unl masters thesis guidelines

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Guidelines for Good Practice in Graduate Education

For faculty and graduate students, graduate student role, faculty role.

Graduate programs help to advance human knowledge, educate professionals, and resolve problems to address societal needs. Graduate faculty and graduate students have a joint responsibility to accomplish these goals. Each graduate student should develop an understanding of and capacity for scholarship, independent judgment, academic rigor, and intellectual honesty. Faculty and students must work together to create an atmosphere that ensures freedom of inquiry, fosters mutual respect, and demonstrates professional integrity.

Good practice in graduate education centers on responsible interactions between graduate students and graduate faculty, supported by college and department staff. The following guidelines are based on the collective experience and wisdom of the major research universities. These guidelines are intended to be constructive and instructive to faculty and graduate students; as such, they do not constitute statements of institutional policy or requirements.

Each category below provides information for students and faculty members on their individual roles and responsibilities.

PROFESSIONALISM AND ETHICS

High quality graduate education depends upon the professional and ethical conduct of the participants. Faculty members and graduate students have complementary responsibilities in the maintenance of academic standards and the creation of high quality graduate programs. Excellence in graduate education is achieved when both faculty and students are highly motivated, possess the academic and professional backgrounds necessary to perform at the highest level, and are sincere in their desire to see each other succeed.

• Take primary responsibility to inform themselves of the specific  policies and procedures governing their graduate studies  at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln.
• Interact with faculty, staff and other students in a mature, professional, and civil manner in accordance with University policies.
• Conduct the whole of one’s academic career with unwavering integrity.
• Talk with a trusted faculty member if there are concerns about integrity and ethics.
• Work with diverse faculty and peers regardless of their race, gender, religion, sexual orientation, or national origin.
• Exercise the highest integrity in taking examinations and in collecting, analyzing, and presenting research data.
• Participate in university, departmental, or program governance as a component of professional development.
• Participate in discipline-based activities, such as seminars and conferences, as a component of professional development.
• Manage time effectively for maximum professional development as well as personal health and well being, balancing competing demands such as being a student, a graduate assistant, a parent, a spouse, a caregiver, etc.
• Recognize that faculty and staff have many other professional responsibilities in addition to graduate education.
• Inform themselves of the specific  policies and procedures governing graduate studies  at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln.
• Create an environment of the highest ethical standards and insist that students behave ethically in all their professional activities.
• Interact with students in a professional and civil manner in accordance with the University policies and relevant laws.
• Ensure a reasonable degree of confidentiality in communicating with students, taking care not to discuss a student's performance, research results, or behavior with other students.
• Impartially evaluate student performance regardless of religion, race, gender, sexual orientation, nationality, or other criteria that are not germane to academic evaluation.
• Serve on graduate student committees without regard to the religion, race, gender, sexual orientation, or nationality of the graduate student candidate.
• Prevent personal rivalries with colleagues from interfering with their duties as graduate advisors, committee members, or colleagues.
• Excuse themselves from serving as advisors on graduate committees or supervising assistantship work when there is a familial or other relationship between the faculty member and the student that could result in a conflict of interest.
• Not impede a graduate student’s progress and completion of his/her degree in order to benefit from the student’s proficiency as a teaching or research assistant.
• Encourage students to learn creatively and independently respect the academic freedom of students to express opinions that may differ from those of faculty.
• Provide oral or written comments and evaluation of students’ work in a timely manner.
• Discuss laboratory and/or departmental authorship policy with graduate students before entering into collaborative projects.
• Ensure an absence of coercion with regard to the participation of graduate students as human research subjects in the faculty advisor’s research.
• Refrain from requesting students to do tasks unrelated to their academic or professional development for the personal advantage of a faculty member.
• Familiarize themselves with policies that affect their graduate students.

No matter what career a graduate student enters after degree completion, experience in teaching will be useful; presentations, evaluation and assessment, leading discussions, and the like, are activities that take place not only in the academy, but in a wide range of business, industrial, and government settings. Teaching includes interactions with students about instructional issues, such as holding office hours, reviewing tests or paper scores/evaluations with students, answering questions in special teaching centers in the discipline, tutoring, conducting labs, leading discussions, assisting students to solve problem sets, commenting on studio work, lecturing, or mentoring undergraduate researchers. Graduate students and faculty should work together to enhance student learning and promote the professional development of the graduate teaching assistant.

• Work cooperatively with supervising faculty and other teaching assistants to accomplish the tasks set out by the TA assignment.
• Give adequate attention to the teaching role by conscientious efforts in planning, preparing, and implementing TA assignments.
• Achieve an appropriate balance between teaching responsibilities and other essential activities
• Take advantage of orientation and training opportunities offered as professional development; use the library and other services provided by Graduate Studies on teaching and learning.
• Proactively seek varied teaching opportunities.
• Engage in reflective evaluation of teaching activities.
• Provide adequate training for teaching assistants appropriate for the responsibilities they will assume; in some cases training may be available through campus-wide or department training programs.
• Provide appropriate communication with and mentorship for teaching assistants to enhance their professional development and to ensure the quality of student learning.
• Develop a clear understanding with graduate students about their specific TA responsibilities, including division of authority and labor, expectations for performance, and the like.
• Observe the student's teaching to provide feedback on, and assistance for, current activities and recommendations for the student's future employment.
• Identify appropriate departmental and campus resources to assist graduate students in their professional development as teaching scholars.
• Foster opportunities for students to attain teaching competence.

A student’s academic performance and a faculty member’s scholarly interest may coincide during the course of instruction and research/creative activity/performance. As the faculty-graduate student relationship matures and intensifies, direct collaborations may involve the sharing of authorship or rights to intellectual property developed in research or other creative activity. Such collaborations are encouraged and are a desired outcome of the mentoring process.

• Learn the research methods, ethical dimensions, and historical knowledge bases of the discipline.
• Abide by the University's policy on research misconduct. This policy applies to researchers in all disciplines.
• Recognize that the faculty advisor, in nearly every case, will determine when a body of work is ready for publication and what is an acceptable venue, since the faculty advisor bears responsibility for overseeing students’ performance and ensuring the validity of the research.
• Recognize that the faculty advisor provides the intellectual and instructional environment in which the student conducts research, and may, through access to teaching and research funds, also provide the student with financial support.
• Maintain absolute integrity in collecting, analyzing, and presenting research data.
• Preserve the data collected during experiments or noted during research (with precise identification of sources) to avoid future confusion or disputes about access or ownership.
• Acknowledging the contributions of the faculty advisor and other members of the research team to the student's work in all publications and conference presentations. (It is also appropriate to acknowledge the sources of financial support).
• Expect that their research results, with appropriate recognition, may be incorporated into progress reports, summary documents, applications for continuation of funding, and similar documents authored by the faculty advisor, to the extent that the student’s research is related to the faculty’s research program and the grants which support that research.
• Recognize that the faculty advisor is responsible for monitoring the accuracy, validity, and integrity of the student’s research. Careful, well-conceived research reflects favorably on the student, the faculty advisor, and the University of Nebraska.
• Maintain the confidentiality of the faculty advisor's professional activities and research prior to presentation or publication, in accordance with existing practices and policies of the discipline.
• Provide students with knowledge of the current frontiers and opportunities in disciplinary and inter- or cross-disciplinary research.
• Clarify expectations for specific research responsibilities, including time lines for completion of research and the thesis or dissertation.
• Provide appropriate guidelines, including expected timetables, for completion of research projects, and respect students' research interests/goals.
• Acknowledge student contributions to research presented at conferences, in professional publications, or in applications for copyrights and patents
• Openly discuss authorship and intellectual property policies with graduate students.

