THESIS FAQs

Montclair State University
English M.A. Thesis

For thesis forms and procedures, click here.

What is a thesis?
The thesis is the culminating project for the M.A. in English.  It is usually written in the student’s chosen area of concentration, in consultation with a committee comprised of English department graduate faculty. The thesis should differ in breadth, structure, and tone from the essays you complete in your graduate classes and seminars.

How do I choose a topic?
Ideally, your thesis will evolve from an essay you complete in a graduate seminar at Montclair State University, but the research and analysis should expand considerably beyond the work of the seminar paper. You can use a substantial essay that you’ve written for an earlier graduate seminar (usually about 20 pages long) as the foundation of your thesis.  Students are strongly urged to start with a topic or theoretical question that they have already taken up in a graduate course. 

Must my topic be in my concentration?
You are encouraged but not required to write a thesis in the field in which you have concentrated your coursework. 

How long should my thesis be?
Theses range in length from 50 to 70 pages.  Most theses consist of an introduction, two or three main chapters, and a short conclusion.  However, students should consult with their thesis directors to determine the best length and structure for the project. 

How do I choose a thesis director?
The person with whom you wrote the seminar essay on which you are basing your thesis is the best person to ask to be your director. The earlier you contact a potential thesis director, the more likely it is that he or she will be willing to work with you. If the professor you approach is unable to serve, feel free to ask that professor to recommend other potential directors. In unusual cases, a professor from another department may direct your thesis. 

How do I choose a committee?
You should select your committee in consultation with your director.  Ideally, the second reader should be in a related field.  A third reader is only needed when the director deems it necessary; otherwise the Graduate Director will sign as the third reader.

What is a proposal and what should it include?
Your proposal is a five to ten page description of the thesis and should include a bibliography.  In the proposal, you should explain the arguments and questions you take up in the thesis, the texts or data you will focus on, and how you plan to approach your topic.  Plan to write several drafts of the proposal and think of it as the roadmap for your project. An example of a proposal can be found here: (Link to Hecht Proposal PDF)

How long does a thesis take to complete?
The thesis is officially a semester-long project, but most students take at least an academic year to complete their projects.  Summers are an excellent time to focus on research.  The earlier you start planning to complete the thesis, the more likely you are to finish in a timely manner.  The year you plan to finish, note the final deadline for submitting your thesis to the graduate school and develop your timeline by working backwards from that date.

How do I register for the thesis course?
Registration for the thesis course is done by submission of the Approval for Writing a Master’s Thesis form in person in the Registrar’s Office during general registration periods.  You need signatures from your thesis director and reader(s), the Graduate Director, and a representative of the Graduate School.

When should I submit the thesis to my committee members?
Your thesis director and second reader should read all drafts of your chapters as you complete them, unless you have explicitly agreed to a different plan.  Plan to revise each chapter at least once.  Normally, the third reader will read the thesis when it’s complete.  You should plan time for revision requests from each committee member.

How should I format the thesis?
To save yourself time at the end of the project, follow the formatting guidelines of the graduate program (margins and front matter) and of your area of concentration (MLA, APA) from the very first draft of the project.  You must submit an original to the Graduate School that must be printed on white, 20-pound bond paper with 25 percent fiber content, and a copy to the English Department, which “must be made on substantial paper.” See the “Thesis Prodedures” pdf for more details.

When must I submit my thesis to graduate school?
Check the calendar posted on the Graduate School’s website for deadlines and submission guidelines.  Theses are due to the Graduate School two weeks before the graduation date. 

How do I get my thesis approved?
Once all your readers are satisfied with the condition of the thesis, you must follow the instructions described in the “Thesis Prodedures” pdf.  This document contains a sample thesis proposal form, a sample signature page, and a sample title page.   You need to obtain signatures from all three committee members, the English Department chair, and the Dean of CHSS.  Once you have obtained these five signatures, you may turn the thesis in to the Graduate School office in College Hall.