5.6. Education Specialist Thesis/Project

5.6. EDUCATION SPECIALIST THESIS/PROJECT

5.6.1. Thesis Hours

Education Specialist students are required to plan and successfully complete an individual project or thesis. The purpose of the thesis/project is to provide an opportunity for the student to apply knowledge gained in the program to the resolution of significant needs arising from professional practice.

The Ed.S. thesis/project varies with the individual interests and professional responsibilities of each student. It is anticipated that thesis/project will generally fall into one of three categories:

(a) disciplined inquiry (thesis) -- see Appendix II for sample outline,

(b) development and validation of a program or product (project) -- see Appendix III for sample project outline, or

A minimum of 9 semester hours of thesis enrollment is required in the Ed.S. degree program. Students are required to enroll for a minimum of 2 semester hours in the appropriate 6971 thesis course each semester while actively working on the Ed.S. project or thesis, in the semester in which the student defends the thesis/project, and in the semester in which the thesis/project is submitted to the Associate Dean for Academic Affairs or USF Office of Graduate Studies (for School Psychology Theses). Students who have not completed the thesis/project after enrolling in the required 9 hours must enroll in additional thesis hours consistent with faculty supervisory effort, which, according to USF policy, is a minimum of 2 credit hours each semester, including the semester in which the thesis/project is submitted to the College

Associate Dean for Academic Affairs or the USF Office of Graduate Studies (for School Psychology Theses).

Ed.S. students will enroll for thesis hours under the following course prefixes according to their area of specialization:

Department/Unit	Course Prefix	Specialization
Adult, Career & Higher Education:	EDV ADE 6971 EDH EDH 6971 EDB EDA 6971 EDV EVT 6971	Adult Education Higher Education Educational Leadership (Community College) Vocational Education
Childhood Education:	EDU EEC 6971 EDE EDE 6971 EDR RED 6971	Early Childhood Education Elementary Education Reading/Language Arts
Educational Leadership and Policy Studies:	EDB EDA 6971	Educational Leadership (K-12)
Educational Measurement/Research:	EDQ EDF 6971	Measurement & Evaluation
Music Education (College of Visual and Performing Arts):	MUS MUE 6971	Music Education
Psychological & Social Foundations:	EDG MHS 6971 EDF SPS 6971	Counselor Education School Psychology
Secondary Education:	EDT LAE 6971 EDR EME 6971 EDO MAE 6971 EDN SCE 6971	English Education Instructional Technology Mathematics Education Science Education
Special Education:	EDS EEX 6971	Special Education
College of Education (Coordinator: Dr. E. V. Johanningmeier):	EDC EDG 6971	Interdisciplinary Education

5.6.2. Concept Paper

It is strongly recommended that students prepare a concept paper (2-3 pages) that will serve as an early communication device between the student and the Ed.S. committee. Upon consultation with the Major Professor, the student will formulate and develop the basic concepts of the project or thesis. Typically, the concept paper presents an overview of an identified problem, its context, and how the student proposes to address it in the thesis or project. After the committee concurs on the concept paper, the student will submit a thesis or project proposal to the committee members. The project/thesis proposal must be defended by the student at an oral defense meeting with the Ed.S. Committee (see Section 5.6.3.4.).

5.6.3. Project Proposal

5.6.3.1. Purposes

The purposes of the Ed.S. project proposal are

- to identify the problem
- to survey and evaluate relevant literature
- to describe the plan for addressing the problem

The proposal is a contract between the student and the Ed.S. Supervisory Committee as to how the project will be conducted. It is therefore important that details of the plan be specified and approved in the proposal before the student begins to develop a product or gather data.

5.6.3.2. Permission to Conduct Research Involving Human Beings - Institutional Review Board (IRB)

For both ethical and legal reasons, USF requires all researchers (including students) who conduct studies involving participation of human beings to have their projects reviewed and approved by an Institutional Review Board (IRB) for the Protection of Human Subjects prior to the start of their studies. Virtually all Ed.S. theses in the College of Education will require approval by the IRB as these studies involve the use of human subjects. Ed.S. students must therefore submit an application for approval of their study by the IRB.

Education in the Protection of Human Subjects:

Effective April 15, 2002, all USF faculty, students, and staff who plan to conduct or participate in a research study/project are required to complete training in the Protection of Human Subjects prior to the start of the study and must file a copy of their Certificate of Completion (of an approved program) with USF’s Division of Research Compliance. All Ed.S. students prior to the start of their thesis research/project are required to complete the required training if their proposed research/project will involve participation of human subjects.

