Written Thesis Requirements

View a Sample Written Thesis

Required Contents

In Order
  1. title page
  2. on the following page: Abstract (100-200 words) and Keywords (5-10)
  3. text of your thesis
  4. Images Cited (list of images referenced in your paper including yours and others)
  5. bibliography
  6. Work Sample Identification List (20 images or 3 videos documenting your thesis work)

Title page contents:
- [title of paper]
- In support of MFA Thesis Exhibition, Spring 2021
- [your name]
- Thesis Committee Members: [name], Mentor; [name], Committee Member; [name], Committee Member

Abstract and Keywords
Abstract (100-200 words) and Keywords or phrases (5-10)

Text
May include images of your work or your influences. Images included in text do not count toward meeting 20 work sample image requirement.

Images Cited
Include a list of images included in the text of your written thesis referring to your work and your influences, formatted according to Chicago Manuel of Style

Bibliography
Formatted according to Chicago Manuel of Style

Work Sample Identification List
- Numbered list of 20 images with thumbnails or list of 3-5 videos
- Include: number, title of work, medium or media, year of completion, dimensions or duration, brief description
- May include both images and video, but you meet the requirement of 20 images or 3 videos. For example: 20 images and 1 video or 3 videos and 7 images

PDF File Formatting

Font

Helvetica or Times: strongly recommended. If you use a different font, you must use Adobe Acrobat to embed the fonts for long term preservation. See below.

Name file according to MCAD Standards

first initial last name_thesis_year of graduation.pdf
Example: jdoe_thesis_2021.pdf

Save as a PDF/A-1b

  1. Open PDF in Acrobat Pro
  2. Click on File> Save As> PDF
  3. Rename to MCAD standard
  4. Select format PDF/A (NOT Adobe PDF)
  5. Under Settings, select format PDF/A-1b
  6. If the file is saved correctly, a blue banner will appear at the top of the file indicating it has been opened as a PDF/A

If using other fonts, check to see if they are embedded in the file

  1. Open PDF in Acrobat Pro
  2. Click on File > Properties
  3. Look at Fonts tab
  4. All fonts should be listed as "Embedded" or "Embedded Subset"

If other fonts are not embedded, do so with Adobe Acrobat

  1. Open PDF in Acrobat Pro
  2. Click on File> Save As> PDF
  3. Select format PDF/A (NOT Adobe PDF)
  4. If the file is saved correctly, a blue banner will appear at the top of the file indicating it has been opened as a PDF/A
  5. If you get an error message, Click on Edit> Preflight