Doctoral candidates in our fields are required to complete a dissertation that demonstrates original research contributing new knowledge to the discipline. The dissertation should address significant theoretical questions and may take the form of a traditional monograph or a set of approximately three publishable articles (the specific number is determined by each student’s special committee). Projects may develop new theoretical frameworks, introduce innovative methods, or examine questions of design and optimization.
MS students in ME must complete a thesis that similarly demonstrates original research, but at a smaller scale than a doctoral dissertation, roughly equivalent to one journal publications. Work included in an MS thesis need not have gone through prior peer review via journal submission. The final contents of the thesis are the purview of the special committee.
The dissertation/thesis must include an abstract and adhere to a recognized academic style guide, such as the Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association, as approved by the special committee chair. It must also meet the Graduate School’s formatting requirements.
A complete draft of the dissertation/thesis must be given to each committee member at least six weeks before the B/M exam is scheduled, unless a different timeline is unanimously agreed upon by the special committee. The dissertation/thesis must be submitted to the Graduate School within 60 days of passing the final exam in the degree program. Enrollment in future semesters is not permitted after passing the final exam, even if the 60-day submission window extends into a subsequent semester.
Graduate school information and rules governing dissertations and theses are available here: https://gradschool.cornell.edu/academic-progress/degrees-fields/research-degree-requirements/thesis-dissertation/
AE and ME both allow for a ‘papers option’ (https://gradschool.cornell.edu/academic-progress/degrees-fields/research-degree-requirements/thesis-dissertation/writing-your-thesis-dissertation/fields-permitting-the-use-of-papers-option/), subject to the unanimous consent of the special committee. TAM does not permit a papers option. If you are permitted to utilize the papers option, your dissertation or thesis is organized as a series of relatively independent chapters or papers that you have submitted or are currently in review at peer-reviewed journals in the field. You must be the only author or the first author of the papers to be used in the dissertation. The papers-option dissertation or thesis must meet all format and submission requirements, and a singular referencing convention must be used throughout.
Students can view a recording of a fall 2025 Graduate School training about understanding the thesis/dissertation process here: https://cornell.app.box.com/s/0u6zyiyekakcmo6b8i2tgxm6m2cfkjmo