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guidelines for preparing a thesis proposal for the MS in historic preservation

Guidelines for Preparing a Thesis Proposal for the M.S. in Historic Preservation

A Master of Science thesis is a demonstration of the your ability to conduct effective research using largely secondary sources and, where appropriate, primary sources. The end product is a cohesive, well-written, and illustrated defense of your thesis statement.

After considering your intellectual interests using the guidelines below, you should discuss your proposed project with your thesis advisor. This will open a critical dialogue, very likely over several meetings with him or her, in the process of which you will bring your written proposal to the level of development appropriate for committee consideration. Your thesis advisor will confirm with you that he or she believes your proposal is ready to go forward for review by the Program Director, Chair of the GSC, and Graduate Advisor. All three will need to sign their approval of your thesis on the forms provided by the Graduate Coordinator.

Please note all due dates stipulated by the Graduate School as well as those implicit in pre-registration for thesis courses. As these specific dates change annually, contact the Graduate Coordinator (Rosemin Gopaul) to confirm them. Also, note carefully any details of format that the Graduate School may require for submission of an M.A. thesis.

The M.S. thesis proposal consists of the following:

1. Thesis statement. Provide a concise and specific statement of the question you propose to tackle and perhaps answer. Describe in outline the argument you intend to make.
2. Previous research on the topic. Give a summary of the contents of the literature relevant to the subject and your research on the topic. Note any special language skills necessary for your work and how you will satisfy these requirements.
3. Methodology. Describe how you will pursue your research, including the critical and theoretical basis of your investigation. This section conveys how you will develop your argument.
4. Anticipated findings. Keeping in mind that research is empirical and interactive, discuss what you hope your work will establish in confirming the statement of your thesis. Indicate what findings would disconfirm your thesis.
5. Bibliography. List sources of research, both secondary and primary. The bibliography should confirm to the standard format as outlined in The Chicago Manual of Style.
6. Schedule. Include the start date and key deadlines for the sub-objectives of your thesis project. (Depending on the anticipated length of your research, the schedule should be broken down into monthly objectives, or, preferably bi-monthly dates.)

For further details on course requirements in the preservation program of the School of Architecture, see the historic preservation program.