MLA Project-Thesis Criteria

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Project/Thesis Criteria

Presentation of Project or Thesis

A twenty-minute public presentation is a requirement of every project and thesis;  therefore, students completing a project or thesis should notify the Director in a timely manner so that the Director can schedule a time and place for the presentation.  Typically, there will be one presentation session at the end of both Fall and Spring semesters to which the public is invited.

Archiving

A final copy of the project or thesis (in both paper and electronic formats, and including ancillary materials) should be provided to the Director upon completion.   These will be archived in the MLA office for the benefit of future scholars.  Another bound copy as well as an electronic version will be submitted to Huie Library.


Option 1:  MLA Project Criteria

The final project is a six-hour (6), two-semester research or creative project under the guidance of the Director and a mentor, who help the student decide upon a project and then periodically meet with the student to assist in and critique the work in progress.   During Project I, the student will focus on determining the nature of the project, researching, planning, and putting together a prospectus of the project that includes a bibliography of primary and secondary sources.  This prospectus will be submitted to the Graduate Committee for final approval.  After the Committee accepts the prospectus, the student and the Director will select a Project Committee of at least three members with expertise in the project area, which will include the mentor who will serve as chair of the committee.  During Project II, the student will refine and complete the project, taking into account critiques by the Project Committee.  Upon completion of the project, the student will undergo an oral examination by the Project Committee and the M.L.A. Director.  After consulting the other committee members, the chair is also responsible for assessing a final grade and reporting the grade to the Director.  The public presentation of the project will only take place after an acceptable grade has been assigned for LA 6513.

Projects may take one of the following forms:

1)  Research Project

  • 45-60 page essay (with abstract and bibliography
  • multimedia component that contributes significantly to the essay
  • multimedia component (web page, PowerPoint, video, etc.) for the presentation

2)  Creative Writing Project

  • 50-100 page draft of  a novel, short story or poetry collection
  • 25-30 page essay ("aesthetics and process")
  • multimedia component (web page, PowerPoint, video, etc.) for the presentation

3)  Performance Project

  • video tape, audio recording, or slide show of original compositions--for example, a concerto, a series of paintings or photographs, a play, a documentary film
  • 30-45 page essay ("aesthetics and process")
  • multimedia component (web page, PowerPoint, video, etc.) for the presentation


LA 6503   Project I:  Research and Development  (3 hours)

  • This course will serve as preparation for Liberal Arts Project II and will focus on developing the essential skills required of contemporary research.   Writing, editing, citation, and research will be discussed and practiced.  The student will produce a prospectus of the project and a bibliography by the end of the course and submit them to the Graduate Committee for approval.
  • Unlike the LA Project II, or Thesis I and II, which are independent study courses, this will be a classroom course in research, technology, writing, editing, and citation. 
  • This course will be taught during the summer.

 

LA 6513  Liberal Arts Project II:  Final Draft (3 hours)

  • In this independent study course, the student begins submitting rough drafts of the project to the Project Committee.  Taking their critiques into account, the student will complete the project

Option 2:  MLA Thesis Criteria

The thesis is a six-credit hour research project under the guidance of a committee of three faculty members.  The chair of this committee functions as a mentor, helping the student decide upon a thesis topic and then periodically meeting with the student to assist in and critique the work in progress.  Upon completion of the thesis, the student will undergo an oral examination by the committee and the M.L.A. Director.  After consulting the other committee members, the chair is also responsible for assessing a final grade and reporting the grade to the Director.  The public presentation of the thesis will only take place after an acceptable grade has been assigned for LA 6553.

The thesis consists of

  • a 90-100 page essay (with abstract and bibliography)
  • multimedia component (web page, PowerPoint, video, etc.) for the public presentation


LA 6543  Liberal Arts Thesis I (3 hours)

  • In this independent study course, the student begins preliminary research with a mentor, producing an extensive rough draft of the thesis by the end of the semester.

LA 6553  Liberal Arts Thesis II (3 hours)

  • In this independent study course, the student, taking into account the critiques of the committee, completes the thesis.