Students choose a thesis topic no later than the first semester of their second year. The thesis may take a variety of forms, including traditional expository prose or more experimental projects that utilize additional media formats appropriate to their topic.

Representative topics have included:

• A systematic study of the way two newspapers are redefining relations to local and national readerships as they move on-line.

• An exploration and critique of existing computer games for girls and a proposal for designing alternative interfaces based on critical inquiry informed by feminism.

• Development of a prototype for an interactive media project designed to help immigrant children better understand the language and culture of urban America.

• A cross-historical examination of Zorro as a popular Mexican-American hero who has appeared in pulp magazines, comic strips, film, radio, and television.

Many of our students' theses are available as downloadable PDFs.

Thesis Timeline

Fall Semester, second year	Identify your Advisor (usually a CMS faculty member or affiliated faculty member).
Friday, October 30	Thesis Proposal Form due (download: PDF | Word).
First week of November	Thesis Committee Approval.
Last day of classes, Fall term Thursday, December 10	Paper, outline and bibliography due.
First week of February	Evaluation Meeting.
First week of March	Evaluation Meeting 2 (if necessary).
Friday after Spring Break Friday, April 2	Thesis Presentations.
Last three weeks of April April 12 to April 30	Thesis Review with Committee.
Friday, May 7	Thesis Submission (deadline established by MIT each academic year).