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Dissertation

What Is a Dissertation? | Guide, Examples, & Template

A dissertation is a long-form piece of academic writing based on original research conducted by you. It is usually submitted as the final step in order to finish a PhD program.

Your dissertation is probably the longest piece of writing you’ve ever completed. It requires solid research, writing, and analysis skills, and it can be intimidating to know where to begin.

Your department likely has guidelines related to how your dissertation should be structured. When in doubt, consult with your supervisor.

You can also download our full dissertation template in the format of your choice below. The template includes a ready-made table of contents with notes on what to include in each chapter, easily adaptable to your department’s requirements.

Download Word template Download Google Docs template

In the US, a dissertation generally refers to the collection of research you conducted to obtain a PhD.
In other countries (such as the UK), a dissertation often refers to the research you conduct to obtain your bachelor’s or master’s degree.

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Dissertation committee and prospectus process, how to write and structure a dissertation, acknowledgements or preface, list of figures and tables, list of abbreviations, introduction, literature review, methodology, reference list, proofreading and editing, defending your dissertation, free checklist and lecture slides.

When you’ve finished your coursework, as well as any comprehensive exams or other requirements, you advance to “ABD” (All But Dissertation) status. This means you’ve completed everything except your dissertation.

Prior to starting to write, you must form your committee and write your prospectus or proposal . Your committee comprises your adviser and a few other faculty members. They can be from your own department, or, if your work is more interdisciplinary, from other departments. Your committee will guide you through the dissertation process, and ultimately decide whether you pass your dissertation defense and receive your PhD.

Your prospectus is a formal document presented to your committee, usually orally in a defense, outlining your research aims and objectives and showing why your topic is relevant . After passing your prospectus defense, you’re ready to start your research and writing.

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The structure of your dissertation depends on a variety of factors, such as your discipline, topic, and approach. Dissertations in the humanities are often structured more like a long essay , building an overall argument to support a central thesis , with chapters organized around different themes or case studies.

However, hard science and social science dissertations typically include a review of existing works, a methodology section, an analysis of your original research, and a presentation of your results , presented in different chapters.

Dissertation examples

We’ve compiled a list of dissertation examples to help you get started.

Example dissertation #1: Heat, Wildfire and Energy Demand: An Examination of Residential Buildings and Community Equity (a dissertation by C. A. Antonopoulos about the impact of extreme heat and wildfire on residential buildings and occupant exposure risks).
Example dissertation #2: Exploring Income Volatility and Financial Health Among Middle-Income Households (a dissertation by M. Addo about income volatility and declining economic security among middle-income households).
Example dissertation #3: The Use of Mindfulness Meditation to Increase the Efficacy of Mirror Visual Feedback for Reducing Phantom Limb Pain in Amputees (a dissertation by N. S. Mills about the effect of mindfulness-based interventions on the relationship between mirror visual feedback and the pain level in amputees with phantom limb pain).

The very first page of your document contains your dissertation title, your name, department, institution, degree program, and submission date. Sometimes it also includes your student number, your supervisor’s name, and the university’s logo.

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The abstract is a short summary of your dissertation, usually about 150 to 300 words long. Though this may seem very short, it’s one of the most important parts of your dissertation, because it introduces your work to your audience.

Your abstract should:

State your main topic and the aims of your research
Describe your methods
Summarize your main results
State your conclusions

Theoretical framework

Your literature review can often form the basis for your theoretical framework. Here, you define and analyze the key theories, concepts, and models that frame your research.

Checklist: Dissertation

My title page includes all information required by my university.

I have included acknowledgements thanking those who helped me.

My abstract provides a concise summary of the dissertation, giving the reader a clear idea of my key results or arguments.

I have created a table of contents to help the reader navigate my dissertation. It includes all chapter titles, but excludes the title page, acknowledgements, and abstract.

My introduction leads into my topic in an engaging way and shows the relevance of my research.

My introduction clearly defines the focus of my research, stating my research questions and research objectives .

My introduction includes an overview of the dissertation’s structure (reading guide).

I have conducted a literature review in which I (1) critically engage with sources, evaluating the strengths and weaknesses of existing research, (2) discuss patterns, themes, and debates in the literature, and (3) address a gap or show how my research contributes to existing research.

I have clearly outlined the theoretical framework of my research, explaining the theories and models that support my approach.

I have thoroughly described my methodology , explaining how I collected data and analyzed data.

I have concisely and objectively reported all relevant results .

I have (1) evaluated and interpreted the meaning of the results and (2) acknowledged any important limitations of the results in my discussion .

I have clearly stated the answer to my main research question in the conclusion .

I have clearly explained the implications of my conclusion, emphasizing what new insight my research has contributed.

I have provided relevant recommendations for further research or practice.

If relevant, I have included appendices with supplemental information.

I have included an in-text citation every time I use words, ideas, or information from a source.

I have listed every source in a reference list at the end of my dissertation.

I have consistently followed the rules of my chosen citation style .

I have followed all formatting guidelines provided by my university.

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What Exactly Is A Dissertation (Or Thesis)?

If you’ve landed on this article, chances are you’ve got a dissertation or thesis project coming up (hopefully it’s not due next week!), and you’re now asking yourself the classic question, “what the #%#%^ is a dissertation?”…

In this post, I’ll break down the basics of exactly what a dissertation is, in plain language. No ivory tower academia.

So, let’s get to the pressing question – what is a dissertation?

A dissertation (or thesis) = a research project

Simply put, a dissertation (or thesis – depending on which country you’re studying in) is a research project . In other words, your task is to ask a research question (or set of questions) and then set about finding the answer(s). Simple enough, right?

Well, the catch is that you’ve got to undertake this research project in an academic fashion , and there’s a wealth of academic language that makes it all (look) rather confusing (thanks, academia). However, at its core, a dissertation is about undertaking research (investigating something). This is really important to understand, because the key skill that your university is trying to develop in you (and will be testing you on) is your ability to undertake research in a well-structured structured, critical and academically rigorous way.

This research-centric focus is significantly different from assignments or essays, where the main concern is whether you can understand and apply the prescribed module theory. I’ll explain some other key differences between dissertations or theses and assignments a bit later in this article, but for now, let’s dig a little deeper into what a dissertation is.

A dissertation (or thesis) is a process.

Okay, so now that you understand that a dissertation is a research project (which is testing your ability to undertake quality research), let’s go a little deeper into what that means in practical terms.

The best way to understand a dissertation is to view it as a process – more specifically a research process (it is a research project, after all). This process involves four essential steps, which I’ll discuss below.

Step 1 – You identify a worthy research question

The very first step of the research process is to find a meaningful research question, or a set of questions. In other words, you need to find a suitable topic for investigation. Since a dissertation is all about research, identifying the key question(s) is the critical first step. Here’s an example of a well-defined research question:

“Which factors cultivate or erode customer trust in UK-based life insurance brokers?”

This clearly defined question sets the direction of the research . From the question alone, you can understand exactly what the outcome of the research might look like – i.e. a set of findings about which factors help brokers develop customer trust, and which factors negatively impact trust.

But how on earth do I find a suitable research question, you ask? Don’t worry about this right now – when you’re ready, you can read our article about finding a dissertation topic . However, right now, the important thing to understand is that the first step in the dissertation process is identifying the key research question(s). Without a clear question, you cannot move forward.

Step 2 – You review the existing research

Once the research question is clearly established, the next step is to review the existing research/literature (both academic and professional/industry) to understand what has already been said with regard to the question. In academic speak, this is called a literature review .

This step is critically important as, in all likelihood, someone else has asked a similar question to yours, and therefore you can build on the work of others . Good academic research is not about reinventing the wheel or starting from scratch – it’s about familiarising yourself with the current state of knowledge, and then using that as your basis for further research.

Simply put, the first step to answering your research question is to look at what other researchers have to say about it. Sometimes this will lead you to change your research question or direction slightly (for example, if the existing research already provides a comprehensive answer). Don’t stress – this is completely acceptable and a normal part of the research process.

Step 3 – You carry out your own research

Once you’ve got a decent understanding of the existing state of knowledge, you will carry out your own research by collecting and analysing the relevant data. This could take to form of primary research (collecting your own fresh data), secondary research (synthesising existing data) or both, depending on the nature of your degree, research question(s) and even your university’s specific requirements.

Exactly what data you collect and how you go about analysing it depends largely on the research question(s) you are asking, but very often you will take either a qualitative approach (e.g. interviews or focus groups) or a quantitative approach (e.g. online surveys). In other words, your research approach can be words-based, numbers-based, or both . Don’t let the terminology scare you and don’t worry about these technical details for now – we’ll explain research methodology in later posts .

Step 4 – You develop answers to your research question(s)

Combining your understanding of the existing research (Step 2) with the findings from your own original research (Step 3), you then (attempt to) answer your original research question (s). The process of asking, investigating and then answering has gone full circle.

A dissertation's structure reflect the research process

Of course, your research won’t always provide rock-solid answers to your original questions, and indeed you might find that your findings spur new questions altogether. Don’t worry – this is completely acceptable and is a natural part of the research process.

So, to recap, a dissertation is best understood as a research process, where you are:

Ask a meaningful research question(s)
Carry out the research (both existing research and your own)
Analyse the results to develop an answer to your original research question(s).

Depending on your specific degree and the way your university designs its coursework, you might be asking yourself “but isn’t this just a longer version of a normal assignment?”. Well, it’s quite possible that your previous assignments required a similar research process, but there are some key differences you need to be aware of, which I’ll explain next.

Same same, but different…

While there are, naturally, similarities between dissertations/theses and assignments, its important to understand the differences so that you approach your dissertation with the right mindset and focus your energy on the right things. Here, I’ll discuss four ways in which writing a dissertation differs substantially from assignments and essays, and why this matters.

Difference #1 – You must decide (and live with) the direction.

Unlike assignments or essays, where the general topic is determined for you, for your dissertation, you will (typically) be the one who decides on your research questions and overall direction. This means that you will need to:

Find a suitable research question (or set of questions)
Justify why its worth investigating (in the form of a research proposal )
Find all the relevant existing research and familiarise yourself with the theory

This is very different from assignments, where the theory is given to you on a platter, and the direction is largely pre-defined. Therefore, before you start the dissertation process, you need to understand the basics of academic research, how to find a suitable research topic and how to source the relevant literature.

Difference #2 – It’s a long project, and you’re on your own.

A dissertation is a long journey, at least compared to assignments. Typically, you will spend 3 – 6 months writing around 15,000 – 25,000 words (for Masters-level, much more for PhD) on just one subject. Therefore, successfully completing your dissertation requires a substantial amount of stamina .

To make it even more challenging, your classmates will not be researching the same thing as you are, so you have limited support, other than your supervisor (who may be very busy). This can make it quite a lonely journey . Therefore, you need a lot of self-discipline and self-direction in order to see it through to the end. You should also try to build a support network of people who can help you through the process (perhaps alumni, faculty or a private coach ).

Difference #3 – They’re testing research skills.

We touched on this earlier. Unlike assignments or essays, where the markers are assessing your ability to understand and apply the theories, models and frameworks that they provide you with, your dissertation will be is assessing your ability to undertake high-quality research in an academically rigorous manner.

Of course, your ability to understand the relevant theory (i.e. within your literature review) is still very important, but this is only one piece of the research skills puzzle. You need to demonstrate the full spectrum of research skills.

It’s important to note that your research does not need to be ground-breaking, revolutionary or world-changing – that is not what the markers are assessing. They are assessing whether you can apply well-established research principles and skills to a worthwhile topic of enquiry. Don’t feel like you need to solve the world’s major problems. It’s simply not going to happen (you’re a first-time researcher, after all) – and doesn’t need to happen in order to earn good marks.

Difference #4 – Your focus needs to be narrow and deep.

In your assignments, you were likely encouraged to take a broad, interconnected, high-level view of the theory and connect as many different ideas and concepts as possible. In your dissertation, however, you typically need to narrow your focus and go deep into one particular topic. Think about the research question we looked at earlier:

The focus is intentionally very narrow – specifically the focus is on:

The UK only – no other countries are being considered.
Life insurance brokers only – not financial services, not vehicle insurance, not medical insurance, etc.
Customer trust only – not reputation, not customer loyalty, not employee trust, supplier trust, etc.

By keeping the focus narrow, you enable yourself to deeply probe whichever topic you choose – and this depth is essential for earning good marks. Importantly, ringfencing your focus doesn’t mean ignoring the connections to other topics – you should still acknowledge all the linkages, but don’t get distracted – stay focused on the research question(s).

So, as you can see, a dissertation is more than just an extended assignment or essay. It’s a unique research project that you (and only you) must lead from start to finish. The good news is that, if done right, completing your dissertation will equip you with strong research skills, which you will most certainly use in the future, regardless of whether you follow an academic or professional path.

Wrapping up

Hopefully in this post, I’ve answered your key question, “what is a dissertation?”, at least at a big picture-level. To recap on the key points:

A dissertation is simply a structured research project .
It’s useful to view a dissertation as a process involving asking a question, undertaking research and then answering that question.
First and foremost, your marker(s) will be assessing your research skills , so its essential that you focus on producing a rigorous, academically sound piece of work (as opposed to changing the world or making a scientific breakthrough).
While there are similarities, a dissertation is different from assignments and essays in multiple ways. It’s important to understand these differences if you want to produce a quality dissertation.

In this post, I’ve gently touched on some of the intricacies of the dissertation, including research questions, data types and research methodologies. Be sure to check out the Grad Coach Blog for more detailed discussion of these areas.

34 Comments

Hello Derek

Yes, I struggle with literature review and am highly frustrated (with myself).

Thank you for the guide that you have sent, especially the apps. I am working through the guide and busy with the implementation of it.

Hope to hear from you again!

Regards Micheal

Great to hear that, Michael. All the best with your research!

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That’s great, Pheladi. Good luck!

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Before this post, I didn’t know where to start my research, today I have some light and do certain % of my research. I may need for direction on literature review. Big thanks to you.

Very very good Derek

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You’re welcome 🙂 Good luck with your dissertation/thesis.

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Reading, Notetaking, and Time Management

What is a thesis?

What is a dissertation, getting started, staying on track.

A thesis is a long-term project that you work on over the course of a semester or a year. Theses have a very wide variety of styles and content, so we encourage you to look at prior examples and work closely with faculty to develop yours.

Before you begin, make sure that you are familiar with the dissertation genre—what it is for and what it looks like.

Generally speaking, a dissertation’s purpose is to prove that you have the expertise necessary to fulfill your doctoral-degree requirements by showing depth of knowledge and independent thinking.

The form of a dissertation may vary by discipline. Be sure to follow the specific guidelines of your department.

PhD This site directs candidates to the GSAS website about dissertations , with links to checklists, planning, formatting, acknowledgments, submission, and publishing options. There is also a link to guidelines for the prospectus . Consult with your committee chair about specific requirements and standards for your dissertation.
DDES This document covers planning, patent filing, submission guidelines, publishing options, formatting guidelines, sample pages, citation guidelines, and a list of common errors to avoid. There is also a link to guidelines for the prospectus .
Scholarly Pursuits (GSAS) This searchable booklet from Harvard GSAS is a comprehensive guide to writing dissertations, dissertation-fellowship applications, academic journal articles, and academic job documents.

Finding an original topic can be a daunting and overwhelming task. These key concepts can help you focus and save time.

Finding a topic for your thesis or dissertation should start with a research question that excites or at least interests you. A rigorous, engaging, and original project will require continuous curiosity about your topic, about your own thoughts on the topic, and about what other scholars have said on your topic. Avoid getting boxed in by thinking you know what you want to say from the beginning; let your research and your writing evolve as you explore and fine-tune your focus through constant questioning and exploration.

Get a sense of the broader picture before you narrow your focus and attempt to frame an argument. Read, skim, and otherwise familiarize yourself with what other scholars have done in areas related to your proposed topic. Briefly explore topics tangentially related to yours to broaden your perspective and increase your chance of finding a unique angle to pursue.

Critical Reading

Critical reading is the opposite of passive reading. Instead of merely reading for information to absorb, critical reading also involves careful, sustained thinking about what you are reading. This process may include analyzing the author’s motives and assumptions, asking what might be left out of the discussion, considering what you agree with or disagree with in the author’s statements and why you agree or disagree, and exploring connections or contradictions between scholarly arguments. Here is a resource to help hone your critical-reading skills:

http://writing.umn.edu/sws/assets/pdf/quicktips/criticalread.pdf

Conversation

Your thesis or dissertation will incorporate some ideas from other scholars whose work you researched. By reading critically and following your curiosity, you will develop your own ideas and claims, and these contributions are the core of your project. You will also acknowledge the work of scholars who came before you, and you must accurately and fairly attribute this work and define your place within the larger discussion. Make sure that you know how to quote, summarize, paraphrase , integrate , and cite secondary sources to avoid plagiarism and to show the depth and breadth of your knowledge.

