Thesis and Dissertation

Introduction

Active participation in original research is a significant component of your graduate education at the University of Louisiana Monroe (ULM). The preparation of a field study, thesis, or dissertation will require you to do more than observe research—you will also conduct research. In preparing your electronic thesis or dissertation (ETD), you will acquire the literary skills to articulate that research to other scholars. The preparation of an ETD is more meaningful than merely satisfying a degree requirement; you will prepare a work in which you can take great pride and which will advance your discipline. The preparation of an ETD is an important learning experience that will prepare you to actively participate in your profession.

Scholars in all fields of scientific and creative enterprise write articles and books, generate research proposals, or engage in artistic endeavors. Whether you are composing an effective novel or writing about an experiment in human genetics, you will rely on comprehensive and focused research. Once the research is completed, the next step is the preparation of an acceptable ETD or work of art that must conform to a set of rules and guidelines specific to your field of study. Conformity to these guidelines is necessary for the review and analysis that leads to publication or public display.

Enterprises which deal in the publication of documents produced from creative endeavor—be they art, music, or basic research—each have their own stylistic requirements for ETD review and possible publication. Usually, ETDs which do not meet these stylistic guidelines are automatically rejected and returned to the author. The rigidity regarding style is a necessary reality of life for an author. Peer reviewers who read and comment on the quality of journal article submissions should not have to endure misspelled words and misplaced clauses. A thesis or dissertation may be your first encounter with such strict compositional rules. It is the desire of the Graduate School and your Graduate Advisory Committee that you learn that consistency, accuracy, and compliance to these rules are requirements for any publishable ETD or other intellectual product that will be on public display.

As a graduate student, realize that your accepted ETD is a published document for which ULM is the publisher. To a great extent, the quality of this institution is measured by the scholarship of its students and faculty. Such scholarship includes the theses and dissertations written by our students and are supervised by our faculty. In preparing an ETD for submission to the Graduate School, keep in mind that neatness and correctness of form are second in importance to accuracy and soundness of research. This guide assists you and your Graduate Advisory Committee in ETD completion and contains important information regarding the writing and publication of your ETD. Although this is not an exhaustive manual, it can assist you in preparing a professional document.

For questions regarding style, consult the most recent edition of the style manual chosen by you and your Graduate Advisory Committee. A list of these manuals can be found in Appendix B. It should be understood that these guidelines, with the academic unit-approved style manual, must be used as sources of information from which your ETD is prepared. However, if and when conflicts occur, regulations in this guide take precedence over those in the style manuals. Close attention to this manual will increase the probability that your ETD will be acceptable when you submit it to the Graduate School. Paying attention to the details now will save you time and money at a critical point in your academic career.

Graduate School staff is available to discuss any matters related to completing your ETD. You are welcome to call, email, or visit the Graduate School if you have questions concerning these guidelines or if they fail to address an issue specific to your project. Please do not use another thesis or dissertation as a model for your work since that style may not meet current guideline requirements. You may use the samples provided in these guidelines.