This calendar lists graduate thesis and dissertation events. Send all notices to the College of Graduate Studies at editor@ucf.edu

Friday, March 03, 2023

  • Dissertation Defense: Narrating the Fragmenting Brain: Alzheimer’s Neuronarratives

    Virtual

    This dissertation examines the representation of Alzheimer’s Disease (AD) neuronarratives (NN), works that centralize the brain or consciousness in the plot, in multiple modalities to support that argument that neuronarratives should be expanded into a transmedia genre. These modalities include neurogames, neurocomics, and neuromemoirs. This dissertation approaches these neuronarratives through the lens and medium of hypertext which complicates the concept …

    Graduate Thesis and Dissertation
  • Dissertation Defense: The Journey Towards a Bachelor’s Degree: Examining the Lived Experiences of Adult Learners as Transfer Students

    Virtual

    This study aimed to investigate the lived experiences of adult learners aged 25 and up who identify as transfer students. The study's first phase included ten participants who previously attended community college and transferred to a university to seek a bachelor's degree. The study's second phase identified narrative themes across the participants’ narratives. This involved analyzing participant responses to interview …

    Graduate Thesis and Dissertation
  • Dissertation Defense: Bridging the gap between Black Americans’ and White Americans’ completion of advance care directives: The role of religion and spirituality in end-of-life planning

    Virtual

    Advance care directives (ACDs) are underutilized by Black American older adults and by members of many religious communities. Goals of study 1 were to replicate these findings and examine the hypothesis that religious affiliation moderates the influence of racial identity on ACD utilization. The goal of study 2 was to compare and contrast the effects of a culturally-sensitive ACD versus …

    Graduate Thesis and Dissertation
  • Dissertation Defense: Mapping the Focal Points of WordPress: A Software and Critical Code Analysis

    Virtual

    Programming languages or code can be examined through numerous analytical lenses. This project is a critical analysis of WordPress, a prevalent web content management system, applying four modes of inquiry. The project draws on theoretical perspectives and areas of study in media, software, platforms, code, language, and power structures. The applied research is based on Critical Code Studies, an interdisciplinary …

    Graduate Thesis and Dissertation
  • Thesis Defense: INKLING: AN EXPLORATION OF VISUAL EFFECTS AS A CHARACTER

    Virtual

    Inkling is an animated short film about a creature made of ink falling into a cycle of anxiety. This film explores the use of visual effects in character design. Inspiration for this film was drawn from Absurdist essays and stories and used abstract imagery and cinematic devices to manipulate the audience into feeling the character's anxiety. This thesis briefly examines …

    Graduate Thesis and Dissertation