Indiana University Kokomo
Master of Liberal Studies

Thesis/Capstone Checklist

1. Check that all requirements for the degree except the thesis/capstone are completed.  You need a minimum of 33 credits of graduate coursework to graduate, including 9 credit from MLS seminars (one in each of the three departments in the School of Arts and Sciences (SOAS:  LBST D501, D502 and D503), 3 credits for Introduction to Graduate Liberal Studies, 6 credits in each of two departments in Arts and Sciences (500 level courses) and 6 credits of thesis/capstone research (LBST D602).  The 3 credits remaining are for elective graduate coursework.  If you are pursuing a thesis/capstone project, you are strongly encouraged to first enroll in LBST D601 (Project Proposal Seminar) prior to commencing your projects.  Your grade point average must be at least 3.0.
2. Come up with a few thesis/capstone topics of interest to you.
3. Meet with your MLS Academic Advisor to discuss your ideas and to develop a list of possible advisors.
4. Contact a faculty member in the general area of your topic to see if he/she is interested in working with you as your thesis/capstone mentor, who will also serve as the chair of your thesis/capstone committee.  Once a faculty person has agreed, be sure he/she is a member of the Indiana University Graduate Faculty.  All tenure-track faculty (i.e., Assistant, Associate, and Full Professors) are members of the Graduate Faculty.  Lecturers are typically not members of the Graduate Faculty.
5. Decide on a final thesis/capstone project with your thesis mentor.  Work out the details of the proposal.  Write up the proposal with input from your mentor.
6. With your thesis mentor’s input, invite two faculty members to be your thesis committee members.  Be sure they are members of the Graduate Faculty.
7. Conduct a thesis/capstone proposal defense.  You should prepare a presentation that describes the project, including the techniques you will use to complete the project.  Be prepared to answer questions from the committee members.
8. Revise your thesis/capstone proposal taking into account any changes recommended by the committee.  Have your proposal signed by your mentor, and turn in the signed proposal to the MLS Program Director (SOAS Dean’s office).
9. Sign up for LBST D602 (Thesis Research).  You must register for a total of six credit hours of D602 for your thesis/capstone, although these can be broken up over multiple semesters.
10. If you are writing a thesis, obtain a copy of the Thesis Preparation Guidelines from the SOAS office or the website.
11. Begin working on the thesis/capstone project.  CONSULT WITH YOUR MENTOR AT REGULAR INTERVALS.
12. If you are writing a thesis, send copies of the title page and one chapter to the thesis committee members so they can check your format.
13. Complete the thesis/capstone project, working on revisions with your mentor.  If you are doing a capstone project it must be accompanied by a paper.  NOTE:  The thesis/capstone must be completed and successfully defended within three years of the date of the proposal defense.
14. When your thesis/capstone project is judged ready by your mentor, set up a defense meeting with your thesis committee and schedule a room through the School of Arts and Sciences office.  Schedule this at least two weeks before the final date.
15. Make copies of your thesis/capstone paper and distribute to your thesis committee members at least two weeks before the meeting.  Make up three (3) copies of your title page on 100% rag bond and give them to your thesis committee chair, who will have the committee members sign the page at the thesis defense (if the defense is successful) and will sign the pages upon final approval of the thesis.
16. Go to your defense prepared to provide a formal presentation of your thesis/capstone project which will be open to the public, and to discuss your work in a closed-door session with your thesis committee.  Your thesis committee chair should bring the approval sheet to the meeting.  During the course of the defense meeting, be prepared to note changes that are requested to be made.
17. Make corrections to the thesis/capstone project.  Have the corrections checked by your mentor.  If the corrections are satisfactory, the advisor will sign the title pages for the thesis/capstone paper.
18. Hand in three (3) copies of the thesis/capstone paper with the three signed copies of your title page (both on 100% rag) to the School of Arts and Sciences office along with a check payable to IU Kokomo for $24.00 ($8.00 per copy).
19. Apply for graduation and be sure to come to the Commencement.
20. Celebrate!!!