Culminating project planning must begin well in advance of graduation. The process will take a minimum of two semesters.
For many programs students can select a culminating project as part of the admission process. Before the completion of 15 graduate credits or 50% of graduate program credits, students will meet with a program advisor about completion options.
The advisor selects with the student which culminating project to complete at that time.
The most important consideration is the selection of at least three graduate faculty as committee members.
Your program advisor may serve as a committee member or may help you identify two or three members with expertise or interest in your research area.
Your committee must be comprised of:
University faculty serving on committees must be approved graduate faculty members.
Submit the "Update my People" form for approval of the culminating project committee at least 20 business days before the preliminary conference meeting. You and your committee chair will receive and email response within 10 business days.
You will meet with the committee for a preliminary conference and for a final conference and oral examination.
The most important consideration is the selection of at least four graduate faculty as committee members.
Your program advisor may serve as a committee member or may help you identify a chair and three additional members with expertise or interest in your research area.
Your committee must be comprised of:
University faculty serving on committees must be approved graduate faculty members.
Submit the "Update my People" form for approval of the culminating project committee at least 20 business days before the preliminary conference meeting. You and your committee chair will receive and email response within 10 business days.
You will meet with the committee for a preliminary conference and for a final conference and oral examination.
To register for master's culminating project credits, you will register for the appropriate course in the department (usually 699) and for the agreed upon number of credits. Doctoral students will register for 899 Dissertation credits.
Note: You are required to be registered for at least one graduate credit in the term in which you graduate.
You and your committee chair will outline and agree to the work to be completed in each term of culminating project registration. If you have completed the culminating project work agreed to for that term, the chair can enter a mark of S (satisfactory)
If all of the agreed to requirements are not complete by the end of the semester in which the work was registered, the mark can be reported as a U (unsatisfactory), as an IP (in progress), or as RC (research continued).
When you have completed the culminating project requirements, including the final defense and submission of the culminating project, the advisor submits a mark of S (satisfactory) or the earned A-F mark in programs where the culminating project uses letter grades.
A master's culminating project must be completed within the seven-year time limit set for the completion of a master's degree.
A doctoral dissertation should be completed within the seven-year time limit set for the completion of a doctoral degree. A doctoral student who is making documented progress may petition for an annual extension until the 10 year time to degree maximum limit is reached.
Each master's program at St. Cloud State has one or more approved culminating experience/projects listed in the University Catalog. Students, with the support of their advisor, select a culminating experience/project as part of their master's degree program. The required credits to be completed for each master's degree and completion option is listed as part of the program curriculum and included in the University Catalog.
Thesis
A thesis is a document written in support of obtaining an academic degree. It is usually longer than a research paper and thus completed over the course of two or more semesters. A thesis is associated with graduate studies and is carried out under a supervision of a professor or an academic of the university.
A thesis requires the demonstration of individual academic research and the evidence of capacity for critical analysis. A thesis also requires the input of original work and author’s findings on the chosen topic. When choosing a topic for a thesis the author must take into consideration the expectation of originality in the field or the input of some relevant new information or ideas.
You and your committee chair and culminating project committee must agree to one disciplinary based style guide to follow for preparation of the culminating project.
Creative Work
A student interested in completing a creative work must show evidence of creative ability to selected committee members before being approved for this option.
The creative work includes a written statement of artistic intent and such supporting materials as are applicable.
You and your committee chair and culminating project committee must agree to one disciplinary based style guide to follow for preparation of the culminating project.
Field Study
A field study examines a problem in educational administration and is completed as the culminating project for the Specialist Degree.
Starred Paper(s)
Starred paper(s) content and structure is determined by the department. Starred paper(s) include a review of the relevant research and offer constructive critical analysis of existing theories or viewpoints; may be a proposal to conduct research (e.g. first 3 chapters of a thesis) or a creative work and an analysis of the genre. In short, academic requirements for a starred paper do not generally include original research.
You and your committee chair and culminating project committee must agree to one disciplinary based style guide to follow for preparation of the culminating project.
Capstone
A capstone project is disciplinary based research or experiential assignment and other work completed for a capstone course. The department determines the requirements in order to receive a grade for the capstone course. This course is needed to complete the culminating project requirement for programs that end with a designated capstone course.
Comprehensive Exam
Written examination designed to demonstrate understanding and integration of learning in the program. May also be preparatory for state and national licensing examinations.
Project/Portfolio or Internship/Portfolio
A portfolio is a significant professional project or a portfolio of projects prepared in conjunction with approved graduate courses or internship(s) in the major area of concentration.
Each program determines the format of the portfolio or e-portfolio. Please consult with your program advisor/committee chair. The department may exercise the right to retain any or all materials prepared for the portfolio or project or require a digital file or permanent link to an e-portfolio.
Plan C portfolios are not required to be submitted to the Institutional Repository. If you wish to submit your portfolio, it must be formatted according to disciplinary style guide or School of Graduate Studies guidelines.
Notify the School of Graduate Studies by email if you wish to submit your Plan C portfolio to the Institutional Repository.
Additional information and Resources
Before you schedule a preliminary conference, you and your advisor/committee chair should review your degree audit through e-Services and:
Your preliminary committee meeting must take place at least one semester prior to the final defense/final committee meeting.
A candidate completing a culminating project generally completes the final conference or oral examination during the last semester of the program.
The final conference should be scheduled six or more weeks prior to final examinations week. This timeframe allows for required revisions, electronic submission and format review and approval.
Final oral examinations are required for completion of a dissertation, thesis, field study, starred paper(s), creative work or professional portfolio (with project, internship or practicum).
Recommended deadlines for each term.
Final written comprehensive examinations may be required in addition to a written culminating project at the option of individual departments.
Once you have successfully passed the final evaluation conference, made corrections required by your committee and received format approval through the School of Graduate Studies, the dissertation, field study, thesis, creative work, or starred paper is ready for final electronic submission.
Follow the guidelines for formatting and electronic submission of culminating projects.
If IRB or IACUC approval was needed for research, documentation of review and approval of the research must be included in the appendices of the culminating project.