English MA Thesis Step by Step

The MA Thesis project in English is an extended, in-depth written project that develops over time and culminates with an oral defense by the student before their committee. The following is a general checklist of the steps an MA Thesis-track student in English should take.

1. Develop a thesis-level project idea
2. Identify appropriate English faculty member¹ to direct thesis
3. With thesis director's help, identify at least one additional faculty member¹ from English and one faculty member¹ from outside English to serve on your thesis committee
4. Once the full committee is established, fill out TWO FORMS² from the Office of Graduate Studies:
5. Appointment of Supervisory Committee for Master's and EdS Candidates
6. Thesis/Thesis-Equivalent Proposal Approval Form
7. AFTER the two forms have been completed, submit them in person to the Office of Graduate Studies in Eppley 108 or email them to gradschool@unomaha.edu
8. Await the confirmation e-mail from Graduate Studies and provide a copy of this e-mail to Jill Sutton in the Department of English to obtain a permission number to enroll in ENGL 8990
9. The work of the thesis is independently defined by the student and their thesis director (draftings, meetings, revisions, involvement of other members, etc.)
10. A final draft of the thesis is distributed to all committee members and a date is set for the oral defense
11. The oral defense format will be determined by the thesis committee; typically an oral presentation from the student and questions/comments/suggestions from committee members
12. After successful defense (and after a satisfactory final draft of the thesis is approved by the committee), ONE FORM must be filled out and submitted to the Office of Graduate Studies, Eppley 108 or gradschool@unomaha.edu:
13. Report on Completion of Degree Form
14. Electronic submission of completed thesis

¹All faculty members serving as MA thesis director or committee members must be Graduate Faculty (typically tenured or tenure-track). If a student is unsure about a faculty member's status, please check with the Graduate Chair who can confirm this.

²These two forms must be submitted to Graduate Studies at least one semester prior to a student's anticipated graduation date.