Thesis Overview

Thesis Requirement
The thesis writing process is an essential component of the MA in Government and Global Security Studies. It is the culmination of graduate work in the program and the final product of the M.A. degree. The thesis process is an opportunity for students to examine in depth important political or policy questions with the ultimate end of making an original contribution to research in the field. Throughout the process of writing their theses, students hone their research skills, improve their analytical abilities, and sharpen their writing and communication style.

The Thesis Portfolio
The final thesis will consist of three papers (approximately 25 pages each) written during the course of the student’s graduate school career accompanied by a critical comment and conclusion which elaborate on the lessons that the papers teach and the thematic linkages between them. Starting in Spring 2010, the current pre-thesis course will become Research and Thesis I. The first of the papers will be written during 470.850/851 Research and Thesis I (formerly called Pre-Thesis). The goal of that class is to learn more about research methods and to complete the first paper of the thesis portfolio. The program is adding another required class for students who enroll in Summer of 2010: 470.852 Research and Thesis II, in which a student researches and completes the second paper of the thesis portfolio. Students currently enrolled in the program may take this course as well, though only 470.850/851 Research and Thesis I (or Pre-Thesis) and 470.800 Research and Thesis III are required. The third paper of the thesis portfolio should be written in one of the electives a student takes. Students will bring all three papers to their final required class, 470.800 Research and Thesis III (formerly called Research and Thesis). Students will revise the third paper, if needed, and focus on writing the introductory commentary and conclusion to the portfolio. We strongly advise students to meet with one of the Associate Program Chairs or Program Coordinators before registering for the course to make sure they are ready to complete the thesis.

The three papers of the portfolio must be written on a common theme, with a well-developed line of argument running through all three.

Preparation for the Thesis
The curriculum is centered on the thesis requirement and is geared toward helping students build their theses throughout the course of their studies. For example, the required core courses focus on improving the research and writing skills of students so that they will be able to successfully submit the thesis portfolio at the end of their studies. In addition, elective courses play a key role in the thesis process, as most students will include at least two papers from their elective courses in their thesis portfolio. Students should choose at least some of their elective classes on the basis of which courses will allow them to write a paper that will be suitable for inclusion in their thesis portfolio.

Government and Politics (For Global Security Studies Students = American National Security). As this course gives students a general overview of the field, students are strongly encouraged to take this as one of their first courses in the program. This required class meets once a week in a lecture-style setting and then afterward, the class is divided into smaller discussion sections. In these smaller groups, students meet with professors to discuss in more depth the class readings. Assignments throughout the semester focus on developing the writing and research skills of students to ensure they can perform successfully at the graduate level. The major writing assignment of this class is a literature review in the subject area of the thesis they plan to write. Students will build upon this literature review to write the first paper of the thesis portfolio when they enroll in Research and Thesis I.
470.850/851 Research and Thesis I. Students are expected to take this course mid-way through their course of study. During this course, students will use and incorporate their literature review from Government and Politics (or American National Security for Global Security MA students) to write the first paper for submission to their thesis portfolio.
470.852 Research and Thesis II. Required for students enrolling in the Summer of 2010; optional for all other students. During this course, students will write or revise a second paper for the thesis portfolio under the direct supervision of the faculty instructor.
470.800 Research and Thesis III. This is the final course of the MA program. In Research and Thesis III, students will focus on making final revisions to the third required paper of their thesis portfolio. Students will also write and complete the introductory comment and conclusion to their thesis portfolio. The introduction should include not only an executive summary of all three papers but also an explanatory statement on the themes and links among the papers. Both the introductory comment and the conclusion should also address the significance of the topic, the contribution your research has made in the field, and situate your thesis within established schools of thought on the topic. The conclusion may also include recommendations or point out areas of future research and weaknesses in the current field of study. Students who have successfully submitted their thesis portfolio of three research papers, the introductory commentary, and conclusion may then defend their thesis at the oral defense at the end of each semester, including the summer.
470.888 Thesis Continuation. Because of the emphasis placed in the core courses and electives on equipping students with the writing and research skills for successfully writing a thesis, students should be able to complete their thesis portfolio in the last semester of their studies when they enroll in “Research and Thesis.” However, for a variety of reasons, many work-related, some students find that they cannot finish or defend their thesis after they have taken “Research and Thesis.” These students must enroll in Thesis Continuation in every subsequent semester, including the summer, until they finish. The continuation fee is currently $500 per semester. Continuation students are not required to attend class, but should stay in close touch with and submit any work to the Thesis Advisor, Dr. Dorothea Wolfson (dorotheawolfson@jhu.edu), as well as to any faculty members with whom they have been working.

