MAISGUIDETOCOMPLETINGAMASTER’SCAPSTONEPROJECT

2018

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CONTENTS

3 Introduction

3 OverviewofThesisandAppliedProject

6 Adviser-StudentRelationship7 GeneralTimeline8 DeadlinesandSubmissionGuidelines9 StyleGuide10 Formatting11 ElectronicSubmissionInstructionsandForm13 SampleSignaturePage14 CapstoneProjectAgreementForm

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INTRODUCTION

ThefinalrequirementforthecompletionoftheMasterofArtsinInternationalStudies(MAIS)Programisthethesisorappliedproject,whichrequirestheapplicationoftheknowledge,insights,andskillsacquiredintheprogram.ThethesisorappliedprojectisbeguninthesecondsemesterduringtheResearchMethodscourseandcompletedinthefinalsemesteroftheprogram.Thechoiceofwhetheryoudoathesisorappliedprojectisuptoyou.InyourResearch&ThesisWritingclassyouwillstarttogetasenseofwhichoptionismostfittingforyourcareerchoices.Boththethesisandappliedprojectaredevelopedundertheguidanceofafacultyadviser.Studentswhoplantocontinuetheireducationatthedoctoralleveltypicallyselectthethesisoption.Thosewhodonotplantocontinuetheireducation,butwillinsteadapplytheirdegreeprofessionally,havetakenbothrouteswithequalsuccess.Thisguideoutlinestheelementsofthethesisorappliedproject,rolesofthestudentandadviser,contentguidelines,formattingsuggestions,submissionprocedures,andgeneralcriteriaforevaluation.GiventhebreadthoftopicsavailableforstudywithinInternationalStudies,thisguideisdesignedtoproduceconsistencyofstyle,whileallowingflexibility.

THESISORAPPLIEDPROJECT:WHATISTHEDIFFERENCE?

Boththethesisandtheappliedprojectrequireanalysisofacontemporaryglobalissuefromaninterdisciplinaryperspective,aswellasapplicationofwhatstudentshavelearnedthroughouttheMAISprogramtoanindependentresearchproject.Thetwooptionsdiffer,however,intheiroverallstructure,theformatofthefinalanalysis,andtheaudienceforwhomtheprojectisintended.Athesisprovidesanansweraquestionthatcontributestonewknowledgeandisgeneralizablebeyondasinglesetting.Theappliedprojectprovidesasolutiontoaquestionofpracticalimportance,orevaluatesacurriculum,procedure,orpolicywithinaparticularorganizationorinstitution.Anyquestionsastowhetheryouwishtocompleteathesisoranappliedprojectshouldbediscussedwithyouradviser.THESISAMaster’sthesisisascholarlydocumentthatquestionsorotherwisecontributestoanexistingbodyofknowledge.Studentswishingtocompleteathesiswillproduceapaperofhighquality,analyzinganexistingconcept,phenomenon,ortext(s)inlightofcurrenttheoryandresearch.AMaster’sthesisisprimarilyaimedatanacademicaudience.Thethesistypicallyincludes:

• Anintroductiondescribingthepurpose,scope,andsignificanceofthetopic;

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• Asectionsituatingthetopicinthecontextoftheliteratureinthefield;• Asectionoutliningtheresearchmethodsorapproachandrationale;• Asectionanalyzingtheselectionandcollectionofdataanddiscussingtheresults;• Aconclusionthatsumsuptheimportanceoftheprojectandaddressesavenuesfor

futurework.Generally,theMAISthesisshouldbe50-70pageslongandmustshowyourabilitytoanalyze,interpret,andsynthesizeinformation,illustrateappropriatemethodologiesandprocedures,anddemonstrateyourabilitytodefendyourconclusions.Thesecriteriashouldbediscussedinmoredetailwithyourthesisadviser.APPLIEDPROJECTUnlikeathesis,anappliedprojectisnotprimarilyaimedatanacademicaudience.Rather,anappliedprojectisdesignedtoprovideanin-depthanalysisofanissueorproblemandprovidepotentialsolutionsrelevanttoaprofessionalaudience.Suchanaudiencecouldincludenon-profit/NGOs,community-basedorganizations,government,academicsectors,andindustry.Appliedprojectshavetwocomponents.Appliedprojectsareintendedforstudentswhosecareeraspirationsarebestservedbygainingpracticalexperienceinthedesignandsolutionofaproblemandpresentationoftheresults.Studentspursuingthisoptionwillproduceaspecificproduct(e.g.,comprehensiveplanoraGISsystemorcomponent)andassembleaprojectreport.1. IntroductionandStudySetting

a. GeneralIntroductionb. Purposeandneedfortheproject(therationale)c. Discussionoftargetaudienceor“client”d. Descriptionofstudysetting

Forexample,iftheprojectinvolvesaGISapplicationforaregionalplanningagency,anidentificationofsaidagencyandabriefdiscussionofwhatthatagencydoes,whotheapplicationwillultimatelybenefit,andwhyitisimportantwouldbeappropriate.

