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Terminal Research

Overview
The research and practice component of the master’s degree in arts management provides students with the opportunity to connect theory with practice through systematic exploration of a research area of individual interest. Although some students choose to participate in a “practicum” (AAD 609) at various points during their graduate studies, the research component formally begins with the internship requirement. In the fall quarter of the first year, in consultation with faculty, students begin to design their summer internship experience. During winter quarter, students enroll in a one-credit Internship course that supports the development of the summer Internship. The required research methods course in spring quarter of the first year of study drives development of a preliminary research concept for the final master’s thesis, project, or capstone. The summer internship experience will likely inform and refine this preliminary research concept, so that students are prepared to begin developing a detailed research design at the start of the second year of study. The final research component commences in winter quarter of the second year in cooperation with an assigned faculty advisor. In winter and spring quarters of the second year, students register for thesis credits, research credits, or courses selected for the capstone option.

The Master’s Research Requirement
In the final phase of the master’s degree program of study in arts management, students are required to demonstrate their ability to select and frame a research topic, propose and implement a plan of inquiry, report the results in written form and conduct a public presentation. There are three options available to students for completing this final research phase: a Thesis, a Project, or a Capstone. Details regarding coursework requirements, anticipated research timelines, and faculty expectations for each option are provided to students in the program so that they can make an informed decision in selecting the option best matched to their individual research interests and goals. A brief summary of each option follows.

Thesis Option
The outcome of the thesis option is an in-depth, documented investigation of a carefully developed research question. It is pursued with the supervision of a research director and in consultation with a selected committee. The committee is comprised of two faculty members from the Arts and Administration Program and one outside member (i.e., from another UO department). A thesis committee can include someone from outside the UO faculty as the outside member if appropriate and with the approval of the research director. The thesis, typically 75-150 pages in length, must conform to the UO Graduate School standards and be approved by the master’s thesis committee. An additional methodology class beyond AAD 630 is required. Students must comply with Graduate School thesis requirements and formatting guidelines. A public presentation and oral defense of the thesis is required. Students completing a thesis typically find it necessary to extend the duration of their studies past two years. Students completing a thesis enroll in a minimum of 3 credits per term of AAD 503 while working with their thesis committee.

Project Option
The AAD Master’s Research Project option provides a very flexible option to students to develop an individual area of research expertise to support their academic and professional goals. The project is developed under the supervision of and is approved by the assigned AAD faculty research advisor (project advisor). The level of academic rigor expected is similar to that expected of students completing a thesis; however, an additional research methods course is not required, students do not have a formal committee advising the study, and students must adhere to AAD project submission guidelines (provided in AAD 631) rather than UO Graduate School guidelines. Many students complete a thesis-like conceptual/theoretical research paper that involves an extensive review of literature and field research. Findings from the study often result in specific implications and recommendations, which may be summarized and presented as a list of recommendations, an executive summary, or a drafted journal article. Some students choose to develop a “product” (e.g., a guidebook, a website, a video, a curriculum, a set of educational materials) supported by an academic report that explains the process through which the product was created and the larger disciplinary context. Students completing a project enroll in a minimum of 3 credits per term of AAD 601 while working with their research advisor.

Capstone Option
The capstone option is ideal for students whose research interest can best be explored within the academic environment or whose research requires solely an extensive review of extant literature and materials available in libraries, archives, or online. Field research (e.g., interviews, surveys) will not be conducted if the student selects the capstone option. Students completing a capstone complete all required coursework in AAD 630 and 631, with the exception of submitting human subjects compliance applications. The research proposal does not include a research design for field research; rather, it provides an explanation of the ways in which two selected capstone courses will serve to explore the research question and a preliminary outline of the final capstone paper. The outcome of the capstone is a synthesis paper which is reviewed and approved by the student’s advisor. The synthesis paper explores the research topic by synthesizing across materials presented in the two additional courses as well as an additional review of published materials, other documents, and information on the Internet. Students selecting the capstone option must take two additional courses (6-8 credits) pertinent to their area of inquiry, beyond those required in the core AAD master’s curriculum and the area of concentration requirements. These two courses can be within AAD or outside the program and do count toward the total minimum degree requirement hours. The two additional courses must be approved by the student’s research advisor and academic advisor and taken after the final research proposal is approved. Students completing a capstone enroll in a minimum of 1 credit per term of AAD 601 while working with their research advisor.

Required Research Courses

Research Writing (1 credit) AAD 508 -- fall quarter of first year
This half-day workshop will provide an overview of the Arts & Administration research sequence and will focus on use of the APA format guidelines, general UO research resources available to students, a tour of the AAA Library, and an introduction to web-based library research methods.

Research Methods (4 credits, taken for grade) AAD 630 – spring quarter of first year
This course introduces a range of research methodologies and methods in arts administration. Students explore their own research interest area(s) and methodological interest area(s) throughout the course and develop a preliminary research concept for their master’s thesis, project or capstone. Faculty research advisors are assigned at the end of spring term.

Proposal Development (3 credits) AAD 631 – fall quarter of second year
Students revise and develop the research concept prepared during AAD 630, prepare a detailed research design for their master’s thesis, project or capstone, and develop data collection and analysis tools to allow them to commence research in the following winter quarter.

Thesis Research (6 credits minimum) AAD 503
Enrollment requirement for students researching and writing their final thesis, within guidelines established by the Graduate School of the University of Oregon. Students completing a thesis must also enroll in an additional research methodology class beyond AAD 630, appropriate to the thesis study.

Project Research (6 credits minimum) AAD 601
Enrollment requirement for students researching and writing their terminal project, within guidelines established by the Arts and Administration Program.

