Theses Project

Thesis Organization & Required Elements

Scholarly, scientific, and pedagogical theses

The following sections or elements are required in scholarly, scientific, and pedagogical theses:

1. Title Page (Click to download editable template)
2. Acknowledgements Page
3. Table of Contents
4. Abstract — required of all students
   
5. Body, often broken into numerous sections (literature review, etc.).  Will vary widely, depending on thesis topic.
   
6. Appendixes, as needed
7. Bibliography

Other Project Genres 

The following sections usually appear in senior projects within our other genres (creative, action research, service learning, volunteerism, experiential, leadership portfolio, cultural and wellness projects).

1. Title Page (Click to download editable template)
2. Acknowledgements Page (may be placed at end, especially for novels)
3. Table of Contents
4. Abstract — required of all students
   
5. Body, often broken into numerous sections. Will vary widely and may include diagrams, original art, images, description of the creative or community service action etc.  May be conflated with #6 below.
   
6. Expository section — for creative theses:  here students will discuss artistic influences upon their work, ranging from other artists to artistic movements or traditions, etc.  Students may elect to place this section before the creative work, after the abstract.
7. Appendixes, as needed.  May feature DVD’s or CD’s.
8. Bibliography, as needed.  May be included after the expository section, if that’s more appropriate.