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Master's Thesis

The MA thesis is an extended piece of academic writing (75-120 pages). The student will choose a scholarly topic of his/her choice. You can view College of Communication student theses on the DePaul library archive.

Thesis Timeline
Students are advised to begin work on their thesis at least 9-12 months prior to the time they hope to complete/defend their thesis.

Eligibility
A thesis option is available to students holding a cumulative GPA of 3.7 or higher upon completing 24 credit hours (six courses) in their graduate program.

A student who does not meet the 3.7 GPA requirement may petition to write a thesis by submitting two letters of recommendation from faculty members with whom they have taken classes. The graduate program director will review the letters and decide whether the student is eligible to pursue the thesis option.

Advantages
Writing a thesis allows you to research and study a topic in depth and produce original academic work. It establishes you as an expert in the area of communication studies. It helps you with your application for PhD programs and serves as a basis for future publications.

See specific criteria in the Guidelines and Policies for Preparing a Research Thesis