MS in Communication Management
Three Sample Timelines for MS Capstone Projects
Some of these schedules stretch over two semesters; most do not allow the necessary two weeks for drafts to be read. They are good examples but may not be 100% appropriate for your particular project.
Example #1
Date |
Item |
Notes |
Done |
August 9, 2006 |
Begin Lit Review |
|
X |
August 16, 2006 |
Begin Survey Instrument Draft |
|
X |
August 23, 2006 |
RQ or Hypothesis Draft |
|
X |
September 4, 2006 |
Literature Overview due |
2-3 pages |
X |
September 5, 2006 |
RQ or Hypothesis Draft Complete |
|
X |
September 5, 2006 |
Revise Literature Overview |
|
X |
September 11, 2006 |
Literature Review Complete |
|
|
September 12, 2006 |
RQ or Hypothesis Final |
|
|
September 12, 2006 |
Start Intro & Lit Review |
|
X |
September 18, 2006 |
Survey Instrument Complete (English) |
|
|
September 21, 2006 |
Survey Backtranslation and Brislin Validation |
|
|
September 26, 2006 |
Deploy Survey Pilot |
|
|
September 26, 2006 |
Begin Methodology Section |
|
X |
September 27, 2006 |
Revise Survey Instrument |
|
|
September 29, 2006 |
Survey Redesign Complete |
|
|
October 1, 2006 |
Deploy Survey |
May deploy earlier if minimal revisions needed. |
|
October 7, 2006 |
Complete Methodology Section |
|
|
October 8, 2006 |
Surveys Returned to Li-Min |
|
|
October 15, 2006 |
Enter Survey Responses |
|
|
October 15, 2006 |
Begin Data Analysis |
|
|
October 31, 2006 |
Data Analysis Complete |
|
|
November 1, 2006 |
Draft Findings Section |
Begins in parallel with data analysis |
|
November 7, 2006 |
Draft Discussion Section |
|
|
November 16, 2006 |
Draft Applications Section |
|
|
November 22, 2006 |
Final Draft to Dr. Murphy |
|
|
November 26, 2006 |
Revisions |
|
|
November 29, 2006 |
Final Draft to Committee |
|
|
December 6, 2006 |
Defense |
|
|
December 7, 2003 |
Begin Final Revisions |
|
|
December 13, 2006 |
Final Paper Due |
|
|
December 20, 2006 |
Break Open La Veuve Clicquot! |
|
|
Example #2
| TASK |
DUE DATE |
COMPLETED? |
Draft of intro, lit review, methods
|
November 13 |
X |
| Interview with Tom G. |
December 2 |
X |
| Tom G. interview transcript written |
December 5 |
X |
| Revised Draft of Literature Review |
December 23
|
|
| Revised Draft of Methods |
January 5 |
|
Revised Draft of Introduction
|
January 12 |
|
| Draft of Findings (RQs and Data) |
January 26 |
|
Draft of Discussion/Data Analysis
|
February 9 |
|
| Revised Draft of Findings (RQs and Data) |
February 16 |
|
| Revised Draft of Discussion/Data Analysis |
February 23 |
|
| Sources written |
March 2 |
|
| Appendices gathered |
March 2 |
|
| Hand in Final to Dr. Pompper |
March 6 |
|
| Give paper to Committee (2 weeks prior) |
March 6 |
|
| Meet with Committee |
March 20 approx |
|
Example #3
Timeline
Submit weekly progress reports:
- September 8, 15, 22, 29
- October 6, 13, 20, 27
- November 3, 10, 17, 24
- December 1, 8
Complete literature review, research and interviews: September 2 – Oct. 22
Draft and finalize interview questionnaire: September 8 – 15
Write first draft: October 23 – November 9
Submit first draft: November 10
Submit second draft: December 1
Submit and present final work: Week of December 15
