

• Your thesis director will preside.
• Your entire committee must be present.
• You will begin with a presentation of your project, typically 15-20 minutes, to be followed by an oral examination that usually last 30-45 minutes