Dissertation Proposal

After passing the General Exam, the student is expected to develop a proposal characterizing the work he/she intends to do for his/her dissertation. The proposal will be formally shared with the anticipated doctoral reading committee at a scheduled proposal discussion. The committee will then provide the student with a recommendation on how he/she should proceed with the proposed research. The student is encouraged to review the information provided by the graduate school describing the relationship of the supervisory committee and the reading committee.

 

The proposal represents a vehicle for the student to communicate his/her ideas about the anticipated research and a basis for the committee to evaluate and respond to the research.

 

To this end, the proposal should cover three main topics: a) what is planned‚ nature and scope of the problem, specific aims, and anticipated claims, b) what makes this a worthwhile project‚ background and significance, and c) how the research will be conducted‚ theoretical framework(s), research design and rationale, anticipated analysis and potential problems, anticipated timeline, and anticipated chapter outline for dissertation.

 

The proposal should be around 15 pages single-spaced in length (or 30 pages double-spaced). This length was chosen to provide sufficient space for the student to describe the project in a way that permits the committee to provide meaningful feedback, while also permitting the student to prepare the proposal early enough to have the feedback inform the project. It is also noted that this length is consistent with at least one funding agency (the National Science Foundation).

 

The proposal will be formally shared with the Supervisory Committee at a scheduled proposal discussion. The goal of this discussion will be three-fold: a) provide the committee with an additional opportunity to understand the research being proposed, b) provide a venue for the committee to advance the research ideas in collaboration with the student, and c) provide a basis for making the recommendation discussed below.

 

The discussion will not require a presentation. Rather, the discussion will consist of a two-hour private meeting between the student and the committee members. The committee will be in charge of the meeting, and will use the time to raise questions about the research. The student will be responsible for answering questions raised by the committee. To ensure a high quality discussion, the student should distribute the dissertation proposal at least 2 weeks prior to the discussion date.

 

The student should work with his/her chair to schedule this event. This is not scheduled through the graduate school, however, like the general and final exams.

 

Based on the written proposal and discussion of the proposal, the committee will provide one of the following recommendations:

 

a) The committee recommends that the student proceed with the research as described.

b) The committee recommends that the student proceed with the research while giving attention to specific concerns raised by the committee.

c) The committee recommends that the student take a step back from the research in order to address the serious concerns raised by the committee.

d) The committee recommends that the student reconceptualize the project, or consider another project.