46 Portfolios, Theses, and Dissertations

The finished portfolio, thesis, or dissertation is the culmination of a graduate student’s degree program, the document that secures a junior scholar’s admission into the academic profession and provides proof of professional competence. These documents also attest to advanced practices in research, synthesizing information, effective writing, and analysis. The following comments are meant to provide some general guidelines for students preparing portfolios, theses, and dissertations. Students are also encouraged to consult the most recent edition of The MLA Style Manual and Guide to Scholarly Publishing and the College of Graduate Studies’ Thesis and Dissertation Guidelines.