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Interesting Thesis Topics & Ideas To Get Started

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Thesis Topics for Students

We’ll start with a comprehensive list of thesis ideas for students, then move on to topics for multiple fields.

Thesis Topics for College Students

Exploring the psychological effects of student loan debt on college graduates
The challenges and opportunities of globalization
The role of education and social mobility in reducing inequality
The impact of immigration on the economy and society
The potential of new technologies to improve healthcare outcomes
The impact of online learning on student engagement and achievement
What is the role of artificial intelligence in business decision-making?
High school bullying and its long-term effects on mental health and social adjustment
The challenges and opportunities of diversity and inclusion in education
The impact of early childhood education on long-term success

Senior Thesis Topics

The industrial revolution has increased the gap between the rich and the poor. How?
What are the effects of global warming on the world’s population?
Feminism is becoming as bad as racism. How?
The relationship between social media usage and perceptions of loneliness
The long-term effects of income inequality on economic growth
Placement by age vs. placement by academic ability. Which should be preferred?
How have viruses such as HIV-AIDS, affected the African economy?
What are the common sleep disorders and their treatments?
Using animals for sports and entertainment: Is it legal or illegal?
Discuss Trump’s “America First” trade and foreign policy.

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Bachelor Thesis Topics

The impact of E-Sports on traditional sports and the future of competitive gaming
The economics of renewable energy transition: Case study of Germany
The influence of music on cognitive performance and productivity in the workplace
The influence of social media on political movements and activism
The ethical implications of gene editing technologies: A case study on CRISPR-Cas9
Urban green spaces and their impact on mental health: A case study of Singapore
The relationship between smartphone use and sleep quality in young adults
Investigating the psychological factors influencing consumer brand loyalty
Cybersecurity threats and mitigation strategies for small and medium-sized enterprises
The impact of video games on cognitive skills and problem-solving abilities in children

Masters Thesis Topics

Discuss the relationship between literature and the political climate in the 18th century
Explain the relationship between rational thinking and religion
The Civil War is the greatest inspiration for art. Discuss the concept
Gun violence in the USA during the 2010s: A comparative analysis
Cyberbullying can lead to suicides - A case study of Australia
Campus shootings in the USA: Discuss the causes and risk factors
Labor markets in China: An in-depth analysis
What are the impacts of global warming on weather conditions in Iceland?
Explain the women's empowerment in Saudi Arabia in the 2000s
Write a detailed comparison of the anti-nuclear movements in Germany and Japan

MBA Thesis Topics

Discuss a case study of rural marketing projects.
What are the impacts of reducing the retirement age in America?
Mergers and acquisitions: Evaluating the factors contributing to success or failure
How can the banking sector influence the economic growth of India?
Analysis of global supply chain resilience in the post-pandemic business environment
Online marketing on social media platforms is useful for small companies. How?
Write a comparative study of organized trading in the USA and UK
How is technical knowledge essential to make wise financial decisions?
How can consumer purchases influence brand design?
Explore the positive and negative impacts of mobile banking

PhD Thesis Topics

What are the primary professors’ teaching patterns in China?
Discuss the social benefits of same-sex marriages
Discuss the legal issue of child labor in Third World countries.
What is the positive impact of music therapy on patients with brain injuries?
Explain the impacts of 9/11 on new policies against terrorism
Discuss the marketing strategies used in political campaigns
The US presence in Syria: Is it providing justice or violating the law?
Elaborate on the preventive measures to fight obesity among teenagers.
How to treat injuries in diabetic patients?
What are the political and economic effects of Brexit on the UK?

Thesis Topics for Multiple Fields

Here are some interesting and easy to write thesis topics from multiple fields of study.

Thesis Topics in Education

Special education policies in the USA: Are they effective or ineffective?
Why is studying abroad a legitimate excuse for traveling?
Strategies for supporting undergraduate students' transition to college life
Family involvement has a direct impact on a child's performance. Discuss how?
Why are students more likely to do the homework assigned by good-looking professors?
Role of Parental Involvement in early childhood education for academic readiness
Explain the development of emotional intelligence for modern education
Informal learning in rural areas through social networks. Is it possible?
Public school students interact at the same level as the other students. Is it true?
How can reality television disempower students to some extent?

Thesis Topics in Healthcare

How does increased physical activity promote healthy aging?
The impact of telemedicine on healthcare access and quality
Mental health stigma: Addressing barriers to seeking and receiving care
How do Supervised Machine Learning models help in Breast Cancer diagnosis?
Exploring the mental health implications of prolonged pandemic-related stress and isolation
Innovations in remote patient monitoring for chronic disease management
How can we improve the affordability of healthcare without sacrificing quality?
Strategies for addressing the global burden of non-communicable diseases
How can we use social media to promote health literacy and engagement?
How can we use genomics to improve disease prevention and treatment?

Thesis Topics for Computer Science

Quantum computing: The future of data processing and cryptography
How does the feedback system in personnel management work?
Describe the development of an automated workplace
How can data be analyzed by using robust AI algorithms?
Discuss the benefits of the development of a taxi service website
The dark web: Anonymity, security, and law enforcement challenges
Verification of webpage layouts. How is it beneficial?
What are the impacts of mobile computing on global development?
Big data analytics for predictive maintenance in IoT systems
How can AI-assisted surveillance systems decrease mass school shootings in the US?

Architecture Thesis Topics

How have religious buildings in the British Empire affected architecture?
Discuss the role of architects in combating the impacts of climate change
Why should we construct sustainable buildings for offices?
Discuss a case study of small houses to solve homelessness
Why should we develop public places in small cities?
How can architecture revitalize urban areas sustainably?
Are underwater hotels sustainable?
Discuss the transformation of urban design in the 21st century
How can we construct houses in developed countries with low income?
How can architectural design create healing environments in healthcare facilities?

Thesis Topics for Interior Design

Role of biophilic design in reducing stress and anxiety in workplaces
Designing interior spaces for people with dementia
The use of technology to create immersive and interactive interior experiences
Design of interior spaces for future generations
Impact of culture on prisons and other correctional facilities design
Use of universal design to create inclusive restaurants and cafés
Use of materials and finishes to create a sustainable and resilient built environment
What is the impact of interior design on human performance?
Creating inclusive and accessible interior spaces for people with disabilities
What is the future of interior design in the age of climate change?

Thesis Topics for Textile Designing

How to design textiles that are both aesthetically pleasing and functional?
Environmental impact of textile design and how to reduce it
How can textile design improve the performance of sportswear and activewear?
Design a textile collection that is accessible and affordable for people with disabilities
Develop a sustainable textile production process that reduces environmental impact
Investigate the impact of textile design on consumer behavior
Explore the use of sustainable materials in textile design
Challenges and opportunities of new technologies in textile design
Ethical implications of materials and production methods in textile design
How can textile design reduce fashion waste and promote circularity?

Psychology Thesis Topics

Why is emotional intelligence an important factor in professional satisfaction?
The notion of the self – Is it a myth or reality?
Evaluating the efficacy of Cognitive Behavioral
Therapy in managing anxiety
Self-efficacy and academic achievement: A longitudinal study of students
A good IQ level can have long-term benefits for children. Discuss how?
How are emotional disorders directly connected to social cognition?
Analyze the relationship between emotional and episodic memory
How can rational thinking allow us to make better decisions?
How common is depression among homosexual teenagers?
What are the psychological techniques to help obese teens?

Political Science Thesis Topics

Compare the foreign policies of the US and the UK
What were the causes of the American Revolution?
How is religion used as a political power?
What is the role of social movements in politics?
Discuss the consequences of the Civil War
Immigration policies and their impact on social cohesion and diversity
The impact of campaign finance reform on political corruption
What are the negotiation methods during wartime?
Explain the difference between political and armed conflicts
Give a detailed review of the Human Rights Act 1998

Thesis Topics for Law Students

The role of international law in addressing global cybersecurity threats
Human rights and refugee law: Analyzing the legal status of stateless individuals
Legal aspects of intellectual property rights in the fashion industry
Consumer protection laws in E-Commerce: Challenges and emerging trends
How can we ensure that plea bargaining is used fairly and ethically?
Examining the legal and ethical implications of genetic testing and genetic privacy
The evolution of copyright law in the digital era: Balancing innovation and protection
How has globalization changed the landscape of international law?
What is the future of International Law in a world of increasing nationalism?
The impact of race and ethnicity on criminal sentencing

International Relations Thesis Topics

What is the impact of Russia’s intervention in Syria?
Discuss the trade relations between India and Pakistan
Discuss the impacts of the US sanctions on Iran
Explain the reasons for OIC failure
What is the US foreign policy towards North Korea?
Critically analyze the human rights violations in Kashmir
What is the policy of the United States toward Russia?
Discuss lessons learned politically since 9/11
Political problems in Africa have been affected by colonial rule. How?
Discuss how is Israel playing the victim card in the war against Palestine

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History Thesis Topics

How has World War II saved the world?
What is the impact of Buddhism on the Chinese empire?
Discuss the struggles of the North American colonies for independence
Describe the role of the monarchy in the domestic policy of Great Britain
Discuss the impacts of the North Korean nuclear program in Northeast Asia
Evaluate the American and Britain relations during the Cold War Era
Discuss the global impacts of the Great Depression
Explain the Women's rights and woman suffrage: 1848-1920.
Enlist the Military Innovations between WWI & WWII
Discuss the feminist movement from 1845 to 1920

Criminal Justice Thesis Topics

What are the ways to deal with domestic violence?
How can we reduce racial disparities in the criminal justice system?
How is electronic monitoring an abuse of privacy rights?
What can be done to prevent cyber crimes?
What are the common child abuse crimes committed?
How can body cameras reduce police violence?
Why are men more likely to get the death penalty?
How can drug courts help people with addictions?
Discuss the strategies used to stop criminal behavior
Discuss the effectiveness of capital punishment in deterring crime

Thesis Topics in English Literature

The influence of feminist theory on the work of Margaret Atwood
Discuss the effectiveness of verbal communication in displaying feelings
How do people communicate when there is no shared language?
Language travels through time. Discuss the concept
Elaborate on the advantages of learning a second language in graduate school
Discuss the effectiveness of non-verbal communication for displaying emotions.
Shakespearean adaptations in modern literature and film
Narrative techniques in experimental literature and their impact on storytelling
What are the benefits of learning two languages at once as a child?
How to best communicate: Verbally or non-verbally?

Thesis Topics in Mass Communication

Effects of user-generated content on news credibility and trust in online journalism
Impact of deep fake technology on media manipulation and trust in visual media
The role of media in promoting political polarization and extremism
The challenges of reporting on sensitive topics such as war, violence, and trauma
The ethics of using media to exploit or harm vulnerable populations
The influence of TikTok on youth culture and entertainment consumption
How does sports journalism respond to evolving media landscapes?
The role of social media influencers in shaping brand image and consumer behavior
The role of media in promoting corporate interests and agendas
What is the role of media in the surveillance state and the erosion of privacy?

Thesis Topics in Business Administration

How is digital transformation changing business models and strategies?
What role does venture capital play in funding and supporting startups?
The role of data analytics in decision-making and improving business outcomes
The challenges and opportunities of expanding into new markets
What factors influence call center industry employee retention?
Comparing leadership structures in manufacturing and retail sectors
How do varying leadership styles impact worker performance?
Challenges and opportunities of managing supply chains in a globalized economy
Is a Human Resources Officer still relevant in today's businesses?
What is the impact of internal communications on organizational objectives?

Thesis Topics in Physical Education

Role of physical education in preventing childhood obesity
Impact of physical activity on sleep quality and overall well-being
Influence of physical education on self-esteem and body image in adolescents
What strategies promote gender equity in physical education?
How can cultural competency be integrated into physical education programs?
How does virtual physical education impact student engagement?
What factors contribute to successful youth sports and athlete development?
How does assessment and feedback improve student learning in physical education?
How can older adults be encouraged to maintain active lifestyles?
Does physical education have a measurable impact on academic performance?

Civil Engineering Thesis Topics

Assessing the impact of climate change on infrastructure resilience
Optimizing traffic flow and transportation systems for urban mobility
Risk assessment and management in civil engineering projects
Green infrastructure and stormwater management in urban environments
Geotechnical engineering challenges in high-rise building construction
Resilient infrastructure for mitigating the impact of extreme weather events
Smart grids and energy-efficient infrastructure for future cities
The role of 3D printing in construction: Feasibility and applications
Augmented reality and virtual reality in civil engineering education and design
What are the risk factors involved in building skyscrapers?

Cyber Security Thesis Topics

How can network security deal with cyber crimes?
How can an informational system protect your data?
How can we prevent the growth of cyber hackers?
What are the different types of cyber crimes?
How can we make network security affordable for everyone?
Discuss the effectiveness of malware protection software.
How can we improve cybersecurity in wireless networks?
What are the ways to prevent cyber attacks in organizations?
How do people become cyber criminals?
What are the current trends in the field of cybercrime and security?

Sociology Thesis Topics

What are the consequences of adopting a child?
Discuss the concept of female empowerment in a conservative society
Organ transplantation in our society. Is it ethical?
Explain the diffusion and innovation in European culture
What are the challenges that most women face at workplaces?
How difficult is it to be a single parent in a society?
The impact of economic disparities on how people Live: A sociological study
Technology has changed the way we eat. How?
Violations of social norms can be a positive act. How?
What is the relationship between poverty and education?

Philosophy Thesis Topics

What is the nature of truth and reality in a post-modern world?
Is there any life after death?
Can a person be happy without friends and family?
Why is there a need to engage children in physical activities?
Will you have eternal satisfaction if you had all the wealth in the world?
How morality and religion are related to each other?
Why do people commit crimes when they’re at the brink of poverty?
How to develop a personal philosophy of life: Influences, values, and decision-making
Can free will exist in a deterministic universe, and what are its implications for agency and responsibility?
What is the nature of consciousness, and how does it relate to our perception of reality?

Economics Thesis Topics

Discuss the differences in commercial practices in rural and urban areas
Critically analyze regional divergence in Europe
Discuss the relationship between economic geography and the contemporary environment
What are the impacts of intellectual capital in growing markets?
Labor regulations are a way to solve the issue of unemployment. Discuss how?
Explain the factors that determine the market value of a business
What is the effect of labor force participation on the economy?
Discuss the impact of government expenditure on the economic growth of Australia
Discuss the impact of Brexit on small and middle businesses in the UK
Write a review of the aid and economic growth of developing economies

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Now that you have access to a wide range of thesis topics for multiple fields, you could use some tips to understand how you should pick a good thesis topic.

How to Choose a Good Thesis Topic?

Follow the easy tips given below to choose a good topic for your thesis.

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The following is a detailed description of the tips for choosing thesis paper topics.

Know Your Target Audience : Understand your audience's preferences, opinions, and ideas, and always consider their feedback for better grades
Consider Your Strengths : Identify your skills and strengths, and focus on your areas of knowledge
Follow Your Interests : Select a topic that aligns with your passions and leverage your creativity for an engaging idea
Combine Different Ideas : Brainstorm multiple ideas based on your interests and knowledge to create a unique idea
Read and Find Gaps : Explore existing literature and research, to identify gaps or areas that require further investigation
Put Your Idea to the Test : Conduct small experiments or surveys to test your concept, and utilize data and human resources for a comprehensive analysis. Make sure to identify and address any flaws or weaknesses in your thesis idea.

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170 Original Thesis Topics and Ideas For Your Winning Paper

Throughout your college and graduate school career, you will be required to write hundreds of academic papers across myriad subjects. Choosing good thesis topics is just one of the major factors necessary to achieve academic excellence. This article does not tell you how to write a good thesis but focuses on the process of developing great senior thesis topics that are challenging yet don’t leave you feeling overwhelmed.

How to Develop and Choose Great Thesis Paper Topics?

Computer Science Thesis Topics

Psychology thesis topics, art history thesis topics, sociology thesis topics, economics thesis topics, psychology dissertation topics, architecture thesis topics, criminal justice thesis topics, philosophy thesis topics, history thesis topics, ms thesis topics, where you can find thesis writing help for your topics.

Our list of 170 free thesis statement topics is broken into 12 of the most popular subjects. These are only suggestions and you’re certainly encouraged to modify them as you deem appropriate. Keep in mind that good dissertation topics should aim to push the envelope of academic research while answering important scholarly questions within the field. Don’t feel constrained by what these thesis topics attempt to explore – what inspires your curiosity is the most important aspect of writing a thesis that warrants readership and appreciation.

How to Develop and Choose Great Thesis Topics?

Your thesis statement should be interesting.

You’ve likely heard over and over that the best master thesis topics should always be on something interesting – but does not take this to mean that it only applies to what a reader thinks is interesting. You should genuinely be curious about the topic you want to explore. This will invariably lead to more effective research, writing, and presentation of the chosen topic.

Make Sure You Can Find Enough Resources

Time is limited, and so too are resources. If your topic is too narrow you may not have access to all the resources you need to adequately answer the questions you seek. Ask the resource librarian for some dissertation topic examples to get a sense of the number of resources you will need to include in the bibliography and then triple that number. This is the average amount of research materials you will need to locate in your study.

Meet with Your Advisor to Discuss Options

Finally, you will need to meet with your academic advisor throughout the process of finishing your capstone project, so you will benefit from meeting with him or her as you consider your topics to discuss options. If, for instance, you are going over art history thesis topics , an advisor can point you to previous studies, research, resources, and more. You may find early that your topic may not be doable – and save yourself time by choosing altogether different.

