Master's Thesis Option

Each master's student will have an option of completing a thesis as part of the requirements for the master's degree in special education. Under this option, students enroll in 6 semester hours of EDSP 6000, and this becomes part of the minimum of 36 semester hours on the degree plan. Students completing a master's thesis are exempt from taking the comprehensive evaluation. However, students must complete a final oral defense.

If interested in completing a master's thesis, the student should discuss these plans with their advisor. A thesis committee of at least two full-time faculty members of the College of Education will be recommended by the advisor and approved by the Graduate School. This committee will provide ongoing guidance as the student prepares the proposal, carries out the research project, and completes the written document. The process of planning the thesis, ideally, should begin in the semester in which the student takes Introduction to Educational Research. The final copy of the thesis is prepared in accordance with the requirements in Instructions for Preparing and Submitting Theses and Dissertations, available in the Texas Tech Bookstore.