EDLP Thesis/Project Web Guide FALL 2009

Deadline For...	Thesis	Projects
December 2009 Graduation Application	October 1 , 2009	October 1, 2009
Final Submission to your thesis/project chair (advisor)	November 13, 2009	November 18, 2009
Final Submission to EDLP Graduate Coordinator by 5pm	November 20, 2009	November 25, 2009
Final Submission to Graduate Studies @ exactly 3pm	December 4, 2009	MDecember 4, 2009
Application for Approval to Use Human Subjects	monthly	monthly

This page is specifically for students enrolled in EDLP 500A, EDLP 500B, or EDLP 299T. If you have any questions about any of this information, contact your thesis/project chair.

Approval to Use Human Subjects in Research

If you have not submitted, and received approval on, an application for the approval to use Human Subjects, you must do so immediately! Applications will be reviewed monthly, except for September. in order to be reviewed in any month, the application must be submitted prior to the last day of the preceding month.

Thesis/Project Formatting

The University requires that you attend a Thesis Formatting workshop if you are doing a thesis. That is NOT required if you are doing a project.

Click Here for Spring 2009 Thesis Formatting Workshop Flyer

Your thesis/project advisor is not your editor or formatter. It is not the advisor’s responsibility to re-write or re-format your document. If you feel less than confident about your writing skills, or ability to properly format your thesis or project using MS Word, it is strongly advised that you secure the assistance of a thesis/project format editor. Currently, the Department can suggest the following independent contractors:

Georgia Bielz
(916) 473-3866

Meredith Linden
(916) 834-6383

The Department does not have fee information or scheduling for these experts. You will need to contact them yourself to get an estimate of the cost and how much time it will take.
Once the thesis or project has been approved, you will be required to submit – among other things – a bound copy to your advisor. A commonly used source for binding is:

Cal-Na Bindery 1508 S Street, Sacramento
Phone (916) 447-4355 Open M-F 8am to 4:30pm (takes 3 weeks)
[Pricing Info] 1-2 copies $35 each; 3+ $25 each

Thesis/Project Instructions

Candidates completing Master's Theses or Projects must follow specific guidelines for form and style. The Department has created a manual to help students adhere to these guidelines. You may download the manual from the Department’s website, as well as some other helpful forms.

Questions?
If you have questions or need guidance specific to your thesis or project, contact your Thesis/Project chair.

If you have questions regarding the process and procedures for completing the thesis or project, contact the Graduate Coordinator, Dr Cowan, at gcowan@csus.edu.

Submission Requirements

When you are ready to submit your completed thesis or project, you will need to submit several items. Some will be submitted to the EDLP through your Thesis/Project chair, and some you will need to submit to the Office of Graduate Studies (OGS). Before anything can be submitted to the Office of Graduate Studies, it must be reviewed and approved by the EDLP. The chart that follows shows what you need to submit to whom:

EDLP	If you are doing a thesis, submit...	OGS
	1 Copy of the completed document printed on 24# lb. 100% cotton paper for the Office of Graduate Studies
	Thesis Submission Receipt (3 copies) for the Office of Graduate Studies
	1 Paid Microfilm and Binding Receipt form ($60 fee required)
	1 Bound copy of the completed document
	1 electronic copy of the completed thesis (on a CD)

EDLP	If you are doing a project, submit...	OGS
	Abstract of Project, printed on 24# lb. 100% cotton rag paper, NOT TO EXCEED 350 words, signed by the Project Chair
	Completed Project Completion Approval for with your signature, Project Chair's signature & Graduate Coordinator's signature
	1 bound copy of the completed project
	1 electronic copy of the completed project (on a CD)

Helpful Hints

Plan to meet with your Thesis/Project chair regularly from the beginning of the semester. If you can, schedule regular meetings, and dates for submission of drafts for review.
Set aside chunks of time to write. Make sure that you can be free of distractions for at least 20 minutes at a time.
Reward yourself when you complete sections. You can decide how much should be completed before you get your reward, and you can choose what your reward will be. Give yourself something to look forward to!
Hook up with a colleague or fellow student to be a support system. You can both be very helpful to each other providing the support that will be needed to finish this!
Don’t take a semester off, if you can help it!
Remember that you will need a second reader for the thesis. If you don’t have someone in mind, ask your Thesis/Project chair to recommend someone. Choose someone and ask him or her to be your second reader early.
Put all the charts and graphs in the thesis in black-and-white or grayscale. Don’t use colors! They won’t be reproduced in the microfilming, and may just wash out completely, making your chart indefinable.