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GRADUATE STUDENT HANDBOOK

Thesis & Dissertation Requirements

Master's Degrees: Thesis Option

Master's Thesis Option: Thesis Registration

Those presenting a master's thesis as a part of the requirements for the master's degree must register for a minimum of six semester hours of master's thesis. Registration beyond six hours carries no degree credit. Consult your thesis director concerning registration for thesis. NOTE: The mark of "R" is the only acceptable mark reported when a thesis is in progress. A grade or mark may be assigned to the thesis when it has been accepted by the committee. Any grade assigned by the committee for thesis is to be recorded on the Record of Progress for the Master's Degree.

Master's Thesis Option: Master's Thesis Committee

The Master's Thesis Committee form, consisting of a thesis director and at least two other members of the graduate faculty, should be submitted (in duplicate) to the Graduate School as soon as the committee has been selected but no later than three months prior to the date of the comprehensive examination. Committees may not be approved for the following reasons: If all members of the committee do not have the appropriate graduate faculty status; if faculty spouses are serving on the same committee and one is in a supervisory capacity over the other; if a member of the student's immediate family is proposed on the committee; or if there is an approved committee already on file. For information on how to change or revise existing committees, see Changing or Revising a Committee.

Thesis Option: Master's Thesis Title

The Master's Thesis Title form, consisting of the title of the thesis and approved by the thesis director, should be submitted (in duplicate) to the Graduate School as soon as the thesis topic has been established but no later than three months prior to the date of the comprehensive examination.

Intellectual Property Disclosure

The Intellectual Property Disclosure form is required for ALL master's students submitting a master's thesis. This form must be submitted to the Graduate School by the time that the final copies of the thesis are submitted for deposit in the University Libraries.

Master's Thesis Option: Preliminary Copies

The thesis, after its acceptance by the thesis director, should be submitted for approval to each thesis committee member. The committee must receive the thesis at least three (3) weeks before the degree is to be conferred. You must follow the "Guide for Preparing Theses and Dissertations" that is available at our web site www.uark.edu/depts/gradinfo or at the Union Bookstore. It is strongly recommended that a preliminary copy of the thesis be presented to the Graduate School for a check to assure that formatting requirements are being followed.

Master's Thesis Option: Final Copies

Two (2) unbound typewritten copies of the thesis in prescribed form (on 100% cotton bond paper with original signatures, etc.) should be submitted to the Graduate School at least ONE WEEK BEFORE GRADUATION. Please refer to the Master's Calendar for specific deadline dates.

Doctoral Dissertation

Doctoral Dissertation Committee

The Doctoral Dissertation Committee form, consisting of a dissertation director and at least two other members of the graduate faculty, should be submitted (in duplicate) to the Graduate School at least ONE YEAR before the defense of the dissertation. Committees may not be approved for the following reasons: If all members of the committee do not have the appropriate graduate faculty status; if faculty spouses are serving on the same committee and one is in a supervisory capacity over the other; if a member of the student's immediate family is proposed on the committee; or if there is an approved committee already on file. For information on how to change or revise existing committees, see Changing or Revising a Committee.

Dissertation Registration

Each doctoral candidate must register for a minimum of 18 hours of doctoral dissertation. After passing candidacy examinations, the student must register for at least one hour of dissertation each semester (including summer) until the degree is completed.

Doctoral Dissertation Title

The Doctoral Dissertation Title form, consisting of the title of the dissertation and approval by the dissertation director, should be submitted (in duplicate) to the Graduate School at least ONE YEAR before the defense of the dissertation.

Intellectual Property Disclosure

The Intellectual Property Disclosure form is required for all doctoral students. This form must be submitted to the Graduate School by the time that the final copies of the dissertation are submitted for deposit in the University Libraries.

Preliminary Copies

Three copies of the dissertation should be submitted to the dissertation committee at least six (6) weeks prior to the conferral of the degree. You must follow the "Guide for Preparing Theses and Dissertations" that is available at our web site www.uark.edu/depts/gradinfo or at the Union Bookstore. It is strongly recommended that a preliminary copy of the thesis be presented to the Graduate School for a check to assure that formatting requirements are being followed.

Announcement of Dissertation Defense

Announcement of a doctoral candidate's dissertation defense must be submitted to the Graduate School at least TWO WEEKS prior to the date of the defense.

Final Copies

When the dissertation is approved by the committee, two (2) unbound copies, printed on 100% cotton bond paper, complete with the abstracts and original signatures by the committee on the signature sheets, must be submitted to the Graduate School at least ONE WEEK before the degree is to be conferred. Please refer to the Doctoral Calendar for specific deadline dates.

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