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Thesis and Project Requirements Communication Arts Department Requirements
 
The M.A. in Communication and Leadership has two program options. The first is the thesis option, which will provide students with the knowledge and skills to further research interests or gain entry into a Ph.D. program in communication or related areas. The second is the project option, which provides the opportunity for practicing professionals to sharpen their skills or change careers. The project may be a video, an information campaign, or media kit, for example.
 
Both options require the completion of a prospectus/proposal and the same level of ethical standards and rigor. Additionally, IRB procedures must be followed for both the thesis and the project options.
 
Typically, Thesis or Project hours cannot be started until the student has completed CA500, CA501, CA516, and CA517.
 
Option 1: Thesis
 
Option 1 requires a graduate GPA of 3.0 or higher after 10 hours of graduate courses.
 
Consult the Graduate Catalog and Graduate School Procedures Manual for additional information on thesis procedures. A minimum of 36 hours is required under this option, including five hours of CA797 Thesis Design and Research.
 
The thesis is original scholarship that includes an exhaustive review and evaluative synthesis of literature or documentary evidence and the collection and analysis of data not previously available.
 
Park University faculty believe the Master's thesis is a major part of the student's educational experience. An acceptable thesis
demonstrates independent thought and research,
contributes to understanding or potential resolution of an issue in communication, and
communicates effectively to a relevant audience.
 
Students in the thesis track are expected to prepare a high quality thesis. Ideally, the thesis should be suitable for submission to a peer reviewed journal or equivalent publication. 
 
The department recommends this option for students planning to pursue graduate study at the doctoral level.
 
Under this option, the department expects each student to present a satisfactory thesis and defend it before a thesis committee of three members of the graduate faculty (one member may be from another department). Non-graduate faculty may be committee members if they possess expertise in the area under study.
 
 
The Process
 
The first step is the selection of a thesis advisor. Student-thesis advisor relationships are established in one of two ways. Either the student becomes interested in a topic then selects a thesis advisor on the basis of his/her interest and competency in the area, or the student first becomes interested in the work of a particular faculty member, and then decides to write his/her thesis in that area. Either approach is acceptable. The important thing is that the student feels free to approach any member of the graduate faculty concerning the question of thesis advising.
 
The thesis subject should be selected by the student and approved by the thesis advisor who will direct the research and writing. Through consultation with the advisor, the student will chose the additional members of the committee and contact them to obtain their commitment to assist the student. Typically, a committee has three members from the graduate faculty, and may include one member from outside the department.
 
The student should complete the prospectus while talking the initial two hours of CA797 Thesis Design and Research. The thesis advisor will assist the student until both advisor and student are satisfied with the prospectus. The student will then submit the prospectus to the other members of the committee for comments and revisions. The faculty believe a well-developed prospectus is essential for smooth development of the thesis, so students are urged to be thorough in developing the prospectus.
 
The prospectus should indicate (1) the purpose of the study, (2) a justification of the study, (3) a review of the literature, (4) a research supported explanation of the method to be used, (5) a timeline for completion, (6) an outline of the chapters and (7) a bibliography. The committee members will act on the prospectus in group conference. It is best if the student attend the meeting, although attending via phone is acceptable.
 
After comment and revision to the committee’s satisfaction, the student may take the final three thesis hours. After the advisor approves each chapter, it should be submitted to the other committee members for comments and revisions. If the student does not complete the thesis after five hours of class credit, the student must remain enrolled in CA 799—Thesis Continuing Enrollment, until the Thesis has been approved by the committee.
 
Instructions regarding the preparation of the thesis may be obtained from the Graduate School. The department uses APA style. Please note that it is the responsibility of the student to comply with the thesis regulations established by the graduate school. Failure to comply with regulations may result in delay in awarding the degree.
 
Once the final draft has been received and read by the thesis committee, the student will undergo an oral defense of the thesis. Students must come to campus to present and defend their thesis. If this represents an extreme hardship, the student’s committee may elect to make other arrangements (e.g., a videoconference). The thesis advisor will serve as a chairperson of the examination session. The grade is pass/fail. The thesis committee has the option to: accept the thesis, reject the thesis, or request revisions.
 
Following the defense, the committee will meet in private in order to evaluate the final work. The committee may decide to accept it as is, reject it, or require revisions or further work. Grades are on a pass/fail basis.
 
NOTE: The student should continue work on the thesis even if not enrolled in thesis hours. Typically the thesis will take about six months to complete. Students are advised to consult the current university catalog regarding dates and deadlines related to graduate work.
 
Option II: Applied Learning Project
 
Option II requires a graduate GPA of 3.0 or higher after 15 hours of graduate courses.
 
