EXSC 690 Thesis Defense

The thesis defense is the culminating event for the student’s education through the research conducted as a continuation of prior coursework.  The research will be the foundation for the written report and oral defense of the selected thesis.  A final copy of a publishable manuscript is submitted to a thesis defense committee for review prior to a formal defense by way of presentation and responses to verbal inquiry by the defense committee.

The purpose of this course is to formally critique a student’s original research project prior to submission for publication.  Successful manuscript preparation and subsequent oral defense are final events that provide a comprehensive application of various core components of the Master’s degree program for the MS in Human Performance or MS in Exercise Science.

Course Requirements Checklist

After reading the Course Syllabus and Student Expectations, the student will complete the related checklist found in the Course Overview.

Quiz: Manuscript Development Progress (7)

The candidate will self-report acknowledgment of progress on this quiz. Also, this quiz serves to show course activity and attendance; therefore, each quiz must be completed within the assigned module and should not be taken early.

Thesis Defense Presentation Assignment

The student will prepare a summary presentation of the results of his or her original research.  The presentation must occur before the end of the semester that the course is completed on a date that is set by the Thesis Chair.  The presentation date will be no later than the 2nd to last Friday in the semester as to which the student is registered for EXSC 690.  The thesis committee then takes the opportunity to question the candidate about specific aspects of the thesis including methodology, results, application and areas for future investigation.

Manuscript Assignment

Students will complete the results, discussion and conclusion sections of a journal manuscript while also refining their introduction and methodology sections from the EXSC-689 course. The manuscript format will follows the journal’s submission guidelines for authors.  The entire revised manuscript must be submitted to the Thesis Chair no later than three weeks before the end of the semester.  Plus, the final polished draft of the entire thesis must be submitted to the LU Library in order for the student to receive their degree upon graduation.