Thesis writing can seem like a very daunting task but your Criminology & Criminal Justice librarian, Nadine Anderson, is here to help. Contact me at nfanders@umich.edu with your questions about identifying research gaps, finding sources for your literature review, and putting together your thesis proposal.
1. Identify a research gap: your thesis should address a research gap which you identify in the literature, a research question or problem which has not been addressed in your area of interest.
2. Build and defend your thesis proposal: a written document that outlines what you're going to study and why it's important, as well as the methods you will use to study your thesis topic.
3. To graduate after successfully defending your Master's thesis:
The Graduate Studies Office requires you to have your thesis submitted to Deep Blue (the University of Michigan's institutional repository) in order to release your final grade. You and your advisor can choose from either of the following process options below to have your thesis submitted to Deep Blue
The deadlines for submission for either option are:
- Fall 2023: December 4, 2023
- Winter 2024: April 14, 2024
Option 1: Submit your Master's Thesis for a format check before you have it submitted to Deep Blue
- Fill out the Graduate Student Information Form to submit your Master's Thesis (in Word) for a format check.
- Your thesis needs to be finalized and approved by your Thesis Chair before you submit it for a format check
- Use the Master's Thesis Formatting Checklist below to make sure that your thesis meets the Graduate Studies Office formatting requirements for Masters theses.
- Library staff will check your thesis once using the Master's Thesis Formatting Checklist (see below) against the Graduate Studies Office formatting requirements for Masters theses.
- Library staff will send you an email that includes the formatting revisions needed as well as a link to the Deep Blue Submission form
- You will complete the required changes to your thesis and e-sign on the Deep Blue Submission form that you have made all the needed changes and have rechecked their document again to verify that it meets all the criteria.
- You will also add information about your thesis needed for Deep Blue submission
- You will then submit your Master's Thesis as a pdf file with embedded fonts for Deep Blue
Option 2: Waive a format check and just submit your thesis to Deep Blue
- Fill out the Thesis/Dissertation Waiver Statement and have your committee chair sign it
- Fill out the Graduate Student Information Form and submit the waiver statement instead of your thesis
- This statement must be signed by your committee chair before you submit it
- Library staff will send you an email that includes the link to the Deep Blue Submission form
- You will fill out the Deep Blue Submission form with information about your thesis needed for Deep Blue submission
- You will then submit your Master's Thesis as a pdf file with embedded fonts for Deep Blue
To help you format your Word document correctly, use:
