Dissertation and Thesis Review
Steps and Procedures - Quick Links:
- Obtain Research Clearances
- Establish the Faculty Committee & Submit the Appointment of Thesis/Project
- Secure Approval of Topic
- Enroll in Thesis 799
- Write, Edit, and Format the Manuscript
- File an Application for Graduation
- Pass Required Exam or Oral Defense of Thesis
- Obtain Signatures from Committee Members
- Submit the Manuscript for Format Review
STEP 1. RESEARCH CLEARANCES FOR DISSERTATIONS AND THESES
University policy requires that students intending to engage in research involving human or animal subjects, or recombinant DNA, biological or potentially hazardous materials, receive approval of their research procedures before beginning the collection of data.
Detailed information regarding the approval process can be found at the Research Integrity/Regulatory Compliance website. Information can also be found in the Dissertation and Thesis Manual found on Montezuma Publishing's website. Remember, the Graduate Division will not accept the Appointment of Thesis Committee Form until the necessary approvals have been obtained.
STEP 2. ESTABLISH THE FACULTY COMMITTEE & SUBMIT THE APPOINTMENT OF THESIS/PROJECT COMMITTEE FORM
Doctoral Students
See your program adviser for eligibility requirements and procedures specific to your department. For additional
contact information, please see the Program Contact List. Also, please review the detailed
information on chair and committee selection found in the Dissertation and Thesis Manual (Appendix C) found on
Montezuma Publishing's website. For additional questions, please contact the Graduate Division office
(SSE 1410, 594-5213).
Masters Students
For detailed information on selecting your chair, committee members, and the appropriate order of the signatures see
the Dissertation and Thesis Manual (Appendix C) found on Montezuma Publishing's website. For additional questions,
please contact the Graduate Division office (SSE 1410, 594-5213).
Forms & Procedures
The Appointment of Thesis/Project Committee Form is only available from the Graduate Division office (SSE 1410, 594-5213). Below are four forms you may need to complete your thesis committee.
These forms, as well as others related to the Graduate Division, are also available on the forms section of the Graduate Division website.
STEP 3. SECURE APPROVAL OF TOPIC
Before beginning formal research, you should have approval of the research topic from all members of your faculty committee
and, in some cases, the approval of the departmental faculty in general. (For departmental policy, check with your graduate
adviser.)
If you are conducting research involving human subjects or animal subjects, you are required by federal law
and university policy to obtain institutional clearance before beginning such research. See above for further
details.
STEP 4. ENROLL IN THESIS 799
You must be enrolled in Thesis 799a or 799b in the semester in which you submit your thesis for review. For detailed information
regarding the prerequisites, enrollment, registration information and procedures, and full-time/part-time status see the
Dissertation and Thesis Manual (chapter two) found at Montezuma Publishing's website. For additional questions, please contact
the Graduate Division office (SSE 1410, 594-5213).
STEP 5. WRITE, EDIT AND FORMAT THE MANUSCRIPT
Write and Edit: During this part of the process, you will be working closely with your faculty chair. For additional
editing assistance, see Montezuma Publishing's website for a list of professional Editors.
Format: For detailed formatting requirements and instructions, including the tools below, go to the websites indicated.
- SDSU Dissertation and Thesis Manual - contains the SDSU formatting rules and regulations.
- MS Word templates and instructions.
- Thesis review deadlines.
- Professional Formatting: Montezuma Publishing offers professional formatting services here on campus. There are also several additional experienced professional Formatters available.
Note: Doctoral students should contact their program advisor for procedures
STEP 6. FILE AN APPLICATION FOR GRADUATION
Graduation is not automatic upon the completion of degree requirements. If you do not graduate as expected, you must re-apply for
graduation for the subsequent term (or the next term in which you expect to graduate).
An Application for Graduation with an Advanced Degree is available:
- For pick-up at the Graduate Division Office (SSE 1410, 594-5213).
- For download at the Graduate Division's form website.
The form must be filed with the appropriate fee at the Cashier's Office. For deadline information, please review the Academic Calendar or see the Graduate Divisions Website. The deadline usually occurs during the second week of classes so students are encouraged to apply the semester prior to their anticipated graduation.
STEP 7. PASS REQUIRED FINAL EXAMINATION OR ORAL DEFENSE OF THESIS
For Plan B (Thesis) students, a comprehensive examination will take the place of a written thesis. However,
for Plan A (Thesis)
students, the Thesis/Project is the culminating experience. Some programs also require an oral defense of the thesis. Contact
your graduate adviser for specific program requirements.
STEP 8. OBTAIN SIGNATURES FROM COMMITTEE MEMBERS
Once you have completed the defense of your thesis, and the committee members have approved the content, they will sign
the formatted signature page. See the Dissertation and Thesis Manual (section 4.6.2) on Montezuma Publishing's website for questions regarding the formatting of the signature
page and for templates
of the signature pages.
Once you have obtained all of the signatures, and your thesis formatting is complete, you will be ready to submit your thesis to Montezuma Publishing for format review.
STEP 9. SUBMIT THE MANUSCRIPT TO MONTEZUMA PUBLISHING FOR FORMAT REVIEW
The official review of your formatting will be completed by Montezuma Publishing. For details regarding deadlines,
formatting requirements, and detailed submission information see Montezuma Publishing's Thesis Review
website.
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