A minimum of 36 hours is required under this option including two to five hours of CA 700—Graduate Project.  
 
The project is intended for students who are mid-career or who would gain academically and/or professionally from a course of study other than the intensive research and writing experience required in a thesis.
 
Under this option each student must demonstrate the ability to engage in independent study resulting in a creative or research endeavor involving the formulation of new problems, the elaboration of new implications, or the development of new relationships. The student should consult with their advisor to determine the number of hours appropriate to their project. For example, developing a business plan and web page for a home business should take only two credit hours but developing two training and development programs or media kits may require the full five hours of credit.
 
Students may prepare a degree project that could take a variety of forms, including a place-based problem solving exercise, a specific policy proposal, a website, business communication training materials, a creative video or photography exhibit, business promotion materials, or a videotaped program or other project that is not predominantly written material. Such projects must meet the same standards of academic excellence as the traditional thesis.
 
An example project is to create two training and development programs. These may be instructional units on topics relevant to the student’s employment or developed through consultation with area nonprofit organizations. Another example would be to create two media kits, which contain an array of promotional writing and mediated materials designed for at least two different nonprofit organizations. For example, a student might have the goal of starting a business to develop media kits for non-profit organizations. The student’s idea for the project is to develop a media kit for a woman’s shelter where he/she volunteers. Because the student completing this project has not demonstrated the ability to work for a variety of different non-profit organizations, he or she needs develop at least two different media kits for the project to help the student reach his/her business goal. In all cases a student must also submit a summary of the research and/or data collection that was necessary for the completion of the project.
 
 
Project Process
 
The project subject should be selected by the student and approved by the advisor who will direct the research, writing, and practical work. Through consultation with the advisor, the student will chose the two additional members of the committee (this can include one member from outside the department and/or one member with subject-matter expertise) and contact them to obtain their commitment to assist the student.
 
The student should complete the initial stages of the project while talking the first few hours of CA700—Graduate Project. The student will first develop a proposal. The project proposal should match the complexity of the project itself. At a minimum, the proposal should indicate (1) the purpose of the project, (2) a justification of the project, (3) a clear explanation of the project, and (4) a timeline for completion. Larger projects may require a literature review and bibliography. The project advisor will assist the student until both advisor and student are pleased with the work. The student will then submit the work to the other members of the committee for comments and revisions. The committee members will act on the prospectus in group conference. It is best if the student attend the meeting, although attending via phone is acceptable. The department will schedule meetings during the second week of Fall I and Spring I and the fourth week of Fall II and Spring II for project review. Students are advised to plan ahead to finish their work for consideration at these meetings. The faculty believe a well-developed plan is essential for smooth development of the project, so students are urged to be thorough in developing the prospectus.
 
A Project Committee may include one faculty member who does not have graduate standing, if his/her expertise is relevant and necessary for the specific project.

After comment and revision to the committee’s satisfaction, the student may take additional hours of CA700—Graduate Project as determined by their advisor. The final work will be presented by the students at a meeting of graduate students, the project committee, and other faculty members. The department will schedule meetings during the second week of Fall I and Spring I and the fourth week of Fall II and Spring II for project review. Students are advised to plan ahead to finish their project for consideration at these meetings.
 
Students must come to campus to present and defend their project. If this represents an extreme hardship, the student’s committee may elect to make other arrangements (e.g., a videoconference).
 
Following the public presentation, the committee will meet in private in order to evaluate the final work. The committee may decide to accept it as is, reject it, or require revisions or further work. Grades are on a pass/fail basis.
 
Students are advised to consult the current university catalog regarding dates and deadlines related to graduate work.
 
Comprehensive Exams
 
All graduate students will be required to take comprehensive exams in order to graduate. The comprehensive exam is designed to assess the student learning and the success of the program. Students are reminded to read the statement on academic honesty in the graduate catalog before beginning the exam.
 
Students should expect four to eight questions which will be derived from the program goals. They should consult their advisor about which faculty will submit and grade exam questions. The program director will obtain the questions from the faculty and pass them on to the student. Students will have 24 hours to complete the exam. If students have difficulty with particular exam questions, they should contact the faculty submitting the question. Exam questions will be graded by the faculty member who submitted the question and returned, with comments, to the program director. Results will be returned to the students within two weeks. If the student does not meet expectations, they may be asked to rewrite portions of the exam or address additional questions. Such revisions must be completed within one week of student receipt of the request for revision. At that point, students will either pass or fail the exam. Exams must be passed at least eight weeks before graduation. Students are advised to plan ahead to meet deadlines.