The thesis proposal is especially important, because it establishes the research question(s) and describes the conceptual framework of the paper and the methodology to be used in the study.Remember, we are looking for original research!

“The proposal should explain the question or problem to be investigated and convince the thesis professor that the question or problem merits investigation. It should show that the student has read the relevant and recent literature on the subject, and it should contain a list of academically appropriate resources consulted during the preliminary stages of research. In general, the thesis proposal should include background information related to the research topic, purpose of the research, methodology, and analytic procedures to be used.”

Length of the proposal will not exceed five double-spaced pages, excluding references and quotations.

In selecting a capstone thesis, students may want to consider whether it contributes to their future professional growth and/or whether it could have a constructive effect on some aspect of public administration that is especially interesting to them. Students are expected to develop capstone proposals on their own, but the professor may be able to assist in considering alternatives. Topics should be neither so broad as to be unmanageable (for example, the organizational structure of the federal government) or so narrow as to be of value only to a few specialists (for example, the organizational structure of a small operating unit within a larger agency).

Don’t forget to note how it ties to the Public Administration program objectives. It does not have to relate to them all but should be related to several. They are:

• Assess the leading approaches to managing public organizations
• Evaluate the moral, legal, and ethical aspects of decision-making in the public sector
• Evaluate the government budgeting process and funding of government programs and organizations
• Appraise the role of government organizations in public policy development and implementation
• Develop solutions to a public issue that take into account multiple stakeholders and decision-makers
• Implement the core concept of public service by providing evidence of service to the public or nonprofit sector
• Critique a difficult political situation and offer creative and innovative solutions that take into account multiple stakeholders and decision-makers
• Implement the core concept of public service by providing evidence of service to the public or nonprofit sector
• Assess the part diversity, or lack thereof, plays in public administration

• ****Once the topic proposal is approved, I will post 2 following
• assignments- 1 for a literature review and one for the thesis
• paper itself, which will be 50 pages. select a topic that Is
• researchable and can be discussed for a 50 page thesis paper.
• Some topics I think could work, something about the federal
• pay wage, transparency of public officials or the impact of
• technology to public administration.
• (New message I sent today)Some additional guidance provided today
• from the professor regarding topic selection:
• I generally suggest keeping it small. For example, think about
• something on a state or local level rather than a global level or even a
• national level. This should help you find something that no one has
• done before.
• Remember we are looking for original research. You should avoid the
• typical urge to fall back on a research paper. You will include what
• others have said on the topic in your lit review but I am looking for
• how you will contribute to the literature. Examples of topics from other
• classes include an assessment of the current definitions of terrorism
• and submission of a revised version, examining the evolving ethical
• environment in the House of Representatives, determining if
• performance management can improve US Government performance
• in environmental disasters, and many others. These all reviewed
• current programs and literature but took it further to either provide
• revised regulations, suggested language for revision, or new
• programs that should be implemented. This is by no means an
• exhaustive list but you get the idea!
• -If you want me to choose the topic, I can. I thought it would be easier
• for you, if you choose a topic so you could research something you
• might find interesting? Thoughts?

**** Once the topic proposal is approved, I will post 2 following assignments – 1 for a literature review and one for the thesis paper itself, which will be 50 pages, select a topic that is researchable and can be discussed for a 50 page thesis paper.Some topics I think would work, something transparency of public officials, lobbyists and how this is tracked in my state Texas, how technology (or lack thereof) affect the public sector and non-profits (less money = less technology in many cases), or how public school teachers could be positively impacted by a pay for performance metrics in the state of Texas.

Some additional guidance provided today from the professor regarding topic selection:

I generally suggest keeping it small.For example, think about something on a state or local level rather than a global level or even a national level.This should help you find something that no one has done before.

Remember we are looking for original research.You should avoid the urge to fall back on a research paper.You will include what others have said on the topic in your lit review but I am looking for how you will contribute to the literature.Examples of topics from other classes include an assessment of the current definitions of terrorism and submission of revised version, examining the evolving ethical environment in the House of Representatives, determining of performance management can improve US government performance in environmental disasters, and many others.These all reviewed current programs and literature but took it further to either provide revised regulations, suggested language for revision, or new programs that should be implemented.This is by no means an exhaustive list but you get the idea!

If you want me to choose the topic, I can.I thought it would be easier for you, if you choose a topic so you could research something you might find interesting?Thoughts on this?