MA TESOL - Thesis

MA Planning Form

1. Thesis

6 credits, Ling 503 Thesis

These 6 credits are usually spread out over 2 or more terms. You must be registered for at least one credit the term you defend your thesis, and any time you are working with your thesis advisor (your thesis committee chair). You can take more than 6 credits if you need to.

Students must find an advisor willing to supervise them on a thesis before beginning this process.  

The student will work closely with the thesis advisor to develop a thesis proposal, submit human subjects’ paperwork, carry out the research, and write up the research.  

Some terms the Thesis Writing Seminar (Ling 507) is offered.  This course cannot count for your thesis credits.  However, it will help you write your thesis more effectively and finish more quickly. 

The thesis will then be read and evaluated by the thesis committee chair and two additional members of the thesis committee.  

After your thesis defense, you will be asked to revise portions of the thesis, and have those revision approved by your thesis committee chair and/or other members. Once the revisions are approved, you must submit 3 copies to the graduate school, according to their specifications. The final copies of the thesis are due in the graduate school by the end of Finals Week.

2. Thesis Defense

At the end of your 6 credits

The thesis defense must be scheduled by the 6th week of the quarter, and must be scheduled with your advisor’s and the committee members’ approval. 

At the defense, you present your thesis to your thesis committee and the Applied Linguistics community. Other members of the PSU community may attend, if they wish. This is a presentation of at most 20 minutes, followed by questions and discussion. It covers the major sections of your thesis plus your reflections on the process.

Past Theses and Projects