Research carries residence credit and may be pursued either on campus or off campus, but not in an extension class. There is no prerequisite, although it is strongly recommended that 250:205 Educational Research or a departmental course in research be completed before registering for Research.

After a student has been admitted for the master's degree, and provided that prior arrangements have been made with the Dean of the Graduate College, s(he) may take work at the University of Iowa, Iowa State University or the Quad-Cities Graduate Study Center, for which residence credit may be given at the University of Northern Iowa.

The thesis may take the form of studies, experiments, surveys, compositions, creative work and projects, and may concern itself with such matters as methodology, understanding children, and materials of instruction, or may delve rather deeply into some aspect of a specialized academic field. Whatever the nature of the subject, its development into an acceptable thesis is considered to contribute to the growth of such attributes as maturity of judgment, initiative, writing ability, and organizational ability. While the thesis may make no significant contribution to the world's knowledge, its preparation should develop in the writer a broader understanding of the world's knowledge and a more genuine appreciation of the research efforts of others.

The total number of credit hours of research permitted for thesis work will vary with the program. Master's theses (M.A., M.A.E.) include a nine-hour thesis credit requirement. The M.S. thesis option requires nine (9) credit hours of research in the program of study. The specialist and doctoral programs may have different research hour requirements. However, in all cases, to earn thesis credit the student registers for the appropriate numbered course (:299, :399), not more than six (6) hours in any semester. The instructor may assign an "RC" for Research Continued, if s(he) feels the work has not reached the stage where it can be evaluated. Registration for the last segment of Research credit for which a student registers (for work on her/his thesis) should be postponed until the thesis is near completion. The Registrar may authorize the extension of time for the completion of a Research Continued in Research up to one additional calendar year with consent of the instructor. If at the end of that time the work has not been completed, the RC will be changed to an F (Failure).

All students must have a formal oral defense of their thesis before a committee composed of at least three graduate faculty. Completion of the thesis project occurs when the thesis has been approved by the committee and the Dean of the Graduate College.

Final copies submitted to the Graduate College must be on white, acid free, 24-pound, 25% or 100% cotton paper. The student may purchase the approved paper at the print centers in the Rod Library or the Physical Plant. The Rod Library Print Center is equipped to photocopy theses. The final copy must be clean and suitable for microfilming, with uniform darkness, and a sharp imprint.

When the thesis is submitted to the Graduate College, the student will present a receipt of payment for the cost of the thesis binding. This fee is paid at the University Controller's Office. The student will also indicate to the Office of the Graduate College the name and edition of the style manual used in preparing the thesis. Consult the Thesis and Dissertation Manual for the list of approved style manuals.