Coming this Spring to the Thesis Office

This term we are offering programs essential to the successful completion of your thesis or dissertation. Whatever stage you are in, from beginning the proposal to submitting the final document, we have a presentation that you should attend!

The best new thing this term? We are live-streaming some of our events to allow access to off-campus (or very busy) students!

All programs are led by experts in graduate school requirements, document formatting, and the general  woes and wonders of thesis writing! Scroll through these options and click the link at the bottom of the page to find registration details. (Most programs require registration)

Breaking Through Writer's Block and Other Obstacles

This informal discussion is designed to address common obstacles that slow or entirely halt progress in writing a thesis or dissertation. Carolyn Law, Thesis/Dissertation Advisor, will facilitate the discussion and offer practical strategies. You will leave with ideas to immediately use to break through your writer’s block. Also streaming live in the Facebook group NIU Theses and Dissertations.

 Wednesday, February 20 at 12:00 PM to 1:00 PM, Adams Hall, 103 

Writing a Dissertation in Education

This one-day program is designed specifically for dissertation writers enrolled in 799 hours in the College of Education. The Thesis Office staff will walk you through the Graduate School’s specific requirements for dissertations and cover a wide range of the most troublesome issues dissertation writers frequently encounter. There will be generous time for individual questions and one-on-one consultation. So, bring your laptop and specific questions to maximize the workshop's effectiveness.This program is the best way to ensure compliance with the Graduate School requirements. 

 Saturday, February 23 at 9:00 AM to 2:00 PM, NIU Naperville, Room 166 

Create and Nurture a Productive Thesis/Dissertation Committee

This presentation will address the process of choosing committee members, fostering strong working relationships with them, maintaining productive communications over the long haul, and managing faculty feedback to achieve steady progress toward completing your thesis or dissertation. In addition, Graduate School policies regarding committees will be reviewed. Bring your specific questions to maximize the workshop's effectiveness. 

 Monday, February 25 at 3:30 PM to 4:45 PM, Holmes Student Center, 405 

Thesis Essentials

This presentation is designed for all master's students enrolled in 699 hours. The Thesis Office staff will walk you through the Graduate School's specific requirements for theses and cover a wide range of the most troublesome issues thesis writers frequently encounter. There will be generous time for one-on-one consultation. This program is the best way to ensure compliance with the Graduate School requirements. 

 Tuesday, February 26 at 2:00 PM to 4:00 PM, Adams Hall, 103 

Dissertation Essentials

This presentation is designed for all doctoral students enrolled in 799 hours. The Thesis Office staff will walk you through the Graduate School’s specific requirements for dissertations and cover a wide range of the most troublesome issues dissertation writers frequently encounter. There will be generous time for one-on-one consultation. This program is the best way to ensure compliance with the Graduate School requirements. 

 Wednesday, February 27 at 2:00 PM to 4:00 PM, Adams Hall, 103

Demystifying the Thesis/Dissertation Submission Process

This presentation is for graduate students preparing to submit a thesis or dissertation to the Graduate School for May 2019 graduation. Carolyn Law, Thesis/Dissertation Advisor, will walk students through the steps of the process: defense, electronic submission, and final approval. 

 Monday, March 4 at 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM,  Founders Memorial Library, 297 

Problems in Theses/Dissertations: Tables/Figures/Pagination

This hands-on workshop is designed to assist thesis and dissertation writers to comply with the Graduate School requirements for tables, figures, and pagination. The Thesis Office staff will cover the specific format requirements, demonstrate helpful techniques and shortcuts in Microsoft Word, and allow generous time for individual troubleshooting and one-on-one consultation. So, bring your laptop and specific questions to maximize the workshop’s effectiveness. 

 Tuesday, March 5 at 2:00 PM to 4:00 PM, Adams Hall, 103 

Writing Your Thesis or Dissertation Proposal

Do you need to write a thesis or dissertation proposal? This interactive workshop will address typical characteristics of a successful thesis or dissertation proposal as well as practical strategies for organizing the key elements. Breakout sessions will allow for generous time for questions and small group discussion. Bring your laptop and specific questions to maximize the workshop’s effectiveness.

