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Guidelines for Completion of Master’s Thesis Project

Some basic advice...

Accomplishment of a thesis project may seem like a formidable project in the beginning. Here’s some basic advice to get you on track .

Number one, you don’t have to do it on your own. Chances are you don’t have the background yet to know what questions are unanswered and exactly how you would set up an experiment. Your advisor can help you select an area and a specific question and develop a project.

Pick an advisor that you think you can work with. Unless you feel very confident and are willing to shoulder a lot of responsibility, pick an advisor who will give you lots of help. Help from an experienced advisor can lead to a more significant project and help you to avoid pitfalls.

Define your project early on. Nebulous ideas are time sinks, and most of you have only got 24 months. Get help defining your question if you need it.

Pick a question that is interesting to you, that involves work that you will enjoy doing. If you like the lab, pick a lab project. If you enjoy patient-related activities, pick a clinical project.

Take it one step at a time. Get started now.

Selection of Research Topic and Thesis Adviser and Committee

The first step is to select a research topic and thesis adviser. Selection of the research topic is an interactive process among the student and the faculty, section chair, program director or program research director. This process generally involves discussion between the student and program faculty concerning potential research interests. These discussions should be focused on defining an area of research that is of interest to the student and compatible with the mission of the College of Dentistry.

Thesis adviser: The adviser must be a member of the Graduate Faculty. Typically, such a person is experienced in conducting graduate research, has expertise in the research area, and is able to guide the student to successful completion of the project.

It is the responsibility of the thesis adviser to provide guidance and direction in all aspects of the research project. The adviser will guide the student in the formulation of a hypothesis and development of an appropriate research design, and will help direct the student to appropriate sources of information. The adviser will meet with the student on a regular basis and provide feedback, will guide the implementation of the research plan and the maintenance of a schedule for timely defense of the thesis, and will provide guidance in the writing of the thesis and a manuscript for publication.

Thesis committee: After a thesis adviser is selected, the members of the master’s examination (thesis) committee must be selected. Typically this is done as an interactive process between the student, the adviser, and potential committee members. Committee members must be members of the Graduate Faculty. A faculty member who is not a member of the graduate faculty but who provides special expertise relevant to the project may be included as a thesis committee member, upon granting of a petition for special appointment by the Graduate Studies Committee. The thesis committee must include a minimum of three members, with at least one being from the graduate student’s section and at least one being from outside the section. The composition of the committee must be reviewed and approved by the Graduate Studies Committee (download Thesis Committee Membership Approval Form).

Minimal responsibilities of the thesis committee include approval of the protocol before the research project is underway, and approval of the thesis and administration of the Master’s Examination once it is completed. For many thesis projects, committee members will assume collaborative roles in the research project. The potential contribution of individual members should be considered when assembling a committee, and committee members who provide a range of relevant expertise should be selected. If committee members are taking an active role in the project, the student and adviser should arrange regular meetings with the thesis committee members for discussion at critical phases in the project.

Approval of Committee by the GSC: The GSC will provide basic oversight to ensure that the committee structure meets the guidelines described above, and that it includes faculty with the expertise required to guide the student to publication of findings. Students must submit the completed Thesis Committee Membership Approval Form to the Office of Graduate Studies (room 4133). Ideal timelines vary among clinical programs, but it is suggested that this be accomplished as early as possible, and before the project is underway. It MUST be submitted no later than the first day of the beginning of your second year (typically July 1st). Requests for changes to your approved Committee will be accepted through the winter quarter of the year of your graduation.  Students should be aware that delaying this submission could put them in jeopardy of late graduation if changes are required by the Graduate Studies Committee.

Development of the Thesis Proposal and approval by the Thesis Adviser and Thesis Committee

A written proposal describing the thesis project will be developed with the guidance of the student’s thesis adviser, and in some cases by members of the thesis committee as well. Development of this proposal is a major objective of the required core course Dent 802- Research Design offered each autumn quarter.

The thesis proposal must be approved by the Thesis Adviser and Thesis Committee before the project is initiated.

Protection of Human and Animal Research Subjects

Research protocols involving the participation of human subjects are subject to review and oversight by the Institutional Review Board (IRB).  Information is available at http://orrp.osu.edu/irb/.  Obtaining approval for research involving human subjects can be a lengthy and involved process and is mandatory before the project is implemented. The time and effort required to obtain approval should not be underestimated, and adequate time should be budgeted for the process. The thesis adviser is responsible for guiding the student in this process.

The use of animal subjects in research projects is subject to oversight by the Institutional Lab Animal Care and Use Committee (ILACUC). Approval must be obtained before commencing on the project. Detailed information is available at http://orrp.osu.edu/iacuc/.

Thesis Preparation

When the research project has been completed, the graduate student should prepare a written thesis. This is a task that generally takes at least three to six months and should not be underestimated. The format of the thesis must follow the guidelines that are set out in the Graduate School Handbook. All duplication and production costs of draft copies and final versions (including binding) are to be paid by the graduate student or other available resources.

The writing of the thesis typically involves the preparation of several drafts, which are submitted to the Thesis Adviser. When the Thesis Adviser is satisfied with the content and style of the draft, copies should be circulated to the members of the Thesis Committee before a date for the defense is set. When the comments of the Committee have been received, the student will then distribute final unbound drafts to the Committee with adequate time for review prior to the thesis defense.

Bound copies of the final approved thesis should be provided to the adviser and others as necessary to meet the Graduate Student Section’s requirements.

Thesis Defense

The Master’s Examination is conducted according to Graduate School rules as described in the Graduate School Handbook. Per university rules the defense must be conducted during normal business hours. The Defense begins with a public oral presentation of the research project by the graduate student, typically lasting 20 to 45 minutes. This is followed by questions from non-committee members who are then excused. The graduate student and the Thesis Committee then meet "in camera" for an oral exam chaired by the Adviser aimed at comprehensively evaluating the thesis and the student’s understanding of the study and its implications. This exam may take approximately 1 to 2 hours. The graduate student is then excused and the Thesis Committee reaches a final decision regarding the satisfactory performance of the student. The Thesis Adviser then informs the graduate student of the decision.

The oral presentation part of the Thesis Defense is open to all graduate students, graduate faculty and faculty of the College of Dentistry. The date, time and location of each thesis defense and the title of the presentation must be forwarded to the Office of Graduate Studies at least one week prior to the defense. A notice of the defense will be posted on the Graduate Studies bulletin board outside room 4133 and emailed to faculty. Additional advertisement of the defense is encouraged.

All exams or defenses must take place on the Columbus campus during normal business hours.  The only exception is the Ohio State campus in Wooster, which is an authorized location.  Please note that Children's Hospital does not qualify as an authorized campus location.

Timeline

Timelines vary by program and by the individual projects. Sample timelines are provided below:

2-year timeline

3-year timeline

Deadlines

A complete list of deadlines is available here.

For the convenience of the student, university forms may be obtained from and submitted locally to Laura Kelley in the Office of Graduate Studies in room 4133, and she will submit them to the Graduate School.

·The Application to Graduate form must be submitted no later than the second Friday of the quarter in which graduation is expected.

·The thesis defense must be completed and the Master’s Examination Report form signed and submitted no later than Wednesday two weeks prior to commencement.

·The Thesis Approval form must be signed by all Committee members and submitted no later than one week before commencement.