A thesis is a long-term, large project that involves both research and writing; it is easy to lose focus, motivation, and momentum. Here are suggestions for achieving the result you want in the time you have.

The dissertation is probably the largest project you have undertaken, and a lot of the work is self-directed. The project can feel daunting or even overwhelming unless you break it down into manageable pieces and create a timeline for completing each smaller task. Be realistic but also challenge yourself, and be forgiving of yourself if you miss a self-imposed deadline here and there.

Your program will also have specific deadlines for different requirements, including establishing a committee, submitting a prospectus, completing the dissertation, defending the dissertation, and submitting your work. Consult your department’s website for these dates and incorporate them into the timeline for your work.

Accountability

Sometimes self-imposed deadlines do not feel urgent unless there is accountability to someone beyond yourself. To increase your motivation to complete tasks on schedule, set dates with your committee chair to submit pre-determined pieces of a chapter. You can also arrange with a fellow doctoral student to check on each other’s progress. Research and writing can be lonely, so it is also nice to share that journey with someone and support each other through the process.

Common Pitfalls

The most common challenges for students writing a dissertation are writer’s block, information-overload, and the compulsion to keep researching forever.

There are many strategies for avoiding writer’s block, such as freewriting, outlining, taking a walk, starting in the middle, and creating an ideal work environment for your particular learning style. Pay attention to what helps you and try different things until you find what works.

Efficient researching techniques are essential to avoiding information-overload. Here are a couple of resources about strategies for finding sources and quickly obtaining essential information from them.

https://owl.purdue.edu/owl/subject_specific_writing/writing_in_literature/writing_in_literature_detailed_discussion/reading_criticism.html

https://students.dartmouth.edu/academic-skills/learning-resources/learning-strategies/reading-techniques

Finally, remember that there is always more to learn and your dissertation cannot incorporate everything. Follow your curiosity but also set limits on the scope of your work. It helps to create a folder entitled “future projects” for topics and sources that interest you but that do not fit neatly into the dissertation. Also remember that future scholars will build off of your work, so leave something for them to do.

Browsing through theses and dissertations of the past can help to get a sense of your options and gain inspiration but be careful to use current guidelines and refer to your committee instead of relying on these examples for form or formatting.

DASH Digital Access to Scholarship at Harvard.

HOLLIS Harvard Library’s catalog provides access to ProQuest Dissertations & Theses Global .

MIT Architecture has a list of their graduates’ dissertations and theses.

Rhode Island School of Design has a list of their graduates’ dissertations and theses.

University of South Florida has a list of their graduates’ dissertations and theses.

Harvard GSD has a list of projects, including theses and professors’ research.

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Dissertation

What Is a Dissertation? | 5 Essential Questions to Get Started

Published on 26 March 2020 by Jack Caulfield . Revised on 5 May 2022.

A dissertation is a large research project undertaken at the end of a degree. It involves in-depth consideration of a problem or question chosen by the student. It is usually the largest (and final) piece of written work produced during a degree.

The length and structure of a dissertation vary widely depending on the level and field of study. However, there are some key questions that can help you understand the requirements and get started on your dissertation project.

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When and why do you have to write a dissertation, who will supervise your dissertation, what type of research will you do, how should your dissertation be structured, what formatting and referencing rules do you have to follow, frequently asked questions about dissertations.

A dissertation, sometimes called a thesis, comes at the end of an undergraduate or postgraduate degree. It is a larger project than the other essays you’ve written, requiring a higher word count and a greater depth of research.

You’ll generally work on your dissertation during the final year of your degree, over a longer period than you would take for a standard essay . For example, the dissertation might be your main focus for the last six months of your degree.

Why is the dissertation important?

The dissertation is a test of your capacity for independent research. You are given a lot of autonomy in writing your dissertation: you come up with your own ideas, conduct your own research, and write and structure the text by yourself.

This means that it is an important preparation for your future, whether you continue in academia or not: it teaches you to manage your own time, generate original ideas, and work independently.

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During the planning and writing of your dissertation, you’ll work with a supervisor from your department. The supervisor’s job is to give you feedback and advice throughout the process.

The dissertation supervisor is often assigned by the department, but you might be allowed to indicate preferences or approach potential supervisors. If so, try to pick someone who is familiar with your chosen topic, whom you get along with on a personal level, and whose feedback you’ve found useful in the past.

How will your supervisor help you?

Your supervisor is there to guide you through the dissertation project, but you’re still working independently. They can give feedback on your ideas, but not come up with ideas for you.

You may need to take the initiative to request an initial meeting with your supervisor. Then you can plan out your future meetings and set reasonable deadlines for things like completion of data collection, a structure outline, a first chapter, a first draft, and so on.

Make sure to prepare in advance for your meetings. Formulate your ideas as fully as you can, and determine where exactly you’re having difficulties so you can ask your supervisor for specific advice.

Your approach to your dissertation will vary depending on your field of study. The first thing to consider is whether you will do empirical research , which involves collecting original data, or non-empirical research , which involves analysing sources.

Empirical dissertations (sciences)

An empirical dissertation focuses on collecting and analysing original data. You’ll usually write this type of dissertation if you are studying a subject in the sciences or social sciences.

What are airline workers’ attitudes towards the challenges posed for their industry by climate change?
How effective is cognitive behavioural therapy in treating depression in young adults?
What are the short-term health effects of switching from smoking cigarettes to e-cigarettes?

There are many different empirical research methods you can use to answer these questions – for example, experiments , observations, surveys , and interviews.

When doing empirical research, you need to consider things like the variables you will investigate, the reliability and validity of your measurements, and your sampling method . The aim is to produce robust, reproducible scientific knowledge.

Non-empirical dissertations (arts and humanities)

A non-empirical dissertation works with existing research or other texts, presenting original analysis, critique and argumentation, but no original data. This approach is typical of arts and humanities subjects.

What attitudes did commentators in the British press take towards the French Revolution in 1789–1792?
How do the themes of gender and inheritance intersect in Shakespeare’s Macbeth ?
How did Plato’s Republic and Thomas More’s Utopia influence nineteenth century utopian socialist thought?

The first steps in this type of dissertation are to decide on your topic and begin collecting your primary and secondary sources .

Primary sources are the direct objects of your research. They give you first-hand evidence about your subject. Examples of primary sources include novels, artworks and historical documents.

Secondary sources provide information that informs your analysis. They describe, interpret, or evaluate information from primary sources. For example, you might consider previous analyses of the novel or author you are working on, or theoretical texts that you plan to apply to your primary sources.

Dissertations are divided into chapters and sections. Empirical dissertations usually follow a standard structure, while non-empirical dissertations are more flexible.

Structure of an empirical dissertation

Empirical dissertations generally include these chapters:

Introduction : An explanation of your topic and the research question(s) you want to answer.
Literature review : A survey and evaluation of previous research on your topic.
Methodology : An explanation of how you collected and analysed your data.
Results : A brief description of what you found.
Discussion : Interpretation of what these results reveal.
Conclusion : Answers to your research question(s) and summary of what your findings contribute to knowledge in your field.

Sometimes the order or naming of chapters might be slightly different, but all of the above information must be included in order to produce thorough, valid scientific research.

Other dissertation structures

If your dissertation doesn’t involve data collection, your structure is more flexible. You can think of it like an extended essay – the text should be logically organised in a way that serves your argument:

Introduction: An explanation of your topic and the question(s) you want to answer.
Main body: The development of your analysis, usually divided into 2–4 chapters.
Conclusion: Answers to your research question(s) and summary of what your analysis contributes to knowledge in your field.

The chapters of the main body can be organised around different themes, time periods, or texts. Below you can see some example structures for dissertations in different subjects.

Political philosophy

This example, on the topic of the British press’s coverage of the French Revolution, shows how you might structure each chapter around a specific theme.

Example of a dissertation structure in history

This example, on the topic of Plato’s and More’s influences on utopian socialist thought, shows a different approach to dividing the chapters by theme.

Example of a dissertation structure in political philosophy

This example, a master’s dissertation on the topic of how writers respond to persecution, shows how you can also use section headings within each chapter. Each of the three chapters deals with a specific text, while the sections are organised thematically.

Example of a dissertation structure in literature

Prevent plagiarism, run a free check.

Like other academic texts, it’s important that your dissertation follows the formatting guidelines set out by your university. You can lose marks unnecessarily over mistakes, so it’s worth taking the time to get all these elements right.

Formatting guidelines concern things like:

line spacing
page numbers
punctuation
title pages
presentation of tables and figures

If you’re unsure about the formatting requirements, check with your supervisor or department. You can lose marks unnecessarily over mistakes, so it’s worth taking the time to get all these elements right.

How will you reference your sources?

Referencing means properly listing the sources you cite and refer to in your dissertation, so that the reader can find them. This avoids plagiarism by acknowledging where you’ve used the work of others.

Keep track of everything you read as you prepare your dissertation. The key information to note down for a reference is:

The publication date
Page numbers for the parts you refer to (especially when using direct quotes)

Different referencing styles each have their own specific rules for how to reference. The most commonly used styles in UK universities are listed below.

&	An author–date citation in brackets in the text…	…corresponding to an entry in the alphabetised reference list at the end.
	A superscript or bracketed reference number in the text…	…corresponding to an entry in the numbered reference list at the end.
	A footnote in the text that gives full source information…	…and an alphabetised bibliography at the end listing all sources.

You can use the free APA Reference Generator to automatically create and store your references.

APA Reference Generator

The words ‘ dissertation ’ and ‘thesis’ both refer to a large written research project undertaken to complete a degree, but they are used differently depending on the country:

In the UK, you write a dissertation at the end of a bachelor’s or master’s degree, and you write a thesis to complete a PhD.
In the US, it’s the other way around: you may write a thesis at the end of a bachelor’s or master’s degree, and you write a dissertation to complete a PhD.

The main difference is in terms of scale – a dissertation is usually much longer than the other essays you complete during your degree.

Another key difference is that you are given much more independence when working on a dissertation. You choose your own dissertation topic , and you have to conduct the research and write the dissertation yourself (with some assistance from your supervisor).

Dissertation word counts vary widely across different fields, institutions, and levels of education:

An undergraduate dissertation is typically 8,000–15,000 words
A master’s dissertation is typically 12,000–50,000 words
A PhD thesis is typically book-length: 70,000–100,000 words

However, none of these are strict guidelines – your word count may be lower or higher than the numbers stated here. Always check the guidelines provided by your university to determine how long your own dissertation should be.

At the bachelor’s and master’s levels, the dissertation is usually the main focus of your final year. You might work on it (alongside other classes) for the entirety of the final year, or for the last six months. This includes formulating an idea, doing the research, and writing up.

A PhD thesis takes a longer time, as the thesis is the main focus of the degree. A PhD thesis might be being formulated and worked on for the whole four years of the degree program. The writing process alone can take around 18 months.

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Doctoral handbook

A doctoral dissertation makes an original contribution to knowledge, as defined in a discipline or an interdisciplinary domain and addresses a significant researchable problem. Not all problems are researchable and not all are significant. Problems that can be solved by a mere descriptive exercise are not appropriate for the PhD dissertation. Acceptable problems are those that:

pose a puzzle to the field at a theoretical, methodological, or policy level;
make analytical demands for solution, rather than mere cataloging or descriptive demands; and
can yield to a reasonable research methodology.

The doctoral dissertation advisor, reading committee, and oral exam committee provide further guidance and details with regard to dissertation content and format. General formatting and submission guidelines are published by the University Registrar. The American Psychological Association (APA) publication guidelines normally apply to GSE doctoral dissertations, but is not required if the advisor and relevant committees determine that an alternative, and academically acceptable, protocol is more appropriate.

Published Papers and Multiple Authorship

The inclusion of published papers in a dissertation is the prerogative of the major department. Where published papers or ready-for-publication papers are included, the following criteria must be met:

1. There must be an introductory chapter that integrates the general theme of the research and the relationship between the chapters. The introduction may also include a review of the literature relevant to the dissertation topic that does not appear in the chapters.

2. Multiple authorship of a published paper should be addressed by clearly designating, in an introduction, the role that the dissertation author had in the research and production of the published paper. The student must have a major contribution to the research and writing of papers included in the dissertation.

3. There must be adequate referencing of where individual papers have been published.

4. Written permission must be obtained for all copyrighted materials; letters of permission must be uploaded electronically in PDF form when submitting the dissertation. Please see the following website for more information on the use of copyrighted materials: http://library.stanford.edu/using/copyright-reminder .

5. The submitted material must be in a form that is legible and reproducible as required by these specifications. The Office of the University Registrar will approve a dissertation if there are no deviations from the normal specifications that would prevent proper dissemination and utilization of the dissertation. If the published material does not correspond to these standards, it will be necessary for the student to reformat that portion of the dissertation.

6. Multiple authorship has implications with respect to copyright and public release of the material. Be sure to discuss copyright clearance and embargo options with your co-authors and your advisor well in advance of preparing your thesis for submission.

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Handbook Contents

Timetable for the Doctoral Degree
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The Dissertation Process Explained in 6 Simple Steps

adult-student-going-through-the-dissertation-process

Completing your doctoral program is no easy feat, yet the payoff makes it all worthwhile. You’ll challenge yourself with academic rigor and defend your thesis as you showcase your knowledge to a panel of experts.

One of the hardest parts of the dissertation process is simply getting started. Here are six steps to guide you to successfully earning your doctoral degree by tackling your dissertation, from start to finish.

Step 1: Brainstorm Topics

Finding a research topic that’s right for you and your doctoral studies requires some serious thought. A doctoral program can take years to complete, so it’s important you choose a topic that you’re passionate about. Whether that’s in the field of education administration or entrepreneurship, find an area of study that suits your academic interests and career goals.

As a doctoral candidate, you’ll take on the role of an independent researcher, which means you’ll be facilitating your own studies and academic milestones. Choose a topic that gets your wheels turning and stirs up an urgent sense of curiosity. However, take note that not every idea will suit a doctoral dissertation and the manuscript formatting. Many students make the mistake of choosing a topic that is too broad. Doctoral dissertations must be researchable and demonstrative based on qualitative or quantitative data.

Do some preliminary research to determine if someone has already conducted similar research. Being flexible with your brainstorming will allow you to refine your topic with ease. Take constructive criticism from peers and mentors seriously so that you set yourself up for success from day one. If you find yourself feeling a bit lost, don’t be afraid to turn to experts in your field for their opinion. At this initial stage of the dissertation process, you should be the most open to exploring new ideas and refining your area of research.

Step 2: Find a Faculty Mentor and Committee Assignment

Once your topic is approved by the university, you’ll be tasked with selecting a faculty mentor. Finding a faculty chairperson is one of the most important steps you will take in your dissertation process , apart from crafting and delivering your manuscript. After all, your mentor will guide your academic work over the course of your doctoral studies for the next several years. You two will develop a working relationship, so it’s crucial that you choose a mentor you can collaborate and communicate with effectively.

At most universities, your faculty chair will be dedicated to the dissertation process full time. That means they will have the skills, expertise and time to support all of your needs. However, for the other members of your dissertation committee, you’ll want to consider logistics as well. You may have a dream faculty mentor you’d appreciate working with, but they must have the time and attention to dedicate to make the investment worthwhile for you both. Be upfront about your intended timeline, weekly and monthly time commitment, and expectations around communication. When you approach a faculty member about serving as part of your dissertation committee, leave the door open for them to say “no,” so you’re sure to find the right fit and someone who can commit in the long run.

Some universities make the selection process easy by assigning a dissertation chair and committee to you. For example, doctoral students at SNU are assigned a committee comprised of four people: a dissertation chair within the program’s department, a second departmental faculty member, a member from outside the department who has scholarly expertise in the student’s research topic, and the Dissertation Director who coordinates all communication among the committee members.

Step 3: Develop and Submit a Proposal

Think of the proposal as an opportunity for you to both suss out your ideas and create a convincing argument to present to the faculty committee. Your proposal is the first look at your thesis statement, where you:

Introduce the topic
Pose a set of related topics
Outline the qualitative and quantitative data you hope to extract through careful research

Again, be open to critical feedback. During this stage, you have the opportunity to reflect and refine the direction of your research. Faculty members will likely reciprocate your proposal with pointed questions that identify gaps in your proposal development or information-seeking process.

You’ll go through a set of one or more revisions based on faculty feedback. You’ll then submit your proposal application for final approval. Once you have the entire committee’s approval, you’ll begin to collect data.