Our List of Great Thesis Ideas On Any Subject

How have different methodologies changed the way comp-science is used in business?
How has the user interface changed the way society interacts with one another?
What are the advances in encryption and decryption we need to fight cybercrime?
In what ways have computer viruses altered international finance rules & regulations?
How do biometric systems affect the way data is recognized across financial industries?
Will artificial intelligence make human labor a thing of the past or will it only be a burden?
What are the best defense strategies companies should consider fighting cyber-attacks?
How will quantum computers change the way mainstream data is factored into primes?
A survey of how different technologies and algorithms can be used for parsing and indexing.
Technique to use when visualizing text categorization that has complex hierarchical structures and machine learning.
Different tools and techniques in the software required can be used to understand the UK.
How to have dependable and secure computing.
Definition and explanation of context-aware computing.
Top 5 challenges in database design and the information of system development?
What are the multiple dimensions or states of high-functioning schizophrenia in adults?
How effective is the DSM-IV in categorizing abnormal symptoms in young adults?
In what ways does a leader’s presence affect the way his sports teammates perform?
How does culture affect the way teaching programs are instituted around the world?
In what ways does chemotherapy affect the way patients get attention from family?
Is anger an emotion that can be controlled for the benefit of a person’s mental health?
What did the 9/11 attacks have on the general psychology of U.S. citizens toward immigrants?
How are LGBTQ teens likely to cope with pressures and how does it link to issues of depression?
Explain the social identity theory of Tajfel and Turner.
What are the REM phase and the continuous sleep disruption?
Defining how a brain functions when a person is in love.
How do the different forms of amnesia damage your brain activities?
What is the significance of a strong self-perception?
Is it possible for PTSD to lead to Alzheimer’s disease?
How do people respond to the world’s most famous art pieces in an age of social media?
In what ways is music considered to be a form of art when there are no actual tangible forms?
Are the building styles of the ancient world legitimate representations of artistic work?
Do you believe anyone will ever be able to have as much impact as the Renaissance greats?
In what ways has the value of art diminished in the last 25 years in terms of investment?
How does art affect the way humans develop creatively in terms of their communication?
What motivates people to invest in modern art despite there being such a high risk?
How does a modern artist make enough income in the days of technology and digital art?
Analyze the Monalisa painting and why it is popular.
What is the origin of the traditional Chinese and Japanese costumes?
What are the most popular pies of Mesopotamian art, and what made them popular?
How did Hinduism influence the early Indian Act?
Research on the construction of the Great Wall of China.
What is the origin of the Greek theatre?
How much influence do parents have on their children’s educational and social engagement?
In what ways do cross-cultural relationships change the way children think about the world?
What are the most important aspects of gender inequality at work and how is it fixed?
How much do food cultures link to anticipated health and welfare in American adults?
What is the relationship between ethnicity and the levels of completed education in children?
What are the biggest factors leading certain populations to alcohol or drug addiction?
How is media affecting the way youth view their images as a result of how they are represented?
In what ways has social media impacted the way America’s youth interacts with the world?
Impacts of Alcohol among the youths.
Adaption and the consequences of adopting a child.
Diffusion and innovation in European culture and what it means for the features of these countries.
How would people react if organ transplant gets completely banned?
What are the challenges that working women face in today’s society?
What are the impacts of life sentences, and should this be changed
What are the five major principles of global economics and how do they affect international law?
In what ways are developing countries in Asia affected by short and long-term econ policies?
How important is it for the average American investor to know about global economics?
In what ways should a person’s wealth be distributed to more philanthropic or charitable activities?
What do international economics offer the average American in terms of financial happiness?
How has the alcohol industry changed over the last century across different parts of Europe?
In what ways has big data mining affected the way global economics and financing have changed?
What are the main reasons why the Trump presidency has negatively affected international trade?
What is fiscal policy, and what should people know about it?
Define and explain three opportunity costs.
How do banks set the exchange rate?
What is the reason why some resources are rare?
What does economic forecasting entail?
What are the pros and cons of privatization?
What are the connections between employee satisfaction and how they perform at work?
How are women affected by misogynistic language in the workplace that emphasizes inequality?
In what ways does the formation of negative habits make it harder for people to learn new things?
What role does anxiety have in the way students score on standardized high school level tests?
How does jealousy determine how long or successful a marriage can be in today’s age of the web?
What effect does a person’s amount of time that is spent on social media impact his/her satisfaction?
Are humans becoming far more dependent on instant information and less likely to learn the truth?
What are some of the negative assumptions about women suffering from postpartum depression?
Some eating and personality disorder
What is the importance of communication in a relationship?
What are the social and psychological effects of virtue networks?
What role does a medium play in provoking aggression?
How does cognitive behavior therapy help in dealing with depressed adolescents?
How can depression and its risk factor be prevented?
In what ways did ancient architecture from Greece and Rome influence modern government buildings?
What impact did Frank Lloyd Wright’s architectural style have on Los Angeles’ urban planning?
Why do historians believe the Egyptian Pyramids were created to their exact shape and scale?
How did Roman aqueducts impact the way communities evolved as a result of improved canals?
What dangers do the Venice canal systems face as a result of increasing temperatures and water levels?
How will architecture in major metropolitan areas change as a result of rising populations in the world?
Is architecture considered a science or an art and how does this affect the way we study it today?
What is parametric architecture and what other forms blend appropriately with it aesthetically?
Explain the construction of Time conception in the Architectural Realm.
Waterfront development- the process of beach convention and exhibition centers.
What is the design of ruled surfaces?
An analytic study of the design potential kinetic Architecture.
A survey of China from an archeologist’s point of view.
A look at Russian fairy-tale-style houses and huts.
How is jury selection affected by how politicians are perceived on social media?
Is it accurate to say that minorities receive a fair and unbiased trial in today’s political climate?
How do President Trump’s policies and comments targeting minorities affect their rights in court?
What challenges does cyber-crime present for lawmakers who have to put corporations on trial?
Should large corporations face larger crimes as a result of the amount of money they make publicly?
Why aren’t CEOs of multi-billion dollar companies held to the same criminal standards as the public?
Should human trafficking face larger penalties as a result of the dark web and ease of communication?
Does the internet perpetuate certain crimes as a result of its widespread and virtual anonymity?
The relationship between the police and people from different backgrounds.
What is the reliability of an eye-witness testimony?
What methods can be used to help prevent international drug trafficking?
Why does the crime rate increase during emergencies?
Why are men more likely to get death penalties?
In what ways does the drug court assist or hurt people with addiction?

Thesis Topics in Education

What are the biggest evolutionary changes to the major approaches in education throughout the world?
How have China’s educational methods changed in the last half-century to position them as world leaders?
Can educational programs in South America help those countries combat poverty in their communities?
Should core subjects be re-evaluated in light of the quickly changing needs of today’s modern world?
Should the United States make bigger investments in bringing tech tools to poorer school districts?
Can teachers continue to use traditional methods for grading when class size continues to increase?
Why do people lose the desire to learn new subjects in their adult years? How can this be addressed?
Should more parents be involved in schools’ educational policies and curriculum development?
Do graduate programs in education adequately prepare tomorrow’s teachers for the business world?
Are there any career development programs in Elementary schools?
What are the character development programs in elementary schools?
Should the use of the pass-fail grading be limited?
What is the impact of promoting parent volunteering in schools?
Teaching children with speech-language pathology.
How does the efficiency of classroom management help to reduce stress?
Is abortion a philosophical or political question? Should ethics be removed from this conversation?
Is it a must to lead an ethical life to achieve true human happiness in today’s competitive world?
What does it mean to support ethical farming practices in light of the world’s hunger problems?
Should parents have the ability to manipulate their children’s genetics and characteristics to an ideal?
How does genetic modification in animals affect our understanding of what we can do for humans?
In what ways do religious ethics and philosophy ethics contradict each other when it comes to crimes?
How does humanity’s history to commit evil acts affect the way we view our place in the world?
Is it morally ethical to love someone who is legally unattainable? (E.g., someone who is married).
Are contemporary philosophical theories inclusive of different societies or limiting to specific nations?
What can truly upset you, and in what ways can you deal with it?
Would you live your life more than once?
What do the beauty standards change often?
Are there situations where it is better to lie than tell the truth?
Some people think that love only lasts for three years. Is it true?
What is a perfect life? What prevents you from living it?
How has the rise and fall of famous and influential dictators changed throughout history?
How have the events leading to the 1980s conflicts in Afghanistan caused the turmoil we see today?
In what ways have border wars in South America led to increased asylum seekers fleeing those countries?
How did the North Atlantic Trade Agreement impact the way Europe has sought trade deals with China?
What impact did the Mormons have in shaping the American city landscape during the 19th century?
What role did Mormons have in further expelling Native Americans from their ancestral lands?
Why did the Southern States resist the freeing of slaves for so long? What economic factors were there?
What impact did pirates have on the development of Caribbean culture in Central America?
How have 21st-century marketing strategies affected how we value cultural history in the U.S.A?
Trends of migration through the years.
What is the history of immigration in the USA?
What causes the significant waves of migration in Syria?
How were women treated in the Soviet zone during WWII?
How did the fall of Hitler and the Nazis affect Germany?
The Spanish Inquisition- What is the truth behind its moral justification?
How do supercomputers and data mining affect political policy in today’s first-world governments?
In what ways have the roles of mediators changed in the world of globalized financial institutions?
How important is cultural awareness for large corporations? How is this different in small businesses?
Should politicians be allowed to maintain investments that can influence their political decisions?
Why are blind trusts necessary for anyone running for public office in today’s global economy?
What are the effects of bringing more technology into the home to automate day-to-day activities?
In what ways does automation keep people from controlling the same systems we want to be safe?
How does cyber activity affect how governments contribute to international economies?
How can we learn from past cultures to develop new societies where there is no poverty or hunger?
What was the correlation between political climate and literature during the eighteenth century?
What is the connection between religious conviction and rational thinking?
A comprehensive analysis of gun violence in the US.
Case study of Australia and how cyberbullying might result in suicides.
Civil war is the greatest inspiration for art. Discuss this concept.
Women empowerment in Saudi Arabia in the 2000s.

For more information on how to write a thesis or for more thesis ideas, check out what a professional writing site has to offer. On top of hundreds of free resources, you can pay to have a custom master’s thesis sample made from scratch or can have your work reviewed, edited, and proofread by an academic expert from our thesis writing services , whose job is to stay up-to-date on all educational requirements for capstone projects.

How to Choose Your Graduate Thesis Topic

Reviewed by David Krug David Krug is a seasoned expert with 20 years in educational technology (EdTech). His career spans the pivotal years of technology integration in education, where he has played a key role in advancing student-centric learning solutions. David's expertise lies in marrying technological innovation with pedagogical effectiveness, making him a valuable asset in transforming educational experiences. As an advisor for enrollment startups, David provides strategic guidance, helping these companies navigate the complexities of the education sector. His insights are crucial in developing impactful and sustainable enrollment strategies.

Updated: February 29, 2024 , Reading time: 13 minutes

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Being a graduate student has its fair share of advantages and challenges. If you are one of those who want career advancement and seek a boost in their earning potential, then pursuing a master’s degree can provide you with a solid foundation to succeed in your chosen field.

It can also be quite daunting if you are unsure about the whole process, which includes meeting the requirements for graduate studies admission. Most graduate programs require the completion of a thesis or a capstone project.

Additional Resources:

What is a Thesis Defense?
The Most Prestigious Graduate Schools in The World
Best Grad Schools in the U.S.
The Top Research Universities

The primary challenge to a graduate thesis is picking a thesis topic. It is a vital step that can make or break your academic journey. With the right thesis topic, you will be given a great head start on your thesis.

You must take your time in finding the right topic, preferably one that will meet your needs for the program requirements and align with your passion. In this guide, we’ve set out some essential steps to help you choose the appropriate and relevant graduate thesis topic.

What is a Thesis Topic?

Most graduate students will need to face the great challenge of completing a thesis based on original research to earn their master’s degree successfully. It is a long, in-depth research paper that usually focuses on a particular subject. To help you get started, you will first need to choose a thesis topic that will become the foundation of your whole research project.

All the steps in the process will follow once you have a research topic ready. In essence, a topic can be a general area of inquiry. Designed to fill an identified knowledge gap, a thesis topic can be honed as a question or even a series of questions, usually in a way that motivates the elements of the thesis, whether it is the data analysis, instrumental development, or experimental design.

However, not all topics and questions can lead to your thesis topic.

You must work within the pragmatic constraints of several factors when it comes to choosing your research topic, from the amount of time you are willing to spend on your thesis to the challenges of funding, data, infrastructure, and advising.

You need to remember that the struggles you experience in finding your thesis topic will benefit you in the long run, allowing you to learn important skills such as identifying problems and designing approaches to answer them.

What Makes a Thesis Topic Great?

For graduate studies, research topics are generally more complex compared to undergraduate programs. Not only does your chosen research topic clearly address the defined research question. It should also be able to contribute to a better understanding of the research field significantly.

At the very least, your thesis topic should be sufficiently broad . When framed as a question, it should not only usher in “yes” or “no” answers. By keeping your topic broad, you will be able to explore the different aspects of the subject and analyze how the variables interact. However, it must be noted that while the thesis topic needs to be broad, it should not be vague. It should be a good balance between broad, precise, and open-ended questions.

More importantly, a great thesis topic should fill a niche in a research field . While the topic already exists, there is still a significant amount of knowledge to be discovered and various aspects to be explored. It can also offer a fresh take on an old topic. Alternatively, your research topic can be a rebuttal to a well-known theory. A good thesis topic will make your research stand out.

The Importance of a Relevant Thesis Topic

As the backbone of your research work, your thesis topic should provide a direction for your research. In turn, this will help you focus on specific research questions. With a relevant research topic, you will be able to organize the literature review better and defend your positions with substantial evidence.

Not only does your thesis topic need to be interesting. It should also be relevant to the field of study. This is important because you will want your research to contribute something worthwhile to your chosen field, whether it is in a practical, social, or scientific way.

You may start by framing your questions in terms of their relevance. Does it contribute scientifically to your discipline or socially to the world at large? Does it offer practical significance to an industry or organization?

For the field of science, the scientific relevance of your thesis topic is of utmost importance. Your research topic should be something that has not been extensively studied before, or it should be able to fill a gap in existing scientific knowledge.

For social relevance, you should examine whether your research topic can help people understand society better. In order to collect data, this will often involve the use of interviews, ethnographies, and other types of fieldwork.

It is important to note, however, that practical relevance may be more important. A thesis that has practical relevance adds value, whether it is through a recommendation for an industry or suggestions that can improve certain processes within an organization.

7 Helpful Tips for Picking a Good Graduate Thesis Topic

Tips for Picking a Good Graduate Thesis Topic - Image

Committing to a master’s thesis is no walk in the park. This academic endeavor often requires time, determination, patience, and effort. Chances are, you will be dedicating the next year or more of your life as a graduate student to a huge project that will impact your career and professional life.

As a general rule, you must first find a topic that you are interested in. It should be something clear and relevant to your area of study. The following tips aim to help you work through the complex process of finding the right research topic, from brainstorming to the final decision.

1. Check the program requirements.

Graduate programs often have different requirements in order to earn the degree. Some may only require students to take a comprehensive exam or complete a capstone project. Most of the graduate programs in the country, however, require the completion of a thesis. Checking the program requirements is an essential step before you can start the process of choosing a thesis topic.

The thesis is often required to demonstrate your ability as a graduate student for research and independent thought. The very first step when committing to a thesis is usually the submission of a proposal to the thesis committee. The proposal will depend on the department and discipline. If you want more accurate information, you may need to reach out to your department for proposal guidelines and requirements.

Some schools require the thesis to show familiarity with previous work in the field. It must be able to carry out research, organize results, and defend approaches and conclusions in a scholarly way. The thesis often has corresponding credit hours that you need to comply with. You may be asked to define your research problem, carry out the research, and write and defend your thesis within a designated time frame.

The topic you choose will vary depending on the thesis requirements of your chosen graduate program. That is why you must check the program requirements before you proceed to the next steps in finding a good thesis topic.

2. Consider your passion and interests.

Perhaps the most important criterion, choosing a topic that aligns with your passion and interests, can make a whole world of difference to your academic journey. This is because you are expected to pour considerable time and effort into thesis work, so it is only sensible that you choose a topic that you actually enjoy working on.

If you choose a topic within your discipline that you are genuinely interested in and passionate about, it will show in your work. You will feel more engaged and motivated to work on your thesis. You may start by thinking of the topics that you are curious about.

What are the things you enjoy reading and discussing? Are there topics you have personal experience with or you are actively involved in? You may want to take inspiration from your current job or draw from your previous professional experiences.

The beauty of choosing something that you have experience in is that you have a better understanding of the topic. Your expertise on the research topic will make everything in the next steps of the thesis process easier for you. Choosing a lukewarm topic can be challenging in the long run, as you will struggle to make it through the entire process.

Your excitement about your thesis topic can translate to more successful research work, communicating engagement with your field of study.

3. Brainstorm some ideas to get started.

Sticking to just one research topic might not be a good idea. As a rule of thumb, you may want to list down several potential thesis topics to choose from. This is where brainstorming comes in. This process involves producing ideas with the use of essential techniques such as concept mapping, free-writing, and reviewing past works and papers. You may want to start by talking to others, especially those who are familiar with the thesis process.

The next step is to write everything down. Making a list of all the ideas you have in mind and taking them apart will help you narrow down your choices. It will also help a lot if you employ some creativity when thinking of thesis topics. Make use of different perspectives and viewpoints, as this will allow you to come up with different ideas you might not have thought of before. You can also try combining two ideas on your list to come up with a great idea.

Another way to help you brainstorm is to peruse the course materials you have covered and look at your notes from other classes. You might be able to find some great ideas to work with for your master’s thesis. The trick is to generate as many ideas as possible about your potential research topics.

4. Discuss the topic with your advisor.

Many master’s programs will pair you up with an advisor when you enroll. This is often a reliable professor within your program department who will be guiding and assisting you throughout your graduate studies. You can also expect to work closely with your advisor when it comes to completing your thesis.

Your advisor is the best person who can give you suggestions regarding data and information you can use, providing you with notes on your thesis to push you in the right direction. Generally, the thesis process starts only after you have completed all the other requirements for your master’s degree, but students are often encouraged to think about possible topics early in their graduate journey.

The discussion does not have to be confined to your advisor. You can also talk to other members of the faculty. They will not only give you great guidance but also help you identify the best people who can work with you on your master’s thesis. You need to make sure to check their research fields and find who works with topics related to your interests.

You can also discuss with them the ideas you have in mind and seek feedback. Getting their various perspectives will help you narrow down your topic to realistic terms.

5. Test the viability of your thesis topic.

Once you have a list of your ideas for possible thesis topics, you may want to rate each one according to relevance and viability. Testing how each topic fares will help you choose the most suitable topic that will meet your needs and align with your interests.

You may want to find out if the topics meet your academic and personal interests. Are they compatible with your academic objectives and background? Your topic must also be feasible. How much time and resources will it possibly require? Will you be able to collect enough data in your chosen field?

If you want to take it a step further, you may want to consider testing your thesis topic by doing a little research on the resources, knowledge, and ability that you need to carry out the thesis project. You may put your ideas to the test by conducting a mini-experiment or sending out a survey. You can then use the data from the initial test to refine and finalize your thesis topic.

6. Go through journals and publications.

The last resort when generating thesis topic ideas is to get inspiration from a few professional journals and publications. You can start with journals within your industry, checking the latest news and information published by others.

This does not only introduce you to the latest news and information published by others. It will also give you ample ideas about topics that are not covered in your classes, allowing you to find knowledge gaps that you can exploit for your thesis work.

Going through journals can help you stay on top of your field by providing you with knowledge on the current research and allowing you to discover issues and trends that you did not know existed.

7. Consider and examine your career path.

You may not be thinking beyond the completion of your degree, but this is actually a crucial step if you want to succeed in your field. Maybe you want to consider selecting a topic that can actually help advance your career in your chosen field. For example, you can choose a topic that can be easily modified into journal articles. This will make it easy for you to lend them to future research.

If you aim to pursue advanced roles within an industry, you may want to choose a thesis topic that will help you become more marketable. Your research should help you stand out among hundreds of competitions. Your topic should, of course, be relevant and meaningful to your field.

For those who want to pursue a career in the academe, preparing for your research work should be of high importance. You may want to consider choosing a topic that has a trajectory. This means that your capstone for your undergraduate degree and your potential master’s thesis have the same topic. You can change the scale of the question, but choosing a topic that you can use for the subsequent degrees and has growth potential makes more sense.

Choose Your Graduate Thesis Topic - fact

Final Thoughts

A master’s thesis topic will not simply appear out of nowhere. You cannot wait for inspiration to club you in the head. You need to put in hard work in choosing your thesis topic. After all, it is the backbone that can make or break your academic journey. Keeping these tips in mind will help you arrive at the right thesis topic – one that is relevant, interesting, and viable.

Remember that you don’t have a lifetime to devote to your topic, so it is important that you choose one that is manageable and realistic.

We’re certain of one thing—your search for more information on picking the best graduate degree or school landed you here. Let our experts help guide your through the decision making process with thoughtful content written by experts.

How To Find A High-Quality Research Topic

6 steps to find & evaluate high-quality dissertation/thesis topics.

By: Caroline Osella (PhD, BA) and Derek Jansen (MBA) | July 2019

So, you’re finally nearing the end of your degree and it’s now time to find a suitable topic for your dissertation or thesis. Or perhaps you’re just starting out on your PhD research proposal and need to find a suitable area of research for your application proposal.

In this post, we’ll provide a straightforward 6-step process that you can follow to ensure you arrive at a high-quality research topic . Follow these steps and you will formulate a well-suited, well-defined core research question .

There’s a helpful clue already: your research ‘topic’ is best understood as a research question or a problem . Your aim is not to create an encyclopedia entry into your field, but rather to shed light on an acknowledged issue that’s being debated (or needs to be). Think research questions , not research topics (we’ll come back to this later).

Overview: How To Find & Choose A Research Topic

Get an understanding of the research process
Review previous dissertations from your university
Review the academic literature to start the ideation process
Identify your potential research questions (topics) and shortlist
Narrow down, then evaluate your research topic shortlist
Make the decision (and stick with it!)

Step 1: Understand the research process

It may sound horribly obvious, but it’s an extremely common mistake – students skip past the fundamentals straight to the ideation phase (and then pay dearly for it).

Start by looking at whatever handouts and instructions you’ve been given regarding what your university/department expects of a dissertation. For example, the course handbook, online information and verbal in-class instructions. I know it’s tempting to just dive into the ideation process, but it’s essential to start with the prescribed material first.

There are two important reasons for this:

First , you need to have a basic understanding of the research process , research methodologies , fieldwork options and analysis methods before you start the ideation process, or you will simply not be equipped to think about your own research adequately. If you don’t understand the basics of quantitative , qualitative and mixed methods BEFORE you start ideating, you’re wasting your time.

Second , your university/department will have specific requirements for your research – for example, requirements in terms of topic originality, word count, data requirements, ethical adherence, methodology, etc. If you are not aware of these from the outset, you will again end up wasting a lot of time on irrelevant ideas/topics.

So, the most important first step is to get your head around both the basics of research (especially methodologies), as well as your institution’s specific requirements . Don’t give in to the temptation to jump ahead before you do this. As a starting point, be sure to check out our free dissertation course.

