San Francisco State University
Department of Recreation, Parks &Tourism
Thesis, Applied Project & Comp. Exam Preparation and Checklist

Back to main RLS page

Listed below are the steps students need to take in preparation for the final stages of the M.S. in Recreation. Three culminating experience options are: A comprehensive exam, an Applied Research Project (ARP), or a Thesis. In addition to this source of information students must consult the SFSU Graduate Division website (http://www.sfsu.edu/~gradstdy) and department advisor to verify any recent changes to University and department requirements shown on the department Culminating Experience Options webpage.

Click here for a list of Deadlines For Completing a Masters Degrees, prepared by the Graduate Division. Good planning prevents poor performance (and delayed graduation)! Click on the following link to learn about RPT Department Thesis/ARP Eligibility Requirements. Note; the Recreation Graduate Program curriculum is changing in spring 2012.

We have made it easy for students to know the primary completion steps, forms to complete, when they should be submitted and to track progress towards completing the culminating experience and steps toward graduation. Below are two links, the first is the flow chart of steps for completing a Comprehensive Exam; the second is a flow chart for completing an Applied Research Project or Thesis. Print out the appropriate one page checklist and use it to follow student progress.

* RPT Flow Chart and Checklist for completing Comprehensive Exam and graduation

* RPT Flow Chart and Checklist for completing Applied Research Project or Thesis

The next section provides more detailed descriptions of intermediate steps in the culminating experience and graduation process.

DETAILED ORDER OF APPROVALS AND FORMS FOR ALL OPTIONS*

1. Submit signed Advancement to Candidacy (ATC) form (formerly GAP) to the Graduate Division 2-3 semesters prior to planned graduation.

2. Establish a Culminating Experience Committee (CEC). Work with your advisor to identify at least one more faculty from RPT to serve. For a thesis you have the option of a third member from within or outside SFSU. An ARP requires the third member to be from the agency for which you are conducting the research. If doing a comprehensive exam you still must identify a CEC.

3. Complete the Culminating Experience form to indicate which culminating experience option you have selected. This form must be signed by your CEC. Select the specific form for your type of culminating experience (comp. exam, ARP or thesis) from the Graduate Division website (www.sfsu..edu/~gradstdy/culminating-experience.htm). Submit the Culminating Experience form to the Graduate Division.

4. If doing a thesis/ARP submit to your advisor a very brief (three pages or less) prospectus. The required contents of the prospectus are found on the Thesis and ARP Eligibility webpage. If doing a comp. exam, submit a study plan. Get the approval of this prospectus (study plan) from your advisor.

5. If doing a thesis/ARP, you can now start writing your comprehensive written proposal (Chapters 1-3) that will be submitted to your CEC before your formal Thesis or ARP Oral Proposal Presentation. It must be submitted by to your CEC by Nov. 15 in fall or April 15 in spring.

6. If doing a thesis or ARP, submit your advisor-approved comprehensive written proposal to your CEC at least two weeks (14 days) prior to your presentation. Conduct your Oral Proposal Presentation to your CEC and receive their approval prior to submitting materials to the Human Subjects Protocol Committee (HSPC) and before you can gather data or start project.

7. If doing thesis or ARP, everyone must submit a Protocol Approval Form to the HSPC. Check to see if your research may be exempt from a long formal HSPC review. If your research/project is not exempt you will need to go through a full review. Get Human Subjects Protocol Approval Form signed by HSPC. Submit signed Protocol Approval Form and signed (by all your CEC) Proposal For Culminating Experience Requirement Form to Graduate Division. Only now you can proceed with your thesis/ARP work.

8. When you have Human Subjects and CEC approval of the proposal, this will allow you to get a permit number from the Dept. Chair to enable you to add either RPT 895 or RPT 898. Deadline for submittal is the fourth week of the semester in which you plan to sign-up for the class. If you are not able to register before the fourth week you can still proceed with the next steps, but the following semester you will need to register for RPT 895 or 898.

9. If doing comprehensive exam, submit a three page prospectus to your advisor the semester prior to taking the comp. exam and get advisor and CEC approval . The semester you will take exam, register for RPT 896. Provide written notice of intent to take comp. exam by fourth week of the semester. Then as part of RPT 896 submit a Written Study Plan to your advisor and you can start studying.

10. If doing thesis or ARP, submit a complete draft thesis or Professional Paper (PP) to advisor. After required revisions get verbal OK from your advisor to set a date and time for your Oral Thesis Defense.

11. If doing thesis or ARP, submit written thesis or PP to your CEC by Nov. 15 in fall or April 15 in spring and at least two weeks in advance of your defense. Conduct your Thesis or APP Oral  Defense.

12. Secure signatures of your CEC on Report of Completion of Culminating Experience form (and thesis signature page), for either passing comp exam, or from approval of your thesis or PP at defense.

13. Submit approved thesis to Graduate Division for a final format approval, and then bring it to Rapid Copy for binding. If doing an ARP, submit copy of your approved, bound Professional Paper and pdf file of it to the RPT Department, your advisor and to each CEC member. It is common courtesy/practice to provide professionally bound copies of your thesis or ARP to all your CEC members.

14. Submit signed Application For Graduate Degree to Graduate Division.

 

* As of 8/30/11