Step 4: Conduct Research and Data Analysis

In your proposal, you’ll outline your plan to conduct careful research, collect data and analyze that data. Throughout the research process, refer back to your outline to chart your own progress and to build a collection of measurable results to present to your faculty mentor.

The next step is to add the data you collect to your proposal in two sections. The first section will summarize the data, and the second will offer an interpretation of that data. This step also lends itself to a series of revisions between you and the dissertation committee. Be prepared to implement those changes as you begin to draft your manuscript .

Step 5: Draft Your Manuscript

First, consult with your university’s policies and procedures regarding the doctoral manuscript academic requirements and scholarly style. Check with your department to inquire about additional departmental procedures.

Consider Your Format

Develop a consistent format in the early stages, so that submitting your thesis to the Advisory Committee and Examining Committee will run smoothly and you can receive swift feedback. You want to create both a professional and intuitive system for the academic committee and your general audience to be able to easily peruse your thesis.

Pay close attention to proper sourcing of previously published content and provide a numbering system (page numbers and charts) that reflects the formatting of your thesis, not the numbering system of a previous publication. Devise chapter layout with the same level of scrutiny. Number chapters sequentially, and create a uniform system to label all charts, tables and equations. And last but not least, be sure to follow standard grammatical conventions, including spelling and punctuation.

Cite Your Sources

As you gather research and develop your manuscript, you must cite your sources accurately and consistently. Check with your department ahead of time in case you should be formatting your resources according to specific departmental standards. In the absence of departmental standards, create a format of your own that you can adhere to with consistency. Most doctoral candidates will choose to include sources at the end of each chapter or in one single list at the end of their dissertation.

Craft Your Content

You’ll spend the bulk of your time crafting the content of the manuscript itself . You’ll begin by summarizing relevant sourcing and reviewing related literature. The purpose of this first section is to establish your expertise in the field, establish clear objectives for your research, identify the broader context within which the research resides, and provide more acute context for the data itself. You’ll then discuss the methods of analyzing the research before transitioning into data analysis in a chapter-by-chapter breakdown. Finally, in your conclusion, you’ll link your direct research to the larger picture and the implications of its impact in your field.

Step 6: Defend Your Thesis

The pinnacle of your research will be defending your thesis in front of a panel of experts — the dissertation committee. Sometimes this takes place in person, or, as has proved increasingly common during the past year, by video/voice conferencing.

This is your opportunity to demonstrate all that you have learned over multiple years of careful research and analysis. The committee will pose questions to both clarify and challenge your level of knowledge in an impromptu fashion. In some cases, based on the committee’s perception, you may need to submit a secondary oral defense. Ultimately, the committee will determine a successful delivery of your dissertation and the chance to proudly assert your doctoral status after completing all degree requirements.

No matter which path you choose to pursue en route to your doctoral, online and in-person education options can make your dream of completing your degree one step closer to reality. Take a look at SNU’s online and on-campus course offerings today.

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Dissertation 101: Tips for researching and writing a doctoral dissertation

A student writes a doctoral dissertation

By Elizabeth Exline

When Rose Lorenzo got close to finishing her master’s degree at University of Phoenix (UOPX), she came to a crossroads. She could walk away with her degree and focus on building her company, Lorenzo Financial , or she could scratch the itch for more academic knowledge and pursue her doctorate.

Lorenzo chose the latter. (And still managed to build her company, lay the groundwork to launch a new school and eventually get accepted to law school.)

“Although I knew what I wanted to study, I wish I had known how to choose the right topic and how to narrow that topic down before I started,” Lorenzo recalls.

Lorenzo, of course, is talking about the dissertation , that book-length document that’s both the capstone of the doctoral degree and the driving force behind a doctoral program’s years of study and academic research.

But settling on a topic is just one part of a process that can intimidate even the most determined scholar. What’s exactly involved in a dissertation? And what’s the point of one anyway? Here, we take a deeper dive into the dissertation experience.

What is a dissertation?

A dissertation is an academic document prepared by a doctoral student that contains original research about a topic. The student identifies the topic, conducts the research, writes the dissertation and defends it in front of a committee led by a dissertation chair and other doctoral faculty who decide whether the research meets the doctoral level research standards. If it does, the student will successfully complete the doctoral program, have their dissertation published in ProQuest and earn a terminal degree , which means the highest education level that can be earned in a field.

The dissertation, in other words, is important. But why all the fuss in the first place? According to Rodney Luster, PhD, a dissertation can enhance society’s overall knowledge and understanding about an issue and ignite a person’s area of interest and expertise, as well as enhance that expertise .

Luster is the chair for the Center for Leadership Studies and Organizational Research within the College of Doctoral Studies at University of Phoenix , and he points to his own dissertation by way of example.

His research concerned what is currently known as vicarious trauma, a phenomenon he witnessed among his college students after the 9/11 attacks. His students hadn’t been anywhere near the attack, and yet he noticed they displayed classic signs of trauma. This piqued his interest.

“I was able to conduct what I understand was the first research study looking at vicarious trauma in the general population, and that has opened up a lot of doors,” Luster explains.

Now an expert on the concept, he has seen the phenomenon after subsequent events, such as Hurricane Katrina.

Lorenzo’s research was more tailored to her area of interest. She ultimately whittled down her topic from how leadership impacts entrepreneurial success or failure to how it impacts female entrepreneurs specifically.

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Topics, in other words, offer the freedom for students to follow their curiosity and experience with the goal of potentially solving a problem or adding to a field’s body of knowledge .

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Dissertation vs. thesis — what's the difference.

Some people may confuse a dissertation with a thesis, but they’re not the same thing. While similar in nature in that they are both the capstone of an academic program, the biggest difference is where a dissertation and a thesis fit in the educational journey. As explained, a doctoral student completes a dissertation, while a thesis is a research paper for a master’s-level student or sometimes within a bachelor’s program.

There are other differences as well. One is the level of research involved. Often, a thesis is based on existing research. This means that an undergrad or graduate student will compile various research findings to defend a theory or idea in a thesis. A dissertation on the other hand requires doctoral students to conduct, present and defend their own research.

The two documents differ in length too. A thesis is often much shorter and can range from 40 to 60 pages for an undergraduate thesis and from 60 to upward of 100 pages for a master's thesis. A dissertation is 150 to 300 pages, or 80,000 to 100,000 words. As noted, whether it’s presented in front of a panel of faculty or academics as an oral defense is another key difference. This is often required for a dissertation, but oral defense of a thesis may depend on the program or institution.

How to write a dissertation

Figuring out a dissertation topic is a process as individualized as the students in a doctoral degree program. Luster usually encourages candidates to begin with a title .

“That’s going to be your selling point for everything, and it has to be understandable. It must be concise. It must have a theoretical construct in it. The title will take you a lot of places and will help lead you into the writing process.”

To this Lorenzo adds a less lofty but equally valid cross-check: She learned to really drill down any topic with the question, “ Who cares? ” If there are people who are invested in learning more about the topic (if there are, in other words, people who care), it may warrant further research.

These preliminary exercises lay a solid foundation for the dissertation process, but the actual research and writing can still feel intimidating. Luster, for example, had written a book before starting his dissertation, and points out that a dissertation “is not like any other writing that you’ve done.”

So, where do you start? At UOPX, you start in your first class.

Understanding ACCESS

The dissertation process at UOPX was revamped and rolled out in September 2019, notes Shawn C. Todd-Boone, EdD, the associate dean for ACCESS, research and residency at the College of Doctoral Studies.

Luster says the process was reimagined based on extensive feedback and on a desire to make the process more effective and efficient.

One of the first ways the dissertation process changed was with the development of ACCESS , an acronym for “ advancing community, critical thought, engagement, scholarship and success .”

This sequence is incorporated into the first three interdisciplinary courses of any doctoral program at UOPX with an eye toward introducing doctoral candidates to what Luster calls a “theoretical mindset.”

The ACCESS program attempts to nurture a culture of inquiry that helps retain doctoral candidates while inspiring them to innovate in their fields, Boone says.

ACCESS, in other words, sets the tone for the entire doctoral process, which is founded on innovation, research and critical thinking.

The five phases of the dissertation

Writing the dissertation occurs in what Luster describes as five phases over the course of different classes. These are:

Phase 1: Develop a prospectus , which is an outline of the research project.
Phase 2: Draft the first chapter of the dissertation, which is known as the précis .
Phase 3: Undergo a concept review and develop the second chapter.
Phase 4: Focus on the proposal , write the third chapter and review chapters one through three.
Phase 5: Obtain the approval of the Institutional Review Board , which evaluates research according to the University’s ethical standards.

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The uopx difference.

The five phases of the dissertation writing process aren’t ubiquitous. Doctoral students work on a dissertation while going through the program at UOPX — which was very much intentional, according to Boone.

“We have five phases in the dissertation process and a deliverable at the end of each phase to encourage students to finish and to complete on time if they commit to the process,” Boone explains.

This is a notable improvement, according to Lorenzo. “It is more effective to start your research on day one than wait, because it's easier to identify the gap in research and eliminate wasted research time on topics that are not relevant to your study, and [it] helps contribute to the literature review of the study,” she says.

But this process isn’t the only benefit UOPX students enjoy. The doctoral program has several other distinctive features:

Once upon a time, students interviewed potential research chairs to take on the oversight of their program. The result was stressful, with doctoral candidates often casting a wide net in the hope of securing a chair and then potentially ending up with someone who wasn’t quite the perfect fit. Today, UOPX takes the stress and potential mismatch out of the equation. “Students do not search for dissertation committee members ,” Boone says. “We assign them.”
Dissertations from UOPX tend to focus on functional application more so than just theory, Luster notes. This means topics have real-world applications, and communities and industries may benefit from the research. For example, one recent dissertation explored the integration of nurse graduates into hospital settings during COVID-19.
Doctoral candidates have access to diverse and extensive resources . In addition to comprehensive documentation about the dissertation process at UOPX, candidates can leverage one-on-one appointments with the University’s library staff, engage in workshops with research chairs and seek opportunities to work as research assistants.
Rather than what Luster calls a sink-or-swim approach, UOPX has invested in a mentor-driven approach . “I think that makes us largely different and successful with students, especially adult learners,” Luster says.

In the end, that sense of a safety net — both in terms of mentorship and the doctoral community itself — is one of the biggest reassurances doctoral candidates enjoy.

Lorenzo, for example, keeps in touch with a core group of colleagues she met through the program. “No one understands what you’re going through except for [your peers],” she notes.

Or, as Luster puts it: “You don’t have to worry, because you’ll acquire this information along the way, and you have a lot of good people to help you.”

How long is a doctoral dissertation?

Most are 100 to 300 pages and organized by chapters and/or sections and subsections. There are also often requirements for text size, page size and spacing that can depend on your doctoral program.

What are the parts of a dissertation?

A dissertation generally includes a Dissertation Acceptance Certificate, a title page, a copyright statement, an abstract (detailing the objective of the research, the methods and the outcome), a table of contents, the research itself and supplemental information (either as an appendix with charts and tables or as an uploaded file with digital information). Some dissertations include front and back matter, such as acknowledgments, a dedication, a glossary, a bibliography and related features.

Is a dissertation required for a doctorate?

Not always. While most doctoral and PhD degree programs require a dissertation, some don’t, and others require a capstone project.

What's the difference between a PhD and a doctorate?

Individuals who complete a PhD focus on producing new knowledge to contribute to a theory or body of research. Individuals who complete a practitioner doctorate , on the other hand, focuses on how to apply knowledge to a field or particular issue.

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What is a Dissertation? [2024 Guide]

It’s common for people who are considering a graduate degree to ask, “What is a dissertation?” This term comes up often in discussions of doctoral requirements, but it may not be immediately obvious what’s involved.

Getting the facts about dissertations can help you decide whether this is a project to which you’re ready to commit.

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Since a doctoral dissertation can be an integral component of a PhD program, you may want to learn all about it before applying to schools.

What Is a Dissertation?

A dissertation is a major project completed by PhD candidates. Through it, you will establish yourself as an expert with the knowledge, critical thinking, and research skills to move your field of study forward.

The dissertation process usually gets into full swing after you complete your doctoral coursework. Before that, though, you may take several classes that will help you get started and teach you what steps to take.

The process of dissertation writing involves several phases. You’ll select a topic, do research, and type up a book-length paper about your findings and conclusions. Afterward, you will present a dissertation defense to a committee of experts who will evaluate your methodology and analyses.

As you work on your doctoral dissertation, you’ll receive the guidance of a faculty advisor. Additional support people may help you refine your strategies and ideas as well. This academic writing project can take many years, but a PhD will be the reward.

Types of Dissertations

It’s common to think of a dissertation as an original research project, but that’s not the only form that this major paper can take.

Empirical Dissertation . This type of dissertation involves performing original research. You would design a research study, carry it out, and collect data. Perhaps you would conduct lab studies or speak to test subjects in focus groups. You’d then analyze the data and draw conclusions, which you’d write about in your dissertation.
Non-Empirical Dissertation . With this approach to doing a dissertation, you study and analyze others’ research. The goal isn’t to rehash what others in your field have already said but to think critically about it. Your objective might be to identify areas where research is lacking or to suggest new ways to apply current theories.

Before you commit to one path or the other, it’s beneficial to weigh the options carefully with your faculty supervisor. Some universities now offer online doctorate programs without dissertation but have a capstone project for completion. Common programs include on campus DBA degrees or online doctoral programs in education with no dissertation requirement .

How to Write a Dissertation (From Choosing a Topic to Defending It )

Writing a dissertation is a massive undertaking, so it can help to break the process down into steps.

Figure out your topic . The topic you choose should address a current hole in the field, captivate your interest, and provide enough material for a robust project. You should be able to distill your topic down into a single sentence, whether a statement or a question.
Do background work . It’s necessary to familiarize yourself with the subject and how people in your field currently understand it. This may include running some preliminary tests or reading published studies.
Craft your research proposal . Before going any further, it’s necessary to inform your faculty advisor about your plans. You’ll write a multi-page paper that outlines your topic and how you plan to address it. Your supervisor may then accept, adjust, or reject your proposal.
Undertake the research . Once you have a plan in place, it will be time to dig into the research portion of your project. What this looks like varies from one person’s dissertation to the next and can depend largely on the field of study. You may need to do lab work, collect data from study participants, review primary source material, or gather secondary commentary on relevant studies.
Prepare for the writing process . You may want to read through other people’s dissertations or craft an outline to help guide your process.
Draft the body . Once you’re ready to begin, you’ll type up the first draft of your dissertation’s chapters.
Get feedback . Throughout the process, it’s helpful to stay in touch with your advisor as well as outside support people. You can ask for their feedback and incorporate it into your work.
Prepare the final copy . You’ll edit and proofread your work as well as add an introduction, a conclusion, the appendices, and any additional elements.
Finish with the defense . Once you’ve completed each of the above steps, your advisor will determine whether you’re ready to defend your dissertation. You’ll present your research to a panel of experts and field their questions.

If the panel approves of your work, you’ll have successfully completed your dissertation!

Typical Chapters in a Dissertation

Woman writing her dissertation for PhD degree

Writing a dissertation is different than pulling together a short research paper. Most dissertations are quite long and are broken up into chapters. The format can vary, but the following list provides an overview of common chapter breakdowns:

Introduction . Your paper’s first main chapter will introduce the topic.
Review of current studies . Known as a literature review, this next chapter or part gives an overview of others’ research related to this topic. It shows where there are gaps in current knowledge and demonstrates the theoretical underpinnings of your project.
Research methodology . You will present your approach to collecting data for your research project, and you’ll also discuss your analysis methods.
Report of results . You’ll tell readers the things you learned during your study. This is where you’ll present your data, and you may use charts or graphs to visualize your findings.
Discussion of results . Your project is about more than simply gathering data. It’s essential to analyze the data as well. In this section, you’ll present your analysis of your findings to help readers learn what the figures mean. You can also share how these findings could advance your field.
Conclusion . Finally, you’ll conclude by restating the purpose of your project and summarizing how you have met that objective.

Many dissertations contain other parts as well. Examples include title pages, dedication pages, glossaries, and appendices.

How Long Is a Dissertation for PhD?

Dissertations can vary in length, but they are usually at least 100 pages. Some are 300 pages or longer. Papers between 100 and 200 pages are the most common.

The standard length of a dissertation changes from one field to another. For example, history students often write dissertations that are several hundred pages. Mathematics PhD candidates may have dissertations that are fewer than 100 pages. The school where you earn your doctoral degree may set guidelines for the length of your PhD.

How Many Pages Is a Dissertation?

Woman checking her dissertation printouts

Many dissertations are a few hundred pages long. You’ll divide those pages up among the different sections of your paper.

