Thesis, Essay, Capstone, and Examination Requirements
Thesis, Essay, or Capstone Requirement
Degree programs requiring a thesis, essay, or capstone may have specific guidelines and requirements. The following guidelines apply to all theses, essays, and capstones:
One electronic copy, revised as required by the advisor and other assigned readers, must be sent for review to the Graduate School dean by April 1st for spring graduation, July 1st for summer graduation, and November 15th for fall graduation. If these dates fall on a weekend or holiday, the submission deadline is the first business day thereafter.
The thesis, essay, or capstone must follow the format regulations of the Graduate School published online and any additional requirements specified by the departments.
Once the original thesis, essay, or capstone has been submitted to the Graduate School and approved by the appropriate dean, an electronic copy must be submitted to the John Carroll University library to be archived in Carroll Collected, John Carroll’s institutional repository.
Students whose research involves human subjects or live vertebrate animals must ensure their projects are approved with the Institutional Review Board (IRB) or the Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC) prior to the collection of data.
Students who choose to use an advisor or committee member who is not a faculty member of John Carroll University must obtain approval from the Dean of the Graduate School. Generally no more than one member of a thesis committee may be external to John Carroll and it is important to note that the Advisor of Record usually must be a full-time JCU faculty member.
The thesis must show capacity for original research. The thesis may bring new facts to light, organize facts available in standard sources, or critically evaluate a technique, method, or trend. In general, the thesis is a demonstration of research ability whose content shows originality, clarity of thought, and power of mature expression. A thesis must be approved by three faculty readers, one of whom is the advisor.
The research essay or capstone is designed to show the student’s power of analysis, organization, and expression. The essay or capstone must be approved by one or two faculty readers.
Final Comprehensive Examination
Master’s degree candidates in some programs may be required to pass a comprehensive examination which may be oral, written, or both, depending on program policy. The nature and administration of this examination may differ from program to program, but is held during the academic year or summer sessions in which the degree is to be conferred and will be applicable to the student’s work. It may cover all work taken towards the degree. It is suggested that students consult their advisors at least a month before the beginning of the term in which they plan to take comprehensive examinations in order to understand their specific examination’s requirements.
Students must be in good academic standing and must be in the process of completing or have completed the required coursework for the degree before the comprehensive examination may be taken. Comprehensive examination results are submitted by the chair of the department, graduate program director, or examination committee to the Registrar by April 1st for spring graduation, July 1st for summer graduation, and November 15th for fall graduation. If these dates fall on a weekend or holiday, the submission deadline is the first business day thereafter.