The first review point in your program is a scholarly product requirement that must be completed by the end of your fourth semester. This requirement can be met in one of two ways: you can submit a research study to a refereed journal or submit a proposal for a presentation at an annual conference of a national organization. This is Review I and your doctoral committee will determine whether the scholarly product is acceptable.
The second review point is the completion of a comprehensive examination during your fourth semester. You and your committee will determine the content of this examination. It differs from the traditional comprehensive examination format in that it will focus on in-depth reading and writing directly related to your planned dissertation topic rather than on mastery of preciously learned core information. This is Review II.
After successfully completing Review I (satisfying the scholarly product requirement) and Review II (passing the comprehensive examination), you may then submit a dissertation proposal to your doctoral committee and submit the accompanying “Dissertation Prospectus” form to the Graduate College. The doctoral committee will meet and determine whether to accept or reject the prospectus. A prospectus can be accepted provisionally given that the student follows the committee’s suggestions in the dissertation.
A dissertation is an original contribution to current knowledge in the field and a demonstration that you have achieved sufficient mastery in the field of pursue independent research and scholarship.
When the dissertation is complete, a defense will be scheduled and conducted in accordance with the Graduate College’s policies for thesis and dissertation completion. It will be your responsibility to file the required “Notification of Oral or Written Examination” form with the Graduate College in a timely manner.