Thesis

MA Thesis

Term: Fall (independent/seminar) and Spring (independent)

Credits: 0 - 4 (no more than 4 credits total for both terms)

FTE: Fall and Spring

The master’s thesis constitutes an analysis of a specific topic that engages with the existing literature and which makes an argument supported by evidence and using the methodologies of the discipline.  

Students interested in pursuing the thesis option must secure a faculty advisor (must be full-time MCC faculty) to complete the thesis. Your thesis advisor is extremely important throughout every stage: meet with them frequently to discuss project scope, research inquiries, methods, findings, and progress of your writing.

Additionally, every fall semester, the department offers the class MCC-GE 2900: Thesis in Media, Culture, and Communication in order to guide students through the process of writing a thesis. The thesis course is an optional but recommended component of completing a thesis. Students not interested in the course are welcome to work directly and independently with their thesis advisor. 

Students considering the thesis should carefully read through the Thesis Guide, Sample Abstracts, and become familiar with the Thesis Planning Checklist below to understand the scope of work required for the thesis. 

Thesis credits may be taken as pass/fail.

NOTE: Thesis enrollment is determined via an application process, with the main requirement being a faculty advisor who is willing to advise your project.  If you are unable to secure an advisor, you may still apply for the Writing course, the Project course, the Synthesis course, or take the exam.

Thesis Application Process

• January-February:  Create a list of potential faculty advisors and develop your thesis ideas, including research questions, methods, reading lists, etc. 

• March - April: It is the student’s responsibility to approach faculty for one-on-one meetings. Students should come prepared to the meetings with their research topic and a proposal draft.

• May 1: Students submit the Thesis Application with their faculty advisor’s approval. 

• May or June: Students receive access codes to register for the thesis from the department. No need to email us!