6.5 PREPARING THE PROSPECTUS
The dissertation prospectus is a document used to propose and design the research study to be completed by the student. A typical dissertation 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 consultation with their dissertation supervisor for the preparation and presentation of the prospectus, the following is strongly suggested for students who anticipate graduating in four years. Following the successful completion of Comprehensive Exams, two working copies of the prospectus would be sent to Office of Church Ministry and Leadership Studies by August 1; one copy is given to the dissertation supervisor, the second copy is made available to the second reader.
The dissertation supervisor then returns the working version to the doctoral student by September 1. The student then has three calendar weeks to submit two defense copies of the prospectus through the Office of Church Ministry and Leadership Studies for the oral defense open hearing at the beginning of October.
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 (dissertation supervisor)
- One copy for the second reader
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.