ADVISING AND MENTORING

The relationship between the graduate student and their graduate faculty supervisor is central to excellent graduate education. Graduate students develop best in a closely monitored environment in which the faculty provide both high expectations and high support.

Graduate student progress toward educational goals at the University of Nebraska is directed and evaluated by a graduate faculty advisor, the relevant graduate committee, and the student’s supervisory committee. The advisor and the individuals on the committee provide intellectual guidance in support of the scholarly/creative activities of graduate students. The advisor, the supervisory committee, and the graduate committee also are charged with the responsibility of evaluating a graduate student’s performance in scholarly/creative activities. The graduate student, the advisor, the supervisory committee, and the graduate committee comprise the basic unit of graduate education at UNL. It is the quality, breadth, and depth of interaction within this unit that largely determines the outcome of the graduate experience.

• Devote an appropriate amount of time and energy toward achieving academic excellence and earning the advanced degree.
• Recognize time constraints and other demands imposed on faculty members and program staff.
• Initiate regular communications with faculty advisors, especially in matters related to research and progress within the graduate program.
• Provide clear maps of the requirements each student must meet, including course work, languages, research tools, examinations, and thesis or dissertation, and delineate the amount of time expected to complete each step. A graduate student handbook, including written documentation of departmental policies, program requirements and expectations for satisfactory performance can serve this purpose.
• Evaluate student progress and performance in regular and informative ways consistent with the practice of the field; offer fair opportunities for students to correct deficiencies in their work.
• Set aside adequate time to meet with students.
• Help students develop artistic, interpretive, writing, oral, and quantitative skills, in accordance with the expectations of the discipline.
• Assist graduate students in the development of grant writing skills, where appropriate.
• Take reasonable measures to ensure that each graduate student initiates a thesis or dissertation research in a timely manner.
• When appropriate, encourage graduate students to participate in professional meetings or perform or display their work in public settings.
• Create an ethos of collegiality so that learning takes place within a community of scholars.
• Provide a realistic view of the field and the current job market and make use of professional contacts for the benefit of their students, as appropriate.

This is an updated version of the  Guidelines for Good Practice in Graduate Education  approved for distribution by the UNL Graduate Council in 1997. We gratefully acknowledge the earlier work of the of the following institutions: the Graduate College and Graduate Council at the University of Arizona; the Office of Graduate Studies at the University of California at Davis; the Office of Graduate Studies at the University of Southern California; the Graduate School at North Carolina State University and the Graduate Council at the University of Oregon. These guidelines are intended to be constructive and instructive to faculty and graduate students. They do not constitute a contract with current or prospective students.

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Biological sciences (ms), biological sciences , ms.

The master’s degree under Option A requires a thesis. Option A is most appropriate for students who are preparing for careers in research and scholarly work or additional academic pursuits beyond the master’s degree. Under this option, a student must earn a minimum of 30 credit hours, consisting of 20 to 24 credit hours of regular course work, plus a thesis equivalent to 6 to 10 credit hours. At least one-half of the credit hours required for the degree, including thesis, must be in the major (at least 18 credit hours for the Master of Education degree). The remaining work may be in supporting courses and may comprise a minor consisting of at least 9 credit hours selected from and approved by the minor department. At least 8 credit hours, excluding thesis, must be earned in courses open exclusively to graduate students (900 level or 800 level without 400 or lower counterparts).

Option A is not available for the Master of Professional Accountancy degree.

Thesis Requirements . The subject of the thesis shall be chosen from the student’s field of major interest and must be approved by the departmental Graduate Committee. The thesis should reveal a capacity to carry on independent study or research and should demonstrate the student’s ability to use the techniques employed in their field of investigation. Research activities involving human subjects or live vertebrate animals may not be conducted at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln unless the research activities have been reviewed and approved by the appropriate board or committee. The Institutional Review Board (IRB) reviews projects involving human subject research and the Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC) reviews the use of animals in research. These reviews are in accordance with Federal regulations, state laws and institutional policies. Submission of protocols to conduct human subject or animal research is coordinated by the  Research Responsibility  offices. Approval must be secured prior to the initiation of the research.

The thesis must conform to the required style and format described in  Steps to Degree Completion . A copy of the thesis and abstract must be approved by the student’s major advisor and submitted for preliminary review to the Master’s Programs Coordinator in the Office of Graduate Studies at least two weeks (one week in the summer sessions) before the date of the candidate’s final oral examination. A candidate is not eligible for the oral examination until the thesis is completed and approved. After passing the final oral examination, the thesis must be electronically submitted to the Master’s Programs Coordinator for a final review prior to being uploaded to Digital Commons.

• More master's information

The master’s degree under Option B does not require a thesis. Option B is most appropriate for students pursuing practice-based or professional careers in which the master’s degree provides suitable training. Under Option B, a student must earn a minimum of 30 credit hours. At least one-half of the credit hours required for the degree must be in the major. The remaining work may be in supporting courses and may comprise a minor consisting of at least 9 credit hours selected from and approved by the minor department. At least 15 credit hours must be earned in courses open exclusively to graduate students (900 level or 800 level without 400 or lower counterparts).

The Master of Professional Accountancy plan of study may not include a minor.

The Master of Education plan of study may not include a minor, but must include at least 6 credit hours of education courses outside the major.

Accelerated Master's Programs allow University of Nebraska–Lincoln undergraduate students to pursue this degree in an abbreviated timeline.

• More Accelerated Master's information

Dual Degree programs allow students to be admitted to two degree programs simultaneously with approval of each Graduate Program Committee and the Dean(s) for Graduate Studies.

• More Dual Degree information

The School of Biological Sciences provides interdisciplinary training and professional development opportunities for students interested in a career in the life sciences.

Description

Research interests of our faculty range from analyzing molecular and cellular processes to studying the ecological & evolutionary determinants of biological form and function. Faculty conduct research on a diversity of biological systems, including viruses, bacteria, fungi, plants, and animals, representing all major groups of living organisms.

The program is highly flexible allowing you to tailor your curriculum to meet your individual interests and goals. Following receipt of their degrees, students are competitive for a wide range of positions. Former students now hold positions at academic institutions, in government, and in private industry.

The University of Nebraska-Lincoln is a member of the Big Ten Conference, and our students benefit from research collaborations and exchange agreements among member institutions as well as on-campus research collaborations with Cedar Point Biological Station, Center for Biotechnology, Center for Plant Science Innovation, Ecosystem Analysis Laboratory, Manter Laboratory of Parasitology, Nebraska State Museum, Nebraska Center for Virology and Nebraska Innovation Campus.