Free Webinar: How To Find A Dissertation Research Topic

Step 2: Review past dissertations/theses

Unless you’re undertaking a completely new course, there will be many, many students who have gone through the research process before and have produced successful dissertations, which you can use to orient yourself. This is hugely beneficial – imagine being able to see previous students’ assignments and essays when you were doing your coursework!

Take a look at some well-graded (65% and above) past dissertations from your course (ideally more recent ones, as university requirements may change over time). These are usually available in the university’s online library. Past dissertations will act as a helpful model for all kinds of things, from how long a bibliography needs to be, to what a good literature review looks like, through to what kinds of methods you can use – and how to leverage them to support your argument.

As you peruse past dissertations, ask yourself the following questions:

What kinds of topics did these dissertations cover and how did they turn the topic into questions?
How broad or narrow were the topics?
How original were the topics? Were they truly groundbreaking or just a localised twist on well-established theory?
How well justified were the topics? Did they seem important or just nice to know?
How much literature did they draw on as a theoretical base? Was the literature more academic or applied in nature?
What kinds of research methods did they use and what data did they draw on?
How did they analyse that data and bring it into the discussion of the academic literature?
Which of the dissertations are most readable to you – why? How were they presented?
Can you see why these dissertations were successful? Can you relate what they’ve done back to the university’s instructions/brief?

Seeing a variety of dissertations (at least 5, ideally in your area of interest) will also help you understand whether your university has very rigid expectations in terms of structure and format , or whether they expect and allow variety in the number of chapters, chapter headings, order of content, style of presentation and so on.

Some departments accept graphic novels; some are willing to grade free-flow continental-philosophy style arguments; some want a highly rigid, standardised structure. Many offer a dissertation template , with information on how marks are split between sections. Check right away whether you have been given one of those templates – and if you do, then use it and don’t try to deviate or reinvent the wheel.

Step 3: Review the academic literature

Now that you (1) understand the research process, (2) understand your university’s specific requirements for your dissertation or thesis, and (3) have a feel for what a good dissertation looks like, you can start the ideation process. This is done by reviewing the current literature and looking for opportunities to add something original to the academic conversation.

Kick start the ideation process

So, where should you start your literature hunt? The best starting point is to get back to your modules. Look at your coursework and the assignments you did. Using your coursework is the best theoretical base, as you are assured that (1) the literature is of a high enough calibre for your university and (2) the topics are relevant to your specific course.

Start by identifying the modules that interested you the most and that you understood well (i.e. earned good marks for). What were your strongest assignments, essays or reports? Which areas within these were particularly interesting to you? For example, within a marketing module, you may have found consumer decision making or organisation trust to be interesting. Create a shortlist of those areas that you were both interested in and academically strong at. It’s no use picking an area that does not genuinely interest you – you’ll run out of motivation if you’re not excited by a topic.

Understand the current state of knowledge

Once you’ve done that, you need to get an understanding of the current state of the literature for your chosen interest areas. What you’re aiming to understand is this: what is the academic conversation here and what critical questions are yet unanswered? These unanswered questions are prime opportunities for a unique, meaningful research topic . A quick review of the literature on your favourite topics will help you understand this.

Grab your reading list from the relevant section of the modules, or simply enter the topics into Google Scholar . Skim-read 3-5 journal articles from the past 5 years which have at least 5 citations each (Google Scholar or a citations index will show you how many citations any given article has – i.e., how many other people have referred to it in their own bibliography). Also, check to see if your discipline has an ‘annual review’ type of journal, which gathers together surveys of the state of knowledge on a chosen topic. This can be a great tool for fast-tracking your understanding of the current state of the knowledge in any given area.

Start from your course’s reading list and work outwards. At the end of every journal article, you’ll find a reference list. Scan this reference list for more relevant articles and read those. Then repeat the process (known as snowballing) until you’ve built up a base of 20-30 quality articles per area of interest.

Absorb, don’t hunt

At this stage, your objective is to read and understand the current state of the theory for your area(s) of interest – you don’t need to be in topic-hunting mode yet. Don’t jump the gun and try to identify research topics before you are well familiarised with the literature.

As you read, try to understand what kinds of questions people are asking and how they are trying to answer them. What matters do the researchers agree on, and more importantly, what are they in disagreement about? Disagreements are prime research territory. Can you identify different ‘schools of thought’ or different ‘approaches’? Do you know what your own approach or slant is? What kinds of articles appeal to you and which ones bore you or leave you feeling like you’ve not really grasped them? Which ones interest you and point towards directions you’d like to research and know more about?

Once you understand the fundamental fact that academic knowledge is a conversation, things get easier.

Think of it like a party. There are groups of people in the room, enjoying conversations about various things. Which group do you want to join? You don’t want to be that person in the corner, talking to themself. And you don’t want to be the hanger-on, laughing at the big-shot’s jokes and repeating everything they say.

Do you want to join a large group and try to make a small contribution to what’s going on, or are you drawn to a smaller group that’s having a more niche conversation, but where you feel you might more easily find something original to contribute? How many conversations can you identify? Which ones feel closer to you and more attractive? Which ones repel you or leave you cold? Are there some that, frankly, you just don’t understand?

Now, choose a couple of groups who are discussing something you feel interested in and where you feel like you might want to contribute. You want to make your entry into this group by asking a question – a question that will make the other people in the group turn around and look at you, listen to you, and think, “That’s interesting”.

Your dissertation will be the process of setting that question and then trying to find at least a partial answer to that question – but don’t worry about that now. Right now, you need to work out what conversations are going on, whether any of them are related or overlapping, and which ones you might be able to walk into. I’ll explain how you find that question in the next step.

Need a helping hand?

Step 4: Identify potential research questions

Now that you have a decent understanding of the state of the literature in your area(s) of interest, it’s time to start developing your list of possible research topics. There are (at least) three approaches you can follow here, and they are not mutually exclusive:

Approach 1: Leverage the FRIN

Towards the end of most quality journal articles, you will find a section labelled “ further research ” or something similar. Generally, researchers will clearly outline where they feel further research is needed (FRIN), following on from their own research. So, essentially, every journal article presents you with a list of potential research opportunities.

Of course, only a handful of these will be both practical and of interest to you, so it’s not a quick-fix solution to finding a research topic. However, the benefit of going this route is that you will be able to find a genuinely original and meaningful research topic (which is particularly important for PhD-level research).

The upside to this approach is originality, but the downside is that you might not find something that really interests you , or that you have the means to execute. If you do go this route, make sure that you pay attention to the journal article dates, as the FRIN may already have been “solved” by other researchers if the article is old.

Use the FRIN for dissertation topics ideas

Approach 2: Put a context-based spin on an existing topic

The second option is to consider whether a theory which is already well established is relevant within a local or industry-specific context. For example, a theory about the antecedents (drivers) of trust is very well established, but there may be unique or uniquely important drivers within a specific national context or industry (for example, within the financial services industry in an emerging market).

If that industry or national context has not yet been covered by researchers and there is a good reason to believe there may be meaningful differences within that context, then you have an opportunity to take a unique angle on well-established theory, which can make for a great piece of research. It is however imperative that you have a good reason to believe that the existing theory may not be wholly relevant within your chosen context, or your research will not be justified.

The upside to this approach is that you can potentially find a topic that is “closer to home” and more relevant and interesting to you , while still being able to draw on a well-established body of theory. However, the downside is that this approach will likely not produce the level of originality as approach #1.

Approach 3: Uncensored brainstorming

The third option is to skip the FRIN, as well as the local/industry-specific angle and simply engage in a freeform brainstorming or mind-mapping session, using your newfound knowledge of the theory to formulate potential research ideas. What’s important here is that you do not censor yourself . However crazy, unfeasible, or plain stupid your topic appears – write it down. All that matters right now is that you are interested in this thing.

Next, try to turn the topic(s) into a question or problem. For example:

What is the relationship between X, Y & Z?
What are the drivers/antecedents of X?
What are the outcomes of Y?
What are the key success factors for Z?

Re-word your list of topics or issues into a list of questions . You might find at this stage that one research topic throws up three questions (which then become sub-topics and even new separate topics in their own right) and in so doing, the list grows. Let it. Don’t hold back or try to start evaluating your ideas yet – just let them flow onto paper.

Once you’ve got a few topics and questions on paper, check the literature again to see whether any of these have been covered by the existing research. Since you came up with these from scratch, there is a possibility that your original literature search did not cover them, so it’s important to revisit that phase to ensure that you’re familiar with the relevant literature for each idea. You may also then find that approach #1 and #2 can be used to build on these ideas.

Try use all three approaches

As mentioned earlier, the three approaches discussed here are not mutually exclusive. In fact, the more, the merrier. Hopefully, you manage to utilise all three, as this will give you the best odds of producing a rich list of ideas, which you can then narrow down and evaluate, which is the next step.

Mix different approaches to find a topic

Step 5: Narrow down, then evaluate

By this stage, you should have a healthy list of research topics. Step away from the ideation and thinking for a few days, clear your mind. The key is to get some distance from your ideas, so that you can sit down with your list and review it with a more objective view. The unbridled ideation phase is over and now it’s time to take a reality check .

Look at your list and see if any options can be crossed off right away . Maybe you don’t want to do that topic anymore. Maybe the topic turned out to be too broad and threw up 20 hard to answer questions. Maybe all the literature you found about it was 30 years old and you suspect it might not be a very engaging contemporary issue . Maybe this topic is so over-researched that you’ll struggle to find anything fresh to say. Also, after stepping back, it’s quite common to notice that 2 or 3 of your topics are really the same one, the same question, which you’ve written down in slightly different ways. You can try to amalgamate these into one succinct topic.

Narrow down to the top 5, then evaluate

Now, take your streamlined list and narrow it down to the ‘top 5’ that interest you the most. Personal interest is your key evaluation criterion at this stage. Got your ‘top 5’? Great! Now, with a cool head and your best analytical mind engaged, go systematically through each option and evaluate them against the following criteria:

Research questions – what is the main research question, and what are the supporting sub-questions? It’s critically important that you can define these questions clearly and concisely. If you cannot do this, it means you haven’t thought the topic through sufficiently.

Originality – is the topic sufficiently original, as per your university’s originality requirements? Are you able to add something unique to the existing conversation? As mentioned earlier, originality can come in many forms, and it doesn’t mean that you need to find a completely new, cutting-edge topic. However, your university’s requirements should guide your decision-making here.

Importance – is the topic of real significance, or is it just a “nice to know”? If it’s significant, why? Who will benefit from finding the answer to your desired questions and how will they benefit? Justifying your research will be a key requirement for your research proposal , so it’s really important to develop a convincing argument here.

Literature – is there a contemporary (current) body of academic literature around this issue? Is there enough literature for you to base your investigation on, but not too much that the topic is “overdone”? Will you be able to navigate this literature or is it overwhelming?

Data requirements – What kind of data would you need access to in order to answer your key questions? Would you need to adopt a qualitative, quantitative or mixed-methods approach to answer your questions? At this stage, you don’t need to be able to map out your exact research design, but you should be able to articulate how you would approach it in high-level terms. Will you use qual, quant or mixed methods? Why?

Feasibility – How feasible would it be to gather the data that would be needed in the time-frame that you have – and do you have the will power and the skills to do it? If you’re not confident with the theory, you don’t want something that’s going to draw you into a debate about the relative importance of epistemology and ontology. If you are shy, you won’t want to be doing ethnographic interviews. If you feel this question calls for a 100-person survey, do you have the time to plan, organise and conduct it and then analyse it? What will you do if you don’t get the response rate you expect? Be very realistic here and also ask advice from your supervisor and other experts – poor response rates are extremely common and can derail even the best research projects.

Personal attraction – On a scale of 1-10, how excited are you about this topic? Will addressing it add value to your life and/or career? Will undertaking the project help you build a skill you’ve previously wanted to work on (for example, interview skills, statistical analysis skills, software skills, etc.)?

The last point is particularly important. You will have to engage with your dissertation in a very sustained and deep way, face challenges and difficulties, and get it to completion. If you don’t start out enthusiastic about it, you’re setting yourself up for problems like ‘writer’s block’ or ‘burnout’ down the line. This is the reason personal interest was the sole evaluation criterion when we chose the top 5. So, don’t underestimate the importance of personal attraction to a topic – at the same time, don’t let personal attraction lead you to choose a topic that is not relevant to your course or feasible given your resources.

A strong research topic must tick all three boxes – original, relevant and feasible. If not, you're going to run into problems sooner or later.

Narrow down to 3, then get human feedback

We’re almost at the finishing line. The next step is to narrow down to 2 or 3 shortlisted topics. No more! Write a short paragraph about each topic, addressing the following:

Firstly, WHAT will this study be about? Frame the topic as a question or a problem. Write it as a dissertation title. No more than two clauses and no more than 15 words. Less than 15 is better (go back to good journal articles for inspiration on appropriate title styles).

Secondly, WHY this is interesting (original) and important – as proven by existing academic literature? Are people talking about this and is there an acknowledged problem, debate or gap in the literature?

Lastly, HOW do you plan to answer the question? What sub-questions will you use? What methods does this call for and how competent and confident are you in those methods? Do you have the time to gather the data this calls for?

Show the shortlist and accompanying paragraphs to a couple of your peers from your course and also to an expert or two if at all possible (you’re welcome to reach out to us ), explaining what you will investigate, why this is original and important and how you will go about investigating it.

Once you’ve pitched your ideas, ask for the following thoughts :

Which is most interesting and appealing to them?
Why do they feel this way?
What problems do they foresee with the execution of the research?

Take advice and feedback and sit on it for another day. Let it simmer in your mind overnight before you make the final decision.

Step 6: Make the decision (and stick with it!)

Then, make the commitment. Choose the one that you feel most confident about, having now considered both your opinion and the feedback from others.

Once you’ve made a decision, don’t doubt your judgement, don’t shift. Don’t be tempted by the ones you left behind. You’ve planned and thought things through, checked feasibility and now you can start. You have your research topic. Trust your own decision-making process and stick with it now. It’s time to get started on your research proposal!

Let’s recap…

In this post, I’ve proposed a straightforward 6-step plan to finding relevant research topic ideas and then narrowing them down to finally choose one winner. To recap:

Understand the basics of academic research, as well as your university’s specific requirements for a dissertation, thesis or research project.
Review previous dissertations for your course to get an idea of both topics and structure.
Start the ideation process by familiarising yourself with the literature.
Identify your potential research questions (topics).
Narrow down your options, then evaluate systematically.
Make your decision (and don’t look back!)

If you follow these steps, you’ll find that they also set you up for what’s coming next – both the proposal and the first three chapters of your dissertation. But that’s for future posts!

Psst… there’s more (for free)

This post is part of our dissertation mini-course, which covers everything you need to get started with your dissertation, thesis or research project.

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22 Comments

I would love to get a topic under teachers performance. I am a student of MSC Monitoring and Evaluations and I need a topic in the line of monitoring and evaluations

I just we put for some full notes that are payable

Thank you very much Dr Caroline

I need a project topics on transfer of learning

m a PhD Student I would like to be assisted inn formulating a title around: Internet of Things for online education in higher education – STEM (Science, technology, engineering and Mathematics, digital divide ) Thank you, would appreciate your guidance

Well structured guide on the topic… Good materials for beginners in research writing…

Hello Iam kindly seeking for help in formulating a researchable topic for masters degree program in line with teaching GRAPHIC ART

I read a thesis about a problem in a particular. Can I use the same topic just referring to my own country? Is that being original? The interview questions will mostly be the same as the other thesis.

Hi, thanks I managed to listen to the video so helpful indeed. I am currently an MBA student looking for a specific topic and I have different ideas that not sure they can be turned to be a study.

I am doing a Master of Theology in Pastoral Care and Counselling and I felt like doing research on Spiritual problem cause by substance abuse among Youth. Can I get help to formulate the Thesis Title in line with it…please

Hello, I am kindly seeking help in formulating a researchable topic for a National diploma program

As a beginner in research, I am very grateful for this well-structured material on research writing.

Hello, I watched the video and its very helpful. I’m a student in Nursing (degree). May you please help me with any research problems (in Namibian society or Nursing) that need to be evaluate or solved?

I have been greatly impacted. Thank you.

more than useful… there will be no justification if someone fails to get a topic for his thesis

I watched the video and its really helpful.

How can i started discovery

Analysing the significance of Integrated reporting in Zimbabwe. A case of institutional investors. this is my topic for PHD Accounting sciences need help with research questions

Excellent session that cleared lots of doubts.

Excellent session that cleared lots of doubts

Wow, This helped a lot not only with how to find a research topic but inspired me to kick it off from now, I am a final year student of environmental science. And have to complete my project in the coming six months.

I was really stressed and thinking about different topics that I don’t know nothing about and having more than a hundred topics in the baggage, couldn’t make the tradeoff among them, however, reading this scrubbed the fuzzy layer off my head and now it seems like really easy.

Thanks GRADCOACH, you saved me from getting into the rabbit hole.

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Choosing a Research Topic

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This article from the Chronicle of Higher Education discusses and offers advice on how to choose a dissertation topic that is compelling, manageable, and worthwhile. Although it is written for scientists, this article provides valuable insights that are applicable to other fields. Also available via the Tomorrow's Professor Archive.

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Grad Grow Competencies

626 Dissertation Topics for Ph.D. and Thesis Ideas for Master Students

If you are about to go into the world of graduate school, then one of the first things you need to do is choose from all the possible dissertation topics available to you. This is no small task. You are likely to spend many years researching your Master’s or Ph.D. topic and writing the text. This means that choosing a dissertation topic should not be taken lightly.

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No worries! Just read this article by our Custom Writing service , and you’ll find:

a collection of great thesis topics on finance, education, management, law, etc.
a range of tips on choosing a killing Ph.D. topic.
👍 Top 10 Dissertation Topics
🆚 Thesis vs Dissertation
🔝 Top 10 Thesis Topics
🎓 Thesis Topics List
✅ How to Choose a Topic

👍Top 10 Dissertation Topics

Ethical alternatives to animal testing.
What’s the future of the Dead Sea?
Does accent affect singing ability?
The importance of corporate values.
Can we regulate influencer marketing?
How does inflation affect small businesses?
Is homeschooling the future of education?
How does Tourette’s syndrome affect one’s daily life?
How to conduct market analysis for e-commerce.
Has globalization affected cultural appropriation?

🆚 Dissertation vs. Thesis: Is There a Difference?

People often consider a thesis and a dissertation to be the same thing. Yet, there is an important distinction between them. The key difference is that you need a thesis to complete a master’s degree, while a dissertation is necessary for obtaining a doctorate. Keep in mind that it’s vice versa in European higher education.

Here are some other differences:

Despite these differences, theses and dissertations have a lot in common:

You need them to complete a degree.
Both require certain levels of expertise and writing skills.
You defend an argument in both of them.
Plagiarism is prohibited in both theses and dissertations.

🔝 Top 10 Thesis Topics for 2024

The consequences of obesity.
The influence of social media .
Economic development and happiness.
Feminism in the United States.
The effects of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Racism in schools and colleges.
Overeducation in the labor market.
DNA evidence in criminal justice.
Sales forecasting techniques.
Wage difference among athletes.

🎓 Thesis Topics & Ideas

Below, you’ll find a collection of excellent topics for a thesis. To simplify the task, it’s not a bad idea to use a topic chooser . We’ve also prepared a checklist that will help you make the right choice. If you agree with the following statements, you’ve chosen a good thesis topic:

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You are interested in this subject. It will be easier for you to work on it if you like your area of research. Remember that you will have to spend long hours looking through various data. You need to stay motivated.
The topic is helpful in your career path. Choose a topic that you can apply to further research if you plan to pursue your career in the academic field. Choose something that you can use in your CV if you decided to work in the industry.
There is enough available research data. Don’t choose a topic that is too trivial or uncommon. It is essential to find enough relevant information. Consult your supervisor to understand if you can proceed with it.
The topic isn’t too broad or too narrow. Otherwise, it will be harder for you to find credible sources and relevant data.
You already have an understanding of it . Make a list of thesis topics that include the issues you have researched before. It will save you some time and allow you to evaluate your opportunities.
Your topic is unique. Make sure there are no other papers that explore exactly the same issue. The value of your work is your original contribution to the research. If somebody has already investigated the topic, there is not much sense in proceeding with it.

The picture shows the main characteristics of a good thesis topic.

Wondering where to find the most current topic for your research? We’ve collected them below.

Computer Science Thesis Topics

Computers surround us everywhere. From hospitals to home offices, it’s impossible to imagine life without them. A doctorate in computer science can allow you many career opportunities!

