You may choose to complete either a thesis or a project to finish your degree. These activities allow you to synthesize what you have learned and develop an original product that demonstrates your skills and interests. If you would like to see examples of thesis and project topics, consult our thesis/project archive.
A thesis is a report of research (library-based or primary empirical research). It may be organized around themes or in a traditional introduction / methods / results / discussion / conclusion structure. You may decide to work on a thesis if you want to investigate a question of interest to the field.
An MAPC project portfolio includes a deliverable completed for a client, a journal written during the process of completing the project, and a scholarly paper reporting something you learned from the project. MAPC students find their own clients for projects, but potential clients often approach the program and students may choose to work with these clients.
Talk with your advisor and other faculty as you make the choice of a thesis or project. Then, form a committee of faculty who will provide guidance as you work on the thesis or project. The MAPC Handbook provides more details about forming a committee, as well as other steps in the thesis/project process. Most students select their committee chair first and work closely with this faculty member to select the other members and complete a proposal. Reviewing the faculty's research interests will help you identify appropriate committee members.
After you and your committee agree that your thesis or project is nearly complete, you will schedule a defense of the thesis or project. At the defense, you will give a brief presentation and your committee members will ask you questions about your thesis or project. They will probably suggest revisions. Once you have successfully defended your thesis or project and made any needed revisions, you will have a professional product to share with potential employers or graduate schools.