Specializations

• Ecology, Evolution and Behavior
• Genetics, Cell and Molecular Biology
• Plant Pathology

Applying for Admission

Standard requirements for all graduate programs.

• Application for Admission with $50 non-refundable application fee .

If International: Uploads must include all college- or university-level transcripts or mark sheets (records of courses and marks earned), with certificates, diplomas, and degrees plus certified English translations.

After admission: Official documents are required from all students who are admitted and enroll. Photocopies of certified records are not acceptable. International students enrolled in other U.S. institutions may have certified copies of all foreign records sent directly to the Office of Graduate Studies by their current school’s registrar office.

When sending TOEFL scores, our institution code is 6877 and a department code is not needed.

• If applicant is not a US citizen and expects an F or J visa: financial information .
• Applicants must also fulfill any additional requirements the department specifies at the time of application.

Program-Specific Admission Requirements

Additional requirements specific to this program.

• Minimum English proficiency: Paper  TOEFL  565, Internet  TOEFL  85,  IELTS  6.5
• Three recommendation letters
• Curriculum Vitae or Resume
• Personal Statement: Your statement of purpose should be no longer than 2 pages. It should include a description of your previous research experiences (if any), how those experiences have shaped your current interests, and the types of research you would like to conduct during graduate school.
• Faculty: Identify up to four faculty who share your research interests and with whom you would like to work.
• More  Biological Sciences Graduate Program Requirements

Admission Application Deadlines

December 1 for Fall. This is for an August start; program accepts new students once a year.

Biological Sciences

Campus Address

402 Manter Hall Lincoln NE 68588-0118

Graduate Chair

Brigitte Tenhumberg

Support Staff

Joel Stranberg

Related Programs

• PhD Biological Sciences

The University of Nebraska does not discriminate based on race, color, ethnicity, national origin, sex, pregnancy, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion, disability, age, genetic information, veteran status, marital status, and/or political affiliation in its programs, activities, or employment.

UNL Graduate Chairs and staff please complete the program update form to provide edits. Updates to graduate program pages are made on an annual basis in conjunction with the Graduate Application for Admission.

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A thesis is a significant, sustained project that is the result of independent thought and intellectual curiosity. It is the expectation that a student's chosen project is in the discipline of their major in CAS (or one of their majors if they have multiple majors).

The thesis should exceed the quality and quantity of scholarly work beyond what is required for a term paper. In the process of completing a thesis, a student identifies a research question; develops methods to answer the question(s); collects, manages, and analyzes data; and disseminates the findings and implications through a thesis defense.

In CAS, a thesis can also be a creative project (when appropriate to the student's major). Please see the FAQ section below for more information about what can be used for a thesis.

This is a separate process from submitting a thesis for the Honors Program.

• Thesis Process and Parts

Thesis Prospectus  The college has an electronic submission process via DocuSign for the Thesis Prospectus. All signers (you, your thesis advisors, and the chair of your major department) will receive a copy once it has been completed and received by the Dean’s office. This is to be turned in a year prior to the intended graduation date. 

Thesis Defense  After completing the thesis, students must arrange with their two thesis advisors to give an oral defense of their project. Often the defense begins with the student giving a short presentation on the project. This should be completed well before the college’s deadline. 

Thesis  Students should email a copy of their final thesis to  [email protected]  with their name and NU ID in the subject line by the due date (see timeline below). 

Thesis Evaluation Form  The student initiates the Thesis Evaluation Form in DocuSign by entering their information and the two thesis advisors’ information. The form then routes to each advisor in turn who will complete the evaluation and sign. The Thesis Evaluation is composed of two parts:

• Evaluation of thesis or creative effort: Please justify your evaluation in detail and include a discussion of the strengths and weaknesses of the project.
• Evaluation of examination: If the examination was oral, identify the areas of subject matter covered. If the examination was written, a copy of the questions and answers must accompany this report. Please com­ment on the strengths and weaknesses of the student's performance in either case.

Once both advisors have signed, the form will automatically route to the Dean’s office. The student and thesis advisors will receive a copy of the completed form. This should be completed before the college’s deadline for thesis materials. 

CASC 99 Undergraduate Thesis  Students who submit a thesis to CAS and successfully defend it to their two thesis advisors will be automatically enrolled in CASC 99. This course represents the significant intellectual work involved in the process: planning, documenting, presenting and defending, and reflecting; it earns students experiential learning credit and documents the accomplishment on the transcript. 

Due Dates Based on Tentative Graduation Dates

Students should allow a year for the entire process of planning, conducting research, and writing a thesis.

Thesis Prospectus Due Dates

• December Graduation: October 31st the year prior to the intended graduation.
• May Graduation: March 31st the year prior to the intended graduation.
• August Graduation: July 31st the year prior to the intended graduation.

Thesis, Thesis Defense, and Thesis Evaluation Form Due Dates The college deadline is eight weeks prior to the Monday following commencement, except for the August commencement in which case the deadline is four weeks prior to the Friday before commencement.

Students are responsible for developing a timeline with their two thesis advisors to ensure time to read the thesis, conduct the oral defense, and submit the paperwork before the college deadline.

The following are the dates on which materials are due in the Dean's Office for the next several graduation periods. These dates are based on the formula mentioned above and will be updated as actual graduation dates are posted by the Registrar's office.

* If you cannot meet this deadline, please reach out to [email protected] . We may be able to accommodate a late submission for the Thesis Prospectus.

** This is a firm deadline due to deadlines the college must meet with the Office of the University Registrar.

• Steps for the Student

Year Prior to Graduation 

Complete your part of the  Thesis Prospectus form through DocuSign. It will route to your thesis advisors and your major department chair. You are required to use your university email address (@huskers.unl.edu) for the college to accept your email submission. 

Begin research.  Research in many areas/fields takes time to plan and conduct, so start early!

Semester of Graduation  

Complete thesis project. 

Submit thesis to thesis advisors with sufficient time to meet distinction deadlines. Typically, this is at least two weeks prior to the college due date. 

Start the Thesis Evaluation Form by filling in your advisors’ information (it will route to them to complete).  

Successfully defend your thesis to your thesis advisors before the college due date.  

Submit final thesis to [email protected] .

Thesis outside of your major  To write your thesis outside your major, please see the FAQ section and contact the CAS Dean’s Office at  [email protected]  regarding the process for approval.

Expectations for the Advisors and Unit

Before signing the thesis prospectus, discuss the following with the student:

• the student's plan for the project as described in the Thesis Prospectus
• the minimum GPA requirements of 3.500 for distinction and whether the student expects to meet this requirement.
• the college committee determines the level of distinction by using the cumulative grade point average based on all credit hours taken at UNL prior to the beginning of the term in which the student receives his or her degree. Incomplete coursework and classes from the current term are not included in the determination of level of distinction.
• any additional policies or requirements set by the major department/program.

Semester of Graduation

• Continue supervising the student's research.
• Oversee the thesis defense.
• Jointly evaluate the thesis and quality of the thesis defense on Thesis Evaluation Form.

