6.5 Preparing the Dissertation Prospectus
The Dissertation Prospectus is a document used to propose and design the research study to be completed by the student. A typical dissertation (see Appendix A) is five chapters in length. The Dissertation Prospectus is generally comprised of the first three chapters of the dissertation.
6.5.1 Timeline
Because the prospectus proposes future research, future tense should be used in describing the research design.
While schedules of students may vary, in regards to the preparation and presentation of the prospectus, the following is strongly suggested for students who anticipate graduating in three and a half years. Following the successful completion of Comprehensive Exams, three working copies of the prospectus would be sent to CSGS by within two months; one copy is given to the dissertation supervisor, the second copy is made available to the second reader, and the third is sent to the style supervisor.
Dissertation supervisors and the style supervisor then return the working version to the doctoral students within one month. The student then has three calendar weeks to submit three defense copies of the prospectus through CSGS for the oral defense open hearing.
6.5.2 Prospectus Content
Essentially, the Prospectus is written in future tense and is comprised of the first three chapters of the dissertation fully developed (research problem, precedent literature, and methodology), an overview of chapters four and five (findings and conclusions), plus correctly formatted preliminaries, appendices, vita, and brief abstract (written in future terms).
6.5.3 Copies Required
The number of copies printed on regular paper is as follows:
- One copy for the Dissertation Committee Chair
- One copy for the Second Reader
- One copy for style checking
Once the defense copies of the prospectus are submitted, no further changes can be made to the document.
Students who discover minor changes that are needed in the prospectus after the defense copies are submitted should make note of the changes and identify them during the open hearing.