Master Paper Guidelines and Procedures

1. Approval of the Master’s Paper Topic -
   Before initiating work on the paper, each M.E.P.C. student should submit his proposed paper topic and intended procedures to his or her paper adviser and gain his written approval of both the topic and the intended procedures. A Paper Proposal Approval Form may be obtained from the EPC Office. Note that a paper reader should also be identified at this time. Do not wait until the final draft is prepared to find a suitable reader. Engage the paper reader early in the process. A copy of the approved proposal should be sent to the EPC office for the student's file. This proposal need not be elaborate--a paragraph or outline would generally suffice--but a good deal of thought and planning should precede its submission. This should be done as early in the program as the student can pull ideas together but should be no later than early in the second semester. Students are encouraged to review copies of the master's papers of former EPC graduates. These papers are on file in the EPC office. Periodic communication permitting an exchange of ideas, faculty input, and a review of procedures will substantially increase the potential for an acceptable and quality paper.
   
   
2. Graduation -
   It is the responsibility of the student to inform the Graduate School of their intention to graduate by accessing e-Lion by the appropriate date for the semester in which they plan to graduate.
   
   
3. Submission to the Paper Adviser -
   The student's adviser and reader should receive a final draft of the master’s paper at least one week prior to the published deadline when all departments must certify the completion of required papers to the Graduate School.
   
   
4. Number of Copies -
   After the paper is approved by the adviser and reader and typed in final form, a minimum of four copies is to be submitted to the EPC office. The EPC Chairperson will then inspect the document for proper format and general technical content. The EPC Chairperson will acknowledge final approval of the paper by signing the signatory page. Approved copies of the MEPC paper will be bound at the EPC office. One copy of the paper is for the EPC files, one for the adviser, and one for the department of affiliation, one for the student, and one for any readers who desire a copy. It is suggested that the student retain the unbound original for possible future use. Each graduate student is responsible for delivering the paper to the affiliating department and adviser.
   
   
5. Submission to the Graduate School -
   A master’s paper is not submitted to the Graduate School. However, the Graduate School deadline for the verification of an acceptable master’s paper is generally the same as that of the submission of a thesis. The date of this deadline is published for each semester. If the EPC Office does not inform the Graduate School in writing by this deadline that an acceptable paper has been submitted, the student's name will be removed from the graduation list for that semester. It is the student's responsibility to see that the supervising faculty member has read and approved the paper and has notified the EPC Office in sufficient time for the EPC office to meet the Graduate School deadline.
   
   
6. Submission to the EPC Office -
   Final copies of the master's paper must be received in the EPC office within two weeks of the final approval date.