Capstone Process
If you are preparing either a thesis or a dissertation, you will need to meet not only your program's specific requirements for these items, but also all of the Graduate School's requirements. If you are doing any other kind of capstone project, such as a final paper, internship, practicum or integration project, you need only meet your program's requirements. If you are in a program that has a choice between a major paper and a thesis, or offers an optional thesis, please try to stay in touch with your program and, if appropriate, the Graduate School. In most cases, students are welcome to switch from one option to another with permission and if their circumstances require it, but again, students should report these changes to their programs and to the Graduate School in order to avoid delaying graduation. Students in doctoral programs are required to complete a dissertation. There are no exceptions to this policy.
Theses
Ordinarily, theses are completed after all coursework for the master's degree is completed. Students may be enrolled in a doctoral program while completing master's degree requirements, in which case they should have sufficient training and experience for the thesis project. (Consult with your program about what constitutes "sufficient.")
Students who are working on a thesis should be registered while they undertake this work. If you do not maintain continuous registration, and do not make other, formal arrangements with the Graduate School (such as a leave of absence), you will fall out of good standing, and risk being dismissed from your program. When students do not register for thesis supervision or master's study, the university is not able to compensate faculty and staff for their work with students, and the Graduate School is not able to communicate with and keep track of students engaged in such independent research. (In addition, if you do not register, your Loyola e-mail account will close, preventing you from receiving information about deadlines, events and funding available through the Graduate School and LUC.)
In some cases, the thesis will count as hours toward the M.A. or M.S. degree (usually three, and sometimes six). Students should register for these hours at some point during thesis preparation, and also for thesis supervision (usually course #595) during any additional terms they may need to complete the work. If a student does not complete this work within a single term, and has his or her director's permission, s/he may arrange for an "incomplete." Such incompletes are subject to the same conditions as all other course incompletes.
In some cases, the thesis does not count as hours toward the degree. Students should then be registered for thesis supervision in each term (excluding summers) during which they are working on the project. The course offered as master's study is intended for those students who are not in coursework, but are also not yet working on a thesis. Usually, these are students preparing a thesis proposal or master's comprehensive examinations. Students may only register twice for master's study; after this, they will need to enroll in thesis supervision. You may need departmental permission to enroll in these courses; usually your department will be able to enroll you.
Students have five years to complete all requirements for a master's degree, including the thesis. Students with exceptional circumstances who need to temporarily discontinue their studies for personal, medical or professional reasons, may apply for an extension. Students should contact their programs and advisors about these circumstances and for necessary procedures.
The first step in the thesis process is forming a thesis committee. When you are ready to begin, you should consult both your program's guidelines, and the Graduate School guidelines. These guidelines explain the policies and procedures associated with theses and dissertations, as well as the various forms that you will need to use.
Dissertations
The dissertation is a long-term, independent research project undertaken as the final degree requirement for a Ph.D., typically lasting several years. Unlike during coursework, students have fewer opportunities to stay in touch. Both students and faculty should make an effort to stay in touch during this period, and to address any problems or questions as quickly as possible. And, students can certainly rely on the following as key resources: dissertation directors, members of their dissertation committees, Graduate Program Directors, and the staff of the Graduate School Dean's Office.
Students who are working on a dissertation should be registered with the university. If you do not maintain continuous registration, and do not make other, formal arrangements with the Graduate School (such as a leave of absence), you will fall out of good standing, and risk being dismissed from your program. When students do not register for dissertation supervision or doctoral study, the university is not able to compensate its faculty and staff, and the Graduate School cannot communicate with and keep track of students engaged in such independent research. (For instance, students who do not register do not have a student e-mail account with which to receive university announcements.)
The dissertation and the related registration categories for doctoral study and/or dissertation supervision do not count as hours toward the degree. While preparing a dissertation, students should be registered for dissertation supervision in each term (excluding summers) during which they are working on the project. The course offered as doctoral study is intended for those students who are not in coursework, but are also not yet working on a dissertation. Usually, these students are preparing a proposal or doctoral comprehensive examinations. Students may only register twice for doctoral study; after this, they will need to enroll in dissertation supervision. You may need departmental permission to enroll in these courses; usually, your department or program will be able to enroll you.
Students who do all coursework at Loyola have eight years to complete all the requirements for a Ph.D., including the dissertation. Students who transfer part of their coursework hours from another graduate program have six years to complete all the requirements for a Ph.D., including the dissertation. Students with exceptional circumstances who need to temporarily discontinue their studies for personal, medical or professional reasons, may apply for a leave of absence. Again, please be sure to contact your program about these circumstances and for necessary procedures.
The first step in the dissertation process is forming a thesis committee. When you are ready to begin, you should consult both your program's guidelines, and the Graduate School guidelines. These guidelines explain the policies and procedures associated with theses and dissertations, as well as the various forms that you will need to use.
Doctoral Candidacy
Once doctoral students have submitted all dissertation proposal materials (including IRB approval, where required), the Graduate School will conduct a doctoral candidacy review. This means that the Dean's office will check that all of your degree requirements, other than the dissertation itself, have been met. In most cases, students are expected to meet all other requirements before beginning a dissertation project. There are a few exceptions: for instance, some programs require an internship, practicum, or portfolio after or during the dissertation process. In general, students should not be taking final courses or qualifying examinations after they have started a dissertation. Thus, one of the important functions of a candidacy review is to make sure students have met most or all of their other degree requirements in order to proceed smoothly to graduation.
Formal candidacy, while not the same as a degree credential, does indicate that a student has advanced in his or her program to the point that s/he is doing independent research. Students may find that this helps when negotiating for external funding and with potential employers. Many dissertation fellowships, and some adjunct teaching positions, require that students who apply be doctoral candidates or the equivalent.
Doctoral students will receive a formal letter from the Graduate School when they are admitted to candidacy. As soon as it becomes possible, this information will also be noted on the student's official transcript. Please keep in mind that you are not a doctoral candidate until after you have met these requirements and undergone this review process.