Chair/Director of Major Department/Program

Chairs/directors certify both thesis advisors listed are appropriate to advise the proposed thesis for this major.

• At least one advisor must hold the title of assistant professor/professor of practice, associate professor/professor of practice or professor/professor of practice.
• Multi-year lecturers and instructional staff (excluding graduate students), with approval from the major department, may serve as one of the co-advisors.
• At least one of the thesis advisors must be from the College of Arts and Sciences.

Any student in CAS can submit a thesis to earn experiential learning credit; they do not need to be eligible for distinction nor do they need to be in the Honors Program. Because it is a substantial undertaking, students should plan ahead: submit a prospectus approximately a year before the thesis will be due, and work closely with their two thesis advisors.

To be considered for Distinction with a thesis, a student must have a minimum of a 3.500 cumulative GPA of UNL hours the term prior to their graduation.

CAS and the Honors Program have separate processes for submitting a thesis, but a student can use the same project for both processes. For CAS Distinction, the student must follow all CAS processes outlined here.

No. A final project for a course is not sufficient for a thesis; it can, however, serve as a starting point for a thesis project that is then extended under the guidance of two thesis advisors.

Most often, a thesis is a long text that follows the conventions of the student's major (or, if approved to write outside the major, the thesis follows the conventions of the discipline of the project).

Students, working closely with their two thesis advisors, may develop a project that takes a form other than a traditional thesis (e.g. they may develop video, audio, or web-based project), but the research, knowledge, effort, and quality of work should be comparable to that of a thesis in the discipline.

• A translation of texts in French literature and accompanied by a scholarly piece on the translation process
• An extensive collection of exhibits to demonstrate one phase of the evolution of the process of photography, accompanied by a lengthy historical background that includes references
• A screenplay
• A web page posting a student's translation (created using digital tools) of an ancient Greek or Latin text, with an annotated syntactic tree, an historical and grammatical commentary on the work, and a detailed bibliography

In short, the effort must have a significant scholarly component, but it need not be in the format of a traditional thesis provided the major department and thesis advisors approve the project in the prospectus.

It depends on the venue for the publication and the placement of the student in the order of authors listed. Contact [email protected] with specific questions.

No. A literature review about a particular topic is not sufficient. Ideally, there should be a clear formulation of a problem or question, scholarly study which illuminates or addresses it, and a conclusion supported by evidence. A bibliography and reference to existing research in the field should be included as appropriate.

No. While students often begin their thesis defense by giving a short presentation on their project, the presentation is not a sufficient format for the thesis. Students must also write a document following the conventions of the discipline of the project.

A student can request to write a thesis outside their major; they must have completed sufficient relevant coursework in the project's discipline to be successful. Please contact the CAS Dean's Office at  [email protected]  regarding the process.

At least one advisor must hold the title of assistant professor/professor of practice, associate professor/professor of practice or professor/professor of practice. Multi-year lecturers and instructional staff (excluding graduate students), with approval from the major department, may serve as one of the co-advisors. At least one of the thesis advisors must be from the College of Arts and Sciences.

No. The thesis defense is a vital element of the thesis process; it enables the student to fully demonstrate their command of their project and ability to respond to questions about it. Additionally, the thesis defense provides an element that ensures the student's project meets experiential learning requirements.

Please write to [email protected] with any questions you may have. Please use your Husker email and put your name and NUID in the subject line.

Distinction Sections

About Distinction

• Without a Thesis
• The Role of the Thesis

About the Thesis

• Expectations For Advisors and Units
• Thesis Prospectus form
• Evaluation Form
• Electronic Submission Process

You are required to use your university email address (@huskers.unl.edu) for the college to accept your submission. See due dates for deadlines.

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Graduating with distinction.

In recognition of outstanding academic excellence, CASNR recommends the bachelors degree With Distinction, With High Distinction, and With Highest Distinction. Recommendations are made by the CASNR committee on Scholarship. To be eligible for consideration by the committee, undergraduate students must have completed 45 credit hours for a letter grade (excluding pass/no pass) at UNL prior to the semester in which they graduate, and must have completed 60 credit hours at UNL at the time they graduate.

The committee currently uses the cumulative grade point average as follows:

Guidelines for submitting a Thesis:

The thesis should be substantially more extensive than a term paper and must be the result of independent thought and intellectual curiosity. In some instances a narrow definition of “thesis” may not be possible or appropriate. In those cases, a “comparable creative effort” is a possibility. “Comparable creative effort” projects may be varied in design and final product format (paper, video, and website are just a few examples), but should include a reflective narrative and/or abstract. However, such projects should require the time, effort, and creativity that would be expected in a traditional thesis. Whether the student completes a traditional thesis or a comparable creative effort, the project must first be approved by the student’s supervisory committee or per degree program policy.

In instances where the student has performed the research for the thesis in another department (with prior permission for his/her major department), the thesis work and examination should be supervised by at least two faculty persons representing the different departments.

An “Oral Defense” as a part of the Thesis Examination is mandatory for all students who submit a thesis. The exact nature of the exam and the administration of this exam will be determined by the major department, and the department faculty distinction evaluation committee is responsible for overseeing the quality of this examination.

The thesis evaluation and oral defense committee should consist of three members (the thesis advisor, the thesis reader(s) and a faculty member either from the same department or from other related departments).

Forms for submission to the college by students

• Thesis Prospectus Form This should be filed by the student and his/her co-advisors and the Faculty Distinction Evaluation Committee in the department. A copy should be submitted to the college as well, at least a semester before graduation.
• Department Evaluation Form in support of a Degree with Distinction To be completed by the respective department Faculty group responsible for distinction evaluation – this could include the evaluation of thesis or creative effort and their justification of the evaluation towards the thesis’s strength and weaknesses.

Students are responsible for meeting these deadlines. Materials to be submitted to the Dean’s office on or before the deadlines include, a) a copy of the student’s thesis/creative effort, b) the thesis/creative effort prospectus form, and c) thesis evaluation form duly signed by the departmental advisory / examination committee.

Questions? Please contact Melissa Sailors  [email protected]

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M.s. in statistics.

Students with a Master’s degree from UNL find success in a variety of fields, from working as a data analyst with a large financial organization to serving as a statistical consultant in pharmaceutical testing.

During the two years as an M.S. student in the Department, students will be exposed to the core ideas of statistics and gain expertise in statistical applications from agriculture, biological, environmental, and social science. Students here learn more than just the theory – all of our students work with real data through in-class projects, serving as a student consultant, and in most cases the completion of a master’s thesis or project.

The UNL Graduate Bulletin describes two options for a MS degree:

• “Option A" requires a thesis and at least 30 credit hours,
• “Option B” requires at least 36 credit hours.

The majority of Statistics students pursue Option B.