The introduction may be 10 or 15 pages long. Your literature review will likely be longer—perhaps around 20 pages. Students may need up to 15 pages to explain your methodology, but the results section should be under 10 pages. Finally, students can use 15 pages or more to share their conclusions.

Dissertation lengths vary among academic disciplines. Your academic supervisor can provide specific guidance for your situation.

What’s a Dissertation Defense?

Woman defending her dissertation to the committee

A dissertation defense is an opportunity to speak with experts from your field about your work. This step comes after you have finished the dissertation research and writing.

The committee will determine whether you have sufficiently answered your original question and contributed valuable research to your field. But you won’t present your defense until your advisor deems you ready, so the experience might not be as nerve-wracking as it sounds.

During the defense, you may give a presentation to the committee. In addition, they can ask you questions, talk to you about your work, and discuss your work among themselves.

What’s the Difference Between a Dissertation vs. Thesis?

In grad school, you’ll hear about dissertations and theses. Both are major projects, but they play different roles.

The above distinctions between a thesis vs. dissertation apply to US schools only. Other countries use different naming conventions.

Writing Your Dissertation

Choosing to enroll in a PhD program and write a dissertation is a big decision. With careful planning and steadfast dedication, you can get this job done.

In the process, you can contribute research and insights to your field and help answer important questions. Plus, you can earn a PhD, a prestigious degree that can take you far in life. PhD programs with dissertations are available from both on-campus and online graduate schools. You can select the format that best suits your schedule and preferences.

If you’re ready to get started, then now is the time to explore accredited universities.

How to Write a Dissertation

Published September 27, 2020. Updated May 4, 2022.

Dissertation Definition

A dissertation is a long work of original research.

Overview of a Dissertation

The dissertation is one of many requirements for a PhD. It is also one of the most demanding. The word “dissertation” comes from the Latin root word “dissertare,” which means “to debate.” The reference to a “debate” points to how students must “defend” their arguments before a committee of professors after writing a dissertation.

Students arrange dissertations differently depending on their discipline. Regardless, creating an outline beforehand ensures a well-structured paper.

A dissertation demonstrates that you are not simply another entry-level student. Rather, a dissertation shows you are a scholar meaningfully contributing new ideas and sound research to the academic community .

This page covers the following points:

Key Takeaways

What is a dissertation, what is the difference between a dissertation and an essay, why are dissertations important, planning your dissertation, writing your dissertation, additional tips for writing your dissertation, examples of good dissertations.

PhD programs require students to write dissertations to complete the graduate program. Dissertations are long original research papers written by PhD candidates.
Choose a dissertation topic you are passionate and knowledgeable about and that makes a meaningful contribution to scholarship in your subject.
Writers structure dissertations differently depending on the discipline. Regardless, creating an outline beforehand ensures a well-structured paper.
The main components of most dissertations include an introduction, a literature review or theoretical framework, research methods, results, discussion, conclusions, and references.

A dissertation is a long work of original research. Graduate students submit a dissertation to fulfill one of the requirements for a doctoral degree at most North American universities. Once admitted to a doctoral program, a PhD candidate must propose a topic for their dissertation. Candidates form a committee of faculty to oversee the project. They then choose a dissertation advisor who will work closely with them on each chapter.

The dissertation is one of many requirements for a PhD, and it’s one of the most demanding. The word “dissertation” comes from the Latin root word “dissertare,” which means “to debate.” This alludes to how students must “defend” their arguments before a committee of their professors after finishing the dissertation.

Worried about your writing? Submit your paper for a Chegg Writing essay check , or for an Expert Check proofreading . Both can help you find and fix potential writing issues.

Essays are typically shorter papers assigned by professors as part of a class. Undergraduate and graduate students often write essays in a similar style. However, graduate students pursuing a PhD typically write dissertations.

Dissertations focus on a topic you propose. Faculty qualified in your area of research must approve the dissertation topic. The approval process can be lengthy and complex, differing according to academic discipline and institution.

A dissertation demonstrates that you’re not simply another entry-level student. Rather, you are a scholar who is meaningfully contributing new ideas and sound research to the academic community.

A well-written dissertation is important for many reasons:

Highlights your knowledge of a given subject and your ability to conduct rigorous, original research.
Gives you the opportunity to show off your critical analysis skills.
Introduces a new idea and opinion to the scholarly community.

Finally, a dissertation is important because it’s the only way to earn your doctoral (or “terminal”) degree. Without a dissertation under your belt, you’re considered “ABD” (all but dissertation). Approximately 50% of doctoral students complete their dissertation, though this percentage varies according to discipline .

The Initial Stages

One of the first steps is to find funding. Writing your dissertation is essentially a full-time job, so you need a source of income while you focus on this task. Try applying for grants, scholarships, and fellowships instead. Many universities offer internal funding opportunities for their graduate students.

Next, choose a topic for your dissertation. The best dissertations open up an entirely new line of thought, ideally leading to the creation of 3-4 other dissertations by future students.

Choose a topic that you have experience with. You should also choose a subject that you personally find interesting, as you’ll be spending countless hours on it.

Think about problems within your field and whether new lines of research can solve these problems. Aim to make a strong impact on your area of study. Provide evidence on topics lacking strong evidence.

If you’re not exactly sure which topic to choose, don’t worry. The first step is to create a general idea in your mind and begin your research. As you delve deeper into your research, you’ll start to narrow down your idea and hopefully discover an argument never made in your field.

Another important initial step is to form a committee of experts within your field of study. Your committee must accept your dissertation’s topic and agree to work with you throughout the approval process. Committee members may also provide you with a reading list related to your topic before you start writing your dissertation.

Finally, it’s important to choose a good advisor. Your advisor is the committee member who works with you most closely as you research and write your dissertation. Advisors guide you every step of the way and ensure you stay on track.

Don’t ignore the advice of your advisor and committee. Allow them to play a role in shaping your dissertation during these initial stages. You can benefit from their expertise.

Create an Outline

Creating an outline is another crucial first step when planning your dissertation. If you figure out the structure of your work beforehand, writing the main chapters becomes easier.

Be aware that not all dissertations are structured the same way. Different disciplines require different information (a dissertation for English vs. chemistry would be very different). Universities and schools within universities may also have their own requirements. Consult your advisor or school for their specific dissertation details.

Here are some main sections of a standard dissertation. Some are essential to every dissertation. (Again, note that your outline will vary depending on your program’s requirements.)

Acknowledgments

Table of contents
List of figures and tables (sometimes split into separate sections)
List of abbreviations

Introduction

Literature review or theoretical framework
Research methods

Conclusion(s)

The general structure of a dissertation in the sciences or social sciences is as follows:

Literature review
Methodology

To further illustrate the structure above, here is a dissertation paper template .

Conducting Research

Consult your advisor before starting research. Advisors usually give you some tips about where to begin. A solid first step is to skim the titles of research papers related to your chosen topic and see where that takes you. Carefully review the reading list provided by your committee.

You will also need to collect data during the research phase. Make sure to carefully define the extent and limitations of your research before collecting data. If you’re too hasty, you risk collecting data that is irrelevant to your dissertation. Create a system that allows for easy and accurate storing of data. Don’t be afraid to speak to your advisor about the best methods for recording data.

As you research your topic, take plenty of notes and jot down any ideas that come to mind. Keep a notebook or laptop handy and refer back to these ideas while you write.

You’ll need to come up with a title for your dissertation. Choose something catchy and interesting—but also consider how easy your paper will be to find on Google or in academic databases. Your title page must adhere to strict formatting guidelines set forth by your institution. Requirements usually include your name, department, institution, and degree program. An ideal title should state the overall result of your research in fewer than eight words.

The acknowledgments page is optional, but it’s a great opportunity to thank anyone who helped you along the way. This might include certain professors, your advisor, or even family and friends.

Although the abstract usually comes first in the reading order of your dissertation, write this section last. The abstract is a short summary of your dissertation, usually between 150 and 300 words. The abstract contains a short summary of the following:

Conclusions

The first “official” page of your dissertation is the table of contents. Every section should be included in your table of contents, so readers can easily navigate the document.

List of Figures and Tables

Separate from the table of contents are the lists of tables and figures. This page is only necessary if you have included a multitude of figures, tables, and graphs in your dissertation.

List of Abbreviations

Including a list of abbreviations makes your dissertation easier to read. A list is especially helpful for readers who are unfamiliar with your field.

A glossary allows the reader to easily discover the definitions of specialized terms they may not be familiar with. List each term alphabetically and include a brief definition.

The introduction should lay out your topic and let the reader know what to expect throughout the dissertation. The introduction should accomplish the following:

Describe your research topic
Define the extent and limitations of your research
Mention existing research on your topic and its impact
Lay out your research objectives
Let the reader know how the paper is structured
Mention the “what,” “how,” and “why” of your topic

The main goal of the introduction is to “hook” the reader and get them interested. You can easily intimidate readers with overly complex language, so keep it simple to encourage them to keep reading.

Literature Review or Theoretical framework

The literature review or theoretical framework highlights research you’ve done to prepare for your dissertation. However, a literature review isn’t just a list of books and articles you read while researching. Instead, it focuses on the most relevant sources. You need to establish connections between different lines of research and evaluate the existing literature related to your topic.

If you discovered gaps in existing research, now’s the time to mention them. Always connect your research back to your topic or argument. How do these sources support your claims? Does the existing literature provide a foundation for your new ideas?

Research Methods

Research methods are all about how you conducted your research. The reader should be able to determine whether your research is reliable based on this section. Methods should include the following:

The type of research you conducted
How you collected data
How you analyzed the data
What materials, tools, and devices you used to conduct research
Problems you encountered in your research
A self-evaluation of your methods and whether they were reliable

When laying out results in this section, only include data relevant to your hypotheses, questions, or overall topic. Results often include graphs, tables, and charts. In some disciplines, the results section and the discussion section are combined.

The discussion section is one of the most important parts of your dissertation, as you’ll be exploring the implications of your results. How do the results relate to your topic? Were any of the results unexpected?

Instead of interpreting your results in one way, explore all the possible ways someone could draw conclusions from the data. In addition, highlight the limitations of your results.

The conclusion is a concise, clear answer to the original question posed in the introduction. Finalize your argument and leave the reader with a clear understanding of how the research has impacted your point of view.

The conclusion also highlights your contribution to existing knowledge within your field. How has your research impacted the subject you chose to explore? Why was this line of research important in the first place?

This section may also include recommendations, or “Recommendations” may also be its own section.

Also known as a “works cited” or bibliography, the reference list contains all cited sources. Make sure to closely follow your discipline’s citation style.

Only use relevant data and information in the main body of your dissertation. That being said, you need to include the data, tables, interviews, etc. in their entirety within the appendices section.

Edit and proofread the dissertation
Write in the correct tense and voice (different disciplines use different tenses)
Use decisive language. You are arguing your point of view, so be confident and professional
Cite your sources
Eliminate passive voice and excessive adverbs and adjectives
Get tons of feedback from others
Stick to the formatting requirements
Avoid plagiarism at all costs

Before you turn in that paper, don’t forget to cite your sources in APA format , MLA format , or a style of your choice.

Dissertation example from the liberal arts/humanities:

Albarran, Louis. “The Face of God at the End of the Road: The Sacramentality of Jack Kerouac in Lowell, America, and Mexico.” Electronic Thesis or Dissertation. University of Dayton, 2013. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center. 10 Aug 2020.

Full Text: https://etd.ohiolink.edu/!etd.send_fileaccession=dayton1375235381&disposition=inline

Dissertation example from the social sciences:

Simon, L. S. (2011). From Negative Act to Negative Relationship: Understanding How Patterns of Abusive Supervision Emerge and Develop over Time. (Doctoral Dissertation). University of Florida. Retrieved from https://ufdc.ufl.edu/UFE0042895

https://ufdc.ufl.edu/UFE0042895/00001

There are numerous online resources for searching dissertation topics, titles, and examples. If you are interested in browsing these resources, most college or university libraries provide access to students to at least one or more of these databases.

In addition, you could try searching a free, open-sourced database, like these two:

EBSCO Open Dissertations Project: https://biblioboard.com/opendissertations/
Open Access Theses and Dissertations archive: https://oatd.org/

Example Dissertation Template

By Andy Block. Andy received his B.A. in English from the University of South Carolina and his M.A. in comparative literature from the University of New Mexico. After teaching ESL in Asia and Europe as well as public school in New York City, Andy taught writing at a community college for more than a decade before transitioning to a new career in EdTech.

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As a graduate student, you may need to complete a thesis or dissertation as part of your program's graduation requirements. While theses are common among master’s students and dissertations among doctoral students, this may not apply universally across all programs. We encourage you to reach out to your program adviser to determine the specific requirements for your culminating project.

Office of Theses and Dissertations

The Office of Theses and Dissertations is the unit of the Graduate School responsible for certifying that theses and dissertations have been prepared in accordance with formatting requirements established by the Graduate School, the University Libraries, and the graduate faculty of Penn State. We are here to help you navigate the review and approval process to ensure you are able to graduate on time.

Cover of the 2023-2024 Penn State Graduate School Thesis and Dissertation Handbook

The Thesis and Dissertation Handbook explains Penn State formatting requirements for all master’s theses and doctoral dissertations. It covers the submission process and approval deadlines, the responsibilities of each student, and provides page examples. We highly recommend all students doing theses or dissertations to carefully review the handbook.

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What is an Ed.D. Dissertation? Complete Guide & Support Resources

Wondering how to tackle the biggest doctoral challenge of all? Use our guide to the Ed.D. dissertation to get started! Learn about the purpose of a Doctor of Education dissertation and typical topics for education students. Read through step-by-step descriptions of the dissertation process and the 5-chapter format. Get answers to Ed.D. dissertation FAQs . Or skip to the chase and find real-world examples of Doctor of Education dissertations and websites & resources for Ed.D. dissertation research.

What is an Ed.D. Dissertation?

Definition of an ed.d. dissertation.

An Ed.D. dissertation is a 5-chapter scholarly document that brings together years of original research to address a problem of practice in education. To complete a dissertation, you will need to go through a number of scholarly steps , including a final defense to justify your findings.

Purpose of an Ed.D. Dissertation

In a Doctor of Education dissertation, you will be challenged to apply high-level research & creative problem-solving to real-world educational challenges. You may be asked to:

Take a critical look at current educational & administrative practices
Address urgent issues in the modern education system
Propose original & practical solutions for improvements
Expand the knowledge base for educational practitioners

Topics of Ed.D. Dissertations

An Ed.D. dissertation is “customizable.” You’re allowed to chose a topic that relates to your choice of specialty (e.g. elementary education), field of interest (e.g. curriculum development), and environment (e.g. urban schools).

Think about current problems of practice that need to be addressed in your field. You’ll notice that Ed.D. dissertation topics often address one of the following:

Academic performance
Teaching methods
Access to resources
Social challenges
Legislative impacts
System effectiveness

Wondering how others have done it? Browse through Examples of Ed.D. Dissertations and read the titles & abstracts. You’ll see how current educators are addressing their own problems of practice.

Ed.D. Dissertation Process

1. propose a dissertation topic.

Near the beginning of a Doctor of Education program, you’ll be expected to identify a dissertation topic that will require substantial research. This topic should revolve around a unique issue in education.

Universities will often ask you to provide an idea for your topic when you’re applying to the doctoral program. You don’t necessarily need to stick to this idea, but you should be prepared to explain why it interests you. If you need inspiration, see our section on Examples of Ed.D. Dissertations .

You’ll be expected to solidify your dissertation topic in the first few semesters. Talking to faculty and fellow Ed.D. students can help in this process. Better yet, your educational peers will often be able to provide unique perspectives on the topic (e.g. cultural differences in teaching methods).

2. Meet Your Dissertation Chair & Committee

You won’t be going through the Ed.D. dissertation process alone! Universities will help you to select a number of experienced mentors. These include:

Dissertation Chair/Faculty Advisor: The Chair of the Dissertation Committee acts as your primary advisor. You’ll often see them referred to as the Supervising Professor, Faculty Advisor, or the like. You’ll rely on this “Obi Wan” for their knowledge of the field, research advice & guidance, editorial input on drafts, and more. They can also assist with shaping & refining your dissertation topic.
Dissertation Committee: The Dissertation Committee is made up of ~3 faculty members, instructors and/or adjuncts with advanced expertise in your field of study. The Committee will offer advice, provide feedback on your research progress, and review your work & progress reports. When you defend your proposal and give your final defense , you’ll be addressing the Dissertation Committee.

