A student who wishes to elect the thesis option should consult as soon as possible with the Chair of the JDC.  An interim advisor, knowledgeable in the likely research topic shall be assigned to the student who will also be encouraged to consult with other instructors.

With the advice of the interim advisor, the student will prepare a research project proposal which shall include: 

      -  a proposed title;

      - a brief statement on the nature of the subject and the scope and objectives of the investigation;

     - a preliminary review of the general literature dealing with the subject; and

     - a statement on the materials to be used and their availability, and on any methodological problems likely to be encountered.

Once a research proposal has been prepared, it will be considered by the JDC, which may approve, disapprove or suggest modifications of the proposed research.  When a research project proposal has been approved, the Committee, after consultation with the student, will assign a thesis advisor.  The Thesis Advisory Committee shall consist of the thesis advisor (as Chair) and in addition at least one member of the academic staff from each of the two participating universities. 

The development of the thesis is under the general supervision of the thesis advisor.  The other members of the committee may be consulted by the student and/or the thesis advisor on matters pertaining to the thesis.

The Master's thesis itself should be a work of original research and should attempt to make some worthwhile contribution to the study of its particular field.  Length should not be a major consideration, but it is anticipated that a Master's thesis would normally range from 100 to 150 pages of double-spaced typescript.

When the thesis has been completed to the satisfaction of the student and the thesis advisor, four copies of the thesis should be delivered to the Chair of the JDC, to whom the thesis advisor shall also submit a written appraisal of the thesis.  However, a student has a right to an examination of their thesis and may submit it for examination despite the advisors objections.

The Thesis Examining Committee shall be nominated by the JDC after consultation with the thesis advisor, and shall consist of at least three persons, plus a non-voting Chair.  The Thesis Examining Committee shall normally include the members of the Advisory Committee.  At least one member of the Thesis Examining Committee shall be from each of the two participating universities, and one must be a person other than a professor who participates in the MPA program or one who is a member of the Political Studies or Politics departments.

The Chair of the JDC shall distribute the copies of the thesis submitted by the student to the Thesis Examining Committee, and shall schedule a date for the oral examination of the thesis.  The oral examination itself shall normally take place only if the student has successfully completed the prescribed course work with a minimum cumulative grade point average of 3.0.

If the Thesis Examining Committee finds the thesis unacceptable, it will cancel the oral examination and require the student to rewrite the thesis.  This instruction must be accompanied by concrete and constructive criticism.

In the oral examination the student will be asked to comment for five to ten minutes on the nature and significance of the research before being asked direct questions by members of the Examining Committee.  Each examiner is expected to question the candidate for approximately 15-30 minutes, and the thesis examination normally lasts 60-90 minutes.

The Thesis Examining Committee may require modification or revisions of the thesis.

The acceptability of the thesis as satisfying in part the requirements of the Master's program in Public Administration is reported to the Office of the Faculty of Graduate Studies on a form to be signed by all thesis examiners, and the outcome of the oral examination is reported to that Office, on a pass/fail basis or a pass with distinction, by the Chair of the Thesis Examining Committee.  If there is a lack of unanimity, the outcome of the examination shall be reported in signed majority and minority reports.

If the thesis writer fails to satisfy the Thesis Examining Committee on two occasions, the student will be required to withdraw from the program.