Eastern Kentucky University
Criminal Justice Graduate Student Guide
2
Table of Contents
Overview
Welcome Letter
Criminal Justice Graduate Student Association
How to Register
Registration and Advising Dates
Registration Instructions
EKU Student Email
Registration Processes and Helpful Hints
Registration Errors
First Day of Attendance—Use It or Lose It
Faculty/Staff Information
Forms
Scholarship Options
Graduate Assistantships
Changing Your Program
Curriculum Checklist
Independent Study Proposal (CRJ 897)
Thesis Committee Approval/Change Form
Report of Oral Examination/Oral Thesis Defense/Written Examination
Comprehensive Exam
Comprehensive Exam Packet and Study Guide
Thesis
Deadlines, Guidelines, and Binding
Thesis Made Easy Handbook
Guide to Preparation of Thesis and Specialist Projects
Graduate Assistantship Handbook
Miscellaneous
University Calendar
Tuition Information
Inclement Weather Class/Event Cancellation Information
EKU Student Affairs
Alpha Phi Sigma Welcome Letter
Payroll Calendar
Justice and Safety Library
3
Overview
Overview
Welcome Letter
Web Course/Online Course Policy
4
Eastern Kentucky University
Criminal Justice Graduate Program
To Our Students:
Welcome to the Criminal Justice Graduate Program! This book contains important information you may need while in the program. Additional information is available at www.eku.edu or by contacting the CRJ Graduate Department at (859) 622-1980.
The following are important things to consider while completing the program:
Contact Persons:
Dr. Peter Kraska
Graduate Program Director
Stratton Room 466
peter.kraska@eku.edu
Tina Clark
Stratton Room 467-A
tina.clark@eku.edu
(859) 622-1980
Email:
The Criminal Justice Graduate Program sends regular emails to students accounts regarding important dates, events,
and information. It is your responsibility to check your EKU account regularly. Please make sure your address is on the CRJ
Grad mailing list by contacting Tina Clark at the above address.
Online/Web Course Policy:
It is the departments policy that first semester students and probationary or provisional admission students are not
allowed to take online courses. If you enroll in such a course you will be dropped from enrollment before the semester starts.
Exceptions are available at the discretion of the program coordinator.
Degree Works:
EKU has implemented a new degree progress tracking system called Degree Works. You can access it from the EKU
homepage. You will have an academic plan saved within your record. Monitor this regularly and notify the graduate
department of any deviations from your original plan.
Application for Graduation:
Must be completed online at www.gradschool@eku.edu.
There is a $55.00 fee for graduation. Applications received after this date will be assessed a late application charge.
Thesis:
If you plan to write a thesis you must identify three (3) committee members on the Thesis Committee Approval Form,
prior to applying for admission to candidacy. Theses are usually due in completed form to the Graduate School one month prior to the end of the semester. Keep this in mind when planning your workload.
Comprehensive Exams:
If you are going to take comps, you must have applied for graduation and completed, or be in the process of
completing, your core courses. You must submit in writing your intention of taking the exam. The comp exam is usually given
one month prior to the end of the semester. The exam date and time will be announced through email to your EKU address.
You can also check with the graduate department at (859) 622-1980.
We hope you find this book helpful. If you need assistance, please ask.
5
Criminal Justice Graduate Student Association
The Criminal Justice Graduate Student Association (CJGSA) is an organization that:
1. Provides a forum where matters of concern to graduate and professional students
may be discussed, where opinions on actions and proposals of the University
Administration and campus departments may be expressed, and where proposals of
the Administration, departments and graduate groups may be initiated
2. Conducts programs and services of special interest to graduate students.
Activities within the CJGSA:
1. ―Brown Bags‖- discussions/lectures hosted by outside speakers, faculty, or
graduate students
2. Movie Nights– a movie pertaining to something criminal justice/academically
related is shown. A movie night is usually followed by discussion (which can take
place at another time in a brown bag)
3. Workshops/Seminars– usually multi-hour long events arranged once or twice a
year. Topics vary
Membership requirements:
1. No minimum GPA requirements
2. $5 member dues required per academic year
3. Open to all students, faculty, and staff that support the goals of the organization
(only Criminal Justice graduate students may vote and hold office)
6
How To Register
The Where, What, When, and How of Registering at EKU
Office of The Register:
CPO 58
521 Lancaster Ave.
Richmond, KY 40475
(859) 622–3876 Telephone
(859) 622-6207 Fax
Register@eku.edu
www.eku.edu/compass/
7
Important Graduate Student Dates
Below is a list of important dates and deadlines from the Colonel’s Compass and can be found
at http://colonelscompass.eku.edu/calendar-fall-2012
.
Aug. 15
Official Advising for Fall 2012 resumes
Aug. 20
Classes begin. Late fee registration begins. All students not currently enrolled (having
0.0 credit hours), who register for classes as of today will be assessed a $50 late registration fee.
End of Add/Drop period: Last day to drop a full semester course without a "W" appearing on the university transcript, last day to register for or add additional fullsemester courses. Last day for full tuition refund.
Last day to convert "Pass/Fail" or "Audit" classes to a normal grade and credit option.
Completed forms must be returned to: Registrar's Office (SSB 239), or Corbin, Danville,
or Manchester centers.
Last day Graduate School will accept graduation applications for December 2011 graduation.
Holiday, Labor Day. University is closed and classes are not in session.
Aug. 26
Aug. 26
Sept. 1
Sept. 3
Sept. 7
Sept. 16
Oct. 14
Oct. 26
Last day to convert a class from credit with normal grade to “Pass/Fail” or “Audit.”
Completed forms must be returned to: Registrar’s Office (SSB 239), or Corbin, Danville,
or Manchester centers.
Last day to go online (EKU Direct) and withdraw without incurring a withdraw fee ($50
per credit hour—e.g. $150 for a 3 credit hour course) up through the 4th week of a full
-term.
Midnight (Sunday) - Faculty deadline for online (Banner Faculty Web) submission of
mid-term grades (undergraduate only).
Last day to withdraw from the University. Last day to withdraw from a course with instructor’s written signature and incur a $50 per credit hour fee (e.g. $150 for a 3 credit
hour course). Students are allowed to withdraw up to the Friday of the 10th week of a
8
Nov. 5-6
Fall Break. University is closed and classes are not in session.
Nov. 20
Thanksgiving Holiday begins for students at 9p.m. Night classes will meet.
Nov. 26
Classes resume.
Dec. 8
Classes end.
Dec. 10
Final exams begin.
Dec. 10
Masters thesis deadline for December 2011 graduates.
Dec. 15
Final exams end.
Dec. 15
Dec. 17
Graduation Commencement Ceremony: diplomas mailed to graduates 6-8 weeks following commencement. See Graduation Information web page for details:
www.registrar.eku.edu.
Final grades deadline: 1p.m.—Faculty to submit online via Banner Faculty Web.
Dec. 18
Final Grade Reports for students available online.
9
Registering for Classes
In order to register for classes, please go to www.eku.edu and click on EKU Direct. Then click on
Login to EKUDirect and follow these instructions:
LOGIN
1. Click in the blank box next to “User ID” and enter your EKU ID number. If this is your first time
logging in, see “For First Time Users” below.
2. Tab to “PIN” box and type in your PIN (Not the number your advisor gave you).
3. Click “Login.”
4. If you forget the PIN you selected, bring a photo ID to the EKU Registration Center located in SSB
(Student Services Building) 239.
5. You will be asked to re-enter your pin for verification. Click on “Login” again.
FOR FIRST TIME USERS:
Your “User ID” is your EKU ID. Your initial PIN is your birth date in the form of mmddyy. For
example, a birth date of February 13, 1949 would be entered as 020349. Your PIN is a 6-digit
number, which will function like a password.
The next screen will read: “Your PIN has expired. Please change it now. In the first box, “Re-enter
Old PIN,” type your birth date. In the second box, “New PIN,” select a 6-digit number that is
different from your birth date and social security number, but easy for you to remember. This new
PIN is the one you will use to access your information. Type your new PIN in the middle AND
bottom boxes. The third box is for verification. All three boxes are required. Then click on the
“Login”
button.
Read the “Terms of Usage,” and then click on “Continue” to accept the terms. If you click “Don’t
Agree” you will be logged out.
REGISTER FOR CLASSES:
Login. If you need to know how to login, please see item one.
1. Click on the “Student Services & Financial Aid” menu.
2. Click on “Registration.”
3. Click “Add/Drop Classes.”
4. Select the correct term and click “Submit Term.”
5. If you are prompted to enter your Alternate PIN you can call Tina Clark at (859) 622-1980 for this
information. Enter the 6-digit number. Click “Submit PIN.” If you get an error that reads,
“Please contact the registration administrator for your time ticket,” then check the registration
schedule to see when you are able to register. If, according to the schedule, you are able to
register, but you still see this message, go back to the registration menu and click “Check Your
Registration Status” and review your earned hours. If your earned hours are in the range, con-
Cont. on Following Page...
10
Registering for Classes Cont.
6. Enter the CRN’s (the 5-digit numbers from the class schedule) you would like to register for.
When you have entered all of them, click “Submit Changes” at the bottom of the page.
7. If you would like to look up available classes, click “Class Search” at the bottom of the page.
8. If you have errors click “help” at the top to the right for assistance.
9. To drop a course, (if the class is not listed you are not registered for the course), click the down
arrow to the left of where the class is listed and choose “drop course” then click “Submit Changes” at the bottom of the page. If it is past the last day to drop the course, you will no longer
have the option to drop the course. The option will be “wd-withdraw” and you will
receive a
W on your transcript for withdrawing from the course.
Call (859) 622-2320 if you have any questions or problems with online registration.
WHEN YOU ARE FINISHED PLEASE LOGOUT!
To keep your information secure, please click exit in the upper right and then close your browser. If
you only exit someone may be able to hit the back button on the browser and view your
information.
EKU Student Email
Students are automatically assigned an EKU student email identification upon admission to the University.
However, each student must activate their account in order to send and receive email. You can activate
your account by going to the EKU homepage, www.eku.edu. Choose the Email link under the My EKU heading on the lower left of the page. Click on “Activate your student email account now” and read the Code of
Ethics.
Check or uncheck the appropriate boxes at the bottom of the screen, enter your EKU ID number and
birthdate (MMDDYY format), and click “submit”.
For complete information and instructions, go to www.studentdocs.eku.edu/email/.
To access your EKU student email, click on the Email link under My EKU from the homepage or visit https://
stuowa.eku.edu/stu.asp directly. Enter your username and password. Your username is your First Name, an
underscore (_), the first 17 characters of your Last Name, and could include up to 3 numbers to make it
unique. You will be given the username and password when you complete the Code of Ethics form.
Your default EKU email password is the lower-case letters eku followed by your date of birth in MMDDYY
format (ex: eku010180). If you experience problems with your EKU student email account, please call the
ITDS Help Desk at 859-622-3000.
You must set up your EKU student email account in order to access Blackboard. Please use your EKU student
email account for all correspondence with your instructors and in Blackboard.
11
Registration Process and Helpful Hints
Adding and Dropping Courses:
Official verification that a student is ―Registered‖ ―Dropped‖ or ―Withdrawn‖ from a class is found only on the ADD/DROP
page of the EKU Student Web (EKUDIRECT/Student Services/Registration/ADD/DROP) listed under STATUS. Beginning
Fall 2010, EKU will have a new drop fee policy. All students wishing to withdraw from a course after the first four weeks of
classes will be required to obtain a form from their instructor and will be charged a fee of $50 per credit hour.
Cancelled Courses:
Courses may be cancelled before the semester begins and students will then be administratively dropped from the course. This
enrollment change will be reflected on the Add/Drop page by credit hours becoming "0.0", and there will be a message in the
"Status" column. Course cancellations are the sole decision of the academic department offering the course and any and all
questions about the course cancellation should be directed to the department chair. Students enrolled in classes that are
cancelled will be contacted by the department office staff or mailed a letter by the Office of the Registrar. Students should
recheck their registration (Add/Drop page online) often to verify that they have not been dropped from any classes! Do not
assume that once you register nothing will change! Read further for a description of "Pre-Requisite Drop".
CRJ 890 Topical Seminar in Criminal Justice. (1-3)
May be retaken to a maximum of nine hours on different topics.
CRJ 897 Independent Study in Criminal Justice. (1-6)
Individual investigations in the field of criminal justice. Investigations may be conducted in the field and under the supervision
of the research advisor and other staff member. Student must have the independent study proposal form approved by faculty
supervisor and the Criminal Justice Graduate Program Coordinator in the College of Justice and Safety prior to enrollment.
May be retaken up to a maximum of nine hours.
Dropped Courses vs. Withdrawn Courses
Courses "dropped" during the Add/Drop period will not appear on your academic record (transcript). If you drop a course after
that date, you are considered to have "withdrawn" from the course and it will appear on your academic record with a notation of
"W". The "W" will NOT be calculated into your grade point average (GPA). The midpoint date for full and partial semester
classes also appears on the "Full & Partial Semester Term Dates" table of the Colonel's Compass. The midpoint of a
partial-semester class should also appear on the course syllabus, if the date on the course syllabus does not agree with the date
found in the Colonel's Compass the student should bring this discrepancy to the teacher's attention. Students are held to the
dates published in the Colonel's Compass.
Enrollment Verification:
The National Student Clearinghouse (NSCL) is the official agent for all Enrollment Verifications such as those needed for
health insurance and loan deferments. ALL Enrollment Verifications are obtained free of charge from the National Student
Clearinghouse.
How to generate your free EKU Enrollment Verification.
Log on to your Student Web account (www.eku.edu, click on EKUDirect)
Click on Student Services & Financial Aid.
Scroll down until you see National Student Clearinghouse.
Click on National Student Clearinghouse.
Fill in required information and click Login.
Click on Obtain an Enrollment Certificate.
Wait patiently. The certificate will appear.
Print your official enrollment certificate.
Mail or deliver it to whoever requires verification of your enrollment at EKU!
Note: Your computer must have Adobe Acrobat Reader to produce your verification. Use Internet Explorer as your browser,
Exceptions to using National Student Clearinghouse:
Good Student Discounts – for this you need to print an official EKU Grade Report from the Student Web( EKUDIRECT/
Student Records/Printable Official Grade Report). Submit this Grade Report as proof that you qualify for the Good Student
Discount.
Statements of Good Standing (needed when taking courses at another institution; students obtain these from the EKU
Registrar's Office, SSB 239. You may download the request form from the Registrar's web page, www.registrar.eku.edu.
Continued on Following Page...
12
Registration Process and Helpful Hints Continued..
Graduate Students
Please refer to the Graduate Catalog for complete details of all policies governing graduate students. You may also wish to go
to the Graduate School web page, www.gradschool.eku.edu.
Late Registration Fee
A non-refundable $50 late registration fee is in effect beginning the first day of classes. This fee is applied only if the student
begins with 0.0 credit hours on the first day of classes and then enrolls for the first time during that day or after.
Registration Errors
Please refer to the menu links on the Colonel's Compass homepage. That registration errors link will take you to a page
designed to help students with error messages they may receive from the online registration system.
Registration Process:
Students register (add, drop, or withdraw from classes) using the online registration system, the EKU Student Web
account (click on EKUDirect on the EKU homepage). EKU staff is available to assist students with this system at the following
locations: main campus – in the Registrar's Office –SSB 239, or the Corbin, Danville, or Manchester Centers. Registration
questions should be directed to 859-622-2320. Once registered, you may make a change to your schedule at any time while
such transactions are permitted (note dates on calendar). The online system will not allow changes once the deadline has
passed. You may add full semester classes to your schedule through the first week of class. After that date, you may only add
classes that have not yet begun. See ―Full & Partial Semester Term Dates,‖ in the Colonel's Compass for Add/Drop dates for
partial semester classes.
Repeating Courses:
Students may repeat a course in an attempt to better their grade. The grade earned in the last taking will replace (in the
GPA calculation) the grade earned earlier. Any student attempting to enroll in a course for the third time will receive the
"Repeat Limit" registration error. Registration will be prevented regardless of whether the student has completed the course
previously or simply withdrawn. A student may enroll in the same course for a third or subsequent time only under unusual
circumstances and with their college dean's permission in the form of a Repeat Limit Override entered into the EKU
computerized registration system. This override is requested only through the office of the dean of the student's major. An
override is just permission to register. Once the override is entered, the student must then still go online and register for the
course. The Registrar's Office monitors student course registrations and will administratively cancel the registration before or
during the term, or remove credit after completion of the term, of any student improperly repeating a class.