3. Study for Ed.D. Courses

Doctor of Education coursework is designed to help you: a) learn how to conduct original research; and b) give you a broader perspective on your field of interest. If you take a look at the curriculum in any Ed.D. program, you’ll see that students have to complete credits in:

Practical Research Methods (e.g. Quantitative Design & Analysis for Educational Leaders)
Real-World Educational Issues (e.g. Educational Policy, Law & Practice)

When you’re evaluating possible Ed.D. programs, pay attention to the coursework in real-world educational issues. You’ll want to pick an education doctorate with courses that complement your dissertation topic.

4. Complete a Literature Review

A literature review is an evaluation of existing materials & research work that relate to your dissertation topic. It’s a written synthesis that:

Grounds your project within the field
Explains how your work relates to previous research & theoretical frameworks
Helps to identify gaps in the existing research

Have a look at Literature Review Guides if you’d like to know more about the process. Our section on Resources for Ed.D. Dissertation Research also has useful links to journals & databases.

5. Craft a Dissertation Proposal

During the first two years of your Doctor of Education, you’ll use the knowledge you’ve learned from your coursework & discussions to write the opening chapters of your dissertation, including an:

Introduction that defines your chosen topic
Literature Review of existing research in the field
Proposed Research Methodology for finding the answer to your problem

When you’re putting together these elements, think about the practicals. Is the topic too big to address in one dissertation? How much time will your research take and how will you conduct it? Will your dissertation be relevant to your current job? If in doubt, ask your faculty advisor.

6. Defend Your Dissertation Proposal

About midway through the Ed.D. program, you will need to present your proposal to your Dissertation Committee. They will review your work and offer feedback. For example, the Committee will want to see that:

Your research topic is significant.
Your research methodology & timeline make sense.
Relevant works are included in the literature review.

After the Committee approves your proposal, you can get stuck into conducting original research and writing up your findings. These two important tasks will take up the final years of your doctorate.

7. Conduct Original Research into Your Topic

As a Doctor of Education student, you will be expected to conduct your own research. Ed.D. students often use a qualitative, quantitative, or mixed methods (quantitative/qualitative) approach in this process.

Quantitative Research: Collection & analysis of numerical data to identify characteristics, discover correlations, and/or test hypotheses.
Qualitative Research: Collection & analysis of non-numerical data to understand & explain phenomena (e.g. questionnaires, in-depth interviews, focus groups, video artifacts, etc.).

Your Ed.D. coursework will ground you in research methods & tools, so you’ll be prepared to design your own project and seek IRB approval for any work involving human subjects.

Note: Occasionally, universities can get creative. For example, the Ed.D. program at San Jose State University asks students to produce a documentary film instead of conducting traditional research.

8. Write the Rest of Your Dissertation

Once you have written up the first few chapters of your dissertation (Intro, Literature Review & Proposed Methodology) and completed your research work, you’ll be able to complete the final chapters of your dissertation.

Chapter 4 will detail your research findings.
Chapter 5 is a conclusion that summarizes solutions to your problem of practice/topic.

This is where you and your faculty advisor will often have a lot of interaction! For example, you may need to rework the first few chapters of your dissertation after you’ve drafted the final chapters. Faculty advisors are extremely busy people, so be sure to budget in ample time for revisions and final edits.

9. Defend Your Dissertation

The final defense/candidacy exam is a formal presentation of your work to the Dissertation Committee. In many cases, the defense is an oral presentation with visual aides. You’ll be able to explain your research findings, go through your conclusions, and highlight new ideas & solutions.

At any time, the Committee can challenge you with questions, so you should be prepared to defend your conclusions. But this process is not as frightening as it sounds!

If you’ve been in close contact with the Committee throughout the dissertation, they will be aware of your work.
Your faculty advisor will help you decide when you’re ready for the final defense.
You can also attend the defenses of other Ed.D. students to learn what questions may be asked.

Be aware that the Committee has the option to ask for changes before they approve your dissertation. After you have incorporated any notes from the Committee and addressed their concerns, you will finalize the draft, submit your dissertation for a formal review, and graduate.

Ed.D. Dissertation Format: 5 Chapters

Chapter 1: introduction.

Your Doctor of Education dissertation will begin with an introduction. In it, you’ll be expected to:

Provide an overview of your educational landscape
Explain important definitions & key concepts
Define a real-world topic/problem of practice
Outline the need for new studies on this topic

Chapter 2: Literature Review

The literature review is a summary of existing research in the field. However, it is not an annotated bibliography. Instead, it’s a critical analysis of current research (e.g. trends, themes, debates & current practices). While you’re evaluating the literature, you’re also looking for the gaps where you can conduct original research.

Sources for a literature review can include books, articles, reports, websites, dissertations, and more. Our section on Resources for Ed.D. Dissertation Research has plenty of places to start.

Chapter 3: Research Methodology

In the research methodology, you’ll be expected to explain:

The purpose of your research
What tools & methods you plan to use to research your topic/problem of practice
The design of the study
Your timeline for gathering quantitative & qualitative data
How you plan to analyze that data
Any limitations you foresee

Chapter 4: Results & Analysis

Chapter 4 is the place where you can share the results of your original research and present key findings from the data. In your analysis, you may also be highlighting new patterns, relationships, and themes that other scholars have failed to discover. Have a look at real-life Examples of Ed.D. Dissertations to see how this section is structured.

Chapter 5: Discussions & Conclusions

The final chapter of your Ed.D. dissertation brings all of your work together in a detailed summary. You’ll be expected to:

Reiterate the objectives of your dissertation
Explain the significance of your research findings
Outline the implications of your ideas on existing practices
Propose solutions for a problem of practice
Make suggestions & recommendations for future improvements

Ed.D. Dissertation FAQs

What’s the difference between a dissertation and a thesis.

Dissertation: A dissertation is a 5-chapter written work that must be completed in order to earn a doctoral degree (e.g. Ph.D., Ed.D., etc.). It’s often focused on original research.
Thesis: A thesis is a written work that must be completed in order to earn a master’s degree. It’s typically shorter than a dissertation and based on existing research.

How Long is a Ed.D. Dissertation?

It depends. Most Ed.D. dissertations end up being between 80-200 pages. The length will depend on a number of factors, including the depth of your literature review, the way you collect & present your research data, and any appendices you might need to include.

How Long Does it Take to Finish an Ed.D. Dissertation?

It depends. If you’re in an accelerated program , you may be able to finish your dissertation in 2-3 years. If you’re in a part-time program and need to conduct a lot of complex research work, your timeline will be much longer.

What’s a Strong Ed.D. Dissertation Topic?

Experts always say that Doctor of Education students should be passionate about their dissertation topic and eager to explore uncharted territory. When you’re crafting your Ed.D. dissertation topic , find one that will be:

Significant

See the section on Examples of Ed.D. Dissertations for inspiration.

Do I Have to Complete a Traditional Dissertation for an Ed.D.?

No. If you’re struggling with the idea of a traditional dissertation, check out this guide to Online Ed.D. Programs with No Dissertation . Some Schools of Education give Ed.D. students the opportunity to complete a Capstone Project or Dissertation in Practice (DiP) instead of a 5-chapter written work.

These alternatives aren’t easy! You’ll still be challenged at the same level as you would be for a dissertation. However, Capstone Projects & DiPs often involve more group work and an emphasis on applied theory & research.

What’s the Difference Between a Ph.D. Dissertation and Ed.D. Dissertation?

Have a look at our Ed.D. vs. Ph.D. Guide to get a sense of the differences between the two degrees. In a nutshell:

Ed.D. dissertations tend to focus on addressing current & real-world topics/problems of practice in the workplace.
Ph.D. dissertations usually put more emphasis on creating new theories & concepts and even completely rethinking educational practices.

How Can I Learn More About Ed.D. Dissertations?

Start with the section on Examples of Ed.D. Dissertations . You can browse through titles, abstracts, and even complete dissertations from a large number of universities.

If you have a few Doctor of Education programs on your shortlist, we also recommend that you skim through the program’s Dissertation Handbook . It can usually be found on the School of Education’s website. You’ll be able to see how the School likes to structure the dissertation process from start to finish.

Ed.D. Dissertation Support

University & campus resources, dissertation chair & committee.

The first port of call for any questions about the Ed.D. dissertation is your Dissertation Chair. If you get stuck with a terrible faculty advisor, talk to members of the Dissertation Committee. They are there to support your journey.

University Library

An Ed.D. dissertation is a massive research project. So before you choose a Doctor of Education program, ask the School of Education about its libraries & library resources (e.g. free online access to subscription-based journals).

Writing Center

Many universities have a Writing Center. If you’re struggling with any elements of your dissertation (e.g. editing), you can ask the staff about:

Individual tutoring
Editorial assistance
Outside resources

Mental Health Support

It’s well-known that doctoral students often face a lot of stress & isolation during their studies. Ask your faculty advisor about mental health services at the university. Staff in the School of Education and the Graduate School will also have information about on-campus counselors, free or discounted therapy sessions, and more.

Independent Dissertation Services

Dissertation editing services: potentially helpful.

There are scores of independent providers who offer dissertation editing services. But they can be expensive. And many of these editors have zero expertise in educational fields.

If you need help with editing & proofreading, proceed with caution:

Start by asking your Dissertation Chair about what’s permitted for third party involvement (e.g. you may need to note any editor’s contribution in your dissertation acknowledgments) and whether they have any suggestions.
The Graduate School is another useful resource. For example, Cornell’s Graduate School maintains a list of Editing, Typing, and Proofreading Services for graduate students.

Dissertation Coaches: Not Worth It

Dissertation coaches are defined as people who offer academic & mental support, guidance, and editorial input.

That means the person who should be your coach is your Dissertation Chair/Faculty Advisor. Remember that faculty members on the Dissertation Committee can also provide assistance.
If you’re looking for extra support, you might consider consulting a mentor in your line of work and collaborating with fellow Ed.D. students.

But hiring an independent Ed.D. dissertation coach is going to be an absolute waste of money.

Dissertation Writing Services: Just Don’t!

Universities take the dissertation process very seriously . An Ed.D. dissertation is supposed to be the culmination of years of original thought and research. You’re going to be responsible for the final product. You’re going to be defending your written work in front of a phalanx of experienced faculty members. You’re going to be putting this credential on your résumé for everyone to see.

If you cheat the process by having someone else write up your work, you will get caught.

Ed.D. Dissertation Resources

Examples of ed.d. dissertations, dissertation databases.

Open Access Theses and Dissertations
ProQuest Dissertations & Theses
EBSCO Open Dissertations

Ed.D. Dissertations

USF Scholarship Repository: Ed.D. Dissertations
George Fox University: Doctor of Education
UW Tacoma: Ed.D. Dissertations in Practice
Liberty University: School of Education Doctoral Dissertations
University of Mary Hardin-Baylor: Dissertation Collection

Ed.D. Dissertation Abstracts

Michigan State University: Ed.D. Dissertation Abstracts

Ed.D. Dissertation Guides & Tools

General ed.d. guides.

SNHU: Educational Leadership Ed.D./Ph.D. Guide

Dissertation Style Manuals

Chicago Manual of Style

Style manuals are designed to ensure that every Ed.D. student follows the same set of writing guidelines for their dissertation (e.g. grammatical rules, footnote & quotation formats, abbreviation conventions, etc.). Check with the School of Education to learn which style manual they use.

Examples of Ed.D. Dissertation Templates

Purdue University: Dissertation Template
Walden University: Ed.D. Dissertation Template

Each School of Education has a standard dissertation template. We’ve highlighted a couple of examples so you can see how they’re formatted, but you will need to acquire the template from your own university.

Literature Review Guides

UNC Chapel Hill: Writing Guide for Literature Reviews
University of Alabama: How to Conduct a Literature Review

Resources for Ed.D. Dissertation Research

Journal articles.

EBSCO Education Research Databases
Education Resources Information Center (ERIC)
Emerald Education eJournal Collection
Gale OneFile: Educator’s Reference Complete
Google Scholar
NCES Bibliography Search Tool
ProQuest Education Database
SAGE Journals: Education

Useful Websites

Harvard Gutman Library: Websites for Educators
EduRef: Lesson Plans

Educational Data & Statistics

Digest of Education Statistics
Education Policy Data Center (EPDC)
ICPSR Data Archive
National Assessment of Educational Progress
National Center for Education Statistics (NCES)
UNESCO Institute for Statistics

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PhD/Doctorate

What is a dissertation?

October 31, 2019

A dissertation is a written document that summarizes research.

It is the final step of a PhD program, and the culmination of a studentâs doctoral studies.

âThe dissertation is a source of pride for doctoral students,â Dinah Manns, PhD, faculty chair at Capella University, says. âThe dissertation is often a compilation of academic and practical knowledge, and in many cases, it can be the studentâs first publication.â

Here, Manns explains the content and format of this important piece of scholarship.

From student to scholar

The major objective of any doctoral program is to assist a student in becoming an independent researcher, and a dissertation is a large part of that. âNot all doctoral programs require a dissertation, but all PhD programs do,â Manns notes. âDissertation work varies by program.â

Initial coursework helps narrow down the research topic and develop it into something that will add to the body of knowledge in the chosen field. Sometimes the research contributes something entirely new to the field, and other times it expands or deepens previous studies.

By the time the doctoral coursework is finished, the topic should be selected and ready for formal research. At this point the student develops a proposal, which encompasses the research plan and methodology as it pertains to the selected topic.

At Capella, once the proposal has been approved by the studentâs mentor, committee, and the Institutional Review Board (IRB), the research and analysis begin. The dissertation is largely an independent project that essentially turns the student into a scholar; theyâll dive more deeply into research and writing then they have done before.

âCapella PhD candidates will be prepared for this step through their coursework and residency,â says Manns, noting that they will have learned how to approach this critical phase as part of their pre-dissertation learning.

Format of the dissertation

The dissertation is a much deeper exploration of a research topic than a traditional essay would be. Itâs in the form of a book, with at least five chapters (some universities require a sixth chapter in the form of a recap of the previous chapters). Manns outlines the chapters this way:

Overview. This is a brief look at the research question, containing a preview of the subsequent chapters.
Literature review. The literature review is an extensive critique and synthesis of the current literature in the field.
Methodology. This section contains details of the procedures and methods used to collect and analyze data.
Analysis. The PhD candidate details how the data analysis applies to the collected data.
Findings. This section provides interpretation of the data and comparison to existing literature, as well as future research possibilities.

The order of the chapters follows a logical progression in which PhD candidates build on their theories and explain research choices in detail before coming to the final chapter that gives weight to the value of the study itself.

Manns recommends that pre-dissertation students review completed dissertations in the field and research various types of methodology and design in the field as well. âThat will help give them a feel for the depth of research and discussion, and see how the chapters work together,â Manns explains. âAnd rememberâsomeday, it may be your dissertation being read!â

Capella University offers PhD and professional doctoral degrees in programs ranging from business to education and health to technology. Learn more about Capellaâs doctoral programs.

Can I transfer credits into a doctoral program?

January 8, 2020

What are the steps in writing a dissertation?

December 11, 2019

The difference between a dissertation and doctoral capstone

November 25, 2019

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Practical tips for graduate students undertaking a dissertation

Producing a doctoral dissertation can be an intimidating process, writes Bill Huckle. Here, he shares practical strategies for graduate students taking on the work to share their original contribution to knowledge with the wider community

William R. Huckle

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Perhaps you’ve heard the adage “the best dissertation is a done dissertation”. Facile? Maybe. Once you’re on the other side of a finished dissertation, however, you may find yourself agreeing.

Yes, the writing is important, but earning a PhD is a process that includes not only your research and literature review but also adhering to submission requirements, collecting feedback and preparing your oral defence.

As an associate dean in the Graduate School at Virginia Tech, I am involved in student support and mentorship, curriculum design and programme governance. These experiences continually remind me that the dissertation process can feel overwhelming, fraught and exceptionally challenging.

Resource collection: Advice for surviving your PhD dissertation
Get a head start in the first year of your PhD
Get your PhD thesis beach ready

Below are practical strategies for tackling the PhD dissertation that I share with the graduate students I advise. While these pointers are perhaps most relevant to students in the life or physical sciences, I expect that many will translate to the arts, humanities and other disciplines as well.

