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Senior Project

Home > Undergraduate Program : Senior Project

Senior Project Requirements

Important Notes on Grading

1. All Communication Studies Majors are required to produce a senior paper.  The purpose of the senior paper requirement is for students to demonstrate that they have learned to construct a coherent, competently and clearly written and argued research paper.
2. Though this paper typically is written as part of a class, the evaluation of the paper as a senior paper is independent of its evaluation for the class.  It is possible, for example, that a student may earn an “A” or other passing grade on a paper required for a class, but receive an “N” for the senior paper because one or more of the requirements listed below are not met.  The grade for COMM 3995W is S/N: All requirements described below must be performed to the instructor’s satisfaction for a grade of S to be received.
3. Students write their senior paper project in a 4xxx-level or 5xxx-level communication studies course; course instructors in 3xxx-level courses may permit senior papers for qualified students.
4. Specific expectations for papers can vary.  It is vitally important for students to pay close attention to the specific requirements identified by your course instructor.
5. Students must register for COMM 3995W, a one-credit course designed to support completion of the senior paper, during the semester in which the senior paper is written.

COMM 3995W Requirements for a Grade of S

1. The paper must relate to the subject matter of the course in which it is written. Purely creative projects such as videos and audio tapes are not acceptable. The senior project is intended to demonstrate competency in writing.
2. Papers must have some clearly-identified conceptual or theoretical basis related to the subject matter of the course; papers must demonstrate appropriate application of relevant theoretical and/or methodological concepts and avoid serious content errors. The instructor will set the criteria for standards of quality and conceptual/theoretical content.
3. At the instructor’s discretion, students may combine a series of shorter papers written in a course to develop the longer senior project paper. The shorter papers, however, cannot be stapled together or simply combined. The senior project paper must reflect a coherent synthesis of the shorter papers. The shorter papers may, however, comprise separate sections of the senior project paper (i.e., purpose, theory, methods, results).
4. Papers must be typed, double-spaced, and 10 to 20 pages in length (about 2500 to 5000 words).
5. All papers must make use of appropriate bibliographic citations. Library-based papers must have at least 10-15 citations from the kinds of sources specified by the instructor. Papers that are based on observation or data gathering must have at least 5 library-based citations, in addition to presentation of data or statistics (often, these citations will be references to prior research, theory, or methods that inform the data-gathering project). Papers comprised solely of data or observations without analysis or conceptual organization are not acceptable (e.g., journals or logs).
6. The paper must use an appropriate scholarly footnoting and bibliographic style (either APA or MLA).
7. The paper must demonstrate competency in writing skills. These skills include appropriate limitation of topic for length of paper, clear thesis statement and argumentative structure, a clear statement of purpose, provide appropriate evidence, clear organization of ideas, proper spelling, grammar, sentence construction, and a writing style appropriate to the subject matter.  Revision is expected to achieve the necessary level of quality writing.
8. Students who have written substantial papers meeting these guidelines in other communication-related courses for study abroad, University of Minnesota internships (including approved CCLC communication-related internships), University of Minnesota communication-related independent study, or in communication courses that have transferred to the University, may submit their senior papers to the Director of Undergraduate Studies for consideration as a senior project paper. Decisions are made on a case-by-case basis. Such papers must be centrally focused on human communication.
9. If a student paper fails to meet these guidelines, the student normally should re-take 3995W in the Maymester that most directly follows the failed paper.  At the discretion of the instructor, a student may sign up for 3995W in the following regular semester and continue to revise their failed paper under the supervision of the original instructor.  In either case, however, the student must re-take 3995W. Of course, a student may re-start the senior paper in another 4000/5000 course in any semester following the failed paper.

A Word of Advice:
The most common problem that leads to a failing Senior Project and having to retake COMM 3995 is waiting too long to start your paper.  All papers will need revision.  Start early on your Senior Paper and allow plenty of time to get your instructor’s feedback on a complete draft (preferably multiple drafts) and revise the paper as needed.

Questions?

For any questions or concerns about the senior paper, first attempt to contact your instructor. If you are having difficulty reaching her or him, please contact a member of the undergraduate advising staff.

Undergraduate Advising Office
274 Ford Hall
(612) 624-7036
commadv@umn.edu