Status:
Verify your 'Status' on the ADD/DROP page of the online registration system. Check this often as the Registrar's
Office may administratively drop or withdraw a student before or during a term for reasons such as course cancellation
(decision of academic department offering the course), the student's failure to fulfill a course prerequisite, or in rare cases a
violation of university policy (see university catalog).
Student Load
Fall and Spring Terms—A full-time graduate student during Fall or Spring terms enrolls in 9 or more credit hours. A maximum
academic load of 15 hours is considered permissible for exceptional graduate students, with dean's permission.
Summer Term—A full-time graduate Summer student is enrolled in 6-12 credit hours. Half-time status is at least 3 credit hours.
Students are encouraged to not take more than one short term course at a time.
Voter Registration Form:
Instructions for printing and completing the voter registration card can be found on the internet at www.sos.state.ky.us.
Withdrawing From a Class or From the University
For directions on how to withdraw go to the Registrar's web page at www.registrar.eku.edu, scroll the buttons on the right side.
Beginning Fall 2010, EKU will have a new drop fee policy. All students wishing to withdraw from a course after the first four
weeks of classes will be required to obtain a form from their instructor and will be charged a fee of $50 per credit hour.
13
What to Do When You Get Registration Errors?
An override for a section does NOT automatically register you into that section. An override only gives you permission to
register. After you have been given an override you must go online and add the class. It is possible that you may need more than
one override. You will need a specific and separate override for each registration error.
Request an override BY NAME: Read any Registration Error Message carefully, look under STATUS. This will tell you
which specific override you require.
ERROR MESSAGE
(See "STATUS")
DEFINITION
SOLUTION
Closed Section
Section is full - no seats available
Class Restriction
Course is restricted to specific students based
on the number of earned hours as of the last
semester completed at EKU. See CARES
report for the number of hours you have
completed.
This section is cross-listed with another section Choose a different section. OR It is possible to
and both sections meet in the same room. That ask the department chair for a Capacity
room is now FULL.
Override. However, the chair may say "no".
The section has been cancelled. The department Choose a different section.
is no longer offering this specific section.
That registration activity is no longer available It is possible to add a course late but this
at this time. It is too late to add this course to requires a completed Late Add Form including
your schedule.
instructor, department chair, and dean's
signature.
One or more separate courses may be required Register for all classes by submitting the CRN's
to be taken at the same time. These courses are for all sections simultaneously. OR You may
called co-requisites. (See course description in request a Co-Req Override from the
catalog.)
Department Chair.
Course is restricted to a specific level
Undergraduate students wishing to enroll in
(Graduate or Undergraduate)
graduate courses need special permission from
the Graduate School Office. Permission is
granted in the form of a Level Restriction
Override.
This course requires the simultaneous
Register for both the lecture and one of the
registration in a lecture and laboratory section. linked labs. The labs are listed directly
You have tried to register in a lecture or lab
underneath the lecture classes and have 0 credit
section without the corresponding lab or lecture hours. Submit the CRN for the lecture and
section.
linked lab at the same time.
Class is restricted to specific majors.
Special permission and a Major Restriction
Override must be obtained from the department
chair.
Registration exceeds the maximum number of Permission to take more than the allotted hours
hours permitted for that student for that term must be obtained from the dean of the student's
major.
This section is restricted to specific programs. Change your major to that program. OR
Contact department and request a Program
Restriction Override.
Class requires a pre-requisite or a specific test. Pre-requisite and/or a specific test must be
(See course description in catalog).
completed before you are allowed to register.
OR You may request a Pre-Requisite Override
from the department chair.
Student has enrolled in the course at least twice Student must obtain a Repeat Limit Override
before. This message will occur regardless of from the dean's office for the student's major.
whether the student has ever completed the
course.
The section is conflicting with another section Select a section that meets at a different time.
already on the student's schedule.
OR Student may request a Time Conflicts
Override from the department chair.
Closed Section X
Section Not Available For Web Add/Drop
Course Status Dates Not Within Range For
Part Of Term
CORQ_Subject Course Number Req
(ex:CORQ_ELE 446G REQ)
Level Restriction
Link Error A1 Required
(or A2, or B1 or B2 etc...)
Major Restriction
Maximum Hours Exceeded
Program Restriction
PRE-REQ and/or Test Error
Repeat Limit Exceeds 1
Time Conflict With (CRN XXXXX)
Choose a different section. OR It is possible to
ask the department chair for a Capacity
Override. However, the chair may say "no".
Select a different course. OR You may request
a Class Restriction Override through the dean's
office of the college offering the class.
14
First Day of Attendance—Use It or Lose It
The Process:
Students who know they will be absent should contact their instructor or the academic department office PRIOR TO THE 1 st
CLASS MEETING to explain their absence and request that the instructor NOT drop them from the class.
Classes meeting multiple times per week (MWF, TR, MW, etc.): If a student does not attend the 1st class meeting of the term, as
scheduled by the University, the instructor may request that the Registrar disenroll the student.
Classes meeting one time per week: If a student does not attend the 1st class meeting of the term, as scheduled by the University,
the instructor may request that the Registrar disenroll the student.
Online classes: Instructors of online classes who wish to employ the faculty drop option of "Use It or Lose It" should:
-Detail on their syllabus student activities designed to serve as confirmation of participation.
-Devise these as requirements whereby the online student proactively demonstrates connection, communication, and/or
some other tangible participation (e.g. emailing from their EKU email account, submitting a document in Blackboard,
responding to a survey).
-Schedule the above participation requirements to begin as early as possible in the first week of the semester.
-Use the absence of such mandatory (as per the syllabus) initial class participation as justification that the online student is
"not attending"; and lacking appropriate communication with the instructor that student may then be disenrolled during the
1st week of the term.
The additional 1st week data will enhance the ability of the Registrar and the Advising Office to identify ―phantom first-time
students.‖ This faculty provided data will be combined with other objective indicators held in Banner, as well as information from
University Housing and Student Accounting, to help confirm identity of students who are registered but not attending the
university. This new process will also assist departments with efficiency of course offerings, and prevent inflated "D", "F", "W"
rates because of such students.
Proposed Procedure:
Faculty accesses dedicated roster through EKUDirect to indicate drop.
Allows absent student's seat to be accessible to other students waiting for availability in that class.
The Registrar will promptly drop the student from the class, per the instructor's directive, providing the information is relayed
DURING THE 1ST WEEK OF CLASS.
The Registrar's Office will email each student immediately after the drop has been performed, via the student's EKU email
account; alerting the student that enrollment in one of his/her courses has been removed.
May the dropped student get back into the class?
-A dropped student may re-enroll himself/herself online, (provided seats are still available).
-Or student may petition to register through the Late Enrollment process.
-However the Late Enrollment process is dependent upon availability, and requires the written permission of the
instructor, department chair, and dean of the college.
-Depending upon the week of the term, the Late Enrollment process may also require approval at the Provost level.
Can the faculty-drop option be used with shorter, partial-semester classes?
-The add/drop period for short-term classes is abbreviated and varies with the number of weeks of the class. Often these
classes begin after the onset of the full semester.
-Thus, while the faculty-drop option may be requested, timing, communication with students, and coordination with the
Office of the Registrar is essential.
-The consequences of absence on the 1st day of class should be detailed on the syllabus and communicated to enrolled
students before the partial-semester class is scheduled to begin.
15
Faculty
Name
Contact Information
Office Location
Dr. Tom Barker
Email: tom.barker@eku.edu
Phone: 622-4993
Stratton 403-A
Dr. Kristie Blevins
Email: kristie.blevins@eku.edu
Phone: 622-6869
Stratton 110
Dr. Avi Brisman
Email: avi.brisman@eku.edu
Phone:
Stratton 311
Dr. Terry Cox
Email: terry.cox@eku.edu
Phone: 859-622-1983
Stratton 408
Dr. Chuck Fields
Email: chuck.fields@eku.edu
Phone: 859-622-6555
Stratton 465
Dr. Kishonna Gray
Email: kishonna.gray@eku.edu
Phone: 859-622-8880
Stratton 449B
Dr. Robin Haarr
Email: robin.haarr@eku.edu
Phone: 859-622-8152
Stratton 412-A
Dr. Scott Hunt
Email: scott.hunt@eku.edu
Phone: 859 622 5074
Stratton 407
Dr. Victor Kappeler
Email: victor.kappeler@eku.edu
Phone: 622-1980
Stratton 467
Dr. Peter Kraska
Email: peter.kraska@eku.edu
Phone: 622-2011
Stratton 466
Dr. Ellen Leichtman
Email: ellen.leichtman@eku.edu
Phone: 859-622-8108
Stratton 405
Dr. Betsy Matthews
Email: betsy.matthews@eku.edu
Phone: 622-8113
Stratton 102
Dr. Kevin Minor
Email: kevin.minor@eku.edu
Phone: 622-2240
Stratton 104
Professor Bill Nixon
Email: william.nixon@eku.edu
Phone: 622-6265
Stratton 409
Dr. Derek Paulsen
Email: derek.paulsen@eku.edu
Phone: 859-622-2906
Stratton 410
Dr. Gary Potter
Email: gary.potter@eku.edu
Phone: 622-2009
Stratton 461
Dr. Irina Soderstrom
Email: irina.soderstrom@eku.edu
Phone: 622-1156
Stratton 108
Dr. Judah Schept
Email: judah.schept@eku.edu
Phone: 622-7602
Stratton 311
Dr. Kenneth Tunnell
Email: ken.tunnel@eku.edu
Phone: 622-1984
Stratton 465
Dr. Tyler Wall
Email: tyler.wall@eku.edu
Phone: 622-7603
Stratton 311
Dr. James Wells
Email: james.wells@eku.edu
Phone: 622-1158
Stratton 103
16
Forms
Please Stop by Stratton 466-B For Forms and
Processing Instructions
Scholarship Options
Graduate Assistantships
Change Your Program
Curriculum Checklist
Independent Study Proposal (CRJ 897)
Thesis Committee Approval/Change Form
Report of Oral Examination/Oral Thesis Defense/Written Examination
17
Scholarship Options
Dr. Rodney Gross Scholarship
To be eligible, applicants must:
1.
2.
3.
4.
Be African-American Kentucky residents
Be U.S. citizens
Be admitted to Eastern with the intention of pursuing either an undergraduate or graduate degree.
Have at least a 2.5 high school grade point average with extracurricular support in athletics,
community and/or student government services; or at least a 3.0 grade point average without
extracurricular support.
5. Not be on social or academic probation
Students must reapply each academic year for continuation of the award and maintain satisfactory
academic progress toward a degree objective. Recipients must participate in the Academic Monitoring
Program. Awards are made on an annual basis.
To obtain an application write to, or visit, the
EKU Scholarship Office, SSB CPO 56,
Eastern Kentucky University, Richmond, KY 40475
or call (859) 622-8032
Applications must be received no later than February 1 to be considered for the subsequent academic year.
EKU African American Graduate Fellowship
A limited number of $500 awards are available to qualified graduate students for the Fall and Spring
semesters. To be eligible, applicants must be:
1. African-American
2. In-state residents
3. Part-time or have non-degree student status
4.
All students who wish to be considered for this scholarship should complete the application at
http://www.gradschool.eku.edu/forms/student/minority_fellow.pdf and mail it to the Graduate School
before the start of the semester in which they are applying. Awards are on a first-come basis for students
meeting the eligibility criteria. Fellowships may not be used in conjunction with the EKU Faculty/Staff
Scholarship.
Jack Kent Cooke Foundation Scholarships
Recipient must be graduating senior or graduate enrolling in a U.S. or overseas graduate school in fall;
cumulative minimum 3.5 GPA; U.S. citizenship not required All applications must be submitted through
the Graduate School. Complete information about the program, including application forms and eligibility
criteria are available on the Foundation website at www.jackkentcookefoundation.org.
18
Graduate Assistantships
Graduate Assistantships:
The Criminal Justice Graduate Program provides graduate assistantships to qualified students. Duties may
include teaching, research, or service related. Students should contact the graduate office, Stratton 467-A,
for availability and details on the positions.
Criteria:

You must have applied for and been admitted to The Criminal Justice Graduate Program.

You must have a high academic standing of approximately 3.0 (B) overall graduate grade point
average and satisfactory GRE scores. If it is your first semester as a Graduate student, you will not
have a graduate GPA.

You must enroll as a full-time graduate student while on an assistantship (minimum of 9 semester
hours of graduate credit in fall and spring, 6 semester hours of graduate credit in the summer).

Stipends include a 6-credit hour tuition remission. The stipend beginning Fall 2009 is $5,425 per
semester. Graduate Assistant positions can be applied to via EKU's employment website at http://
www.hr.eku.edu/employment/. Contact the graduate office, Stratton 467-A, to obtain detailed
information on our available assistantships. The usual summer stipend is $3600.
Additional information on policies governing graduate assistantships can be found at
http://www.gradschool.eku.edu/awards/ga.php.
Important Information:
Background checks are required of all graduate assistants. Students nominated for graduate assistantships
must submit their information via the Human Resources Online Employment System to authorize
initiation of the background check. You will be notified within 7 to 10 days of the outcome of the
background screening.
19
Request to Change Your Program
Graduate students who have been admitted to a graduate program may apply to change their program for one of the
following reasons:

Change from one degree or certificate program to another degree or certificate program*

Request admission to another degree or certificate program while maintaining enrollment in the current
program (dual degree)**

Change from non-degree to a degree or certificate program
When changing or adding a program, students must meet the admission requirements of the new program. Enrollment in one
graduate program does not guarantee acceptance into a new program. All deadline dates for application apply for students
seeking a program change. Keep in mind that different programs may have different requirements for standardized test
scores and that official scores for any applicable test must be received prior to the granting of clear admission.
*Students who apply for a program change from one program to another, and have not applied for graduation from the
current program, will be dropped from their current program.
**A maximum of 12 semester hours of coursework may be transferred from non-degree status to a degree or certificate
program.
Steps for Changing Your Program
Complete the Graduate Application for Admission
This form is necessary to update and prepare the student’s registration information for the semester indicated on the
application form. It must be received at least two weeks prior to registration dates. Please note: you cannot register until you
have been accepted into you new program. You must notify the Graduate School Office if your registration plans change
from that indicated on your application. Incomplete applications will not be processed. You do not need to pay the
application fee again if you have previously done so.
Meet all of the Admission Requirements for the new program.
Enrollment in one graduate program does not guarantee acceptance into a new program.
All completed applications must be received by the Application Deadlines for the semester in which you wish to
enroll. Late or incomplete applications cannot be processed.
NOTE: Credentials submitted for admission purposes become the property of the Eastern Kentucky University. If the
applicant does not enroll within one year, the admission file is destroyed unless the student contacts the Graduate School.
20
Curriculum Checklist
As you complete graduate courses, check them off on this list
Students who begin the curriculum in the fall are encouraged to take
CRJ 800 and CRJ 870 in their first semester and CRJ 888 in their second semester.
Course
Credit
Hours
Grade
Date
Completed
REQUIRED CORE—12 HOURS
CRJ 800: Advanced Criminal Justice Studies
3
CRJ 870: Theories of Crime and Criminal Justice
3
CRJ 888: Research Methods in Criminal Justice
3
CRJ 808: Analysis of Criminal Justice Date
3
OR
CRJ 875: Crime and Public Policy
3
ELECTIVES—24 HOURS OR
18 HOURS PLUS THESIS
CRJ 801: History of Criminal Justice
3
CRJ 802: Violence Against Women
3
CRJ 810: Advanced Police Administration
3
CRJ 813: Analysis of Police Operation
3
CRJ 814: Policing and Society
3
CRJ 815: Policing Global Insecurity
3
CRJ 840: Punishment and Society
3
CRJ 842: Human Rights and Justice
3
CRJ 843: Advanced Issues in Criminal Justice
3
CRJ 844: Innocence Project Externship
3
Cont. On Following Page...
21
Curriculum Checklist Cont.
Course
Credit
Hours
ELECTIVES Cont.
CRJ 846: Legal Issues in Criminal Justice
Administration
3
CRJ 871: Crime, Victims, and Criminals
3
CRJ 872: The Community Context of Crime
3
CRJ 873: Social Construction of Crime and Crime
Control
3
CRJ 874: Crime, Criminal Justice and Popular
Culture
3
CRJ 876: Organizational Crime
3
CRJ 877: Postmodernism and Justice
3
CRJ 878: Ideology and Criminal Justice
3
CRJ 879: Vice and Criminal Justice
3
CRJ 889: Qualitative Research Methods
3
CRJ 890: Topical Seminar in Criminal Justice
3
(may be retaken up to a maximum of 9 hours on different topics)
CRJ 890: Topical Seminar in Criminal Justice
3
CRJ 890: Topical Seminar in Criminal Justice
3
CRJ 897: Independent Study
3
(may be retaken up to a maximum of 9 hours)
CRJ 897: Independent Study
3
CRJ 897: Independent Study
3
CRJ 898: Thesis I
3
CRJ 899: Thesis II
3
Grade
Date
Completed
22
EASTERN KENTUCKY UNIVERSITY
Criminal Justice Graduate
Independent Study Proposal
23
EASTERN KENTUCKY UNIVERSITY
Criminal Justice Graduate
Thesis Committee
Circle One:
APPROVAL
CHANGE
Last Name_________________________________________
First Name_________________________________________
EKU I.D.__________________________________________
Date_______________________
If this is a committee approval you must fill in your information as well as the original committee information.
I, the unsigned, I agree to be on the above student’s thesis committee.
ORIGINAL COMMITTEE:
Chair_________________________________ Signature________________________________ Date_________________
Member_______________________________ Signature _______________________________ Date _________________
Member_______________________________ Signature _______________________________ Date _________________
If this is a committee change, you must fill in your information then obtain the signature of the new committee members. Finally, you must get your original committee members to sign off on the change as well.
I, the unsigned, I agree to be on the above student’s thesis committee.
NEW COMMITTEE:
Chair_________________________________ Signature________________________________ Date_________________
Member_______________________________ Signature _______________________________ Date _________________
Member_______________________________ Signature _______________________________ Date _________________
24
EASTERN KENTUCKY UNIVERSITY
Eastern Kentucky University
The Graduate School
CPO 68, SSB 310
521 Lancaster Ave.
Richmond, Kentucky 40475-3168
(859) 622-1745
REPORT OF ORAL EXAMINATION/ORAL THESIS DEFENSE/WRITTEN EXAMINATION
____________________________________________
(Date)
( ) Report of Oral Examination
( ) Report of Oral Thesis Defense
( ) Report of Written Examination
For
______________________________________________________________________________________
(student name)
(social security number)
______________________________________________________________________________________
(type of degree)
in
(area or option)
TO: Dean of the Graduate School
The committee appointed to supervise the graduate program of the above named person has completed the
comprehensive examination(s) and recommends that:
1. The examination(s) was successfully passed with a rating of:
Excellent ( )
Above Average ( )
Average ( )
Below Average ( )
2. The examination(s) was failed. ( )
SIGNED by all committee members:
__________________________________
(Committee Chair)
__________________________________
(Committee Member)
—————————————————(Committee Member)
Comments: (*specify requirements for examination retake)
____________________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________________
____
PLEASE NOTE: Committee chairpersons shall certify satisfactory completion of the comprehensives to the Dean
of the Graduate School no later
than ten days in advance of commencement.
A review period of no less than 60 days nor more than one year is required of candidates who fail the comprehensive initially.
Additional courses or thesis work may be required of a failing student. Comprehensive exams may not be retaken
more than once of the master’s or
25
MASTER OF SCIENCE DEGREE IN CRIMINAL JUSTICE
COMPREHENSIVE EXAMINATION INFORMATION
PACKET AND STUDY GUIDE
The following information is intended to assist students in preparing for the comprehensive examination. See
the graduate school website and/or the Assistant to the Criminal Justice Graduate Coordinator for specific
information regarding deadlines and other procedural requirements. Students are reminded that it is their
responsibility to meet all deadlines and procedural requirements.
PHILOSOPHY OF THE COMPREHENSIVE EXAMINATION
The comprehensive examination in criminal justice is a summative evaluation. Unlike regular coursework and
formative assessments taken during completion of the degree, it is designed to be an integrative, independent
endpoint assessment of the students' cumulative knowledge of graduate coursework in the field of criminal
justice. It is not intended to test all areas of graduate education, but it allows the student to demonstrate
acquired knowledge of important core theory and substantive applications of that theory in practice.
The comprehensive examination is intended to show the independent ability of the student to synthesize and
present adequate and appropriate knowledge without the focus of a course content outline or an instructor's
prompting. Therefore, we do not ―tutor‖ students regarding specific questions on the examination either prior
to or following the exam. We also administer the comprehensive examination in a controlled setting providing
equity for all students. If you have had a demonstrated disability which inhibited your ability to perform in
classroom examinations on file with the University, you may make arrangements for the appropriate
accommodation when registering for the examination (see below for further information on ADA regulations).
The purpose of the examination is to assess your understanding and readiness to apply the theories and
concepts in the profession of criminal justice - it is NOT part of your developmental curriculum. Therefore,
students will not receive specific feedback about the areas of the exam or questions/responses on the exam.
Student’s responses to the questions will demonstrate their ability to integrate and apply their knowledge base
developed over the course of the graduate degree program. The student responses are evaluated by a team of
faculty readers who grade the exams on a double-blind setting. ALL exams are read by multiple readers and
any exams with marginal evaluations are read additional times for valid final decisions.
The Comprehensive Examination in Criminal Justice currently consists of two content sections. A student’s
performance on each section of the comprehensive examination will result in either a PASS or FAIL. Students
may repeat those sections that do not receive a PASS at a subsequent administration of the examination.
Students may only take the comprehensive exam twice.
This guide is the product of collaboration among the Faculty of the Criminal Justice Graduate Program.
26
GENERAL INFORMATION
Organization:
The organization of the comprehensive examination is divided into two distinct areas. Students are required to
answer one essay question from each of the two Criminal Justice Comprehensive Examination areas. Each
essay question must contain unique and unduplicated information. Avoid using the same substantive material
to answer two different questions, as duplications in the information used to support two separate answers will
not receive full credit. There will be two options in each area from which to choose.
AREA 1: General Criminal Justice
AREA 2: Theory and Research
Time Period:
• The comprehensive examination will be administered within a single day.
• The comprehensive examination day will be divided into one three-hour morning and one three-hour
afternoon session, with a one-hour lunch break between sessions.
• Students will write on the General Criminal Justice area question in the morning and the Theory and
Research area question in the afternoon.
Additional Information:
• Students are NOT allowed to use any aids or materials not specifically approved by the Graduate Studies
Committee (e.g., own paper, laptop computer, dictionary, or reference books).
• Students will be provided with all scrap paper needed for the examination. The test will be taken on a
computer.
• Student’s names are not written on the comprehensive examination. In order to guarantee anonymity in
grading, students will use the last four digits of their EKU ID number and students are advised that this is the
only identifying information that may be placed on their comprehensive examination. Faculty graders receive
no student names as tied to particular examinations.
SUGGESTIONS ON WRITING THE EXAMINATION
1. Answer the question. Many poor responses on exams are due to the failure to follow directions. If a
question asks you to ―list four reasons why…‖ do not list only three. If a question calls for compare
and contrast do not just make comparisons.
a. Answer the question asked. This is the largest error made by students.
b. Students may read the question quickly, establish a concept in their heads, and then write
about it. What they write may be correct, but still may not fully answer the question asked.
27
c. Points will be deducted for unwarranted conclusions, unstated hypotheses, and for other
omissions and commissions.
d. Be able to support your answer when it is appropriate. Be able to cite theorists or other
references.
2. Use your time wisely. Spend a few minutes thinking about the main points to be included in the
answer. Plan the answer using an introduction-body-summary format. Do not rewrite the question.
a. Carefully plan and outline each answer, devoting about 15 minutes of the allotted time for
planning and outlining. Then use the remaining time to write out your response to the
question.
b. Read both questions first prior to writing an outline.
3. Writing skills matter.
a. Answers should reflect graduate level writing skills.
b. Many poor responses are not well organized. You may want to label, or identify each
section of the question that you answer.
c. Think out your answer before you begin writing.
d. Write complete sentences. Make sure each one is clear and concise. Do not list information
in outline form or with bullet points. Paragraphs should contain several coherent sentences
and should develop one complete thought.
e. Answers should be factual (supported by known facts on the subject), well stated (organized
and presented in a reasonable manner), and logical (sequencing of items; follow a logical
pattern).
4. Support your statements.
a. At the master’s level, you are expected to demonstrate a mastery of criminal justice areas
and issues, and not merely reiterate material from a particular text or course.
b. Your essays are expected to meet high standards in terms of organization, coherency, and
critical thinking skills.
c. Although it is primarily the student’s responsibility to prepare themselves for the
comprehensive examination, full-time faculty, as usual, will gladly meet with students
regarding their academic careers and concerns regarding the comprehensive examinations.
d. Avoid using the same materials to support both answers. At the Master’s level, a student
should have sufficient command of various aspects of the field to be able to cite different
research and materials for each separate answer.
5. Utilize Critical Thinking Skills.
a. Comprehensive examination areas require the students to consider the entire criminal justice
field – law enforcement, courts/law, and corrections.
b. Reliance upon course materials and texts alone may not be sufficient.
c. This examination requires the ability to integrate coherently and analytically the knowledge
gained from all coursework, as well as further outside readings and study.
6. Develop Your Answers Fully.
28
a. Students are also expected to define terms clearly, develop concepts and arguments fully,
and evaluate the issues at hand (i.e., pros/cons, strength/weaknesses, and accuracies/
inaccuracies).
b. As indicated, statements should be firmly substantiated with facts.
c. Again, the emphasis in a master’s degree comprehensive examination is upon
comprehension and mastery of criminal justice areas.
d. The demonstration of critical thinking skills, including the development of arguments, is
important to success in criminal justice.
TIPS ON WRITING SKILLS
Do NOT assume and AVOID being vague. Do not assume that the reader will ―know‖ what you
mean. Write with as high of a level of specificity as you are capable.
 USE criminological concepts/perspectives/models as appropriate and develop their meaning and
significance beyond mere memorized definitions of terms. It is up to you to demonstrate your
mastery of criminal justice concepts, models, and perspectives, as well as to substantiate
information that is pertinent to the field.
 DEVELOP your statements and arguments, as concisely and comprehensively as possible. Where
possible, SUPPORT your statements and arguments with specific facts, evidence, cases, or
statistics. Make your statements as substantive as possible; avoid being vague, cryptic, or too
general. In other words, make every word ―count‖.

SCORING THE EXAMINATION
1. Scoring Procedure
a. After the completed comprehensive examinations are gathered, copies of each answer sheet
are made, identifiable by the four digits of the EKU ID number only.
b. Multiple faculty members individually review the answers in their academic area of
expertise and score each answer in accordance with a scoring rubric.
c. Blind scoring is used. The faculty members cannot identify the student.
d. In order to pass a section of the comprehensive exam, a student must receive a passing score
from two readers.
2. Grading
a. Students MUST PASS BOTH AREAS in order to successfully pass the CRJ
Comprehensive Examination. Each section will be graded on a pass/fail basis.
b. Avoid using the same substantive material to answer both questions. Duplication of answers
will result in a failure to pass one of the questions.
c. Two faculty readers will read and grade each area of each student’s comprehensive
examination. In the event of a ―fail‖ by one reader and a ―pass‖ by the other, the Graduate
Program Coordinator becomes the ―tiebreaker‖ in order to determine the pass or fail for that
particular area.
3. Failures to Pass & Re-writing of the Comprehensive Examination:
a. Students will be required to re-take only the failed area(s). The re-take area question will
not be the same question as the one failed.
b. Re-take examinations can be taken not less than 60 days nor more than one year after the
exam is failed. Students have only seven years from their acceptance into the program
within which to complete their degree, to include the comprehensive examination.
29
4. Notification of Results
a. Approximately four weeks after the date of the examination, each student will receive a
letter from The Graduate School indicating the areas in which the student passed and failed.
b. No individual reader results (scores) will be released to the student.
c. In order to pass the exam as a whole, the student must receive a pass on both sections on the
exam.
d. If the student does not receive a pass on one section, the student will have to retake that
section of the exam only. The student will not have to retake both sections on the exam, just
the one they did not pass.
e. Readers’ comments on sections not passed may include:
• Insufficient interpretation of key problem areas
• Comprehensive knowledge not demonstrated
• Poorly written responses
• Lacking in factual information
• Lacking in supporting detail
• Did not answer question
• Information provided was inadequate/incorrect/incomplete
• Poorly organized written response
• Lacking depth in response
• Unsubstantiated assumptions
• Unclear presentation of information
5. American Disabilities Act (ADA) Accommodations:
a. Reasonable accommodations will be made available for those students requiring them
(e.g., additional time).
a. Special accommodations are available only to those students who have submitted an
appropriate petition for approval when filing to take the comprehensive examination.
b. Students will be notified of the status of their request as soon as possible before the
scheduled examination date.
c. Per ADA regulations, such a request must be supported by official medical documentation
(see the Assistant to the Graduate Coordinator to contact the Office of Services for
Individuals with Disabilities for further information and paperwork).
PREPARING FOR THE EXAMINATION
1. Create/join a study group. Peer evaluation and feedback is most helpful in finding your own strengths and
weaknesses and is an excellent source of support.
2. Practice, practice, practice. Get several case studies and vignettes. Practice assessing the question, putting
together your resources, developing a strategic and organized presentation, and discussing legal and ethical
issues.
30
3. Review syllabi, textbooks, and course notes from each of the graduate courses.
4. Practice writing an answer using the example questions below. NOTE: These questions are only a
sample of possible questions.
5. Have other students grade your responses.
a. Remember that the comprehensive questions will require you to have knowledge of
theories of crime, criminal behavior, and substantive information about crime trends.
Emphasize concepts but also include sufficient detail to support your ideas, and think
critically about issues raised.
b. You then need to organize and present a reasonably concise response.
c. The essence for studying for the comps is not how much you can quote (or memorize)
but how your knowledge is integrated with your professional philosophy and applied
experiences. Demonstrating how you would implement these academic concepts in an
applied situation is an important part of the evaluation of your answers.
d. It is crucial that you demonstrate the basic academic knowledge in our field, at the
i. Master’s level, that is, that you understand and can describe theories and
substantive research and other statistical data, as well as showing your
competence to use this knowledge within an applied setting.
31
SAMPLE EXAMINATION QUESTIONS
AREA ONE: GENERAL CRIMINAL JUSTICE
OVERVIEW
The first set of issues relates to Criminal Justice. When responding to a specific Criminal Justice examination
question students should feel free to use relevant materials from Criminal Justice, criminology, policing,
corrections, law and other social sciences.
SAMPLE QUESTIONS
General Instructions:
1. Label your answer either ―General Criminal Justice Question 1‖ or ―General Criminal Justice Question 2‖ at
the top of each page of your answer.
2. Important! Justify your answer using course-relevant theories and concepts, cases, and examples. Explain
which concepts and theories are relevant and why. Support your answers with statistics, data, research
findings, and other empirical evidence or authority.
Sample Question #1
Explain the process of how crime statistics can be "used" in order to create new criminal justice policies. In
your answer be sure to explain the role of data gathering, the media, fear of crime, politicians and interest
groups in this process. Use an example to explain the entire process including a discussion of the impact of the
new policy on overall CJ policy.
Sample Question #2
Discuss fully the different ways in which prison has become a major industry and the potential problems with
this.
Sample Question #3
Nils Christie has argued that the crime control industry in the United States is beginning to look like the
equivalent of the Russian gulag, Criminologist Stephen Richards has also referred to the term gulag in
describing the American prison system. In fact, they are right. Today prisons are found in every part of the
United States, the prison system is ubiquitous. Those prisons are characterized by systematic abuses of human
rights including extreme brutality and violence. Finally, the American prison system produces forced, cheap
("slave") labor for corporations.
Is the American prison system now the American gulag? What changes have occurred in the incarcerations
rates of Americans over the past two decades? What social forces are changing American prisons? Has the
process of imprisonment become an economic necessity rather than a response to crime? Are prisons simply a
mode of cheap production and a source of employment for under-educated and otherwise untalented workers?
What else does Christie mean by the crime control industry?
32
Sample Question #4
Apartheid is a state policy that is designed to produce racial discrimination and segregation. As an official
policy, apartheid is usually associated with the South African government which faced worldwide outrage
and disapproval, with the apartheid government eventually failing under internal dissent and international
economic sanctions.
