Capstone Experiences

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The capstone experience of the graduate program will be the successful completion of a thesis, project, or comprehensive examination. The quality of the student’s work, including quality of expression, is the major consideration in judging the success of this degree component.

Thesis

A thesis is the written product of a systematic study of a significant issue. In the thesis, the student is expected to identify the issue, state the major assumptions, explain the significance of the project, detail sources for and methods of obtaining data, provide analysis of the data, and offer conclusions. The thesis should demonstrate original critical and independent thinking, appropriate organization and format, and thorough documentation. If the research involves human subjects, the protocols must be approved by the Institutional Review Board (see “Research with Human Subjects” in the Appendix).

Cal State East Bay offers two kinds of master’s degree theses, University Thesis (numbered 6910) and Departmental Thesis (numbered 6909). Students required, or electing, to write a thesis must register for a minimum of one unit of either 6909 or 6910 in order to receive credit toward completion of this capstone experience. Students should check with the department for information on the number of units for which they must enroll.

Most criteria are the same for both the Departmental Thesis and the University Thesis.

• The candidate must be a graduate student (i.e., admitted to a master’s degree program) to enroll in a thesis course; the academic department may add additional requirements.
• The student’s thesis work will be supervised by a departmental committee which must include at least one Cal State East Bay faculty member who is a member of the major department.
• The student may not receive credit for more units of thesis work than allowed by the degree program.
• Each quarter the student will receive a grade of “RP” (Report in Progress) for units earned in 6909 or 6910 until they have completed their thesis; the student will then be given a final grade for the entire course. No “RP” units will be counted towards the degree or in calculating their GPA. If the thesis is not approved within five years of your initial enrollment in a thesis course, the “RP” grade(s) will be changed to “F” or “NC” (depending on the grading pattern of the course).
• Normally a degree candidate will be required to present an oral defense of their thesis.

There are also a few significant differences between the two kinds of theses:

A Master’s degree candidate may not earn more than 9 units for University Thesis, while the maximum for Departmental Thesis is 5 units. Several departments have lower unit requirements, so the student should check the program description in this catalog.

The format of a University Thesis is established by the Associate Vice President, Academic Programs and Graduate Studies. Since these works are expected to serve as resources for future research, the format is formal. An electronic copy is placed in the Institutional Repository. A Departmental Thesis, on the other hand, is usually not as formal. The Departmental Thesis standards and format are determined by the department, and the thesis is retained by the department.  

University Thesis: 

For information on the steps to follow (the approval process, required format for the structural elements of the thesis, and deadlines) when writing a University Thesis, consult the University Thesis Writing Guide available online at: www.csueastbay.edu/thesiswritingguide. If a student has questions concerning the selection of a topic, and/or the procedure to establish a thesis committee and research protocols, they should contact their department advisor or graduate coordinator. If the student has additional questions concerning the formatting and binding of their University Thesis after having read the University Thesis Writing Guide, it is recommended they contact the University Thesis Editor at: thesis.editor@csueastbay.edu

Departmental Thesis: 

For information about a Departmental Thesis (the department’s thesis guidelines, including format, acceptable thesis topics, and procedures to establish a thesis committee) contact the department advisor or graduate coordinator.

Project

A project is a significant piece of non-written work in either a fine or applied art or a professional field. Projects should provide evidence of originality, independent thinking, and appropriate form and organization. Students are required to describe their project in a written abstract that addresses the project’s significance, objectives, methodology, and conclusions. In some cases, the student may be required to present an oral defense.

Specific criteria for a Project (numbered 6899) are the same as those for a Departmental Thesis with a few exceptions.

• An “RP” grade in a project course will become an “F” (no “NC” option) after one year if your project is not completed.
• While the project need not be considered a research resource, it should be of a caliber to constitute a valid terminal activity in a master’s degree program and will be permitted only when a thesis is not appropriate.

If a Master’s degree student changes from a program requiring a thesis to one requiring a project (or vice versa), they may count a combined maximum of 9 units for 6909, 6910, and 6899 towards the degree.

Comprehensive Examination

A comprehensive examination is intended to assess the student’s mastery of relevant subject matter, their ability to analyze and integrate the knowledge of their field, their skill in critical and independent thinking, and their use of appropriate organization and accurate documentation. A record of the student’s examination (questions and responses) will be retained by their department. Some departments grant unit credit for exam preparation while others do not.