Dissertation

Your dissertation should demonstrate your ability to

• Pursue independent research
• Present the result of research in a literate and useful manner
• Contribute to the body of knowledge in your area

Dissertation Development

You write the dissertation under the supervision of the chair of the dissertation committee, with consultation with the other two members. You should meet with the committee for their advice and approval of your plans at least four times during dissertation development:

• for approval of the preliminary approval and exam reading lists
• within a few weeks after you have passed qualifying exams, to establish your current plans for the dissertation
• midway through the dissertation, after you have completed 3 or 4 chapters that the chair has approved. The committee will advise and approve directions for completing the dissertation
• when the dissertation is complete. The committee will recommend scheduling your dissertation defense when it has seen drafts of all the chapters.

You must submit the final draft to the dissertation committee and examination committee members no later than 21 days prior to the final oral examination. The final version of the dissertation should be prepared and submitted in accordance with Instructions for Preparing and Submitting Reports, Theses, and Dissertations, available at the university bookstore.

You may want to review the informal advice on positioning TCR dissertations and exam reading lists.

Oral Examination

A public examination over the dissertation is required before final approval for the degree is given. The defense of the dissertation establishes your competence to stand as an expert in your field. The examination committee includes the three members of your dissertation committee. Other interested faculty and students are invited to attend. A representative of the Graduate Dean also attends.

At least three weeks prior to the examination, you submit to the Graduate School an announcement of the final examination. The announcement must follow the approved format available in the Graduate School office.

The dissertation must be approved unanimously by the committee.

You may want to inspect a list of completed dissertations from this program as a starting point. 

Last Updated by Joyce Locke Carter, September 18, 2008