The latest developments in AI use for healthcare services . Healthcare in the US is expensive for its citizens. One way to reduce the cost is using computer algorithms. This technology research topic lets you explore how AI helps physicians with their tasks.
Computer security for public institutions. Several allegations about hackers stealing data from the US government emerged in recent years. With this dissertation idea, study public cybersecurity. Also, discuss ways to improve cybersecurity practices.
Visual recognition system architecture: real-time object detection. Discuss a system based on neural networks capable of detecting objects. Focus on the virtual environment. You can alter this trending topic in computer science for real-life settings.
Blockchain application outside financial technologies. Analyze and discuss the implications of using blockchain systems outside of the fintech sector. For example, study its use for public services and in government agencies. This topic allows exploring ways of applying established algorithms.
Machine learning and text structures. Discuss ways of visualizing text categorization. Focus on complex hierarchical structures of texts. This topic is suitable for postgraduates.
Encrypted search: security, performance, and usage. Discuss the use of encryptions to protect data. Say how we can improve it for effective information search.
Use of computers in education . Study how algorithms can improve learning. This topic can be altered for other fields. For example, choose AI in business or agriculture.
Graphics and visual computing: current state and the future. By now, CAD programs are an integral part of every engineer’s tool kit. Your thesis can analyze the potential of those programs. What would improve their performance? Is there a chance that they will become obsolete?
Multimedia databases parsing and indexing. Netflix and YouTube require technology to search across their multimedia databases. This dissertation can be a survey on best practices. Or, add a company name to the title and focus your research on it.
AI Marketing: the use of algorithms to improve advertising. In the previous list of research question examples, you can choose a narrow marketing theme. Then, discuss the implications of such algorithms.
Study computation of models for virtual environments .
Cybersecurity challenges for automated vehicles.
AI and vehicle automation: potential safety gaps.
Computer graphics : perspectives for medical imaging.
Research the use of computer algorithms for medical analysis .
Discuss the role of bioinformatics in healthcare improvement.
How is a computer-aided design used in creating automobile parts?
Review the best practices for System Level Testing of distributed systems.
Agile project management for software engineers .
Software development risks analysis for successful employment.
Study the security mechanisms for WLAN networks .
Malicious botnets and network worms: an overview.
What are the best practices in ICT systems development?
Web-based document management systems using XML.
Best algorithms for cluster generation.
Methods for improving Open Web Architecture.
Analyze software solutions for the increased energy efficiency .
Protection of systems against terror attacks : a case study and analysis.
New methods of risk management during software development.
Analyze how Web space requirements are changing.
Analyze how e-publishing is affecting libraries.
New methods for studying the behavior of malware, viruses, and worms with the use of secure programming and runtime environments.
Analyze redundancy and fault recovery in the 4G wireless network .
Analyze the implementation and analysis of the optimal algorithm vs the heuristic algorithm for the generation of clusters.
Analyze how full-text databases affect search engines.

Humanities and Art History Thesis Topics

Do you want to put your passion into words? Would you like to share your ideas with the world? Then pursuing a Ph.D. in the arts or humanities is the right path for you.

The history of cinema : past and present. With this history dissertation topic, focus on how cinema developed. Explore the period starting from the first short films by the Lumiere brothers. Finish the discussion with modern-day Hollywood examples.
Art or commerce: a case study of Hollywood films. Discuss the intersection between artistic expression and profit. This exciting arts topic focuses on modern cinema. You can use examples of art-house movies and modern commercially successful ones.
Hollywood vs. Bollywood . Compare the two distinct film production centers for this art thesis. Next, discuss how local cultures impact Hollywood and Bollywood movies’ direction, genres, and plots.
The use of visual tools in interior design . This dissertation topic is an intersection between arts and computer science . The focus is on how visualization tools help to create design projects.
Racism in the 21st-century literature. Focus on how the narratives about racism have changed. Include examples from poetry and prose of this era. Compare it to works published in the past.
The cultural aesthetic of Afrofuturism in literature. This dissertation idea allows you to explore the intersection of arts. Specifically, see how culture, philosophy of science, and history manifest in Afrofuturism .
The social value of ecopoetry. Analyze how literature that focuses on ecological problems. Discuss environmental consciousness and environmental issues .
Graphic novels: the best examples and implications for the development of literature. What does it mean when literary classics are converted into graphic novels? Incorporate the question if graphic novels can become part of the literary canon.
Theater of the Absurd in the 1950s and 1960s. Discuss this form of theatrical art. Examine how it emerged and why it became influential.
Post World War II art : cinema and literature. Use examples of films and literary works. Discuss major works of the post-WWII era and their themes.
Futurism and the Czech avant-garde : the artistic connection between Europe’s East and West.
Study the phenomenon of the hero archetype.
Assess dancing as a form of meditation .
Review the common elements of various African dances.
Folk dances across Western Europe.
Discuss regional dances and dance as a ritual.
Animation as a modern art form.
Research the art of glass-making and its prospects for the future.
Analyze the cultural impact of The Beatles beyond music.
Literature censorship in the US.
Examine the intersection of ecology and arts.
Heidelberg Project: is it a model for creating art in urban areas?
Study kinetic sculptures of the 20th century.
What characterizes social activism in 20 th -century rock music?
Jazz in the 21st century: a potential for revival.
The history of design in various periods of human existence (the ancient times, the Middle Ages, the Renaissance, etc.).
Design as art .
Philosophy of design.
Separate branches of design ( interior design , car design, toy design, etc.).
Stylistic peculiarities of a certain designer.
Web design as a modern quintessence of design.
Social significance of design.
The birth of Communism as it relates to Stendhal.
The relationship between politics and literature in the 19 th century.
An analysis and case study of artists and art during times of war.
How contemporary art is related to American suffering.
Analyze of how racism relates to the family unit.

List of Science Topics for Your Thesis

A dissertation in science will probably require you to run numerous experiments. Many of them will probably go wrong. But the one that does work might be the next big breakthrough! Find a suitable research theme in the following list of topics:

Bacterial injections for the treatment of cancer tumors. Injecting bacteria into tumors is a fairly new approach to treating cancer . Review the mechanism of action and evaluate the potential of this method for curing cancer.
Computer imagining and AI for cancer detection . Examine how AI-assisted cancer screening improves accuracy. Include early detection implications and usage in hospitals.
Ethics of organ donations and transplantation. With this dissertation topic in science, examine the ethics of encouraging people to donate their organs. Include the implications for medical research and practice.
An epidemiological and molecular approach to cancer prevention . This topic idea suggests assessing the current understanding of how cancer develops as well as potential prevention strategies.
Ways of speeding up vaccine development and testing. The COVID-19 pandemic has shown that the process of vaccine development is relatively slow. It takes a long time to ensure proper testing. You may discuss these issues in your biochemistry dissertation.
The current state of research into ultra-fast rechargeable batteries. The topic of batteries and energy attracts lots of attention. With this topic, you can examine how to improve the design of aluminum-ion batteries. Include ways to decrease their charging time.
Nanotechnologies in drug delivery: electrospraying. Current research shows the great potential of nanotechnologies. In particular, the electrospraying technique makes nanoparticle delivery more efficient.
Prevalence of various Helicobacter Pylori virulence in a population. Conduct quantitative research and examine a sample of patients to determine the number infected with Helicobacter Pylori.
The relationship between gut microbiota and the person’s appetite . Your research can explore the theory that the gut microbiome has varied effects on the person’s body. Review the implications for obesity treatment for different gut microbiomes.
The age of antibiotics: is it over? Examine the use of antibiotics and the reasons for its decline. Discuss the evolving nature of bacteria that require remedies other than antibiotics. Include quantitative data in this dissertation for a specific type of disease.
CRISPR method for studying human DNA.
The study of human evolution : latest discoveries.
Denisovans from Siberia: a new type of hominid discovered.
Study the use of AI in archeology .
Conduct a study of the Neanderthal genome sequence.
What are the ways of improving solar cell efficiency?
The carbon footprint of modern production: how do companies damage the environment?
Research the use of cesium in solar panels .
The era of supercapacitors: are we ending the use of batteries?
Assess the efficiency of Robot Suits for people with permanent paralysis.
Microscale medial robots: potential applications.
Look into stem cell mobilization and its mechanisms.
Discuss the ethics of automated cars .
Space robotics: can we design robots capable of exploring space?
Evaluate the efficiency and potential of lithium-based rechargeable batteries.
Morality and ethics of stem cell research .
Is behavior controlled or affected by genetics and to what level.
A look at methods of improving risk factors post-stroke.
Analyze of Chinese herbal practice and its relevance to conventional medicine.
Analyze the effect schools have on childhood obesity .

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New methods of using existing data to gather information that is useful.
An in-depth look at the factors affecting the decline of the immune system with age.
Analyze of the potential effect of nanotechnology on health and the environment.
Analyze of toxicity levels of inhaled nanoparticles.
The usefulness of nanotechnology in curing some types of cancer .
An analysis and case study of the treatment of patients who have experienced a loss of memory.
Analyze the use of DNA typing of remains to identify missing people and the victims of crime.
The response of immune deficiency diseases to the activation of T-cell subsets.
The influence and importance of IT in the field of biomedicine.

Architecture Thesis Topics

Architecture is more than just aesthetics. That’s become especially clear ever since the doctrine “form follows function” gained traction. Whether you’re into baroque or Bauhaus, there’s plenty to discover about architecture.

Religious architecture in the British Empire. Research the transformation of religious buildings and how it affected architecture in general.
Modernist architecture in the USSR at the beginning of the 20th century. Compare modernist architecture in the USSR with other countries.
Urban greening and its influence on buildings’ design . The dissertation proposal can include green roofs as the main point of research.
Brutalism and its history in New York . Provide historical research of brutalism in New York and discuss how it affects modern architecture.
Modern-day aboriginal settlements in Australia. Using examples from media and research, indicate how aboriginal settlements are perceived and handled today.
Transformation of the urban design in the 21st century. Using London, Hong-Kong, and New York as examples, provide an in-depth discussion of changes in the urban design.
The architectural history of Seattle. Conduct research and write a proposal that will compare different architectural styles seen in Seattle.
Integration of culture in environmental design. In this proposal, you can use large cities in Asia as primary examples of the synergy between culture and architecture.
The architecture of residential buildings during the second half of the 20th century. Choose one or several large cities (e.g., Berlin, Miami, Kyoto) as the basis for your research.
The history of Moscow Avant-Garde. Use both Soviet and modern Russian research on Avant-Garde to present the topic accurately.
Use of computer visuals in architecture.
Review the trends in modern furniture design.
Ecology and architecture: integration of green technologies.
Discuss the multiculturalism of contemporary urban architecture.
The history of architecture in urban areas of the US: the study of New York.
Modern city design case study.
Research ways of using wood in modern architecture.
Commercial architecture: aesthetics and usability.
Evaluate the design of municipal buildings in the US.
Creativity in postmodernist architecture.
How do we integrate smart home technology into architecture?
Small scale homes: a study of growing interest in small housing.
Discuss the use of lighting in building design.
Study innovations in structural design in the digital age.
What are the implications of inclusive architecture?
Sustainable architecture: recycling spaces and materials.
Renewable energy in home design.
Assess open concept homes for American families.
Conduct a study of family homes design.
Research architecture suitable for middle-class families.

Thesis Topics in English Literature & World Literature

Was your New Year’s Resolution to re-read the 100 most influential classical works? Then you might want to consider writing a thesis in advanced higher English. Check out these engaging prompts:

In-depth stylistic analysis of The Trial by Franz Kafka . Explain what stylistic devices Kafka used in his story.
The influence of The Hound of the Baskervilles on the development of modern detective stories. Prepare several comparisons of The Hound with modern detective stories to pinpoint its influence.
The Lost Honor of Katharina Blum : women characters in Heinrich Böll’s fiction. Using the book mentioned in the topic, examine how the German writer depicted women in his prose.
Analysis of the terrorism portrayal in modern journalism: The New York Times case study. Pick several articles related to terrorism published in NYT and describe in detail how it is portrayed (keywords, images, etc.).
A formalist approach to Dostoevsky: analysis of The Brothers Karamazov . Provide the reader with an explanation of the formalist approach and use it to analyze the novel.
The depiction of sexual violence in young adult literature. Pick several YA novels published in the 2010s for your research.
The use of repetition in Samuel Beckett’s Waiting for Godot . Analyze how repetition is used for emphasis and other effects in the play.
Feminism and gender in Margaret Atwood’s Cats’ Eye . Review the book from a feminist point of view and discuss how gender issues are presented in the book.
How does Phillip K. Dick use intertextuality in The Man in the High Castle ? Find as many references to other literary and historical sources as you can and elaborate how Dick uses them and for what aims.
The influence of Steppenwolf on postmodern American literature: the contribution of Herman Hesse. Using Steppenwolf as the primary source, discuss what characteristics common for postmodern literature Hesse uses in this novel.
How does racism manifest itself in classical literature?
Discuss the oppression of women in The Handmaid’s Tale.
Gender roles in The Miniaturist and A Doll’s House : a comparison.
Moral ambiguity in David Harrower’s works.
Literary techniques in the Perks of Being a Wallflower.
The setting in The Murder in the Rue Morgue and its influence on the detective genre.
Review the tropes first introduced in The Moonstone .
Study the depictions of police’s work in Skinner’s Rule .
Assess the influence of Victorian Gothic horror on popular culture.
Social criticism in The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo.
Analyze cyberpunk elements in Gibson’s Neuromancer .
Themes of social equality in modern literature.
Research the views on Native American writers in Nature’s Poem.
Critique of contemporary children’s literature .
Gothic elements in Charlotte Bronte’s works .
The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde and Dracula : a comparative analysis.
Terror in The Picture of Dorian Gray .
Examine the connection of mental health and society in J.D. Salinger’s The Catcher in the Rye .
Magical realism and romanticism in Perfume: The Story of a Murderer.
How does the cut-up technique contribute to the narration in William S. Burroughs’ Naked Lunch?

Criminal Justice Thesis Topics

Are you a forensic science student who prefers research to actual police work? In that case, a dissertation in criminology is a great idea. This way, you can work on preventing crime from the comfort of your desk.

Recidivism rates among underage Latino first-time offenders: a quantitative study. Research a group of first-time offenders of a particular age (e.g., 18 to 25 years old).
A comparative analysis of the incidents of gun violence in the USA during the 2010s. Choose several prominent examples and compare them to each other.
Troublesome statements: the role of witnesses in potentially false accusations. In this dissertation, you can write about the unreliability of statements, using documented examples.

The patterns of drug trafficking in Germany’s largest cities: a case study of Berlin and Hamburg. Analyze the changes in these patterns in the 2010s.
Money laundering and corruption in the United States in the 21st century. Using media reports, create dissertation research about corruption schemes.
Mental health and self-perception of second-time sex offenders . Determine if their self-perception changes.
School shootings in the USA: causes and risk factors . Using recent and historical data, analyze the cases of mass shootings.
The influence of cyberbullying on suicide rates among Australian adolescents (13-17 years old). You can base your dissertation report on various research on cyberbullying published in Australian scholarly journals.
Child abuse and its influence on serial killer’s perception of victims. Discuss interconnections between abuse and potential sadistic behavior.
The history of forensic interviewing in the USA. Present research and practices that contributed to its development.
Use of artificial intelligence for forensic investigations.
Criminal behavior at a young age and its implications for the future.
Drug use: pattern of recurring arrests among American youth.
Incarcerated parents: the impact on the child’s perception of crime.
Research the reforms of the US criminal justice system.
Propose strategies for improving the juvenile detention system.
Police officer’s abuse of power: analysis of reports.
Race and criminal justice: the case of War on Drugs .
What are the possible alternative forms of incarceration?
A study of public perception of modern serial killers .
Training of sniffer dogs.
The implications of eyewitness testimony.
Abuse in Hollywood: a case study of Harvey Weinstein.
Bias against African Americans during investigations.
A study of college violence.
Legal implications of medical marijuana legalization .
Ethics of criminal justice : the problem of confidentiality.
Review the challenges linked with domestic violence investigations.
Suggest ways of preventing crimes in schools .
Gender bias during crime examinations.

Geography Thesis Topics

If you enjoy unveiling Earth’s secrets, this section is for you. Here you’ll find geography dissertation ideas ranging from studies of movement to regional phenomena.

Species that became extinct in the 20th century: qualitative research. Address the human influence on various species .
Current issues in the exploration of Arctic. Discuss difficulties and specifics of such explorations.
A comparison of urban back gardens in the USA and the UK. You can compare their design and other features (for example, vegetation used for decoration).
The causes and outcomes of floodings in the USA in the 2010s. Address climate change as one of the leading causes.
Prevention of ecosystem changes with modern technology. Provide various examples of how technology is used to sustain ecosystems.
Changes in travel destinations in the 2000s: a comparison of the USA and Canada. Demonstrate what changes in preferences were documented in these countries and show what destinations were especially popular.
The perception of environmentally friendly technologies and their impact on the environment by citizens of large metropolitan areas: a case study of Miami. Explain how various projects based on environmentally friendly technologies are launched in Miami.
A negative impact of global warming on weather conditions in Iceland. Discuss how tourism in Iceland is affected by these changes.
The influence of industrialization on climate change. Address the causes of climate change, using industrialization and its consequences as a basis.
Compare Greenfield and Brownfield land use for construction projects.
Investigate the significance of red salmon for Kamchatka.
The social impact of climate change : a study of migration patterns.
The potential of community gardening in underprivileged neighborhoods.
Study the link between the strengths of hurricanes and climate change.
What can be done to stop gentrification in your community?
Evaluate coastal tourism, its effect, and implications.
The impact of reservoir locations on water quality .
How did industrialization affect the development of Chicago?
Study soil pollution levels in your community area.
Conduct an analysis of air quality in your city.
Eco-tourism , its history, and perspectives.
Differences in soil chemistry across several locations.
The impact of organic farming on water quality in your area.
Compare the sustainability of organically vs. conventionally farmed tomatoes.
Research air pollution levels and data on airborne illnesses in your area.
What’s the relationship between rock climbing and cliff vegetation?
Study the changes in soil fertility upon volcanic eruption.
How does the Chernobyl disaster continue to affect the surrounding area?
Determine the patterns of floods in a particular area of your choice.

Sociology Thesis Ideas

Sociology studies how humans live together. A dissertation is a great way to dive deeper into a particular subject. You can get as specific as your heart desires! Check out our sociology thesis topics:

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Single parent stigma and its influence on family’s quality of life and parent-child relationships . Present examples from recent research that illustrate how the dynamics of these relationships change over time due to stigma.
Women empowerment in Saudi Arabia in 2000s: breakthroughs and challenges. Discuss how this empowerment affected legislation and women’s rights .
Long-term alcohol addiction and self-perception in young adults. With the help of research, demonstrate whether self-perception of these adults transforms significantly due to their addiction.
Adoption and its influence on parent-child relationships. Present and discuss challenges that such families face.
Comparison of traditions related to family dinners in the USA and the UK. What specific differences are there and how can they be explained?
Influence of the emo culture on suicide rates in high school students. Address the influence of such cultures on adolescents’ behavior.
The rates of secularization in elderly individuals living in urban and rural areas. Compare the rates and explain why they are different.
Influence of forced outing on transgender individuals and concomitant changes in their quality of life. Explain the effects of forced outing and why this impact is dangerous.
Comparison of anti-nuclear movements in Germany and Japan in the 21st century. Explain in detail what differences and similarities are prominent.
Performance rates of teenagers in schools in low-income neighborhoods: a case study of Boston schools. When writing your dissertation proposal, consider various factors (poverty, limited access to technology, etc.) that affect performance rates of these teenagers.
Black Lives Matter movement’s immediate impact on racism.
Research causes of minority bias in the US.
Affirmative action and its impact on the perception of varied racial groups.
The impact of religion on people’s attitudes towards race.
Review the challenges of the US LGBT community.
Bias towards transgender studies.
Social activism against gender discrimination in the 21st century.
The impact of social assistance in schools on a child’s future.
Research the changes in education after WWII.
Analyze scholarship policies in the US.
The impact of student debt on youth’s perception of education in the US.
Outcomes of public vs. private schools: a comparison.
Research the preservation of culture in American immigrant families.
Applying Marx’s conflict theory to social justice movements.
Assess changing trends in social norms in a country of your choice.
Attitudes towards prejudice among people of different social backgrounds.
Comparison of women’s rights in Western and Middle Eastern countries.
The impact of capitalism on one’s social values.
How does capitalism benefit society across multiple post-soviet countries?
Compare healthcare access in autocracies vs. democracies.

