Master of Music Education—Thesis Submission
Procedures for final submission of the MME thesis
After the defense, the student will need to submit the final version of the thesis to the Music Graduate Office.
Beginning January 2012, you have the option of submitting the final copy electronically or in a bound paper format. Electronically submitted thesis copies are hosted in the IU ScholarWorks repository (ordinarily in PDF format). Bound paper copies are kept on the shelves of the Cook Music Library. All final thesis copies are cataloged in IUCAT regardless of format.
We expect the majority of students will choose electronic submission. Electronic submission has several advantages: it is cheaper because you do not pay for paper and binding; it is faster because you do not have to wait for a bindery to bind your thesis and deliver it; and it makes your research available to a much wider audience, since it is provided a permanent URL that can be found by Web search engines, and is thus accessible world-wide.
Thesis copies that are submitted in bound paper format are available only to patrons of the music library and via interlibrary loan. There may be reasons to prefer bound paper copy submission, however. It provides a product that is more traditional in appearance. It may also be preferred by students who intend to pursue commercial publication of their thesis and who are concerned that potential publishers may be reluctant to publish a version of something that is already freely available via the Web. The student bears the cost of printing and binding, and will need to consider the costs of delivery to a bindery, how long it will take the bindery to complete the job, and the amount of time necessary for delivery of the bound copies to the Music Graduate Office. These are important considerations since the Music Graduate Office must receive the bound copies before the degree can be posted. Students who submit their thesis electronically may of course arrange to have one or more personal copies bound.
Electronic Submission
Using this method, you submit the final copy of the thesis electronically to the Music Graduate Office, which transmits the document to IU ScholarWorks repository.
Preparing the manuscript for submission
Before you submit your thesis, check it carefully to ensure that it complies with the styles guidelines for master's theses (a link to these guidelines will be posted soon - it will be similar to the style guidelines for doctoral documents). This will be checked after submission and will be sent back to you for reformatting if not correct. If you submit the thesis too close to the semester deadline and it is returned because it does not comply with these guidelines, it could delay your graduation until the following semester. You would be responsible for any resulting tuition and fees.
Documents must be submitted in a special PDF format called PDF/A, an ISO-standard format designed for the long-term preservation of digital documents. Information on creating PDF/A documents from some common platforms is provided below. If you are creating your thesis using different software, it is your responsibility to determine how to save your document in PDF/A format.
Microsoft Word on Windows
You will need to have Adobe Acrobat installed on the computer on which you complete this conversion.
- Open the Word File
- Click on the Acrobat tab from the top menu bar
- Click on Preferences
- Check the box next to the setting: Create PDF/A-1a:2005 compliant file
- Click OK
- To Save, go to File, Save as PDF. Use the filename convention lastname_firstname_year.pdf (note the location of the file when you save it).
Macintosh (all applications)
- File | Print
- Click the PDF button and select Save as Adobe PDF
- In the popup window, next to Adobe PDF Settings, select "PDF/A-1b:2005 (RGB)"
- Click Continue.
- When saving the document, use the filename convention lastname_firstname_year.pdf (note the location of the file when you save it).
Submitting your Thesis
1. Click on this link to get to the online electronic submission form. (This link will be updated soon to include more text related to the MME Thesis).
2. Complete the information requested on the form and upload your PDF/A file to the form.
3. Submit the online form.
4. The Doctoral Clerk will email you to confirm that the file was received and that it complies with the formatting guidelines. If there are problems with the file, you will be informed and asked to resubmit.
5. The Doctoral Clerk will give final approval of the formatting and will upload the file to IU ScholarWorks.
These 5 steps must be completed by the last day of the semester (or JSoM summer session) in which you plan to graduate.
Bound Paper Submission
Using this method, you submit bound printed copies of the thesis.
After the defense of the thesis is passed and any final changes have been approved as directed by the thesis director, make the appropriate number of copies of thesis on proper paper (see below) and have them bound at a commercial bindery.
For your convenience, two Indiana-based binderies are listed below, but you are free to use any bindery you wish. The Music Graduate Office must receive the actual bound copies by the last day of final exams for you to graduate. If the copies are not submitted on time, it could delay your graduation until the following semester. You would be responsible for any resulting tuition and fees.
Binding Details
- You must use a black binding.
- The binding must use the oversewn method. Velo binding available from some photocopying businesses is not acceptable.
- Ask the bindery to put the final project or piano essay title and your full name on the front cover and the title and your last name on the spine of the bound copies.
Required Copies
Copy | Format | Submit to | Distribution |
1 | Bound, twenty-pound (or twenty four-pound), 100% cotton, watermarked bond paper | Music Graduate Office | Will be sent by Music Graduate Office to the Music Library |
2 | Bound, twenty-pound (or twenty four-pound), 100% cotton, watermarked bond paper | Music Graduate Office | Will be sent by Music Graduate Office to the Music Library |
3 | Bound, regular paper | Music Graduate Office | Will be sent by Music Graduate Office to the Thesis Director |
Additional copies* | Bound, regular paper | ---- | Sent by bindery to student |
*You may also order additional copies for personal use.
National Library Binding Co.
55 South State Ave.
Indianapolis, IN 46201
(317) 636-5606
Hours: Monday - Friday: 8:00 a.m.—5:00 p.m.
Thesis On Demand
Be sure to read the Frequently Asked Questions: http://www.graduate.indiana.edu/docs/TOD-FAQ.doc
Cost is based on the number of pages and other factors. For a quote, complete the order form far enough to see a projection of the cost, or call the HF Group for more information. 1-800-334-3628.
IU Order form: http://indiana.thesisondemand.com/ordersystem/index.php?uri=/orderform/orderform/&page=1
Procedures for final submission of the MME practicum
If the student chooses a practicum instead of a thesis then the student must submit two spiral bound copies of the practicum text to the Music Education department by the last day of final exams of the semester the student plans to graduate.