Rather than waiting until well into your studies, start writing introductory chapters relatively early in your graduate programme as soon as is feasible.
Preparing a detailed literature review can more effectively inform your experimental approaches and may result in a manuscript suitable for publication.
Familiarise yourself with institutional requirements for preparing and defending your dissertation well ahead of time. This can include document-formatting conventions and submission procedures, as well as deadlines for the formal scheduling of your oral dissertation defence with the graduate school. These details are typically found in an official graduate catalogue or programme website.
Counting backwards from your desired formally scheduled defence date, set (and adhere to) a schedule for completion of requisite tasks. These will include drafting the document, executing your own revisions and those suggested by your advisory committee, and originality confirmation.
Allow at least three or four months for writing and editing your dissertation and collecting feedback from your advisory committee. Resist the temptation to do “just one more experiment” and other distractions that will slow the preparation of the document.
Clearly convey to your advisers your needs and expectations for editorial turnaround time to help them plan and manage their own time…and don’t hesitate to remind them as deadlines approach.
Often it is time-efficient to distribute chapters for feedback as you complete them rather than waiting until the entire dissertation is finished; you can then focus on another task while your advisers review the writing in hand.
If your dissertation will consist of multiple already published or submitted manuscripts as separate chapters, allow time to write comprehensive introductory and concluding chapters that contextualise and tie together the individual reports.
If your scholarly work has been done in conjunction with other graduate students, make sure to acknowledge who is responsible for which specific contributions and that work you contributed has not been/will not be claimed by another student as their own.
Allow time to check that copyright law is followed. If you have signed away copyright for images or other protected elements to publishers, secure the needed permissions to use them in the dissertation document well in advance of submission.
Write your dissertation abstract last . You won’t have an accurate picture of what you’re abstracting until the full document is finished. This is like the executive summary of a report or a presentation; the details will be finalised upon completion.
It is common for your advisory committee to suggest – or insist – that certain editorial revisions be completed following your oral defence . Give these your full attention such that the final document can be submitted and approved within the required time window.

And a quick word to clarify terms: in the US, the term “dissertation” is typically reserved for the document produced by doctoral candidates, whereas master’s level graduate students complete a thesis. Both are written products that reflect and document the detailed exploration of original concepts in a particular field of scholarly endeavour, and the terms are often used interchangeably.

Writing is essential for successfully sharing your work in your field of expertise with the wider community. That may seem intimidating, but it can also be highly motivating and rewarding. Remember too that, once released online, your dissertation will be accessible by other scholars all over the world and will be the single, quasi-tangible representation of the totality of your doctoral study – make it the most polished document it can be. And if you need help, reach out and ask for it.

William R. Huckle is associate professor in the department of biomedical sciences and pathobiology at the Virginia-Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine, and associate dean in the Graduate School at Virginia Tech.

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Defending Your Dissertation: A Guide

A woman in front of a bookshelf speaking to a laptop

Written by Luke Wink-Moran | Photo by insta_photos

Dissertation defenses are daunting, and no wonder; it’s not a “dissertation discussion,” or a “dissertation dialogue.” The name alone implies that the dissertation you’ve spent the last x number of years working on is subject to attack. And if you don’t feel trepidation for semantic reasons, you might be nervous because you don’t know what to expect. Our imaginations are great at making The Unknown scarier than reality. The good news is that you’ll find in this newsletter article experts who can shed light on what dissertations defenses are really like, and what you can do to prepare for them.

The first thing you should know is that your defense has already begun. It started the minute you began working on your dissertation— maybe even in some of the classes you took beforehand that helped you formulate your ideas. This, according to Dr. Celeste Atkins, is why it’s so important to identify a good mentor early in graduate school.

“To me,” noted Dr. Atkins, who wrote her dissertation on how sociology faculty from traditionally marginalized backgrounds teach about privilege and inequality, “the most important part of the doctoral journey was finding an advisor who understood and supported what I wanted from my education and who was willing to challenge me and push me, while not delaying me. I would encourage future PhDs to really take the time to get to know the faculty before choosing an advisor and to make sure that the members of their committee work well together.”

Your advisor will be the one who helps you refine arguments and strengthen your work so that by the time it reaches your dissertation committee, it’s ready. Next comes the writing process, which many students have said was the hardest part of their PhD. I’ve included this section on the writing process because this is where you’ll create all the material you’ll present during your defense, so it’s important to navigate it successfully. The writing process is intellectually grueling, it eats time and energy, and it’s where many students find themselves paddling frantically to avoid languishing in the “All-But-Dissertation” doldrums. The writing process is also likely to encroach on other parts of your life. For instance, Dr. Cynthia Trejo wrote her dissertation on college preparation for Latin American students while caring for a twelve-year-old, two adult children, and her aging parents—in the middle of a pandemic. When I asked Dr. Trejo how she did this, she replied:

“I don’t take the privilege of education for granted. My son knew I got up at 4:00 a.m. every morning, even on weekends, even on holidays; and it’s a blessing that he’s seen that work ethic and that dedication and the end result.”

Importantly, Dr. Trejo also exercised regularly and joined several online writing groups at UArizona. She mobilized her support network— her partner, parents, and even friends from high school to help care for her son.

The challenges you face during the writing process can vary by discipline. Jessika Iwanski is an MD/PhD student who in 2022 defended her dissertation on genetic mutations in sarcomeric proteins that lead to severe, neonatal dilated cardiomyopathy. She described her writing experience as “an intricate process of balancing many things at once with a deadline (defense day) that seems to be creeping up faster and faster— finishing up experiments, drafting the dissertation, preparing your presentation, filling out all the necessary documents for your defense and also, for MD/PhD students, beginning to reintegrate into the clinical world (reviewing your clinical knowledge and skill sets)!”

But no matter what your unique challenges are, writing a dissertation can take a toll on your mental health. Almost every student I spoke with said they saw a therapist and found their sessions enormously helpful. They also looked to the people in their lives for support. Dr. Betsy Labiner, who wrote her dissertation on Interiority, Truth, and Violence in Early Modern Drama, recommended, “Keep your loved ones close! This is so hard – the dissertation lends itself to isolation, especially in the final stages. Plus, a huge number of your family and friends simply won’t understand what you’re going through. But they love you and want to help and are great for getting you out of your head and into a space where you can enjoy life even when you feel like your dissertation is a flaming heap of trash.”

While you might sometimes feel like your dissertation is a flaming heap of trash, remember: a) no it’s not, you brilliant scholar, and b) the best dissertations aren’t necessarily perfect dissertations. According to Dr. Trejo, “The best dissertation is a done dissertation.” So don’t get hung up on perfecting every detail of your work. Think of your dissertation as a long-form assignment that you need to finish in order to move onto the next stage of your career. Many students continue revising after graduation and submit their work for publication or other professional objectives.

When you do finish writing your dissertation, it’s time to schedule your defense and invite friends and family to the part of the exam that’s open to the public. When that moment comes, how do you prepare to present your work and field questions about it?

“I reread my dissertation in full in one sitting,” said Dr. Labiner. “During all my time writing it, I’d never read more than one complete chapter at a time! It was a huge confidence boost to read my work in full and realize that I had produced a compelling, engaging, original argument.”

There are many other ways to prepare: create presentation slides and practice presenting them to friends or alone; think of questions you might be asked and answer them; think about what you want to wear or where you might want to sit (if you’re presenting on Zoom) that might give you a confidence boost. Iwanksi practiced presenting with her mentor and reviewed current papers to anticipate what questions her committee might ask. If you want to really get in the zone, you can emulate Dr. Labiner and do a full dress rehearsal on Zoom the day before your defense.

But no matter what you do, you’ll still be nervous:

“I had a sense of the logistics, the timing, and so on, but I didn’t really have clear expectations outside of the structure. It was a sort of nebulous three hours in which I expected to be nauseatingly terrified,” recalled Dr. Labiner.

“I expected it to be terrifying, with lots of difficult questions and constructive criticism/comments given,” agreed Iwanski.

“I expected it to be very scary,” said Dr. Trejo.

“I expected it to be like I was on trial, and I’d have to defend myself and prove I deserved a PhD,” said Dr Atkins.

And, eventually, inexorably, it will be time to present.

“It was actually very enjoyable” said Iwanski. “It was more of a celebration of years of work put into this project—not only by me but by my mentor, colleagues, lab members and collaborators! I felt very supported by all my committee members and, rather than it being a rapid fire of questions, it was more of a scientific discussion amongst colleagues who are passionate about heart disease and muscle biology.”

“I was anxious right when I logged on to the Zoom call for it,” said Dr. Labiner, “but I was blown away by the number of family and friends that showed up to support me. I had invited a lot of people who I didn’t at all think would come, but every single person I invited was there! Having about 40 guests – many of them joining from different states and several from different countries! – made me feel so loved and celebrated that my nerves were steadied very quickly. It also helped me go into ‘teaching mode’ about my work, so it felt like getting to lead a seminar on my most favorite literature.”

“In reality, my dissertation defense was similar to presenting at an academic conference,” said Dr. Atkins. “I went over my research in a practiced and organized way, and I fielded questions from the audience.

“It was a celebration and an important benchmark for me,” said Dr. Trejo. “It was a pretty happy day. Like the punctuation at the end of your sentence: this sentence is done; this journey is done. You can start the next sentence.”

If you want to learn more about dissertations in your own discipline, don’t hesitate to reach out to graduates from your program and ask them about their experiences. If you’d like to avail yourself of some of the resources that helped students in this article while they wrote and defended their dissertations, check out these links:

The Graduate Writing Lab

https://thinktank.arizona.edu/writing-center/graduate-writing-lab

The Writing Skills Improvement Program

https://wsip.arizona.edu

Campus Health Counseling and Psych Services

https://caps.arizona.edu

https://www.scribbr.com/

Career Advice

I’m Chairing My First Dissertation. What Do I Do?

Many faculty members moving into a position that requires guiding doctoral students through the dissertation process have no blueprint, writes Ramon B. Goings.

By Ramon B. Goings

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Here’s a common conversation I find myself having with new faculty members.

I ask, “What training and support do you think would be helpful for you as a new faculty member in your department?”

The new faculty member responds, “I need help on creating a consistent program of research and teaching my classes effectively so I can earn tenure.”

So then I ask, “I see you have doctoral students you will have to advise, as well. Would training on how to be a dissertation chair be helpful?”

And the faculty member exclaims, “Wow! I hadn’t thought about that and have no clue where to start. I mean, I did go through the dissertation process myself and know how to do research. Isn’t that enough ?”

For many faculty members, including myself, who have transitioned or will transition in the upcoming semester to a position that requires mentoring and guiding doctoral students through the dissertation process, there is often no blueprint. Think about your doctoral experience. After you finished, did you receive any training or support on chairing your own doctoral students?

When I talk with other faculty members I often ask, “How did you learn how to be a dissertation chair?” The most common response is, “I learned by doing it.” While on-the-job training has value, and that is how I also learned, I have always pondered the question: “ Why isn’t there more training for faculty members on how to effectively guide doctoral students through the dissertation process?”

Based on that question and my experience serving on more than 40 dissertation committees as both chair and committee member—and supporting over 150 doctoral students across disciplines through my training related to the dissertation process—I have been able to witness both effective and ineffective strategies for chairing dissertations. And I’d like to share some of the insights I gained and wish I’d had when I started with faculty members who are just beginning their journeys chairing dissertations.

Recognize the dissertation experience of your advisees doesn’t have to be the same as yours. Every dissertation is different. As faculty members, we do not have to put our students through the process that many of us went through. This mindset shift is vital to make. If we approach how we advise our students in a way that mimics our own doctoral experience, it is easy to have unrealistic and sometimes unfair expectations of our doctoral students. That can potentially transform what should be a positive learning process into one that is unnecessarily difficult and riddled with friction. It may also deter many of our brightest minds from contributing to academia as a whole through their research after finishing the dissertation process.

Part of our work as chair is doing some internal reflection on our personal doctoral journey and understanding how our experiences influence our views on advising. For example, some doctoral students I encounter have dissertation chairs who see the dissertation process as a sink or swim exercise where the student needs to figure out everything on their own and should only reach out to their chair when they have completed work to share. In some of these situations, the student was only subjected to this mentorship approach because it was the way their dissertation chair was trained. Meanwhile this approach has left them isolated and unsure of themselves as scholars.

Contrastingly, I also encounter students who have dissertation chairs that encourage conversation with them and find opportunities to explaining the dissertation process, so the student knows they have a supportive faculty member to rely on. Every doctoral student has different needs at different stages of the dissertation process, so we should be open as faculty to adapting our style to meet the needs of our students.

Discuss expectations early and often. When I take on the responsibilities as chair, one of the first conversations I have with students focuses on our mutual expectations of the process. Why? Because, I have seen relationships go awry when expectations aren’t clear. When thinking about communicating expectations, here are a few topical areas that could help start your conversation.

Communication and meeting cadence:

Discuss your preferred mode of communication. Email? Phone? Text?
Share your typical response time to advisee questions.
Determine how often you plan to meet. Weekly? Bi-weekly? Monthly?
Communicate the days and times will you be unavailable.

Writing feedback and turnaround time:

Decide how you want to review the dissertation. Chapter by chapter? Entire dissertation proposal?
Share your typical turnaround time on feedback. Determine what happens if you are not able to meet the agreed-upon turnaround time.

Selecting committee members:

Review the guidelines for committee composition.
Decide, if in a co-chairing situation, who should be the first point of contact.

Engaging in this conversation with your advisee shows that you are human and understand that, as two busy people, you can figure out how to work together. While it’s important to have this discussion at the beginning of the dissertation process, you should continue to revisit your expectations with your students regularly.

Create your own system for managing students and the process. Having gone through the tenure and promotion process, I certainly understand the concerted effort it takes to be a productive scholar and teacher while also building a national or international presence in your field through various service opportunities. Given the demands on your time, it is helpful to create a system for how you manage your advisees and their progress, because it can be easy to lose sight of what they are working on and the upcoming deadlines that are important to their degree completion timeline. This is especially important if you are chairing many doctoral students.

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One effective approach I and other chairs have implemented when we’ve had several advisees is to establish a designated time each week where students can drop in to talk about their work in a group format. That not only helps you manage your schedule, but also allows your students to build support and camaraderie among themselves.

To make best use of these meetings, I also recommend that you ask each student to create an agenda that has the key items they would like to discuss during their time with you. Having an agenda allows you time to prepare, if necessary, and also provides documentation of what was discussed so you can stay on top of everyone’s progress.

The dissertation is a repeatable process, so when starting out, create templates for aspects of the process that do not change. For example, if you know you will need to send an email to the committee members to schedule a defense date, create the email one time and save it as a template in your email system. That way, when looking to schedule future defenses, you already have a place to start from.

Other aspects of the process that you could build templates for include, but are not limited to:

Dissertation defense PowerPoints
Committee member emails offering feedback
Dissertation-defense announcements

You should also recognize that not all doctoral programs recognize and compensate faculty members appropriately when chairing dissertation committees, and that having systems in place will allow you to use your time effectively and still maintain focus on your research and teaching responsibilities.

Understand both the spoken and hidden rules. When chairing dissertations in a new department, make sure that you have access to any policy documents that govern the dissertation process at your university. In particular, create a spreadsheet or calendar of all of the important submission dates at your department, college and university level. This becomes important when talking with your advisees about their anticipated timeline for completion.

Being aware of deadlines allows you to help your student by recognizing, for example, that while graduation might occur in May, their dissertation has to be defended by March 15th. That March 15th deadline signals that the student may need to be done writing their dissertation and have a draft to the committee by February 1st to give them a month to review. Depending on the bureaucracy of your institution, such dates vary and drastically impact a student’s timeline, so it is important to stay on top of the rules.

In fact, one of the key challenges as a new faculty member in a department is that you don’t always know the unspoken rules of your department’s dissertation process. For instance, when I was a doctoral student, it was often the responsibility of the chair to communicate with the committee when sending over chapters for review or getting folks scheduled for a defense. However, in my current doctoral program, many of our students actually help in leading that process with the support of the chair. I value that they have ownership of the process, but that was something unspoken that I had to learn along the way.

Some questions that you may want to ask to understand which unspoken rules you should consider are:

How long does our department give committee members to review a dissertation?
At what point do we send dissertations to the committee? After chapter completion? Or only when a complete proposal or final dissertation is ready?
If a dissertation committee member is unresponsive, how is that typically handled?
Does our department allow a student to write their dissertation in a language other than [insert language]?

As a new faculty member, chairing doctoral students through the dissertation process is an important role, but one that we are least prepared for in our doctoral training. My mission is to have more conversations about ushering students through the dissertation process, so I can improve it for everyone involved.

Ramon B. Goings ( @ramongoings ) is an associate professor in the language, literacy, and culture doctoral program at the University of Maryland, Baltimore County, and founder of Done Dissertation .

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UCLA Graduate Programs

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File Your Electronic Thesis or Dissertation (ETD)

Ready to file.

Review the formatting requirements for filing theses and dissertations and University policy regarding graduate thesis and dissertation public dissemination in UCLA Thesis and Dissertation Filing Requirements & Public Dissemination .

To begin the ETD filing process OR to check the approval status of your ETD:

During the filing process, you may choose your publishing agreement, register your copyright, and order copies of your manuscript.

