Diploma Thesis

the final educational-research project carried out by a student graduating from a university, from a higher educational institution in economics, the theater, or the arts, or from a certain type of secondary specialized educational institution.

As a rule, a diploma thesis represents an independent investigation of some significant question in an area of specialization selected by the student. The diploma thesis has as its aim the systematization, generalization, and verification of the specialized theoretical knowledge and practical skills of the graduating student. A thesis requires sufficient theoretical elaboration of the subject, including analysis of experiments, observations, or literary and other sources dealing with the question being investigated. Diploma theses of students graduating from higher educational institutions in the arts include the performance of a role (actor), the staging of a play (director), or the presentation of documentary film material (cameraman). Diploma theses in artistic specialties may be paintings, works of graphic or decorative applied art, sculpture, and stage scenery. Graduates of institutes of literature submit literary works for their theses. The defense of a thesis of a theoretical or experimental nature is stipulated for some specialties in higher technical schools instead of a diploma project.

A thesis is defended at meetings of the state examination commission of higher educational institutions and of the state qualification commission of secondary specialized educational institutions. Graduates who have defended a diploma thesis and have passed a state examination in one of the social-political disciplines are awarded a diploma certifying the appropriate qualification.