ACADEMICS
Overview
Graduation with a master’s degree at KDI School requires completion of course work and a research project. This guideline aims to provide essence of research requirement. All students must present their first full draft, to the final paper, to their Program of Study (POS) committee to submit it to the Academic Affairs Division to graduate. Students are able to submit their final draft within 4 years(12 terms) from their first semester. If you are unable to complete the final draft within this period, you may petition to the School for a one-year extension.
To fulfill the research requirement you may select one of the four research project options listed below—the one that you feel will best serve your career objective yet in consideration of the time constraint while at the School. The options are:
- Thesis Project
- Capstone Project
- Supervised Research Project (SRP)
- Experiential Learning Project (ELP) (for GMP students majoring in MPP, MDP, or MPM only)
While all options address the same underlying objective—the advancement and application of knowledge and skills for the betterment of public policy and management—each has a shade of different requirements in form and substance.
Timeline
Research Project Time Frame by term
Full-time Student
| Time ∕ Project | Thesis | Capstone | SRP | ELP* | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2nd term | 2nd week | Submission of POS Committee Application | *Please refer to the seperate time frame |
||
| 8th week | Submission of the Research Plan | ||||
3rd term |
1st week ~ | ARS (Advanced Research Seminar) Course |
(4th ~ 5th week) Submission of the Final Report | ||
| 10th week | Oral Presentation of your draft | ||||
12th week (Final week) |
Submission of the 1st full draft | ||||
| 4th term | 4th ~ 5th week | Submission of the Final Report | |||
Part-time Student
| Time ∕ Project | Thesis | Capstone | SRP | ELP* | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4th term | 2nd week | Submission of POS Committee Application | *Please refer to the seperate time frame |
||
| 8th week | Submission of the Research Plan | ||||
| 5th term | 1st week ~ | ARS (Advanced Research Seminar) Course | (4th ~ 5th week) Submission of the Final Report | ||
| 10th week | Oral Presentation of ypur draft | ||||
12th week (Final week) |
Submission of the 1st full draft | ||||
| 6th term | 4th ~ 5th week | Submission of the Final Report | |||
GMP Student
| Time ∕ Project | Advanced ELP* | Academic ELP | Essay ELP | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2nd term | 2nd week | Submission of POS Committee Application | ||
| 8th week | Submission of the Research Plan | |||
| 3rd term | 4th ~ 5th week | Submission of the Final Report | (2nd week) Submission of POS Committee Application |
|
| 6th term | 4th ~ 5th week | Submission of the Final Report | ||
Advanced ELP for the 2+3+1 student: The final paper Advanced ELP should be submitted the 2nd term