Is the criminal justice system involved in an official state policy of apartheid in the United States? Is that
policy any less reprehensible than the policies of the South American Government? Is the criminal justice
system's impact on segregation a latent or manifest goal of criminal justice policy?
Sample Question #5
It is almost 8 years since 9-11 and we have seen major shifts across a range of political, social and individual
behavior. Given the history of how the CRJ system tends to react to the "crime of the day," media hype, or
public fear, describe how the events since 9-11 has or will in the future drive CRJ policy and laws (patriot
act, definitions of torture). You may consider the possible impact on the components of the CRJ system
(number of street cops, budget incentives, budget cuts). You may hypothesize about the potential effects on
the behavior of CRJ practitioners (racial profiling, militarization, emphasis on intelligence gathering). You
may talk about shifts in priorities, values, resources, positive and negative consequences. You should be able
to frame your remarks within some historical or theoretical context, i.e., some theoretical explanation for the
social and political response to 911 and provide some example(s) of similar reactions in the past.
Sample Question #6
Given the history of how the CRJ system tends to react to the "crime de jure", media hype or public fear,
describe how the events since 9-11 has or will drive CRJ policy and laws, possible impact on the components
of the CRJ system, potential effects on the behavior of CRJ practitioners. You may talk about shifts in
priorities, values, resources, positive and negative consequences. You should be able to frame your remarks
within some historical or theoretical context.
Sample Question #7
Describe America's imprisonment binge? What do recent trends in imprisonment indicate? How have both
the most recent war on drugs and sentencing reform impacted this binge? How are these issues relevant for
understanding the crime control industry? Your answer must cite the relevant literature.
Sample Question #8
The Criminal Justice System does not function in a vacuum. Its actions, growth and changes take place
within a social, political, and cultural context. Identify and discuss: I) three of the most important trends
facing today's criminal justice system; 2) the types of specific changes that are occurring within the system
as a result of these trends; and 3) the likely future direction(s) the system might be headed in light of these
trends.
Sample Question #9
Identify a major contemporary issue facing our society and the criminal justice system. Discuss the trends
associated with the issue, the differing ideological positions taken by those who have a stake in the issue, and
the scholarly research and literature which addresses the issue.
33
Sample Question #10
Choose a major contemporary criminal justice issue. Detail the nature of the issue, the associated aspects of the
issue, and why it is socially important. In your discussion of the issue make sure that you discuss all aspects of
the issue (pro/con; liberal/radical) and come to a policy conclusion based on existing research and theory.
AREA TWO: THEORY AND RESEARCH
OVERVIEW
The second set of issues relates to social science theory and research methods. When responding to a specific
Theory and Research question, students should place equal emphasis on theory and research and are free to
draw from relevant materials in Criminal Justice, criminology, policing, corrections, law and other social
sciences. In responding to a specific question on these issues students should be mindful that an adequate
response requires demonstration of a detailed understanding of the inter-relationships between social sciences
theory and research methods and techniques. In short, the Graduate Faculty recognizes that students may have
different areas of specialization. Therefore students are allowed to draw from their area of specialization as
long as their response answers the examination question.
SAMPLE QUESTIONS
General Instructions:
1. Label your answer either ―Theory and Research Question 1‖ or ―Theory and Research Question 2‖ at the top
of each page of your answer.
2. Important! Justify your answer using course-relevant theories and concepts, cases, and examples. Explain
which concepts and theories are relevant and why. Support your answers with statistics, data, research
findings, and other empirical evidence or authority.
Sample Question #1
In the context of conducting research on police deviance in small and rural police department describe how
you would go about conducting this research using both a quantitative approach and a qualitative approach. In
framing your answer is sure to include the following:
a. Complete discussion of the strategies and methods you would employ for both styles.
b. Discuss the pros and cons of using each style of research as well as any inherent limitations in
either style.
Sample Question #2
In an attempt to gauge public opinion about the death penalty in Kentucky, EKU has decided to conduct a
survey. Because you are my graduate assistant I am going to have you do all of the work, for which I will take
all of the credit. In conducting this survey discuss the sample size, sampling technique and sampling frame that
you will employ. Make sure to support your decisions completely and discuss all of the limitations in the
decisions you have made.
34
Sample Question #3
Discuss the different techniques most commonly used in conducting qualitative research. In your discussion
be sure to discuss the limitations and benefits of each method as well in what situation the technique is best
suited for research.
Sample Question #4
Describe some of the ethical problems associated with both quantitative and qualitative research.
Sample Question #5
Several states have recently gravitated to increasing punitiveness for persistent offenders by creating "three
strikes" or persistent felony offender statutes. What theoretical orientation is this approach based on? Explain
your answer. How might you examine the effectiveness of such a program? That is, describe a research
design that could be used to examine whether your program has actually decreased violence. What type of
design is it? What results would suggest that your program worked? What issues within the criminal justice
system may help or hinder the effectiveness of such a program? Finally, what are some of the underlying
assumptions about the problem, the program, or the criminal justice system's ability to carry out the program,
that might be problematic or that need to be addressed more fully.
Sample Question #6
Arguably, the most substantial strategic development in policing over the past 20 years has been community
policing. Questions remain, however, about the effectiveness and feasibility of community policing. For this
question, (1) describe in detail a research design for a study that would shed significant light on the
effectiveness and feasibility of community policing, and then (2) critique your own design, discussing
important conceptual and measurement issues and identifying the primary threats to the validity of your
study's findings.
Sample Question #7
High emphasis is placed in our discipline, on explaining fluctuations in the crime rate (traditional
criminological theory). Our program in criminal justice studies places equal emphasis on making theoretical
sense of fluctuations in rates of criminal justice size and activity. Using the literature and research you have
been exposed to in this program, please discuss why rates of criminal justice size and activity have changed
so dramatically over the last thirty years.
Sample Question #8
Select and explain a social problem associated with crime and delinquency. From the social constructionist
perspective, describe how the problem came into being (the process of social construction). Making sure you
address the role of media, criminal justice and political officials, and power in the social construction of this
problem.
35
Sample Question #9
Select any micro (i.e. processual) theory and fully describe how it explains law making and law breaking
(including street and white collar crime). Select any macro (i.e. structural) theory and fully describe how it
explains law making and law breaking (include street and white collar crime.) Your answer must cite relevant
literature.
Sample Question #10
All theories of crime imply policies/social changes which might help to ameliorate the problem. Using 1)
contemporary biological theories, 2) Merton's theory of anomie, and 3) the late-modern and/or postmodern
school of thought, detail the implications of each for crime control/criminal justice policy. Explain your
answers fully.
Sample Question #11
Due to several recent drinking related deaths on college campuses, the subject of binge drinking has become a
politically hot topic. As a leading researcher you have been asked to conduct a study to determine the nature
and extent of binge drinking on college campuses nationwide. In conducting your study you are to
conceptualize, operationalize and create indicators for "binge drinking" and other important concepts. In
addition you need to discuss the sample size, sampling frame and sampling technique you will use in your
research. Finally, you will need to discuss how you will ensure the reliability and validity of your results. Fully
support the decisions you make.
Sample Question #12
There has been a good amount of controversy in our field, and in the social sciences as a whole, about the
debate and differences between qualitative and quantitative research methods. Please discuss the basic
contours, concepts, and foundational ideas/assumptions that revolve around this issue (using appropriate
examples of both qualitative and quantitative research conducted in our field), and then discuss the more recent
train of thought that views these two approaches as compatible and mutually enhancing ("mixed methods
approach")
Sample Question #13
A long-standing debate in criminology centers on the measurement of crime. While there is no perfect
indicator of how much crime exists in our society, previous empirical research has shown that there are several
sources of data that can be used to operationalize the concept of crime. Discuss the major sources (or types) of
crime data. Include in your discussion a review of a few studies that have employed one or more of these crime
data sources. Also, provide a thorough evaluation of the strengths and shortcomings of each source of crime
data. To focus your essay, consider the issues associated with defining, measuring, and collecting data on
sexual assault victimization of women. Be sure to explain the various view points of sexual assault definitions
from a theoretical, philosophical, and research perspective where appropriate. Also, provide a historical
development context within which sexual assault definitions, measurement, and data collection have evolved
Sample Question #14
Select one broad social theory (not criminological) or ideological orientation and explain how it informs
criminological theory. Make sure to draw direct linkages between the social theory and a criminological
theory. Address how the social theory frames the criminological discourse and understanding. Finally, link
these observations to how research methods are selected, used and what findings they produce.
36
MASTER’S IN CRIMINAL JUSTICE READING LIST
The following list is not intended to be an exhaustive nor a definitive list of all the available literature
in criminal justice. Instead, it is offered as an additional resource for students to draw upon in
preparing for the exams.
CRJ 800
Kraska, P. B. (2004). Theorizing Criminal Justice: Eight Essential Orientations. Waveland Press.
CRJ 808
Kraska, P.B. (2004). Theorizing Criminal Justice: Eight Essential Orientations. Waveland Press.
CRJ870
Williams, F., and McShane, M. (2003). Criminological Theory (4th ed.). Prentice Hall.
Foucault, M. (1995). Discipline & Punish: The Birth of the Prison. Vintage.
Vold, G. B., Bernard, T. J., and Snipes, J. B. (2002). Theoretical Criminology. Oxford University Press.
Messner, S. E., and Rosenfeld, R. (2000). Crime and the American Dream. Wadsworth.
Lynch, M., and Michalowski, R. (2006). A New Primer in Radical Criminology. Criminal Justice Press.
Ferrell, J., Hayward, K., and Young, J. (2008). Cultural Criminology. Sage.
CRJ875
Kappeler, V., and Potter, G. (2004). The Mythology of Crime and Criminal Justice (4th ed.). Waveland
Press.
Lynch, M., and Michalowski, R. (2006). Critical Perspectives on Crime, Power & Identity. Criminal Justice
Press.
Shelden, R. (2008). Controlling the Dangerous Classes. Allyn & Bacon.
CRJ 888
Cook, T.D., and Campbell, D.T. (1979). Quasi-Experimentation. Houghton Mufflin Co.
Kraska, P., and Neuman, W. (2008). Criminal Justice and Criminology Research Methods. Allyn and Bacon.
Kuhn, T. (1970). The Structure of Scientific Revolutions (2nd ed.). University of Chicago Press.
Lofland, J., and Lofland, L. H. (1984). Analyzing Social Settings (2nd ed.). Wadsworth.
37
CRJ 889
Berg, Bruce L. (2007). Qualitative Research Methods for the Social Sciences (6th ed.). Allyn and Bacon.
COR 808
Diekhoff, G. (1992). Statistics for the Social and Behavioral Sciences: Univariate, Bivariate, Multivariate.
Wm. C. Brown Publishers.
Pallant, J. (2007). SPSS Survivor Manual (3rd ed.). McGraw Hill.
Soderstrom, I. R. (2008). Introductory Criminal Justice Statistics. Waveland Press.
COR 818
Babbie, E. (2007). The Practice of Social Research (11th ed.). Wadsworth/Thomson Learning.
Hagan, F. E. (2006). Research Methods in Criminal Justice and Criminology (8th ed.). Allyn and Bacon.
Minor, K. I., Wells, J. B., Cobb, K., Lawrence, B., and Cox, T. (2005). Test Validity in Justice and Safety
Training Contexts. A Study of Criterion – Referenced Assessment in a Police Academy. Charles C. Thomas.
38
Thesis
Thesis Deadlines
Theses are typically due one month prior to the end of the semester in which you wish to graduate. Carefully check
the Graduate School website http://www.gradschool.eku.edu and with the CRJ Graduate department for all
deadlines that pertain to your specific semester of graduation.
Thesis Guidelines
In submitting your thesis to the Graduate School, you are encouraged to first submit your final thesis as approved by
your committee on inexpensive copy paper. When submitting your thesis, please include contact information, e.g.
e-mail address and home or cell phone numbers. The Graduate School will review your thesis for form and
formatting. They will contact you with any changes that are required. At that time you can print two copies on
50-100% cotton (20-24 weight) for final submission. You must submit two approval pages signed by your
committee on the same quality paper as well as two signed permission to use forms. You may submit additional
approval pages if you so desire which will be signed by the Dean of the Graduate School and returned to you.
Thesis Binding
You must submit two final copies of your thesis to the main library for binding. The Graduate School will keep
both copies. If you would like additional copies for yourself, your thesis committee members, family members, etc.;
contact the main library. They will explain the current binding charges and the process involved.
39
THESIS MADE EASY
Eastern Kentucky University
Created May 9, 2002 By:
Jason English
Deb Glovak
Scott Graves
Sara Miller
Billy Oakley
Matt Sharp
Revised May 4, 2009 By:
Jessica Anderson
Gregg Jones
Samuel Reid
40
Getting Started…?
So you’ve decided to write a thesis? Are you crazy, do you know how hard it is? Just
kidding, it isn’t as bad as you think. In fact, writing a thesis is something that virtually any
student can do with the right planning and determination. Even so, there are a few tips and
tricks that you might be able to acquire prior to beginning the process. This handbook was
created by students to help guide you through the thesis writing process as painlessly as
possible. Although some of these suggestions might not work in every situation, it will
certainly provide some insight into the process. With the right game plan you will find that the
thesis writing process is well within your limits as a graduate student. Good Luck!
41
TABLE OF CONTENTS
TOPICS
PAGE
IDEA GENERATION……………………………………………………….…….41
CHOSSING YOUR THESIS COMMITTEE……………………………….…….41
TIMELINE OF YOUR THESIS……………………………………………..…....43
DEFENSE OF YOUR THESIS……………………………………………...…....43
BASIC THESIS MECHANICS……………………………………………..…….43
CHAPTER I- INTRODUCTION…………………………………………………46
CHAPTER II- REVIEW OF THE LITERATURE……………………………….47
CHAPTER III – METHODOLOGY……………………………………...............48
CHAPTER IV – ANALYSIS/FINDINGS………………………………………...50
CHAPTER V- SUMMARY/CONCLUSION……………………………………..51
BIBLIOGRAPHY/APPENDICES………………………………………………..52
HELPFUL HINTS/FURTHER READING…..…………………………………...52
42
IDEA GENERATION
SOME HELPFUL HINTS IN IDEA GENERATION
What are you interested in? Picking a topic that truly interests you can be a great help in keeping
you on track and focused in a research project of this magnitude.
Do not expect it to just come to you! This is a common mistake. Stay up to date on current issues/
problems in your field. The bottom line is you have to do the leg work.
Communication is also helpful in this stage as well. Professors are often working on a project, or
have data on a previous project that can save you a lot of time if you just ask.
Essays in other classes are also important. If you already have your idea, you can do essays in
your classes that pertain to part of your thesis topic. This will help you when it comes time to
really get going on your thesis.
One common misconception is that you can’t start with the data. You can start by analyzing your
data. This can save you valuable time in your literature review.
Always balance your ideas with feasibility of time, your own abilities, data availability, and the
type of analysis you are going to do.
When thinking about a potential idea, ask yourself four questions: What? Why? Who Cares? Why
does it matter? Essentially, you will need to answer these questions.
CHOSING YOUR THESIS COMMITTEE
GETTING YOUR COMMITTEE TOGETHER
Less formal here than it sounds
Talk to different faculty members you think will be good
May start with one faculty member who can point you towards other faculty who have an interest
in your topic
The chair is the most important position on the committee. It may be difficult to get a commitment
for this position
43
Being a chair is a lot of work; reading, editing, etc. Must be interested in topic
Easier to get them to be a reader.
No written rules when it comes to a faculty using your work to publish something of their own
(make sure arrangements are pre-made)
If a reader puts in a lot of work, they may want to ask you about co-authorship; the same as you
would the chair.
WORKING WITH YOUR COMMITTEE
Don’t expect a lot of feedback from readers
Chair runs the show (keep in mind when selecting chair)
Additional changes will not come till the end
Rule #1: keep the reader informed
Set up your own defense; ask committee if they are free; follow-up with a reminder
TIMELINE OF YOUR THESIS
There is no set timeline for thesis completion. Thesis chair members will make their own for you.
It is imperative that students allow plenty of time to complete the thesis.
You should not wait until the final semester to begin compiling your thesis. There are many factors
and steps to be taken that may delay the final submission. The thesis committee chair will most
likely request to see a rough draft to keep you on the right track. Edits to your work may be
necessary to ensure you are logically coherent, utilizing words appropriately and a final read to
see the effects of the changes on the document.