💡 Dissertation Topics for Ph.D. students

Below you’ll find a list of excellent dissertation ideas in different fields of study. They are more difficult than thesis topics and require more research. Jump to the section that interests you and find the topic that suits you best! But first:

What Makes a Good Ph.D. Topic?

Usually, universities would expect your dissertation to be original and relevant in the field of the research. Moreover, it would be worthwhile if it has the potential to make a change.

This checklist will help you see whether you’ve made the right choice. Your dissertation topic is good, if:

You have an opportunity to research it fully. You need to know that there is enough data and a theoretical basis. Do some prior research to understand if you will be able to answer all your dissertation questions.
You can fill the gaps in the existing knowledge. Your research matters if you can provide some new information that contributes to the field of your studies.
Your dissertation title is catchy. Try to make it worth the reader’s attention from the first glance.
You can evaluate how much time you need. It is vital to understand all the stages of your research and the challenges you might face to plan your work.
You know the subject well. You will need to explore your topic in-depth. It’s good to have some previous knowledge about it. Starting the research from the very basics will take more time and effort.
You have enough resources to investigate it. Both time and money matter in this case. You need to do high-quality research and meet your deadlines.

Dissertation Topics in Education

Learning is a lifelong experience, and the importance of schools cannot be overestimated. Research in this area is critical to improving education standards. Have a look at these topic ideas to get inspired:

Gamification as tools for enhancing learning abilities: theory and practice . Many studies have been conducted on different learning approaches. For young learners, engagement is as critical as the outcome. Therefore, this work focuses on gamification and its effect on children’s improvisation and learning.
Studying the connection between classroom quality and the learning outcome in kindergarten . Children are strongly affected by their environment, especially when it comes to learning. This dissertation topic example is all about looking into different classroom settings and their effect on kids’ learning outcomes.
Evaluating the process of implementation of inclusive education in the US. Professionals argue that inclusive education carries multiple benefits for all students (not just those with limited abilities.) However, it is quite a challenging process to implement all the changes.
Factors influencing the decision to transfer to the higher education abroad . In this work, you can focus on finding out the reasons for such a decision. Why do undergraduate students choose to leave their home country? What are the most important factors?
Online education vs. traditional face-to-face lessons for adult learners: compare and contrast. Online courses have their own benefits. However, would adult learners prefer them to in-person classrooms? How does it affect their learning and motivation?
How does working as a taxi driver and navigating change a person’s brain?
To what extent can reality television be disempowering for students?
The role of homework in the lives of immigrant adolescents.
The impact of teachers’ shocking behaviors in fostering students’ creativity.
The determinants of flossing behavior in college students .
The classification of drinking styles in the college-age population.
Integrating the computer into the curriculum: why you can’t simply plug it in.
The preconditions for serious music-making avocation in computer science students.
Adult graduate difficulties with learning new technologies.
The effect of academic performance on the health of students .
The impact of mathematic coaching on students’ self-esteem .
The influence of internet on the emotional maturity of students.
Academic achievements of students who decide to become teachers.
Is it true that students are more likely to do homework given by good-looking professors?
Informal learning in rural areas via social networks.
Educational blogging for professors: the social networks of educationists.
Does learning existentialism cause suicides?
Is it possible to reduce summer learning loss without students’ consent?
Can we reject classical math and do it at the same time? Yes, we can.
What are major career prospects with a degree in Liberal Arts ?
Using electronic games in museums as an effective education tool.

Business Dissertation Topics

There are many things a business administrator should keep in mind. Finances, marketing, and development are just the tip of the iceberg. So, the choice of topics is practically endless. Check out this selection to narrow down the possibilities:

How are business strategies adjusted to the globalization process? Small businesses’ perspective. Globalization means huge and profitable opportunities. To seize them, all businesses and companies should make some changes in their strategies. Investigate what would be the best action plan for them.
Cultural changes and the effect of feedback in an international company: a case study. Choose a multinational company. Study the impact of feedback (both from the employees and customers) on its organizational culture changes. What reaction does it provoke in the company?
Human resource management approaches in international non-profit organizations. In this study, look into the strategies HR managers apply in non-profit organizations. One of their main responsibilities is to monitor the performance of the employees. However, at the international level it becomes more difficult.
Leadership and organizational culture in making decisions about business strategies. In this research, you study the influence of the organizational culture on leaders. In the case of trying to initiate changes in the business strategy, how is a leadership decision taken?
The role of “ foreign direct investment ” in companies in developing countries: a case study of a large business. For this paper, pick a suitable company first. Aim for large companies in developing countries. Then conduct research and find out what strategies they have for foreign direct investments.
COVID-19 pandemic’s effect on workplace management in small businesses . The COVID-19 pandemic caused many companies to readjust their HR policies. For instance, they allowed their staff to work from home. Research this phenomenon in your thesis.
Social entrepreneurship for large companies. If you want to make the world a better place, social entrepreneurship is a suitable method. We usually associate it with small start-ups. But what about large companies? With this topic, you can research how the concept works for big firms.
How innovation affects demand in technology-driven businesses. This MBA dissertation topic combines business studies and technology . Examine how companies create products for establishing markets.
Management strategies in times of COVID-19: a case study . The pandemic has forced companies to use Zoom , Skype, and messaging instead of regular meetings. Review how executives can apply traditional management models in the digital space.
The impact of burnout on employees . Interview staff members and determine how burnout affects performance. Include the name of a company or industry in your dissertation’s title.
Tourism management in the Middle East.
How do natural disasters impact the demand for essentials?
Compare and contrast Asian and American leadership styles .
How does fluctuation in the stock market impact business operations?
The art of delegation : how to do it effectively and when to avoid it.
How can one efficiently lead a company when unforeseen circumstances occur?
What factors determine employees’ work satisfaction?
Study the link between a company’s success and innovation .
What can business managers do to bridge the gap between generations ?
Research the benefits of global and local brand management.
What causes changes in Chinese business culture?
Choose a small business and analyze its strategy.
Organizational changes : what factors impact transformation?
Internet banking : barriers to usage.
Create a business plan that is focused on a specific issue.
Conditions necessary for quality management in MNCs.
The role of E-commerce for food retailers.
Conduct a case study with the purpose to analyze one or several social phenomena.
Workplace ethics in small businesses.
The phenomenon of remote working and how it is affecting businesses.
Comparison of Generation X and the Millennial Generation .
Managing the Millennial Generation.
Current trends in consumer behavior in relation to advertising.
Analyze which countries margin financing is effective and why.
Analyze the macroeconomic factors affecting exchange rates.
An empirical analysis of the impact of organizational performance and leadership .

Law Dissertation Topics for Ph.D. Students

Legal science is not dull as one may think. It’s crucial to evaluate laws at any point in time. Do they fit the current norms? Does something or someone need more protection than before? If you want to garnish your legal education with a Ph.D., here are some topic suggestions:

Trust law: the circumstances when fully secret and half-secret trusts are necessary. Find out what are the principles that dictate the enforcement of the trusts. There are specific circumstances that determine whether creating trusts would be adequate and relevant. Make sure to take them into consideration.
Termination of employment in case of employees tested positive for HIV/AIDS. Your task would be to conduct research and see how HIV/AIDS employees are influenced in the workplace. The most common issues are discrimination and termination of employment.
The influence of the Global War on Terrorism on international criminal law. When the US launched the campaign against terrorism in 2001, international criminal law faced some changes. You can study the most significant changes that have been made.
The level of effectiveness of the US copyright law in relation to the rights of users. It’s an empirical research topic that would require collecting lots of data. Try to find some cases when the users were left cheated by copyright law. It would bring some diversity to the research and make it more interesting.
Study the effect that the US immigration policy has on education right now. Educational institutions are also required to adjust to changes connected with immigration. Different requirements and different curriculums are implemented to fit their needs. You are about to look into this issue.
Select a country and analyze its worker protection laws. Compare the rights and obligations of employees in two countries of your choice. What potential improvements can solidify employee rights ?
Protection of minorities, legal precedents. Minority rights are becoming more and more relevant. This topic allows you to discuss how laws can be changed to reflect it.
Regulation of cryptocurrency. Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies allow for anonymity. Besides, they are not regulated by any state. In your thesis, you can analyze cryptocurrency regulations.
Fake news : legal responsibility. Review how the United States legal system approaches disinformation. Focus on false publications on news resources. Another possible topic is improvements to defamation laws.
Freedom of expression : a case during a pandemic. This topic is about false information in times of COVID-19. Examine how a state can balance freedom of expression with the spread of false information. Focus on this disease and the fake news about it.
Legal practices for preventing possible future pandemics.
Research ways of online journalism protection.
International law vs. the right to self-determination: comparative case studies of de facto states.
Review the history of fiscal laws in America.
Limits to freedom of expression in the US legal system.
Enforcing regulations concerning domestic violence .
Study criminal responsibility for drug possession in the US.
Criminalization of violence against women.
Review the legal framework for addressing foreign involvement in elections.
What was the government response to the COVID-19 pandemic?
Health standards for immigrant detention centers in the US .
Research the loopholes in the US immigration laws .
Birthright citizenship in the US: pros and cons.
1951 Refugee Convention: is it obsolete?
Illegal immigrants and their rights in the US justice system.
How criminal laws have been impacted around the world by the war on terror .
Choose a country and analyze their policies on discrimination.
Evaluate the protection given to minority shareholders as dictated by company law.
Provide a critical analysis of the law of omissions liability.
Investigate and analyze complaints filed in the criminal justice system .
A critical analysis of the reform of homicide laws .
The morality and impact of euthanasia and how Canada sets a precedent.
A detailed analysis of gender and race profiling of suspects in the criminal justice system .
Analyze the right to bear arms relative to the context in which the law was written into The Constitution.
Create case studies that represent a review of criminal negligence related to the Corporate Manslaughter and Corporate Homicide Act 2007.

Psychology Dissertation Topics

The mysterious ways of the human mind offer many research opportunities. Psychology encompasses sub-fields such as behavior and cognition. Whatever your area of expertise, you’ll undoubtedly find something interesting in the list below.

The current effect of the “price ending” method on the consumers’ behavior . Nowadays, everybody knows the most popular trick that shops pull to make customers buy the products. However, does understanding it make it easier to resist it? Is this psychological trap still working?
Burnout at the executive positions in massive US corporations: is it possible to prevent? The phenomenon of burnout is the most common issue that employees face nowadays. But there are ways to detected it at an early stage. Could they be used to predict and prevent this problem?
Mindfulness practices and their influence on students’ learning abilities at the top universities (e.g., Harvard). Mindfulness is proved to be extremely useful in overcoming stress and anxiety issues. However, does it affect the learning outcome of the students who study at the best universities in the world?
The individual struggles with gender issues and their impact on global gender inequality . Everything always starts with a small thing. For this paper, study the relation between some individual cases and the global issue. How do personal struggles contribute to the worldwide movement for justice?
The positive influence of irrational beliefs on mental well-being. In psychology, irrational beliefs are a set of values and opinions that people believe in despite rational evidence against them. However, what positive effect can they bring?
Ways of raising awareness of mental health problems. Mental health has been discussed more openly in recent years. Review how this open discussion affects views on personal mental health. As another idea for a psychology dissertation topic, research a specific illness.
Student burnout and ways to prevent it. Focus on the problems students face and what strategies can reduce their stress.
Pandemic and mental health . The COVID-19 pandemic forced many people to be in isolation from social contacts. Review the potential effects of this practice on people’s well-being. Discuss possible strategies for supporting mental health during possible future pandemics.
Weight, self-image, and mental health. A clinical psychology thesis can focus on the psychology behind excess weight. Discuss how weight affects a person’s perception of self. Assess implications for clinical psychologists who work with overweight patients.
Social media vs. reality: normalizing real people. Review current efforts of social media accounts in normalizing body image . Explain how this can reverse the damage that edited photos have on mental health.
How does gender bias affect mental health in America?
What factors affect women’s self-esteem in the workplace?
Specifics of transgender mental health.
Research the effect of immigration on mental well-being.
Study the psychology of racism and ways to combat it.
What distinguishes the mental health of minorities in the US?
Research the psychology of dissent in the Soviet Union.
The connection between stress and overeating: latest developments.
Assess the role of social support for losing weight .
What’s the role of prejudice in politics?
Assess the role of endurance in combating stress .
Developing hardiness: strategies and exercises.
What’s the effect of emotional resilience on mental health?
Helping teenagers overcome stress via relaxation techniques .
Look into the perception of anger and its effect on mental health.
Understanding the function of the prefrontal cortex in terms of how it is connected to other parts of the brain.
Understanding how the prefrontal cortex makes us human.
How emotional and anxiety disorders are connected to social cognition that is impaired.
Analyze the ability of an MRI to determine brain function.
Analyze the relationship between emotional and episodic memory.
A comparison of the plasticity of the child’s brain and the adult brain.
Analyze the continued relevance of Piaget’s theory of cognitive development.
An in-depth look at the social intuitionist model and how it relates to the emotion and reason involved in moral judgement.
How the evolution of the human brain can be understood in terms of children cognitive development .
A demonstration of the multi-dimensional nature of schizophrenia.
How rational thinking and impulse contribute to decision-making.
A systematic analysis and review of the psychology of religion.
How exposure to nature affects happiness.

Nursing Dissertation Topics

A nurse’s work is hard. Unfortunately, they rarely get the credit they deserve. With a Ph.D., you could become an advocate on the problem. Or you could concentrate on optimizing their work environments.

Exercise, changes in lifestyle , and self-tracking for diabetes prevention and management. Center your research on different lifestyle changes (exercise, reduced smoking and drinking) and explain how and why it prevents diabetes .
Influence of stigma related to HIV/AIDS on representatives of ethnic minorities: a case study of Native Americans. Using research, provide compelling evidence of how Native Americans are stigmatized and discriminated against.
Chronic illness management at home: recommended evidence-based practices. Using current nursing and other professional research, discuss how adults and seniors manage chronic and autoimmune diseases.
Depression and stress and their relation to preterm births in first-time mothers. Collect several articles about the issue and using their conclusions show how depression causes preterm births.
Burnout in nurses: factors that cause it and practical solutions for prevention . Present outcomes of burnout (decreased performance and concentration, subpar workplace environment) and illustrate how it affects hospitals on a more significant scale.
Public health: community-based measures to prevent morbid obesity. In this research, you can list various methods that include exercise and education and explain in detail how they prevent the spread of obesity.
Risk factors and injury rates in psychiatric nursing. Present statistics on different types of injuries in psychiatric institutions .
Cultural diversity and inclusion in nursing education . When researching diversity, make sure you are using examples of different minority groups’ perception of education.
Euthanasia legislation in the USA: ethical issues and debates . Provide a thoughtful discussion of ethical and legal issues surrounding euthanasia.
Organizational climate and its influence on perceived patient safety . Your study should focus on the importance of positive relationships between staff members, and its influence on the prevention of medical errors.
Dietary practices and their influence on the quality of life in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus. SLE is a complex disease that requires a multidisciplinary approach. Describe nutritional research approaches to SLE.
Fluoride application training in dental nursing.
Describe the specifics of nursing care for patients with diabetes .
Assess gender disparity in nursing research.
Study nurse burnout prevalence in neonatal care in your community.
Nursing staff advising DASH diet: effects on patients’ blood pressure.
What are the challenges of asthma management for nurses?
Nursing for autistic patients : the best strategies.
Racial differences in nursing care: a case study.
Evaluate nurses’ role in pain management for patients with dementia.
Study the connection between nursing staff turnover and burnout.
How is the role of a nurse changing in the modern healthcare system?
Review nursing practices for managing elderly patients.
A holistic approach to obesity management in nursing.
Describe the specifics of nursing in rural areas .
Physical activity and mental health: a nursing case study.
Discuss nursing pain relief strategies for general care.
Determine the ethical implications of nursing malpractice.
Nurses consultations for spinal cord injuries .
Nursing in an urban setting : challenges and prospects.
What are the specifics of pain management in obstetrical nursing?

Marketing Dissertation Topics

Good marketing is what made you buy that product you didn’t know you needed. Marketing needs plenty of scientific research for it to be successful. You can contribute to this effort with one of the following topic ideas:

Compare and contrast the effectiveness of traditional and digital marketing in the last five years. Marketing moves towards digital campaigns more and more every year. Though, traditional marketing still exists, of course. Your task is to compare every aspect of these two types in the span of the previous five years.
The specifics of the relationship marketing and its influence on the loyalty rates among customers: a case study of fast-food chains. Take a few fast-food chains to conduct this research. Then analyze their relationship marketing strategies. There should be a correlation between the methods they use and the loyalty of their customers.
Direct marketing and artificial intelligence: how do companies use it? The industry of marketing couldn’t have missed the opportunity to use the latest technologies for their benefit. Artificial intelligence helps some companies gain a competitive advantage. Find out what those benefits are.
Collectivism and individualism : how does culture influence supermarkets? There are some apparent differences in cultures when it comes to shopping. Each shop owner has to implement a specific marketing strategy for targeting the customers. Work on aspects that make those strategies successful in different cultures.
The strategies that make personalized products sell effectively. Everybody loves customized products, but it seems like not everybody is willing to share their data to get it. Therefore, businesses are forced to work it out. This research looks into marketing tools and methods they use to sell personalized products.
Influence of online shopping apps on impulsive buying behavior . Using prominent examples such as Amazon and eBay , elaborate how apps affect customer’s decision to purchase an item through recommendations.
Product design and its impact on consumer’s purchase decision. When preparing this thesis topic, consider using examples of large corporations such as Apple or IKEA to prove your point.
Customer loyalty : the importance of satisfaction and loyalty programs. Conduct research using available surveys on satisfaction and draw conclusions from these statistics.
Ethnic differences and their impact on brand perception. This research can review the types of products that target White or Black Americans specifically.
Preferences for green products: analysis of the income’s influence on consumer decisions. Compare what households are more likely to prefer green products.
Shopping habits of Muslim consumers in the USA: qualitative research. Here, you will need to do research by engaging Muslim Americans in your study; you can use interviews or surveys for this topic.
Social media and its impact on the promotion of small business. Make sure your reader understands how social media can promote or negatively present small business through customers’ comments.
Does globalization make preferences of customers from different socioeconomic backgrounds similar? Interview people from lower, middle, and upper class and discuss the preferences of American households.
Social media usage by international companies: a case study of Electronic Arts. Study the influence of customers’ reviews and opinions on EA’s sales.
Consumers’ perception of transaction safety in online shopping applications. Discuss how consumers learn to differentiate between reliable and unreliable apps for payments .
Marketing high tech products: a case study.
Study changing marketing techniques during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The future of big data uses in marketing.
Conduct a comparative analysis of offline vs. online advertising .
Explore the relationship between marketing strategies and sales.
Holiday marketing strategies in the 21st century.
Is marketing tailed towards model devices effective?
Study the rise of influencer marketing .
Review the newest trends in digital advertising .
Brand management in 2020: an analysis.
Assess the effect of advertising on consumer behavior.
Targeted ads: are they efficient?
How did marketing change during the COVID-19 pandemic?
Assess brand management’s contribution to consumer loyalty .
Impact of social media marketing on brand perception.
Google Analytics insights for marketing campaigns.
Marketing for minority populations.
Youtube marketing: the effectiveness of videos for brand promotion.
How does partnering with influencers impact brand perception?
Social influencer marketing for SMEs.

History Dissertation Topics

History is written not only by the victors but also by history students. Your dissertation can shine a light on understudied cultures. Or perhaps you want to focus on how a specific event impacted the world. Find inspiration among the following dissertation questions and ideas:

The historical context of the creation of Guernica by Pablo Picasso . War wasn’t the only inspiration for Pablo Picasso during the process of making Guernica . In this paper, you would look into the environment of the artist and try to identify what else brought him to the creation of this masterpiece.
Bismarck and radical nationalism: what influenced the political state? For this research, you would study the underlying reasons for German Nazism before the beginning of World War II. What factors gave it a start when Otto von Bismarck was in charge?
The rise of Bollywood: historical context. This paper focuses on the success of Indian Bollywood movies in the 1930s. You would need to look into the events that made those movies famous in the whole world. Don’t forget to mention the social views of Bollywood movies.
The influence of secrecy in the technology intervention during World War II. You would study the role that the US Patent and Trademark Office played in the development of special war technology . Secrecy helped to keep it away from the public and enemies. How did it influence the war?
Italian prisons in the 19th century: how were they managed after Unification? This paper would require you to study documentation on the management system prison used in Italy at the beginning of the 19th century. You should try to find some practices that might have been socially harmful.
Gender perceptions in the Middle Age. When preparing the dissertation, use both historical and literary sources to show how gender was presented.
Secularization in the American South during the post-war period. Provide a detailed discussion of secular societies forming in the South after the 1940s.
Representation of Jewish history in contemporary art: a case study of Art Spiegelman’s Maus . Using the comic book as the primary basis, explain how Jewish culture and history are presented there.

