San Jose State University : Communication Studies

Navigation

Main Content

Plan A-Thesis

New Requirements Starting Fall 2009

The requirements listed below are for students who entered the Communication Studies M.A. program prior to Fall 2009. For students entering the program in Fall 2009 or after, please go to the New Requirements Fall 2009 page.

Overview

Students will complete: 1) a total of 24 coursework units of study (with a minimum average grade of B), and 2) write and defend a thesis (6 units).

  1. Coursework:
    Core courses: Comm 200, Comm 201, Comm 202 9 credits
    Electives: (approved 100- or 200-level courses) 15 credits
    Thesis work: (Comm 299) 6 credits
    TOTAL: 30 credits
  2. Thesis Examination:

    Write and defend a Thesis (6 units). Note: There must be a prospectus meeting conducted before a committee of no fewer than three members approved by the departmental Graduate Committee to be chaired by the faculty member responsible for supervising the thesis. The committee may decide to involve a suitable person from outside the University. Students should submit their prospectus at least 10 working days in advance of the date of the meeting. The prospectus meeting provides final guidance to the student prior to conducting, completing and defending the thesis.

  3. Graduation:

    Policy as of Fall, 2002: Students must have taken and passed their final oral defense to participate in university commencement exercises. The graduate committee discourages the practice of students participating in departmental commencement activities prior to passing their oral defense. Exceptions requested by a student's faculty advisor will be considered by the committee.     

Print out the Request for Plan A Thesis Committee form.

Policies

To complete a Plan A Option Master's Degree a candidate must:

  1. Complete a total of 24 coursework units of study (with a minimum average grade of B).
  2. Write and defend a Thesis (6 units)

    The following policies shall govern the thesis option process: So that the Graduate Committee may appoint your advisor and thesis committee, please prepare for the Committee a proposal that describes your thesis project. Proposals should be approximately five pages and include the following:

    1. Title. Indicate the current working title of your thesis.
    2. Introduction. Explain the general subject area and focus of your research. How does your research fit into the intellectual conversation going on in the discipline, in academe and in society?
    3. Description of Project. Describe the question, condition, situation, or problem that prompts your research. Explain exactly what objectives you are pursuing in your research (i.e, what are you seeking to find?). Provide any necessary definitions of terms. Include a brief review of relevant literature, discussing important sources for your research and examples of previous work that are particularly significant. Indicate why your inquiry is worth pursuing.
    4. Method. Summarize what you will be doing to find answers to the question or problem you are pursuing. Describe the general form of your inquiry (e.g., experimental, survey, historical, ethnographic, rhetorical, or some combination). 

      Do you have specific hypotheses to test? If so, what tests and measurements will you be using? What procedures will you be employing (e.g., questionnaires or experimentation)? What statistical measurements will you be using? Will you need to obtain administrative clearance for the use of human subjects?

      Are you examining a set of texts or a social situation? Do your methods of observation include interviews, participant observation, or the analysis of primary source documents? Are you using a particular critical vantage point or system?

    5. Bibliography. List significant works that will figure in your study. If necessary, classify different kinds of source materials and annotate them.
    6. Attachments. Attach to your proposal any relevant materials (such as a questionnaire) you may have.

    Attach this proposal to the appropriate cover form and to a list of relevant course work. Submit SIX copies of this package to the Graduate Coordinator at least 10 days in advance of the Graduate Committee's next scheduled meeting.

Communication Studies SJSU Listen • Speak • Engage

Info for . . .
First-Year Students
Transfer Students
 Graduating Seniors
Alumni

Info about . . .
B.A. in COMM
Minors in COMM
M.A. in COMM
COMM Lab
SJSU Forensics
Internship Program
Study Abroad
Job Opportunities
Grant Opportunities

Info on . . .
Department Events
Faculty Office Hours
COMM Coursesink outside COMM website
Schedule of Classeslink outside COMM website

Connect to . . .
SJSU COMM Facebooklink outside COMM website

Related Information