Thesis I can be taken when you are ready. Ordinarily, you must take two semesters of classes
before taking Thesis I. The course is designed to help generate ideas for topics and identify the
processes necessary for completion (i.e. selection of your committee, thesis proposal, etc.)
Thesis II can be taken any time after Thesis I. You must have your committee sheet ready with
member signatures. You do not have to graduate the semester you are taking Thesis II. The
course is designed to help you with the completion of your thesis. Contents of the course are
entirely up to the instructor, who is also the Chair of your thesis committee.
44
DEFENSE OF YOUR THESIS
Not that big a deal unless you bring something last-second
You wont fail because of a bad defense but because your thesis is bad
Some faculty require more at your defense than others (presentation in PowerPoint, etc)
BASIC THESIS MECHANICS
APPROVAL SHEET
Must be on the same brand and weight of cotton paper and be in the same basic type face
Black ink is recommended for the signatures
The number of signature lines must equal the number of committee members
Approval sheets are not numbered nor are they counted in the numbering sequence.
STATEMENT OF PERMISSION TO USE
Must be on the same brand and weight of cotton paper and be in the same basic type face
The Statement of Permission to sue follows the approval sheet.
Statements of Permission to use are not assigned a number nor are they counted in the numbering
sequence.
TITLE PAGE
This page is assigned roman numeral ―I‖ although the number does not appear on the page
The date used is the month and year of commencement
45
The student’s name must appear as he/she is registered at the institution
COPYRIGHT PAGE
This page is included only if the manuscript is being formally copyrighted, either through
University Microfilms or with the U.S. Government Copyright Form TX
DEDICATION PAGE
If the student wishes to dedicate the manuscript, the dedication statement is included at this point
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
This page is to thank those who have helped in the process of obtaining the graduate degree.
Permissions to quote copyrighted material are listed here, as well as acknowledgements for
grants and special funding.
ABSTRACT
A thesis/specialist project may have an abstract
An abstract should include: (1) a short statement concerning the area of investigation, (2) a brief
discussion of methods and procedures, (3) a brief summary of findings, and (4) conclusions
reached in the study.
There is no word limit
PREFACE
A personal statement about the thesis project would be included in a preface. The tone of a
preface, however, must be academic and appropriate to a scholarly work.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
May vary in style and amount of information.
Chapter or Section title, the Bibliography or List of References, the Appendix
No preliminary pages with Roman numerals are included in the Table of Contents
46
Table of Contents entries start with page 1
LIST OF TABLES/FIGURES/SLATES
If there are 5 or more tables or figures, then a List of Tables/Figures must be included
Any tables or figures appearing in the appendix are also included
Each tables or figure must have a different title and must be listed exactly as they appear in the on
the table/figure
LIST OF SYMBOLS/LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS/NOMENCLAUTE
The title of this material should reflect its content and may be included to define specialized terms
or symbols. This information may also be placed in an appendix
TEXT
The manuscript can be divided into either Chapter or Sections and must be consistent throughout
Each chapter or section must be numbered consecutively and begin on a new page
The Introduction can either be the first chapter/section or it may precede the first chapter or section
Any logical subdivision of a chapter/section is permissible but most remain consistent throughout
the manuscript
The subdivisions do not begin on a new page unless there is not room for the complete heading
and at least 2 lines of text at the bottom of the page
PHYSCIAL LAYOUT OF YOUR THESIS
SPACING- The entire text of your thesis should be double spaced for clarity and ease in reading.
You may use single spacing when inserting a quote
FONT- Test font may be either 10 or 12-point font. New Times Roman or Courier New are
acceptable for the typeface, others may also be acceptable. Make sure to keep the style
consistent throughout your thesis. You may use bold or italicized lettering for emphasis or
quotations, but not as your main form of text
47
MARGINS – Left if to be no less than 1 ½ inches. On the right side, top, and bottom, the correct
margins can be no less than 1 inch. It is important to remember these guidelines include
images, graphs and page numbering
PAGINATION – Small roman numerals are used in pages preceding the actual text of the thesis.
(ii, for example). Actual page numbers begin on the first page of the text of the thesis. The
page numbers must be either centered at the bottom of the page, or in the right corner. The
page numbering must remain constant throughout the entire thesis
PAPER- Paper must be 50% cotton, 20lb. White paper. Local office supply stores should have the
paper you need
COPIES- the Graduate School at Eastern Kentucky University requires a graduate thesis candidate
to submit (2) copies of the thesis. More may be required depending on the committee
members.
CHAPTER 1—INTRODUCTION
Before beginning an introduction, it is important to understand the purpose of the introduction.
Introductions are a way to entice the reader into wanting to read your piece of writing. This
can be done several ways, such as staring with an interesting historical fact, or by showing a
unique angle to the topic at hand. Regardless of the method, it is imperative that you make the
introduction interesting.
SOME KEY INGREDIANTS/CHECK LIST
Introduction-broad overview of problem being studied
Background of the problem (e.g. educational trends related to the problem, unresolved issues,
social concerns)
Statement of the problem situation (Basic difficulty-area of concern)
Purpose of the study (goal oriented), emphasize practical outcomes. Answer the WHY question
Questions to be answered or objective to be investigate
Conceptual or substantive assumptions (postulates)
Rationale and theoretical framework (when appropriate)
Definition of the research problem
Statement of hypotheses
48
Importance of significance of the study (may overlap with statement of the problem)
Definition of terms (largely conceptual here; operational definitions may follow in Mythology
chapter)
Scope of the study (narrow of focus)
Outline of the remainder of the thesis or proposal
Final paragraph should state why study is important, and what is going to happen within the study
The essential purpose of this section is to state your purpose, you want to hook the reader. This is
accomplished through a review of existing literature and contextualizing to the reader the
relevance to your project/study. Your collective literature review is much like doing an
exhaustive introduction to your whole work (thesis).
Your last paragraph of your literature review should be summarize/review what you did; it should
answer the question why it is important.
Your literature review should be absolutely objective. Remember at this point you are writing in a
tone of having not done anything else yet. Save your opinions and findings for their
appropriate sections.
The following section serves as a helpful checklist for the writer to ensure that he/she has
everything required/appropriate for their literature review:
SOME KEY INGREDIANTS/CHECKLIST
Organization of the present chapter-overview
Historical Background (if necessary)
CHAPTER II – REVIEW OF THE LITERATURE
PURPOSES TO BE SERVED BY REVIEW OF THE LITERATURE
Acquaint reader with existing studies relative to what has been found, who has done the work,
when and where latest research studies were completed, and what approaches involving
research studies were completed, and what approaches involving research methodology,
instrumentation, and statistical analyses were followed (literature review of methodology
sometimes saved for chapter on methodology)
49
Establish possible need for study and likelihood for obtaining meaningful, relevant, and significant
results.
Furnish from delineation of various theoretical positions a conceptual framework affording bases
for generation of hypothesis and statement of their rationale (when appropriate).
General integrative reviews cited that relate to the problem situation or research problem such as
those found in Review of Educational Research, or Psychological Bulletins.
Specific books, monographs, bulletins, reports, and research articles-preference shown in most
instances for literature of the last ten years.
Unpublished materials (e.g. dissertations, theses, papers presented at recent professional meetings
not yet in published form, but possibly available through ERIC)
Selection and arrangement of literature review often in terms of questions to be considered,
hypothesis set forth, or objectives or specific purposes delineated in problem chapter.
Summary of literature review (very brief).
CHAPTER III – METHODOLOGY
PURPOSE OF THE METHODOLOGY SECTION
The main purpose of the methodology section is to describe, in great detail, how you gained your
knowledge. What is specifically required of the methodology section is highly dependent on the
characteristics of your study. The type of study, qualitative or quantitative, being conducted will
guide some of the content of the methodology. The section should be written straightforward with
little opinion. Imagine explaining the research process to a friend. The description of the study
must provide enough basic information on the sample, the materials, and the procedures to allow
for replication.
There are numerous research methods. Below are the definitions of some research methods that
are popular in social science.
Historical research- Involves linking together pieces of information found in various sources to
explain an event of phenomenon.
50
In-depth Interviews- Simply, a conversation with the purpose of gaining information on the subject
being studied. There are very powerful tools in qualitative research.
Semiotics-Stemming from linguistics, semiotics is the study of imagery and the implications
imagery can have. Can be conducted through a highly quantitative process even though the
ideology driving semiotics is qualitative. Often look at the structure behind the image.
Ethnography- Places the researcher into the natural environment of a group or phenomenon being
studied. Distinguish the study as a micro or macro ethnographic study. It is important to
examine how your data was gathered, my ethic questions arising, and what characteristic is
being focused on.
Secondary Analysis- Uses existing data, collected for previous studies, and attempts to analyze this
data in a new research interest. (Heaton, 1998)
Content Analysis- Often can be both quantitative and qualitative. ―Content analysis is a research
tool used to determine the presence of certain words or concepts within texts or sets of texts.
Researches quantify and analyze the presence, meanings and relationships of such words and
concepts, then make inferences about the messages within the texts, the writer(s), the audience,
and even the culture and time of which these are a part‖ (The Colorado State University
Writing Center, 2001). The data examined can be derived from newspapers, television,
magazines, speeches, etc.
Quantitative survey- Probably the most widely used form of research. Can be conducted locally,
statewide, or nationwide. Data gathered through survey method and often entered into data
analysis computer program for evaluation.
Legal Research, qualitative investigative studies, trend analysis, agency evaluation, and theory
development research are all other methods used in the social science for collecting data. The
type of research conducted will dictate the content of the Methodology section.
WHAT SHOULD BE INCLUDED
Below is a general guideline. Mold the methodology section to provide the information relevant to
your study. You may want to questions your committee on what should be included.
Description of the actual method used and justification.
Was the study a content analysis, national level quantitative survey, ethnography, etc.?
Why is this method appropriate and what does it attempt to measure? Why are you going about
this study in this way?
Detailed description of the sample.
What are the characteristics of the population being addressed and the sample being studied (size,
age, income, etc)? Qualitative studies may not require much detail about your sample.
51
How were the subjects chosen?
How representative is the sample of the population?
Detailed description of all measurement instruments used to collect the data.
What types of survey/test/interviews were used?
Issues of reliability and validity should be addressed.
Detailed description of how the measurement instrument was used for collecting and recording data.
How, where, when was the data collected?
What instructions were given to the subjects etc.?
Limitations of the study (can be presented either in the methodology or conclusion sections).
Be sure to also include a small introduction and conclusion section in order to maintain fluidity.
Detail is important in your methodology section.
BRIEF DISBRIPTION
Report data and what the data means (less substantive than in conclusion).
Lay out findings and interpret results (results can be included in conclusion)
Must be logical and orderly within the framework of the hypotheses, deductions, objectives, or
questions asked in conjunction with the statement of the problem.
CHAPTER IV-ANALYSIS/FINDINGS
Objective rather than subjective or speculative presentation
Analysis consistent with and supported by the facts obtained
Absence of overgeneralizations or sweeping statements that go beyond data
Relationships of the findings to previously cited research explicitly shown
Negative findings relative to the hypotheses as well as positive findings presented with minimal
distortion or bias
Uncontrolled factors influencing data outcomes appropriately cited and discussed
52
Weakness in the data honestly conceded and discussed with appropriate emphasis
Lack of confusion between facts and inferences clearly shown – separation of analysis of findings
from interpretation and discussion of findings
Resolution of contradictions, inconsistencies, or misleading elements if the findings.
Appropriate and clear use of charts, tables, figures, and graphs
SOME KEY INGREDIENTS/CHECKLIST
Findings are presented in tables or charts when appropriate
Findings reported with respect to furnishing evidence for each question asked.
Appropriate headings are established to correspond to each main questions or hypothesis
considered.
Factual information kept separate from interpretation, inference and evaluation (one section for
findings and one section for interpretation or discussion)
Analysis and interpretation are complete, clear, and insightful
Narrative description of findings should be clear and complete
Separate section often titled ―Discussion, ――Interpretation,‖ or ―Evaluation‖ and ties together
findings in relation to theory, literature review, or methodology.
NOTE: In certain historical, case-study and anthropological investigations, factual and interpretive
material may need to be interwoven to sustain interest level, although the text should
clearly reveal what the fact is and what is interpretation.
CHAPTER V – SUMMARY/CONCLUSION
Brief’s summary of everything covered in the first three chapters and in findings portion of
Chapter IV (Analysis/Methods).
Precise and accurate statement of (1) the problem, (2) the methodology followed, and (3) the
findings without the introduction of new or irrelevant information.
Conclusions at a scope and level of generality justified by the data presented.
53
―So what‖ of findings. You have to question the importance of your research. Have to have a
good reason on why it matters; who is going to care?
Often the hypotheses restated as in inferences with some degree of definitive commitment and
generalizability (Reject or accept the hypotheses).
Rational for the data obtained or possible significant differences, or the fact that no significant
differences were found.
Conclusion should also include practical suggestions for implementation of findings and/or for
additional research. Should also consider the limitations of the study.
BIBLIOGRAPHY
The bibliography should list all of the sources of information used for the preparation of the paper.
APPENDICES
The appendices should material pertinent to the study but not appropriate for inclusions in the
body of the paper.
HELPFUL HINTS/FURTHER READING
Devote recurring time to focus on the work prior to the last semester
Review other thesis’ written by Eastern Kentucky University graduate students, noting style and
methodologies
Many guides are available to assist you in this endeavor. Recommended reading includes: Writing
With Style by John R. Trimble and Thesis Resource Guide For Criminology And Criminal
Justice by Frank P. Williams and Marilyn D. McShane.
54
EASTERN KENTUCKY UNIVERSITY
Guide to the Preparation of
Theses and Specialist Projects
Graduate Education & Research
2008
Text adapted from Tennessee Conference of Graduate Schools:
Guide to Preparation of Theses and Dissertations
and
Southern Illinois University Edwardsville:
Guidelines for the Preparation of a Thesis
TABLE OF CONTENTS
INTRODUCTION....................................................................................... 55
Academic Integrity...................................................................................... 56
Research Compliance ................................................................................. 56
Thesis Involving Human Subjects ............................................................. 56
Thesis Involving Animal Subjects............................................................. 57
THE ESSENTIALS................................................................................... 57
Purpose of the Guide ................................................................................. 57
Definitions................................................................................................. 58
Type Face or Font ..................................................................................... 58
Text............................................................................................................ 58
Preliminary Pages...................................................................................... 58
Table.......................................................................................................... 58
Figure and Plate......................................................................................... 58
Appendix................................................................................................... 58
ELEMENTS AND STYLE....................................................................... 59
Preliminary Pages ..................................................................................... 59
Approval Sheet ......................................................................................... 59
Statement of Permission to Use ............................................................... 59
Title Page ................................................................................................. 59
Copyright Page.......................................................................................... 59
Dedication Page ....................................................................................... 59
Acknowledgments..................................................................................... 59
Abstract .................................................................................................... 60
Preface ...................................................................................................... 60
Table of Contents ..................................................................................... 60
List of Tables/List of Figures/List of Plates ............................................. 60
List of Symbols/List of Abbreviations/Nomenclature.............................. 60
Text .......................................................................................................... 61
Divisions .................................................................................................. 61
Subdivisions ............................................................................................. 61
References Within Text ........................................................................... 61
Tables, Figures and Plates........................................................................ 62
General Information................................................................................. 62
Tables....................................................................................................... 63
Figures...................................................................................................... 64
Plates........................................................................................................ 64
55
Table of Contents Continued….
