THE MASTERS THESIS

The Masters Degree

The Masters Degree is now the most common graduate degree in the United States. In
1960, there were seven times as many Masters Degrees awarded as Doctoral Degrees; in
1988, there were nine times as many Masters as Doctoral degrees awarded. Sixty
percent of students taking the Graduate Record Examination in 1990 indicated that the
Masters Degree was their ultimate objective.
Building on the Bachelors Degree, the Masters Degree prepares researchers,
professionals and practitioners. It provides a stepping stone to the Doctoral Degree as
well as a capstone for a professional career. It is primarily built on the knowledge gained
in undergraduate study, but it may also provide advanced work in a field new to the
student. It is the entry level degree for many professions, a fact which is being rapidly
extended by American education and business.
THE MASTERS THESIS
The Masters Thesis is a crucial part of the Masters Degree program. It is a written,
scholarly presentation of original research that is submitted and defended as partial
fulfillment of requirements for the Masters Degree. It may be original in the sense that
either previously-unknown information is uncovered and presented or previously-known
information is presented in a creatively new way leading to new applications. The
prescribed format for the written Thesis is outlined on the following pages.
THE THESIS ADVISOR AND COMMITTEE
The Thesis Advisor is a faculty member, with particular expertise in the students
projected area of research, who has primary responsibility for guiding the student through
the research. The Thesis Committee is a faculty group of three (3) with expertise in the
students area of research or in areas as related to it. The Thesis Advisor is both a
member and the Chair of the Thesis Committee. It is the responsibility of the student to
seek out a Thesis Advisor and a Thesis Committee, and to submit to them in writing a
research proposal. It is the responsibility of the Thesis Committee to grant final approval
to the students research proposal, to oversee the research, to approve the written Masters
Thesis and to conduct a final examination of it. This final examination will be, first, a
public presentation and defense of the Thesis followed, secondly, by a private defense
before the Thesis Committee. The selection of a research topic should be made as early
in the program of studies as possible. Once approved, the research proposal becomes part
of the students permanent record.

GUIDELINES FOR MATERS THESIS

OR DOCTORAL DISSERTATION
Submitted in the Graduate School
Of Creighton University
The basic guide for matters of style in preparing the final copy of the Masters Thesis or
Doctoral Dissertation should be determined in consultation with the thesis/dissertation
director and the Department Chairman. The following stipulations must be met to
achieve the format required for final copies of theses and dissertations submitted in
fulfillment of degree programs in the Graduate School.
GENERAL REQUIREMENTS:
1.

Type used must be letter quality, pica, or elite (10 point or larger).

2.

Paper should be standard size (8 x 11), 20 pound bond, white and

opaque to ensure good contrast of black letters on white background.

3.

Text, typed on one side, should be double spaced with a 1 margin on the
binding edge of the page, and one inch margins on the remaining sides.
Chapter headings and the like are to be included within these margins.

4.

Pagination: Each page in the manuscript, including blank pages, should be

assigned a number, beginning with the title page. For the preliminaries, use
small Roman numerals (i, ii, iii, iv, etc.). For the remainder of the manuscript
(including the text, illustrations, appendices, and bibliography), use Arabic
numerals beginning with 1.

5.

Binding services are available through the Graduate School Office. The cost
of binding is $25.00 per each copy bound. You may bind as many copies as
you wish to pay for. Present a check for binding at the cashiers window of
the Business Office and submit the receipt to the Graduate School with the
final copies of your thesis. The spine of each bound copy must show: author,
title (full or shortened), and year of degree conferral. The cover of each
bound copy must show: authors full name, full title, and year of degree
conferral. Bound copies submitted by the candidate become the property of
Creighton University.

FORMAT SPECIFICATIONS
ORDER OF MATERIAL:
1. A blank page (not counted for numbering).
2. A signature page (see template)
3. Title page (see template). [First counted page, number not printed.]
4. A blank page OR the copyright page (number not printed).
5. Abstract (not to exceed 350 words).
6. Optional preface, dedication, acknowledgments, and (if applicable)
permissions to quote from unpublished materials.
7. Table of contents.
8. List of graphs, charges, tables.
9. List of illustrations.
10. Text, composed of:

[Arabic numerals begin this section]

a. Introduction
b. Main body, usually consisting of well defined divisions such as
parts, chapters, section.
11. Back matter composed of:
a. Appendix or appendices (if applicable).
b. Endnotes (if applicable).
c. Glossary (if applicable).
d. Bibliography OR References.

THESIS/DISSERTATION (Select one) APPROVED BY

_________________________
Date

____________________________________
[Committee Chair Name], Ph.D., Chair
____________________________________
[Committee Member Name], Ph.D.
____________________________________
[Committee Member Name], Ph.D.
____________________________________
[Committee Member Name], Ph.D.
____________________________________
[Committee Member Name], Ph.D.

____________________________________
Gail M. Jensen, Ph.D., Dean

[Title Page]

TITLE OF THESIS/DISSERTATION CENTERED, ALL CAPS

___________________________________
By
STUDENT NAME
___________________________________

A (THESIS/DISSERTATION)

Submitted to the faculty of the Graduate School of the Creighton University in Partial
Fulfillment of the Requirements for the degree of (Master of Arts, Master of Science,
Doctor of Philosophy Select one) in the Department of (Name of Department)
_________________________________
Omaha, NE
(month, day, and year)