WAGS/ProQuest Distinguished Master's Thesis and Innovation in Technology Awards
The WAGS/ProQuest Distinguished Master's Thesis Award in STEM Disciplines (Biological Sciences, Mathematical Sciences, Physical Sciences, Life Sciences and Engineering) and the WAGS/ProQuest Distinguished Master's Thesis Award in Humanities, Social Sciences, Education, and Business Disciplines recognizes distinguished scholarly achievement at the master's level. Nominations will be accepted in any of the above-listed disciplines in which the institution offers a Master's degree.
The WAGS/ProQuest Distinguished Master's Thesis and/or Final Master's Capstone Project Award in the Creative, Visual and Performing Arts recognizes distinguished scholarly and creative arts' achievement at the master's level. Nominations will be accepted from the following disciplines in which the institution offers a Master's degree; Creative, Visual, and Performing Arts.
The WAGS/ ProQuest Innovation in Technology Award recognizes distinguished scholarly achievement at the Master's or doctoral level. This award is given for the development of an innovative technology in a thesis or dissertation and its utilization for the creative solution of a a major problem.
The Awards are granted by the Western Association of Graduate Schools (WAGS) and are sponsored by ProQuest.
WAGS/ProQuest Distinguished Master's Thesis Awards in STEM Disciplines, and Humanities, Social Sciences, Education, and Business Disciplines:
The scholarly product eligible for this competition is a formal written thesis. If a nominating department offers both a thesis option and a project option, only the thesis is acceptable for consideration for this award. The nominee must have successfully defended and submitted the final copy of their thesis towards the master's degree within the period July 1, 2023, through June 30, 2024.
WAGS/ProQuest Distinguished Master's Thesis and/or Final Master's Capstone Project Award in the Creative, Visual and Performing Arts:
The scholarly or creative work eligible for this competition is one of the following:
- A traditional, formal written thesis;
- A major capstone paper or creative product (e.g. collection of poetry);
- An audio, video, or digital file of a performance, portfolio, or exhibition.
Since many fine and performing arts Master's projects involve a combination of written and artistic products, both may be submitted for review (if applicable) and considered in the decision for the award. Nominees must have successfully completed all requirements for their scholarly or creative work in the context of degree progression and/or completion.
Typically, this means that a written thesis will have been successfully defended and final copy submitted; their major capstone paper or creative product will have been submitted and evaluated for degree completion; or their performance, portfolio, or exhibition will have been publicly presented and/or evaluated for degree completion, as appropriate within the period of July 1, 2023, through June 30, 2024.
WAGS/ProQuest Innovation in Technology Award:
The nominee must have successfully defended and submitted the final copy of their thesis or dissertation towards the master's or doctoral degree within the period July 1, 2023, through June 30, 2024.
WAGS/ProQuest Distinguished Master's Thesis, and Innovation in Technology Awards
- Originality of the study
- Scope and significance of the study
- Contribution to the discipline and/or profession
- Overall quality of the summary and abstract of the thesis
WAGS/ProQuest Distinguished Master's Thesis and/or Final Master's Capstone Project Award in the Creative, Visual and Performing Arts
- Originality
- Aesthetic merit
- Technical execution
- Potential to reach beyond the original academic audience through future performance, exhibition, or publication.
Finalists will be asked to provide an electronic copy of the thesis and/or project.
Departments are to review the memos below for detailed instructions of each award category:
The deadline for Departments to submit one nomination per award via GSMS is Tuesday, October 1, 2024.
The deadline for GPS to submit nominations to WAGS is October 11, 2024. WAGS will notify all nominating institutions once a comprehensive review of the nominations is complete.