Graduate Culminating Activity

所有研究生都必须在学位课程结束时参加一次全面的体验，以证明他们对学习项目的熟练程度.

过去和现在的十大博彩推荐排名州立大学研究生建议，最好把这些“学位决定事件”作为测试你的专业知识的机会. 开始采取积极的步骤——比如申请考试和注册课程——为你的全面体验做准备永远不会太早.

Your Graduate Program Coordinator / Doctoral Program Director 能在整个学习过程中为你提供建议，帮助你提前计划并确定满足综合经验要求的选择吗. In addition, 许多院系都有学习资料，可以帮助你准备综合考试.

点击下面提供的链接，了解更多具体的学习技巧，为您的特定的综合经验.

Comprehensive Experiences

Comprehensive Examination/Project

•  评估你通过课程和项目经验所获得的对所学领域的综合知识.
• 综合考试开放给完全入学的学生，GPA不低于3.00.
• 它在秋季学期和春季学期由各个项目部门管理一次.
• 你的研究生项目协调员可以告诉你综合考试的日期和时间.
• It is your responsibility to register for the Comprehensive Examination course. 请向你的指导老师询问你是否有资格参加综合考试. To register for the comprehensive exam: Log into WESS, select subject “Generic Graduate Course”, select “GRAD-CMP Comprehensive Examination”. Each section is listed under the major. 学生必须在Drop/Add期结束前(学期的第二周)在WESS上注册GRAD-CMP课程.)
• 未通过部门综合考试的学生可重新参加两次考试, but must register each time as described above.
• 综合考试第三次不及格的学生将被开除学籍.

Thesis

• This written project demonstrates your capacity for research, analytical thinking, and ability to make interpretive claims in your area of study.
• 希望撰写论文的学生需要广泛的阅读和对学科研究方法的展示知识.

Registering for the Thesis Course

• To register for the thesis course, students must fill out the Approval for Writing a Master’s Thesis Form fully and email it to thesisinquiry@eagle1027.com along with their thesis proposal.
• 研究生院将批准表格并将其转发给注册主任办公室，注册主任将为学生注册表格上指定的学期.
• 学生不能通过NEST注册论文课程(698)或论文扩展课程(699).

Additional information for Thesis Procedures

More resources for your thesis:

• Completing a Master’s Thesis at Montclair State University
• Example of Completed ETD Form
• Example of Correctly-Formatted Master’s Thesis – APA 7th Style
  
• Example of Correctly-Formatted Master’s Thesis – MLA 9th Style
• Example of Correctly-Formatted Master’s Thesis – Chicago Style

Thesis Contact Information

• Alison VanOrden at The Graduate School – thesisinquiry@eagle1027.com

Dissertation

博士候选人通过论文展示他们对现有文献和理论的掌握以及他们对教育问题的应用.

For more information, download the Dissertation Procedures

Research Project

For these small scope investigations of research projects, 学生定义他们的研究问题，并以书面形式记录他们的研究结果.

Capstone Course for MBA Programs

本课程侧重于实际的业务情况及其对组织的影响. 学生必须完成商业核心课程和至少15个学期的高级课程 before enrolling in the Capstone Course.

For more information, visit: http://business.eagle1027.com

Culminating Activity Course

Programs that require a culminating activity course include:

• Master of Education
• Master of Arts in Reading

Check with your department for specific requirements.

Information and Resources

• For additional information about the comprehensive experience, please contact your Graduate Program Coordinator or The Graduate School at 973-655-5147 or gradschool@eagle1027.com.
• For procedures and guidelines on preparing a doctoral dissertation, thesis, or to apply for the graduate comprehensive examination, visit: Academic Policies, Procedures and Guidelines
• Tap into the resources below to get started on your comprehensive experience:
  • Check with your department, 你的研究生项目协调员/博士项目主任和研究生院.
  • 为了注册论文课程，您必须完全入学并在研究生课程中具有良好的学术地位, comprehensive activity course or comprehensive examination.
  • Learn more about compliance with The Graduate School standards in Academic Policies, Procedures and Guidelines
  • You can access all forms required for your culminating experience. Note that all forms require the approval of your Graduate Program Coordinator.
  • 国际大学微电影(UMI)向其他研究人员收费提供论文. This is a terrific resource to learn what’s current in your field. 联系作者，了解更多关于他们的研究，如果他们的工作对你有帮助，一定要提前得到他们的许可.

