GUIDELINES FOR THESIS PREPARATION

Slippery Rock University
Department of Parks & Recreation/Environmental Education

The thesis is a major research or study project undertaken as the final step in your degree program. The following procedures provide guidelines for your thesis planning and completion. (Keep in mind the primary source of information concerning your thesis is your thesis advisor -- consult with him or her frequently).

1. Develop a list of several potential thesis topics you feel would be of interest to you. Take them, along with a brief overview of how you propose to carry out the study, to your academic advisor.

2. Select one topic in consultation with your advisor. Also, discuss who should be asked to be your thesis advisor and prospective committee members.

3. Contact the faculty person you wish to chair your thesis and ascertain their availability to do so. If yes, discuss the thesis topic and prospective committee members. Contact the agreed-upon committee members to ascertain their willingness to serve and notify the thesis advisor of their decisions. The thesis advisor notifies the graduate coordinator of the thesis topic and thesis committee members. (Note: The thesis committee should consist of at least 3 faculty, 2 of which must be PREE faculty. Additional members may be appointed. The PREE Graduate Coordinator and Director of the Office of Graduate Studies sit as ex officio on all thesis committees).

4. Write a rough draft of your thesis prospectus (study plan) and submit it to your thesis advisor.

5. Upon approval of the draft study plan by your thesis advisor, the final study plan is prepared for distribution to and review by the entire committee. A Prospectus Review meeting is scheduled by the thesis advisor 10-15 days after receipt of the Prospectus.

6. After receipt of the approved study plan, you are authorized to proceed with the thesis research or study process. Frequent consultation with your thesis advisor is recommended to insure proper implementation of the prospectus.

7. Submit a polished rough draft of each thesis chapter to your thesis advisor for review as it is completed. Check with your advisor to assure proper style and format are followed.

8. Continue the process of drafting chapters and rewriting as necessary to satisfy both your thesis advisor and yourself.

9. Prepare the final draft for presentation to your thesis committee. Send one copy to each committee member to arrive at least two weeks prior to your scheduled defense session (arranged previously with your thesis advisor).

10. Be prepared to answer questions concerning your thesis and defend its procedures and findings during the thesis defense session. The thesis committee may ask general knowledge and skill questions as well as thesis questions.

11. Make corrections (if any) in thesis per directions of thesis committee and submit three (3) copies (original and two (2) copies) to your advisor for committee signatures and binding (you will be assessed a fee for binding). If additional bound copies are desired, this can be arranged through the Office of Graduate Studies.

Matters of style and format should be referred to your thesis advisor.

Remember: whenever in doubt, contact your thesis advisor.