Eligibility
Instructions for Nominations: To be considered, applicants must have completed their master’s degree
requirements and thesis during the period between Fall 2023 through Summer 2025, inclusive. The
Graduate School will verify eligibility.
2026 Award Categories
▪ Life Sciences (1 award): This includes, for example, biology; botany; zoology; ecology; developmental
biology; molecular biology; genetics; genomics; nutrition; biochemistry; biophysics; microbiology;
pathology; pharmacology; physiology; cell biology; neurosciences; immunology; and related fields.
▪ Social Sciences, Business, and Education (1 award): This includes, for example, anthropology,
accountancy, business, communications, criminal justice, demography, economics, education, finance,
gender and sexual studies, geography, government, international relations, law, linguistics, management,
marketing, political science, psychology, public administration, public policy studies, sociology, social
work, urban studies, and research in closely related fields.
▪ Non-traditional Thesis/ Project Award (1 award): This category refers to both theses in any field that do not readily conform to the traditional model, such as those produced in MFA programs both for literature and the performing arts, as well as those that deviate from the typical disciplinary approaches. Furthermore, it also includes capstone/final research-oriented projects in non-thesis degree programs.
Evaluation Process
Each submission will be reviewed and evaluated on the basis of clarity of style and presentation, scholarship, research methodology, and contributions to the field or discipline.
Application Materials
▪ A synopsis of the thesis (500-word maximum) outlining its context within the broader field, as well as how the completed research contributes to the discipline, prepared by the nominee.
▪ An abbreviated resume or CV for the nominee (2 page maximum, prepared by the nominee);
▪ A web link to the thesis or an electronic copy submitted by email;
▪ A letter of support/endorsement from the major professor focused on the criteria by which the committee will evaluate the submitted theses. These consist of: clarity of style and presentation, scholarship, research methodology, and contributions to the field or discipline.
▪ The thesis was approved in partial fulfillment of requirements for the master’s degree and that the student completed the master’s degree within the past two academic years and/or summer sessions (Fall 2023 through Summer 2025).
Award: The winners will receive $500 and an engraved plaque.
Please Note: Materials must be compiled as a single PDF and named as follows: ThesisAward_Category_LastName_FirstName_Institution.pdf and emailed to jhgreen@charlotte.edu.
For more information, please contact jhgreen@charlotte.edu.
The winners will be submitted to the regional CSGS Master’s Thesis Award competition based on their
submission, where they are eligible to win an honorarium of $1,000 and an award plaque. The award
ceremony will take place at our annual meeting in Baton Rouge in 2026.