Bibliography/List of References................................................................. 64
Appendix .................................................................................................... 65
Vita ............................................................................................................. 65
FORMATTING.......................................................................................... 65
Type Face and Quality ............................................................................... 65
Type Face or Font ....................................................................................... 65
Spacing ....................................................................................................... 66
Other Formatting Considerations ............................................................... 66
Margin Settings and Justification................................................................ 66
Pagination.................................................................................................... 66
Paper and Duplication ................................................................................ 66
SPECIAL PROBLEMS AND CONSIDERATIONS ................................ 67
Theses/Specialist projects in the Form of Journal Articles......................... 67
Multi-Part Theses and Specialist projects .................................................. 67
Two-Volume Theses/Specialist projects .................................................... 67
Creative Writing Theses ............................................................................. 68
Theses/Specialist projects Prepared in a Foreign Language....................... 68
TECHNICAL POINTERS.......................................................................... 68
Appearance ................................................................................................. 68
Content........................................................................................................ 68
Taped Copy ................................................................................................ 68
Photographs ................................................................................................ 69
CONCLUDING INSTRUCTIONS ........................................................... 70
Printing the Master Copy............................................................................ 70
Copying ...................................................................................................... 70
Copies ........................................................................................................ 70
Forms.......................................................................................................... 70
Additional Copies and Binding .................................................................. 70
56
CHAPTER 1
INTRODUCTION
The successful completion of a thesis is the culmination of a student’s work in fulfilling the
requirements for a graduate degree at Eastern Kentucky University. The process is demanding, rigorous,
time-consuming, challenging, and sometimes, discouraging. It is also one of the most rewarding aspects of
graduate study because it is you – the graduate student, your topic, your proposal, your research, and your
writing. The result is a manuscript that is printed and bound and resides in the Library as tangible and
lasting evidence of your completed graduate study at EKU.
Thesis guidelines are prepared by Graduate Education and Research as a resource in helping you
achieve the standards expected for an academic work. In addition to reading this booklet, you will find it
useful to consult with your thesis committee to determine if any particular style is preferred; e.g.,
Turabian, APA, MLA, etc. Some departments will require a specific style, while others will leave that
decision to the discretion of the student. Whatever style is selected, familiarize yourself with its
requirements, and be consistent within that style.
A thesis is an academic work; as such, creative use of bold and italics and dramatic changes in
point size are discouraged even though word processing packages provide some interesting temptations.
Adherence to a traditional format is expected, and is especially applicable to the cover page, which is
standard for every thesis. Please note that the library will not accept theses for binding that do not strictly
adhere to these guidelines.
The thesis writer is expected to proofread the manual for errors in spelling, punctuation, grammar,
syntax, subject/verb agreement, sentence structure, and paragraphing. Remember that the spell checking
function of your word processing software is more of a crutch than a tool and is not the final solution for
spelling problems,
particularly with regards to homonyms.
Witness the following poem by Pennye Harper:
I have a spelling checker;
It came with my PC.
It plainly marks four my revue
Mistakes I cannot sea.
I’ve run this poem threw it;
I’m sure your pleased too no
Its letter perfect in it’s weigh;
My checker told me so.
57
Academic Integrity
Since conferral of a graduate degree implies personal integrity and knowledge of scholarly
methods, there are three areas in which graduate students should be particularly cautious: (1) proper
acknowledgment of cited works, (2) the use of copyrighted material, and (3) the proper reporting of work
where research compliance is
required.
Webster's Collegiate Dictionary defines plagiarism as "stealing or passing off ideas or words of
another as one's own"; "the use of a created production without crediting the source." Any material taken
from another source must be documented, and in no case should one present another person's work as
one's own. Extreme caution should be exercised by students involved in collaborative research to avoid
questions of plagiarism. If in doubt, students should check with the major professor and the Graduate
School about the project. Plagiarism will be investigated when suspected and prosecuted if established.
If copyrighted material is used in a limited way, permission to quote usually does not need to be
sought. If, however, extensive material from a copyrighted work is to be used such that the rights of the
copyright owner might be violated, permission of the owner must be obtained. In determining the extent of
a written work that may be quoted without permission, the student should consider the proportion of the
material to be quoted in relation to the substance of the entire work. According to The Chicago Manual of
Style (1993), "A few lines from a sonnet, for instance, form a greater proportion of the work than do a few
lines from a novel. Use of anything in its entirety is hardly ever acceptable" (p. 146, section 4.53). In no
case should a standardized test or similar material be copied and included in a thesis/specialist project
without written permission. According to Circular 21 (Reproduction of Copyrighted Works by Educators
and Librarians, p. 11), ". . . the following shall be prohibited: . . . There shall be no copying of or from
works intended to be 'consumable' in the course of study or of teaching. These include workbooks,
exercises, standardized tests and test booklets and answer sheets and like consumable material." The
publisher usually has the authority to grant permission to quote excerpts from the copyrighted work or can
refer requests to the copyright owner or designated representative. The copyright owner may charge for
permission to quote. Permissions should be credited with the acknowledgments, and the source should
appear in the List of References or Bibliography.
Research Compliance
Compliance with federal regulations governing the use of human subjects, animal care, radiation,
legend drugs, recombinant DNA, or the handling of hazardous materials in research is monitored by a
number of federal agencies. Because of these regulations, research compliance is another area of
importance to graduate students and to the conduct of their research. Most schools require each student to
verify that he or she has complied with the appropriate approval procedure(s) prior to the initiation of the
thesis or specialist project-related research, if approval is relevant to the research. Graduate students doing
research involving any of the areas mentioned should determine what compliance is required by the
school.
Thesis Involving Human Subjects
All research involving human subjects must comply with federal regulations from the Office of
Human Research Protections (OHRP) and the University’s Institutional Review Board (IRB) for the
protection of human research subjects. Proposals for research projects involving human subjects must be
reviewed and approved by the IRB prior to the collection of data. Applications are available on the
Sponsored Programs website at http://www.sponsoredprograms.eku.edu/IRB_SITE/. Federal regulations
require mandatory training for all researchers, including students writing theses or dissertations. To satisfy
this training requirement, EKU requires that all researchers participating in projects involving human
subjects complete the National Institutes of Health’s Human Participant Protections Education for
Research Teams Tutorial and supply a copy of the certification of completion to the IRB prior to the
58
Thesis Involving Animal Subjects
All research involving animal subjects must be reviewed by and receive approval from the
Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC) prior to the beginning of the research project. The
IACUC application and guidelines are available on the Sponsored Programs website at http://
www.sponsoredprograms.eku.edu/IACUC/.
For more information about IRB and IACUC requirements, contact the Division of Sponsored
Programs at (859) 622-3636.
The goal of the Graduate School, as well as the student's thesis or specialist project committee
members, is to ensure that a manuscript has been produced that will reflect credit on the student, the
student's committee, the department, and the Graduate School. Good luck with your thesis and remember
that when it’s all done the rewards will include a completed graduate degree and an immense feeling of
accomplishment.
CHAPTER 2
THE ESSENTIALS
Purpose of this Guide
This guide is designed to be a basic source of information for thesis/specialist project preparation.
It establishes the technical parameters within which all students should work, such as quality of paper,
number of copies to be submitted, margins, and the sequence of pages within the manuscript. Since most
graduate students will publish during and after their graduate education, it is also logical to encourage the
use of leading professional publications to help establish specific formatting conventions. Students are
encouraged to use publications within their field--journals and textbooks--to assist them in establishing
heading format, bibliographic form, use of numbers, and other conventions that are discipline oriented.
The application of this theory is not simple, but it is necessary for students to understand the various
elements of a manuscript and general publication formatting requirements in academic publishing.
Although knowledge and use of publication formatting is essential, the regulations established by this
guide always take precedence.
Style handbooks such as the MLA Handbook for Writers of Research Papers, Publication Manual
of the American Psychological Association, A Manual for Writers, and/or The Chicago Manual of Style
should also be used as resources for basic style and grammar. In contrast, previously accepted theses and
specialist projects should never be used as the final guide to style. Examples taken from other theses may
be out of context, out of date, or incorrect. The existence of a particular style or usage in a previously
accepted thesis does not establish a precedent for its continuation.
By accepting a thesis or specialist project and awarding the degree, a university or college places
its academic reputation on the line. Thus, the content of the manuscript is carefully evaluated by experts in
the student's field, while format requirements are imposed to ensure an appropriate academic appearance
of the manuscript.
59
Definitions
Type Face or Font
These terms apply to all the features available within a "type" family. For many printers, type face includes
bold, italic, and the various sizes of any named type i.e. Helvetica, Times Roman, Arial, Courier, etc.
Text
In the discussion of formatting, text is used as a generic term to designate the main body of the thesis/
specialist project and to distinguish this element from preliminary pages (or front matter), references,
tables, figures, and appendices.
Preliminary Pages
Sometimes called "front matter," these pages serve as a guide to the contents and nature of the manuscript
(Chicago Manual of Style, p. 4, section 1.2). The approval or acceptance sheets, as part of the preliminary
pages, confirm acceptance by the committee members acting for the department, and the dean of the
graduate school,
acting for the university or college.
Table
A table consists of numbers, words, or both, and presents information that is separated into columns.
Tabular information allows the author to convey precise information to a reader in a structured format.
Figure and Plate
Any diagram, drawing, graph, chart, map, photograph, or material that does not fit into the restricted
format for a table is a figure or plate. Figures generally show relationships or illustrate information rather
than present precise data. Plates are a subgrouping of figures and usually consist of groups of separate
photographs or drawings presented together.
Appendix
An appendix is generally a "catch-all" for supplementary material to the thesis/specialist project. In some
cases, tables and/or figures are placed in an appendix to avoid interrupting the text.
60
CHAPTER 3
ELEMENTS AND STYLE
Preliminary Pages
Figure 1 shows the sequence and numbering scheme of the various thesis/specialist projects parts.
Samples of all preliminary pages are found in the appendix.
Approval Sheet
Each of the two copies of the thesis/specialist project submitted to the Graduate School must have
an approval sheet using the exact wording and format shown in the appendix. This sheet must be on the
same brand and weight of cotton paper and be in the same base type face as the remainder of the thesis/
specialist project. The name used on the approval sheets and title page must be that under which the
student is registered at the institution. Although the approval sheets may be copies, the committee
signatures must be original. Black ink is recommended for the original signatures. The number of
signature lines must equal the number of committee members. The major and degree to be awarded must
be exactly those to which the student was admitted officially by the Graduate School. Majors and degrees
can be found in the university’s graduate catalog. The approval sheet is the first page of the manuscript
and is not numbered, or counted in the numbering sequence.
Statement of Permission to Use
The Statement of Permission to Use allows the library to provide academic copies of a thesis
without securing further permission from the author. Unlike specialist projects, theses are not microfilmed,
so access to them is limited to that which can be provided by the library. Like the approval sheet, each of
the two copies of the thesis submitted to the school must have a Statement of Permission to Use on the
same brand and weight of paper and in the same base type style. This statement is in addition to optional
copyrighting of the thesis. It follows the approval sheet and is not assigned a page number.
Title Page
The style should be followed exactly as it appears in the example on page 42. Do not use bold,
italics, underline, or point size larger than standard text. Center these items in the same way they are
centered on the sample page. This page is not numbered, but it is counted as page one of the preliminary
pages and is assigned roman numeral "i" although the number does not appear on the page (see Figure 1 on
page 11 for details of numbering and sequencing of manuscript). The date used is the month and year of
commencement. The student's name must appear as he/she is registered at the institution. The wording and
format must be exactly as shown in the appendix.
Copyright Page
This page is included only if the manuscript is being formally copyrighted, either through
University Microfilms (doctoral students) or with the U.S. Government Copyright Form TX (Master's
students).
Dedication Page
If the student wishes to dedicate the manuscript, the dedication statement is included at this point.
Acknowledgments
This page is to thank those who have helped in the process of obtaining the graduate degree.
Permissions to quote copyrighted material are listed here, as well as acknowledgments for grants and
special funding.
61
Abstract
A thesis/specialist project submitted to the Graduate School may have an abstract. Although the
content of the abstract is determined by the student and graduate committee, the following information is
appropriate: (1) a short statement concerning the area of investigation, (2) a brief discussion of methods
and procedures used in gathering the data, (3) a condensed summary of the findings, and (4) conclusions
reached in the study. There is no word limit on the abstract appearing in the thesis or specialist project.
Preface
A personal statement about the thesis project would be included in a preface. The tone of a preface,
however, must be academic and appropriate to a scholarly work.
Table of Contents
The Table of Contents may vary in style and amount of information included. Chapter or Section
titles, the Bibliography or List of References, the Appendix(es), if any, and the Vita must be included.
Page numbers given for the Bibliography and Appendix should be those assigned to the separation sheet
preceding each of those items.
Although it is not necessary to include all levels of headings, inclusion must be consistent. If a
particular level is included at any point, all headings of that level must be included. No preliminary pages
with Roman numerals are included in the Table of Contents; the Table of Contents entries start with page
1. The listed page numbers in the Table of Contents, as well as those given on the List of Tables and List
of Figures should be right justified (see examples on pages 47-50).
List of Tables/List of Figures/List of Plates
If there are five or more tables or figures, a List of Tables and/or Figures must be included.
Because plates are sometimes not part of the bound manuscript, a List of Plates must always be included.
There must be separate lists for tables, figures and plates. Any tables or figures appearing in the appendix
are also included in the appropriate list. Each title must be different from the other titles, and all titles must
be entered in the lists worded exactly as they appear on the table or figure. This includes the information
up to the first terminal punctuation. Additional explanatory information need not be included in the list.
These pages are placed immediately after the Table of Contents in the preliminary pages. Not every thesis
will require the use of tables, etc.
Placement of tables, figures, or illustrations will be determined by the student and the graduate
thesis committee. If they are included within text they should be placed as closely as possible to their first
mention in text. Some students and their committees will elect to place them in the Appendix, especially if
they are nonessential to the printed matter. Placement of tables, figures, and illustrations is not an either/or;
it is permissible to use some of them within the body of the thesis and include the rest of them in
Appendix.
All of these elements should be referred to by number. If a table cannot be accommodated in the
space remaining on a page, continue the text to make a full page and place the table at the top of the next
page, continuing the text from the position at which the table ends. Each table, illustration, etc., must have
a title or caption.
List of Symbols/List of Abbreviations/Nomenclature
The title of this material should reflect its content and may be included to define specialized terms
or symbols. This information may also be placed in an appendix.
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Text
For the purposes of this discussion, "text" is used as a generic term to refer to the main body of the thesis/specialist
project. Samples of thesis/specialist project parts may be found in the appendix.
Divisions
The manuscript must be divided into a logical scheme that is followed consistently throughout the work. Chapters
are the most common major division, but sections and parts are also permissible. Examples of these formats are
shown in Figure 2 on page 13. For a discussion of division into parts, see Chapter 5. Each chapter or section must be
numbered consecutively and begin on a new page. A division entitled INTRODUCTION may be the first
numbered chapter or section, or may precede the first numbered chapter or section. Chapter or section titles are
primary divisions of the entire manuscript and are not part of the subdivision scheme. Each chapter should begin on
a new page with two lines separating the chapter heading and the first line of text.
Subdivisions
Any logical system of subdivision within chapters or sections is permissible, but the scheme must be consistent
throughout the manuscript. The appearance of the heading must vary for each level of subdivision unless a
numbering system is used to indicate level. The subdivisions within a chapter or section do not begin on a new page
unless the preceding page is filled. If there is not room for the complete heading and at least two lines of text at the
bottom of a page, the new subdivision should begin on the next page. First and second level subdivisions are always
preceded by extra space to indicate to the reader a major shift in subject. According to the Chicago Manual of Style
(1993), "The subhead and its white space . . . equal two lines of text" (p. 773, section 18.28). Any levels of
subdivision below the first two are not required to have extra space above but must be treated consistently.
A. Division by Chapters:
CHAPTER 1
GROWTH DYNAMICS OF TUMOR CELLS IN VITRO
AND IN VIVO
Chapter numbers can be expressed as Roman or Arabic numerals. Note the extra spacing between chapter number,
chapter title and beginning of text. This space provides a visual "roadmap" for readers, telling them that a major
division has just occurred.
B. Division by Sections:
1. GROWTH DYNAMICS OF TUMOR CELLS IN VITRO
AND IN VIVO
Sections can be expressed either in Roman or Arabic numerals. Note the extra spacing between the section
designation and text, showing readers that a major break has occurred.
References within Text
Notes documenting the text and corresponding to superscripted numbers in the text are called footnotes when they
are printed at the bottom of the page (Chicago Manual of Style, p. 494, section 15.4). This format is only used
occasionally and has generally been replaced by references. References usually consist of information in parenthesis
or square brackets within the text. Two common methods of referencing are (1) to use author's name and date of
publication, as in (Smith, 1990), or (2) to assign numbers to the bibliographical entries and insert the corresponding
number for the authors as they are cited in the text, as in Smith (95). The purpose of references is to guide the reader
to the corresponding entry in the List of References or Bibliography, where complete information is available.
