Fall Semester, Senior Year: Proposal Preparation

By the beginning of November of the fall semester of the student's senior year, the student and his/her advisor will jointly decide on two other readers to form a Thesis Review Committee [TRC]. The student should meet with these proposed readers to request their participation.

By 15 November the student will deliver to the department chair a two to three page (typewritten and double-spaced) proposal

1. discussing the nature of the proposed project in terms of the problems or questions to be explored, the methodologies or theoretical perspectives to be employed, and, if appropriate, a working hypothesis;
2. describing the preparations completed thus far for the project, including consultation with the advisor and the members of the proposed TRC;
3. outlining a plan for completion of the project, including a schedule of work which allows for a submission of a complete draft the beginning of the spring break;
4. describing the format (including projected length or number of chapters as well as possible types of illustrative materials) of the final thesis;
5. including a working bibliography for the topic.

Spring Semester, Senior Year: Thesis Preparation

We intend the following schedule and guidelines to direct the student and his/her advisor in the process of completing the thesis in a timely manner and at a quality level of which all can be proud.

1. The student will enroll in MU 373, "Senior Thesis" with the advisor.
2. The student should have a complete draft by the time of the spring break (or, by mid March). S/he should distribute copies to members of the TRC at this time for comments. [The department can be responsible for the photocopying.] Members of the TRC should meet with the student shortly after the spring break to discuss the draft and to give the student guidance for the final weeks of preparation.
3. The length of the thesis is dependent upon the nature of the approach and the opinion of the TRC. In general, the thesis will be at a level beyond that normally expected of upper division classes. The student should take care to be original and sophisticated in their approach and to exhibit scholarly integrity.
4. The student, the advisor, and the department chair should arrange for an oral presentation of the thesis subject. The student and the advisor in consultation with the department chair will determine the length and nature of the presentation.
5. No less that one week before the end of classes the student will provide the completed thesis to the TRC and to the Chair of the Music Department.
6. The advisor determines the final grade on the thesis.
7. The department makes recommendations for honors.
8. The student will deposit one copy of the thesis with the department chair for the department's archives.