Thesis requirements

The thesis is the most important document that you prepare during your time in the master's degree program. It represents your approach to an original research question and serves as an archival record of the scientific accomplishments that justify the awarding of your degree. Ideally, the thesis could be used as a springboard to a subsequent grant application.

The thesis contains complete documentation of your approach to the research question, including:

  • A comprehensive review of the literature related to your thesis topic.
  • A discussion of the significance and potential impact of your research question.
  • Methods and measures used to address that question.
  • Results.
  • A discussion of your results, taking into account their strengths and limitations, how they fit with and extend existing knowledge, and implications for future practice.
  • Next steps to be taken as a result of your research.

When including published papers or manuscripts in your thesis, the status of the paper can be any of the following:

  • Already published.
  • Submitted and accepted.
  • Submitted and in review.
  • Not yet submitted.

Include an introductory page prior to each manuscript that provides:

  • Title.
  • Authors.
  • Current publication status.
  • Copyright information, if applicable.
  • A statement outlining the specific contributions of each author.

Because you used CCaTS resources and services, including CTSC courses, the National Institutes of Health requires you to cite the CTSA grant.

Mayo Clinic Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences (MCGSBS) has more information about thesis content and format. Review the MCGSBS Thesis Guidelines (PDF) located on the school's intranet page. You must be logged in to the Mayo Clinic network to access.

Final thesis review process

  • Mentor and TAC review. You must submit a draft of your thesis to all your Thesis Advisory Committee (TAC) members for review at least eight weeks prior to submitting it to the CCaTS Master's and Certificate Programs Committee.

  • Submitting your thesis. Once your mentor approves the final draft of your thesis, submit it along with the items below to the CCaTS education coordinator or specialist at least four weeks before your final oral defense is scheduled.

    • A summary statement from your mentor that includes:
      • An explanation of your role (the scholar) in the design, conduct, analysis and reporting of your research.
      • Verification that the research is scientifically sound, accurate and clearly written, and that it was conducted and primarily authored by you (the scholar).
      • A list of manuscripts or published articles included in the thesis.
    • A signed summary letter from you that outlines any papers, presentations or grant applications that are planned, pending or have been submitted as a result of your thesis research. Note the following requirements:
      • A minimum of one first or last author journal-ready or published paper is required.
      • A co-first author paper may be approved if a supplemental statement from your mentor is received that indicates that you served as a significant contributor.
      • The paper should be derived from your thesis and must be linked to your master's thesis topic. In other words, papers not related to the thesis topic do not meet the publication requirement.

The CCaTS Master's and Certificate Programs Committee reserves the right to not accept a thesis if it does not meet program or MCGSBS standards and the committee may request revisions or additions to the thesis. Be sure to distribute your final thesis draft to all members of your TAC, prior to your thesis defense.

Final Oral Examination — Thesis defense

Before the completion of your degree program, you are expected to pass your Final Oral Examination — a public forum in which you present your research and then take questions from the audience.

The Final Oral Examination cannot be completed until you have met the following criteria:

  • Pass the Written Qualifying Examination.
  • Complete all courses on your degree program form with a GPA of 3.0 or higher.
  • Accomplish all program milestones.

You are responsible for identifying a date, time and location for your Final Oral Examination. You will need to schedule the room — a virtual option is required — and attendees for a two-hour block. All your TAC members must either attend in person or be connected in real time via video or teleconference.

Due to the potential difficulty of scheduling your committee members, you are encouraged to schedule your date, time and location at least three months in advance. Please note: Each absent voting member counts as one dissenting vote. To pass, you must have three passing votes and no more than one dissenting vote.

If you fail the Final Oral Examination, your TAC will recommend a course of remedial studies to be completed prior to retaking the exam. The Final Oral Examination may be taken no more than twice and must be retaken within six months. Failing the exam twice will result in dismissal from the Postdoctoral Master's Degree Program.

Final thesis corrections

After you pass the Final Oral Examination, you and your mentor must sign the Thesis/Dissertation Publication Form indicating that any recommended corrections to your thesis have been made.

MCGSBS will not certify completion of your degree requirements until your final thesis has been uploaded to the ProQuest website. Additional information is found on page 19 of the MCGSBS Thesis Guidelines (PDF) located on the school's intranet page. Log in to the Mayo Clinic network to access.