Quote by Elie Wiesel: “In Jewish history there are no coincidences.”

The history of medieval warfare and its influence on Modern Era warfare . When constructing this thesis, make sure you are using both historical and current research to provide details.
American-British relations during the Cold War Era . Explain how the Cold War Era changes these relations and what has affected it the most.
Germany’s foreign relations during the 1980s. Present a detailed overview of different foreign relations (e.g., with the USA, the USSR, the UK) Germany had during this period.
The financial crisis in the USA in 2007-2009. Using research and media sources, explain to the reader how the crisis is still affecting the USA.
The development of Austrian identity after World War II. In this case, you can use both historical evidence and Austrian literature that provides personal opinions of writers and artists on the issue.
The impact of the Great Depression on the American involvement in the World War II. To show your understanding of historical processes, demonstrate how the Great Depression affected the USA’s perception of WWII.
How I stopped worrying and learned to love the bomb: the development of nuclear warfare in the 20th century. Discuss the development of nuclear warfare in the USA and the USSR.
What was the role of China in the Cold War?
How did the Spanish Flu affect the pandemics that followed it?
Determine the influence of the stock market crash in 1929 on the World Wars.
First Battle of Marne’s impact on the outcomes of WWI.
Tool usage and creation: Aztecs vs. Mayas.
How did the enlightenment philosophy impact the development of the natural sciences?
The effects of Christianization in sub-Saharan Africa.
Assess the role of slavery in the US civil rights movement.
Study the history of LGBT rights establishment in the US.
What are the origins of slavery in Africa?
The Moon Landing and its impact on space exploration.
Explore the role of the Bible in Jewish history.
The US’ involvement in WWII.
The aftermath of WWII: major historical events.
Research the link between the Mexican-American War and the Gold Rush .
Cold War insights: lessons from the Suez Crisis.
Explore the role of democratization in the Soviet Union collapse.
Global cooperation in early modern Europe.
Study the legacy of the arms race.
How did the First Ladies influence life in the 20th century America?

Dissertation Topics in Management

Companies and employees alike benefit from well-thought-out management strategies. So, a thesis in management has the potential to improve work environments even further. Kickstart your research by choosing one of the following topics:

Ecotourism in Canada: issues and trends in small business. Explain issues that arise in ecotourism with climate change.
Management ethics: how social media affects employees’ privacy and organizational climate. Present examples of negative and positive influence.
Leadership styles : a comparison of democratic and autocratic leadership. Discuss what leadership style should be chosen to rule various companies, depending on their business plan.
Political risk and its influence on emergency management . Explain how political crises affect and shape emergency management.
Cultural diversity and its impact on employees’ satisfaction and commitment. Show what advantages and disadvantages there are in cultural diversity.
Economic growth and unemployment rates in Australia during the 1990s: a historical perspective. Explain the causes of economic growth and unemployment.
Challenges in human resources management working with millennials: qualitative research. Discuss what particular challenges HR managers face and how they can be addressed.
The significance of organizational routines in international corporations: a case study of Google. Conduct research on the importance of routine and its impact on performance.
Computer skills and management: the effectiveness of computerized management information system in rural areas. Describe how digital management can be effectively applied in companies working in rural areas.
The history of digital rights management in the USA. Present the changes in the field during the 1990s-2010s.
Analyze the best leadership styles for SMEs.
Examine the changes entrepreneurship underwent in the past decades.
How do leadership styles relate to work satisfaction ?
Overview of business negotiation methods using technology.
Ways of integrating corporate social responsibility (CSR) practices.
Discuss the specifics of airline companies’ management .
Choose a theory of motivation in the workplace and make a case study on it.
Study change management in SMEs in times of a crisis.
Managing diverse workforce: a qualitative analysis.
Use of employee voice in US companies.
Research the relationship between the organization’s goals and a manager’s behavior.
What are the best current practices in public administration ?
Applying strategic human capital principles in practice.
The study of female CEOs in a country of your choice.
Employees’ perception of change management : a quantitative analysis.
A study of employees’ resistance to change.
What’s the correlation between a CEO’s leadership traits and employee motivation ?
Workplace risk management : a study of psychosocial hazards.
Conduct a quantitative study of the gender pay gap for CEOs.
Research the relationship between management style and employee productivity .

Qualitative Dissertation: Ideas for Proposals

If you want your thesis to be more practical, you’ve come to the right section. Common approaches for qualitative dissertations include researching case studies, surveys, or ethnographies. Because of this, fieldwork will be an integral part of your doctorate journey.

A comparison of teaching techniques that targeted children with autism in the 20th and 21st centuries. Provide a detailed overview of techniques and explain how research affected them.
The development of cognitive-behavioral therapy and its effectiveness in patients with eating disorders . Present the history of CBT and use recent research to demonstrate its effectiveness.
Ageism and sexism in international organizations of the fashion industry. Describe how the fashion industry defines what it means to be “young and beautiful.”
Addressing sexual harassment at the workplace : the influence of organizational policies on targets’ decision to file a complaint. Explain what policies can support the target and what can prevent such decision.
Strategies to eliminate bias in self-evaluation reports of employees. Using research in HRM, outline the best strategies that are currently used to avoid bias .
Post-cancer therapy: issues and trends. Present and discuss various trends, the research behind them, and the effectiveness of different types of therapy.
A family history of abuse and its influence on drug use in adults. Explain how abuse can provoke addiction in the future.
The importance of trusting doctor-patient relationships on patient’s medication adherence and management of a healthy lifestyle. Describe how such relationships negatively or positively affect a patient’s decision to take medicine as prescribed.
Barriers to the acquisition of social support among young men and women veterans in the USA. Discuss mental and physical disorders as major barriers.
Single mothers’ perceptions of breastfeeding in public places: qualitative research. Conduct interviews to find out their opinion.
The impact of online learning on student’s academic performance.
A study of the youths’ perception of learning smartphone applications.
Research the issue of gender bias in college education.
Student’s perception of the mental health support and impact on campus.
Perceptions of charter school education in the 21 century.
Discuss homeschooling and its effect on a child’s socialization.
What’s the impact of cyberbullying on teenagers’ mental health?
How inmates perceive alternative forms of incarceration.
Gun violence from the perspective of victims.
Research bias towards video games as an art form.
In what ways are minorities disadvantaged in America?
Evaluate cooking as a therapeutic exercise.
Assess the link between a principal’s leadership style and the school’s rating.
The effect of online counseling on patients’ mental health.
Perception of mental health stigma among students.
How does gig economy re-define work?
The implications of freelancing in the 2020s.
Opinions about a 6-day work week in your community.
Assess the process of adaptation to working from home .
Conduct a research study of views on the BLM movement outside the US.

Quantitative Dissertation Proposal Topics

Some scholars just love working with data. Are you one of them? Then you’ll probably enjoy quantitative research. If you’re into finding patterns and making predictions, here are some enticing topics:

A study of a major city’s livability index. Choose a city and assess whether it’s well-designed or not.
A quantitative study of biofilms in technology. Discuss methods of using biofilms in technology. Include a list of recent advances and new tools.
A quantitative study of teachers’ perception of online learning . This topic prompts you to use an evaluation scale.
An assessment of a link between product reviews and intention to purchase. Study the effect online reviews have on potential customers.
Immigration and its connection to crime statistics . Analyze data on immigration to the US and the number of violent crimes. Determine the relationship between the two phenomena.
The relationship between obesity and occupation. Assess the BMIs of participants of different professions. Then, test the results for a correlation and discuss its implications.
A relationship between nurses’ knowledge of diabetes management and patient satisfaction. Assess the nurses’ knowledge about diabetes and compare the results with patient satisfaction scores. Thus, you can determine if expertise translates into better care.
A study of the economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on SMEs financial operations. With this qualitative dissertation proposal in business and management, choose a small company. Analyze its financial data pre- and post-pandemic. Include a discussion of financial management during pandemics.
A study of millennials ’ pet ownership. Determine the percentage of millennials who have pets. Compare these patterns with previous generations.
Economic growth and urbanization. Compare the empirical data about the state of economics and the number of people living in cities.
Determine how urbanization affects bacterial community compositions.
The economic impact of immigration on SMEs.
Study the rates of crimes in the US in relation to nonviolent crimes.
How do various teaching styles affect learning?
Compare overconfidence in CEOs of SMEs and corporations.
How does inclusive language influence social behavior?
Assess consumers’ satisfaction with online banking in your area.
Evaluate crude oil price prediction methods.
Is there a link between smartphone use and mental illness?
Correlation between eyewitness identification and memory
What are the attitudes towards AI development among women?
Determine the rates of cybercrimes since the 1990s.
A study of the police brutality cases across the US in the last decade.
Correlation between education level and employment.
The presence of sleep disorders in mental illnesses.
Assess the attitudes towards medical care in the US .
Determine the correlation between eating disorders and physical illness.
Study the rates of cyberbullying among minority students.
How various religious groups influence politics : a game-theoretical approach.
Does regular exercise decrease symptoms of depression in adults?

Dissertation Topics in Educational Leadership

Educational leadership is a science focused on helping students to achieve their academic goals. It includes the motivation of staff and learners, improvement of educational programs, and creation of a healthy, productive environment in institutions. Want to dedicate your research to it? Take a look at these topic samples:

Fatigue among American medical students. Medical students often need to memorize and analyze big portions of information. That is why many of them don’t sleep enough, get tired quickly, and find it hard to concentrate. What can be done about it?
How did the COVID-19 pandemic and distance learning affect students’ motivation? Online education has multiple benefits and drawbacks. Some students might find it easier to get access to various textbooks online. Others want to return to campus. What is their motivation ?
Creating better learning conditions on campus : the challenges in 2022. With the increasing speed of technological progress, it is hard to catch up with the latest innovations. Explore them in your dissertation. For instance, you can focus on facilities for students with special needs .
How can we enhance discipline among first-year students on campus? For some younger students, it is hard to get used to living on their own. They need to accept new responsibilities, find time to take care of themselves, and organize their lives. How can we help them?
Development of soft skills among undergraduate students. For future employers, soft skills are as important as hard skills. That is why colleges need to pay attention to soft skills such as time management , communication, and creativity.
The efficiency of workshops for enhancing students’ creativity.
Do nutrition habits influence the studying process?
The importance of mental health care in high school.
What leadership styles are the most efficient in college communities?
Does the implementation of early childhood education lead to further academic success?
What is the role of school counseling among teenagers?
What psychological factors make students drop out of college?
Developing leadership qualities among MBA students.
How to help college athletes to cope with psychological and physical pressure.
Ways of reducing anxiety levels among criminology students.
Helping students to choose their majors and find a career path.
How to enhance communication between higher education administration and students?
Motivating students to succeed after graduation .
Why do we need psychology classes in high school?
How can we prevent the bullying of Latin American students in middle and high school?

✅ How to Choose a Thesis Topic: Main Steps

In case you have no idea where to start from, here is a quick guideline on how to choose a Ph.D. thesis topic:

We hope this article helped you to choose a suitable topic for your dissertation. We wish you good luck with your research!

Learn more on this topic:

Dissertation Critique: Examples, How-to Guide
The Ultimate Guide to Writing an Outstanding Dissertation
How to Write an Abstract: Brief Steps and Structure Example

✏️ Dissertation FAQ

While working on a dissertation, you might deal with several types of research. The main research types are primary, qualitative, quantitative, and legal. In any case, it’s the way in which a researcher studies the subject using a particular methodology.

First of all, make sure that you are personally fascinated by the subject. This is essential for any thesis, be it master’s or an undergraduate dissertation. Besides, make sure the topic is feasible and hasn’t been studies much.

A good dissertation title is the one that represents the subject under study. To state which aspect is being studied is also important. The title should include neither a hypothesis nor a conclusion: think about it as “spoilers”—nobody likes them.

Just like any paper, a great dissertation is the one that is well-organized. The topic of the paper should correspond to the title. The text should have a cohesive structure with a definite introduction, argumentative main part, and a logical conclusion.

🔗 References

Dissertation Topics 1961-Present: Rudgers University
Completed Thesis and Dissertation Topics: University of Florida
Current Legal Topics: Library of Congress
The Right Dissertation Topic: Academics.com
Days and Nights at the Museum…there’s a Dissertation for that!: Proquest.com
Dissertation Titles: University of Michigan
How to Pick a Master’s Thesis Topic: Medium.com
How to Come Up With a Thesis Topic: Gradschools.com
How to Choose Your Thesis Topic: Central European University
How Do I Choose a Thesis Topic?: Grad School Hub
Senior Thesis Topics: Hamilton College
Arizona Research Topics: Arizona State Library
Dissertation Proposal: Bartleby.com
Dissertation Guide Essay
How to Start Your Dissertation: 10 Top Tips: Studential.com
How to Write a Dissertation or Bedtime Reading for People Who do not Have Time to Sleep: Purdue University
A Step-By-Step Guide to Writing a Ph.D. Dissertation: ThoughtCo
Dissertations Guide from The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Developing a Thesis Statement: University of Wisconsin Madison
Thesis/Dissertation Writing and Editing, Formatting, and Defending: Massey University
Business Management Research Topics: Top Universities
Law Topics: Law.com
Psychology Topics: APA
Marketing Topics: Marketing Profs
Topics: History.com
Computer Science: Encyclopedia Britannica
Humanities: Research Topics Ideas: University of Michigan-Flint
Art Topics: Art UK
Topics: American Association for the Advancement of Science
Nurses Topics: Medscape
Architecture: Research Topics: University of Washington
Topics in Geography: Research Gate
New Topics in Sociology: University of Toronto
Business Management Topics: The University of Maine
Qualitative Case Study: Science.gov
All Topics: Science News
Criminology: Science Direct
Topics in Literature: Sheridan College: Libguides
Advanced Computer Science Topics: The University of Texas at Austin
Application of Computer Techniques in Medicine: NIH
Important Leadership and Management Topics: WHO
Quantitative Research: University of Southern California
Action Research: Brown University
10 Traits of Successful School Leaders: University of San Diego
HIST 280 Topics: Texas A&M University
The Relationship Between Burnout, Depression, and Anxiety: Frontiers In
College of Nursing: University of Missouri–St. Louis
All Topics: Educause
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Dissertation Topics

Updated on
Apr 24, 2023

The final step in a PhD or Master’s course is the submission of a dissertation . A dissertation is a research paper that summarises the research conducted and includes findings either on a question or a topic chosen by the student. It is important as it demonstrates a student’s knowledge of the subject and ability to use research methods to define a topic. Students are required to select a dissertation topic of their choice. Choosing a topic can be confusing so this blog helps you understand how to narrow down a dissertation topic and provides a list of dissertation topics in various disciplines.

This Blog Includes:

Empirical dissertation, non-empirical dissertation, different types of research methods for dissertation, how to choose a dissertation topic, list of dissertation topics subject-wise, economics dissertation topics, mba dissertation topics, medical dissertation topics, arts and humanities dissertation topics, law dissertation topics, science dissertation topics, social science dissertation topics, psychology dissertation topics, dissertation topics in education, what makes a good dissertation topic, types of dissertation.

There are mainly two types of dissertations- empirical and non-empirical. The choice of the dissertation depends mainly on your field of study.

An empirical dissertation involves collecting data and researching through methods where conclusions of the study are strictly drawn from concretely empirical evidence, and therefore “verifiable” evidence. It focuses on collecting and analyzing original data. Students can conduct research using qualitative and quantitative research methods like case studies, surveys, observation, laboratory experiments, and interviews. Empirical research tests hypotheses in order to arrive at valid research outcomes and assumptions are tested.

A non-empirical dissertation involves the use of theoretical data and working with existing research or other texts, presenting original analysis, and argumentation, but there is no original data. It focuses more on theories, methods, and their implications for educational research. Non-empirical research theorizes the logical assumptions of research variables and assumptions are entirely theorized.

Also Read: Dissertation Topic in Finance

Two types of primary research for the dissertation include qualitative and quantitative research methods:

Quantitative Research Methods gather information through numerical data. It is used to quantify opinions, behaviors, or other defined variables. It can be used to study a large group of people. The information is gathered by performing statistical, mathematical, or computational techniques. Examples of quantitative research methods include surveys, experimental research, correlational research, longitudinal study, cross-sectional, causal-Comparative research, descriptive research, etc
Qualitative research methods gather non-numerical data. It is used to find meanings, opinions, or underlying reasons from its subjects. It is associated with studying human behavior from an informative perspective. It aims at obtaining in-depth details of the problem. Examples of qualitative research methods include case studies, Observational methods, one-on-one interviews, focus groups, text analysis, etc
Mixed method research is where quantitative and qualitative methods of research are combined

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In This Section

2021-22 graduates and thesis topics.

Summer 2021

Higgins, Machel, (Ph.D.) Geodetic Exploration of the Kinematics and Fault Slip Rates of the Southeastern and Western Caribbean Plate Boundaries and the Caldera Dynamics of the Sierra Negra Volcano
Clyne, Elisabeth, (Ph.D.) Geophysical Investigation of Basal and Hydrologic Conditions in Glacier and Ice Shelves
Jahn, Kalle, (Ph.D.) Physical and chemical controls on subsurface contaminant fate and transport
Del Vecchio, (Ph.D.) Joanmarie, Appalachian pasts, Arctic futures: permafrost landscape response to warming
Stephens, Kristen (Ph.D.), Eyes from the Sky: Using Radar Satellites to Image Surface Displacements in Volcanic Regions
Bolton, David (Ph.D.), Characterizing acoustic emission signals throughout the laboratory seismic cycle: Insights on seismic precursors
Forgeng, Michael (M.S.), Investigating the dominant controls on nitrate transport and denitrification at two scales: from a single cultivated field to a HUC-10 watershed

Garcia, Victor, (M.S.), Viscous Magma Incursion into the Shallow Plumbing System of Telica Volcano, Nicaragua: Evidence from the 2011 and 2015 Eruption

Chen, Si (Ph.D.), The formation of iron (hydr)oxide minerals in surface environments
Cleveland, Claire (Ph.D.), Oreodont adaptation, evolution, and extinction in Oligocene-Miocene North America
Irizarry, Kayla (M.S.), The Environmental Origins of Cambrian Rhynchonelliform Brachiopods
Mundell, Hailey (M.S.), Fluid-rock interaction at sub-arc conditions: A petrological investigation of three eclogite-facies vein systems, Tauern Window, Eastern Alps
Contreras, Kaelie (M.S.), Shear Wave Velocity Structure of the Bushveld Complex, South Africa from a Joint Inversion of Receiver Functions and Rayleigh Wave Group Velocities
Hone, Samuel (M.S.), Seismic observations and velocity inversion from thunderquakes using an underground fiber-optic array
Cromwell, Copeland (M.S.), Development of the Queen Charlotte Terrace in Response to the Initiation of Transpression Along the Queen Charlotte Fault at the Miocene-Pliocene Boundary

Spring 2022

Ferland, Troy (Ph.D.), Fire, Climate, and Vegetation in the Pleistocene East Africa: Insights from Bulk Organic and Compound Specific Indicators at Olduvai Gorge, Tanzania
Hayworth, Benjamin (Ph.D.), Atmosphere and Climate Evolution on Earth and Earth-like Planets
LaFond, Julia (M.S.), Efficient Maintenance and Distribution of the Comprehensive SETI Bibliography on the Astrophysics Data System (ADS)
Walker, Jasmine (M.S.), Controls on Paleochannel Form and Scale in a Large Ancient River Network: Triassic Mungaroo Formation (offshore Northwest Australia)
Chung, Dongyoun (M.S.), Changes in crystal structures of metal oxide/hydroxide minerals during dissolution and heating: An in situ synchrotron X-ray diffraction study