FILING DEADLINES

Last Day for to Complete Degree Requirements* for Spring 2024 Doctoral Hooding Ceremony Participation and Hooding Booklet Information Listing

PREPARING TO FILE YOUR ETD

Review UCLA Thesis and Dissertation Filing Requirements & Public Dissemination
Register and Enroll for the term, or apply for Filing Fee
Review Graduation Requirements
Changing your Name on your Thesis or Dissertation

THESIS & DISSERTATION COMMITTEES

Thesis Committee Regulations
Minimum Standards for Doctoral Committee Constitution
Change Committee Members

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES

ETD Workshops & Drop-In Hours
ETD Workshop Presentation Slides
Video: Formatting Tutorial
UCLA Library Scholarly Communication Services (Copyright Assistance)

ETD & FILING FAQS

1. What happens to the thesis or dissertation a graduate student files?

In the past, the physical manuscript was placed on the shelves of the UCLA library where it could be accessed by visitors and through the international interlibrary loan network. Today, digital access to the document is provided through the University of California Digital Library , our institutional repository. Additionally, the abstracts of theses and dissertations worldwide are indexed by ProQuest , SciFinder and other abstracting services. In the past, interested scholars who wanted to obtain copies of theses and dissertations would either write to the author or purchase paper, microfilm or microfiche copies from ProQuest, but now they can purchase electronic copies instead. Technology changes aside, graduate students retain the copyright on your dissertation, and will receive royalties when copies are purchased. See University of California Copyright for more information.

2. Can graduate students file their thesis or dissertation from outside the US?

Yes. Graduate students do not need to be physically present on campus to submit their thesis or dissertations. Graduate students only need access to the internet.

3. Do graduate students have to be registered when they file?

Graduate students must either register and enroll or, if eligible, use the Filing Fee .

4. Can a graduate student file during the Summer?

Yes. In order for a graduate student to file and receive a Summer degree, students must either register and enroll in a minimum of 4 units in a Summer Session or be on Filing Fee status.

5. Can a graduate student still file on paper?

No. Since March 13, 2012, only electronic filing is available for graduate students.

6. How can graduate students order hard copies of my thesis or dissertation?

Graduate students may order hard copies through ProQuest. Copies take about 5 weeks to ship after the manuscript is published by ProQuest. Graduate students can also order copies through the UC Bindery .

7. I’ve included co-authored works in my thesis or dissertation. How do I cite them?

You must include in your Acknowledgments section any material based on co-authored work that is published, in-press, submitted, or in preparation for publication. For each segment of the work that involved co-authors, you must identify (briefly describe) and acknowledge the specific contributions of each co-author. For details, see page 15 of UCLA Thesis and Dissertation Filing Requirements & Public Dissemination .

8. Will my thesis or dissertation manuscript be sold to third-party retailers?

No. A graduate student’s thesis or dissertation is not shared with Amazon. ProQuest’s reseller program with Amazon has been discontinued, with all existing agreements ending in 2014.

1. What are the filing deadlines for graduate students?

See the Deadlines above. Deadlines of past academic terms are available in the Registrar’s Office online calendar archive .

2. What counts as submitting my thesis or dissertation by the deadline?

All of the following must occur by 5pm PT on the day of official deadline:

All committee members have approved electronically
Committee has certified you have passed the final oral exam (if applicable)
A graduate student has submitted a final PDF via ProQuest
A graduate student has completed the online Division of Graduate Education process using the link at the top of this page
If the Division of Graduate Education requests any changes, the graduate student will have submitted the specific changes within the designated time period

3. How will the Division of Graduate Education determine my thesis or dissertation filing date and whether I’ve met the deadline?

The last date that all of the items listed above is complete will be your filing date for your thesis or dissertation. For example, if you submit your final dissertation PDF and complete the online process on May 31, three committee members sign on June 1, and the final committee member signs on June 2, your filing date will be June 2 assuming you have met all other degree requirements.

1. What is a certifying member?

Certifying members are responsible for approving your dissertation. Effective Fall 2016, all doctoral committee members must read, approve, and certify the dissertation. All committee members must enter a decision for the final oral exam, if required.

2. Do my thesis or dissertation committee members need to sign the committee page?

Certifying committee members approve the thesis or dissertation electronically. There is no signature page, but rather a committee page listing your certifying committee members in the manuscript.

3. Can a committee member approve a thesis or dissertation from outside of Los Angeles?

Yes. Professors can approve a thesis or dissertation from anywhere with access to the internet.

4. A graduate student’s UCLA faculty committee member prefers to use a non-UCLA email address. Can an email request be sent to that email address?

No. UCLA faculty will be notified via their official UCLA business email addresses. Graduate students are welcome to send a reminder email to their non-UCLA email address with the link (https://go.grad.ucla.edu) to the approval page.

5. How do committee members who are not from UCLA approve theses or dissertations?

Committee members from outside UCLA will still receive the email notification and go to a similar approval page as UCLA faculty.

6. Can graduate students check the status of when their committee members approve their manuscripts electronically?

Yes, after graduate students complete the online process they can log back into the ETD Filing Application to check the status.

Formatting Guide

1. What special characters can graduate students use in their titles?

Only the ones approved by UCLA. The list can be found on the Formatting and Filing Information page.

FYI: ProQuest will NOT publish any special characters included in your title although the special characters will display when you submit your thesis or dissertation.

2. Does the Division of Graduate Education have a LaTeX template?

No. Please consult with your graduate department or program.

3. Can the Division of Graduate Education check my thesis or dissertation formatting before submitting it to ProQuest ?

The Division of Graduate Education will only check your thesis or dissertation formatting once you have submitted it to ProQuest, or during designated ETD Drop-In Hours.

Release of Manuscript

1. Why will my thesis or dissertation be available for public access after it has been filed by the university?

The UCLA Graduate Thesis and Public Dissemination Policy affirms the university’s commitment to open access of scholarly work.

It is the University of California’s expectation that the research and scholarly work conducted by graduate students that is incorporated into theses and dissertations will be made available to the public. UCLA requires that research and scholarly work conducted by graduate students and incorporated into theses and dissertations be made publicly available through the University of California’s institutional repository, eScholarship .

All theses and dissertations are available as open access via UC eScholarship unless a delayed release is selected.

2. When will I be able to view my thesis or dissertation on ProQuest?

6-8 weeks after you receive final confirmation from the Division of Graduate Education.

3. When will I be able to view my thesis or dissertation on UC eScholarship?

2-3 months after you receive final confirmation from the Division of Graduate Education.

4. What is the UCLA Thesis and Dissertation Submission Agreement?

The UCLA Thesis and Dissertation Submission Agreement allows graduate students to affirm their understanding of the rights and responsibilities associated with the submission of their manuscripts to the campus institutional repository, eScholarship .

All thesis and dissertation filers will complete the institutional repository agreement as part of the submission process via ProQuest.

In the process of filing a thesis or dissertation via ProQuest, in partial fulfillment of the requirements for a degree at UCLA, graduate students agree to grant a non-exclusive, worldwide, royalty-free, perpetual license to The Regents of the University of California (University). Graduate students retain copyright.

1. What does it mean for graduate students to register the copyright of their thesis or dissertation?

The copyright of your work is inherent upon creation. Graduate Students do not need to register their copyright to enjoy copyright protection, but registration does provide some benefits. For full detail, read the U.S. Copyright Office circular “ Copyright Basics “. The benefits of registration are outlined on Page 7 of the circular.

2. I found images on the internet that I want to use in my thesis or dissertation. Is this OK?

Graduate Students should assume that anything produced by someone other than themselves is protected by copyright unless they determine otherwise. This includes items found on the internet. Items in copyright will need either permission or a fair use justification.

If you have flexibility in the final selection of your images, search for images that are 1) in the public domain, or 2) made available for reuse via a Creative Commons license . Such images can be incorporated into your dissertation without permission or concern for fair use.

3. I’ve provided attribution and a citation for the source material I used in my thesis or dissertation. That’s all I need, right ?

Proper attribution is absolutely required; that’s a part of academic integrity and good scholarship. But copyright permission, if necessary, is an entirely separate matter and covered by U.S. Code Title 17 .

4. Do I need permission for every image, chart and graph that I use in my thesis or dissertation from other sources?

It depends. Some materials may qualify under fair use, and others are best used with permission. Graduate students should consult the filing procedures for more detail, or for consultation on a specific situation, get assistance from a UCLA librarian at [email protected] .

5. I’ve obtained verbal permission to use copyrighted material in my thesis or dissertation. Is this sufficient?

Written permission is best. It can be as simple as an email granting permission. Graduate students should retain copies of all permissions in their files.

6. How do graduate students determine what they can use without permission under Fair Use?

If graduate students do not know the four-factor balancing test of Fair Use , they need to become familiar with it. For more information on Fair Use, we recommend you explore the UC Copyright website .

7. Can I use an article, which I previously authored and published, as a chapter in my thesis or dissertation without permission?

It depends on the agreement you signed with your publisher. Most agreements require you to transfer your copyright to the publisher. If this is the case, you must request permission from the publisher to “reprint” the article as a chapter in your thesis or dissertation. However, some agreements specify that you retain the right to reprint the article in your dissertation. Read your author agreement to see if you retained such rights; if you are unsure, consult with a UCLA librarian at [email protected] .

8. After my thesis or dissertation is published, can I reuse one of the chapters as the basis of a future journal article?

If portions of your thesis or dissertation have been previously published as journal articles, you are bound by the agreement you signed when that content was published. But in regards to the remaining, unique content of your thesis or dissertation: Yes, you own the copyright of your thesis or dissertation, and are free to adapt and republish it as you see fit.

9. For those items that require permission, do graduate students need that permission before they file?

Though it is highly recommended that graduate students secure permissions as early as possible, they DO NOT need those permissions in order before they file their theses or dissertations. Permissions are only necessary from ProQuest’s perspective, and theses or dissertations will be published on ProQuest only after the filing process is complete. So, there is a window of several weeks for graduate students to finish gathering permissions.

10. What happens if a graduate student cannot produce the necessary permissions if/when a copyright owner objects and ProQuest asks for them ?

If the inclusion of copyrighted material is challenged by the copyright owner of the material and/or ProQuest, then the publication will be removed from ProQuest until the issue is resolved. A full citation and abstract of the graduate student’s thesis or dissertation will remain.

This rare issue (less than 1% of dissertations are challenged in this manner) is most commonly resolved by redacting or removing the copyrighted content from your thesis or dissertation and resubmitting the modified document to ProQuest. This will require the graduate student to pay a processing fee to ProQuest. Keep in mind that the copyright owner must be amenable to this as a resolution.

11. Won’t having my thesis or dissertation freely available online reduce my chances of securing a book deal and/or publishing portions as journal articles?

If you are concerned that such availability would impact your ability to later publish the thesis or dissertation as a monograph, or derive a journal article from a chapter, several studies of publisher practices have shown that this is not the case. In a 2011 Publisher’s Survey , only 6% of monograph publishers and 3% of journal editors would “never” consider a work derived from a publicly available ETD. If you have concerns, you can embargo your dissertation for up to two years.

Delayed Public Dissemination (Embargo)

1. What does delayed public dissemination (embargo) mean?

Delayed public dissemination, commonly known as embargo, postpones public distribution of the thesis or dissertation that has been approved and filed with the university.

2. I chose to delay the release of my thesis or dissertation? When will the embargo begin?

The delayed release period in ProQuest will begin on the date that ProQuest receives your submission.

The delayed release period in eScholarship will begin on the date that your submission is approved by the Division of Graduate Education.

3. Can I request to delay the release of my thesis or dissertation for more than two years?

Under rare circumstances and prior to the filing of the thesis or dissertation, the Dean of Graduate Education may approve requests for time-delimited embargoes beyond the two-year limit. Please see UCLA Thesis and Dissertation Filing Requirements & Public Dissemination for more information on the exception request process.

4. I did not delay the public dissemination of my thesis or dissertation at the time of submission. Can I request an embargo in eScholarship post-submission?

Graduate students who wish to delay public dissemination in eScholarship must select this option at the time they submit their theses or dissertations to the Division of Graduate Education via ProQuest. Requests to embargo a thesis or dissertation after the manuscript has been filed in UC eScholarship are permissible only in exceptional circumstances, and require Division of Graduate Education approval.

Please see UCLA Thesis and Dissertation Filing Requirements & Public Dissemination for more information on the exception request process.

5. I think (or my research adviser thinks) that my thesis or dissertation work contains classified, secret or confidential information that cannot be disclosed to the public. Can I restrict access?

The University of California and UCLA do not have security clearances that permit the conduct of classified research on the UCLA campus (see page 2 of Responsibility for Executing Research Memo ). Further, the UCLA Graduate Council does not endorse the conduct of confidential research by graduate students; in instances where it is approved, the end results must be in an academically acceptable thesis or dissertation that can be deposited at the University without restricting access to it. In some cases, for example when a patent is being filed, it may be reasonable and appropriate to put in place an embargo that delays public release of the thesis or dissertation. Such an embargo should not be permanent, however. See UCLA Thesis and Dissertation Filing Requirements & Public Dissemination for guidelines and instructions on this option.

6. I have heard that publishers won’t publish articles based on results that have been presented in preliminary form in my dissertation. Is that true?

In general, no. Publishers recognize that work described in theses and dissertations is often preliminary and may require additional research and writing before it can be submitted to the journal. Theses and dissertations also have not undergone peer review. Consequently, the vast majority of scientific and scholarly publications do not view theses and dissertations as constituting prior publication that would render articles based on the work ineligible for consideration.

7. Depending on the academic field, books/monographs are considered the primary form of publication and the basis for getting an academic position. Do graduate students jeopardize their chance of getting future books published if their theses or dissertations are “out there”?

What publishers say is, “A dissertation is not a book.” The process of turning the dissertation into a book involves considerable transformation, which may include additional research, shifts in scope or emphasis, broadening or narrowing, refining of the arguments, and/or changes in style to appeal to the target audience. Because of these significant differences, and the fact that dissertations are not marketed, most publishers do not consider making a dissertation available in a public repository such as eScholarship (the UC Digital Library) as cause for rejecting a book proposal.

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Frequently Asked Questions about Writing a Thesis or Dissertation

How do i begin.

The first step on your road to writing your thesis/dissertation is the selection of a committee chairperson. From there, you and your chair will select the rest of your committee. Your committee chair can help you make sure you complete all of the required forms before you start your research. If you have any questions, you can always contact the Thesis-Dissertation office in the School of Graduate Studies and Research (120 Stright Hall) or email [email protected] .
Funding is available, on a competitive basis, through the graduate research grant. Funding is also available for graduate students to present their research at professional meetings. See the graduate student research funding information .
All students completing a thesis or dissertation must submit an RTAF and it must be received by the School of Graduate Studies and Research before the applicable deadline . Many students will also need IRB or IACUC approval. Once you have submitted the RTAF and IRB/IACUC (if applicable) documents, the School of Graduate Studies and Research will review these documents for approval. You may not commence research until after you receive an official notification from the School of Graduate Studies and Research indicating your RTAF has been approved. The notification will be sent to your IUP email address.
RTAF stands for Research Topic Approval Form. You must fill this out after you form your committee, but before you begin the actual work on your thesis/dissertation.
Log in to MyIUP and go to Discover.
Search for "graduate" and click on Graduate Student Resources.
Click on Research Topic Approval Form.
Follow the on-screen instructions. Note: This form is not compatible with Internet Explorer.
Theses/dissertation deadlines can be found here .

Committee

You should choose a committee chairperson when thesis or dissertation work begins. The chairperson must be qualified to serve as a chairperson according to the IUP School of Graduate Studies and Research Criteria for Teaching Graduate Courses policy for graduate faculty membership. Members of a dissertation committee must also be approved under this policy. See the Current List of Eligible Faculty Members .
Doctoral students wishing to have a committee member from outside the APSCUF bargaining unit may apply to have an outside reader serve as the third or fourth member of their committee. Instructions to request an outside reader
If your committee changes, you will need to submit a new electronic RTAF through your MyIUP account. Email [email protected] to inform them of the reason for the new RTAF submission.
Your thesis/dissertation committee chair may continue to serve as your chair for one year after their date of retirement if certain criteria have been met. You will need to defend your dissertation/thesis within that one-year time frame; if you do not, a new RTAF will need submitted with an active IUP faculty member who has current graduate teaching eligibility status, listed as committee chair.

If your thesis/dissertation committee chair will no longer be serving then you will need to select a new committee chair, which may be a member already serving on your committee or a new member to the committee. They will need to be an active IUP faculty member who has current graduate teaching eligibility status.

