Project Submission

Graduate Students Guide

Project Submission

The regulations of the Faculty of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies (FGPS) specify that students in the project-based route must complete a synthesis/research project before completing their program. According to FGPS policies, this synthesis/research project must demonstrate that the candidate can synthesize a variety of information accumulated throughout their program.

The term used by FGPS to describe this activity is a "capping exercise", known in French as an "exercice de récapitulation", which corresponds to the course code M EDU 900.

The Research Project

The research project is a substantial piece of research or creation that synthesizes the key topics addressed by the student during their master's program. It should integrate language, culture, and education to reflect the program's objectives. The nature of the project will be determined by the student in consultation with their supervisor.

The research project may be:

Reflective, explanatory, or synthetic in nature;
A descriptive, documentary, historical, bibliographical, or action research project;
A creative project or the development of educational material accompanied by contextualization and theoretical justification.

Research Project Requirements

The research project represents the equivalent of 80 hours of study or work, roughly matching the workload of a typical 3-credit course (39 hours). Depending on the project type, students may exceed the 80-hour guideline.

The research project must be a written document of at least 30 double-spaced typed pages. Appendices are additional.

The content and structure of the written document will be developed in consultation with the professor, whom the student approaches directly based on their areas of interest. Typically, the project should include:

An introduction that presents the problem or question in context and outlines the objectives;
A description of the issue or problem;
A presentation of the theoretical framework;
A description of the methodology;
A conclusion.

Projects presented in a non-traditional format must include an appendix and a written text explaining the nature of the project and justifying the chosen format.

If the student intends to use published material from a book, a peer-reviewed or professional journal, or unpublished material (e.g., a test, songs, a model, a teaching unit, etc.), they must obtain written permission from the author and include a copy of this letter in the appendix.

Project Format

The recommended guide for students preparing their project is the Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association (2009), Sixth Edition, Washington, D.C.

Students are encouraged to follow this format:

Use 12-point font size.
The following pages must be included at the beginning of the project in the specified order:
- The title page indicating the project title and the graduation session (fall or winter);
- The ABSTRACT (maximum 150 words);
- The RÉSUMÉ in French (maximum 150 words);
- The DEDICATION (optional);
- The ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS;
- The TABLE OF CONTENTS.

Page margins should be as follows:

3.8 cm (1½ inches) on the left side;
2.5 cm (1 inch) on all other sides.

Project Evaluation

At Campus Saint-Jean, the MEDU 900 project is evaluated by the supervising professor. Once the supervisor approves the project, the student must submit a copy of the project to the Graduate Studies Office at csjsup@ualberta.ca.