Topic/Director Selection Process

• When a student has three semesters remaining in a course of study (or four courses) and is interested in writing a thesis for their Master of Arts in Theology Degree summative requirement, the student will meet with one of the associate deans to discuss eligibility for writing a minimum 50-page thesis.
• A student is deemed eligible based on their cumulative GPA (3.0 or higher) and a review of either a writing sample or portfolio which must demonstrate sufficient writing and research skills.
• Students begin the thesis writing process by submitting a thesis topic summarized in two or three sentences to a member of the faculty with whom they would like to work as their Thesis Director. The student consults with the potential Thesis Director, who decides whether or not to accept the invitation to direct the thesis.
• The Thesis Director works with the student on the content and approves each chapter.
• Students must maintain regular contact with their Thesis Director (minimum every 2-3 weeks) throughout the thesis process.   
• An academic committee, including the deans, may review a student’s progress at any time during the thesis process to assess a student’s ability and eligibility to continue forward.

Thesis-writing Procedure and Required Courses

Once the topic is approved and a Thesis Director is confirmed, the following procedure is to be followed:

• The student must complete the thesis within 18 months.
• The student initiates the process by participating in MA 9010 Seminar in Research Methodology for one semester (meetings throughout the semester, tuition $500).
• By the end of the Seminar, the student must complete a detailed outline of the thesis, a bibliography, and a one-page précis of the thesis, all of which must be approved by the Thesis Director.
• Students who meet the required benchmarks during the Seminar in Research Methodology may then advance to MA 9020 Thesis Mentoring Seminar.
• Students are required to take the Thesis Mentoring Seminar (two-hour sessions once a month; tuition $500 per semester) for two semesters or until their thesis is completed and approved.
• Each chapter is reviewed by the Professor of Writing and Research and the Thesis Director. The student should regularly incorporate feedback received from the Thesis Director throughout the writing process.
• Chapters must be submitted to directors according to the following schedule: Chapter 1 - November 1; Chapter 2 - January 15; Chapter 3 (and 4, if applicable) - March 1. Work must be submitted on time so as to allow for ample time to integrate feedback, editing and formatting. 
• Two missed deadlines will require a meeting with the Academic Dean or Associate Dean to determine the student’s continuance in the program.
• A draft of the entire thesis should be completed by March 30 and submitted to the Professor of Writing and Research for a format review.
• The Thesis Director is responsible for approving the thesis.
• Two copies (unbound) and an electronic copy of the approved thesis (in PDF format) should be submitted, along with an approval/completion form signed by the Thesis Director, by April 30th, to the Academic Office. 
• Upon receipt of the minimum 50-page thesis by the Academic Office, the student must register for the course “Summative Requirement - Thesis,” for which the student will receive the grade of “P.”