University of South Florida

The dissertation culminates the doctoral program and launches your career of scholarship and inquiry. While the bulk of the work on the dissertation is completed during candidacy, it is important to begin thinking of research issues and questions that might shape your dissertation early in your program of study. That way, you can focus course work, independent study, and professional reading in those areas throughout your program.

• Concept Paper
• Dissertation Proposal
• Human Subjects
• Writing the Dissertation
• Final Oral Examination
• Graduation

Concept Paper

Shortly after the qualifying examinations, you should present a concept paper to your committee. This paper, 2-5 pages in length, presents an overview of the research problem, its context, and a way to study it. After the doctoral committee concurs, you will submit a full proposal to the committee members.

Dissertation Proposal

The purpose of your proposal is to identify the research problem and questions, to survey and evaluate literature relevant to the theory and research surrounding your topic, and to describe, in detail, a plan for conducting your study. Once approved by your committee in a public meeting, called a "defense", this proposal becomes a contract between the candidate and the committee. Thus, it must be carefully developed and adequately detailed.

Human Subjects

For ethical and legal reasons, all research at USF that involves human beings must be reviewed by the Institutional Review Board for the Protection of Human Subjects (IRB). Virtually all dissertations in education are subject to such review, although they often fall under "exempted" status, meaning that they must be reviewed only by the chair of the IRB. This review takes about a week.

Writing the Dissertation

After the proposal is approved, you will work closely with your major professor to assure that the study is completed as planned and approved by the committee. You must be continuously enrolled in dissertation credit hours during the time you are working on the dissertation.

Final Oral Examination

The final "defense" of the dissertation is held in an open forum. At this time, the committee questions the candidate about theoretical underpinnings, other researches, and the methods and findings related to the dissertation. Following the committee's questioning, other faculty who are present may question the student as well.

Generally, it is a good idea to schedule a "pre-defense" meeting with the doctoral committee so that changes can be discussed prior to the formal defense of the document. Such a meeting should occur at least a month prior to the defense.

Graduation

After all that, you actually graduate, but not before you file another form. You must apply for graduation at the Office of the Registrar (SVC 137) by the deadline noted for each academic term. That deadline is usually within the first three weeks of class. You must be enrolled in graduate credits at the time of your graduation, or you must register for one credit hour of doctoral study at the time you apply for graduation.

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