PLANNING FOR THE MASTER’S RESEARCH PROGRAM

Prior to entering the program, students indicate their choice of research area. This choice plays a role in the allocation of the interim advisor. Admission to the program is contingent upon willingness of faculty members to supervise, in addition to academic merit. The students, however, must solicit the participation of faculty on their Supervisory Committee on the basis of a description of the thesis, project, or essay topics. Students are free to approach any faculty they wish.

Students are expected to refine the description for the thesis, project or essay by the end of the second term in the program and together pick a Supervisory Committee. An Approval of Supervisory Committee form [http://www.sfu.ca/dean-gradstudies/forms.html] is filed with the School at the end of May. This form identifies two faculty members on the Supervisory Committee, one of whom is designated as a senior supervisor. The senior supervisor must be a tenure-track faculty member of the School of Communication.

This form also states the intention to pursue the thesis, project or essay options, and a topic and brief description (not to exceed 150 words) is attached. This form must be signed by the senior supervisor and signed by the second Committee member at this time.

It is common for 1st year students to pursue a reading course over the Summer semester in an area related to the thesis topic.

6.2. THESIS, ESSAY AND PROJECT REQUIREMENTS

The School has developed guidelines for the scale and scope of MA theses, essays and projects. Courses can be designed to help complement much of the research towards the thesis. Projects and theses are normally begun not later than the fourth term and not expected to exceed two terms. Theses, for example, are expected to be about four chapters and 75 to 100 pages long. Extended Essays are about 40 pages each, while projects (whether video documentaries, or websites) may vary.

6.3. GUIDELINES FOR MA PROJECT AND EXTENDED ESSAY OPTIONS

The project and two extended essays options are designed to accommodate students who wish to pursue work that differs in format or style from that of the standard thesis. Once completed, the work is presented in a colloquium format rather than in a formal defense. To assist in the design of these options, the following guidelines are to be followed.

The project or essays represent the culmination of the student’s work in the MA program and thus forms the major requirement for graduation. Graduate coursework should be organized, where possible, to provide conceptual, theoretical and practical background preparation for the research required for the project or essays. However, projects or essays completed as part of regular coursework must be significantly deepened or enhanced to meet this graduating requirement. Paid contract work, or work done during Co-op program placements, is not admissible. On the other hand, unpaid field work, such as that undertaken as part of the CMNS 851 Internship course, may provide valuable experience that leads directly to, for instance, a project design or case study.

6.3.a. The Project

The project should be presented in a form consistent with the research direction undertaken by the student during the MA program. It may involve a format such as a CD-ROM, website, video or audio documentary, on-line software development, or other technologically-based format, or else it may take a written form that differs from the normal thesis structure. Student should familiarize themselves with the facilities and technical support offered by the School and the University available to be used as part of such a project. However, students are expected to have the necessary technical skills to undertake the project, equivalent to a senior undergraduate level, since basic skill training is unavailable. Students are also responsible for any direct costs incurred working on the project and are encouraged to apply for external financial support where possible.

All projects need to be documented in a written form, not to exceed 40 pages, determined in consultation with your senior supervisor. This documentation should include the rationale behind the project, a description of the research undertaken, as well as a description and evaluation of the project itself. A short summary of the project will function as an abstract for the Dean of Graduate Studies’ purposes. The written documentation may include an appendix of visual or other materials which are relevant to the project. A copy of this documentation, plus any audio-visual material involved in the project, is submitted to the Library in a manner similar to a thesis.

6.3.b. The Two Extended Essays

The two essays should represent two different aspects of the research direction undertaken by the student during the MA program. They may deal with completely different topics, or they may be related, such as a theoretical piece complemented by a case study. Each essay will normally be in the range of 25-35 pages, and will not exceed 40 pages. The topics and scope of each essay are determined in consultation with the senior supervisor. Care should be taken to prevent the essays from expanding to the length or scope of a thesis. Essays must be substantively different from papers submitted for course work evaluation. A short summary of each essay will function as an abstract for the Dean of Graduate Studies’ purposes, and the essays are submitted to the Library in a manner similar to a thesis.