2. SynopsisoftheField[somewhatakintoliteraturereviewforathesis]

a. Discussionofcontextinwhichtheprojectistakingplaceb. Connectiontolargerthemesc. Discussionofstateoftechnologyormethodsyouareusing

Forexample,ifastudentweredoingaprojectonusingGIStodeveloparide-shareprogramforametropolitanplanningagency,theauthorwouldhaveasectionthatdiscussestheoriesaboutandworkdoneontheuseofGIStechnologygenerallyfordevelopmentorurbanplanningwork,howGIShasbeenusedinotherride-share(orsimilar)projects.YouwouldalsoincludeasectiononGIS(whatitis,whyitisuseful,andhowitisrelatedtothespecific

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project),discussionoftheGISsoftwareandhowitiscapableofperformingtheproposedtask,and(ifapplicable),discussionofhardwareinvolvedintheproject.

3. ProjectStructure/Deliverables[somewhatakintoMethodssectionofthethesis]

a. Describesindetailthecompletenatureoftheprojectandhowitwillbecarriedouti Whatwillbedone(deliverables)?ii Whatinformationisneededtoproducethedeliverables(data)?iii Howwillthedeliverablebeachieved?Whattoolsortechniqueswillbeused?iv Whatarethetimelines/deadlines(particularlyimportantifactivelyworkingwith

aprofessionalpartner)?v Whoaretherelevantactors?

FollowingontheGISexample,thissectionwoulddescribethespecificstepsthestudentwilltakeinusingGIStodevelopanewapplication,whatdatatheyneed(i.e.populationcenters,trafficpatterns,etc.),whothisprojectisdesignedtobenefit(i.e.peopleunderservedbypublictransportation)andwhotherelevantpartnersareforimplementationandwhythisisbeneficialtotheirwork.

4. ProjectImplementation[akintoResultssectionofathesis]

a. Discussionofwhathappenedduringcourseofprojectb. Discussionofprojectdeliverableincludinginformationutilized,stepsintheprocess,

output,anddifficulties/potentialissuestoaddress

Didthecreationoftheapplicationworkasanticipated?Whyorwhynot?Ifworkingwithanactualgroup,diditmeettheirneeds/whatfeedbackwasreceived?Ifimplemented,diditworkasanticipated?Ifnotyetimplemented,whatfeedbackwasreceived?

5. ConclusionandRecommendations

a. Includescriticalanalysisoftheproject(successes/failuresetc.andrecommendationsforthefuture

6. Bibliography

7. AppendicesasneededGenerally,theMAISappliedprojectshouldbe50-70pageslong.

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ADVISER-STUDENTRELATIONSHIP

Studentswritethethesisorappliedprojectundertheguidanceofafacultyadviser.Inthespringsemester,studentsidentifyanadvisermostsuitedtotheirresearchneeds.ItisnotmandatorytoselectanadviserfromamongMAISProgramfaculty,butadvisersmustbeemployedbytheUniversityofSanFrancisco.Afterarelationshipisestablished,studentsandadviserssignaThesisorAppliedProjectAgreementandsubmitthisdocumenttotheMAISOffice(KA213)forapprovalbytheMAISDirectorsorDepartmentalChair.TheformisduebyMarch30,2018.Eachadviser-studentrelationshipisunique,butregularcommunicationmustbeestablishedtoensuretimelycompletionofthethesisorappliedproject.TheMAISProgramdoesnotrequireaparticularstructurefortheadviser-studentrelationship,buttheprogramstronglyrecommendsthatstudentsmeetwiththeiradvisersatleasteveryotherweekduringthewritingperiod.Thisistypicallyduringthefinalfallsemesteroftheprogram.Advisersneedtobeclearabouttheirexpectationsandstudentsmustunderstandthestandardstheyaretomeet.Ultimately,however,responsibilitiesforcompletionofthethesisorappliedprojectrestswiththestudent.Studentsmustorganizetheirtimeandplantheirresearchandwritinginsuchawayastoensuresufficienttimeforadviserstoread,commenton,andapprovechanges.Studentsarealsotoplantheirdraftsubmissionaccordingly,inordertoensuresufficienttimeforadviserstoread,commenton,andapprovechanges.Studentsshouldplantotalktotheiradvisersregularlyabouttheprogresstheyaremaking,especiallywithregardstoareasinwhichtheyarestrugglingorareunsureofthestrengthoftheirarguments.ThestudentshouldalsoworkwiththeadvisortosetupaworkingtimelineandsubmitaTimelinetoCompletionFormbySeptember1,2018.Ifstudentsoradvisersfeeltheyarehavingaproblemwithanyaspectoftheadviser-studentrelationship,itshouldbediscussedassoonaspossible.Ifconcernsremain,contacttheMAISProgramforhelpinmediatingtheissue.