For doctoral students, a faculty member must have current doctoral level graduate eligibility status to chair a dissertation committee.

For master's students, a faculty member must have current masters' level graduate eligibility status to chair a thesis committee.

Please see FAQ About Faculty Compensation for Chairing Thesis and Dissertation Committees.

Copyright Issues

No. The only exception would be if your ETD required a licensed application or reader program in order to make your ETD readable or useful. In that case, you would need to consult the licensing agreement to see if you must obtain permission from the copyright owner.
Since a dissertation or thesis is published for nonprofit educational purposes, the author is permitted limited use of copyrighted material under the guidelines of "fair use." The purpose, amount, nature, and effect of the work reproduced determine whether or not one must seek permission from the copyright owner.
Items that you would want to pay special attention to would be materials such as graphs, charts, data, pictures, maps, illustrations, long quotations, questionnaires, journal articles, music, archival material, unpublished works, computer software, and creative works such as poetry, novels, and plays.
You can find more information on our Copyright Information page .

Submitting Your Thesis/Dissertation

Yes, once it is approved by your committee. Please keep in mind that we only review content for format and compliance. You may want to submit your thesis/dissertation to the Graduate Editing Service at the IUP Writing Center prior to submitting it to us.
No. Please email your copy either as a Word document or PDF. That way we all save some paper.
By preparing an ETD and submitting it electronically, you may be able to better convey the message of your dissertation in an electronic document. Color diagrams, color images, hypertext links, audio, video, animations, spreadsheets, databases, simulations, and virtual reality worlds can be included in your document.
Submitting electronically makes your research available to a global audience and not sequestered on a shelf in our library.
Furthermore, you will learn about electronic document preparation and about digital libraries. These skills can help prepare you for your future role in the Information Age, whether you teach, conduct research, or use the research results of others.
Yes. Here is information for obtaining paper copies for binding .
You will need Microsoft Word 2007, Adobe Acrobat, or their equivalent.
Also, a free, 30-day trial version can be downloaded here .
Mac users will need to download Adobe Creative Suite 4 Master Collection trial .
One other option is to download CutePDF Writer , which is a free program.
The text-based portion of the dissertation must be a PDF file. You may use the following additional permitted file types already approved and supported by ProQuest's UMI division for electronic dissertations: image files as .gif, .jpeg, or .tif; video files as .mov, .mpg, or .avi; and audio files as .aif, .midi, .snd, .wav, or as CD-DA, CD-ROM/XA, or MPEG-2.
No. Only one PDF is allowed.
No. However, to ensure that readers will be able to download and use your ETD in the future, it is important to keep the size to a minimum. The average size of ETDs is less than 5 MB.

The Thesis/Dissertation Review Process

We will check that your formatting complies with your chosen style manual and the university's formatting templates for front matter. We will also confirm that you have obtained all necessary approvals to conduct research, including but not limited to RTAF, IRB, IACUC, and outside readers. Additionally, we will review the document for plagiarism using iThenticate software. You will receive an electronic copy of the iThenticate report with your format revision notes.
When you send your thesis or dissertation to the SGSR for review, we will upload it to iThenticate. The iThenticate software will compare your document to over 32 billion web pages and 125 million content items, including 34 million published works. iThenticate will automatically generate a report flagging sections of the thesis or dissertation that bear some percentage of similarity to published content. Each student will be sent an electronic copy of the iTHenticate report along with the other formatting documents already sent by the SGSR. The SGSR will carefully review the report produced by iThenticate and notify the student of possible missed citations and trivial errors. If it appears that there is a significant amount of potentially plagiarized material, the student, committee chair, graduate coordinator, and assistant dean for research will be notified for further investigation and for possible noncompliance with the university's Academic Integrity Policy .
No. The iThenticate software allows the SGSR to set filters to exclude quotations and bibliographic information.
No. Your thesis/dissertation will NOT be added to any iThenticate databases during the review process.
Unfortunately, the SGSR's iThenticate license does not provide enough submissions for students to check their work.
We will email you revision notes. We do not make any corrections to your thesis/dissertation.
That's not necessary unless there were significant formatting issues, but we would be happy to look over your corrected thesis/dissertation if you so wish. We review your thesis/dissertation after you have submitted it to Proquest, and additional edits may be required at that time.

Citing and Publishing ETDs

You can't. If you need to make corrections, you must contact the Thesis/Dissertation Office.
Citations depend on the style manual you chose on your RTAF. Select for approved style manuals .

Please address all thesis and dissertation questions to [email protected] .

School of Graduate Studies and Research
101 Stright Hall 210 South Tenth Street Indiana, PA 15705
Phone: 724-357-4511
Fax: 724-357-2715

Graduate School

Request Information

Announcing the 2024 Graduate School Best Dissertation Award Winners

The graduate school is pleased to announce the 2024 best dissertation award winners.

Congratulations to the winners of the 2024 Best Dissertation Award ! A student from each of four groups – arts and humanities, biological and life sciences, physical sciences and engineering, and social sciences and education – was chosen by faculty from the broad disciplinary area. Selections were based on the originality and importance of the research, as well as the potential for the student to make an unusually significant contribution to their field.

ARTS & HUMANITIES

Dr. caroline doenmez, anthropology.

Advisor(s): Drs. Hoon Song, Jean M. O’Brien
Dissertation Title: Carrying Water: Indigenous Women Reclaiming Birthing Sovereignty along the Red River
Current Position: Assistant Professor, Michigan State University

BIOLOGICAL & MEDICAL SCIENCES

Dr. trevor weiss, plant and microbial biology.

Advisor(s): Dr. Feng Zhang
Dissertation Title: Improving plant genome editing: CRISPR meets epigenetics
Current Position: Postdoctoral Fellow, University of California - Los Angeles

Mathematics, Physical Sciences, and Engineering

Dr. vidya chhabria, electrical engineering.

Advisor(s): Dr. Sachin S. Sapatnekar
Dissertation Title: The Next Wave of EDA: Exploring Machine Learning and Open-source Philosophies for Physical Design
Current Position: Assistant Professor, Arizona State University

SOCIAL SCIENCES

Dr. sophia magro, child psychology.

Advisor(s): Dr. Glenn Roisman
Dissertation Title: Trust and Skepticism: Measuring, Predicting, and Understanding the Consequences of Teacher-Student Relationships from Kindergarten to Grade 6: Evidence from the Study of Early Child Care and Youth Development
Current Position: NIMH T32 Postdoctoral Fellow, Northwestern University

Dr. Pearl Han Li from the Social Sciences category, academic year 2022-23 recipient, and Vidya Chhabria from the Mathematics, Physical Sciences, and Engineering category, academic year 2023-24 recipient, are nominated by the University of Minnesota to the national 2024 CGS/ProQuest Distinguished Dissertation Award competition .

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IMAGES

What is Dissertation
How to Write a Dissertation Abstract- Step by Step Guidance
How To Write A Philosophy Dissertation
Introduction
Optimise Your Dissertation Structure
How to Write a Thesis or Dissertation Proposal & Examples

VIDEO

Doctoral Student Colloquium 12-4-23
Presentation at Faculty Dissertation Clinic
Do You Use This Taboo Word in Your Academic Writing? #phd #faculty
What Is a Thesis?
Doctoral Student Colloquium 2-5-24
EPISODE 4 -- LEADERSHIP CAPABILITIES FOR IMPROVING FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT INEFFICIENCIES

COMMENTS

How to Write a Dissertation: Step-by-Step Guide
Graduate students write a dissertation to earn their doctorate. The format and content of a dissertation vary widely depending on the academic discipline. Doctoral candidates work closely with their faculty advisor to complete and defend the dissertation, a process that typically takes 1-3 years. How long is a dissertation?
What Is a Dissertation?
A dissertation is a long-form piece of academic writing based on original research conducted by you. It is usually submitted as the final step in order to finish a PhD program. Your dissertation is probably the longest piece of writing you've ever completed. It requires solid research, writing, and analysis skills, and it can be intimidating ...
What (Exactly) Is A Dissertation Or Thesis?
A dissertation (or thesis) is a process. Okay, so now that you understand that a dissertation is a research project (which is testing your ability to undertake quality research), let's go a little deeper into what that means in practical terms. The best way to understand a dissertation is to view it as a process - more specifically a ...
Research Guides: Write and Cite: Theses and Dissertations
A thesis is a long-term, large project that involves both research and writing; it is easy to lose focus, motivation, and momentum. Here are suggestions for achieving the result you want in the time you have. The dissertation is probably the largest project you have undertaken, and a lot of the work is self-directed.
What Is a Dissertation?
Revised on 5 May 2022. A dissertation is a large research project undertaken at the end of a degree. It involves in-depth consideration of a problem or question chosen by the student. It is usually the largest (and final) piece of written work produced during a degree. The length and structure of a dissertation vary widely depending on the ...
PDF Guidelines for The PhD Dissertation
The dissertation must be accepted, and the DAC signed, by at least three readers designated by the student's department, two of whom must be members of the Faculty of Arts and Sciences (FAS) at Harvard University. FAS emeriti (including research professors) and faculty members from other
Dissertation Content
2. Multiple authorship of a published paper should be addressed by clearly designating, in an introduction, the role that the dissertation author had in the research and production of the published paper. The student must have a major contribution to the research and writing of papers included in the dissertation. 3.
The Dissertation Process Explained in 6 Simple Steps
Step 2: Find a Faculty Mentor and Committee Assignment . Once your topic is approved by the university, you'll be tasked with selecting a faculty mentor. Finding a faculty chairperson is one of the most important steps you will take in your dissertation process, apart from crafting and delivering your manuscript. After all, your mentor will ...
What is a Dissertation? A Guide
A dissertation is an academic document prepared by a doctoral student that contains original research about a topic.The student identifies the topic, conducts the research, writes the dissertation and defends it in front of a committee led by a dissertation chair and other doctoral faculty who decide whether the research meets the doctoral level research standards.
What is a Dissertation? [2024 Guide]
A dissertation is a major project completed by PhD candidates. Through it, you will establish yourself as an expert with the knowledge, critical thinking, and research skills to move your field of study forward. The dissertation process usually gets into full swing after you complete your doctoral coursework.
How to Write a Dissertation
A dissertation is a long work of original research. Graduate students submit a dissertation to fulfill one of the requirements for a doctoral degree at most North American universities. Once admitted to a doctoral program, a PhD candidate must propose a topic for their dissertation. Candidates form a committee of faculty to oversee the project.
Theses and Dissertations
Office of Theses and Dissertations. The Office of Theses and Dissertations is the unit of the Graduate School responsible for certifying that theses and dissertations have been prepared in accordance with formatting requirements established by the Graduate School, the University Libraries, and the graduate faculty of Penn State.
What is a Dissertation? Full Guide & Resources for 2024
Dissertation: A dissertation is a 5-chapter written work that must be completed in order to earn a doctoral degree (e.g. Ph.D., Ed.D., etc.). It's often focused on original research. Thesis: A thesis is a written work that must be completed in order to earn a master's degree.
7 Tips for How To Write a Dissertation
4. Stay Motivated While Writing a Dissertation. A study by the International Journal of Doctoral Studies states that a desire for a better life is a key motivator and a contributing factor in success for all doctoral students. 1 Keep that goal in mind by visualizing where the completion of your degree will take you.
What is a Dissertation? Everything You Need to Know
However, the dissertation process generally includes: 1. Letter of Intent: This document makes clear the topic you have chosen and what you intend to say with your dissertation. 2. Research: Utilizing all resources at your disposal, you will conduct research and gather all of the necessary data for your dissertation. 3.
Doctoral Dissertation: Easy Essential Guide 2024+
A dissertation is often a component of a doctoral or PhD program. This document is usually a culmination of what you learn. It is often a lengthy document. It typically includes original research or, in some cases, may include expanded research on an existing topic. A thesis is a scholarly written document.
What is a dissertation?
A dissertation is a written document that summarizes research. It is the final step of a PhD program, and the culmination of a student's doctoral studies. "The dissertation is a source of pride for doctoral students," Dinah Manns, PhD, faculty chair at Capella University, says. "The dissertation is often a compilation of academic and ...
Practical tips for graduate students undertaking a dissertation
Resource collection: Advice for surviving your PhD dissertation; Get a head start in the first year of your PhD; Get your PhD thesis beach ready; Below are practical strategies for tackling the PhD dissertation that I share with the graduate students I advise. While these pointers are perhaps most relevant to students in the life or physical ...
The Action Research Dissertation: A Guide for Students and Faculty
This bookhelps students understand the ways action research dissertations are different from more traditional dissertations andprepares students and their committees for the unique dilemmas they may face, such as validity, positionality, design, write-up, ethics, and defense of the dissertation.
What Are the Steps to the Dissertation Process?
The Dissertation Guidebook is one of the essential navigation tools Walden provides to its doctoral candidates. A vital portion of the document details the 15 required steps that take a dissertation from start to finish. Read along with Walden students to learn more about that process: Premise. The dissertation premise is a short document that ...
Defending Your Dissertation: A Guide
Dissertation defenses are daunting, and no wonder; it's not a "dissertation discussion," or a "dissertation dialogue." ... "To me," noted Dr. Atkins, who wrote her dissertation on how sociology faculty from traditionally marginalized backgrounds teach about privilege and inequality, "the most important part of the doctoral ...
Advice to faculty who are chairing their first dissertation (opinion)
As a new faculty member, chairing doctoral students through the dissertation process is an important role, but one that we are least prepared for in our doctoral training. My mission is to have more conversations about ushering students through the dissertation process, so I can improve it for everyone involved.
File Your Electronic Thesis or Dissertation (ETD)
The last date that all of the items listed above is complete will be your filing date for your thesis or dissertation. For example, if you submit your final dissertation PDF and complete the online process on May 31, three committee members sign on June 1, and the final committee member signs on June 2, your filing date will be June 2 assuming ...
Frequently Asked Questions about Writing a Thesis or Dissertation
You will need to defend your dissertation/thesis within that one-year time frame; if you do not, a new RTAF will need submitted with an active IUP faculty member who has current graduate teaching eligibility status, listed as committee chair.
Announcing the 2024 Graduate School Best Dissertation Award Winners
The Graduate School is pleased to announce the 2024 Best Dissertation Award Winners. Congratulations to the winners of the 2024 Best Dissertation Award!A student from each of four groups - arts and humanities, biological and life sciences, physical sciences and engineering, and social sciences and education - was chosen by faculty from the broad disciplinary area.
PDF Dissertation Committee Roles, Responsibilities and Checklist
A general overview of what goes in the dissertation can be found in the Doctoral Handbook. • Send out dissertation draft. Once the dissertation draft is complete, the chair sends it to the member and dean's rep to get feedback. A date for the defense will be set by the chair at least 3 weeks from the date of receipt of the complete ...
Monash BDI graduate students take out top faculty spots for thesis
Congratulations to Dr Pok Man (Bob) Leung and Ms Zakia Haque who have been awarded the top Graduate Research awards for thesis excellence in the Faculty of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences. Dr Leung's thesis examines strategies that support microbial life in environments with the harshest ...
Master's Thesis Awards Leuven, academic year 2023-2024
The Dieterfund Award in Law and Economics for the best Master's Thesis in the Master Economics, Law and Business Studies. Winner: Bo Peeters; Promotor: Prof. Wouter Devroe & Prof. René Belderbos; Title master's thesis: Foreign Firm Discrimination in Current EU Competition Policy.

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What Exactly Is A Dissertation (Or Thesis)?

A dissertation (or thesis) = a research project

A dissertation (or thesis) is a process.

Step 1 – You identify a worthy research question

Step 2 – You review the existing research

Step 3 – You carry out your own research

Step 4 – You develop answers to your research question(s)

Same same, but different…

Difference #1 – You must decide (and live with) the direction.

Difference #2 – It’s a long project, and you’re on your own.

Difference #3 – They’re testing research skills.

Difference #4 – Your focus needs to be narrow and deep.

Wrapping up

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Write and Cite

What is a thesis?

Finding an original topic can be a daunting and overwhelming task. These key concepts can help you focus and save time.

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Empirical dissertations (sciences)

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Handbook Contents

The Dissertation Process Explained in 6 Simple Steps

Step 1: Brainstorm Topics

Step 2: Find a Faculty Mentor and Committee Assignment

Step 3: Develop and Submit a Proposal

Step 4: Conduct Research and Data Analysis

Step 5: Draft Your Manuscript

Consider Your Format

Cite Your Sources

Craft Your Content

Step 6: Defend Your Thesis

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What is a Scholarly Source?

Is it Time for a Micro-School?

Doctoral Student vs. Candidate Comparison

What is a Dissertation? [2024 Guide]

What Is a Dissertation?

Types of Dissertations