Summer 2022

Carr, Julia (Ph.D.), Rock strength and sediment controls on feedbacks between tectonics and erosion
McKenzie, Kristen (Ph.D.) , Studies of Upper-Plate Deformation at Subduction Zone Plate Boundaries
Xing, Guangchi (Ph.D.), DECIPHER SEISMIC ATTENUATION: FRACTAL DESCRIPTION, WAVEFIELD MODELING AND Q FULL WAVEFORM INVERSION
Pippin, James (M.S.), Relative Source Time Functions and Spectral Ratios for the Source Physics Experiment
Shepherd, Garrett (M.S.), Tropical Temperatures during the Late Paleozoic Ice Age: Proxy Fidelity in Pennsylvanian to Permian Carbonates of the US Midcontinent Sea, Eastern Kansas
Leapaldt, Hanna (M.S.), Seasonal lacustrine carbonate early diagenesis via in situ microbial metabolisms in Green Lake, New York
Hartke, Emma (M.S.), Lipid biomarker records of environmental conditions and habitation during the mid-Neolithic (Dalmatia Coast, Croatia)
Taylor, Kaitlin (M.S.), Early Triassic Weathering Intensity and Climate Recovery After the end-Permian Extinction
Aquino, Carl Frederick (M.S.) , Greenland Ice Sheet drives sea-level rise differences between model and expert projections
Barnes, Benjamin (Ph.D.), The biogeochemical cycling of rare earth elements in the modern and ancient oceans
Cipar, Jacob (Ph.D.), Thermal evolution of the Rio Grande Rift and Basin and Range lithosphere: a petrochronologic investigation
Shaughnessy, Andrew (Ph.D.), Weathering Dynamics in Watersheds: Connecting River Chemistry to Subsurface Mineral Distributions
Lucas, Erica (Ph.D.), Mantle structure and seismicity of Antarctica
Grosswiler, Kathleen (M.S.), A U-Pb CA-ID-TIMS date (230.964 Ma ± 0.077 Ma) for the Maple Creek Gabbro, Wrangellia Large Igneous Province, Kluane Range, the Yukon

2019-20 Graduates and Thesis Topics

Perri Silverhardt (MS) " Land use Versus Climate Controls on Erosion at a Farmed Headwater Catchment in Central Pennsylvania " Adviser: Roman DiBiase
Cathleen Bressers (MS) " Upper Mantle Structure Beneath the Northern East African Plateau from P- and S-wave Body-wave Tomography " Adviser: Andrew Nyblade
Damaris Wyatt (MS) " Constraints from Monazite Petrochronology on the Assembly of the Ivrea-Verbano Zone " Adviser: Andrew Smye
Chloe Stanton (MS) " Documentation of Diatom and Cyanobacteria Associated Calcification in a Lacustrine Whiting Event at Fayetteville Green Lake, New York, USA " Adviser: Lee Kump
Aoshuang Ji (MS) " Seismic Attenuation Improves the Understanding of Hydrate Saturation and the gas Hydrate Morphology on the South Hydrate Ridge " Adviser: Tieyuan Zhu
Abby Kenigsberg (PhD) " Elastic and Mechanical Properties of Smectite-Rich Fault Gouge " Advisers: Demian Saffer and Chris Marone
David Yoxtheimer (PhD) " Utilization of the Square Array Earth Resistivity Method for Characterizing Anisotropy in Fractured Sedimentary Rock " Adviser: Andrew Nyblade
Judith Sclafani (PhD) " Morphological Diversity in Space and time: A case Study of Strophomenid Brachiopods at the late Ordovician " Adviser: Mark Patzkowsky
Thamer Alotaibi (PhD) " Lithospheric Geodynamics of The Arabian Margin " Adviser: Kevin Furlong
Virginia Marcon (PhD) " The Effect of Lithology on (Bio)geochemical Weathering: Sandstone to Serpentinite " Adviser: Susan Brantley

Spring 2020

Allison Karp (PhD) " The role of fire Ecology in Vegitation Change During the Neogene: New Applications of Molecular and Isotopic Proxies for Vegetation Burning in the Paleorecord " Adviser: Katherine Freeman
Austin White-Gaynor (PhD) " Body and Surface Wave Tomography of West Antarctica and Southern Africa: Implications for Lithospheric Architecture, Tectonic Development, and Geodynamics " Adviser: Andrew Nyblade
Erica Pitcavage (PhD) " Geochemical Investigations of Continental Rift Magmatism: A case Study in East Africa's Western Rift " Adviser: Tanya Furman

2018-19 Graduates and Thesis Topics

Helen Gall (PhD) " A Geochemical Approach to Mantle and Crustal Dynamics in Central Anatolia " Adviser: Tanya Furman
Benjamin Madara (PhD) " Laboratory Studies of Permeability Evolution: Roles of Fracture, Shear, Dynamic Stressing, and Reservoir Rock Properties " Adviser: Chris Marone
Haley Ramirez (MS) “ The Seismic Hazards Posed by Offshore Segments of the Ranong and Khlong Marui Faults ” Adviser: Kevin Furlong
David Soto (MS) “ P and S Body Wave Tomography of the Upper Mantle in Central and Eastern West Antarctica ” Adviser: Andrew Nyblade

Spring 2019

Cathleen Bressers (MS) " Upper Mantle Structure Beneath the Northern East African Plateau from P- and S-wave Body-wave Tomography " Adviser: Andrew Nyblade
Jared Carte (MS) " Explaining the Unexpected Variability of Uranium-Series Activity Ratios in Near Surface Soils, State College, PA ” Adviser: Matthew Fantle
Jonas Kinter (PhD) " An Investigation of Seismological Source Parameterization " Adviser: Charles Ammon
Matthew Reinhold (MS) " Constraints on Earth's Thermal Evolution from the Heavy Noble Gas Content of the Mantle " Adviser: Brad Foley
Adrianna Rizzo (MS) " Ocean Ecosystem Transformation During Rapid Warming and Sea Level Rise: Examples from the Pleistocene Cariaco Basin (MIS 9-7) " Adviser: Timothy Bralower
Gabriella Rossetto Harris (MS) " Fossil Evidence for Patagonian Arucaria Sec. Eutacta and its Implications for Conifer Turnover During the Ecocene Initial Isolation of South Americas " Adviser: Peter Wilf
Elena Stiles (MS) " Plant Extinction and Recovery Dynamics Across the Cretaceous-Paleogene Transition in Southern South America " Adviser: Peter Wilf
Timothy Witham (MS) " Ultrasonic Monitoring od Laboratory-Scale Hydraulic Fracturing " Adviser: Chris Marone
Joshua Woda (MS) " Using Citizen Sciences, Stream Methane and a Localized Case Study to locate and Understand Hydrocarbon Related Contaminant Sources in Pennsylvania " Adviser: Susan Brantley

The Thesis Process

The thesis is an opportunity to work independently on a research project of your own design and contribute to the scholarly literature in your field. You emerge from the thesis process with a solid understanding of how original research is executed and how to best communicate research results. Many students have gone on to publish their research in academic or professional journals.

To ensure affordability, the per-credit tuition rate for the 8-credit thesis is the same as our regular course tuition. There are no additional fees (regular per-credit graduate tuition x 8 credits).

Below are the steps that you need to follow to fulfill the thesis requirement. Please know that through each step, you will receive guidance and mentorship.

1. Determine Your Thesis Topic and Tentative Question

When you have completed between 24 and 32 credits, you work with your assigned research advisor to narrow down your academic interests to a relevant and manageable thesis topic. Log in to MyDCE , then ALB/ALM Community to schedule an appointment with your assigned research advisor via the Degree Candidate Portal.

Thesis Topic Selection

We’ve put together this guide to help frame your thinking about thesis topic selection.

Every effort is made to support your research interests that are grounded in your ALM course work, but faculty guidance is not available for all possible projects. Therefore, revision or a change of thesis topic may be necessary.

The point about topic selection is particularly pertinent to scientific research that is dependent upon laboratory space, project funding, and access to private databases. It is also critical for our candidates in ALM, liberal arts fields (English, government, history, international relations, psychology, etc.) who are required to have Harvard faculty direct their thesis projects. Review Harvard’s course catalog online ( my.harvard.edu ) to be sure that there are faculty teaching courses related to your thesis topic. If not, you’ll need to choose an alternative topic.
Your topic choice must be a new area of research for you. Thesis work represents thoughtful engagement in new academic scholarship. You cannot re-purpose prior research. If you want to draw or expand upon your own previous scholarship for a small portion of your thesis, you need to obtain the explicit permission of your research advisor and cite the work in both the proposal and thesis. Violations of this policy will be referred to the Administrative Board.

2. Prepare Prework for the Crafting the Thesis Proposal (CTP) Course or Tutorial

The next step in the process is to prepare and submit Prework in order to gain registration approval for the Crafting the Thesis Proposal (CTP) tutorial or course. The Prework process ensures that you have done enough prior reading and thinking about your thesis topic to benefit from the CTP.

The CTP provides an essential onramp to the thesis, mapping critical issues of research design, such as scope, relevance to the field, prior scholarly debate, methodology, and perhaps, metrics for evaluating impact as well as bench-marking. The CTP identifies and works through potential hurdles to successful thesis completion, allowing the thesis project to get off to a good start.

In addition to preparing, submitting, and having your Prework approved, to be eligible for the CTP, you need to be in good standing, have completed a minimum of 32 degree-applicable credits, including the statistics/research methods requirement (if pertinent to your field). You also need to have completed Engaging in Scholarly Conversation (if pertinent to your field). If you were admitted after 9/1/2023 Engaging in Scholarly Conversation (A and B) is required, if admitted before 9/1/2023 this series is encouraged.

Advising Note for Biology, Biotechnology, and Bioengineering and Nanotechnology Candidates : Thesis projects in these fields are designed to support ongoing scientific research happening in Harvard University, other academic institutions, or life science industry labs and usually these are done under the direction of a principal investigator (PI). Hence, you need to have a thesis director approved by your research advisor prior to submitting CTP prework. Your CTP prework is then framed by the lab’s research. Schedule an appointment with your research advisor a few months in advance of the CTP prework deadlines in order to discuss potential research projects and thesis director assignment.

CTP Prework is sent to our central email box: [email protected] between the following firm deadlines:

April 1 and June 1 for fall CTP
September 1 and November 1 for spring CTP.
August 1 and October 1 for the three-week January session (ALM sustainability candidates only)
International students who need a student visa to attend Harvard Summer School should submit their prework on January 1, so they can register for the CTP on March 1 and submit timely I-20 paperwork. See international students guidelines for more information.

Your research advisor will provide feedback on your prework submission to gain CTP registration approval. If your prework is not approved after 3 submissions, your research advisor cannot approve your CTP registration. If not approved, you’ll need to take additional time for further revisions, and submit new prework during the next CTP prework submission time period for the following term (if your five-year degree completion deadline allows).

3. Register and Successfully Complete the Crafting the Thesis Proposal Tutorial or Course

Once CTP prework is approved, you register for the Crafting the Thesis Proposal (CTP) course or tutorial as you would any other course. The goal of the CTP is to produce a complete, well-written draft of a proposal containing all of the sections required by your research advisor. Creating an academically strong thesis proposal sets the foundation for a high-quality thesis and helps garner the attention of a well-respected thesis director. The proposal is normally between 15 to 25 pages in length.

The CTP tutorial is not a course in the traditional sense. You work independently on your proposal with your research advisor by submitting multiple proposal drafts and scheduling individual appointments. You need to make self-directed progress on the proposal without special prompting from the research advisor. You receive a final grade of SAT or UNSAT (failing grade).

The CTP for sustainability is a three-week course in the traditional sense and you receive a letter grade, and it must be B- or higher to receive degree credit for the course.

You are expected to incorporate all of your research advisor’s feedback and be fully committed to producing an academically strong proposal leading to a thesis worthy of a Harvard degree. If you are unable to take advice from your research advisor, follow directions, or produce an acceptable proposal, you will not pass the CTP.

Successful CTP completion also includes a check on the proper use of sources according to our academic integrity guidelines. Violations of our academic integrity policy will be referred to the Administrative Board.

Maximum of two attempts . If you don’t pass that CTP, you’ll have — if your five-year, degree-completion date allows — just one more attempt to complete the CTP before being required to withdraw from the program. If you fail the CTP just once and have no more time to complete the degree, your candidacy will automatically expire. Please note that a WD grade counts as an attempt.

If by not passing the CTP you fall into poor academic standing, you will need to take additional degree-applicable courses to return to good standing before enrolling in the CTP for your second and final time, only if your five-year, degree-completion date allows. If you have no more time on your five-year clock, you will be required to withdraw.

Human Subjects

If your thesis, regardless of field, will involve the use of human subjects (e.g., interviews, surveys, observations), you will need to have your research vetted by the Committee on the Use of Human Subjects (CUHS) of Harvard University. Please review the IRB LIFECYCLE GUIDE located on the CUHS website. Your research advisor will help you prepare a draft copy of the project protocol form that you will need to send to CUHS. The vetting process needs to be started during the CTP tutorial, before a thesis director has been assigned.

4. Thesis Director Assignment and Thesis Registration

We expect you to be registered in thesis soon after CTP completion or within 3 months — no later. You cannot delay. It is critical that once a research project has been approved through the CTP process, the project must commence in a timely fashion to ensure the academic integrity of the thesis process.

Once you (1) successfully complete the CTP and (2) have your proposal officially approved by your research advisor (RA), you move to the thesis director assignment phase. Successful completion of the CTP is not the same as having an officially approved proposal. These are two distinct steps.

If you are a life science student (e.g., biology), your thesis director was identified prior to the CTP, and now you need the thesis director to approve the proposal.

The research advisor places you with a thesis director. Do not approach faculty to ask about directing your thesis. You may suggest names of any potential thesis directors to your research advisor, who will contact them, if they are eligible/available to direct your thesis, after you have an approved thesis proposal.

When a thesis director has been identified or the thesis proposal has been fully vetted by the preassigned life science thesis director, you will receive a letter of authorization from the Assistant Dean of Academic Programs officially approving your thesis work and providing you with instructions on how to register for the eight-credit Master’s Thesis. The letter will also have a tentative graduation date as well as four mandatory thesis submission dates (see Thesis Timetable below).

Continuous Registration Tip: If you want to maintain continued registration from CTP to thesis, you should meet with your RA prior to prework to settle on a workable topic, submit well-documented prework, work diligently throughout the CTP to produce a high-quality proposal that is ready to be matched with a thesis director as soon as the CTP is complete.

Good academic standing. You must be good academic standing to register for the thesis. If not, you’ll need to complete additional courses to bring your GPA up to the 3.0 minimum prior to registration.

Thesis Timetable

The thesis is a 9 to 12 month project that begins after the Crafting the Thesis Proposal (CTP); when your research advisor has approved your proposal and identified a Thesis Director.

The date for the appointment of your Thesis Director determines the graduation cycle that will be automatically assigned to you:

Once registered in the thesis, we will do a 3-month check-in with you and your thesis director to ensure progress is being made. If your thesis director reports little to no progress, the Dean of Academic Programs reserves the right to issue a thesis not complete (TNC) grade (see Thesis Grading below).

As you can see above, you do not submit your thesis all at once at the end, but in four phases: (1) complete draft to TA, (2) final draft to RA for format review and academic integrity check, (3) format approved draft submitted to TA for grading, and (4) upload your 100% complete graded thesis to ETDs.

Due dates for all phases for your assigned graduation cycle cannot be missed. You must submit materials by the date indicated by 5 PM EST (even if the date falls on a weekend). If you are late, you will not be able to graduate during your assigned cycle.

If you need additional time to complete your thesis after the date it is due to the Thesis Director (phase 1), you need to formally request an extension (which needs to be approved by your Director) by emailing that petition to: [email protected] . The maximum allotted time to write your thesis, including any granted extensions of time is 12 months.

Timing Tip: If you want to graduate in May, you should complete the CTP in the fall term two years prior or, if a sustainability student, in the January session one year prior. For example, to graduate in May 2025:

Complete the CTP in fall 2023 (or in January 2024, if a sustainability student)
Be assigned a thesis director (TD) in March/April 2024
Begin the 9-12 month thesis project with TD
Submit a complete draft of your thesis to your TD by February 1, 2025
Follow through with all other submission deadlines (April 1, April 15 and May 1 — see table above)
Graduate in May 2025

5. Conduct Thesis Research

When registered in the thesis, you work diligently and independently, following the advice of your thesis director, in a consistent, regular manner equivalent to full-time academic work to complete the research by your required timeline.

You are required to produce at least 50 pages of text (not including front matter and appendices). Chapter topics (e.g., introduction, background, methods, findings, conclusion) vary by field.

6. Format Review — Required of all Harvard Graduate Students and Part of Your Graduation Requirements

All ALM thesis projects must written in Microsoft Word and follow a specific Harvard University format. A properly formatted thesis is an explicit degree requirement; you cannot graduate without it.

Your research advisor will complete the format review prior to submitting your thesis to your director for final grading according to the Thesis Timetable (see above).

You must use our Microsoft Word ALM Thesis Template or Microsoft ALM Thesis Template Creative Writing (just for creative writing degree candidates). It has all the mandatory thesis formatting built in. Besides saving you a considerable amount of time as you write your thesis, the preprogrammed form ensures that your submitted thesis meets the mandatory style guidelines for margins, font, title page, table of contents, and chapter headings. If you use the template, format review should go smoothly, if not, a delayed graduation is highly likely.

Format review also includes a check on the proper use of sources according to our academic integrity guidelines. Violations of our academic integrity policy will be referred directly to the Administrative Board.

7. Mandatory Thesis Archiving — Required of all Harvard Graduate Students and Part of Your Graduation Requirements

Once your thesis is finalized, meaning that the required grade has been earned and all edits have been completed, you must upload your thesis to Harvard University’s electronic thesis and dissertation submission system (ETDs). Uploading your thesis ETDs is an explicit degree requirement; you cannot graduate without completing this step.

The thesis project will be sent to several downstream systems:

Your work will be preserved using Harvard’s digital repository DASH (Digital Access to Scholarship at Harvard).
Metadata about your work will be sent to HOLLIS (the Harvard Library catalog).
Your work will be preserved in Harvard Library’s DRS2 (digital preservation repository).

By submitting work through ETDs @ Harvard you will be signing the Harvard Author Agreement. This license does not constrain your rights to publish your work subsequently. You retain all intellectual property rights.

For more information on Harvard’s open access initiatives, we recommend you view the Director of the Office of Scholarly Communication (OSC), Peter Suber’s brief introduction .

Thesis Grading

You need to earn a grade of B- or higher in the thesis. All standard course letter grades are available to your thesis director. If you fail to complete substantial work on the thesis, you will earn a grade of TNC (thesis not complete). If you have already earned two withdrawal grades, the TNC grade will count as a zero in your cumulative GPA.

If you earn a grade below B-, you will need to petition the Administrative Board for permission to attempt the thesis for a second and final time. The petition process is only available if you are in good academic standing and your five-year, degree-completion deadline allows for more time. Your candidacy will automatically expire if you do not successfully complete the thesis by your required deadline.

If approved for a second attempt, you may be required to develop a new proposal on a different topic by re-enrolling in the CTP and being assigned a different thesis director. Tuition for the second attempt is calculated at the current year’s rate.

If by not passing the thesis you fall into poor academic standing, you’ll need to take additional degree-applicable courses to return to good standing before re-engaging with the thesis process for the second and final time. This is only an option if your five-year, degree-completion deadline allows for more time.

The Board only reviews cases in which extenuating circumstances prevented the successful completion of the thesis.

Harvard Division of Continuing Education

The Division of Continuing Education (DCE) at Harvard University is dedicated to bringing rigorous academics and innovative teaching capabilities to those seeking to improve their lives through education. We make Harvard education accessible to lifelong learners from high school to retirement.

College of Arts & Sciences

Thesis Topics

You are invited to pursue any topic that falls under the English department’s purview, and the Honors Committee will assume that you will pursue it with scholarly rigor, intellectual seriousness, and artistic integrity. You should follow your own interests and commitments in defining your project, though you should avail yourself of the advice of those faculty members whose expertise will help you focus your ideas and give them depth. Again, we welcome critical, creative, interdisciplinary, mixed genre, and hybrid creative/critical projects. Most successful applicants have derived their projects from interests developed during their time as English majors at Georgetown. During the actual writing of the thesis, of course, you will work closely with a faculty mentor.

