The Final Project
The Final Project / Final Project Instructions
Students must have permission from the MLS office to register for the Final Project seminar (LS 8002). Feel free to call the MLS office or call the DGS directly if you have specific questions or concerns about the final project. Some students who are almost ready to take the Final Project seminar, plan and register for a Directed Study in the term prior to registering for the Final Project. A Directed Study with your advisor(s) gives you an opportunity to pull together the elements of your program that will be represented in your project, create a bibliography and outline, and write a description of your topic.
In an effort to avoid coming into the Final Project seminar unprepared, please follow these guidelines:
1. Your Degree Program Form must be submitted to the Graduate School, and any changes should be requested and documented with a Petition Form.
2. Contact your advisor(s) to let them know you intend to take the Final Project seminar, and when the class begins.
3. Confirm the availability of your advisor(s) during the term.
4. Be prepared to turn in the following items to the MLS office prior to receiving a permission number for registration in the Final Project seminar:
a. the proposed title of the project or paper;
b. a project outline with a paragraph describing each major section;
c. a bibliography with annotations for core sources; and
d. a sign-off on a - c from your MLS advisor (and co-advisor if applicable).
5. Library research should be completed by the first night of class. You should be ready to write and be willing to share and review drafts with your classmates as the term progresses.
6. If you are planning to complete a creative project (e.g., artwork, photography, Web pages, etc.), you should be prepared to write a process paper to accompany it. Your creative piece should be complete and you will write the process paper in the Final Project seminar.
Please refer to the “Final Project Instructions” packet which explains how to prepare a cover sheet, how to get the final paper bound, and many other details surrounding the submission of your final project.
In addition, there is a Final Project Forum event in the Fall and Spring. At this event you will hear from graduates, faculty members, and the writing tutor in an effort to clarify the final project process. Check the MLS Web site News and Events page for the next forum date or call the MLS office.