For both options, students need to complete the following core courses with a grade of B- or higher: 810, 821, 822, 823, 825, 850, 882, and 883. Students not obtaining the necessary grade level in a core course may need to retake it. A student’s Supervisory Committee makes this decision. In addition to coursework, students need to pass a MS Comprehensive Exam. Students may choose from one of five options:

A student takes 6-10 credit hours of STAT 899 and completes a thesis by working directly with their advisor. The results from the thesis are presented by the student in an open forum. After the presentation, the student participates in a formal defense with the committee. The committee decides on a pass or no pass grade.

A student writes a formal 15-30 page report on a statistical research or application topic. This report is completed by the student working directly with their advisor. The corresponding workload should be the equivalent of 3-6 credit hours, and the student may take STAT 898 to receive these credit hours. The results from the report are presented by the student in an open forum. After the presentation, the student participates in a formal defense with the committee. The committee decides on a pass or no pass grade.

A student takes STAT 930 to gain experience as a practicing statistician. As part of the normal course content, the student will assemble project reports and other written experiences into a portfolio that can be shared with potential employers. The overall course grade given by the instructor results in a pass or no pass grade for the MS Comprehensive Exam.

A student takes this exam prior to their second spring semester in the program. If the PhD Qualifying Exam Committee gives the student a pass grade on the exam, this student receives a pass grade for the MS Comprehensive Exam.

A student completes an internship and writes a report on their experiences. This student takes STAT 997 to receive course credit for it. The report is submitted to their advisor who decides on a pass or no pass grade.

All students are required to obtain an advisor and form an MS Supervisory Committee. This committee needs to approve the option chosen by a student.

In addition to the required core courses, this timeline includes STAT 892 (TA Prep) which is a Year 1 required course for all students with a teaching assistantship (TA).

Fall (Semester 1): 10 credits

• STAT 810: Alpha Seminar
• STAT 821: Statistical Methods I
• STAT 850: Computing Tools
• STAT 882: Mathematical Statistics I
• STAT 892*: TA Prep

Spring (Semester 2): 9 credits

• STAT 822: Statistical Methods II
• STAT 883: Mathematical Statistics II
• Form Supervisory Committee

Year 2 Thesis Option

Fall (semester 3): 9 credits.

• STAT 823: Statistical Methods III
• STAT 825: Principles of Statistical Consulting
• STAT 899: Masters Thesis

Spring (Semester 4): 3 credits

Year 2 report option.

• STAT 898: Statistics Project

Spring (Semester 4): 9 credits

Year 2 stat 930 option.

• STAT 930: Advanced Statistical Consulting

Year 2 Qualifying Exam Option

• Take exam the week before the semester begins

Year 2 Internship Option

• STAT 997: Statistics Practicum

* Required course for TAs only See “Steps to Degree Completion” at https://www.unl.edu/gradstudies/academics/degrees for degree forms and their deadlines.

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Submitting the electronic copy of your master's thesis

Submitting your master's thesis.

In most study programmes at KU Leuven, it is required to submit a hard copy (in paper) of your master's thesis. Information on this matter can be found on your faculty's student portal , where you can also find other practical guidelines with regard to submitting your thesis (deadlines, formal requirements, etc.).

Apart from the paper copies, you are required to submit an electronic copy of your master's thesis as well, using the web application 'Master's thesis' in your   KU Loket . If you have registered your master's thesis in your individual study programme (ISP) this application will be shown under the 'Student' menu.

Guidelines    FAQ

Guidelines for the web application 'Master's thesis' in KU Loket

• Under the section ' Master's thesis ', select the thesis for which you would like to upload information. If you have registered only one master's thesis in your ISP, this field will automatically contain the correct information.
• Fill in the metadata of your master's thesis, and subsequently click 'Save' at the bottom of the page.
• Enter your master's thesis' title under ' Original title ', and the title's language under 'Original language of the title'. You only have to submit a translated title (and its language) on the right side of the page if that is required by your faculty (check the faculty's guidelines on its student portal). The original title of your thesis will be shown on official documents such as your diploma supplement and list of exam results.
• Click on ' Add Supervisor ' to enter the name of your supervisor. Only add a co-supervisor if one has been assigned to you by your faculty. If the name of your supervisor or co-supervisor does not show up in the pop-up screen when searching for it (probably because they are not employed at KU Leuven), you cannot submit it through the web application. In those cases, the name will be added by the faculty.
• Under ' Number of pages ', enter the number of pages of your thesis (excluding appendices).
• Under ' Summary ', submit the abstract of your master's thesis (max. 3500 characters). You only have to submit a translated summary on the right side of the page (and the language in which that summary was written) when that is required by your faculty (check the faculty's guidelines).
• After saving the metadata, you can upload your files (master's thesis and appendices). Once again click on 'Save' after doing so.
• Click on 'Add file' and indicate which type of file you would like to upload. Choose ' Main text ' if you want to submit the main text of your thesis.

Please note :

Evidently, you can submit no more than one file of the type 'Main text'.

This file has to be submitted in PDF format with a maximum size of 40 MB.

You cannot upload your master's thesis after your faculty's submission deadline has passed.

• If you want to upload appendices as well, click on 'Add file' once more and subsequently select ' Appendix '. You can submit several appendices and formats other than PDF files are also allowed.
• In the file overview , you can see which files you have already uploaded (file name, size, type and date). By clicking on the red X you can remove files. If a file is shown in the overview, it is uploaded correctly. You do not need to click on 'Send', clicking on the 'Save' button is sufficient for uploading a file. Please note : you will not receive a message confirming that your upload was succesful.  

I have problems with uploading my master's thesis. Who can I contact about this?

Consult the answers to the questions below before contacting anyone. It is very well possible you might already find a solution to your problem there. If after that you still do not succeed in uploading your thesis, contact your faculty. Please mention your operating system (Windows, Mac OS 10.1, ...) and your browser (Internet Explorer, Chrome, Firefox, ...), and add a screenshot if possible.

Are there any rules regarding the file name?  

Yes, there are a few rules regarding the file name:

• File names may only contain letters, numbers, underscores (_) and hyphens (-). Spaces and special characters are not allowed.
• File names must be unique for every uploaded file.
• File names may contain no more than 50 characters.

Do I have to click 'Send' as is the case in the ISP? Will I receive a confirmation that my master's thesis was uploaded?  

You do not have to click 'Send'. By clicking 'Save' the entered metadata and added files are uploaded in the system. In the file overview you can check which files have been uploaded. After having clicked 'Save' you will see a pop-up window which lists the (mandatory) information you have already submitted and indicates whether or not your master's thesis is complete. You will not receive a confirmation of a succesful upload. 

I cannot select 'Main text' when I want to upload a file. What to do?

• Have you already uploaded another file of the type 'Main text'? If so, remove this file first.
• Have you filled in (and saved) the original title, the number of pages and the summary under 'Metadata'? If not, do this first.

Has the submission deadline passed? If so, you can no longer upload your master's thesis. Contact your faculty for more information.

I cannot select 'Appendix' when I want to upload a file. What to do?  

• Has the submission deadline passed? If so, you can no longer upload appendices. Contact your faculty for more information.

When can I submit the electronic copy of my master's thesis?  