Here is a partial list of the kinds of literary and interdisciplinary topics that Honors students have pursued over the past few years:

Polyphony in the novels of Cormac McCarthy
Women in post-Stonewall gay male literature
Madness and skepticism in Hamlet and Don Quixote
Dialogism in Toni Morrison and Christa Woolf
The Booker Prize as post-colonial phenomenon
Jazz in the Harlem Renaissance
The scientific revolution and 18th-century narratives
Irvine Welsh and dialect writing
Sound and structure in scripts
Identity and memory in Maxine Hong Kingston
Influence of the internet on writing
The written legacy of oral narratives in Amerindian culture
Medieval women troubadours
African-American women writers and their Biblical heritage
Adult-child discourse in real-life conversation and classic children’s literature
The role of bible-making in the works of Blake, Wordsworth, and Hardy
Morality plays in the Middle Ages and the twentieth century

In addition, Honors students have written short story collections, memoirs, and collections of poetry. Students have also written hybrid creative/critical projects, such as a critique of postcolonial memoir within a postcolonial memoir. Those students who propose creative projects should have developed their skills through taking courses with the Georgetown English Department creative writing faculty or through participation in campus and professional journals and other creative venues.

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In The News

Wednesday, March 27, 2024

Office of Graduate Education and Life announces Three-Minute Thesis finalists

Ten doctoral students will compete in the grand finale beginning at 6 p.m. Wednesday, April 3, in the Mountainlair Ballrooms as five faculty and staff members judge for first, second and third place winners.

The WVU community is also invited to attend and vote for the People’s Choice Award.

The internationally renowned 3MT competition, originally founded by the University of Queensland in Australia, challenges doctoral students to present their research topic and its significance in three minutes using a single PowerPoint slide.

Competitors develop academic, presentation and research communication skills while gaining experience pitching their research succinctly to a non-specialist audience.

The 2024 finalists are as follows:

Haidar Aldaach, Civil Engineering, Statler College of Engineering and Mineral Resources

Syeda Nyma Ferdous, Computer Engineering, Statler College of Engineering and Mineral Resources

Tanner Hoffman, Plant and Soil Sciences, Davis College of Agriculture, Natural Resources and Design

Brian Leonard, Chemical Engineering, Statler College of Engineering and Mineral Resources

Kushal Naharki, Plant and Soil Sciences, Davis College of Agriculture, Natural Resources and Design

Kinsey Reed, Plant and Soil Sciences, Davis College of Agriculture, Natural Resources and Design

Denis Ruto, Environmental Engineering, Statler College of Engineering and Mineral Resources

Kayla Steinberger, Immunology, School of Medicine

Vaishakhi Suresh, Industrial and Management Systems Engineering, Statler College of Engineering and Mineral Resources

Paige Zalman, Higher Education, College of Applied Human Services

Grand finale prizes include $1,000 for first place, $750 for second place, $500 for third place and $250 for the People’s Choice Award.

Find more information on the 3MT competition.

For questions, contact Betty Mei at [email protected].

Graduate Education

Office of graduate and postdoctoral education, 12 grad students named as finalists for 2024 three minute thesis competition.

Mar 26, 2024

After six intense preliminary rounds, twelve exceptional scholars have emerged from a pool of 65 talented candidates, earning their place as finalists in Georgia Tech's highly anticipated annual Three Minute Thesis (3MT) competition. On Friday, April 5, 2024, these finalists will hit the stage, harnessing their research expertise, to deliver compelling presentations in a three-minute format.

Congratulations to the following twelve finalists:

Karina Bhattacharya MID Industrial Design

Vinodhini Comandur, Ph.D. Aerospace Engineering

Mo Jarin, Ph.D. Environmental Engineering

Anamik Jhunjhunwala, Ph.D. Biomedical Engineering

Valeria Juarez, Ph.D. Biomedical Engineering

Alexandra Patterson, Ph.D. Bioengineering

Jeffrey Pattison, Ph.D. Aerospace Engineering

Kantwon Rogers, Ph.D. Computer Science

Mallika Senthil, MS Biomedical Engineering

Wenting Shi, Ph.D. Chemistry and Biochemistry

Shreyas Srivathsan, Ph.D. Aerospace Engineering

Raghav Tandon, Ph.D. Machine Learning

This year’s 3MT competition takes place on Friday, April 5, 2024, at 5:30 p.m. in the Atlantic Theater in the John Lewis Student Center. The entire Georgia Tech community is encouraged to attend the competition, which occurs as the finale of the 2024 Grad Student Appreciation Week. 3MT will also be streamed online and can be viewed at https://gatech.zoom.us/j/98696536715 . Audience members and online viewers can vote for their favorite presenter to win the People’s Choice Award.

Ph.D. winners can win up to $2,000 in research travel grants. The master's winner will receive a $1,000 research travel grant.

Tech’s 3MT competition is coordinated by the Office of Graduate Education in partnership with the Center for Teaching and Learning (CTL), The Naugle Communications Center, and the Language Institute.

For more information, visit grad.gatech.edu/3mt .

Brittani Hill | Marketing and Communications Manager

Office of Graduate and Postdoctoral Education

Physics Ph.D. candidate wins 2024 Three Minute Thesis competition

3/22/2024 By | Katya Hrichak , Cornell University Graduate School

“I want you to remember a time when you were in a setting where you felt like you didn’t belong. I want you to remember how you felt in that setting, maybe isolated or out of place, and how much you felt like you wanted to continue going back to that setting—probably not much. These feelings are all too familiar for undergraduate women pursuing their studies in science, and in physics specifically,” began Meagan Sundstrom, a doctoral candidate in physics at the ninth annual Cornell University Three Minute Thesis (3MT) competition.

Alongside seven other finalists, Sundstrom presented her dissertation research in just three minutes on March 20 to a panel of judges and an audience from across campus while additional friends, family, advisors, and lab mates watched online. In the first in-person Cornell 3MT since 2019, presentations were judged by how clearly and compellingly students summarized their research to a general audience, using only one static slide.

Sundstrom’s presentation, “Recognizing and Removing Barriers for Women in Physics,” earned her first place and $1,500. Second place and $1,000 was awarded to information science doctoral student Sterling Williams-Ceci for her presentation, “AI Helps us Write – but at What Cost?”

After nearly 60 in-person and 70 virtual audience members cast their ballots, votes were tallied and the People’s Choice Award and $250 were presented to biomedical and biological sciences doctoral candidate Sharada Gopal for her presentation, “Worming Our Way to a Longer Life.”

This year’s judges included Jane Bunker, director of Cornell University Press; Joe Ellis, director of online degree program development at eCornell; David Lodge, the Francis J. DiSalvo Director of the Cornell Atkinson Center for Sustainability; and Bob Riter, patient advocate for the Cornell Community Cancer Partnership. Organization of the competition and coaching of presenters was provided by the Graduate School Office of Career and Professional Development.

“As grad students, there are a lot of opportunities to give your elevator pitch at conferences and more professional settings to more senior people in your field, and I thought this would be a really cool opportunity for me to try to tailor that pitch to a more general audience—how would I describe my research to my family and friends?—so that was fun,” said Sundstrom.

Being able to “zoom out” and view her topic from a different perspective was also helpful for Sundstrom, who is currently writing her dissertation and appreciates having both formulated a storyline and thought about the broader impacts of her work.

Williams-Ceci similarly enjoyed the chance to speak to a different type of audience than she is used to addressing.

“I hadn’t really had an opportunity in grad school to try communicating to a broad audience, it’s always just to my lab, so I wanted to practice having a chance to really tell a story and not just go through the slides,” she said. “It really helped me know for a fact that I can tell a convincing story about a project that I’ve done.”

Gopal shared that the 3MT was a fun way to combine her longtime artistic interests with her science.

“It seemed like such a fun event. I did a lot of theatre in college so I thought, ‘What can I do artistically here?’ and this seemed like a good mix of my scientific interest and my artistic theatre interests,” she said, adding that she also benefitted from looking at the bigger picture of her work and its impacts.

The 3MT competition was first held in 2008 at the University of Queensland and has since been adopted by over 900 universities in over 85 countries. 3MT challenges research degree students to present a compelling story on their dissertation or thesis and its significance in just three minutes, in language appropriate to a non-specialist audience.

Cornell’s Graduate School first hosted a 3MT competition in 2015 and the event has grown steadily since that time. As the winner of Cornell’s competition, Sundstrom will now go on to compete in northeast regional competitions.

“Our Three Minute Thesis final round is a highlight of the year for those of us in the Graduate School—literally we talk about it all year long,” said Kathryn J. Boor, dean of the Graduate School and vice provost for graduate education. “We look forward to it because it’s just plain fun, and it’s an opportunity for us to watch and learn from our accomplished and creative graduate researchers.”

“I could not possibly be more proud of the work we saw,” she said.

Read the story on the Cornell University Graduate School website.

Eight students advance to 3MT finals

Replica theory shows deep neural networks think alike

Choosing connection: Physics professor teaches Arab youth in Israel

Poised for Oscar gold, Oppenheimer boasts a Big Red distinction

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Big research, little time: Medical neuroscience student wins 3 Minute Thesis finals

Mia Samardzic - March 28, 2024

Last week, 10 graduate students took to the stage to compete in Dal’s annual 3 Minute Thesis (3MT) competition, with medical neuroscience PhD student Reynaldo Popoli earning this year’s winning title with his presentation on improving the quality of life for patients living with the neurological disorder ALS.

The 3MT finals, held Tuesday, March 19 in the Dalhousie Student Union Building, challenged competitors to present their research to a non-specialist audience in three engaging minutes or less, using only one static PowerPoint slide as a visual aid.

Five master’s and five PhD students shared their research, representing the Faculties of Medicine, Science and Health.

Making strides in medicine

Along with taking home the title of Dal’s newest 3MT champion after winning over the judging panel, Popoli won a cash prize of $1,000 and the opportunity to represent Dalhousie at the Eastern 3MT regionals at the Institut national de la recherche scientifique in Quebec this June.

“I feel incredibly grateful, especially to my colleagues that allowed me to practice my presentation and provided invaluable feedback,” he says.

Popoli’s presentation called attention to the devastating impacts of ALS — a disease that affects the cells in our bodies that control our muscles. These cells originate in the brain and spinal cord and travel to the muscles, forming connections called neuromuscular junctions. In ALS, the cells withdraw from the muscles, and these connections are left non-functional.

“The goal of my research is to understand some of the changes that occur in ALS. More precisely, in the connections between the cells that control our movements and their respective muscles. By understanding these changes, we hope we can use different therapeutic approaches to slow down disease progression and improve symptoms,” he says.

Popoli’s research looks at drugs that help regulate and maintain the integrity of the neuromuscular junction. He has shown that the use of these drugs in ALS make symptoms progress much slower and maintain neuromuscular junctions for longer, allowing for a 10 per cent increase in life expectancy and better quality of life for patients.

“My work is far from over, but I’m hopeful that with this novel research, we’ll be able to find new treatments for this devastating disease.”

Prize-worthy presentations

Pooyan Moradi, another PhD student in medical neuroscience, and Kaela Trumble, a master’s student in rehabilitation research, were also selected as top finalists by the judging panel.

Moradi earned second place and a $500 prize, presenting on the use of artificial intelligence to detect seizures in animals and how this model can be applied to better predict epilepsy in humans who have suffered head injuries.

Trumble placed third in the competition and won $250 with a presentation covering the differences in how people develop health problems as they age in relation to heart disease.

The remaining eight finalists each earned $100 prizes for their inspiring presentations.

Also receiving the most votes for the People’s Choice Award, biochemistry and molecular biology master’s student Dina Rogers captivated the crowd when describing a biological recycling process by which PET plastic can be repurposed into new materials by protein engineering to combat climate change. The award, valued at $500, was generously sponsored by Estelle Joubert, assistant dean of the Faculty of Graduate Studies, and entrepreneur Paul Doerwald.

Recommended reading: Where experience meets impact: Introducing Dalhousie’s 2023 Top Co‑op Students of the Year

Distilling big ideas

This year's 3MT finals opened with a traditional Mi'kma'ki welcome with Elder Ann LaBillois. The event was enthusiastically hosted by CBC reporter and video journalist Brett Ruskin for a sixth time.

Judges for the competition were Dr. Frank Harvey, Dal's provost and vice-president academic, Grace Jefferies-Aldridge, Dal’s vice-president, people and culture, and Kristan Hines, senior vice-president of corporate and public affairs at NATIONAL Public Relations.

Organized by the Faculty of Graduate Studies, the event served as an opportunity for members of the Dal community and beyond to learn about the impactful work the university’s graduate students are engaged in.

“For many of us, the 3 Minute Thesis competition is the highlight of the year at Dalhousie,” says Dr. Marty Leonard, dean of the Faculty of Graduate Studies. “It challenges students to take what could be very technologically or theoretically complex research — or better yet, both — and make it accessible and interesting to anyone.”

Dalhousie President Dr. Kim Brooks invited the crowd to relish the opportunity to celebrate the extraordinary research happening on campus.

“If you have the privilege of spending time in a university, one of the things you get to do often in your academic life is trace an idea back to its origins,” she says. “And almost every time you find a new idea, a unique contribution, and you trace it back to its origins, you find a graduate student.”

See below for a complete list of this year’s 3MT finalists and their presentations:

Dina Rogers , MSc, Biochemistry and Molecular Biology

Proteins vs. Pollution: A Biochemical Solution to a Brighter Future

Kateryna Rudenko , MES, Environmental Studies

Weaving Mi’kma’ki from Stories We Share

Joy Liu , MSc, Statistics

From Approximate to Accurate: Improving Sea Scallop Meat Weight Estimates in the Bay of Fundy through Statistical Modeling

Reynaldo Popoli , PhD, Medical Neuroscience

How a life changes forever in just 12 months

Kaela Trumble, MSc, Rehabilitation Research

How will your heart age?

Eniko Zsoldos , PhD, Chemistry

Improving Battery Sustainability by Limiting Charging

Divya Rathore , PhD, Physics and Atmospheric Science

Many Shades of Green

Sophie Inkpen , MSc, Kinesiology

Taking Action Through Activity: A Program for Patients with Acquired Brain Injury

Pooyan Moradi , PhD, Medical Neuroscience

Cloudy with a Chance of Epilepsy

Fatemeh Mahdizadeh Karizaki , PhD in Health

Promoting Health and Wellbeing: Access and Inclusion to Childcare and Early Learning for Children with Disabilities in Nova Scotia

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Please note that comments that appear on the site are not the opinion of Dal News or Dalhousie University but only of the comment writer. The editors reserve the right to post, or not to post comments, edit or not edit, at their discretion.

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Dissertation

How to Write a Dissertation or Thesis Proposal

Published on September 21, 2022 by Tegan George . Revised on July 18, 2023.

When starting your thesis or dissertation process, one of the first requirements is a research proposal or a prospectus. It describes what or who you want to examine, delving into why, when, where, and how you will do so, stemming from your research question and a relevant topic .

The proposal or prospectus stage is crucial for the development of your research. It helps you choose a type of research to pursue, as well as whether to pursue qualitative or quantitative methods and what your research design will look like.

You can download our templates in the format of your choice below.

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What should your proposal contain, dissertation question examples, what should your proposal look like, dissertation prospectus examples, other interesting articles, frequently asked questions about proposals.

Prior to jumping into the research for your thesis or dissertation, you first need to develop your research proposal and have it approved by your supervisor. It should outline all of the decisions you have taken about your project, from your dissertation topic to your hypotheses and research objectives .

Depending on your department’s requirements, there may be a defense component involved, where you present your research plan in prospectus format to your committee for their approval.

Your proposal should answer the following questions:

Why is your research necessary?
What is already known about your topic?
Where and when will your research be conducted?
Who should be studied?
How can the research best be done?

Ultimately, your proposal should persuade your supervisor or committee that your proposed project is worth pursuing.

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Strong research kicks off with a solid research question , and dissertations are no exception to this.

Dissertation research questions should be:

Focused on a single problem or issue
Researchable using primary and/or secondary sources
Feasible to answer within the timeframe and practical constraints
Specific enough to answer thoroughly
Complex enough to develop the answer over the space of a paper or thesis
Relevant to your field of study and/or society more broadly
What are the main factors enticing people under 30 in suburban areas to engage in the gig economy?
Which techniques prove most effective for 1st-grade teachers at local elementary schools in engaging students with special needs?
Which communication streams are the most effective for getting those aged 18-30 to the polls on Election Day?

An easy rule of thumb is that your proposal will usually resemble a (much) shorter version of your thesis or dissertation. While of course it won’t include the results section , discussion section , or conclusion , it serves as a “mini” version or roadmap for what you eventually seek to write.

Be sure to include:

A succinct introduction to your topic and problem statement
A brief literature review situating your topic within existing research
A basic outline of the research methods you think will best answer your research question
The perceived implications for future research
A reference list in the citation style of your choice

The length of your proposal varies quite a bit depending on your discipline and type of work you’re conducting. While a thesis proposal is often only 3-7 pages long, a prospectus for your dissertation is usually much longer, with more detailed analysis. Dissertation proposals can be up to 25-30 pages in length.

Writing a proposal or prospectus can be a challenge, but we’ve compiled some examples for you to get your started.

Example #1: “Geographic Representations of the Planet Mars, 1867-1907” by Maria Lane
Example #2: “Individuals and the State in Late Bronze Age Greece: Messenian Perspectives on Mycenaean Society” by Dimitri Nakassis
Example #3: “Manhood Up in the Air: A Study of Male Flight Attendants, Queerness, and Corporate Capitalism during the Cold War Era” by Phil Tiemeyer

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If you want to know more about AI for academic writing, AI tools, or research bias, make sure to check out some of our other articles with explanations and examples or go directly to our tools!

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The research methods you use depend on the type of data you need to answer your research question .

If you want to measure something or test a hypothesis , use quantitative methods . If you want to explore ideas, thoughts and meanings, use qualitative methods .
If you want to analyze a large amount of readily-available data, use secondary data. If you want data specific to your purposes with control over how it is generated, collect primary data.
If you want to establish cause-and-effect relationships between variables , use experimental methods. If you want to understand the characteristics of a research subject, use descriptive methods.

A thesis or dissertation outline is one of the most critical first steps in your writing process. It helps you to lay out and organize your ideas and can provide you with a roadmap for deciding what kind of research you’d like to undertake.

Generally, an outline contains information on the different sections included in your thesis or dissertation , such as:

Your anticipated title
Your abstract
Your chapters (sometimes subdivided into further topics like literature review , research methods , avenues for future research, etc.)

A well-planned research design helps ensure that your methods match your research aims, that you collect high-quality data, and that you use the right kind of analysis to answer your questions, utilizing credible sources . This allows you to draw valid , trustworthy conclusions.

The priorities of a research design can vary depending on the field, but you usually have to specify:

Your research questions and/or hypotheses
Your overall approach (e.g., qualitative or quantitative )
The type of design you’re using (e.g., a survey , experiment , or case study )
Your sampling methods or criteria for selecting subjects
Your data collection methods (e.g., questionnaires , observations)
Your data collection procedures (e.g., operationalization , timing and data management)
Your data analysis methods (e.g., statistical tests or thematic analysis )

A dissertation prospectus or proposal describes what or who you plan to research for your dissertation. It delves into why, when, where, and how you will do your research, as well as helps you choose a type of research to pursue. You should also determine whether you plan to pursue qualitative or quantitative methods and what your research design will look like.

It should outline all of the decisions you have taken about your project, from your dissertation topic to your hypotheses and research objectives , ready to be approved by your supervisor or committee.

Note that some departments require a defense component, where you present your prospectus to your committee orally.

Formulating a main research question can be a difficult task. Overall, your question should contribute to solving the problem that you have defined in your problem statement .

However, it should also fulfill criteria in three main areas:

Researchability
Feasibility and specificity
Relevance and originality

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How to Choose Your Graduate Thesis Topic

Find your perfect college degree

What is a Thesis Topic?

What Makes a Thesis Topic Great?

The Importance of a Relevant Thesis Topic

7 Helpful Tips for Picking a Good Graduate Thesis Topic

1. Check the program requirements.

2. Consider your passion and interests.

3. Brainstorm some ideas to get started.

4. Discuss the topic with your advisor.

5. Test the viability of your thesis topic.

6. Go through journals and publications.

7. Consider and examine your career path.

Final Thoughts

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How To Find A High-Quality Research Topic

Overview: How To Find & Choose A Research Topic

Step 1: Understand the research process

Step 2: Review past dissertations/theses

Step 3: Review the academic literature

Kick start the ideation process

Understand the current state of knowledge

Absorb, don’t hunt

Need a helping hand?

Step 4: Identify potential research questions

Approach 1: Leverage the FRIN

Approach 2: Put a context-based spin on an existing topic

Approach 3: Uncensored brainstorming

Try use all three approaches

Step 5: Narrow down, then evaluate

Narrow down to the top 5, then evaluate

Narrow down to 3, then get human feedback

Step 6: Make the decision (and stick with it!)

Let’s recap…

Psst… there’s more (for free)

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