TITLE (ALL CAPS)
A Thesis Proposal Presented to the
Faculty of California State University, Fullerton
Department of Geological Sciences
Jeffrey R. Knott, Ph. D
Faculty Advisor
In Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of
Bachelor of Science
In Geological Sciences
By
Your Name
Date
Your Name
Geological Sciences
1” margins on all sides; Calibri 11 point font; 5 point indent for each paragraph; 1.5 spaced
The Project
Putting together your proposal is essentially making plans and goals for the next year. Good plans and
goals should be SMART (Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Realistic and Timely). Apply these criteria to
your Time Line and Objectives as you construct them. Having a good plan helps you and me both and
allows you to think about just exactly what you’re going to do over the next 12-18 months. I view the
undergrad thesis not as a training exercise, but more of a way for you to leave CSUF with something you
can call your own. When I say “your own” that doesn’t necessarily mean solo. You can have as much
contact with me as you wish – the more the merrier – and you should remember that I’ve done this
before and frequently learning by mimicking is very effective and not out of bounds for this situation.
Abstract:
Write this at the end. Approximately 250 words describing: what you’re doing, how you’re doing it and
why it’s important.
Objectives
Approximately 500 words describing the anticipated outcomes of the work you’re about to undertake.
Remember, the fundamental objective is for you to solve 1 problem. The objectives are basically your
hypotheses or a description of the problem you will be solving. Begin with some Background information
that frames the problem, then describe the problem within the framework provided.
Methods (Specific Activities)
Approximately 500 words describing how you’re going to complete the study. Be specific about the tasks
so that you can account for the time accurately in the Time Line.
Importance
Approximately 500 words describing the geologic significance of your Project Outcomes, should they be
achieved.
Time Line
Be realistic with your Time Line and think about budgeting your time appropriately. If you need to do
field work, this is the place to plan that week or weekend right now. Also, it’s always a good idea to
embed in your time line some external deadline, like a meeting where you might present your results. An
excellent marker for this is the February deadline for the NSM journal Dimensions.
Budget
What costs do you anticipate are related to your study? If you are planning on going to a meeting, then
you need to include those costs (typically ~$1000). As you construct your budget you will need to consult
with me and also try and raise some of the money and defer costs yourself. In other words, if you’re
going to a meeting, you need to check to see if you can be a student volunteer to have your registration
fee covered; you may need to room with someone else – plan now.
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