Footnotes or reference notes collected at the end of each chapter or section (end notes) are not acceptable. In
microfilm or other electronic format, large numbers of pages are reproduced on a single sheet of film, making end
notes difficult for the reader to locate. The form, style and contents of footnotes or reference notes should be
determined by what is generally accepted in the field of study, using a professional journal or style manual. Most of
the popular word processing applications have a footnote feature that provides automatic formatting and placement
of footnotes at the bottom of the page. For disciplines using that convention, the formatting provided by the software
application would be acceptable.
63
Tables, Figures and Plates
General Information
Titles. Since tables and figures are separate entities, they must be numbered independently. Each table or figure
must have a unique title descriptive of its contents. This title appears at the top of the table and at the bottom of the
figure. Figures containing parts must be given a general title, after which the figure may be broken down into "A"
and "B" parts. For multiple-part figures, the title may be integrated, with titles for each part as part of the general
figure title, or composite, with no reference to the individual parts. No two figures may have exactly the same title.
The formatting of the titles must be consistent for all tables and figures. Numbering. Tables and figures may be
numbered in one of several ways. Three of the most common numbering schemes are (1) to number consecutively
throughout the manuscript, including the appendix, using either Roman or Arabic numerals; (2) to number
consecutively within chapters or sections, with a prefix designating the chapter/section (e.g., 3-1, 3-2 . . . 4-1, 4-2).
Appendix tables or figures would use a prefix of A for Appendix or a prefix designating the specific appendix (e.g.,
A-1, A-2 or A-1, B-1, B-2); or (3) to establish a consecutive numbering system for the body of the manuscript and a
different one for the appendix (e.g., 1, 2, 3 for text and A-1, A-2, A-3 for appendix). The style of numbering must be
consistent. Placement within the body of the manuscript. Each table or figure must immediately follow the page on
which it is first mentioned (except as noted in the next paragraph) and all tables and figures must be referred to by
number, not by expressions such as "the following table/figure." When more than one table or figure is introduced
on a page of text, each follows in the order mentioned. It is recommended that tables and figures be assigned pages
separate from the text to avoid problems in shifting during last-minute revisions.
In degree of importance, tables and figures are secondary to the text so that the text dictates where the tables or
figures are placed. All pages must be filled with text and in no case should a page be left significantly short because
of the mention of a table or figure. A table or figure less than one-half page in length (approximately 4 inches) may
be incorporated within the text, provided the following criteria are met:
• Must be in numerical order.
• Is separated from the text by extra space (approximately 1/2 inch).
• Is not continued onto a following page.
• Follows its specific mention in the text.
It is strongly suggested that if tables and figures are integrated with text, they be placed so that they appear either at
the top or the bottom of a page. A mention on the upper half of a page of text would mean that the bottom half of the
page would be reserved for the table or figure, and a mention in the bottom half of the page would place the table or
figure at the top of the next page. There should always be a balance of no less than one-half page of text and no
more than one-half page of table or figure. If multiple tables or figures are mentioned together on a page, they may
be placed on pages together, provided there is approximately 1/2 inch between each. It is not necessary to designate
as figures small diagrams within the text, nor to designate as formal tables compilations which are no more than a
few lines in length. Placement of tables and figures in the appendix. When all tables and/or figures are in an
appendix, this fact is stated in a footnote in the body of the text attached to the first mention of a table or figure and
is not repeated thereafter. When only some of the tables and figures are in an appendix, their location must be
clearly indicated when the items are mentioned in the text (Table 1, Appendix A), unless the numbering scheme
makes the location obvious (Table A-1). Horizontal tables and figures. To accommodate large tables or figures, it is
sometimes necessary to place them in horizontal orientation on the page. The margin at the binding edge must still
be 1 1/2 inches, and all other margins at least 1 inch. The margin at the top of the page and the placement of the page
number must be consistent with the rest of the thesis. The table or figure and its caption will be placed so that they
can be read when the thesis is turned 90 degrees clockwise. Foldout pages. Large tables and figures should be
reduced to fit an 8 1/2 x 11 inch page, if possible. It not, material on approved paper larger than 8 1/2 x 11 inches
may be included in the thesis, provided the page itself is 11 inches vertically and is folded properly. The fold on the
right side must be at least 1/2 inch from the edge of the paper. The second fold, on the left side, if needed, must be at
least 1 1/2 inches from the binding edge of the paper. The finished page, folded, should measure 8 1/2 x 11 inches. If
the page is to be bound into the thesis or specialist project, the paper submitted to the graduate school must be the
same brand of 100% cotton as the rest of the manuscript. Material in pockets.
64
If it is necessary to include a large map, drawing, CD, or any other material which cannot be bound, these materials
should be itemized in a List of Plates and indicated as being "In Pocket." A label giving the plate number, title,
student's name and year of graduation is affixed to the folded plate. A pocket for the plate will be attached to the
inside back cover of the hard-bound copies at the bindery. It is also permissible to include less bulky material such
as a survey instrument or pamphlets in a pocket attached to a sheet of approved paper with permanent cement. This
material must be treated as a figure, mentioned in the text, and given a number and caption. Caution should be
observed in using pockets since the material in them is easily lost.
Tables
Type face. Since tables are typeset rather than photographed or copied from artwork (Publication Manual of the
APA, p. 94), the base type face used for the manuscript must be used for tables. The size of the type may differ,
depending on the "fit" of the information within the margins. Because of the type requirements for tables, it is
seldom possible to use a table from another source "as is." Required components. Since tables consist of tabulated
material or columns, the use of ruling or lines in tables helps the reader distinguish the various parts of the table.
One of the characteristics that identifies tabulated material as a table is the presence of at least the following three
lines:
1. The table opening line, which appears after the table title and before the columnar headings.
2. The columnar heading closing line, which closes off the headings from the main body of the table.
3. The table closing line, signaling that the data are complete. Anything appearing below the closing line is footnote
material. (See Figure 3.)
Vertical lines are accepted but not required. Tables must have at least two columns which carry headings at the
top--brief indications of the material in the columns (Chicago Manual of Style, p. 413, section 12.26). The headings
appearing between the table opening line and the column heading closing line must apply to the entire column down
to the table closing line. This is especially important in tables that continue onto additional pages. It is never
appropriate to change columnar headings on continued pages. One method of avoiding a problem is to use
cut-in-heads, which are headings that appear below the column heading closing line, cut across the columns of the
table, and apply to all the tabular matter lying below it (Chicago Manual of Style, p. 414, section 12.30) (see
example in Figure 3). Continued tables. Tables may be continued on as many pages as necessary, provided the
columnar headings within the columnar block remain the same. The columnar block is repeated for each page. The
table title is not repeated, but continuation pages are indicated with the designation: Table ___ (continued). Tables
too large to fit within margins may be reduced (see Chapter 7 for hints on technical production). Table footnotes.
Footnotes to tables consist of four different categories: (1) source notes, (2) general notes, (3) notes to specific parts
of the table indicated by superscripts, and (4) notes on level of probability (Turabian, p. 101). If the table or data
within the table are taken from another source, the word Source(s): is used, followed by the full reference citation,
regardless of the format for referencing used in the main body of the text. This ensures that if that specific page is
copied in the future by an interested reader, all bibliographic information is contained within the page. All references
must be included in the List of References or Bibliography. General notes are introduced as ―Note(s):” and may
include remarks that refer to the table as a whole. Notes to specific parts of the table use superscripts (letters for
tables consisting of numbers; numerals for tables consisting of words; symbols if letters or numbers might be
mistaken for exponents) that are attached to the part of the table to which they apply. If a table contains values for
which levels of probability are given, asterisks are used by convention. A single asterisk is used for the lowest level
of probability, two for the next higher, etc. (Chicago Manual of Style, p. 419, section 12.50).
65
Figures
Type face. Since figures are considered illustrations, regardless of the nature of their content, any print that is part of
the figure can be in any type face, provided it is neat and legible. The figure title (or caption) and page number must
be in the same base type face as the rest of the manuscript because this material is considered to be part of the
typeset body of the manuscript (see Chapter 7). Legends. Explanatory material for figures may be placed within the
figure, either above or below the title, or continued after the period following the title. If a figure has a long legend
which must be placed on a separate sheet because of the size of the figure, this page must be placed immediately
before the figure. The page number assigned to the legend page is considered to be the first page of the figure. The
figure title would appear on the legend page, together with the legend information. Legend pages are used only as
needed. Continued figures. A figure containing several related parts too large to be included on a page may be
continued onto other pages. The first page contains the figure number and complete title, and subsequent pages
contain the remainder of the figure and the designation: Figure ___ (continued). Figure footnotes. Footnotes are
placed below the figure title but are not separated by a dividing line. If the figure or information within the figure is
taken from another source, the word Source(s): is used, followed by the full reference citation, regardless of the
format for referencing used in the main body of the text. This ensures that if that specific page is copied in the future
by an interested reader, all bibliographic information is contained within the page. If changes are made in a figure
from another source, this is indicated by using the phrase "Adapted from . . . ." General notes are introduced as Note
(s): and may include remarks that refer to the figure as a whole. All references must be included in the Bibliography
or List of References.
Plates
Plates are a special category consisting of pages of related figures, multiple photographs or material that cannot be
bound into the manuscript in the normal binding process. Following are the most frequently used methods of
including plates:

Printed as full-page 8 1/2 x 11 inch photographs on double-weight glossy paper (with a maximum image area of
6 x 9 inches) preceded by a legend page (see Figures).
 Affixed to the required paper with a permanent spray mount adhesive.
 Copied on archival-quality paper (not necessarily the required paper) to be placed in a pocket attached to the
inside back cover of the manuscript at the bindery.
Plates must be mentioned in the text by number. The plate pages then follow the first mention. Since plates may be
composed of multiple figures or parts, all parts of each plate may be discussed in any manner the writer desires
without further referencing once the plate is mentioned.
Bibliography/List of References
A thesis/specialist project must include a list of materials used in the preparation of the manuscript. This may consist
only of references cited in the text (List of References) or it may include works consulted as well (Bibliography).
The purpose of listing the citations is threefold: (1) to serve as an acknowledgment of sources, (2) to give readers
sufficient information to locate the volume, and (3) in the case of personal interviews or correspondence, to save
readers the trouble of attempting to locate material that is not available.
Ordinarily, citations are arranged alphabetically by the last name of the author. Runover lines in a bibliography can
be handled in one of two ways: Either indent the author’s name five spaces and place the runover line(s) flush left –
or – Place the author’s name flush left and indent the runover lines five spaces. The format for the citations should
be that used in the field of study.
66
Appendix
An appendix (appendixes or appendices), if included, is preceded by a numbered page with the designation centered
vertically and horizontally between the margins. Original data and supplementary materials are usually placed in the
appendix. In some cases, all tables, figures and/or plates are moved to the appendix to avoid interrupting text. Each
different element of the supplemental material (e.g. each set of tables, charts, etc.) is sectioned into separate
appendices each preceded by a numbered designation page (see sample).
Vita
The vita is written in narrative form and contains appropriate personal, academic and professional information about
the author. Since copies of the manuscript will be available to the public, private information should not be included.
It is the last item in the manuscript and appears with no preceding separation page.
CHAPTER 4
FORMATTING
Type Face and Quality
Type Face or Font
While font style is an individual decision, it is important that the manuscript is professional looking and readable.
Use of a 10- to 12-point font size and a font style that is clear and projects an appropriate academic image is
recommended. Suggestions include Courier, Arial, Calibri, or Times New Roman. Type face affects the physical
appearance of a manuscript more than any other single element. Figure 4 shows a sample page using various point
sizes and special effects. The use of bold and/or italic fonts is permitted (except on the cover page and for
major headings). Second or third level headings are more easily seen with bold, for example. Frequently, a thesis
will contain a section of definitions, which are more distinctive when seen in bold or italics. Substituting either bold
or italics for underline also generates a sharper contrast between words being defined and second level headings that
also use underline. It is important to establish styles or conventions that will be followed consistently throughout the
manuscript. If the decision is made to set all single-spaced quotes in italics or in a smaller type than that used for the
regular text, that convention should be followed for all single-spaced quotes.
Chapter 2
Materials and Methods
Introduction
Ten major steps were involved in finding RFLPs among Cornus genotypes. These steps are shown in Figure 2.1.
Plant Material
Cornus tissue (newly emerging succulent leaves, older fully expanded leaves, floral bract tissue and floral buds) was
collected from different species and from different cultivars of C. florida from several locations. The primary
Cornus genotypes used in this study were C. mas, C. amomum, C. sericea, C. kousa and the C. florida cultivars
'Barton', 'Cherokee Princess', 'Cloud Nine', 'Mary Ellen'. During the course of this study DNA was extracted from
several other Cornus genotypes but due to time constraints RFLP experiments were not carried out on these
additional plants. All tissue was collected within a 100 mile radius of Knoxville, Tennessee (see Table 2.1) and
tissue from all trees (with the exception of two C. kousa trees) was collected from trees growing outside. Plant tissue
was collected throughout the spring and summer and into early fall at different times during the day and night. To
reduce the destructive activity of nucleases on the DNA, the tissue was usually immersed in liquid nitrogen as soon
as it was obtained and kept in a frozen state until processed. For solutions used see Table 2.2.
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Spacing
Spacing has both aesthetic and utilitarian effects on the appearance of a page. Most word processing packages allow
the user to set the "spacing" for vertical measurement, using the predetermined line height as a basis. Single spacing
leaves a small space between two lines of type and double spacing leaves the equivalent of the height of a line
between the two lines of type. Newer software will also permit line spacing of 1.15 and 1.5 lines. For readability
when printed, the general text should be at least 1.5 spaces and at most be double-spaced. Single or 1.15 spacing is
permissible to set off quoted material and for references and tables. Students are encouraged to use the conventions
within their field and to be consistent in their application. In the event that extra space is needed (e.g., above
headings, between chapter number and title), an additional "enter" is added, doubling the white space. The decision
whether to indent each paragraph or leave flush is optional, but indentations should be uniform throughout the
thesis/specialist project. Additionally, it is no longer necessary to place two spaces after each period in a paragraph.
Most word processing software today automatically place extra space between sentences.
Widows/Orphans
Widows/orphans are single lines/words of text separated from paragraphs. If possible, widows/orphans should be
avoided. Be advised that they will not be accepted when they interfere with the flow of the text.
Other Formatting Considerations
Margin Settings and Justification
Thesis/specialist project margins cannot be violated. The left margin must be no less than 1 1/2 inches; the right,
top and bottom margins no less than 1 inch. All images must fit within these margins, including the page number.
These margins define the minimum white space to be maintained on all sides. All margins must be left justified (or
ragged-right). Left justified margins are the only margins acceptable and must be consistent throughout the
manuscript.
Pagination
Figure 1 on page 11 shows the order and pagination of the various parts of a thesis/specialist project. The approval
sheet and Permission to Use page are not numbered and are not assigned a number. The preliminary pages begin
with the title page and are assigned lowercase Roman numerals. Although the preliminary paging begins with the
title page, no number appears on that page; therefore, the first numbered page is page ii. Beginning with the first
page of the text, all pages should be numbered consecutively throughout the manuscript, including the Bibliography
or List of References, Appendix, and Vita, with Arabic numerals. Pagination using letter suffixes (i.e., 10a and 10b)
is not allowed. The number may be positioned at the bottom of the page centered between the margins, or in the
lower right hand corner, but must be consistent throughout the document. Numbers may appear on separation sheets
(Bibliography or List of References and Appendix), or be suppressed, provided the pages are assigned numbers.
Paper and Duplication
The two final copies of the thesis/specialist project submitted to the Graduate School must be printed on 100 percent
cotton content, 20- to 24-pound weight, white paper. The same brand of paper must be used throughout both copies
and for the approval pages. The copies are made from a master copy produced by a letter-quality printer on plain
white paper. The initial copy submitted for formatting checks should be on ordinary-grade printer paper, but must be
fully formatted and organized as a final draft.
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CHAPTER 5
SPECIAL PROBLEMS AND CONSIDERATIONS
The guidelines given in the previous chapters are sufficient for most theses/specialist projects. However, there are
several circumstances that require additional guidance. This chapter addresses a few of the more specific questions
that may exist in thesis/specialist project preparation, such as the use of papers that have been or will be submitted to
journals, the division of unusually long manuscripts, and requirements pertaining to creative writing and foreign
languages.
Theses/Specialist projects in the Form of Journal Articles
A thesis or specialist project may include articles submitted or about to be submitted to professional journals.
