The PhD dissertation is a book-length written project based on original research undertaken by the candidate. It serves two purposes: to demonstrate that the candidate is capable of original research and to contribute to the knowledge of the field.
You should be working toward the selection of a dissertation topic from the moment of matriculation in the program, if not before. By the end of the first year in the program, you should have a good sense of the direction your research will take.
The formal dissertation proposal is your opportunity to refine the problem to be researched and design the research methods. It is also the Supervisory Committee's opportunity to review and evaluate your research plans and advise you about the value and feasibility of the proposed project.
The Dissertation Proposal
The dissertation proposal is usually 20-30 pages in length. In it, you must
- define the scope of the research,
- convince the Supervisory Committee that your research project will produce knowledge valuable to the field, and
- demonstrate that the research methods are valid and appropriate to the question at issue.
A Supervisory Committee's signature to the Application for Candidacy Form, signals that the dissertation proposal has been approved and attests that you are ready to conduct independent dissertation research (though completion of the requirement is not guaranteed).
Because the choice of a topic and research design is so critical to your success, Committees will rigorously review these proposals and may require multiple revisions.
In general, the proposal will consist of the following components (which may be tailored somewhat for each project):
- Statement of the question at issue (problem): What problem or question have you identified as the focus of your research? Provide a brief overview of the theoretical and methodological frameworks within which you intend to work. You will explicate these in more detail later.
- Literature review: The literature review accomplishes several things:
o It helps provide a context in which to locate your project, showing the existence of a scholarly conversation in which you are about to participate.
o It provides evidence that the subject is important enough to your field to have generated discussion.
o It establishes your authority to enter the conversation, showing that you are knowledgeable about the discussion and would be a credible participant.
o It allows you to formulate an argument for the exigency and value of the project you are about to undertake. In addition to showing that your topic has generated scholarly debate, you need to shape your review to show that your topic
o represents a gap in current knowledge
o an area that has been inadequately or incompletely researched, and/or
o an area that warrants a revisit because new theoretical perspectives or research tools might provide new knowledge.
- Procedures: This section of your proposal explains how you will go about your research.
o What methods of gathering data will you use, and why?
o What methods will you use to analyze the data and why?
o Contextualize your collection and analysis methods in the theoretical assumptions and approaches that guide your research.
As you construct your research methodology, be aware that any research involving human beings must receive approval from the Institutional Review Board (IRB). You must have this approval before your dissertation proposal is approved.
- Outline: Provides a tentative outline of your dissertation, with chapter headings and a few lines of explanation under each. Add forecasts and transitions to help explain the rationale for your organization. Your readers will want to know why you have divided it this way and why you have chosen this sequence for the sections.
- Timetable: Presents a schedule that you plan to follow for completing the research and writing the dissertation. Bearing in mind the deadlines published by the School of Graduate Studies and your own plans for graduation, identify a tentative defense date and work backwards from that.
- Completion: You should plan to complete your proposal as soon after passing the comprehensive exam as you are able, but no later than one semester after completion.
o Work with your major professor to develop your proposal, consulting with him/her about essential literature to read, about focusing your topic effectively, about selecting research and analysis methods, and about a feasible timetable.
o You should also meet with other members of the Supervisory Committee, especially those who have specialized knowledge in areas important to your work.
The Dissertation
You will:
- Meet with your supervisory Committee as a whole once each Spring semester for a formal review of progress on the dissertation
- Meet informally with the major professor on a fairly regular basis
- Meet with other Committee members as necessary
You must consult the Utah State University Publication Guide for GraduateStudents for style rules for the dissertation.
You and your major professor will decide when the manuscript is ready to submit to the Supervisory Committee for final review prior to the oral defense. The oral defense consists of a 90-minute public discussion of your research. All members of the Supervisory Committee must be present. The Supervisory Committee must unanimously approve the dissertation (see the General Catalog).
According to University regulations, you have 8 years from matriculation to finish the PhD degree.
Timetable for the Dissertation Proposal and Dissertation
1. Before the end of your third semester in the program, invite an eligible faculty member to serve as your major professor, and consult with him/her to form the Supervisory Committee.
2. Meet with the Supervisory Committee (now replacing the Director of Graduate Studies and the Exams Committee as advisors) in the Spring semester of each year after the first to discuss the direction of your research, possible methods and essential literature.
3. Begin reading for the literature review, refining your research question as you do.
4. After passing the Comprehensive Exam, write your dissertation proposal.
5. Submit a request for approval of your research to the Human Subjects Board, if using human subjects.
6. Schedule the proposal review with your Supervisory Committee.
7. Submit copies of the proposal to the Supervisory Committee at least two weeks before the scheduled Review.
8. Meet with the Supervisory Committee to discuss approval of the proposal. The Committee may require extensive revision of the proposal.
9. When the proposal is approved, submit the Application for Candidacy for Doctoral Degree Form to the School of Graduate Studies. (Research using human subjects must have been approved by the IRB before the School of Graduate Studies will approve the Application for Candidacy. No human subject research may be implemented before approval.)
10. Begin collecting data for the dissertation.
11. Write the dissertation.
12. Submit chapters as they are completed to your major professor. He/she may require revision, and will determine when the chapters are ready for circulation to other Committee members.
13. With the major professor, determine when the completed, revised manuscript is ready for final review by the Committee.
14. Schedule the oral defense of the dissertation at least 7 weeks before the anticipated degree-completion date. He/she will submit the completed dissertation to the Committee at least one month before the defense. Each committee member must read and approve the dissertation before signing the Appointment for Examination form.
Signed by all Supervisory Committee members, this form affirms that the members believe the dissertation is ready for defense (see the General Catalog). You will circulate the Appointment for Examination Form to the Supervisory Committee and submit it to the School of Graduate Studies a minimum of 10 working days prior to the oral defense (see the General Catalog).
15. After scheduling the oral defense, receive several forms for completion of the degree process (see the General Catalog).
The Oral Defense
The Supervisory Committee records the results of the defense and any additional requirements on the Record of Examination Completion form and submits it to the Graduate School Office.
You submit the dissertation to the thesis coordinator for final review of format, style and mechanics. You must revise in compliance with the thesis coordinator's requirements before the thesis coordinator will submit the dissertation to the graduate dean for approval (see the General Catalog).
The Dean of the School of Graduate Studies gives final approval to the dissertation, and has the authority to require further review (see the General Catalog).
All graduation forms must be completed, fees paid, and forms submitted to the School of Graduate Studies before a degree can be closed out.
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