HIRB application

Students whose thesis will utilize research methods that involve human-subjects research (e.g. surveys, focus groups, or interviews) must describe their projects and apply for either an exemption or approval from the Homewood Institutional Review Board (HIRB). IRBs, are federally mandated and serve to ensure that researchers take the appropriate measures to minimize any risks involved for participants in research, inform participants of any risks that do remain, and obtain their consent to participate. The application process is not complicated and students should not let it deter them from pursuing public opinion research or interviews as their research method but you will need the exemption or approval before beginning any interviewing or surveying research. The review process usually takes about 3 weeks. For more information and to obtain an application for exemption, consult the HIRB website at: http://web.jhu.edu/Homewood-IRB/applications.html.
For further questions, please contact Dr. Dorothea Wolfson at dorotheawolfson@jhu.edu.

Thesis Organization and Writing
Each of the papers of the thesis portfolio should be approximately 25 pages long, double-spaced, using footnotes, NOT endnotes or parenthetical references. Students should follow The Chicago Manual of Style: The Essential Guide for Writers, Editors, and Publishers. Or students can buy Kate Turabian’s A Manual for Writers of Term Papers, Theses, and Dissertations, 6th Edition (Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 1996) which is an abbreviated (and less expensive) edition of the Chicago Manual of Style that was created specifically for students. Common errors in punctuation and capitalization can be avoided by consulting William Strunk Jr. and E.B. White, The Elements of Style, (Needham Heights, Massachusetts: Allyn & Bacon, 2000). Also, please consult the University’s “ Guidelines for the Preparation of Dissertations and Thesis” for detailed information about the organization and formatting of the thesis at www.library.jhu.edu/services/cbo/guidelines.html.

Oral Exam for Thesis Defense
We hold a thesis defense at the end of every semester, including the summer.
The oral exam is held during the 14th week of the semester, with the program chair and associate program chairs present. Students will assemble as a group for the defense. Each student will be asked to state briefly the contribution he or she has made in writing the thesis. Then the faculty committee will raise questions. We will continue until each student has defended. The group will then be dismissed and the oral defense committee will confer about the outcome for each student. Each student will be called back into the room for a private meeting with the committee to learn the outcome of his or her defense. The four possible outcomes for the thesis are:

Accepted, no revisions
Accepted, with some minor revisions, no further committee review required
Substantial revisions needed. Further committee review required before student may graduate
Not accepted (highly unlikely at this stage)

Honors on Thesis

Theses that are especially well-written, original, well researched and make a valuable contribution to the field will be considered for honors designation. Students who earn straight As in their coursework and earn honors on their theses will graduate with the distinction of Summa Cum Laude. Students who receive honors on thesis will graduate with a Magna Cum Laude distinction. For early straight As or A-s in all coursework, students graduate with a Cum Laude.

In addition we offer several other honors awards at our Spring graduation reception: the Harold Seidman Award for an outstanding thesis in the topic of policy and administration, and the William F. Clinger, Jr. Award for an outstanding thesis in the topic of institutional or representative government. In addition, there are special awards for the best thesis in the following areas: Global Security Studies, Policy Analysis, and Democratic Politics. Each recipient receives recognition and a check for $250. Recipients of these awards are determined a week after everyone has defended.

Submission of Final Copies of Thesis

Dissertation Office Final Copy.
Once a thesis has been defended and approved, it must be printed on acid-free paper, which is available locally at printing and copying firms such as the Copy Center at Dupont Circle or Staples. Along with this copy, please include an extra copy of your title page and abstract. Bring in the finished, box thesis to Nicole Cosey, room 104Y.

Copies for Library.
In addition to the acid-free copy, two more copies of the thesis need to be submitted as well on regular paper for our library. These two copies should be tape bound with a clear plastic cover.