Tips for Success

Planning

• Montclair State’s librarians are here to help you. Make a one-on-one appointment to learn how they can help with:
  • Citations.
  • Internet searches.
  • Inter-library services.
• Use time and space constructively by:
  • Finding a workspace that fits your needs.
  • Sticking to a realistic work schedule.
  • Taking breaks and making the most of your personal time.
• Use index cards to help organize your thoughts and work.
• If your research involves human subjects, it must be approved by the Institutional Review Board, or IRB, before you may begin.

Networking

People in your field are invaluable resources. Make the most of their knowledge by:

• Networking.
• Attending conferences.
• Requesting material from conferences related to your topic.
• Forming a study group. You should:
  • 包括那些有过不同教授的人，这样你就可以比较学习经历.
  • Limit your group to no more than 4 people.
  • Establish regular meeting times.
  • 发挥团队成员的优势，这样每个人都能对自己的工作感到满意.
  • 包括至少在一个你将被测试的领域有优势的小组成员.

Working with your Graduate Program Coordinator

从研究生课程和/或论文协调员那里获得所需的支持:

• 和你的研究生项目协调员谈谈，了解具体的要求，比如时间表.
• Make sure you understand your Program Coordinator’s philosophy and expectations.
• Don’t be too independent. Follow your Program Coordinator’s recommendations.
• 在你开始写作之前和写作的过程中，与你的项目协调员交谈，以保持正轨.
• If your comprehensive experience demands a faculty committee review, choose your committee members wisely. Generally, the department Chair will be your Program Coordinator. 你的委员会应该包括一个来自部门内部的成员和一个来自部门外部的成员, though look for faculty who share similar mindsets.
• Meet with your thesis Program Coordinator at least once a week. 定期与其他委员会成员会面，每周向他们发送草稿以供审查. Try to schedule meetings with everyone at once to encourage consensus.
• Ask for help when you need it.

The Comprehensive Examination

The comprehensive examination is not about regurgitating facts. It’s about applying your knowledge. These tips can help:

• If you have test anxiety, stick to simple study techniques.
• Download your departmental study guide, if available. It can help you identify gaps in your knowledge.
• Review your course notes and textbooks. Make outlines.
• Practice writing essays.
• 向朋友解释理论或假装将理论应用于假设的情况.
• Include ethical and multicultural considerations when answering questions.
• Do a Google search for PowerPoint presentations for specific theories/principles.
• Look for case studies and write essays about them based on relevant theories.

When it’s test time, be sure to:

• Get a good night’s sleep the night before your exam
• Arrive early for the exam
• Use the restroom before the exam starts
• Give yourself a full hour to answer each question
  • Take 15 minutes to outline your answer
  • Spend 30 minutes writing your essay
  • Use the final 15 minutes to edit and review your answer

Be sure to bring the following to your exam:

• An extra blue book to use as scratch paper
• A watch/time piece
• A snack
• Extra pens

Written Work

Keep your thesis on track.

• Choose a topic that truly interests you early on in your program. 在你攻读学位的同时写好你的论文，选择可以支持你论文的课程.
• 尽早并经常通过部门、领域和会议申请资助. Apply every year that you can for the maximum available amount.
• Learn how to write a research proposal.
• Learn how to write an annotated bibliography.
• Develop plans and outlines throughout your project.
• Developing a proposal and collecting data are time-consuming.
  • Keep your proposal specific. This is the foundation for your work and is a key to managing your project.
  • Develop timelines for each outline and chapter.
• Don’t be discouraged by revisions. They can lead to a published work.
• Be flexible. Research can take you in surprising directions – be willing to “go with it.”
• Get your thoughts down on paper and polish them later. It is more important to keep writing than to get stuck.
• Meet your deadlines.
• Use Montclair’s reference librarians as resources.
• 通过写期刊文章、研究论文等寻找发表的机会.

Research Project

• Choose a topic that has not been extensively researched. Look for all related research on your topic.
• After you meet with your Program Coordinator, make corrections/revisions as soon as possible to save time.
• Expect to spend at least 10 hours a week in the lab.
• Stay focused on facts rather than opinions
• The National Center of Biotechnology Information (NCBI) is a useful resource: www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Capstone Course

The Capstone Course, 从CEO的角度来看待一个组织，需要所有学科的知识, gives you the opportunity to apply what you learned in the MBA program.

• 课前阅读作业，关注时事，充分利用课堂时间.
• Use timelines to manage your work.
• Do not just read from slides during a presentation. If you are well prepared, you will be able to elaborate on bullet points.
• 保留所有课程的研究资料，因为从一节课到下一节课经常有交叉.
• When applicable, use Canvas as a resource.
• Ask your professors for guidance. Take courses from teachers who participate in exam preparation. Gaining insight about their style of teaching, test making, and what they emphasize in class is a great way to prepare for examinations.