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WAGS-ProQuest Distinguished Master’s Thesis and/or Final Master's Capstone Project Award for Creative, Visual & Performing Arts 

Prize Amount: $250 and entrance in the WAGS-ProQuest competition as an official University of Utah nominee

For: all graduate students and graduates of the University of Utah in Creative, Visual, & Performing Arts disciplines who have successfully defended an eligible master’s thesis and/or capstone project.

Due: TBD

This year, The Graduate School will select one master’s thesis or capstone project to represent the University of Utah in the Western Association of Graduate Schools (WAGS)-ProQuest Distinguished Master’s Thesis and/or Final Master's Capstone Project Award for Creative, Visual, and Performing Arts competition. Winners of the nomination process are awarded a cash prize and work with The Graduate School to prepare a competitive nomination packet for the WAGS-ProQuest awards.

Winners of the University of Utah nomination process will receive $250 from The Graduate School and will be entered in the WAGS competition as an official University of Utah nominee. 

Eligibility

  • All graduate students and graduates of the University of Utah in Creative, Visual, & Performing Arts disciplines who have successfully defended and submitted the final copy of an eligible master’s thesis or capstone project are invited to apply.
  • Nominees must have successfully defended their thesis or project between the dates of July 1, 2022 and June 30, 2023.

Applications

 Nomination packets must contain:

  1. Completed nomination form (link is below).
  2. A non-technical summary prepared by the student (1000-1500 words) describing the research, artistic approach, inspiration and/or major influences, and its significance for a general academic audience of non-specialists. For those submitting projects that involve a public performance or exhibition,we encourage a video recording of the event as well, so that the scope and impact of the event can be considered.
  3. An abstract or example of the nominee’s research or project (not to exceed 10 double-spaced pages). Appendices containing nontextual material, such as charts or tables, may be included as additional pages. All pages should be numbered, and each should bear the name of the nominee.
  4. Two nomination letters (not to exceed 1 page per letter) One letter of recommendation from the department head or major professor and one letter from an additional faculty member. The letter should include information regarding the significance of the study, the contribution of the study to the program of the degree granting unit, and the broader impact(s) of the innovation on the knowledge base of the discipline.
  5. CV or resume of the nominee (not to exceed 5 pages).

Nominations will be judged on

  • Originality
  • Aesthetic Merit
  • Technical Execution
  • Potential to reach beyond the original academic audience through future performance, exhibition, or publication

Students who win the Utah nomination process will need to provide additional materials for the WAGS-ProQuest competition.

APPLICATION DEADLINE: TBD

Submit applications to the Graduate School Office

MASTER'S THESIS/CAPSTONE PROJECT AWARD NOMINATION FORM

Packets may also be mailed directly to:

The Graduate School (attention Holly Lumbert)
201 S President’s Circle #302
Salt Lake City, UT 84112

Last Updated: 2/11/25