Page 90 - DISSERTATION AND THESIS HANDBOOK 2017 -2020

When you and your advisor agree you have a strong proposal, you will share it with your
committee members. Once your committee agrees that your proposal is complete, you
will defend it. During the defense, you and your committee members will discuss your
study. This gives you an opportunity to hear from everyone at once about the strengths
of your study and any challenges your study might present. Your proposal may be
approved unconditionally or your committee may ask you to consider some additional
points before you begin. If your chair has agreed to move forward with a prospectus
defense, you should not expect the proposal to be rejected, though more may be
required of you.

Time Frame
Bowie State has a seven-year limit for completing your program. You should complete
the thesis within seven years of the date of the earliest course work listed on your
transcript. Depending on your topic and your expertise regarding that topic, your thesis
may be completed in as little as a semester after the proposal has been approved. Some
students have taken as long as two years to finish due to domestic or professional
obligations.

What If You Are Doing Something Different?
When you read theses and dissertations that have been writing since 2010, you will
notice that writers are approaching their chapters in new ways. There is a movement
away from some of the confinements of the past, but there is an increasing demand for
excellence, originality, and care. It can be tempting to try something new because you
feel uncertain about your ability to do something “old.” Newness or invention does
NOT excuse you from demonstrating thoughtfulness, attention to detail, and excellence.

If you are proposing a thesis that does not conform to the traditional thesis format
(such as the development of a digital database, an English Studies app) or something
complex that is not easily described by the format provided above, you may petition the
Coordinator of Graduate Studies to use a format that provides the necessary flexibility
while adhering to MLA format. Your petition should detail why your thesis cannot be
accommodated using the traditional format and be accompanied by a letter of support
from your thesis adviser.

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