Moving Image Archiving and Preservation | MIAP Thesis/Portfolio Guidelines

2008–2009 MIAP Thesis Guidelines

The MIAP thesis is a capstone project in the form of an academic paper, a preservation project, or a professional portfolio:

An academic paper must demonstrate substantial research and analysis addressing an aspect of the history, theory, or practice of moving image archiving and preservation. The paper should contribute to the field and have the potential to be published.
A preservation project is based in a collection where the student performs tasks in collection assessment, management, planning, access, and/or funding. The project's written component typically contains two parts: a report or document deliverable to the manager of the collection, and an analysis of the project’s significance for moving image archiving or preservation.
A professional portfolio includes an essay synthesizing topics studied during the MIAP program, as well as the best examples of papers and projects that the student has completed during course work. The portfolio involves both re-writing of previously completed work, as well as the new synthesis essay. The portfolio should serve as an example of what the student might present a potential employer. It must therefore be "packaged" appropriately and include a vita and list of references.

Students should begin thinking about a thesis topic and form during the second semester of the first year, and come back after summer internship with particular ideas. Seek advice from advisors and other faculty at any time.

Second-year MIAP students must follow this 2007–08 thesis schedule:

Late August – September — Meet with your advisor, and other faculty as needed, to discuss your thesis/project ideas.
September 24 — Deadline to declare the form of your thesis (academic paper, preservation project or portfolio); your topic/focus; and your potential partner, if you are doing a preservation project. E-mail this to Howard Besser and Mona Jimenez in the form of a paragraph, or more if needed.
October 22 — Deadline for submission of a proposal. The proposal (at least 1–2 pages) should include a working title, a developed focus, a proposed methodology, and your final partner, if applicable. For a paper: propose a thesis statement (or a question to be answered), then discuss your topic, approach, and intended research; include a preliminary, annotated bibliography of at least 5 relevant resources. For a preservation project, briefly describe the collection, outline major tasks and "deliverables", and identify the archiving/preservation issue(s) you expect to address. For a portfolio, outline the themes of your synthesis essay and identify the papers and projects you will include. (E-mail proposals to Besser, Jimenez and Dan Streible.)
October – mid–November — Students will receive feedback on their proposals, which will be circulated to those MIAP faculty, relevant Cinema Studies faculty, and preservation professionals that are serving as Thesis Advisors. Advisor names will be circulated to the students so that they may express their first and second choices for Advisors. Proposals may need to be re–written at this stage. In any case, students will commence work.
November 5 — Deadline for approval of proposal and assignment of Thesis Advisor.
By November 21st — Student and Thesis Advisor have first meeting and develop a schedule for meetings and other expectations. Meetings should be held biweekly during the semesters.
In the first month of "Advanced Topics" an outline will be due. Students are expected to begin writing a draft at this time.
April 3, 2009 — Draft is submitted to Thesis Advisor and Advanced Topics Instructor.
Week of April 13, 2009 — Students must present their theses in a public lecture. For portfolios, the MIAP Program will invite at least one professional working in a relevant field, who will give feedback to the student and help evaluate the work.
May 6, 2009 — Deadline for submission of completed thesis. (MIAP Director or Thesis Advisors may ask that minor revisions be made for the final deposit copy. Each thesis will become part of the MIAP digital archive.)

The MIAP Director, Associate Directors, and Thesis Advisors will decide if the student has successfully completed the thesis. The thesis grade is a major portion of the grade for Advanced Topics.