QP and Dissertation Don’t Freak Out, Just Be Prepared
What is the QP? It is your Research Proposal Work with your chair to determine the structure of your QP First 3 Chapters 25-50 page proposal
Elements of the QP Introduction Literature Review Orienting Theoretical Frameworks Statement of the Problem Purpose of the Study Significance of the Study Methodology/Procedures Summary References Appendices
You’re Not in Kansas Anymore You set your own schedule now Work with chair on a plan for the semester Good idea to have a chair/co-chair with expertise in your methodology. This can help with planning when collecting and analyzing data. Use the Academic Calendar and plan backwards Know when grades are due for the semester Pick a tentative defense date and work back from that date Make sure you have time to distribute and defend Writing on your own. Are you being held accountable? Keep in mind, your chair is only paid for one semester of QP and one semester of dissertation. Other members are not paid for being on your committee. The time and efforts of all committee members are valuable. Work diligently so as not to drag out the process and wear down committee members
The QP Defense After your chair gives you the go-ahead, distribute hard and electronic copies to committee members Allow them 2 weeks (10 working days) to read Prepare a 20-30 minute presentation You are responsible for booking a room for your defense The QP defense is private, Dissertation defense is public LEAD Conference Room may be used for QP defense It’s not as scary as you might think
What Should I Cover in the QP Defense? Helpful to have a full committee meeting BEFORE your QP defense to make certain you have included all the elements they would like to see Defend the selection of your topic How did you arrive at this topic/problem? Why should we care? Review of the pertinent literature What’s your framework? What’s the purpose of the study? Why is it significant? How are you going to answer questions or test hypotheses?
What Will Happen at the Defense? Your chair will start the meeting by giving an overview of the session You will give your 20-30 minute presentation Your committee will ask questions You will be asked to leave the room so the committee can deliberate You will be asked back in and the committee inform you of next steps Pass Pass w/ revisions Re-enroll in QP hours to continue work
Your Defense Went Well…Now Fill Out This Form Committee Appointment Form Get required signatures and return to the Graduate School Form can be found on the Graduate School Website under the Thesis/Dissertation link Petition for Candidacy Complete the Form Get required signatures and return to the Graduate School Form can be found on the Graduate School Website under the Petition for Candidacy link Have these ready at your defense so you can get all required signatures Return the signed committee page to the Graduate School after the defense. Make a copy for your records.
Next Steps Make any needed changes to your proposal from your committee and committee chair. Meet with your committee chair to set a timeline for moving forward (key deadlines, benchmarks, ect.) Understand how your chair wants you to proceed in regards to sending drafts and communicating with members of the committee. Similar to the QP process, you set your own pace and you are self-directed in this process. Certainly, you have the support of your chairperson and committee members. However, they read the sense of urgency and timeline from you.
Next Steps Submit your IRB paperwork Plan for the next components of your document
The Dissertation Defense After your chair gives you the go-ahead, distribute hard and electronic copies to committee members. Allow them 2 weeks (10 working days) to read You are responsible for booking a room for your defense The Dissertation defense is public…Be sure to work with Dr. McClellan to ensure a notice goes out to students in program LEAD Conference Room may be used for QP defense It’s not as scary as you might think
After the defense Make any needed edits discussed in the defense Provide the edits and revised document to your committee chairperson and members (work with chairperson on this)
The Graduate School Check the important dates for the graduation process through the Graduate School: http://uca.edu/graduateschool/graduation-forms/ Students must file an application for graduation form. It is early in the term of intended graduation and includes a graduation fee at the Business or Graduate Office. The intent to graduate form is due early in the semester (ie: February 7, 2014 for May 3, 2014 graduation) along with a $40 fee.
Additional Steps One finished draft for reviewing due 3 weeks before graduation: Two final copies for binding due 2 weeks before graduation: * See Thesis and Dissertation Preparation Guide Three weeks prior to graduation, submit one draft copy of the dissertation to the Graduate School for review from a formatting perspective. It will be reviewed relative to the formatting described in the Graduate School’s Thesis and Dissertation Guide. Make sure your page numbers and page orders are consistent with the guide. See page 13.
Final Steps Two weeks prior to graduation, submit two final copies of approved dissertation along with Routing form signed by chair, department chair, and College Dean Signature form from committee One copy on 20 pound weight acid-free or equivalent paper; the second can be on regular copy paper Once it is approved by the Graduate Dean, you will be asked to upload the document as a PDF with signatures to the ProQuest Database. Once the document is approved in ProQuest, you are done!
What Else Can We Say? Questions? Things we didn’t cover?
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