You can only upload files of the types 'Main text' and 'Appendix', as well as metadata regarding the summary and the number of pages, in the weeks prior to the submission deadline (in most cases this is a period of five weeks, but less might be possible as well). Metadata regarding the title and promotor can be added before this period, and so can files of the type 'Other files' (progress reports, provisional title pages, etc.).

How can I submit my master's thesis for a second time (after failing in the first examination opportunity)?  

Remove the files of the types 'Main text' and 'Appendix' if you have submitted those during your first examination opportunity. Afterwards, you can upload a new version of your master's thesis (and appendices). 

What is the maximum size of my files?

The maximum size of the PDF file containing your master's thesis is 40 MB. If your file exceeds this limit, it probably contains high resolution images. In that case, you are advised to adjust the resolutions. In total (including appendices) you may upload 300 MB of files.

Is it normal that uploading my files takes so long?  

The time necessary to upload a file depends on the file size, your internet connection and the system load. Some numbers as a guideline:

• Telenet Whoppa: approximately 2 minutes for 100 MB;
• Kotnet: approximately 15 minutes for 100 MB;
• network KU Leuven (e.g. library, PC rooms): less than one minute for 100 MB.

What happens with the electronic copy of my master's thesis?  

• Assessment : the electronic copy is used to be read by the evaluators of your thesis.
• P lagiarism detection : all master's theses at KU Leuven are systematically screened for signs of  plagiarism .

Institutional repository : master's theses are recorded by the university library, and electronically disclosed, a few months after your graduation, through  Limo  (only for Limo users within the KU Leuven network), unless your thesis is subject to an embargo. Master's theses submitted from academic year 2023-2024 onwards, and for which a result of 14/20 or higher has been obtained, will be publicly available for one person whoc accesses Limo (not only for Limo users within the KU Leuven network).

How can I request an embargo on access to my master's thesis?  

If your master's thesis for some reason cannot be disclosed to the public, you can request an embargo by submitting  this form . Consult your faculty's student portal for specific information on your faculty's procedure. If your request has been validated and processed by your faculty, the embargo will be shown under the 'Metadata' section of the KU Loket application.

Forms and policies for students

The Graduate School uses DocuSign Powerforms for all forms that require signatures, and web forms (Formstack) for all forms that do not require signatures.

With one exception only, the Application to Pursue Graduate Degree , we do not accept PDF or printed submissions.  If a printed and/or handwritten form is submitted, it will be returned and delay your approval process.

DocuSign automates the routing and collection of digital signatures. For each form linked below, a pdf version is provided solely as an instructional template for preparing the DocuSign version, not as an alternative form of submission. If you are new to using Powerforms, please read through the DocuSign instructions to understand how to initiate and complete your form. If you have questions about the process or encounter issues with our forms, please contact (775) 784-6869 or email  [email protected] .

DocuSign instructions and FAQ [PDF]  |  DocuSign instructions [PDF]

Forms are organized in alphabetical order within the four sections below:

• Admissions - Applicable to all graduate students applying to the Graduate School
• General - Forms applicable to all graduate students within the Graduate School
• Doctoral  - Forms and information specific to doctoral programs
• Master's - Forms and information pertaining only to master's programs

Please note that faculty/program director forms are located under faculty forms .  If you need assistance or cannot access a form, please contact the Graduate School office at (775) 784-6869 .

Graduate School admissions forms

Application for graduate school admission.

Applicants are required to create an account. You will use this username and password every time to protect your account information.

Online Application for Graduate School Admission

Application to Pursue an Accelerated Degree Program

An accelerated bachelor's/master's program allows outstanding University of Nevada, Reno students to obtain both a baccalaureate and a master's degree in an accelerated timeframe.

Students in College of Engineering programs:

Application to Pursue an Accelerated Engineering Degree Program [DocuSign] Application to Pursue an Accelerated Engineering Degree Program [PDF example; Not accepted for submission]

Students in all other programs:

Application to Pursue an Accelerated Degree Program [DocuSign] Application to Pursue an Accelerated Degree Program [PDF example; Not accepted for submission]

Application to Pursue Graduate Degree

Administrative and Academic faculty interested in pursuing a graduate degree through the University of Nevada, Reno are required to submit an "Application to Pursue a Graduate Degree" form when applying to their program of choice.

Application to Pursue Graduate Degree [PDF]

Declaration or Removal of Certificate

Graduate students admitted to a degree program can add or remove a graduate certificate with this form.

Declaration or Removal of Certificate [Docusign] Declaration or Removal of Certificate [PDF example; Not accepted for submission]

General Course Catalog

The University of Nevada, Reno General Course Catalog.

Online General Course Catalog

Graduate Credit Transfer Evaluation Request

Use this form when requesting a transfer of credits from other institutions.

Graduate Credit Transfer Evaluation Request [DocuSign] Graduate Credit Transfer Evaluation Request [PDF example; Not accepted for submission]

Graduate Special Application

Use the same application portal as undergraduate students to complete the Graduate Special Application for non-degree seeking students.

Online Graduate Special Application

Notice of Reinstatement to Graduate Standing

This form is to be completed by the student requesting reinstatement to their graduate program after an unapproved leave. Once completed, the program will return this form to the Graduate School for final approval.

Notice of Reinstatement to Graduate Standing [DocuSign] Notice of Reinstatement to Graduate Standing [PDF example; Not accepted for submission]

Undergraduate Request for Graduate Study

A scholastically eligible undergraduate student at the University who is within 30 credits of completing the requirements for the bachelor's degree may enroll in graduate-level courses for graduate credit, provided that such credit is requested by the student and approved by the current undergraduate advisor and Graduate Dean.

Undergraduate Request for Graduate Study [DocuSign] Undergraduate Request for Graduate Study [PDF example; Not accepted for submission]

General forms

Advanced degree certificate graduation application deadline appeal.

Appeals to the application deadline for certificate programs are accepted at the Graduate School until the last day of the graduation term.

Advanced Degree Certificate Graduation Application Deadline Appeal [DocuSign] Advanced Degree Certificate Graduation Application Deadline Appeal [PDF example; Not accepted for submission]

Advanced Degree Graduation Application Deadline Appeal

Appeals to the application deadline for degree programs are accepted at the Graduate School until the last day of the graduation term.

Advanced Degree Graduation Application Deadline Appeal [DocuSign] Advanced Degree Graduation Application Deadline Appeal [PDF example; Not accepted for submission]

Change in Program of Study

Add or remove courses from your program of study.

Change in Program of Study [DocuSign] Change in Program of Study [PDF example; Not accepted for submission]

Change of Advisory Committee

Use this form if you need to make a change to the personnel on your advisory committee.

Change of Advisory Committee [DocuSign] Change of Advisory Committee [PDF example; Not accepted for submission]

Declaration of Advisor/Major Advisor/Committee Chair

This form initial agreement between a student and their advisor/committee chair. For master's students, the Declaration of Advisor form must be submitted to the Graduate School by the end of the student's second semester. For doctoral and MFA students, the completed Declaration of Advisor form must be submitted to the Graduate School by the end of the student's third semester.