Projects done this way, however, must meet specific guidelines. The individual papers must be integrated into a
unified presentation, which may be done through an introductory chapter which might contain, among other things,
a
detailed literature review of the type not presented in journal articles. Additionally, one or more connecting chapters
might be used to expand upon the methodology or the theoretical implications of the findings presented in the
individual articles. A uniform style of headings, reference citations, and bibliographical format – in compliance with
this guide – must be adopted for the thesis/specialist project, even though the individual papers may have been
prepared for submission to different journals. Each paper may be listed as an individual chapter within the thesis/
specialist project or may be treated as a part and follow the Multi-part format discussed in the next section. If
chapter divisions are used, one Bibliography or List of References, including all references from the various articles,
is presented at the end of the text. Finally, appendices may be added to present information not included in the
chapters. Pages must be numbered consecutively throughout the manuscript.
Multi-Part Theses and Specialist projects
With approval of the committee members, a thesis/specialist project may be divided into parts, rather than sections
or chapters. The use of parts is an effective method of organization when research has been performed in two or
more areas not practical to be combined into a single presentation or to assist in maintaining consistent format for
journal articles. Each part may be treated as a separate unit, with its own chapters, figures, tables, Bibliography or
List of References, and Appendix (if needed), or the Bibliography or List of References and Appendix may be
combined at the end as in the case of theses/specialist projects in the form of journal articles (see previous section).
In all cases, the thesis/specialist project must include an introduction which provides an overview and summary of
the project, a single Table of Contents, List of Tables and List of Figures. Consecutive pagination should be used
throughout the manuscript, including numbering of the required separation sheets listing the part number and
title placed before each part.
Two-Volume Theses/Specialist projects
If a manuscript is more than 2 1/2 inches in thickness (approximately 500 sheets of 20- pound 100% cotton paper), it
must be divided as equally as possible into two volumes not exceeding 2 1/2 inches each. The division must come
between chapters or major divisions, such as Bibliography or Appendices. The Table of Contents at the beginning of
Volume 1 will list the contents for the entire manuscript. Pagination is continuous throughout both volumes. A sheet
with VOLUME 1 centered both horizontally and vertically between margins is inserted just prior to Chapter 1.
Volume 2 opens with a title page followed by a sheet showing VOLUME 2. Neither volume separation sheet is
assigned a number.
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Creative Writing Theses
All theses, including those in creative writing, are expected to conform to the basic rules of margins, paper and copy
quality, and must be blended into a unified presentation that fulfills the requirement that the thesis should reflect
credit on the student, the student's committee and the university. The following elements are required for the
acceptance of a thesis in Creative Writing:
• Approval sheet
• Title page
• Abstract
• Table of Contents
• Introduction, which sets the academic tone for the body of the manuscript, and provides a rationale for the
acceptance of the creative work as a thesis.
Theses/Specialist projects Prepared in a Foreign Language
All theses or specialist projects must be written in English.
CHAPTER 6
TECHNICAL POINTERS
Computer use has enabled students to assume responsibility for all aspects of thesis/specialist project preparation,
allowing them to function as author, editor and publisher of their manuscripts. With this freedom has come the
responsibility of ensuring that the content is accurate, grammar and mechanics are acceptable, and all elements
of formatting are handled correctly. The purpose of this chapter is to provide some pointers on technical production
and to address some common production problems.
Appearance
The element that contributes most to the attractiveness of a manuscript is consistency. Consistency in formatting
means that the writer establishes and adheres to a series of conventions or protocols regarding spacing, heading
sequencing, and other aspects of appearance to guide readers through the manuscript visually, thus enabling them to
concentrate on the content. Consistency in thesis/specialist project production is especially critical, since it
determines, in part, the committee reaction to content and ultimately, acceptance of the manuscript by the Graduate
School.
Content
Taped Copy
Students often waste valuable time attempting to force the computer to solve a problem when quicker and easier
solutions exist. If everything to be included in a thesis or specialist project is not on disk, alternative methods must
be used to transfer the image to a "working copy," such as taping the material to the page. Examples include
material from other sources, photographs, tables or other material too large for a standard page. In addition, some
word processing software packages are limited in their capability to take care of finer points, and some computer
users have limited skills in making the computer do what they need to have done. Below are guidelines to help in
taping material--an alternative method of dealing with non-computerized material:
Step 1. Tape-up sheets should be prepared for any material that must be repositioned or reduced. Tape-up sheets
will have the page number, title, and source (if needed) printed in proper position in preparation for the material to
be taped into place. For pages that need only the number, tape-up pages can be created as part of the body of the
manuscript. All software packages have a means of terminating a page at a specific point and advancing to a new
page (usually termed a ―Page Break‖). Repeating this will create an empty page, numbered in sequence with the rest
of the manuscript.
Step 2. For reductions, the maximum size of the image area, including page number, is 6 by 9 inches. Black and
white contrast must be good. Position of the image on the reduced page is unimportant, since the image will be cut
out and placed on the tape-up page.
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Step 3. Non-image area should be trimmed away so that the image can be taped into place on the tape-up sheet,
using transparent (not cellophane) tape. All four sides of the image should be fully taped to screen out shadow lines.
This will become the master copy.
Photographs
There are at least six methods for including photographs in a thesis or specialist project, each differing in quality and
cost and requiring different handling.
1. With the high-quality reproduction capability of the newer copiers, some of which have an automatic screening
mode for photographs, it is often possible to mount an original on a tape-up sheet and have it copied onto cotton
paper without any charge other than the normal copying fee.
2. Individual photographic prints can be mounted in each copy using a permanent photomount spray adhesive. If this
option is selected, the tape-up sheets should be prepared and one copy of the photographs trimmed approximately
1/8 inch smaller than the other prints. The trimmed photographs should be taped on all four sides onto the tape-up
sheet and the page inserted into the master copy. Each time the master copy is copied, the photographs are also
copied. Cost depends on the number of negatives and copies purchased. Quality depends on the quality of the
original photograph.
3. Many students with darkroom access use full-page-size 8 1/2 x 11 inch photographic paper with an image area of
6 x 9 inches (standard margins). Double weight glossy paper is recommended for preservation and crisp image. If
this option is selected, the title and other information are printed on a legend page, which precedes the actual
photograph, and an address label is mounted on the back of the photograph, 1 inch down and 1 inch in from the right
edge
(with the photograph facing downward). The label is typed as follows: Both the legend page and the photographic
page are given page numbers, and in the List of Figures the number shown is that of the legend page. There is no
printing on the front of the photograph. The cost of this process depends on whether the darkroom work is done by
the student or by a professional agency. The paper may have to be ordered in advance. Often 11 by 14 inch sheets
are bought, then cut down to 8 1/2 by 11 inches. The detail quality is excellent.
4. Halftone prints are made of each photograph and mounted onto paste-up pages. The PMT (photo-mechanical
transfer) process screens the halftone image and converts it into dots, which can then be copied. Generally a dot
density of 85 lines per inch gives the best image on most copiers. The quality of reproduction is comparable to that
of a newspaper and probably would not be satisfactory for scientific applications. The cost is relatively low, since as
many photographs as will fit on a sheet of PMT material can be made in one shot.
5. Many students use scanners to reproduce photographs, making them part of the computer-contained manuscript.
Essentially, the scanner performs the same function as the PMT process and converts the photograph to dots, which
are printed as graphics. Fine detail may be lost, but the overall image is attractive and copies well.
6. Offset printing is a final option. The process is done by full-service print shops and requires the processing of two
negatives--one for the printed copy and one for the halftone photograph. These are then combined, spots opaqued,
burned onto a printing plate and printed on the offset press. Done well, this process produces excellent quality in a
form that will last as long as the paper on which it is printed. The expense, however, may limit its use in thesis/
specialist project
production.
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CHAPTER 7
CONCLUDING INSTRUCTIONS
Printing the Master Copy
The two final copies of the thesis/specialist project can be generated from a high quality laser printer or photocopied
onto 100 percent cotton content, 20- to 24-pound paper from a master copy. Regardless of the method of printing,
the two final copies should be smooth, high contrast copies, free from smearing and flaking.
Copying
There are generally area copy shops familiar with university requirements concerning paper and copy quality. The
cost of having copies done by local shops is such that little money can be saved by students buying their paper and
doing their own copying. Professional shops are responsible for equipment malfunctions and maintain a supply of
the cotton content paper and boxes for submission. All brands of 20-pound, 100 percent cotton paper are acceptable,
but all pages, including the approval sheets and any outsize pages (11 x 17), must be on the same brand as all other
pages. Out-of-town students may wish to investigate sources in their location for comparison with area copy shops.
Often local shops will make arrangements to accept the master copy by mail, make the copies, and deliver them to
the Graduate School for a fee.
Submission
Copies
Two copies of the thesis/specialist project on required paper in an 8 1/2 x 11" letterhead box, accompanied by the
required forms and signatures, must be submitted and accepted by the Graduate School by the published date. These
two official copies will be hard-bound and placed in the Library under arrangements made by the Graduate School.
Forms
Master's and specialist students may wish to copyright their thesis or dissertation. The Chicago Manual of Style
(1993) offers an excellent discussion of copyright law and its implications. "Copyright law exists to protect the
exclusive right of the copyright holder to copy the work . . . [although] the law has long been interpreted as allowing
others to copy brief portions of the work for certain purposes" (Chicago Manual of Style, p. 126, section 4.4).
Doctoral candidates may complete the copyright section on the Microfilm Agreement Form and submit a cashier's
check or postal money order in the amount specified on the form. University Microfilms will handle the copyright
procedures. Master's degree candidates may obtain a copy of Form TX from the Thesis/Dissertation Consultant or
other appropriate individual and follow instructions on the form for registration of the copyright. If a thesis/specialist
project is to be copyrighted, a page must be inserted immediately after the title page and assigned number ii. The
following information must appear centered on the copyright page:
Copyright 20__(year) by _________________________ (name) All rights reserved
Additional Copies and Binding
All other copies of the thesis/specialist project, including any required by the department and/or major professor, are
produced and bound through arrangements made personally by the student. The major professor or departmental
secretary can help determine who expects to receive copies and how they should be bound. The EKU Library can
provide information on binding services.
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Graduate Assistantship Handbook
Guidelines
Graduate Assistant assignments must be clearly related to their program of study. Graduate assistants may be used in
support of research or instruction. Graduate assistants are not to be used for clerical or other general administrative
duties.
Graduate assistants must meet the following eligibility criteria:
1) They must be either clearly or provisionally admitted to a master’s or specialist degree program
2) They must be enrolled, and maintain enrollment, in a minimum of 9 and a maximum of 12 hours of graduate
credit (a student may be registered for 6 hours in summer or during their final term prior to graduation)
3) They must meet the minimum GPA requirement of 3.0
These criteria should be verified by the program prior to submitting the GA Nomination to the Graduate School. If a
student does not meet these criteria, their nomination will not be approved. This is a situation that has led to
misunderstandings when a GA has assumed that their assistantship has been processed, but then does not receive a
paycheck. If a Nomination is received for a student not meeting the above criteria, the department will be notified.
Additional Hours
Graduate assistants should not be employed elsewhere within the University. In cases where there are specific needs,
graduate assistants may be employed for up to an additional 7.5 hours per week above their assistantship.
The additional 7.5-hour limit is for ALL assignments, including part-time instruction. Requests for additional
employment must be approved in advance by the Graduate Dean by filling out a Request for Additional
Employment form found on the Grad School website.
Increased Stipends
Beginning Fall 2009, Graduate Assistantship Stipends were increased to $5,425 per semester. This means EKU
now has the highest GA stipend in the state. Part of the requirements for being a GA is that the position must strictly
pertain to the student’s educational program and the Graduate School will be persistently enforcing this rule.
Summer GA
The Graduate School does not fund GA positions in the summer. Any department who wishes to hire GA for the
summer semesters must pay for them out of the department’s account. A department may have as many GA as it
wants as long as it is paying for them. A typical fall/spring semester is about 16 weeks. This works out to roughly
$339.06 per week based on the $5425 per semester stipend. For the shorter summer semester, a fair stipend is
$3390.60 for the entire semester (339.06 x 10 weeks). This is the minimum amount a student should be paid for
working the entire summer semester. A department may pay the student up to $1000 more than that. Stipends
exceeding this amount will be considered on a case-by-case basis. The College of Justice and Safety generally pays
graduate assistants $3600 for the summer.
GA Termination
If at any time during the semester the student’s GPA falls below the mandatory 3.0, the student is no longer enrolled
in 9-12 hours, the department does not feel the student is fulfilling his/her duties, or the student chooses to
discontinue his/her appointment, the contract must be terminated. If either a student or a department chooses to
cancel a contract, the Graduate School must be promptly notified. Students in their final semester: If a student
is in his/her last semester and only has 3-6 credit hours left to graduate, but still plan on working as a GA, the hiring
department must contact the Graduate School. Any students not registered 9-12 hours will not be approved for a
GA. Without notification, the Graduate School will not know that the reason the student is registered for fewer than
the required hours is because they are in their last semester. Please send a notice to amber.gray@eku.edu if the
student being nominated is in his/her last semester and will be registered for fewer than the required number of
credit hours.
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Graduate Assistantship Handbook Continued….
Assistantship Application Steps
1. Graduate Assistantship positions are at the discretion of the college departments. Students searching for an
assistantship should contact their advisors and their departments for information on available positions. Departments
can also post available positions on EKU’s employment website.
2. Students can search the postings by going to the ―Employment‖ homepage and clicking on ―Job Seekers.‖ They
can then apply directly to the position via the website.
3. Once a department chooses to hire a student for an Assistantship, the department hiring manager will fill out an
electronic Nomination form for that student.
4. The nomination must be approved by the authorizing parties and the Graduate School, then be processed by
Human Resources and added to payroll. At any point in the process the student can have his or her hiring manager
check the status of their nomination by logging into the Grad School’s website.
5. Once the student has been approved, the Graduate School will generate and send to the student a contract
stipulating the terms of their Assistantship.
74
Graduate Tuition and Fees
Fall 2012-Summer 2013
All tuition based on a per-credit hour rate
For in-state graduate students (Kentucky Residents):
$440 per credit hour
For out-of-state graduate students:
$770 per credit hour
There is no longer a Targeted out-of-state tuition classification.
Online Per Credit Hour Charge:
$450.00 per credit hour
For international students:
All international students on F1 and J1 visas pay out-of-state tuition.
75
EKU Inclement Weather Information
76
EKU Student Affairs
For information on the following and more…
please go to http://www.studentaffairs.eku.edu
EKU Bookstore
Campus Recreation
Career Service
The Chapel of Meditation
Counseling Center
EKU Dining Service
Greek Affairs
Mediation Center
Multicultural Student Affairs
Parking
EKU Police
Student Health Service
Student Involvement and Leadership
Student Life
University Housing
Volunteerism
77
Alpha Phi Sigma
The epsilon Chapter of Alpha Phi Sigma, the National Criminal Justice
Honor Society, would like to welcome you to the Graduate program for the
college of justice and safety and eastern Kentucky university. As a student in
this program you have the ability to become apart of our nationally
recognized organization. As an organization dedicated to academics and
service, we are the only student organization allowed to be affiliated with the
Academy of Criminal Justice Sciences (ACJS). Each year, chapters around
the country are able to come together during the ACJS conference which is
located in various locations each year.
We hold initiations every ear for any eligible students after each person has
gone through a review board to show dedication. Alpha Phi Sigma is
considered a Fraternity among Greek organizations so the requirements are as
follows:

You must have a GPA no lower than a 3.4 as a Graduate Student. If you
are coming in to the organization directly following your under graduate
work you must have an over all GPA of 3.2 in your undergraduate work.

If coming in directly from undergraduate work you must have had a
major in criminal justice, Police Studies or Corrections, otherwise we
will have to wait one semester in order to fulfill the National require
ments of having an acquired GPA in Criminal Justice classes.

You must be willing to dedicate the equivalent of 20 hours of service
work with the organization each semester. These hours are not difficult
to obtain since we offer several opportunities throughout that time.

If you feel you meet these requirements we would love to hear from you. We
have a lot going on and are always happy to have new members involved to
expand our chapter’s abilities. Feel free to contact us at any time.
Current Advisor: James Wells
Email: james.wells@eku.edu
78
79
Justice and Safety Library
Eastern Kentucky University Libraries
http://libguides.eku.edu/crj
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Nicole Masica Montgomery
Justice and Safety Library
Nicole.montgomery@eku.edu
859-622-1798
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