14. Thesis Completion Tasks and Final Requirements for Graduation
A thesis is considered complete when: (1) the final oral presentation has been made; (2) the written document has been approved by all readers; (3) the cover page (sample available here) has been signed by all readers, and (4) all requested revisions have been completed by the student. The next step in the process is to file the thesis electronically via ProQuest. The procedure for filing the thesis is described further here.
When filing your thesis with ProQuest, there is the option of requesting that ProQuest file a copyright application on your behalf with the U.S. Copyright Office at the Library of Congress, but there is a fee associated with this. For a smaller fee, you may file directly with the U.S. Copyright Office. A third option is to simply declare copyright, on an otherwise blank page following the title page, by including the following:
© year
Author’s full name
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
Questions about the process for filing the thesis electronically should be addressed to the office of the Registrar.
Students are also responsible for providing each of their readers with a copy of the thesis and for submitting one copy to the CSD program manager. These copies may be electronic copies if that is agreeable to the readers and to the program office.
CD-898: Thesis Continuation
If the student fails to complete all thesis requirements by the end of these enrollments, the student enrolls in CD-898 (Thesis Continuation) every semester until the thesis is completed.
Later Presentation of Thesis Project (Optional)
In many cases students will be encouraged to submit their thesis projects for presentation at appropriate conferences, such as the ASHA Annual Convention in November. It is expected that all members of the thesis committee will be co-authors on these submissions.
Publication of Thesis after Graduation (Optional)
Students are encouraged to write up their thesis projects for submission to an appropriate publication (such as a peer-reviewed journal) soon after graduation. This may entail shortening the document to adhere to specific journal requirements, as well as other extensive revisions. Members of the students’ thesis committee will be asked if they would like to be co-authors on these submissions, as appropriate; this should be discussed with the advisor. The student is expected to work closely with their thesis advisor and other co-authors in preparing the manuscript and selecting a fitting journal for submission.
If the student has not submitted their thesis project for publication within 6 months after graduation, the thesis advisor has the right to write the manuscript after that point and submit it as the first author. The thesis advisor will inform the student that he or she is intending to write the paper and that the student will be a co-author of the paper. The thesis advisor is expected to work closely with the student (now graduated) in the development of the paper for publication. To facilitate this, the student should make sure the faculty advisor has up-to-date contact information for the student after graduation.