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GENERALTIMELINE

SEPTEMBER-MARCH• Beginthinkingaboutyourthesisorappliedprojectasearlyaspossible.• Reflectoncurrentquestionsandissuesininternationalstudies,usingexperiencesfrom

yourclassesandinternshipasyourguide,andchoosearelevanttopicforyourthesisorappliedproject.

• Readliteraturerelatedtoyourchosentopic.NOVEMBER

• RegisterforMAIS613ResearchandThesisWritinginthespring.MARCH

• Selectanadviser,preferablysomeonewhoworksonthesubjectand/orintheregionyouareinterestedin.BiographiesofallUSFfacultycanbefoundontheuniversity’swebsite.Pleasenotethatnosinglefacultymembermayadvisemorethan4thesisstudentsatanyonetime,therefore,haveseveraloptionsforanadviser.

• CompleteandsubmittheThesisorAppliedProjectAgreementtotheprogramoffice(KA213)byMarch30,2018.YouwillfindthisformattheendofthisdocumentandontheMAISMyUSFpage.

APRIL• Ifyouplantocompleteathesisorappliedprojectthatrequiresresearchonhuman

subjects,youmustobtainExemptStatusthroughourinternalexpeditororbeusheredtotheUSFInstitutionalReviewBoardfortheProtectionofHumanSubjects(IRBPHS)beforeconductingyourstudy.Forinformationregardingthepoliciesandproceduresforapproval,visittheirwebsite:http://www.usfca.edu/catalog/policies/irb/

• IRBApplicationsareduetotheDepartment’sIRBReviewersbyApril1,2018.AllproposalswillbereviewedtodeterminewhethertheyfallundertheDepartment’sBlankerIRBApproval(minimalrisk)orrequirefullreviewbytheInstitutionalReviewBoard.TheIRBprocesswillbediscussedintheResearchMethodscoursepriortotheapplicationsubmissiondeadline.

• RegisterforMAIS614InternationalStudiesMaster'sThesisorAppliedprojectfortheFall2018semester.

MAY-DECEMBER• Completeyourthesisorappliedprojectassoonaspossibleduringthesemester.MAIS

614doesnotmeetregularlylikeotherclasses;itrequiresindividualmeetingswithadvisers.

• Inconjunctionwithyourthesisadviser,completeandsubmityourthesisTimelinetoCompletionformbySeptember1,2018.

• Extensionsaregrantedonlyinexceptionalcircumstances.Donotplanonreceivinganextensionforyourthesiswork.

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DEADLINESANDSUBMISSIONGUIDELINES

DATESTOREMEMBER• March30,2018:AdviserAgreementFormDue• September1,2018:SubmitTimelinetoCompletionForm• November20,2018:ThesisDueDate• December7,2018:CommentsReceived• December17,2018:RevisionsDue

SUBMISSIONGUIDELINES

• Bythedeadlinespecifiedabove(November20),submitanelectronicversionofyourfinaldrafttotheMAISofficeatmais@usfca.edu.

• Yourprimaryadviser,alongwithasecondreaderassignedbytheMAISprogram,willreadandreviewyourthesisorappliedproject.Followingreview,youwillreceivecommunicationfromyouradvisernotifyingyouofyourthesisgradeandwhetherornotrevisionsarerequired.Ifrevisionsarerequired,theymustbesubmittedbythespecifieddeadline.

• Afteryourthesisorappliedprojectisapprovedandgraded,yoursignaturepageiscirculatedandsignedbyyouradviserandtheAcademicDirector.Itisimperativethatyouincludeablanksignaturewhenyousubmityourfinalproject.

• SubmityourfinaldrafttotheUSFScholarshipRepository:http://repository.usfca.edu/thes/.

