The Master of Health Science Program
What are the MHS Program graduation requirements?  

Requirements of a Thesis

The purpose of the thesis is to demonstrate the student’s ability to conduct research on a topic of importance and to report the results of that research in written and oral form.

The thesis must be the original work of the student.

The student must complete at least 18 credits including MHLTHSCI 505 Health Science Inquiry prior to registering for MHLTHSCI 593 Thesis.

Students, who have met all graduate degree credit requirements except for completion of a thesis, will be required to register for at least one credit of MHLTHSCI 593 Thesis or MHLTHSCI 596 Directed Research in each semester until the work is completed.

The thesis must be founded on a question or problem developed as a hypothesis to be tested.  The thesis may take one of two tracks

1)     Experimental study, in which variables that affect the outcome of the answer to the question are identified and controlled.  In this case, the question or problem is to be solved or answered using rigorous methodological, statistical and sampling techniques.  A clinical trial serves as an example.

2)     Observational/Descriptive study, in which there is no interference by the observer on the variables.  Techniques of data collection include interviewing, surveying and file search, with statistical methods applied as appropriate.  Qualitative studies or survey research are examples of this form of study.

Preparation of the actual product or data collection for a thesis may not begin until the supervisory committee , and if indicated, the Institutional Review Board (IRB), has approved the thesis proposal and associated IRB materials.

The proposal must include:

·        a clear statement of the problem, need, question or issue,

·        limitations to and expectations of the study,

·        a literature search or pilot studies conducted to support the need for the study, and

·        a well-defined methodology for collecting and analyzing data for the thesis.

Complete information regarding IRB policies and procedures are available at http://www.boisestate.edu/research/

The student will present an oral defense of the completed thesis to his or her supervisory committee, graduate students, and other invited guests.

Manuscripts must follow the Standards for Preparation of Theses and Projects in the Graduate College, current edition, Boise State University Graduate College. 

The final version of the manuscript must be reviewed by the student’s supervisory committee and by the Office of the Dean of the Graduate College.

Three copies of the work will be retained by the University (Library, Graduate College and MHS Program).  These copies must be printed on 25% cotton, 20-pound bond paper and bound using royal blue (588) bindery color.  Directions for binding can be found in the book, Standards for Preparation of Dissertations, Thesis and Projects in the Graduate College, in the BSU Bookstore. 

The thesis must be received and approved by the Dean of the Graduate College at least three weeks before commencement, see http://registrar.boisestate.edu/Calendars.htm

 

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