The Graduate School encourages and supports the wide range of dissertation topics and methodologies generated in the programs. The dissertation proposal represents a formal understanding between the Dissertation Committee and the doctoral student. The proposal approval along with the final oral defense of the dissertation constitute the exam of depth. This agreement outlines the work to be done and the intellectual rigor the Committee expects from the student. The proposal functions as a map, guiding the student towards the effective completion of the dissertation project.

The dissertation proposal should substantially advance the doctoral candidate toward completion of the dissertation.  In many cases, it takes the form of the comprehensive chapters of the dissertation. The proposal should contain detail enough to describe the significance, background, and rationale for the dissertation and the work the Candidate will perform for the dissertation. Proposal approval is initiated often as part of the oral portion of the comprehensive exam. Some programs expect a proposal defense that is a scheduled and announced public event.  However, the deliberations of the Dissertation Committee shall be private. Program handbook must have clear processes as to how proposals are accepted.

Multiple Authored Dissertations

In situations where dissertations have multiple authors, it is the responsibility of the advisory/dissertation committee chair to identify the percentage of proposed work to be developed by each of the contributors and submit it to the Graduate School for approval. To be submitted as part of a student’s dissertation, the student must be primary author. This must be done at the proposal stage and again at the final defense if the original plan has been revised. (See Dissertations with Multiple Authors form.)