A thesis is a professional manuscript about accurate and meaningful research conducted by the student.  It is submitted to the Graduate School as partial fulfillment of the requirements for a master's degree.  It reflects credit to the student, the Thesis Chair, the Thesis Committee Members, the student's program, the student's department and school, the Graduate School, and High Point University.

When the student enrolls in a thesis course, the student is not selecting independent study.  The student is assisted in the preparation of the thesis manuscript by the Thesis Chair and two Thesis Committee members who are graduate faculty in the student's field of study.

The Graduate School's Checklist for Thesis must be used in conjunction with the latest edition of the manuscript style manual selected for use by the department in which the student is writing the thesis.

A previously accepted thesis is never acceptable instruction for preparing the thesis.

A minimum of two registrations in thesis courses is required; both registrations cannot occur in the same term.  Registration in the second thesis course must occur in the term that immediately follows enrollment in the first thesis course.  After the two registrations, the student must register for Thesis Continuation each term (fall, spring, and summer) until all requirements for the thesis are completed.

A maximum of two attempts to pass the oral defense of the thesis is allowed.  If the first attempt is failed, the second and final attempt may not occur earlier than the next term.

Completing all thesis requirements requires both a "Pass" performance on the oral defense of the thesis and the signature of approval of the Dean of the Graduate School on the thesis manuscript.  The student will not receive a review of the thesis by the Graduate School if the oral defense is not a "Pass."

Both the student and the Thesis Chair have responsibility for ensuring absolute quality for all aspects of the written thesis before any copy is submitted to the Graduate School.

Only the Dean of Norcross Graduate School has the authority to tell a student that thesis requirements have been satisfied.

When the thesis manuscript meets standards of acceptance into the Graduate School, the Dean of Norcross Graduate School advises the student to make three copies on bond paper, obtain original signatures on the three signature pages and pay the binding fee to the Business Office.

No copy of the thesis is bound for the student's personal use.

Download a copy of the Norcross Graduate School Guide for Thesis.