Department Guidelines for Thesis Proposal
Department Guidelines for Project Proposal
Department Guidelines for Thesis Supervision
Recommended Timelines for Students

 

Department Guidelines for Thesis Proposal

No later than the end of the first semester following completion of course requirements, students completing the Master's program under the "Thesis" option must prepare a written thesis proposal in constitution with the Senior Supervisor and present it for approval by the supervisory committee, and by the Graduate Studies Committee of the Department of French.  The thesis proposal shall consist of:

  1. an appropriate critical bibliography
  2. a brief narrative summary of the reserach topic/problem
  3. a description of the methodology and theoretical framework to be applied
  4. a statement showing the originality of the thesis
  5. an outline and proposed timetable for the research work to be undertaken

The student may be asked to mee with either or both committees if clarification is required, and will be expected to make recommnded changes to the thesis proposal in a timely fashion (refer to Recommended Timelines for Students).  Failure to present a proposal by this time limit, or failure to obtain formal approval of the proposal by both committees within two semesters after completion of course requirements, may be considered evidence of unsatisfactory progress as defined under Graduate Regulation 1.8.

Department Guidelines for Project Proposal

The Project will include a practical component which may be in a non-traditional format.  In Linguistics, this practical component could take the form of a commentary or a critical analysis of a textbook, an instructional manual or a set of exercises for French teaching applications, or the collection and implementation of a French corpus database.  In Literature, it could take the form of an anthology or the editing and publication of a collection of original texts.

A written project proposal must be submitted no later than one semester following the completion of course work in order to be assessed and approved by the Graduate Studies Committee of the Department of French.  Project proposals other than those mentioned above can be submitted.  The student should consult with the Senior Supervisor prior to developing the proposal.

Department Guidelines for Thesis Supervision

Faculty members and graduate students are reminded that, in addition to the formal requirements contained in the University Calendar (Graduate General Regulations 1.6), the Graduate Studies handbook, produced by the Dean of Graduate Studies and update annually, provides information on university expectations for graduate supervision.

The Graduate Studies Committee of the Department of French has additionally approved guidelines for its members

    1. After acceptance of the Thesis Proposal by the Graduate Studies Committee, all members of the thesis Supervisory Committee should maintain contact either electronically or through meetings with the student on a regular basis so that advice can be given, concerns discussed, solutions reached in common accord.
    2. It is the duty of the Senior Supervisor to arrange these encounters and to make sure that the final plan and the methodology for the thesis are agreed upon by all involved in the supervision.
    3. When the student reaches the final stages of the thesis, during the last semester, usually devoted to final corrections, meetings continue to take place with all members of the Supervisory Committee on a regular basis.  The final drafts of the thesis must be read and approved the all supervisors.
    4. Normal expectations for the completion of a thesis are a minimum of two to three semesters.  Thesis supervision should not be undertaken if such minimum committment cannot be guaranteed

The following resources are available to assist students in the preparation of the thesis itself:

Regulations and Guidelines for the Preparation of Theses, Extended Essays and Projects, available online at http://www.lib.sfu.ca/help/writing/theses.

Recommeded Timelines for Students

note: only full-time registration semesters count towards this timeline.  Any on-leave semesters or other interruption of the program are not taken into account.  The timelines below are recommended unless specified by policies.

Thesis Option (15 credit hours of coursework)

First semester Student starts coursework
Second semester Appointment of Senior Supervisor and
Supervisory Committee
Third semester Student completes coursework
Fourth semester Student submits written thesis proposal
for approval by the Supervisory and the Dept
Graduate Program Committees
Fifth & Sixth
semesters		 Student completes research and writes thesis


Project Option (20 credit hours of coursework)

First semester Student starts coursework
Second semester Appointment of Senior Supervisor and
Supervisory Committee
Third semester Student continues coursework
Fourth semester Student completes coursework
Fifth semester Student submits written project proposal
for approval by the Supervisory and the Dept
Graduate Program Committees
Sixth semester Student completes research and writes project

 

Field Examination Option (30 credit hours of coursework

First semester Student starts coursework
Second semester Appointment of Senior Supervisor and
Supervisory Committee
Third semester Student continues coursework
Fourth semester Student continues coursework
Fifth semester Student continues coursework
Sixth semester Student completes coursework and writes
exam during the exam period at the end
of the semester