 Wednesday, March 6 at 3:30 PM to 5:00 PM, Holmes Student Center, 405 

Visit our website HERE and click on your desired program on the right-hand side of our programs page. Questions? Email us at thesis@niu.edu

See you there!

Spring 2018 Programs at the Thesis Office

We are excited to announce a new season of workshops and presentations at the NIU Thesis Office! Each semester we offer programs to help you with everything from proposal development to final editing, and everything in between. Check out our current offerings...

Informative Presentations
We offer several presentations geared to specific audiences, and also a submission process presentation that is essential for ANY student who is nearing completion of their thesis or dissertation.

Saturday, Feb 17:  Writing a Dissertation in Education
Designed for students enrolled in 799 in the College of Education or similar program. We will walk you through general dissertation requirements, discuss frequent dissertation issues in Education and Public Service, and we will have plenty of time for discussion and Q&A. This class meets 9am to 2pm in Naperville for the convenience of working teachers and administrators.

Tuesday, Feb 20: Thesis Essentials (For master's thesis writers)
This is the "411" presentation on getting a thesis done. Whether you don't know where to begin, or you are planning your defense, there is probably a thing or two you don't know about how the Graduate School handles theses. This is not a writer's workshop, but a nuts and bolts, project management approach to ensuring you check off all the boxes. We will meet in Adams Hall room 103, and we will have plenty of time for Q&A.

Wednesday, Feb 21: Dissertation Essentials (for dissertation writers at ANY stage!)
This is the "411" presentation on getting a dissertation done.  This is not a writer's workshop, but a nuts and bolts, project management approach to ensuring you check off all the boxes.  You can attend this session in ANY stage of the dissertation writing process! We will meet in Adams Hall room 103 at 2pm, and we will have plenty of time for Q&A.

Tuesday, Feb 27: Writing a Thesis in Engineering
This presentation covers the ins and outs of the very specific task that is the engineering thesis. ASME documentation as well as general thesis guidelines will be covered. We will meet in Adams Hall room 103 at 2pm, and we will have plenty of time for Q&A.

Wednesday, Feb 28: Demystifying the Submission Process
Carolyn Law, director of the Thesis Office and the arbiter of thesis readiness, will demystify the secrets and confusion surrounding the thesis and dissertation submission process! Pull back the curtain and prepare to become prepared. This special session meets in Wirtz Hall room 104, from 5-7pm.

Hands-On Workshops
Each semester we offer a workshop or two based on the needs of thesis writers. This term, it's the return of the infamous "T/F/P" workshop as we like to call it.

Tables, Figures, Pagination
Come get one-on-one help with wrangling those documents! There will be some instruction and presentation at this workshop, and you will also have ample time to work on your thesis with the help of staff members and peers. Common problems like disappearing page numbers, messy figures and tables, staying within margins, and other issues will be fought and conquered!

Informal Brown Bags
Since we don't want to do all the talking (we're here to help YOU), we host several informal Brown Bag sessions each semester. These are a great way to meet other people who are on this unique journey and facing our unique struggles. Come tell us what you're on about! (And what you'd like us to help with more.)

March 7 Writing the Proposal
Bring your lunch and talk with us about your proposal ideas and frustrations! This session will be hosted by Robyn Byrd, doctoral candidate in English literature, who defended her dissertation proposal this last October. So she knows the process and remembers the ABD journey!

March 21 Breaking through Writer's Block (and other obstacles)
Join us with your brown bag (or styrofoam container) to discuss the many kinds of writer's obstacles we all face, and some possible solutions. Hosted by Carolyn Law, professional editor and Thesis Office director, who knows the fear of the blank page!

Meet-Ups for Writers
Finally, don't forget, we have a writer's meet-up we call "Write Place, Write Time,"on the second Thursday of every month. This three hour block is a stellar opportunity to make an unbreakable date with your self.  We reserve the doctoral study room on the fourth floor of Founders, and we work quietly together. There is no agenda at Write Place, except to write.  Our next meeting is on March 8.

We hope you join us for one or more of these events this season! Find them all on the University events calendar, or on our Workshops page