Master of Science in Nursing - Thesis or Major Essay Planning

Planning for Your Thesis or Major Essay

Students enrolled prior to May 2009 may complete a thesis or major essay.

Students enrolled from May 2009 – forward are all required to complete a thesis.

All theses and major papers require a supervisor. Students are therefore encouraged to identify a potential supervisor early on in their program. As a step up to the identification of a permanent supervisor students will be assigned a provisional advisor from the start of the program. Please click on “thesis option” in the next paragraph to find the complete MSN Thesis guidelines, including the description of the advisor and supervisor roles.

Both options provide students with an opportunity to conduct original scholarly work. The thesis option requires that a research question be posed, that primary or secondary data be analyzed, that the results be presented and interpreted, and that the meaning and implications of the work be discussed. Approval from a university ethics review board is required for primary data collection involving human subjects. The major essay option involves a critical analysis of a problem or issue relevant to nursing and health care; students will complete literature reviews, may evaluate policy documents and clinical guidelines, and will discuss implications for the improvement of nursing practice.

A listing of completed thesis and major essay titles, authors, and supervisors is available for your perusal.

MSN Thesis - Nursing 599

The MSN thesis is an original scholarly work in which you will apply the skills developed within the core and focus courses of the Master's program and possibly through other training and work experiences (e.g., research assistantships, project involvement). You must have preparation in research methods.The decision about which research courses are appropriate should be made in consultation with your thesis supervisor and/or with the MSN Programmes Advisor.

Students are advised to identify a supervisor by the time they have completed 9 credits or 2 terms of the MSN Program. Until such connection is made a provisional advisor will be assigned from the start of the program.

Thesis Committee Membership

The committee must have a minimum of three members of which at least two must hold faculty positions in the School of Nursing and be members of the Faculty of Graduate Studies (member list). Additional committee members may be drawn from the list of adjunct professors, from the ranks of emeritus faculty, from other departments or universities. Committee membership should be determined in consultation with your supervisor to ensure that you have the substantive and methods expertise you need to complete your work.

Some Important Considerations Until Program Completion

When you are not enrolled in courses you must maintain your registration by registering in the thesis (N599) or major essay (N595) (this includes the summer term). Normally students are enroled in N599 thesis credits from the beginning of the program.

You must keep in regular contact with your provisional advisor or thesis or major essay supervisor, at least every three months, and notify him or her of your progress.

Students are expected to conform to Policy #85,#89 and Scholarly Integrity as they are expected to conform to all other university policies. It is a requirement of all students that a memorandum of understanding related to intellectual property be completed and jointly signed with their supervisor.

Important Forms & Links

• Policy 85
• Policy 89
• Thesis Submission Checklist
• Thesis Approval Form
• Major Essay Approval Form
• Graduate Studies Policies & Procedures – Supervisory Committees with Master’s Students
• Graduate Studies Policies and Procedures - Supervisory Committees for Master’s Students who are not Tenured or Tenure-Track
• Graduate Studies Policies and Procedures - Supervisory Committees Members who are not Tenured or Tenure-Track or who are not Members of FoGs