SCHOOL of INTERNATIONAL SERVICE

American University · Washington, D.C.

GUIDELINES for SUBMITTING YOUR MA THESIS

Congratulations on completing your MA Thesis -- it is an impressive achievement and a testament to your time and effort, as well as your commitment to the realm of International Service.

The information on this page is designed to assist you in navigating the steps for submitting your thesis for approval by your committee, the Dean, and American University and contains most of the materials that you will need along the way.

Before beginning the submission process, be sure to review American University's thesis guidelines to make sure all aspects of your thesis conform to those rules.

We encourage you to stop by the SIS Graduate Advising Office to pick up a Thesis Submission Packet. Instructions are provided here for your reference.

Thesis Submission Packet Contents

• Thesis/Dissertation Completion Form*
• Publishing Your Master's Thesis booklet from UMI*
  (this can be downloaded from http://www.il.proquest.com/dissertationagree
  with login ID: dissertations and password: publish)
• Photocopy of the Thesis/Dissertation Completion Form that indicates who signs where
• Sample Completed Thesis title page

* Forms you will need. Everything else is for your reference.

What You Will Also Need

• Money order or check for $45 payable to American University
• 2 copies of the title page of your thesis on approved thesis paper
• Thesis paper (to print out the final version of your thesis upon approval)

(NOTE: The title page should be the ONLY part of your thesis that is printed on thesis paper before you have obtained ALL necessary approvals. You can purchase thesis paper from the bookstore or use any thesis paper that meets the requisite specifications (the paper must be Acid-free and at least 25% cotton rag)

Before You Get Started

Make sure that you apply to graduate (if you have not done so already. You can do this using the my.american.edu portal (best option) or using a paper form from the SIS Graduate Academic Affairs Office in SIS 12. If the graduation application is no longer available on the my.american.edu portal, contact gradclearance@american.edu with your name (as you would like it to appear on your diploma), AUID, and address (to which you want your diploma sent).

Submission Steps

1. Fill out and sign the Thesis/Dissertation Completion form (you can type it or print neatly in blue or black ink -- be sure to bear down hard, as you are making several copies), and complete the Master's Thesis Agreement Form and Publishing Agreement Form in the Publishing Your Master's Thesis. If you wish to copyright your thesis or order discounted copies as specified in the booklet (these are optional), you will need to provide payment for those at the rates specified (this is in addition to the $45).
2. Meet with each (or both/all) of your committee members to discuss your final completed and approved copy. Make a note of any and all revisions/edits/changes that they want made. Have them sign the thesis-paper Title Page (this way you will not have to try and find them again later), and have your Chair sign your Thesis/Dissertation Completion Form (in the School/Department signature box).
3. Ask your chair to submit your grade for your thesis (note that if you’ve registered your thesis over multiple semesters, your committee chair will need to submit a grade for EACH semester in which you were registered—he/she can contact the Dean’s Office or Graduate Advising Office for assistance if he/she has any questions).
4. Submit a COMPLETE reading copy (this should be your entire thesis, including abstract, appendices, etc. printed on plain paper) of your approved thesis to the Assistant to the Dean in the SIS Dean’s Office (SIS 100).  Unless you’ve made prior arrangements, you’ll need to do this about a month before the semester ends (you can get the exact date from the University’s Academic Calendar at http://www.american.edu/american/registrar/calendar_index.htm).  The Dean will read your thesis and his assistant will contact you to schedule an appointment to discuss the thesis.
5. Meet with the Dean at your scheduled time.  Bring your Title Page and Thesis/Dissertation Completion Form with you, as the Dean will need to sign both of them.
6. Make any final revisions/changes that the Dean gives you.  Once you’ve made these final edits, bring the full thesis to the archives room in the Library for them to review the formatting.  Do not print your thesis out on thesis paper until your formatting has been fully approved!  Once they have approved your formatting, print your full thesis out on thesis paper.  Do NOT bind, staple or do anything else to the thesis (your best means of transporting your thesis will be in a paper box, like the one your thesis paper probably came in) or the University Library won’t accept it.
7. Take your Thesis/Dissertation Completion Form and your money order or check for $45 to the Student Accounts Office (Asbury 300) and have your form stamped by Student Accounts, confirming that payment has been received.
8. Take your Thesis/Dissertation Completion Form to the Registrar’s Office (Asbury 200) and have your form signed that you’re cleared for graduation (this will require that your committee chair has submitted your grade for your thesis and that you have no other degree requirements pending.)
9. Bring your thesis, Thesis/Dissertation Completion Form, and Master’s Thesis Agreement Form and Publishing Agreement Form (and a money order or check for the appropriate amount if you opt for the copyrighting and/or Author Discount offer-details are in the Publishing Your Master’s Thesis packet) to the Archives Reading Room in the Bender Library (3rd floor).  You’ll deposit your thesis, obtain your final signature on your Thesis/Dissertation Completion Form, and be given the final copy to keep for your records as a confirmation that your thesis submission is complete.
10. Stop by the SIS Graduate Advising Office for the front desk to make a copy of your Completion form so we can have it for your file.

Last Updated 08/07