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Educational Leadership and Policy Studies

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College Student Personnel MS Program

Culminating Experience

Thesis vs. Problems in Lieu of Thesis

WHAT DO THEY HAVE IN COMMON?

Both the thesis and problems in lieu of thesis (also called the problems paper) involve students identifying an issue, problem, or gap in knowledge that they will explore. Both a problems paper and a thesis must be defended before a committee of three full-time faculty members.

PROBLEMS IN LIEU OF THESIS OPTION

The problems paper involves formally proposing the research study literature, and making recommentations to the fields which must be defended before a committee of three faculty. The committee members must have their doctorate, but may be adjunct faculty or staff. There are guidelines for the problems in lieu of thesis and with special permission, students may substitute a project for the problems in lieu of thesis. There are quidelines for the completion of the project.

Examples of recent Problems Paper topics:

• Incorporation of Limits on Technological Speech into University Codes of Conduct
• Similarities and Differences in Collegiate involvement Between Students Who Do and Who Do Not Attend Their First-Choice Institution
• The Effects of Mentoring on Retention of College Students from Low Income Backgrounds
• Daily Life with Autism in Higher Education: A Case Study
  

THESIS OPTION

In addition to the above, a thesis involves conducting original research and reporting the results and implications for policy, practice, and future research. A thesis is usually more than 90 pages. For this option, the committee members must be full-time faculty members and have an earned doctorate.

Examples of recent Thesis topics:

• College Choice and Retention of International Students in the United States
• Similarities and Differences in Collegiate Involvement Between Students Who Do and Who Do Not Attend Their First-Choice Institution
• Multicultural Marketing: Comparing Perceptions about Campus Advertising Among Ethnic Groups
• The Safe Zone Program:  A Quantitative Study
• Changes in Communication Patterns and the Amount of Separation Between First-Year, Residential Students and Their Parents During the First Year in College
• The Effects of Mentoring on the Retention of College Student from Low Income Backgrounds
• Incorporation of Limits on Technological Speech into University Codes of Conduct
• Determining the Optimal Relationship Between Expectations and Experiences to Promote Sophomore Persistence

Updated 11/20/2009