6.4. GUIDELINES FOR THE MA THESIS OPTION

While the thesis used to be the option most often recommended for those who intend to go on to doctoral studies, admission norms are changing at many doctoral programs in Europe and North America. The selection of the appropriate option, then, turns more on the nature of the research question and scope of the topic than on any other criteria. Discuss these options clearly at an early stage with your senior supervisor. The purpose of the MA thesis is to demonstrate a theoretical and applied mastery of intensive research in one selected topic in communication, unlike the doctoral level where a broader interdisciplinary synthesis is expected.

6.4.a. Thesis Proposals

A thesis proposal should contain a working title, brief but precise definition of the thesis topic, a demonstration of critical awareness of the relevant literature, and a statement and rationale in support of the research methods and general methodology to be employed. While an MA thesis is not expected to meet the test of an original contribution to knowledge which is characteristic of a doctoral dissertation, the proposal will identify the significance of the topic to the study of communication. A full proposal is usually expected by the end of the fourth semester in the program, if not before. It may be submitted in full with the Annual Review to the Graduate Facilitator, performed at the end of January in the second year of the program.

6.4.b. Thesis Scope

An MA thesis is expected to be between 75 to 100 pages, inclusive of all endnotes and bibliography. Usually, it is organized into a brief introduction, three chapters of about 20-22 pages, and a conclusion.

6.4.c. Thesis Examination Committee

The MA thesis Examination Committee is comprised of the senior supervisor who is a tenure-track member from any rank in the School of Communication, a second reader within the School, and an external examiner from another department/school in SFU or a local person with equivalent qualification. The external examiner is selected in consultation with the senior supervisor and student at the time of scheduling the defense.

6.4.d. Procedures for Oral Defenses

The senior supervisor is responsible for deciding if the thesis is ready for examination. The thesis is then circulated to the Supervisory Committee and a defense date set. The defense is chaired by a faculty member in the School. The defense involves a brief presentation by the student of the thesis work—not to exceed 15-20 minutes and a discussion follows. The defense is similar to a Graduate Seminar and open to the public.

6.4.e. Evaluation of Thesis

There are four options: pass with no revisions, pass with minor revisions, deferred, or fail.

6.4.f. Scheduling Thesis/Project/Extended Essay Completion

Defense dates must be determined at least 6 weeks in advance. Refer to the SFU Calendar for the Library deadline for submission of all thesis/project/extended essay requirements to ensure enough time has been allotted for post-defense revisions. For example, if date is August 12, the cut-off date for scheduling a defense would be June 12. The Student is responsible for meeting Library cut-off dates.

It is the responsibility of the senior supervisor to review and approve the penultimate form of the thesis and state that it is ready to defend. The student may take 2 weeks to provide the final draft to the Supervisory Committee to ensure it is available to all Supervisory Committee members one month before the defense day.

The date/time/place for the defense is set in consultation with the senior supervisor and Supervisory Committee. The next step is to inform the Graduate Facilitator. The Graduate Facilitator will need your thesis/project/extended essay title and abstract of the thesis in order to complete an Approval of Examining Committee form which is signed by your senior supervisor and the Graduate Program Chair, for final approval by the Dean of Graduate Studies for entry into University records.

Unbound copies of the completed thesis/project/extended essay shall be distributed to all Committee members, and one copy shall be made generally available for inspection by interested members of faculty and students. The completed thesis shall be distributed no later than two weeks before examination date.

Consult the University guidelines for the Preparation of Theses, Extended Essays, and Projects [available at [http://www.lib.sfu.ca/researchhelp/writing/thesesinfo.html]. If clarification is required, please contact Penny Simpson, Thesis Assistant [thesis_assistant@sfu.ca; ph 604 291-4747; fax 604 291-3023].

The Graduate Facilitator will prepare a document package for the defense day consisting of your results page, approval page, copyright forms, National Library license form, and a Recommendation for the Award of Degree form for your Supervisory Committee signatures.

After your defense, thesis revisions required by your Examining Committee must be approved by your senior supervisor. Memo’s for supervisory approval can be obtained from the Graduate Facilitator. Please obtain all required forms from the Graduate Facilitator before taking your thesis to the Library.

Duplication and submission of your thesis (all copies) to the Library for binding is your responsibility. The School will pay for binding 4 copies: 2 copies for the Library, 1 for the School, and 1 for the student. You are responsible for additional binding costs if you want further copies. Current price for binding is $16 per copy.