6.10 THE DISSERTATION AND DEFENSE HEARING
6.10.1 LENGTH OF THE DISSERTATION
The text of the dissertation must conform to the following normative length requirements: be no less than 150 pages and no more than 300 pages. These page limitations apply to the chapters of the dissertation and do not include the preliminary pages, appendices, or other referential matters. Students may petition the dissertation committee for the waiver of normative length requirements.
6.10.2 PREPARING THE DEFENSE COPY OF THE COMPLETED DISSERTATION
The completed dissertation must follow all matters of style as found in the latest edition of the Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association (APA format) and the Capital Seminary & Graduate School Style Manual.
The defense copies of the dissertation are due to the dissertation committee a minimum of three weeks prior to the defense hearing.
The number of defense copies printed on regular paper is as follows:
- One copy for the dissertation committee chair
- One copy for the second reader
- One copy for the external reader, if any
- One copy for style checking
Note: Failure to submit sufficient copies of the defense copy of the dissertation at least two weeks prior to the oral defense open hearing will result in the cancellation of the hearing, possibly delaying graduation.
Once the defense copies of the dissertation are submitted, no further changes can be made to the document. Students who discover minor changes that are needed in the dissertation after the defense copies are submitted should make note of the changes and identify them during the open hearing.
6.10.3 THE DISSERTATION DEFENSE HEARING
6.10.3.1 The Presentation of Findings
The oral defense of the completed dissertation is an open hearing that includes the student, the dissertation committee, student colleagues, and other Capital faculty. The following guidelines and expectations are designed to aid the student in preparation for the defense hearing.
6.10.3.2 Presentation Content
The dissertation defense presentation must consist of the following PowerPoint slides in the following order:
- Dissertation Title (15-17 words maximum) followed by the Research Purpose Statement
- Research Questions or Hypotheses as appropriate to the research design
- Population and Sample
- Synopsis of the Research Process
- Analysis of Findings using key tables and figures-meanings proposed by the data should be stated in short one sentence summary statements
- Research Implications and the Precedent Literature
- Research Applications for Ministry Praxis
- Evaluation of the Current Research Design
- Suggestions for Further Research
- What the student has learned through the exploration of the dissertation topic
6.10.3.3 Hearing Process and Protocols
The dissertation committee will recommend necessary changes to the dissertation during the open hearing rather than in a closed session including or excluding the defending student.
Doctoral students are required to bring a recording device to the open hearing in order to free themselves to interact with the dissertation committee rather than focusing on taking notes on changes to the final copy of the dissertation that are made during the hearing.
6.10.3.4 Potential Dissertation Hearing Presentation Times
Students wishing to graduate in the May graduation time must have hearings scheduled by April 1. Students wishing to graduate in the December graduation time must have hearings schedule by November 1. The prospectus hearing and dissertation hearing cannot occur in the same semester.
6.10.4 DISSERTATION EVALUATION
Students will receive one of the following evaluation reports at the conclusion of the hearing: Passed with no significant changes required; Passed with changes required; Failed.