The GLS project begins with a series of preliminary tasks that are completed ahead of the project semester. With the exception of attending the “Planning Session” (described below), most of the tasks take place in the “proposal semester,” which generally comes immediately before the “project semester.” (For full-time students, the “proposal semester” will be the third semester in the program.)
Attend the Master's Project Planning Session
(in the semester in which the student is taking their fifth or sixth course)
Each student is responsible for attending this Zoom workshop (offered each January, June and September) during the semester in which they are enrolled in their fifth or sixth course. At this session, students will learn about the process leading to the project, and can ask questions about the proposal and other prerequisites.
Identify Faculty Supervisor
(proposal semester)
Prior to the project semester, the student is responsible for finding a faculty supervisor to work with, and confirming that the supervisor is available during the project semester. Because a student’s relationship with the supervisor is crucial to a successful project, students are encouraged to select a project supervisor from among faculty with whom they have studied. GLS faculty are available to assist you in identifying a strong and supportive supervisor. While working on their projects, students are of course free to consult with faculty other than their supervisors, but only one faculty member can be appointed supervisor.
This supervisor must:
- be a member of the Duke Graduate Faculty or be eligible to be nominated as such by GLS;
- have appropriate expertise for guiding and evaluating the proposed project; and
- be approved in advance by the GLS Director or Assistant Director.
The responsibilities of the faculty supervisor include:
- Proposal Semester: Advising the student in developing a workable concept and proposal, and attending the Proposal Meeting.
- Project semester:
- Setting a schedule of goals and deadlines, meeting with the student regularly (ideally every other week), and guiding the student through the work required to complete the proposed project.
- Determining that the student has successfully completed the project, and participating with the other two members of the master’s committee in the student’s master’s “examination” (final conversation to discuss the project).
GLS compensates faculty supervisors via supplemental pay for their time working with our students.
Arrange Librarian Consultation
(proposal semester)
Before the proposal is submitted, the student must consult with a Duke Library area specialist in any field pertinent to the proposed project to discuss available resources and strategies for research. Even if a project is not conceptualized primarily as a “research” undertaking, librarians can assist with identifying contextual materials that will assist you in framing your project in conversation with other relevant works.
Seek Human Subjects Approval
(if applicable, proposal semester)
Before any research involving humans as subjects can be conducted, the student must receive a waiver or approval from the Human Subjects Committee of the Duke Campus Institutional Review Board. Documentation of either waiver or approval should be submitted with the finalized proposal.
Project Proposal and Proposal Meeting
(proposal semester)
Every student must develop a short (three- to four-page) document describing their plans and aspirations for their project. The proposal should include a discussion of the topic and why it is of interest, the materials the student plans to work with, the methods or tools the student wishes to employ or skills they wish to practice, and the form of the final creation envisioned. It should also describe the GLS courses or other experiences that are relevant to the project and include a short bibliography of related readings or resources that help frame the project. A full description of the requirements of the project proposal are available here.
Ahead of the project proposal deadline, the student should schedule the required Proposal Meeting, which includes the supervisor and a representative of the GLS program (either the Director or Assistant Director) to review the draft proposal, share ideas, and work out the final details of the project.
Proposal Meeting Deadlines:
- Spring project: November 15
- Fall project: July 15
- Summer project: April 15
Finalize and Submit Proposal
(proposal semester)
Submission of a finalized Master's Project proposal is required before a student can enroll in LS 850, the Master's Project Seminar. Students should submit their finalized proposal reflecting insights from the Proposal Meeting by the deadline of the proposal semester.
Submit your proposal at this link.
Final Proposal Submission Deadlines:
- Spring project: November 30
- Fall project: July 31
- Summer project: April 30
Plan Your Project Semester
(proposal semester)
Once your finalized Master's Project proposal is submitted, you will receive a permission number that allows you to register for LS 850, The Master’s Project Seminar. The first assigned task in LS 850 will be to present a work plan for the project semester, so get to work on this right away. Working with your supervisor, set up regular meeting times for the project semester (ideally at least every other week), along with a schedule of goals and deadlines. Consult each other about the third master’s committee member and about scheduling the master’s examination. Set up your project documents in the GLS Master's Project format using Duke-supported software (e.g., MS Word, Box, Zotero).