Capstone Research (1 credit minimum) AAD 601
Enrollment requirement for students writing their synthesis capstone paper, within guidelines established by the Arts and Administration Program.



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Although some students choose to participate in a “practicum” (AAD 609) at various points during their graduate studies, the research component formally begins with the internship requirement. In the fall quarter of the first year, in consultation with faculty, students begin to design their summer internship experience. During winter quarter, students enroll in a one-credit Internship course that supports the development of the summer Internship. The required research methods course in spring quarter of the first year of study drives development of a preliminary research concept for the final master’s thesis, project, or capstone. The summer internship experience will likely inform and refine this preliminary research concept, so that students are prepared to begin developing a detailed research design at the start of the second year of study. The final research component commences in winter quarter of the second year in cooperation with an assigned faculty advisor. In winter and spring quarters of the second year, students register for thesis credits, research credits, or courses selected for the capstone option. The Master’s Research Requirement In the final phase of the master’s degree program of study in arts management, students are required to demonstrate their ability to select and frame a research topic, propose and implement a plan of inquiry, report the results in written form and conduct a public presentation. There are three options available to students for completing this final research phase: a Thesis, a Project, or a Capstone. Details regarding coursework requirements, anticipated research timelines, and faculty expectations for each option are provided to students in the program so that they can make an informed decision in selecting the option best matched to their individual research interests and goals. A brief summary of each option follows. Thesis Option The outcome of the thesis option is an in-depth, documented investigation of a carefully developed research question. It is pursued with the supervision of a research director and in consultation with a selected committee. The committee is comprised of two faculty members from the Arts and Administration Program and one outside member (i.e., from another UO department). A thesis committee can include someone from outside the UO faculty as the outside member if appropriate and with the approval of the research director. The thesis, typically 75-150 pages in length, must conform to the UO Graduate School standards and be approved by the master’s thesis committee. An additional methodology class beyond AAD 630 is required. Students must comply with Graduate School thesis requirements and formatting guidelines. A public presentation and oral defense of the thesis is required. Students completing a thesis typically find it necessary to extend the duration of their studies past two years. Students completing a thesis enroll in a minimum of 3 credits per term of AAD 503 while working with their thesis committee. Project Option The AAD Master’s Research Project option provides a very flexible option to students to develop an individual area of research expertise to support their academic and professional goals. The project is developed under the supervision of and is approved by the assigned AAD faculty research advisor (project advisor). The level of academic rigor expected is similar to that expected of students completing a thesis; however, an additional research methods course is not required, students do not have a formal committee advising the study, and students must adhere to AAD project submission guidelines (provided in AAD 631) rather than UO Graduate School guidelines. Many students complete a thesis-like conceptual/theoretical research paper that involves an extensive review of literature and field research. Findings from the study often result in specific implications and recommendations, which may be summarized and presented as a list of recommendations, an executive summary, or a drafted journal article. Some students choose to develop a “product” (e.g., a guidebook, a website, a video, a curriculum, a set of educational materials) supported by an academic report that explains the process through which the product was created and the larger disciplinary context. Students completing a project enroll in a minimum of 3 credits per term of AAD 601 while working with their research advisor. Capstone Option The capstone option is ideal for students whose research interest can best be explored within the academic environment or whose research requires solely an extensive review of extant literature and materials available in libraries, archives, or online. Field research (e.g., interviews, surveys) will not be conducted if the student selects the capstone option. Students completing a capstone complete all required coursework in AAD 630 and 631, with the exception of submitting human subjects compliance applications. The research proposal does not include a research design for field research; rather, it provides an explanation of the ways in which two selected capstone courses will serve to explore the research question and a preliminary outline of the final capstone paper. The outcome of the capstone is a synthesis paper which is reviewed and approved by the student’s advisor. The synthesis paper explores the research topic by synthesizing across materials presented in the two additional courses as well as an additional review of published materials, other documents, and information on the Internet. Students selecting the capstone option must take two additional courses (6-8 credits) pertinent to their area of inquiry, beyond those required in the core AAD master’s curriculum and the area of concentration requirements. These two courses can be within AAD or outside the program and do count toward the total minimum degree requirement hours. The two additional courses must be approved by the student’s research advisor and academic advisor and taken after the final research proposal is approved. Students completing a capstone enroll in a minimum of 1 credit per term of AAD 601 while working with their research advisor. Required Research Courses Research Writing (1 credit) AAD 508 -- fall quarter of first year This half-day workshop will provide an overview of the Arts & Administration research sequence and will focus on use of the APA format guidelines, general UO research resources available to students, a tour of the AAA Library, and an introduction to web-based library research methods. Research Methods (4 credits, taken for grade) AAD 630 – spring quarter of first year This course introduces a range of research methodologies and methods in arts administration. Students explore their own research interest area(s) and methodological interest area(s) throughout the course and develop a preliminary research concept for their master’s thesis, project or capstone. Faculty research advisors are assigned at the end of spring term. Proposal Development (3 credits) AAD 631 – fall quarter of second year Students revise and develop the research concept prepared during AAD 630, prepare a detailed research design for their master’s thesis, project or capstone, and develop data collection and analysis tools to allow them to commence research in the following winter quarter. Thesis Research (6 credits minimum) AAD 503 Enrollment requirement for students researching and writing their final thesis, within guidelines established by the Graduate School of the University of Oregon. Students completing a thesis must also enroll in an additional research methodology class beyond AAD 630, appropriate to the thesis study. Project Research (6 credits minimum) AAD 601 Enrollment requirement for students researching and writing their terminal project, within guidelines established by the Arts and Administration Program. Capstone Research (1 credit minimum) AAD 601 Enrollment requirement for students writing their synthesis capstone paper, within guidelines established by the Arts and Administration Program.