master's thesis
Degree-completing research paper
A master's thesis is a substantial research paper required for completion of a master's degree.
It demonstrates the student's ability to conduct independent research and contribute original analysis to their field.
Unlike a doctoral dissertation, a master's thesis typically synthesizes existing scholarship rather than advancing entirely new theories: She spent eighteen months on her master's thesis about coastal erosion.
One who gives guidance
- supervisorOne who directs workers
- committeeAppointed group for duties
- mentorTrusted wisdom-giving advisor
- feedbackReturned response data
meetings · guidance · revisions · approval · department · faculty · graduate school · candidacy
Extended academic treatise
- abstractCondensed version of text
- introductionPreliminary section or presentation
- literature reviewAnalysis of prior scholarship
- methodologyFormal procedural framework
findings · conclusion · bibliography · citation · footnotes · appendices · acknowledgments · preface
Testable proposed explanation
- data analysisSystematic information interpretation
- fieldworkResearch conducted on location
- experimentationSystematic testing of ideas
- qualitativeRelating to characteristics, not quantities
quantitative · empirical · investigation · survey · primary sources · secondary sources · interviews · case study
Acclaim meaning "live"
- oral examSpoken academic assessment
- committeeAppointed group for duties
- presentationFormal display to viewers
- slidesMoves smoothly across surface
panel · examination · questions · advisor · candidate · preparation · revisions · feedback
Concentrated expertise in one field
- proficiencySkilled performance level
- knowledgeUnderstood facts and skills
- contributionSomething given to help
- originalityNovel creative quality
advisor
One who gives guidance
- supervisorOne who directs workers
- committeeAppointed group for duties
- mentorTrusted wisdom-giving advisor
feedback · meetings · guidance · revisions · approval · department · faculty · graduate school · candidacy · enrollment
dissertation
Extended academic treatise
- abstractCondensed version of text
- introductionPreliminary section or presentation
- literature reviewAnalysis of prior scholarship
methodology · findings · conclusion · bibliography · citation · footnotes · appendices · acknowledgments · preface · chapter
hypothesis
Testable proposed explanation
- data analysisSystematic information interpretation
- fieldworkResearch conducted on location
- experimentationSystematic testing of ideas
qualitative · quantitative · empirical · investigation · survey · primary sources · secondary sources · interviews · case study · sample size
viva
Acclaim meaning "live"
- oral examSpoken academic assessment
- committeeAppointed group for duties
- presentationFormal display to viewers
slides · panel · examination · questions · advisor · candidate · preparation · revisions · feedback · opponent
specialization
Concentrated expertise in one field
- proficiencySkilled performance level
- knowledgeUnderstood facts and skills
- contributionSomething given to help
originality · scholarly · postgraduate · academic · graduate
- projectsproject, projects, tasks, milestones, deadlines
- research papersresearch paper, journal article, scholarly article, dissertation, original research
- Thesesdissertation, oral defense, dissertation committee, proposal, prospectus
- thesisdissertation, hypothesis, argument, premise, proposition
- researchstudy, research papers, researching, archive, peer review
master's thesisdoctoral dissertation
Extended scholarly work for doctorate
PhD thesis · bachelor's thesis · senior thesis · capstone project · term paper
master, masters, mastery, masterful, masterfully, masterly, mastered, mastering, thesis