Declaration of Advisor/Major Advisor/Committee Chair [DocuSign] Declaration of Advisor/Major Advisor/Committee Chair [PDF example; Not accepted for submission]

Doctoral/M.F.A. Commencement Participation Request

Doctoral/M.F.A. Commencement Participation Request [Docusign] Doctoral/M.F.A. Commencement Participation Request [PDF example; Not accepted for submission]

Exit Survey

Students that have graduated may be asked to complete an exit survey by their program providing valuable program-specific and high-level feedback to the Graduate School about their experience. 

Exit Survey [Formstack]

Graduation Application

Every candidate for a degree must formally apply for graduation through MyNevada  by the applicable deadline:

• May graduation: March 1
• August graduation: June 1
• December graduation: October 1

Within 3-8 weeks of applying for graduation, you will receive an email outlining any additional graduation requirements. As a candidate for graduation, it is your responsibility to confirm with your advisor that the list of requirements emailed to you is comprehensive and includes all applicable final-semester requirements necessary to graduate on your desired date.

Application instructions:

• Log into MyNevada   using your NetID and password.
• Select the Academic Records tile.
• Select Apply for Graduation from the menu and complete the steps.

Graduation Application in MyNevada

Leave of Absence

A leave of absence is a temporary cessation of study and may be granted for up to one year. Students requesting a leave of absence must be in good academic standing and submit the completed form before the period of leave begins. Time spent on an approved leave is included in the time allowed to complete the degree, i.e. six calendar years for the master’s degree and eight calendar years for the doctoral degree.

Leave of Absence [DocuSign] Leave of Absence [PDF example; Not accepted for submission]

Program of Study

The program of study specifies the courses and credits required to satisfy the requirements for the degree and documents the approval of the chair and members of the student’s duly constituted advisory committee. The program of study must receive final approval by the Graduate Dean. For master's degree students, the completed Program of Study form must be submitted to the Graduate School by the end of the student's third semester. For MFA and doctoral students, the completed Program of Study form must be submitted to the Graduate School by the end of the student's fourth semester.

Program of Study [DocuSign] Program of Study [PDF example; Not accepted for submission]

Program Change of Degree/En Route Request

Requests to declare a master’s en route to the Ph.D., change a sub-plan, or change degree levels must be approved by the student’s major advisor and graduate program director.

Program Change of Degree/En Route Request [DocuSign] Program Change of Degree/En Route Request [PDF example; Not accepted for submission]

Doctoral student forms

Dissertation defense calendar event.

Use this link to add your dissertation defense to the University's event calendar.

Dissertation Defense Calendar Event [Formstack]

Dissertation Filing Guidelines

Filing your dissertation at the Graduate Division is one of the final steps leading to the award of your graduate degree. This link will provide you a comprehensive overview, as well as several forms required to file your dissertation.

Dissertation Filing Guidelines Webpage

Dissertation filing templates, samples and Survey of Earned Doctorates

• Committee Approval page  for 5-member committee (TEMPLATE)
• Committee Approval page  for  5-member committee with co-advisor (TEMPLATE)
• Committee Approval page  for 6-member committee (TEMPLATE)
• Committee Approval page  for 6 -member committee with co-advisor (TEMPLATE)

Sample pages

• Dissertation Title page (SAMPLE)
• Dissertation Copyright page (SAMPLE)
• Dissertation Committee approval page (SAMPLE)

Survey of Earned Doctorates

• Survey of Earned Doctorates  - The Survey of Earned Doctorates (SED) is an annual census conducted since 1957 of all individuals receiving a research doctorate from an accredited U.S. institution in a given academic year. The SED is sponsored by the National Center for Science and Engineering Statistics (NCSES) within the National Science Foundation (NSF) and by three other federal agencies: the National Institutes of Health, Department of Education, and National Endowment for the Humanities. The SED collects information on the doctoral recipient's educational history, demographic characteristics, and postgraduation plans. Results are used to assess characteristics of the doctoral population and trends in doctoral education and degrees. Read more about the purpose and methods of the SED .

Dissertation Final Review Approval

Obtain signoff on your dissertation from your advisory committee chair.

Dissertation Final Review Approval DocuSign Powerform Dissertation Final Review Approval [PDF example; Not accepted for submission]

Dissertation Title

Submit the title of your dissertation and the name of your advisor to the Graduate School.

Submit Dissertation Title Online

Doctoral Degree Admissions to Candidacy

This is a status for those who have completed every requirement except for the dissertation.

Doctoral Degree Admission to Candidacy [DocuSign] Doctoral Degree Admissions to Candidacy [PDF example; Not accepted for submission]

Notice of Completion: Doctoral Degree

This is a generic form that every student must complete in their graduating semester which relates to the cumulative project (dissertation, professional paper, comprehensive exam). Fill out the sections that apply to your requirements. The advisory committee listed on the program of study signs the form. The notice of completion must be submitted by established deadlines for graduation.

Notice of Completion: Doctoral Degree [DocuSign] Notice of Completion: Doctoral Degree [PDF example; Not accepted for submission]

Master's student forms

Notice of completion: master's degree.

This is a generic form that every student must complete in their graduating semester which relates to the cumulative project (thesis, professional paper, comprehensive exam). Fill out the sections that apply to your requirements. The advisory committee listed on the program of study signs the form. The notice of completion must be submitted by established deadlines for graduation.

Notice of Completion: Master's Degree [DocuSign] Notice of Completion: Master's Degree [PDF example; Not accepted for submission]

Thesis Filing Guidelines

Filing your thesis at the Graduate Division is one of the final steps leading to the award of your graduate degree. This link will provide you a comprehensive overview, as well as several forms required to file your thesis. The Docusign form will require you to enter your advisory committee chair's name and email address. Upon submission, the form will be routed to your advisory committee chair for final approval.

Thesis Filing Guidelines Webpage

Thesis Final Review Approval [DocuSign] Thesis Final Review Approval [PDF example; Not accepted for submission]

Thesis filing templates and samples

• Committee Approval page for 3-member committee (TEMPLATE)
• Committee Approval page for 3-member committee with co-advisor (TEMPLATE)
• Committee Approval page for 4-member committee (TEMPLATE)
• Committee Approval page for 4-member committee with co-advisor (TEMPLATE)
• Thesis Title page (SAMPLE)
• Thesis Copyright page (SAMPLE)
• Thesis Committee approval page (SAMPLE)

Thesis Final Review Approval

The Docusign form will require you to enter your advisory committee chair's name and email address. Upon submission, the form will be routed to your advisory committee chair for final approval.

Dissertation and Thesis

Thesis & dissertation formatting process.

To complete your format check submission, you must complete every registration step and fully submit your thesis or dissertation to the website listed below.

Dissertations and theses turned in as a part of the graduation requirements at Loyola University Chicago must be formatted according to the rules laid out in the Format Manual for Theses and Dissertations created by the Graduate School.

Format Check Submission

To ensure that theses/dissertations are formatted correctly, each thesis/dissertation must undergo a format check by the staff of the Graduate School prior to the submission of final copies. You must  electronically  submit your manuscript for a format check to the Graduate School's  ProQuest ETD Administrator  website ON OR BEFORE the published format check deadline for the term in which you expect to receive your degree.

