MS in OEDC Thesis

While most students in the OEDC program conduct the professional project, students may choose the thesis option.  Planning for the thesis should begin in the first semester since the thesis requires extensive planning and identification of a faculty supervisor.  Because the thesis option should be combined with research methods and/or statistics electives, it is unlikely that students would switch to the thesis option late in the program.  Students will declare their option with the program advisor and should discuss any changes in advance with the program advisor.

Students who elect to write a research thesis must identify a faculty member who is willing to supervise the thesis.  The research thesis will be a scientific study of a topic related to the degree.  Thus, the thesis topic must be a good match with the thesis supervisor’s program of research and scholarly expertise.  A second reader will be selected in collaboration with the thesis supervisor.  The grade will be assigned in the semester in which the thesis is completed.  The thesis must be presented in a departmental research colloquium and a version of the thesis appropriate for publication in an appropriate research journal must be prepared.  The dates for completion of the thesis follow the Office of Graduate and Professional Education Graduation Guide, and must be prepared following the UD Thesis Manual.