Completion of the National Institute of Health’s (NIH) program in the Protection of Human Research Participants available on-line at web site http://cme.nci.nih.gov/, will meet the USF training requirements for the year 2002. (Be sure to read and print off all instructions before beginning the on-line program). Save and print the Certificate of Completion that is displayed when you complete the program. The Ed.S. student will need to submit a copy of the Certificate of Completion along with the Verification of Education in Human Subjects Protection form when filing an application for human subjects review and approval of his/her proposed research study with the Institutional Review Board (IRB). This application is to be submitted to the IRB at the thesis/project proposal stage and prior to the involvement of human subjects in any aspect of the research study (including pilot studies, pre-testing of instruments or interventions, etc.). The IRB approval will be contingent upon the receipt of the Certificates of Completion of the required training in the Protection of Human Subjects for both the Ed.S. student and his/her major professor. The student and his/her major professor(s) will receive notification from the IRB regarding approval of the application.

Note: The Certificate of Completion for both the student and Major Professor must be current for the year in which the application for IRB approval is filed. In addition, both the student and his/her major professor(s) will be expected to meet the continuing education requirement (see below) each year until the thesis/project is completed.

Continuing Education Requirements

Annual re-certification in human subjects protection will be required for all research faculty, staff, and students directly involved in research with human participants. The Division of Research Compliance will offer educational programs that will be customized and up-dated each year to ensure their relevance to current needs. (For more information, please contact John Arnaldi, Coordinator of Education at (813) 974-7363 or

Institutional Review Board (IRB) Forms

The forms and other relevant information needed to complete an application for human subjects review and approval by the IRB may be accessed and downloaded from USF’s Office of Sponsored Research, Division of Research Compliance web site at http://www.research.usf.edu/cs/ (click on Forms and Templates in the Institutional Review Board-IRB section, and then on Social and Behavioral Studies-IRB02). In addition to completing the IRB application form, students will need to complete the Verification of Education in Human Subjects Protection – Signature Form, Investigator Responsibilities Certification, and the necessary Consent Forms or Request for Waivers of Consent Form. An outline of the Steps for IRB-02 Protocol Review is also available at the web site. It is recommended that you review each section of this web site carefully to familiarize yourself with all IRB requirements that pertain to your research study.

At the proposal defense, the Major Professor will verify the status of the IRB review. At the final thesis/project defense the Major Professor will certify on the Record of Ed.S. Project form (Form 5-G) that IRB approval was obtained if the research/project used data related to human beings.

5.6.3.3. Format

In writing the proposal, the student should follow the format specified in the Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association (5th edition) available at the USF Bookstore, and the USF Office of Graduate Studies. Format instructions for Theses are available at http://www.grad.usf.edu/thesis_dissertation.asp (click on Thesis and Dissertation Submission Process – ETD or paper, and then on Format Requirements).

The proposal document must contain a completed title page (Form 5-C-1, 5-C-2, or 5-C-3), a Table of Content, List of References, and a copy of the Certificate of Completion an approved program for Human Subjects Protection. Forms 5-C-1, 5-C-2 and 5-C-3 are available on the COE website at http://www.coedu.usf.edu (click on Information and then on Forms).

5.6.3.4. Oral Proposal Defense

The purpose of the proposal defense is to elicit professional input and insight from the Supervisory Committee relative to the identified problem and how the project will address it. Copies of the proposal to be defended orally will be distributed to the members of the Ed.S. Committee at least two weeks prior to the proposal defense. The Major Professor will schedule and chair the proposal defense. Any changes agreed to at the proposal defense will be included in a revised proposal. The approved proposal, including the signed title page (Form 5-C-1, 5-C-2, or 5-C-3 as appropriate for the degree program), will be submitted by the Major Professor to the COE Associate Dean for Academic Affairs, who will review the project proposal. If the proposal is acceptable, the Associate Dean for Academic Affairs will notify the Major Professor and student by memo.

NOTE: Students may not defend their proposal and their final project/thesis within the same semester or within a 3-month time period across semesters. Exceptions to this policy may be approved if the Major Professor provides the Associate Dean for Academic Affairs with a written explanation why the candidate does not need this much time and negotiates a different time frame at the time the proposal is submitted.

After the proposal is approved, it is expected that the student will meet periodically with the Major Professor and the committee members to review the conduct and progress of the thesis/project. In writing the thesis/project, the student should follow the format specified in the Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association (5th edition), available in the USF Bookstore, and available on-line at USF Office of Graduate Studies’ website at http://www.grad.usf.edu/thesis_dissertation.asp, (click on Thesis and Dissertation Submission Process – ETD or paper, and then on Format Requirements), The Thesis and Dissertation Handbook is also available at this website.

