Policies > Preparation of Thesis or Dissertation |
UH is in the process of moving to an electronic dissertation process. Some colleges are already using electronic submissions and others will begin implementing the process. All colleges will be required to use electronic dissertations within 5 years as of the 2011-2012 academic year. Please check with your specific department for details.
Approval of Thesis or Dissertation Proposal
Students must receive approval of their thesis or dissertation proposal from their thesis or dissertation committee. The committee is appointed by the dean of the college upon the advice of the appropriate department chair.
In some departments, students may not begin research prior to admission to candidacy without the approval of an advisor. The thesis or dissertation must present evidence of a mastery of the literature in an area of study, a significant contribution to knowledge, and the ability to conduct independent research.
Every thesis, dissertation or other research project involving the use of Human subjects must be approved by the Committee for the Protection of Human Subjects before research is started. Students should consult their faculty advisors for information. For additional information or an application form, contact the Office of Research Policies, Compliance and Committees, 316 Ezekiel W. Cullen Building, (713) 743-9204.
The final draft of the thesis or dissertation must be completed and submitted to the advisory committee as early as stipulated by the committee, but no later than the deadlines specified in the academic calendar.
Suggested Form for Thesis or Dissertation
As a general rule, the format and style of presentation should conform to the most acceptable standards of scientific and scholarly writing in the discipline. For instances in which this general rule is an inadequate guide, reference should be made to a style manual approved by the college or department.
Before preparing the thesis or dissertation, the student should obtain a copy of the guide for the preparation and submission of theses and dissertations from the appropriate college office.
Binding and Distribution of Thesis or Dissertation
The original and two copies of the approved thesis or dissertation should be submitted to the appropriate college office for binding as early as possible, but no later than the deadline specified in the academic calendar. Students who fail to meet these deadlines may be required to refile applications for graduation for a subsequent semester.
The original and one copy of the thesis or dissertation are retained by the M. D. Anderson library for public access, and one copy goes to the student’s major department. The college will send a copy of the Certification of Submission of Thesis/Dissertation form to the student’s department chair. Binding fees for theses and dissertations vary. Graduate students should check with the dean of the college for specific procedures and requirements.
Microfilming of Theses or Dissertations
A microfilming fee is required in addition to the binding fee. This fee-the cost of microfilming plus a $5 administrative charge-will provide for microfilming the complete thesis or dissertation and publishing an abstract of 350 words or less.
A University Microfilms Agreement form must be completed by the student at the time the thesis or dissertation is presented to the college. An extra copy of the abstract and abstract title page must be furnished with the agreement.
Ordinarily, the microfilm of the dissertation will not be copyrighted. If desired, copyright registration may be requested as provided by the agreement form for a fee. If a thesis is copyrighted, it must also be microfilmed.
Publication
Any published article or book should include a note indicating that the material is, or is based upon, a thesis or dissertation submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the designated degree at the University of Houston. |