Culminating Activities - Thesis, Project, Capstone

• Formatting Regulations are noted on the School of Graduate Studies website. Students completing Capstone, Project or Thesis should follow these formatting regulations.

Project and Thesis

Following final decanal approval of a Thesis or Project, the final PDF document must be submitted to OPUS (Open ULeth Scholarship):

• E-Thesis Submission Steps
• E-Project Submission Steps

Capstone

Instructions for submission are noted in the Capstone section below.

A thesis is theory oriented, and begins with the posing of a question that will in some way contribute to the building or validating of theory. Considerable depth is expected in the review of literature, the application of a disciplined and clearly described methodology for dealing with the research question, a thorough description of the results of the work (both descriptive and connotational), a synthesis of the research findings with extant literature, and implications of the research for both theory and practice.

Carefully review the information and forms below:

• Thesis Process and Timelines
• Establishment/Change of Supervisory Committee form
• Thesis/Project Proposal
• Statement of Progress and Standing form
• Final Thesis/Project Examination form
• Conflict of Interest Form (provided by Graduate Program Office)
• Assessment of Readiness to Defend
• Recommendation of the Award of the Degree
• E-Thesis Submission Steps

Other resources: sample MEd Thesis Gantt chart

A project is generally intended as an application to an existing methodology or procedure. Often, people will use the project as a demonstration or as an implementation of something that does not currently exist in their system. Thus, it is more practice oriented, even though it still must have a solid grounding in the literature. Students engage in systematic inquiry of a topic relevant to their educational practice. This inquiry is grounded in theory and research but typically focuses on practice. Methods of inquiry may be both qualitative or quantitative.

Carefully review the information and forms below:

• Project Checklist
• Establishment of PROJECT Supervisory Committee form
• Approval of Project Proposal - M.C. and M.Ed.
• Statement of Progress and Standing form
• Recommendation of the Award of the Degree - Faculty of Education
• E-Project Submission Steps

Other resources: sample MEd/MC Project Gantt chart

The Capstone is conducted in a supportive seminar environment that draws on the participant's experience in the graduate program in order to synthesize the student's learning in the creation of a significant contribution to scholarship and/or professional practice.

Carefully review the information and forms below:

• Sample Capstone Title Page
• Note: To ensure the document formats correctly, and for field options where appropriate, click within each section of the Word document.
  • Name and undergraduate information
  • Degree: MASTER OF EDUCATION
  • Major: COUNSELLING PSYCHOLOGY, EDUCATIONAL LEADERSHIP, or GENERAL, as per Graduate Calendar. (The name of your cohort is not included.)
• Final Capstone PDF documents are submitted to Graduate Studies and Research in Education (edu.masters@uleth.ca), along with the M.Ed. Capstone Non-Exclusive Distribution License.
• Capstone samples from MEd (Educational Leadership) cohorts are provided below for your reference.
  • Enhancing staff efficacy: The influence of leadership over student learning
  • Nothing grows in the comfort zone: The essential conditions for a culture of learning
  • Of monsters and machines: Empowering humanity and liberty in the process of education

The Professional Portfolio is similar to the Capstone utilized in the Master of Education program, in that it is course based and led by an instructor.

Students will create a multi-layered record of professional growth and development using a variety of media. This is facilitated through a series of weekly activities to collect, examine, and archive evidence of program experiences. In doing so, students will demonstrate the competencies required to graduate as a master level counsellor, and will prepare for their professional futures. Peer collaboration and feedback will be utilized in the process that will occur in a paced format using the usual timelines of the term.

Students complete the Professional Portfolio in the final term of their program, normally at the same time as they complete CAAP 6619. As the practicum has additional time demands, in conjunction with the effort required for the Professional Portfolio, students should plan to reduce outside commitments for this term accordingly.

The Professional Portfolio is only offered in select terms. Please contact us at edu.masters@uleth.ca to confirm availability.