Choosing a thesis/dissertation topic

Many students find the process of choosing a topic to be one of the most difficult parts of writing a thesis or dissertation (or a topic for an article or book). In this post, Dr. Bourke shares some thoughts on navigating the process.

Who is the audience?
Our field (higher education and student affairs) offers many potential areas for study. But first, I suggest the writer consider the target audience, and it's not as simple as the graduate student's committee. Who do you hope reads your work? If you intend to work in administrative posts, a topic that speaks to issues relating most directly to practice in the field may be most fitting (something concrete, tangible). If you see yourself in a faculty role, you might consider a topic that addresses an issue of social significance (something semi-abstract, intangible). It is common for thesis and dissertation topics in this field to hit both sides of the line drawn above.

Choosing from Multiple Ideas
If you have some topics in mind, and can't choose between them, or can't get one to a point that you think is narrow enough, I have some suggestions. Make yourself a table/grid. On the left side, put the following (one in each box of the column):
1. What do I want to know?
2. What areas of literature would I need to consult?
3. What has been addressed about the specific topic already?
4. What would a study on this contribute to higher education?
5. What sources of data would be needed to answer #1?

Along the top, write your topic ideas.

If answers to #3 are lengthy, you may need to narrow the topic and answer to #1.
If answering #4 for a particular topic really gets you fired up or excited, that's your topic.

When you think you've selected a topic, you have to answer the following very honestly: Can I stay energized about this topic for the next 2 years to complete the dissertation (1 year for MA thesis), and for 3 years after graduating? I say 3 years after, because it becomes a topic of conversation whenever you meet someone and they discover you've recently completed your opus.

Keep Things Specific in Your Literature Review
It is very easy to let a topic grow. Even if the topic seems narrowly tailored, the task of reviewing the literature can easily get out of hand. It will rarely be useful to review everything ever written on a particular topic. It would also be foolish to attempt to do so. While you will probably consult literature that seems a bit afield, keep your searches specific to your topic. For example, if a part of your literature review examines the growth of residence halls in the mid 20th Century, you don't need to spend your time digging through the university archives for letters students wrote about their dorms at the end of the 19th Century. And while I'm on the topic of keeping literature review searches specific, remember that publishing a book does not make an individual an authority on a topic. Literature reviews should be approached with skepticism, unless you're citing something I've written.

Gearing Up for 2009-2010

Dr. Mitchell and Dr. Bourke have both had busy and productive summers. It is hard to imagine that today is the midpoint of Summer Session B. We'll be welcoming new graduate students to LSU before we know it. As always, we strive to improve the program each year. 2008-2009 was a great academic year. A number of doctoral students successfully defended general exams, our first 2 master's students graduated, and our first full MA cohort grabbed the tiger by the tail. We are certain that 2009-2010 will be another year filled with tremendous strides and accomplishments. The incoming master's cohort is bringing with them a diversity of interests and experiences, and are coming to Baton Rouge from institutions literally from coast to coast (the Pacific, the Atlantic, and most importantly, the Gulf Coast). The incoming doctoral cohort is equally diverse and representative of a wide range of institutions.

We are excited to see how students will choose to shape their experiences in the coming year. While we wait for students to join us for fall classes, we are starting to set the stage to welcome students to and back to campus, and to do what we can to facilitate their growth and learning during their time with us.

Here's to a great year!

Geaux Tigers!

Master of Arts Hooding & Doctor of Philosophy Commemoration Ceremony

We will hood Spring 2009 Master of Arts in Higher Education & Student Affairs graduates and commemorate Spring 2009 Doctor of Philosophy in Higher Education Administration graduates.

This event will be held in the Lecture Hall of Hill Memorial Library at 3 PM on Thursday May 14.

Summer 2009 Internships

Congratulations to Higher Education & Student Affairs Master of Arts students who have landed internships for the summer. We can't wait to hear all about your experiences!

Jared Avery - Multicultural Affairs, Tulane University (New Orleans, Louisiana)

Jeff Darby - Student Support Services, Langston University (Langston, Oklahoma)

Ryann Denham - Orientation, The Richard Stockon College of New Jersey (Ponoma, New Jersey)

Cammie Jones - Athletics - St. Edward's University (Austin, Texas)

Chris Landry - Orientation, Auburn University (Auburn, Alabama)

Nadia Maston - Orientation, University of Texas at Austin (Austin, Texas)

Alicia Myrick - Career Servies, Louisiana State University (Baton Rouge, Louisiana)

Summer Prejean - Residence Life, Georgia Southern University (Statesboro, Georgia)

LSU Higher Education Program Blog Launch

In an effort to increase our virtual connections with current students, alumni, prospective students, faculty, colleagues and partners, we have claimed our own space in the blog-o-sphere. It is our hope that this blog serves as a means to provide more up-to-date and accurate information about the Higher Education Program at Louisiana State University. This will not replace program information provided on our website (http://coe.ednet.lsu.edu/coe/ETPP/ms/higher_ed.html), but it is intended to supplement that material, and provide a more dynamic and interactive mode of communicating with everyone who has an interest in our program.

Be sure to follow this blog to keep up with everything that is going on!