• Afteragradeisassigned,asubstantialsetofmaterialsissenttotheDean'sofficeandtheUSFGraduationCenter,whereyourtranscriptsareevaluatedanddegreeinformationisreviewed.Whenthisdetailedprocessiscomplete,yourdegreeispostedandyourdiplomaisissued.Thiscantakeseveralweeks.

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STYLEGUIDE

TitlePage:Containstitle,author,place,month,year,andthenameofthegraduatedegree.Donotincludepicturesorotherextraneousinformation.SignaturePage:Anexampleisprovidedattheendofthisguide.Itisimperativethatyourmodelyoursafterthisexample.Besuretomatchthefontwiththerestofyourdocument.Abstract:Anabstractisasummaryofthethesisorappliedproject,consistingofnomorethan350words.Itincludesastatementoftheproblem,generalanalysisconducted,andconclusionsandrecommendations.Examplesofabstractsareavailableinjournalsanddoctoraldissertations,whichcanbeobtainedfromthelibrary.TableofContents:Listallthecontentsofthethesisorappliedprojectincludingappendices.ListofFigures:IfneededListofTables:IfneededAcknowledgments:Thissectiongivesthestudenttheopportunitytothanktheiradviser,family,friends,andothersinstrumentalinthepreparationoftheproject.Itisrecommendedthatthisnotexceedonepage.SpecificStyleGuides:Withtheagreementoftheadviser,studentsarepermittedtoadoptanystyleguideforcitationsprovidedtheformatisconsistentthroughoutthethesisorappliedproject.

CommonStyleGuides• AmericanSociologicalAssociationStyle(ASA)• AmericanPsychologicalAssociationStyle(APA)• ChicagoManualofStyle(Chicago)• ModernLanguageAssociationStyle(MLA)

InternetResourcesonStyleGuides

• http://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/• http://www.lib.berkeley.edu/instruct/guides/cilalions.hlml• http://www.apastyle.org/http://www.chicagomanualofstyle.org

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FORMATTING

ChecklistPaper:8½in.x11in.Font:Times,TimesRoman/TimesNewRoman,12-point(Biggerfontforthetitleofthethesisorappliedprojectinthetitleandsignature/approvalpages)Spacing:Double-spacingthroughoutmanuscript,exceptwhensinglespacingwouldimprovereadability(i.e.fortabletitlesandheadings,figurecaptions,referencesorbibliography,blockquotationsorquotationswith40ormorewords)Margins:1.5"attheleftmarginand1"atthetop,bottom,andrightmargins,exclusiveofpagenumbersIndentation:firstlineofeveryparagraphandeverylineofblockquotationsindented7spacesor1/2"PageNumbers:Titlepagenumbernotindicated

• TableofContentsandotherpreliminarypages(e.g.SignaturePage,Acknowledgment,Abstract,ListofTables,andListoffigures)numberedwithlower-caseRomannumerals(ii.iii,iv,v,etc.)thatappearatthebottomofthepage.

• BodyofthemanuscriptincludingtheappendicesnumberedwithArabicnumeralsintheupperrighthandcorner(Inanappliedproject,wheretheappendixmaycontainaseparatedocumentsuchasahandbookoracurriculum,theappendixcoverpageisthelastnumberedpageinthemanuscriptandthefirstpageoftheappliedprojectstartswithanewnumberingsystem.Inathesis,thenumberingcontinuesconsecutivelythroughtheAppendices.).

ReferencesorBibliography:Referenceslistsonlyreferencescitedinthetext.Bibliographylistsreferencescitedinthetextandotherrelevantsourcesthatareusedorrecommended.

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ELECTRONICSUBMISSIONINSTRUCTIONS

Afteryourthesisorappliedprojectisapprovedandgraded,youwillneedtosubmityourfinaldrafttotheUSFScholarshipRepository(hftp://repository.usfca.edu/thes/).Followtheinstructionsbelow,andsendtheMAISProgramboththeElectronicThesisSubmissionAgreementFormincludedinthisguideandacopyoftheemailconfirmationindicatingthatyourthesisorappliedprojecthasbeensubmittedtoGleesonlibrary.Studentsareabletorequestthatoncesubmitted,thethesisorappliedprojecthaveanembargosetforanumberofyears,makingthedocumentunavailableuntilthatpoint.Scholarsdothiswhentheywishtopublishintheinterim.Inthecaseofsensitivesubjects,studentscancreateapseudonymandincludeinthecommentssectionthattheresearcher'snamehasbeenwithheldbutthisdoesjeopardizetheintegrityofthethesisorappliedproject.Inextremelyrarecases,studentscanrequestthattherequirementcontributetotheUSFScholarshipRepositorybewaived.