• May degree conferral format check deadline:  March 1st
• August degree conferral format check deadline:  June 1st
• December degree conferral format check deadline:  October 1st

On or before the format check deadline, please also submit the following items as supplemental pdf files to  ProQuest ETD Administrator  (do not submit them by email):

• One electronic copy of your completed, formatted manuscript
• Formatted approval sheet, with your director's name and space for their signature. You will ultimately replace this file with a scanned copy that's been signed by the director after the defense and after all final edits have been made. This form acts as confirmation that your director has read and approved the final copy.
• Extra title page, formatted as described in the Manual
• One extra abstract, formatted as described in the Manual

Final Copy Submission

Once your dissertation has been defended, formatted correctly, and approved by your committee, you will need to electronically submit your final copy to the Graduate School for approval. You will also need to replace the Approval Sheet with a scanned copy that has been signed by your director.

Your final electronic submission must be uploaded ON OR BEFORE the published final electronic copy deadline for the term in which you expect to receive your degree. The final electronic copy deadlines are as follows:

• May degree conferral final electronic copy deadline:  April 1st
• August degree conferral final electronic copy deadline:  July 1st
• December degree conferral final electronic copy deadline:  November 1st

If your materials are complete or inaccurate, the Graduate School will contact you with a list of required corrections. If required corrections are too extensive or take too long to complete, you may not graduate and the Graduate School will not confer your degree. For this reason, please make every effort to format your manuscript correctly, include all of the materials listed above, and to meet the published deadlines. Also, please keep in mind that a dissertation or thesis is only one of your degree requirements, and that the Graduate School will not confer your degree unless you meet all of these requirements.

Students must submit final copies with approved revisions within one semester of a successful defense (e.g., if a student’s defense falls within a Fall semester, their final copies must meet the Spring semester submission deadlines). After one full semester a student may be discontinued and be required to apply for reinstatement (Approved 4 May 2021)

Visit the  for answers to new questions about the electronic submission process.

• Format Manual for Theses and Dissertations -  Note: The Formatting Manual was updated in September 2022. If you have any questions about the formatting guidelines, or if you need a copy of the former manual, please  email the formatting assistant , Danielle Richards.
• Format Checklist Copy (Clean)
• Formatting Examples

Questions regarding the format check and the final copy submission process should be directed  here .

Information Sessions

The Graduate School hosts two info-sessions each semester about the thesis and dissertation formatting process. Make sure to follow weekly Graduate School Announcements emails for more information.

Publishing Your Work: Thesis and Dissertation Formatting Workshop (Recorded January 14, 2021)

• Instructions for Thesis and Dissertation
• Approval Ballot for Text and Oral Defense

The Thesis/Dissertation Committee Form, Thesis/Dissertation Proposal Ballot, and the Request for Change in Degree-Seeking Status are located in the Graduate Student Progress System at  GSPS . Please log in to submit these forms. Medical Center Biomedical Science Students MUST Use LUHS Forms.

Publication

Before publication:.

LUC's University Libraries:  If relevant articles, book chapters, and books are not accessible through the library's online catalogue, they can be requested through InterLibrary Loan.

Zotero:  No matter what citation format you use, this free citation software can help save and format citations for use in your article.

Scimago Journal & Country Rank:  To find out the ranking of peer-reviewed journals in your particular discipline before you submit, go to this website.

LUC's Writing Center : Make an appointment with a graduate tutor to have your work reviewed at any stage of the writing or revision process. Often an article will be accepted for publication but an editor requires various corrections. An extra pair of eyes can be useful.

After publication:

GSPS:  Make sure to update publications through this LUC site; submitted entries will be reviewed, approved, and recorded by your GPD.

Google Scholar:  Various peer-reviewed articles and publications found on the internet will be linked to the student's account, which can be created by going to this site and clicking on "My Profile."

ORCiD:  Creating a free ORCiD ID will allow peer-reviewed publications to be linked across digital platforms with this persistent signifier.

Publishing conventions vary widely across disciplines; some graduate students may publish as single authors while others, particularly in the sciences, may be one of several authors collaborating on a project and its resulting published study. When seeking peer-reviewed publication opportunities, one of the best methods is to consult with professors in your department about how to publish and locate journals reputable in your field of study.

Besides helping you avoid scams and predatory publishing through their advice, faculty can also provide you with useful information about the publishing process and direct you to discipline-specific online listservs hosting frequent Calls for Papers.

Please contact the University Library for additional resources. 

• Erasmus School of Economics
• Erasmus School of History, Culture and Communication
• Erasmus School of Law
• Erasmus School of Philosophy
• Erasmus School of Social and Behavioural Sciences
• Erasmus School of Health Policy & Management
• International Institute of Social Studies
• Rotterdam School of Management
• Tinbergen Institute
• Institute for Housing and Urban Development Studies
• RSM Parttime Master Bedrijfskunde
• Erasmus University Library
• Thesis Repository.
• Erasmus School of History, Culture and Communication /
• Media & Business /
• Master Thesis
• Search: Search

Patrícia Rovná

Employees’ ambassadorship behavior on LinkedIn

Publication.

Even though employees were recognized as powerful brand ambassadors, research is scarce on the predictors of employee ambassadorship behavior. As the impressions about the company culture are primarily shaped by the content that employees share online, it is within the interest of the company to understand employees’ online behavior. Since networking sites such as LinkedIn allow employees to present themselves professionally, employees are more prone to engage with the companies here rather than via their personal social media accounts. This paper investigates the relationship between the predictors of organizational role, organizational identification, social media guidelines usage, concise social media guidelines and employees’ ambassadorship behavior on LinkedIn. Furthermore, this paper reflects on forms of companies’ social media guidelines. The study explores 195 full-time employees' (56,9% females) ambassadorship behavior on LinkedIn, using both close- and open-ended questions. Quantitative analysis was conducted to predict which factors influence employees’ ambassadorship behavior on LinkedIn. Research suggests that organizational role affects employees’ ambassadorship behavior on LinkedIn as high-skilled workers frequently share online their knowledge in their field, however, this relationship was not confirmed in this study. While high-skilled workers were found to identify with the company, organizational identification was found to not affect ambassadorship behavior. Social media usage proved to be a valuable mediator of a relationship between organizational role and employees’ ambassadorship behavior on LinkedIn as social media guidelines help employees to navigate the risks encountered when engaging online. On the contrary, concise social media guidelines are not a significant moderator of the relationship between social media guidelines usage and ambassadorship behavior. As found, employees are often exposed to informal social media guidelines. The paper employs thematic analysis to explore the forms of concise social media guidelines. As the results suggest, companies’ social media guidelines primarily include risks and brand style to assure that employees adhere to the online rules. Social media guidelines are primarily in a digital format however, some companies prefer spoken rules instead. As such, these findings hold practical implications given that the knowledge of the predictors of employees’ ambassadorship behavior can help companies in limiting the risks and encouraging their employees to become brand ambassadors on LinkedIn.

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