Helpful Tips for Master’s Students in Urban Education
1st Semester
- Inform advisor of intentions: Thesis or Project track
- Select the Thesis track if you are considering going for a doctorate in the future
- If Thesis, draft a timeline of completion
- Use the classes in your first semester as opportunities to explore topics of interest
- Begin to network with other Master’s students
2nd Semester
- Meet/Communicate with advisor about plans for next school year
- Consider registering for an Independent Study for the 3rd semester to further develop your research interests
- Attend or present at Temple conferences and/or outside conferences
- Contact a faculty member of interest about assisting with a research project or collaborating on an article
- Familiarize yourself with campus resources like the Education Librarian and the Social Sciences Data Library (SSDL)
3rd Semester
- Begin gathering sources for research
- Draft Thesis proposal
- Review with advisor
- Submit to IRB committee for approval (if thesis involves field research)
- Learn IRB process (including a 4-5 hour online training)
- Consider potential committee members for project or thesis
- If on Project track, make initial contact with organization(s) of interest
- Inform advisor of tentative graduation date
- Register for Master’s Capstone course and/or Thesis credits for upcoming semester (Master’s Capstone course offered every Spring term)
4th Semester
- Investigate graduation process (Note: Application for graduation is usually in mid-February).
- Investigate project/thesis submission process (completed theses musts be submitted to the Graduate School no later than the last day of term)
- Begin writing within the first few weeks of the semester
- Submit 1st draft to readers by mid-March
- Submit 2nd draft to readers by mid-April
- Submit to graduate school (if necessary) for review of formatting