1. FillouttheElectronicThesis/DissertationSubmissionAgreementForm.Youwillfindthisformattheendofthisdocument.

2. VisitUSFScholarshipRepositoryat:http://repository.usfca.edu/thes/3. Select“SubmitResearch”under“AuthorCorner”ontheleftsidenavigation.4. On“SubmityourResearch”page,select“MasterTheses”under“Thesesand

Dissertations.”5. LoginusingyourmyUSFloginorcreateanewaccountusingyourpreferredemail

address.6. Filloutthesubmissionformasinstructed,uploadyourfinaldraft,andclick“submit.”7. Youwillreceiveanemailconfirmationthatyourthesisorappliedprojecthasbeen

submitted.

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ELECTRONICSUBMISSIONFORM

Pleasetypeorprintallinformation.StudentName:_________________________________________________________________USFStudentID#:______________________Program:_____________________________AdviserName:____________________________________________________________ThesisTitle:_______________________________________________________________HomeTelephoneNumber:__________________________________________EmailAddress(longterm):__________________________________________MailingAddress:______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________Iherebycertifythat,ifappropriate,Ihaveobtainedandattachedheretoawrittenpermissionstatementfromtheowner(s)ofeachthirdpartycopyrightedmattertobeincludedinmythesis,allowingdistributionasspecifiedbelow.Icertifythattheversionofmythesis/dissertationIhavesubmittedisthesameastheapprovedbymyadvisorycommittee.Iagreethattheabove-mentioneddocumentbeplacedintheUniversityofSanFrancisco’sdigitalcollectionrepository.IherebygranttoUniversityofSanFranciscoanditsagentstheirrevocable,non-exclusive,royalty-freerighttoreproduce,distribute,anddisplaythisthesisinwholeorinpartinanyformincludingelectronicformatsnoworhereafterdevelopedforeducational,researchandnon-profitusesduringthefulltermofthecopyright.Iretainallotherownershiprightstothecopyrightincludingtherighttouseinfutureworks(suchasarticlesorbooks)allorpartofthisthesis.IwarrantthatIhavetherighttomakethisgrantunencumberedandcomplete.Signature:___________________________________________Date:_______________________________________________

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SAMPLESIGNATUREPAGE

[YOURFINALTHESISTITLE]

InPartialFulfillmentoftheRequirementsfortheDegree

MASTEROFARTS

inINTERNATIONALSTUDIES

by[STUDENTNAME]November20,2018

UNIVERSITYOFSANFRANCISCO

Undertheguidanceandapprovalofthecommittee,andapprovalbyallthemembers,thisthesisprojecthasbeenacceptedinpartialfulfillmentoftherequirementsforthedegree.

APPROVED:________________________________________ ________________________CapstoneAdviserDate________________________________________ ________________________MAISDirector Date

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CAPSTONEPROJECTADVISERAGREEMENTStudentName:____________________________________________________________PreliminaryTitle:___________________________________________________________

CircleOne: Thesis AppliedProject

Adviser:__________________________________________________________________Adviser’sEmail:____________________________________________________________PleasenotethatthethesisduedateisNovember20,2018.Note:Anyrequestsforanextensionmustbeapproved,inwriting,bytheGraduateDirectororDepartmentChairbyNovember1,2018.Suchrequestsareonlygrantedinexceptionalcircumstances.IagreetocompletethethesisorappliedprojectproposedaboveaccordingtothespecificationsrequiredbymythesisadviserandinconformancewithguidelinesoutlinedintheMAISGuidetotheThesisorAppliedProjectbythedatespecifiedabove.Iunderstandthetimelycompletionofmythesisorappliedprojectisnecessarytofulfilltherequirementsofthecourse,MAIS614,listedintheUniversityCatalogandtheMAISStudentHandbook.StudentSignature:__________________________________________Date:_______________Iagreetosupervise,andevaluatetheproposedthesisorappliedprojectoftheabovestudentinthemannersetforthintheMAISGuidetotheThesisorAppliedProjecttohelpachievetherequirementsofthecourse,MAIS614,listedintheUniversityCatalogandtheMAISStudentHandbook.Ialsoagreetomeetwiththisstudentregularlyduringthewritingperiod,andbepresentduringthereviewandevaluation.IunderstandIwillreceiveastipendforservingasaprimaryadviser.Thereceiptofthisstipendiscontingentuponsubmittingagradeforthestudentandacompletedsignaturepage,aswellasservingasasecondreaderonanotherthesis.AdviserSignature:___________________________________________Date:______________AcademicDirectorSignature:__________________________________Date:______________