The final thesis (or project) should include a Title Page (Form 5-D-1, 5-D-2, or 5-D-3), an Abstract Title Page (Form 5-E-1, 5-E-2, or 5-E-3) and Abstract, and Certificate of Approval (Form 5-F-1, 5-F-2 or 5-F-3). Forms 5-D-1, 5-E-1 and 5-F-1 are available online at the USF Office of Graduate Studies’ website at http://www.grad.usf.edu/thesis_dissertation_info.asp. The other forms are available on the COE website at http://www.coedu.usf.edu (click on Information and then on Forms). School Psychology students who are preparing a thesis should contact the USF Office of Graduate Studies’ Manuscript Editor at (813) 974-2846 for format check as the thesis is submitted to the USF Office of Graduate Studies. The deadline for format check is available in the student's department, or the Office of the COE Associate Dean for Academic Affairs (974-0366), or on the USF Office of Graduate Studies' website at http://www.grad.usf.edu (go to Information for Enrolled Students/Faculty, and then click on Thesis and Dissertation Information).

Deadlines: Specific deadlines for format editing by the USF Office of Graduate Studies’ Manuscript Editor (for School Psychology Ed.S. Thesis, only), the final oral defense of the thesis/project, and final deposit of the project/thesis in the COE Dean's Office or the USF Office of Graduate Studies (School Psychology Thesis), are distributed by the Dean's Office to all Departments in a written notice or may be found on the College of Education’s website at http://www.coedu.usf.edu (click on Information), and the USF Graduate Studies’ website indicated above.

When the Ed.S. Supervisory Committee has inspected the final draft of the thesis or project and finds it suitable for a formal defense, the Major Professor will schedule a defense date suitable to all members of the Supervisory Committee and the student. The Committee and the student will meet for an oral defense of the thesis/project. The defense will be chaired by the Major Professor. After the oral defense and the approval of the thesis or project by the Supervisory Committee, the Education Specialist Thesis (or Project) Certificate of Approval form (Form 5-F-1 or 5-F-2) and the Record of Ed.S. Project (Form 5-G) will be completed, as appropriate. Form 5-G is available on the COE’s website at http://www.coedu.usf.edu (click on Information and then on Forms). The student should prepare these forms and have them available for signature at the final oral defense.

Except in the case of School Psychology, the signed Certificate of Approval form (Form 5-F-1, Form 5-F-2 or 5-F-3), Record of Ed.S. Project form (Form 5-G), and a copy of the thesis/project with signed title page (Forms 5-D-1, 5-D-2, or 5-D-3) will be submitted by the Major Professor to the College of Education Associate Dean for Academic Affairs for final college approval at least three weeks before the end of the semester/term. School Psychology theses are to be submitted directly to the USF Office of Graduate Studies, all other Ed.S. theses and projects must be submitted to the COE Associate Dean’s Office. (Specific deadlines are distributed in a written notice by the Dean's Office early in each semester/term.) Upon approval of the thesis/project by the College Associate Dean for Academic Affairs, the original of the Record of Ed.S. Project form (Form 5-G) will be submitted by the Associate Dean to the USF Office of Graduate Studies, with copies sent to the Coordinator of Graduate Studies, the Department Chairperson, and the Major Professor. The USF Office of Graduate Studies will certify acceptance of the completed thesis/project by assigning the final grade of "S" for thesis hours upon receipt of the Record of Ed.S. Project form (Form 5-G) from the College.

For Ed.S. Thesis (School Psychology Program). The only exception to the above submission procedures will be in the School Psychology program (thesis option). The USF Office of Graduate Studies will continue to accept the final thesis from students in the School Psychology program for permanent filing in the USF Library. Two copies of the thesis with a title page (Form 5-D-1), Abstract Title Page (Form 5-E-1) and the Certificate of Approval (Form 5-F-1) and the Record of Ed.S. Project Form (Form 5-G) must be submitted by the student to the USF Office of Graduate Studies by the published deadline. Forms 5-D-1, 5-G-1 and 5-F-1 are available online at http://www.grad.usf.edu/thesis_dissertation_info.asp.

When depositing the final copies of the thesis in the USF Office of Graduate Studies, the School Psychology student will be charged for microfilming, binding, and any other miscellaneous fees required by the USF Office of Graduate Studies. Students should consult the USF Office of Graduate Studies’ Manuscript Editor for specific directions for submission of the thesis by the published deadline for the given semester. (Deadlines are available from the Program Coordinator, from the Office of the Associate Dean (EDU 105), or the USF Office of Graduate Studies website at http://www.grad.usf.edu.

The student will distribute bound copies of the project to each member of the Ed.S. Committee and the College Associate Dean for Academic Affairs, who will retain a copy of the Ed.S. project for the Dean’s Office file. Students should check with committee members for their binding preference.